Looking good

Friday 26 November 2010

So, for reasons unknown I have just spent the last hour changing my blog design. Have to say I'm rather pleased with my new look. And now I'm going to sleep as I have to get up in less than six hours!

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A little scrapbook all my own

Thursday 25 November 2010




Today I decorated this awesome little scrapbook. I did it in between making Christmas cards with people at the I Love West Leeds shop in Armley.
I'm trying to do more scrapbook and vintage pieces so have got LOTS of new stash recently to play with. Just an excuse to shop and see the cute UPS man really!
I decided to title this one with my blog name, and if I can work out how to do it may even alter my layout to incorporate it!
Anywho, the check DSP was some random stuff I found on the net, as is the journal, which has some really funky cards in that I will show you another time. That is, when I have figured out what to do with it! The cotton reels are also from a sheet of DSP so I cut them out and wrapped some embroidery thread around them. I added SU buttons and ribbon and the wording is done with the yummy Broadsheet Alphabet and the Just Perfect Alphabet on Marina Mist card stock.
I'm in Harrogate all weekend so won't be around till Monday. I'm helping out on the WI stand at The Knitting and Stitching Show tomorrow, on Saturday mum is coming up and we'll be shopping and taking afternoon tea at Bettys and then on Sunday we're going to the show for more shopping and to learn new things. So excited!

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More Christmas cards - it's coming fast!

Tuesday 23 November 2010



Just over a month to go until Christmas! These two cards were ones we did at Chapel Pie WI a couple of weeks ago. Dasher is my fave Christmas stamp, but I love the Contempo Christmas with the tree as well. The Dasher card also uses the So Swirly Jumbo Wheel, which is incredibly versatile.
Don't forget that the Christmas bundles are still available to help you with your cards and wrapping. Details over there >>>
Hopefully I only have a few more Christmas cards to make. Then I have many presents to do ...

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Just Believe Convention card

Monday 22 November 2010



This card I made at Convention. In our bags we got two free stamp sets - this one is Just Believe and the other one was Party This Way. What a fab present!
I had to tackle some new things doing this card. The image is stamped on to Watercolour Paper, which was then spritzed with a bit of water to make it bleed slightly so it looks like a painting. I also used the Spritzer tool to spray on some dots of ink and give a vintage look.
I love this design so much I did it with my class the other week. They loved it too!

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A new colour combo

Sunday 21 November 2010



I bought the yummy Woodland Walk DSP a while back but haven't done much with it, so decided to get stuck in. I used the colours in the sheet as the inspiration for the card and ink colours used, so we have Garden Green, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip, which I think work wonderfully together. The stamp is one from the Cute By The Inch hostess set and I added some Linen Thread and Regals Buttons for extra interest.
It was a little bit fiddly to make, as I had to wrap the thread around the two separate pieces of DSP/card then stick it all down straight, but it was worth it.

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Convention gift swaps

Friday 19 November 2010




Here are the items I made for a gift swap at Convention earlier this month.
I used some Twill Tape to make little brooches. I stamped the cotton tape with the So Swirly Jumbo Wheel and folded it over at the ends. I then added a folded piece of 3mm Taffeta Ribbon and fastened on a couple of Neutrals Buttons with Linen Thread.
The backing cards they were presented on used the beautiful Newsprint DSP and Broadsheet Alphabet.
I kept one for myself, which I wear all the time, and gave one to Shelli Gardner, the co-founder of Stampin' Up!
I love being able to use the SU products for things other than cards - it is all so versatile and you just need a bit of imagination!

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Christmas robins

Thursday 18 November 2010


Christmas will soon be here! I've not got a single present sorted yet! My mum's is nearly finished, but I don't even have ideas, let alone the time to make them, for anyomne else!
But at least I have cards! I love these robins, made with the Two-Step Bird Punch. They're so simple but very effective and the colour combo of Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler is yummy.
So, best get cracking on the present making!

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Sparkly flutterby

Wednesday 17 November 2010



Here's a fun little card with some added bling!
I have used Basic Gray here and the DSP is from the Love Letter stack and has been folded and creased a bit and pounched with the Spiral Punch. The flower background and sentiment are from Just Believe - one of my Convention freebies! - and the butterfly is All A Flutter - one of the A La Carte stamps that are sold separately. I gave him some sparkle with a few of the gorgeous Rhinestone Jewels et voila!
I think I'll be doing more of this colour combo, it's quite contemporary and understated. I can picture a kitchen in these tones!
PS Please visit Bodd's blog at http://busyboddcat.blogspot.com/2010/11/bodd-in-bag.html for his take on how to use the SU bags!

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Another bookmark

Tuesday 16 November 2010



Last night I had some of the lovely WI ladies round for my monthly card class. We drank tea, chatted lots and made several projects.
This was my favourite - a bookmark. It uses the beautiful Love Letter DSP and I punched out a little heart and added some sparkle with the amazing Rhinestone Jewels. I love little touches like that, it really sets the whole thing off. The monogram is from Broadsheet Alphabet, of course, and once again I wheeled the Music Notes Wheel on to Twill Tape.
Now I need another book and some extra hours in the day to read it!

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Bird Convention swaps

Monday 15 November 2010



These cards were some of the ones I made for Convention swaps. I love this combination of Crumb Cake with Night Of Navy and Not Quite Navy. I used the Punch Potpourri hostess stamps with the Two-Step Bird and Boho Blossoms punches. The sentiment is from Tiny Tags, which must be one of the most versatile sets, and the DSP is Blueberry Crisp.
In other news, still pretty busy round here. Yesterday I was at Nation of Shopkeepers with the WI for a craft event and this evening I have six lovely friends over for a class. Am all prepped, just need to stock up on tea bags and biccies!

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A quick modification

Saturday 13 November 2010


A final quickie post before I go to bed!
My lovely SU sister Jill got me this collapsible storage box from Ikea. It's an ideal size for swaps (yes, already thinking about next year's Convention!) but didn't have a carry handle. So I added them by stitching on some Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and decorating with some Neutrals Buttons attached with Linen Thread.
Bodd helped by sitting in the box while I stitched it, and we both got poked several times with the needle, but overall, it was a successful project!

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A Newsprint notebook




Here is one of my creations from yesterday - a covered SU art journal.
I have used my favourite Stampin' Up! goodies - Newsprint DSP, the Broadsheet Alphabet stamps and Striped Grosgrain and Taffeta Ribbon.
The colours are Very Vanilla and Basic Black. I added on some flowers made using the Boho blossoms Punch, some Neutrals Brads, a couple of Neutrals Buttons and one of the beautiful Pearls.
I'm so pleased with this, but I have no idea what to use it for!

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A baby card

Friday 12 November 2010



Hot off the press, here is a card I have literally just finished! This afternoon I've been prepping for my class on Monday and my good friend Hayley came round to do some crafting too.
I made her this card for a friend of her husband who is due to give birth soon. I used the Baby Tees Jumbo Wheel on Whisper White, coloured them in with Blender Pens in Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight and Bashful Blue, cut them out and hung them on to the Linen Thread with an old earring hook. The thread was secured at each end with a Brad and I stuck the tees down with a sticky foam pad. The bottom of the matting was shaped with the Scallop Trim Punch and I added a bow with Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.
Phew! It was a really nice card to make as there are lots of different bits to it. And who doesn't love colouring in?!
Now I have all my stuff out I'm going to spend the rest of the evening crafting.

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Stampin' Up! Greenhouse Gala craft tote

Wednesday 10 November 2010


I have a new bag! I bought this at SU Convention last weekend and I'm soooo glad I did! The design is the same as the Greenhouse Gala DSP and although it's not one that has jumped out at me, it works really well for the bag. There are loads of different compartments and pockets so it's perfect for carrying around all my goodies to classes and workshops. I have attached the bag tags I made for Convention.
Speaking of which, I had a lovely class at Chapel Pie WI on Monday evening. I had 19 ladies take part to do some Christmas goodies and thanks to my helpers Hayley and Zoe from Buns & Roses WI it was a huge success.
Last night I was at Julie's for training, which was a good giggle as always, and tonight I am meeting some of the WI girls to plan for our craft fair this weekend.
I have also had confirmed another craft fair in December and FOUR Christmas workshops at Armley's community arts centre.
Wow! Mega busy few weeks ahead.

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Newsprint bookmarks

Tuesday 9 November 2010



Now Convention is over I can show you some of the swaps and gifts I made for people. Well, I have actually posted a couple already without saying cos I loved them too much!
I made these bookmarks for an organised 3D swap, and also did one for mummy Julie, my roomie Joy and the lovely Vicky Hayes, whose blog never fails to inspire me. And I sent one to my mum as well!
They were really easy but fun to make as there are several elements but nothing too complicated. The base is a piece of textured River Rock card and Newsprint DSP on a mat of Basic Black Card. The bottom was shaped with the Eyelet Border Punch. At the top, I had wheeled the Music Notes on to a piece of Twill Tape and threaded it through a punched hole several times. Then, stamped the recipient's initial using Broadsheet Alphabet, cut out and layered on. I added a bit of 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and a Neutrals Button with Linen Thread.
I kept one for myself so now I just have to find time to read!

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What a weekend!

Wow. I have had the most amazing few days at the Stampin' Up! European Convention.

So, here's the story, pics will follow ...

Thursday we travelled down to Croydon. Kate drove me, mummy Julie, Jill and Lynda in the bus. Thursday evening we went to Pizza Hut for tea and then partied at the Hilton as Monica had organised a big pre-Convention session for us. We did some projects, swapped and talked a lot. I also got to meet my roomie - a lovely demo from Northern Ireland called Joy. We were staying at the Croydon Park hotel so after the party a French demo called Alison drove us over there.
Friday was a very early start - on the coach before 8am to get to Addington Palace. It is a fantastic venue - very grand with lots of beautiful decor. On arriving we were greeted by Shelli Gardner, the co-founder of Stampin' Up!, and collected our bags, which contained our two free stamp sets and other goodies. We also shopped at Memento Mall and I picked up a great craft tote for all my bits and bobs as well as some cute shopping bags. After lunch we enjoyed some demonstrations and talks then in the evening we had the big awards dinner. I got dressed up and wore one of the fascinators I made and we had lots of giggles.
Saturday started with some Make and Takes and we made some fab projects (although I have yet to finish all of mine cos we were too busy talking!). Then more demos and some brilliant talks and presentations from SU demos and staff.
Finally, we found out where Convention will be held next year ..... Disneyland Paris! I soooooo can't wait!

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Getting ready for Stampin' Up! Convention

Wednesday 3 November 2010


Today I've been busy getting ready for the Stampiun' Up! Convention. On Friday and Saturday, around 300 demos from the UK, France and Germany will descend on Addington Palace in Croydon for lots of training and stamping sessions. There's an awards dinner Friday night too, so got my frock all ready! Bodd helped me pack, of course. If he's not careful he'll be zipped in and have to come with me!
I will try to update while I'm away, otherwise, expect something on Sunday.

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Festive spirit

Tuesday 2 November 2010


As Christmas is creeping up on us rather more quickly, here are some more festive cards! We did this style at SU training in September using Contempo Christmas and the Ornament punch so I decided to do some more using the pretty Jolly Holiday DSP. The Delightful Decorations stampo set with several bauble designs and the punch are available as one of the Christmas bundles with free ribbon - pefect!
Only two sleeps now until I head off to SU Convention 2010. I'm pretty much all sorted with swaps and clothes and soooo excited to spend two whole days with around 300 fellow demos!

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Stampin' Up! Christmas offer

Monday 1 November 2010


Stampin' Up! has just announced a great offer for the next two months. There are four christmas bundles available, including selected stamp sets, DSP and tools, and with each one you get a choice of a FREE roll of ribbon. It's a great way to get started with your Christmas cards, decorations and wrapping.
Check out the details on the Stampin' Up! website.
You can also earn this special Christmas ribbon by hosting a workshop with sales over £150.
Get in touch to order or book a party and let's get Christmas started!

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