It's all about the boys...

Hope you had a good weekend, I'm doing month end processing for my day job... so I'm working 10 hour days then Stampin' Up! at home. But Stampin' Up! 'stuff' doesn't feel like work - I love it so much.

I needed a card suitable for a youngster, my nephews' 14th (Oh goodness when did he go and grow up?!) birthday.

It's always a tough one but Gorgeous Grunge to the rescue again!

It's just so versatile! I loved using all the browns and what a great use of the Hello You Thinlits.

I have a 'thing' about the Linen Thread too...

Now I have to place another order tonight as I earned some freebies from Stampin' Up! If you want the chance to earn free product and get a discount on your purchases then get in touch with me.

If you would like to 'tag on' to my order and are local enough to collect - You need to let me know by 9pm... you have 2 hours!

Back soon!

Can't contain myself!

You won't... or maybe you will... understand how excited I am!

I haven't posted as I have been so busy designing my new studio! Whilst we're on holiday a lovely chap will be building us a cabin that will be my craft studio! Can't wait to show you the pictures...

Here is the design using my husbands kitchen design software.

Here's another angle - I feel there will need to be a video tour too!

I have been doing a little crafting with my new product but with 2 classes a week it's been a bit difficult. I have been going to bed so late!

Here is one I made for a male friend. I almost forgot his birthday so it was made in a hurry before my new products arrived.

Thank goodness for Gorgeous Grunge - it is so versatile and the Linen Thread is one of my all time favourites.

I promise I'll post some new stuff soon! In the meantime if you want to book a class in July... I'll just say butterflies!!!!!!!!!!!!

Later!

Paula xxx

Slide on over...

...and see the last of the 3 slider cards. I'm not sure of the colours here and might tweak them but I love the idea.

 The Hardwood stamp is so versatile, here I used it for the planter. The Petite Petals stamp set and matching punch get a lot of outings and this was no exception.

Teamed up with a background made using the leaves from Kinda Eclectic and the label punched using the Decorative Label punch.

Like monday the pull is punched with the Ornate Tag Topper with Seam Binding and this time, Linen Thread added.

This week I am on a 4 day Health and Safety Course... so I hope I'll squeeze in some crafting.

Here's the tutorial to keep you busy!

Moon Lake - My Take...

I'm a poet... LOL

So Saleabration is over for another year. It is such an amazing event but there are lots more fabulous things to be expected this year. What I will say though is that if you are in love with the 2013-16 in colours - you need to think about stocking up before they retire as stocks are already being snapped up!

I have been trying to get a new mobile phone contract but it's so complex - can you believe I can get the SAME contract, on the SAME network cheaper through a 3rd party than from the network themselves. Unbelievable!

Back to the crafting though - I really love the Moon Lake set and having seen some simply stunning cards, decided to have a go myself... here are my efforts.

I used my blender pens to create a water coloured effect... What do you think? And the candy dot bases add a little touch of elegance.

As soon as I saw the bird I knew it had to be a blue tit... I added a rustic touch with the woodgrain embossing folder and the linen thread. Sponging the cardstock with crumb cake ink.

Finally was the little canada goose... I think I went a little too dark with the shading and I didn't get the water quite right, I had a go at some piercing and tore some kraft card stock for the mat.

I keep going back to the sentiments in the Blooming with Kindness set as they are so ornate and classical.

If you would like to come along to a class check out the tab above or you can shop direct with me using the button at the top of the right hand bar...

Paula xxx

Lovely as a Tree 3D special

I've tried to get a little ahead of myself and as yet I have the Flowering Flourishes classes on Monday and the 12th November... But towards the end of November and early December we're doing something a little bit different!

Here are what I am planning.

First off everyone will make one of these Tea Light Screens (Get your battery operated tea lights now if you are planning on coming!)

Whilst the screens are drying we'll make this simple card with a little sponging and some Candy Dots...

Next this card with a little texture from the Woodgrain embossing folder and some more Candy Dots

Then we are going to use the Envelope Punch Board to make this super cute box, decorated with Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Washi Tape and leaves cut using the Autumn Accents Bigz Die.

I LOVE the acorns and just had to add some sparkle with the Gold Glimmer Paper here.

Lastly we are making another box with the Envelope Punch Board, Decorating it with Lovely as a Tree, more elements from the Autumn Accents Bigz Die and more of that Linen Thread.

Tucked away inside are these cute cards...

It's going to be a packed class - so if there's anyone who would like to do it on a Saturday or Sunday daytime to avoid a potentially late night... just give me a shout!

Told you it was going to be a special class!

Hope you had an awesome weekend!

Paula xxx

Old Favourites - Bird Builder

You know sometimes you see something that inspires you to pull out those old favourites?

Well a few weeks back I saw something on Pinterest I liked but didn't Pin. I recreated it as best as I could from memory. If you designed the original please let me know so I can credit you!

Just lovely and simple using the Bird Builder punch, Linen Thread and a heart punch.

A colleague at work took it for his wife for their anniversary... I'm glad it's going to a good home!

Back soon! xxx

Dad Birthday Card

It was my Dad's birthday the other day and I gave him this card. I'm off to a tiny Greek island this evening. My amazing Upline is staying in the house for me looking after the cats (snake/rabbit and geckos) - she has even taken time off work so she can spend all day having kitty cuddles - Bless her! She is ace!

I just adore the Glimmer Paper and Gorgeous Grunge! The little button is one of the Basic Metal Buttons and the sentiment is from Sassy Salutations. These products are all available now!

I tied the button with a little Linen Thread. Just perfect for Masculine Cards! So order now as it's not in the new catalogue! Shock Horror!!

You can buy them now in my On-Line store - It's completely secure and if you choose not to let me see your details - the system can hide them from me if you want to remain anonymous! So your information is protected as much as you would want it to be.

Basic Metal Buttons

£7.25

Linen Thread

£3.95

Silver Glimmer Paper

£4.50

Gorgeous Grunge Wood

£21.95

Gorgeous Grunge Clear

£17.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

It never rains...

...but by golly it's wet out there!

I had a fabulous weekend at a dog Agility show this weekend in the south of England... although Saturday morning was a washout, the afternoon was pretty dry. The rain overnight though was so loud on the caravan, with the wind shaking it too, I didn't sleep much. Sunday was a lot drier but this afternoon the rain has struck again with a vengeance, fortunately I got the dogs walked in a short dry spell.

I hope you had a lovely weekend and enjoyed Thursdays Tutorial, I have a few more coming this week and todays' is for a box I designed to hold some cards I made.

Here are the cards...

I used the Polka Dot Parade DSP, Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Vintage Faceted Buttons and Linen Thread.

Here is the box...

... and with the cards inside

Did you spot that neat little fastening system? It uses the Tag Topper Punch, a small punched circle using the Itty Bitty Punch pack and a Silver Mini Brad.

Here is the video tutorial - I hope you'll have as much fun making the box as I did!

Hand Embossing The Open Sea

Today I'm sharing a video for an ideal masculine card for any occasion!

The technique at the beginning of the video is one of the first things I learnt at our quarterly training when I first joined the Pinkies. If you would like to join my team you will also benefit from the fabulous training and social opportunities as well as being part of such a big supportive network of crafters!

Anyhow, back to the card. I have used, The Open Sea, World Map, Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Natural Designer Buttons, Envelope Punch Board, Circles Framelits and my Big Shot.

Check out the video below and visit my YouTube channel for other fabulous tutorials!

Down on the farm!

Normally I formulate a card design in my head, sometimes I'll sketch it out but I never design as I work and usually complete a card in one sitting (last night the juices were flowing and I stayed up until 2am!).

This week was the exception, I knew I wanted to use the Harvest Blessings set, in particular the image of the tractor on my Dad's Fathers Day card - as he has a small farm.

So I started by stamping it out... then thought I would make it into a pop up card... and that was the end of day one.

Throughout the week I added bits and pieces. Turning the card into a barn - I just love the little mouse from Life In The Forest peeking out from the grain sack made from a short piece of Burlap Ribbon tied with some Linen Thread.

The barn doors and walls are of course made from the Hardwood stamp, with Candy Dot door handles.

Once I had mounted the tractor and finished the front of the card, I felt the inside needed a bit more attention. In a flash of inspiration I thought how fabulous the Word Bubbles framelits would be as tractor smoke - and the sentiment from the corresponding Just Sayin' stamp was just perfect.

Finally I thought I would use the Banner punch from Saleabration to decorate the bottom - If you missed it during SAB - don't despair. It will be back in the main catalogue later in the year.

That Sketch Alphabet is such a useful size!

I can't wait to give it to him now! I'm sure he'll love it. I just need to make sure I don't put it in one of "those" safe places you can never remember. Hope you've had a good weekend!

Sunny Sunday - World Map v Open Seas and Friendship Preserves v Harvest Blessings!

I don't know about you but I have woken up to gorgeous sunshine this morning. I finally stopped crafting at 3am and discovered lots of other crafters were still on-line. Are we all insomniacs?

I did get lots done and I have 2 cards that will just make it into the challenges for this week by the skin of their teeth!

I have been doing a lot to promote my Stampin' Up! business the last few days and I am amazed at how far and wide you all are. The US, Australia, Malta, Germany, France, the Netherlands... I just couldn't say how many more - I just want to say a huge thank you to you all for following me and I hope you share my posts with your friends - that would be awesome!

The first card today is for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge, as soon as I saw the sketch an idea began to form - it uses one stamp I hadn't opened yet and one I hadn't used for a long while - and I created a masculine card... always useful!

I started by stamping the World Map on Crumb Cake card stock, then dabbed various colour stamp pads on the same stamp and stamped that on Very Vanilla. I cut out a circle with my Circles Framelits and stuck it down. I decided to put it not quite central so I could add the ship from The Open Sea.

Lastly the band is Soft Brown Sugar with Very Vanilla and the sentiment from Blooming with Kindness stamped in Baked Brown Sugar too. Here is the Sketch -

The second card is for the Pals Paper Arts challenge and will hopefully appeal to my American friends - we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving here in the same way, though the churches and schools celebrate Harvest Festival.

The two stamps I used were the 'Hello' from Friendship Preserves, cut out using the co-ordinating framelits and the pumpkins and apples from Harvest Blessings.

The image is coloured using my Stampin' Write markers in Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzaz and Baked Brown Sugar.

The textured mat is Baked Brown Sugar cardstock run through the Square Lattice folder which I think has a suitably rustic look. Especially when combined with the strands of Linen Thread.

Another card suitable for either gender.

I'm off to do some household chores now including de-frosting the freezer as 'someone' didn't shut the door properly yesterday (he hates it when I say 'someone' as 'he' knows it's him!).

Enjoy your sunday!

Paula xxx