So Long!

Well - another retiree today. These images were stamped from the Language of Love set in the Spring/Summer seasonal.

Cute aren't they?

Don't forget to order yours now! The sentiments are again from Bring on the Cake, the first two cards include a mat...

These second two just go to prove you don't need lots of layers to make beautiful cards!

Back tomorrow!

Paula xxx

Last Chance!

Well I only have a week until I go away on holiday... so today and tomorrow I am sharing two projects using stamp sets that retire on the 30th of June... so order them while you can!

The first... which I'll be very sorry to see go is Happy Watercolour.

This is a little project I made using my Blender Pens.

The sentiment is from Bring on the Cake - also retiring!

The gorgeous butterflies are from the Beautiful Wings embosslits.

I hope you like it and I'll be back tomorrow with another 'retiree'.

Pxx

Happy Watercolor

£26.95

Happy Watercolor Clear Mount

£21.95

Bring On The Cake

£34.95

Bring On The Cake - Clear-Mount Stamp

£27.95

Beautiful Wings Stampin' Up! Embosslits Die

£9.95

Blender Pens

£8.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Double Challenge Entry

I can't believe it's been 4 days since my last post! Where on earth has the time gone?

On reflection I have been super busy, I bought a caravan so have had a towing lesson as I've not towed for years and wanted some practice. Went to pick up the caravan, sorted dog cages and a tow bar for my car, a close friend has had a baby so I drove over and visited her, I've been sorting out everything I will need for my Wreath Class and ordering all the materials, then last night we went and had dinner with hubby's business partner and his wife.

Today I am stopping for breath!

Somewhere in there I managed to make a card for two challenges this week. CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge, it was a colour challenge this week. and the Freshly Made Sketches sketch for this week.

Sometimes it's really hard to think of something for these challenges but I really needed some 'structure' to get my creative juices going, as you can imagine with everything going on my creative mojo took a hike!

I used the Zoo Babies stamp set, Bring on the Cake birthday sentiment set, the Scallop Dotted Ribbon border punch and the Label Bracket punch.

I used Iridescent Ice embossing powder in the word Birthday and Dazzling Diamonds on the strip of ribbon. Want to know how I got that straight line? I used a thin strip of double sided tape and then sprinkled on the Dazzling Diamonds. Neat trick isn't it?

So I have quite a few bits to share over the next few days. Particularly as things have hopefully settled down for a while.

Paula xxx

Never Ending Card

Well it's Tuesday and I'm undoubtedly having a great time in Holland - I haven't bothered trying to see if I can blog from my phone so this is a scheduled post.

Not sure if you have ever seen/heard of a never ending card, but it is one cleverly, but surprisingly simply put together so you fold it again and again to see different images on each facet...

Here is mine!

Bring on the Cake with Afternoon Picnic DSP

Stippled Blossoms with Venetian Romance DSP

Afternoon Picnic and Venetian Romance DSP's

Stippled Blossoms and Venetian Romance DSP 

Great fun isn't it? I got my instructions from here - Stamp with Tami Not only is there a 2 part video but also a PDF with the dimensions on it!

Go on - give it a try! I have another post scheduled for Thursday so pop back and see.

Pxxx

Dynamic Duos - Challenge Entry...

Today I have another challenge entry for you - I love this one - it is from Dynamic Duos and it is Basic Grey and any colour of your choice. I am chuffed to bits as I have been dying to team up the new Crushed Curry with Basic Grey - and now I have a great excuse!

I have used the Creative Elements stamp set along with a sentiment you'll recognise from Bring on the Cake.

It is a lovely, Simple single layer card that anyone can make... I may use it in one of my workshops!

I hope you like it and are looking forward to the weekend and the promised improvements in the weather!

Visit the Dynamic Duos Blog here.

Take Care!

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!

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 Challenge Inspiration

It's Thursday again! Nearly another week over!

This weeks challenge is a colour challenge. I have punched out a butterfly from Whisper White, embossed the mat with the Framed Tulips embossing folder and used a small off cut of Primrose Petals behind the aperture.

The sentiment was stamped with Rich Razzleberry using a stamp from Bring on the Cake.

All matted on a Pool Party card base.

I hope you like it! Those punches are just so versatile!!!!!

Do join us here and enter your own creations!

Hope to see lots of gorgeous creations this week with this lovely colour combo!

Paula xxx

Two Challenge Tuesday!

Well I don't know about you but I'm feeling a lot more positive having had a couple of days of half decent weather! The sunshine really cheers me up.

Yesterdays news was so exciting! Even more freebies to be earned whether you join my team and the Pink Ladies or if you just want to earn lots of FREE goodies with your party orders.

Today I am sharing with you a card I have entered in two challenges. Simply Less is More is a one layer challenge - visit the blog here. Secondly it is the Dynamic Duos challenge here.

My card uses the Elegant Butterfly punch, I punched out the image from a scrap piece of card, then pressed a Sponge Dauber in my Tangerine Tango ink pad, using the cut out as a stencil I sponged the image on the Bashful Blue card base. I started at the bottom moving up, without re-inking, to get a graduated colour intensity. The sentiment is from Bring on the Cake and I added a few gems. You'll notice the card stock has a lovely embossed border running up each side - these were created using my Borders Scoring Plate for my Simply Scored. 

Such a simple but effective card I hope you'll have a play with this technique!

Hope to be back with something for you tomorrow! Have a great day and hope you are feeling inspired!

Paula xxx

Sunday Sunshine

I'm sorry I'm so late posting today. I have been out enjoying the gorgeous sunshine with the dogs!

I managed to get the house cleaned from top to bottom yesterday, including wiping down all the doors, skirting, radiators and a few walls. I love that feeling of having cleaned everything, that brief pleasure of everything being clean and tidy... then your husband gets home! Love him really! Particularly as he is responsible for the smell of roast lamb emanating from our kitchen!

Today's card is a challenge entry. Freshly Made Sketches challenge #81, you can view the blog here.

I have used the gorgeous, but sadly retiring Bashful Blue, made a layer by embossing a mat of the same colour with my Chevrons embossing folder, the quad bike was stamped using the Need for Speed stamp set and Midnight Muse ink - then fussy cut and mounted on a dimensional. I used the sentiment from Bring on the Cake and added 3 Mini Brads.

A great card for a petrolhead!

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine, fingers crossed it's here to stay! for a short time at least!

I'm looking forward to sharing some exciting news from Stampin' Up! tomorrow so stay tuned! (Are you old enough to remember a phrase like that from the days before computers!!!)

Pxxx

Birthdays and Anniversaries!

We have a busy few days as not only is it our TENTH (and he hasn't killed me yet) anniversary today, it is also my Grandmothers 90th birthday on Monday so we are off out for a meal on Sunday.

I have lots of pics to show you today as I have been playing with the Stepper style of card. I am entering one for the Less is More  challenge this week which is to use scallops... I am hoping the card isn't too fussy!

What the heck - I love it and really enjoyed making it!

I have used 3 sizes of scallop circle punch, 3 sizes of circle punch, the scallop oval, oval and both butterfly punches... it is a real Punch Fest! The stamp sets are Papillon Potpourri, Flowering Flourishes and Pretty Petites and the papers are from Print Poetry.

Don't you just love it?

The next card is using my old favourite Secret Garden and a sentiment from Bring on the Cake...

If you would like to make a stepper card - then book a party in April and you and your guests can have a 'play'.

Hope to be back tomorrow with another of these cards... in a slightly different design! Want to know what I have planned??? Come back and see!

Have a fab weekend!

Paula xx

CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge

Today's challenge is a colour challenge. I made a really simple card using Mixed Bunch and Bring on the Cake stamp sets.

Here is the card -

And here are the colours -

Remember you don't have to use Stampin' Up! colours if you don't have them. We just like to see clean and simple cards made using a similar colour scheme.

Pop over to the challenge blog here and join in!

Hope to be back tomorrow with something else for you!

Pxxx

Forgiveness...

You have to forgive me for having not posted since Sunday. It is really difficult to find the time to create and post every day. But I did some serious crafting last night. It was very therapeutic after a really rotten day at work. One of those days where you just wonder what is the point, why do I bother!

Never mind, I am just in time for the Dynamic Duos challenge this week. I saw a slightly similar card on Pinterest and decided to create a version of my own for this challenge. You'll notice from some posts later in the week that black is definitely the new black for me!

The card shape and mat were cut using my Ovals Collection Framelits.

I have used the Flowering Flourishes stamp set heat embossed in Whisper White and sponged with So Saffron. I added the sentiment from Bring on the Cake in Basic Black, the Vellum Card flower was stamped using Secret Garden, cut with the corresponding framelit, heat embossed with Basic Black  sponged in So Saffron and mounted with a dimensional.

I hope you like it - here were the colours and it is Dynamic Duos #44 - visit the blog here.

Thanks for joining me today! Back tomorrow for the CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge.

Pxxx

Hopeful Thoughts from Stampin' Up! PPA153

I hope everyone had a good weekend! It's such a downer going back to work! I vote for a 3 day working week!

Today is another card I created at the weekend. This one is to be entered in the PALS challenge here.

I seem to have a 'thing' going with leaves and trees at the moment, a theme to be repeated tomorrow so remember to pop back then too!

I used the Hopeful Thoughts set for the tree and the sentiment is from Bring on the Cake from the main catalogue. The flower is from the Secret Garden set in the Spring Summer mini and has been cut with the co-ordinating framelits. The colour combo is Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and So Saffron. I used Designer Series Papers from the Subtles collection.

I accented the flower with some tiny pearls, adding the birds with a Stampin' Write Marker.

Here is the sketch - PPA153

I hope you have enjoyed today's card and look forward to you visiting tomorrow! Don't forget I love reading your comments so please share your thoughts on my work.

Paula xxx

Pinkies Blog Hop - Part One!

 

 

We’re so glad you could join us on Part 1 of the Pinkies Spring/Summer Blog Hop. We are showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin’ Up!® Spring/Summer Catalogue. We have so much inspiration to share with you we will be offering two Blog Hops - Part 2 will be tomorrow (Sunday 10th February). Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep on hopping. Do come back tomorrow to see what Part 2 has in store. We love comments, so please tell us what you think!

 

If you have arrived from Nicole's Blog, I hope you enjoyed her focus on the Just Married stamp set. These Blog Hops are such a source of inspiration!

 

I have focused on some cards using the Secret Garden Bundle. It incorporates the Stamp Set and Framelits, buying as a bundle also saves you 15% on the price of the items bought seperately. There are 3 cards for you to try at home.

My first card also uses the Top Note Die, Organza Ribbon and large Pearls. The colour scheme is Rose Red and Pretty in Pink. I coloured the flowers using a Blender Pen and ink from my pads - to do this you press on the pad when it is closed and it deposits some ink on the lid for you to pick up with the tip of the blender pen. Simples!

The sentiment is from the Bring on The Cake set.

My second card is yet again pink, but this time I have used the In-Colour Primrose Petals Ink Pad. I have cut out an aperture in the card using a Window Frames Framelit and used a slightly smaller one for inside the card. One of the fantastic things about the new style ink pads is the coverage, it means you can stamp again without re-inking and get shades of the same colour - which is how I have ended up with so many different coloured flowers.

The sentiment is from the Just Believe set.

On a similar theme I created an aperture in my final card using one of the Labels Collection Framelits, the colours are Wild Wasabi and So Saffron. The Secret Garden set means you really have plenty of scope to jazz up the cards as much as you like!

The sentiment is from the Petite Pairs Set. And that gorgeous stripy Designer Series Paper is from the co-ordinating Subtles pad of 12x12 papers. Don't despair - If you don't have a Big Shot - you can still snip out these little beauties by hand!

I hope you have enjoyed my projects as much as I enjoyed making them. If you would like to know more about Stampin' Up! Would like to hold a party, or place an order, go to the links at the top of the page and get in touch.

Do take the time to carry on round the Blog Hop and leave messages when you find something you like. We all love to hear what you think of our projects and whether you have been inspired by something you have seen.

The next stop is Diana's Blog, why don't you go and take a peek at what she has been up to?

Thanks for stopping by!

Part 2 of the Pinkies Blog Hop starts HERE so why not have a look around that too! There are loads more stunning projects to see. Have fun! xxx