It is a very quick card to make, first stamp your sentiment, I have used Curly Cute.  Then add your punched out ornaments, these are another great way to use up scraps of patterned paper.  I then drew on a line using a Cherry cobbler marker and added a little bow.  The whole sheet is then embossed using the Square Lattice folder and the big shot.

Now lots of items are now sold out from the retired list, please click here to see the updated list.

Happy Stampin’

Today however is a fun day, we are off to London, lots of places to go, first stop will be Brick Lane for the vintage shops, then Convent Garden for cupcakes and Macaroons, followed by Harrods and Oxford Street if there is time.  The real treat is going to the theatre this evening to see Wicked!

So whilst I”m off gallivanting I thought I would share a couple of flat Christmas cards with you,these will definitely be a standard rate postage stamp. I know it is still August but it’s never to early to start making your Christmas cards!

I have stamped the background with En Francais, the Wreath and the Joy stamps are from Welcome Christmas and are stamped on a Top Note.  I have used a marker to colour in the berries and a little bit of ribbon finishes the card off.

This second card uses the stamp set Every Little bit, it’s a huge set of tiny stamps that are so useful for every occasion.  The stamped images have been coloured in with markers, a very quick card and again flat for posting.  The sentiment is from Sparkly and Bright.

Happy Stampin’

Ink up the tree in Wild Wasabi and then use your finger to wipe off the star and plant pot (sorry messy crafter here…….you could of course use a tissue!) then use the brush tip of the Cherry Cobbler marker for the plant pot and the star.  Breathe onto the stamp to re moisten the ink and stamp away.  I then used the fine tip of the Daffodil Delight marker to fill in the star.  The background is the Sanded stamp.

Back tomorrow !

Happy Stampin’

The first is I’ve used the Designer series paper called  Autumn Meadows the sheet I have used is a wood effect the rest of the sheets are wonderful for men’s cards with a very distressed edge.  There is a little bit of doodling on the edges of the mat layers and on the sentiment, doodling is something you need to have confidence in, just give it a go…..if you don’t like it try again it’s only a piece of card stock and you can just get another one!

Now the beer foam is one of my many favourite techniques it is a little bit of magic as to how to make the beer foam, well foamy!

I use tombow glue and sprinkle it with White embossing powder, you then heat it gently until the embossing powder melts ( the whole thing will bubble up.) You then allow it to cool and you get this lovely effect.  Do be careful though  because the top is dry but depending on how much glue you use under the top crust can be sticky so leave it to dry overnight.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

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

All the samples on this blog hop are featuring Sale-a-abration stamp sets available for free with a £45 Stampin’ Up! order.  I have used the Whimsical Words stamp set for my cards today and at the end there is a mini tutorial.  The colour combination for my cards is Close to Cocoa and Pretty in Pink, I have embellished the cards with the Pretties kit.

This first card uses the heart from Love you Much stamp set, stamped in Rose Red onto Whisper White card and coloured with markers before cutting out and raised up on dimensionals. A little paper piercing in the corners and the heart is cut through using a hat pin studded with pearls and a little Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon.

The card below is using Fresh cuts and decorated with 2 flowers from the pretties kit, the first flower is coloured using a Close to Cocoa marker and the second is seriously glittered……I love, love glitter!

This is a pretties white fabric flower, transformed with Stampin’ Up! Fine Cosmo glitter, here it is in close up! Very Sparkly !!

Glitter flower tutorial

You will need

Fine Cosmo Glitter
Pretties kit
Crystal effects
A small dish to hold the glitter

Squeeze the crystal effects all over the flower, it needs to be well covered as shown in the next 2 pictures.

Put the flower crystal effects side down, this is messy, press down hard into the glitter check for any bald spots and press down again, do use tweezers if you don’t like to be gluey and sparkly……..me I love it!

Then put it to one side to dry, make sure it’s a non-stick surface, I use a teflon sheet, but baking parchment will work too, you will know when it’s ready the flower will feel a little crispy!!

Below are 5 flowers coated using each of the colours in the Fine Cosmo glitter kit aren’t they beautiful, a little glitter goes a very long way brilliant value at £12.95.

Thank you for spending time with my, do come back again soon, and now off to your next stop   Jo’s Blog have fun!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

The markers come in colour family packs at £24.95 each but the best way of buying them is as a full set as they come with a very sturdy carry case, see the picture below.

The inside has sections for each marker and a colour chart on the back so you know where to put them all.

The complete 48 set of markers comes in a lovely carry case, costing £99.95. I understand that this is a lot of money to pay out in one go, so I have put together this club to help spread the cost over several months !

The important bit:

* The marker club will consist of four members, and run for four months.

* You must commit to participate for the whole duration of the club.

* Commitment will require post dated cheques, which will be deposited with the bank on the 5th of each month February, March, April and May.

During the club you will receive:

* One colour family  of markers per month, a total of 12 Stampin’ Write markers.

* One Stampin’ Write storage carrying case.

By the end of the four months, you will have:

1 x Complete set of 48 Stampin’ Write Many Marvelous Markers in storage case. (RRP £99.95)

And your choice of Sale-a-bration stamp set as a thank you from me!

Cost: £25.00 per month, for four months, if you are able to collect the markers from me, if not I will charge postage to you at cost.

Please contact me if you are interested in join this marker pen club! Email me.

Details of my ribbon share will be posted later today.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Last week I ran a home workshop for the lovely Rachel and her friends, she asked for a Christmas card similar to the Reindeer one on page  24.  This is my version, I’m pleased to say she loved it and we had a great evening.

Stamps : Sparkly and Bright
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Star punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Markers, Ribbon

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Any how back to the card, I didn’t post it yesterday because I wanted to make sure it had arrived safe and sound, last year I made Alex a cupcake card and I wanted to have candles this year too, so decided to make them the background feature and a big blue bird as the main event!

Stamps : Queue Up, Occasional Greetings, Good Friend
Inks: Basic Black, Taken with Teal
Cardstock: Taken with Teal, Whisper White
Accessories: Markers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1/4″ circle punch

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

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

Tommorrow the new catalogue goes live, there will be a link from my website to the new catalogue, but the best way to see it is on your sofa with coffee and cake holding it in your hands!  You will have to provide the coffee and cake, but I can get a catalogue to you, email me!

Today’s card is a straightforward card, easy to duplicate for lots of Christmas cards with a variety of stamps.  The deer is from Winter Post and I have made him into Rudolf with my Real Red marker!

Stamps : Winter Post, Seasonal Wishes
Inks: Old Olive, Close to Cocoa
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Ski Slope Designer series paper, Real Red marker

Come back tomorrow, blog candy and lots of new projects for you to see!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

A sympathy card needs to be straightforward to make because we want to get it in the post quickly.  This card uses markers to colour the stamp and the distressing tool to add interest on the papers, but can be completed in a matter of minutes.

Stamps : Close as a memory
Inks: Mellow Moss
Cardstock: So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Tea and Crumpets Designer paper
Accessories: Cutter kit,So Saffron and Always Artichoke markers

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

I have stamped the images in Versamark onto the designer paper and heat embossed them clear, it gives the paper a glossy finish and makes it much easier to cut out.  The ribbons on the balloons are drawn on with a marker and the bows on the presents is one of the stamps in the set.

Stamps : Big Bold Birthday
Inks: Elegant Eggpant, versamark
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, Tea Party Designer series papers
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, White grosgrain ribbon, Elegant Eggplant marker

I’ve had a busy day today, planning for my team meetings this autumn, I have found a lovely hall, in Soberton 5 miles north of Fareham which will be perfect, it’s light and airy with a wonderful kitchen and  lots of parking.  I will be moving my classes there too, more details soon. You can see the hall here.

Remember to get your orders to me for the last chance list, I can take paypal so I can place your order immediately so you don’t miss out on your favourite stamp set!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Stamps : Crazy For Cupcakes
Inks: Stazon Black, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip card, Sweet Always Designer paper
Accessories: Paper Piercer and Mat pack, Markers

The sun is out today for the first time this week, so I’m planning to spend sometime out in the garden, I hope you have a lovely day where ever you are.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Today is a very exciting one for me tinged with some sadness.  The cards below are for my wonderful year 10 class, they have been absolute stars this year, producing some of the most amazing food I have ever seen from students!  They are also possibly the most entertaining class I have taught, I look forward to seeing them every week! I have already said goodbye to my year 11′s who finished their exams a month ago, they were also an amazing, very talented class.

I finish at school today, not just for the summer, I’m not going back in September.  That is the sad part, I will miss the students and and my colleagues very much.

Stamps : Greetings Eight
Inks: Stazon black
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Scallop Square punch, Paper piercer, Stampin’ Dimensional foam pads, Markers – Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Bordering Blue, Apricot Appeal

However, the exciting part is the realisation of a plan I’ve had for almost 2 years, that I have worked so hard to achieve, my family have put up with me working day and night during the week and most weekends, building my Stampin’ Up! business, building my independent work for stores across the UK, my magazine work and gaining all sorts of other contracts.  But I have achieved my goal.

I am now fully self employed as a crafter………..How cool is that ? ! ! ! ! !

I have so many projects to tell you about I am busting, but several are still a secret……..but not for too long now………I will share as soon as I can.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Yes 3.30am !  My daughter is off to France with school for the day and is leaving at 4.10am so I volunteered to do the early run, seriously wishing I was still in bed.

The card below is for the current Inspiring Inkin’ Challenge blog theme ‘Threesomes’ everything needs to be done in 3′s  pretty perfect for 3 in the morning! Do join in with the challenges at anytime, there will be a new one posted on Sunday the link is here.

My card is very simple, using the Spring Solitude stamp set, this is a level 2 hostess set and it will retire in September so if would like to earn it book a workshop with me during August or September .  I have used my markers to colour the branch stamp, I have only really just discovered Garden Green……..I usually go for Old Olive or Certainly Celery if I need green but this colour is so well, garden like…….!  (sorry it is early….) The base of the card is Lovely Lilac and the birds are stamped also in Lovely Lilac.  The challenge was to use 3′s of everything so inside you will find the third bird and 9 pierced holes!

Stamps : Spring Solitude
Inks: Lovely Lilac
Cardstock: Whisper White, Lovely Lilac, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Markers Close to Cocoa, Garden Green

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

He is a real inventor and engineer so I’ve made him a card he can take it apart to see how it works!

This is a fold flat box card made from Textured Close to Cocoa card with a chipboard ’6′ coloured and heat embossed with a little glitter.  Wrapped around the card is taffeta ribbon in Bashful Blue and a Whisper white scallop punch is hanging from silver cord.  On the scallop circle I have used the arch stamps from Crazy for Cupcakes stamped in Close to Cocoa and Bashful Blue and I’ve used the matching marker pens to write Joshua.  The springs are made from 26 gauge wire wrapped around a pencil and the toppers are stamped and cut out images from In the Stars again stamped in both Close to Cocoa and Bashful Blue.

Happy Birthday Josh xxxx

Happy Stampin’

Aunty Amanda 

You can check out the blog here with the latest challenge, do have a look to see the lovely cards the 4 of them have made and better still have a go yourself!

I have taken my inspiration from the quilt, since stamping is still a little tricky for me I used lots of Rose Red and Bashful Blue designer series paper (punched out by my Mum!)  I have paper pierced each square and used the Old Olive marker to make the stitching lines.  To give dimension I have folded up each square around the stitching lines and then stuck them down.  The stamped square  is using the Greeting Eight stamp set from the mini catalogue in Old Olive and the card is finished with an Old Olive bow.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Here is her card, quite bright very simple on the front……..

But the inside is a little bit special!

I have made the pop up using a very simple technique which I will do a tutorial on later during May.  But for those who can’t wait here is a picture of the mechanics……..

The card is a Basic Black textured card, with a Pink Passion inner and a third layer of Pink Polka dots Designer paper from the Playful Petals Simply Scrappin’ kit.  I have stamped the cupcakes onto Whisper white, coloured them with my lovely new markers and then gone over the  frosting with versamark and heat embossed clear to give a lovely glaze.  The front ‘mum’ is chipboard letters coloured with markers and heat embossed with clear powder.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda