I've been out a wedding fair all day today but as I haven't blogged for a few days, thought I'd do a quick post to share with you some thank you cards I made for the lovely ladies who placed orders at the last party I ran. I wanted something simple as I had several to make and decided to use the Sale-A-Bration Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set as many of them had chosen it as their free gift with a £45 order and I wanted to give them a little inspiration. So this is what I came up with:

I love the effect you can get by using a frame within your picture to add focus, and by stamping the third butterfly and punching out it looks like the butterflies are almost flying off the page. A little sparkle adds a finishing touch. I also used the precut notelet and envelope sets to make these (card measures 12.7 x 8.9cm), so I didn't even need to cut and score the basic cardstock - super quick. If you would like this stamp set, Sale-A-Bration is running for another 19 days so drop me a line if you would like to place an order. That's it for today - I'm off to soak my aching feet!

Until next time, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Bloomin' Marvelous

Cardstock: Pool Party, Whisper White

Ink: Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Island Indigo

Tools: Bitty Butterfly Punch

Finishing Touches: Dazzling Details, Whisper White Notelets and Envelopes

So the saying goes that 'Elephants never forget'; if only the same could be said for me! I'm usually pretty good at remembering birthdays, but with such a busy start to this year I must confess to having forgotten not one, but two birthdays! Well actually only one was truly forgotten (apologies Belinda - the card is now in the post!); the other was my good friend Barbara who actually kept her birthday date very much to herself - then wondered why she didn't receive lots of cards and birthday wishes!

Anyway, this led me to thinking about belated birthday wishes, and I just knew that elephant from the Sale-A-Bration Patterned Occasions set would have to make an appearance. I made two slightly different cards, each using the same colourway of Pool Party, Island Indigo and Rose Red. The first one was a herd of elephants marching, with one raised on dimensionals and carrying a punched flower. On both cards, the stamps were coloured with markers to allow the sentiment and flowers to be omitted.

Whilst I liked this card when finished, it felt a little busy. So, take two still on the elephant theme but something much simpler:

This card is much more me and I love the finish of the ruched Raspberry Ripple ribbon that adds a touch of luxury. So which one do you prefer? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

Let's hope these are the last belated wishes I send this year (although somehow I doubt it!). On the up side, at least I kept to my resolution to send only handmade cards this year.

Until next time, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Cardstock: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Whisper White

Stamps: Patterned Occasions, Itty Bitty Shapes. Sentiment - Birthday Wishes (hostess - now retired)

Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Rose Red

Finishing Touches: Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Itty Bitty Punches

I know Valentine's Day is done and dusted, but this month I also celebrated my wedding anniversary, so forgive the hearts but I've another romantic card to share with you today.

The design of this card is cased from Brian King; you can see his original card here. I loved this card the first time I saw it and knew that I was going to have to re-create it. As I don't have the Hearts Framelits, my method was slightly different; I used a large heart punch to make the negative heart shape on the central panel, with the pink heart cut out using one of the Hearts a Flutter framelits and the white heart in the centre using the small heart punch. The winning element for me is the sentiment though - it summed up my thoughts perfectly and seems as appropriate after 14 years of marriage as it would on a wedding day. The colour combination also ticks my box; I find myself using lots of Grey and Melon Mambo lately.

Hope you like it; I'll be back with something different tomorrow. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Basic Grey, Whisper White

Stamps: One in a Million

Ink: Melon Mambo

Tools: Large Heart Punch, Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Small Heart Punch, Big Shot

Today I thought I'd share with you the 'make and take' card that I made with all the lovely ladies who attended my first party recently (Hello ladies, if you're reading this!). It's similar to something I saw whilst browsing on Pinterest, but with my own twist and designed to make the most of some of the lovely goodies that are available free during Sale-A-Bration. It uses four of the possible 17 items on offer - see if you SU! fans can spot them all!

We stamped a greeting from Bloomin' Marvelous and a simple flower from the Madison Avenue stamp set onto Whisper White card stock, then layered this piece of card using dimensionals onto a Crumb Cake card base, having first adhered a couple of coordinating strips of Sycamore Street DSP along each of the vertical outer edges. The flower was finished with a button threaded with a piece of contrasting ribbon from the matching accessory pack. I sized the card to fit the new Crumb Cake medium envelopes and we stamped a flower onto the front of the envelope for a finishing touch.

A great night was had by all: thank you ladies for being kind to me on my first outing. If you love to craft, need a reason to get together with some like-minded friends and would like to host an evening to make this card or something similar, do get in touch - there are great additional hostess benefits during Sale-A-Bration too, the perfect way to grow your own craft stash!

Until next time, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Madison Avenue, Bloomin' Marvelous

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Sycamore Street (DSP)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango

Finishing Touches: Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack, Medium Crumb Cake Envelopes

Finally back with another card after a few days away from my blog. Not that it's been a few days away from crafting, far from it - I've been very busy designing and making, just not managed to get it all phototgraphed and on the blog! This is such a busy time of year, with Mother's Day and Easter just around the corner, not to mention all the usual birthdays and other events that I've been making for. On the up side, there will be lots to share in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Today I thought I would share with you a very pretty yet simple birthday card I made for a little girl I know, using the cupcake stamp from the Patterned Occasions stamp set and more of the lovely More Amore designer series paper. 

I layered a piece of DSP on a Pool Party Base, then coloured the cupcake image on the stamp with Primrose Petals, Pool Party and Real Red markers and stamped onto a 1 3/4" circle of Whisper White cardstock, layered on a larger circle and attached with dimensionals to give some lift. A Pool Party ribbon and bow adds a finishing touch.

I also stamped a co-ordinating cupcake on the front of the envelope - it's always worth thinking about ways in which you can add a little detail to the envelope, just to finish everything off.

If you like this stamp, it's part of the Patterned Occasions set available during Sale-A-Bration, free with any £45 purchase until 22nd March - just contact me if you'd like to order.  Hope you like the finished card - lots more to share this week, so until next time, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Cardstock: Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Whisper White, More Amore (DSP)

Stamps: Patterned Occasions

Stampin' Write markers: Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Real Red

Tools: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Circles #2 Originals Die, Big Shot

Finishing Touches: Pool Party Ribbon - Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack

Today it's the final instalment of the Feeling Sentimental notelet set - this time the turn of the penny farthing bicycle.

I used a crumb cake card base this time (I love this card - so versatile, I get through tons of it!) and experimented again with the 'rock and roll' stamping technique to add some interest. The first card I stamped, which is actually the one on the right of the picture - I stamped in crumb cake straight onto the card and left it at that; I personally much prefer my second attempt, where I stamped in a combination of chocolate chip and crumb cake and matted with a chocolate chip card base, which gives much better definition and makes the image much stronger. For completeness, here's a picture of the whole set of notelets:

I still think this phone box is crying out to be made into a tardis, Dr Who-style - maybe that should be my inspiration the next time I get this set out .....!

I'm off to get some card making done now, as I've lots of birthdays coming up and am behind with my making; shocking for a paper crafter, I know! On the plus side, there will be lots to share with you over the coming days and weeks, so keep checking for lots of ideas.

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

Just a quick post from me today! Before I move on to the last stamp in this set, today I thought I would share with you another ferris wheel stamped using the rock and roll ink technique; this time an easel birthday card I made recently for a friend of mine, whihc also includes the 'Celebrate' stamp from the same set.

As you can see, this time I've used a trio of ink colours; I think it makes a lovely female birthday card and the easel card design just makes it a little bit different.

Remember, the 'Feeling Sentimental' stamp set is just one of the 17 items you can receive free with a £45 spend during Sale-A-Bration, so if it appeals to you just contact me to host a party or place an order before 22nd March and this set could be yours.

Until next time, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental

Cardstock: Whisper White, Primrose Petals

Ink: Primrose Petals, Perfect Plum, Regal Rose

Hope you all enjoyed Valentine's Day yesterday. Today I thought I would share the second instalment of my experimentation with 'Feeling Sentimental' - this time, with the ferris wheel stamp from the set.

I've used the same simple layout as for the phone box, but this time have used a blue midnight muse card base and experimented with the 'rock and roll' stamping technique to add some interest. On the first card I've stamped in blue straight onto the card and left it at that; the second card I stamped in a combination of midnight muse and pacific point. This is a really easy technique: you simply ink your stamp all over in the lightest colour you are going to use, then 'rock' sections of your stamp over the top with a darker colour to get a graduated colour. I actually quartered mine, but you can achieve a different effect depending on how you ink up, roll and how many ink combinations you use.

I'll be back tomorrow with another example using this stamp and technique, but on a birthday card using a triple ink combination, so do come back and see how different this stamp can look. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental

Cardstock: Whisper White, Midnight Muse

Ink: Midnight Muse, Pacific Point

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

With only two days to go, I thought I would share another Valentine's Day card with you today. I actually took this card to the wedding fair I exhibited at last weekend, as I thought it would also make a lovely invitation and it could be adapted to a variety of different colour combinations.  

I took my inspiration from the current Stampin' Up! catalogue on page 179 and the card that demonstrates the new Stampin' Spritzer. It is a 5" square card with a base of Melon Mambo and mat of Basic Grey, with a sharp white typeset LOVE which is inset with a small punched heart and a little diamante for just the right amount of 'bling'. Simple, but oh so effective and if you're a crafter who likes to leave things until the very last minute, really quick to execute with no stamping required! I'll be back with another Valentines idea tomorrow, but meanwhile - happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Basic Grey

Tools: Typeset Alphabet dies, Small Heart Punch, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, Big Shot