Friday, 31 December 2010

Do you believe in Magic?

I've just been "surfing" and found this most beautiful post. I really wish I could write just like this!

Enjoy!!!

Remember though, that we can have the magic of FREE stamps with Sale-A-Bration, call or email me with your order!

Wishing you all a very happy and magical New Year.

Carole
x

Thursday, 30 December 2010

Snow chuffed & Sale-a-Bration

I hope you have all enjoyed the sort of Christmas that you wanted.  With all of the snow here our plans had to change but we still had a nice, peaceful time.  I very much missed people I couldn't be with, as I always do, but relaxed knowing there was nothing I could do about it!

I have been very busy card making, with so many friends and relatives with birthdays from now until the middle of Feb that I thought I'd better get on making their cards, otherwise life will get busy again and they will be made in a rush!  I have really enjoyed designing and making them.  I've used stamps from Stampin' Up's Sale-a-Bration sets  - take a look, the sets are great this year:

Click here for all the details

These are some of the samples that I've managed to make, wow look how many!



I have been a little crafty, making two of some, one to give away and one to keep!

Back to my title "snow chuffed", the reason for this is that I have my first blog award!  My lovely friend and Stampin' sister Keren has awarded me this lovely award, her blog is amazing she tells you the most interesting stories of her family life, together with showing lovely Stampin' Up projects, check out her blog here.

Wishing you all a very happy 2011.

Carole
x

All supplies are Stampin' Up; Stamp Sets: Bliss, Punch Bunch, So Happy for You, & Sweet Summer.  Cardstock & Ink: Bashful Blue, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Real Red, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, & Naturals Ivory.
Punches: Two-Step Bird punch, Curly Label punch, Scallop Circle punch, Extra Large Circle 1 3/4" punch & Scallop Trim Border punch.

Thursday, 9 December 2010

I must be Crackers!

Its already the 9th day of Christmas and I'm not getting on with it basically!  The trouble is, I have so many plans and so little time!

I did though help the ladies of Harwell W.I. get on with their Christmas preparations by showing them last night how to make a re-usable Christmas Cracker.  I have been making these crackers now for a few years and although I vow every year that I won't teach them again someone talks me into it!




These crackers are not too difficult to make but trying to get 30 W.I. ladies making them at the same time can be quite a laugh!  They are made on rolling pins and ladies are asked to bring along their own - well you probably can imagine how many different types and sizes of rolling pins turn up and thats when the class turns into fits of giggles!  I tell them I am talking about rolling pins, but somehow they have other things on their minds when I mention "Oh that's a big one - where on earth did you get that one"!  Well as the making of them goes on, the inuendoes continue and making them seems to be so difficult!

There was a lovely lady there last night, she was having a little bit of difficulty half way through and when I went to investigate I saw that hers was an extremely short one - I told the rest of the class that this poor lady only had a little one and it wasn't working at all well, when she replied "Oh this isn't a rolling pin, my husband told me that I didn't need my rolling pin and his tube of mastic stuff would be fine"!  I asked her to pass a message back to her husband that went something like "please tell your husband that if the instructions request a rolling pin then a tube of mastic stuff won't work! Or words to the same effect!

By the end of the evening, there were many lovely crackers to be seen and a few ladies told me that they had enjoyed the laugh - thank goodness, I came home exhausted and needed a little something to help me calm down after the event.

Hope your Christmas preparations are going better than mine.......happy crafting.

Carole
x

Sunday, 5 December 2010

Your smile.........

.......it lights up my life!  I saw that on a scrapbook page today and am blogging it, hoping that will remind me later, to make a page with that title myself.

I know it's already the fifth day of Christmas, I am thinking about Christmas, honestly, I am every day - I promise!  I've just got other things to do first!  My MIL is coming on Tuesday and I've two classes tomorrow - a girl needs to clean - sometimes!  (David calls it my time of the month - if only he helped, I wouldn't be so bad tempered about it!)

Here is a card we made in class a month or two ago............I know you are only looking for a card, I'm not silly, sorry if you made this in one of my classes!


I've used the Stampin Up stamp sets called Contempo Chritsmas and Delightful Decorations along with Cherry Cobbler Card Stock and Jolly Holiday papers.

Enjoy and happy crafting......

Carole
x

Thursday, 2 December 2010

Day two of Christmas

I turned on the t.v. this morning only to see for the second day in a row the terrible disruptions being caused by our early snow fall.  It looks just like Christmas and the general feeling of good will and community spirits are making it feel like Christmas too.  I saw on the news, a farmer taking midwives into work on his tractor and people all gathering around sharing infomation on train times etc.  I love all this community spirit, it seems a shame it takes a huge blanket of snow to bring the best out, in us all.

I called my friends this morning who live in South Yorkshire, their village is just next to the one where there are 200 lorries stranded.  He told me that his neighbours were being great, he called one last night to ask if he could borrow an onion to cook with, its funny he said, he had grown lots this year and they were all in his greenhouse drying out, just a shame he couldn't open his back door, let alone get to his greenhouse.  Now things must be bad if you can't get to your onions!

I've decided to work from home again today, funny that - we hardly have any snow, we are so very lucky, but at least I do have the best job in the world and I can stay in and craft and still call it work!

Here is a piccy of me taken this morning after bringing in our bins:


You see hardly any snow and still not cold enough to wear jeans, although I did pop on a jumper!

Back to what am I doing about Christmas today though.........well nothing actually.  It's my brother-in-laws birthday next week and I felt the need to make a little card for him instead.  Here it is, I hope you like it:




On my crafting table at them moment I only have my Stampin' Up In Colours out.  I really love them, I have a class on Friday evening and thought I'd use nothing but In Colours for this class, so this card had to be an In Colour.  I used Concord Crush, which is a really deep purple and two Stampin' Up Stamp sets; Afterthoughts (level one hostess set) and Party This Way, which we were given at Convention and I thought then that it was a great Stampin' set for male cards.

As it is my Day Two of Christmas, I did pop a little reindeer into the piccy........I just had to really!

Happy crafting, see you tomorrow.

Carole
x

Wednesday, 1 December 2010

First day of Christmas

Well it really is the first day of Christmas and I am determined to be happy about it.  I signed up for an on-line class today that is going to support me through this busy and what I normally normally find a stressful time!

The class is all about the 37 days of Christmas and I am going to make time each day to 'enjoy' these special days we have.  I am supposed to blog, scrapbook, take a piccy or journal my way through the next 37 days.  I am hoping to put time aside each day to do something that might just end up as a nice paper-crafting project.

Lets just see how far I get................I hope to share all my progress with you!

So we are now on DAY ONE......

Today I joined the class and thought that that was enough for the day, but now it's around 7.30 p.m. and I can share with you more of my JOY today.  Firstly, I know it's boring but I did get my ironing done!  Then my lovely downline, Rose, came for lunch and she sat and made her ATC swaps (for a group she attends each month).  She was using some lovely Stampin' Up products and her ATC was really Christmassy and lovely.  Then I had my hair cut - I meant to ask DH to take a piccy of me getting my hair done, but I forgot so I did get one of him having his cut (it wasn't good!) and one of our lovely hairdresser, Michelle.



Thinking that was all the excitement round here for today and pondering my next move.... was I going to do a blog post?....... make a scrappin' page?........ or write note in my diary to remind me to write something later?.........then the door bell rings and it's a very nice man collecting money for the local Lions club.  Father Christmas travels around here every year collecting money for the charity.  I emptied all the coins from my purse in the excitement and rushed back to get my camera, only to witness the actual "Father Christmas" leaving my neighbours house!  Well I called him, "Father Christmas!" I shouted, but he didn't hear me and was off towards another house and it was too cold to wait, so I took a photo of his road sleigh and ran indoors.  I called my neighbour and asked how she had managed to have him call at her house.  Obviously, I said, "He's called at yours because you have a BMW on the drive and your house looks posher than mine."  "Oh no," she replied, "I stood in my porch with my jumper pulled right up and he came right over and said that I was a good girl!"

The conversation went on........but I couldn't possibly share the rest, my neighbours are very respectable, they go to church and everything........ just thinking, perhaps the Lord really thought I needed a good laugh today and he gave one to me.....thank you Lord!





So this is the photo of Santa's sleigh (trailer!).

Hope to be back tomorrow.

Happy Stampin' and crafting for now.

Carole
x

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Autumn birthday (for men)

Well I know its been a while!  I've been quite sad over the last month, one of the lovely Stampin' Up ladies in America, who's blog I've been following for a couple of years now, has been sharing her own family's cancer journey and last week her husband passed away.  Whilst reading her story, it took me back to memories of my own loss, especially as she has two small children to bring up.

So whilst following her family journey, I've found it difficult to blog, not being able to think of much else, other than connected stories, of which I know of many, unfortunately.

I feel the pain of people left behind, but I've got to move on and try and pull myself out of these negative feelings, and to help with that I'm thinking of happy thoughts of the Stampin' Up Convention which is later this week.  I really enjoyed last years Convention in Germany and can't wait for this one.

I've been busy making swaps, which I will share after Convention, but in the mean time, I'll share with you a card I've just made for my neighbours birthday, who will celebrate his birthday whilst I'm away.




I have used my electronic die cutting maching to produce the image, over stamped it with a Friends text stamp using Stazon ink and sponged autumn coloured inks on the top.  The image is mounted on Chocolate Chip card stock and the crinkled birthday wishes banner was made using Sahara Sand, as was the main card.  I used one of my new lovely buttons from the Stampin Up Neutrals range for my final embellishment.

Enjoy and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Friday, 8 October 2010

Welcome to my Stampin' Up team!

I would like to welcome Sarah, Helen, Catherine and Julie to my team.  We had a great night last night laughing and having fun whilst choosing Starter Kits!  The kit is only £119 this year for £230 worth of product - email me if you would like your Stampin' Up supplies at a discount, its easy and you don't need to do "parties or workshops", if you don't want to.  Everyone is welcome to join my team, no stress just crafting and more tips and help from me!

Happy crafting......

Carole
x

Wednesday, 6 October 2010

Stampin' Up - New Year

Good morning,

It seems ages since I posted on here and apologies for going "missing" again!!!

I do though, have a great excuse (for once)!  As you know September was the last month for the old Stampin' Up catalogue and the end of our Stampin' Up year.  With so many wonderful products retiring, many of you were tempted and decided to order, keeping me and my UPS man extremely busy!  Thank you to all of you who ordered and I hope that you are all enjoying using your new stash.

So our Stampin' Up New Year began on 1st October.  I have added, to the side of my blog, a copy of the catalogue.  If you click on it, it should take you to the Stampin' Up website copy, so no need to download it onto your own computers.

If you would like your own "proper" copy, then email me and we can sort you one out.  Of course they are free if you host a party.  The hostess gifts this year are so nice and in my opionion so much nicer than last years, as are many other new products and colours now available.  You are free to have your own individual parties, all by yourselves if you like, quite a few of you ladies were doing just that at the end of the year, gaining the freebies and hostess gifts, its one way of getting those lovely gifts - for free!!

Anyway, take a look at the new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up Ideas Book and Catalogue and we can go from there.  Just let me know if you would like to order, have a party or come and try the products at one of my classes.  If you are lovin' all the products, as much as I do, in the new catalogue and would like the chance of ordering them for yourselves with a 20% discount, let me know and I'll tell you how - it really is easy and you don't have to run a business!
I hope to be back with some samples to show you soon but I do like the ladies who come to my workshops and classes to be first to see samples, as I feel if they see them here first it spoils their surprise just a little!!!

Hope to see you at a class, workshop, party or crop very soon.

Happy crafting and catalogue surfing!

Carole
x

Tuesday, 14 September 2010

Changes to my class dates

I have just updated my class dates on the side-bar of my blog.  If you have any questions, just let me know.

Carole
x

Deliveries, deliveries and more deliveries

I am sure my neighbours are all whispering about me and my UPS delivery man.  He's been popping in most days, at least they see him with parcels!

I didn't realise what a full time job it was just ordering and sorting orders at this very busy time of the year.  So apologies for neglecting my blog again, but at least I'm ordering and sorting out your new fabulous Stampin' Up goodies.

Although I have been rushed off my feet, I did manage to meet up with my lovely friend Chris yesterday, it was her birthday and we managed to get together for a lunch time catch up.  I didn't manage to take a photo of the card I made her but this is one very similar.  I photographed it with a similar gift that I bought for her too.  I found these lovely tweezers, with a little light in the middle of them.  You have to press the "diamond" to turn the light on and off.  I bought a couple of pairs for gifts, but I think I may well keep this pair for myself, now I've seen how fab they are!

My card today has a pocket on the front with a tag inside that says "happiness always" on the bottom.  I am hoping my friend will use it as a bookmark when its time to take down her cards.


To make the card I used, Chocolate Chip card stock and ribbon, Crumb Cake card stock, papers from Sweet Pea Designer stack, Pretty in Pink card stock, Boho Blossom punch, brad and white Signo Gel pen and linen thread, all from Stampin' Up.

Enjoy.

Have a great day.

Carole
x

Wednesday, 8 September 2010

Golly.....what a week!

Hello everyone,

Apologies for being absent from my blog for a week. I am back to teaching classes, after my two month break! I really enjoyed the summer, but it seemed to be over far too quickly.

As you will see from my last blog post, the Stampin' Up year is almost over and this really is your last chance to purchase stampin' goodies on the "last chance" list.

I would like to thank all of you lovely ladies who have placed orders with me this month and over the last year.  I am sure you are all enjoying the quality of the products and the fantastic colour coordinations available across the Stampin' Up range.
There is always a bit of a delay this time of year, those picking robots (I think SU use robots) are working round the clock picking and packing orders galore, so apologies if you are having a longer wait than usual.

I am almost at my sales target for the year, I just have to place another few orders totalling around £300 in order to get to my own personal goal, which will hopefully see me recognised again as one of the UK's top Stampin' Up demonstrators at this years Convention in November. So please don't delay if you would like anything at all, especially if its on the last chance list.

I have seen a copy of the new Stampin' Up catalogue and prices will be increasing slightly, so now is an even better time to get your orders in for ink, cardstock, Snail refills and Fiskar cutter blades.




Here is a card made a week or so ago for one of my friends birthdays, I used stamps from the Playful Petals Stampin' Up stamp set, together with card stock, ink and ribbon in the colours of Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Rose Red.

Have a great day and I will be back with you again soon.

Carole
x

Wednesday, 1 September 2010

LAST CHANCE LIST



Good morning everyone,

It was a late night for me last night.  I waited up hoping to see the last chance list appear on my screen until after midnight, but it just didn't turn up! But its here now!

There are definitely bargains to be had and it will really be your last chance to purchase what is on the list.

Take a look at the list and email me your orders.

Enjoy:

http://204.228.150.61/docs/lastchance/en-GB/Lastchance_en-GB.pdf


Have a great day.

Carole
x

Monday, 23 August 2010

Stampin' Pastels

My card today uses the Stampin' Pastels from Stampin' Up.  I demonstrated the Stampin' Pastels last week at a Stampin' Up party and now want to use them again - all the time!  I love that these work so well on our Whisper White card stock.  Because Whisper White is so smooth, it works really well without leaving a mess behind, like you can get with some card stock.


I have used stamps from the hostess level 2 set Itty Bitty Buds for the background, with the candle and greeting coming from the stamp set Big Bold Birthday, which is on offer this month.  Don't miss it, its down in price from £23.95 to £19.16.

The colours of Stampin' Pastels used were Summer Sun, Pixie Pink and Certainly Celery.  Ink and card stock used was Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun and Whisper White.

Have a great day.

Carole
x

Saturday, 21 August 2010

My card for "HOPE"

Its been a bit of a miserable week for me, I've heard news that just sends me right down in the dumps!  I am someone who often suffers the pain of others, even if I don't know them at all well, or in deed at all!   I have also been greatly saddend this week by the news of one of my own family members doing very well who has used money "willed" to my girls and refuses to pay them their inheritance.  People have a cheek, fancy conning money out of a very sick person and making promises that they haven't kept.  I am sure my mother is turning in her grave with whats happening.

This morning in my email inbox came an email of a blog update that I follow, the lovely Keren Baker.  She writes some lovely blog posts,  I don't always stop and read the whole of her posts, but when I do I seem to come away feeling that I've learned something.  Her card today was a card of HOPE, she wrote about the rain she had endured during her recent family holiday but was grateful for the blessings in her life and she mentioned the Pakistan flood crisis. 

Her card of HOPE has helped me today, I have used her idea and CASED it, I am calling it my therapy today, I've made it for all of the following reasons:

I hope that all the people in the world who are suffering can find some peace and happiness in their lives.

I hope that all the people doing wrong, will find ways of putting things right.

I hope that everyone suffering life threatening and life limiting illnesses can make the most of each day.

I hope that the economy picks up enough so that people searching for jobs can find one.

I hope people suffering loneliness can find comfort and friendships.

I hope all who suffer depression can be gently lifted out of it.

I hope that all who are sick, in pain, or have broken bones can be healed quickly.

These are just a few "hopes" that are springing to mind today and this card is for all who feel the need for a little bit of HOPE.




If you would like to see Keren's card check out her web site here: http://kerenbaker.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/card-for-hope/

Well I'm feeling so much better now that I have counted my blessings, there are many.  Thanks to Keren for making me count them today.

Have a great crafty day.

Carole
x

Saturday, 14 August 2010

Stampin' Up - Grungy

After speaking to and emailing my lovely friend and customer Lesley about my last card I made from Big Bold Birthday I came up with this today.  My friend reminded me of a class I taught a couple of years ago now, where we made icing from glue, flour and Stampin' Up re-inkers to ice a cake on a card. 

I gave it a go today and was really pleased with how this grungy card turned out.  The photo is not all that good again, but I think you can see the idea. 


I sprinked the top with Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin' Up very fine glitter) and made a button using Bashful Blue Designer Series Paper and a clear Stampin' Up buttom.  Its so easy, these button are the same size as our punches so all I did was to punch out a 3/4" circle, distress the edges with Soft Suede Ink and glued it with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects.

The main card was made using Soft Suede card stock and Bashful Blue Designer Series Paper.  The stamp set used was Big Bold Birthday.

Enjoy.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Thursday, 12 August 2010

Boho Blossoms

I've had a lovely couple of days again, my Stampin' Up sister came over yesterday, we chatted, giggled, crafted and ate, of course!  It was great to have her attend my class last night too.  It was a particularly giggly class - not sure why, but we all did have some fun!  These two hour evening classes are a bit of a joke really, with ladies starting to arrive from 7 and are here still chatting at almost 11.  There always seems so much to catch up on and with cards to make, the time flies.

After our late night last night, this morning Peg and I had a lazy start and after breakfast we crafted again and both made a card like this:



The background paper is from the Stampin' Up Night and Day collection, the flowers have been stamped in Tempting Turquoise from the One of a Kind stamp set, I snipped into each petal and embossed from behind to give them more depth.  The flower stems were stamped in Certainly Celery and the stamp used was from Playful Petals and the leaves were also stamped in Certainly Celery and is the leaf stamp out of Vintage Vogue (thanks Peg, she knew immediately which stamp set we needed for a good leaf!).  We finished off the card with the sentiment from One of a Kind and pricked the edges of the top white mat using the Stampin' Up Mat Pack.  The butterflies are from a US Stampin Up Embosslits called Beautiful Wings.

Enjoy and have a great day.

Carole
x

Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Big Bold Birthday

My lovely friend Rose came over this afternoon and with inspiration evading us we decided to CASE the lovely Monica Gale's card.  After seeing her blog and video I purchased this set (which arrived yesterday) - she should get extra comission for this - as far as I'm concerned! At least its one of the sets that is 20% off this month!

Every month Stampin' Up send us information on new tecniques to try and this month they suggested we try making an ink pad using felt and Stampin' Up re-inkers.  We thought that the balloon stamp on this card would be great using this technique and here is the result:


The two cards together looked great, but after the photo was taken I moved the flower on the card on the right!  Also after Rose had left for home, I actually embellished further with Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamond glitter.

The thing that Rose and I loved the most was the colour combination - Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa & Apricot Appeal.  Two of these colours will be leaving us at the end of next month, so if you like this colour combo let me know and I can place an order for them for you.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Monday, 9 August 2010

Flower pot treat

Gosh time flies, another week has gone by without a "new post" from me.

I had a great time over the weekend working, here is a little treat I made:


Unfortunately the photo isn't great - I keep meaning to book myself onto a photography course, but I will have to retire first, in order to have the time!

Stampin' Up products used:

Word Window punch
Scallop Circle punch
Boho Blossoms punch
To the Nines Speciality paper
Pretty in Pink ribbon and Card Stock
Rich Regals brad
Small Cellophane Bag.

Have a great day.

Carole
x

Tuesday, 3 August 2010

Thank you card

I've just found the photo of another card card I made recently, it was the card I sent to my friends in Dorset thanking them for the lovely few days I spent with them last week.


The inspiration for this one came from a surfing marathon I did, sorry to say that I can't now remember where I'd seen something very similar :(  but I thought it was a really nice layout for a card. The colour inspiration came from my friends love of green and the main colour of her "feature wall's" wall paper in her newly decorated dining room.

Products used:

Stampin' Up card stock in: Whisper White, Black & Certainly Celery
Stampin' Up stamp sets: En Francais, Touch of Nature & Tiny Tags
Stampin' Up ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron & Black

Another Stampin' Up product used, that I haven't used very much in the past was the "Watercolor Wonder" crayons, to colour the image - it was so easy, they might be might next favourite product!

Enjoy!

Carole
x

Quick & Simple

Its our friend Malcolm's birthday today.  Happy Birthday Malcolm - I hope those ladies are all spoiling you, letting you put your feet up and giving you a day off decorating!

This is the card we sent that I made. Its pretty simple really, the image is one found on the internet (he is a bit of a Poker fan, and I found this looking for funny pics of Poker - as you do!)

I used a technique that I have been wanting to try for ages - making embossed dots with the Crop-A-Dile.  I remember seeing it at the very first Stampin' Up training I went to, another demonstrator had used the idea on her swap and as I hadn't used that idea yet, I thought I'd give it a go and was pleased with the result.

Hope you like it:



The other products used were:

Stampin' Up cards stock in: Crumb Cake, Black & Real Red
Stampin' Up "happy birthday" stamp from: Occasional Greetings
Stampin' Up Marker Pens in: Black & Real Red.

Have a great day of crafting.

Carole
x

Friday, 30 July 2010

August Offer

Hi All,

Its almost August and while I have a moment, I will let you all know about the "two-step into fabulous" offer Stampin' Up will be running during August.





Click on this link for all the details:




Here are the prices typed if it helps:


LOADS OF LOVE was £18.95 now £15.16

BIG BOLD BIRTHDAY was £23.95 now £19.16

TRENDY TREES was £12.95 now £10.36

GREENHOUSE GARDEN was £22.95 now £18.36

SOMETHING SWEET was £23.95 now £19.16

TINY TAGS was £18.95 now £15.16

BIRD ON A BRANCH was £14.95 now £11.96



This is a great opportunity to treat yourselves to those stamp sets that were a little more expensive than you wanted them to be!!!

Please email me if you would like to place an order.

Have a great weekend.

Carole
x

Friday, 23 July 2010

I must not swear .........

But I'm going to!   I've been CLEANING! - So sorry to have sworn, please forgive me!!!

I've nothing to show you today, here on my blog, but you should come over and see how clean Kim's bedroom is and how clean all my outside white plastic window frames, windows and facias are!  They are amazingly clean and sparkling!  I'm sooooooo pleased with myself!

I've also had a friend over who helped me clear out some old card/project samples, well it took us ages deciding what to do with them?  Do we revamp?  Do we just chuck? or Can any of it go to charity?  Well we sorted it all appropiately and I'm really pleased that I now have room for some more new samples, so I had better get making!!!

Well, when I've done my paperwork!!!!  Thats next - funny how its always next!!

I'm out doing my other new hobby tomorrow and perhaps I will do some paperwork on Sunday and Monday, as I'm now hoping to go away on Tuesday - Wed/Thurs next week.  Some of our friends moved to Dorset at Christmas and I'm dying to have a "nose" at their new home (I feel it necessary to picture my friend in her home surroundings when I call her), so I phoned and have arranged a visit!  Lets call it a mini holiday, I'm sure I need one of those!  And she lives close to Martin Clunes, so that makes my visit even more necessary, he hasn't met me yet!

So while I'm cleaning, tidying, clearing out and getting on top of my post, filing and books, I hope you can be having a great time out in the sunshine or crafting.

I will be back as soon as I'm up-to-date, but in the mean time, if you need anything from Stampin' Up or want to come over let me know!

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

Cupcakes

I have two new hobbies, not sure when I am going to have time for them, but I do have two new hobbies!  One of which is cupcake making, very inconveniently timed when my DH is on a diet!  The other of which I might share with you some other time!  It would take far too much time to tell you all about it now (but thanks to Fiona C who introduced me to it - x )

Well DH is hoping that I spend much more time on my other new hobby, but his eyes did light up when he smelt what was cooking this afternoon.

Here are a couple of pics:




C U P C A K E S ! ! !

Wow these are special, I only made 6 (first trial) and the first one decorated had to go to my lovely neighbour Jimmy Rowe, who happily lent me his nozzle (piping of course!) so that I could have a little go at fancy icing.

So as David is on a diet and losing lots of weight and I'm gaining what he loses :(, why did I think to come up with Cupcakes now?  Don't ask, OK I'll share.... I went to a fund raising event for our local hospice, Sobell House, at the weekend and I ate the most delicous cupcake (for charity, I had to, honestly the money was going to charity and it wouldn't have looked good if I had said I was on a diet!). Enjoying that cake made me think that I could also make cupcakes and have spent the past couple of days researching the subject and this is my first attempt.  Malteser cupcakes, oh I wish they weren't so flippin' good!

I can't imagine trying any other recipe now!

So if you fancy trying my special cupcakes you will have to start attending some of my workshops/crops, where I hope to be making cupcakes for charity.  I want to raise money for the Marfan Association, which is the association that supports families affected with this light limiting Syndrome.

If you would like me to make you some, let me know and I'll see if I have any time.

Happy creating.

Carole
x


Monday, 12 July 2010

Sailing boats

I made these cards some time ago and whilst shifting through lots of projects looking for something else, I found these today and remembered that my lovely customer Fiona wanted to see these samples - so thought I'd blog them for her to see.




Stampin' Up products used:

Whisper White Cardstock
Brayer
Sage Shadow & Bashful Blue Ink
Black Stazon Ink


Enjoy the rest of your day.

Carole
x

Sunday, 11 July 2010

Embossed borders

I have been working again........its non stop around here!

Hope you like this card, I've used my Fiskars Paper Cutter, with the scoring blade in and have embossed the edges of the image mat.

I have used the following Stampin' Up products:

Vintage Vogue & Of the Earth stamp sets
Whisper White & Rose Red card stock
Old Olive button
Linen Thread
Rose Red Ink
Night & Day Speciality paper

Have a great day of crafting.

Carole
x

Saturday, 10 July 2010

Mini Album

I've put together a little mini album to show off one of my new favourite colour combinations; Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White. I can't beleive its taken me three days to design and make it, but I am pleased with all of the new techniques I've used and the finished result.

Hope you like it:





Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

If you fancy making one at an all day workshop, let me know and it can be arranged.

All products used are by Stampin' Up apart from the binding. Card stock is Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Designer Paper is: Cottage Wall, Stamp sets used were: Vintage Vogue, Live Your Dream, Close as a Memory, Baroque Motifs, Framed with Love, Tiny Tags and Polka Dot! I also used Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon and Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon and punches: Large Heart, Boho Blossoms and Medium Jewelry Tag.

Have a great day and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Friday, 9 July 2010

Penny Slider Card

I'm back, two posts in one day, no wonder my house is a mess!

I wasn't really too sure about the car spinning, I really wanted it to be driving by nicely!

On this card I used 4, 1 euro cent coins, making two slider mechanisums so the car couldn't spin! It does though, slide as planned, quite nicely in fact.




If you would like to make one with me, check out when my next class is!

Stampin' Up products used: Loads of Love, Neighborhood (Neighbourhood) wheel, Brayer, Stampin' Up ink and markers, Naturals Ivory & Going Grey Card Stock and one of my new favourite products Platinum Shimmer Paint for the chrome!

Have a great weekend, its looking like its going to be a hot one ;)

Carole
x

Penny Spinner Card

I have been asked recently about Penny Spinner and Slider cards. Here is a penny spinner card I've just designed using the "Loads of Love" stamp set and the "Neighborhood" wheel, both from Stampin' Up.

I masked off the houses with a fab product I've just learned about - Frisket Film.

Email me if you would like info about Frisket Film.

Hope you like the card:



the car actually spins really well - looks like a horrible accident, I'm pleased to say that nobody gets hurt in my art work - the car is empty and nobody is walking along the side of the road!

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Thursday, 8 July 2010

Touch of Nature

I am just lovin' my sponged backgrounds. They do take a little practice, but so long as you go very gently onto the ink and then very gently onto your cardstock, you can create a background that doesn't show spots - you know - the ones that show with the first "hit" of the sponge!

I also work on a craft sheet, I start off my cardstock first, placing my sponge lightly onto the craft sheet and in a circular motion gently travel the sponge towards the card. If you don't have a craft sheet, then I understand you can use a peice of waxed paper.

Its handy to have a damp peice of kitchen towel to clean your mat each time you change colour.

Here a couple of cards, the one on the right is using only stamps from the set "Touch of Nature" and a little shrink plastic! The stems on the card on the left is from Autumn Days, with the flowers made from the Boho Blossom punch.



Have a great day.

Carole
x

Saturday, 3 July 2010

Joyce's birthday

Happy birthday Joyce!

My lovely friend Joyce is 60 today, I'm sure she won't mind me telling everyone!

I've made a card inspired by one of my other lovely friends, Maria Adams, hope you like it:



I've used some papers from my stash along with the Vintage Vogue stamp set and flower from the Pretties Kit by Stampin' Up.

I'm off to Newbury for the Artstamps show today. Its all work again around here, what a job - but someone has to do it!

Have a happy day everyone.

Carole
x

Friday, 25 June 2010

Oh blogs!!!!

Things were calming down around here so I started to blog earlier and wish I hadn't bothered! I signed in and was greated with the opportunity to update my blog with ease - my foot!

I thought I would give it a try and lost so much, nothing worked and I still can't get things back to normal, even my very own tech guy has given up on it - he is so cross I didn't make a copy first!

Oh well this will have to do for now, I will try again next week. But in the meantime, I was crafting with my lovely friend Rose, yesterday afternoon and this is what we came up with, two lovely scrapbooking layouts, using the lovely Cottage Wall DP from Stampin' Up along with Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White:





Have a great weekend.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Sunday, 13 June 2010

Its been ages!

Hi Everyone,

We are back. The girls and I had a fab time and can recommend Ragdale Hall, health spar, for a fab girly time away. We were pampered, we had massages and facials, we swam in the pools and lazed around in the many different areas of the thermal spar. We couldn't believe the improvements made since we last visited.

I first started going about 20 years ago, I remembered being weighed on my way in, just wish I had been this time - I put on about 3lbs! The girls of course, lost weight, they attended the various classes etc, etc but I was there to "chill", and the scones were so nice and the wine tasted really good and their latte coffee's were just as good as Starbucks - whats a girl, who is chllin' supposed to do?

So back on the diet.......next month!

I've been out today to a crop that I enjoy, I didn't feel much like scrappin' and with all the card classes I've got booked for this week, I thought that I needed to design, so here is a little treat for you......



The cardstock and ink are by Stampin' Up, the other products were purchased on a mercy mission that I had to take on Friday, for my daughter! Well I had to "lose" myself for a few hours around the Bucks area - so I shopped!

See you all very soon, happy stampin'.

Carole
xx

Tuesday, 8 June 2010

A treat for my girls

I thought I'd just give you all a treat before I go away for a couple of days with my girls. We are off for a bit of pampering.........I can't wait!



I think this is a lovely layout for a card, whilst I'm away try and make one too using a similar layout!

See you all when I get back.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Monday, 7 June 2010

Day Workshop

Hi Everyone,

Here are 6 ladies who can't believe they are the lucky ones who have managed to book a place on one of my all day workshops!

If you want to know what you are missing email me and I will put you in touch with any one of these ladies who will let you know exactly what you are missing!





My all day workshops have become more and more relaxed, with an extended morning session, great healthy lunch provided and an afternoon filled with fun, laughter and a few more card making ideas!

I can run a day workshop for any of you and you friends, just let me know that you are interested and we can organise a date.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Sunday, 30 May 2010

Precious

I said that I would try and get back to you with the scrapbooking page I did yesterday. I was hoping to complete it, but actually decided it was OK just like it was. I might journal later, you might recoginise the photo, its my youngest daughter Kim, she has been at University for a couple of years now and has spent most of her free time away from home with her boyfriend, oh yes she popped in, spent some time here but its not like I expected. I thought she'd be home regularly for longer periods etc, etc etc. Well it seems that I am now going to see even less of her now, she has been offered a really great job in France, for her "year abroad", the contract is for 54 weeks! Then she needs to spend 3 months in Germany before she gets back for her final year at uni. So I made this page, as I can't stop thinking about her, chosing one of her "facebook" photos and all I could think of was how precious she is to us all, me, Sarah and David. She is always happy, she tries to cheer us all up if we are down and now she is off for a whole new adventure. I look at this page and realise how difficult it is letting our children "go free", letting them get their own lives, but hopefully she realises how precious she is to us and will take complete and utter care of herself!

Enjoy the page, its simple, but simple is what I do best!




and Kim, if you see this, please take care, we all love you very much.

Mum
xxx

New Home

I am having a lovely weekend, although I am sure I shouldn't be saying that, as David has gone away to play American Softball for the Oxford Devils. Its the national championships which are being held somewhere in the Manchester area. I was supposed to go and support but couldn't let my scrapbooking ladies down, well that was my excuse anyway!

After spending the whole day yesterday running my crop and tidying up after it this morning, I've spent the afternoon thinking of some of our friends who have moved house this weekend. If we had been free we would have helped them, but with the way my arms are and David being away we were unable to offer our support this time.

Hope you like the card I've made them:



I will be back later with a scrapbooking page made yesterday - hopefully.

Carole
x

Thursday, 27 May 2010

Messing about with metal

Just a little peek at something a bit different:



Something to look forward to at my classes in June.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Friday, 14 May 2010

Whisper White Carnation


I have made this lovely little box and embellished it with a carnation. I made the carnation out of Whisper White cardstock. I punched three scallop circles and ran them through my paper crinkler a few times and then screwed them up and rolled them around like little balls of rubbish for a bit and then carefully separted each scallop circle into two peices, I then placed them on top of each other, split side up and put a brad in the middle and lifted and arranged each layer.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Allotment starter kit

- I don't think so!

I had a fab day yesterday doing a scrapbooking/mini book starter class with a lovely group of ladies at High Wycombe - hello everyone, it was lovely to see you all.

On the way home I popped into John Lewis (I was passing!) and picked up this lovely little Allotment starter kit. Just the job for the personal supplies I need when I go to a crop or class, as a customer.




I immediately removed the gardening supplies and filled the handy little bag with my crafting tools, small but perfect just for me!

I will be back later with a picture of my carnation as promised!

Carole
x

Sunday, 9 May 2010

Another sponged background

I am just lovin' these stamped backgrounds. I taught my first sponging class yesterday and it seemed to be enjoyed by my Charney ladies. Here is another card, simple but I like it. I've made it for someone special and it will be in the post on Tuesday (classes all day tomorrow)!



Enjoy your Sunday.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Thursday, 6 May 2010

Take two!

How many of us make a card, pop it in the post and then come home and make another, sometimes changing it slightly and it turns out better?

Well this is what I've just made after posting the last one to my young friend Alex!



Enjoy, happy crafting.

Carole
x

Exciting news

Hi everyone,

What a lovely 24 hours I've had, my very lovely customer and friend Claire has decided to take the plunge and join my Stampin' Up team. She came over last night, we went through all the important stuff and then she showed me a few lovely cards she had made. She got the inspiration for a couple of her cards from one of the lovely ladies in our Pink Ladies team, Peg. She had made a lovely job of making a convertable car out of the Stampin' Up pick up truck, and seeing Claire's cards gave me the kick I needed to make a card to celebrate my friends daughter passing her driving test - congratulations Alex on passing your driving test and congratulations and good luck to Claire on taking the plunge!

Here is my card, hope you like it:

Friday, 30 April 2010

Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper

Choosing paper from a catalogue is always difficult. I quickly turned the page of the new Mini Catalogue when I saw the Autumn Meadows DP, dismissing it instantly. I was then talking to Rose and she told me how much she liked the paper, she assured me that I'd use it and love it. Well I have used it and I do love it. I was surfing the net yesterday and found a really nice card made by Michelle Zindorf. I spotted the DP straight away and with me now wanting to sponge everything in site, it fitted in with my new style and I couldn't wait to have a go and use her card as inspiration. This is the card - hope you like it:



I enjoyed making it so much that I made another:




I used white shrink plastic to make the shells on the cards. The other products used were: Autumn Meadows DP, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White & Chocolate Chip CS; More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal & Chocolate Chip ink pads and a piece of old string! The white dots on the cards are added using a white gel pen.

Have a lovely Bank Holiday Weekend.

Carole
x

Tuesday, 13 April 2010

Catching up with my pages!

I often design scrapbook pages and layouts to show at my crops, but don't always manage to actually finish them! I have spent the afternoon sticking and glueing and feel that I have really accomplished something!

I was inspired to finish this first double page spread with my latest favourite technique of sponging edges. I gently sponged the edges of everything in sight, just go gentle with your sponging, start off the page and gradually/lightly sponge in a circular motion. You can always add more!



This next layout you will also see a very small amount of sponging, but it was my new Stampin' Up Extra-Large Two-Step Bird punch that inspired me to finish my double page spread. I was teaching the block background and just threw on these photos at one of my crops to show, but felt the trains were a little boring!!! Now with the addition of my newly acquired punch and using my old friend "Colin the Cricut" I am pleased with the final result.



Why don't you catch up on some unfinished projects?

Happy crafting.

Carole
x