Petite petals and colourQ birthday

hello all

well today's card is inspired by this lovely combination over at ColourQ this week..

and my take on using these colours was for a birthday card -  with  some old favourites in  Flower Shop and Petite Petals as the basis of my card.

My sentiment stamps were both from the Number of Years stamp set where I just used 2 repetitions of 'Happy' for emphasis and teamed it with Birthday - very apt in the circumstances!

I stepped it up a little in that I added an extra 2 layers to the middle flower and 1 each  for the other 2 flowers by stamping these onto scraps of card stock in those same colours and punching them out with the matching punches.

The green background accent was another stamp from the same 'Number of Years'  set, and the whole was finished off with a little bling and some edge sponging.

One very quickly put together card with just the effect I wanted.

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used

Just click on the items below to easily access them in my on line store

Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Flower Shop Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad	Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad
Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad	Number Of Years Photopolymer Stamp Set	Pansy Punch	Petite Petals Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Petite Petals Punch
Stamping Sponges	Stampin' Dimensionals	Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Or if you wish me to place an order for you, or have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Well it's into the 2nd week of Wimbledon and am there with my flask of coffee and a pile of sandwiches at the ready so I don't have to stray too far from the sofa if I can possibly avoid it - work permitting unfortunately!

but there's also another favourite of mine to catch up on - regular readers of my blog will know that sewing is also a great pastime of mine - and the final of the GBSB was on earlier tonight.!

I  am having my work cut out trying not to find out who won before I have a chance to watch it.!  - so shall be walking around with my eyes and ears closed - well not literally of course, but hopefully enough so as not  to  spoil the surprise and result,  before hand!

Well with that - wherever and whatever you find your self into this week - enjoy! 
and very best wishes til next time 

Jan x

Stampin'Up On stage - Telford 2016 and back again!

hello all

Last time I mentioned I was about to depart on holiday - and I have to say I had a lovely break with my parents, sister and extended family, but knew as soon as I came back I needed to put the finishing touches to a card swap or two,  as looming large was the delightful event that is Stampin' Up ! On Stage Local in Telford.

This is a fabulous theme packed day to help demonstrators get the most out of their business, with amazing fact filled presentations and business hints and tips, crafty makes and takes, fabulous prize patrols, all attendee give-aways,  a chance to congratulate achievers who have managed to attain awe-inspiring business milestones, inspiration stations,  sneak previews of new items and maybe an advance look at the forth coming catalogue ...

All in all one very very busy day!  -  and when Stampin' Up! demonstrators get together - what do we do - we make a card or 3D item to swap

Here were mine all ready, about to be packed to go - I opted to use the soon to retire 2014 - 2016 in colours of  Lost Lagoon for my card bases, with  BlackBerry Bliss,  Tangelo Twist and Hello Honey colourways for most of them , but then added Melon Mambo, Watermelon Wonder, Perfect Plum and Wisteria Wonder for some last minute additions.

I used the lovely flourish stamp from 'Everything Eleanor'  for my accent stamping at the bottom of the card, some stamped and punched flowers, from the Flower Shop stamp set, and sentiments from the Crazy About You stamp set  and co-ordinating Hello You Thinlet dies - (both of which are available as 'product bundles' - excellent value with savings of 15% - and a little 'Wink of Stella - Clear' - for a bit of final embellishment on the lettering, which you just might be able to make out perhaps, on this one ?

I hope my 'swapees' liked them..

but oh my goodness...  just look at the fabulous selection I received in return. Thank you so much everyone - am just so sorry my lack of photography skills do not do them justice.!!

All in all a truly amazing day and a huge thanks to everyone for making Stampin' Up! just one very large and very happy family.. You can't help but come away from events such as these all enthusiastic and ready to go..! so here's to the next one in November.

Interested in attending - why not give me a ring and I can explain how it all works..

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used for my swap

Just click on the items below to easily access them in my on line store 

2014-2016 In Color A4 Cardstock & Classic Stampin' Pads Kit	Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Everything Eleanor Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Flower Shop Clear-Mount Bundle	Crazy About You Clear-Mount Bundle	Melon Mambo A4 Cardstock
Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	Watermelon Wonder A4 Cardstock	Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad	Perfect Plum A4 Cardstock	Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Pad	Wisteria Wonder A4 Cardstock
Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

or please just contact me if you have any questions or to place an order for you, if you would prefer.

Well have a nice week everyone - and if you want to stock up on the 2014 - 2016 In colours product family before they retire,  now is your chance, as they will not be here for  too much longer.

Personally, am about to weep buckets as one of my absolute all time favourites (Lost Lagoon) is in the lineup to go,  but then on reflection  am sure Stampin' Up! won't disappoint us and are bound to have an equally as lovely set of replacements,  just waiting in the wings.

til next time.
Happy Stampin'

Jan x

Night of Navy means Happy First Anniversary

hi all

well, with the clutter still on my desk from my last foray into the happy world that is Stampin' up! I was able to 'CASE' my own last card as an idea for an anniversary one for a  colleague - I guess that is permissible!

(you will be spared the 'what's on my desk, Wednesday ' chaos - er sorry,  artistic arrangement - I would be far too embarrassed to preserve said mess for posterity!)

but back to the card ..It just so happens the wedding colours in question had included a dark blue so Stampin' Up!'s Night of Navy was just perfect.

I opted for just a  simple matted layer of Very Vanilla stamped with a mix of of toning Flower Shop and Petite Petals - and a sprinkling of my beloved,  must have, Gorgeous Grunge background.

Although I have used a retired stamp for the banner-like sentiment, of course anything will work. I  hand-cut it with Stampin' Up!'s super sharp paper snips and finished it off with a bit more sponging and a little toning candy dot to indicate it is their first anniversary.. and here's to many more of them!

Stampin' Up! supplies for this card:

Cardstock:  Very Vanilla
Inks : Night of Navy

Stamps Sets:   Gorgeous Grunge, Petite Petals, Flower Shop
 Punches : Petite Petals Punch, Pansy Punch
 Other Essentials:  Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, .Stampin' Up! sponges,
Candy dots - Regal,  Paper Snips
 

Just click on the items to easily access them in my on line store to place an order and have  them shipped straight to your address.

Am happy to answer any questions you may have - if you would like to find out more,  or would like me to place an order for you, you can email me or contact me on 01438 820829 if you would rather.

This week at work we have been starting our countdown to preparation for the various projects which we will be running over the  Christmas and New year holidays. This has certainly focused me somewhat with essentially realising I only have just a few weekends left for shopping and even less for my Christmas makes.. 

with that rather worrying thought  - well to me at least..- will leave you til next time.
very best wishes

Jan x

Circles and 'something to say'!

Happy Sunday everyone

Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Mine has been fraught as usual but in a nice and busy way! Was at a craft class yesterday morning then after spending what seemed like hours on the phone -we are finally off to sunny climes next week.
So today am hoping to go put the finishing touches to my holiday packing choices.

Well after last week's foray into a congratulations card - aka the  'Bravo' stamp set,  I made use of one of the paired sentiments in the 'Something to say' set for another one at my class yesterday.

...this time an easel card - a format I do really like - but have to resign myself to always getting it wrong to begin with, each time I do one,  as I always manage to cut it in pieces before I get it right - usually on the 2nd or 3rd attempt!

..and for once - have made a circular card as had a play with the brilliant Circles collection framelit dies.

These are a really great buy as you get 10 different layering sizes in the pack with the largest one - a whopping 4 and 3/4" diameter in 'old money'.  it is has a lovely scalloped edge - the one I chose for my card.

and here it is.. doesn't look very much as is but..

here it is - 'easled'!

The colour way was easily sorted - still on my table  from last week!  The current lovely in-colours - Hello Honey and Blackberry Bliss.

All finished off with my customary 'bit of bling' so I had intended to link it with the current challenge no 105 over at SUO where this week they want us to feature embellishments -  but.. I forgot the link closed last night not tonight!!

what was that about Miss Lastminute.com or in this case, Miss Justtoolate.com!  oh well, maybe next time..

So, after bejewelling the flowers, and over enthusiastic sponging which I dragged across the cardstock in places as well as the edges.. well,  ever one to mix things up as they say, finally, one finished card.

Stampin' Up! supplies for these cards:

Stamp Sets : Something to say; Flower Shop,  Petite  Petals

Inks:Blackberry Bliss;  Hello Honey
Card stock:Whisper White

Framelit Dies/Punches: Circles collection framelit dies, Petite Petal Punch, Scallop punch, word window punch

Other Essentials: Stamping Sponges, Basic Rhinestones

Just click on the items to easily access them in my on line store  to place an order and have  them shipped straight to your address.

Am happy to answer any questions you may have - if you would like to find out more or would like me to place an order for you, you can email me or contact me on 01438 820829 if you would rather.

Well as I mentioned we are off on hols next Friday so will post again when I get back, unless I can sort something out by way of a scheduled post before that..
well that would be a first for me.. not so much the challenge of scheduling the post, rather more the action of making a card in a timely fashion.

Til next time
Best wishes all
Jan
x

Flower power birthday!

hi all

I know its been quite some time since I put digit to keyboard, or even worse, stamp to ink pad - but did absolutely nothing in my little craft square inch whilst Wimbledon was on  - so no excuses now and 'back to it' as they say and happy Sunday snippets.

Today saw me,  and a couple of other demos, who live locally to me, as well as a few other lovely ladies, just while away a few hours doing what we all love best, crafting in one form or another at a bi-monthly meet-up.  From card-making, to boxes, to scrapbooking, and all  things between - it was lovely to just catch up, chat and swap ideas, and actually make something for a change.

Must have sets are Flower Shop and Petite Petals and of course the matching punches.
I just love layering these particular flower shapes and must have punched out hundreds, literally and today was no exception.

..and had seen a stunning card on line and  loved it so much,  I just had to make it  - thank you so so much, AnnMarie,  for the really lovely design. That 'CASE' word is in great use in my vocabulary am ashamed to say..

I just stuck with Very Vanilla and  Lost Lagoon, one of the new colours  from the 2014- 2016 In-Colour range - and seriously like it.!

I just 'stamped off' a few of them onto scrap card to lighten the image,  others were stamped direct to the card,and  some stamped then punched and just glued in place, where as others were popped up on dimensionals. Not too clear (must have a serious word with my photographer!)  is the small background splattering  of 'Gorgeous grunge' and the addition of a  few of little rhinestones - well,  a girl needs a bit of bling now and again!

and to finish it off - I chose a particular old but still a favourite birthday sentiment - but of course it would work equally well as A Thank You card, A  Thinking of You card, or a 'Just Because' card.!

...my next round of birthdays actually begins with my own - though not til next month - followed swiftly by my partner's daughter,  so for once am actually not 'Miss Last minute.com!

Stampin' Up! supplies for this card:

Stamp Sets : Flower Shop, Petite Petals, Gorgeous Grunge, a suitable sentiment

Inks:Lost Lagoon

Card stock:Very Vanilla, Lost Lagoon

Punches: Pansy  and Petite Petal Punches

Other Essentials: Stampin' Up! dimensionals, little rhinestones

As some of you know, my other love in life is sewing and machine embroidery and all the sites that I follow seem to be in the midst of their 'Christmas in July' events.

Now, if only I could be as diligent and apply myself to the various card challenges where the 'C' word is  the order of the day, regularly throughout the year - well I may even have to consider ditching the nickname - but alas not this year!.

To all of you who are already well on their way with their piles of cards at the ready - I wish I could be so organised!

Until next time - have a great week
Jan
x

Flower shop - 'Just because' ...

hi all and Happy Bank holiday

again - I find myself not working this bank holiday - so what do I do, spend all Saturday working in the garden and all Sunday cleaning windows and paintwork.

uhm  on reflection - I might have preferred going to work!

but that's the reason behind my card - after all my endeavours outside I think I justifiably deserved a play with cards and inks inside once I had finished.!
...hence the sentiment..  'Just because'  - and I thought very apt in the circumstances.

Am going to link it to the current ColourQ challenge #239 of Pumpkin Pie, Calypso Coral,  Pretty in Pink (I substituted Blushing Bride) and Old Olive as this was the inspiration behind  my colour choices.

 

I also thought I would link it  to the current challenge over at Less is More where they want to see us use either Three Colours   or  Three Shades of One Colour

It's a mix of  stamped and punched flowers from the Flower Shop stamp set, the punched one I popped up on dimensionals, a bit of sponging and corner cutting for emphasis,  and a few candy dots to finish and ended up with this.

I  hand cut the label for my sentiment,and 'just because' really sums up how I felt after all my hard work - no real reason for a card - i just wanted to - my way of relaxing !

 What do you all think?

Although it is quite a departure from my more usual fussy style, couldn't quite leave it it at that - so just had to put something inside as well -

Stampin' Up! supplies for this card:

Stamp Sets:Flower Shop, A Dozen Thoughts

Inks: Pumpkin pie, Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride,

Card stock: Old Olive and Whisper White

Punches: Pansy Punch, Corner rounder
Other Essentials: Stampin' Up! dimensionals,  sponge daubers, candy dots

 I can order Stampin' Up! Products for you, shipped straight to your address and am happy to answer any questions you may have - if you would like to find out more or would like to place an order you can email me or contact me on 01438 820829

or why not visit my on line store  

well with it Bank holiday Monday - and my being such a busy lady (well certainly in my book anyway!)  over the weekend, am flatly refusing to do anything - but looking forward to just chilling as they say.

whatever you have in store - hope you have a lovely day, all!

Til next time
Jan
x

'Flower shop' for a special birthday!

hi all

well - last time I ventured to post, I was seen headed for Nottingham for a weekend course - Honest, contrary to popular belief, I did come back, but with a new machine under my arm.
... and have spent the last few weeks familiarising myself with it before I go trotting off again mid April to learn more about what it can do..

but its  been put away for the moment and am back to filling the space on my desk with inks, stamps and card stock, just for a delightful change!..

and had a reason for doing so - a birthday card for a special friend!

There are only 2 real main colourways - Rich Razzleberry and Blushing Bride, with  tiny touches of Wild Wasabi bits of leafy trim!

She adores flowers and am convinced she buys them the way I buy tea bags!  i.e. lots of them!

So I opted to base my card round the 'Flower Shop' stamp set, using the 2 step owl punch for the leaves. Have just realised as I look at it,  that everything is based round 3's! Perhaps it's 3 for luck - let's hope so!

but as a result I thought I would enter it into the current challenge over at 'Less is more' where they want to see 'Three of something' on our cards.

This is what I settled on in the end - though it does look a little darker than in real life I have to say!

The sponged card topper I embossed with the Chevron embossing folder, and added a strip of trim,  stamped with the Very Vintage jumbo wheel for surface interest. All, finished off, as always, with a few rhinestones... what I shall do if they ever discontinue these - am not quite sure!  Start hoarding now, am thinking!

The sentiment was one from the Label Love stamp set - the matted effect easily achieved with the matching Artisan punch. 

...and inside -  I just partially stamped a couple more of the flowers to lift it from plain to interesting, and chose a stamp from the now retired (sadly!) stamp set Language of Friendship for the inner wording..  stamped exactly where I wanted it with the aid of the
stamp-a-majig to ensure perfect placement.

Stampin' Up supplies for this card:

Stamp / Jumbo Wheel sets :Flower Shop, Language of Friendship (retired),
Very Vintage jumbo whee

Inks: Rich Razzleberry and Blushing Bride

Card stock: Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi

Punches: Artisan Label Punch,  Owl builder punch
Other Essentials: Stampin' Up dimensionals,  sponge daubers, 
basic rhinestones, stamp-a-majig

I can order Stampin' Up Products for you, shipped straight to your address and am happy to answer any questions you may have - if you would like to find out more or would like to place an order you can email me or contact me on 01438 820829

or why not visit my online store 

 (currently, for every £45 spent, choose a free sale-a-bration gift - but  only available for a few more days as it finishes March 31st.

Well as am not the best getter upper in the world, and this Saturday night/Sunday morning sees the clocks go forward, every year I think I ought to do a dry run tonight instead.  Hopefully then, by Monday morning,   at what to me should still really feel like 5:15 - won't seem so bad with a 24 hour advance tryout! Well we can live in hope.

Happy Mothering Sunday to all Mum's everywhere - and  we shall be making a lovely fuss of ours!  at 81, we have decided we will keep her after all!

til next time - have a lovely week.

Jan
x

Valentine meets Flower shop and 'En Français'

hi all and hope you had a lovely weekend

and it certainly turned out to be far better than I was expecting - it was so nice to see it bright and sunny out there for a change.  It just lightens the mood.  So hope it was the same story where you were.

Which is possibly more than can be said for my card this week, though.

I had Happy Valentine's day in mind  - but to be honest its turned out with a far more sombre feel to it, than I really had in mind.

What do you think?

Well I was back on my Very Vanilla card stock, meets  'En Français' background stamp, as a starting point, again sponged for a bit of interest but this time matted onto Cherry Cobbler cardstock though, in honour of Valentine's day!.

I added the 3 punched flowers, some toning stamping from Clockworks, Flowering Flourishes, and the little hearts from the Language of Love set..  Well,  I was trying to aim for dark and velvety - a bit like yummy chocolate with a touch of  sophistication thrown in. It might have been the intention - but it does need lifting somehow I think...

But with those flowers placed the way they are  - had thought to enter it for the current challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays where this week they want to see  things 'Over the edge' - but uhm... may not quite fit the bill as regards the 'CAS' bit - but shall cross my fingers.

and inside...
my current stamp set of the moment for 'all thoughts Valentine' - from the See Ya Later stamp set.

The little heart from the Two Step Owl Punch was a necessary addition as I dropped the sponge dauber whilst going round the edges, luckily it hit just the one spot - instantly covered up with that little heart ! You know what the say about 'Necessity being the mother of invention'!

...and of course no card would be complete without lovely packaging of some sort - so this is what I came up with.

Envelope punch board to the rescue, and some leftover scraps of designer series  paper, cherry cobbler seam binding and the 'Just for you stamp'  from the Label Love stamp set, punched with the matching Artisan punch and this was the result.

Stampin Up recipe for this card:

Stamp Sets: Language of Love, Flower Shop, Clockworks, En Français, 
See Ya Later, Flowering Flourishes

Inks: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip.

Cardstock/Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla. any toning paper for envelope

Punches: Flower Punch, Two Step Owl Punch, 
Artisan Label punch

Other Essentials: Stampin Up dimensionals, toning candy dots, sponge daubers, 

Stamp-a-majig, .Envelope Punch board, seam binding

I can order Stampin' Up Products for you, shipped straight to your address and am happy to answer any questions you may have - if you would like to find out more or would like to place an order you can email me or contact me on 01438 820829

or why not visit my online store 

 (for every £45 spent, choose a free sale-a-bration gift)

well, having had a 2nd opinion from he who likes to comment - and in whose hands I had left today's photo-shoot,  am thinking am not going to be getting much peace til I re-work this somewhat. - but can also see him thinking, 'well this can't be mine, then..'  

So, he'll just have to wait and see, wont he?

but til next time - and have a lovely week.

Jan
x

Flower Shop and more sneaky peaks!

hi all and happy Sunday.

I had the delightful task of making a 70th card for an ex-works colleague - whose party  we attended on Friday.  My task was made all the more easier as I opted to follow exactly the colour scheme on one of the sheets of Designer series paper from the an upcoming set, available from 28th January.

The colours in question: were Gumball Green, Island Indigo, Basic Grey and Smoky Slate.. what do you think.?

I matted a layer of Whisper white card on to my grey card base,  again opting for my design element of the moment - my corner rounder.

...and just stamped 6 of the flowers using a stamp from the Flower Shop stamp set,  easily punching them out with the matching Pansy punch.

These I then arranged,  linked and inter-weaved together,  down the right-hand edge of the card and here you can just see the inside of the card, peaking through.

For this, I randomly stamped a cluster of 3 flowers in the top left and bottom right hand corners but stupidly forgot to photograph the sentiment inside - 'the earth laughs in flowers..' which I absolutely adore from the Fabulous Florets stamp set.

I tried to balance the left hand side of the card by stamping a few copies of the small sprig from the Morning Meadow Hostess set and topped this all off with my sentiment propped up on dimensionals on top of some toning ribbon. 

The 'Happy 70th birthday' are all separate stamps from the Memorable Moments set. 

That's what is so nice about  Stampin Up, the sets are designed such that they easily compliment each other and it so easy to mix and match different elements , knowing things will 
just work!

I used my Stamp-a-majig to ensure everything was perfectly positioned in the frame,  included with the set,   all then precision cut using one of  the matching dies from the Labels Framelits set.

 Here you can see how the flowers were interleaved and you can just make out touches of my beloved basic rhinestones. I just can't resist adding these where ever I can.

and of course my envelope punch board makes it so so easy to make a custom sized envelope to match the  occasion.

This card is much larger than those I usually make and because I deliberately offset the centre fold of the card, it was then slightly larger than the dimensions quoted for a true A5 sized card. 

But after a few trial and error attempts with old newspaper was still then able to use the punch board to create an envelope just perfect for the job.

Its a definite must have in my book!

I know grey seems like an odd choice for a 'Happy' card but sometimes stepping  'out of  your comfort zone'  - well, it works.  I just hope she liked it too.

Things I used to make this card:

Stamp sets: Memorable Moments, Morning Meadow - Hostess,  Flower Shop
Inks: Gumball Green Island Indigo, Smoky Slate
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Grey, 
Other Essentials : Toning ribbon, Labels Framelits, Stampin  Up dimensionals,Pansy Punch,    corner rounder punch, Basic rhinestones, Envelope board punch

I can order Stampin' Up products for you, shipped straight to your address and am
happy to answer any questions you have  - if you would like to find out more or would like to place an order you can email me or phone me on 01438 820829

or why not visit my on-line store

I was a bit late posting  today - as  have had my great-niece here  for a sewing session - she wanted  to make something to go towards her hobby badge for Brownies - now whereas I tried to steer her towards inks and stamps and a card of course, well,  she had other ideas!

We ended up making a  carrier bag holder -  like this one, including the Scottie Dog fabric! - which her mum had got as an offcut for the princely sum of £2:00 from our local Dunelms store. So everyone happy all round and hopefully my great-niece  will have earnt her hobby badge!.

Meanwhile I am still hopeful  she may yet take to card making

Until next time and have a lovely week.
Jan
x