Milly Moo Cards .....

My Gorgoues Note Book.....

2012-01-19T07:45:00.000Z

...... which is a Christmas present from my lovely up line Jules. I wanted to show you this so you could see just how a simple plain notebook can be transformed with some DSP, bits of ribbon and some imaginative stamping into something beautiful.

Thank you so much, Jules. It is so nice I am not sure I can bring myself to dirty the pages by using it.

Pretty poor picture I am afraid but IRL the colours are much more vibrant and gorgeous.

Also, I know I been missing for a few days. Hubby has been away doing his training ready to fly to Afghanistan in a week until June. Most of "my" and "our" spare time has been taken up with getting him ready to go. There's the ironing of all the new uniforms, shopping for things he will need like netbooks and MP3 players then downloading his CD's etc. I am not looking forward to him going away but when I think of all the crafting time I will have it does seem to make the event slightly more manageable!!

Hopefully will be back in a couple of days with something else to show you.

Take care where ever you are and whatever you are doing.

Love Terri xx

Quick Candle Gift......

2012-01-11T07:21:00.000Z

....... I needed a quick gift over Christmas and made a couple of tea light holders. The holder itself is one of a box of 20 I bought at a car boot sale for £2.00.

I used Circle Circus and stamped in black stayzon onto Safmat. Cut them out using various punches and rubbed them in place (like letraset) onto the holder. Added a small Yankee Candle tea light and voila - quick gift.

I made two of them and wrapped them together with florists cellophane and some rather lush Stampin Up Basic Black stripe ribbon. As the candle holders needed a base to stand on to wrap them I just cut of square of the packing card that comes in each pack of Stampin Up DSP.

My only criticism - I took the photo once they had been packed so the holders don't look as pretty or as clear as they should be. The recipient loved them so these will be on the pressie list again this year!!!

Love Terri xx

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Circle Circle
Stampin Up Basic Black Striped Ribbon
Various punches, cellophane, Letraset Safmat, Stayzon Ink Pad

Vintage Vogue.....

2012-01-07T07:50:00.001Z

..... and this is the last Christmas Card. I needed a card for a grown up niece and thought this fitted the bill perfectly. Just goes to show how versatile Stampin Up can be as I have only ever used this for birthday and anniversary cards before.

I have used Cherry Cobbler, Real Red and Old Olive with retired DSP. The gems come from my stash. The flowers have been curled a bit with a bone folder and stuck with dimensionals to give a bit of interest. Shame you can't see in the piccie. I was in such a hurry to get it posted I didn't have time to take numerous pictures as I usually would!!! I was very pleased with the way the card turned out though.

That's me finished today. Must get on - am going to visit my Great Niece who was born on 28th December. I am so looking forward to meeting her. I have the bag full of little knitted cardies for her, the camera battery fully charged and the largest memory stick I can find for the camera. Poor little mite will be glad when its bedtime and if she has any sense she will sleep through my whole visit and miss all the fuss and kafuffle!!!

Hope you all have a lovelly day.

Love Terri xx

P Pick Up A Penguin.....

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000Z

.... no not chocolate but punch art Christmas cards!!. I have seen many of these using the Stamg Up Owl Punch and made these for the grandchildren.

Again I have used retired Stampin Up DSP but some of the products are current. If you want more details just let me know.

Mr Penguin - I did use Dazzling Diamonds on the hat bobble but it doesn't show up very well.

Mrs Penguin - with a flower and gem centre instead of the heart. I really enjoyed making these and they are definitely going to be made for next year!!

By the time I came to making these I really wanted something to "colour in" so opted for a retired Stampin Up set. Plenty of Dazzling Diamonds for the snow which sadly does not show up!!

Last of the Christmas cards tomorrow - thank goodness I hear you say. I might even manage to find something that uses current products.

Love Terri xx

Just Launched - Stampin Up New Mini Catologue.....

2012-01-04T07:00:00.013Z

available to you all from today. And OMG does it have some real goodies inside - just oodles and oodles of gorgeousness that is crying out to be loved!!.

We have NEW PUNCHES, JEWELLERY ELEMENTS, NEW STAMPS, NEW DESIGNER PAPERS, NEW BUTTONS.

Good job hubby is now away until April - he won't be able to see Mr Brown struggling up the path with all the new treats I will be buying myself. Well, a girl needs to feel loved when she is separated from her husband!!!

Click on the piccie on the side bar and it will direct you to the Stampin Up website when you can see the new mini catalogue. And while you are comfy and thumbing though the new mini why now have a browse the current 2011 - 2012 Ideas Book and Catalogue. You'll never know what you'll find and best of all, products from both publications co-ordinate beautifully. !!

See anything you fancy, and I am sure you will - contact me and I will tell you how the products can be winging their way to you.

Love Terri xx

And More Chocolate......

2012-01-02T06:00:00.004Z

...... but this time in the form of a gift bag and gift card. We gave Carolyn (my colleague from work) a scarf and hat set for her birthday and we needed a bag.

Out came the Concorde Crush DSP (but a different pattern this time but still co-ordinating!!!) and a bag was made. Very easy to do with the help of Stampin Up Grid paper and a try out using brown paper first!! I did use a couple of eyelets from my stash to strengthen the holes for the ribbons.

Then a little gift card - exactly the same as the birthday card - just a smaller size ( like a bar of chocolate and a freddo bar!!! Just like the birthday card, the gift card comes out of the holder.

Finally, it would be so unfair to give a chocoholic nothing edible so I came up with little bag which holds three bars of chocolate. A great snug fit and all made in the same Concorde Crush DSP with matching ribbons and card.

Here you can see the chocolate bars inside. Again very simple but very effective. It looks like you have been crafting for yonks to make these but truthfully, just a couple of hours and it was all done and dusted.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing these projects of mine. Off now to finish the "welcome new baby cards" for my Nephew and his fiancee, my sister who is now a granny and a card for the other grandparents (Emma's Mum and Dad).

Have a great day. See you soon.

Love Terri xx

Happy January 1st.....

2012-01-01T13:35:00.001Z

... hope you all had a great New Years Eve yesterday and managed to party your socks off!! Hubby and I spent it very quietly at home and didn't really celebrate. He is off to Afghanistan tomorrow until May so celebrating didn't really seem the order of the day.

Anyway, thought I would give you a quick update on the News Years Resolutions.

My resolutions this year are to..... east less, exercise more, drink less, craft more and update my blog more regularly!!! So here we go .......

Eat less - I have eaten less food so far today and the box of dairy milk I s given for Christmas and have consumed this morning don't count as they were for Christmas not New Year!!

Exercise more - well it takes a lot of wriggling to get this comfy on the sofa and keep raising my arm with the glass in my hand very energetic!! Almost as good as weights!!

Drink less - well the New Years Day champers is in a small glass!!

Craft more - well may be tomorrow

Blog more - think this is the only one I have achieved so far but then it is only day 1!!

Come back tomorrow when I do have something crafty to show you.

Have a very relaxing New Years Day.

Love Terri xx

Happy New Year.......

2011-12-31T09:00:00.003Z

..... to each and every one of you. I hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating this evening and wish you all a very healthy and posperous 2012.

Good luck with all those resolutions - if you are like me they will be broken by tea time ( eat less, drink more and more execrise!!)

Love Terri xx

Christmas Cards......

2011-12-30T08:17:00.005Z

..... bit late but I thought you might like to see them. Normally I make all the cards we send but this year with mojo and enthusiasm lacking instead of being something I enjoy doing - sparkly lights on, carols of the CD, chocolate beside me and maybe a glass of something tasty - but this year it seemed like a chore!! Most people got good old M & S but the week before Christmas I managed to get myself in gear and made quite a few.

I challenged myself to keep them simple and, more importantly, to use up some the scarps I have been hoarding. Actually tahts not quite true. Hubby said " your not buying more are you - can't you just use what you've got"!! So I did. Now I have no scraps and will HAVE to buy more goodies!!

Sorry, but most of these cards either use retired Stampin Up DSP or retired Stampin Up stamp sets but you will get the ideas from them. Colours through out are Old Olive, Real Red and a little bit of Cherry Cobbler. As most of the items used are retired I won't list them at the end but if you want to know anything just ask!

The first three are cards I made for my colleagues at work. Small cards at 4 inches square and made to look like a parcel. I was please with these and will use this layout again - great for birthdays when you need something quick. I also made a larger version for family at 51/2 inches square - these had more bling on them.

Card for my Nephew. I also did some of these that weren't personalised and said "Crimbo to you" instead.

Lastly for today, a couple of cards using the current stamps set Polar Party. I even managed on these to decorate the inside.

There are a couple more and I will post these over the weekend. AND even though I am passionate about Stampin Up I tried something new and used a digital image on a coule of cards. Will explain it you you when I post them.

Hope you all have a good day and if you are lucky enough to be off work and with family and friends - enjoy!

Love Terri xx

Yummy Yummy Chocolate.....

2011-12-29T06:00:00.030Z

..... just a shame you can't eat it!!!

My colleague at work celebrated a birthday a short while ago and the rest of my colleagues asked me to make her a birthday card - "something to do with chocolate as Carolyn is a chocoholic!!" - was the order and of course, I managed it.

I vaguely remembered, a long while ago, seeing something along these lines and decided to make a bar of chocolate with a Cadbury Purple (Stampin Up Concord Crush) wrapper. I even took a bite out of it to make it look a little more real.

Here's the card. Basically I used Stampin Up Close to Cocoa Card (sadly retired but just the right colour for my bar of chocolate) which I scored to make the card itself. Then scored square's on the front to which I have added smaller squares of the card which have been inked around the edges to give the impression of squares of chocolate. The "bite" was done using the Stampin Up scalloped circle punch

This is the "wrapper". A piece of Stampin Up Concorde Crush made into a holder that the card slips into. A little bit of bling, some co-ordinating ribbon (one of the reasons I adore Stampin Up so much!) and a tag. The sentiment was printed on the PC and then punched out with the two sizes of Stampin Up tag punches. I did use a brad from my stash to attach the tags to the ribbon

This piccie shows the card out of the holder.

Must say I was really pleased with it and Carolyn loved it. Gift bag and gift card to follow.

Love Terri xx

ard - Stampin Up retired Close to Cocoa
DSP - Stampin Up - Concord Crush
Ink - Stampin Up retired Close to Cocoa
Stampin Up - Concord Crush
Stampin Up Self adhesive gems
Sentiment computer generated
Brad from my stash
Tools, Stampin Up scalloped circle and two sizes of tag punch

Hasn't time flown since my last visit.....

2011-12-28T09:57:00.002Z

..... but I am happy to report I am back. Firstly though - a very belated Merry Christmas to you all. Hope you all had lots of fun with your families and got all those pressies you dreamed off.

I suppose I had better explain my absence for the last few months. It is been a fairly tough year for me and my hubby which has resulted in him loosing his job, finding a job and six months latter loosing his job again. The stress of this alone has been enough for Mr Mojo to leave home with little sign of him ever returning!!

I have had a few health issues surrounding my asthma and a chest infection that took 8 weeks to shift. Some days all I could manage was getting up and going back to bed but I am now thankfully over that.

My Grand daughter had her much needed liver transplant in October and is recovering really well although there was a little blip a few weeks ago but thankfully she is over that now. We visited her yesterday and the difference is her is remarkable. I can never thank the donor's family enough for the changes they have made to Chloe and her family.

The future does look brighter though. Hubby is off to Afghanistan on Monday for 4 months with the Territorial Army to carryout some telecommunications work for the army. He won't be in any danger and if I am honest I am looking forward to getting some mojo back and spending time on me!

And this morning at 5.32am my first Great Niece, Lola was born weighing in a 7lbs 6ozs. Mother, baby and Dad are all doing fine. What a fantastic late Christmas pressie for the family.

Finally, as the old year is about to end and the new one start I though the blog could do with a change - well I didn't have a choice as I managed to delete the old one and mess it up completely.

Hope you are all well and sorry if I have rambled on too much and depressed you all. I have got something to show you which I am sure all you chocoholics will love - and no, its not edible!!

Love Terri xx

p.s. My new years resolutions - eat less, exercise more, drink less, more crafting and UP DATE MY BLOG REGULARLY. Wonder which one gets given up first!! ha ha ha

Vintage Anniversary Cards......

2011-07-17T12:12:00.000+01:00

..... totally inspired by this gorgeous card by the very lovely Jules, my SU Upline. I seem to struggle lately for ideas and mojo and shamefully have relied on other blogs for inspiration. But when I do get going there's no stopping me!!

July is a bad month for celebrations - we start off right at the beginning with an 18th, followed by a wedding anniversary, my birthday, a moving home, another anniversary and a 21st plus a BBQ party and a few sad days to remember.

The wedding anniversaries were both within a few days oo I made them the same - just different colour ways. Sorry but the post will now be very picture heavy!!

This is the card I made for my brother and his lovely wife. Colours are Pear Pizzaz, Old Olive for the leaves, Pretty In Pink and Regal Rose for the flowers.

Flowers were stamped from the Vintage Vogue set and for the first time I tried the Rock n Roll technique. So pleased with this. The large flowers I bent under slightly and the smaller flowers I bent up - just to give a little bit of dimension.

Here you can see the dimension of the flowers a bit easier. Small gems in the middles for the compulsory bling!!

The sentiment on the front was printed straight onto the white card. The insert was also computer printed with a little bit of DSP with two flowers, some leaves and a little bit more bling.

The next card is for my lovely and very good friends from Wales who celebrate their anniversary on the same day as my birthday. For this card I used Pear Pizzaz, Old Olive, Daffodill Delight and Peach Parfait. No explanation needed for the following pictures.....

close up of the flowers

the inside....

Hope you like them all. I am really pleased so, thank you Jules, for being yet again a fab source of inspiration. xx

White card from my stock
Stampin Up Card - Regal Rose, Pear Pizzaz, Old Olive and Peach Parfait
Ink Pads - Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait
DSP - In Colours Pear Pizzaz
Stamp Set - Stampin Up Vintage Vogue
Stampin Up Gems
Bird punch for the leaves

Last Blossom.....

2011-07-14T17:14:00.000+01:00

...you will be pleased to know. I have seen this little bag on my SU Upline's Blog, Jules, many times. It turns out the template came from one of Jules team and Chris very kindly sent me a copy.

So, as before (yawn yawn) the bag has been made to match the card etc.

The shiney strip you can just see on the LHS is a strip of cellophane holding the contents in place.

and the contents - yummy yummy Hersey choccies.

and the final photo - all of the whole thinhe gifts together. I just love the way it all turned out and Siobhan emailed to say how gorgeous it all is.

I won't bore you with the supplies list but if you want any of the gorgeous goodies I have used or better still, want to see them in the "flesh", contact me and I'll pop over and see you.

I'll even show you how simple the bag is to make, and as a special treat will fill it with choccies for you. With the dreaded C word approaching you'll find this little bag so useful for some of the smaller gifts.

Have a lovely evening. See you again soon.

Blossom Birthday Card and Journal.......

2011-07-12T07:28:00.000+01:00

.....made for my niece. You will be fed up seeing this stamp set by the end of the week. A very quick post today. Not much to say about the card as it matches all the other little gifts I made Siobhan

So here's the card. All very pretty and girly

I also covered a chip board journal for her and....yep you've guessed it....same colours and stamp set as before!!! LOL

I am so pleased with this. The insides and back cover are just in the plain card stock. Little bits of tied Certainly Celery ribbon on the side rings.

To make sure it looked all neat I inked the edges of the journal before covering with card stock.

Last thing to show you tomorrow - a fab little bag with I filled with Hersey choccies for her. Yum Yum (yes I did try some - it seemed a shame to leave a few in the bags they came in!!!)

Stampin Up Chip Board journal
Card - Stampin Up Rose Red, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White
DSP - retired Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Stamp - Stampin Up Build a Blossom
Ink - Stampin Up Rose Red, Pretty In Pink and Certainly Celery
Stampin Up Certainly Celery ribbon
Self Adhesive Stampin Up gems
Tools - Scalloped border punch both Stampin Up, embossing folder and Big Shot
Card sentiment computer generated and printed straight onto DSP

Soft Subles Button Collection......

2011-07-08T05:00:00.003+01:00

........exactly the same as the one I made for MIL for Mother's Day but this time using Stampin Up Soft Subtles collection buttons. I do like button jewellery - so easy to make and very light to wear.

I used these buttons so they matched her card etc which is Rose Red, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery. Please excuse the chopping board - I couldn't find anything to stand it on and being Mrs Impatient couldn't wait to find anything either!!! LOL

Similar box to MIL's but tied at the top with a small piece of ribbon rather than using a clip. Small petal from Build a Blossom for the flower on the front.

The remaining side panels are just plain. Just realised I took the piccie before I had tided up the ribbon at the top... oops!!

Card - Stampin Up Rose Red, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White
DSP - retired Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Stamp - Stampin Up Build a Blossom
Ink - Stampin Up Rose Red, Pretty In Pink and Certainly Celery
Self Adhesive Stampin Up gems
Ribbon - Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Tools - embossing folder and Big Shot

Ooops Forgot This Piccie Yesterday.....

2011-07-07T06:58:00.001+01:00

.... just realised I didn't show the money holder with any money in it!!!!! So I raided hubby's wallet and managed to find 5 £5.00 notes so you can see it filled. We will be using larger notes for Siobhan to spend frivolously!!!

Right - now off to make an envelope for it!!

Back tomorrow with some more to show you. Have a good day what ever you are doing

Meander Book Money Holder.....

2011-07-06T07:23:00.001+01:00

...... and OMG do I like this. Firstly though, I must thank Peg because without her kindly sending me the tutorial for the meander book I would never have been able to make this. It is inspiration from this blog post that lead to this money holder.

I changed Peg's dimensions slightly to make the book a little wider otherwise it is the same right down to using scalloped ovals to hold the pages together to give the little pockets.

This is the front - so pretty and girlie. I used three small petals from Build a Blossom for the flower. You will see over the next few days this has been made to co ordinate with the card, gift box, bag and journal!!

Inside view. I wanted the book to open as a book but with a spine over the side edges to keep it all neat. I also thought it could used to hold photos and birthday treasures once the gift has been taken out so I stuck the back page down and just slipped the front page under the band so when the "book" is opened the whole inside slides - juts like the old cheque book covers the banks provided. Hope you understand what I mean - bit difficult to describe it to you. Each of the little pockets held folded money notes.

finally, view from the top!!! here you can the little bands holding the insides in place

I have loved making this - thanks again Peg for the inspiration and the tutorial.

Card - Stampin Up Rose Red, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White
DSP - retired Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Stamp - Stampin Up Build a Blossom
Ink - Stampin Up Rose Red, Pretty In Pink and Certainly Celery
Self Adhesive Stampin Up gems
Tools - Scalloped border punch, scalloped oval punch, both Stampin Up, embossing folder and Big Shot

Guard Duty.....

2011-07-05T07:18:00.000+01:00

.......how cute is this. The tesco shop arrived and as we have it delivered without bags it gets dumped on the lounge floor whilst we put it away.

Milly obviously decided to keep guard of the delivery in case any one tried to steal her boxes of Whiskers!!

Just look at little face - definately her most menacing look !! LOL

Mind you, this guard duty lark can get a bit tiring!!!!!!!

Back tomorrow with some fabby projects made for my niece who celabrated her 18th birthday last week

Plane and Simple Journal....

2011-07-03T11:52:00.000+01:00

..... to go with the card and sweetie box. I have never done one of these before but am so glad I have now. Stampin Up sell all the supplies needed - the chip board journal just asking to be covered and a fab punch for getting the holes right every time !!!

Here's the front - same papers as the card and same stamped image. I put FIL's initials on the front to make it a little more personal for him

the back - done to match the front. Lots of inking around the edges which you can see here - just about

the inside I did in just one DSP with yet more inked edges

a little ribbon loop holding a pen with matching DSP inside. I made the loop a little bit too big so knotted linen thread around the ribbon to tighten it up a bit

here's the whole set - card, sweetie box and the journal

Stamp - Stampin up Plane and Simple

Card - Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip

DSP - Stampin Up Elegant Soiree

Ink - Crumb Cake

Stampin Up Linen Thread, Very Vanilla ribbon

Tools - sponge dauber, Stampin Up Spiral punch

Sweetie Box......

2011-06-30T17:14:00.000+01:00

..... for my FIL to with his card. Funds are very tight at the mo as hubby has lost his job again. Originally he lost his job in June last year and in Novememeebr managed to get for a 6 month contract. All the way through his contract he was lead to believe it would be renewed but oh no!!!!!! not his so he is once again out of work. Still, this time I am not letting it get me down and am trying to be more positive.

To go with the card in the previous post I made this little box and filled it with dolly mixtures. I did also cover a journal and will show you that tomorrow.

I kept the box fairly simple as I didn't have much time. Inking on the edges and panels of matching DSP on the bottom of the four sides.

Again I wrapped SU Linen thread around the box and tied it in a knot. The clip at the top is a small size from a well known stationery store!!! Surprisingly I managed to get 2 whole packs of sweeties in this!! FIL thought it was great but I think he was really referring to the contents rather than the box!!!

Card - Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip

DSP - Stampin Up elegant Soiree

Ink - Crumb Cake

Stampin Up LinenThread

Tools - sponge dauber

Plane and Simple Fathers Day.......

2011-06-28T07:31:00.001+01:00

........ made for my FIL. Just realised you haven'tseen it. I don't usually do coloured card bases and normally stick to white but have decided to go out of the comfort zone and this time used Crumb Cake. An wow....... I just love it. Since making this I haven't used a white base since!!!!! Must thank Jenny Moors as the idea for this layout came from her very fab blog.

And another first - I gave the card a bit of a distressed look am quite pleased with it.

So here's the master piece

Close of the stamped image. This has been cut out and added over the top of the stamped section. A little bit on inking around the edges and more inking / smudging using a sponge dauber - bit like clouds!!!

The sentiment was printed on the PC and I wanted it to look "tied on". So a small hole each side of the sentiment, a brad either side of the fromt of the card and a small slit in the fold of the card. Then I just wrapped lined thread around the card and behind the sentiment which was then fixed in placed with foam pads. Bit complicated to describe but it looked fab.

The finished card looked a bit bottom heavy so I added a small slit to the card fold and a small hole either side and wrapped more linen thread around. As I didn't have any suitable buttons I added small punched circles to add a bit of balance.

I did cover a chipboard journal and made a box for sweeties which I will show you latter in the week.

Let me know what you think - I would be lovely to know you have dropped by!

Stamp - Stampin up Plane and Simple

Card - Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip

DSP - Stampin Up elegant Soiree

Ink - Crumb Cake

Stampin Up LinenThread

Tools - sponge dauber, hole punch, circle punch, eyelets from my stash

Build a Blossom Birthday.....

2011-06-23T07:47:00.001+01:00

.... here's the card I made for MIL to go with the button jewellery and the gift box. I would like to thank the very talented Jenny Moors for the inspiration behind this card which is pretty much a CASE. I used her tutorial as a base for getting the card made.

Same colours as before - Rich Razelberry, Old Olive (retired), Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. I used the dots embossing folder on the white panel and a border punch on the bottom. Add a stamped sentiment and some adhesive pearls and the card is made.

A close up of the flower - so easy to do with a Stamp a Ma Gig and the matching Build a Blossom Punch. A small button from the brights collection in the centre of the flower.

I like to try and decorate the insides as well. Here I added a small strip of the DSP and then used the border punch on the bottom of the insert only

Card and gift box together. MIL was very pleased with these - I like to try and keep her happy!!!!

Card - Stampin Up Rich Razleberry, Whisper White
Stamp set - Stampin Up Build a Blossom
DSP - retired Old Olive
Ink - Rich Razleberry, Pretty in Pink
Retired Rich Razleberry ribbon
Stampin Up self adhesive Pearls
Tools - Stampin Up Scallop Trim border punch, Build a Blossom Punch, bone folder. Big Shot with Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

Rich Razzleberry Gift Box.....

2011-06-19T18:04:00.000+01:00

.... made to hold the necklace for MIL in the previous post. A very simple box - think it is a 2 4 6 8 box or something like that.

The card is Stampin Up Rich Razleberry held together at the top with a small non Stampin Up clip - actually it is from Wilkos, 8 on a card for 99p. Small piece of sadly retired Rich Razleberry ribbon on the clip. Flip - have just realised the ribbon has been cut off of the top of the picture!!!

The flower on the front is from the Stampin Up set Build a Blosson. It is a two stamp set so stamped onto Whisper White first with Pretty in Pink then the second stamp in rich Razleberry. The petals are just fab to cut out at there is a matching punch - makes life a breeze!!!! I used a bone folder to curl them up a little on the edges

Don't you just love those little pearls.

Will show you the matching birthday card tomorrow. Let me know what you think.

Card - Stampin Up Rich Razleberry, Whisper White
Stamp set - Stampin Up Build a Blossom
DSP - retired Old Olive
Ink - Rich Razleberry, Pretty in Pink
Retired Rich Razleberry ribbon
Stampin Up self adhesive Pearls
Tool - Stampin Up border punch, Build a Blossom Punch, bone folder

Long Time Coming......

2011-06-17T07:14:00.001+01:00

.......sorry but life has been up to its usual rubbishy tricks lately resulting in no crafting or enthusiasm to do anything. Hubby is again out of work. He lost his job in June last year and managed to secure work in November for a six month contract. We had hoped the contract would be renewed but NO, not hubby's, so its back to the job centre!!!

Right - enough miserableness and onto to something much much nicer - well I think so. You may remember I made MIL a button bracelet for Mother's Day. You can see it here. Well for her birthday MIL asked for a matching necklace and earrings. Here they are and I am so pleased with they way they turned out and so very easy to do.

The necklace - simple sliver plated chain with Stampin Up buttons from the bights collection. The necklace uses two buttons in each colour and size.

The earrings use just one of the small buttons in each colour for each earring. Again, just strung onto simple chain with a hook fitting at the top

Here they are - both together.

Let me know what you think!! I am thinking of putting a kit together for both necklace, bracelet and earings. Let me know if this is something you would be interested in and I get them and a tutorial sorted.

Buttons - Stampin Up Brights collection
Silver chain, jump rings, earring fittings and lobster clasp from local supplier

Poppy Parade....

2011-06-01T06:56:00.000+01:00

a bit of a long post so you might as well make a cuppa and get comfy!!!!

..... imagine the scene - all comfy on the sofa and the phone rings. You answer ... Hi Terri....its my brother. A bit of general chat then we have ..the reason for my call is...... Ah ha, I think....bet this is going to be a problem.

Well.. he says, ..Siobhan (my niece) and a couple of other pupils leave the dance school at the end of this term after 15 years and we are having a leaving party for them. We are donating some money to the school and need ...... yep you've guessed it...... a card for the cheque. It needs to have the school logos, a photo, space for three sets of parents to add there own note and space for the cheque.

OK...... I say....when do you want it for. Now today is late Monday afternoon and I need to post it once finished and he replies ........ we need it for Thursday.

No problem I say..... thinking OMG!!!

and here it is. Quite difficult as there was no real artistry to it as the brief was specific. I used Poppy Parade DSP and card stock with matching ribbon with a bit of bling. As time was so short I didn't have much scope but am fairly pleased with it and covered all the specific request. Just hope my Brother thinks its OK.

so here it is .... the closed card

and the inside

DSP and Card - Stampin Up Poppy Parade
Ribbon - Stampin Up Poppy Parade
Stampin Up Self Adhesive Gems
Tools - Stampin Up Border Punch

Wet Bank Holiday Monday......

2011-05-30T12:02:00.000+01:00

.... we really should be used to it by now!! but I still always expect it to be nice!!!

Today's post is a bit of a cheat and all I have to show you are some more daisies but in different colour ways. I just love making these and the Daisy Die from Stampin Up makes it a breeze with the Big Shot.

Retired Pixie Pink, Very Vanilla - not sure which the purple one is - possibly Elegant Eggplant

Real Red, Very Vanilla ( although it does look very white in this photo) and Basic Black

I have now moved the die off of my desk and put away the Kebab skewers. I though if I did this there is a faint possibility I might actually use some of my other mountain of stash rather than doing the same thing!!

Have a great Bank Holiday Monday and enjoy whatever you are doing. For me - I am going to continue batch cooking Slimming World meals for the freezer ready to start "THE DIET" on Wednesday, finish the ironing, then cook a lovely Roast Lamb Dinner. Oh and I may well slob on the sofa, watch The Kings Speech and eat as much chocolate as I can before it is banned from the house!!

Daisy Daisy.....

2011-05-24T14:06:00.002+01:00

..... I'm back with something to show you. You must have thought I had done a disappearing act again - nothing of the sort. I have had a really bad back for a couple of weeks and not had any enthusiasm for sitting at my desk. Just moving was agony but it seems to have cleared up now.

So, after seeing so many fab projects using the new Stampin Up Daisy Die for the Big Shot I thought I would have a go at making some myself. Hubby is off to see his Mum and Dad on Thursday so I have made her a vase of daisies in Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango and Whisper White. The main tutorial for this came from Jo at Stampin 'n' Stuff with a few of my own little tweaks.

The stems of the daisies are wooden kebab sticks that have been covered in moss green florist tape.

A close up of the orange daisy....

yellow daisy

and white daisy - you can see the glittery centres of all the flowers

The grass fronds are very thin pieces of card and the stems for these have been covered in the same florist tape. I then put sellotape, sticky side out, around the stem and attached the "grass". In order to keep it all tidy I put more of the green florist tape over the card sections- the same way a florist does when making a button hole. To finish off the grass has been gently bent using a bone folder.

I have filled the bottom vase with glass pebbles so it looks as if there is water inside. I hope MIL likes the gift - I am sure she will.

and finally, finished off in true florist style, with a cellophane wrap and a co ordinating ribbon bow

Right, I'm off to make pink and purple daisies for my sister followed by a Fathers day card for FIL with a matching altered note book. Both hubby and I have the week off work so I am going to make the most of some 'me' time at my desk.

See you all soon - have a great day where ever you are.

Card stock - Stampin Up Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Garden Green
Big Shot and exclusive Stampin Up Flower Daisy # 2 Die
Glue pen, tombow glue and Stampin Up Dazzling Diamonds
Sticky pads, florist green tape, wooden kebab sticks, glass pebbles, cellophane
retired Stampin Up Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon

More Sweet Summer.....

2011-05-09T18:57:00.002+01:00

......... sorry I haven't been around for a few days. My new best friends, Mr Anadin and Mr Ibuprofen have been keeping me company!! Not sure how or what I have done to my back come front come RHS but sitting, standing, laying, walking or moving is agonising. Have managed to prop myself up in a fairly comfortable way and decided to use the time for a bit of bloggy surfing and an update

You may remember I used the retired Stampin Up Sweet Summer stamp set to make the birthday card here. The original idea came from Wendy Janson and if you go to the post you will find a link to her blog there.

Well, I loved the way the card turned out so I made a set of four as little notelets using the In Colours collections. I haven't put a sentiment on them as I wanted plain cards that could be used for any occasion. Today here are two of the cards, the rest will follow latter in the week.

Blushing bride - aren't the little bees cute

Concord Crush. You can just see the little crystals on the flowers. The little butterflies are only attached in the middle so the wings fold up a little.

The basic card is white with Crumb Cake card and DSP then Pear Pizzaz with either the Concord Crush or the Blushing Bride. Ribbons all match - which is why I just love Stampin Up - it all coordinates so no more having to hunt for something "that will do!!"

Will back tomorrow with the other two - hope you all have a lovely evening

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Sweet Summer retired
White card from stock with Whisper White
Card - Stampin Up Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Concord Crush and Pear Pizzaz
Coloured with Stampin Up Markers
Stampin Up Self Adhesive gems
Ribbon - Stampin Up Concord Crush and Blushing Bride
Large gem brads from my stash
Tools - Stampin Up scalloped border punch and paper piercing tool

Wedding Gift Holder....

2011-05-04T07:33:00.000+01:00

.....as promised here is the little holder for the gift Card. We asked the happy couple what they would like as a wedding gift and they asked for an Argos voucher - we will put one in when we give it to them but for now its my hubbys old paypal card!!

edited - the card from Argos had pink roses over the front - how great is it that it matched!!

The idea for this came again from my talented and lovely SU Upline, Jules.

Colours and supplies are the same as the card from yesterday

Here is it closed. I have tied the ribbon loose enough for it to stay in place but slip on and off easily. Originally I was going to thread the ribbon through the front opening but the thinner ribbon didn't look as good so instead I filled the space with more little pearls. I have used so many on the card and gift holder I will have to order some more - what a shame !! ha ha ha

The inside - very plain with just a little bit of inking around the edges of the insert, which you can just see.

Hope they like them both - I have to say it has grown on me over the last few days and I am actually pleased with how they have turned out.

If you would like to see how easy it is to make a gift holder like this AND earn free goodies in return, call me to arrange a workshop. All you need is a few friends to come along one evening and leave the rest to me!!!!-

A Wedding Card.....

2011-05-02T12:25:00.000+01:00

.... for a couple of our neighbours who are getting married on Friday. They used to live next door but moved - at least 6 houses away just before Christmas!!

The idea for this card came from my very talented SU Upline, Jules, but oh my did I struggle with it. I knew what I wanted but could I get in right. First the hearts were wrong, then the DSP didn't look right, then it was too dark and then to plain and then too simple and the problems just go on. I even woke up during the night thinking about it!!!

So first thing this morning, still in my pj's I just did it and although I am not 100% happy it is growing on me. I think it is the dark DSP that doesn't do it for me.

Colours are all SU. The hearts were cut with the Cricut and then the "lady" was embossed with the big shot and the edges inked for definition. His bow tie is a small knot of black cord that was lurking in the ribbon box!!

Here's the card. Over kill on the pearls - but they do seem to bring the whole thing to life a bit. Oops - just noticed one of the pearls on the bottom of the sentiment band is slightly out of place so have adjusted that now

Close up of the hearts - shame you can't see the pink inking of "her" edges

For this special card I also decorated the inside - if you look close enough you can just see the inked edges. Still not sure about it but it is growing in me. I might even spruce up the envelope this afternoon. Come back tomorrow and I will show you the matching gift wallet

Have a lovelly afternoon - I am going to bake toffee and banana muffins.

DSP - Stampin Up from Neutrals pack
Card - white from stock with Stampin Up Blushing Bride, Basic Black
Ink - SDtampin Up Blushing Bride
Stampin Up Self Adhesive Pearls
Sentiment and insert computer generated, font is Gabrielle
Ribbon - mStampin Up Blushing Bride
Tools - Cricut for the heart shapes, Stampin Up Bordert Punch, Big Shot with Dotty embossing folder

Sweet Summer.....

2011-04-29T12:03:00.001+01:00

... is now, sadly, a retired Stampin Up SAB set which I am ashamed to say I only inked up last week!!!

I needed a birthday day card for hubby's sister, whom we unfortunately don't get on with very well - sad thing about families these days when rifts happen. But this year, I persuaded hubs to make an effort and we sent her a handmade card.

I saw this card on the blog of the very creative Wendy Janson and CASED it with a couple of little tweaks here and there.

Colours are Crumb Cake with Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzaz, Old Olive and small dots of a forgotten colour in the centres of the flowers.

Here's the complete card. I love the colours and the layout and will use this again I am sure

A close of the flowers at the top. You can't see them but there are a few small pearls on the flowers. The little butterflies have been cut out and attached with their wings slightly bent to look as if they have just landed on the flowers. The little bees are so cute, don't you think

Close up of the bottom with more little butterflies on the sentiment. In real life the colours are much more vivid but I had to take the photos on a hurry so the card would get in the post.

Hope you like it. Right off to watch a bit more of the wedding. William looks so handsome and Kate is beautiful. I must admit to a little tear when they said their vows. Hope you all have a fab extra day off - enjoy the weekend. xx

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Retired Sweet Summer
DSP - Stamping Up Crumb Cake
Card - Stampin Up Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzaz, Peach Parfait
Ribbon - Stampin Up Peach Parfait
Marker Pens - Stampin Up Pear Pizzaz,Old Olive, Peach Parfait,
Stampin Up self adhesive Pearls
Sentiment computer generated
Tools ( all Stampin Up) - Stazon ink, mat pack and paper piercing tool, oval punch, scalloped oval punch, scalloped border punch

What a fab break......

2011-04-27T07:09:00.000+01:00

...... in Wales. It was so lovely to go and visit ( haven't been home since July last year!!!) The weather was perfect and we just sat in the garden and chatted and chilled. As expected I was well fed and watered ( well wined really) and the time for coming home came round far to quickly. Whilst there we all took the small steam train trip through Beddgelert Forest. This was stunning and once the photos are off of the camera will show them to you.

Right now for the card. It was my DIL's mums birthday last week and this is the card we sent her. I used the lovely Growing green stamp set with Pear Pizzaz, So Saffron. The images were coloured using inks, watercolour crayons and marker pens - sorry but I am not at all sure which colours I used. I meant to write it down but forgot.

This time is used the Stamp-A-M-Jig to give the second row of leaves

Close up of the flowers. These were stamped onto water colour paper then cut out and attached with dimensionals

as the card was being hand delivered I also decorated the envelope. Sorry the piccies are a bit on the poor side - Mr Technical was having an off day!!

Hope you like this. Please leave me a note to let me know you have popped by xxx

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Growing Green
DSP - Stamping Up Pear Pizzaz, So Saffron
Ribbon - Stampin Up Pear Pizzaz
Inks, Water Colours, Marker Pens - Stampin Up Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Garden Green, So Saffron, Barely Banana, plus a few I can't remember
Bling - Stampin Up
Sentiment computer generated on Whisper White
Water colour paper from my stock
Tools - Stamp-a-ma-jig

Happy Easter......

2011-04-23T06:42:00.001+01:00

....... I hope you are all having a great time where ever you are. I am staying with my bestest friends in North Wales and as I scheduled this post can't tell you if the weather so far has been good or not.

At the n'th hour I decided to give small gifts to the woman at work. So bars of Cadburys were transformed with the help of DSP and ribbon. Colours Pear Pizzaz and Daffodil Delight.

Topper stamped with the retired SAB Punch Punch and then re stamped in Daffodil Delight and flowers only added. Small pearl on the top of the flower. Tags printed on the computer and the edges sponged. On the coloured tags I stamped over with one of the stamps from the Terrific Tags set. Few extra pearls and the jobs done!!

Close up of the tags and topper

Arty Farty piccie

All three of them together. I have only been working in this office for a short time and I think the girls were all impressed with the little gifts. Might even convert them!!!

Enjoy the rest of weekend. See you next week xx

DSP - Stampin Up Pear Pizzaz
Card - Stampin Up Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizzaz
Ribbon - Stampin Up Pear Pizzaz
Stamp Sets - Stampin Up retired SAB and Terrific Tags
Ink - Stampin Up Pear Pizzaz and Daffodil Delight
Stampin Up Pearls
Punches - Stampin Up Large and Samll Tags and Scalloped Circle
Sentiment Computer generated onto Whisper White

Off to Wales.....

2011-04-22T07:21:00.000+01:00

....today to stay with some very very dear friends for the Easter break. I have know Grett since I was 18 and she really is like a sister to me!!

It will be just a very simple weekend ........ you know the sort. I know I will get spoilt rotten from the minute I arrive, the dogs will pester me and probable wee on my leg in excitement when I get there, the cat will want to either sit on my lap or lick my hair. There will be far too much good food, cooked breakfasts, too many large glasses of wine, a few lunches out, a trip to the pub and little else except for chilling out, sitting in the garden and enjoying the peace and quiet of Snowdonia.

If you think this sounds idyllic you wouldn't be wrong. And to cap it all and a real treat for me as - I am going on my own as hubby is working all weekend!!! Seems to me I am a very lucky lady!!!

Will show some piccies of the gorgeous scenery and views from the house once I get there. Right off now for the 6 hour drive... urggggh !!!!

Come back tomorrow as I have scheduled a post for you.

Have a great weekend. xx

Party Bags Part Two......

2011-04-21T07:05:00.002+01:00

..... and here is what was in the party bags from yesterday.

They started off with a little white box that I decorated and filled with lots of chewy sweets. Side panels printed on the computer and attached to coloured card then onto the boxes

Side view of the box

The top was decorated with another blue monster, similar to the party invitations

Open box with the sweeties inside

Little bottles of bubbles from the supermarket with a little tag and covered in the lovely DSP. What a coincidence that the bottles were red!!! (how pleased was I that they matched!!!)

A little Cadburys Fredo bar with its own matching wrapper and tag

and finally a little bag of lollies. I cut some clear cello's down and bit in size, put the lollies inside and then put a matching folded over tag to the top with another little tag.

The last thing to go inside was a little card from Thomas thanking his friends for coming to his party.

All in all, I am, very pleased with all of these and from what his Mum has said, they went down really well!!

Supplies all as the first post
White boxes from my stock cupboard

Monster Party Bags....

2011-04-17T15:01:00.003+01:00

....except these don't have any monsters on them!!

I used plain white bags and decorated the fronts of them. Two versions so it was easy to distinguish the boys ones from the girls.

The boys bags - the little tag says birthday party treats

A close up of the top of the bags. The little circles were popped onto sticky pads to add a bit of dimension. The little tags are tied on with SU gold elasticated cord

The girls bag - the little tags are the same as on the boys bags

a close up of the top of the bag with added bling!! Just love these little strips of gems from SU - makes adding a strip so very easy. The bigger bling in the middle of the ribbon came from my goodie box.

The insides of the bags were filled with treats and you can see those latter in the week. As well as sweets and things they all had party blowers and little yoyo's. The boys then all had a mini snakes and ladders game and the girls all had a little design a butterfly kit.

All supplies the same as on yesterdays post.
White bags from Bag n Box Man
Gem brads from my goodie bag
Little tags computer generated

Monsters.....

2011-04-17T08:50:00.001+01:00

.... a few weeks ago it was my Grandsons 6th birthday and he had his first "real" party at a family restaurant near to where he lives with a play zone. Twenty little horrors ( plus his dad and my hubby) had a great time running wild and being totally put of control which is what 6 yr olds ( and dads and grandads) do best!!

Nanny (me) made all the invites, gift bags etc and Thomas wanted monsters - so with the said stamp set, several packs of the bright SU DSP Celebrations and some card off to work I went.

There were twp invites - one with blue monsters and one with green but both pretty much the same design.

The blue monster......

The green monster

The inserts were just printed on the computer onto plain white paper and stuck inside but they looked a bit plain so I added a couple of monsters to those.

The blue card had green monsters inside

and.... yes you've guessed it - the green card had blue monsters inside!!!

Thomas seemed very pleased with them all. Tomorrow I will show you the matching thank you cards, the party bags, sweetie boxes and the bits I covered / made to go inside the goodies bags

Card - SU Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzaz, Real Red
DSP - SU Celebrations
Stamp Set - SU Make a Monster
Various marker pens, gels pens, colouring pencils and black Stazon ink
SU Paper piercing tool and mat pack
Sentiment and insert computer generated

Last of the Choccie Treats........

2011-04-16T06:48:00.000+01:00

.... a very simply covered box of Ferrero Rocher for my DIL. DSP is the retired Rose Red with a band of Pretty in Pink. A cute little chick and some bling.

The top - sorry its a bit dark but Mr Technical took this and was standing over it!!

Side view which is a better photo

supplies all SU and as the list on the easter basket post

Hot Chocolate.....

2011-04-13T08:31:00.003+01:00

..... well not quite but it is chocolate!! A very simple yet effective way of turning a good old bar of Cadbury's into an Easter treat.

Outer wrapper in sadly retired Bashful Blue DSP with a band around the middle in Marina Mist. Another cute little Easter chick with a glittery bottom half and a couple of Not Quite Navy circles to look like brads. Add a little gift tag and, as they say, Bobs Your Uncle !!!!

Sorry but the pictures are a bit dark but Hubby AKA Mr Technical took them and decided he needed to stand over them blocking the light in order to get a clear shot!!! Oh well, best not asking why!!

View from the top - not much more you can say

View from the side - these piccies are better

A close up of little chick which does show his glittery bottom!! (oh the cat also has one - she decided sitting on my desk and spending "Mummy Time" was good when I was making this!!!! LOL

Tools and supplies list same as yesterday

Easter Treats....

2011-04-12T08:13:00.000+01:00

.....as Hubby is in Stevenage today on a training course opposite where my son works it seemed a good idea for him to take the Easter treats with him to deliver. So after much faffing, throwing in the bin and almost just buying eggs I decided on Easter baskets for the Grandchildren - Blue for Thomas and pink for Chloe. Apologies in advance but some the items and colours used are now sadly retired but it seemed a good idea to use it up!!

So here they are. The little eggs are from the Good Egg set, coloured in with SU markers and the bottom half covered on Dazzling Diamonds and attached with dimensionals. The front and the backs of the baskets are decorated the same.

Thomas's basket - eggs just happened to be blue from the Easter egg hunt bags from Sainsbury!! I have added a couple of buttons from my stash to both sides of the handles.

Chloe's basket - pink with bling!! Again how amazing the eggs match!!

A close of the cute little chick. Must say I am really pleased with these. I don't normally do baskets, boxes or gifty type things - just cards - but after making these, which I really enjoyed doing, I will be making more.

After taking the photos I was worried the eggs would fall out of the basket if it fell over so cut a small square base, the same size as the baskets, from the packing card in the DSP packs and a strip of cellophane from a floristy roll. A very tiny blob of blue tack held the basket to the base and the cellophane was wrapped around the basket sides and over the eggs and sealed in palce with clear adhesive seals. Now they won't fall out ( and hubby can't pinch some for a driving to Stevenage snack!!!) ha ha

Come back tomorrow for part two!!

Stamp set - SU Good Egg
Su Marker Pens
SU Dazzling Diamonds
Card Stock - SU Marina Mist and Rose Red
DSP - SU Bashful Blue and Pretty In Pink from Subtles Pack
Ribbon - SU Pretty in Pink (possibly the retired grossgrain), SU Gold Elastic Cord
Buttons and Gems from my stash
Tools - SU Paper Piercing tool, SU two glue pen, SU scalloped circle punch, SU scalloped border punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Oval Punch
Little gift tags computer generated onto SU Whisper White card stock

A Tissue...... Part Two

2011-04-10T08:24:00.000+01:00

As promised here are the last two colours of the tissues holders I made for the Demo swaps at Coventry Regional Training.

Concord Crush

Poppy Parade, this time embellished with very sparkly SU gems.

All five of them together

And finally, the backs of them all.

So simple to make - book a work shop with me and I'll show you how easy they are to make

Card stock - SU Crumb Cake
Stamp Set - Circle Circus
DSP, Ink Pads and Ribbon - Poppy Parade, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzaz, Blush Blossom and Peach Parfait
SU clear embossing powder
Sparkly gems and gorgeous pearls - SU

A Tissue......

2011-04-09T08:45:00.000+01:00

.....no not a cold but a tissue holder. A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to spend the day with 30+ other demonstrators at our Regional Training in Coventry. We all make swaps to....err swap.... so we all come away with loads of inspiration from other people's creativity. My swap was a tissue holder.

I used the lovely "In Colours" with matching DSP and ribbons on a base of Crumb Cake. A little bit of paper pricking, some gorgeous SU gems or pearls and a medallion on the front Stamped from the Circle Circus set and embossed with clear SU embossing power.

I found the basis instruction on ILWS but changed it slightly so instead of sticking the tissues in to the holder I added a little badn to hold them in place so they can be removed or replaced when the pack in empty. So here they are........

Blush Blossom

Peach Parfait

And my favourite.... Pear Pizzaz (don't tell any one but they are really all my favourites!!!)

Will be back tomorrow with the remaining two and a list of all the items I used.

Looks like it will be a noce weekend so have a fab day doing whatever you are doing and to any of my fellow Jems who read this, hope you all have a wonderful time with Jules. xx

Mothers Day - The final Part...

2011-04-07T06:22:00.000+01:00

.... this time it is choccies. Every mum needs chocolate on Mother's Day and my MIL is no exception. So I bought a small box of Ferrero Rocher, removed all the packing and decorated the box to match. Colours and stamp same as the card!!

Top of the box - colours are much brighter in real life.

Side view - as with the bracelet box the ribbon does under the top image and ties in a bow on the side.

Shorter post today -not much you can say about a box of choccies - except for mmmmmmm, yummy!!!!

If you would like to see how I made the card, bracelet or decorated the choccie box contact me and book a workshop - I'll even let you keep the choccies!!

Mothers Day - Part Two...

2011-04-05T07:03:00.002+01:00

... and here is the little gift I made for her. The bracelet design is totally down the lovely Monica Gale who showcased this is her blog. MIL loves bright so this bracelet was just her thing - and I am so happy with the way it turned out.

Of coursed we needed a box and I have few spares - well quite a few left over from my son's wedding favours - so I decorated the sides and top to match. The little base that the bracelet sits on is a piece of the packing card from a pack of DSP

Buttons all from the bights collections - one of each size in each of the colours - 18 buttons in total

Colours for the box are the same as the card in the previous post.

Here's the bracelet before it goes in the box - just as gorgeous in real life

Withe box half opened. I punched two little holes to top, bottom and sides of the white base and then tied the bracelet in place with little lengths of knotted elastic cord.

Top of the box - decorated the same as the card from yesterday

Side view of the box. The sides have the green DSP on all of them. The ribbon goes under the white card on the top and ties in a bow.

Hope you like it - MIL did as she spent ages on the phone thanking hubby!!! Think she thinks he did all this himself from the thanks he was getting!

See you latter in the week with the choccie box.

I'm Back - But Not Sure For How Long

2011-04-04T07:29:00.022+01:00

Missing in action - more like vanished off the face of the earth but I am back!! So much happened last year that I just gave up on crafting and blogging.

Hubby lost his job which caused huge problems for us to deal with. Thankfully he is now fully employed again and life looks like it is starting to turn the corner, although he works incredibly long hours so we rarely have time together.

My job became increasing difficult for me with the demands of an unreasonable employer and became very stressful. So that has now changed and a new job with no stress and much shorter working hours hours has made a huge difference. So with more me time on my hands I have actually managed to get back into crafting and in the future will be offering small classes in my local area of Lyneham which is in between Wotton Bassett and Chippenham in Wiltshire.

That enough rambling - time to show you card. This is the card I made for mothers day for my MIL. There is a gift box and altered choccie box to go with this but will show those later in the week.

The card is a complete CASE (with a few tweaks) from a card made by Caroline Skinner who is a fellow SU Demonstrator

The stamp is the beautiful Growing Green set from Stamping up. Coloured using water colours and marker pens. DSP from the Subtles collection with some of the very sparkly SU gems. Ribbon is from my stash but a great colour match. Colours mostly Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink with some Regal Rose, Old Olive, Rose Red and Garden Green

I even decorated the inside. I loved making this and will use this layout and stamp set again I am sure.

Hope you have enjoyed your visit. Please leave a message to let me know you have stopped by. Will be back with the gift box soon.

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Growing Green
Water Colour Crayons and Marker Pens in Pretty in Pink., Rose Red, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Old Olive and Garden Green
White card, ribbon and water colour paper from my stash
Stampin Up Bling
Sentiment computer generated and printed directly onto Stampin Up Whisper White

Post It Note Holder....

2010-07-24T07:31:00.009+01:00

... from a cheap acrylic frame. All from the pound shop and the post it note pad is enough for four holders and was less than 40p from Wilkos!!

Not much to it really. DSP slid in between the back and front with a little ribbon loop for the pen. Ribbon tied around to hold it all in place. Rose is a Rose bud on the front and a couple of gems. Pen with matching DSP inside

A close up on the flowers and ribbon. It doesn't show up but there is a bit of glitter on the roses

Hubby's arty farty piccie to show the way it sits on a desk.

Right off to work now (groan groan groan). Have a great day!

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Rose is a Rose
Ink Pads - Stampin Up Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Old Olive
DSP - Stapin Up Perfect Plum
Card - Stampin Up Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery
Ribbon - Stampin up Certainly Celery
Swarovski Gems from my stash
Other items - Pens, post it notes and frame from a cheap shop

New Home Card.....

2010-07-20T06:00:00.012+01:00

.... for our neighbours who moved a whole three miles away yesterday. They have been neighbours for over 15 years and we will miss them.

No more our cat terrorising their aged collie dog, no more door slamming or teenage tantrums, no more footballs bouncing off of my car. There will be no more of the young girls karaoke, or their mums Cat Stevens or their Dads heavy metal. Tomorrow I will be able to park my car easily and next Saturday enjoy a glass of wine without the constant banging on the stairs. And for all of that, we will miss them so much!!!

Here is the card we gave them - the retired Good Neighbours SU set

A close up the houses and tree

Arty farty piccie

The orginal layout was on a card I saw on ILWS- so used that as a base. Green coloured house and one cloud added with dimensionals. Card stock - Stampin up Old Olive, Close to Cocoa and Whisper White

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Good Neighbours (retired)
Ink Pads - Stampin Up Old Olive, So Saffron, Really Rust, Brocade Blue DSP - Stampin Up Spiced Cider
Ribbon- Stampin Up Old Olive
Sentiment - printed on PC and punched with the SU oval punch

There's A Card Maker in the House....

2010-07-18T14:20:00.015+01:00

...... and look at what they made me

It was my birthday last Friday and Hubby decided he would make my birthday cards and pressies himself!! - well that was until he was taken into hospital. He did, though, manage to help my little puss cat, Milly, make her mummy a card. Isn't she clever.

The image came from my box of bits, DSP Stampin Up Perfect Plum, ribbon from the box. Candles on the inside from the Stampin Up Hostess gift Queue Up. And look, she even managed to write her name and add a little paw print.

Needless to say Hubby is chuffed to pieces with this - his first ever attempt at card making. From now on - its lock up the stash coz I ain't sharing!!

For my pressie, he found a photo of my sons wedding in June and my eldest sons wedding three years ago, cropped and played with them, printed them off and put one of each of them in a couple of glass frames that have been in the cupboard for yonks. They were probably a Christmas present one year. And I will tell you something - the best present I have ever had and no amount of money could buy something better!!!

Right off now to give Hubby a little bit more TLC !!

Lots of Things to Show You....

2010-07-17T07:54:00.004+01:00

....... but sorry not for few days. Hubby was rushed into hospital on Wednesday evening so it has been very traumatic since then. He has had loads of tests, xrays and scans and thank fully he is OK and came home late yesterday and now just needs a little bit of TLC and plenty of rest. All the same though, it was very upsetting and a little bit scary.

I have a fab post it note holder I made to show you and will try and do this over the weekend.

Have a great weekend where ever you are.

Altered Fold Back Clips.....

2010-07-11T11:07:00.018+01:00

..... I am having such a ball playing with paper and things. It has been ages since I have just had a good old play day for me!!! Hubby is very generously doing the chores, cat is fast asleep in the shed, BBQ for dinner and the sun is shining. What a fab way to spend a Sunday!!

I have seen loads of these on various blogs and forums and decided to have a go myself and I can tell you I am so pleased with it!!

This is how it started - a box ( well actually a round tub) of 12 of these from Staples for under £4.00

Then with a little double sided tape, a piece of DSP, some beaded butterflies I made ages ago. some extra and two little bits of ribbon this is what we ended up with this little beauty

A close up of the Dragonfly

These dragon flies are very simple to do - just tiny seed beads and bugle beads threaded onto beading wire in various ways and you end up with this. I have then attached the dragon flies to the clips with further pieces of twisted wire. The bottom one is only attached in one place so it appears to be "flying". Not too happy with the twisted wire though - think I need to tidy it up a bit better at the back.

DSP-Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Ribbon - Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Gems - Swarovski from my stash
Seed beads, bugle beads and wire all from my stash

Mmmmmmm - now what can I do with a box of 100 giant size paper clips!!!!

Birthday Cupcakes.....

2010-07-09T06:14:00.005+01:00

..... for a colleague at work.

A few months ago (April) I spent a lovely few hours with another local SU Demo at one of her Saturday classes. We used the Crazy for Cupcakes set and made two of three cards and a bag - well the other ladies did. I just managed three cards. I wasn't feeling that well. Hubby thought the treat would cheer me up which it did!!

Here's one of the cards we made. I have had it my box for ages and found it when looking for a "flip -I need card today as I forgot" sort of birthday card.

Colours are pretty in Pink with Chocolate Chip. Pink card embossed with Swiss Dots. Image coloured with marker pans with the stand painted in the new Shimmer Paints.

Card - Stampin Up Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Stampin Up marker pens and Shimmer Paint
Ribbon - Stampin Up Chocolate Chip taffetta
Stmpin Up oval punch and scalloped oval punch
Other Items - emossing folder and nesties for the image

Pop back over the weekend as I have a really fab little bag and card set to show you and I am really pleased with latest little project. I have never made anything so large or involved before. AND as a special treat with it being my birthday next week you might even have the chance of winning a little bit of candy!!

Altered Shopping List Pad......

2010-07-07T07:38:00.006+01:00

..... or any list pad come to think of it. I bought a pack of 6 of these in the local pound shop.

Covered in Perfect Plum textured card stock with a little square of Pale Plum. Flower stamped in the same colours using Greenhouse Garden, added to a scalloped circle and popped on with dimensionals. Tag at the bottom printed on the PC. Cheap pen (26p for loads) with a strip of rolled up DSP inside -very fiddly but well worth doing!!

Here's the whole thing with a white ribbon around it holding the book closed and the pen in place

Here's the fab little pen I used a small strip of the DSP to cover the horrid black strip at the top of the pad. Hope you like it!!

Ink Colours - Stamping Up Perfect Plum and Pale Plum
Card Stock - Stamping Up Perfect Plum and Pale Plum
DSP - Stamping Up Perfect Plum
Ribbon from my stash

Vintage Vogue Candle Part Two....

2010-07-05T06:00:00.003+01:00

... here's the little gift card that goes with yesterdays candle. Very simple but I love it.

Base card is Old Olive with the vine and flower stamped onto Very Vanilla in Cameo Coral and Old Olive. The flower is popped up on dimensionals with a little bit of paper piercing around the edges. The sentiment was printed onto the Very Vanilla before the stamping was done.

Here the card and candle together. What do you think at my first attempt!!

Card Stock - Olive Olive, Very Vanilla Stampin Up
Irks - Old Olive, Cameo Coral Stampin Up
Gems - Swarvoski form my stash

Vintage Vogue Candle....

2010-07-04T10:59:00.004+01:00

.... OMG I have never done this before and can't believe how easy it is. After having a play with the stamping layout it took me no more than 10 minutes!!! I am trying to get enough stock ready for a Craft Fayre and hope to sell these in order spread the SU word and to help fund my SU addiction!!!

The candle is a vanilla scented one (actually smells fab) from the local pound shop. Flower and vine were stamped in Cameo Coral and Old Olive using the Vintage Vogue set. A little bit of Old Olive ribbon and a gem from my stash. All it needs is popping into a cello and wrapping with a ribbon at the top.

Pop back tomorrow to see the little gift card that goes with it. Must say - I am quite pleased with my efforts. It feels good to be back on track after a really horrid few months

Inks used - Cameo Coral, Old Olive
Ribbon - Stampin Up Olive Olive
Stamps - Set - Stampin Up Vintage Vogue
Gems - Swarvoski from my stash (left over from the wedding!!)

My My Doesn't Time Fly By......

2010-07-03T14:17:00.022+01:00

..... I can't believe it is so long since I last posted on my little old blog. Much has happened over the past few months and I have not had one single ounce of enthusiasm for anything. Except for my sons weddings at the end of June - and we had the most fantastic day I will never forget (wipes tears from eye!!) Mind you I have managed to make nearly 100 wedding invitations, 60 little envelopes of directions and drinks vouchers, 70 order of service, 100 name cards, 66 table gifts and 30 children's goody boxes filled with ll sorts of little sweets, menus, one guest book, two keep sake boxes, one photo album, one post box, 40 thank you cards and a card for the happy couple and for Lisa's parents. All made to co ordinate in pink and grey so I think I can be forgiven for not creating any thing else I used four complete sets of four separate ink cartridges, 120 metres of ribbons, 800 Swarovksi crystals, 240 metres of extra sticky tape, 1000 sheets of paper, enough sticky fixers to sink a battleship and a life times supply of glue, card and envelopes. Was it worth it YES.... Would I do it again WITHOUT DOUBT... So that's one reason I have been AWOL Anyway onto piccies - this is my wonderful youngest son Martyn and my gorgeous daughter in law Lisa. They have been through so much with Chloe's illness and I am very very proud of them both. and this is my eldest son Mike with his brother - another gorgeous and handsome young chap ( takes after his Mum!!! LOL)

a quick piccie of the laid tables - you can see the place cards and backs of the menus. The envelopes under the name cards had lottery tickets and the little boxes were full of sweets and lollipops. Kept the children quiet for ages!! And this is the post box and guest book with Lisa's bouquet in front of them

Hope you like them all!! I am so proud of it all - right must go now and get a tissue now -I've come over all emotional and pathetic..

Come back again tomorrow as Mr Mojo is back and I have some rather lovely things to show you- all for my next venture!! A Craft Fayre - why do I do these things I ask myself. Never anything simple and easy with me LOL!!

Have a great day.

Mother's Day Numer Two......

2010-03-13T09:56:00.004Z

..... this time for MIL who is in Spain at the moment. I usually do her cards in pinks but this year decided on change.

I used my gorgeous Stampin Up A Rose is Rose set for this using a colorway of Pale Plum and Perfect Plum for the roses and Old Olive and Always Artichoke for the leaves. One rose on a dimensional with the edges just squashed in a little bit. Oh and some Dazzling Diamonds for sparkle. The top looked a bit bland so I added a little bit of pricking round the edges of the top

Card colours are the Perfect Plum and Pale Plum with Perfect Plum DSP. Ribbon from my stash and what a good colour match. Photos look a bit pale and I did use my Light Box!! In real life much more vibrant and if you are familiar with SU you will know the colours

A close up of the flowers. You might just see a shadow behind the leaves- I only glued them in place at the bases so they are loose and bent forward slightly. Such a shame you can't really see the bent edges of one rose

Card - Stampin Up Perfect Plum, Pale Plum
DSP - Stampin Up Perfect Plum
Inks - Stampin Up Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum
Ribbon from stash
Sentiment computer generated

Such a bad blogger.....

2010-03-12T08:02:00.005Z

..... and I have no excuses - just over worked, no free time, a wedding to help plan and most of all no enthusiasm what so ever for crafting. Have even thought about hanging up the SU hat and selling all my stuff off.

The only things I have made since Christmas as things other people have asked me to do for them - nothing for me at all. Well apart from Hubby's birthday card and I will show those latter.

Here is one of the cards I have managed to create, a Mother's Day card for a colleague from work from his three week old baby.

I saw a very similar card by Jo on Mainly Flowers and this gave me the idea. The teddy is all from punches, mostly stamping Up, the flower cone is a folded scalloped circle and the flowers from a Woodware punch. Ribbon from stash with a few essential gems from stash.

Colours are Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and a little bit of Regal Rose

A close up of the little bear. Cheeks are rosy with a little bit of chalk with doodled mouth and white pen highlights. All popped up on dimensionals. The little bear is in Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa. Inked edges for a bit of definition. Hope you like it!

Card - Stampin Up - Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa
Ink - Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel
DSP - Stamin Up Certainly Celery (Retired)
Ribbon and Gems from my stash
Sentiment computer generated
Various Stampin Up and Woodware punches

Back at very long last......

2010-01-24T16:31:00.012Z

...with a gorgeous little treat box. The tutorial for this came from the very talented Jenny Moor who designed this as a valentines treat. I didn't want to do that design so changed it for little girly treats with After Eights mints inside. Stamp set it Stampin Up Rose is a Rose.

Here is all packed up - little tags and some gold elastic cord holding the sealed cello together. I am going to pop these in the desk drawers of the girls at work tomorrow before they get in!!

the little box out of the packaging

the side view - you can just see the choccies and the front and back panels on the dimensionals

the back..

the little box opened up.

I have really enjoyed making these today. Jules, if you read this its all down to you - you gave me the little kick up the you know what I needed!! Thank you so much, you fab person you.

Stamp set - Stampin Up Rose is a Rose
Card - Stampin Up Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke
Ink Pads - Regal Rose and Rose Red
Ribbon - Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Tags printed on PC and then punched using both size Stampin Up tag punches
Other bits - gems from my stash, *two way glue pen, *dimensionals, *Dazzling Diamonds, elastic cord, double sided tapes, *Stampin Up mat pack and *pricking tool and finally, A6 cello's

* all Stampin Up,and available from me through the current catologue

Hope you all like this - I do and think I am about to commit to making 90 for my sons wedding - that as well as the invites, evening invites, reply cards, order of service, menus, table numbers, name cards, table plan and thank you cards. Good job I love him isn't it!!!! LOL

Merry Christmas To Every One

2009-12-25T08:10:00.007Z

Here's a little card from me to all of you.

Thank you all for popping by and leaving such lovely comments. I look forward to seeing you all again next year

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year

Love from Terri, Hubby Robbert and Milly the Cat XX

My New Christmas Handbag.....

2009-12-17T07:35:00.004Z

... card for my niece. Bet you all though I had gone mad in the shops and treated myself to something nice!! Ha ha I wish!

Mostly made with stamping Up.

The flap is held down with a little velcro button.

Holly punch for the holly leaves with some pricking and inking !! Flower is two layers of the Stampin Up five petal punch with a little embossing, folding and gold seed beads to the centre

Hubbys art farty shot!. Little stand at the back so it sits nicely n the mantle piece. Also the greeting is placed on big dimensionals so it goes over the elastic cord. Am rather pleased with this - it just all came together great. Good job- it was 5am this morning and needed for the post. Late with the cards as always

Card, DSP - Stampin Up Old Olive, Real Red
Ink Pad - Old Olive
Gems, gold elastic ribbon, beads from my stash
Ribbon - Stampin Up Old Olive, Real Red
Punches, Holly from my cupboard and Five Petal Punch from Stampin Up

Lots of Love.....

2009-12-01T05:53:00.011Z

... for my Hubby's Anniversary Card a couple pf weeks ago. I used the Stampin Up Lots of love and the beautiful papers from the Haiku series of DSP. I asked hubby which colour family he liked the best - Bold Brights!! Try as hard as I could there was no way I could do a male card in bright green and pink!!! Mind you, between you and me I think he is a bit colour blind!

Here I made a joy fold card using Very Vanilla as the base throughout. Other colours are Old Olive and Really Rust for the truck, wheels in Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red for the little hearts.

The complete card closed with the little flap tucked under the sentiment

Close up the top part of the card. The first two sets of hearts ave been popped up to give some dimension. Also a little glossy accent to make the hearts shiny which you can just see. The edges of the sentiment have been inked but it doesn't show very well.

Close up on the bottom. This time the hearts are flat on the card but are still a little bit glossy. Inking around the edges of the sentiment.

Here is the inside. Message computer generated with inking around the edges

Finally a close up on those little hearts. Stamped straight onto the insert and given the glossy treatment again.

I must say, I was really pleased with the way this turned out and will use this layout again. Will order the additional set to go with this as I need the little puppies that go in the back of the truck for a birthday card.

See you all soon, have a great day!

Card - Stampin Up Very Vanilla
Image and hearts coloured with Water Colour Wonder Crayons
Stamp Set - Stampin Up Lots of Love
Paper - Stampin Up Haiku
Sentiments and insert all computer generated

Gorgeous Sepia Tone Card.....

2009-11-24T06:37:00.009Z

.... using one of myfavourite stamps. I just love how this has turned out. The fab Jules ( Julies Japes) inspired me with her "sepia" style card which you can see on the blog. Same layout as the olive coloured one you have already seen.

For this I just used the image stamped in Chocoltae Chip onto Very Vanilla Card stock. The base card is Chocolate Chip andClose to Cocoa.

The complete card. As before, the sentiment was printed on the PC onto the Very Vanilla. I used the circle punch to give the photo corners on the image. The ribbon is Chocolate Chip with a very thin piece of Vary Vanilla card on the top.

A close up on the image so you can see the glitter

When the card is close it just slips under the round holly leaf. For the little "stopper" I punched out two plain circles and glued them together and then stamped the image, punched it out and glued it on top with a little inking on the edges.

Card - Stampin Up Chocolate Chop, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla Ink - Stampin Up Chocolate Chip Stamps - Stampin Up Silent Night, holly from Stampin Up Old-Fashioned Christmas Ribbon - Stampin Up Chocolate Chip Sentiment computer generated SU punch for the corners

Order of Service all done.....

2009-11-22T07:39:00.004Z

..... which means I can go back to paying with my SU stash!! All that's left is the menus and a table plan and I will do those during the evenings.

Poor piccie but here they are all over the kitchen table. I am going to deliver these and the place cards this afternoon. Hope they like them!!

I have run out of....

2009-11-21T07:48:00.019Z

... Ruby Red card stock, ribbon and glue. Only just managed to get the gems delivered in time. Printer has done overtime and at one point I was worried it would collapse from exhaustion.

But I have finished..... yes......all 48 name cards and three blank ones done, completed, finished, ready to be delivered!!

This is my desk this morning, waiting for the glue on the cards to dry before packing them into cellophanes

Next task, adding three gems to each of the 65 order of service. Then it is just 10 menu cards and a table plan.!!! Off to make a cuppa now hubby has gone to work then its on with operation Wedding Planner!!

p.s. its our wedding anniversary today - 18 years - will be back latter to show my card to hubby and the gorgeous card he had the lovely Julie make for me.

Thanks Julie, it is stunning and I love it XX

Scribble Tree.....

2009-11-18T06:25:00.009Z

..... another gorgeous Stampin Up stamp (borrowed from the lovely Hayley, another SU Demo just a few miles down the road!!!!)

It was Hayley who showed me this style of card at her open house. Here I have embossed the tree in white onto Old Olive, Old Olive onto white, cut them in half and joined them! A bit of a mirror image effect.

The sentiment is all computer generated. It looked a bit plain so I have added some pricking between the words which you can just see in the photo. Sorry the photo is a bit poor - so hard to get good photos at the moment.

Stamps - Stampin Up Wondrous Gift
White card for the base from stock
Coloured Card Old Olive, Always Artichoke, tree also stamped on to Whisper White
Ink Pads - Old Olive, White Craft Pad with Stampin Up clear and white embossing powder
Gems from my stash

Sounds like It is a bit horrid outside again. Wind sounds awful - thankfully today is an office bound day so I shall be able to sit in my comfy chair all nice and warm. I am then off for FOUR whole days - time to get some crafting done - well after the wedding order is finished that is.

See you all soon - have a good day

Gorgeous Tree Trimming.....

2009-11-13T06:47:00.006Z

..... I just love this stamp set. Here I have stamped four Real Red straight onto white card and then four Old Olive which I have cut out and popped on dimensionals to give a fab little snow flake.

I didn't plan on putting gems along side of the sentiment - they are there to hide a wonky edge!! Think they do a good job myself

A little arty farty piccie

stamp set - Stampin Up Tree Trimmings
Ink Pads - Real Red, Old Olive
DSP - Old Olive
White card from stock
Coloured card - Stampin Up Old Olive
Ribbon - Stampin Up Real Red
Gems from my stash
Sentiment computer generated

The card looks really complicated but it's not - in fact it's quite easy. You too can produce a card like this for your family this Christmas. Just email me for details on how you can get the products I used. I will even throw in a sample and some instructions for you.

Have a great day - forecast is heavy rain here - thank goodness I am office bound all day. Makes a change for me not to be rushing around on appointments all day. I shall make the most of the warm office, comfy chair and hot cups of tea!!!

Don't You Just Love.....

2009-11-12T06:03:00.005Z

.....handbags!! I am always really pleased when people ask me to make cards for them - it gives the confidence a real boost. I am always proud of my creations but am never sure what other people really think, so when you get asked for two cards it is fab!! The only request here was for two handbags, one pink and one grey. Plus "Oh, sorry and for tomorrow morning if you can manage it!". And here they are!

One pink

One grey

I am happy to say the purchaser and recipients were delighted with them!!

White card from stock and cut by hand
DP and colored cards all printed from a digital collection
Ribbons, flowers, gems and pearls all from my stash
sentiments computer generated

Have a great day - forecast looks wet and grotty so I hope you manage to keep dry and warm

I've Not Forgotten You All....

2009-11-11T07:08:00.002Z

... but I have just been up to the eyes in wedding order of service, place cards and menus for my neighbour. All 65 order of service are nearly finished. Just need to add the insert and stick on the gems. Place cards are all cut, scored, printed and ready to be assembled. That just leaves the menus - and I've not done anything with them. I am quite proud of myself doing all this in just four weeks!! I d have a couple of things to show you -once I can get a decent photo - so come back again soon. Hopefully there will be a little handbag card to show you tomorrow an order for my colleague at work. Hope you are all having a good week!!

Quick Little Notelets.....

2009-11-05T07:01:00.007Z

...... and these are so quick to make. I needed them in a hurry and already had a sheet of the stamped roses from the Rose is A Rose set.

Colours are Old Olive and Always Artichoke for the card and So Saffron, More Mustard and Old Olive for the rose bud and leaves

A sort of arty farty piccie - not very good at these yet!! Need more practice but I think you get the idea!!!

Card stock - all Stampin Up Old Olive, Always Artichoke and So Saffron
Ink Pads - Stampin Up Old Olive, More Mustard, So Saffron
Stamp - Stampin Up Rose is a Rose
DSP - Stampin Up Old Olive
Ribbon - Stampin up Always Artichoke
Gems from my stash
Punches - small circle, circle dot under gems, scalloped circle all Stampin Up. Larger circle from a punch in my box!

Silent Night.....

2009-11-02T07:20:00.005Z

.... on a z fold card. I just love how this has turned out. The fab Jules ( Julies Japes) inspired me with her "sepia" style card which you can see on the blog. Very easy to make and great for mass producing. Think this will be one our cards this year.

For this I just used the image stamped in Old Olive onto Very Vanilla Card stock. The base card is Always Artichoke and Old Olive.

The complete card. The sentiment was printed on the PC onto the Very Vanilla. I used the circle punch to give the photo corners on the image

A close up on the image so you can see the glitter

When the card is close it just slips under the round holly leaf. Altough when Hubby took the picture he didn't stand it up. for the little "stopper" I punched out two plain circles and glued them together and then stamped the image, punched it out and glued it on top

Card - Stampin Up Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Ink - Stampin Up Old Olive
Stamps - Stampin Up Silent Night, holly from Stampin Up Old-Fashioned Christmas
Ribbon - Stampin Up Always Artichoke
Gems from my stash
Sentiment computer generated
SU punch for the corners

Don't forget, email me if you too would like to use these products to make your Christmas Cards this year. Just click on the email me tag on the left hand side bar. I will even include a sheet of instructions for this particular card with a ready made sample and one cut and scored so you can see the separate pieces for yourself.

No Post Yesterday - Sorry...

2009-10-31T08:09:00.013Z

....but I have been a bit up to neck in it the last couple of days. I have some new cards to show you but the weather is so dark and dismal there is little chance of getting a decent photo. When Hubby gets home I will see if I can sweet talk him into getting the flash gun out. In the meantime I plan on snuggling up on the sofa and watching chick flicks.!!!

Don't know what the weather is like with you but here it is blowing a gale and pouring with rain - not stopped doing either since very early this morning. I should do a supermarket shop but I am not going out in this!!! Not even for chocolate!!

One thing I have managed to do is cut and score the base cards, colored card layers (2), backing papers (2), and ribbons for 65 order of service, 55 place name cards and 12 double sided menu / table number cards for my neighbour. All that's left is the printing of the front tags and names and then the assembly. Still, I have got another four weeks to go but am a bit worried I will get it all done. I have never done anything this big before so am not really sure how long it will all take.

See you all again latter I hope with some piccies

New Stampers Clubs Starting

2009-10-31T06:29:00.004Z

This will post will remain at the top. Please scroll down for more recent posts.

The Stampin Up! catalogue is chock a block full of gorgeous must have items, and I have a way of not only spreading the cost of all these fabulous items but also the chance to get some freebies!!! How? Simple - by joining my Stampers 6 Club.

So what is a Stampers 6 Club I hear you ask. Well, here’s how it all works. STAMPERS 6

I need 6 ladies to join the club who commit to spending a minimum of £25 a month (plus P&P) for 6 months. The club will commence as soon as it is full , hopefully for February so you can still participate in some extra freebies with sale - a - bration!!!

Each month one of the 6 ladies will be classed as the "hostess" for that month (and no, just in case you are wondering, we won't all come to your place for the evening!!!) and will receive freebies of the minimum of a Level 1 stamp set and £15 worth of goodies from the catalogue.
You will receive a free Stampin Up catalogue at the start of the club, any further mini catalogues that might appear during the club run and benefit from any extra offers Stampin Up may make. In addition we will have our own dedicated blog, little make and takes, a few little challenges and some extra surprises and goodies from me along the way.

This is how I came into contact with Stampin Up. I joined a stampers 10 club last year, built up my stash and my love affair with Stampin Up began and then I became a Demo. It was so exciting drooling over the catalogue each month, deciding what to buy and waiting for the parcel. Then the parcel arrive and I had all this lovely gorgeous stash to play with until the next month.!!

If you like the sound of this and love the idea of free goodies one month please email me for more information or to register a place before they fill up!!!!!! and don't forget, if you think you will spend more than £25.00 every month, take two places and get double the freebies!!!

And a little incentive - there will be a little draw once the club is filled between the members for an extra £15.00 worth of Stampin Up products of your choice.

This is an offer from me not Stampin Up.

My Wheely Nice Card....

2009-10-29T06:09:00.009Z

.... yep, you may have guessed. A card made using one of the brilliant Stampin Up Wheels. Such a fab idea - add the wheel stamp to a holder, add an ink cartridge and off you go. Backgrounds in minutes and by using the Stampin Around Wheel Guide means straight lines every time and no gaps between sections of stamping unless you want the gaps there. I just love all these products!!

The tree was made by stamping the Spot On jumbo wheel in Old Olive onto white card stock. Then I cut a tree shaped triangle, mounted it onto some Old Olive card for some definition to the edges and added a few Real Red circles popped onto dimensionals with some added bling. A bit if Always Artichoke ribbon, small strip of Real Red scallop edging and a round sentiment on the top of the tree.

Not really sure I am 100% happy with this but think it may grown on me. Can't help thinking it needs something else!!

Complete card

A bit of an arty farty piccie to show the dimensionals

Close up on the tree

White card from my stash
DSP Stampin Up Old Olive
Coloured card Stampin Up Old Olive and Real Red
Ink Pads Stampin Up Old Olive and Basic Black
Ribbon Always Artichoke
Sentiment and bling from my stash
Punches all stampin Up

Crimbo Holly....

2009-10-28T07:15:00.008Z

..... I saw a version of this card on Andrea Walford's blog - thanks you so much for the inspiration Andrea. A very simple card in Old Olive and Real Red. But, it does have another new technique for me which is inking edges.

I have always made a mess of it because I thought you just pulled the paper edge over the ink pad!! But thanks to the video of Andrea's version of this card I saw how to do it. So after a rummage in the toiletries box I found a very expensive pack of Champneys make up sponges and hey presto - inked edges.

The whole card

A sort of arty farty piccie

A close up on the image - leaves pricked to give a "leaf vein" impression. You can almost see those inked edges on the leaves and the scalloped circle. There is inking on the red circle but it doesn't really show up

Come by again tomorrow because I have a "wheely" nice card to show you ( yep - there is a hint there!!)

White card from stock
Coloured Card - Stampin Up Old Olive and Real Red
Ink Colours, Stampin Up Basic Black, Old Olive, Real Red
DSP - Old Olive
Ribbon - Stampin up Old Olive
Gems from my stash
Sentiment - stamp in my box of goodies
Punches - Stampin Up Scalloped circle and 1 1/4 inch circle. The red circle was cut using a 1 1/2 inch circle punch
Holly Leaves - cut on Cricut at 2 1/2 inches

Golden Olden.....

2009-10-27T06:20:00.004Z

.... for my FIL. It is his birthday at the end of the week and this time my hubby chose a joy fold card. Whenever cards are needed for his family hubby always chooses colours and style, image if there is one and then leaves the rests to me. Must say - I enjoyed making this. Have never done one before and I will be doing these again.

The whole card - colours are Old Olive and Really Rust. Image coloured with Wonder Crayons. I have used very thin pieces of old olive card to thread through the buttons

An arty farty shot!! I popped the sentiment on dimensionals - but only to one side - and used the sentiment to hold the little flap in place

This shows the flap with the image

And this last piccie is the card open

Coloured card - Stampin Up Old Olive, Really Rust
White card from stock
DSP - Stampin Up Spiced Cider
Image - Stampin Up Golden Oldies - sadly now retired
Buttons - Stampin Up Earth Elements selection
Sentiment and inside greeting computer generated

Don't forget - you can get your Stampin up supplies from me. Just send me an email!

Wedding Stationary Samples.....

2009-10-26T06:00:00.005Z

... for a young neighbour of ours. We were talking outside while Hubby gave the car a bit of a tidy and Chantelle was telling us about her wedding plans - (28th November 2009). Chanetelle was saying how she struggled to find nice stationary and ended up with a gloss printed single sheet invitation. I showed her the samples on my sons - and yes - you've guessed. It all went on from there.

It transpires that poor Chantelle has no other stationary other than her invites, her Hubby to be has been in Afghanistan for the last 8 weeks but is home now and the 12 month old baby is a bit of handful for her especially as she has been on her own.

So, her fairy Godmother, (ME) offered to make the missing bits as a wedding pressie. So we have order of service, name cards, menus, table numbers, a seating plan and a few thank you cards all to be done for 28th November 2009. But you now, I am looking forward to doing these, probably because I love being able to help people. Oh, I'm coming over all emotional - think I has just better show you the piccies.

It was quite difficult coming up with a design that complimented the invites so I ended up with just matching the colour scheme of silver, white and a dark red. I managed to get some ribbon at the local shop that was the right colour, added a silver grey digital paper, some sparkly gems and some Stampin Up Ruby Red card. In all it looks really nice and a big thank you to Jules, my SU mum, because it is the gorgeous layout she uses that inspired me. Hope you don't mind Jules

Blue Baubles For A Rainy Day.....

2009-10-25T06:47:00.002Z

..... but they are oh so pretty. This is the fab Tree Trimmings set from Stampin Up and at only £10.95 an absolute bargain. I can see me just using this set again and again and again and will probably spend the evening in front of the TV watching X Factor and cutting a few of these little beauties out.!!.

The possibilities are endless and if you too would like this little set for your Christmas Cards just email me and I will tell you how you can get it!!!

I have stamped the image four times in the darker colour and four times in the paler and mounted them them to give the impression of a snow flake. The top layer has been pooped onto some dimensionals. I saw this done on the Stamp With Us blog and a similar card on the fab Jenni Moore's blog - my thanks to you both for such great inspiration

The whole thing - I just love the way the crystals catch the light - shame you can't see it in the piccies

Close up on the snow flake. To hide the joins where the baubles overlap I have added a small punched circle using my SU punch and added a bit of bling

Close up on the sentiment. When I stamped it part of the sentiment the one on the left came out a bit paler in the middle so rather than waste the card I added the crystals to hide it!

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Tree Trimmings
Card - white from my stock, Stampin Up Night of Navy and Brocade Blue
Inks - Stampin Up Night of Navy and Brocade Blue
Gems - Swarvoski from my stash - they give such a good bright glimmer and really lift your cards

Second Christmas Card...

2009-10-24T07:00:00.001+01:00

...can you believe it. The Old Devil "Mr Mojo" might have come back - won't say too much in case he's not planning on staying.

Another card with the fab Stampin Up Tree Trimmings set. Colour combo Real Red and Old Olive

The little baubles have been cut out with the two out side ones glued just at the top. The middle one swings free on the thin gold cord. Colours are a bit brighter in real life - just so difficult to get a good photo these days

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Tree Trimmings
Coloured Card - Stampin Up Old Olive
DSP - Stampin Up Old Olive
Ribbon - Stampin Up Real Red
Gold cord from my stash
Sentiment- Stampin Up set Season of Joy

HO HO HO....

2009-10-23T10:24:00.006+01:00

... at last a Christmas Card. I have really struggled recently with the Old Mojo. Just don't seem to have any enthusiasm at all and I just sit at my desk but nothing seems to give me a glimmer of creativity. This card took me ages to do and must be the last of 5 attempts and I'm still not sure I like it. So if anyone has spare Mojo please send some on!!!

A bit different from usual style in as much as it is stamped straight onto the card with no backing paper and n0t even a printed sentiment!! Thank goodness for my Stampa-Ma-Jig which makes lining up the images quite easy

All Stampin Up except for the card which is from my stock.

Hope you like it!!!

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Tree Trimmings
Ink Colours -Stampin Up Real Red and Old Olive
Sentiment from the Stampin Up set Season of Joy

All available from me - just send me an email for further information

A Rose Is A Rose For My DIL...

2009-10-22T07:16:00.000+01:00

.... is the gorgeous stamp set I chose to use for my lovely DIL ( to be ) birthday card. Colours are Stampin Up Certainly Celery for the card stock, DSP, and ribbon. Roses stamped with Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose. Leaves in Old Olive and Always Artichoke

Here's is just the "folder" bit

Close up on the flowers on the front. The big rose has been popped upon dimensionals

The insert - printed on the PC with another little rose and leaves

I just hope Royal Mail don't let me down and deliver although I do have my doubts!!!

Card Stock, DSP, Ribbon - Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Stamp Set - Stampin Up A Rose is a Rose
Gems - from my stash
Ink Pads - Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Always Artichoke
Sentiment Printed on PC

Just look at ths......

2009-10-12T07:13:00.004+01:00

.... it took all of this and all day yesterday to make just two little A6 cards!!! Goodness knows what it will be like when I have to make 100 wedding invitations! Mind you, DH has agreed we can turn this into my dedicated room rather that taking over the spare bedroom!!

Although I set my self what I though was a fairly easy challenge I just couldn't get going. I made Hubby's card and then - well it seemed as if all motivation and creativity just went out the window. I am sure it is all to do with DH being away. He did call me yesterday - first time since he has been away - and after that all I could manage was sitting on the sofa with my feet up!!!

Will be back tomorrow to show you one of them and the second the day after. Have great day where ever you are

Mojo Missing In Action.....

2009-10-11T10:35:00.009+01:00

.. well it was until I had a lovely chat with the fab Julie who is my Stampin Up Upline. Thirty minutes on the phone and low and behold - the little devil walks back in through the door!!

Hubby works for BT and is also a member of a signals regiment with the Territorial Army. He has been away for a few weeks carry out telephone re wiring some where foreign and he comes home next weekend. Thought I would make him a welcome home card

Colours are Stampin Up Old Olive and Close To Cocoa. I wanted the buttons to look as if they have been sewn on and by cutting very thin strips of the card thought it had a "suede shoe lace" look about it. I used little bits glued at the back threaded through the buttons with a few pieces along the side.

The whole card

Close up on the buttons

Right I now am in the mood for playing and am challenging myself to see how many different cards I can make using Old Olive, Real Red, Close to Cocoa and More Mustard and the stamp set Tree Trimmings. (I found a great colour combo thingy on Jenni Moors blog - you add the colours you want to use, search and then it comes up with lots of options. This is one of the colour combos it gave me)

White card from stock
Coloured card, paper, buttons all Stampin Up
Image from the Internet (if you would details please email me and I will happily pass them on)
Image coloured with Water Colour Wonder Crayons with Aqua Painters (also SU)
Sentiment computer generated

Tree Trimming Wall Hanger....

2009-10-04T16:11:00.025+01:00

I saw the a challenge today on Stamp With Us and this came to mind. It is circles and scalloped circles with the Tree Trimming images stamped and cut out. A little bit of glitter for bling. All attached to red ribbon with a few cute little bows and hey presto - one crimbo decoration!!

Here's the whole thing but to get a decent picture I had to do it in two bits, top and bottom. There are seven little discs in total plus the top bit

A close up of the top

A few of the middle sections

All made with fab products from the new Stampin Up Catalogue. Don't forget to email me if you too would like to give a home to this fab little stamp set!!

Stamp -Stampin Up Tree Trimmings
Ink - Real Red with a little bit of Dazzling Diamonds over the top
Card stock - Whisper white, Real Red, Old Olive
Ribbon - Real Red
Sentiment - Computer Generated

Its Here, Its New, Its Exciting, Its.......

2009-10-01T05:59:00.005+01:00

Edited - Catalogue will be available on this blog after 12 noon today

..... the launch of the new Stampin Up catalogue and I can tell you we are in for a treat!!!! There are so many new and gorgeous things plus all our old wonderful favourites. You will be spoilt for choice and have a wish list miles long - I know I have - probably going to stop food shopping for a few months to pay for it all !! Want to sneak a peek at the catty - and you know you want to !! - click on the picture on the side bar and it will take you straight to it Better still - want your own copy to drool over - email me and for just £4.50 I will rush you a copy in the post. Don't forget you can order from me, just send me a quick email letting me know what you want and let me do the rest And - as if this isn't enough excitement for you all - details of my fab Stampers 6 and 10 Club will be available latter today. Phew - after all this think I need a cuppa!! Have a great day - see you all again soon

Wedding Stationary Samples.....

2009-09-27T13:01:00.008+01:00

...... a little bit of me time for a few minutes and I though I would show you the wedding samples I have made. Hubby has taken Thomas to see his "other Grandad" and my son is at the hospital. Good news - Chloe can home tomorrow providing she eats something for both tea and breakfast and her temperature remains stable. Oh and she has to take the "yucky medicine" without having all the ward staff holding her down!!! All the ironing is done, the house is lovely and tidy with full cupboards. There is a big batch of mince and another of bolognaise on the hob. Beef casserole in the slow cooker and a beef joint and chicken casserole in the oven. By the time I go home this evening they should be OK for a few days with meals in the freezer without having to worry!! Me - I will need a rest and probably a very large glass of wine when I do get home!! Here are the samples. The wedding has gone from large and very informal to smaller and very formal. The brief from Martyn and Lisa was - simple in gold and white

So here it is - gold and white Swirl papers from Pink Petticoat, gold ribbon in plain and with a sparkly edge from Beresfords and Swarovski gems in three different sizes

But the venue changed and so did the colour scheme. We are now.....

Pink, grey and white. Same papers and ribbons as before but the paper is Smoke and the ribbon pink. They are much nicer in real life and I am really happy with them all.

I haven't shown all the samples but there are invitations, evening invitation, small reply cards, order of service, menu, table numbers, place cards, a seating plan (but this is need to think about) and their own thank you cards. All that is left is a box for the guests to put their cards in ( have to think about this unless any one has a great idea). I have also decided to do an album, keep sake box and guests book for them.

I think they like them - no doubt they will let me when when things settle down for them over the next few days

What a week .........

2009-09-27T07:17:00.003+01:00

....... its been. Started off fab with four days holiday. Hubby and I came back from Wales and I had three lovely days at home. That was until my Grand Daughter was taken very ill and admitted to hospital. We ended the week with a mad dash along the M4 around the M25 and up the A1!! Chloe was born with liver disease so any illness she gets is usually worse then her brother would get and this time is no exception. Thankfully she is getting better and will be home soon we hope. In the meantime - big kisses Chloe from Nanny Terri and Grandad Robert XX Will be back latter today with some piccies of the wedding stationary samples. Just need to finish helping my son tidy their house and then while he goes to visit his daughter will do them some shopping followed by a mountain of ironing. On and I need keep an eye on Thomas who at four is a "wanna be" hooligan!!! Have a lovely Sunday where ever you are P.S. my Stampin Up starter kit arrived. I've not had time to play with it but will do when I get home. Can't wait to start playing with all those gorgeous goodies.

My Exciting News.....

2009-09-19T10:07:00.002+01:00

.....Time for my exciting news. As I am sure you will have noticed I love Stampin Up. The quality is great, it all co ordinates, its all very versatile, you get fab quality images every time with the stamps and they offer a great colour range. Even the white ribbon can be coloured with their marker pens or dyed with their ink refills so it matches your project perfectly. I am so excited!! Its great to be able to do something like this with what was initially a hobby I have been building up my collection through Julies Stampers 10 Club but have taken the leap and have joined Stampin Up with Julie and am now a fully Independent Demonstrator covering Wiltshire. That means you can now get your Stampin Up goodies from me and if you live near Swindon and Chippenham or any of the villages in between I am literally on your door step. The kettle is usually on in my house so let me know your visiting and I’ll make sure the biccie tin is full!

Please keep popping back as I plan to offer classes, work shops, virtual hostess demo’s (Stampers 10 Clubs), little specials offers from me to wet the appetite together with little tutorials and lots of exciting things but they will all take a little while to organise. In the meantime, if any one would like any information please contact me by email here

We've been changed......

2009-09-18T13:58:00.005+01:00

yep - a fantastic change because I wanted three columns not two. All completed and designed by Jo who is very very talented and a real hunney. Thank you so much Jo. You can contact Jo via her blog which is here if you also want a blog revamp. Jo can create things completely from scratch - I just told her pink and green, not as bright as before with flowers and three columns and look what she gave me. Jo even changed the set up for the columns. The reason for my three columns - well you can read all about it here tomorrow.

Holiday Pictures.....

2009-09-18T11:45:00.009+01:00

.... I thought I would share a couple of pictures of our holiday and lucky me... I still have four more days and them two more at home before I go back to work!!!

My friend lives in North Wales in a little village of just 40 houses, no shops , not even a pub, one bus stop for the occasional bus and Tesco's don't even deliver here. To say rural is an understatement but I just LOOOOOVE it. Peace, quiet, me and hubby, resting, chilling, doing nothing - pure bliss.

This is the view from the side of the house

This is the view from the conservatory widow to the back of the house

And this is the side rear

Two of the hooligans we are looking after

Hubby with his constant shadows - the dogs don't let him out of their sight - after all he feeds them so it seems sensible to me!!

I'll be back tomorrow with some exciting news and latter today with a make over!!

Wedding Card......

2009-09-16T14:27:00.012+01:00

....... totally copied from a fab design and layout by the very talented Julie. I needed a card in a hurry - I decided 20 minutes before we left home I would make one. When I say leave home - I mean just as were setting off for the journey to North Wales where Hubby and I are cat, dog and house sitting for my bestest friend in whole world while she and her hubby go "Down South" for his daughters wedding on Friday. Now I wouldn't normally do "green" for a wedding, tending to stick the norm for me of grey but I had to use what was to hand. The clockwas ticking and Hubby was getting grumpier by the second.

The card needed to be simple and here is - simple but I think very elegant. The green is stunning especialy as it all co ordinates - the beauty of Stampin Up, and the ink cartridge is getting low which gave a gorgeous almost washed out look to the print.

A little bit of a close up on the sentiment bit. The only heart I had was a slider but the ribbon went in the wrong direction - so I cut the bar off and attached on top of the ribbon with lots of glue!!

The completed card was delicatly laid on the back seat so the glue could dry while we were driving!!

White card from stock
Coloured card - Stampin Up Old Olive
Paper - Pink Petticoat Olive
Ribbon - Stampin Up Old Olive
Gems and heart slider from stash
Sentiment generated on the computer

Easel Thank You Card.....

2009-09-14T08:24:00.010+01:00

.... I found this style of card whilst having a mooch around yesterday and vising Sarah-Jane at Cards and a Cuppa. Now it must have been inspiring because I found myself waking up at night thinking about it. As soon as I could I was in my den this morning ( sorry hubby but there are two 5.30;'s in the day!!) and here is my attempt.

This is the card folded. I have made it 10.5cm square so it will it into an envelope

Here it is open and standing up

Side view of the open easel

Inside view - I will put a white sheet on one of the pages so I can add my own message. All the bits apart from the ribbon are Stampin Up and come from the Petal Party Simply Scrappin kit, buttons are not in the kit though but are still Stampin Up

Stampin Up Petal Party Kit
Card - Stampin Up Old Olive
Ribbon - Poppicrafts
Sentiment printed on PC onto Safmat

Little Notelets.......

2009-09-10T07:23:00.011+01:00

...... my friend and colleague at work has been going through a really bad time the last couple of months with illnesses in her family. The last straw was her daughter having to have an operation last week that resulted in a five day stay rather than over night visit. Kate is home now but still very poorly so I decided to get them a huge bunch of flowers - well several huge bunches as I just went to Sainsbury and almost got one of everything they had in pink!!

These are the little cards I made to go with them. The same as the 50th Birthday Box but in different colourways. These are exact ones I made following Jenni Moors fab tutorial. Thanks Jenni, I love your tutorial and am sure to use this loads.

Colours for these are More Mustard and So Saffron and the rose is from the Rose is a Rose set. You can just see if you look very closely a little bit of glamour dust on the roses.

Stamp - Stampin Up "A Rose is a Rose"
Card stock and DSP - Stampin Up More Mustard, So Saffron. White card from stock
Ribbon -Stampin Up More Mustard
Gems - from my stash
Punches - Woodware and Stamping Up

Seven Today.......

2009-09-09T06:55:00.010+01:00

.... no, not me but my gorgeous Grand Daughter Chloe. Here's the card I made her. Another of those three sided ones that are decorated on all sides except this one has a blank side on the back middle - that sounds really confusing but I think I know I mean!!

The number has been cut with Cricut Basic George and you can't see it very clearly but each little image has a bit of Glamour dust somewhere on it.

Here's the front

The complete card when it is open

I've not shown the back as apart from a greeting there's nothing to show Have a great day - be back soon with some FAAAAAAAB news!!!!!

Images - DigiStamp Boutique (Used to be Grab-A-Doodle-Do) coloured with Stampin Up Watercolour Wonder Crayons
Paper - Certainly Celery DSP from Stampin Up
Card - white from stock, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink from Stampin Up
Ribbons and gems from my stash

Whoooo - I Am So Excited..

2009-08-29T08:13:00.011+01:00

.... my youngest son Martyn and his partner Lisa have finally decided to get married and they have confirmed the date of 15th May 2010.

I am so delighted -they are a gorgeous young family (and I am NOT biased one little bit LOL). Their eldest daughter Chloe who is now 7 has been ill since she was six months old with liver disease and the hospitals (Chloe sees three specialist at the three different hospitals for different aspects of her illness) just cannot diagnose the cause.

Both Martyn and Lisa have had to deal with many issues with Chloe throughout their relationship and at the time all this first occurred were only very young themselves at only 19 and 20. I am so very proud of them both.

Now the real reason I am so excited - they want ME to make all their stationary. My head is in a whirl with colours and ideas and tomorrow I am going to visit them all, armed with a sketch pad, lap top, Internet dongle, paper samples, ribbons, ideas, gems - well just about everything I can manage to fit into my poor little car - so we can sit down and start planning.

Well no post is finished unless their is a piccie or two so here they are:

The first my hubby, Chloe and Thomas

And the second my hubby, Chloe, Thomas and my son, Martyn. Lisa hates her photos being taken but she will have to get over that before May LOL!!!

Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday and that the weather is good to you all. Will be back soon to show some of the wedding stationary samples.

P.S. if any one has ideas of how I can get over 100 save the date cards, invites, reply cards, order of service, thank you cards plus the favour boxes, cutlery holders, menus etc all made without going completely grey and loosing the plot entirely, I would be very very very grateful.

50th Birthday Box........

2009-08-20T06:56:00.013+01:00

.... I saw the fab tutorial for this little boxed set on Jenny Moors Stamping Moments. Now, I am not really a complicated card design person and the last few cards I have shown have been really complex for me. Usually I stick to safe with an image, pretty paper, ribbon and some bling. But, I just loved the complete design so decided to give it a go. And I am so pleased I did.

This in now going to be 50th birthday card present for my hair dresser. All the items except for the ribbons are Stampin Up. Stamp,set is Rose is a Rose. Colour combo is certainly celery, mellow rose, pretty in pink and regal rose. The DP is Certainly Celery and Rose Red. Little sentiment is computer generated.

This project has brought in so many elements I have never really used before- two step stamping, pricking little holes, cutting the stamped images out - all things I will definitely combine in my projects again. Now for the piccies

This is the complete project closed

The little box open

The four little cards that go inside

And here is the complete thing. You can't see clearly in the photos but I have added a little bit of Glamour Dust to little parts of the roses and rose buds

White card from stock
Ribbons from my stash
All other supplies Stampin Up

40th Birthday Card........

2009-08-14T07:29:00.025+01:00

.....and what a challenge this was. A 40th card for not only a male but one I don't really know. Shaun is the step father of my to be DIL. How difficult was this. Does he have a sense if humour? Is he sensitive about his age? In the end I gave the Golden Oldies another trip and made a criss cross card. I have no idea who the papers or card are from but they are a bluey grey and the papers are a matching blue colour with brown and green and were in my box of stash!!!

I have to be honest, this was not the first design of this card. The first was a card for my ??? but I can't show or tell in case they see it!!!

I wanted to make the card a little special so did two inserts

Here is the first which goes to the back with an image on it

The second is the smaller of the inserts. This has the greeting on the front - see the great little quote by Bob Hope

As I didn't want any parts of the card to be seen when assembled, I put the sentiment on the back of the smaller insert and put it into the card back to front. I thought this was a bit clever of me.

If you have paid me a visit and like what you see, please leave me a comment. I really would appreciate your comments as I would love to know what people think of my work

Card and Paper from my stash
Image Stampin Up Golden Oldies
Stampin Up Watercolour Wonder Crayons
Sentiments and greeting printed on the PC
Quotation courtesy of Google!!
Numbers - Cricut Basic George

Secret Message Card......

2009-08-10T06:36:00.011+01:00

This is my take on the sliding message card - instead of sliding the message along on a band it is on the little tag which slips behind the image. There is still an insert but the idea of the tag is for the personal message you want to keep secret!! This idea would make a great anniversary or valentines card. The romantic in me imagines a "Will you marry me" on the little pull out tag!!!! I have used the SU Botanical Blooms set and stamped in Certainly Celery, Old Olive and Pretty in Pink. Once the image was stamped and dried I mounted it onto three more layers of white card stock to give a slightly raised effect a bit like an unframed picture!! I am quite pleased with the result.

The next photo shows the card with the little tag pulled out. The image has been raised on small 3d pads along the very edge of three sides. The tag is cut just big enough so it slots in behind

White card from stock
Backing Paper - SU Old Olive DSP
Ribbon - Poppicrafts
Tab Punch - Stamping Up
Pearls - Papermania Self Adhesive
Sentiment - computer generated

Nephews Birhday Card.....

2009-08-09T11:25:00.027+01:00

... cards for men are so difficult so a card for a 19 year old nephew almost had me in tears. Christan loves his music - going to festivals playing, composing - so the image I used for his card seemed extremely fitting.

Again I have decorated all six sides of the card and used two of them to put little pockets in for his birthday treat. Papers are all Pink Petticoat in Olive and added a few brads with the prongs cut off.

Here is the front of the card closed

These are the two middle pages - the pocket for his pressie is on the right hand side

Here are all three pages of the "front"

This is the back of the last page which when the card is closed and turned over becomes the front page

And these are the two remaining pages of the "back" with another little pocket for the rest of his pressie

I did enjoy making this card - seemed quite an elaborate one for me -I usually prefer the simpler look but thanks to all this fab inspiration in blog land have decided to up my game" a little. Hope you all like.

Off now for a sit in the garden with a nice cuppa

White card cut from stock
Papers and tiny alphabet letters from Pink Petticoat in Olive
Image from Stamp It
Coloured card Old Olive Stampin Up
Brads from my stash

Look What I Received......

2009-08-01T07:23:00.009+01:00

.....the most gorgeous birthday card from the very lovely and very talented Teri.

I love simple designs that are colour co ordinated and this just fits the bill perfectly. All the items Teri has used are Stampin Up. If you want to buy any pop over to her blog where you will find all her contact details. Mind you, her blog is crammed full of inspiration and well worth a little look any way.

Just look at the clever colouring which is just from one solid image rubber stamp using marker pens

Have a great weekend whatever you are doing. For me its work today then play time tomorrow!!

The Golden Oldies......

2009-07-30T07:29:00.012+01:00

yep - the title of the stamp set from Stampin Up I used for the anniversary card for my very bestest sister like friend in the whole wide world!! Both Barry and Grett have a fab sense of humour and I knew they would appreciate these images! especially as they are both retired. LOL

I wanted to give them a "card present" as we agreed no pressies at all this year and being avid book readers I though book marks would be good. Here's the card

This is is the card closed with the ribbon tied. When I gave it to them the ribbon was tighter and the card closed more

This is the card when opened

Barry's book mark

Grett's book mark

The whole thing

I am rather pleased with this and have enjoyed making the more elaborate shaped cards lately Stamp set - Stampin up Papers - Stampin Up Spiced Cider Card -Stampin Up Chocolate Chip Gems from my stash Ribbon -Stampin Up Old Olive Images coloured with Stampin Up water colour Wonder Crayons