Wondering Wednesday...

So here I sit, alone (well apart from the menagerie), blogging away and start to think.

Steady! I know a dangerous passtime in itself.

Does anyone actually read my Blog? Am I sitting here in my own little bit of cyberspace blogging to fresh air?

I would like to think someone out there is looking at my creations and maybe feeling just a little bit inspired. Crafting is something we tend to do on our own, which I think is why it is so hard to find other crafters.

I would like to think that there are lots of people, just like me, who squirrel themselves away with their stash of crafting goodies and make beautiful things all over Thame, Haddenham, Chinnor, Princes Risborough, Naphill etc etc.

It's one of the reasons I joined Stampin' Up! I have a purpose and reason to share the things I have learnt on my crafting journey and I can share some of those things with the ladies who have parties.

I like to think the projects I choose to demonstrate and the attendees get to make and take away with them give them a sense of achievement. You don't have to be a crafter to be able to take that feeling away with you.

Today I'm going to share a really simple card to make - and maybe you'll feel inspired to copy and share it with others - or just to make it yourself and feel the sense of satisfaction that comes from creativity. Sometimes a sense of achievement can be a rare thing in our lives. It's just nice to have that boost every now and then.

 



I used the Ornament Keepsake Framelits to cut an aperture in a piece of card stock, embossed it with the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, then stuck strips of off cuts of Festival of Prints Designer Series paper on a scrap of card mounted behind the aperture. I added the bow using Certainly Celery 1cm Taffeta ribbon and added it to a Whisper White card. Done!!! And so easy.

Don't forget if you buy the Ornament Keepsake Bundle and Candlelight Christmas Speciality Designer Series Paper or the stamp set alone with the Designer Series Paper you get the Festive Paper Piercing pack FREE

Hope someone out there in Cyber Space is reading this and I'll be back with another post soon!

Paula xx

Stampin' Up! - Bordering on Romance

Tuesday evening we had a great time at a party - all of the guests were Stamping and Sticking and for many (hopefully) enjoying their first crafting experience.

We really went to town with punches, the Big Shot and glitter. What a fab way to break up the working week.

What is even better is the party sales figure meant the lovely Hostess got £40 off a Big Shot! Bargain.

So here's to something else I made this week. If you remember I was a little dubious of my colouring skills. But Stampin' Up! products do really help you get the hang of new techniques...

Maybe my colouring skills aren't quite as bad as I thought!

For this card I used Pink Pirouette as the main focus colour and the Bordering on Romance Stamp Set. I also used the co-ordinating Adorning Accents Framelits and Edgelits, the Labels Collection Framelits and Fancy Fan embossing folder.

To get the shading just right I actually coloured using ink from my ink pads, painted on with my Blender Pens.

I hope you like it... remember if there is a particular style or technique you would like to try I am just on the end of the phone. I can also demonstrate it at a party or workshop.

Please leave a comment and consider holding a party yourself... you could qualify for at least £25 worth of FREE product!

Paula xxx

Window to Stampin' Up!

Tomorrow is the big Pinkies Blog Hop - I hope you are looking forward to it!

In the mean time here is another card using some more of my new craft items from the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue. This uses one of the Stamp Sets that has a co-ordinating punch.

 

If you would like to order any of the products used to make this card then please give me a call. 07786 860438.

 Card Stock is:

• Not Quite Navy
• Marina Mist
• Whisper White
• Bashful Blue.

Ink is:

• Marina Mist
• Not Quite Navy.

Stamp Sets are:

• Petite Pairs
• Just Believe
• Language of Friendship (Co-Ordinating Punches).

Punches are:

• 1" Square
• Boho Blossoms
• Bird Builder
• Curly Label.

Embossing Folder is:

• Framed Tulips.

Ribbon is:

• 1cm Taffeta in Not Quite Navy.

See you all again soon! Don't forget to check in tomorrow to follow the new Pinkies Blog Hop!

 

Bad Blogger!

I have failed - I'm so sorry!

I had all good intentions to take my camera and get lots of fantastic photo's at the Pinkies' Training on Sunday. Unfortunately my organisational skills didn't extend to remembering to put a memory card in the camera!

To make up for it I am showing you the most fantastic 'Make and Take' that we were able to make.

Now I am not the fastest crafter in the world so I completed it last night so I could show you all!

 

It is a stunning notecard holder with 4 notecards - Isn't it just beautiful!?

 

Here are the notecards to go inside...

 

 



 The design uses just one Stampset. Kindness Matters... Can you believe it is only £8.95 for the clear set! The colours are Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Whisper White.

There are a number of different Edgelits, Framelits and Embossing folders - I hope you agree it is a truly stunning set and would make a great gift!

The Paper used to make the folders is almost card stock thickness and is the Natural Composition Speciality Designer Series Paper. Not something I have really taken much notice of before but this little project highlighted it's versatility - I LOVE it!

Thank you to the lovely Nicky Dexter and Michelle Last who came up with this Make and Take - Very Happy!

Back soon so keep your eyes peeled for the next project I will be showing you - I can assure you it is something completely different!

Paula xxx





Chocolate!

Tonight I went to a Chocolate party... Oh dear! Too much lovely chocolate to resist!

I did miss crafting for the evening but they were a lovely bunch of ladies, some of whom I will be seeing at a party later this month.

Hopefully I'll be able to take some pictures at the party and post them on here!

Paula xx

Decorating Glass Jars with Stampin' Up!

Sometimes you are left with the most beautiful jars and it seems such a waste to put them in the Recycle Bin... Some are just crying out to be crafted with!

So here is a simple example of what you can do with a couple of  Stamp Sets, some Card, Patterned Paper and a Big Shot!

Just what to put in it? :-)

I used Twitterpated Paper then used the Windows Framelits dies to cut out, first the Summer Starfruit card stock, that I embossed on the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, I Stamped the label in Raspberry Ripple using the Friendship Preserves Stamp Set, then cut that out too with the appropriate sized framelit.

A little tip when adhering something quite stiff to a rounded surface, to help prevent it coming unstuck is to place it in your palm and gently 'slide' it over the edge of yout table, this causes it to curve so it will stick more firmly without wanting to come unstuck!

The flowers were stamped from the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set, Raspberry Ripple and Summer Starfruit ink and punched using the Blossom Punch and the 1" Circle Punch. I added one of the larger pearls to the centre and the leaves can be hand cut! I cheated though and used the Ornament Framelit that is the perfect shape and my Simply Scored scoreboard to add detail.

The ribbons are the Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta on the lid and 3/8" Taffeta in Certainly Celery.

To finish off I thought the lid needed something more than just the ribbon...

Here I used all 3 sizes of the Scallop Circle Punches and embossed each one, I used the Perfect Polka Dots, Square Lattice and the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folders... and added another leaf to finish.

This was a fun project and enabled me to showcase lots of my Stampin' Up! supplies, you don't need to use quite so many products to create a similar project.

Why not give me a call or post a comment if you would like me to make some suggestions as to how you could do something similar?

Remember - if you become a demonstrator you can receive product in your Starter Kit to the value of £130 for just £99! And don't forget if you join in October or November you also get FREE Designer Patterned Papers!

Paula xx

Crafters Countdown to Heaven!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is it... the final few hours before I can officially reveal to you the NEW 2012-2013 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue and Ideas Book.

We demonstrators are so excited and as we get to see the catalogue early, we all have the most humongous wish lists.

There are so many new and exciting products coming that I can't wait to show you. Though I know that you have probably had a bit of a sneak peek already.

Believe it or not it is nearly twice the size of the old catalogue.

As well as introducing more Clear Stamp combinations to enhance the Wooden range, there are new Ribbons, Brads, Embossing Powders, Glitter Papers, Card, the all new style Ink Pads, Patterned Papers, Scrap Booking kits, redesigns of some of the old favourites like the Heat Gun and Stampin' Scrub!

(Oh the Stampin' Scrub - most of my customers and I can't live without them, at first I thought it was an uneccessary luxury... but now. Life is so much easier!)

...where was I? Oh yes! There are new Designer Buttons, Storage Solutions, Glitters, Pearlescent Sprays, You can record your own Sound Card and Decorate it, the Cookie Stamps in the Autumn/Winter Catalogue have two sets of friends in the New Catalogue. They even come with their own recipe!

New Fabrics, Dies, Adhesives, Embossing Folders, Paper Piercing Packs to co-ordinate with the Punches and Dies.

 

Well - you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see, it really is the complete Crafters Paradise!! Whatever Crafts you do... So don't forget to bookmark my Blog as I shall be updating for you as soon as Stampin' Up! publish the Catalogue on line.

If you want to order anything from the new Catalogue, for just £4.95 I can get the goods delivered straight to your door! Call me on 07786 860438 or e-mail Here