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

My first ever Stampin up Event .

hi all 

Happy Saturday - well am not too sure how you write 'whooo hooo'' ie  that well known phrase of enjoyment but imagine along with me!

This week saw me at my first ever Stampin Up event - one of their UK Creative Tours. The venue was lovely - well the 'little' bit  I saw of it - our meeting room - so can only think the rest of the place must be stunning.

 I felt at a bit of a loss really to start with, as only managed to sidle in a couple of minutes after it had all started - which was a real shame as missed out on all the pre-meeting get-togetherings, introductions, swapping frenzies that would have taken place am sure. . but the table I joined made me ever so welcome and answered my questions as we went along. 

I can honestly say I was absolutely amazed at the huge mount of enthusiasm, inspiration, the display tables and boards of samples, demonstrations, presentations .  (A very very tiny sample snapshot of the main display board below)

 and not forgetting the very famous Stampin Up 'prize patrol' ( I cannot believe it,  I actually won a prize -  as  historically am one of those people who never win anything!)

 and my prize  - a lovely goodie bag of Christmas/Winter themed goodies containing a pack of the Winter Frost DSP paper stack, silver ribbon and buttons.

... mind you, winners had to then stand up and enter into a rendition of 'That's Amoré ' in honour of of Paula's (one of the lovely Stampin Up hosts) Italian heritage.    

Am not quite sure what Dean Martin would have made of it all - but it certainly gave the rest of the audience a few laughs!          

 I had made a very very modest number of swaps of my own - one of the batches below.

 













and at a suitable break went and sought out the lovely Michelle Last to introduce myself as a very new member of her group, the 'pinkies' - and she very kindly not only took me under her wing - but presented me with a  lovely welcome treat chocolate bar! Thanks Michelle. After all, a girl can never ever have enough chocolate!! 

..and then introduced me to some of the others in both hers and her down line's teams. Thank you Lynne,   Lucy,  and everyone else!

There were a few ladies who were not yet 'swapped out' so did finally pluck up courage to do some swapping of my own and got some really nice ones ones back - thanks so much everyone... 

All in all it was a fantastic evening.. and a really nice introduction to what goes on at a Stampin Up event.. and with November's Convention in Manchester approaching at an alarming rate - a really brilliant taster am sure of what will be something quite special.


Things I used to make my Creative Tour swaps:

Stamp set:  Sassy Salutations
Inks :Island Indigo
Cardstock  and paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Quatrefancy DSP
Punches: Scallop circle and circle punches
Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka dots
Other essentials: Stampin up Dimensionals, Bakers twine, sponge daubers

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

Well did not intend for this to be such a long post - so hope you are having a great 
weekend and 'See you' all soon

Jan
x

Congratulations all round...

hi everyone


Well it's been a day for celebration in our little corner over here and not just because of a certain Mr Murray and his amazing Wimbledon success - but something a little more local but just as much keenly sought after.

We have just heard that my partner's daughter has won a scholarship place which will enable her to take up her studies for a Law degree.

She had to submit a paper for consideration by a panel of judges.
In common with a lot of her friends as I understand it, it was definitely a case of 'Lastminute.com'  - I think it was emailed in at 23:57 on the very last day possible, with the deadline being midnight .!

but.. to everyone's delight - she has just heard she has won first prize, her tution fees covered and a place on the course.

So couldn't let this pass without a Congratulations card in honour of the occasion, so had my first attempt at a 'criss-cross' card. 

Must admit the designer series paper and the greeting I used for the middle of the card are long since retired - but these could easily be substituted for your own choice of both.

I made use of a few punches as well for layering up my rosette and was able to use the design of the paper to advantage, fussy cutting a piece using the extra-large scalloped circle punch.
Just one of the many things I love about Stampin Up - their products co-ordinate and work so well together without you having to indulge in any guesswork or trial and error.

And although I  have used a particular tab punch for my greetings pull-out, (a punched circle folded in half and trimmed,  would yield a similar result I think) and to add just a little bit of interest I embossed the middle of the card as well.

...and of course every girl likes a little bit of bling,  so finished off the rosette with a small  rhinestone, having first pierced round the outer layer and propped the whole thing up on dimensionals.

and finally to make sure it actally stood up, I just fashioned a litte 'z' stand out of some spare card stock for the back of the card. 

... and speaking of greetings - don't forget the 25 % offer on now for 3 of your favourite sets


Things you need to make this card:

Stamp set: A set of  your choice
Inks: Real Red
Cardstock and paper: Very Vanilla, Real Red, DSP of your choice
Punches: Scallop Circle punches, circle punch,1" square punch for notching the 'ribbon' tails
Other essentials,  Piercing tool and mat, Stampin Up dimensionals, Tombow adhesive, square lattice embossing folder .
  
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


Thanks so much for stopping by.

Jan
x