Traditional Christmas cards today, one bright and one vintage looking.

This first vintage style card uses the Skaters from Winter post and teams them up with the Medallion background stamp, it would look great in lots of colours and it would also be easy to make lots!  The brad goes either side of the ribbon to make a flat embellishment, with just enough sparkle!

Now this card is using Real Red and Old Olive ink, a perfect match for Christmas. I have just used one stamp set for this card, Season of Joy.

Happy Stampin’

and earlier this year when it wasn’t sunny!

I do have a card for you, well a couple of cards, but first I have an update of retired items no longer available, you only have a week left………….I have orders going in most days so do contact me if you would like to place an order.

• Choo Choo
• Forest Friends
• Sense of Time
• Sanded
• Tart & Tangy
• 2010-2011 In Color Classic Ink Refills
• Tempting Turquoise 12”x12” card stock
• Wild Wasabi 12”x12” card stock
• Red Riding Hood 12”x12” card stock
• Whisper White 12”x12” card stock
• On Board Art Journal
• Jolly Holiday DSP
• Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin’
• Real Red 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon
• Silver Elastic Cord
• Night of Navy 5/8” Satin ribbon
• Antique Brass Jumbo eyelets
• Pewter Jumbo eyelets
• Spiral Punch
• Star Punch
• Right  on Track Standard Wheel

The stamp set Simply Said, is probably one of my most used sets, it’s a ‘go to’ set…….. which means I always go to it whenever I am in need of some creative inspiration, it is not possible to make an ugly card with this stamp set!!!!!

The next card is a moving card, I will be doing a tutorial for this in October once I have held my technique clubs, I can’t show you all of it, I don’t want to spoil the surprise!

That’s all for me today, I have classes in the morning and my Hostess event in the afternoon, so I need to get packing!

Happy Stampin’

The card is certainly bright !  Regal Rose and Daffodil Delight.  This is a quick card which uses 3 punches, the oval, scallop oval and decorative label. The ribbed section is made using the crimper, a very clever tool which allows you to position the crimper where ever you want to on the page.

Happy Stampin’

Today I have used it just as an owl, 2 cards very similar the second just uses different stamps and punches.

Happy Stampin’

36 of my team and guests had a wonderful day, of stamping, crafting, chatting, training, sharing business tips and tricks and of course eating cake too!  A big thank you to Kerry, Michele and Elizabeth who did some fantastic demonstrations and projects to wow us!

We made 6 projects, using a goody bag of products, Chipboard alphabets, satin ribbon and yummy Jolly Holiday designer series paper. We always make a technique card too for our 6×6 album, you can see some of them here.

The first 2 projects are quick and easy cards, perfect for mass production.

The 3rd card takes a bit longer as you cover the chipboard with designer paper, to get a nice finish use an emery board to distress the edge of the paper, always sand downwards or you will lift the paper off the chipboard.

We made a cute snowman box, using the topnote die.

A gift card holder again using the Topnote die, you really need this one……….!

I will be demonstrating this at my workshops in the next few weeks.

and finally a NOEL bunting, I love this and it will be part of my Christmas decorations and gift class on the 29th October.

Here are a few close up shots, I tied that bow !!!!!!

We decorated the back too

So if this sounds like fun, I’d love you to join us next time!  My next quarterly meeting is on the 15th October at Locks Heath, Hampshire, email me to find out more!

Happy Stampin’

My working week is a bit upside down at the moment as Connor is at home on study leave whilst he is taking his GCSEs it’s amazing how much of a difference to your working routine someone else in the house makes.  The good news is, he is studying hard and I’m helping with the Chemistry and the ‘keeping the mind focussed’ !!!  All to soon he will have finished school and be off to college.

I have had another great week, if a little distracted…… seen lots of customers and been busy preparing for my classes next saturday, I’ll share some of those projects with you the following week.

The card today is a twisted easel, it is sooooooooo straightforward to make but looks impressive, I took a standard 6″ x 4″ card blank with the score on the left hand side.  Score diagonally bottom left to top right.  As with all easel cards you do need to go over all the score lines with a bone folder, to ensure the creases are crisp and sit neatly. I then took a 5 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ mat layer and glued it onto the bottom triangle as shown, topped with a 5 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ Whisper White layer.

The card is decorated with paper daisies which I coloured with markers and spritzed with water to make the ink bleed.  then I folded the flowers into 4, scrumpled them a little and left them to dry.

The easel stands up but using a scallop oval punch, but it will fold flat to post.  I have used Baroque Motifs to decorate.

Here is a view from the back, hopefully it will make the instructions a little clearer.

Happy Stampin’

The 6 petalled flower does remind me of a poinsettia and since I’m having a few weeks off thinking about Christmas…..I’ve added some pearls to make it a little more daisy like!  The colour combination is Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake.

I think I’ve gone a little bit pearl crazy just lately…….but they are such good value at £4.50 for 150 ( 50 each of 3 sizes) plus 3 strips which is what i have used for the butterfly’s body.  More Rich Razzleberry and Crumb cake, the butterfly is stamped on Melon Mambo.

I have updated my class list for the first few months of 2011, please check out the list here. Crafting with others is so much fun, we make wonderful projects, laugh, chat and of course eat cake!

Happy Stampin’

I have lots more so do pop back tomorrow too!

Today’s projects are a little gift bag and card, perfect for small items of jewellery, do you think if I leave one for Brian he would find a diamond ring for me to fill it………?  Joking aside, the bag is a perfect fit for a small jewellery box, but I actually designed it to fit our new Pendant notes.  The small cards fit inside and if you make a few of them pop them in the bag it’s a perfect gift for someone who is always tricky to buy for, we all need cards to send don’t we!  A homemade gift is always something special.

I have used the Elegant Soiree Designer paper, and the silky Satin ribbon in Very Vanilla.

For the cards I have popped out the diecut, stamped in Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze onto the card using Baroque Motifs and decorated it with a punched flower from Boho Blossoms and a rhinestone.

Happy Stampin’

I can honestly say I have no idea where the time has gone, I have been really busy but that isn’t anything new now is it!  I think I haven’t got to the website because of the travelling I have been doing, lots of workshops and a launch workshop for a new member of my team the lovely Karen along with team trainings and family stuff, phew it’s no wonder I haven’t been around much huh!

Well I am trying to get back on top of my world this week, the kids are off school for half term and I have  plans to catch up and spend some time with my family so I’m not actually working that much.  Then there is the madness of next week, I have 2 workshops and then on Thursday I’m off to convention with 300 other European Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators, 18 of my team and I’m so looking forward to seeing so many of my demonstrator friends, I have the small matter of 220 swap cards and team gifts to finish first.  I must say a big thank you to Kelly and Steph who have been great helping me make the swaps!

So some lovely things for you to see today, this is a little baby gift set, the box is a perfect size for a babygrow and some little socks.

The colour combination is Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist.  Here is the card in close up!

I promise to be back tomorrow!!!!

Happy Stampin’

This monotone card is great for showcasing our fabulous wheels, this one is called So Swirly ! A scalloped edge, a little ribbon and a sentiment from Oval All and we are all done!  Speedy crafting!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Isn’t it beautiful, I must say I feel very restrained that I took a picture of it before I devoured it!  Thanks Lynne you are brilliant.  So if you are on Facebook, do add me as your friend, I post different things there to my website  xxx

Then these lovely flowers arrived with the lovely Julia, it was the last day of club before the summer, they are such beautiful flowers, I think they are stocks, does anyone know?  I need some in my garden, they smelt so beautiful and lasted for ages.

I’m a very lucky lady, thank you!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Today I’m going to share with you the wonderful projects we made at the shoebox swap, so what exactly is a shoebox swap?

The idea of a  swap is for everyone to get together and assemble the “sample card” that is displayed by each swap participant. We set up stations with every one’s Shoe Box Swaps on a table and we make each other’s card and we all go home with a shoebox full of assembled cards!

Each person makes one completed sample card and puts all the materials for 12 (cardstock-pre-cut to size, stamps, inks, markers, punches, embellishments, etc.) used to make more of the same card in a Shoe Box or small box. They have to be demonstrable cards (meaning it would be something you would do in a workshop or class) using at least two accessories and layers.

We all made 7 projects, these 6 lovely cards using wheels, paper piecing, ribbons, craft ink I’ll be stealing lots of these ideas!

Some of the cards had stamped insides too !

This is my card

Now there is one project missing…..it had chocolate in it, but I have been good and not eaten it!

It was Hayley’s Easter treat and she has kindly agreed to share the instructions so my stampers 10′s and Technique clubs it will be your 3D project for this month! It is super cute and of course I will include the chocolate!  All my club meetings are in the next 10 days so I’ll share it on my website after that.

Thank you to my wonderful team for a fab evening and I’ll see you all tomorrow.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

This is the card on it’s way to her, I can safely put it here as she is way too busy to visit my website at the moment!

The little bags are part of the present, some Choccies and English Rose bath melts for Liz, Bailey has got to wait for his pressie till I see him!  But rest assured it has stamping on it and I will post it here soon.

I think it’s important to make sure that new Mum’s have a little something to congratulate them, after all they did all the hard work!!

Below is a close up of one of the tags and the inside of the card, stamped immediately after the front of the card so I got a soft look from the ink.

Stamps : En Francais, Medallion, Whimsical Words, All in the Family
Inks: Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy
Cardstock: Whisper White, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1 1/4″ circle punch, 1 3/8″ circle Punch, Scallop Circle punch, Scallop Oval punch, Oval Punch, Blender pens, Double stitched ribbon, Paper Piercer, Silver cord, Cello bags

Finally a quick request, I have a workshop booking for Teresa Jones and I cannot get through on the telephone, it is really important that i speak with her, I have written to her as I don’t have an email address, so Teresa, or if you know Teresa please call or email me.  Thank you x

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

Meanwhile here we are decorating the children’s rooms, I have now learnt how to wallpaper, lots of black and silver……..teenagers!

I have stayed still long enough to make a card for my Uncle Keith who is 70 in a week or so.

Stamps : Cheers to You
Inks: Old Olive, Black Stazon
Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Rust, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Linen Thread, Scallop Oval, Oval and Scallop Square punches, Chipboard numbers, Real Rust Marker

Remember you only have until the end of August to get your free ribbon with a £45 order, see the post here for details.

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

Here is my version, I have used Spiced Cider designer papers, the colours of the card are Really Rust and Old Olive.  The beer mugs I have coloured in with Blender pens and Really Rust ink which gives lovely shading.  To make the card I have used a piece of card 5 3/4″ x 10 1/2″ scored at 3 1/2″ and 7″  you then cut in a diagonal line to give this lovely shaped card, the best bit is you get 2 out of an A4 sheet!

And here is a little bit of magic, in order to make the beer foam, well foamy……..I used the tombow glue and sprinkled 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

Thank you so much for sending me cards.

This is from Jane, it’s a Whisper White card blank with 2 Ballet Blue layers the bottom one is has a scalloped edge, it has the So Swirly Wheel over the top with Ballet Blue ink.  The centre panel is stamped with Bravo Burgundy, Ballet Blue and  So Saffron ink using the leaf stamp from Very Versatile, and matted onto So Saffron and Bravo Burgundy card.  The sentiment is from Oval All and mounted on So Saffron Oval Scallop punch.

This is from Marilyn, it’s a wonderful stamp set from u-mount she has used some mica paints to colour in the embossed images, see the detail in the image below.

And now for the lovely Marcia, she has using a Penny Black hedgehog stamp to make this lovely card.

That’s all for today, I hope you are having a lovely weekend.

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

Sam is a Stampin’ Up! grandaughter and an Inspiring Inkee.  

Look at the lovely card she sent to me with get well wishes!

Sam has used the Washington Apple designer series papers, the oval, scalloped oval and scalloped circle punches, to create the petals of the flower. The flower is mounted onto some Bashful Blue  card stock which had been background stamped with Versamark and the Polka Dot background stamp. The centre of the flower was stamped with Versamark and one of the Polka Dot Punch stamps that were free in a recent promotion.

She even sent it to me in a wonderful stamped envelope, I love to see stamped envelopes and am on a mission for no more naked envelopes!!!

Thank you Sam

Happy Stampin’

Amanda