Another big news day today - although this is more of a personal milestone for me: I have filmed my first online video tutorial!! Videos are useful for sharing all kinds of tips and techniques and I'm hopeful this will be the first of many.

I decided my first video would be a 'basics' introduction to stamps and in particular how to mount your wood and clear mount stamps, along with some tips and hints to get the best results from clear mount stamps. Whilst this may seem obvious to a seasoned stamper, I've spoken to a few people recently who are new to stamping and this is something that they would definitely have benefited from. So ladies, this is for you!

It also features a quick notecard made using the Petite Curly Label Punch; this punch, previously a Sale-A-Bration item, is now available to purchase in the main catalogue until June 30th. Along with either the Pretty Petites Sale-A-Bration stamp set or the Ciao, Baby! stamp set featured in the Spring-Summer seasonal catalogue, this punch is great for layering with the larger label punch or using on its own to create super quick cards. 

So, here is the link to my video, which is hosted on my YouTube video channel:

Here is a picture of a thank you card I made recently to pop in with a customer order, using the same punch:

This kind of punch is great if you've got lots of cards to make or just want to add some detail to a 3" square.

Do leave me a comment to let me know what you think of my first video; if there's anything else you would like to see a video tutorial on, then do let me know.

Back tomorrow with more stamping delights - until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Ciao, Baby!, Pretty Petites (Sale-A-Bration - retired)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Sycamore Street DSP (Sale-A-Bration - retired)

Inks: Island Indigo, Melon Mambo

Tools: Petite Curly Label Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch

Another Valentine's Day card today - well, only one more day to go!

I was playing about with my new Petite Curly Label punch and the Pretty Petites (just one of the stamp sets available free if you spend £45 or more during Sale-A-Bration 2013) and Ciao Baby! stamp sets that fit it perfectly and thought how the little punched shapes would make cute love letters ... if only I could find some super-small envelopes! So, some quality time with my Simply Scored Scoreboard later, and done - 4 envelopes that are the perfect size for the punched love tokens.

A set of 4 makes a great card; you could even write a mini note on the blank one and hide inside for your loved one to find.

I finished off with a 'love' stamp coloured with a real red marker and blender pen; this stamp is from the retired set 'Outlined Occasions' but it just finished this card off nicely.

I hope this leaves you inspired to create - until next time, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Pretty Petites, Ciao, Baby!, Outlined Occasions (retired)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red

Inks & Stampin' Write Markers: Real Red

Tools: Petite Curly Label Punch, Blender Pen, Simply Scored

So today, I thought I'd share something a little different. I have been playing with another new Sale-A-Bration stamp set, this time 'Feeling Sentimental'. I have to confess it's not the sort of set that immediately appeals to me - a little too vintage for my liking! - however it does us all good to move outside of our comfort zone every once in a while, so I've created a set of 6 notelets using 3 different stamps in this set and using a few different techniques to illustrate how you can achieve some quite different effects whilst still keeping things simple. 

So, first up, that quintessentially British icon, the telephone box. These are fast becoming few and far between, so it's probably time they are immortalised in a stamp. I've used a Real Red card base and ink - well, you can't really use anything else can you? On one, I've stamped in red straight onto the card and left it at that, apart from the 'hello' sentiment - this is the centre of one of the new Pretty Petites stamps, inked with a marker pen so that I could stamp it without the surround. It reminded me of an old-fashioned curly telephone receiver cord. The second card I stamped in Basic Black, then used a blender pen and Real Red ink to colour in. This gives a sharper outline, but I think more character with the blended infill. The latter is my favourite - which one do you prefer?

I'll be back with more cards featuring the other stamps in this set over the next few days - a Penny Farthing bicycle and a fairground ferrris wheel, but until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red

Tools: Blender Pen

A quick post from me today as I've been busy preparing for a forthcoming wedding fair. Another card with Valentine's in mind: this time, using the 'together' stamp from the 'Happy You' hostess set in the main catalogue: 

I've used a front fold overlapping design in vanilla for a change, with the stamp coloured with markers and a blender pen and showing through a punched circle. I've used a lovely piece of More Amore designer paper on the right for contrast and a punched Pretty Petites label to hold the card closed.

That's all for today. Join me tomorrow for a 3D project - meanwhile, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Happy You, Pretty Petites

Paper: Very Vanilla, More Amore (DSP)

Ink: Real Red; Stampin' Write Markers: Real Red, Primrose Petals

Tools: Blender Pen, Petite Curly Label Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch

As promised, I have lots more Sale-A-Bration to share with you: today, a trio of cards featuring the other flower stamp in the Madison Avenue stamp set, along with some beautiful co-ordinating papers.

Two of the cards also highlight one of the new Pretty Petites stamps, effortlessly puched out with the new Petite Curly Punch. The Pool Party and Tangerine Tango ribbons and the button are also from the Sycamore Street Ribbons and Buttons Pack - and did you notice the embossing on the third card? This is courtesy of the new Vine Street Embossing Folder; I love the subtle texture - it gives the card an 'extra' dimension.

So, 6 new products - and you could have any of them free for every £45 spent during the Sale-A-Bration promotion. Sale-A-Bration runs until 22nd March, so who knows - if you start now, maybe you could collect them all?!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Madison Avenue, Pretty Petites

Paper: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Sycamore Street (DSP)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango

Tools: Vine Street Embossing Folder, Petite Curly Label Punch, Circles Die, Scallop Border Punch

Finishing Touches: Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack