-{PCS October}-

This is the project I made with the template from the October edition of Paper Crafter's Sampler.

To have a look at some sneak peaks and to buy the edition click {here}

The template was to make a "Ghouls hangout", well you may know me by now, I like to play with Mel's templates to suit me, so I made this Christmas gift bag.

I used some of the lovely new tulle that's available in the Winter mini.

-{LUSH}-

That's the word to describe the new Stampin Up catalogue! Just LUSH!

It's bigger, better and some of the prices have gone down!

There are more pages of gorgeous inspiration and lots more choice.  If you'd like to get your hands on one, they're £4 (+postage if you don't live locally to me).

I am particularly pleased at the choices of sentiment stamps and am very happy that there is a new butterfly punch!

The other big announcement is...

for anyone that joins Stampin up this month.

A free pack of Designer Series Paper (not speciality, and from the current main catty) for six months.  Please contact me for the finer details

-{Acorn template blog hop PCS}-

Welcome to the PCS blog hop, and a special "hi" if you have come from Wendy's blog {here}

This month's template from the Paper Crafters Sampler is to make a shaped pocket to put a gift in (you can purchase it {here}. The original template is to make an acorn shape, however I had a play and came up with this strawberry.

The template is really easy to use, just print it out on the wrong side of the patterned paper or cardstock, cut it out, decorate and stick together.  I used the Square Lattice Folder to give it some texture, and cut leaves from the Leaves Sizzix die (which is retiring this month).  The flower is made from the 5 petal flower punch (also retiring) and the centre from the Boho Blossom punch. I added the seeds with the white gel pen from Stampin' Up!

To see what yummy creation Melanie has made with her Acorn template click below

-{swan card PCS}-

"Sublime Nuptials" is the theme of August's Paper Crafters Sampler.

Click on picture below for more details.

The template this month is for a Swan Boat.

Here is my first creative take on it.

I heat embossed with white, then brayered over it to make the background.

I sponged the swan and highlighted with Champagne Mist.

-{now you see it...}-

...now you don't.

It's that time of year again! Stampin' Up have just released their retiring list!  This means any items you see on the list will be gone for good after September.

Please click {here} for the link to the retiring stamps, and {here} for the retiring accessories.
Do have a look, as some items are 40% off!  Please let me know if you would like to place an order, as some of these items will be sold out soon.



The other FABULOUS news I have for you is that we have a Winter catalogue!

It is packed full of gorgeous items.  To view it online click {here}, to download the PDF file click {here}.

Enjoy!

Hexagon love

Been working on this for over two years. A few more to go and then a border.

-{ floral handbag }-

Made this 3D card with the lollipop template which is in the July edition of Paper Crafters Sampler which can be found {here}.

Who doesn't enjoy the exuberant colors of summertime?   Those radiant colors that enhance our fun in the sun. 

The July 2012 Sampler celebrates the brillant array of summer colors.  Looking for a way to bring summer into your home without the heat, check out the "Summer Spectrum" issue.

The small flowers were wired with little pearl centres.

-{honoured and inspired}-

A few weeks ago Melanie Schulenberg of Pockets of Inspiration blog asked me to join Creative Take design team for the Paper Crafters Sampler (PCS).  The PCS is a monthly online magazine for Stampin' Up! customers and demonstrators packed full of ideas and inspiration using SU products.  Included in the magazine is a template to make a 3D object designed by Melanie.  My role is to have a play with the template and make something to inspire different uses of it.  I feel very honoured to have been asked and look forward to lots of inspiration and hopefully being able to inspire you.

"The June issue of the Sampler offers ideas to bring back the basics of letter writing. The "Penned Post" issue offers an abundance of stationary kits and elegant cards to script your thoughts and get back into the beautiful world of letter writing."

If you would like a copy (electronic) of June's Paper Crafters Sampler then click {here}

The template in the issue is to make a ink well holder - so my job was to see what else it could be used for.  So I've created a little gift box for a nail gift set.  There is enough room for a small bottle of nail varnish, some varnish remover, cotton buds and nail files.

The paper I have used is from the currently available (until stocks last) Everyday Enchantment.

For more information click {here}

-{free pretties for you}-

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!  That's how describe the Stampin UP collection...

During the Saleabration earlier this year they wowed us with a beautiful collection of papers and matching stamp set.  This month these brads below (you get 30 - 6 each) and 10 yards each of organza ribbon in Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral can be yours for free when you spend £45 out of the current catalogues.

Also, if you loved the papers, they can be bought (while stocks last) for £9.95 a pack.

Please contact me if you would like to place an order.

-{flora}-

I was commissioned to make a silver anniversary card, so while I was doing that I cut out 2 lots of card stock so I could make use of the stamps and inks I had out.  This uses quite a few different stamps sets, some current some now unavailable.  

You may recognise the format from previous cards.  I find it so effective and simple to do, and with the range of colours that Stampin' Up! have it's easy to change the feel of a card by choosing a different palette. 

-{I was Crafty Picked!}-

Had a lovely surprise last night, Tiffany Bauer of My Crafty World blog, left me a message on my blog to say she has picked one of my cards to feature in her "My Crafty Picks".  Every week she chooses 10 cards that have inspired her.

She choose the card below, you can see the post {here} and have a look at the other gorgeous cards featured.

Click on the picture to see my original post.

-{Jubilee fun}-

A few weeks ago I was asked to do a Jubilee themed craft table at a Family even in my town.  A lovely lady called Hannah took these pictures which have recently been forwarded to me.

Here is me demoing how to make the rose below.  I found the tutorial on youtube {here}

I bought 3 ply paper napkins, one was enough to make one rose.  I love being able to create something so spectacular from something so ordinary. 

Below are some cupcake toppers and cake bunting.  I've been making these quite a bit recently for friends who have had parties.  Such a great way to decorate a party table.

-{squaring up}-

Apologies for not posting in such a long time!

Life has been a wee bit busy, and although I have been making cards and photographing them, I have not managed to get them on here till now.

I must tell you about the June offer Stampin' UP! has on their Designer Series Paper (that is all the packs priced £9.95 in the main and mini catalogue), if you buy three packs you get a fourth FREE!  A good time to stock up on pretty papers.

I really enjoyed making these, I used the Attic Boutique papers - which I love!

-{So much excitement...}-

What a day!

Not only has the new Summer Mini catalogue been launched today, but a new way of becoming a demonstrator!

For only £99, yes you are reading correctly, £99, you can have all the benefits I have of becoming a Stampin Up demonstrator.

If you love Stampin Up products and would like your money to go a bit further, then now is the time to join.

Not only do you get £130 of YOUR choice of products, you get a business starter pack worth £45.

And that's not all, for this month only, you can get a free pass to the Stampin Up convention in November, that is worth £149!

I really enjoy being a demonstrator, it's such a pleasure to share what I love doing with others, making new friends and being able to pay for my hobby.

Please ring me for an informal, non pressured chat if you are interested in this deal.

-{Summer Mini Blog Hop ILWS}-

Hi there, welcome to my blog, you may have got here via Amanda's Gorgeous Blog.

I've taken part in a Blog Hop, organised on the fab forum In Love With Stamping.  If you would like to start at the beginning of the hop click {here} to go to Alison's blog.

All the blog's on this hop should be featuring the lovely new goodies in the Summer Mini catalogue.  (Please contact me if you would like a copy).

As a demonstrator we can get our hands on the new products a full month before anyone else, here is what I have made with the beautiful Attic Boutique Designer Series Papers.  Do you also see the pleated Ribbon? That's a new addition too!

I made a card holder inspired by the one Heather made {here}.  I changed the dimensions so it would hold C6 size envelopes.

Here it is opened up.

Here are the four cards that fit inside.

Do you spy something new below? It's Baker's Twine, I am so pleased Stampin Up have decided to stock this, it is so trendy at the moment and so pretty on cards.  It comes in all the 2011-2013 In Colours, and a White.  It's also at a bargain price of £2.50 for 22.9 metres.

Thank you for visiting today, click {here} to hop to Jan's blog.

-{Passion for Grey Pt 2}-

Here are some more grey cards.

I've beeen experimenting with rolled and folded flowers.

The little flowers below were made using the "eyes" from the owl punch.

Come back tomorrow as I'll be taking part in a blog hop featuring products from the Summer Mini catalogue which is coming out tomorrow!

-{passion for grey pt 1}-

Loving the Basic Grey at the moment.  Have you noticed?

Found this lovely card  >here < by Monica, and was so inspired I got playing.

I stamped some flowers from the Green House Garden stamp set, they were a bit too large for the effect I wanted, so I cut a spiral into them and rolled them up.

I think this is the first time I have inked up this stamp from the Green House Garden set, I completely bypassed it! Will be using it a lot more now!

Can you see the little green flowers have a slight suede texture?  By scrunching and roughing the flower up (punched from cardstock), you can then separate the layers, so not only do you get 2 for the price of 1, but a lovely texture.