Another explosion card...

A square Christmas explosion card... this is another of the cards I made for demonstration at the Stampin' Up! Training Day.

I've used the Season of Joy stamp set once again. The swirl stamp is brilliant (and can be used for any type of card, not simply Christmas cards); I've covered the entire Whisper White base card (except the front diamond-shaped panel) with the swirl stamp using Old Olive ink..... a quick, easy and inexpensive way to turn a plain piece of cardstock into something much more impressive! I've used silver brads for the bauble on the tree. The tree trunk was made from a small section of self-adhesive brown cardstock from the Simply Scrappin' Home Again hostess kit; you could use any brown cardstock. Again, I've used Dazzling Diamonds glitter around the front panel.

Today is the last day of September, which means that tomorrow must be 1st October... and the launch day of the new Stampin' Up! catalogue! If you'd like to order from the new catalogue and be amongst the first to receive your new goodies, please get your orders to me no later than this evening to enable me to order them tomorrow when the ordering system goes live. You can contact me by email by clicking here.

Christmas cracker cards...

This is one of the Christmas cracker cards I demonstrated at the Stampin' Up! Demo Training Day the Saturday before last. It's a variation of the explosion card shown in earlier posts. Although I like the effect of the square explosion cards, I wanted to find a way to make the cards fit a standard Stampin' Up! rectangular envelope.

I've used Old Olive cardstock for the base, with Dashing patterned papers. The central piece was made using a stamp from the Season of Joy stamp set with an eyelet and two scallop circle punched pieces of Real Red and Old Olive cardstock. I've used Dazzling Diamonds glitter around the front panel.

The card has two "extension" pieces at either end. I've used Real Red cardstock for this one. Each piece is 4" x 3", which adds one inch of extra cardstock at each end. When the card is folded flat, it fits a standard sized C6 envelope (including the Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla and Whisper White envelopes).

True Friend - Plum

I've used the Stampin' Up! True Friend stamp set and matching wheel for this card; the stamp set will be available for you to purchase soon.... the new catalogue launches on 1st October next week! I have received my pre-ordered copies of the new catalogue; please contact me if you would like a copy.

I'm really pleased with the finished article (for once!).

Materials (all Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: True Friend; Boho Friend Stampin' Around wheel

- ink: Close to Cocoa; Perfect Plum

- markers: Perfect Plum; Pale Plum; Mellow Moss; Old Olive

- cardstock: Perfect Plum; Pale Plum; So Saffron; Naturals Ivory; Very Vanilla

- other: 1 1/4" circle punch; 1 3/8 inch circle punch; linen thread; Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon; rhinestone circle brad

Finished!

I've managed to finish the page shown in the earlier post... here it is. I'm quite pleased with it.

ps - I've just found this blog... really clever use of the Pick a Petal stamp set (little mice!). Have a look if you have time.

Saturday

Very glad it's Saturday... and I have some free time (!).

A couple of photos... the first one is a photo of Marley caught in the act last night - he found himself a nice roll of Charmin and destroyed it whilst I wasn't looking. I think he did a good job for a 16 week old pup.

The photo below is a work in progress. I've signed up for an internet Cathy Z scrapbook course... it's called "Design Your Life" and it kicks off next week. I blame Helen for this... although she has a better excuse for doing the course than me, as she's bought it as a birthday present for herself! My birthday has been and gone... so I'm doing the course because I'm a lemming.

Before the course starts, we've to do two pages, the bits and pieces for one of which are shown above. We've to use browns, red and greens. The boxes are to be no larger than 3.5" x 3.5" and the base cardstock for the page is Bazzill kraft. That aside, it's pretty much free reign. When it's finished, (apparently) it will be nine boxes saying something about me. Look how tidy my desk is(n't)! The course runs until 25th December, so it should be interesting and it'll give me a boot into action to get something done - an achievement in itself.

Demo Day - Box

This is the second of the two make and take projects we made at the Stampin' Up! Training Day last Saturday. If you need a copy of the template to make the box itself, please get in touch.

The stamps used for the box and the tag are part of the new Level 2 hostess set called "Fall Flair". I love the new stitched ribbon... it's a new product available in three shades from 1st October.

Baroque Christmas

I can't decide whether I like or loathe this card... I had all the pieces on my desk and I liked the concept... but looking at it assembled with the pieces stuck down, I can't decide! I won't be replicating it, put it that way.

The base card is SU Ruby Red over-stamped with Ruby Red ink using the background stamp from the Baroque Motifs stamp set. The Season of Joy front panel has been coloured with Ruby Red and Old Olive chalks over Versamark ink.

Roses - Demo Day

This is one of the two make and take projects we made at the Stampin' Up! Training Day last Saturday. The stamp set is a new one called "A Rose is a Rose" - it's a large set of 14 stamps and it's one of the "two step" stamp sets... we used a couple of shades of green and pink to build up the different layers of the roses and leaves.

The torn edge at the bottom didn't quite work, in my view... although it looks interesting, the card wasn't able to stand upright, because the front was shorter than the rear! I've since added an extra piece of Confetti White cardstock under the front torn edge... and that seems to do the job. The pink scalloped section on the lower part of the card was created using the new scallop border punch.

Award Tags!

These little tags were attached to two individually packaged cream coloured gerbera flowers given to me by the UK Stampin' Up! country manager last Saturday in recognition of two awards I'd somehow managed to earn...

I love the colours - So Saffron and Perfect Plum. A wet watercolour wonder crayon has been used to create the "spatter" effect on the tags... and I see they've used my favourite eyelets! The flowers were lovely, but I like the tags even more - not least because they'll last longer!

Samples

Some photos of the various displays at the SU Demo Training Day last Saturday... I think the majority, if not all, of these samples were made by UK demos, but I'm not certain. If you click on the photos, you'll be able to see larger versions (and the same applies to any other photos on my blog).

Another one...

Another little pouch card! This one is a bit different, as both sections of the top part are level and the tag sticks out of the top. The base card is So Saffron and the cardstock has been wheeled with the new Boho Friend wheel (available in the new catalogue from 1st October - it matches the True Friend stamp set) using Close to Cocoa ink. I've used Dazzling Diamonds glitter in a few places on the front panel. The ribbon is kraft taffeta. I love the large eyelets... I've been using them on just about every project lately.

Tree Explosion

This is one of the "explosion cards" I demonstrated at the Demo Training Day on Saturday. This particular card is square (approximately 4" x 4" when closed), although I also demonstrated a means of extending the basic width of the card to 6" to make it a perfect fit for a standard SU (C6 size envelope). I'll post the other cards over the course of the week. Please get in touch if you need instructions.

I've used the Lovely as a Tree stamp set for this card. The base card is Whisper White cardstock and it is 4" x 12", which means you'll be able to make three cards from one sheet of 12" x 12" cardstock. Whisper White cardstock is ideal, as it's easy to fold. I've added two strips of Chocolate Chip textured cardstock down the sides of the end panels.

I've stamped the end panels with the acorn and leaf stamp from the stamp set using Chocolate Chip ink. It was supposed to be quite heavily stamped (and the images a bit obscured) to give some balance to the card when it is open (bearing in mind that I've left the white sections between the front panel and the end panels unstamped). I've used some gingham ribbon and those large eyelets again.

The central tree image was stamped on Naturals Ivory cardstock and mounted on Chocolate Chip textured cardstock. I've used Earth Elements markers to colour the tree before stamping. I coloured the trunk of the tree and part of the lower branches using Chocolate Chip. Thereafter, I coloured the whole upper portion of the tree with the Old Olive marker and then "thumped" the Old Olive portion with the Garden Green marker and some more Chocolate Chip (to give some depth and an illusion of additional branches peeking through the leaves). The "thumping" technique involves taking the marker and holding it on its side and tapping randomly against the pre-coloured section - it's really easy and effective. Lastly, I spritzed the tree with water and then used an aqua painter brush to colour the trunk slightly and to draw some shadows under the tree. The Naturals Ivory cardstock is ideal for use with water. (Whisper White cardstock is brilliant for stamping - the best cardstock I've ever used - but not ideal with water as it's a bit too smooth and has a slight sheen... the water runs off!).

True Friend

Some pouch cards made with the new True Friend and Totally Tabs stamp sets... I'm using these as little thank you cards to pop in bags with orders or to deliver with the new catalogues.

An odd colour scheme, but I like it! Real Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White and So Saffron.

Swap Cards

This was my swap card for the SU Demo Training Day in Glasgow yesterday. I received loads of really nice cards in return.

We had a great day and had the chance to make some projects using lots of lovely things from the new catalogue. My pre-ordered catalogues are now on their way to me from Germany and I should have them next week. Please contact me if you would like a copy. Existing customers: your new catalogues will be with you as soon as I can get them to you! Orders can be taken in advance, but cannot be placed until noon on 1st October... lots of new goodies to choose from!

I was really pleased to be asked to do a demo as part of the Training Day and I decided to demonstrate an "explosion card" made to fit a standard size SU or other C6 envelope. I'll post the information and my samples within the next day or so.

Demo Day

Well... today's the day! At long last the day of the Glasgow Stampin' Up! demo training day has arrived! We'll be given a copy of the new catalogue... I can't wait to get my hands on mine!

I've prepared this post in advance to ensure that I don't forgot to upload photos of my submission for the demo card "competition". We've been asked to submit an entry of our choice... no criteria. I've made a card, as I didn't really have time to do anything particularly fancy.

I've used the Season of Joy stamp set and various punches. I'm really pleased with the front of the card and I'll replicate it again, I think, with different stamps. I've used the spiral stamp from the Season of Joy set with versamark ink on the base card to give a watermark effect on the background... it's not terribly visible in the photo, but gives a nice touch to the card.

The inside of the card is shown below; I saw a card using little spirals on the inside of a card on one of the American demo blogs, but it didn't say who came up with the idea. There were no instructions, so I don't know how the blog card was made... I just made up my technique as I went along! The card I saw had little cut out butterflies on the spirals. I've changed the concept slightly by adding the punched circles and ribbon etc... the little flower punches added to the spirals are double-sided i.e. a flower has been adhered on each side (so you have something nice to see no matter which angle you view it from!).

Happy Anniversary

Ian's anniversary card! I've used the dog stamp from the For Father set... it doesn't look like our springer, but we're fans of golden retrievers and I couldn't resist. The other bits and pieces (except the eyelet) are from the Home Again Simply Scrappin' hostess kit - I love the Stampin' Up! textured cardstock and can't wait to be able to buy packs of it from the new catalogue!

Happy anniversary, Ian. :o)

True Friend

This is the first card I've made using the new Stampin' Up! True Friend stamp set which I was able to pre-order from the new catalogue. There's a layer of vellum paper behind the torn layer of Real Red cardstock (overstamped with Ruby Red ink). The background has been chalked with Ruby Red chalk.

I've coloured the flower with markers (Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Old Olive and Garden Green) and added Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

One word: rain. It has been raining for as long as I can remember... the last few days have been particularly bad, everywhere is flooded and we almost had a powercut earlier!

Piranha Dog

A photo of Marley taken today... he's huge! He's 15 weeks old.

Ian dropped a wooden spoon in the kitchen earlier and forgot to pick it up... he left the room for less than 10 minutes... and this was the result. I like the way he had a go at both ends! "Piranha Dog" seems to be a fitting name! He just loves to chew... especially wood. He can destroy something in no time at all.

Good news!

The scallop border punch in the current American Stampin' Up! catalogue will be in our new UK Stampin' Up! catalogue due to be launched on 1st October. It'll be priced at £10.95. I love the punch! It's a bit like the Fiskars Threading Water punch, but without the holes - so much more versatile as you can always make the holes with a hole punch or crop-a-dile.

In addition, the catalogue will include textured 12" x 12" cardstock in all four colour families and, best of all... the "Pocket Silhouettes" stamp set which is one of the main stamp sets featured in the new American catalogue! The stamp set will be priced at £15.95. You can see some sample cards in the Splitcoaststampers gallery by clicking here. It's a fabulous set.

You can pre-order any of the new items from me now and I'll be able to place your orders from 1st October.

Something odd... whilst I was looking at the Splitcoaststampers gallery yesterday, I noticed that they've used one of my stamped images as a gallery link; the image is a watercoloured cocktail glass from one of my cards made with the Cheers to You stamp set. It has been used as the link to the current "C - D" section of the gallery. You can see it by clicking here and scrolling down. I'd recognise my colouring anywhere, so I did I double-take, I can tell you, when I stumbled across it by accident! The actual card it was taken from is in the gallery - it's not one of my favourites, to be honest. (Typical!). I've copied the little image below, as no doubt it will be replaced with another one when the colour-scheme changes (it's currently orange).

Lastly... a little mini-book I made with Hero Arts stamps about five months ago was inadvertently picked up by the Hero Arts blog staff and received a little mention on their blog and a prize! I say it was inadvertent, as I didn't actually make the mini-book for the blog challenge (the closing date for which was fairly recent); any Hero Arts gallery items with the word "mini-book" as a tag must have been fair game - which meant I was incredibly surprised to browse their blog and spot my mini-book! That's not bad - twice in a week that I've stumbled across my images on the internet by accident! You can see the relevant page of the Hero Arts blog by clicking here and scrolling down. My book is the one shown below. I know I sound like a broken record, but I don't think my mini-book is particulary great... I've definitely made better mini-books! It was supposed to be quick and easy - it was made from some blank square cards bound together with fibres; the inner pages are stamped along the edges and the centre portions of the pages are covered with patterned paper. The edges have been distressed with chalk inks.

More Joy

A further very quick card made using the Season of Joy stamp set. I'm using this card as a make and take for part of a mini workshop - it had to be easy to make and quick to assemble. I've used the cutter tool (the "distressing wheel") around the edge of the Old Olive layer.

Materials used (all Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Season of Joy; Wonderful Words

- cardstock: Whisper White; Old Olive; Naturals Ivory

- ink: Old Olive

- patterned paper: Dashing

- other: Dazzling Diamonds glitter; scrap of red ribbon (non-SU)

Season of Joy

Another card made using the Season of Joy stamp set. The background was stamped using the scroll stamp and the small flower stamp with Versamark ink, but it's not visible in the photo. (If you click on the photo to see the larger photo you can see it to some extent on the upper portion; the lower half was washed out by the camera flash).

Additional cards to follow over the next few days!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Season of Joy

- cardstock: Real Red; Whisper White; Old Olive; Bashful Blue

- ink: Old Olive; Versamark

- patterned paper: Dashing (discontinued and on sale during September)

- other: moss gingham ribbon; Dazzling Diamonds glitter; silver brads

Pouch Card

This card is almost identical to the card shown in the previous post... the layout and colours are the same, but I've used a set of Christmas stamps! The stamp set (shown below) is called Season of Joy and it will be available for purchase from 1st October. I'll be posting some Christmas cards made using this set, but I thought it would be interesting to show the versatility of the set... its use isn't limited to Christmas projects. I've used the swirl stamp and the snowflake stamp instead of the Carte Postale stamp set and French Flair background. The swirl tab stamp from the Totally Tabs stamp set works well with the swirls on the base card.

French Flair & Carte Postale

Another item made using the Stampin' Up! French Flair background stamp (reduced in price and retiring; see the previous two posts for details). I've also used the matching Carte Postale stamp set (which is not retiring). The base card is SU Close to Cocoa cardstock.

The card is a little pouch card for use as a thank you card... there's a tag which slips out of the top and I'll write my message there. The tab on the tag was made using the Stampin' Up! tag punch, So Saffron cardstock and a new set of stamps which are designed to work with the punch... the set is called "Totally Tabs" and there are four stamps which fit within the tab shape; see below.

The new catalogue will be available from the end of September, with the official launch on 1st October; please contact me if you'd like a copy.

French Flair

Another quick card made using the French Flair background stamp.

Materials (all Stampin' Up!):-

- cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White; Bravo Burgundy

- ink: Bravo Burgundy

- ribbon: Bravo Burgundy and Very Vanilla

- punches: scallop circle; 1 1/4" circle; 1 3/8" circle; corner rounder

- other: Dazzling Diamonds glitter; Le Jardin designer series patterned paper

Discontinued items and price reductions!

The Stampin' Up! "retired list" was launched today. Some items are being discontinued from the catalogue to make way for lots of new products. The retired items can be purchased until the end of September or until stocks run out. In addition, demonstrators have been told that there will be some price reductions in the new catalogue (which is due to launch on 1st October) and, for that reason, the items listed in the retired list reflect the new catalogue prices! If you click on this link, you'll be able to download a pdf copy of the list. Grab a bargain whilst you can!

The card shown above was made using the French Flair background stamp (reduced in price from £16.95 to £14.95), Le Jardin designer series patterned paper (reduced in price from £8.50 to £7.75), Close to Cocoa ink, the scallop punch and a couple of circle punches, Whisper White cardstock and So Saffron cardstock.

Please contact me if you would like to order anything. Likewise, please let me know if you would like to reserve a copy of the new catalogue; I hope to have copies from late September.

I'll be uploading photos of some items made using a few of the new stamp sets over the next few weeks.