4 Today!

My niece Emily is 4 years old today!  Here is the card I made for her...

I stamped the ice cream using stamps from Create a Cupcake and Pennant Parade sets, and punched out the ice cream and cone with the Cupcake Builder and Petite Pennants punches.  I used my Big Shot to die-cut the number 4.  The papers are the Cheerful Treat designer series papers (an exclusive hostess product).  Colours are melon mambo, wisteria wonder and whisper white.

Happy Birthday Emily!

A male birthday card

I always find male cards much more of a challenge to create than for the ladies.  I recently had to make a card for a male friend, and I just didn't think cars, bikes, planes, ships or footballs weren't going to do it. 

But he is a keen geographer and I remembered I had some old Stampin' Up! papers which would be perfect!!

The gorgeous old map paper is from the Newsprint Designer Series Papers which is unfortunately retired (but the First Edition series in the current catalogue is just as nice!).  The sentiment combines stamps from the Teeny Tiny Wishes and the For My Family sets and I also used the border from Four Frames stamp set and the matching decorative label punch.  The colours are basic black and very vanilla.  The card was finished off with some striped grosgrain ribbon and brads in the corners - see how the corners have been cut out with the circle itty bitty punch - a technique I learnt in one of Julie Kettlewell's Stamp-a-Stack classes!

New baby card commission

I was asked by a friend to make her a card for a new baby girl.  She wanted something un-fussy, any colours except neutrals, and to include the baby's name. This is what I made for her (I hope it's not too 'fussy'!)

The cute little giraffe is from the Fox and Friends stamp set.  I used the Big Top Birthday papers for a colourful background and I printed out the baby's name, date and sentiment and punched these out with the jewellery tag and word window punches.

Congratulations to the new parents!!!

Beautiful bows

I attended one of Julie Kettlewell's Saturday classes recently - it was all about the bow!  Julie taught us how to tie five different beautiful bows to give our cards a professional finish!  I'm looking forward to using these techniques on my own cards, but for now, here are pictures of the five cards we made at the class...

The standard bow

The faux-bow

Julie's trademark flat bow

The 'forking' bow (a tiny bow made using a fork!)

The very glamorous double bow

The stamp set we used was Everything Eleanor, plus various sentiments from the Sincere Salutations and Petite Pairs sets.  Colours were very vanilla, pool party, lucky limeade and crumb cake.  The ribbon we used was very vanilla satin ribbon - great for tying beautiful bows.

I'm looking forward to trying these out on my own cards!

Stampin' Up Card Class - 18 April

Hi there. Just wanted to tell you about a card class that my fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Alex Spence, and I have organised.

The class takes place in Great Horton in Bradford on Wednesday 18th April, at 7.30pm.  The venue is the Impact Centre on Cross Lane (the ring road) which is in a converted cinema and home to the excellent young people's charity the Joshua Project.

You can see all the details in this flyer...



 
We are hoping this will become a regular class, and we will be supporting the Joshua Project with a raffle as well as donating 10% from all orders placed.

It would be great to see you there and please feel free to forward the details on to anyone you think might like to come along.

Stamp-a-stack March 2012

Stamp-a-stack is an evening of speed card-making run by Julie Kettlewell (I am very lucky to be in her wider Stampin' Up! team!).  We get to make 12 cards - 2 each of 6 different designs, in 3 hours, moving from table to table for each design!  It's so much fun!

Here are the cards I made this month...

And while I'm at it, here are the ones I made at February's stamp-a-stack...

Big Top Birthday

I just love Stampin' Up!s  Big Top Birthday papers - so fun and vibrant and perfect for children's birthdays.  I wanted to make up some sample cards and party items to show how versatile the papers are, and perhaps give people some ideas of how they can create a DIY kids party!

I made a birthday card, invitation, wrapping paper & tag, bunting, rosette age badge, pin wheels, popcorn boxes and treat flags.  I combined the Big Top Birthday papers with matching card and ribbons, the Fox and Friends stamp set (another perfect one for kids) and the pennant parade stamps with the petite pennant builder punch .

Fun Flowers Mothers Day card

Here is a picture of the mothers day card I made for my lovely mum.  I love the bright and happy colours. And I even managed to make it stand up!

Products used

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turqioise, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, Old Olive
Papers: Brights Paper Stack
Ink: Old Olive
Ribbon: Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon
Equipment: Bigs Fun Flowers die, Oval and Scallop Oval punches

I didn't have an envelope big enough so I used a 12x12 scrapbook paper I found in my old stash to 'wrap' my flowers in like a bouquet!

Happy Easter!

After seeing lots of versions of these bird houses online, made using the mini milk carton die and the bird builder punch, I knew I had to make my own!  And perfect timing for a very sweet Easter treat! Alex made up the first samples and I used her template to make up 20 of my own.  I filled them with teeny tiny mini eggs and sold some to friends and colleagues.

My first workshop

Sorry for the late posting of this - the review of my first ever Stampin' Up! workshop. I'll sum it up in a few words and pictures! First though, I want to say a huge thank you to Alex (my friend and upline) - she worked just as hard as me at preparing for my first workshop, including on the evening itself!!

The workshop was held at The Yard Pub in Ilkley. A new craft club called Ashlands Makes had recently been set up and a good friend and colleague Clare asked me to come and demonstrate at their next monthly meeting.  I went into overdrive in the days leading up to it, making samples for my display, preparing materials for a make and take card plus a choice of two 3D projects, and basically trying to cram everything I was going to say into whatever brain-space was left!

So on Monday 12th March Alex and I arrived at the pub early and had lots of time to set up.  We were able to create a fantastic display of cards and projects that Alex and I had made (and some items collected through swaps).  We had a cupcake card display, pots of flowers, fabric flower accesories, a childrens's party corner and an easter treats display!

24 ladies had been invited, I had prepared enough materials for 18, and 12 turned up.  It was actually a perfect number, and despite my nerves I managed to keep everyone's attention during my talk and demonstrations. 

When it was their turn to get crafting, all the ladies seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves making their cards and playing with the Big Shot!  All the samples and projects on display were a massive talking point I was asked so many questions about the products.

Overall I think it was a great start. Even though I only managed to encourage three ladies to place an order, I learned a lot and definately feel confident that the next one will be even better! Thanks again to Clare for being my first hostess and the Ashlands Makes Ladies for a great evening!

The Make and Take Card using the Sale-a-Bration stamp set 'Elementary Elegance'

Products used

Stamps: Elementary Elegance (SAB 2012)
Cardstock: Pool Party, Crumb Cake
Ink: Island Indigo, Crumb Cake
Ribbon: Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon

3D project 1 - mini milk carton treat box

Products used
Stamps: Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Marina Mist, Melon Mambo
Papers: Cheerful Treat (hostess product)
Ink: Melon Mambo
Ribbon: Concord Crush Poly-Stitched Ribbon
Equipment: Mini Milk Carton die, Jewellery Tag Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch

3D project 2 - a vase of flowers

Products used
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Brights, Soft Suede
Papers: Brights Paper Stack
Ink: Old Olive
Ribbon: Old Olive Taffetta
Equipment: Petal Cone Die, Fun Flowers die, Oval and Scallop Oval Punches