A Perfectly Penned Birthday Card!

Another birthday card for you today showing off the gorgeous Stampin' Up! Soho Subway Designer Series Paper.

The swirls from the Everything Eleanor Stamp Set were stamped in Crumb Cake ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock and the edges of the card sponged. This piece was matted onto Crisp Cantaloupe card and an Early Espresso card base.  The label was a bit of a "happy accident" - I had stamped it in Crisp Cantaloupe ink but it didn't look right so I stamped it again using Crumb Cake ink - but forgot to clean my stamp first!! I quite like the effect.  The sentiment from Perfectly Penned Stamp Set was lined up using the Stamp-a-ma-jig - perfect placement every time! The label was cut out using the super sharp Paper Snips.  

A banner was cut from a piece of Soho Subway Designer Series Paper and edged with card punched using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, this was layered on top of a Tea Lace Paper Doilie which had been sponged with Crumb Cake and Crisp Cantaloupe inks.  The label was popped over a piece of Victoria Crochet Trim. A Very Vintage Designer Button knotted with Linen Thread and Pearl Basic Jewels finish the card.

I love the Everything Eleanor Stamp Set; swirls, flowers, labels and a cute bird - what more could you want?

Everything Eleanor Stamp Set by Stampin' Up!

Here is a list of the Stampin' Up! supplies used to make today's card:

Stamp Sets: Everything Eleanor, Perfectly Penned

Inks: Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla

DSP: Soho Subway

Punches: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border

Other: Victoria Crochet Trim, Very Vintage Designer Button, Linen Thread, Pearl Basic Jewels

If you would like to order any of these products please either email me or give me a call on 07530 368466 and I will be happy to help. 

Birthday cards with Stampin' Up! Sweater Weather DSP

Are you all loving the Stampin' Up! Autumn Winter Catalogue?  Every time I look at it I find something else I HAVE to own!

Today's cards use the Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper. I must admit when I first saw this paper I wasn't overly convinced but I now LOVE it - so versatile.

Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up!

I needed a couple of quick masculine birthday cards and this paper was perfect for them.  The first card uses a sentiment from the Sassy Salutations Stamp Set stamped in Chocolate Chip ink onto Naturals White card. The background "splatters" are stamped using one of the stamps from the FABULOUS Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set - it just adds "something" to a card. The sentiment was then cut out using the Ovals Collections Framelits. The edges were all sponged using Sahara Sand ink.  A piece of Crushed Curry card was run through the Big Shot with the Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and added to a Chocolate Chip card base. Three pieces of Sweater Weather DSP were artistically arranged (!!) and the sentiment popped up using Dimensionals. A Linen Thread bow finished off the card.

The second card was made much along the same lines although it uses a sentiment from the Occasions Alphabet Stamp Set and the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. It was finished using a Crushed Curry button from the Regals Designer Buttons and a knotted piece of Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon. The layout was inspired by a sketch from the fabulous Mojo Monday Blog - I love using sketches when you want a quick layout!

Here is a list of the Stampin' Up! supplies used to make today's cards:

Stamp Sets: Sassy Salutations, Occasions Alphabet, Gorgeous Grunge

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand

Cardstock: Naturals White, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand

DSP: Sweater Weather

Big Shot: Ovals Collection Framelits, Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder,

Other: Regals Designer Buttons, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Linen Thread

If you would like to order any of these products please either email me or give me a call on 07530 368466 and I will be happy to help. 

Order Now from the Stampin' Up! Autumn Winter Catalogue

The Stampin' Up! Autumn Winter Catalogue is here! Packed with gorgeous products for Autumn, Halloween and Christmas - what will you order?

We have new stamp sets, ribbons, papers, punches and framelits! There is a FABULOUS Season of Style This and That Journal which is a must for organising Christmas, an 8"x8" Seasonal Stripes Album with Journaling Tags and Banner kits for the all important events.

So what are you waiting for? If you haven't had a copy yet contact me and I will pop one in the post.

Pinkies Training Swaps Using Stampin' Up! Wetlands Stamp Set

Wow! What an great day I had yesterday! I was in Bicester for the Pinkies Quarterly Training.  I love Stampin' Up! training - what could be better than spending a whole day with like-minded people? We had a great mix of business training, inspiration, crafting, laughing (lots!) and there was also cake! (If any of my 100% Bootcamp friends are reading this then don't worry - I didn't have cake!)

One thing which also always happens at Stampin' Up! events is swapping. This is where you make a batch of identical card fronts or 3-d items to exchange with fellow demonstrators so you end up with lots of ideas showcasing different stamps, styles and techniques.  These were the swaps I made using the Wetlands Stamp Set :- 

The background was so easy to do but looks really effective. I used the "direct-to-paper" technique with the Soft Sky, Crumb Cake and Smoky Slate Ink Pads and simply swiped the edges of them on a piece of Naturals White Card Stock to make a "seascape".  The image of the waders was stamped using Basic Black Ink. The sentiment is also in the stamp set - again stamped in Basic Black and punched using the Large Oval Punch.

A notch was punched using a punch from Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and a piece of Linen thread wrapped round the card and knotted. The sentiment was popped up on dimensionals and the card front matted onto a piece of Basic Grey and a Basic Black card base. 


Wetlands really is a versatile set - it contains 6 stamps - 3 sentiments and 3 images:-

Wetlands Stamp Set by Stampin' Up!

Here is a list of the Stampin' Up! products used to make today's card:

Stamp Sets: Wetlands

Inks: Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, Smoky Slate, Basic Black

Cardstock: Naturals White, Basic Grey, Basic Black

Punches: Large Oval, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack

Other: Linen Thread

If you would like to order any of these products please either email me or give me a call on 07530 368466 and I will be happy to help. 

If you like the sound of swapping at Stampin' Up! events why not consider joining my team of Dexterous Designers?  If you join Stampin’ Up! with me, not only will you benefit from one-to-one support in a close-knit team, you’ll also get the added bonus of being a member of the Pinkies team - one of the biggest in Europe. You would get the the best of both worlds!  Find out more information.

New Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue Hop with the Pinkies

We're so glad you could join us on our Pinkies Blog Hop. We'll be showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin' Up!® Annual Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep on hopping. We love comments, so please do tell us what you think!

Hopefully you have arrived from Catherine's blog. I love what she has done with the the Six Sided Sampler Stamp Set (don't say that too quickly!) and what clever ideas using the new Hexagon punch!

So let's get "hopping"!   I have made a really quick set of 3" x 3" notelets - who says crafting has to be complicated? 

I chose to use 2 stamps sets - Tape It and A Round Array - both so versatile.  I also wanted to showcase the gorgeous new In-Color 2013-15 Collection.  

The images from Tape It were stamped onto Whisper White card using the In-colors. Honestly this set is fabulous - instant "Washi Tape" style designs in whatever colour you need!  The sentiments are from A Round Array - I used the In-Color Stampin' Write Markers to colour the stamps and they were punched out using the 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch - which obviously fits perfectly! The Whisper White Banner was cut using the Itty Bitty Banners Framelits and the NEW Magnetic Platform (have you got yours yet - you DO need one!) 

Notelets need to be in a box - right? I used the Simply Scored Scoring Tool and made a quick freehand folder using the Baked Brown Sugar cardstock.  The patterned paper was stamped using one of the images from A Round Array and the In-Color Ink Pads. This was matted onto a piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock and added to the box.

The "belly band" was super easy to make - have you seen the new Ruffle STRETCH Trim available in the 2013-15 In-Colors? It is gorgeous and perfect for this type of job. I made a loop of the Strawberry Slush Trim and hid the ends between a pile of scallop punches. The stretch makes it so easy to slip on and off the folder - no need for bows!

 Well I hope you like this project? It is the perfect gift if you are looking for a quick something to make.

Here is a list of the Stampin' Up! products used to make today's cards:

Stamp Sets: Tape it, A Round Array

Inks: Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana

Cardstock: Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana

Punches: 1 3/4" , 1 1/4" & 7/8" Scallop Circle Punches

Big Shot: Bitty Banners Framelits

Other: Strawberry Slush Ruffle Stretch Trim

If you would like to order any of these products please either email me or give me a call on 07530 368466 and I will be happy to help. 

I am really pleased with how this project worked out. I would love to hear what you think so please leave me a comment!

The next stop is Nina who has used the Flower Shop Stamp Set and the coordinating Pansy Punch to make a gorgeous project.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop and have a crafty weekend!

Instant Washi Tape with Tape It from Stampin' Up!

How exciting - my order of lovely products from the New Stampin' Up Catalogue arrived yesterday and obviously I had to have a play!  I needed a quick card so "cased" one from the Catalogue (p126). I love the samples and inspiration in the catalogue - it is not just a list of products.

Tape It is a fantastic selection of "washi tape" style designs so you can make really quick cards in any colour combination.  I used the colours from the new Etcetera Designer Series Paper as my inspiration.

The images were stamped on a piece of Very Vanilla card, the sentiment is from another new set - Four You, and the splodges from the fantastic Gorgeous Grunge - you will be seeing lots of that!  The card base is Baked Brown Sugar card - one of the new In Colors which will be with us for the next 2 years.

The images in Tape It are shown below - aren't they great!

Tape It Stamp Set by Stampin' Up!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:-

Stamp Sets: Tape It. Gorgeous Grunge, Four You

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar

Ink: Old Olive, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Baked Brown Sugar

The New Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue 2013 - 2014 is here.

Good grief - where has June gone?  Well I hope you managed to get everything you wanted to from the retired lists - I know lots of my customers did!

And for today's news - the NEW ANNUAL STAMPIN' UP! CATALOGUE 2013 - 2014 is here!  I LOVE it - it is packed with so many fabulous new products - just as you would expect from Stampin' Up!!  

I have had my copy for a month (one of the perks of being a Demonstrator!) so here are some of my favourite things:

• Stamps which coordinate with new punches, framelits and embossing folders AND you get a discount when you buy them as a bundle!
• The new colours - they are GORGEOUS! 
• New Designer Series Papers
• A magnetic platform for your Big Shot to hold your framelits in place - no more sticky notes!
• Stacks of new embellishments - buttons, ribbons, candy dots, washi tape, clips .....
• And of course - as this is Stampin' Up! there are lots of fabulous new Stamp Sets!

So, how do you get your own copy of the fabulous new Annual Catalogue?  If you host a party then you’ll be given a copy when you confirm your booking.  If you've ordered more than £50 worth of products from me in the last three months then I’ll also pop a copy in the post to you with my compliments. 

If you’re not in either of these groups but you’d still like your own copy of the new Annual Catalogue (and let's face it you NEED it!), then all you need to do is email me and let me know. For just £4.95 I’ll post one out to you, along with a £5 voucher towards your first order worth £30 or more (excluding shipping). 

If you can't wait for the postman to arrive then the link in the sidebar will take you directly to an online copy - make yourself a cup of tea - you may be some time!