Early bird for somethings ? .. but not all!!

hi all

well - it was my intention to be a bit more organised this year and think ahead, and be prepared..  err.. no am not thinking of joining the scouts!.

But in true fashion,  am now truly well away aka as being ready in time  for 'V' day - well February is fast approaching - or that is my view given how fast last week whizzed by! and I do need a card for 'himself' after all.. !

I took the lovely current sketch from Karen over at Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge  as inspiration for my card layout.

and this is my interpretation of it, and what I came up with..

not quite a homage to stamping though as there is very little  on it!! (just the 2 tiny hearts). It's certainly more punched than stamped - but was pleased with how it turned out.

I chose  Basic Black + Stampin' Up!'s  Real Red for my colour choice - with a sparkly strip of silver glimmer paper for a bit of added interest.

I punched and die-cut a number of heart shapes - backed the negative space with some Real Red offcuts of paper from the Polka dot Designer series paper (still available as a digital download) and some tiny bits of stamped card stock.The I'Heart'U is one of the accessory dies from the Labels card Thinlit die set and my two banners were courtesy of cut downs ones from the Banners Thinlits set.

and the inside - I deliberately left quite plain - a little heart and sentiment says it all - both from the 'Kind and Cosy'  stamp set.

but it's at this point where I now have a laugh at myself at my supposedly 'being prepared' and the post title!

I had thought to also link it up with the 'Black,  Metallic + one' theme over at Less is More
til I tumbled to the fact that yes, this was the card challenge, but for last week,  not this one!.  Though perhaps on reflection, I guess with no 'white space' it was perhaps not eligible anyway.. But the thought was there, however.

Hopefully I have not started how I mean to go on..

what was that about new year resolutions.?

Stampin' Up! supplies for this card:

Just click on the items to easily access them in my on line store  (There's a  printable version of the supply list at the bottom left of the scrolling items) 

Pay just  £4:95 whatever the size of your order, to 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.

 and reading this back I realise I never ever give due credit to one particular item in my crafting metre - and without which I could not do my die-cutting for this or any other card.

It is my Stampin' Up!  Big Shot.

An absolute must have in my book.  As some of you know, my sewing machine is another of the great loves of my life (after 'himself' of course)- and the Big Shot is just as brilliant for accurate cutting of fabric for quilting shapes and applique as it is for my cardstock and papers. I just love it!

til next time - hope you have a lovely week and happy stampin'!
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

All things - well almost! 'Baby'

hi all and its the weekend - Yeah..

well I don't know about anyone else - but do you feel as if this week has flown past.. am sure the last time I looked I was at my evening class on Tuesday and somehow in between it got to be Friday evening - am really not too sure how that happened!

but just got time for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch (MOJO329) - its what I needed to get me thinking a little and  after all my endeavours also decided to  enter this in the current Less is More challenge - week 155,  where the theme there is 'New Baby' 

I matted up a piece of Stampin Up lovely white card stock embossed  with the Chevron EF, sponged it for a bit of interest and used particular offcuts of some of the Nursery Nest,  (sadly now retired) designer series paper for the centre strip to compliment the embossing.

I coupled this with my take on the bottom section - where I stamped my sentiment, punched it out using the decorative punch, yet more sponging the edges,  then promptly decided to chop it in half.

I guess I should have taken more care with it's positioning - as the tip of the punch out could so have easily have lined up with the tip of one of chevrons

ah well... a lesson learnt for me for next time - look at what I am doing!

The scalloped centre circle,  I punched out 5 times, sticking them all together to create one fairly substantial whole.... and with even more sponging - my element of the moment - all finished off with a couple of toning candy dots for the wheels.

and inside...well,  they say necessity is the mother of invention..

I had stamped the {Baby} perfectly - with the aid of my stamp-a majig. All fine,  til I promptly stamped the rest of wording upside down!.

With  instant remedial work called for, I just covered up my mistake with a duplicate punched label, again sponging those edges to tie in with the rest. and used another strip of the same paper to create my scalloped ribbon border at the bottom of the card.

Apologies for the poor photography - it would  help if I knew how to drive his camera! Am thinking, (that's a lot of thinking I have done today!) a lesson for another day perhaps.

Stampin Up recipe for this card:
Stamp sets: Sweetest Gift, Embellished events
Inks: Blushing Bride
Cardstock:/ Paper;  Whisper White, Nursery Nest DSP (retired)
Punches: Decorative Label Punch,  Scallop circle punch, scallop ribbon border punch
Other Essentials : Chevron Embossing folder,  Stampin  Up dimensionals, Candy dots 

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

...and as I have been sewing up a storm for things for my sewing tutor over the last few weeks  nice to say that is all finished now. However no chance for a relax, as will have a house full tomorrow, but  nicely though, as its my mum and sister. So am really looking forward to lots of girly chat and am sure, some retail therapy.

til next time have a nice week and don't forget if you have the time, check out the Sale-a-bration blog hop currently going on over at the 'Pinkies' -  am off to have a really good look myself!

Jan
x

T'is the season for a challenge

hi all 

well...

This is not something I do very much at all - enter an on-line challenge -
but having received a lovely email from Sarn over at Stamping for Pleasure and realizing I still had time to send in something for her very last Rudolph Day challenge of 2013 - well it set me thinking..

So here is my something seasonal.

It's quite plain - one layer of cardstock, matted on top of another, and although not really clear in this picture, have just finished it with some paper piercing, a tiny bit of bling as decoration and very light sponging round the edges. 

But my main aim with this card was trying my hand at water colouring.

One of the demonstrations at Stampin' Up's recent European Convention covered water colouring and I identify with the idea of not having to be too precise -and it doesn't matter whether you wobble over the lines or not! 

It was really just a practice to begin with but I liked how it turned out, even though I guess I maybe didn't do it justice not having any water colour paper -

 but... herewith one card  - this view hopefully showing off the paper piercing and sentiment in a bit better detail.

Was wondering about also entering it for the current Less is More challenge - A Christmas card - but with the proviso of using a bird!  but forgot about the closing date! ah well, maybe next time!

Hope you like it.

Things I used to make this card:

Stamp sets: Beautiful Season and Bells & Boughs (though retired - any Christmas set would do)
Inks: basic black - but stamped off first.
Stampin' up Write Markers: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock   Whisper White
Other essentials:Rhinestones, Sponge dauber and Paper Piercing pack - Essentials

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

thanks so much for stopping by and very best wishes til next time