Some Pretty Petals projects CASED from the Stampin' Up! Catalogue and some pretty good deals to be had too!

Today I have another couple of versions of the Six-sided Sampler card that is on page 105 of the Stampin' Up! 2015-16 Annual Catalogue, similar to my recent CASE that I based my team training swaps on.

Here is the original card that is in the Catalogue. I think it is so pretty:

And here are the CASED versions I showed you recently, that I made for my Inspiration Station based on the Go Wild Designer Series Paper (DSP) Stack. (The second of these photographs shows my 3x3" swaps.):

I so love the layout of the Stampin' Up! card and I really wanted to try it in other colourways. I recently bought a stack of the 6x6" (15.2x15.2cm) Pretty Petals DSP, which, like the Go Wild stack has a matching cardstock pack to go with it. The DSP Stack has 48 sheets of gorgeously patterned papers (4 sheets each of 12 double-sided designs) for a bargain £7.25/9,75€. The Pretty Petals A4 Cardstock Pack has 8 sheets each of Calypso Coral, Old Olive and Mint Macaron (so 24 A4 sheets in total, for £6.50/8,50€) - perfect for making multiples of your projects and for getting the most out of your paper stacks too!

I have been itching to use the Pretty Petals papers ever since I got it, but haven't had a chance until now - here is what I made yesterday:

Aren't those patterns just gorgeous - and I've only used a few of them in these two cards. I decided to just use three punched hexagons of the paper on the Mint Macaron card - mainly because I couldn't decide which of the remaining gorgeous patterns to use for the two extra hexagons - there are so many fabulous combinations and they all look good!

I used the Silver Metallic Thread, Silver Glimmer Paper and Silver Glitter Adhesive on these ones, instead of the gold, as per the black and white cards above. I also used Very Vanilla as the mat layer on the card, as the Pretty Petals DSP is vanilla-based instead of white-based. I love how muted and vintage these look with the use of the Very Vanilla and I wonder why I don't seem to use Very Vanilla more often in my projects? Silly really, as it gives such a nice, soft look, don't you think?

I am going to use these as one of my next class projects. I will make an Old Olive version when I demonstrate to my class attendees how to make them, so that they can choose which of the three base colours they prefer. I might even offer them the option of making the Go Wild black/white/taupe version too!  I love how just one example shown in the catalogue, has inspired so many versions of effectively the same card, but with such different outcomes. Just goes to show how versatile Stampin' Up! Products are and how beautifully they coordinate with each other!

Which one is your favourite? I'm not sure I can decide!

Here are a couple of close-up shots to show you the butterflies in more detail - I have used the Bold Butterfly Framelits SO much since I got them, they are so pretty and so useful:

I love how the Silver Glimmer Paper, Glitter Adhesive and Metallic Thread shine so prettily in these photographs. They really are that shiny in real life - sometimes it can be hard to capture just how shiny they are in photographs. It was such a dull and gloomy day yesterday; I had to resort to using my daylight lamp when taking these pictures, rather than my usual preference of diffused, natural daylight. A happy "accident" perhaps? - They do say that things happen for a reason! Hehe!

Talking of happy things - today we have a new set of Weekly Deals out! Again, there is only a limited stock of each item, so once that item's allocation has sold out, the deal price will no longer be available and the item will revert to its normal, full catalogue price.  So hurry up and place that order if you don't want to miss out on the discounted prices! I think that there are some fantastic products this week. Come and take a look:

I have the Stars Framelits and have used them so much - and not just for Christmas projects. Having seen what is in this week's deals, I have had an idea for a card that uses the Stars Framelits and the Every Day Chic Designer Washi Tape, plus the Metal Rimmed Pearls... so come back soon and see what I come up with!

To buy any of these Weekly Deals items click here and you will go to my online shop. Remember to add the host code of FQZ4JER4 (for this and any other online purchases from me before 31 July 2015) and I will send you a thank you gift in the post in August. To get your gift, you will have to make sure that you un-check the "no contact" option, otherwise I will not be given your contact details and will not know to whom or to where to send your gift! If you have any questions, please do contact me to ask and I shall be happy to help!

Thank you for taking the time to visit and read my blog post today. I do hope you have been inspired to go and do some crafting yourself. Do leave me a comment, as I would love to hear what you think of today's projects.

So, until next time, happy stamping everybody!

Lucy x

A handy notepad and pen-holder wallet using Stampin' Up!'s Envelope Paper and Watercolor Wings butterflies!

Hello, today I have a project for you that I think would make a lovely gift - whether as a teacher thank you, for a friend's birthday, or even a "just because" kind of a present for someone who is in your thoughts... 

It is a notepad and pen holder wallet, with a pair of coordinating butterfly paperclip bookmarks tucked into the pocket inside:

The front cover is decorated with the lovely woodgrain patterned Envelope Paper in Tip Top Taupe, with a small taupe and Mint Macaron,  Watercolour Wings butterfly popped up on dimensionals. The wallet has a closure made using half inch circle punched pieces of cardstock placed on dimensionals. Whisper White Bakers' Twine is attached under the righthand side circle and it wraps, in a figure of eight, around both of the circles to keep the wallet closed:

Inside there is a small notepad (decorated at the top with the same patterned envelope paper as the front cover) plus a loop to hold a small pen. There is also a handy inside pocket, decorated with the same paper. Tucked into this are two large paperclips, that I decorated with butterflies stamped in the same colour inks as the one on the front cover:

Here are the butterfly paperclips, aren't they cute?

I love how versatile the Watercolor Wings butterfly stamps are - especially in combination with the Butterflies Thinlits and Bold Butterflies Framelits. I have used the same two colours (Mint Macaron and Tip Top Taupe) for all the butterflies, and have stamped off some of the ink to give more tones of the same colour to add interest.

I do like practical, useful things, especially when they are pretty too and I think that this notepad and pen-holder wallet fits the bill perfectly, don't you? I think that anyone who likes to be organised would appreciate this as a little gift. It is very quick and easy to make these wallets and they don't cost much either, which is handy if you have several people you want to give them to! You could also make several for yourself and keep one in your handbag, one by your bed for those things you think of when you should be falling asleep at night and maybe one on your desk for jotting notes on during the day too?

We made these wallets in my card class last week and everyone really enjoyed making them!  I gave the ladies a choice of colourways, using the different 2015-2017 In Color Envelope Paper colours as a starting point, so they were all a bit different and their butterflies were beautiful.

Unfortunately I was enjoying the class so much that I totally forgot to take any photographs of their finished wallets - oops! I blame my forgetfulness on  the unusually hot weather we had that day and the distraction of the yummy berry and coconut icecream that I had made especially for the class as a cooling treat! (I normally bake cakes for my classes, but it was far too hot to have the oven on in my kitchen, the day before the class - hence my decision to make the icecream instead! Yum!) 

Well, that's it for today, so, until next time, happy crafting everyone! Hope the sun is shining on you, wherever you are!

Come back soon to see some of projects I made for a team-training event, using the fabulous "Go Wild" Designer Series Paper Stack as my inspiration...

Happy crafting to you all.

Lucy x

Every cloud has a silver lining... with sprinkles of a cheery life!

On the whole I have quite a "glass half-full" kind of mindset, so the cheery sentiments in the Stampin' Up! charity stamp set "Sprinkles of Life" really appealed to me as soon as I saw them! I especially loved the words "Every cloud has a silver lining - you just have to look up to see it." I am a great believer of how changing how you decide to view things in life can change your whole outlook and well-being. I'd rather have a half-full glass life than a half-empty one any day... wouldn't you? I think that the old adage of "smile and the whole world smiles with you" rings quite true as well!

So how about a cheery card to help you on your way?

I love how versatile this stamp set is - I just know that I will be using this set time and time again. Just look at all the different sentiments and images that come in this 22 piece stamp set:

Sprinkles of Life, photopolymer stamp set: 139971 £19.00

I like to "work smarter, not harder" where I can and if I can re-use a card design, or even just the layout, for more than one occasion then I do try to - afterall, why spend time, effort and energy re-inventing the wheel every time you need something new, eh? Bearing this time- and energy-saving idea in mind, I decided to use the following card design for both a team training/monthly-meet-up event's "Make and Take" as well as for one of my card-class projects last week. It meant that I only had to design one project, not two, and I could prep the card-kit packs for both events at the same time! Hopefully that makes me efficient, not lazy, ooer! hehe

I wanted to make a card that was a little bit different, but still stayed true to the set... Here it is:

Every Cloud Hot Air Balloon Card

The clouds and sentiment were stamped onto whisper white cardstock with Versamark ink (after first wiping the card with my trusty Embossing Buddy to remove static and fingerprints) and then Stampin' Up! Silver Embossing Powder was liberally poured over it; the excess powder tipped off and then my heat tool was used to heat-set it. I love the alchemy of heat embossing - it never fails to wow me when I see the dull grey powder melt and transform into lovely shiny raised silver! Little things please little minds, I  know, I know...but I love it! The silver-edged clouds were then punched out using the fantastic new Tree Builder Punch and glued onto the Soft Sky layer of card with Tombow Multipurpose Glue.

The cheery 3-D Hot air balloon was made using the 1 3/4" Circle Punch to cut four circles (one each of Mint Macaron, Cucumber Crush, Watermelon Wonder and Delightful Dijon). I folded each circle in half, scored the folds with my bone-folder and then stuck them together so that they fanned out into a half sphere shape as seen above. This was then glued down onto the soft sky background, over the silver-lined clouds. The balloon can easily be folded flat when you want to put  the card into the envelope for posting. I stamped the basket in Tip Top Taupe ink onto Tip Top Taupe cardstock and fussy cut it out with my much-loved paper snips and then hand-drew the balloon ropes directly onto the card with the Tip Top Taupe Write Marker.

The card was finished off with a little bird stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and coloured in with the brush tip end of the Tip Top Taupe Write Marker, then I punched it out using the Tree Builder Punch. The little flower on the basket was stamped with Watermelon Wonder ink onto Watermelon Wonder cardstock and this was also punched out with the Tree Builder Punch; with a rhinestone jewel added for a bit of extra bling! The A6-sized card base is cut from Mint Macaron A4 cardstock. I really love the cute little bird and the dinky little flower - but being so tiny, it can be very easy to lose them on your desk if you are not careful!

I am happy to report that both my fellow-Pinkies team mates and my class ladies, all really enjoyed making this card and I hope you will too...

One of the best bits about teaching card-making classes is seeing how each person takes my designs and makes them their own, just by changing up a little thing here and there. I love all the slight variations in the cards in the next photographs - whether it is changing the taupe bird to a bluebird; adding a candy dot instead of a rhinestone to the flower; or, decorating the balloon rather than the basket with the flower; adding a pair of birds instead of just one; or, adding a bit of colour to the clouds; changing the shape of the sentiment banner; or even deciding to put the greeting inside the card instead of on the front of the card! I think they are all lovely cards, don't you agree?

I hope that I have inspired you with this cheery, 3-D hot air balloon card today? I would love to know what you think about it and which variation is your favourite!

Remember that you can buy all the items to make this card yourself from my online shop here and if you use the hostess code 7PDWG4W3 when you place your online order with me during June 2015, then I will send you a little gift in July to say thank you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

And don't forget that Stampin' Up! will donate £2 from every sale of the "Sprinkles Of Life" Stamp Set to the RMHC UK charity - so, by purchasing this beautiful and versatile stamp set, you will be helping to make a difference to peoples' lives, by helping families stay together when their child is ill and being looked after in hospital away from their home.

Well, that's it until next time, so, happy crafting; bring some cheer to someone else and don't forget to look up, to see those silver linings in your life! :)

Lucy x

Click here to find out how you can get two stamp sets for free when you buy a starter kit and join my team before the end of June 2015.

New toy alert!!

Oh my gosh! I have an amazing new tool which I absolutely ADORE! It is the brand new Stampin' Up! Texture Boutique Embossing Machine... and I love it!

"So what is it?" I hear you cry! Well... here are a few facts and figures to explain:

• It allows you to dry-emboss textured patterns onto your card/paper using the Textured Impressions Embossing Folders from Stampin' Up!
• It is lighter and smaller than a Big Shot (but, unlike the Big Shot, it does not cut)
• Because of its size and lightness it is easier to transport, so you can emboss anywhere!
• It is a bargain at only £26.95 (the product code is 132657)
• It even comes with its very own cute mini screw-driver so you can put its handle on when you get first get it out of its box!! (Love that!)

I took mine with me to my card class yesterday and the ladies all loved it (so much so that several of them ordered one straight away!) We used the machine to make of our three card projects and I gave them a choice of several embossing folders to use on their cards. I think their favourite folder design, by far, was the Decorative Dots one (which you can get for FREE if you spend £45 as it's one of the SALE-A-BRATION items!).

In fact if you buy the Texture Boutique and three embossing folders for it, during the SALE-A-BRATION period, you would qualify for a FREE item from the SALE-A-BRATION brochure - one of which is the Decorative Dots folder! Bargain, or what, hey?!

Here's another look at my card class sneak peek photo from my last post, which shows you the gorgeous textured dotty pattern that you get with the Decorative Dots embossing folder:

A little word of warning though: Stampin' Up! only have a limited initial supply of these fabby machines and once those supplies have been snapped up, they won't be getting any more in until the launch of the new Annual Catalogue in July... so don't delay, place your order with me today to avoid disappointment and what I imagine would seem a very long wait! :O)

That's it for today, I'm going off to play with my favourite new toy again!! Be sure to come back tomorrow, though, as I'm taking part in another Pinkies Blog Hop and I will be showing you a couple of projects I've made using some of the new products from the Spring Summer 2014 Catalogue...

So, until tomorrow, happy crafting everyone!

Lucy x

February Card Class Sneak Peek!

Hello!

I am SO looking forward to starting my new classes - thank you so much to those who have already booked a spot on the February and March classes! Can't wait to see you all, stamp with you and have some fun...

Here are a couple of  sneak peek pictures of two of the up-coming class projects that we will be making in February... hope you like them! If you want to see the whole project(s), then you'll just have to book a place on my class!! ;O)

 

 

 

 

There is still time to book a place on my Feb. 6th morning class - if you are very quick! Just contact me before 8pm today (Wednesday) to let me know! If you can't make it to that class, then how about the evening class on the 26th Feb.?

 

 

Want more details about my classes? - Then click on the Classes and Events tab above, where they are all listed, along with a bit more information too.

 

If you book a place on one of my classes and book a space for a friend, who is new to me, too, then BOTH you AND your friend will get a FREE GIFT from me at the class, as a thank you! I've been busy wrapping and decorating some Stampin' Up! goodie bags for those who have already booked classes for them and their "new" friend(s)... Hope you like them, ladies!

It's not too late to amend your bookings if you want to receive one (or more!) of these little beauties:

 

 I do love the chevron patterned Tag A Bag Gift Bags and the Sweet Treat Bags - if you want the latter, then hurry hurry as they  are only available to buy until 14th February! Don't forget you can order them (or anything else from Stampin' Up!) on my online shop! If you haven't bought from me online before then you just need to create an account and choose me as your demonstrator and off you go! Any problems or questions, please do ask me and I'll be happy to help!

Right, that's it for today, as I've got bags to pack and CAKE to buy for my class tomorrow!! I am soooo looking forward to it... the class that is, not the cake... well, yes, the cake too, but not just the cake... I'm looking forward to the class as well!!

Until next time, happy crafting...(and cake for you, too, I hope?!)

Lucy x