Tuesday 26 April 2011

Scalloped edge cards


Scalloped edge cards are just lovely and here is a lovely lilac colour scheme using the Party This Way stamp set from Stampin' Up! Isn't it great? It's very versatile as with any colour scheme it can suit any aged person, and I've teamed this with the number serif font stamp set which I use all the time - one of my staple craft items!

Quick make - teenager card

What do you do when you need a quick card? ask your sister to make one! So here I made a card for my niece who was moving into her teenage years. She likes bold colours so we went for Rich Razzleberry card teamed with Pumpkin Pie orange card and Old Olive green satin ribbon. I love these satin ribbons!

I used the eyelet border trim punch along some Whisper White cardstock as the holes show up perfectly when contrasted against a darker background. I then stamped using the fabulous Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamps - have you tried these? I love simple, smooth round fonts and I've seen these used perfectly on so many designs, they really are a worthwhile investment as once you have the set, you can customise practically any card.

Did you enjoy the Royal Wedding? I've seen lots of royal crafts too, I didn't make any myself (what would I do with them afterwards?) but there's lots of great ideas out there!

Easter celebrations

This Easter weekend was full of birthdays as it was late this year - and it went so fast! It was such glorious weather for a bank holiday wasn't it? We had three family birthdays (across two families) all on the same can you believe - so bank holiday Monday we enjoyed a birthday BBQ then a birthday roast dinner, haha!


It was my sister's birthday as well as my niece's, and a friend had kindly ordered a Stampin' Up! gift voucher for my sister - which I know she is going to love spending! I made a lovely envelope out of pink card and then stamped all over it and tied it with some satin ribbon to finish.

I'm sorry but you are just going to have to view the inside of the envelope at a strange angle - for some reason blogger likes to turn my photos for no real reason at all and I cannot work out how to get them to change! Even if I copy the photo four times and rotate one so that I have one at each angle, and upload all four, blogger still changes it to sideways! Anyone know the answer to that one? As I'd love to know!


Anyway my sister gets to spend this voucher on lovely Stampin' Up! goodies - would you like to receive one of these vouchers for your birthday or any other special occasion? Then point your relatives this way and I can surely help you out! I can create vouchers for any amount (hint, hint!) so ask them to simply email me to make contact, or they can buy the pre-paid amounts on the Paypal buttons on the right column of my blog here. I also sell gift vouchers for my craft classes too - keep these in mind when you are next stuck for what to buy your mum, sister or friend!


I'll be back soon with lots of birthday cards I've been making too! Some other great news is that I have been asked by Rainham Library to start teaching some of my craft classes there now - wahoo! It's very exciting and it will be open to everyone so for those of you who already attend my classes and want an extra fix - keep checking back for more information. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter break.


x

Tuesday 19 April 2011

Scalloped edges explained! Video tutorial

If you love scalloped edges but are not quite sure how they work, take a look at this you tube video that shows you some great ways to use it!




I love my scalloped edge punches - they are probably my most used item in my craft tool box and you will see them on most of my cards and scrapbook pages! I have the scalloped edge border punch from Stampin' Up!, but also I have the one the eyelet punches tiny little holes in the border too - and the scallop trim border punch is on my wish list! This video is a great how-to so I hope you enjoy it.

They are priced at £14.25 on p104 on the catalogue and they are available to buy from Stampin' Up through me.

Saturday 16 April 2011

Ahoy

This pirate set has been very popular in the main Stampin' Up! catalogue this year. It's on p41 as there are some other really good examples using it in there. (See the link to the right of this blog to view the catalogue online). My projects are often quite feminine, I think most crafters are as they seem easier to make, but that's why it's great when you get a masculine project in the 'swaps' that we do at team training. It shows examples of other's that have a totally different style to me. It's perfect for boy's birthday cards and also if you wanted to make themed papercrafts for a child's birthday party. Lots of Early Expresso grunging and some Riding Hood Red for the sentiments. There are three good pirate images in that set with a couple of senitments so it's good value and I've seen so many good examples made with it. I'm hoping to get making some more craft items myself very soon - I'm waiting for a good few hours I have to spare to get stuck in!

Friday 15 April 2011

Need quick gift box ideas?

Girls love mini items. Fact. Mini anything and we are ooohhing and aaahhhing, aren't we?
I think those in the know at Stampin' Up! know that as some of my favourite items right now are the new Big Shot dies exclusive to SU - the mini milk carton and the mini pillow box! They are smaller than they look in the catalogue which makes them just look even cuter. They are on p6 of the mini catalogue - I also desperately want to order the mini scalloped envelope!


Stacked as a three they look lovely, I'm not sure what I would put in a stack of three though? Perhaps three different favourite chocolates for the recipient. Tied up with this lovely, delicate seam binding ribbon in Rose Red (p17), they look so pretty.


As a single box I think they would be great for giving items of jewellery or gift voucher cards, but anything really. They would also make great wedding favours or dinner party gifts, or baby shower treats too!

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Vintage beauty!

This is one of my favourite cards that was shared at our recent team training for Stampin' Up!. It's a lovely combination of the new Springtime Vintage collection on p16 of the mini catalogue. I will be doing a 'class at home' kit using these materials soon so keep your eyes peeled if you live too far away to come to one of my classes but would love to make these projects. This was another from a team mate but my designs will be different. The pretty stamps are using the 'Just Believe' set on p57 - we were given this set for free when I attended the Stampin' Up convention last year - as demonstrators we were just as excited as our customers when we get free things! It's such a big set there is so much variety that you can do with just one stamp set, and floral designs are always suitable for almost every occasion too which is another reason I love it. The Springtime Vintage patterned paper has been used as well as the Rose Red seam binding ribbon, the Scallop Trim border punch and I think it is Garden Green and Rose Red inks for the stamping. I'd love to make about ten of these and stamp a different sentiment on each, ready for any occasion that pops up.

Monday 11 April 2011

How do you like your fries?

This is a lovely little 'fries' box made by one of my fellow team mates using the Stampin' Up! Designer Series papers. The main decoration uses 'Four Frames' stamp from the new mini catalogue together with the Decorative Label Punch (on p11) and the little butterflies, so cute, are created using the 'Beautiful Wings' Embosslit Die in the Big Shot. The butterflies are so cute and you get five, each one embossed with a different pattern, and cut out. I think the template for the fries box was using an electronic machine. These would make great Easter gifts as they are filled with chocolates! I keep posting when I haven't got the projects to hand to check who it was was but her family members should be very happy come Easter Sunday. You could make these in each of the different colours of the Designer Series paper stack!

Thursday 7 April 2011

10% offer ends midnight tonight!

This is a pretty card made using the Strength and Hope charity stamp set (p31) by one of my fellow SU teammates (sorry about the dark photo though!). The textured embossing folders (p10) are brilliant and super quick ways to add backgrounds and textures to your projects. These are especially great for when you get stuck for male card ideas as this can have a really masculine feel to it! See my last post for another idea on how to use it. You can imprint a raised dotted, square or flower pattern onto card - this one uses the 'Square Lattice' and the beautiful charity butterfly stamp on p31. It has been stamped onto the background card, and then run through the Big Shot to create the texture. The extra red butterfly image has been stamped onto separate card and then raised over the top. It's great to have alternative colour schemes for this set too as the catalogue examples are lovely subtle colours and this is a brighter alternative. Stampin' Up! is donating £1 from the purchase of each charity stamp set to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
10% offer ends midnight tonight!
Don't forget - my 10% discount on all orders from the mini and main catalogues ends midnight Thursday! Simply email me (address in the right hand bar) with your order to take advantage of this great offer. Details here

Wednesday 6 April 2011

Plane and Simple


This great card for male cards uses the new 'Plane and Simple' plane stamp from the new mini catalogue (p14). It has been layered onto a textured piece of cardstock which was created using the 'Square Lattice' textured impression die in the Big Shot. The embossing dies can also create spotted backgrounds and floral designs - check them out on p10.


View the mini catalogue here


I love this new linen thread in the main catalogue (p96), its a nice alternative to ribbon and much more masculine, and the chunky button is a nice addition too. This card was made by a fellow member of my SU team and it's great to swap projects as it shows styles outside of our comfort zones too. The blue background also has the 'spiral punch' down the edge which gives the effect of being ripped from a notebook - I just love this punch!!!


Don't forget - my 10% discount on all orders from the mini and main catalogues ends midnight Thursday! Simply email me (address in the right hand bar) with your order to take advantage of this great offer.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Pretty thank you card

There are lots of lovely new project ideas using mini catalogue products - did you follow the new blog hop on my previous post? Take a look if you missed it!
This was a lovely card made by one of my fellow Stampin' Up! team mates - I love the colour combination - it is Pretty In Pink and Baja Breeze for the background.


The seam binding ribbon (p17) was ruffled simply by pulling a single thread from one end gently. The patterned paper is the lovely new Designer Series Springtime Vintage paper and the pink border was made with the Scallop Border Punch again on p104 of the main catalogue. You could make lots of these cards very quickly - want to try that challenge?

Monday 4 April 2011

Fun Flowers Die Bookmark - Big Shot

So, now the mini catalogue has been launched, it's time to show you what you can make with it! At my recent Stampin' Up! training we all shared our swaps so I'll be starting with those - as most of them were made using items from the new mini! This one was a lovely bookmark made by Natalie O'Shea - isn't it pretty? And so simple but effective! It is made by using the Fun Flowers shape die, running that through the Big Shot machine with some Perfect Plum card. The edges have then been inked with an inkpad. The final touches are the strip of ribbon which makes it into a bookmark, and the lovely pink button and twine to centre it off. I can imagine making these in a rainbow of colours - lovely little gift ideas! I'll be back soon with more ideas. Don't forget my 10% off all Stampin' Up! products offer lasts until midnight 7th April.

Sunday 3 April 2011

Have you seen the latest blog hop?

A blog hop is when a group of crafters get together, all create a project with a similar theme or link, and then post it on their blog on the same day, each linking to the next person so that people can 'hop' around and look at all the lovely inspiration.


Want to see the latest blog hop featuring the lovely new goodies in the new mini catalogue? Start at the first person here - there are four fantastic blog hops going on this time so each person below starts a new chain!


Twin Troubles Creations


Sparkly Cards and Papercraft


Rita's Stampin Blog


Serious Stamper


Have you noticed that ALOT of these lovely projects are made using the new Big Shot die cutting machine? That's because we all love it! And you can use all dies from other cutting machines in it too. Take a look at this video to see how it all works and you will see why we think it's so great...



If you see anything you 'must have', don't forget you can place orders for Stampin' Up! goodies through me and I am running a special offer at the moment on all orders from the new mini catalogue (and main catalogue) of 10% discount! This offer only lasts until midnight on 7th April though so don't hang around...



A special Big Shot Bundle Offer

Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine
Fun Flowers Bigz L Dies
Beautiful Wings Embosslits Dies
Flower Burst Embosslits Dies
Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

PLUS... a FREE level one hostess gift AND £15 to spend in the main catalogue on products of your choice for a bargain offer price of £135! That's over £175 worth of products - a huge saving of over £40! Use the buy button to the right to make this saving today.

Friday 1 April 2011

The new mini catalogue has arrived!

Welcome to the new Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue!

We've been waiting eagerly for Stampin' Up! to release the new mini catalogue and it has finally arrived, packed full of amazing products - there is so much to love! Take a look for yourself!


Mini Catalogue 2011

The biggest thing to arrive is – of course – THE BIG SHOT die-cutting machine!!! As Stampin' Up! fans we have been waiting with baited breath for this to be introduced to the UK catalogue, and finally we have it! This is going to be amazing for projects and I especially can't wait to demonstrate my next two craft classes to you which I've created with these new dies! For those that don't know, it's a machine which you run shaped dies through and it cuts and/or embosses your shape for you. That's p6 onwards – I have already fallen in love with the mini pillow box die, the scallop envelope, the mini milk carton die – and as a demonstrator I've been lucky enough to have a play a month before they were released. Like what you see?


The fun flowers die produces some stunning results, especially when you layer them all together (a class coming soon!) The textured embossing folders on p10 are always brilliant – just fantastic for imprinting a raised dotted, square or flower pattern onto card! There is so much to mention that I love, but I think you should simply take a look for yourself – don't miss other personal favourites of mine which are the Four Frames stamps and punch on p11, the STUNNING 'Springtime vintage' patterned paper, huge buttons and matching twine on p16 and how can you miss the 'Oh Sew Suite' matching stamps and papers on p27?


Go and look now! Now, because I know you are going to be tempted by soooo much in the catalogue – I'm offering you a special offer for a very limited time only:


Save 10% on all orders placed in the first week of April!


This offer lasts until midnight on 7th April, so grab your catalogue, decide on what you want to order and then email or call me to arrange your order. The standard postage and packing applies to all orders (£4.95). Those of you who have requested real life copies, they are being posted out tomorrow. What better reason to get your hands on the mini catalogue products NOW?


Also as a one off limited edition offer I am offering:


A SPECIAL BIG SHOT BUNDLE OFFER*


Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine


Fun Flowers Bigz L Dies


Beautiful Wings Embosslits Dies


Flower Burst Embosslits Dies


Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder


Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder


PLUS... a FREE level one hostess gift AND £15 to spend on the mini or main catalogue on products of your choice for a bargain offer price of £135!


That's over £175 worth of products – a huge saving of over £40! See the 'buy it now' now button to the right hand side of this blog.



*You can replace items in this bundle for other items from the mini or main catalogue of the same value or higher should you wish.


This offer is valid from me for one month only – it finishes 30 April 2011. (Please note as this is already a great offer, the 10% discount offer above is not applicable to this Big Shot Bundle Offer price of £135)


MAKE YOUR OWN BUNDLE


If you fancy putting together a bundle of your choice to get these fantastic savings, simply choose the products you want (for yourself or as a combined order between your friends), ensure they reach over £150 in catalogue price retail value and you will be entitled to these products PLUS... a FREE level one hostess gift AND £15 to spend on the mini or main catalogue on products of your choice for a bargain offer price of £135!


That's over £175 worth of products – a huge saving of over £40! See the 'buy it now' button on the right hand side of this blog.


This offer is valid from me for one month only – it finishes 30 April 2011. (Please note as this is already a great offer, the 10% discount offer above is not applicable to this Bundle Offer price of £135)


Stamper's Six Club



If there is simply too much to choose from in this catalogue, and you would like to spread the cost of your purchases over a six month period but STILL be eligible for the free hostess benefits, my Stamper's Six club is for you! See the full details here All orders can be taken from the new mini catalogue or from the main catalogue, which can be found here. I think that's plenty for you to take in – just don't squeal too loudly when you start looking through the catalogue!


I'm just off to place an order from a very eager customer! As always, if you have any questions just drop me a line.


Enjoy!


Jenny


*project ideas are a collection from myself and our Stampin' Stars team of demonstrators