BIRTHDAY BLOOMS, HONEYCOMB HAPPINESS MEANDER BOOK

 

I found a great little technique on Split Coast Stampers - this little Meander Book.  You'll find the link here  so I thought I'd have a play.  I was initially going to do it for Convention in Telford but the folding was quite tricky and I think if I had to do loads of them I'd go slightly mad!!!

It uses a 12 x 12 piece of Designer Series Paper - I used the Subtles in Calypso Coral - not a colour I normally use but I actually found it quite nice so maybe I'll have a go with using it a bit more.

I don't have the corresponding ink so I used Pumpkin Pie for the flower from the Birthday Blooms set.  The little banner is from Banner Banter set used with the punch.  I use this set quite a lot.

For the covers I just used card stock not Chip board as Beate did.  This card stock was Lost Lagoon.

The little book can be used as a mini scrapbook or to put tags or labels in.  The pages can be decorated or left plain.

I hope you like this little project and I'd love to see any of your makes if you copy it.

Happy Crafting

Fiona 

BIRTHDAY BLOOMS WOOD-MOUNT STAMP SET

Price: £24.00

BANNER BANTER CLEAR-MOUNT BUNDLE

Price: £20.75

Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack
Price: £20.00

HONEYCOMB HAPPINESS/BIRTHDAY BLOOMS #GDP024

Its a gorgeous Spring day here in Hampshire today.  Cold and frosty this morning but the sun is shining - so uplifting to see a blue sky!!  Here's a wonderful picture I took of the local River Anton when out walking with my two dogs.   Here's my dogs just in case you haven't met them before - The English Springer on the left is called Bracken - he's our rescue dog and a right mad thing.  Our dog on the right is Tegan, she's a Welsh Springer Spaniel and much better behaved.  They are both great friends.

Back to crafting.  I'm joining in with the challenge over at Global Design Project to CASE one of Michelle Lasts's cards.  Here's her card for us to work with

Here's my interpretation.

I've used Honeycomb Happiness stamp set - that wonderful cute versatile little chick and the small flower from Birthday Blooms.  Designer Series Paper in Subtles were used for the backgrounds and Early Espresso for the card. and So Saffron for the chicks.

A little trick with the chick.  He has such cute feet but they are very tricky to try and cut round.  I  double stamped him and cut him out and fixed him with dimensional.


He is stamped in So Saffron and a touch of Pumpkin Pie with the flower stamp from Birthday Blooms.  I did the stamp off technique so that the flowers weren't too dark - not sure if it shows up but it actually looks as though he has feathers.

A little bit of Wink of Stella on his beak finishes the chick off.  The little flower was also stamped just around him.



Hope you like him - thanks for looking!

All items used can be purchased from my Stampin' Up! shop here

BIRTHDAY BLOOMS - TWO COLOUR WAYS

 I thought I'd share with you two different colour ways of using the wonderful rose flower from the Birthday Blooms set.

In the top one I 've used Cherry Cobbler and actually cut the rose out and mounted it on some of our Designer Series Paper to make it look like ribbon.

 This card uses Night of Navy and has been watercoloured with our inks and an Aqua pen.  The wording on the side is unfortunately an old SU set and says Joy. I'm entering this into the Addicted to Stamps and More challenge this week which is to use your markers or watercolours.

BIRTHDAY BLOOMS

 Its always nice to get stamps that you can watercolour and this flower stamp is no exception.  From our Spring/Summer Catalogue Birthday Blooms is going to be a firm favourite.

What's more you can get the co-ordinating papers and cardstock too.Click on the paper to go to my website and see all the great co-ordinating accessories.

I've done two examples here - the first is with some Designer Series Paper as a background - this is the Regals in Always Artichoke.  The flower has been coloured with Marker Pens to create the different colours of the flower and the stems and leaves.  Then watercoloured.

 This example has also used the Serene Silhouettes stamp set - which has been stamped off three times to give fading images.  This is a one layer card which I'm putting in to the Less is More blog challenge - theyve asked for a simple card with a stem and also Addicted to CAS which asked for Blooms.

 All products can be found on my Stampin' Up! Website - here

Honeycomb Happiness

I'm loving this Honeycomb Happiness stamp set already and I've only had it a day . I think it has endless possibilities.

Here is the little blue chick feeling a bit sorry for himself - the letters are from an old SU set called Brushstroke Alphabet. This idea was cased from UnderstandBlue.

I think he'd put a smile on someone's face who may be feeling a bit down.

The Ice Cream cones from the same set.  The addition of the very cute Honeycomb Embellishments bring a different dimension to cards.  A touch of Wink of Stella and the saying cut out with our Decorative Label punch.

Honeycomb Happiness Stamp set -

 one of our free sets on Sale-A-Bration month until end of March 2016.

Still playing around with the wonderful Cupcake Party stamp set and the matching punch.  This time I've used Soft Sky card-stock  and Designer Series Paper.  This is an unusual colouring for me as I normally go for more earthy colours - had to put a touch of pink in there somewhere though just to lift it.

I added a touch of Dazzling Diamonds to the cupcake at the bottom.  I'm ' Upnearly at the end of my Dazzling Diamonds - when I tell you that I bought it in 2008 you can see it lasts a long, long time.  I'm actually still using Stampin' Up! inks that I purchased in 2002 and they are still going strong - how economical is that!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Envelope Punch Board and Easter Basket

A lovely little Easter Basket using Designer Series Paper in Subtles So Saffron and paired with Blushing Bride cardstock.  The little bow and the flower have been made with the Envelope Punch Board.  This little basket has been filled with duck egg blue soaps!  If you haven't tried an Envelope Punch Board yet - you don't know what you're missing.  They make much more than just envelopes!

I've been asked how to make this little basket and the bows and the flowers so here goes.

For the basket - take a piece of 6" x 6" card stock -(sorry I work in inches)

score at 2" and 4" - turn and score again at 2" and 4" - you should now have 9 squares.  Cut the bottom left and bottom right of the cardstock up to the middle score line.  Repeat on other side - you should have a square in the middle which is free.

You'll also need Designer Series Paper  x 8 squares at 1 7/8"

Use Envelope Punch Board to corner round all four edges of the card stock and only four squares of the DSP. Add DSP to the cardstock leaving a blank in the middle which is the bottom of the basket.  Then just fold in the sides and secure either with glue or a brad.

The flowers are just the bits that come from an EPB when you use the corner rounder.  Cut out a small circle maybe 1" out of scrap - add a brad or similar to the middle and simply glue the little pieces round the circle.

For the bow - You need three pieces of cardstock - sizes

1" x 6" - punched with the EPB at 3" turned and punched again at 3"

1" x 3.5" - cut or use a punch to piont the ends

1/4" x 1/4"

With the larger piece - simply fold in the edges into the middle to form a bow.  Add the smaller piece to the back which gives the tails.  Wrap the tiny piece round it all in the middle to finish it off.

Might try and make this at our Easter themed gathering at the Lunar Hare in Andover on 7th March.

Its a lovely cold blue sunny day here in Hampshire today so thought I'd share a picture of my two dogs enjoying their walk. The one on the left is an English Springer Spaniel called Bracken and the one on the right is a Welsh Springer Spaniel called Tegan.

Another example of Serene Silhouettes with a touch of Banner Banter and Cupcake Party - three stamps used in one card!

The Celebrate You from Cupcake Party was embossed with white embossing powder just to make it pop.  The background paper is part of the Subtles Designer paper pack in Pear Pizzazz.

Ladies Who Latte and Serene Silhouettes

I belong to my local Ladies Who Latte group and we meet once a month for coffee and to network about our businesses.  So many of the ladies had not heard of Stampin' Up! and loved looking at the products and the catalogues.  Fingers crossed for a few party orders!

Today's card is using the Serene Silhouettes -I've used the wood mounted stamps.  Still my favourite way of stamping and I think this stamp set is going to turn out to be one of my favourites sets and so versatile.  The only thing - I wish it had a word stamp with it.  Still, can't have everything.  I've used Old Olive here - another old favourite of mine and I'm so pleased to see it is still a current colour together with white and basic black cardstock.  The joy stamp is an old SU stamp.

I've used the Masking Technique here to do the background ink colour and used one of our scallop punches to form the shape.  I used the 3/4" size.   A little like a sun I think.  A touch of white gel pen is added to the flowers and finished off with a taffeta ribbon.

 

Sale-A-Bration

Now is a great time to Join Stampin' Up! as a Demonstrator and earn even more free goodies.  If you join before March 31st you get a chance to add extra products into your starter kit!  Join my team or drop me a line if you'd like to chat about all Stampin' Up! has to offer.

Our sample card today uses the sweet Cupcake Party set with its co-ordinating punch.  And if you buy the two together you save an extra 15% - see cupcakes are good for you!  The Set comes with 10 stamps and you can either purchase wood block stamps or clear stamps.

I've used some of the Designer Series Paper here for background.

 

SaleABration

Now is a great time to purchase some goodies from Stampin' Up! as its Sale-A-Bration time.  Click on the image on the right hand side and it will take you direct to the SU website where you can have a browse. 

That means a chance of earning FREE products when you purchase up until 31 March 2016.

I've been playing with a wonderful stamp set called Serene Silhouettes - I can see this is going to be one of my favourites at the moment.  Here I've also used the Brayer tool to make the background.  The sentiment Just For You is from the Banner Banter set which has a corresponding punch which makes life a lot easier.

 

I'm back!

Its nice to be blogging again and its nice to be crafting again.

I've been able to set up my old blog as my new blog showing all things Stamping' Up! as I have become an SU demonstrator, again!  I originally joined in 2007 - can't believe it was that long ago - but circumstances meant I had to pull out.  But I'm back - raring to craft again and catching up with all that's changed in blogging land, crafting land since my 'retirement'.

As well as my SU stuff though I will be adding a few extra personal bits on here - I love to make preserves, jams, chutneys, oils vinegars and from time to time will be sharing recipes and ideas on here.  I am also loving my new find of needle felting and will be sharing my felted animals as they emerge.

Hence my new name Crafty Stamping - I think that covers quite a few areas.

So today I've received my new kit from SU and have been playing again.  Some of my old inks are still relevant - can you believe I've had them since 2002 and they are still going strong!  How's that for an advert for how good SU is - if I were to work out how much that ink pad cost and how long its lasted - the cost would be minimal!

I'm  working off a new Mac at the moment so bear with me with images whilst I try and work out the best way to show them.

In the meantime here's a quick image of today's playing with the Cupcake Party set and the Cupcake punch.  Loved playing with this punch.  I can see cupcakes everywhere!

Oh my goodness!

Karen, look!!  I'm posting!

And blogger has changed and I'm trying to find my way around again.

Oh my goodness, I've actually done some crafting for the first time in well over a year.  I must admit I've missed my blog and my blogging friends.  Here's hoping I can keep motivated and carry on.

It's the Christmas bug that's brought me out of the woodwork and Tim Holtz in particular lol!  I've had a go at his Christmas tags, this one is from his 2012 series and, although I don't have much of his stuff, I improvised.

It was like finding old friends getting all my crafting bits and bobs out.  There was a lot of oohing and aahing  and 'oh I remember you'  and 'how on earth does this work' going on.

I'm going to try and do some more today and see if I can keep going while I've got the bug again.

HAPPY ST DAVID'S DAY

If you're Welsh - you'll know what this special day is. If not St David is Wales' patron saint and today, 1st March, is his Feast Day. All over Wales, children will be dressing up going to school, people will wear daffodils or leeks and favourite foods may be eaten. Welsh cakes are a particular favourite and so easy to make. The picture in the calendar is of one of Wales' beautiful beaches - why go abroad?

St David - or Dewi Sant as he is known in Wales - was a 6th C monk who became a bishop. Before he was born his father, a prince of Ceredigion, which is a part of Wales, had a dream in which an angel told him that if he went down to the River Teifi he would discover three treasures that would fortell the life of his unborn son, a stag, a salmon and a swarm of bees. these three are sacred creatures of the Celtic animal kingdom and they bring the gifts of spiritual power, wisdom and sweetness.

Despite his high rank in the Church, David and his monks lived a life of simplicity in West Wales, wearing nothing but animal skins, labouring in the fields cultivating bees and caring for the poor and sick. The last advice he gave his followers before his death was to pay attention to the "little things" in life rather than get caught up in th eillusion of grand gestures. His saying "Gwnewch y pethau bychain" "Do the little things" is a well known phrase in Welsh and has proved a timeless inspiration and a recipe for peace of mind.

Saint David's Day is a day of Welsh national and cultural pride all over the world. The flag of Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon, will be flying high and festivities include singing dancing poetry and wearing of the daffodil or leek. Thanks to Mara Freeman from her book Kindling the Celtic Spirit for the information on St David.

Catching up with friends...

I had a great day yesterday with my blogging friend Karen - Missy K. We talked and talked and put each other at ease when we found out we are both going through the same things at this stage in our lives - we're both nearly 50 - note I said NEARLY!!!!

It really helps to talk things through with friends who understand exactly how you're feeling and why. Makes us feel normal! We had a good mooch round the shops in Stockbridge, Hampshire - a very pretty little village - and I found some fabulous wallpaper.

Readers of my blog will know I love hares - and look at this fab paper I found made by two designers based in Wiltshire - affording it may be another matter though - can you see what it is?

Boxing Hares!!! By a company called BarnebyGates. Love it! They had many other lovely papers - and one with robins on which I was also partial to.

Couldn't let my blog pass without putting on a picture of my Welsh Springer Spaniel Tegan which a friend too for me when they looked after her the other day -

HAPPY IMBOLC

Happy Imbolc to those of you who know what it is - Happy Groundhog day to those of you who call it that and Happy Candlemas day to those who call it that. A spring festival to help us emerge from the depths of winter. Throw those windows open - brrr here in the UK this morning - and let the fresh air in. Get out that broom (!) and sweep away the cobwebs. The original Spring Clean day!

You'll find lots more about Imbolc and some recipes over on my other blog www.festivalsandfeasts.blogspot.com

I'm going to attempt to do some scrapbooking today - wish me luck. I have a printer which won't print and in this digital age I need to get some photos off my computer! grrrr!!!

2012? What happened to 2011?/A new Project

I can't believe I haven't been on here since May 2011. That also means I haven't been doing any crafting since that time either - although I did make some Christmas cards. I have set myself a project which has to be done by March - a scrapbook so hopefully I will be able to get some crafting done and put some up on here.

I had a lovely email from Carolyn asking me to join in with her new Tag blog - I'm going to try and join in and get back into the swing of things - especially when the weather is so miserable at the moment.

On another note though - I will be starting a new blog Festivals and Feasts - its my aim in 2012 t0 write a Pagan cookery book, detailing all the Festivals through the year that are celebrated and putting together some recipes and ideas for celebration. As well as the book I thought I could also blog about how I get on = it may keep me motivated. So if you are interested in eating seasonal food at the right time - no strawberries in December in this cookbook, pop on over and join in.

How Long????????????

How long has it been since I posted on here? Ages!!!! Lots has been going on - the only bit of crafting I have been doing though has been a scrapbook for a friend's Wedding - that kept me busy and I didn't even remember to take pictures of it before I gave it away. A bit silly of me.


As well as crafting though - I have also been learning to be a Chocolatier and have joined Chocolate Craft At Home - a chocolate company offering chocolate parties - not only do you get to see and taste yummy chocolates but I also do a chocolate demonstration and show you how to make your own chocolates. I've set up a separate blog to record my chocolate endeavours so if you love chocolate - pop over and see what I'm up to. I'll be adding yummy chocolate recipes and, if you're in the Andover Hampshire area give me a shout if you fancy a party.



Here's a picture to give you an idea. Yummy! www.fionawhitehead.blogspot.com if you fancy having a peek!