One of my favourite Stampin’ Up! Big Shot dies is the Top Note.  It is exclusive to Stampin’ Up! and really versatile, for cards, scrapbook pages and 3D items.

Today it takes centre stage on Christmas cards.  The first card is completely flat, so no postage worries, it uses the new colour Pool Party a soft aqua, perfect for Christmas cards, the sentiment is from Petite pairs.

The next card also uses Winter Post but adds in the fir tree from Lovely as a Tree.  Everyone NEEDS Lovely as a Tree it is a fabulous set! You can cut off the Top note if you wish, but I just wrap it over the top score line and glue it down.

This final card takes the Top Note die and cuts it a second time to give this stylish square mat.  A stamp and punch from Contempo Christmas and a small bow and the card is finished.

Happy Stampin’

Today is my darling husband Brian’s birthday, we have a day of fun, walks, cake, lots of cake and just a bit of chilling and time out.

I have 2 cards for you today, the first is from me, using my new favourite set French Foliage and one of my oldest sets Lovely as a Tree.  French Foliage is very versatile and I love to make the cards really distressed and grungy, but grungy isn’t Brian’s style so I have made this card with really clean lines.

I did sneak a little bit of  grunge on the inside……I’m hoping he won’t notice!!

The children’s card is also clean and simple, but he certainly is a star so very apt I think!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy Stampin’

Each year the amazing cards I receive astounds me, I wanted to share these creations with you today, there are a huge variety of styles. Stamping ( of course……….), Decoupaged Fabric and paper, punching, peel offs, brayering.  So much talent, thank you very much xxx

I have lots more so do pop back tomorrow too!

I have 5 Christmas cards for you one on each of the next 5 days, hopefully that will make up a little for my recent absence……..these are all using the Contempo Christmas set, my must have Christmas set for this year !  It is really versatile as you will see!

This card is inspired by one of my team Elizabeth who had a very similar card on display at our recent team training.

The branches of the fir tree are actually the large fir tree from the stamp set Lovely as a Tree, stamped in both Old Olive and Always Artichoke.  The ornament punch make speedy work of the bauble too!

Another Christmas card tomorrow !

Happy Stampin’

Christmas has come early………..actually it seems to arrive here at this time every year…………!  I start my Christmas classes and projects at the end of June and last week was all Christmas, including my team training.

I love Christmas and for me preparation early is the key, so come December I can focus on the food and wrapping and enjoy it!

I have been running a Christmas in July card making class for many years and it’s a great event making 20 cards in a day!  This years class featured the Dasher stamp, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon and Icicle Rub-ons.

Here are a couple of cards from the class.

It’s very difficult to see but the trees have Champagne mist shimmer paint on them.  I think this will be my family Christmas card this year.

This card was using Serene Snowflakes and the Whisper White Craft ink, with Silver rub-ons over the top, quick and lovely!

A big thank you to all the lovely ladies who attended the class, it was a great day, with lots of smiles and laughter along with the stamping!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

A quick card for a man today, using the Oak from Lovely as a Tree.

I have stamped it first in Black Stazon and then again using bleach.  I make a bleach ink pad using some folded kitchen roll placed onto a plate then squirt a little bleach onto it, spread it evenly.

I use my Stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure I line up the 2 images, having cleaned the stazon off the stamp ink up the stamp on the bleach and stamp over the first image.  Make sure you CLEAN your stamp straight away by first rinsing it under the tap and then clean it on your stamp ‘n’ scrub.

The button has a piece of Spiced Cider designer paper punched out and stuck onto the back of a clear button.  The card front is stamped using Sanded background stamp, and inside is the same with a few scraps of paper to finish it off.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

I am here, well just back actually……..Life is a little crazy at the moment…….

2 weeks from magazine launch, my busiest month of the year for Stampin’ Up! I have had lots and lots of home workshops, classes every weekend and the small matter of the first European Stampin’ Up! convention (also in 2 weeks) to get prepared for, posh frock, flights, class projects, swaps, lots and lots of swaps…….

It is all coming together and I am such a lucky lady to have so much wonderful crafting going on in my life, I’d just like an extra 6 hours a day please…….!

I do have a card for you today, a Christmas card made with Winter post, I have made the deer into Rudolf by using my Real Red marker pen, you could of course use some of our new fantabulous (It’s not a real word but I love it!) glitter.

I have used a piece of Whisper white card for the base, punched a circle from a post it note to mask the moon and Brayered over the top with Brilliant Blue ink.  A torn piece of Whisper White makes the snow, I then over stamped the deer and the trees, added the postmark and some tombow glue and Dazzling Diamonds glitter, not forgetting the red nose!

Stamps : Winter Post, Lovely as a Tree
Inks: Close to Cocoa, Brilliant Blue
Cardstock: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Brayer, Real Red Marker, Dazzling Diamonds, Tombow Glue

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Last Christmas card for this week, I’m not sure the camera has picked this up, but there is a definitely dazzle on the tree!  I have used a mixture of Dazzling Diamond and White embossing powder to make a frosty snow look on my tree.

New stamps tomorrow!!!!

Stamps : Lovely as a Tree, Seasonal Wishes
Inks: Old Olive, Versamark
Cardstock: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Cutter kit, Red gingham ribbon and White embossing powder mixed with Dazzling Diamonds.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Would you like:

Free products

Free Catalogues

PLUS…

A free stamping technique class each month where we stamp 2 technique cards, a greeting card and a 3D project every month.

You might want to consider joining my monthly Stampin’ Techniques club! Stampin’ Techniques Club is a great afternoon or evening out. We’ll have a great time, make some fantastic projects, learn new ways to use our rubber stamps, learn new techniques, laugh a lot and have fun. There is no fee to participate.

As a Stampin’ Technique Club member you place a £20 minimum order each month for 8 months, plus you receive all the hostess benefits for one month of the 8 months the club runs. That is a minimum of a stamp set and £15 of free products of your choice from the catalogue.

Below is a picture of some of the techniques I taught in the last series of clubs. Each month we make 2 of these 6″ x 6″ cards which give full details of how to complete the techniques so it becomes a valuable stamping resource, that you can refer to time and again.

Technique Clubs start in November !

Please email me if you are interested in becoming a Stampin’ Techniques Club member, so that we can find a date and time that work for everyone.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Another Christmas card for you today, all in shades of blue and although it may look a little complicated it is a straightforward card to make and better still a one layer card, less postage to pay.

Lovely as a Tree Christmas Card

I have taken an oval aperture and then stamped the long tree stamp and then sponged at the base of the trees.  Using torn paper and both Bordering and Bashful Blue ink I sponged the mountains (or clouds depending on your point of view).  I then lifted off the mask and over stamped the large tree and the sentiment. A little Tombow glue and Dazzling Diamonds finishes the card.

Stamps : Lovely as a Tree, Best yet
Inks: Night of Navy, Bordering Blue, Bashful Blue
Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Sponge Daubers, Tombow Glue

Thank you so much for all the emails and messages about my book, I will let you know the on sale date and where to get your copy.  Have a lovely day.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

This card is for the latest challenge over at Inspiring Inkin’ Challenge blog it’s all about Christmas!!!

The second part of the challenge is to not use Red or Green, so I have gone for slightly less traditional colours of Blue and Pink!

I have stamped the trees in Brilliant Blue and then masked the bases with a post-it note.  I then used a brayer with Bashful Blue to build up the layers and then towards to horizon line in Pretty in Pink.  I then stamped the greeting at the base also in Brilliant Blue.  The snow is tombow glue drizzled oer the base and then little spots on the trees all sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds.  2 simple mats of Pretty in Pink card with hole pierced on 2 sides finishes the card.

Stamps : Lovely as a Tree, Seasonal Wishes
Inks: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Paper piercer, Brayer, Dazzling Diamonds

Happy Stampin’

Amanda