Friday 30 December 2011

Honesty - Art journal

I started Art Journalling in July, bought all the products, a couple of nice journals, inks, paints, lots of downloads from Art from the Heart and did just a couple of pages!  Now I have joined this fabulous year long class with Stephanie Ackerman (with our very own FB group) for 2012, I am determined to make more use of my journals and stash!

The class starts on 1st Jan, and to get us ready we have been given our first word, which is HONESTY and we have been asked to think about this word so that we will be ready to go on the day!  I "googled" the word, as you do :) ! and found the inspiration to make this art journal double page......


Hope you like it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Happy journalling.

Carole
x

Thursday 29 December 2011

Doing more of what makes me happy


I saw this picture on the lovely Stephanie Ackerman's blog last week and decided to do just that!


 

Today I resigned from Stampin' Up, I've not resigned for any other reason than just to do more of what makes me happy and to reduce the levels of stress I've been feeling trying to continue with my Stampin' Up business.

2012 for me will be for myself and my family, I'm going to do more of what makes all of us here happy and who knows I might even share some of those things and times with you all on this blog.

I intend to do more crafting for me using a variety of products that I've collected over the years, rather than make projects because I  felt I ought to because I was a Stampin' Up demonstrator!

So for now happy crafting to you all and I wish all my readers a very happy and crafty 2012!

Carole
x




Sunday 18 December 2011

Wedding mini album


I have spent the day today working on this mini wedding album and am really pleased with how it turned out.  I had been putting it off, mainly because I thought it was going to be more difficult and of course, because I've had so much to do, like we all have this time of year.  



Let me know what you think.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.

Carole
x

Friday 9 December 2011

What is a girl to do?

Hello everyone,

Just thought I'd post you some cards I've just made.  Now I have allowed myself some freedom to use what I like for a while, giving me a chance to use up stash I've had for ages, rather than panicing about using stash I have to/ought to, I made these beautiful cards this morning.




I was going to write some cards today, not make any......but then I opened Facebook and found my lovely FB friend Stephanie Ackerman had put out this freebie on her blog and I just had to play!

You are probably not aware but I've been doing some of Stephanie's classes and enjoyed every moment.  I have signed up for many classes over this last year by all sorts of different artists, of which many of them I only pay and watch but with Stephanie's classes I have actually joined in and played along.

So the future for me is uncertain at the moment, with the decisions I have to make bearing in mind the time it looks like I'm going to have to set aside to care for my daughter next year, I can tell you all one thing I will be doing and that is this class with Stephanie.  So if any of you "my ladies" want to sign up for this class that is going to run for a whole year, I will be happy to work along side you when I can.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.

Carole
x

Monday 5 December 2011

All wrapped up

I'm back today with another quick post to show you some little gift bags I've made to put little prezzies in for my girls.  I'm seeing Kim tomorrow and still have a card to make for her but at least I have a little gift for her all wrapped up in one of these......

I can tell you all this sick leave is doing me the world of good, I made 20 Christmas cards yesterday and made these little bags and a couple of boxes this morning.....life is tough - lol !!!

The bags were cut out with my Silouette - it really is the best!

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Sunday 4 December 2011

Ginger

Just a quick post today to introduce you all to Ginger.  This is the stamp Stephanie Ackerman designed which I purchased from Purple Onion.

I hope you like the card I made using her............


Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Monday 28 November 2011

Flowers and cards of support for us

Look....................





What a lucky girl I am.  My lovely Stampin' Up upline, Michelle Last has sent me this gorgeous display of flowers as she couldn't get to me last week to give me a hug.  I have also received some lovely cards from friends who are praying things will work out for my Sarah and praying for my pain to disappear.

Thank you so much ladies, I feel blessed with the friends I have, it really makes a difference chatting to friends too, so thank you to all of you who have listened to me this past week, I'm really grateful.

With love to you all.

Carole
xxx

Thursday 24 November 2011

Doin' what I like.......

......... with what I like!

It's been a difficult couple of months and with more unwanted news this Monday, I have decided life is just too short and I'm too old to be told what to do all the time!  I'm a crafter and you all know how much I like the major company that I usually support whole heartidly, but just sometimes there is a need to break a rule or two and with the news I've had this week, I'm doing what I like with what I like and sharing with all of you what I've used and whom I have gained the inspiration from because I want to!

I have taken a few on-line classes over the last year or two and many of these classes show all product types and companies including the one I have liked and supported most for quite a while.  So I feel it only fair to share with you the inspiration behind this lovely card I made today for a friends birthday.....



The inspiration came from Stephanie Ackerman, she is a fabulous doodle artist and has a lovely inspiring blog, you can take a look at it here.  I took one of her doodling classes last year and I took another one just the other month and enjoyed every minute. 

She has recently designed a set of stamps and one of them especially reminded me of my daughter Sarah, the stamp is an image of a sweet girl, her name is Ginger and reading how Stephanie described her personaility, Sarah jumped to my mind immediately.  What Stephanie didn't know was that Sarah likes to been seen out in riding boots, horses have so much more energy than she has.

With the image of Sarah, Ginger in mind, I just needed to get Ginger in my stash, so whilst shopping at the on-line American site (here)  I added a few more bits to my "cart", as you do, including the stamps used in the card above.

Obviously apart from the stamps everything else is from that lovely company I support so often.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Monday 31 October 2011

Halloween treats

I have my neighbours little grandchildren popping roung later to trick or treat me.   Look what I've made for them:


I chose happy looking bats as they are only little! 

The treat boxes were made using my Stampin' Up Pillow Box die, the Square Lattice & Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders, the circle was cut from Peach Parfait card stock using the Stampin' Up Circles #2 die and the happy little bats were download and cut with my Silhouette. 

Have a happy day and thanks for popping in to see my blog today.

Carole
x

Sunday 30 October 2011

Afternoon with a real Princess

Hello everyone,

I've had such a lovely weekend.  Usually I am either working/teaching or we have visitors, usually the girls with their boyfriends.  Nobody ever mentioned that when they grew up our weekends might mean lots of fun, but also lots of cleaning and shopping before and then lots of cooking whilst they are all here (girls need clothes and boys need food and plenty of it!), followed by extra washing and ironing when they've gone back.  I alway love having them home though, playing mother hen has always been right up my street and I do feel a huge amount of sadness when they leave. 
Anyway, this weekend, I have played and played, both girls are happy where they are and I have no work commitments really pressing and as part of my on-going therepy, I've allowed myself to play!  I started a new on-line class last week and have spent lots of time making some lovely projects, which you will be able to see if you attend my crop on 19th November.  Today though, I spent time scrapbooking, David and I searched our loft yesterday morning looking for photos and we found a huge amount of them, photo's I'd forgotten we had.  I've only opened a couple of packets so far and when I found these photos, I knew I'd have to scrapbook them!


Normally if I'm scrapbooking I use very little product and spend very little time, but now I have given myself time, I thought I'd use both......time and lots of product.  We so often buy product and save it, we shouldn't save it we should definitely use it whilst we love it and whilst it's new!

This album page is made using one of the new scrapbooking kits from Stampin' Up that I bought this month, it's called Country Club.  Since I was little, green has been one of my favourite colours and in Country Club, Stampin' Up are using my favourite shade - Pear Pizzazz.

I teamed the Country Club Simply Scrappin' kit with Pear Pizzazz DSP and buttons from the Stampin' Up Regals collection.  I also used the Stampin' Up Sizzix Timelesss Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits Dies for some of the letters and numbers.  I made the rosette using Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon and Stampin' Up's Linen Thread to tie a little knot in the buttons.  The word "Celebrating" and the little horseshoe are die cut from my Silhouette.

Happy crafting and looking forward to sharing more at my crop on 19th November.... email me to book your space.

Thanks for looking at my blog today.

Carole
x

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Crafting definitely helps with stress

I'm back, I needed to craft to help with my stress levels!  Sarah, my daughter, was lept on, on Saturday night in Oxford and her foot has been pretty severely injured.  The doctors (she has two, private ones, these days....she is so lucky and I'm so grateful to them!) saw her and sent her for x-rays and now we are waiting to see what the consultant has to say about the damage.

Crafting always makes me less stressed and I wanted to make a simple, clean looking card for one of my ladies, to let her know that I am thinking of her at the moment.  I came up with this one......


I was so pleased with it that I decided to make a whole set......


As I started making them, a request came in via our Pink Ladies Facebook group for samples of cards to be used at the NEC next week, so with no further ado and whilst everything was out I made two of each!  I hope you get to see them at the NEC if you are going.

I have used four of the new In Colours, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Island Indigo.  I stamped on Whisper White using one of the new hostess sets, Simply Soft,  This is a two step stamping set so my Stamp-a-ma-jig came in handy too.  I have used my Fiskars trimmer to double emboss the edges of the Whisper White mat.

I'm feeling so much better and calmer after crafting today.

Happy crafting and thanks for popping by my blog today.

Carole
x

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Stampin' Up mini album

After a hectic weekend pretending to be the most perfect mother, I decided to take a break from my kitchen sink duties yesterday and got back to some "real work"!  I know I'm supposed to be resting but......a girl has to have some fun and fun I did have making this little gem of a mini album.





 I absolutely love it.  I chose some pictures of the Tim Holtz event I went to in February and printed them off on my new mini Canon Selphy photo printer - it is so cute! 

To make the mini album, I used one of my very favourite colours River Rock from Stampin' Up along with Marina Mist and Soft Suede.  The papers are from the new 2011-2012 Stampin' Up catalogue and are called Beau Chateau. 

I will be teaching my ladies how to make this mini at my Chilton Crop on Saturday 19th November.....you have to be there or you will miss it!  Email me to reserve you a place.

Happy crafting and thanks for visiting my blog today.

Carole
x

Monday 17 October 2011

Sponging backgrounds

I know, I know, I Know......it's been ages!  I am giving myself a couple of months off my regular classes in order to try and catch up with things that have been left and neglected, as well as give myself some time to try and rest my weary arms and shoulders!

Here is a card I made this morning, it is very very late but, I just can't be creative when I'm stressed or unhappy and with the loss of an elderly neighbour and moving Kim back to Bath had taken all the time and energy I had, so I was unable to come up with a card for the occasion.  I am hoping the lady in question won't mind too much (sorry it's so late Alison!)



I used Stampin' Up cardstock in Sahara Sand and Stampin' Up Bravo Burgandy ink to sponge through the stencil I made using my new Silhouette, which I absolutely love.  I also used the Silhouette to cut out the word on the front, using Black Stampin' Up cardstock.

I used Stampin' Up's Dazzling Diamonds to highlight each balloon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy crafting,

Carole
x

Monday 19 September 2011

Happy Birthday Kim!!!

As I mentioned in my last post, it's my daughter's birthday today and I'm just feeling a little sad as I'm missing her.  She is abroad travelling and I thought I'd post her card (well all of them, from her family and friends too) she even sent me an address, but after thinking about it, she is only renting an apartment for a week this week and I didn't know when best to send it, to get there and I also thought the cards could arrive and they would be locked in a locked postbox at the foot of the apartment block and only the owner would have a key.  So I've emailed her a picture of her card and she can have it along with the rest of her cards and prezzies when she finally gets home after her very long year abroad.

I hope you like her card, there is a little Sneak Peek from the new catalogue, can you spot what is new?


Well lots to do again, I have a major clean up operation to complete round here, after bringing everything back from my crop on Saturday - the best ever day - it was soooooo funny!!!!

Crafty hugs to everyone.

Carole
x

A treat for me....

What a lovely surprise I had this morning, one of my lovely ladies, Simone, lent me some of her scrapbook albums over the weekend and popped round to collect them, bringing with her a card and some beautiful cupcakes that her daughters had made for me.

Take a look, how lucky am I? 




I love being a Stampin' Up demonstrator, you can meet the nicest of people and some of the nicest families, I feel very lucky!  Thank you Simone', Giovanna & Alissia, you are all very special.

I woke with thoughts of my daughter Kim today, she is 22 today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM, if you are looking for your birthday card, check your emails!!!! .......... and if you were home you could enjoy one of the above yummy looking cakes!

I will post the card I made for Kim on here later ........... it contains a sneak peek!

Have a great crafty day.

Carole
x


Friday 19 August 2011

Wedding Card

I've been playing around with wedding card ideas and here is one idea that I've had using mainly Stampin' Up products......

I have used Night of Navy CS and ink, Springtime Vintage DSP, Baja Breeze cardstock and Seam Binding Ribbon, Very Vanilla and Pear Pizzazz CS, Scalloped Trim Border Punch, small Heart punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, Two Step Bird Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Basic Rhinestones & Basic Pearls.  The sentiment is from the Level 3 Hostess set Occasional Quotes - I'm going to miss this one !

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Thursday 18 August 2011

Book covering

Sometimes it is nice to be creative in other ways than making a card.  For todays project I have covered a sketch book.  I've used masculine colours and kept the embellishment to a minimum just to show a well made project can be kept simple and it's simplicity is what appeals to the person who receives it.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think ;) !


All the products used to cover this book are by Stampin' Up and inclue Night of Navy DSP and 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.  The word "notes" was die cut from Timeless Type Junior Alphabet available from Stampin' Up. 

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you want further information on my classes or if you are interested in purchasing Stampin' Up products.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Welcome Christmas

Hello again,

For those of  you who would prefer to make very quick and simple cards for Christmas, might like this sample......


 I've used one of my favourite Christmas Stampin' Up stamp sets, Welcome Christmas.  I have done very little matting and layering on this card, instead of mats I've used a sponge and sponged the edges of the Crumb Cake card stock with Crumb Cake ink to highlight.  I have used DSP from Jolly Holiday once again and a few Stampin' Up Basic Pearls to finish off this card.

You can order this Stamp set along with any other Stampin' Up products from me, if I've inspired you, all you need to do is to email me, you will find my email address on the sidebar of my blog.

Happy crafting and thank you for visiting my blog.

Carole
x

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Chistmas on my mind

I've been avoiding it but with the craft challenges out there that I want to take part in, I have decided I really need to settle down to making my challenge cards with Christmas in mind.  If I continue to avoid Christmas, I know it will creep up on me and I'll be in a major panic in a month or twos time!

I found CardPatterns last night and felt I could carry on and make another Christmas card or two, using the supplies that were out from my last post using this lovely card layout.......




I love the look of this layout and again found it easy to follow and made this card in just a few minutes............


It couldn't be easier.

I have used all Stampin' Up supplies apart from the peice of lace.  Delightful Decorations stamp set, Jolly Holiday DSP, Cherry Cobler ink and cardstock, Crumb Cake card stock and Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits die.

All these products are available to order from me, along with any other supplies you would like to purchase from the Stampin' Up Idea's Book and Catalogue.

Email me to order.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Monday 15 August 2011

Clean & Simple challange

Good evening everyone,

I have just found another challenge that I quite fancied joining.  It's called the Clean & Simple Stamping challenge blog.  Every week or two they give you a layout to use as a starter for your project.  This week they have joined forces with CAS-ual Fridays so I can enter the same card twice, how fab is that?  The challenge is so simple, I knew it wasn't going to take me more than a few minutes to come up with something.

Here is what I made.......


It couldn't have been easier.  I used Crumb Cake card stock for the base, which I stamped with a snowflake image from Serene Snowflakes in Whisper White Stampin' Up Craft Ink, along with Very Vanilla Cardstock and Ribbon, Cherry Cobler card stock and Ink and the beautiful Christmas Bauble is from Delightful Decorations, rested upon a piece of Jolly Holiday DSP.

Just a very quick post, but another one at least to keep you going for now.

Have a great week and happy crafting

Carole
x

Sunday 14 August 2011

Baby Blossoms

I'm a top 3 winner of the Simply Stampin' Challenge for last week, that must be beginners luck!  I hadn't entered challenges before and the first time I do I'm a winner!  Thanks to everyone at the Simply Stampin' challenge blog for choosing me, I'm chuffed!

As I'm on a roll, as it were, I thought I'd enter again this week.  It is so much fun to follow a challenge and easy as you don't have to sit and think too much about what you are going to do as the challenge directs you.  I have spent less time thinking about what to use and more time crafting for a change!

The Simply Stampin' Challenge this week is to make a card using the following colours:





This is the little card I came up with......



.......its another simple card and the first time I've used my Baby Blossoms Stampin' Up stamp set.  I used the inks as mentioned above.  The main part of the flower is the second impression of Pacific Point, as is the centre oval of Pretty in Pink.  The sentiment is from the Level 3 hostess set Occasional Quotes.

I hope you like it, have a crafty day........I'm off for a long walk today, got to use some of the calories I consumed yesterday!

Carole
x

Saturday 13 August 2011

Pinwheel card

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post from me today to show you a Pinwheel card.  I was surfing this morning and found this video on how to make a Pinwheel.  I still have all my supplies out from making the whole Blueberry Crisp collection so I decided to add to that collection this little Pinwheel card.

Here it is...

.....very easy and sweet, I thought.

I've used all Stampin' Up supplies apart from the cocktail stick!

Blueberry Crisp Designer Paper
Sahara Sand Card Stock
Pacific Point Ink with a little CS punched with Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack
Not Quite Navy Brad
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Hope you find time to craft this weekend....have a good one.

Carole
x

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Toilet Paper Flower

I found a bit of left over toilet paper paper I'd made for my butterflies and decided to see if our Stampin' Up punches would punch through it and they did!  I think for this you must make sure the paper is very dry, leave it overnight, if you try and punch it when damp, I feel you might just ruin your punch, so be careful.

I saw a little scallop circle card and it gave me inspiration to make this one....


The base is two Scallop circles cut out of Crumb Cake Card Stock.  I scored the top circle at the top about half and inch down and stuck it with redline tape to the bottom scallop circle.  I then die cut another, smaller scalloped circle out of Crumb Cake DSP, which I stamped with Soft Suede Ink to make the background a little more interesting.  I then added the punched Toilet Paper Flower to the card with a sentiment and finished it off with another of my Toilet Paper butterflies.

Products used:

Stamp sets, all Stampin' UP.....

Bliss, Clearly for You and En Francais.

Punches and Dies:

Word Window, Boho Blossoms and Beautiful Wings Embosslits.

Have a great day and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Use it Tuesday Challenge

I really needed to do some housework today but my mojo has definitely taken over today.  Earlier this morning I saw that my friend France had made the most beautiful tag, with the theme "Indian Summer" in mind, for the "Use it Tuesday" challenge blog.  I thought then that I could come up with something using one of my other favourite packs of Stampin' Up Speciality DSP, Sweet & Sour.  But then the thought dissappeared and as I don't usually get time to make cards for challenges, I suppose I thought I wouldn't manage it and continued to think about my cleaning!

But after the little race I had earlier with Debs, I felt in the swing of things and decided to make a wedding card for one of my friends daughters who is getting married a week on Sat and enter the challenge with it.  Here it is, enjoy..................

I have used Peach Parfait (I'm right out of Pumkin Pie!) and Rose Red Stampin' Up card stock, with Rose Red ink and paper from the Speciality DSP Sweet and Sour, which I thought was just perfect for the Indian Summer theme.  I've also used Stampin' Up stamps from the sets Occasional Quotes (level 3 hostess) and the initials are from Broadsheet Alphabet.  I have used a mini paper clip (from Stampin' Up Clips assortment) with a piece of Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon tied onto it.  The whole project is finished off with Basic Pearls (wish we could call them "the best ever Pearls!)

Lets hope the weather will hold out for the day of their wedding and let that Indian Summer theme continue for them.

Hope you have enjoyed another post from me today.

Carole
x

Fast & Fabulous

My friend Debbie has just sent me this link for the Simply Stampin' Challenge and we are racing to get our cards on.......here is mine........

I decided to use a stamp from the Fast and Fabulous Stampin' Up hostess set, hoping it would be a fast and fabulous project!

I've also used paper from Blueberry Crisp again (what a surprise!), Not Quite Navy ink and brad and Sahara Sand Card Stock.  The sentiment came from  Stampin' Up So Happy For You.

Debbie card is now up on the site and if you click on her name above you will be able to see her pretty creation.

I still have another project waiting in the queue that you can see tomorrow and I'm about to enter another challenge......I'm hooked, watch this space!

Happy crafting
Carole
x

Blueberry Crisp Collection

I have been lovin' this Blueberry Crisp Stampin' Up paper so much, I have made a collection of papercrafting items now using it.  Check them out, let me know what you think......

I am rather pleased with them, I think the co-ordination of Stampin' Up products comes to life when you see a display like this.

On display is a Double Accordian Mini Album, a Hard Backed Mini Book filled with uplifting quotes, a Mini Magazine Holder with cards to match and a Double Pillow Box gift box.

I made the Hard Backed Mini Album from scratch using book binding techniques, with my friend Maria Adams last week.  We both made one, I hope she will put hers on her blog soon.

Supplies used were mostly Stampin' Up, the little flowers on my hard backed mini book were from my old stash. 

Stamp sets:

Broadsheet Alphabet
Afterthoughts
Four Frames
Perfect Punches
Cottage Garden for the flowers on the double accordian album, which I used the rock n' roll technique for and coated with Crystal Effects.

Card stock and ink used:

All Stampin' Up: Pacific Point, Night of Navy & Very Vanilla

I am now going to try and schedule a post for tomorrow with another little project I made in a few minutes this morning - I'm spoiling you all, enjoy!

Happy crafting and hopefully you will check back tomorrow to see if my scheduled post works!

Carole
x

Friday 5 August 2011

Blueberry Crisp Gift Set

After a couple of very busy days with friends visiting, crafty and non-crafty (yet to be converted - lol !!!) I spent the early part of the morning catching up on my emails and then did a bit of "surfing", as you do !  It wasn't long before I found this fabby video on YouTube.

I set to immediately, to make it, it was really quick and easy, this is my first attempt using my favourite colour recently - Pacific Point.


I filled it with 6 cards and envelopes.  I used papers from Blueberry Crisp to make the simple cards, along with Pacific Point, Sahara Sand & Very Vanilla Stampin' Up card stock.  I made 3 like this with different sentiments on from the most useful stamp set Stampin' Up sell, in my opinion, Sincere Salutations.....


and 3 the same as this, using my favorite "blokey" stamp, Sail Away, which I stamped with Whisper White ink and embossed it with Stampin' Up's White embossing powder.


The front of the box is finished off with my initial stamped with the retired Typeset Alphabet and the Four Frames image, which I have punched out using the Decorative Label Punch.

Hope you like it.  Please email me if you would like to order any of these or any other Stampin' Up product or wish to pop over to take a look at the catalogue and some of the other projects I have made.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Wednesday 3 August 2011

August promotion

Hi Everyone,

It's been a month.....I've had computer problems and my "tech" guy has been too busy to fix them! Eventually though after gentle persuasion, he worked very hard on my problems over the weekend and look.....I'm able to blog again!

So without further ado, let me send you to a link of the flyer with the details of the fabulous August "Our gift to you" offer....just click on the picture.....


Last night I had a little open evening for a few ladies I haven't seen for ages, it was so nice to catch up. This is the little project we made.....


I have photographed the little "double" pillow box with a few of the clips from my stash of the 24 piece Clip Assortment from Stampin' Up.  The ribbon is the 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain ribbon in Rich Razzleberry.  Both are available this month for free along with an exclusive Stampin' Up cosmetic bag, if you order £75 worth of Stampin' Up product or host a workshop with sales of £250.

My lovely friend Debbie came over last night too and has posted  really nice photographs and comments about last night.  Please check out her blog for better piccies!

Catch you all soon, enjoy this sunshine.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Wednesday 6 July 2011

New crafting buddies

Gosh I'm back again, I haven't blogged this much ever!

Well I just wanted to link you to my new friends blogs, firstly Debbie, who came over to craft with me this afternoon.  We made the card that she has put on her blog so check that out. You will recognise my current favourite style and my toilet paper butterflies!

And Sharon, who I met at the weekend at the Newbury craft show. I am hoping to see her again at my next Charney Bassett meeting.

It was great to look at your blogs ladies, you both seem much better at blogging than me - its just taken me an hour or so to do the links on mine !!! lol.

Happy crafting and blog hopping.

Carole
x

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Newbury Show thank you cards

Hello everyone,

I am back again second blog post this week, I hope you are enjoying my posts!  If you are, please leave me a comment and let me know.

I have heard now that the team of independent Stampin' Up demonstrators on the stand at the ArtStamps show in Newbury talked to more than 300 ladies - wow!  No wonder I'm exhausted and a little "hoarse".  Apparently not many ladies though from the Abingdon/Oxford area, where were you?

Oh well, I have sent out mini catalogues and hand made cards to the ladies who visited the stand from my area, I hope you enjoy leafing through the Mini and whilst looking at the card, it brings back happy memories of a lovely day (at the races!) at the craft show.

My photography still is pretty bad and I'm sure my cards looked much better than this in real life but here is a photo of the card each lady will receive:




All items used to make this card are by Stampin' Up and mostly from the Mini catalogue.

Happy craftng.

Carole
x

Sunday 3 July 2011

Toilet paper butterfly

Hello Everyone,

I had a fab day at Newbury craft show yesterday chatting to lots of ladies about Stampin' Up.  I gave out a few of my toilet paper butterflies and thought I'd post a card I made using one.


The supplies I used were:

Whisper White cardstock
Rose Red Designer Paper
Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon
Modern Label Extra-Large punch
Word Window punch
The greeting was from Occasional Quotes

The beautiful butterfly was made using two sheets of Andrex toilet tissue folded to make four layers, which I spritzed with water and re-inkers (So Saffron, Rose Red & Pumkin Pie) and whilst still wet I put them, into the Elegant Bouqet embossing folder and ran it through my Big Shot.  After leaving them to dry I die cut them using the Beautiful Butterflies exclusive die for Stampin' Up from Sizzix.

All the above products are available from me, please email me with your order.

Have a great day and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Wednesday 29 June 2011

Newbury craft show

Just a quick post from me to remind you all that I will be on the Stampin' Up stand at Newbury this Saturday. Please come and say hello.

Happy crafting until then.

Carole xx

Friday 24 June 2011

Lap of Luxury Designer Paper

Hi Everyone,

I love the way that Stampin' Up co-ordinates everything across their whole range.

I won some papers last month and decided to chose papers I hadn't bought yet.  I chose:

Lap of Luxury
Love Letter
Sweet Stitches

Here are a couple of cards I've made using Lap of Luxury.  They are cards that I did have to spend a little more time on, but I am really pleased with how they turned out.



It has been such a lovely morning here with the sun shining, so I decided to take the photos outdoors.  I just wish I could have cropped the photos........note to self.....learn how too!!!

Enjoy your weekend.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Monday 30 May 2011

Another month passes me by!

It really doesn't seem a month since I last posted, I don't know where the time goes!

Oh well.....I am sure you are far more interested in seeing a few projects I've made, rather than hear my pile of excuses, so here goes...........enjoy!


I love this stamp set, it has to be one of my favourites of all time - Nature Walk by Stampin' Up.  I made a pleated style card, using the Designer Paper that matches the stamp set Botanical Gazette.


On this Sympathy card I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch, together with our new Stampin Up Decorative Label Punch and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.


We were invited to a wedding earlier this month and this was the card I made to use as our reply.  I've used the Top Note Die from Stampin' Up, together with the So Many Thanks stamp and embellished with Basic Pearls and Kraft Taffeta ribbon by Stampin' Up.



I loved making this card fom my dear friend who recently turned 21.  I used the stamp set Party This Way, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Extra Large Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch and on the front I used part of the Top Note Die, Fun Flowers Bigz L Die, Word Window Punch and Modern Label Punch.  The paper is from the Nursery Suite Speciality DP from Stampin' Up.



I actually had a bit of fun creating this album page today.  Whilst surfing the net, as you do ;)  I caught this layout and had to give it a try.  The base card of this 12 x 12 album page is Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and I've used Stampin' Up Designer Paper from the Regals Stack.  I've used Stampin' Up Chip Board Alphabet and Stampin' Up Punches for the embellishments.  I splattered the whole page (covering the photos for a minute) with white acrylic paint to finish it off.


I made lots of these cards for a Pink Ladies team swap to swap at a reward day I went on.  I used the Flower Daisies Die and the Beautiful Wings Emosslits Die.  The Stamped sentiment came from a very useful set, in my opinion, Perfect Punches by Stampin' Up and I used the perfect punch to go with it Extra Large Oval.  The ribbon is the Stampin' Up 1-1/4" Striped Grossgrain in Early Espresso.


Wow, what a post, hope you found it worth waiting for!

Email me if you would like any more details of supplies or stamping classes  and scrapbooking crops in Oxfordshire.

Most of the supplies are from the Stampin' Up 2010 - 2011 Idea book and catalogue, or the Stampin' up Mini catalogue 1st April - 30th September 2011.

I'll order your products and have them delivered directly to you or you can pick them up from me.

I accept PAYPAL these days, so email me with those orders.  I will be giving away lots of bits and bobs as treats for all orders placed in June :) !

Have a great June and happy crafting.

Carole
xx