Less is More - Dynamic Duo double challenge entry

Hey baby! The theme at Less is More this week is a baby card - and I have two lovely friends due in February and both are having girls, so when I saw the Dynamic Duo this week was Pink Pirouette and Pool Party, I thought it was about time I got on with those cards!

The first is one where I have utilised my alphabet sets - a rare occurrence - it is the Sketched Alphabet, framed by the Outline Alphabet. Punched out with the 3/4" circle. The Pool Party scallop was punched with the 7/8" scallop punch. The little banners were so quick and easy with my new Banner Framelits, available to order from the 28th of January. The ribbon is the Chevron ribbon from the annual catalogue and the flowers are from the new Petite Petals set - punched out with the coordinating punch.

This second card is another stunner... I have layered two tags made with the new Tag Top punch - the spots and stripes are from the new Perfect Pennants stamp set.

I used Pool Party embossing powder for the sentiment, this was from Label Love and punched out with the coordinating punch.

I hope you have enjoyed my posts this week and I hope you'll come back for more soon!

Paula xxx

Double challenge entry! I'm Back!

Well you will have noticed I haven't been doing much creating as my business has been so busy since convention.

This week I was determined to get to grips with a couple of challenges and Dynamic Duos and Less is More Challenge blogs gave me a combination that I could work with.

Dynamic Duo's Here wanted you to use Midnight Muse and any other colour - I hope silver counts!

Less is More Here wanted some sparkle - well heck, we 'do' sparkle!

So here is my entry, combining the two challenges I used my Festive Flurry stamp set, coordinating Framelits, a sentiment from Greetings of the Season.

I used Versamark to stamp the images, added Heat and Stick powder, heated then sprinkled on Silver Glitter, then heated again to set it.

I couldn't resist adding some rhinestones for a bit of extra sparkle and hope the design teams love the simplicity of the overall effect.

I'll be back soon - in the meantime - keep safe out there in these dreadful weather conditions.

Pxxx

Double Challenge Entry

Now I'm back in the crafting swing of things, I thought I would enter a few challenges again. Today's card is for 2 challenges, Dynamic Duo's #72 Here and CAS Colours and Sketches blog Here.

It's a really simple take on the CAS sketch using the Dynamic Duo of Blushing Bride and Primrose Petals.

The sentiment is from Blooming with Kindness, the card stock was cut using the Large Scallop edgelit and embossed with the Delicate Designs embossing folder.

As you can see I dressed it up with a few little pearls.

Pop back soon for another challenge entry.

Paula x

Challenge Entries.

OK - so I had to do just one more post before my holidays... especially as I had some time to kill.

I thought I would make a challenge entry, and strangely enough I was able to combine two challenges. I don't often manage that as I can usually only get my head round one thing at a time!

So today's card combines an entry into CAS Colours and Sketches and Dynamic Duos challenges.

I used the new Stylish Stripes embossing folder from the Autumn/Winter Seasonal and a stamp from Creative Elements for the background. then punched the strip of So Saffron card using the Scallop Trim border punch then added a strip of Organza Ribbon.

The topper was made by stamping the bird from the Simply Sketched hostess set, punching it out with the Extra Large Oval punch and layering it on a punched out Decorative Label.

I was quite pleased with how it turned out.

Don't forget you can order On-Line whilst I'm away!

Dynamic Diva!

Oh wow - I just can't believe it! One of my cards was selected from 51 entries in this weeks Dynamic Duo's challenge!

I am a Dynamic Duos Diva Dynamo!

I shall be smiling for the whole weekend! Or at least until I go to sleep.

Here is a reminder of my card for the challenge. You can see the Blog entry with details of how I made it here.

Dynamic Duos Challenge #67

Goodness is it nearly Thursday already? I'm just in time to submit my entry for the Dynamic Duos Challenge this week! You can visit the blog HERE

This week the colour scheme is Calypso Coral with Crisp Cantaloupe.

My card is a really simple one that had me reaching for my Big Shot.

The apertures were cut in the card stock using the Ovals Framelits, the top mat was embossed using the Polka Dot embossing folder. The butterflies were punched using the Elegant Butterfly and the  Bitty Butterfly punches, and also embossed using the Polka Dot folder.

The flourish behind was stamped using one of the Flowering Flourishes stamps.

I just love this colour combo and really enjoyed making this card!

Now you really need to come back tomorrow for the release of the NEW Seasonal Catalogue jam packed full of scrummy goodies! Don't forget now!

You can order from me wherever you are in the UK, Germany, France, Holland or Austria. So do get in touch if you have any questions - you can email me by clicking here

See you bright and early with that exciting new book of loveliness!

Paula xxx

Dynamic Duo Challenge

Hi folks - I know... 2 posts in one day! Bet you can hardly believe your luck!

I have 2 reasons for posting again today - firstly because I have Agility training after work tomorrow and will not have time to post and secondly because as well as sharing my challenge entry I have some news!

I am starting up cardmaking and papercraft classes in Risborough - or in your own home if you wish to get a group of friends together. Here is the poster I made:

What do you think of it? I made it with the help of some software new to the UK - MDS (My Digital Studio) It is a Stampin' Up! product that will be available to you soon for the bargain price of just £13.95! It includes a fantastic selection of patterned papers and images from the Stampin' Up! range, including virtual card stock in all the colours so you can create photo pages, scrap books etc. I used the same software to create the video headers on my earlier video. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon.

And here is my Dynamic Duos challenge entry for this week. The colours were Summer Starfruit and Gumball Green, two of the in-colours from 2012-2014... so they're only available for another 12 months!

I have seen this stamp set used in lots of places and fell in love with it - it is called Blooming with Kindness and that blossom is just so stunning with amazing detail!

The stripes were just drawn on with a ruler and my Stampin' Right Markers.

Hope you like it and I'll be back Friday with another challenge entry.

Visit the Dynamic Duos blog here

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

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

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

Bordering on...

...something. But not sure what! I am on a course at work today, so it could be an 'interesting' day. You know how these things go. Sometimes you just wonder how anyone thought up a course on the subject. Now if it were a crafting course I would be much more 'up for it'.

Today's post is the first of 3 showcasing some colouring - it is an entry for Dynamic Duos challenge this week which is to use Pool Party and Lucky Limeade. I'm not keen on Lucky Limeade... so I hope this card is OK as it is definitely not a combo I would have chosen myself. If you click on the Dynamic Duos image in this post it will take you to the challenge blog.

So this is my take on the challenge.

I embossed an image from Bordering on Romance with pool party embossing powder on Vellum cardstock. I then coloured the images using a Blender Pen. Now I would like to have used my Stampin' Write Markers but don't have them in the 2011-13 in-colours, so how did I do it? If you squeeze your stamp pad gently before opening it you have a pool of ink on the lid. Dip in your Blender Pen and you can 'paint' with it. Awesome! I do love the way the ink takes on the Vellum, such a soft effect.

I love to hear what you think and love to see how you manage to use different techniques. Please leave a comment and if you like, a link to your own creations!

See you again tomorrow! xxx

A little bit of Spring!

Chris is a little down at the moment - I think he was expecting a miracle with the visit to the orthopod yesterday, unfortunately he now has to wait 2-3 weeks for some injection of a nerve blocker into the spine. If you have any ideas what a very physical, immobile man can do to alleviate the boredom of four walls please share! I suggested crafting, cross stitch, embroidery, knitting, crochet... lead and balloon spring to mind!

I forgot to tell you all I have joined Pinterest! So I now have something else to be addicted to! Can I please book an extra couple of hours to be added to my days?

I decided I needed something springlike to celebrate the lovely weather yesterday and the fact that winter really can't last forever! I created this card.

The daffodils are made by stamping the image from Secret Garden with Daffodil Delight on Daffodil Delight card stock and cut out using the corresponding Framelits, I then punched the middles using the Boho Blossom Punch and sponged the edges and inked the middles which are then attached using dimensionals.

The stems are from Secret Garden too and stamped in Garden Green.

Finally the flower pot is simply a punched Large oval, embossed with the Chevron Embossing Folder.

I have entered this in the Dynamic Duos challenge #42 this week, see here

Why not create a little spring yourself?

Paula xxx

Double Challenge Entry

You know how it is... you're snuggled up under the duvet when a burst of creative ideas explode in your head. You can't shake them, but all you want to do is sleep. An hour later you can't resist any further and you 'have' to get up and put the idea down on paper. Or in my case on card!

I had two challenges I wanted to enter and had this explosion of inspiration at 11:15pm, when I should have been asleep for an hour!

The two challenges were (click on the images to visit the challenge pages):

My take on the combined challenges is this. So I managed to incorporate the Cloud option too!

I used the Hearts a Flutter Framelits to make the clouds and used Basic Black to define the edges, and the edges of the circle. The sentiment is from Petite Pairs and the ship is from The Open Sea. I thought the Bakers Twine added a nautical touch too and the little silver button from the Spring/Summer Mini keeps it nice and masculine.

Inside the card I stuck a Top Note roughly stamped with the globe from The Open Sea.

I hope you like it. I was really pleased with my nightime activities and returned to bed around midnight and went out like a light!

I am just relieved I am posting in time to meet the Dynamic Duos deadline of 12 noon PST!

Paula xxx

Double Challenge Entry

I hope you enjoyed the Pinkies Blog Hops this weekend. We had great fun and I was so impressed with everyones projects.

I have been enjoying challenges so much I am being brave and combining two challenges today!

I have really focused on all the new Spring/Summer products so today I have incorporated a couple of old favourites!

The stamped flower is from the Love and Sympathy set, the sentiment from Petite Pairs.

The DSP is the Natural Composition Speciality Designer Series Paper, cut with the Adorning Accent Edgelit, embossed with the corresponding Adorning Accent embossing folder.

The patterned paper is Comfort Cafe, the ribbon and buttons are Sale-a-bration items. You can get these free with a £45 order! The little pearl is from my stash. It just matched so perfectly!

A little tip for threading your buttons... thread a needle with normal thread, go in and out of the same hole in your button leaving a loop. Thread the end of your ribbon through the loop, pull the cotton taut and pull the loop through and the ribbon will come too!

I hope you like this one - do let me know. I love to get comments!

The first challenge is Dynamic Duos Colour challenge you can visit their blog here - Dynamic Duos

The second is the Mojo Monday Challenge 280 you can visit them here - Mojo Monday

 



Come back and visit soon!

Paula xxx