Stamp with Us Challenge

This weeks challenge over at Stamp with Us is a recipe challenge. The challenge was to use:-


2 x Patterned Paper
1 x Ribbon
4 x Brads


Patterned Paper !!!! Hmm.... this was certainly going to be a challenge for me. I don't normally use patterned paper for my cards, that is only in my craft room for stroking LOL. Looking back over my blog the last time I used patterned paper was back in February... Ohh Dear....

Any way I have had a go......and I have to admit I had a blast. I will be using patterned paper more...



I decided to use the lovely Stampin Up! 'Sweet Always' papers. (Talking about papers watch out for a fantastic offer Stampin' Up! is bringing us in May.... )

Now I wonder why I choose these papers? My favourite colour of course, REGAL ROSE! LOL




Supplies:
Sweet Always DP
Regal Rose & Black Card stock
Petal Pizzazz, Thank You Kindly stamp sets
Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon
Pretty in Pink Brads
Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink & Certainly Celery ink
Three for you Punch box

I just want to finish off today to say Thank you for visiting my blog and to all the wonderful comments people leave. I know we crafters lead such busy lives and it means alot to me that you take time to leave me a message. XXXX

Stamp with Us Colour Challenge

Anyone who knows me, knows I love challenges. I find that I come up with some of my best cards doing challenges. They get me thinking out of my creative comfort zone, which is a good thing. I have been enjoying doing the challenges over at Stamp with Us, a new blog, for all things Stampin' Up!. This weeks challenge is a colour challenge using this picture....




Hmmm isn't it just Delicious LOL

Anyway...I had such a blast doing this challenge...I ended up making two cards!!!

This was the first one




Using Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip card stock and inks with the fabulous Soft Summer stamp set. This is certainly becoming one of my favourite sets from the new Mini catalogue.

While making this card my mind was racing ahead thinking about other designs I could do (does that happen to you). So as soon as I had finished this card I made this one...





This time the colours are Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa. With this card, I had the idea to do some embossing on the card. The panel on the bottom of the card is Close to Cocoa card stock that has been stamped with the stamp from the Fresh Cuts set. First use versamark ink, then straight onto Chocolate Chip ink, then stamp onto the card. The versamark allows the chocolate chip ink to stay tacky long enough for you to sprinkle clear embossing powder over the stamped image. Heat the clear embossing powder to create a lovely shiny impression, that looks just like velvet. I also decided to have a go at making the topper look like a tile. It was really difficult to get a photo of this, but if you click on the photo to enlarge you may see it better. To achieve this I ran a (Very new and clean) versamark ink pad over the whole image making sure every bit of card was inked. Then sprinkled clear embossing powder over and heated. This made the whole piece of card shiny looking like a tile. I then trimmed it to the size I wanted (best to do this after you have done the embossing as it makes sure the edges get embossed), then layered onto the card to make the topper.

Thank you girls over at Stamp with Us, I loved doing this challenge...

Nappy Cake

This is the little project, I made two weeks ago. It's been patiently waiting in the craft room for the arrival of little Alice. As I didn't know the sex of the baby, I went for the bold colours, Taken with Teal, Only Orange and Summer Sun. These colours also matched the colours of the little animals printed on the Nappies.

Stamp sets used are Wild about You and Nursery Necessities

Inside the cake is a large tub of baby Talc, then a pot of cotton buds on top of that, with the nappies layered around each item.

I also made some baby announcements, stupidly I thought I had taken a photo of them, but I hadn't, so I am unable to share. I do however have a set made in blue (I made up both colours, you see) so I will take a photo of them tomorrow and share.

Then there was this card...........

Not Stampin' Up! I know, but I couldn't resist using this cute bear.

Here she is........

Introducing Alice, just 2 days old.

Isn't she just adorable.....Spent this afternoon cuddling this little bundle of joy.

IT'S A GIRL !!!

Just had a call from my brother. Sister-in-Law had a little girl yesterday afternoon. Whoopee... I can start to use all my pretty pink papers now LOL. Will be back soon with more details and perhaps a photo. :-)

A couple of Thank You Cards

During the winter my DS plays indoor bowls, which is run by three adult members of the club each Saturday morning. Two of these are in their 70's and every Saturday they are there coaching the youngsters with out fail. So I thought it only right to get them a small gift each to say 'Thank You'. I quickly made three Thank You cards to go with the gifts. This card I made two of (as there are two men). A quick card made with the Organic Grace stamp set.



And this one for the lady. I used a scrap of stamped card stock from the card I made last Tuesday for the Stamp With Us challenge 2. Again using the Organic Grace stamp set.

WOW ..... Another Award

I have been given this fab award by the wonderful Abi. Abi's comment made me smile, because I feel the same way about her! yes hun, you inspire me ! Your creations are wonderful and thank you for the award.

Now to the hard job...passing this award on. Now I have said it so many times, there are so many fab people out in blogland, I don't like to pick a certain number. I feel everyone should have these awards LOL, but I am going to pick two blogs to send you to. These two fab ladies are part of my Stampin Up! team and are so talented.

Alex

Karen

I also have another talented lady in the team who deserves this award but she doesn't have a blog, so sending big waves to Lynne. All three of you make my heart smile.

Now off to the craft room...

Stamp With Us Challenge 2

Hope you all had a good Easter weekend.

Mine was spent decorating our bedroom, so it is all freshly painted and everywhere looking fresh and tidy. I wonder how long they tidy bit will remain LOL.

We are all still waiting for Sister-in-law to produce!!! she is fed up now as you can imagine. I have got some baby projects waiting to post on my blog, but need to wait until baby has arrived in case SIL sees them. I have spent most of today on my own as DS is off on county cricket training. Making the most of my time alone and doing some crafting. I decided that I would join in the new challenge set over at Stamp with Us on Sunday. It is a theme challenge this time and the theme is Birthday. So here is my card.






I have wanted to try out the bleaching technique for a while, so decided today I would make a card for this challenge using this technique. I am afraid I have used pinks again (I think my last 4 projects have all been pink, sorry) Firstly I sponged Whisper White card stock with Regal Rose ink, this gave me the mottled look background. I poured a little bleach onto a section of kitchen roll folded into four, then using the flower stamp from the set Organic Grace I tapped the stamp onto the bleach on the kitchen roll then stamped onto the card stock. This left the imprint of the stamp bleached away. I then left the piece of card to dry while cleaning my stamp (The bleach doesn't harm it by the way) then I stamped over the bleached image with the stamp again inked with Rose Red. I also sponged Rose red ink along the edges of the card stock to make it pop. Next I look more Whisper White card and stamped it with the canvas BG stamp with Pretty in Pink ink. Tied a small bow on the bottom of the panel using White Grossgrain ribbon, placed the panel onto Regal Rose base card, Stamped the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment from Basic Phrases set in Rose Red ink, then adhered the panel using foam pads to raise it slightly.

Got a little more time before the hubby and son are back so might go and play a little more....

BFN x

Waiting Patiently..

Well there is still no news on SIL, so I am waiting patiently busying myself with Easter related projects. However I have made something for the new arrival. Here is a sneak peek.



I will post the full creation later on, when the baby arrives.

Like I said I have been busying myself with Easter projects. I have decided that this year I am not buying Easter Eggs for the kids. Well mine is 10 and he is the youngest. He doesn't eat much chocolate and any eggs he does get are still laying around in the middle of summer!! He certainly doesn't take after me. (He He)
The other kids are all much older so I have decided to buy them a Lottery Scratch Card and make a gift envelope for them. I know, you should be 16 to play, but I have checked with their parents and they are all happy with it.

Here is what I have made

These little pockets have been made with Ballet Blue card stock. With an A4 piece of card cut it in half across the longer side. So you get two wallets from one A4 sheet. Next Score one end at 1.5 inches then turn the card 180 degrees and score at 3 inches. Turn up the 1.5 inch flap and stick with sticky tape. I then cut a strip of Whisper White card and using the scallop edge punch scalloped one side then attached to the flap of the wallet. Next I made the Band to wrap around the wallet.

I cut a 1.5 inch strip of Whisper White from an A4 sheet of card (Lengthwise) then a 1 inch strip of Night of Navy. Stick the Navy to the white leaving equal amount of card each side. Fold the band around your wallet to establish the size required and stick ends together with sticky tape. The band will then slide off and on. Next I stamped the cute little Easter bunny from the Greetings Eight stamp set and water coloured the image in using Watercolour Wonder Crayons. I decided to use the scallop Circle punch to punch out my bunny, then I used a circle cut with a Nestabilitie in Ballet Blue to mount the Scallop Circle onto, then attached it to the band.

I have to admit I did feel bad about not getting my DS any chocolate so I bought some little eggs and made this cute little basket to fill.

This Easter we are planning on decorating our bedroom. I love the idea of having a freshly decorated room, I just hate having all the hassle and MESS while it is being done. I am supposed to be emptying the room ready for DH to start painting on Friday. Had better get on otherwise I will be in trouble........

Bye for now XX

Stamp With Us Challenge

Stamp with Us is a new venture for three Stampin' Up! demonstrators, one of which is my fab up-line Monica. They have so much fun planned for us all, Classes, Retreats and Challenges are just a few things already announced. Anyway, I love doing challenges, especially sketch challenges. I find that these give me a kick start into creating something and sometimes taking me away from my comfort zone, which is good, so when Stamp with Us posted their first challenge I just had to join in LOL.

The challenge was to use this sketch



I decided to be different and rotated the sketch 180 degrees. I have used the Petal Pizzazz stamp set again, to make this wonderful flower, using Regal Rose, Rose Red and Pretty in Pink ink. (These are my favourite colours at the moment).



DH is out all day today on a course connected to cricket, so I have all day to craft without being moaned at...LOL. SIL still hasn't produced!! but I can't wait any longer I am going to start baby projects................Bye for now

Another Birthday...

March and April are manic months for birthdays for me. LOL. Yesterday was my friend Jo's birthday. Jo and I where born the same year so celebrate our milestone birthdays together. Funnily enough our husbands where born the same year too so celebrate theirs together. They both turned 50 last year, Jo and I are a little bit behind them, but yesterday Jo became a wee bit older than me!! I now have 6 months to be the youngest, then I catch up. Anyway, here is the card I made for Jo to celebrate her special day.


I have used the stamp set Garden Whimsy, stamped in Versamark ink then used the Stampin' Pastels in Rose Red and Certainly Celery to create the tulip flower. I love the soft edges that this technique gives.

I am patiently waiting for another event to happen this month. My Sister In Law is expecting any day (so that's another Birthday added to April) I have so many baby ideas waiting to be created, I just need to know if they should be Pink or Blue LOL. So watch this space for news very soon! (I hope)

Happy Birthday Monica

Today is my Stampin' Up! Mum's birthday! Yes the wonderful Monica has a birthday today and I am sure you will all join me in wishing her a very Happy Birthday. Now you all know just how talented this woman is, so can you imagine the task I had making her a birthday card worthy of sending her LOL. This card is my third attempt!! Hope you like it Mon.



Colours used are Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose and Old Olive.

The new Mini catalogue is out today and there are tons of fabulous new stamps in it. If you would like a copy please contact me and I will get one sent out to you straight away.