Kissing stamps!

Even more Mini Catalogue temptation led me to experiment with what is termed the Kissing Technique! This time Stampin' Up are promoting "a la carte" stamps which are individual, so you can start stamping in an instant! Here I have used the Fine Flourish Background stamp (the one with the delicious detail) and kissed it with the Flower Accent stamp - which is simply shaped without detail.

This then prints the gorgeous Fine Flourish detail in the flower shape - here seen in Bold Brights Tempting Turquoise ink on Pixie Pink card stock. I also printed tempting turquoise onto the same coloured card stock which I think is delightfully understated :-) I have treated myself to a little more ribbon - here you see 1/4" Tempting Turquoise tied at the side.

And so for the inside of the card - continuing with Pixie Pink and Tempting Turquoise inks, sentiment from the Whimsical Words set and of course the flowers are from the Tiny Tags set ;-)

Less is More!

And here I am again creating something with a slight deadline - and of course playing with new stamps I have ;-) Here you see a Butterfly and sentiment from the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set in the gorgeous Regal colors of Taken with Teal card stock and ink. The corner stamps are from the Vintage Vogue set and then the tiny flowers on the oval and envelope corner are from the tiny tags set - small truly is beautiful! I made the oval topper with the oval punch on whisper white card stock - the Good coming from the Daily Flexible phrases set and the LUCK singularly printed from the Express Alphabet set, with the backing of a taken with teal scallpoed oval - tah dah!

And then for my next card . . . . for the Butterflies Brocade Blue card stock with same ink print (all butterflies punches out with matching punch of course!) and Regal Rose card stock with Elegant Eggplant print and of course further flowery repeated embellishment on the corner and envelope from the tiny tags flower selection - tra la!

Mini Catalogue temptation!

It really doesn't take much for me to be tempted by Stampin' Up products, so I thought I would share this to illustrate what I mean! Even I've had to make a wish list for the Mini Catalogue as I could quite easily order almost all of it!

This is the Vintage Vogue Stamp Set and the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel running along the bottom of the card. I have used Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip ink on a cream card and Kraft card for the Friends and Flower embellishments. Then, simply gluing a naturals button into the centre of the wordy flower and tying some whisper white 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon at the side.

See for yourself how quickly you can create this by hosting a workshop, have a crafty night in ;-)

Super quick cards!

It's always the way isn't it - you sitting down after dinner thinking all is right with the world and then you realise the days are flying past and you're not as prepared as you should be, and really to get this card in time it should be in the post in the morning!!! So this is where I have really benefited from stamps and matching punches as I can come across as far more together than reality ;-) Here I've used In the Stars stamp set in Ballet Blue Ink on Whisper white card stock with the Star Punch and placing it on Stampin Dimensionals to raise its profile. Then the small stamp for a little corner embellishing, just using two or three times to vary intensity of colour. The birthday wishes sentiment on the card front and the birthday star on the envelope and inside greeting are from the Starring You stamp set.
And to continue with this theme but add a little variation I have used Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon which I think highlights the central star, and then used red and blue for the small star embellishments. Then using the jumbo wheel Swirling Stars and Ruby Red cartridge for the left side of the ribbon. Hope the Postman likes all the envelope embellishing that's going on :-)

Carrying On Crafting!

As we approach the end of April I'm going to try and show you what I've been craftily creating - at least that's my hope, so I can keep somewhere near up to date! Big congratulations to Mr Owain & Mrs Rhiannon Smith on their Marriage on the 10th of April 2010! Here you can see the card that I made - simply following their Green Spring Wedding theme I used the large swirling stamp of the Baroque Motif set with a stamp off of Old Olive to lighten the shade of colour - simply adding the two green heart buttons and a tiny Mother of Pearl Heart topped with a silver embossed heart motif from the new tiny tags set to represent their gorgous son Tudur - who even at his tender age, dances well even if it was in his pyjamas :-) I made an envelope from parchment paper and punched holes in the top to tie the organza ribbon and attach the Simply Said heart motif (Old olive ink on old olive card stock) with the tiny tags printed and punched with their new titles. As you can see there isn't much of the Mini catalogue I have been able to resist!! So I couldn't resist including a pictue of The Smith Family on their Happy Day - wishing you love & laughter always - and of course lots of stamping ;-) Wonderful Rhi had done a gorgeous stamped panel and Tudur had joined in too - creativity starts early in Ceredigion :-)

10% Discount for demonstrator sign up

This offer is available from 23 April 2010 to 7 May 2010 - so if you have been thinking about joining Stampin' Up's family as a demonstrator now is the time.


For this limited period you will receive a 10% discount on an already fabulously discounted Starter Kit. The usual price for the Starter Kit £139.00 and for that you would be receiving over £240.00 of stamping and business supplies but during this offer period you would only pay £125.00 - that's right, you will receive £240.00 worth of crafting goodies for the amazing price of £125.00 ! ! !

Easter Surprise!

So here's another sign of my Easter Excitement. I saw this card in the March 2010 issue of Impressions - the hinged card splits apart to reveal a hidden Easter message . . .
. . . . and for some people that I sent this card to it's still hidden as the brad at the side wasn't a big enough clue - that will teach me!

Here you see the full versatility of A Good Egg stamp set. I particularly like the effect of stamping Old Olive flowers onto the old olive card stock, fringing the top to look like grass. I used So Saffron card stock for the scalloped strip and Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, but Regal Rose was used in the example. I have again stamped the Egg onto Kraft paper and the watercoloured and coloured the zig zag band and then coloured the dots of the egg band inwith stampin write markers. Then Ballet Blue for the sky and a cloud from the Good Neighbours stamp set in white ink. The chick has also been water colored and the beak colored in with pumpkin pie marker. I think this would be a fab card to demo to a kids group - just a year to wait till I can do it again - hee hee hee!

Belated Easter Wishes!

Easter really is one of my favorite times of year, not simply because we see the first signs of spring but also because I have another reson to decorate my house :-) As you can see from the picture I got truly carried away this year !


Here I've punched out flower shapes from SU designer series paper and summer sun card stock from the earth elements pack, and embellished the centres with buttons - couldn't resist the A Good Egg stamp set chick to emphasise the Easter theme - I found the best results to be printing onto kraft paper as then you don't have to colour the shell of the egg, but had fun with my new daubers to speckle the chick shell I printed on whisper white card stock.

And of course ribbon bows in the 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Basful Blue at the top and So Saffron at the bottom.

Hope you all had a fabulous Easter - at some point I'm going to have to take down my decs, it will make the house look quite bear, but then next year will be plain sailing :-)