Myself and a few fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are taking part in a Blog Hop on Sunday January 24th.

I look forward to welcoming you back on Sunday, when you will see some fantastic creations using the Sale - A - Bration stamp sets.  See you then..............

What fun we had.....

Yesterday, I spent the day with 30 other Stampin' Up! demos at Peterborough for some training given by the lovely Monica and Bekka.
I think I can say on behalf of everyone, what a great day they put on for us.
Bekka's business tips, Monica's craft projects and the fabulous Jules talk, advising about recruiting helped alot of Demo's. These girls are so generous with their time and happy to share their knowledge with everyone. Thank you ladies.

At these type of events, it is customary to swap cards with other demo's. By doing this you build up different samples of cards and show off many different styles. Some very different from your own style. Which is why I love swapping.

Here are my cards I made for the swap.

Yep 30 of them. I really enjoyed making thes. Even pricking all around the Kraft square, to do the faux stitching. I took them with me to my son's sporting events and sat pricking away, while waiting for him.LOL
I hope eveyone I swaped with, liked them.

Supplies:
Card: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Summer Sun, black stazon
Stamp: Happy Moments (SAB 2010)
Accessories: Pricking tool, Blender Pen, Round Tab Punch, Elegant Eggplant Stampin' Write

More Sale-A-Bration

Many of you know, that my little crafting place is a log cabin in the garden.  But it does get so cold in there during the winter.  I have a good electric heater in there, but the weather has been so so cold, I am finding I am having to have it turned up full blast to take even the chill off. I really cannot afford to do this, so crafting has been put on hold for a few days.  However, this cold snap doesn't seem as though it is going to disappear soon, and I have been so fed up. I decided to grab a few things and challenge myself to make a card. It was so cold in there, I had to wait for my punches to warm up before I could use them. LOL

This is what I came up with, and I am so happy with the result.  Isn't it funny how crafting can put you in a happy place. 

Supplies
Stamps: Happy Moments (SAB), En Francais
Card: WW, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Whisper White (craft)
Accessories: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink & Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write, 1/2" circle punch,Petty in Pink Taffata Ribbon, Tag and Small Tag punches, Word Window Punch, Clear Rhinestone Brads, Flower from Pretties kit,

January Classes

All materials are supplied to make a gorgeous box, with 4 cards (designed by Jenny Moor's) using the Flight of the Butterfly set and the beautiful Bella Bleu Designer paper. Class is being held at my home (NR14) places are limited so book early.

Please email me for more details or to book your place.


Cost of Class - £15 (This includes light refreshments)


Dates:
Wednesday 27th January 7.00 - 9.30pm

Saturday 30th January 2.00 - 4.30 pm

Venue: My home NR14 6

Please note: if these dates are unsuitable, please contact me to discuss. I may be able to accomodate a different date for you.

For more details of future class dates please click on the Classes tab at the top of my blog, or here

Diamond Wedding Commission

Time has been flying by way too quickly. So much to do and so little time to do it in........ then this weekend I have had raging tooth ache. Taking far too many pain killers, but I am in so much pain. Definitely a trip to the dentist is on the cards tomorrow.

Along with my Christmas preparations, I have been working on a card commission. I was asked to make a Diamond Wedding Anniversary card. One of the ladies that teaches my son his bowls has her mother and father celebrating their Diamond Wedding on boxing day. Sixty Years, now that is a long time....not many can boast that, thought I was doing well at 28 years LOL.

So this is what I created. I know I am safe to post pictures here, as they don't read my blog.



I decided to use the old faithful stampset, A Rose is a Rose. I love this set, you can do so much with it. The first photo doesn't show it very well, but the roses are all glittered with Dazzling Diamonds. Well it is a Diamond Wedding Anniversary LOL. The sentiments where printed on my computer using a colour the shade of Regal Rose to match the roses.

Inside the card is a verse.

Also to make the card even more special, I made a box to match.




and here is the card presented in the box.

This is the first card commission I have done, and I have to admit, I was worried that the lady wouldn't like it. What you like isn't always someone elses taste if you know what I mean. But she was thrilled and commented that her Mum & Dad where having a party and the colour theme was pink....

Anyway, off to take some more pain killers. Back soon.... Bye

Supplies:

Stamps: A Rose is a Rose

Ink: Regal Rose, Always Artichoke, Versamark

Card: Whisper White, Regal Rose

Other: 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Speciality Paper - Bride, Eyelet Border Punch, Dazzling Diamonds.

It's begining to look alot like Christmas

At Last I have started making my christmas cards for this year. Yes, I always leave it to the last minute LOL. Got to get some of them in the post, so that was the kick I needed.

I saw a card similar to this whilst blog hopping, it wasn't made with Stampin' Up! products, but the colours jumped out at me. I can't remember where I saw the card to give credit, sorry, but if the original artist stops by or you know who it was, then please do let me know so I can give credit.



As I said the colours jumped out at me. I am not a great fan of Kraft colour, but with the white and green I think it is stunning. The tree on the front is stamped with Versamark and embossed with White embossing powder.



I decided to stamp the inside of the card also, using the same stamp used on the background on the front of the card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Scandinavian Season
Card: Whisper White, Old Olive, Kraft
Ink: Old Olive, Whisper White (Craft), Versamark
Accessories: Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon, White Embossing Powder

12 Blogs of Christmas Tour

Welcome to the 12 Blogs of Christmas. Myself and some other Stampin' Up! demo's are posting two Christmas projects which we hope will give you ideas and inspire you. By clicking on the '12 Blogs of Christmas' Icon above you will be guided to the next blog in the tour, do this on each blog and you will complete the tour and return back to where you started. We hope you enjoy your journey and please do comment along the way. It's so great to hear from people who have stopped by. You may be starting the journey here or have found me by passing through Zoe's blog, whichever, I hope you enjoy browsing all the lovely christmas projects.

How are you getting on with your Christmas presents. Me I haven't even started !! well tell a little lie, I have made one present for my chiropodist, Paula. (I can post this as she doesn't use computers !! so won't see it LOL)

I was doing the weekly food shop when I noticed these scented candles. They had been reduced to 89p, and I could see a crafting potential there, so I grabbed a few. (Am I the only one that does this?)



I was so busy thinking about what I was going to do with these candles, while doing the rest of the shopping, I forgot the eggs! Anyway, this is what I have come up with.

The top of the jar was much bigger than any of the Stampin' Up! punches I own, so I used a die cutter to cut out a scalloped Whisper White circle and Real Red and Whisper White plain circles in various dimensions. The candle was Red, which is why I choose these colours, plus red is my favourite Christmas colour.

On the smallest circle I stamped the snowflake from the Winter Post stampset in versamark ink and covered with Heat and Stick powder. Heated this with the heat gun then sprinkled on the red glitter from the Fine Galaxy range in the Stampin' Glitter. I then just dabbed some real red ink around the edges to highlight the circle before layering all together and sticking onto the lid of the candle.



Next I wanted to make a little box to put the candle in. Its a very simple box, created by just measuring the base and height of the jar. Using the base measurement then adding the height measurement x 2 cut a piece of cardstock that size. In my case the base measured 9cm square and the sides where 6 cm tall. So I cut the cardstock 21cm x 21cm and scored it at 6cm, turned the card once and scored again at 6cm, turned again etc until all four sides where scored at 6cm.
Next I decorated the card with the snowflake in Real Red ink, then snipped one score mark to the next score on each corner and attached the flaps to the sides using double sided tape. You can see the base in this photo below.



Next was the lid. Again work out your measurements, but this time the centre needs to be a fraction larger. So in my case I used 91/4cm x 5cm x2. So my card was cut at 19 1/4 cm x 19 1/4 cm and scored at 5cm all around. (I hope this makes sense to you, I found it difficult to explain sorry).



Next step is to decorate your lid. I placed a square of Real Red card with a strip of the beautiful new Whisper White Satin ribbon attached, and topped it off with a glittered snowflake like I used on the lid of the jar. Before assembling the lid, I used my Scalloped border punch on the sides. (This is why my side measurements where quite large, the punch does take a small section of card away with it when punching)


Add a tag and you have a great little gift that anyone would be happy to receive.

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Winter PostCard: Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Real Red
Accessories: Whisper White Satin ribbon, Stampin' Glitter, Scallop Border Punch,


Second Project

For my second project I have chosen to stay with the same stampset and colours, like I said earlier Red is my favourite Christmas colour. LOL




I have made some name place cards for our Christmas dinner table. These where so quick and simple to make.




I used a font on my computer for the names and printed them onto Whisper White cardstock. (This card runs through printers like a dream). I cut Whisper White card 7.5cm x 7.5 cm and folded in half. Layered a piece of Real Red card onto one side (you can do both if you wish) then added the name. The snowflake from Winter Post stamp set was stamped in Real Red ink onto Whisper White card and then cut out. A rhinestone brad was placed in the middle of the snowflake before attaching to the place card.




These are so quick to make, and will make your Christmas dinner table look fabulous. Why not try something like this yourself this year.

I hope you have enjoyed my projects and will now pass you over to the fab Michelle for more inspiration.

Carole x

Do you need Christmas Inspiration?

Well I might have the answer for you. Myself and a few other Stampin' Up! demonstrators are organising a blog hop on Saturday. There will be two Christmas projects on each blog and you may also find some candy along the way.

All the projects will go live at 10 am and the links to complete the hop will be completed as soon as possible after that. So book the date in your diary and see you on Saturday.

Purple Trimmings

I love this stamp set. I normally use traditional colours for my Christmas cards, but I decided to try out Lilacs and Purples for a change. The photo below shows the top of the card all sparkly with glitter. I used the Polka Dot Background stamp inked with Versamark and stamped onto Elegant Eggplant card. Then sprinkled with Heat and Stick powder and blasted with heat gun, then sprinkled with Silver Glitter from the Fine Galaxy range of the Stampin' Glitter. Here is a close up. Not a great photo I am afraid because the weather has been so dull and dreary the last few days.

The ornaments have been stamped in versamark first, before the colour ink, then clear embossed to give that shiny affect, that Christmas baubles have.

Supplies:

Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Polka Dot BG, Occasional Greetings

Card: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, Versamark

Accessories: Silver Stampin' Glitter, Eyelet Border Punch, Heat Gun,

FREE TAG PUNCH

Yes you are reading that correctly. During the period 1st November - 29th December you will receive a TAG PUNCH or a SMALL TAG PUNCH (worth £12.50 each) with every £45 spent from the Christmas Gift giving guide below.

(Please click here for a bigger version)


Wow what an offer..... If you are like me and havn't started your Christmas shopping yet, what a great time to buy for your crafting friends and family and get a free gift for yourself

You can email me with your order, and get your Christmas shopping started.

Plus as a special offer from me....anyone ordering from the Gift giving guide will receive FREE P&P on orders over £45.