Video Tutorial - Decorated Kraft Box

Hi Guys!

Sorry - I did mean to post yesterday but I don't know where the day went! Well I do, cleaning, tidying, mowing my field, agility training with Blaze and then walking the dogs.

It does mean that today I can share with you another video tutorial of a decoration for one of the Stampin' Up! Kraft boxes. They are on page 160 of the new catalogue and are just £2.75 for four - an absolute bargain and great for packaging that special gift for someone.

So here is my finished box.

Here you can see the flower a bit clearer...

The mats were cut from Raspberry Ripple card stock.

Top - 8 x 8 cm
Sides - 8 x 5.5 cm

The DSP is Primrose Petals from the retiring In-Colour stack - that is being replaced with all new designs (can't wait) and you only need 6" x 6" to do this!

Top - 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Sides - 7.5 x 5 cm

And here is the video of how to make the flower - you need 4 shades of pink. I used Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Strawberry Slush and Pink Pirouette. You also need a hot glue gun and the Heart Punch and the Small Oval Punch. Have you spotted one of the new Very Vintage Designer Buttons in the middle there? They are gorgeous!

I hope you enjoy trying this for yourself and will be back tomorrow with a really fun card!

Paula xxx

Two Tone - Label Love Artisan Punch

I promised you a few days ago... before I got into video production... a gorgeous two tone card.

Well today you get two for the price of one!

Before you start looking I want to remind you the new catalogue goes live on Tuesday and if you place an order to collect from me by 6pm Wednesday evening you will get free carriage. For July only if you order £50 or more and are not local I will give you FREE delivery! Normal delivery is £4.95.

I am also thinking about running some classes in my home or I can come to you if you would like to get a couple of people together. Alternatively you can have a party where you have the opportunity of earning Hostess Credits.

The first card is made using Pool Party and Coastal Cabana on a Whisper White base  - I just love the jade greens and can't wait for Bermuda Bay too! Not long to wait now.

You'll see I used the Mosaic embossing folder again and did two lots of dying this time. The Organza ribbon with Coastal Cabana and the Simply Pressed Clay flowers with Pool Party.

The Stamp set is Label Love and the Punch is the new Artisan Label.

The second card was inspired by the first - you know those days when creativity just overwhelms you and your hands can't work as quickly as your brain!

I used Early Expresso and Crumb Cake on a Very Vanilla base.

This one uses both the Mosaic and Fancy Fan embossing folders, the 1/8" Taffeta ribbon.

The flowers are from Stippled Blossoms - two step stamping set - the sentiment is from Label Love and the punch is again the Artisan Label.

Pop back tomorrow for another video and a gorgeous 3D creation.

Paula xx

First Video Tutorial...

I've finally done it! I've only had my camcorder for 2 years... and never put a video on You Tube!

Well Knall Crafting now has a You Tube 'account' and I'll hopefully be posting lots of exciting things for you.

Today I am posting a short video showing how to make a mould for your Simply Pressed Clay.

So here it is! It's not the most professional but I hope it's OK. Do let me know what you think by leaving me a comment.

I may not post tomorrow as I am off to the O2 to see Mrs Browns Boys...

But I'll be back on Friday. I still have that other card I was going to show you...

Paula xxx

Dynamic Duos Challenge

I am so in love with this card and am rapidly becoming surgically attached to the Artisan Punch!

I made this card for a friend and customer as it was her birthday on Monday.

It isn't a colour combination I would have thought to use but it is super gorgeous. It has an antiquey (that probably isn't even a word!) vintage feel to it.

Coupled with the stamp from Label Love it is just fab - I also got to use one of my favourite stamp sets, Stippled Blossoms... I seem to have a few faves! Don't ask me to choose between them! I didn't think I would get along with two step stamping but it looks stunning... just a shame the catalogue doesn't do it justice.

I embossed the background with my new Mosaic embossing folder and added a few pearls.

I think it is just scrummy and hope my friend did too!

Why not join in yourself with the Dynamic Duos - visit the blog here

Come back and see me tomorrow when I hope to be posting another duo - but one of my own... You'll have to come back and look!

Paula xxx

A card for Jen... Simply Less Is More

This weeks challenge from the Simply Less is More team was to create a Birthday Card for the extremely talented Jen... we did get a hint that she likes butterflies so I have teamed up some of my favourites in the hope she will love it! Visit the blog Here.

I have used the new In-Colour - Crisp Canteloupe, as the scheme for the card... I stamped 3 images from Mosaic Madness. To get them in a straight line I measured and drew a VERY faint line in pencil, so I could rub it out, then lined up the stamp with my Stamp-a-majig.

The ribbon... well you'll notice it looks a lot like our SU Organza... But you'll not find it in different colours in the catalogue! Nope - I inked up a sponge dauber and wiped it along the satiny centre of the ribbon - how gorgeous and simple is that?

The sentiment is from Bring on the Cake and the butterflies are punched out of co-ordinating card stock with my Bitty Butterfly punch. I curled the wings slightly with a bone folder then added the Rhinestone Basic Jewels...

Please leave me a comment I love to hear what you think.

I just realised, thumbing through my catalogue, that I haven't used my new Very Vintage Designer Buttons... there's a challenge for tomorrow I think!

Pxx

Monday... Eugh

Well we were supposed to have torrential downpours yesterday and they didn't materialise so hopefully the weather is improving!

Hubby disappeared off to an open mike session at The Swan in Thame and left me to my own devices so I made a couple more cards for a couple more challenges!

This one is a MEGA simple one and once again I got to use my Simply Pressed Clay, some of the retiring Designer Series Papers and a different sentiment from Bring on the Cake. Please note there isn't a hint of Mosaic anything!

The two purple buttons were coloured by adding re-inker and then I put Dazzling Diamonds in the moulds... the pink one at the bottom I embossed with Melon Mambo embossing powder.

It is an entry in the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge and you can visit the blog and look at the other entries Here

Here is my card - I forgot to say I coloured in the letters with my Stampin' Write Markers!

Hope you like it - It's a bright, fresh and fun card... ideal for a youngster!

Back tomorrow!

Pxx

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge

I had most of the day off from crafting yesterday to do my housework... I know a bit of a swear word round here too!

Yesterday evening we went to Prezzos in Thame for an Italian! Completely blitzed any chance of losing any weight this week... so I walked the dogs six miles this morning!

I haven't entered many challenges lately so this is my entry for this weeks Freshly Made Sketches challenge - you can visit the challenge page here.

I stamped the border using my Stamp-a-majig and the Mosaic Madness stamp set. I cut the banner using the  Hearts a Flutter framelits.

The patterned papers are from the Quatrefancy Speciality Designer Series Papers that co-ordinate with the Mosaic collection of products. This particular design is in the new Strawberry Slush colour.

Last of all I used one of my flowers, made using the Simply Pressed Clay and Moulds. I coloured it by mixing some re-inker in the clay.

The sentiment is from Bring on the Cake and I think it is my favourite!

I hope it fits the sketch - what do you think?

Sneak Peek Week - Day 7! The last day.

Today is the last day of my Sneak Peek Week, I have had a jolly good play with some of the new products coming in the New Stampin' Up! catalogue on the 1st of July.

There are lots more things I am going to be buying - but don't tell hubby!

The last card I made this week combines the old and the new...

I have combined So Saffron and Wisteria Wonder with Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding. I have used the Blossom punch and the Mosaic punch, I used the Mixed Bunch and Mosaic Madness stamp sets. To top it off I coloured some Simply Pressed Clay with Wisteria Wonder and So Saffron re-inkers and made flowers with the Blossoms and Buttons, Simply Pressed Clay moulds. Not forgetting the Mosaic embossing folder!

Fabtastic!

I hope you have enjoyed this weeks posts. Obviously I will still be making things with the new products so keep coming back and remember I love to read your comments and I can arrange delivery anywhere in the UK for just £4.95!

Paula xxx

Sneak Peek Week - Day 6!

I know I would normally be posting something for the CAS Colours and Sketches blog this week but I had a Stampin' Up! Party last night - the ladies had a fabulous time as usual - but my craft room is upside down so no crafting for me until I've sorted it out.

When I did my pre-order for the new catalogue I not only bought new product to be released - I also treated myself to a sentiment set as Curly Cute is retiring.

I bought - Sassy Salutations and I think it looks gorgeous on this card using Mosaic Madness and the new In-Colour - Pistachio Pudding.

I haven't embossed either of my first two cards today - as I know lots of people don't have a Big Shot. I couldn't live without mine - it is the best investment I ever made and I use it constantly. Remember if you hold a party and your guests spend £250 to £300 your Big Shot is half price with your hostess credits! Something worth thinking about! Give me a call if you would like to hold a party!

So back to today's cards...

On this one I have used ALL the new In-Colours - they are so scrummy looking. I could almost eat them!

The banner and sentiment are from the Itty Bitty Banner set, the co-ordinating Framelit was used to cut it out. Although you need a Big Shot for the Framelit - you could cut the banner by hand.

Finally this card is a testament to Strawberry Slush... the new In-Colour again!

I coloured white Bakers Twine using the Ink Pad... Embossed the mat with the Mosaic embossing folder, and punched out the stamped images from the Mosaic Madness stamp set using the Mosaic punch. It also has a sentiment from Label Love punched with the corresponding Artisan Label punch.

I hope I have given you lots of inspiration today and I'll be back tomorrow with the last of my Sneak Peek Week samples.

Pxxx

Sneak Peek Week - Day 5!

Today I want to demonstrate that although there are lots of corresponding dies and embossing folders - you really don't 'need' them... well I 'need' everything, but that's a different story!

This card uses Calypso Coral and So Saffron, which are both from the Subtles Colour Collection. I have used the new Mosaic Punch and Mosaic Madness stamp set. In addition I used the Itty Bitty Shapes punch, sentiment from Petite Pairs and a couple of Pearls.

Just as gorgeous without the embossing isn't it? I just love the crispness of the images - these new 'not so new' ink pads are just fabulous. Something else I am gradually replacing!

The Colour Refresh has really opened my eyes to some combinations I hadn't thought of before. Just gorgeous! I'm thinking Wisteria Wonder would go beautifully with that So Saffron... maybe the next card!

Hopefully I'll have another for you tomorrow. You'll just have to wait and see! So pop back and check things out!

Paula xxx

Sneak Peek Week - Day 4!

Yup - Back again, I do keep my promises most of the time.

Today's little offering is a bit of fun and shows just how versatile that Simply Pressed Clay is - Check out my little pink pig! See how he sparkles? It's hard to get it on camera but I mixed Dazzling Diamonds in too when I coloured the clay.

I tried to 'varnish' him with some clear nail polish - just to see if it worked - as you can see it was no-where near as effective as the Crystal Effects. So I know what I'll be using in future! By the way - I think I forgot to mention - the clay AIR dries so no baking!

The sentiment is from Perfectly Penned - This pattern DSP is also retiring as there will be all new designs on the DSP this year! Oh - sorry - DSP = Designer Series Paper.

Back again tomorrow with yet another creation! Hope to see you - and please do leave comments - I love to hear from you!

Pxxx

Sneak Peek Week - Day 3!

So - how are you coping with all the excitement? How most of you are going to contain yourselves until the 1st of July is a bit of a dilemma - so I'll just have to tease you with some of the new In-Colours, ANOTHER new Stamp Set and ANOTHER new Punch!

There is just one word for it! Awesome!

So here is the card I have made -

The two colours are Crisp Canteloupe and Coastal Cabana - aren't they lush! This years In-Colours are Ice Creamy tones... sugary and pastelly - You could almost eat them! 

The stamp set is called Label Love and there are a lot of Labels and Tags throughout the new catalogue - I can't wait!

The co-ordinating punch is called the Artisan Label and I can assure you there are more new punches still to be revealed this year! My bank account will start creaking as I absolutely HAVE to have the punches! 

So to the little rose - here's a close up. Moulded by hand using the Simply Pressed Clay.

 

I need to work on the finger prints - but maybe they add texture to the petals... Mmm I'll think on that one! Again it was 'varnished' with Crystal Effects. It's so delicate looking but the clay is flexible when dry so those delicate leaves won't snap off.

I'm off to have a play. Back tomorrow with yet another card! This time it's something that would be a great children's card... Actually - I would love to receive it - But I am a bit of a kid!

Pxxx

Sneak Peek Week - Day 2!

As it is Fathers' Day today I am sharing a Dad Card made using FOUR new products - and what is so amazing is they all co-ordinate - well would you expect anything less?

The 4 products are -

• Sketch Alphabet Stamp Set
• Mosaic Madness Stamp Set
• Mosaic Embossing Folder
• Mosaic Punch

Here is the card... What do you think?

Fab isn't it - and here is a little close up of the punched shape and embossing folder - I love them to bits - they are so on-trend!

Tomorrow I'll be giving you a sneak peek of a couple of the new In-Colours and a little creation of my own made from the Simply Pressed Clay! Don't forget to come back and see!

Pxx

Sneak Peek Week!

Well I spent all evening yesterday playing with my new stash of goodies from the up coming NEW catalogue. I can pretty much guarantee you will LOVE it... Mine's already looking a little worn from the constant use!

The first thing I am going to tell you about is the Simply Pressed Clay! Yup - it is A-Mazing. When it is dry it is light as a feather. You can shape it or use the Simply Pressed Buttons and Blossoms Moulds that will also appear in the new catalogue.

It can be coloured in so many ways - it is SO flexible.

You can add re-inkers to dye the clay, you can press it on an ink pad, you can colour it with Blender Pens, Aqua Painters or your Stampin' Write Markers!

You can colour two pieces of clay and mix them together for a marbled effect.

You can moisten it when it has dried and dip it in embossing powder - heat it and get a shiny finish.

You can mix in Dazzling Diamonds to get a glittery finish.

You can coat it in Crystal Effects to give it a hard shiny coating.

You can cut it with scissors or a knife when dry... I could go on! But for now I'll just show you a picture or two!

The top two images are of flowers made using the marbling technique - the one on your right has been coated with Crystal Effects...

The bright pink flower has been coloured with Melon Mambo Re-Inker then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

The red and white flower was gently rolled on an ink pad to just pick up the colour on the edges.

The bottom picture shows the 3 sizes of flowers made by the mould.

This card shows how fabulous the Blossoms look when stuck on a card - you can use Glue Dots, Tombo, Dimensionals or Sticky Strip to stick them on. I'm sure you recognise the sentiment from Bring On The Cake - but the border stamp is brand spanking new and comes as part of the Mosaic Madness set.

How luscious is that all shiny with Crystal Effects? Just remember if you don't want inky fingers get yourself some polythene gloves like the ones in the petrol station... the clay tends to stick to surgical/latex gloves.

Hope you like all the bits I've shown you today - I'll be back tomorrow with some more!

Pxxx

CAS Colours and Sketches Thursday

Today I am sharing another card for the CAS Colours and Sketches challenge. I liked last weeks colour combo so much I decided to use it again with this weeks sketch.

Why not join in yourself HERE

I hope you like the card!

I started with a Perfect Plum base and added a Whisper White mat that I had scored using the Simply Scored scoring board, I crossed two pieces of Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon. The flowers were stamped from the Secret Garden stamp set and cut out with the co-ordinating Framelits. The 3 shades of colour were simply from stamping the same image in Rich Razzleberry without re-inking. 

The leaves were cut using the Bird Builder Punch from Garden Green card stock and the sentiment is from Tea Shoppe. I just love this card and hope you do too!

I'm just working on some sneak peeks from the NEW Catalogue so come back and see what I have to show you tomorrow and Saturday!

Views and Cappuccinos

Well we got back from a not so sunny Italy yesterday and I wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow!

The weather in Tuscany was unseasonably rotten, predominantly overcast and wet. A bit like the UK - except I understand you had a lovely week.

We visited lots of local villages and saw lots of fantastic architecture, including a day in Florence. It would have been nice to have gone back to Florence but with only a week it was a bit difficult. We were in a very rural village so only ate out once, but spent some lovely evenings in my Aunt and Uncle's apartment, drinking copious amounts of red wine!

This is the view from the apartment - as you can see we were high up and there was a lot of low cloud.

Here is a view over some of the vineyards

Don't let anyone tell you the Italians aren't a little bit mad! This car is parked. Yes - in the middle of the junction. The owner pulled up, got out and went shopping. It was still there an hour later!

We climbed to the top of the Duomo - the big dome in the picture. It is an amazing building and the view from the top was worth the 463 steps we had to climb. It isn't for the faint hearted though!

I started reading a book a couple of days ago and I would like to finish it before I go back to work tomorrow - so I'll say Ciao for now. I may be back tomorrow... but it will be a late post!

Pxxx

Something Simple Sunday

Oh My - do you know how hard it is trying to think of titles for your blog posts - especially as I'm writing this on Monday 3rd of June!

As I have no internet access whilst I'm away - I have no idea whether you are enjoying the promised good week of weather and no idea if Stampin' Up! have released any new gems of info - so please pop back Tuesday or Wednesday for an 'up to date' update.

I hope you've all been taking advantage of my holiday to go through the retired list and decide what you want to order... don't forget you can e-mail your order! Just include contact details in case I need to clarify anything.

Today's card - is exactly what it says on the tin (title) - Something simple... and if you don't have the embossing folder you could use a background stamp or patterned papers.

I used the Lacy Brocade embossing folder. Sentiment from Petite Pairs and added some Crumb Cake Seam Binding - as I said - something really simple for a relaxing Sunday - and not too taxing on the brain!

Speak soon!

Paula xxx

CAS Colours and Sketches Thursday.

I hope I remembered correctly the theme for today - Unfortunately due to home commitments I had to pull out of the Design Team - But I love to support the ladies who put so much effort and hard work into running the challenges. It is a big commitment! Visit CAS Colours and Sketches Blog - HERE

So here is today's card - The only retiring item on here is the Curly Cute stamp set - it's immensely popular and one I shall probably keep hold of as I love it so much!

The leaves are from Stippled Blossoms and the flowers from Secret Garden... I coloured them using a Blender Pen - I love how subtle and elegant they look! And they were cut out using the corresponding Framelits.

Well hopefully as you read this I 'should' be enjoying the sunshine in Tuscany... If not it's wet and miserable and I wish I was crafting!

Take care and I'll be back soon with another post!

Paula xxx

Happy Holidays!

Well folks - I am off on holiday tomorrow - luckily I have friends staying at the house to look after the menagerie! It looks like, as I leave, the good weather is arriving in the UK - so enjoy it and please save me some!

I am scheduling a couple of posts so you don't miss me too much!

But for today I'm sharing the card I have made for my Dad for Fathers Day - don't worry - he's not the most 'web savvy' and probably doesn't know what a blog is... let alone that I have one!

I realised after I made this, that everything I used apart from the card stock, ink and the 1" Square Punch, is retiring - so if you see anything you like - order it now before it's gone!

The background stamp is from the Day of Gratitude set. The alphabet is the Lovely Letters Alphabet, punched out with the 1" square and mounted on punched out shapes using the Extra Large Tag. The tiny tags were stamped using the Tiny Tags Stamp Set and punched out with the co-ordinating Punch.

The array of words and letters were then hung on Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine and the three letters had dimensionals (which aren't retiring) stuck on the back so they would stay in place.

I hope you like it... I think I'm going to share it on the Stampin' Up! Facebook page as I really LOVE this card.

I hope you'll like what I'm sharing whilst I'm away - I think I'll go and pack my suitcases now... I have so much to do!

Paula xxx

Not sure I can cope with the excitement!

I've been slaving all morning over my housework only to log on and discover TWO fantastic and exciting promotions from Stampin' Up!

So I just had to share!

The first is the announcement of a series of 'Best Of' stamps -

"As part of our 25-year anniversary celebration, we're bringing back some of our favourite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into five sets, which will release-one set per month- until October 2013. Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image!"

• All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at 17.95 € / £13.95.
• While we are releasing just one Best of stamp set per month (with a new theme each month) until October, all of the Best of sets will be available until March 31, 2014.

So here is the first set...

And here is a little something I made earlier - as we all received this set as a gift at the Stampin' Up! regional training - we Demo's are spoiled!

The second great announcement is that due to the successful experiment in the US - Stampin' Up! are offering you the chance to buy some exclusive SINGLE stamps! Never seen before!

These will be available until the 31st of August - so choose the ones you would like and place your order!

Well - with all this excitement I really need to lay down! What an exciting time we're having. I almost wish I wasn't going on holiday on Tuesday! And wish I had waited an extra day before ordering all my 'sneak peeks' from the new catalogue as I would definitely have added these gems!

Pxxx