Project Life moving into 2012

2011 is coming to and end, wow, that year sure flew. I must say I am happy to see the end of 2011, it hasn't been my favourite year, but I have plans afoot to hopefully enhance 2012 :

One of my New Years Resolutions is to do a Project Life book/s for 2012. I think it will be great and am excited to get started. My life can be quite disorganised, so I'm hoping this project will help me find some order. I am quite disciplined and keep a journal anyway, so really a 12x12 book is just an extension of that. Photograph albums are all well and good, but if I can capture the essence and more of the memory than the photo portrays - I will have achieved my goal :-) Wish me luck.....

Happy New Year and I hope your resolutions go well too.

Clearance Blitz !

Until Jan 5th 2012, Stampin' Up! are having a big blitz of items, including punches in the older style - check it out :
http://www.stampinup.com

Stamping Group - December 2011

Two more adorable projects this month :

I think its safe to say I like the challenge of 3d projects ! Hence the lovely 3d tree on this months card. SU recipe :
Stamp set : Mini sentiment stamp from Delightful Decorations stamp set
Cardstock : Garden green, cherry cobbler, crumbcake, whisper white
Ink : Garden green, rose red, cromb cake, very vanilla craft ink
Tools : Real red stampin write marker (for the berries), Soft holly stampin around wheel, starburst stampin around wheel
Accessories - silver star brad (not SU)
Techniques : Rolling, stamping, brads, sponging

Two more adorable projects this month :

I LOVE the matchbox die, not only for the box itself but for the three shapes you can also cut. I used just two of them on this project. The box is so easy to assemble ad requires only a single piece of tape ! Intriguing isn't it ..... lol
The matchbox obviously wouldn't be complete without the chocolate ! lol

SU recipe :
Stamps : Just for you sentiment from the Just Believe stamp set
Cardstock : Soft suede, pink pirouette and beau chateau dsp
Ink : Chocolate chip
Tools : Matchbox die
Accessories : Pink pirouette taffeta ribbon
Techniques : Big Shot, Stamping

Kids Christmas craft party

How much fun to host a kids and Moms crafting party, in addition to the lovely Christmas cards and craft, we had Christmas music playing, lots of yummy ginger snacks and festive drinks. Everyone was getting into the Christmas spirit.

By combining the ornament punch with the cellophane bags we got these beautiful Christmas tree decorations. So easy to do, and great as ornaments on your tree and gifts.SU recipe :
Stamp set : Contempo Christmas
Ink : Concord crush
Paper : Whisper White
Tools : Ornament punch
Accessories : glitter paper for the 'o' in joy
Techniques : stamping and punching

The two cards we made :I love how an owl without ears = penguin ! All the kids were sufficiently glittered after this project :-)

SU recipe :
Stampset : sentiment from Sincere Salutations (my favourite go-to sentiment set)
Card sock : Whisper white, bashful blue, basic black and peach parfait
Ink : Bashful blue
Tools : Owl builder punch, Starburst stampin' around wheel (for the snowflakes in the background)
Accessories : Two-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds
Techniques : Punching, stamping, tearing, glittering


What a great stamp set in the holiday mini, stocking stamp set and matching punch - with a jingle !

SU recipe :
Stampset : Stiched stockings, Sentiment from Contempo Christmas
Cardstock : Cherry cobbler and whisper white
Ink : Blushing bride, Marina Mist, Real red
Tools : Stocking Builder Punch, Northern Flurry embossing folder, corner rounder
Accessories : Bakers twine, Jingle bells, Mini clothespins
Techniques : Embossing with the big shot, Punching, Stamping

Stampin' Up! Sale

There is a big sale on at Stampin' Up! until the end of the month.
Get in touch with me for more details.

Monthly Stamping Group - November 2011

I thought some embossing might be good this month, and used two totally different styles of cards to demonstrate the technique.

The first was an aged, distressed card, where the flowers were stamped with versamark and then ink, heat embossed and painted with either an aqua painter or blender pen.
SU recipe : Stamp set : Fifth Avenue Floral, Sincere Salutations
Cardstock : Not quite navy, very vanilla, Beau Chateau dsp
Ink : Versamark, not quite navy, chocolate chip
Accessories : Basic pearls, 1-8 taffeta rinnon in early espresso
Tools : large oval punch, aqua painter, blender pen, heat gun

The second card was a very CAS Christmas ornament card and matching tag. I love how iridescent ice makes the ornaments sparkle. Such an easy, and yet effective technique

SU recipe :
Stamp set : Contempo Christmas
Cardstock : Cherry cobbler, whisper white
Ink : Real red, basic black
Accessories : Cherry cobbler bakers twine, Versamark, Iridescent ice embossing powder
Tools : Ornament punch, corner rounder punch, simply scored scoring tool, heat gun

Hostess promotion Nov/Dec 2011

Dates: November 1-December 15, 2011

Details
Hostesses will receive an additional $45 in free Stampin' Up! products when they hold a workshop totaling $450 or more (excluding tax and shipping)! This is in addition to all the other benefits they already get as a Stampin' Up! hostess.

If your hostess' workshop sales total is	Your hostess earns hostess dollars		It's Good to Be the Hostess	Total Free Stampin' Up! Merchandise	Plus, hostesses earn full-priced items at 50% off
$450	$70	+	$45	$115	---
$525	$90	+	$45	$135	1 item
$650	$110	+	$45	$155	2 items
$1,000	$160	+	$45	$205	3 items
$1,350+	$210 plus 15% of amount over $1,350	+	$45	$255 plus 15% of amount over $1,350	4 items

Contact me for more info or to book your party :-)

Monthly Stamping Group - October 2011

So my monthly stamping group began in earnest. Such fun, such lovely ladies and gentlemen ! I'm looking forward to the next 9 months thats for sure :-)

Our first session began with a card and a goody bag !

The single layer card we made was using one of my all time favourites, Just Believe. Colours of the sponging were daffodil delight, peach parfait and bravo burgundy. Sponging always enhances a card I think, so the idea to sponge the whole background was just perfect. I made masking templates and used temporary double sided tape for the sponged area, which were then removed and the black border drawn in with a pen and ruler. A simple and very effective card.

I was very excited to see the cellophane bags in the new holiday mini. Lots of ideas sprung to mind.

Everybody loved the goody bags we made and a significant number of orders placed.

I used the new stamp set : Sweets for the Sweet, 2010/2012 in-colour cardstock and soft subtles designer series paper stack. The ribbon is 1/4" grossgrain. Every craft pack I gave out to my crafters contained different coloured papers and ribbons, so it was a very colourful result.
Thanks for stopping by, I'm off now to think of next months projects .....

Retiring items

Its getting almost time for the new 2011/2012 Stampin' Up! ideas book, and to make space for all the new stamp sets and accessories, SU are discontinuing lots and lots of items. Stamp sets will be available until the end of the month, but with the accessories - once they're gone, they're gone.
See link to SU website that contains the retiring list.

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx?cid=34

National Scrapbooking Month discounted items

Stampin' Up! have 30% off certain items (digital items and stamp sets) to celebrate the National Scrapbooking month of May. Check it out on the SU website:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx?cid=34

Inspired by Nature shadowed

I demoed this card recently for a party and it was very well received. I love the shadowing technique on the flowers.

SU recipe :
Stampset : Inspired by nature, Sincere salutations
Cardstock : Whisper white, Not quite navy, Blueberry crisp designed series paper
Ink : Sahara sand, Not quite navy
Accessories : linen twine, button, decorative label punch
Techniques : Stamping and shadow stamping, sponging, punching and tearing

Because I care

I love this hydrangea, a level 1 hostess set from the 2010-2011 Ideas Catalogue. Its such a beautiful flower. I'm sad I wont be able to demonstrate it anymore :(

I cased this card from one I saw on a blog recently, but have searched online and just cant find the original. I always like to give credit to the designer - but unfortunately am unable to in this instance.
SU recipe :
Stamp set : Because I care, music notes wheel
Cardstock : Very vanilla, crumb cake
Ink : Versamark, crumb cake, marina mist
Accessories : Chantilly lace, brad, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, embossing power and heat gun
Technique : Stamping, punching, stampin' around wheel, embossing, sponging and scrunching (flower)

Just Believe at sunset

I love the Just Believe Stamp set, it can atmospheric and emotional cards - if thats possible ! lol By masking the sun with a post it note, then sponging the rest of the area creates the atmosphere. I then did light sponging over the white area so it all blends together perfectly. Last thing is to stamp the flower image in black.SU recipe :
Stamp set - Just believe
Cardstock - Bravo burgundy, shimmer white, black
Ink - Barely banana, crumb cake, Bravo burgundy, black
Accessories - post it note, large tag punch, beautiful wings embosslits die, square lattace die
Technique - stamping, sponging, big shot, punching

Vintage vogue birthday

This card is for a 40th Birthday. Lots of cutting out of flowers and sponging. But my efforts paid off, I'm really happy with the result. Hope she is too :-)
SU recipe :
Stamps - Vintage Vogue, Notes Parfaites
Cardstock : dsp subtles, Marina mist and very vanilla
Ink - Marina mist, chocolate chip, bravo burgundy
Accessories - Vanilla and bravo burgundy brads, chantilly lace, Nestabilities oval and labels 18
Technique - Stamping, big shot, sponging

April offer

There is currently an SU sale going on, of discontinued products and goody bags. Check out my SU website.

Double embossing

I came across a really interesting technique recently and was excited to give it a try - double embossing. I had this card planned in my head for a few days. I LOVE the result.


SU recipe :
Stamps : Great friends
Cardstock : Very vanilla, Poppy parade, certain celery, basic black.
Accessories : Scallop trim border punch, two-step bird punch, basic black ink
Technique: Double embossing, punching, stamping

Baby cards

I think my favourite type of cards to make must be ones for celebrating the arrival of babies. I get very focussed and love the fine details I can add, in subtle hues. I've been enjoying the peace and quiet of my craft room for the past 2 hours working on his card. It will be in the mail later today for its international journey :) I dont do much dry embossing anymore, but its the perfect thing to add names and small details to cards. I used my ever faithful Stamp-a-ma-jig to put a row of rubber ducks on the inside of the card. So cute.

Recipe :
Stamp : SU Punch Bunch (2011 Sale-a-bration stamp set)
Cardstock : Very vanilla, soft subtles dsp
Ink : Baja Breeze
Accessories : SU chantilly lace
Techniques : Stamping, dry embossing, embossing folder run through the big shot

CAS

I keep coming across this abbreviation - 'CAS'. I have now researched and figured it out, it means Clean and Simple. Just my type of card :)

Flowers, flowers and more flowers

I am really loving the 'Build a Blossom' stamp set and punch that is in the current mini catalogue. I had fun yesterday making a few cards using just one of the petals, the set is so versatile, easy to use and always yields great results. I am also really enjoying the texturz plates, for a subtle background.
Recipe : Stamp set : Build a Blossom, Just believe
Cardstock : Whisper white, so saffron, pacific point, certain celery
Ink : se saffron, pacific point, certain celery
Accessories : Scallop trim border punch, texturz plate used in the Big Shot.

Recipe : Stamp set : Build a Blossom, Sincere Salutations
Cardstock : Pretty in pink, Bliss blue, Black
Ink : Pretty in pink, black, versamark (heat embossed)
Accessories : texturz plate used in the Big Shot

Craft fair

The day has arrived - my first craft fair ! I've never done one very so am having to think very hard about all the things I might need, but then dont want to take too much as I have to carry it ! Think I've found a good balance and made a decision about the card I will demo. Wish me luck :)

First party projects

So I hosted my first SU party last night. Apart from the fact that I had almost lost my voice, it went very well. There was a broad range of crafting experience present, so I chose a simple but effective card and a fun gerber daisy - credit to SU demonstrator Jenn Nusbaum for this idea.

Recipe : Stampset : Priceless, Three Little Words
Cardstock : Confetti white, certainly celery, perfect plum, Subtles DSP
Ink : Perfect Plum
Accessories : Ribbon punch, certain celery grossgrain ribbon
Techniques : Stamping, punching and decoupage (butterflies)


Recipe : Carstock - from Soft Subtles Collection
Accessories : Flower daises #2 die, Button, drinking straw, ribbon, used crystal effects glue to hold it all together
Techniques : Big Shot

First SU party approaches.....

My first SU party is tomorrow night. I am nervously excited, but really feel the pressure to produce some wonderful works of art, especially as its my crafty friends who are attending - pressure !!! lol Today I produced 6 variations on the same card and selected just one.

My all time favourite stamp set .....

...... Well, I should really say to date ! The winner has to be 'Priceless', its so adorable and versatile. A few examples of cards made with this stamp set :

SU recipe :
Stamp set : Priceless, En Francais
Ink : Bashful blue
Cardstock : Crumb cake, whisper white

SU recipe :
Stamp set : Priceless, Sincere Salutations
Ink : Perfect Plum, Wild wasabi
Cardstock : Confetti white

I love to do dry embossing, but sadly the Priceless co-ordinated brass template is no longer available from SU.

Creative day

A productive day in my craft room, which, by the way is considered a legitimate past time now I am officially an SU demonstrator.

Todays creations :
Recipe :
Stamp set : Vintage Vogue
Ribbon : Marina Mist satin
Ink : Marina Mist, chocolate brown, versamark
Cardstock : Very vanilla, chocolate chip
Punch : Scallop trim border

Recipe :
Stampset : Just Believe
Ribbon : Hemp twine
Ink : Chocolate chip, pretty in pink
Cardstock :Confetti white, chocolate chip, designer series subtles
Embelishment : Designer Button - subtles

Stampin Up

I am very happy to announce the start of a new adventure. I have just become a Stampin Up demonstrator. I am really looking forward to doing something that I feel really passionate about, and being able to share this with others. I remember going to my first Stampin Up party and getting a catologue. I leafed through said catologue at every opportunity, I slept with it under my pillow for the first month ! Even now, years later, I'm still at it !!! lol You certainly cant get a better recommendation for a product than that ! So watch this space, lots of Stamping Up creativity happening here, cards, scrapbooking, digital, projects and more.....

A new craft blog

I am a normal person, living a normal family life, but totally inspired and in awe of the amazing craft blogs that are out there. I'm actually still figuring out the whole blog thing and currently trying to customise my background. Following a path successfully tread by many before me - so I'm sure I can figure it out.
I love to craft, cardmaking and scrapbooking, but am moving onto projects - decorations, banners, gifts and turning things into other useful things.
Most of my craft supplies have been amassed over the last 8 years or so from craft stores in the UK and Canada. My favourite craft stash is now purchased from Stampin Up, Papertrey Ink, My Favourite Things, Hero Arts and Creative Memories. However, my wish list is somewhat more extensive than my funds allow ! LOL Maybe you can relate :-)
I love my stash, I love my craft room, I love the time I spend in there. If only there were more time to spend contemplating and producing and creating - but when I get chance what a wonderful way to spend my time.
In my blog I hope to detail my crafting achievements, as well as discuss the other important elements in my life, my love of reading, movies, music and sport. I enjoy cooking, baking and am a avid tea drinker - Yorkshire tea only - none of that orange pekoe stuff !
Welcome to my blog I hope you enjoy your time here.
Nikki x