Wednesday 26 December 2012

Shadow Stamping.

Now that Christmas is over it is time to play with other stamps!
The first card is a simple thank you card using Elegant Eggplant and Certainly Celery Inks.
I love the Trellis in the Summer Silhouettes Stamp Set.
I shadow stamped the trellis and the flowers.


I made the cards below this afternoon using soft subtle colours.
The pink flowers on the right hand card were all shadow stamped using Rose Red but it looks as if I have used three different colours.
The "you're a gem" stamp comes from a set which has now retired but the little punch that I used to punch it out will be available later in January.
I hope that you all had a good Christmas and that you enjoy using some of your new paper crafting presents!

Monday 17 December 2012

Quick Treat Holders.

What do you do when your daughter texts you one hour before you are due to leave home asking you to bring some boxes to sell at her College Christmas Show?
The answer is get out the Candy Wrapper Die!
I cut 18 Candy Wrappers out with the Big Shot and put them in a bag with red double sided tape,scissors and my Scoring Board (to use as a Lap Top! )
The journey to Reaseheath College takes about an hour from our house. You will be glad to know that my husband, Peter, was driving as I assembled the 18 Candy Wrapper Boxes en route!
Aviva is pictured on the left in the photo wearing the navy blue with pink trim jacket with a big grin on her face!
Monica Gale told me that she also does this. Thankfully also when her husband, Peter, is driving the car.
Quite a few of the boxes sold to raise money for "Stand Up For Cancer."
I could not resist sharing the above photo with you.
This little guy won first prize in the fancy Dress Competition. He was not happy about that red nose and kept pawing the ground to get them to take it off.
The sleigh was made out of a box and decorated which qualifies it to be posted on this blog!

Friday 14 December 2012

More Ferrero Rocher Boxes.


Today I have been finishing off eight Ferrero Rocher Boxes which someone ordered last Saturday at the Craft Fair.
The colours I used are Gumball Green and Real Red. I love this Christmas colour combination as it is cheerful and warm.
I used Be of Good Cheer paper on the sides of the boxes and a retired Christmas paper from last year on the top.
I used the Tiny Tags Merry stamp on the top punched out with the matching jewellry Tag punch.
The ribbon is Real Red striped Grosgrain.
I love the Tiny tags stamps and I will try to include them in a Workshop in the New Year.

Thursday 13 December 2012

Bird Builder Punch

I had time this morning to make a long overdue engagement card.
I enjoyed using my new Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch and the much used Bird Builder Punch.
The stamp set for the sentiment is Curly Cute. I heat embossed with silver embossing powder. That is the first time in over a year that I have got my heat gun out!
I also made a retirement card but using a stamp set that will be available in January.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

The new Stampin Up Trimmer.

When preparing for the Mini Album Workshop last night I used my new Stampin up Trimmer (page 180 in the main catalogue £25.95)and the Simply Scored Board (page 181 in the main catalogue £25.95)
I cut the two pieces for the spine and sides of the Albums with the Trimmer and then scored them on the Score board with the markers at the top to make the job quicker.

My new Stampin up Trimmer arrived yesterday and I am very impressed with it.
When I was a Creative Memories Consultant I had to return their trimmer more than once because the arm kept falling off.(they did eventually rectify this problem.) I don't think that I will have the same problem with this trimmer as I can see that there is a sturdy screw keeping it in place!

Some of the great features are:-

1. Extended 6 1/4 inch wide cutting base. 
    You don't have to use the extended arm when making your most common cuts.
     The ruler measures inches and centimetres. It measures down to 1/16th inch.
    Grid lines on the base measure 1/4 inch.
    A ridge at the top keeps the card stock straight while cutting.
    There is a  grid on the right side of the scoring track for very thin precise cuts or scores up to 1 1/4 inches or 3 cm in width.

2.Cutting track locks into place so that you can have secure storage and transport.
A precision tip on the left hand side of the blade handle allows you to accurately stop and start cuts as when making  a Stepper card.
A hook at the side of the blade handle holds it in place for a straight cut
     
3. Extended Cutting Arm opens out and measures 14 1/2 inches for larger cuts.
    It sits flush against the trimmer base when fully extended.
    It has a stabalising leg underneath to keep it steady.

4.It comes with a scoring and a cutting blade.
   Both blades can remain on the track as you work because of extra space on the track.

5.Storage Compartment underneath.
This has space for spare blades, a bone folder, pin pricking tool and other small tools.

I will still use the scoring board for making deeper score lines and also for scoring several items at once.
It is also invaluable for making Rosettes.

Simply Scrapping Kits.

Tonight I am doing a 6 x 6 Mini Album Workshop using two Simply Scrapping Kits from Stampin Up.
Four ladies have chosen the Merry Moments Kit (pictured above) which is on page 9 of the Seasonal Catalogue and two people have chosen the Razzleberry Splash kit (pictured below) which is on page 168 in the Main Catalogue.

 The three sticker sheets are 12 x 12 and would be sufficient to make four 6 x 6 Albums with some to spare as  room must be left for photos and some journalling!
The stickers are sturdy and can be repositioned without tearing the Card stock.
The kits could also be used to make a lot of quick and easy cards. I think that may be a future Workshop.



Monday 10 December 2012

Candy Wrapper Die


Today I would like to draw your attention to the Stampin Up Candy Wrapper Die.
 It is so useful for making treat holders which would be ideal to sell at Craft Fairs or to adorn your table on Christmas day.
I have shown a selection in the above photo with a Rosette for added decoration.

Here is a close up to show the Builder wheel that I have inked up in Whisper White and rolled across the centre of the Candy Wrapper. This also works for the Milk Carton Die.
I put a spacer between the Snowflake Party and Good Cheer Wheels so that they fit perfectly allowing space for the white Organza Ribbon.
The" For you" stamp is from the Mixed Medley Hostess only set.
The colours used are Real Red and Whisper White.
There is still time to order these products in time for Christmas or I would be happy to prepare kits for anyone who wants them.




                                                                                                                                                      



Sunday 9 December 2012

Craft Fairs.

 I enjoyed having a table at two Craft fairs over the Week-end. One was at the Life Church in Bebington on  Friday evening and the other was at St.Hildeburghs in Hoylake all day on Saturday.
I focused on making lots of chocolate treat holders which would be ideal for table favours on Christmas day.
I also had lots of opportunities to talk about Stampin Up products and the Workshops that I enjoy running at my house.
A big thank you to everyone who supported me by chatting and buying things.
I enjoyed being able to make some Christmas cards in the occasional quiet moment on the Saturday and demonstrating making Rosettes using the Simply Scored board.
The most popular items were the Milk Carton and Ferrero Rocher boxes.
Anything with owls on was also popular.

Ornament Keepsakes Workshop.

 Ten ladies came along to the Ornament Keepsakes Workshop at my house last Wednesday.
They all did so well that I wanted to share some photos of their creations on my blog.
I hope that you are all inspired by what they did. Especially as the above photo is showing Anne's projects and it was her first Workshop and she came all the way from Manchester!
I believe that everyone is creative and can benefit from having a go at paper crafting projects.
Don't you love the lace edging in this photo. The ladies always enjoy raiding my stash and this time it was the lace box. Amongst many hobbies I have had one included Heirloom sewing so the remnants of lace are left over from those days. It was so good to see it put to good use to add the finishing touches,
Every ornament had a spritz of glitter spray on completion which was the icing on the cake!
The ornaments in the above photos are made in Gumball Green and Real Red.
Above is a photo of the ornament in silver and Rich Razzleberry.
These were the more popular colours chosen by six people.
My last Workshop of this year is next Wednesday,12th December. We will be making the 6 x 6 Accordion Album using the Merry Moments Simply Scrapping Kit.
I still have a space or two if anyone would like to make a last minute Album for someone for Christmas.

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Happy Holidays to Monica!

This is a card that I made a few months ago which I am posting to wish Monica a happy holiday!
She certainly deserves it as she works so hard to keep the Passionettes team on track.
The stamps are from Lili of the Valley. They are colooured in with Pro Markers.
Have a great holiday, Monica.
Ignore the Happy Birthday sentiment!

Sunday 2 December 2012

Simply Scored Place Markers for Cup Cake Boxs.

 I was glad to have place markers for my Simply Scored Board today as I had to score 34 pieces of card to prepare cup cake Kits for the Homeschoolers tomorrow. Each piece measures 3 1/4 x 8 inches and is scored at 3 1/4, 5 1/2 and 7 1/2. The scalloped hole was punched using the Scallop Circle Punch  and two holes for the ribbon with the Cropadile before the box was assembled . The bottom edges of the two pieces were stuck together first and then an envelope was die cut with the Scalloped Envelope Die and adhered to either side.
The children are also decorating four cup cakes.Thankfully we are only making a box for one of them!

A photograph of two completed boxes with minimal decoration. I am going to let the children raid my peel offs and embellishments box so theirs will have a lot more bling. I may post some photos of their creations tomorrow.