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

A little Grunge... Masculine Card

OK folks - this is my last post before my holiday, during which there are some scheduled posts coming up, including a video tutorial.

I cased the technique from Darlene Devries. I just love her video tutorials!

This card has a Very Vanilla base, sponged lightly round the edges with Crumb Cake ink. The next layer is another piece of Very Vanilla, this time sponged a lot more liberally with the Crumb Cake. then I inked up my En Francais background stamp, dabbed it with a babywipe and stamped it on top, lastly I wet my fingers and flicked water at it! That left some great watermarks.

When I get my freebie, Gorgeous Grunge at Convention I expect you'll see more cards like this!

I ran another strip of VV through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice embossing folder, and again sponged the edges.

Lastly I printed the sentiment from Chalk Talk, cut it out on the Big Shot using the co-ordinating framelit and popped some dimensionals on the back before sticking all the layers together.

I was really pleased and it was a step completely out of my comfort zone.

Don't forget to place your On-Line orders whilst I am away and if you need anything I will probably be able to check out my e-mails!

See you 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

The Sun has got his hat on...

Oh Yeah baby and I'm loving it! Summer is here and so is the weekend!

It's a bit warm to walk the dogs so I'll take them out later - I thought I should post a card in the mean time.

I've also been checking my account with Stampin' Up! and I have tracking numbers for my order - so excited! Just a shame the stuff probably won't arrive until Tuesday as it's only just been scanned in Germany - you wouldn't believe the excitement on the Pink Lads/Ladies Facebook page - all the parcels arriving!

It's lovely being part of such a huge close knit team. Even though we are spread all over the UK and Netherlands we all keep in touch - and help each other out! If someone needs something a Pinkie will post it to them - awesome! If you are interested in joining Stampin' Up! then please get in touch and I'll talk you through it.

Today's card was made on a whim. I've had the idea for a couple of days and only got round to it Wednesday evening.

The base is Baked Brown Sugar and rounded at the corners using a circle punch, the mat was rounded in the same way but then I inked my Square Lattice embossing folder with Baked Brown Sugar and ran the Very Vanilla mat through.

Next I used the Big Shot again to cut a Top Note with my Die - inked it with Baked Brown Sugar and stamped the images from The Open Sea - I made the tag from Very Vanilla - added a silver Mini Brad and the sentiment from Itty Bitty Banners.

I hope you like it and will come back tomorrow for another card - in the mean time I am torn... Garden or Crafting??

Until tomorrow...

Paula xxx

CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge #16

Yup - today is another challenge from the Colours and Sketches team - why not come over and join us this week!

My card this week is a simple card, but I have used what I refer to as card quilting... why? Coz it looks like that's what someone has done.

All you need to do is adhere your shape - in this case the stripes - to cardstock with your Tombo Adhesive and run it through the Big Shot in the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

I then stamped the car from the Need for Speed Stamp set and fussy cut it out (Oh - by the way, if you haven't heard the term before it's a nice way of saying I fiddled about with some sharp little scissors to cut something out!) and stuck it with a dimensional. I still needed to find that final element so I punched out a sentiment from Petite Pairs with my Extra Large Tag Punch. Sponged the edges and tied it with a little Bakers Twine.

Here is the original Sketch - why not join in this week! We would love you to share your creativity!

Back again tomorrow!

Pxx

Stampin' Up! Jolly Bingo Bits.

I have a cracking little set of Stamps called Jolly Bingo Bits. It comprises 24 gorgeous little Christmassy Stamps. I have used them for so many things. I am now thinking I should buy the Peekaboo Frames Die so I can make little advent calendars with them.

I have already made a bingo game with them ready for my next party. I thought it would be a little more exciting than your average raffle. And still a chance to win prizes! Can't wait to try it out. Book a party soon!

For now I thought I would share some Christmas cards I made with it.

 

 



Aren't they sweet. The images also emboss beautifully, you can add some ribbon, brads or jewels to jazz them up. The sentiment is from Greetings of the Season from the Autumn/Winter Catalogue. The scalloped edge was done using the Scallop Edge Border Punch.

The four embossing folders are - Square Lattice, Perfect Polka Dots, Lacy Brocade from the Autumn/Winter Catalogue and the Fancy Fan folder.

Hope you are all staying warm and dry in this rotten weather! Don't forget you don't have to be local to order from the catalogue as Stampin' Up! will deliver direct.

Paula xxx

Stampin' Up! Poinsettia

I am so proud of myself! I always question my own abilities as a crafter as I really struggle to be creative without borrowing inspiration from others.

Today I created something unique! All by myself and I am so proud!

My very own Poinsettia! So I have done a step by step tutorial for you! All you need are a hot Glue Gun, Stampin Up Silicone Craft Sheet, Merry Minis Ornament Punch, the embossing isn't absolutely necessary but I used the Square Lattice folder, some of the tiny Stampin' Up! Pearls and a black marker pen.

Firstly I embossed some scraps of red and green card.



Then I punched out 2 green and 15 red ornament shapes.



Next I put a blob of hot glue on my Silicone Craft Sheet. Then arranged 2 of the green and 5 of the red ornaments on the hot glue.



Then I added a little more glue and arranged another 5 ornaments.

A little more glue and I added the last 5 ornaments.

Finally I coloured 3 of the tiny SU pearls with a black marker and added them to the centre to finish my flower.

I hope you enjoy experimenting with these lovely Christmas flowers! These small ones make great card candy or embellishments for gifts.

If you check out the Ornament framelits dies there is one the exact same shape so you could also use the larger pearls and add them to napkin rings or larger parcels, or even just as decorations. The possibilities are endless!

I hope you enjoyed my moment of inspiration and I look forward to seeing your versions!

Paula xxx









Stampin' Up!® with Merry Minis

Well folks, I placed my order from the new 2012-2013 Annual Catalogue at silly o'clock on Monday morning and it is in transit!

I am so excited about all the new products I have ordered and can't wait to show you. But I couldn't leave you all without a post to look at in the mean time.

Hopefully I will have had a chance to create with my new stash in time to put something up on Friday.

Here is a card I made using the Merry Mini Stamp Set and corresponding Merry Mini Punch Set. I used Primrose Petals, Gumball Green and Summer Starfruit Inks and Card Stock. The Small Scallop Circles are punched with the 1 1/4" Punch and the plain Circles with the 1" Punch.

I had to cut my dimensionals into quarters so I could raise up the punched shapes.

 

In the second image you can see how the coloured Punched Circles have been matted on to the Whisper White Card stock. The entire mat is run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder - unless you look really closely you can't tell that the coloured spots aren't printed on the card... amazing!

 



 

 

So - what are you planning next?

 

I am going to try colouring some stamped images... I tried once before and was absolutely useless, so if anyone can give me any tips - please leave a comment for me!

 

 

I shall post some of my attempts - if they aren't too humiliating!