No More - I can't take it!

...the excitement that is! New catalogue and Sale-A-Bration coming soon - but if you want anything for Christmas you need to order now. Last shipping date is 15th December - But I would give it a bit more if you can!

So as a demonstrator I get to see sneak peeks of the new seasonal catalogue and the Sale-a-Bration leaflet - and Oh My! I am so in trouble with my bank manager - but the products are simply amazing. I can't wait to share!

Yesterday I was at a Dabble Day - the opportunity to try 5 new crafts... I had 9 lovely ladies join me at my table and they had great fun. They were so engrossed!

I also showed some items I made recently and this one got a lot of attention...

It's a little votive for a battery operated tea light... doesn't look much? Check it out with the candle inside!

I heat embossed an image from the Hopeful Thoughts set on Vellum, cut the apertures with the Labels Framelits, used the Mosaic and Label Bracket punches.

The butterflies are stamped from Papillon Potpourri, punched using the Bitty Butterfly, coloured with Blendabilities and coated with Crystal Effects...

In fact I have been asked to run a workshop for a group of ladies to make this. I'm really looking forward to it!

If you would like to come to a class - or want me to hold a workshop in your home for you and some friends - please get in touch! Don't forget you can also host a party and you will get hostess credits from your party sales to get free products!

Sad Loss

I think there are very few people these days who have not been touched by Cancer.

Sadly this week I lost a courageous friend to Cancer. She was an amazing mother, business woman, wife and friend to many people locally and much, much too young to be struck down so very tragically.

I made the family a little card, to hopefully show how very much I have been thinking of them at this sad time. It isn't much, but hopefully will give them strength to know people are with them in spirit at such a horrible time.

It is my first screen card and it took a tragedy to motivate me to craft after a few days without my crafting mojo.

The sentiment and wording from Love and Sympathy with the single flower image were so appropriate.

Then the sprig of blossom from Hopeful Thoughts, with a hint of colour from the Blendabilities and the Papillon Potpourri butterfly coated in Crystal Effects - just set it off.

Please spare a moment in your prayers in the coming months for the family - their pain is so deep just now!

Paula xxx

Sad Occasions

Sorry I have been absent - my Mojo took a holiday.

What got me crafting again was some very sad news, that a lovely lady I know is fighting a losing battle with cancer. She is the same age as me, in her early 40's and was only recently diagnosed. Please spare a thought for her and her family.

Obviously I wanted to create something beautiful for her and put in as much love and care as possible. Sometimes a sad occasion calls for something beautiful to bring a moment of cheer.

Out came the Blendabilities and the Blended Bloom stamp. I also used a folded card I had not tried before.

I also used a stamp from Flowering Flourishes and you can just make out the glitter here on the edges of the folded petals. The little punched flowers are from the Itty Bitty Accents punch pack.

The sentiment is from Hopeful Thoughts and really expressed what words alone couldn't. Here you can see the fold.

I've been away in the caravan this weekend with no internet - though the peace was shattered by the pub next door who had a barn dance and fireworks all last night! It will be nice to be in my own bed tonight!

Blendabilities

I finally got around to playing with some of my new stash last night... but for a sad reason. One of my friends' dogs was killed by a teenager on a motorcycle racing along in the woods on a bridleway!

It's about time the police took this sort of incident seriously - it will take a child being hit before they act against this behaviour. It happens every night as I can hear them and the evidence of the motorcycle tracks is all through the woods on the narrow footpaths too... in fact I was almost mown down by one the other day - he saw the dogs and I on the path and accelerated - I had to grab the dogs collars and jump into the nettles to escape.

Anyway - I decided to make a card for my friend and used the new Blendabilities with the new Hostess Set, I Like You. I teamed them up with the sentiment from Hopeful Thoughts.

This was my first attempt at colouring with alcohol markers.

I got a little excited and coloured my pearls too!

I added a little of the new In-Colour ribbon in Hello Honey - the same colour I used for the centre of the flowers. The leaves were coloured in Mossy Meadow - the same colour as the mat. Isn't that ribbon gorgeous? It feels as rich as it looks.

Back soon... if you're lucky tomorrow!

P xxx

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

Hopeful Thoughts...

Here is another simple card using the sponging technique...

... Marina Mist sponged over a punched Scallop Circle on Whisper White cardstock. Then matted on a Marina Mist card. I then stamped the sentiment and tree from the Hopeful Thoughts stamp set.

Quick, easy and ideal as a make and take at a home party.

If you would like to invite some friends round to make this card then just call me on 07786 860438 or e-mail me here to book a party - remember the new catalogue is released on the 1st of October!

Hold a party in October and not only will you be one of the first to see the new catalogue, but you'll get a copy FREE!