Well after an incredibly busy week I've finally managed to squeeze in another blog post! What's more, I also had a few hours at my desk this afternoon and instead of tidying up or sorting out retiring stock, I decided to get making - I've not put ink to a stamp in a whole week myself! I'm sat watching the annual music fest that is Eurovision as a type, so it seemed like a good day to share a couple of music-themed projects with you.

As my regular readers will know, we are something of a musical family: three pianists, a guitarist and we all like to sing (some of us better than others, it has to be said!) Rebecca recently sat her Grade 3 singing exam and subsequently wanted to make a little something for her vocal coach to say thank you for all her teaching and support. We don't have much in the way of musical stamp supplies, so armed with a suitable sentiment from the 'Watercolour Wishes' stamp set, some retired designer series paper and my Silhouette Cameo e-cutter, we set to work to create two projects. We created both a card and a boxed dimensional frame. Here is the frame, complete with layered treble clef:

Rebecca was so pleased with this, we then downloaded a second cut file and created this co-ordinating thank you card:

I love both of these projects and they definitely made me want to use my e-cutter more. Rebecca and I certainly had a lot of fun putting them together and her singing teacher loved them. Rebecca also got a merit for her exam performance too, so all in all a great result all round. Let's hope the United Kingdom Eurovision entry achieves similar success tonight!

I'll be back tomorrow with this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players; until then, happy stampin'!

The week is flying by - Wednesday already! Today I have a great clean and simple card for this week's challenge over at CAS(E) This Sketch that you really could put together in a jiffy. Firstly, here's this week's sketch:

I decided to make a quick Easter card featuring one of my favourite sentiments from the 'Suite Sayings' stamp set and some left over bits and pieces from my Watercolour Wishes card kit - take a look:

Using a piece of Pool Party cardstock for my cardbase, there are three key things that make this card:

Suite Sayings Stamp Set - This is one of those sets that has a sentiment for pretty much any occasion and this Easter one is a favourite of mine. I love the swirly script and the size, which works perfectly inside or on the front of a card.  

Lots of Labels Framelits Dies - I used the largest of the Lots of Labels Framelits Dies, cutting my Whisper White cardstock to just narrower than the die so that I could extend the length of my panel and only cut the framelit shape along one end. This is a useful technique - here's a photo that shows how it should look before you put it through the Big Shot:

Watercolour Wishes Card Kit - This has to be most favourite Stampin' Up! kit of all time - it contains everything you need to make 20 cards; what's more the stamp set, ink spots and acrylic block can all be used to create more projects with your own card bases once you've made up those in the kit. There are lots of spare embellishments too, with banners, flowers, washi tape, sequins and wooden pieces left over - perfect to make the most of today's card.

Here is the visual summary of today's card for reference:

I hope you like today's card - sometimes a quick card is in order and in 'waste not, want not' mode this one was a perfect opportunity to use up the generous leftovers from my kit!

I'm off to my Coffee and Card Drop-in Session this morning at Bell of Northampton - you can read all about that here - and am going to watch one of my juniors play in a netball match this afternoon. Back tomorrow with my card for this week's challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary where we have a fun sketch in store for you. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Suite Sayings Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Watercolor Wishes Card Kit

Lots Of Labels Framelits Dies

Pool Party A4 Cardstock

Whisper White A4 Cardstock

Today's blog post is something of a public service announcement: with eighteen days until Christmas and just 6 days until you can place your Stampin' Up! orders in order to guarantee delivery in time for Christmas - last date for orders guaranteed to deliver before Christmas is Sunday 13th December - I wanted to share with you two of the most popular kits in the Stampin' Up! range that make the perfect Christmas present. 

The first is the Tin of Cards Project Kit that features on the front of the annual catalogue. Here's a picture of everything that's included:

The kit contains blanks and envelopes to create 16 cards and comes with a lovely card organiser storage tin and dividers to keep them in when you're done. Add a Tin of Cards stamp set, a couple of ink pads and some adhesive and you are good to go! Or if you're an existing crafter with supplies, you could use any ink pads and stamp set to achieve great results. Here's a picture I took of my finished set:

Those helpful people at the Stampin' Up! Home Office have even produced a little video showing you how easy this kit is to put together - you can see it here:

My favourite kit of all though has to be the Watercolour Wishes Card Kit. Whether a seasoned crafter or someone who has never stamped or even crafted before, this is a fabulous all-inclusive kit that contains everything you need to create 20 unique cards with pre-watercoloured designs. Check out the kit contents:

The kit has envelopes, card blanks, die cut pieces and flowers, sequins, dimensionals, wooden embellishments, a roll of washi tape and an acrylic block, two mini ink pads and a 12 piece stamp set - and it comes in a beautiful gift box all ready to gift. All this for £31.50; this kit really does make the perfect gift! There will be lots of embellishments left over and the ink pads and stamp set can be used for lots of other projects when the kit cards have been completed. 

Here's a photo of just some of my completed kit:

I love to sit and make up my kits with my good friend Barbara; they are so quick to make and have full colour instructions that are so easy to follow. It always makes for a pleasant couple of hours!

If you needed further convincing, then here's another video with more detail:

If you would like to order either of the above kits, please click on the links below  to order from my online store or if you live in or around Northampton, please email me or give me a call - I will even gift wrap for you if you wish!

Christmas shopping with Stampin' Up! is easy - and who wouldn't love to receive such a lovely gift in their Christmas stocking??!

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy shopping!

Links to my Stampin' Up! Store - Watercolour Wishes Kit:

Watercolor Wishes Card Kit

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Links to my Stampin' Up! Store - Tin Of Cards Project Kit:

Tin Of Cards Project Kit	Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set	Jet Black Stazon Pad	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad	Multipurpose Liquid Glue