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.

IT'S HERE!! THE NEW CATALOGUE IS LIVE!! WHOOP WHOOP!!

It is here at last!

The NEW Annual Stampin' Up! Catalogue for 2015-2016 has landed!! How exciting!! Squeee!

To view the new goodies in my online shop click here or click on the image  of the catalogue that is on the left hand side bar of my blog to view the pdf version of the catalogue. If you would like me to send you a paper copy of the catalogue, then please contact me and I shall be happy to send one to you  in the snail mail post!

If you have a large wish list, or, you would like to get discounts on your purchases, then you might want to consider purchasing a starter kit and joining my team. I welcome hobbyists as well as business-minded demonstrators, all are welcome! The starter kit costs £99 and you get to choose £130's worth of products for that £99 cost! (The kit also includes a business pack with everything you need to kick start your business, worth over £40.)

From now until 30th June, there is a special offer on the starter kit and if you join my team during this promotional period, you can choose TWO FREE STAMP SETS in addition to the starter kit items! Click on the image below to find out more:

It is SUCH an exciting time in the Stampin' Up! world, don't you think? New goodies, free goodies, special offers... wow! LOVE IT!!

I think that that is enough excitement for one day, so, I shall leave you to it... Go get yourself a cuppa and enjoy having a good browse through the new catalogue   - if you have any questions please do contact me and ask. 

Until next time, happy shopping as well as happy crafting everyone!

Lucy x

P.S. Don't forget that there are also new weekly deals every Wednesday and that you can add these as well as any of the clearance rack discounted items to your next order of new goodies!! ;0)

Pinkies Blog Hop - A sneak-peek Sprinkle of Life from the new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue 2015

Thank you for joining us on another Pinkies Blog Hop! We're showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin' Up!® Annual Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep hopping!

Thank you if you have joined me from Christa's blog - what lovely work!

For me, one of the most exciting things about every new Annual Catalogue from Stampin' Up! is the new set of In Colors - and the new ones launching 2nd June 2015 do NOT disappoint: Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush, Delightful Dijon and Mint Macaron... Come and see what you think:

I have made some simple 3x3" cards using the new In Color A4 Cardstock, ink pads and Stampin' Write Markers with the gorgeous new "Sprinkles Of Life" charity stamp set:

The "Sprinkles Of Life" stamp set is the new charity stamp set from Stampin' Up! and for every set sold, Stampin' Up! give £2 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities®  which keeps families together and surrounded by love when their children are receiving medical treatment far from home (with over $1million contributed to date!).

Stamping these cards was a breeze as the "Sprinkles of Life" set are photopolymer stamps so alignment is easy peasey! The cute tree trunk is stamped in Tip Top Taupe. The tree leaves and the grass/vegetation are all the gorgeous fresh and bright new green that is Cucumber Crush and for the flowers I have used the ink that matches the card base - so either Delightful Dijon, Mint Macaron or Watermelon Wonder. The tiny bird's outline is stamped with Memento Tuxedo black Ink and then coloured in with my Tip Top Taupe Write Marker. I then punched out the bird using the fabulous new Tree Builder Punch and adhered it to the card with a portion of a Stampin' Dimensional to raise it up a bit and make it look like it is sitting on the branch of the tree:

The inside of the card has a matching Whisper White insert stamped with one of the 8 sentiments that come in the 22-piece stamp set - yes, that's right: twenty two stamps in the set for a bargainous £19 (25€).

I have repeated a group of the flowers inside each card and on the front of each envelope, as, you can't have a naked envelope, now, can you?!

I cannot decide which of the colourways is my favourite - I like them all, for different reasons. I think perhaps I am edging towards the Watermelon Wonder one at the moment... but, I the Delightful Dijon is growing on me!! I must confess I wasn't sure about the dijon to begin with, but I really like the colour now and it goes really well with so many other Stampin' Up! colours too... 

Which one is your favourite? Do let me know in the comments below...

There are so many other lovely stamps in the "Sprinkles Of Life" set: there is a cloud that doubles up as a scoop of icecream, or, the top of a cup cake; in the same shape there is a bunch of pretty flowers for you to colour in;  there is an apple, a candle, raindrops, cupcake sprinkles and loose leaves; plus an icecream cone cup and a wicker basket too, as well as the 8 gorgeous (and useful!) sentiments... and these shapes match the fab new Tree Builder Punch too... I have SO many ideas for many, many different projects... so do come back and maybe you'll see some more ideas here sometime soon! I think I could base a whole day class, just around this one stamp set actually! Hmm... Now there's an idea... ;0)

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog hop post today. I hope I have inspired you to make something with the new items once the catalogue launches on 2nd June! If you would like me to send you a paper copy of the New Catalogue, please contact me.

Until next time, happy stamping - and hopping too!

Lucy x

 

 

 

New Catalogue is just around the corner!

Not long now until the new 2015-2016 Stampin' Up!® Annual Catalogue launches on 2nd June 2015! Here is a picture of me with my copy of it - I am not allowed to show you the inside of it yet... but believe me when I say it is jam-packed with all sorts of AMAAAAAAAZING, yummy, gorgeous Stampin' Up! goodies - some returning products and many brand spanking NEW goodies!! Squeeeee! It is so exciting!!

I have gone through my copy and stuck bits of sticky notes on the pages to mark all the "oh-my-gosh-that-is-lush-I-neeeeed-it" items... good job I have a good supply of sticky notes in my craft room, eh? 

I have learnt over the years that you don't need to buy it all in one go, the catalogue lasts for a whole year, so you can pace yourself and spread your purchases over 12 months!! (Although I expect there will be many "got to have it now" wish lists being written in the next week or so!) 
There are also several ways of getting stuff for free, by hosting a party and earning "Stampin' Rewards", by joining my team and earning free goodies that way etc. I have heard a whisper that there will be an exciting joining offer between 2nd and 30th June 2015, so watch this space for more information on how you can get your hands on free stamp sets!

One of the many privileges of being a demo, is that you can get your mitts on selected items from new catalogues before they are available to customers as sneak peek pre-orders.  I recently went to the Stampin' Up! UK Regional event in Telford with 349 other demos and the swaps that I designed and made for the event featured some brand new products -  some of the new 2015-2017 In Colors cardstock and inks and also a new stack of 6x6" (15.2x15.2cm) designer series papers called "Cherry On Top"... here are a couple of photographs to show you - can you spot the lovely new products that I used?

These card fronts are 3x3" and show that a little bit of designer series paper (DSP) goes a long way! Don't you just love the patterns? I think my favourites are the doughnuts and the balloons and I just love how some of the doughnuts have little bites taken out of them! Nom nom! The DSP includes several of the new In Colors (Watermelon Wonder, Crushed Cucumber and Tip Top Taupe) - mixed with old staples of Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Hello Honey, Pool Party and Whisper White - which goes to show how well  the yummy new In Colors coordinate with our existing colours. I think that the Cherry On Top papers will become a firm favourite - and they are a steal at only £7.25 (9.75€) for 48 sheets! Great for scrapbooking, Project Life journalling as well as card-making and treat box/bags too don't you think? They are so bright and jolly! Just seems a shame that you will have to wait until 2nd of June to buy some for yourself really... ;0)

If you would like me to send you a paper copy of the new catalogue, then please contact me. There will be a link to the new catalogue as soon as it goes live, so do keep an eye on here for it!

Don't forget that you only have until 2nd June 2015 to purchase any of the retiring products before they are gone forever - many have already sold out, but there are still many bargains to be had as many of the items are discounted. Don't lose out as once they are gone, they are gone! Click on the "retired list" icon on the left had side of this blog page to go to my shop to see them.

Anyway, that is all for today... all this talk of doughnuts is making me hungry!

Until next time, happy stamping!

Lucy x

Thinking outside the box with the Curvy Keepsake Thinlets for the Pinkies Autumn/Winter Catalogue Blog Hop!

Thank you for joining us on another Pinkies Blog Hop! We are showcasing lots of gorgeous projects from the new Stampin' Up! ® Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep hopping!

A very warm welcome to you, especially if you have hopped to me from the lovely Tracy's blog - I do love seeing how creative other people are, don't you? :O)

There are soooo many yummy things in the new Autumn/Winter Catalogue - I think that it is one of the best yet! So many fantastic ideas for packaging, gifts and decorations..I love it all!

 

Well, nearly all.... I'm a bit squeamish about (ok, terrified, of) spiders and so I think I may have to give the aptly-named "Frightful Wreath Simply Created Kit" on page 37 a  wide berth - but only because of the beaded spider in the kit! (It seems that the dreaded annual 'Spider-month' has come early to my house this year and the hairy blighters have been both large in numbers and size so far ... eww... so I am extra spooked by them now - bleuuugh!!)   I do, however, like the rest of the wreath though... and I do like Halloween a LOT... so I may just have to bypass the eight-legged beastie and get myself one of the kits afterall...

Anyway, talking of Halloween, that brings me to my blog-hop projects that I would like to share with you today: One of my favourite things to do for Halloween is to make themed treats to give to people. As soon as I saw the Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Die and the box ideas in the new Stampin' Up! catalogue, I just knew that they would make great pumpkins due to the lovely curved shape and had to give it a try.... So, here is what I came up with:

 

With my Bigshot and the thinlits, I used Pumpkin Pie cardstock to make the box  and drew lines on it with the brush-tip end of my Pumpkin Pie Write Marker, to look like the ridges of the pumpkin. To make the leaves, I use the ever-useful Autumn Accents Bigz Die (from the Annual Catalogue) to cut out three of the serrated (Beech?) leaves from Old Olive cardstock. To give the leaves some texture I folded them in half - to make the central vein - and then pinched the serrations with my fingers to make more vein-like indentations along both sides of the leaves. Here is a view of the box from above, to show you better:



I made the tendrils by using my paper trimmer to cut long, tapered slivers from a piece of Old Olive cardstock and then rolled them tightly around my trusty Paper-Piercing Tool to produce the curved spirals. I then carefully glued them onto the uppermost box closure flap with Tombow Multipurpose Liquid glue, so that the box can be safely opened, to get  to the sweeties inside it, without damaging the box. I couldn't resist making the cute little punch-art toad to go with it! He is made using the Small Oval Punch and the Owl Builder Punch - his smile comes from the little bit that you cut out using the notch-end of the punch from the fabby new Gift Box Punch Board, that is also in the new catalogue (I LOVE that new punch board, so easy to make fantastic boxes really quickly and easily!).

After I had made the pumpkin, I began to think about what else I could make using the Curvy Keepsake Thinlets for Halloween and gosh, so many ideas sprang into my head! I decided to make a black witch's cat next...  Just after I'd made the cat, I saw, on a facebook group, THE most amazing idea for a witch using the same thinlits. It was made by a lady called Lynn Starzl in America, so,  I just had to CASE her idea and make a witch to complete my Halloween trio. Come and see:

HOW cute is that witch?!! :O) Thank you Lynn!  I love the use of the burlap ribbon strands for her hair and the hat is made from another of my favourite new things from the Autumn/Winter catalogue: the new Tree Punch!! So clever! The witch's hat slots over the box handles, so, it can easily be removed when you want to open the box and get to the treats inside! How clever is that?! I used the Owl Builder Punch for both the cat's and the witch's eyes and nose. The whiskers were hand-drawn with my white uni-ball Signo® Gel Pen. The cats ears are cut down from the Small Oval punch shapes. I DO love Stampin' Up's punches - they are just SO versatile!

 

I have also used the same Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits to make several Christmas-themed boxes, other animals and even an Easter Chick (a little bit ahead of myself there, I know, but it shows that the catalogue items are not just for Autumn and Christmas!!). I will show you more ideas on future blog posts, so do come back again soon to see them. They are quite addictive once you start making them! :O)

 

Anyway, that's enough from me for today; I hope that I have inspired you to "think outside the box" when looking at the new catalogue products and can see how many other ways you can use them all!

 

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog-hop post today. Sarah's blog is next, so hop on over using the button below.

Happy hopping everyone!

Lucy x

 

 

 

 

 

You can view all the products showcased above on my online shop by clicking here - if you are in the UK, France, Germany, The Netherlands or Austria, you can order them from me directly or via my online shop. If you order online with me by  the 29th September 2014 and use the hostess code VRSYYZAV when you place your order, I will personally send you a free gift as a thank you for shopping with me!

 

If you would like me to send you a paper copy of the catalogue, please contact me and I shall be happy to post one to you. You can add one to your online order, too, if you prefer. The order code for a single English language catalogue is 138029.  Catalogues are also available in French and German, too. :O) Lucy x

A new catalogue is here; and there are "Good Greetings" to look forward to as well!

Hellooooo!

 

Sorry for my long absence... the hot summer, a holiday with my sister and her family in Wales, plus, an operation on my knee a few weeks ago, have all got in the way of my crafting somewhat!

 

How is it September already?! Wow, where does the time go? Ooer! The Summer is truly over. Lots of schools have started back this week and I am very proud of my eldest niece who had her first day at secondary school yesterday :O) Can't believe she's growing up so much - I was spooning yogurt to her in her highchair not so long ago, or so it seems! She is now eleven! Wowser! Hmm...That yogurt-feeding memory is over ten years old! Eek! Aunty Lucy is feeling old right now!

 

But, do not fear, Stampin' Up!'s brand new spangly, nay, SPARKLY, Autumn-Winter Catalogue has arrived! Yey! There are sooooo many lovely, yummy things in there. You can buy from it up until 5th January 2015, but you don't have to wait until then!! Once you see it, you will NOT want to wait very long to get your hands on all the yummyness, I am sure!

 

You can click here for a link to the pdf of the catalogue, or, click here to go straight to my online shop and view all the products...

 

 

 

The catalogue is jam-packed with ideas for so many creative projects - ideas for cards, decorations, gift wrapping, packaging, advent calender box ideas, home decor, Autumnal events, Halloween and of course Christmas too. I think it covers a wide range of tastes and styles too, so there really is something for everybody in there I believe! There are lots of kits to make your crafting quicker if you get short of time and there are several bundles of items that offer a discount, so will save you money too. I am looking forward to sharing some of things I have made (or plan to make!) over the next few weeks and months in the run up to Christmas. It is not all Christmas stuff though, there are all sorts of fab ideas buzzing around my head! So, watch this space, as they say!

 

The title on the front cover of the catalogue says  "Make it fun, make it together" - don't you think that is a lovely idea? I think it is always nice to create things in the company of others, don't you? It can help inspire you  and you can share ideas - and perhaps some of the workload too!  Lots of the celebrations throughout the Autumn and over the Christmas and New Year period are all about celebrating those special occasions with family and friends gathered around you.

 

On top of all the excitement of the new catalogue, there is also a limited-time special offer where anyone who hosts a £200 Stampin' Up! party can get a FREE stamp set called "Good Greetings" - on top of the normal Hostess Rewards. The offer ends on 31st October 2014, so, if you'd like to get your hands on the free stamp set, earn some more free products and have a fun night in with friends and me showing you how to make some fantastic, easy to make, but impressive paper craft projects, then get in touch with me as soon as possible to get a date booked in the diary with me! There are 19 sentiment stamps in the Good Greetings Stamp Set and they cover all sorts of occasions so will be a very useful set to have in your crafting stash I think, don't you? It is available in wood- or clear-mount. Come and have a look:

 

 

If you don't live near enough to me to have a party, don't worry, you can still get the stamp set for free: either place an order for yourself for £200, or, contact me and together we can organise a catalogue party where you pass a catalogue or two around family and friends, collate their orders and I will help you place the orders and then the goodies will be shipped directly to you. It doesn't matter if you and your family and friends are scattered all around the UK, they can still order using a specially designated hostess code for your party and get their goodies sent directly to them, wherever they are! If you would like to know a bit more about it, or, have a date in mind already, then please do contact me and I shall be happy to help you. Distance should be no barrier to getting this gorgeous freebie! :O)

 

 

 

Well, that's it for today. I will leave you with a photograph I took yesterday in the sunshine which I think sums up the changing of the seasons. I really love this time of year when the last rays of Summer mingle with the cooler temperatures and that distinctive smell of Autumn is in the air! We have all the amazing changing colours; scrunchy falling leaves and delicious fruits coming into season, to look forward to from now on in - yum! Plus all the excitement of Harvest Festivals, Halloween and Christmas is on its way too! How exciting! What is your favourite part of Autumn? Please do leave me a comment and let me know! Or maybe it is a different season where you are in the world? What does September mean to you, where you are? I'd love to know! :O)

 

 

 

 

Happy crafting everyone - and remember to contact me if you'd like a paper copy of the catalogue, book a party date or would like more information about how to earn that gorgeous stamp set for FREE!

 

 

 

Lucy x

 

 





 

Pinkies Blog Hop: Showcasing New Annual Catalogue projects!

 

  

Thank you for joining us on another Pinkies Blog Hop! We're showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin' Up! ® Annual Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep hopping!

 

Welcome if you have come from Nina's blog!

 

There are so many lovely new things in the new catalogue and I have found it really hard to narrow down my choice for today! I decided to keep it simple  and concentrate on the new In Color collection  for 2014-2016.



I have recently been experimenting with making my own backgrounds and the following projects all utilise one particular technique which I have developed: using scrunched up brown packing paper as a "stamp" which I have then tapped directly onto the ink pad to pick up some ink and then stamped all over a sheet of Whisper White cardstock. You can use a single colour or a mixture of 2 or 3 - just make sure you use a separate ball of scrunched-up paper for each individual colour.

This first project uses the lovely new In Colors Mossy Meadow (the green) and Hello Honey (the yellow) as well as a bit of Crumb Cake on the patterned background strip:

http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk  Lucy Tustian

 

I have glued the small strip of homemade background onto a Whisper White Notecard and stamped the "thanks" from the Hip Hip Hooray card kit stamps. The Elegant Butterfly punched shape is from the new Hello Honey cardstock and sits on a mini glue dot, with a strip of three pearl gems for the butterfly's body. A very simple, quick and easy card to make, don't you think?!

Here is another card which uses the same backround - this time I have used the background for the butterfly only, with a Mossy Meadow Elegant Butterfly beneath it. I used the brush stroke stamp from the new (and very versatile) stamp set: Work Of Art; with the Hello Honey stamped three times without re-inking it (the "stamping off" technique). The "Thinking of You" is from one of my go-to stamp sets: Sassy Salutations and is stamped using the Mossy Meadow ink for the words and the sponging around the oval punched shape:

http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk Lucy Tustian

 

 One of my favourite new In Colors is the lovely deep rich purple called Blackberry Bliss - the next couple of projects use this colour on its own for the handmade background for a very striking effect:

 

http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk Lucy Tustian

 

http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk Lucy Tustian



 Have you spied the lovely ribbon on the tag? It is the utterly gorgeous new 1cm (3/8") wide Stitched Satin Ribbon in the Blackberry Bliss - it is so nice - one of my all-time favourite Stampin' Up! ribbons I think! I have secured it with a little bit of Whisper White Bakers' Twine plus a tiny bit of the same white bakers' twine that I have hand-dyed using a few drops of Perfect Plum re-inker in a very small amount of water. I have also coloured in the rhinestone jewels with the brand new Stampin' Blendabilities alcohol markers in Rich Razzleberry (using all three shades of the colour).

 

 

The circle on the card is made using another stamping technique I have been experimenting with recently - reverse kissing. I'm hoping to blog a bit more about various kissing techniques (of the ink variety!) sometime soon, so do pop back again to see!

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to look at my part of the Pinkies Blog Hop. I would love to know your thoughts on the techniques and colour-combos that I have used today, so do please leave me a comment if you have time! Hope you enjoy the rest of the blog hopping: the lovely Sarah is next! :O)

 

 

Until next time, happy crafting everyone...

 

Lucy x

 

Project Life: Not just for memory making! #PLxSU

Hellooo...

 

Sorry I have really neglected my blog recently, life has just got in the way it seems! I am going to try and change my ways and endeavour to blog more often! Ooops! It is silly really, as I have made so many lovely things recently, with some of the fabulous new goodies from the new 2014-2015 Stampin' Up! ® Catalogue and I really should share some of them with you!

 

So, here we go!

 

Some of my favourite things from the new catalogue are the Stampin' Up! Project Life collection of products - Project Life allows you to document your memories in a quicker way than the more traditional scrapbooking method. I love it! BUT, even if you are not into scrapbooking or memory keeping, a lot of the #PLxSU products can be used in alternate ways - you can use the Card Collections and items from the Accessory Packs to make all sorts of things - come and see just a couple of examples:

 

Here is one card that I have made using the Everyday Adventure Project Life Card Collection and the coordinating Every Day Adventure P.L. Accessory Pack:

 

Http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk Lucy Tustian

Http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk Lucy Tustian

 

I am a huge fan of washi tape and I just LOVE this geometrical design in the gorgeous Bermuda Bay colour that comes in the Everyday Adventure Accessory Pack (see the close-up pic., above!).

 

I love how all the #PLxSU items coordinate exactly with the Stampin' Up! colours - see how nicely the Bermuda Bay Candy Dot matches the washi tape? Swoon! I added interest by using the fabulous new Stampin' Up! Project Life Corner Punch on just two corners of the card's layers (one of my favourite tricks!).

 

As you can see from the photograph below, washi tape has many uses! I have stuck it onto some clothes pegs (clothes pins, to my American friends!) and made a hanging weekly reminder to go onto a cork board or edge of a shelf in an office/craft room.

 

For the string, I plaited three pieces of the Silver Baker's Twine together to make a sturdy cord and then threaded this through the pegs, with knots either side, to stop the pegs from moving along the cord.

 

I have stamped directly onto the washi-taped pegs with the days of the week from the Project Life Day to Day photopolymer stamp set, using black Stazon Ink. (So easy to do with photopolymer stamps as you can see through them to place them exactly where you want them!) The little heart stamp comes from another #PLxSU stamp set: Point & Click. isn't it cute! I finished the pegs with Basic Black and Bermuda Bay punched cardstock shapes (using the Chevron border Punch).

 

Http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk Lucy Tustian

 

To complete the reminder set, I covered a small notepad and decorated it with the same cardstock, stamps and washi tape and glued a length of the plaited baker's twine under the cover, so it can hang next to the line of pegs. I clipped a small pen (also decorated with the washi tape!) onto the cord and hey presto, you have a handy hanging "to do list" reminder for every day of the week, plus a handy pen and pad of paper to jot your notes onto before you clip them onto the relevant day of the week.

 

Http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk Lucy Tustian

 

 

Http://paperglassstitch.blogspot.co.uk Lucy Tustian

 

I have given this set away... but think that maybe I should make another one for myself to keep as an "aide memoir" seeing as I have such a dreadful memory and am always forgetting things! Perhaps I might remember to blog more often if I had one of these on my pin board in my craft room or stuck onto my 'fridge with magnets.... hmmm... now there's an idea..... ;O)

 

Well, that's it for today, I think, (unless I've forgotten something!!). Do let me know if I have inspired you to use the #PLxSU items in a different way...

 

Until next time, happy crafting folks!

 

Lucy x