SIMPLY SKETCHED SATURDAY CHALLENGE - MERRIEST WISHES, MERRY TAG FRAMELITS

It's time for another Saturday Sketch Challenge and this month our sketch was chosen by Sally Shaw.

This was the sketch we had to work with.

Here is my card - I actually have to thank my dear husband for the inspiration for this - he saw me sitting looking at the sketch - having discarded a few ideas into the bin when he thought the stripes looked like ribbon - Eureka! as they say!

I used Cherry Cobbler cardstock for the base and some of the Designer Series Paper This Christmas Suite. The Ribbon is Mini Striped Ribbon in Tip Top Taupe but it looks almost silver against the paper.

I've used the Merry Tag Framelits again - love these with a bit of Smoky Slate Cardstock.  The Banner and Sentiment is from Banners for Christmas with a touch of Dazzling Diamonds around the outside.  On the cardstock just on the bottom left I've used one of the trees from the Foxy Friends set with Versarmark just to add a bit of interest to the cardstock. 

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO BE TAKEN ON TO  ANNA'S PROJECT

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THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY ON OUR BLOG HOP AND HAPPY CRAFTING 

 

 

 

POOTLERS DESIGN TEAM - TOTALLY TREES AUTUMN

It's week three of the Pootlers Design Team month of Totally Trees.  My cards have been going through the seasons and this week its Autumn.  My favourite time of the year, even though the nights are drawing in.  There is something so comforting about dark nights, fires, comfort food, and making preserves.

 I've used some of the Serene Scenery DSP here as the background - it looked kind of autumnal.  The sentiment comes from Jar of Love and I thought it had sort of an autumnal feel to it.  I do love this set and can see its going to be used a lot.




 

ENVELOPE PUNCH BOARD - CHRISTMAS CRACKERS -

Christmas Crackers are such an integral part of a British Christmas. I know when I lived in Houston, Texas I couldn't find them anywhere!  They are so easy to make and although they won't pop, at least you can decide what to put in them to suit whoever they are for.  You can also co-ordinate your Christmas table with colours to match your scheme - and gift favour bags to match - but that's another video for another day.

Here are a few samples using the Presents and Pinecones Designer Series Paper.  Some of our papers are on special offer at the moment, buy 3 get 1 free and this set was part of the offer.

 The Scroll and the Ho Ho Ho sentiment comes from Greetings From Santa set.

The Cracker below is the one I chose to do in the YouTube video.  This one uses the Heres to Cheers stamp set and the Merry Tag Framelits.  Dazzling Diamonds were added to the bauble for a touch of glitter.  Some Candy Cane Baker's Twine and Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine completes the cracker.

Here are the sizes

 DSP - 6.5" x 10"  (16.5 cm x 25 cm)
On the LONG side score at 1" (2.5cm) either side

On the SHORT Side score at 1" (2.5cm), 2" (5 cm) 3" (7.5) 4"(10cm), 5" (12.5 cm) and 6" (15 cm)

Burnish the folds and using the EPB punch at 2" (5cm) on both sides all the way down the paper.

Now score at both ends at 1.5" (3.5cm) 2" (5cm) and 2.5" (6 cm) - this is actually just before the punch, in the middle and just after.

I hope you enjoy making these crackers.  If you would like to purchase any of the supplies through me I'd be happy to help you.  Just click HERE to be taken to  my online store.

Don't forget to use the Hostess Code for October ~(shown on the right hand side of my blog) if your order is under £150 to get free product. If your order is over £150 you do not need to use the Hostess Code as you will automatically get free goodies.

If you are in the Hampshire area - do get in touch - I hold lots of classes both day times, evenings and weekends.  


 

ENVELOPE PUNCH BOARD - BOW CARD

The Envelope Punch Board is such a clever piece of kit.  Here I've used it to make the bows on my Christmas card.

The first card uses This Christmas DSP, Merriest Wishes and Merry Tag Framelits.

The second card actually uses some of our Envelope Paper which has been versamarked.  It doesn't quite show up in this photo though.

 If you would like to visit my YouTube channel to see how I made this card, click on the link below.

 

POOTLERS DESIGN TEAM - TOTALLY TREES SUMMER

Hi Crafters - its Thursday again which means another look at the Pootlers Design Team projects using the lovely set Totally Trees.  Look at all those lovely images to play with!!!!

In keeping with my theme of the seasons, my card today is a Summer card.

I've used Mint Macaron and Crumbcake for this card and I've also added some stamps from the Wetlands stamp set.  I've also used some of the DSP Serene Scenery.

I've used the palm trees from the set and added some of the coconuts and wanted to do a beach style card.  I used to rip my papers when I made cards years ago - I think this sort of went out of fashion but I may just re-introduce it.  It gives a softer feel to the paper which is what I wanted for my beach scene.

A touch of the Stitched Ribbon in Bermuda Bay and a tag from the Decorative Label Punch finishes off my card. The inks I used were Early Espresso and Old Olive for the branches. 

Thank you for stopping by and do go and see the great inspiration from the other team members.

Happy Crafting

 

I'VE DONE IT - YOU TUBE VIDEO

Woohoo - inspired by all my lovely team members and fellow SU Demonstrators I've finally bitten the bullet and made my own You Tube video.

I've showcased the Bag in a Box which I did for my Splitcoast Stampers Design Team for October.

 Here are the measurements for the project in case you didn't catch them on the video.

Box:

Piece of cardstock 4.5" x 4.5 " (11.5 cm) score at 1" (2.5cm) all the way round.

 Designer Series Paper:

 11" x 5.5" (28 cms x 13.5 cms)

An extra strip of 10" x 1" (25.5 cms x 2.5 cms)

 

   

I'd love to receive your comments on my first one - now I've started I want to make more and hopefully they won't take me 34 attempts to get it right!

 

WHY AM I A CRAFTER - SPLITCOAST STAMPERS CREATIVE DESIGN CREW

I'm lucky to be on a great team within SU with an inspiring Upline who recently set us the task of telling "our Story".  What started our journey with Stampin' Up!

My story actually began back in 2002.  I started crafting when a friend introduced me to scrapbooking and I took to it like a duck to water.  Before that the last time I had used glue, paper, inks had been when I was in Junior School and I loved the relaxing feel I got when scrapbooking precious family memories.

In 2002 our lives changed when we moved from Hampshire in the UK to Houston Texas.  I met a neighbour who knew I scrapbooked and asked whether I had ever tried rubber stamping.  I said no and she invited me over to my very first Stampin Up demo as she was a demonstrator.  She told me I would get hooked and at the time I didn't believe her.  Well.... she was right!  I loved everything about it and the fact that here I was, someone who didn't consider myself to have a creative flair for drawing, or paper or ink and I was making art!  Stampin Up made it easier for me and I was drawn into this creative world.

Fast forward to 2005 and I returned home to the UK with all the stamps and ink I could bring!  Fast forward three more years to 2008 and Stampin Up finally came to the UK and I signed up as one of the very first demos.  Sadly, though my time with SU only lasted a year and I actually put away all my crafting tools and didn't do anything for a long time.  

In 2015 I started up a small soap company and one day whilst looking for inspiration for soap boxes I came across Sam Hammond on YouTube making boxes.  So I got out all my old SU stuff and had a go.  I found I loved it so much I contacted Sam, became a Demo again and swapped soap for paper.

Twenty years ago I had given up my career to look after my children.  When they no longer needed me and they went off to University I looked around for a part-time job.  Even with my skills no-one wanted to hire me because I had been out of the workplace for 20 plus years.  So digging deep and finding some confidence I decided I was going to try and start my own business and it was going to include Stampin Up.

It has not been easy and it still isn't but then starting a business never is.  It takes time, money, committment and yes I believe a little luck.  I am still my best customer but I have a small customer base and I am going to keep knocking on doors and building my little empire and hopefully, as it says in the movies, they will come.

One of my favourites places to hang out when I first started using SU was Splitcoast Stampers.  A great forum with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for Stampin Up and now other stamp companies.

Imagine my delight when last month they asked me to be on their Design Team for the next few months.

Here are my projects for October:

Project one  was to be inspired by the image and I used the Jar of Love set and the flowers from Botanical Builder Framelits.

The second project was a step it up card - I used the lovely stampset Wetlands with some watercolouring in the background.

 The third project was a sketch and I turned the sketch around.  I used the set Totally Trees.

 The fourth project had to be a technique - so I used this great technique of a magic card which when it opens the sentiment is shown.
 

 All the other Design Team projects can be found on Splitcoast Stampers in the gallery here

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting 

 

POOTLES DESIGN TEAM - TOTALLY TREES - SPRING

 



I was so delighted to be given the chance to be on the Pootles Design Team for the month of October.  This means that every Thursday for the next month you will find a new project by the team using the stamp set Totally Trees which you will find in the new Winter Catalogue.

I adore this set Sam Hammond sent us.  And I must admit I over looked it when I was pouring over my new Catalogue for all its showier Christmas cousins.  But what a versatile set this is.  It comes as a Polymer set with 27 yes 27! stamps.

I am basing my cards for the next month on Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.  I do have a wonderful retired stamp set by SU from 2005 called Season by Season which actually has this wording on it but sadly I couldn't use it for this challenge.  But I found ways around using the actual words.  

So my Spring card uses one of the trees with extra leaves stamped on it.  The birds are a sweet addition to this set - those facing right to left have been stamped using the reverse technique.  Basically you stamp them on to some acetate and then press this on to your card stock.

 I've used Mint Macaron and Crumb Cake here - Mint Macaron is one of my favourite SU colours!  I've used some of the lovely DSP from the Serene Scenery.  The sentiment is from the Jar of Love set.

 

 For the ribbon I have glued some of the gorgeous Mint Macaraon Sheer Linen onto the Burlap which gives great texture.  A little addition of some Enamel shapes finishes off the card.






 

DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIAL OFFER FOR OCTOBER

What a fabulous offer we have starting today!

 Who doesn't love Designer Series Paper and in the Winter Catalogue and our  main catalogue we have such gorgeous papers that you will want to stroke, look at, drool over and yes, cut cut cut and use!




Our papers are perfect for cards, or 3d projects and don't forget they are all double sided.

An example of our Candy Lane Designer Series paper - so pretty at this time of year.

 So place your order from 1st October. Click on the image below to be taken to my store.

 


 I'd love to know which are your favourites?


 

HERES TO CHEERS - WETLANDS - WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY CHALLENGE

I've used this stamp set a few times now and not once has it been used for its intended purpose of New Year or Christmas gifts.  I love it when stamp sets are so versatile.  Especially when we can use Christmas style ones all year round.

The challenge set by the Watercooler team this week is a masculine card anything goes set by Kath Ricks.

Before I show you my card I must just display my badge for last week - I was thrilled to get an Honourable Mention.

And so on to my card.  I think its a recognised fact that we all struggle with male cards at one time or another.

I've turned to the Wetlands stamp set again.  These little birds are just so adorable and I've used some of the Serene Scenery DSP here.  Not the usual beach scene, but I wanted to use that lovely circle paper to offset the circles of my stamping.

The Cheers sentiment is from Here's To Cheers.  See, not just for Christmas.

 Do pop along and play with the Watercooler Team - they are a great bunch and always take the time out to comment on your blog - something sadly missing these days thanks to FB but its so nice to receive comments and know that there is someone out there!




 

RAK - GLOBAL DESIGN PROJECT

The Global Design Project has a great challenge this week - Random Acts of Kindness.  I've been making lots of these box cards with attached tealights - they make great presents and so far I've made a New Home one and a 60th birthday one - 

My entry for the GDP is a Christmas one.  I've used the lovely Candy Cane Lane DSP and Real Red cardstock.

 The size fits three little tea lights perfectly - I think Yankee Candles are slightly bigger than these ones though.

 I cut out the house from the DSP and attached it to one of the Merry Tag Framelits and attached to the card with some lovely Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine.  I used  Banners for Christmas Framelits for the sentiment and the sentiment itself came from Jar of Love.

The ribbon is Very Vanilla Stitched Satin - so beautiful to work with.

The whole card is then presented in a lovely box - I used Real Red Cardstock for the base and Candy Cane Lane DSP for the top.  A belly band was made in the same DSP and I used the Decorative Label punch with sentiments from Sweet Home stamp set.

If you would like to purchase a PDF tutorial for this project for £1.50 please lick on the paypal button below.