Flower Fun

I have to apologise for my lack of posts - it was my wedding anniversary at the weekend and we also had our 6 year old niece to stay... it's hard work entertaining small children. I hope you had a fab weekend!

To top it all it is year end at work so I was at work for twelve and a half hours today! And I have an awful feeling I'm coming down with a strep throat.

It never rains...! Anyhow, to brighten my mood (before I take to my sick bed) I thought I would share this card I made a while ago.

The flowers are from Secret Garden, embossed in white embossing powder then coloured in Calypso Coral with a Blender Pen.

The leaves were fussy cut from Simply Sketched after I heat embossed them and coloured them in the same way. (I love those leaves!)

Finally the sentiment was stamped using the Perfect Pennants set. I really like this card and must knuckle down and make some more!

Hope you like it too!

Pxxx

Unashamedly CASEd

I saw this card on Pinterest and absolutely loved it... I printed off the picture to CASE and can't for the life of me find the original post/Pin... So if you were the original designer - please leave me a message and a link to your blog so I can give you the credit you deserve!

Why can't I ever think of anything as gorgeous? I used the Flower Shop bundle, the Label Card thinlits, the Secret Garden framelits and have you spotted the Candy Dots?

The flowers were heat embossed with Whisper White embossing powder.

Have been dying to share this for months but life got in the way so I hope you like it!

Paula xxx

Not good! The excitement is building!

Sorry - I always seem to be apologising but I just haven't had time to post much this week. Mainly because I am getting everything ready for Convention and just haven't had five minutes to spare!

Convention is a HUGE event that Stampin' Up! put on each year for their demonstrators. There is absolutely loads to see and do, hundreds of fellow demo's to meet, freebies galore, an awards night and dinner... I am so excited I could burst! And I leave on Thursday morning.

I have made all my swaps and will post them later in the week. If you think you might like to attend Convention next year, get in touch and I can talk to you about becoming a demonstrator - there is absolutely no pressure on you to sell if you just want to take advantage of the discounts yourself...

Anyhow, one of my fellow Pink Ladies, Suzette designed these and I have been copying them loads as they are super cute and were very popular at the Craft Fair, The jars are from Ikea, I have stamped them in white Stazon using the Secret Garden stamp set.

Then added the tags made using Chalk Talk and the matching framelits, tied on with matching Taffeta ribbon and the flower is punched using one of the Itty Bitty Shapes and the leaves from the Owl Builder punch.

I hope you like it and hope to post again soon!!!!!!!!!

Paula xxx

Simply Sunshine

This week is Risborough Festival - the weather is glorious and I've just been for a little walk round the town. There's so much going on - I must admit I was extremely naughty and headed for the hog roast!

I'm torn now between sitting in the garden or crafting... Decisions Decisions - it is so hot our chap that cuts the grass isn't coming today... lawn looks like a jungle - but there's plenty for the rabbit and guinea pig to eat!

Todays little card is a variation on Fridays man card - it is almost the equivalent for a lady. I was unsure about the colour combo - but now I see it all together I love it.

The base card is Always Artichoke, the Top Note is Pistachio Pudding and embossed again with the Square Lattice embossing folder. The tag, punched using the new Artisan Label punch, is whisper white with the sentiment from Petite Pairs stamped in Calypso Coral.

The leaves and flowers are stamped using the Secret Garden stamp set and cut out with the corresponding framelits. I just love Calypso Coral with the greens.

Hope you'll come back and join me tomorrow!

Pxxx

CAS Colours and Sketches Thursday

Today I am sharing another card for the CAS Colours and Sketches challenge. I liked last weeks colour combo so much I decided to use it again with this weeks sketch.

Why not join in yourself HERE

I hope you like the card!

I started with a Perfect Plum base and added a Whisper White mat that I had scored using the Simply Scored scoring board, I crossed two pieces of Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon. The flowers were stamped from the Secret Garden stamp set and cut out with the co-ordinating Framelits. The 3 shades of colour were simply from stamping the same image in Rich Razzleberry without re-inking. 

The leaves were cut using the Bird Builder Punch from Garden Green card stock and the sentiment is from Tea Shoppe. I just love this card and hope you do too!

I'm just working on some sneak peeks from the NEW Catalogue so come back and see what I have to show you tomorrow and Saturday!

CAS Colours and Sketches Thursday.

I hope I remembered correctly the theme for today - Unfortunately due to home commitments I had to pull out of the Design Team - But I love to support the ladies who put so much effort and hard work into running the challenges. It is a big commitment! Visit CAS Colours and Sketches Blog - HERE

So here is today's card - The only retiring item on here is the Curly Cute stamp set - it's immensely popular and one I shall probably keep hold of as I love it so much!

The leaves are from Stippled Blossoms and the flowers from Secret Garden... I coloured them using a Blender Pen - I love how subtle and elegant they look! And they were cut out using the corresponding Framelits.

Well hopefully as you read this I 'should' be enjoying the sunshine in Tuscany... If not it's wet and miserable and I wish I was crafting!

Take care and I'll be back soon with another post!

Paula xxx

Rubbish Blogger!!

Could someone remind me what month it is as I could have sworn it was supposed to be the summer!

OK I shouldn't moan as we did have cracking weather on Sunday and Monday - but really, torrential vertical, continual, heavy rain is just not acceptable! The dogs almost forfeited their walk, but fortunately the rain stopped.

I haven't been doing quite as much crafting as in spite of today's rain it has been relatively dry and I have been walking 4 to 6 miles a day with the dogs, making the most of the gorgeous Chiltern Hills I have the pleasure of living on.

I did make a lovely card the other day, it was an adaptation of some inspiration, I think, from Pinterest... I'm still not 'into' it like some of the other demo's and can't get hugely enthused at some of the forums - I would rather be crafting!

So the background is stamped using En Francais, I cut the Not Quite Navy mat using the Labels Collection Framelits, added a Whisper White oblong and some Not Quite Navy Taffeta Ribbon. The larger flower is stamped and cut using the Secret Garden stamps and co-ordinating Framelits, the smaller flowers are from the Sale-a-bration set and fussy cut, then embellished with Pearls. Lastly the banner was stamped using Itty Bitty Banners and cut with the corresponding framelit.

I hope you like it and will join me Thursday for another CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge.

See you soon!

Paula xxx

Gasp!

Oh where to begin?!?!?!

Yesterday was the Stampin' Up! Regional training in Telford. Approximately 300 demonstrators were there, including 50 Pinkies.

We saw so many sneak peeks and heard lots of exciting news... and I'm going to torment you because we have to keep 'Mum'.

There were Prize Patrols where randomly selected demo's got a FREE new stamp set from the new catalogue, five people got FREE entry to Convention in November. We saw loads of tips and different techniques, we all got a FREE Stamp Set.

There was a lovely lunch, tea, coffee and biscuits.

We spent a short time in the afternoon making a couple of items to take away too!

It was a fantastic day and we all left feeling so inspired... and there is still our own Pinkie training to look forward to in addition to the Stampin' Up! events.

Here is a picture of the swap I did - in return for 100 of these I got 100 back from the other demo's.

I used Secret Garden stamp set, Ovals Collection Framelits and the Beautiful Birthday stamp. Just look at the lovely selection I got in return! Just too many to show each individually!

The lovely Chris from Demo Support was there and I got a big hug - it was so lovely to meet him and the other SU 'staff' - Everyone is so cheerful, bubbly, helpful and nice!

Why not join the Stampin' Up! Family? Join my team and become one of the Pinkies!! There is no better time to do it - There are so many new and exciting things to look forward to... including the new catalogue in July and Convention in November. Click on the link above and remember that until the 30th of May you can choose £155 worth of goods for your starter kit and just pay £99!

It doesn't matter where you are in the UK, or if you just want to take advantage of the discount on the starter kit... call or e-mail me your phone number and I'll explain all!

Love (a very excited) Paula xxx

Sunny Day!

What a spectacularly fabulous weekend! Lovely weather, I even have the customary 'pub tan' from helping on the ring at Vyne Agility Show today at Newbury Showground.

We didn't get a single clear round... in fact my handling was atrocious and we got eliminated on all three runs.  At the end of the day though I took the best dog home and he got thoroughly praised after each run, he thinks he went clear! Nothing is more upsetting to see than a handler leaving the ring in a strop because they didn't go clear and either moaning at the dog or ignoring it. As owners it is our responsibility to train our dogs to the appropriate standard and if we fail, give an early or late command, or even enter a dog for competition that isn't ready it is our fault - NOT the dog.

My last run of the day was in a class being judged by a lovely judge, by the time I had messed up the first half of the course we were laughing and joking about it... I don't care how foolish I looked in front of the other handlers - I was having fun with my dog. THAT is what it's about!

Anyhow - with all the fabby weather and my vain attempts to do more exercise and lose a few pounds... I have had very little time for crafting. Though I have a few cards 'on hand' and I will try to do better!

This is a stunning and simple card made using the Secret Garden Stamp set, a sentiment from Petite Pairs and 3 pearls just to add some dimension.

A great card to use as a Make and Take or for a Stamp a Stack.

Hope you like it!

Back soon! You may have noticed my Blog is no longer on the lovely Michelle Last's blog - this is because the Pinkies have grown so much as a team Michelle can only put links on for her direct downline. So please bookmark this blog so you remember to come back and visit!

Pxxxx

Floral Fantasy

Yup - It's Saturday! Today is the big housework blitz, then I only have 3 days at work next week as I am off to Newbury Showground for an Agility Competition.

Poor old hubby gets left at home to look after the rest of the animals!! I need to make the most of my last weekend away in the camper - though it will be mega busy as it is our (Wallingford Agility Club) show so I'll be working hard all weekend!

Today's little floral fantasy uses Secret Garden again.. I have stamped them on Vellum and coloured them using my Blender Pens. Finally to give them a little shape and texture I 'embossed' them using my Simply Scored tool, with the flowers rested on my Piercing Mat.

Sooo - What do you think? Likey Lighty, no Likey no Lighty!  I was able to give the leaves some definition... I like that a lot!

I may not have a chance to post tomorrow with all my household chores I might not get time to craft tonight, either way, pop back and check - and have a great 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

Birthdays and Anniversaries!

We have a busy few days as not only is it our TENTH (and he hasn't killed me yet) anniversary today, it is also my Grandmothers 90th birthday on Monday so we are off out for a meal on Sunday.

I have lots of pics to show you today as I have been playing with the Stepper style of card. I am entering one for the Less is More  challenge this week which is to use scallops... I am hoping the card isn't too fussy!

What the heck - I love it and really enjoyed making it!

I have used 3 sizes of scallop circle punch, 3 sizes of circle punch, the scallop oval, oval and both butterfly punches... it is a real Punch Fest! The stamp sets are Papillon Potpourri, Flowering Flourishes and Pretty Petites and the papers are from Print Poetry.

Don't you just love it?

The next card is using my old favourite Secret Garden and a sentiment from Bring on the Cake...

If you would like to make a stepper card - then book a party in April and you and your guests can have a 'play'.

Hope to be back tomorrow with another of these cards... in a slightly different design! Want to know what I have planned??? Come back and see!

Have a fab weekend!

Paula xx

Well earned day off!

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter. I am getting the weekends washing done today and doing the chores I usually get done over the weekend.

I took Blaze my Border Collie to an Agility Show this weekend. It was run by the lovely Bretford Agility Club, held at Solihull Riding Club. Due to the awful weather this year the show was held in the covered arenas so it wasn't as cold as it could have been though it was a lot colder there than down here in Buckinghamshire.

Due to the fact there were still several inches of lying snow the hardy amongst us who were still daft enough to camp were set up in the car park. To indicate how cold it was the dogs water froze INSIDE my camper! Needless to say it was nice to get home yesterday and have a hot bath!

Today I'm sharing a card I made using a Window Sheet. I stamped the Secret Garden image using Staz On and then mounted it between the white card base and red border cut using my Ovals Collection Framelits. I then added two flowers stamped on Real Red.

I have left it blank so I can add a sentiment... not sure what I'm going to use the card for yet so I'll hold off until the occasion presents itself.

I'm off to do a little trawl of the challenge blogs now to see if I can find some more inspiration to share.

Have a fabulous short (whoohoo) week and hopefully I'll be back tomorrow!

Pxxx

CASE'd card

Many crafters are familiar with the term to CASE, if you aren't it means to Copy And Share Everything.

Last week I CASE'd the lovely Darlene DeVries, one of my very first customers was inspired by Darlene's work and contacted me to buy her Stampin' Up! products.

Darlene did a video tutorial and I decided that although I didn't have any watercolour pencils I could tweak it a bit and use my Stampin' Write Markers and a Blender Pen.

I also used white embossing powder for the flowers.

Here is my card, using the Secret Garden Stamp Set.

You can visit Darlene's blog here and watch her amazing video tutorial.

Thanks for coming back today and I hope you'll come back again soon to see what I have to share!

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

Super Saturday...

Well loads going on this weekend so I scheduled this post on Friday night. I just knew I wouldn't have time today!

I loved the colouring on Crumb Cake from Wednesdays post so I wanted to have another go. This time I have paired up the Crumb Cake with Island Indigo and Whisper White Embossing Powder. I also dry embossed the square mat with the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder. As you will have spotted, I used the Secret Garden Stamp Set again! :-)

Well I hope you have a fabulous weekend and get through it without incident! I need to start thinking about getting the camper ready for Easter Weekend! Subject to the weather I shall be camping in a potentially muddy field! Hope it dries up!

Pxxx

Pampering

Ahh, yes! After a rubbish few weeks I am off to the beauticians this afternoon - not a lot they can do about either my face or my physique - and surgery is out of the question, but it will be nice to be pampered for a bit, and probably the last time I'll be able to afford it until Chris gets himself sorted with a job. He's having to give up kitchen fitting because of his back problem. Please keep your fingers crossed!

Today's card is yet another colour challenge - this time from the PALS team - click on the challenge image at the bottom to visit the blog.

This is another example of colouring with the blender pens. I've never tried it on coloured card stock, and if I say so myself, it works surprisingly well on the Crumb Cake.

This card goes to show, you don't need lots of punches or dies as you can fussy cut the flowers - so if you are new to stamping you can still make stunning cards even if you have resisted the urge to buy loads of equipment.

The two stamp sets I used are Secret Garden and Perfectly Penned. I hope you like it!

Until tomorrow TTFN!

Pxxxxxxxxxx

Thursdays CAS Challenge Inspiration #15

I can't believe it is Thursday already! Where do the weeks go? Is it just me or as you get older does the time seem to go faster?

I've been really busy at work this week and am looking forward to Agility with Blaze tonight. Some 'us' time! I had hoped the earlier sunshine this week was a sign of things to come but it's definitely chillier again!

Today the CAS challenge is a colour challenge. I hope you'll join us and encourage your friends to too! The more the merrier and the challenge team do try and leave a comment on every single entry.

Here is my card -

I have used the Secret Garden Stamps and Framelits but also did a little fussy cutting on the flower at the bottom to give myself some layers. The little tag at the top used the Four Frames Stamp Set inked with my Stampin' Write Markers and punched out using the Decorative Label Punch.

Something really feminine and a versatile sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments. Great for any occasion!

Join us at CAS Colours and Sketches! Just click here.

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

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