Sad News

It's always particularly sad when we lose someone close to us and I always feel I want to give people in that situation the biggest hug as I really feel for them.

I'm not always in a position to do that so I hope the cards I make and send act as 'virtual' hugs.

That Birthday Blossoms is quickly becoming a 'go to' set for me. Teamed with Papillon Potpourri it was the perfect combination to say 'I'm thinking of you'.

I've only been home a few hours and have so much to do... you know how it is when you've been away!

Don't forget if you want to save on P&P and collect from me I need your order by Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning latest.

One of those moments...

I woke up this morning to overcast skies and drizzle... but I don't know if it happens to you but I often wake in the night with ideas for cards.

Last week I had a few of those, and for many years now I have kept a pad and pen by the bed as there's nothing more frustrating that getting up in the morning having forgotten what it was you had thought of in the night!

This is one of the outcomes and I'll be sharing more in the next few days - each with a video tutorial.

I call it the Arcing Slider Card... see how the butterfly flies up the card? Simply done with the Circles Collection Framelits.

How cute is that? The flowers are stamped using Flower Shop cut out with the matching Pansy punch, the butterfly is from Papillon Pot Pourri, cut with the Elegant Butterfly punch.

Both styles of leaves are cut using the Bird Builder punch. All the supplies are Stampin' Up! and available from my on-line shop.

Here is the video for you if you would like to have a go yourself. Have fun and I'll be back later with another post... The next card I'll be showing features owls...

Out of Office...

Yup - I'm having a couple of days away so thought I would pop up a quick post to let you know and share something GORGEOUS.

I'm sure the animals will be pleased I'm gone - and hubby won't miss the nagging... MUCH!

I was asked to make a birthday card for someone special. So I came up with this...

I don't often use DSP but I loved this free with a £45 order during Saleabration.... lots of layers and lots of sponging.

The embossing on the Vellum is adorable and wouldn't be complete without a couple of pearls... and a butterfly!

This is one of those cards where I emptied half the drawers and cupboards in the craft room... So way too many products to mention. But you can always send me a message if you would like to know what products I used.

Back with something else on Thursday!

Paula xxx

Butterflies

I know - I am so rubbish! Can't believe it's been 4 days since I posted. I have loads of new goodies from the upcoming new Autumn/Winter Seasonal catalogue and haven't even opened them yet!

If you would like £150 of product for just £99 - You need to get in touch now as you only have from tomorrow until the 29th August to take advantage of this joining offer - And no further obligation though I can guarantee you'll love being part of my team and the wider Pink Ladies!

I have just been so unbelievably busy, rushing round like a loony. I was going to go away in my caravan for the weekend but decided I need to prep for Tuesdays class and get on with my Project Life album - I was up until midnight last night printing off over 200 photo's.

Sometimes although I have new stash - I like to fish out some old favourites and make something... it's warm and comforting like an old jumper.

Papillon Potpourri and Gorgeous Grunge had an outing the other day.

I started with this one and used the sentiment from Something to Say and the embossing folder is Decorative Dots. I was really pleased with the result and it's amazing how the neutrals - in this case Crumb Cake, give a card something.

Anyway - I was on a roll so decided to step it up a bit and made this one too...

I gave the sentiment more depth by mounting it on Dimensionals and added a flourish with the Linen Thread.

Isn't it amazing how much difference a tiny adjustment can make - all the products I used are shown below and are available from my on-line shop?

Well I'm off to start cutting out those photos and play with my Project Life goodies.

Back Soon! xxxx

Gorgeous Grunge

£21.95

Gorgeous Grunge

£17.95

Papillon Potpourri

£16.95

Papillon Potpourri Clear-Mount Stamp Set

£13.95

Something To Say Wood-Mount Stamp Set

£26.95

Something To Say Clear-Mount Stamp Set

£19.95

Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

£7.50

Elegant Butterfly Punch

£14.25

Bitty Butterfly Punch

£14.25

Word Window Punch

£14.25

Banner Punch

£11.50

Linen Thread

£3.95

2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack

£19.50

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Swallowtail

I held off buying this stamp for quite a while as I was unsure what to do with it... But I have seen so many beautiful cards... and I just love it so much!

Of course it goes really well with Papillon Potpourri, the focus for the card classes in May (contact me for details if you are interested). The main sentiments I have used are from Sassy Salutations... the 'Good Luck' one is retired.

Here are a few of the cards I've been making.

The detail in this stamp is exquisite! Here's a close up of the yellow one with the butterfly punched out of Papillon Potpourri with the Elegant Butterfly punch. I coloured it with a Blender Pen. 

Hope you'll pop back soon - I have some great ideas 'brewing'!

Floral Home Decor

This weekend I have had a love affair with my Spiral Flower Die... I admit, when I started I had no idea how this would turn out... and now? I am so in love with this project and I have something completely different to show you tomorrow that involves sewing.

But for now this is what I made...

I coloured the dowel by simply rolling it on my Gumball Green ink pad!

The roses are made using Crushed Curry card stock and sponged on the edges with Tangerine Tango on a Sponge Dauber.

The butterflies are from Papillon Pot Pourri, I stamped them in Soft Suede and then coloured them using Blushing Bride and a Blender Pen. They were punched out with the Elegant Butterfly punch.

I hope you love this project as much as I do!

Back tomorrow with something completely different!

Pxxx

A little flutter

Just a quicky... only because I have been so busy I haven't had time to craft and I need to get ready for Wednesday's class... I'm at Pinkies training on Monday, Yoga Tuesday, Class Wednesday and Agility with the dogs Thursday!

Tomorrow is a super special day too as a few of us Pinkies (Members of Michelle Last's downline) are doing a Blog hop to introduce products from the new occasions catalogue! So please stop by to have a look!

Don't forget all the special deals throughout Sale-a-Bration... including the option to join for just £99 and get £150 worth of products. I am also booking parties for March now as you can tell I am a busy lady so get in quick with your preferred dates!

The card I am showcasing today uses two of my favourite 'go to' sets that have been neglected with Christmas and all the new products - can you believe I have 4 new stamp sets still waiting to be mounted!

I have used Coastal Cabana card stock and matching Designer Series Paper, then the two gorgeous butterflies from Papillon Potpourri are mounted on one of the labels from Chalk Talk... inked up in Smoky Slate and cut out with the corresponding framelits.

Lastly that fun sentiment is from Sassy Salutations.

Isn't it a pretty card?

Here is a closer look at those butterflies. They were punched out using the coordinating punches - Elegant Butterfly and Bitty Butterfly.

Don't forget to pop back for tomorrows' Blog hop - meanwhile I'm just popping out to do some deliveries to some very excited ladies... one of whom is very heavily pregnant and in need of something she can do without having to stand up! I'm just so grateful we haven't been too badly hit by the floods - At least I don't have to swim to them.

See you tomorrow!

Pxxx

Winter Blues - Less is More Challenge

This weeks challenge over at Less is More (Here) is shades of blue with the theme Winter Blues.

The thing that makes me blue about Winter is the lack of flowers, butterflies and the fact I can't take the dogs for beautiful long walks. Luckily we are in an area relatively unaffected by the flooding but our thoughts and good wishes go out to all the people affected.

Whilst I'm on the subject of the weather - I know I have quite a few followers in the US so I hope you are all safe and keeping warm with the dreadful weather you have over there! I would be grateful of some ice and snow - at least the dogs would be clean! But I don't envy you and my love goes to my family in the Mid West.

Here is my card for the challenge. I have used a non SU embossing folder as I am selling it and needed to show a sample. It has now gone! But all the other items are from Stampin' Up!

The butterflies are from Papillon Potpourri, punched out with the co-ordinating Elegant and Bitty Butterfly punches. The sentiment is from Blooming with Kindness.

The blue ink is Pacific Point - which is a stunning shade of blue, contrasted here with Smoky Slate.

I hope you like my entry and remember if you would like to book a party I have evenings and weekends available. You can also place orders with me at any time - just use the Contact Me page to get in touch.

Take care and I'll be back soon!

Paula xxx

Pinkie Swaps for Convention

By the time you read this I will be waiting for my train to Manchester!

Yup the day has finally arrived and I am so excited! Nearly 1000 Stampin' Up! Demonstrators from across Europe will be coming together for this amazing event. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share next week!

Tonight at about 9pm after the early registration and Silver Reception, the Pinkies are meeting up. We're going to do some swapping and just really say Hi to each other.

I wanted to make exclusive Pinkie swaps but couldn't really think of what to make until a friend bought me a bag of 'Lifesavers' back from the US - for those of you who don't know they are fruit flavoured and about the same size as Polo's.

Well I figured, what could be more appropriate for Convention Goers than some Lifesavers? If nothing else it's something to suck whilst watching presentations.

I used the Labels Collection Framelits to make toppers for the bags and added Butterflies from Papillon PotPourri - punched with the Elegant Butterfly, and Flowers from Flower Shop, punched out with the Pansy Punch.

I hope my fellow Pinkies enjoy them!

Back soon with my other Convention Swap!

xxx

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

Best of 25 years set 2 - Best of Butterflies!

This month, just whilst we wait for tomorrows launch of the new catalogue, I am happy to show you the second in Stampin' Up!'s 'Best Of' stamp sets.

You can order all of the sets (one released each month until October) until the end of March 2014 and this month sees the Best of Butterflies. Including one never before seen image... that just happens to co-ordinate with our Elegant Butterfly Punch!

The set is just £13.95 and can be added to your order from the new catalogue!

How can you resist?

Don't forget if you place an order before 8pm on Wednesday you will get FREE carriage if you are local to me and I will pay your delivery charge to deliver direct if you order more than £50 worth of product!

If you order for delivery direct I can add a catalogue for £5

Back tomorrow to launch the new catalogue! I'm so excited to be able to share it with you! I can't wait!!!

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

Lime & Black

I was going to post something else today but it can wait until tomorrow. Why? Well I saw the Less is More challenge to use Lime and Black and couldn't resist!

You can visit the challenge page here.

My card used Lucky Limeade and Basic Black... my last challenge entry lacked any 'space', so I hope this meets the brief a little more accurately!

I used the Love & Sympathy stamp set and the two butterfly punches. I used the technique I mentioned the other day of adhering the two butterflies with Tombow and running them through the Big Shot.

Well back tomorrow - Thank goodness it's the weekend!

Pxx

Secret Garden and Dry Embossed Butterfly

I saw 3 butterflies flying around in the sunshine on Saturday, so I was inspired with the (finally) spring like weather to make something really bright.

I used Summer Starfruit card stock for the base, repeatedly stamping the flower from Secret Garden... you get the different tones by not re-inking after each stamp. The sentiment is Beautiful Birthday, a single stamp so really affordable if you are on a budget.

Finally I added the little butterfly...

How did you make that I hear you ask (or not!) - well I punched the Elegant Butterfly out of Raspberry Ripple, then a Bitty Butterfly out of Primrose Petals. I then used Tombow to stick them together. Once stuck I put the butterfly in the Delicate Designs embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot. Gorgeous isn't it!

That's it from me for today. I'm off to work then watching Holby tonight! LOL - my little vice.

Come back tomorrow... I'm having a play with owls!

Pxx

Pals Paper Arts Challenge - PPA152

Today we had some good news - Hubby has an emergency appointment tomorrow with a specialist to look at his back. Hopefully he'll get fixed as I'm not sure how much longer either of us can cope with his pain levels... for different reasons!

Todays Pals Challenge is a colour challenge. A card using the following 3 colours.

 

I have made my card using Real Red as the card base, I then added a piece of Pool Party Core-Dinations card stock, this is fabby stuff as the inner layer is lighter so you can use the Stampin' Up! Sanding System to gently remove the top layer and reveal the lighter colour below. I did that at each end where I had embossed the layer with the Adorning Accents heart folder.

Next I added a wide band of Real Red with a layer of DSP from the Print Poetry set in the new catalogue, it just happened to be Real Red and Primrose Petals!

On the band I stuck a scallop oval in Real Red and a sentiment from Petite Pairs stamped in Real Red on Pool Party and cut out with the Oval Punch.

Finally I used my Versamark to stamp one of the Papillon Potpourri butterflies on Primrose Petals card stock and embossed it with the lovely new Pool Party Embossing Powder. These were punched out with the corresponding Elegant Butterfly punch and added to the card.

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed todays offerings and if you would like to order any of the products, join my team or just find out a little more about Stampin' Up! Visit my contact page and get in touch! And pop back on Saturday for our Blog Hop!

 

Paula xxx