A SPECIAL "CASE" INDEED

Another late night filled with crafting. I woke at 12 am and the coughing did not ease enough for me to sleep until 3am, no exaggeration! I am utterly exhausted and to cap it all off, somewhere between Saturday afternoon and the small hours of Sunday I have managed to pick up a cold.


Well that's quite enough of the self pity and on to today's project, hoorah! 


Have you ever made a CD for a friend or loved one? Perhaps you recorded a special message or made a compilation of their favourite songs? I have never done this I must admit, far too complicated. My twin sister on the other hand is forever "burning" a CD or two and has complained before about how dull the case is and how nice it would be if you could get personalised and/or pretty outer covers. 


I came up with this...

Click on the photos for a closer look.

I took the case apart and placed designer series paper inside the back cover.

You'll notice that I have used cardstock and ink from the Earth Elements Colour Family, I think these colours are to die for!

Cardstock: More Mustard and Old Olive, a bit of textured More Mustard for the belly band

Ink: Versa Mark, Chocolate Chip and More Mustard

Stamp Sets: Cheer and Wishes, Circle Circus and Vintage Labels (retired)

Accessories: Silver Elastic cord, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" circle punch and  Designer series paper, corner rounder

Non Stampin' Up!: CD case

Ta Ta for now
-X-

JUST A TINY FAVOUR

Haven't I been making a lot of cards lately; back to my roots!


I don't really do a lot of "box" work, purely because I've had know idea where to begin. Lately though, I have been collecting packaging from here and there to use as templates. For a new crafter like myself, this is a great way to get started.


This project uses a tiny KFC Popcorn chicken box, I thought it was so cute that once Cameron had finished with it (a once and while treat folks) I spirited it away. 


Whilst putting the box together I decided to "make it my own" by turning it upside down and snipping off the bottom tabs. Great for party favours I think!

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Kraft and Chocolate Chip

Ink: Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip

Stamp Sets: Vintage Labels (retired)

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle punch and 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Ta Ta for now

-X-

PAPER FLOWERS

Gosh, this card took a bit longer than usual; working with tissue paper takes a gentle touch and I am known for having the exact opposite!


I took inspiration from two of my fellow Demo's Loraine and Vicky and set about creating a card with flowers as the main theme. 

Click in the photo for a loser look.

I had fun with the inked flowers that make up the background of this card. I punched my flower from some scrap card an used the punched area as a kind of stencil. You can see a an other example of this over on Loraine's blog. You can really achieve great results with this technique. As you can see, I have varied the amount of ink applied to different areas to get lighter and darker shades. I also combined two colours on some areas to get a two toned finish.


For the small circles I wanted a faded finish so I stamped my image twice on scrap paper and then stamped on to my card background.

Cardstock: Going Grey and Whisper White

Ink:Green Galore, Basic Grey and Pixie Pink

Stamp Sets: A beautiful Thing (small circles) and Sincere Salutations

Accessories: 5 Petal flower punch

Non Stampin' Up!: Tissue paper, buttons

Ta Ta for now


-X-

THE "JOY" OF IT ALL

Here is the original project I set out to create this morning, a Joy fold card. I decided not to use any new bits of cardstock or designer series paper and go for what I have collected in my "scraps" box. The colours work well together don't you think?

I've propped these scalloped bits of cardstock on two dimensionals. This keeps the card closed.

Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White and Lovely Lilac

Ink: Versa Mark and Brilliant Blue

Stamp Sets: A Beautiful thing and  Sincere Salutations.

Accessories: Corner rounder, Scallop Circle Punch

Ta Ta for now


-X-

A BIRTHDAY TREAT

This idea came to me whilst scoffing a rather large ice-cream courtesy of Mr Whippy; I had forgotten just how utterly tasty they were. I haven't had one since I was a wee girl and as the sun is shining and the temperature seems to be creeping into the dizzy heights I thought I would treat myself and Cameron to two of the biggest I have ever seen complete with chocolate sauce!


Anyhoo, here it is, a "birthday treat" or whatever treat you like. There are so may fabulous stamp sets to choose from you can tailor this project to any occasion!

Click on the photos for a closer look.

As you can see there is room for both a card and a gift card (just my Tesco club card here, nothing too exciting). I have been looking at ways in which to combine the two ideas.


For posting, you may want to use ribbon for the handle instead of cardstock. 

Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White and Kraft

Ink: Real Red

Stamp Sets: Fun and Fast Notes, Cheers and Wishes

Accessories: Scallop circle punch, Eyelet border punch, Designer series paper, paper piercing tool and Hodgepodge hardware

Non Stampin' Up: Red Ribbon

GOODBYE CIRCLE PUNCH

Well, this project proved to be somewhat stressful. Halfway through my beloved 1 1/4" circle punch gave up the ghost and ended up ripping my cardstock chronically. For some reason it jams whenever I put anything it in! I 


Fear not, Stampin' Up! came to the rescue. After one email from me and a friendly phone call from Chris, all is well in my crafty world once again.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Cardstock: Whisper White and Basic Black

Ink: Basic Black,StazOn White ink

Stamp Sets: Sincere Salutations and Circle Circus

Accessories: 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch

GET WELL SOON ALEX

I am trying desperately to stay positive but I am so ill its unreal. I still have this nasty chest infection so I am coughing my little heart out! Its giving me an awesome tummy ache and headache. My throat is so sore and I have even picked up a bout of conjunctivitis!

I wish I knew how to take care of myself. The trouble is I can't bare a messy house, got to make sure these kiddies have something decent to eat and baby Ava still needs her mummy. So, in order to cheer myself up I have made myself this get well soon card, hoorah!

Click on the photos for a closer look.

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Kraft and Green Galore

Ink: Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip

Stamp Sets: Sincere Salutations and A Good Egg

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Designer series Paper

Non Stampin' Up!: Ribbon, brads

AND FINALLY...

Third blog and final entry for the day, I think it's safe to say that I am thoroughly addicted to all this! 

The children are in bed, the house is nice and tidy and instead of watching television I am in the kitchen tinkering away.

Isn't this Easel card the cutest? I love the colours and it was super quick and easy to put together. Unfortunately, the stamp set I got the circles (frames) from is now retired but I adore it, so couldn't resist.

Click on the picture for a closer look.

Cardstock: Pixie Pink and Lovely Lilac

Ink: Basic Grey, Pixie Pink and Brilliant Blue

Stamp Sets: Cheers and Wishes (sentiment) and Vintage Labels (retired)

Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch

Non Stampin' Up!: Button

Night, Night!

SURPRISE!

This is the second time today I have had the chance to craft and blog. I seem to be doing this a heck of a lot lately. I love it, crafting is so relaxing and thank God my children are both well behaved and one of them is just as interested in "Inkin' it Up!" (as Cameron calls it) as me. 


You Tube is fabulous! Am I allowed to mention them? If not, I am sure someone will let me know. I have a lot to thank them for; if it were not for them I would never have found Stampin' Up!


It was Dawn Griffith who I began to follow those 8 months ago and she sparked my interest in paper crafting! I just love her work and enthusiasm and as far as I am concerned she is my Stampin' Up! idol.


So, my next project is her original idea, a Surprise Pop Up card. Pop, (yep, pun intended) on over to You Tube and type that in, you should find the video.

Click on the picture for a close look.

Cardstock: Pixie Pink, Whisper White and Basic Black

Ink: Pixie Pink and Basic Grey

Stamp Sets: Fun and Fast Notes and Sincere Salutations

Accessories: Scallop Edge Circle Punch

Non Stampin' Up!: Colouring pencils, ribbon

DIORAMA DRAMA

I thought I'd give you the picture first today as I think this card or box as its called is pretty special. Its called a Diorama box and I saw a few of them on a very well known video website and so I thought I'd try to make my own. 

I kept my design quite simple as I am cream crackered this evening but you really could go to town with this project by cutting out your stamped images and sticking them to the front using dimensionals, colouring your images; the possibilities really are endless!

As you can see I have used two different circle punches here, my own spin on the project. 

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White and Green Garden 

Ink: Versa Mark, Pumpkin Pie and More Mustard

Stamp Sets: Sincere Salutations and A Beautiful Thing

Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle Punch and 1 3/8 Circle Punch

AN ENVELOPE OR TWO

1:35 AM, no sleep again tonight and so its another late night crafting session for me. I did say I might be back later. Its just as well really, I think I will be busy this week sleeping my days away! Cameron is back at school which means Ava will get her uninterrupted naps again and I can nap with her and try to get myself well.


I have been wanting to do a bit more scrapbooking for a while but wasn't sure how or what I wanted to achieve. Its funny how ideas will just pop into your head when you least expect them. I have a stack of envelopes that no longer have their cards. I was thinking about how I could use them and then the idea came to me....An envelope scrapbook! 


I thought using the envelopes would allow me to create little pockets with a nifty snip or two. I have put inserts in to each one, marked with a page divider-is that what they are called? 


Now, I'm not sure how this will all look in the cold light of day but right now, I a pretty pleased with my efforts. If you look closely in one of the following pictures you will see the absolute carnage that will greet me in the morning...I am a heck of a messy crafter! 

Should have rotated this...

and this.

This too!

Eurgh, if Cameron were not in cute in this picture I would have accidentally lost it.

I was very overweight back then!

Cardstock: All from the Earth Element Colour Family

Ink: More Mustard, Brilliant Blue. 

Stamp Sets: Circle Circus

Accessories: 1 1/4 circle punch, Scallop circle punch, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgain Ribbon, corner rounder

Non Stampin' Up!: Felt tip pens

3X3 CARD HOLDER

Hello again! 

The sun has got me in the mood to get cracking on another project. As a new crafter, there is so much for me to learn and try and as the sun is out I thought taking a few bits into the garden with me would do me the world of good. 


Who knows, I may be back on later! 

Cardstock: Lovely Lilac, Regal Rose and Whisper White

In: Pixie Pink, 

Stamp Sets: Fun and Fast Notes and A Beautiful Thing

Accessories: 1/4" Whisper White Grosgain Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Scallop Circle Punch

Non Stampin' Up!: Buttons

BIRTHDAY BALLOONS

Cadbury Caramel and a cup of tea for brekky, what a fabulous way to start the day! I feel dreadful and so I thought I would treat myself and while baby Ava is napping and Cameron is watching some noisy kids show in the living room; I thought I'd buckle down to a bit of card making.


Its lovely and sunny outside and so I thought a bright and cheery card would go down quite well. 

Click on the pictures for a closer look

Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue and Green Galore

Ink: Green Galore, Basic Grey, Brilliant Blue

Stamp Set: All in the Family and Sincere Salutations

Accessories: Corner rounder, 1 1/4" circle punch

Non Stampin' Up!: Silver gel pen, colouring pencils

 

FLOWER POWER

No point going to bed as this hacking cough keeps me wide awake and each one causes my tummy muscles to do things that should only be done in the gym!


So, I am now in the kitchen doing a bit of crafting, hoorah! 

Click on the picture for a closer look.

Cardstock: Yoyo Yellow, Pink Passion, Whisper White and Only Orange

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip and Pixie Pink

Stamp Set: Fun and Fast Notes (sentiment)

Accessories: Designer series paper, scallop circle punch and 5-petal flower

Non Stampin Up!: Buttons

 

A STROKE OF GENIOUS

My fellow Demo, Loraine has shamed me I'm afraid. She is a true busy bee, posting to her blog daily and crafting just as often it would seem. So here I am, not once but twice in one day! Beat that Loraine, LOL! 


Gosh....I wish I had thought of this idea myself. In fact I am a tad annoyed that I didn't, especially as I have just been reading up on a little (but wonderful) thing they call progressive scrapbooking. This is where you take a 6x6 scrapbook layout and turn it into a 12x12 page. Give me time folks, I will get busy with that sometime very soon! 


So, the idea here is progressive card making! You start with a 3x3 card and turn it into something larger. The 3x3's are lovely but they can be a bit impractical at times so if you have a fair few lying around, then this idea is a fantastic one. Here is one I came up with. Good on you for thinking up such a gem, Heather! 

3x3 card.

Using the stamp sets, "Cheers and Wishes" and "A Good Egg" 

Cardstock: Regal Rose and a Love Note

Ink: Versa Mark and Pixie Pink

Ribbon: 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Love those dots! 

 Finished, progressed card!
A5 sized, using the super cute Hedgehog from the "Fun and Fast Notes" stamp set
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose
Additional ink: Brilliant Blue
1 3/8 circle punch

Still using up my "scraps" by the way!!

MINI CHALLENGE

Well today I set myself a challenge. I have so many bits of "scrap" card and ribbon lying about that I thought I would (and should) get to work using them all up. Besides, I need some mini samples to take with me to workshops. Here is what I came up with...

Mini Thank you note. I send one of these to all my hostesses.

Using the "A Beautiful Thing" stamp set

A happy birthday card.

Using the "Good Egg" stamp set and "Fun and Fast Notes" stamp set

Mini party favour or known to us Demo's as the "2,4,6,8" box.
The cardstock is scored at 2,4,6 & 8 inches.
Using the "A Beautiful Thing" stamp set

 "Sour Cream" container, as named by the American Demo's!

The fast food restaurant "Wendy's" stores sour cream in them.

You might like to put mini party treats in yours though, tee hee!

Using the "A Beautiful Thing" stamp set

I lurve this stamp set....Can you tell?

 

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Hello folks! Well I have been busy trying to plan my workshop as well as get myself some much need custom. I have designed and printed some flyers and sent letters and emails to as many people and social organisations as I could think of. I have had one response so far but it's still early days so I am staying upbeat!


I have made yet another Easter " Make 'n' Take", I hope I can stick with this one! I keep finding cool things to have a go at and while the card below was great, perhaps it was not simple enough. I am trying to show my guest's how fun and easy paper craft can be, I don't want them taking notes and worrying about making mistakes! What do you think of this?

Ingredients:

• A Good Egg Stamp Set
• Stampin' Around handle with "It's a Beautiful Thing" wheel
• Regal Rose cardstock
• Certainly Celery cardstock
• Whisper White 1/4" Grosgain ribbon
• Pixie Pink Ink

It was very simple and quick to assemble! Not sure if this is the greatest snap though but it's the best I could do with a crying 4 month old in the background, tee hee!
 

A GOOD EGG

Hey all!


Its been a while but I didn't want to bore you with tales of planning and what not, so here I am with the fun stuff!


Here it is, my very first "Make and Take"! What do you think? Its an Easter note card made with Stampin' Up's! " A Good Egg" stamp set and some other goodies from my starter kit. I just love this stamp set, its so cute and I am not the only one that thinks so as the set is now sold out!

Ingredients:


A Good Egg stamp set
A 1-3/8 circle punch
A Stampin’ Around® handle with "It's Beautiful" wheel
1/4" (6.4mm) Grosgain ribbon in Whisper White
Gable Green cardstock
Tempting Turquoise
Brilliant Blue ink pad
Green Galore ink pad
Barely Bannana Stampin' Pastel
Old Olive Stampin' Pastel


I have my first workshop planned for the 20th March and I am really looking forward to it. Most of the guests are work colleagues of my sister's who have seen my many, many craft exploits (my sister loves to take snaps or bring my bits in to work and pass them around) and so are very eager to get stuck in! She even had people asking to be invited once they knew what was going on, so I will writing up some more invitations tonight. The Stampin' Up! invitations are lovely!


I'll keep you all posted, wish me luck!