You stamp a line art image onto a piece of Vellum cardstock, this is Stampin’ Up! heavier weight of vellum and is lovely to stamp on.  I use Stazon so it dries quickly and gives a lovely crisp edge.  Once it is dry flip it over and using your markers colour in the image from the back.  This gives a muted tone to the image and looks just like stained glass.

I have used brads to secure the vellum cardstock to the mat layers and finished with a little bit of ribbon.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

It’s still glorious here and has been for days, the garden is struggling and the water butts are empty, so it’s lots of watering cans full………!

I’ve been really busy this week, Saturday was Eclipse the Twilight movie with Kimberley, then off to London to take Connor and his friend to an Ozzy Osborne concert.

Sunday was wonderful I saw so many people old and new friends, Hayley had organised a stand at the Newbury show, it was a great event, check out her blog here to see pictures of the stand and some of the projects.

Monday I was with Rachel and her friends for a workshop and the card below was their make and take, this will be the basis for all my July make and takes so if you are coming to to workshop with me in the next month and don’t want to know what the card is shut your eyes and scroll down a bit !!!

Now it was Rachel’s friend Steph’s idea to use a card on page  18 of the mini catalogue, so the first one I made looked like this, it was a bit too straightforward for me so I jazzed it up a bit.

The card below is the one they made as their make and take, I do have a few dates in July and August if you would like to book a workshop, do contact me.

With an insert too.

Tuesday was Kimberley’s Netball club’s AGM.

On Wednesday I ran a party for Izzy who was 9 and her 12 friends, more details of that over the weekend.

Phew……. busy week,  and today I’ve just been catching up……..!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Today’s card I have used twice in the last couple of weeks, firstly at my Card club where we make 6 cards for £10 or a £15 order, click the link above to see more details, but you need to be quick and book as June is almost full!  I made this card again in this colour combination as my Shoebox swap card.

I have used the Vibrant Melon Mambo, with Soft Suede and Very Vanilla, lots of fun and such a quick card, not even 10 minutes!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

On Saturday I held my Mini Madness class, what an amazing group of ladies, we made 6 wow cards and a box and the class fee included the wonderful Vintage Vogue stamp set from the mini.

This card is using one of my favourite Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black combinations.  It is so vibrant. Lots of layers including the Dotty acetate from the Night and Day paper Pack and some rock and roll with the flowers and the “F” stamp.  If you have never heard of Rock and Roll, don’t worry I don’t make my ladies sing………..!  and even more importantly I don’t sing either!!!!

Rock and Roll is a technique where you ink up a stamp in a pale colour and then ‘roll’ the edges onto an ink pad of a darker colour, then stamp.  Lovely effect, minimum effort, got to love that!!

The most important thing is to clean your stamp each time before you re-ink or your pale colour ink pad becomes two-tone !

So now onto my day out, so we could all be together rather than driving around in cars we went on the Longleat bus, we where high up and got commentary all the way around……I learnt lots…….did you know a group of Flamingos is called a Flamboyance, and a group of Vultures in the sky riding the air currents is called a Kettle, or even that a group of Giraffes is called a tower?

The idea of the safari park was from Chipperfield ( of circus fame) who thought it would be a good idea to have the animals roaming free and the people caged in their cars………..

My favourite bit has nothing to do with the animals but we went on a tour of the House and booked to see Lord Baths Murals, they are amazing, vibrant, textural and like no other art work I have ever seen, do go and visit if you ever get the chance.

So here are some photos for you, if you don’t like snakes or spiders don’t scroll to the bottom.  The were all taken by Susie, a very talented lady!

Kimberley and me.

Connor !

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

This card is perfect for spring, hopefully spring will arrive eventually ! It uses both Vintage Vogue a new stamp set and Very Vintage a wonderful new wheel, you will be seeing a lot of cards with these two !

I’m taking a few days off and spending time with the family, I hope you ahve a wonderful Easter and I’ll be back next week with more projects to share.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

I can’t claim this as all my own work, it was definitely a team effort, we made it at our the Stampin’ Up! training in Reading, using a new stamp set and wheel, Vintage Vogue and Very Vintage.

If you would like to get a close up look book a workshop with me during April and I will demonstrate it for you.

All of my customers have now been sent a copy of the Mini catalogue and my latest newsletter, if you would like to get your own copy please email me your name, address and phone number and I will pop one in the post to you straight away.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

It’s half term here in the UK and it’s been a busy week so far, I’m going to Margaret’s for a home workshop this morning we are going to have lots of fun with wheels!

The card for today is using lots of stamps, I love the vintage look of layering stamps, but instead of going for neutral style colours I’ve gone for a real spring look, using Barely Banana and Apricot Appeal.  I have used the background stamps of Medallion and En Francais along with Happy Moments a Sale-a-bration stamp set that is still available for free with a qualifying £45 order.

One of my team showed us how to pin the ribbon down with a brad at our recent shoebox swap, it makes a great topper for the birdcage.

Day off tomorrow, we are going to see Avatar and then it’s the craziest week of this year so far…………. Sunday and Monday off to Peterborough to finalise Issue 3 of Making gifts, 3 home workshops and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday I’m at the Make it ! show at Farnborough on the Magmaker stand, I’ll be demonstrating for all 3 days, do come along and say hello.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

But as always I’m still smiling, I’m not going to worry, I know my family are coming and everyone will pitch in to help so we will have a wonderful time.

I do have a card to show you today, last week I ran an Inspiring Inkin’ team training we have evening meetings every month and in addition an all day training every quarter.  This was the card we made, it’s using the wonderful Love you Much set, it has a matching 3 heart punch and I used my much loved colour combo of last year Rose Red, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla.

I’ve set up some posts for the next few days of the wonderful Christmas cards I have been receiving so do pop back and look at them.

I am sending out my New Year newsletter to all my customers via post just after Christmas if you want to get hold of a copy email me your address and I’ll pop one in the post.  Included in it are details of the special Stampin’ Up! promotion during January and February, all my classes for  spring and some great ways that we can stamp together.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

If you are a regular reader of my website you may be wondering what is going on, but fear not I will explain all ! Of course you many have arrived here from Elizabeth’s blog if so welcome to Inspiring Inkin’ with Amanda Fowler.

Our cruise is 12 blogs of Christmas, follow the links to 12 websites and blogs and you will find lots of inspiration and ideas for your Christmas paper crafting all using wonderful Stampin’ Up! products.  Please leave comments as you visit, you may find giveaways on your journey, certainly I have one, you need to leave a comment to be entered, details are at the bottom of this post. A big thank you to Carolynne for organising this for us.

So onto my projects, they are both based on the fantastic Simply Scrappin’ kit Christmas Jingle, the first is a set of 7 cards, all straightforward to make, just add a little ribbon and brads to the kit.  I have used only a fraction of the kit to make these cards and they are so quick to do, perfect if you are a last minute Christmas crafter like me!

Here they are in a little more detail

And now to a matchbox advent calendar, a variation of this project was featured in the first issue of Making Gifts magazine ( I’m the Editor and this was one of my projects), it uses 24 match boxes stacked in towers of 3 I have used some more of the Christmas Jingle kit, with it’s diecut stickers it’s a breeze to make.  Some of the stickers have Crystal Effects on them to give them a glossy raised effect. I have used gold brads and a gold pen to detail the numbers 1 -24.

The type of goodies you can fill the drawers with will depend on the size of the matchboxes, mine are perfect for M&M’s, Jelly Bellys ( my favourite) and some small choccies, of course you could use huge match boxes and get whole bars of chocolate in!

And now to my giveaway, to get your hands on a Christmas Jingle kit and a copy of Making Gifts magazine  please leave a comment, I would love to know what is on your Christmas list !

Just to confuse you on my website the comments button is at the top of the post just under the title.

I will draw the names at noon on Monday (UK time).

And now for the next stop on the tour off to Zoe, please click on the logo below

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Stamps : Season of Joy
Inks: Old Olive, Real Red
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Square fire rhinestone brad

I’m off to Colbury, Southampton today to a craft show with 2 of my lovely team, Stella and Michele do come along and say hi! We will be running a prize draw and make and takes all day.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Cardstock at 6″ x 12″  scored at 2″, 4″,6″,8″ and 10″ Cut 2 lines between the 2″ and 10″ score lines, each line needs to be 2″ from the top and bottom edge.  This will give you 2 rectangular sections for the front and back of the card, and 12 2″ square boxes to decorate.

I have lain the card down for this shot to explain the way to fold the card.  The top and bottom score lines for the squares go Mountain, Valley, Mountain.  The middle section is Valley, Mountain, Valley, it really does sound and look far more complicated than it is!!!

Give it a try.

Stamps : Best Yet, Touch of Nature
Inks: Old Olive
Cardstock: Old Olive, Haiku Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Fire Rhinestone Brads, Designer Buttons

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

The card is Whisper White, Yoyo Yellow and Basic Black, the embellishments are flowers and gem brads from the Pretties kit.

The next 2 cards are from Karen, I visited her last week as she was hosting a fundraiser for Lepra.  I was having a major Mojo crisis and these cards put a smile on my face and helped my Mojo return!  Thanks Karen x

The main image is from Cheers to you and the strip is the matching wheel.

This card is using the stamp set Big Bold Birthday all in Tempting Turquoise and Brilliant Blue.  Lovely.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Jane designed this first card, well something very similar……….you see I was busy chatting ( not like me at all !  ) and stuck my ribbon on too central then the mat layers didn’t fit so I adapted the design……..I’m really pleased with it and the technique, I will be demoing this technique at my workshops during July.

Stamps : Wow Flowers
Inks: Green Galore
Cardstock: Green Galore, Whisper White
Accessories: 1/2″ circle punch, White grosgrain ribbon, Stampin’ Pastels, Sponge Daubers, Paper Piercer, Scallop circle punch

This is a bookmark designed by Vannessa, it showcases the wonderful Season of Joy, a Christmas stamp set that’s not just for Christmas!!!  I love the Summer Sun, Cameo Coral combination, just right for a summer holiday read.

Stamps : Season of Joy, One of a Kind
Inks: Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Old Olive
Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Round Tab Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Brads, Paper piercer

This card was Amy’s make and take with a difference, she gave us all a bag of bits, cardstock, designer paper, confetti white card.  Black Stazon ink, watercolour crayons and the choice of 2 stamp sets, Scene in a Garden or the one I chose Soft Summer.  The ribbon embellishment uses a loop of Linen thread to attach the button, simple and stylish.  Love it!

Stamps : Soft Summer
Inks: Black Stazon
Cardstock and Papers: Confetti White, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Summer Picnic DSP
Accessories: Button, Linen Thread, Bashful Blue Double Stitched Ribbon, Watercolour wonder crayons

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

This is an adaptation of one of my last years cards, very quick and easy and perfect for the Inspiring Inkin’ Challenge No 3 which you can find here. The challenge was to use Black and White and a colour from the Bold Brights family, I have chosen Orchid Opulence, perhaps not everyones first choice of Christmas tree colour or even snow………but I love it hope you do too!

I have used a Versamark ink refill on an un-inked roller to allow me to clear emboss both the tree and the pot using my new favourite wheel Scandinavian.  I used the matching Stamp Set Scandinavian Season for the snow flakes and Best Yet for the sentiment.

Stamps : Scandinavian Season, Scandinavian Wheel, Best Yet
Inks: Orchid Opulence
Cardstock: Orchid Opulence, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Oval Punch, Oval Scallop Punch, Brads, Paper piercer.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Christmas has certainly arrived in our house, I am busy designing and finalising a huge number of Christmas projects for my wonderful Stampin’ Up! customers, my craft stores and of course the brilliant Making Cards magazine too!  Publishing seems to be an alternate universe you work so far ahead!!!  But I adore Christmas so Ho Ho Ho !!!!! ( Do expect to see some Christmas cards this week!)

So onto my card for today, my fantastic team of Inspiring Inkees have set up a challenge blog and I am soooooooo behind with completing the challenges so this is my first card to get caught up. This is for Challenge No 4 here.

When my daughter saw the front of this card, it was “well that’s rubbish Mum” no holding back that’s my wonderful Kim!  I do agree though, quite plain but it’s a card for a man and I like to have the element of surprise !

This is the inside.

A side view for the mechanics!

Now I am trying a new way of detailing out all the products I have used to make it easy for you my dear readers, Please let me know what you think, is this easier?

Stamps : In the Stars
Inks: Red Red, Brilliant Blue
Cardstock: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White
Accessories: Star Punch, Silver Brads

The most important thing to remember with this type of pop-up is to use 2 layers of cardstock.  Paper for the inner layer will not have the strength to hold up the pop-up.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

This is a really simple one using an Old Olive standard card blank I have stamped the main image in Chocolate Chip ink, onto Whisper White and blended the Stampin’ pastels over the top using Sponge Daubers, So Saffron, Rose Red and a little Chocolate Chip.  A mat of Rose Red with a little bit of paper piercing, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon and a Scallop oval stamped and chalked as before.

Again starting with an Old Olive card blank, a mat of Night of Navy and the large stamp, inked in Old Olive on Whisper White card.  The large stamp is a little bit bigger than 3″ square, so to make it easy to cut I trimmed it to 3″ square so I could cut 3 x 1″ strips and then 9 x 1″ squares.  At a recent class Christine had the idea to put numbers on the back in pencil so it was less like a jigsaw puzzle!  Very handy tip, thanks Christine!  The card is finished with a strip of Whisper White with a rather wonky “for you” stamped on it, Straight is sooooooooo over rated!  With a scalloped edge and some Night of Navy Grosgrain ribbon.

And the last one for today a Rose Red card blank, a Pretty in Pink 3 3/4″ mat with the large stamp inked with Rose Red onto the centre.  Taking the front only of a Fresh Cut Notes card trim it to 3 1/2″, Use a piece of scrap paper so you can ink up the centre petals, using Pretty in Pink ink and a sponge dauber, just tuck the scrap paper under the petal but above the front of the card.  Then pop a 5 petal flower punch of Rose red under the inked petals and a Rose Red flower from Flower Fusion secure with a silver brad.  Attach the Whisper White card to the Pretty in pink card with brads and then stick to the front of the card.  Finally “Thank You” is stamped at the top and bottom in Rose Red.

I have a couple of places left on my new Stampers 10 club, details are below as soon as it is full we can get started, it’s a great way to get your goodies a little at a time and receive hostess benefits for a workshop without having to clean your house and make tea!

Stampers 10 Club

Would you like free stamps and free products?

Would you like to build up your Stampin’ Up! stash a little bit at a time?

Would you like to earn hostess benefits, but can’t or don’t want to host a home workshop?

Then joining my Stamper’s Ten club is a wonderful solution.

What do I have to do?

You would commit to a ten month membership, agreeing to spend £15 per month from the current catalogue including any current mini catalogues. (That’s £3.75 per week – the price of a magazine!) You can place larger orders, and if you know that you will want to spend at least £30 per month, then you can take two spaces in the club. If you can collect your products from me there will be no postage to pay, if not you will need to pay postage at cost.

What are the benefits?

You will receive a free catalogue from me and a new catalogue when it’s launched in October, a free mini project kit each month with instructions, and for one month (two if you take two slots) during your ten month membership you will receive a minimum of,  a free level one hostess set, and £15 worth of free products from the catalogue.

When does it start?

As soon as I have enough members, the club can start – so if you know anyone who would be interested please tell them.

If you are interested in signing up, or would like more details please email me.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

You all know I have the best Stampin’ Up! team of demonstrators my Inspiring Inkees and of course the most wonderful friends who are also my customers.

Well yesterday through a combined effort of sales and recruiting and lots of hard work by both me and my team, I achieved an all expenses, yes all expenses paid trip to Monaco during June 2010 !

Wow, I am thrilled, it is the first ever European incentive trip for Stampin’ Up! and will be very special. The location is wonderful, ever since I was a little girl I have dreamt of going to Monaco, I am a ‘Formula 1 Grand Prix nut’ and one of my ambitions is to walk the Grand Prix track because I don’t think an F1 team will lend me a car…………..!

If you would like to see the venue please click here.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

to every one who has been part of my Stampin’ Up! story!

So now onto some cards…………….Fresh Cuts

This is a card using my favourite Chocolate Lime combo, I love it! I have used the Fresh Cuts diecut note cards ( 15 in a pack and they are 4″ square) Pop out the diecut petals and stamp the background stamp in Chocolate Chip. Stamp the small flower image also in Chocolate Chip onto a piece of scrap Whisper white cardstock and cut out. Put a Certainly Celery Brad through the centre of the small flower and pop onto a dimensional foam pad and stick to the centre of the card. Back the diecut petals with a 3 3/4″ square piece of Certainly Celery.

For this card I took the petals from the previous card and stamped over them with the background stamp in Night of Navy, then using a sponge dauber covered the whole of each petal with Bashful Blue ink. I cut a 4″ square card blank from Whisper White and stamped the leaf stamp in Night of Navy all around the edge and then sponged Bashful Blue. Now to the slightly more fidly bit! Punch out a 5 petal flower from Night of Navy card and stick each diecut petal onto the flower, I found the tombow wet glue the best for this. When it’s dry attach to the front of the card and top with a Bashful Blue button with a bit of Linen thread tied in a knot to finish.

If you would like to become a demonstrator and have the opportunity to earn an income whilst having fun and even earn trips like this please email me. Stampin’ Up! has a generous reward package for all it’s demonstrators with discounts, free stamp sets and other incentives.

Another big thank you to Brett who took my new photo, do you like my top? Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie!!!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

This first one is from a wonderfully talented ALMOST 9 year old!  She is the daughter of one of my team of Inspiring Inkees and is clearly following in her Mum’s footsteps!  The card uses Forest Friends stamp set, some ribbon and the scallop edge punch.  Thank you very much!

This second card is from another talented lady Karen, a friend and a financial wizz kid!  You may remember I did a tutorial on waterfall cards here, well this is one made by Karen, lovely tones of colours, the stamp set is Simply Said (one of my absolute favourites!)   Thanks Karen.

And finally from the wonderful Elaine also an Inspiring Inkee a card with a secret surprise.  She has used the  stamp sets Scene in a Garden and Curvy Verses and Haiki designer series paper.  The 3 little brads hold down a flap which you can see lifted in the second picture.  It is lovely Elaine, thank you.

Thank you so much for the emails and messages I receive daily, I’ve had visits,  flowers, presents and  calls it is so lovely to hear from you.  I am wading through the emails and will be making some of my own creations in a few days…….it is amazing how much you use your tummy muscles to stamp……..so I’m going slowly.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

So back to the cards…………….

It was Karen’s turn to be the hostess this month at my Tuesday Technique club and she wanted to learn how to make waterfall cards.  As is often the case with multi layer or folded cards they look more difficult than they actually are.

Below are the instructions, don’t let the length put you off, I have just explained it very carefully………..

Waterfall Card instructions

This is a fantastic rippling waterfall card, I apologise for using both inches and cm’s but it does make it more accurate, please bear with it!

1. Using an A6 card, decorate the front with paper or stamping. ( For the card above I have used Tea Party Designer paper, So Saffron and Certainly Celery card stock.)

2. Cut Whisper White cardstock to the following size : 4 squares of 5cm
Cut coloured cardstock( Pretty in Pink) to the following sizes :
4 squares of 2” x 2” (Matting blocks)
23.5cm x 2” (pulling strip)
¾ “ x 3 ¼ ” (horizontal strip)

3. Stamp the four Whisper White 5cm squares with your chosen images and colour ( I have used Pretty in Pink ink and Garden Whimsey stamp set). Attach your stamped squares to the 2” squares of coloured cardstock squares with your adhesive.

4. Next you will need to score your pulling strip of coloured cardstock. Starting at end of strip, score 13cm, 15cm, 17cm, and 19cm from one end, then fold the card along those lines. Decorate the long section of the pulling strip with stamping.

5. Next, attach the pulling strip to the horizontal strip, line up the very edge of the scored end of the pulling strip (wrong side uppermost) with bottom of the horizontal strip and attach in the middle with adhesive.

6. Attach the horizontal strip (the one which measures ¾ ”x 3 ¼ ”) to front of card with eyelets or brads, make sure the long part of the pulling strip is free and does not get trapped. At this point you should have an upside down T-shape on your card, the decorated side of the pulling strip should not be visible. Push the end of the pulling strip down behind the horizontal strip

7. Attach your first stamped image to the bottom 2” x 2” space at the scored end of the pulling strip.

8. Apply adhesive to the scored sections of the pulling strip only, and attach the remaining stamped pieces, lining the top up to each fold. Once you’ve attached these pieces, you should be able to gently pull the bottom of the longest section of the pulling strip directly down and watch the stamped images flip one at a time and then slide behind the pulling strip.

9. Attach a brad and ribbon to the bottom of the pulling strip. To do this, simply mark where you want to place your eyelet with card in the closed position, fully extend the pulling strip. Thread ribbon through brad, attach to the end of the pulling strip and trim ends with scissors.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

To make the flowers you fold a tag in half vertically, taking the right side over on top of the left side ( which ever pattern of paper is inside will be the one shown) and then keeping the fold on the right hand side you fold the top half back making a diagonal crease going from the bottom left corner to the centre fold.  Layer the petals onto a 1 3/8″ circle overlapping them slightly, like teabag folding to make your flower.  

As always actually folding the paper is much easier than reading the instructions………..

My card is pretty much the same as the one shown in the magazine, I have used Tea Party designer paper from the mini catalogue, the patterns showing are 2 sides of the same paper.  Almost Amethyst is the main card blank and So Saffron as the sentiment layer scalloped with the edge punch they also make up the centre of the flower where I have punched out using the Boho Blossoms punch.  All finished off with a Rhinestone brad and some wonderful Button Latte from the Mini.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda