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

Deborah has used a card blank in Almost Amethyst with a Blush Blossom Mat layer which has been paper pierced in all 4 corners.  The girl is stamped in Chocolate chip and then  water coloured and matted onto a Almost Amethyst layer.  The Ribbon is Whisper White dyed to match Barely Banana using an inkpad and dauber.  The sentiment from Best Yet has been matted onto an Almost Amethyst Oval scallop punch which has the scallops punched.

Gorgeous Thank you Deborah!

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

She has taken some of the Summer Picnic paper and made a lovely little tree folding Scallop circles and a piece of Chocolate Chip card to make the trunk.  Michele has sponged the grass with Old Olive and also the sentiment, which she has matted onto a Scallop Oval in Old Olive.  The little bunny is from Forest Friends stamp set in the mini catalogue and the cutting out is amazing!!  It is popped up on some dimensional foam pads.

It’s fab Michele, thank you.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

I have taken an Old Olive card blank with the fold at the top, stamped the large Fresh Cut image onto Whisper White card and matted it onto So Saffron card.  I have then stamped part of the image again onto Whisper White card and punched it out using the 1 1 /4″ circle punch.  Then using a lovely blender pen I’ve coloured the image using the re-inkers to get more depth of colour, but you could easily use the markers too!  I’ve used a So Saffron 1 3/8″ circle punch to mat my coloured image on and placed it matching the pattern with the original picture.  A piece of the fabulous striped So Saffron ribbon  and a sentiment punched the the matching ovals completes the card.

If you’d like to join a technique club I will be starting them again after the summer, I have Tuesday daytime and evening, or if you want to get started straight away I have a few places left on my Stampers 10 club please email me for more details.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

I use Photopshop Elements 6 (for Macintosh) for those technology lovers out there, still not mastered it but I can now add a watermark to my pictures Hurrah!

So onto the card, this is using the Forest friends set from the mini catalogue and a reflection technique, now I have been teaching reflections for a long time but using brayers, it was never easy…………at the field training from Stampin’ Up! We used the Stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet which made life so much simpler.

First stamp Bambi at the top of your piece of cardstock, then stamp again anywhere on the imaging sheet, make sure you stamp onto the smooth side.  Then flip over the imaging sheet line up the images and press down onto your card and rub gently, see so simple!  A little grass was added using Old Olive marker pen and the sky with an aqua painter using Bashful Blue.  Bambi is layered onto Night of Navy Textured card stock and some Close to Cocoa that has been scalloped.  Finished with a ribbon knot and an oval scallop sentiment.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

For these cards I have taken a Whisper White card blank and stamped the Thank you sentiment from Oval all in Chocolate Chip ink.  Then I have taken a scrap piece of card and punched out a Scallop Oval.  Lay the punched out piece of card ontop of the stamped image and using the sponge daubers I have inked over the top in either Bashful Blue or Pretty in Pink ink.  Now a bit of a tip, stamp the sentiment then do the sponging, you can sponge then use your Stamp-a-ma-jig to line it up perfectly but it takes a while, and if you need quick cards do it the other way!!!  I’ve finished the cards with a piece of matching taffeta ribbon.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

The Easter bunny visited the children too…………..There is far too much chocolate in this house now!

So onto a Chocolate based card, well what else today……..

These are 2 cards sent to wonderful team members who have promoted recently.  The flower pots are Chocolate Chip cardstock with the lip punched with the scallop edge punch.  The flowers are made with two of the 5 petal punch using Designer Series Paper from the Love Stories Simply Scrappin’ kit and the smallest flower from the Boho Blossoms punch and stuck together with a Bashful Blue brad.  The sentiment is from Oval All and punched using both the Oval punch and the Scallop Oval punch.

My share for today are two wonderful forums with a huge amount of Stampin’ Up! inspiration in the galleries

This one is a USA based forum, not all of the stamps shown are available in the UK ( at the moment) Splitcoast Stampers 

The second one is based here in the UK and is very friendly  In Love With Stamping   

You will find me on both of these sites, my forum name is Emerald Tigger.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

I have taken a base Whisper white card stamped the stalks and leaves in Black Stazon and coloured with a Certainly Celery marker and a blender pen.  The flower heads I stamped onto a separate piece of Whisper White, coloured with markers Pretty in Pink and So Saffron and blender pans and then cut out and mounted onto the card using dimensional.  I have used the sentiments from Fresh Cuts and  Cheer and Wishes, cut out with the Oval and Scallop Oval punches.

For the next 3 cards I have taken a base card of Certainly Celery, added a strip of Tea Party Designer paper and a scalloped edge of So Saffron. I have stamped the leaves and stalk directly onto the card in Black Stazon on and then stamped and coloured the flower heads as before.  The sentiment is from Cheer and Wishes and I’ve punched it out of So Saffron card and added some little doodle dots with the white gel pen.

I have 2 more promotion cards to share which I’ll share tomorrow

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

So 2 places for you to go and visit and this is my version……..we made it at the for the love of Chocolate class yesterday, oh and yes my lovely ladies all got choccies to put into their baskets……….

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

I also have a crafting commission due in 6 weeks……I can’t tell you about it……….shhhhhh……….but it’s very exciting the downside is I can’t post any of the things I am making, but I do have lots of lovely Stampin’ Up! creations to share with you.

This card is made with all new products from the mini catalogue.  The base card is Textured Certainly Celery card with a Pretty in Pink and So Saffron mat layer.  I have used a piece of Tea Party paper ( it is sooooo beautiful!).  Then I stamped the large flower from Playful Petals and using my blender pens and ink from the lid of my ink pad I coloured it in. I stamped the centre flower again and cut it out and popped it up onto a dimensional.  The striped ribbon is the new Pretty in Pink ribbon from the mini catalogue and the sentiment is from Oval All stamped onto So Saffron and punched with the plain oval punch on a mat layer of the scallop oval punch.  All of the products are now available, please email me to place you order.

Today I’m teaching 2 classes For the love of Chocolate and Stampin’ but not on card ! I’ll be back later to post some of the projects we made.

Happy Stampin’

Amanda

The challenge was judged by a lovely lady from outside the team, they were all so lovely I couldn’t choose!!

And this one was the winner, well done Vannessa!

and the reasons for the choice  ”All the cards were beautiful and it was difficult to choose, however after careful consideration my choice is card 7.  The reason for my choice is that, the design was simple, loved the triple scalloped edge feature and just reminded me of Spring.”

Happy Stampin’

Amanda