Stampin' Up Sizzix Stocking Die

Thought I would show you what I made a few weeks ago with the new Stampin Up Sizzix Stocking Die which is exclusive to Stampin' Up... I was lucky enough to play with someone's die along with the new Snowburst embossing folder!

We made these fab stockings with a box in the middle...  I love how they can stand up on their own thanks to the box in the middle.... I plan to make a few to give as gifts for Christmas with sweets or a gift card inside!

The colours aren't great but this is SU Cherry Cobbler & SU Old Olive and the Holly is a new Sizzix Die called Holly & Swirl

16th Mini Book

Well I thought today I would post a mini book which I made a few months ago for Paul's Nephew's 16th Birthday. We were set a challenge on a craft group that I am part of to make a mini book and everyone that made one got a prize.

I thought it was a great gift to give to his nephew for an important milestone... my main trouble was that I always struggle with male related things so this was a real challenge for me!!

Papers are DCWV guy stack which I have to say I love how they match with the SU colours!

I really enjoyed making this book and his nephew loved it a lot of the photos he had never seen before so he really enjoyed looking through it.... phew!!

Pop Up Butterfly Card - Happy Birthday Paul's Nan!

Well it's been a very loooong time since I last posted... nearly 11 months... ooops... I have been crafting on and off... things have been a bit up and down at home as Paul has been quite seriously unwell and I think it's partly that which has kept me away... he's still not 100% and there is still a lot of uncertainty on the future but we are trying to keep positive.....

Anyway I wanted to try to get back into blogging again to record some of the things I have made... this is a card for Paul's Nan who's birthday is today.

It's a pop up circle card and I have to say I love making these and giving them... I have made 4 now and the response is always really good.

I've used mainly all stampin' up items as I am still addicted to all things SU!!!

Happy Bird-Day!

I'm really into circle or scallopped circle cards at the moment....I made this one a few weeks ago for Melissa's birthday which happens to be today! :)

Sitting here very sorry for myself as I've picked up his man-flu and I feel pretty grotty today, whole body just aches and I don't know what to do with myself as I'm not the sort of person who can sit around doing nothing but physically at the moment I just can't imagine moving other sitting here huddled under the duvet!

Anyway the scalloped card is made usung the Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Scallop Circle Album die. I got the die at a cheap price and was very excited when I realised that the scallop is larger than a regular nestie scalloped circle, it also comes with the smaller circle which I used on the background paper.

The owl is a Penny Black stamp (which is a favouite of mine) she is coloured in with copic markers and I used a white pen to highlight.

I thought the inside looked a little plain so I cut out a swirl and attached it to the piece of card which is holding the scallopes together and I just couldn't resist using the embossed butterflies over the swirl, thought they looked effective!

Right I'm back off to do nothing but huddle under the duvet with my cat and try to shake off this flu that I've got... thanks for looking!

Uncles Are Special...

I don’t seem to be making much at the moment, never seems enough time in the week to set aside to craft, life is a bit hectic recently again. Then when I do get the chance to play I just don’t know what to do, I end up pushing paper around on the desk or even worst tidying up my craft room!


Anyway here’s another layout I did a few weeks ago when I had found my mojo and literally smoke was coming out of my fingers with all the layouts I was making! I wanted to play with my crackle glaze that I’ve had for a while but not really done anything with it. Not sure if you can make it out but I used it on the chipboard letters.

My poor uncle is going through such a hard time of it at the moment, he was rushed into hospital with a mass of blood clots in his lungs a few months back, he was told he shouldn’t have lived to tell the tale and it was only because he is so fit that he pulled through. I found out this week that he has another mass of clots in his leg this time, it’s a huge worry… I just wish he would get well soon and get his life back to normal as they have been through so much this past year and a half.

Supplies

Papers/Cardstock: Crumb Cake 12x12 cardstock – Crumb Cake, New My Minds Eye 12x12 paper, Dusty Durango Cardstock
Dies: Dragonfly Alphabet - Quickutz
Other: Alphabet Chipboard – Heidi Grace, Dusty Durango Ink – Stampin Up, Crackle Glaze, Bobble ribbon – CTM, Scalloped border Punch – Stampin Up, White Pen

Father's Day Card

Male cards.... Ekkkkk I get very stressed when it comes down to making a card for Paul's dad... Paul always wants me to make something different and personal for his dad and it gets harder and harder every year... what doesn't help is that his birthday and fathers day comes within a week of each other so it's even more pressure!!

Anyway this is his father's day card and Ghost Breakers is his favourite film of all time so I printed out the movie poster and went from there!

This is the first time I have tried to make a triple fold card, but rather than having it landscape I turned it around so that it is like a triple fold/easel card!!

He was over the moon with the card and showed it off to everyone so I think after all the stress it was worth it... now I need to start planning for next year!

Supplies


Papers/Cardstock: Basic Grey, Stampin Up Chocolate Chip
Dies/Embossing Folders: Sizzix Boss-O Alphabet 
Stamps: An old clear greeting set from Woodware
Other: Bo Bunny Brads

Crumb Cake Birthday Bird Card

I Love Stampin' Up Kraft cardstock… well technically it's been re-named as Crumb Cake … I'm going to stop calling it Kraft Crumb Cake does sounds yummy LOL!

Very excited that SU have announced that they are bringing out Crumb Cake ink, I just love how everything matches with SU and I've hoped for ages that they would bring out the ink and as from 1st July they have in the US YAY!!!

Anyway here's a card I made for the lovely Linda, The bird die I have wanted for months after seeing Becky's… every time we get together the requirement was she had to bring the bird die LOL!

The die had sold out everywhere in the UK but one of my friends tipped me off a few months back that someone in the US was selling 3 on Ebay and I never moved so quickly to get to a PC even though I was poorly at the time!

Supplies
Papers/Cardstock: Bo Bunny, Stampin Up Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake & Baja Breeze
Dies/Embossing Folders: Quickutz Bird, Cuttlebug Birthday Embossing Folder,
Ribbon: Pretty In Pink Grosgrain - Stampin Up
Other: Scallop Border Punch – Martha Stewart, Flower punch & bling

Summer Days Layout

I’ve been quite busy scrapbooking over the past few months when I have been able to get the time.

This is a LO I did when I went to Shirley’s Crop back in May for National Scrapbooking Day, been meaning to take photos of all the LO’s but just not got round to it!

When I got to crops normally I take stacks of everything with me and then spend ages flicking through papers and photos trying to decide what to use. But a few weeks ago I actually started planning my Lo’s.. just sat down pulled out papers I wanted to use and picked out sketches and photos and put them aside so that when I had the time to scrapbook I was knocking them out… never thought to plan them before but it really worked for me so I’m trying to keep that up!

It’s funny as when I was at the crop some of the American ladies thought this was a photo of my daughter, I had to explain that it was me when I was younger and they couldn’t get over it!!

Supplies
Papers/Cardstock: Bo Bunny, Bazzill Swiss Dots, Stampin Up Chocolate Chip
Stamps: Just A Note - Maya Road,
Other: Alphabet – Bo Bunny Stickers, Prima Swirl Bling, Basic Grey Pearl Flowers

A Different Card Using Tim Holtz Sizzix Bracket Die

I was inspired by a card on Paula Pascual’s blog, I wanted to give it a go as it looked really different and hers was stunning, it was an excuse to try out my new Tim Holtz Bracket die I bought the other month that I hadn’t had the chance to use!

The card took me probably about 4-5 hours from start to finish which I know sounds a lot but half way through I really took a disliking to the papers I had chosen but I was trying to be good and use some of my scrap papers that I’ve used for other projects that need using up… I just find it hard cutting into those nice new papers when I have loads of papers that need using plus not sure his mum would fully appreciate how hard it is to cut into the new Bo Bunny or My Minds Eye papers LOL!... I still don’t like the colours… I think it’s the pink and red that I don’t like as I wouldn’t normally put the two colours together!

The flower on the front of the card was made using a Martha Stewart scalloped punch, I love this effect! So simple to do but a bit fiddly, you could really do with an extra pair of hands when it comes down to gluing ends together!

To make the flower first punch a strip of cardstock using a border punch, then fold the border like you did when you were a kid making a fan, make sure you use your bone folder on the creases to get a crisp fold.

Then glue the two ends together, here's the tricky part where an extra pair of hands comes in very handy!! Next cut a small circle with a 1/2 inch punch and glue it to the back of the flower so that you can attach it easily to a card, leave it to dry.

Once dry add a brad, bit of bling, button or whatever you choose for the middle of the flower. I think this looks really effective and it’s what drew me to her card in the first place! Hope you can understand my instructions!

I also love the new Quickutz alphabet that I had recently bought, it's a limited Heidi Swapp alphabet and I just love her style and was so excited when I spotted that she had an alphabet set out, first time I used it on this card and I just love the style of it, think it's going to be one of my favourite alphas!

Supplies

Papers/Cardstock: My Minds Eye, Pink Pirouette cardstock – Stampin’ Up

Dies: Heidi Swapp handwriting Alphabet - Quickutz, Label One – Nestabilities, Tim Holtz Brackets – Sizzix

Stamps: Everyday – Penny Black

Ribbon: Certainly Celery Grosgrain - Stampin' Up

Other: Scallop Border Punch – Martha Stewart, Glamour Dust

A Ickle Owl Card!

Here's a Ickle owl card that I made for the lovely Mandy, I had to try out my new Quickutz branch die! I stamped the swirl stamp using Stazon On White and glittered some of the swirls using Star Dust Stickles!

The Baja Breeze flowers have small Swarovski crystal bits of bling in them and the hearts on the owl have been diamond glazed.

Supplies
Card Stock: Thick Acetate, Stampin Up Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze & Pink Pirouette cardstock

Stamp: Owl Stamp - Came free from a Stamping Magazine, Swirl Stamp - Can't remember who it's by! Greeting Hero Arts

Inks: White Stazon, Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip & Pink Pirouette

Tools: Quickutz Revolution: Branches Die, Flower punch: Woodware Tiny flower

Aunt's Birthday Card

This card was made for my lovely crafty Aunt for her birthday last weekend, I used a sketch to inspire me, I saw the sketch and had to try it, I just seem to be into circles at the moment!

I've not used pink and green before on a card together but I really like it!

Cardstock: Bazzill Swiss Dots, Stampin Up Old Olive & Stampin Up Pink Pirouette
Paper: Heidi Grace
Stamp: Penny Black - Merci - I just LOVE this stamp!

Circle: Creative Memories Circle Cutter

Nestabilities, Fiskars Apron Punch, Sizzix Alphabet

A Little Friendship Card

Sorry really poor picture of this card, the light was going when I took it... Still need to work out where the best place is to take photo's of my cards!

This card was for a friend who fell over her mower at the begining of the week and just wanted to send her a little card wishing her a speedy recovery.

Branch and little birdie is We R Memory Keepers paper and the cardstock as the background is Co-Ordinations White Wash. Stamp: Stampin Up

Ink Pad Storage For Stampin' Up Inks

Ooooh look what I got.....Very very excited when this parcel arrived this afternoon.... I know easily pleased...I love storage for stash and when the very naughty Clare showed me her new ink pad holder for her Stampin Up ink pads I knew I needed one!

I love Stampin Up ink pads but have been getting really annoyed with how to store them. I used to have them all stacked up ontop of each other but because they don't sit flat as soon as you tried to pull an ink pad out they fall over!

I have already broken one ink pad whlst trying to get to an ink pad, they fell onto the floor and (Elegant Eggplant) landed on it's corner and now it's cracked the case grrrrr!!

So if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the Stampin Up storage which is in the UK catty I would highly recommend this one!

You can buy this from here

Wedding Card For Claire & Tim

Well just for a change I thought I would pop up a card that I made for a friends wedding. I kinda flapped around a lot when I realised I needed to make a wedding card as I don't have much in my stash that is suitable for weddings... I know I need to start buying things for every occassion and not just owls, birds, cupcakes and flowers LOL!

Anyway this stamp is from the Stampin' Up set Fast & Friendly Notes, I actually bought it because I loved the bird in it LOL but thank goodness I did!! I coloured the image in using my trusty brushables (yes another pen accition but they are FAB!) and mounted the stamped image onto the nestie Label One die.

The edging down the side of the card is from using my new-but-very-hard-to-get-hold-of Fiskars punch! YAY but I have one!!!!

Vikki at CTM will be getting them in the shop but I've been going on and on about this punch for months, everytime I go into work in the shop I'm asking have they arrived yet... She took pitty on my whining or maybe fed up with me asking LOL either way she let me buy the one that she had bought for herself! The punch is called Apron Lace Border and I LOVE it!

Heart paper is from the new Basic Grey range, I really struggled to cut into this sheet as I just love it, it's soooo pretty!

Family

I don't think Sharron has ever seen this picture as we took it when we were all together in Weymouth for a family wedding.

I love this paper, it's by Fancy Pants and yet again the only sheet I had… When I started this scrapbook I told myself to use all the old papers as I have so many that need using up but oh no I keep using the ones I really really like….Why do I keep using all my favourite papers?! I really hope she is going to appreciate the papers LOL

Large flower is a Stampin Up flower punch and the flower in the middle is the boho blossoms Stampin Up punch.

Happy Birthday Becky

Look another card with orange in it….. slightly worrying how much orange I am using at the moment but don’t worry Becky your orange papers are safe!!

Papers are once again the lovely My Minds Eye range, I really do love these papers! The front paper with little flowers has Swarovski crystal stones in the centre of the flowers and they really do make the card sparkle! I love a bit of bling especially the Swarovski bling!

Cupcake stamp is from the Stampin Up Crazy For Cupcakes set, which I have wanted for AGES and got it for my birthday – Thank you Clare, first time they have been inked up! Sentiment on the inside is part of a Heidi Grace stamp set, I just love Heidi Grace, so sad that Fiskars are discontinuing her range.

Scalloped oval punch is the new punch from the Stampin’ Up mini catalogue along with the small oval punch and the sentiment inside is part of a Hero Arts set.

The owl is a Penny Black stamp coloured in using my copics, yes I have been bitten by the copic bug, not had much chance to play with them yet as I’m busy with the scrapbook so still trying to master the technique.

BTW for anyone wanting to buy copics from the UK at a good price I would highly recommend cult pens they sell the Copics for a good price, if you spend over £10 postage is free and they arrive so quick… what more could a girl want! Cult Pens

They have just started stocking the Copic atyouspica glitter pens which are come in 13 different colours.. if you haven’t heard of them before let me help you LOL

The main difference in the Spica glitter pen is that the sparkle is actually made up of micro glass flakes and they claim that they have twice the writing length of other pens. They are a pigment based acid free ink and they dry pretty quickly. They sparkle much more than the stardust gelly roll pens and the clear is a proper clear and not a silver colour.

The only other tip I have read is that you must keep these pens stored horizontal and you must not drop them!

Whilst I’m on the subject of pens they also sell the fantastic Uni-Ball Signo white pen that is in the SU catty, their price almost half the price in the SU catty so well worth using them! I’m really fussy about white pens and inkpads looking true white not grey and this is the only pen I have found that looks a true white and works really well on dark cardstock. Uni-Ball Signo White Pen

OK I’ll shut up about pens for now LOL…. I have to admit that I do have a bit of a pen addiction, thinking back to when I was a kid I always had a thing for pens back then, Saturday morning in town with the girls checking out what new pens they had in Heffers stationary shop!

Thanks So Much

I made this card after being inspired by a card I saw at The Glitter Pot when I was down there a few months back, what caught my eye was the stamp they had used and I just had to have it… along with all the other girls LOL. The swirl stamp is what caught my eye, I am a sucker for a swirl, loved how it looks with a bit of glitter on it also. I'll have to come back and tell you who makes the stamp as I don't have a clue, I just know I had to have it!

I cut some acetate using the large Nestability scalloped die and then stamped the swirl with pink stazon on (yes you can imagine my excitement when I saw they did a baby pink colour!)

Then cut a window using the Stampin Up window punch and the little greeting is from a Stampin Up set but right at this moment I can’t remember which one, but I like it! LOL

The large bling in the flower is once again my bargain gem stones from Paperchase!

14th Birthday card... hmmm Basic Grey!

Well I've had an eventful afternoon crafting... let me tell you... I have a bit of a reputation for needing to be kept away from sharp objecs because I tend to have accidents... I am a bit clumsey you see... well today is one of those days... There I was christening my lovely new fiskars knife (thank you Nikki!) when whoops not paying enough attention whilst cutting the numbers and sliced the top of my finger open... blood all over the birthday card I was making!

So after some choccie to make me feel better I had to start again with another card.... to be honest I am glad I did because I have to say I really like this card and the one I was making just didn't look right especially with my own blood over half of it!

Anyway this card is for our Nephew who's 14 next week, scary how time flies by... I have to be honest and say I really get stressed about male cards, normally leave them until the last minute because I have hardly anything in my stash that I can use... why can't they appreciate a nice pink flowery card!

I bought this Basic Grey paper pack lastmonth after seeing cards Becky had made with the same pack... I am so pleased I bought it! I've used Stampin Up Chocolate Chip as the main card stock, I think the colour works really well.

The little enamled tag is from a set I got for my birthday from Making Memories (thank you Becky!). Yet again you have come to my rescue!!

My First Stitched Card

Just a quick post to show my first machine stitched card.... I made this card a few weeks ago at Becky's... She allowed me to play with her sewing machine... now I know this may not seem like a big deal to most people..... friends share their stash right?!... but when I explain to you that the last time I tried to use a sewing machine I nearly stitched my finger to the machine... I think you might start to understand!

It frightened the living daylights out of me, so much power in such a little machine... I haven't been near another sewing machine in 4 years! Of course it was the machine and not operator error you understand!!!

So I had strict supervision with Becky and thankfully I still have all my fingers, not bad for the first attempt...I had a good teacher!!! Now can I be trusted with my own machine is the question?! Will Paul come back from Footie finding me stitched to the machine?! hmmmm I think I might need more practice before I make a decision!

The flower stamp is from a Stampin Up retired set that I can't remember what it's called but I know I need to add it to my growing collection with the Stampin Up definitions stamp set which is also on the birthday list!!

Mum's Birthday Card

It was my mum's birthday last week and I wanted to make her a nice card, she's had a rotten 2009 so far so I wanted to make sure I made something a little special and this is the end result.

First time I have been successful with stamping onto acetate, I stamped the swirls with white ink onto the acetate and attached the flower to the front but everything else is underneath the acetate.

Thank you to the lovely Becky for giving me some to try, really pleased with the result as the acetate I had tried it on before just sat on their wet.

The card stock I've used is Stampin Up Elegant Eggplant & Perfect Plumb... I have gone into a purple phase at the moment and I just love these two colours!


The stamp set is one of my favourite Stampin' Up sets called Doodle This... I just love the doodle flower and the large swirl is a Sizzix Sizzlit die, another favourite of mine!