Chris B's Birthday today!!

Yesterday was also the birthday of my good friend and ex-work colleague Chris B.

I told you that I knew loads of folk called Chris didn't I?

This card is a copy of one that I made some time ago, and I swore that I was going to keep it for myself.

Because I love Chris B a lot, I decided that I would make another one just for her!!

I think the little flower faces are so cute!

Hope she loves it as much as I do!

Happy Birthday Chris B!!

Chris C's birthday

Today is the birthday of my  Stampin Up sister Chris C

(I have quite a few friends called Chris - have you noticed this?)

here's the card that I have made for her.

Colour Combo - Early Espresso, Soft Suede and Pink Pirouette.

Background is stamped with the swirl from Charming stamp set.
Do you recognise those little squares that I have used in the past- they get everywhere!!
I have stuck them onto a mat o Early Espresso and done faux stitching with white gel pen.
The flower (from Mixed Bunch is stamped with Versamark on Pink Pirouette card
then embossed with Gold EP and then punched out with the Blossom punch.
(I am really getting my moneysworth out of the stampset and matching punch!!)

So...... Happy birthday Chris C
(Chris B - see tomorrow's blog!!)

Beryl's Birthday

Today is my friend Beryl's birthday and here's the card that I have made for her.

Sorry to bore you again with yet another  scallop easel card, but I love them!!

Colour Combo is Soft Suede and Very vanilla.

Background stamped with Creative Elements swirl (another favourite!)

Sentiments from Petite Pairs.

Flower stamped in Versamark on SS card and embossed with Gold EP,

then punched out with the Blossom Punch.

Dotted scallop Ribbon border punched from Soft Suede.

Large button in soft suede to match and tiny piece

of seam binding threaded through and knotted.

Happy Birthday Beryl!!

Left-overs

Hi everyone - here's a card that I made using a left over piece of card 

from when I was making  the faux mother-of-pearl technique cards.

I needed a quick get well soon card (well you don't really have much notice

 that friends are going to get ill do you?) and I found this tiny piece in my bit box.

I used half a sheet of matching A5 card, but folded it to make it a 

tall skinny card instead of the conventional way. 

 I then added a punched Lace Ribbon border and the greeting - and Voila.

Moral of this story - go through your bit box regularly - who knows what you might find!

Square Scallop easel card

I am getting hooked on these scallop edged easel cards, so this time

 I decided that I would try a square one for a change. 

Here's the front of it

and here's the arty farty angle.

I cut two scalloped squares with the Bigz Clear Scallop Square die

out of Melon Mambo card stock.

I stamped the design onto the Whisper White square in Basic Gray

 using the Bordering on Romance stamp set

I then coloured in using blender pens with the inkpads 

in Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink and Riding Hood Red.

The sentiment is from You are loved (retired)

For the "brake" on the base I stuck a knotless bow

made with Melon Mambo ribbon and a matching brad from my stash.

May thank you

Every month I make little thank you cards for my customers, and I don't write on them, then , 

if they wish, they can recycle them and send them to someone else. 

 Here is one of the ones that I made for this month.  Its very CAS, but I think effective. 

Onto a White 10cm square card base, I have glued a smaller mat of Blushing Bride card stock, 

that has been stamped with the swirl from Creative Elements in Riding Hood Red ink.  

The flower has been punched using the Twitterpated DSP (is this not lush!!!) and the Blossom punch,

 then smaller centres have been punched with the Boho Blossoms punch. 

 As I said before - simple but effective.

Happy Birthday Sally

Today is another one of my Stampin Up sister's birthdays - Sally Marshall.

I have been so busy this week that I had to do a Blue Peter - and use a card that I had made earlier!

The Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die was used to cut the Soft Suede layer.

Then I matted a layer of Pink Pirouette on top.

I love the Hello stamp from "My Friend" which was in the Spring mini 

The flower is made up from the small stamp from "Charming" 

and the butterflies are made with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.

Colour Combo is Soft Suede, Very Vanilla and Melon Mambo.

Hope that she likes this - Happy Birthday Sally!!

A different Wedding card

A new lady, Lesley, joined the Tuesday class this week

 and asked if she could make a wedding card for her daughter 

- and that her favourite colours were blue and orange. 

 I wasn't too sure about this colour combo. so suggested that she might 

want to introduce a little Ivory/Cream into the equation.

This is the card that we came up with between us.

Lesley was thrilled to bits with it and is certain that her daughter will love it!

The heart (from the You are Loved set) was stamped in Versamark

then embossed in gold embossing powder.

The couples initials were cut out of Gold Mirri card

 using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet.

Medium Sizzlits dies
Ta da!!

Happy Birthday Lady Captain

Today is our Lady Captain - Joan's birthday.  This is the card that I have sent her!

You will have seen these beautiful little panels on a similar card that I made HERE.

I had some left over and this is what I did with them 

 I love this colour combo  - Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink and Soft Suede.

Janet's Scalloped Circle Easel card

Today, my Tuesday crafting ladies made a scalloped circle easel card - each lady chose her 

own colour combo- this is the one that Janet did.  I love the soft subtle tones that she used.

Brother's birthday

Good afternoon everyone, hope that you are all well.  I am a happy budgie today,

 because Chris (sis-in-law)  is here with me and we are crafting - just for a change!!

Here is the card that I have made for my brother - another Chris!- as it's his birthday today.

Stamp-set French Foliage, Colour Combo Old Olive, Cajun Craze and Crumb Cake.

The button is from a pack that was in the Spring mini - but I find these really useful so am still using them.

The Dotted scallop ribbon border punch was used for the detail on the side. 

Linen thread was criss-crossed underneath the button.

Cherish the moment

Here is one of three cards that I made for a friend to congratulate various 

members of the family on the birth of a baby boy.

This is for the parents.

The stamp-set used is Baby Prints, including the sentiment, which is embossed with Silver EP.

The personalised border I have printed on the computer.

The colour combo is Bashful Blue and Whisper White.

Hope that they like it.

Monthly Saturday Morning Workshop

Hello everyone.
Have had a busy morning and am now sat relaxing after my Monthly Saturday morning Workshop.

Today one of the techniques  I showed the ladies was the Faux Mother-of-pearl technique and you have seen my efforts at these on past blog posts.
Here is one that one of my ladies made - Christine Miller - and she put her own perssonal touch on her card, so I thought I would share it with you.  I think its fabulous - wouldn't have thought of putting the punched  Dotty scalloped ribbon across the corner and having the tiny tags above.
Well done Chris 10 out of 10!!

Bordering on Romance - bag

Here is the bag that we (should have) made when we went for our all day training in April - but I only finished mine yesterday and I am very pleased that \I took my time rather than rush it.
Its simply Whisper White card stamped with the Bordering on Romance set and then coloured in and trimmed with Riding Hood Red.

Pop-up plant pots!!

Front

Centre

Plant Pot close up

I really enjoyed making my cup-cake pop-up card the other week, and decided that I would like to do another one, I decided to make one with plant pots with flowers in.
Colours for plant pots -Calypso Coral, flowers - Wisteria Wonder and leaves - Lucky Limeade.
The swirls are from the Creative Elements stampset and the sentiment is from Heard from the Heart

Berry Blossoms (now retired) used for the front and inside panels.

(Might keep this one for myself too!!)

Another Scalloped Easel

Having done a scalloped easel card last week, I decided to have another go at it.

This time I changed the colour combo to Daffodil Delight,  Bashful Blue and Pretty in Pink.

Still used Bordering on Romance stamp-set, with sentiment from Petite Pairs.

Am not giving this one away - I'm keeping it for me!!

Lynda and Julie's birthdays

Afternoon everyone.
Today it is the birthdays of two of my SU sisters - Julie and Lynda.
Obviously I wanted to make them both a card (Luckily I didn't forget these two!)
Last week I posted this card which I have sent to Julie, and here is the card that I have sent to Lynda

Happy Birthday to the two of you - hope that you are having a great day!!

Belated Birthdays

Would you believe it! (I couldn't believe it myself)  I have completely missed 3 birthdays in the space of a week - on the 4th, 5th and 9th May no less!  Desperate measures were called for!
What I ended up doing was to have a furtle around in my Birthday card box and find 3 cards that could be "adapted" into belated greeting cards.
Here's the results.

Can you tell that these have been doctored?? Lol!!

Poppy Parade

Hello everyone.  I have had a lovely play this morning, making this card featuring what is supposed to be a poppy!  I am not sure about the similarity, but am pleased with the overall card.
Colour Combo: Poppy Parade, Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Old Olive.
Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder used with VV card stock and then softly inked over with a dauber and Basic Gray ink.

The leaves are made using the Little Leaves Sizzlit die and the Blossom punch is used for the poppy. I sponged around the edges of the petals with Black ink.
For the centre of the poppy, I attached stamens round a 3/4" circle of Black, and then punched an Itty Bitty flower out of yellow and inked over to give the centre detail.
Designer Frame Textured Impressions embossing folder used for the Poppy Parade Frame.
Sentiment stamped on Black using Versamark and White embossing powder.

Timeless Portrait DSP

I saw a scrapbook design recently on Jo Dumbleton's blog and just had to make a card using these papers.
(I am not yet into scrapbooking but could fill a small library with the DSP that I own!!)
I just love the colour combo of Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black and Very Vanilla.
The flower is punched using the Blossom punch and the Modern Label punch - the centre is a ribbon flower that I made (not impressed with it though) and a beautiful Vintage brad.
The leaves are made with the Bird Builder punch.
The knot-less bow uses Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding with a black brad.

Happy Birthday wishes

I have loads of birthday cards to make this month, for ladies and fellas, so today at Chris's we tried to get a head start.  I managed to nearly finish 3 - one just needs colouring in and I will post it tomorrow. The other is one that I have made before and this is the third one.
A favourite colour combo of mine is Daffodil Delight and Night of Navy - I think it looks really crisp and classy. I have used the (now retired) Charming flower spray stamp in Navy on Whisper White and  cut out using the Decorative label punch.  Then punched and enlarged another Decorative Label in NoN to mat the first one on.
I have used Daffodil Delight Card stock for the base card and DSP from the Brights stack, layered onto a panel of NoN. I also cut a Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border in NoN.  Highlighted the finished flower with some tiny Basic Rhinestones and then stamped the sentiment from Petite Pairs. Et voila!  love it!!

Scallop easel card

I have been wanting to do one of these cards for some time now and have just never got round to it.  This time it's my own design, so feel free to case!
I started this card at four o'clock this afternoon and have kept doing a little bit more to it, in order to post it tonight.  Despite having my Thursday night Crafters here, I have now managed to get it finished and get a quick photo taken.  I think it was well worth the effort.
Colour combo similar to yesterdays, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry and Blushing Bride.  I stamped on Watercolour card using the fabulous Bordering on Romance stamp-set, onto a circle that fits inside the Scallop Circle die. I then coloured in using marker pens and a blending pen.  Finished off with a knot-less bow in Rich Razzleberry ribbon (now retired) with a Glimmer brad in the centre.
I am really pleased with this, my first scallop circle easel card!!

Bordering Romance - Waterfall card

I have been working against the clock to get this card finished so that I can get it posted today - don't want to miss a day!  I have been golfing with Barry at Retford and we didn't get home until 5:30 and then I had my Thursday Crafting Club here until 10 ish.
Lyn has been kind enough to photograph this for me tonight (with her superduperphone!)
It is a colour combo of Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party and Whisper White and the new Bordering Romance stamp-set.  I have cased the design from Monica's blog - so thanks Monica (my SU nannan!!)

Chris's Mixed Bunch Swap

Unbeknown to one another, my sister-in-law  Christine and myself both chose the stamp-set, Mixed Bunch, to use for our Quarterly training Day swaps last month.
Here is the card that Chris did - using a different flower image from the set and embossing one flower onto Soft Suede and another onto Very Vanilla card stock, using Versamark and Gold embossing Powder.

This was then placed onto a layer of Mocha Morning DSP cut into a triangle.  The corner is chopped off and punched with the scallop border punch and linen thread is used to finish it off.
Thanks for this Chris, I think my crafting ladies will love making this.

Twitterpated Blossom

This is a card made using the new Twitterpated DSP and the Blossom Punch and Modern Label Punch.
Colour Combo is Riding Hood Red and Whisper White.  The Flower is made with the Blossom punch in RHRand the next layer is made from 3 Modern Label punchings arranged to make a smaller flower, then a Boho Blossom punched in RHR and a flat backed pearl for the centre.Cherry Cobbler Seam binding ribbon is used for the knot-less bow with a white brad in the centre.

150 days and counting!

Don't know whether you were aware or not, but yesterday I had blogged daily for 150 days continuously.
Now I think that I have done exceedingly well.  I wanted to see whether it was possible to post daily and I think I have surprised myself by achieving this.  At the start I thought I might be able to manage a couple of weeks or even a month!!
Any how.... onwards and upwards.

3 cards for twins

I was recently asked by my friend Helen to make 3 cards ready for the birth of a set of twins due to be born on 20th April.
This date came and went, then last Wednesday I was told that the births were imminent - they were eventually born yesterday!!
I set to then to personalise the cards that I had planned.
I had to do one for the proud parents, one for the Grandma and Grandpa and one for their big brother,
I used a colour combo of Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White.
I used various baby ribbons that I had in my stash and here are the results.

Had to re-do the front of this one as I had put Iva instead of Ivy!! Doh!!

These little teddy bears were all white and I have dyed them using Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue Re-inkers

Hope that they like them!!

Forever Young

My May Impressions newsletter inspired me to make this card.  It was love at first sight - which might be a little surprising as it's not a style that comes easy to me.
Stamp-set is Forever Young.  Card-stock is Gold, Rich Razzleberry and Very Vanilla.
First Edition DSP, Stamp pads in Rich Razzleberry and Crumb Cake.
Chantilly crochet trim and Pear Pizzazz seam binding ribbon.  Antique Brad and Mini Vintage Tags.
Itty Bitty shapes punch, Scallop Circle Bigz die and Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders.  Compulsory bling - basic pearls.
Phew that's some list - but happily I had everything I needed for the card.
I love it - what do you think?

                                                       And here's a close up

Can I just say a big thank you to my friend  Lyn who has taken these photos on her superduperphone,
just showing me how rubbish my camera is!!
I won't be rushing to the shops to buy one - I will plod on with my little point and press digital camera and spend the money on crafting goodies instead!!

Attic Boutique

Today I used some of the new Attic Boutique DSP (from the Summer Mini Catalogue).

Same design as used recently - base card Pool Party, Very Vanilla ribbon, In Colour Designer Printed Brad.

This birthday card is for my Stampin Up sister Sharon, as you can see it's late! Her birthday was the 1st May and I missed it - but didn't want her to think I didn't care.  Hope she likes it.

Belated birthday wishes Sharon - hope you had a great day!!

(It's in the post - you should get it tomorrow!!)

Lexie's Bridesmaid Dress

Just for a change, tonight I will treat you to a picture of my grand-daughter Lexie (age 5 going on 50!)
who was a bridesmaid in Mexico last month.
As I didn't go to the wedding, I was treated to a fashion show last Saturday, when she put on her outfit  again, for the family reception which was held locally.
I have some beautiful photos of her posing for the camera - a proper little madam!!

Normal crafting blogging  service will be resumed tomorrow!!

Bright Blossoms

Here is one of the swaps that I received  at our Quarterly Training Day in Pudsey the other Saturday.
It features 4 items from the Summer Mini - the Bright Blossoms stamp-set, the Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Bakers Twine and theTextured Impressions Embossing Folders - Adorning Accents.
This swap was made by Ciara Jennings, but she didn't put her blog details on the reverse - however - a big thank you Ciara for this inspiration.

You're So Sweet!!

Here is a card that I have made using one of the new stamp-sets from the NEW SUMMER MINI !
If you would like to see what else there is on offer then simply click on the picture of the Summer Mini in the sidebar and you will be able to view the catalogue online - or contact me and I can let you have a copy of the real thing!!
Meantime back to the card above.
Colour combo is Old Olive, Melon Mambo and Whisper White.
The DSP is from the Brights Paper Stack.
Stampset is Sweet Cake, and I stamped this image three times. Once in Old Olive and twice in Melon Mambo.
I cut out the base layer in MM, then the second layer in OO, then the cupcake and the box for the sentiment plus the little heart in MM.
Using the stampamajig, I stamped the sentiment from the same set in Old Olive.
Two little Basic Rhinestones complete the project.
Keep visiting to see more projects from the new Mini!

MAY MADNESS is here with the Launch of the Summer Mini Catalogue and lots lots more!

How would you like to be able to become a demonstrator for only £99?

A brand new Starter Kit where you get to choose EVERYTHING in it! 

You select £130 worth of products for only £99

 PLUS you also get business supplies (worth £45) included too!! 

Its FREE DELIVERY and its great for those of you who already have some Stampin Up stash and dont want duplicate products - you simply chose what you want.

 (Notice I never said the word need?)

ALL FOR £99 - what a great price to start up a business!

Plus - if you sign up in May you can attend Stampin Up convention in Germany in November FREE!! As part of our 5th Birthday celebrations you will save the Convention cost of £149.
(You pay for your travel and accommodation costs)