Anniversary birds

I seem to get a lot of commissions for anniversary cards. And although I love to create new designs, I still revert back to using my Bird punch for these as it just works.

SAB thoughts

Sometimes it is necessary to create a card for difficult occasions.  Although the Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set seems to have some more 'cheery' stamps in it, I thought I'd create a sympathy card to add some variety.

I've added leaves from the Bird Punch instead of using the stamp from the set as these are a little bigger...

Other materials:
Scallop Circle punch;
1 3/8 inch Circle punch;

Happy Christmas Sis

This is the second year in a row that my sister will be celebrating Christmas with my parents and the second year that I will not be there... in fact I can't remember the last time I did celebrate Christmas with her - when we were kids I think?!  

So, I'm missing out on her Christmas roast, but also the cold weather as I am off on my travels until January. In the meantime, here is the card I made for her.  Happy Christmas Lee x

This is another twist on one of the cards I made last Christmas, but with a variation or two.  The Scallop Circle die works so well as an easle style card base, I must remember to use this idea more often, especially as the bird punch can be used to create other birds for year round cards :).

Thank you flower

Believe it or not this is quite a quick card to make... if you have a Big Shot machine :)!

 



The base is Pink Pirouette and the Top Note has been cut out of Regal Rose and then a piece of DSP from the Festival of Prints paper pack (yes this pack is great for non Christmas cards too!).  The Fun Flowers die has been used to create the layers of the flower in Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder run through the Regal Rose pieces.

 

You can just make out the leaves in the photo, punched with the Bird Builder punch from Crumbcake and then sponge daubered with Chocolate Chip ink.

 

The lovely sentiment is from one of the Hostess sets - Wacky Wishes...

 

I will be placing an order at lunchtime today, so if you live close to me (GU16) and would like to save on postage costs please let me have your order by 12 noon.  To contact me just email jadedcrafter@gmail.com

 

It's another busy weekend for me, with the last week of work coming up as well, so more to follow on Monday.  Have a good one!

Last chance cards class and mini catalogue launch

Today I have my last chance cards class where we will be using products that retire this month.  Sadly, in the time between when I prepped for the class and the drafting of this post, the stamp set featured on one of the cards we are making is no longer available :(.  I hope the ladies won't be too disappointed, as it is an adaptable card layout.

 

It's the Fox and Friends stamp set, which I am so sad to see go from the main catalogue.  Here is the card we will be making...

 

I was going to make an alternative card with this layout, using the Bird Builder punch to create little birds in place of the monkeys, but I have got completely distrated this morning dealing with an unexpected delivery (!), more about that another time.  So, apologies that I haven't got another card to share with you instead.
 

Thankfully most of the other products we are using today, still (currently) remain on the retiring products list which you can see here.  If you haven't already looked and want to order something please don't leave it too late, as these products are only available whilst stocks last.

 

I'll be sharing the other cards with you over the next few days so check back soon.

 

As well as the class I have my Autumn/Winter mini catalogue launch event this afternoon from 1pm.  I can probably still accommodate a few more crafty people if you fancy coming along, just give me a call on my mobile on 07968 951957 to let me know.

 

Here is the very quick make and take project that we will be doing using some of the new products from the mini catalogue...

 

This card features the lovely 'gingerbread man' from the Scentsational stamp set.  The great thing about this set is that there are co-ordinating dies for cutting out each image so you can create a batch of card very quickly.

 

I have also used some of the papers from the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper pack on page 20 of the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue.  And as I keep saying... these papers are great for other occassions, not just Christmas so well worth including on your wish list :).  You will see that I have also added a strip of Old Olive card stock embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and then added a sentiment in co-ordinating ink from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set...

 

 

Daisy daisy daisy

Today I have yet another retiring product to share with you!  OMG so much is retiring, but don't worry because the new Autumn/Winter mini catalogue has lots of new products for you and the new main catalgoue will be released in October. 

 

Remember if you want to order anything from the retiring list - it is updated daily, here, so just contact me to place your order.

 

 

So here is the card I wanted to share with you... using the Flower, Daisies #2 die...

 



 

 

I've used a Rose Red card base and then matted a piece of Basic Black card stock, followed by some Shimmery White card (run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder using the Big Shot machine).  I've then added a strip of Basic Black card stock and the flowers cut with the die from Rose Red, along with some leaves punched form Basic Black scraps using the Bird Builder punch.  The flower centres are Tempting Turquoise which I have run through the Square Lattice embossing folder before fixing with dimensional sticky pads.

 

Finally the sentiment is from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set which you can now get from the retiring list, as previously was only available to hostesses.  I've stamped this in co-ordinating Rose Red ink and then punched out with the Decorative Label punch and created a border with Basic Black punches of the same.

 

I'm off to see GBWR in the paralympics tomorrow, against Japan in the last of their group games.  Sadly GB lost yesterday to the USA, the Beijing Olympic gold medallists, so not really a surprise... and we are playing France tonight at 7pm.  It's live on TV so what better way to spend the evening :).

No more pillow box die :(

Apologies for the late post today... I have got a bit behind with scheduling posts this week as work slowly catches up with me.  If fact I'm a bit behind on the crafting too, but still have a few things to share with you to make sure you're making the most of the retiring products list!

 

More items dropped off today so make sure you check out the lists soon, here.

 

Another of my favourites is going... the pillow box die :(!  I'm not sure how life will be after it's gone, but I have seen the replacement product in the upcoming new catalogue which will be released in October and I don't think you will be too disappointed.

 

However if you don't want to miss out, contact me now to place your order and remember I'm offering FREE postage on orders of £45 or more for the rest of the month.

 

Here's a quick project created with the pillow box die from some Blushing Bride card stock (also retiring) and some of the lovely Timeless Portrait DSP papers which will also be gone after September, if not before.



 

I've also used the following products:

 

- Decorative Label punch

- Bird Builder punch (for the leaves)

- Boho Blossoms punch

- Basic Rhinestones

- Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder

Sunflower friend

As the end of August is fast approaching us, just a quick reminder about the Summer Mini Catalogue - these products will only be available until the end of the month, so don't miss out!   

Contact me to place an order and don't forget that I am offering FREE postage for orders over £45 and the Reason to Smile stamp set is FREE on orders over £60.



One of my favourite products in the Summer Mini Catalogue is the Mixed Bunch set, which I have shown you is great for creating flowers and butterflies.

Today, I wanted to show you a sunflower card created with this stamp set.  Apologies that the photo isn't too good, but you can just make out the colours of More Mustard (with Soft Suede in the flower centres), Island Indigo and Pool Party.  The base is Whisper White and I have folded it back on itself and then edged with the Scalloped Border punch...



I can spend hours trying to come out with new colour combinations, and not just stick to my favourites.  I wasn't too sure about the More Mustard with the other 2 colours initially but now really like this.

The leaves are created using the 'wing' from the Bird Builder punch (2-step bird puchr) and the flower centres are circles of Soft Suede which I have then run through the Square Lattice embossing folder and raised up.

You can just make out the background of the wording panel, which is Pool Party run through the Stripes embossing folder and then layered up with the More Mustard, Island Indigo and then lettering cut with the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies from Pool Party scraps of card stock.

Thanks again

I was staying with my Aunt and Uncle last week, up in the Lake District... trying to get away from it all; as well as visiting the memorial trees and replacing the geocache that I have up there in memory of my late partner, Nick.

I always love being in the Lakes, not just for the memories, but for the food and hospitality ;)!  I actually think my Aunt should open up her house as a B&B cos her cooking is great and lots of it comes freshly picked from the garden.

Anyway, as a thank you to them I have made and sent this card... hopefully it's winging its way up North as you read this post.

I have CASE'd the idea from Amy, although with a few tweaks.  I have used a Basic Black card base and then stamped the images from the Just Believe stamp set in Old Olive ink onto Crumbcake card stock.  I have then punched a border with the Scallop Trim Border punch in Old Olive and adhered this under the image panel.

The ladybird was created with the Scallop Circle punch and I have then decorated it with spots and finished off with a sentiment from the Apothecary Art stamp set onto Old Olive card.

Thanks again Susan and David x

Happy Birthday Lynne

Today I have a card for a friend from my old place of work. These days we only ever catch up via email so I wanted to make sure I didn't forget her birthday, even though I'm not in the country.  Happy Birthday Lynne, for yesterday x

I've CASE'd this card from Beth as I just needed some inspiration to get me going with the Mixed Bunch stamp set and I wanted to use some colours I wouldn't normally go for.

The colours are Pacific Point and Garden Green and the sentiment is from the Petite Pairs stamp set.  For the leaves I punched out the 'wings' from the Bird Builder punch and tucked them under the central flower and then raise dthis up with dimensionals.  A nice quick card.

I should be getting an overnight train later... to my next stop - Krakow in Poland.  Check out my travel blog to see what I am up to (link is under Blog list to the left of my site - Tiggerbird's Travelpod).

The birds are back...

I have to admit that the Bird Builder punch (or 2 step bird punch as it was previously known) comes a close second to my favourite, the Owl punch, these days.  But it still comes out quite a bit and today I have a card unlike my normal sort of design, which to be honest I am not too sure about.  Maybe it's the colour choice?

Anyway, here you go...

Featuring two of the little birdies, punched out from Chocolate Chip card stock and a matching Word Window with an embossed sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  The base is Peach Parfait and I have embossed the Medallion stamp in Versamark and clear embossing powder and then added some of my favourite ribbon (Organza in Whisper White). 

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 :).

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.

A little birdy tells me

Where has the day gone... 

I still have lots to do before tomorrow - eek!

So, just a very quick post to remind you that you only have tomorrow left to order any products from the Spring mini catalogue and to take advantage of the April offer of FREE papers with a purchase of £45.

Anyway, a little bird tells me that there are lots of great products coming in the new Summer mini catalogue which will be released on Tuesday, but I can't tell you what these are yet... however, here's a sneak peak of one of the new stamp set's.

I've used the Pocketful of Posies Designer Series Paper (DSP) which is one of the packs you can get FREE this month when you spend £45... 

As well as some new products this card features one of my old favourites, the Bird Builder punch, punched out from Rich Razzleberry to co-ordinate with the DSP and combined with Island Indigo and Pool Party from the 2011/13 In Colour range.

Flowers for any occasion

Finally I've been able to take a day off... get a break from work and try and catch up on life.  Watch this space for upcoming offers, events and classes as I try to get my life back to BC ("Before Cambridge")...

Today I have a card for you that would work for any occasion and even just to let someone know that you are thinking of them.  Add a sentiment and it has a whole different meaning :).

The cardbase is Pink Pirouette card stock. For the panel I matted a piece of Whisper White card onto a piece of  So Saffron card and then adhered this to the card base using some Dimensional sticky pads. 

The tulips are punched from Pink Pirouette and So Saffron card stock using the Bird Builder punch along with the stems and leaves (Pear Pizzazz).

Easter class

Today I have my Easter class, by special request, as it wasn't one I originally planned until I was asked to.  And I actually really enjoyed making something a bit different, particularly as I don't actually own any of the Easter themed stamp sets from the catalogue...

We will be making 10 cards, 2 each of 5 different designs, although I am not sure which is my favourite so I'm going to share a couple with you today.

First, a design that I CASE'd from my crafty friend Amy. 

I've used Crumbcake for the base and folded in the wings a little so he fits in an A6 envelope... sorry the photo is a bit blurry, but at least you can't really see the retired stamp that I have used for the sentiment :).

The second card uses a few punches, including one of my favourites, the bird builder punch:

To create the chicks I have snipped off the tail of the bird and used the scalloped circle punch on the wings and then raised these up with dimensional sticky pads.  In fact I've realised that you can make allsorts of birds from this punch as well as the standard one :0).

Sorry, rubbish photo again and I haven't got time to take another one... but you can just make out that I have embossed the Whisper White background with the Square Lattice embossing folder and then matted it to a piece of Bashful Blue card stock.

The flower is from the Create a Cupcake stamp set which I have inked with markers to get 2 colours on the same stamp (Rose Red and Wild Wasabi).

I've entered this card into the Crafty Boots Challenge - Easter.

Inspired wedding card

Today I wanted to share with you another idea using the lovely Sale-A-Bration papers - Everyday Enchantment.  You can get your hands on these scrummy papers if you spend £45 on products during the Sale-A-Bration event which ends on 31st March.  So contact me to place your order.

I am also offering a pack of these lovely papers to those who choose to purchase the starter kit and sign up with me before the end of the month - see here for more.

This card was inspired by a fellow demonstrator,  Fiona, whose ideas I absolutely love as they are very different to my own (although mine are becoming more like hers!).  Check out the card Fiona shared with us at my last crafty get together, here, which is the inspiration for this wedding card layout.



Materials:

Base - Very Vanilla

Stamp set - Fresh Vintage (SAB 2012) - I have used the small flower stamp for the background.

DSP - Everyday enchantment (SAB 2012).

Ink - Bashful Blue.

Punch - Bird Builder for the birds punched from Bashful Blue and the leaves punched from Lucky Limeade.

Main panel - Top Note die to cut Bashful Blue card and then the DSP which has been trimmed round the edge and mounted on the card.

Sentiment - Word Window punch and Teeny Tiny Wishes.



Baby Jamie's Christening

Sorry for the late post today - it's just taken me over 3 hours to get home and with no internet access at my abode in Cambridge yet, and working longs hours during the day, I'm struggling to keep the memento going.

Anyway, enough of the excuses (and moaning!)...

I went along to a Christening/Baptism on Sunday for my good friend Vicki's son 'baby Jamie'.  If you recall I created all the invites a while back (see here).

Here's the card I made ...

I've created the base from Whisper White using the Scallop Edge Border and a bit of freehand magic on the corners ;)... then I have added a couple of 1cm strips of Bashful Blue which I've run through the Square Lattice embossing folder using my Big Shot machine.

The main panel is brushed silver card stock cut with the Scalloped Circle die and then embossed with the Elegant Bouquet folder (both using the Big Shot machine again) and mounted with dimensional sticky pads.  The Bird Builder punch created a quick embellishment in Bashful Blue which I have layered up, again with dimensionals.

Finally the sentiment is just printed on Whisper White using my pc and then punched out with the Scallop Circle punch and I've added some Basic Pearls to the flower centres of the background.

Birdy-Bration

OMG what a day...

This morning I had my Sale-A-Bration coffee morning and then this afternoon my accessories class, then this evening I had visitors who also gave the make and take from this morning a go... so it's been a day of crafting and I haven't actually made anything myself yet.

I'm in for a night of crafting now as it's all out all over the dining room table - so saves me clearing up!

Thank you so much to all of those who made it along over the course of the day and a special thanks to Amy who not only turned up to help, but also brought samples along to share.

So, without further ado here is the make and take project:

The base is Very Vanilla (an A5 piece folded in half to create an A6 card) and for the background piece I have cut a 14.5x10cm piece of Real Red cardstock and run this through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder (using the Big Shot). 

For the background panel I have used the top note die to cut a piece of Very Vanilla and Real Red and then run the red piece through the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder so that the raised image falls on the top left hand corner.  I have then lined up a piece of Very Vanilla (also embossed with the Elegant Bouquet folder) which the background and then punched the moon using a 1 3/8 circle punch.  The effect doesn't show up too well in the photo but here's a closer look which shows it slightly better:

After sticking the moon down I've cut round the perforated edge of the top note shape of the red card and then adhered this to the Very Vanilla piece.

The owls were punched with the Owl punch from Basic Black cardstock and then the leaves are from the Bird punch... both these are my favourite punches as they can create so many different things, like the pig from the owl that I shared with you previously - just check out the relevant links for these punches on the right hand side of this blog for more of these ideas.

And finally the sentiment ... using the stamp set that has something for any occasion, Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched with the Word Window punch.

The card is ideal for Valentines day which is what a few attendees adapted them for by changing the sentiment... there was also a wedding card included amongst the batch made over the course of the morning.

However I have been dying to share this adaptation with you all day, but I had to wait until everyone had gone. 

My good friend Elaine finally made it along for the first time today and although she was a little reluctant to give it a go, she actually went away having really enjoyed it.  And best of all she added a twist of her very own ... without any hesitation she dived in to use the bird punch instead of the owls. 

You really wouldn't believe that this is the first card she has ever made...!

Sale-A-Bration is finally here

Finally, today is the launch of Sale-A-Bration, where you can earn yourself a free limited edition stamp set (or paper pack) for every £45 spend in both the main catalogue and current Spring mini catalogue.

I have lots of samples created using all 4 of the sets that are available to share with you over the coming weeks while this great offer is on so do keep checking back.

I'm having a Sale-A-Bration coffee morning on Saturday 4th February 10am-12noon so why not come along and take a look for yourself.  There will be a Make and Take project too and it's FREE, so just contact me to book your space.

Before I start sharing these great samples with you I have to tell you about the great papers that Stampin' Up! are offering this year as well as the stamp sets. 

I'm not normally a big designer paper fan as I like bold designs and less flowery cards and papercraft items... but the Sale-A-Bration papers are absolutely stunning.  You have to check them out for yourself but they really are very lovely.

So, here is one of the cards that I have been saving to share with you that features one of these lovely papers.

I have totally CASE'd this idea from Amy who is fast becoming my 'partner in crime' when it comes to creating ideas :0)! 

The base is Whisper White, but I have braved teaming this up with some Very Vanilla shaded papers from the Sale-A-Bration pack which feature cute little blue birs and green patterns that seem to work well for an Anniversary card.  Having run a piece through the Top Note die using my big shot machine, I have then layered this over a 5cm strip of Very Vanilla card which I have mounted onto Marina Mist card which is slightly wider.  Using Pear Pizzazz on the background image from the Charming stampset I have stamped both ends of the strip before fixing it to the card base and overlaying the panel.

For the birds I've used my trusty bird builder punch on Sahara Sand card and with Wild Wasabi for the leaves.  Note that the bird wings are cut from scraps of DSP from the subtles pack.

To finish I've used the sentiment (inked with Marina Mist) from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set - which is fast becoming a feature on every project of mine lately... and a couple of basic pearls.

I really love this idea and will be playing around with a few other similar ideas as soon as I can find some time.