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 :).

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' ;).

Watch out for the stamp price increase

The Royal Mail has announced that postage charges here in the UK will go up from 30 April 2012.

You can see the new charges here.

Since the increases are quite large you may want to consider stocking up on first and second class stamps this month. The stamps, which do not have prices on, like the ones you get in books of stamps will continue to be valid for the service named on them after the increase.

And don't forget to be careful when layering up your cards, so that they will 1) Fit in the envelope; and 2) Fit within the size guidelines for the postage levels.  I try to keep the layers to 1 or 2 if the cards are going to be posted, but it's hard sometimes...

The card I have to share with you today was created for a commission, and quite difficult to design something to incorporate the photography, allotments and walking theme that I was given.  I managed to get the latter 2 included but didn't want to overwhelm the card or cause issues with the postage so stuck to that.

However, I did manage to feature some of the DS Papers that you can get FREE this month with an order of £45 - see the link on the right of my blog for more details. 

The papers I have used here are from the Nursery Nest paper pack which has a 'baby' theme, but as you can see some of the papers are suitable for other occasions too.

I've created an Easle card type base from a piece of Lucky Limeade cut at 28 x 12.5cm.  The centre piece is the Scalloped Circle die cut from Calypso Coral and then in the centre I have adhere a Very Vanilla circle which I have run through the Square Lattice embossing folder.

The DSP from the Nursery Nest pack features in the background, mounted on a piece of Very Vanilla to make it stand out a little.  I've also used the same paper for the Decorative Label punch where I have inked and stamped the sentiments from the For My Family stamp set in Island Indigo.

The 2 big flowers are created with the medium sized flower from the Daisies #2 die - 3 flowers cut from Calypso Coral and layered up.  In the centre I have added a circle of So Saffron cut from the centre of the largest flower, which has been run through the Square Lattice folder.  The small flower is the smallest one from the die with the medium centre, created in the same way.

The finishing touches are some butterflies cut form So Saffron using the Beautiful Wings embosslit die and some Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon.  Note that the laser cut walking boots are non Stampin' Up!

Last minute 60th cards

What do you do when your mum sends you a text asking for 3 x 60th birthday cards before the weekend?

Well, they probably could have waited until I was back after the weekend, but I was going away and didn't want to disappoint, plus it was a good reason to play with the Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper which you can get FREE this month when you spend £45.

I've gone with a swing card style card as always think a special birthday deserves something a bit different.

I've used colours I don't normally choose, So Saffron and Calypso Coral... although I think the Beyond the Garden papers actually feature Daffodil Delight, but although some of the Stampin' Up! colours in different shades don't work together, these 2 do.

The swing card has been created with the top note die on an A6 Calypso Coral card base, I've then cut a further 2 x top note's from So Saffron and Calypso Coral card stock and cut the latter one out around the 'seam'.  I ran the DSP through the top note die as well and cut this in half and fixed to the base of the centre piece and then created the daisy from the Daisies #2 die and layer up 3 pieces.

I've decorated the edge of the front of the card and the folded back flap with a strip of So Saffron card stock edged with the Scallop Trim Border punch and then added the 60 which is cut using the Timeless Junior Alphabet dies.

Of course with 3 cards to make I couldn't stop at just one... so made another in Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo DSP. 

You will have to check back for card number 3 as I went for a totally different design for this...

Anyway, if you want to place an order email me today at jadedcrafter@gmail.com and you can save on postage (normally £4.95) if you live near to me (GU16) and combine with other orders that I will be placing tomorrow.

Gift box

I will have left for Eastern Europe by the time you read this.  Check out my travel blog here for more.

However, I couldn't resist having a little play with my new toys before my holiday.  And here is the finished item - a long gift box made from the 2 pillow box die cuts, decorated with the daisy die. 

I've kept the box neutral by using Crumbcake and Chocolate Chip cardstock and have embossed the Crumbcake half with a flower embossing folder (not Stampin' Up!, but you can't see it in the pic anyway!). The daisy has been cut from Pumpkin Pie cardstock and the middle petals from Melon Mambo. I'm really starting to like these colours... but who wouldn't :).

I will have scheduled posts for you whilst I am gone, so do check back for more tomorrow.