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Thursday 28 February 2013

Is it a gull, is it a teal?

I wasn't intending to use Fine Feathers for the rest of the week but as usual I've got carried away so guess what stamp set I've used for my regular Three Minute Thursday slot today? You're right - Fine Feathers! It's something a little bit different and I've discovered how much fun it is to design with feathers! I chose to use the fabulous colours at Dynamic Duos for this card - come and see how it turned out:


I've cheated a little with this card - the main panel took me three minutes but since cutting the card stock doesn't take much longer it's still a very quick card.


The design relies on a group of three, strong horizontals and the shadow underneath each feather which makes them pop. I stamped the feathers in Island Indigo ink, using a stamp-a-majig to get them where I wanted them, and coloured them with a Pool Party marker. I used long strokes making sure the spines of the feathers were left uncoloured and, underneath each spine, I built up the colour using the same marker - can you see how much darker it is? Finally the shadows were marked in with a Sahara Sand Watercolour Wonder crayon - I love the natural effect this gives.


This gorgeous sentiment from A Word For You has a good horizontal feel to it too and, for a bit of extra pizzazz, I added a quick touch of glitter. I have no idea what kind of gull would be shedding these aqua, glittery feathers but I expect the rest of the gulls would be scandalised!

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Fine Feathers, A Word for You
Ink: Island Indigo
Card stock: Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Island Indigo
Other: Pool Party marker, Neutrals Watercolour Wonder crayons, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, stamp-a-majig
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• Add a free Sale-a-bration item from this list for every £45 you spend!

When our children were very young, we used to take annual holidays on Norfolk's beautiful north coast where there are many bird reserves, and took to bird watching in a very amateur way. I remember one day out, involving a walk to a birdwatching hide, which didn't go too well until it dawned on me that my youngest son had mistaken the word 'hide' for 'hive'...

Good gracious, it's Friday already tomorrow - how did that happen?! See you tomorrow,

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Pinstriped Fine Feathers

During my wanderings around Blogland (yes, that bewildered-looking lady is me!) I've been noticing loads of great challenges. Make My Monday, for example, has a fabulous Pink and Black colour challenge this week and then there's Addicted to CAS where the cue word is Masculine. Are you wondering how on earth those two challenges would go together? Well come and have a look:


I've been inspired by the popular 'dark suit with a pink shirt' look for men! The background paper is the stripe in Pink Pirouette from the Subtles Patterns designer paper stack, stamped on in black with the fabulous Fine Feathers stamp set. These Patterns stacks come in all the Stampin' Up colour families and the in-colours too, and there are four monochromatic designs in each colour. They're brilliant for stamping on as well as for using as decorative paper in its own right.


To keep the card CAS I needed a very simple, bold sentiment. This one is from the Essentials stamp set in the spring/summer mini catalogue, punched out with a circle punch and matted onto a slightly larger black circle using dimensionals. Three strands of bakers twine add a little extra interest.

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Fine Feathers, Essentials (sentiment)
Ink: Black stazon
Card stock: Basic Black, scrap of Whisper White
Other: Subtles Patterns designer paper stack, 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, white bakers twine
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• Add a free Sale-a-bration item from this list for every £45 you spend!

Just in case you remain unconvinced about pink for a guy, I spotted an amusing story in the Mail Online recently (there was obviously no news that day!) which claimed that men who wear pink shirts 'earn £1,000 a year more than those who don't' and 'tend to be confident and get more compliments from female colleagues'. Hmmm. As a final test, I asked my husband how he'd feel if I gave him the card. "I'd be pleased," he said looking at it. "But it's not my birthday..."

It's Three Minute Thursday here tomorrow and I'll be back with a fast card. Hope to see you then!

Tuesday 26 February 2013

A Fine Feathers gift set

All my children went back to school yesterday leaving me to get the house back into some kind of order. Now, I don't want you to picture a scene of devastation or anything but I got so carried away with my domestic fervour that I didn't get the chance to make anything for my blog - not like me at all! Instead I'm showing you a gift set I made for a lovely friend of mine before Christmas. Come and have a look:

Fine Feathers from Stampin' Up

Here's the card, stamped with images from Stampin' Up's stunning Fine Feathers stamp set. It's very clean and simple and the Scandinavian-inspired colours were perfect for my friend.

A Word For You from Stampin' Up

I love the different styles of feather in the set - and they make a great motif for male cards too. The 'happy birthday' is from my favourite sentiment set, A Word For You. Of course I had a little gift for my friends' birthday so I stamped the feathers in a border design on a plain white gift bag...

Feather border on gift bag


... and tied a coordinating gift tag to it using grosgrain ribbon and seam binding to match my feathers.

Labels framelits gift tag


When I'd stamped the tag, I cut it out using one of the Labels framelits which makes an interestingly-shaped tag.


Border and tag on gift bag

Here's a close-up of the feathery border and the tag. Doesn't the ribbon look pretty?! I know it will have been carefully saved for another crafty project!
Here's what you'll need to make this project
Stamps: Fine Feathers, A Word for You
Ink: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Basic Grey
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Labels framelits, Big Shot, Handheld circle punch, Baja Breeze seam binding, Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon (retired), stamp-a-majig
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• Add a free Sale-a-bration item from this list for every £45 you spend!

I don't get fits of housewifely zeal very often (!) so I have to make the most of it when I do.  I think this is partly because when I've finished scrubbing the kitchen floor, my sons are apt to run over it in muddy trainers asking if there are any sausage rolls to keep their strength up; when I've hoovered every crevice of the living room, my husband takes it upon himself to drill holes in the wall to put up the shelves I asked for two years ago; and when I've deep-cleaned the bathroom, my daughter drifts in with blue hair dye casually mentioning that she's transforming herself into a sea witch for a fancy dress party... Well okay, some of this may be my imagination working overtime, but you get my point!

See you tomorrow for something bright and beautiful (I hope!)

Monday 25 February 2013

A piercing glow

I made a quick card for the Less is More challenge on Saturday but piercing continued to occupy my mind and I had another idea, this time for a Christmas card. Come and have a look:


Stampin' Up do two styles of paper piercing templates, the Festive ones and the Essentials ones; they come in packs of three and both packs coordinate with lots of the punches and framelits. I've used the concentric circles on one of the Essentials templates for this card. They're designed to be used individually with the circle punches, but I love the look of all or several of the circles together (see another example here) and it made me think of the glow you get from a candle.


I've been using my Watercolour Wonder crayons with a blender pen lately (the cards will be posted soon!) and I thought the technique would work well for a flame. Can you guess how I cut the flame out? Yes, it's the wing from the 2 step bird punch! That punch will be making the tea next!


The candle is made using my Simply Scored and Stampin' Up's lovely thick vellum - I scored the candle shape, used my stylus on my squishy craft mat to 'colour it in' and make wax drips, and cut it out with my sharp paper snips. It's been in my mind since before last Christmas to see if this would work and I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out  - quite waxy-looking!


I grounded the candle with some pine branches, a gorgeous Cherry Cobbler seam binding bow, a sentiment tag and some fussy-cut holly. This probably isn't the most CAS card I've ever made but there's still plenty of breathing space so I'm hoping I'll get away with it!

Now, what's the date today? Yes, it's the 25th so that means it's Rudolph Day over at the lovely Sandra's blog and I can enter my Christmas card - how's that for planning?!

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Beautiful Season, Lovely as a Tree, Petite Pairs
Ink: Always Artichoke, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler
Card stock: Very Vanilla, Vellum
Other: Essentials paper-piercing pack, Watercolour Wonder Crayons, blender pen, Real Red marker, Simply Scored, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, 2-step bird punch
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• Add a free Sale-a-bration item from this list for every £45 you spend!

I can never look at a candle without thinking of the wonderful Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch. One of the lovely things about having children is that you can share all your old favourite comedy moments with them and my daughter and I have just been doubled up over this one. Here it is for a bit of Monday morning viewing entertainment (well it beats hoovering!)



See you tomorrow,

Saturday 23 February 2013

A pierced thank you

Today, as usual, Jen and Chrissie's samples at Less is More are truly inspirational and, despite a 'to do' list as long as my arm, I couldn't resist joining in with a quickie. The challenge is Piercing and I knew Stampin' Up's Essentials Paper Piercing templates would make short work of that! Come and see:


My cup image was stamped on Whisper White card stock and cut out with my Decorative Label punch. I used one of the templates in the pack to pierce a coordinating shape on some Rich Razzleberry card stock and cut around it to create a frame. I liked the way the dots on the 'steam' and the sentiment echoed the piercing. (Both the stamp sets AND the piercing templates are available free as part of the Sale-a-bration promotion - find out all about it here.)


I added a sprinkling of self-adhesive gems to help draw the eye into a triangular shape...


... and popped the label up onto dimensionals. There's quite a lot of layering in this card but I hope you'll agree that it remains nice and CAS!

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Patterned Occasions, Itty Bitty Banners (both Sale-a-bration freebies)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Card stock: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Other: Essentials paper-piercing pack, Basic Rhinestones, Decorative Label punch, markers
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AN ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• Add a free Sale-a-bration item from this list for every £45 you spend!

My Stampers 6 club order turned up late yesterday and I've been busy sorting it out today and putting it into parcels for my lovely ladies. Everyone gets a little handmade gift and a card, as well as their goodies and Sale-a-bration gifts, and I always get quite excited imagining them opening their parcels! If you'd like to join in with the fun, do let me know as soon as possible as there are only a couple of places left on my group starting in May.

My sons are both delighted that I've been so busy and have taken full advantage... they've declared it an xbox day in our house today!

See you soon,

Friday 22 February 2013

Stampin' Up papers ring box tutorial

Ever since Stampin' Up launched the Simply Scored board in the UK, I've been happily making boxes and bags with it. But sometimes you want a box that's a specific size and, since it's much easier using a whole measurement than a part measurement, it can be easier to use centimetres than inches. That's when the metric board comes in handy - you just slot it into the Simply Scored base and it's ready to use.

finished Stampin Up ring box


I couldn't think why I needed the metric board add-on at first and hadn't even taken it out of its box, but it really has opened up new horizons for my box and bag-making!

I've had a flurry of emails asking how I made this ring box I posted a week or so ago, so I've made a tutorial for you.

Here's how to make the ring box:

Stampin Up's new trimmer

Start by cutting the card stock and paper. I used this gorgeous paper from the new Print Poetry designer paper stack for the lid - you'll need a 8.1cm x 8.1cm piece. The base is made from a piece of Naturals Ivory card stock measuring 10cm x 10cm and the insert is Marina Mist card stock measuring 12cm x 12cm.

Simply Scored metric board

Score the base 3cm in from the edge all the way around (as I have in the picture above) and then score the lid 2cm in from the edge all the way around (not shown.)
using Simply Scored metric board

The insert needs to be scored both 2cm and 4cm in from the edge all the way around.

use a bone folder

I always use a bone folder to make nice crisp folds in my card stock and paper.

snip the card stock

Snip the folds in as shown in the picture above - this box is square so there's no right or wrong side to snip!
make the box insert

Cut away the parts of the insert as shown above, leaving a cross shape. Now it's time to make the bit that holds the ring:

mark the ring holder

Find the centre of the cross shape by holding a ruler across the diagonal of the central square and marking the halfway point. Now hold the ruler vertically and make holes at 1cm and 3cm with a paper piercer.

cut the ring holder

Using the ruler as a cutting guide, cut a thin slot from hole to hole. You should end up with something that looks like the picture above.

assemble the ring holder

Turn the insert over and glue the flaps down (you can use any adhesive as the base will eventually hold it together.) The double thickness makes the insert strong - you don't want it buckling when you slot the ring into it!

prepare ring box for assembly

When you go to assemble the box, you'll notice that the side flaps overlap inside. This can make the box a bit bulky so snip them a little shorter as shown in the photo above. I've also rounded the corners of the flaps for a neater finish. Add Sticky Strip...


... and assemble the box tightly around the insert to make sure it fits. Now the box is ready for a lid!

finger holds

I like to snip out 'finger holds' on my lid using a 3/4" circle punch. I've also rounded the corners again to make a nice, neat finish. Add sticky strip...

assemble box lid

... and assemble the lid around the box to ensure a good snug fit. Hmm, looks like I need a bit more Sticky Strip on those edges!


The  box is ready for a ring! I seem to have mislaid my Cartier diamond cluster (so careless!) but here's the ring I made out of one of the Soda Tops from the new spring/summer catalogue instead! (This post tells you how to make it.)

decorated Stampin Up ring box

The pretty paper I used for the lid needs very little embellishment but this gorgeous taffeta ribbon in Daffodil Delight coordinates beautifully. I added a tag made with the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set (get this for free during the Sale-a-bration promotion!)

Here's what you'll need to make this box
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners (Sale-a-bration freebie)
Ink: Midnight Muse
Card stock: Naturals Ivory, Marina Mist
Punches: 3/4" circle punch, corner rounder
Other: Print Poetry designer paper stack, Simply Scored + metric board, Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, white bakers twine, paper piercer, paper snips, bone folder
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• DON'T FORGET TO ADD ONE OF THESE FREE SALE-A-BRATION ITEMS FOR EVERY £45 YOU SPEND

Aren't boxes brilliant?! I remember one year, our washing machine broke just before Christmas (these things do pick their times!) and the replacement arrived in a very large box. I can't remember what presents we'd actually bought the children that year, but I do remember that box being an enormous hit. We cut windows with panes and doors that actually opened using a stanley knife and I drew a holly tree outside the front door with marker pens - it was called Holly Cottage. Sigh... what uncomplicated days those were!

I'll be back very soon with more crafting fun. Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday 21 February 2013

Three minute Patterned Occasions

Stampin Up stock shotMost of my posts have been scheduled this week, as I've been spending some time with my children who are on their half term holidays, but I did happen to spot Cheryl's One Layer Wednesday challenge. She'd like us to be inspired by something on one of our Pinterest boards, so I've chosen this gorgeous photo of some really simple cards made by one of Stampin' Up's designers. It's Three Minute Thursday here today and what could be quicker than this type of card?

Patterned Occasions from Stampin Up

I've used my Patterned Occasions stamp set (get this free with the current Sale-a-bration promotion!) which really lends itself to quick cards or tags as each of the five images has a sentiment attached to it.

Patterned Occasions plaster

A get well card is always handy for your stash! I used my owl punch to make a heart to pop up over the heart on the plaster for a little extra interest.

Patterned Occasions cup

This cup with the heart-shaped steam is such a cute image for a little note to say you care. A gem adds a touch of sparkle.

Patterned Occasions cupcake

Cupcakes are always popular for a birthday and the fabulous chevron cake case on this one adds a lovely modern twist.

Patterned Occasions jeans

I used my Midnight Muse marker to colour the jeans on this stamp and it's given a very convincing denim look!

Patterned Occasions elephant

Who wouldn't immediately fall in love with this cutie patootie elephant?! Love that little flower he's holding too and the smallest of Stampin' Up's  Basic Pearls fits beautifully in the centre.

Here's what you'll need to make these cards
Stamps: Patterned Occasions (Sale-a-bration freebie)
Ink: In colour markers
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Owl punch, Basic Rhinestones and Pearls, stamp-a-majig
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• DON'T FORGET TO ADD ONE OF THESE FREE SALE-A-BRATION ITEMS FOR EVERY £45 YOU SPEND

My eldest son has got to that stage again where his trousers all look as if they're cropped so it was time for the dreaded Shopping Trip! I was dropping my husband off at the station first thing yesterday, so I suggested my son came along so that we could go to the shopping centre afterwards. "Leaving at 9am?" he cried in horror. "Never heard of it!" Not an auspicious start but I persevered and after a bit of a wobble at the changing rooms when he discovered that he was expected to try on a couple of armfuls of clothes, he began to enjoy himself and started suggesting style and colour combinations himself. We eventually got him kitted out with an assortment of trendy garments that will hopefully carry him through the summer and were able to collapse in a sofa at Costa where I sipped a black coffee and he mine-swept the the food cabinet to build up his flagging strength!


I'll have a box tutorial for you here tomorrow. See you then!

Wednesday 20 February 2013

It's Bloomin' Marvellous in a cage

The amazing Sale-a-bration promotion carries on this month with happy customers coming away with gorgeous free goodies every time they spend £45 or more, and new demonstrators filling their starter kits with 25% of extra goodies! Do email me if you'd like to take advantage of the promotion in either way, it will be my pleasure to help you.

Stampin' Up always come up with beautiful stamp sets to give away free during Sale-a-bration, but my absolute favourite this year has to be Bloomin' Marvellous. I've been enjoying seeing how well it interacts with other sets too - come and have a look:


For this card, I've combined the Bloomin' Marvellous flowers and leaves with one of the ornate bird cages from Aviary. The cage was cut out with my wonderful 2 1/2" circle punch and mounted onto a panel embossed with the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder.


These flowers always look fabulous decorated with pearls or gemstones but this time I chose to add dots to the centres with the fine end of a marker. A bakers twine bow at the top of the cage gave a little bit more interest.


A Word for You has to be one of my favourite sentiment sets of all time! I like the way you can use all or just part of each stamp and the flowing script looks great cut out with paper snips for a different look!

Here's what you'll need to make this card
Stamps: Bloomin' Marvellous (Sale-a-bration freebie), Aviary, A Word for You
Ink: Primrose Petals, Lucky Limeade, Stazon black
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Island Indigo bakers twine, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Big Shot, 2 1/2" circle punch, markers, stamp-a-majig
I'D BE DELIGHTED TO ORDER YOUR STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• DON'T FORGET TO ADD ONE OF THESE FREE SALE-A-BRATION ITEMS FOR EVERY £45 YOU SPEND

Our family is growing up fast and sometimes I think the only time we all get together these days is around the table at meal times. It's when we report what we've been up to and share our highs and lows and of course it's taken time for the children to learn about taking their turn. Sometimes one of them still forgets and interrupts when someone is sharing a triumph and I have to gently ask them to wait. This happened the other day and my youngest son had the grace to blush but then made us all laugh by saying: "You're right. Enough about me - what do YOU think about me?"

I'll be back tomorrow with not just one but FIVE fast cards for Three Minute Thursday! Do pop in if you have a minute.

Hugs,