Home made cupcake

With the warm weather we have been having perhaps I should have made an ice cream instead!

This is a nice quick and easy card which I cut out the base using a template, from Whisper White card stock and then added the designer series paper with 'stripes' to the base and an embossed (with the Square Lattice embossing folder) piece of Pink Pirouette for the icing...



The cherry is from the Button Buddies stamp set (cherry image) and I've added a few seed beads (non Stampin' Up! to look like sprinkles and tied a quick knot in a piece of Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon.

Rugby theme

Stampin' Up! doesn't always have a stamp set for a particular theme... but it always has something that can be adapted to suit!

The card I have to share with you today is my attempt as creating a rugby theme for a commission.



I've used the All in the Family stamp set and created a rugby player and then added rugby ball drawn by hand...  what a great little stamp set, although I recommend using a Stamp-a-ma-jig to get all the body parts in the right places :)!

Materials:

Card stock - Whisper White (base and image panel) and Soft Suede (matting and border strip);
DSP - Brights collection.  I've used a stripy piece on the left hand side of the card and a piece with 'word' on behind the image panel.
Accessories - Brights brads, Stampin' Write markers, Stamp-a-ma-jig;
Punches - Scalloped Trim Border, Word Window;
Sentiment - Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Un-packing for birthdays

The new Packed for Birthday stamp which retails at just £8.95 went down well at my catalogue launch last week.  We used the individual images rather than the whole stamp and a couple of the ladies came up with their own ideas by changing the image on the make and take project... but you'll have to turn your head to see them!

So here is another card to share with you, where I have cut up the little images from this stamp again.



The colours are Wisteria Wonder and Pool Party and I have created a Whisper White tall card base for a change.  I've then cut a strip of the Wisteria Wonder and mounted this onto 2 strips of Pool Party to create the border. 

I have then punched out Scallop circles from Pool Party and added a 1 3/8" circle punch in the centre, which I have embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder.

Each of the images from the Packed for Birthday has been carefully cut out and then coloured wiht Stampin' Write markers and then stuck on with dimensionals.

Finally a sentiment from my favourite go to stamp set - Teeny Tiny Wishes and punched out with the Word Window punch.

If you like this stamp as much as I do why not place an order - just contact me at jadedcrafter@gmail.com.



FREE ticket to Stampin' Up! convention (worth £149)

Just a reminder that Stampin’ Up! released a new, more flexible Starter Kit at the beginning of May, priced at just £99 for £130 worth of products, which you can choose from either of the current catalogues.  It’s great for those with their own craft stash already as you can build your business from this.

As well as the products you will get £45 of business supplies to get your business up and running.

And until the end of the month you can get a FREE ticket worth £149 to the European Stampin’ Up! convention in Maine, Germany.  Check out more details here or contact me for more… remember you only have until Thursday this week to sign up and take advantage of this offer.

If your wish list from this catalogue is very long, why not take advantage of the £130 worth of products for just £99 and maybe you will end up extending your crafting into the demonstrator world like I did!

Varying layouts

There are so many different layouts possible when making a card, I thought today I would show you just how easy it is to create a few different cards using the same materials.

I've used the cute tortoise stamp from the Natures Nest stamp set from the main catalogue for these birthday cards and coloured it with Stampin' Write markers.

The first card is a Old Olive base onto which I have created a Soft Suede panel and punched the edge with the Scalloped Trim border punch, before mounting the Whisper White image panel.



On the card base I have added 2 lengths of Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon and then a sentiment from the Perfect Pairs stamp set, inked with Early Espresso onto Whisper White and then punched out with the 1 3/8' circle punch before mounting onto a Scalloped circle punch and raising up with dimensionals.

For the second card I've used a Whisper White card base to create a 13.5cm square and then added a strip of Soft Suede card stock in the centre and then a piece of DSP from the Beau Chateau paper pack. 

Onto this I added the 2 circular shapes from the Perfect Pennants die, cut from Soft Suede and More Mustard and then in the centre I have added 1 1/4' circle punched from Whisper White which has been run through the Square Lattice embossing folder, before finally adding the tortoise.

And finally, another Old Olive base and paper from the Well Worn paper pack, with a central panel cut from Soft Suede and the image stamped onto Whisper White.

I could go on creating layouts like this, so why not have a go yourself and see what you can come up with.

For a golfer

It's the weekend and the weather is beautiful outside.  However, I haven't even tidied up yet after my catalogue launch last night as I have been in the throws of work today!  It's not very often I have to succumb to working the weekend but unfortunately it is that busy time of year and I am just unable to avoid it.

I hope everyone else is having a lovely weekend and enjoying the good weather.  I thought I would share with you a card for the golfers out there...

This is a fairly easy card to make, as there is very little stamping involved.  For the base I have created a 5 x 7" card from Whisper White card stock and then added a strip of Marina Mist along the left hand side which I have embossed with the Stripes embossing folder. 

The main image panel was created with a piece of designer series paper from the Just Add Cake paper pack, which I have matted onto Soft Suede card stock and then mounted on the card base.

The 'golf ball' was punched out with a 1 1/4' circle punch and then run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder with the 'dots' inverted.  The 'tee' was created from Marina Mist card stock using the Word Window punch for the 'stalk' and then a 1 3/8' circle punch for the top.

I then cut a scrap of Old Olive to create the grass, added lettering cut from Marina Mist using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies and finally a sentiment (retired) across the top.

Summer mini catalogue launch

This evening from 7.30pm I am hosting my Summer mini catalogue launch at my home (GU16).  It's FREE, a great chance to have a look at some of the new products and you will be able to catch up with some like minded people over a glass of wine.

If you would like to come along, it's not too late to let me know... just contact me via email at jadedcrafter@gmail.com or telephone 07968 951957 and I will send you details of my address.

The make and take project will feature the new Packed for Birthday stamp which retails at just £8.95 and I will have a special offer available to help you start building up your craft stash at a discount.

If you can't make it along but want to place an order and save on postage (if you can collect from me) then I will be finalising my order on Saturday, so let me know by then.

And finally, here is the card we will be making...

Super... (fiddly) owl

I've been dying to share this cute little idea that uses the Owl Punch and Bird Builder punch (for the wings).  Full credit goes to Deb Fearns as I CASE'd this almost in it's entirity as it was perfect for a 'fantasy and cartoon' themed commission.

If you are familiar with the Owl Punch and Bird Builder punch you should be able to work out how the pieces were created from Pacific Point, Real Red and Daffodil Delight card stock scraps.  It's all a bit fiddly to be honest, but once all the pieces are in place you can breath a sigh of relief I promise.

This little fellow has been mounted onto Bashful Blue and then Real Red with a strip of Daffodil Delight.  The sentiment is from For My Family, which I am getting a lot more use out of recently :).

Ideas with an airplane

I'm afraid I am back in Cambridge today so had to fleetingly prepare this scheduled post before I left last night...  and as promised something a little more masculine themed, although these could work for a lady with an interest in airplanes too, and of course a change in sentiment.

Don't forget Father's Day is Sunday 17th June this year... so in preparation I am already creating commissions.  The first card uses the airplane stamp from the Need for Speed stamp set... all very Top Gun and one of my all time favourite films.

I've teamed Old Olive with Early Espresso and mounted a piece of the Pumpkin Pie DSP from the Brights pack to create the background panel.  The image has been coloured with Stampin' Write markers using a blender pen and then I have raised this up along with the sentiment (Teeny Tiny Wishes) and then added a couple of brads.

And of course the second card uses the same stamp... but more in duplicate and to create a sort of background.  I've inked the stamp in Basic Gray and stamped 3 separate times across a piece of Bashful Blue which I have then torn and mounted onto a Soft Suede card base and added an Old Olive strip and brads.  The sentiment is from the For My Family stamp set, also inked in Basic Gray.

Fabric butterflies

I've just realised I've gone a bit overboard on the flowers the last couple of days, so though I'd change the theme slightly... and the card shape :).

For this card I have used the Scalloped Circle die to create a base from Very Vanilla and then embossed this with the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder.

The butterflies (cut with the Beautiful Butterflies die) are made from the new Twitterpated fabric in the Summer mini catalogue, adhered to card stock with multipurpose adhesive sheets, and then mounted on the card base, with a couple of Basic Pearls each to finish.

This card obviously took just a few minutes to make but I think it's still very effective - sometimes simple just works. 

I promise something a little more masculine themed for tomorrow ...

Fabric flowers

First, just a quick reminder about my catalogue launch event on Friday evening this week from 7.30pm at my home (GU16).  If you want to come along it's FREE and a good chance to see some of the new products and have a browse through the catalogues whilst sipping a glass of vino :).  It's all going to be a bit laid back as usual, especially after the week I will have had, so feel free to stop by, just contact me to let me know so I can ensure there is enough wine and project packs.

I just can't get enough of the new Labels Collection Framelits Dies that were released in the Summer mini catalogue :).  So will be using this in the make and take project on Friday if I can get my sample card sorted...

Here the framelits have been used to create the backdrop for a fabric flower...

The base is Very Vanilla and I've cut the larger framelit shape from Melon Mambo card stock and then cut the next size down from Very Vanilla and embossed it with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

The flower was created but cutting fabric mounted on card (with the multipurpose sheets - see page 122 of the main catalogue).  The fabric is the fabulous Flirtatious material (see page 68 or the main catalogue) which has co-ordinating papers and stamps.  I've used 2 different pieces of material and cut the medium sized flower twice and then added a centre piece cut from the largest flower.  The sentiment was inked with Melon Mambo onto Pink Pirouette card stock and punched out with the Word Window punch and then I added a couple of Basic Pearls to finish.

I've starting to find many uses for the beautiful fabrics and expanding my 'style' ;).

Summery flowers

I have a very quick summery card to share with you today, in the hope that the sunshine will come out as I'm home again on a Sunday evening... it's not looking good though!

The designer papers are from the Domestic Goddess DSP pack and co-ordinate with the 2011-13 In Colours Pool Party and Calypso Coral.  I've used a panel across the based of the Whisper White card base and a small panel which I have matted onto a piece of Calypso Coral card stock and then added the flower image from the Button Buddies stamp set inked in Calypso coral to match.  Note that this image fits the Scallop Circle punch so you don't have to cut it out :)!

I just love the fact that the Stampin' Up! colour ranges come in co-ordinating card, inks and accessories too, as it's so easy to match everything.  I've punched out a flower using the Boho Blossoms punch from a scrap of Calypso Coral and added this to the centre along with a Designer Button, finally a length of the ruffled ribbon (also in Calypso Coral) and this card is ready for a sentiment... however I'm unsure which one, but no doubt Teeny Tiny Wishes (my favourite sentiment stamp set) will provide something appropriate when the time arises.

Wherever you are

Happy Saturday!

Today I have a card for someone very special... although he's travelling somewhere and out of contact I hope this card has gone some way towards letting him know that I am thinking of him.  Happy birthday, Phill x.

This card features one of the stamps from the Natures Nest set, ideal for nature lovers, and those getting on a bit ;)!  I've inked the tortoise in Early Espresso and then coloured in with blender pens using Stampin' Write markers.  The background panel was created using the Top Note die twice to create a symmetrical shape cut from Whisper White and then cut out and run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and then another cut from Early Espresso card stock to create the frame.

I had to use a retired punch to create the squares, but there are several other square punches in the current main catalogue which would work just as well or you can just cut them on your trimmer and then run through the Square Lattice embossing folder as I have done.  The colours are Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and Pumpkin Pie...

For those of you who enjoy a bit of walking or Geocaching, as I do, will recognise the colours ;).  I've finished the card with a sentiment from the Hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes.  Oh and I almost forgot to mention that the base is Crumbcake.

Speedy car card

This is the first time I have used the Need for Speed stamp set, and now I really wish I had purchased this sooner...

I do struggle with creating cards for men sometimes, but this stamp set does all the hard work and the images are really detailed, you just need to leave them as they are or colour them with Stampin' Write marker pens as I have done with the car image on this card.

The base is Early Espresso and I have cut a strip of the 'Bright' collection DSP and placed this in the centre of the card and then created a panel measuring 5 x 7cm of Whisper White for the image and matted this onto a 5.5 x 7.5cm piece of Real Red.

I've inked and stamped the image in Early Espresso and then stamped a further image onto a separate piece of Whisper White card and cut this one out after colouring with a Real Red marker pen.  Then I have layered this using dimensional sticky pads, and then finished with a sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.

Do you struggle with cards for men, it seems I am not the only one as I have already had requests for male cards to be made during my next class on 16th June.  We will be making 4 cards for a variety of occasions using a number of techniques and I will definitely be including a male card in the selection... just need to decide which one :).  I only have a couple of places left for this class which is getting booked up fast, so contact me to book you place - full details can be found on my Classes page.

New love

Paris holds many fond memories for me, so I was very keen to use the Artistic Etchings stamp set to create a commission with a 'travel' theme.

I've incorporated my 'new love', definitely top of the favourites list currently, the Labels Collection framelits dies which were released in the Summer mini catalogue, they are just so versatile for creating extravagant looking layouts.

For this card I have used Melon Mambo and Sahara Sand for each of the framelits pieces in order to created a base panel that sits nicely on a reverse folded card base.

 

I stamped the Eiffel Tower image in Crumbcake ink onto a piece of the Sahara Sand card stock and then cut this out by hand.  Using the decorative stamp from the Artistic Etching stamp set I created a subtle background on the card base.  Once compiled I added a sentiment from the Sincere Salutations sentiments stamp set and punched this out of the Very Vanilla card stock, before mounting onto Melon Mambo pieces and then raising up with dimensional sticky pads.  Finally I added some of the tiny Basic Pearls to finish.  I really like this stamp set and will be finding more opportunities to use it again I'm sure.

For using my current favourites I've entered this card into the One Stitch at A Time Challenge - Favourites and for the use of two colours the Scrapbook Sisters Challenge - Two Colours.

I can't urge you enough to consider purchasing the Labels Collection framelits dies so I will just remind you that you can contact me at jadedcrafter@gmail.com to place your order anytime.  Orders can be delivered direct to you at the standing charge of £4.95 for recorded delivery... or you can combine your order and collect your products from me (GU16 area) and save on postage.  My next order is planned for 25th May so do get in touch, or why not come along to my Summer mini catalogue launch event at 7.30pm that day and place your order in person.

Wedding invites

You may recall that sometime ago I helped design and make 70 Save the Date cards for my friends Tori and Macca? 

Well, last weekend, the weekend before that and probably this weekend too if I'm honest I have been helping make the invites... as they are almost finished, other than the last remaining batch, I am under strict (!) orders that I can now share them with you. 

So, can I have a drum roll please.  After creating several samples and some ongoing changing of minds, and of course the help of the Bridesmaids, Bride Groom to Be and several other of my crafty friends and class attendee's I am very pleased to share with you, these lovely wedding invites...albeit upside down as I was slightly reliant on the wedding party to provide me with a photo of the finished article and I can't get it to post the right way up on here lol ;)!

The colours are Peach Parfait embossed with the Beautiful Bouquet embossing folder and Pear Pizzazz, although the card base is Crumbcake as the Autumn and Brown themes needed to be captured fully ;)!

You will see that the V&A (sorry it is upside down, you can see them a little better on the group photo below (still not the right way up - stupid iphone camera!) has been inked in the co-ordinating inks using the Monogram Sweet Alphabet stamp set, which I single handedly stamped approx 70 times for each of the 3 letters, after having done the same on the Save the Date cards... therefore I consider myself a very committed and crafty friend.  Thankfully the embellishing with Basic Rhinestones was the responsibility of another member of the production line, as was the punching of holes using the Crop-A-Dile in order to tie the ribbon.

For someone who isn't very creative - or so she keeps telling me, Tori has done an immense job designing these cards, with a little help from me to keep the ideas under control. Macca was a complete star too, and got stuck in with the production line, which amazed me, given the normal level of the Groom to Be's involvement. Tori doesn't realise just how lucky she is and they make such a great couple :).  Here's to the next installment...

Birds for all occasions - owl punch

Well, as promised today I have the cards we made at my Birds for all occasions class on Sunday.

I've already shown you one of the cards sometime ago - see here, but there were a couple of other animals created with this fabulous punch... in fact, I came up with so many idea's it was so hard to choose, so I gave the class attendees a choice for the last card:

The card base is Whisper White and I've used a crop-a-dile to punch holes down the left hand side of the card and then weaved a length of Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon through the holes and then back again and tied in a knot.

Next I punched a scallop circle, from the Halloween DSP (with the black cats) for the Cat card and from Soft Suede card stock for the Pig card, and then mounted a 1'3/8" punched circle of Whisper White card stock embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder, using my Big Shot machine.

The cat was created as follows:

- Head - owls body, with its feet chopped off;

- Features - eyes and heart shape with pupils cut to size by hand;

The pig was created as follows:

- Head - owls body, as above;

- Eyes and nose - eyes pieces;

- Body and fee - owls belly (turn it upside down).

The sentiments are from the For my Family stamp set.

Birds for all occasions - bird builder punch

Yesterday morning I had my monthly card making class and the theme was Birds for all occasions.  Here are the cards I designed using the bird punch (mainly), the owl punch ones will follow in tomorrrow's post ...

If you would like to come along to a class, or even have class of your own, do have a look at my class list.  I will be updating these for classes in July and August very soon so contact me to be added to the mailing list and get the details when available.

This anniversary card is created using Pool Party and Island Indigo from the 2011-13 In Colours collection.  Pool Party is my current favourite colour so expect to see a few more ideas using this in the coming weeks.  The base is an A4 sheet of Pool Party card stock which I have cut into half 'long ways' and then folded landscape to create the A6 base, however to make the card a little more extravagant I have then folded the front back on itself before adding the front panel which has been created using the new Labels Collection Framelits dies which were released in the Summer mini catalogue earlier this month.  Another favourite and great for creating borders, backgrounds, image panels and so much more.  If you have a Big Shot machine then you have to get a set at just £24.95 for 5 dies that fit inside each other, or can be used individually.  You can also use these on other die cutting machines, not just the Big Shot!

The inner label/framelit has been run through the Perfect Polka dots embossing folder before being adhered to the slightly larger Island Indigo shape.  I have then punched out 2 birds using the Bird Builder punch from Very Vanilla and layered up the wings using dimensional sticky pads.  The branches were created with the leaves from the same punch.  Finally a sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set inked in Island Indigo onto Very Vanilla card stock and punched out with the Word Window punch, and some Basic Pearls to embellish the corner.  This card can easily be changed to a wedding card just by using the 'Newlyweds' sentiment.

After a rather sedate card I went for another 'bird' themed idea, but quite different :)...

Do you recognise him?  Aparently everyone is obsessed with this little character and his little friends...

The Bird Builder punch features as the 'eyebrows', the 'tail feathers' and the 'hair' on this little guy from the Ange Birds games.  The 'eye's' and 'beak' were created with the Owl Punch which I will share with you tomorrow.

The body is just a 1' 3/8" circle punch cut from Real Red card stock and then one cut from Whisper White, and then punched again to create the 'tummy'.

If you look closely you will see that I have used some lined thread wrapped around the 'sling shot' which was created from 3 Word Window punches using a piece of DSP from the Well Worn paper pack. The background piece is River Rock, which I don't think I have ever featured on a card, so a new one for me; run through the Stripes embossing folder and then layered onto the So Saffron card base.

I hope you like these ideas using the Bird Builder punch.  Do check back tomorrow for the Owl Punch ideas, which is just as versatile.

Relaxing birthday fishes?

I made today's card for my friend Andy, who celebrates being another year older today.  Men are always hard to make cards for, so I went with something a little different... mainly because I know he has fish and although he has lots of other interests including DIY, I thought it was a good way to remind him that he should relax for a change on his birthday.  I'm not sure the message will get through however but it's worth a try - Happy Birthday mate!



The base is crumbcake and I have placed a piece of DSP from the Brights paper pack along the bottom and then added a strip of Chocolate Chip punched with the Scallop Trim border punch .  The base of the fish bowl was created with the Word Window punch and then I inked and stamped the fishtank and fishes from the Something Sweet stamp set - yes I know the stamp set tends to be used for making sweet related cards... but you can created other items too :).  I finished the card off by adding some of the leaves from the Bird Builder punch and the sentiment, along with a couple of brads.  The only thing missing is a sentiment saying relax... but hopefully he will get the message.



Textured impressions

The Summer mini catalogue has some lovely new products including the new textured impressions embossing folders which are a bargain at just £7.95 for the pack of 3.  There are co-ordinating edgelit dies too but to be honest you can probably get by quite easily with just the embossing folders and save your pennies towards something else :).

Today, I went along to Amy's catalogue launch event where we had a play with the new Twitterpated fabric, textured impressions embossing folders and the framelits dies.  I'm not sure which is my most favourite - probably the framelits dies as they are so versatile and also co-ordinate with the Apothecary Art stamp set.

The card we made was the same as one that another demonstrator friend, Julie, shared with us at our last crafty get together (see second picture), but of course I had to adapt it slightly and come up with something else.

The card base is Baja Breeze and this has been teamed with Blushing Bride and Whisper White to co-ordinate with the Twitterpated fabric.  Then we used a combination of the framelits dies to cut out the card stock and the fabric (which was mounted onto card stock with adhesive sheets) and then cut out butterflies using the Beautiful Butterflies die.

If you look closely you can see the textures created by the new embossing folders - tiny raised 'hearts' and the decorative edge of the card above, which I have then cut by hand.

The card designed by Julie uses the sentiment from the Apothecary Art stamp set and a clever technique created by the heart punch on the ends.

Tomorrow I have my birds for all occasions class, so plenty of ideas to follow next week using the owl and bird builder punches.

I hope you are having a good weekend x

For Nick

What lovely weather we have been treated with today... thankfully!

I wanted to share this card with you that I made for my late partner, Nick.  This morning we buried his ashes at the cemetery close to my home.  Of course it wasn't an easy card to make, but one suited to him :).

The little monkey comes from the Fox and Friends stamp set and I have carefully cut him out before mounting onto a 1' 3/8" circle punch mounted on a Chocolate Chip scalloped circle punch shape.  The card base is Crumbcake which I have run through the Stripes embossing folder before adding a strip of Chocolate Chip card punched with the scalloped trim border punch.  The sentiment was printed onto Whisper White and punched out with the Word Window punch and mounted with dimensional sticky pads.

A simple card, but this coupled with the poem that I wrote and read out, was how I wanted to mark the occasion.  We didn't have a ceremony or anything formal, and most of my friends don't even know that I planned to do this today...sometimes it is just not easy to share parts of your life with others :(.  Tomorrow would have been our 5 year anniversary and yet it has already been almost 18 months since that tragic day... but life does go on. 

I'm off to spend the rest of the afternoon immersed in my crafting stash... :) x

 

Cherry thanks

Today I have a very quick card to share with you that uses the 'cherries' image from the Button Buddies stamp set.  Although the set is designed to co-ordinate with the Designer Buttons, they also work very well on their own.  I have combined Rose Red with some of the papers from the Paisley Petal DSP pack to create this summery thank you card...

Materials:

Card stock - Whisper White, Rose Red;

Ink - Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz;

Punches - Decorative Label, Eyelet Border.

I've used a strip of the Rose Red card stock to create a 'ribbon' effect across the centre of the card, and raised up the image panel and then tucked the Decorative Label punch shape with the sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, behind this.  Very quick and simple and a good layout for any number of colour combo's.

Wanting to Sail Away

Well, I had a wonderful bank holiday weekend and with just a 3 day working week (and only 2 of those left by the time this posts) I can't really complain... or can I!

I think today's card sums up just how I'm really feeling...



Clearly this isn't necessary a stamp just for when you feel like taking off and escaping from reality.  It's actually a great stamp for male cards in particular and is very reasonably priced at just £8.95.

I couldn't decide what sentiment to use for the finished card, but the colour scheme is Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White.  Just some straight forward stamping and matting of card stock and DSP and a border punched with the Scallop Trim border punch to complete.

Everyone is starting new jobs...

...or so it seems! 

Here is a very quick card that I made for my lovely friend Min who starts her new job this week.  I realised that she was away until after I had left for Vienna so had to come up with something quickly but then forgot to drop it round and also post it from the airport...

So, another apology for another late delivery of a card - best of luck with the new job Min, I'll drop the card round when I'm back later x

The card base is the lovely Island Indigo and the background panel is a piece of Pool Party run through the Square Lattice embossing folder with the corners punched using one of the petals from the Boho Blossoms punch.

I went with a traditional good luck card, so picked the 'clover' image from the Every Little Bit stamp set which has something for everything ;), inked onto Whisper White and punched out with the Curly Label punch.  I couldn't find a sentiment suitable so printed out the 'Good Luck' and punch this out with the Word Window punch and then finished off with some Basic Pearls.

I hope the first day of the new jobs goes well x

Animal friends

It's possible I'm in Bratislava today, or that may have been yesterday, a bit undecided when scheduling this post ;). 

Whilst I'm off enjoying the bank holiday, here's a cute card that I made with the Fox and Friends stamp set and DSP from the Neutrals collection.

I've used Wild Wasabi and Chocolate Chip ink for the turtle image and then cut him out and layered him up onto a Curly Label punched shape using dimensional sticky pads.  I've then punched 2 Curly Label shapes from the Wild Wasabi card stock and cut each into half (one vertically and one horizontally) to create a frame around the image.  A quick punch along a strip with the Scalloped Trim border punch and some DSP, I've finished off with a simple sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set and a couple of brads.

Oh and here is another, slightly adapted version using the same stamp set and layout, but completely different... although I couldn't decide on a sentiment...

As you can see I used the 'paw' stamp from the Patterned Pets stamp set to embellish this card created from Tangerine Tango card stock with Cajun Craze DSP from the Halloween paper pack and Chocolate Chip cardstock too.

Anyway, I'm back in the UK first thing tomorrow and straight back to work too - eek!

Flowery buttons

I thought I'd share another idea using the Designer Buttons with you today...

The Button Buddies stamp set on page 34 of the main catalogue has some great stamps and all of them are designed to fit the Stampin' Up! buttons, although you can of course create plenty of designs without these too.

I recently made a couple of very quick birthday cards using the 'vase with flowers' image from this set, and had a play with some different colour combinations.  Wisteria Wonder, Rose Red and Whisper White, with the flower buttons from the 'Subtles' collection.  And for the second card, Bashful Blue and Perfect Plum.

I find the Stapin' Write marker pens are ideal for inking up stamps with more than one colour and makes it very easy to create cards like this quickly and in a variety of colours.  The sentiments are from the Petite Pairs stamp set, which has lots of lovely words to add to your cards and which I can highly recommend (a close second to the Teeny Tiny Wishes sentiments).

Baby Isabel

Don't forget it's my Come and Craft in Camberley (GU16) session this evening from 6.30pm.  There are currently 5 of us hanging out and crafting together so if you have your own stash and want to have some company whilst making a few bits too... then just contact me and come along.

Today I have a baby girl card to share with you that I made for some friends to congratulate them on the birth of their beautiful baby, Isabel.  Hopefully the card arrived earlier this week - Congratulations to Jo and Ivan x



I have used the 'handle' stamp from the Something Sweet stamp set, inked with Rose Red ink, and added a Pink Pirouette 1' 3/8" circle punch which I have run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder to create the 'rattle' which I have then placed a Word Window punched shape (run through the Square Lattice embossing folder) and embellished with Basic Pearls.

Layering up the panel with Rose Red and Pink Pirouette (embossed), I've adhered this to a card base that I have folded back and edged with the Scalloped Border punch and finished off with more pearls.



Rome

There is still lots to share with you from the new Summer mini catalogue, so you will have to check back or take a look at the new products in the catalogue which can be found to the right hand side of my blog.

I've been saving this card to share with you for sometime, as it was a commission for a friend of mine to give to her sister to go with a very lovely birthday surprise earlier this week... see if you can guess from the card what the present was?

Anyway, I hope Gin had a very lovely birthday, I know I would have it I was her :).

I've used that fab card layout that Fiona shared with us at one of our demonstrator get togethers...

The card base is Wisteria Wonder and I've used DSP from the Subtle collection and Island Indigo card stock and ribbon.  I was really pleased with how the card came out as I had to decoupage the Colloseum image which I had printed out from the web and it was a bit fiddly cutting out all the layers where I thought they should be.

New starter kit - just £99

Breaking news...

If you haven't heard already, from 1st May Stampin' Up! have changed the Starter Kit and reduced the price to just £99!

You can now:

• Choose £130 worth of products of your choice for just £99
• Get £45 worth of business supplies

In addition, if you sign up in May you will get a FREE place at the fabulous European Convention, this year to be held in Mainz, Germany in November.

Once you've signed up you will benefit from all the usual demonstrator benefits: preorders, 20% discount, training, monthly magazine etc. plus there's no obligation to do anything further - if you just want the kit, that's fine too!

Unfortunately this offer isn't available to current demonstrators, otherwise I myself would be signing up all over again to get my hands more products as such a great discount... and more importantly the FREE place at the European convention worth £149!

Check out further details in the link to the right of my blog or contact me.

So, just to clarify... you can customise your kit with any current stamp sets and other products too.  For example why not included something from the new Summer mini catalogue, like this lovely new set, Open Sea. 

This card was designed by Fiona who shared it with us at a recent demonstrator get together.

The colours are Baja Breeze, Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry (still one of my fav's). 

We used all of the stamps in the set other than the large background stamp, and with some clever use of layering colours I think this design is one I will be using again :).  This card also features the new Baker's Twine - check out page 22 of the Summer mini catalogue for full details.

 

New Summer mini catalogue

Finally, I can share with you the new Summer mini catalogue and all the lovely new products... it's very exciting as there are all sorts of new things to play with - check out the link to view the full catalogue online.

If you would like to come along to my Summer mini catalogue launch party, I will be holding it on the Friday 25th May at 7.30pm at my home (GU16) - apologies you have to wait so long to come along to see and try the new products, but with bank holidays and upcoming classes it's the first date I had available.

If you can't make that date why not have a home party of your own, invite round a few friends and enjoy a couple of hours making something for yourself and browse the catalogues in the comfort of your own home.  There are other rewards available to you too - check out my Home parties page for more or contact me.

So here is a card I have made with the new Apothecary Art stamp set and co-ordinating Framelits Dies. I have been playing solidly with these 2 products since they arrived in my pre order and I just love them so much. 

For this card I have teamed up Island Indigo and Pool Party from the 2011-13 In Colours range, using the stamped image as the focus, and then personalised the card using the Timeless Junior Alphabet dies, which seem to feature a lot more on my cards these days now that I have got the hang of them.

Have a look at the rest of the oher lovely stamps included in the Apothecary Art stamp set on page 17 of the new Summer mini catalogue: