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...

 

 

Birthday beers and new ink pads

Today's card includes, ribbon and DSP that is retiring at the end of the month, plus the lovely Happiest Birthday Wishes sentiment stamp set.

 



Just a couple of weeks left to get your hands on the retiring products, whilst stocks last.  Check out the latest up to date list here.

 

The card based in More Mustard from the Regals collection, with Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon around the centre, and a Curly Label punch border punched from some scraps of Well Worn DSP.  I've created a little collection of beer mugs using the 'coffee mug' stamp from the Every Little Bit stamp set, by masking each image to make them look like they are behind the front image.  and then finally the sentiment, inked in Chocolate Chip ink.

 

You may have already seen that the ink pads are all retiring.  This is due to being reconfigured - what does that mean exactly?

 

Well, With the introduction of the 2012-2013 annual catalogue, Stampin' Up! have made a very big change to their Stampin’ Pads by ...

 

introducing firm foam pads!

• Create wonderfully solid images. The Firm Foam releases more ink onto your rubber stamp than the felt pads. When using the Firm Foam pad, your stamp will get an even, solid covering of ink that you may not have been able to achieve with the felt pads. Please note: if you are using the ink pad frequently you may need to re-ink your Firm Foam pad more often. We recommend that you purchase a refill at the time of your ink pad purchase.
•  Have a crisply printed, glossy label on the top of the pad that is easier to read and that will not fade or chip off!
•  Come with colour name labels in all four languages (English, Spanish, French, and German)—just choose your language, peel it off the back, and add it to the side of the pad for easy identification!
•  Use the same patented flip-top case design that stores the inking surface upside down, so the pad surface stays moist!
•  Are available in all colours, including our exclusive In Colors!

Please note: Five ink colours have undergone formula changes to improve functionality and colour stability with the new firm foam pads. These colours are

• Basic Black
• Basic Gray
• Marina Mist
• Perfect Plum
• Tempting Turquoise

 All five colours of the reformulated inks have been fully tested and approved. While using the new ink formula in the old Stampin’ Pads is fine, we do not recommend using the old ink formula in these five colours in the new firm foam pads.

 

 

Star Wars punch art

When I'm struggling for ideas for a particular theme I always turn to the Web for inspiration.  And for a Star Wars theme Ruthie Nixon-Oneal's card was just what I needed for a CASE.

I've had to improvise a bit with the punches but got there in the end.  A little sponge daubering around the edges and a sentiment from the Happiest Birthday Wishes (retiring item) and then a length of Bakers Twine and it's good to go :)!

 

 

Festival of prints patchwork

I have to show you some more of the new papers in the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue! 

 

Festival of Prints DSP, which comes in packs of 48 sheets measuring 11.4 x 16.5cm has so much variety, as they will work for non Christmas cards too :).

 

I've created a little patchwork card here, CASE'd from Saffire, as I was struggling to come up with something suitable for a 'quilting' themed commission.

 



 

I've used different products than Saffire and the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set which is going to be gone after this month.  Yes my favourite sentiment stamp set :(

 

Materials:

Festival of Prints DSP - current Autumn/Winter mini catalogue;

Top Note die;

Curly Label punch;

Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set;

Designer Buttons;

Cardstock - Rich Razzleberry and Chocolate Chip;

Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon

 

Don't forget GBWR (Wheelchair Rugby) in the paralympics today - I'll be at the game at 3pm so look out for me... if not my sister is one of the support team on the sideline :)!

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 :).

For special birthdays

I have a special birthday card to share with you - it's for my friend Natalie's 30th which she celebrates today, but this layout would work for any special birthday.

 

I couldn't resist using some of the papers from the upcoming Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue that will be released on 1st September... so this card gives you a sneak peek too!

 

 

For the base I have used Pool Party card and then adhered the new papers behind a piece of Shimmery White card stock, onto which I have stamped in Island Indigo ink, the 'legend' stamp from the Open Sea stamp set which is in the Summer Mini Catalogue.  Don't forget this stamp set will only be available until the end of this week (Friday) when the Summer Mini Catalogue ends.

 

I have cut some of the Beautiful Butterflies (embosslit) using my Big Shot machine, from Pool Party scraps and then added the sentiment from the Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess only) stamp set.

 

The numbers were cut with the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies from the new papers...

 

I hope Natalie has a great birthday today, whatever she is doing x

Birthday butterflies, from Amy

Today I have one of the cards that I received for my birthday.  This one is from my crafty partner in crime, Amy.  Check out Amy's blog for details of this card and her other regular posts.



I love the combination of Peach Parfait and Lucky Limeade.  Thank you Amy x

Flower to butterfly

I have a really quick and simple card to share with you today that used the Mixed Bunch stamp set from the Summer mini catalogue, the idea I have CASE'd from a card I saw at Bracknell craft show that I went to in June.  Remember the mini catalgue ends in August so you only have a few days left to order products from it.

The card base is Rich Razzleberry and I have simply stamped the sentiment from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set in Versamark ink and then embossed with Whisper White embossing powder using a heat gun.

The create the butterfly I have stamped one of the flowers form the Mixed Bunch set and then cut out 2 of the flower petals and tied a piece of Bakers twine around the middle to create the body and antennae.

That really is it... this stamp set is fab and I will be making stacks of these cards as they are so quick and easy.

Happy birthday cuckoo

Today I have a card to share with you that I made for a friend... we almost share the same birthday so every year without fail (I think) we manage to remember each others birthdays... I have no excuse really as a card maker however!

I've used the cuckoo stamp from the Easy Events stamp set... which I don't seem to use often enough, despite the choice of stamps!

Coloured using blender pens and Stampin' Write Markers I have then matted onto Bashful Blue and Early Espresso card stock and then attached a strip of DSP across a Certainly Celery card base and finished with a sentiment from the Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess only) stamp set.

By the sea

I'n another year older today, and although I won't be by the sea I thought I would share this card with you as I will be in Krakow, Poland, celebrating quietly away from the Olympics and perhaps (unsure as scheduling this post in advance) some grey UK weather?

I've gone completely out of my comfort zone to create this card which is based on an idea I saw on Crafting Clare's site.  She always makes such beautiful cards and inspires me to try new ideas, but often I can't get the same effect.  With this card though I actually managed to get the watercolouring/sponge daubering to work and after fiddling around a bit and adding a frame and a border with some Night of Navy card and attaching it all to a Bashful Blue card base I have a reason to celebrate.

I also thought I'd enter this into the Crafty Boots Challenge (not easy to do when scheduling posts, so I will be back to change the link at some point).

Fingers crossed there are some handmade cards waiting for me to open when I get back on Monday, otherwise I may be struggling for blog posts by then :P.

Happy Birthday Jamie

It's baby Jamie's 1st birthday today... Happy Birthday little man :) x

I'm on my way to Berlin, but I had to make him a card before I left of course!

I've created the little train by using the Curly Label punch and cutting the pieces of Tempting Turquoise and Daffodil Delight card stock into half, before then running these through the Stripes embossing folder.

The wheels were punched using one of the circles of the Owl Punch and then I have carefully inked and stamped the monkeys in Chocolate Chip ink and added a '1' cut using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies.

The DSP is from the Neutrals Collection paper pack and then I've finished the card off with a sentiment stamp from the Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess only) which fits nicely inside a 1 3/8 inch circle punch and onto a Scalloped Circle punch shape.

Mummy can craft too

Last weekend I had a Come and Craft afternoon for friends.  I didn't get much crafting done as such of my own, but was able to help to make this fabulous card!

My good friend Vicki wanted a card for her son's first birthday in August... so I managed to convince her to come round and make it for herself.  This is the second card she has had a go at making and to be honest I'm really pleased that she seems to be enjoying it, after the initial reluctance and continually telling me she isn't creative, this is totally her own design... with just a few pointers from me!  I actually want to CASE this myself, but the only 1 year old I know is Jamie, and he probably doesn't want 2 cards exactly the same :(!

Vicki has used an A5 sized Bashful Blue card base.  The sentiment from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set (hostess pounds only) has been stamped at the top in Pacific Point ink.  The lettering for JAMIE was cut from Daffodil Delight card scraps using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies.  Vicki then cut out the 1 by hand, using a printed letter for a template, the ballons are also cut by hand after being stamped onto designer paper scraps using the Crazy for Cupcakes 'balloon' image.  Finally the Bakers Twine from the Summer mini catalogue works well to create the strings for the balloons.

I love it... and I know Vicki is secretly pleased with her creation too.... in fact she made another card straight after this one as well, and came back for more this week :).

For a friend

Sometimes in life you are lucky enough to find someone who you can be yourself around, and talk to like no one else!  After I lost my other half, Nick, in 2010, a very good friend was there for me more than anyone else... of course a lot of my friends were there for me too, but this friend didn't find it as hard to listen to me, or talk to me after what happened, which made it easier for me in a way! 

Sadly, for a number of reasons; my move to Cambridge for a large part of the week being the main one, he has since become very distant.  It's his birthday today so I just wanted to let him know that I am thinking of him...

It's almost an exact CASE of a card I created earlier this month (see here) using the 'dragonfly' from the Natures Nest stamp set, but instead I have used the 'peacock feather' inked in Island Indigo and the base card is Tempting Turquoise.

It's the sentiment inside that is the important part, from the Perfect Pairs stamp set I've stamped 'I'm here for you'.  I just love those sentiments, even more than the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, but they don't yet have their own punch ;).

Happy birthday Tori

Mondays are not a good day for a birthday... but fortunately my good friend Tori celebrated her birthday yesterday, with a BBQ and for once the weather was like it should be at this time of year!

As a cat lover and fairly new to card making, I made her this card in the 'Brights' collection colours of Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise...



The little cat is from the Every Little Bit stamp set and the sofa is from the Little Additions (baby themed) stamp set.  The sentiment is part of one of the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set available with Hostess pounds.



Dragonfly birthday wishes

This card is quite clean and simple, just a little bit of fiddly cutting out of the dragon fly from the Natures Nest stamp set, after colouring with Stampin' Write markers using a blender pen.



The dragonfly has been stamped 3 times onto Whisper White card and then punched out with the 1 3/8 inch circle punch and then mounted onto a Tempting Turquoise circle punch of the same size to create a 'shadow' effect behind the image panels.  I've raised up the dragonfly after cutting him out, to make it 3D.

Finally the sentiment is from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set.

I really love this stamp set, and will be looking for more ways to use it very soon.

Christening prints

For baby themed cards the Baby Prints stamp set in the Summer mini catalogue is a must, as it has 5 different sentiments with the hands and feet images.  I thought I'd create a christening card using the set, although I don't have a Christening sentiment so thought the 'it's your day' wording from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set would be ideal for this.

I've used the Perfect Postage punch that isn't currently available, but you could use the square punches instead.  After punching out sections of the feet image inked in Bashful Blue I have selected the 'A' lettering from the Monogram Sweet Alphabet stamp set to capture the initial of the recipient of this card.  Each of the squares has been mounted on slightly larger Bashful Blue squares, as has the main image panel, and I have raised everything up using dimensionals.

I thought this was a very clean card, and ideal for a baby's special day.

Paisley cat

I've been having a play with the Little Additions stamp set from the main catalogue, which is a baby themed set, but actually seems to suit a lot of other card ideas. 

This card features the sofa from the set and the little cat from the Every Little Bit stamp set which still ramains one of my favourites as it has so much variety for lots of occasions.



I've teamed a Melon Mambo card base with a piece of the Paisley Petals DSP and attached a length of ribbon around this before attaching to the card.

The little sofa has been inked in Marina Mist ink onto Whisper White card stock and then matted onto Marina Mist card.  The sentiment is from the Happiest Birthday Wishes 'hostess' stamp set and the kitty has been coloured with Stampn' Write markers using a blender pen and then raised up with a dimensional sticky pad.

There are so many different designer papers in the main catalogue to choose from, and don't forget the Summer mini catalogue has some fab packs too... although remember the mini products are only available until the end of August.

Foiled motorcycle

The a la carte stamps on pages 14-16 of the main catalogue are very reasonably priced if you just want to build up your collection slowly, and there are plenty of choices for different occasions. 

With Father's Day tomorrow the a la carte Motorcycle stamp set is getting a bit of use, as I have it featuring on one of the cards that we will be making at my class this morning and also the card I have made for my dad (check back tomorrow).

I've created a 5 x 7 " card base from Soft Suede and then attached a piece of kitchen foil which I have run through the Square Lattice embossing folder to create the background panel.  It's a bit fiddly and you need to be careful you don't tear the foil when sticking it down, but it creates a lovely metallic effect ;).

I have then added a strip of Old Olive card stock with the sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes and Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set's inked with Chocolate Chip, attaching 3 silver brads before sticking this down.

For the image panel I have used the Labels Collection Framelits dies to cut a Old Olive frame and then a Whisper White one around the Motorcycle image.  I've inked the Motorcycle in Chocolate Chip and coloured with an Old Olive Stampin' Write marker pen and it's ready... I hope the class attendee's like it.

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.

Scalloped circle die - ladybird

Here is a great card idea which uses the scalloped circle die, designed by Amy, which was shared with us on Sunday at a crafty get together.

It's a nice quick card consisting of mainly punches, and something a bit different which would be suitable for a number of occasions.

I'm going to have to have a proper play with this die soon...