New Year's Celebration

 a little bit of card candy...enjoy your new years celebration where ever in the world you might be....

More free stamps?...Sale-a-bration 2011

Have you left a comment on my blog to win a set of stamps from last year's sale-a-bration?  If not scroll down...not long to the closing date....

Woo hoo...more free stamps?

Place an order over £45 to take part in this offer.  If you place an order for £90 you can order two sets and so on!...and much much more, click on the poster to find out.

Happy Christmas Blog Candy

I would love to wish you all Merry Christmas with a chance to win this set of 6 stamps from Stampin' Up!

These stamps were only available in the UK as a free gift in last year's Sale-a-bration.

If you would like to win this set of stamps, and live in the UK, please leave a comment on my blog before 31st December.  A winner will be drawn at random. Good luck!

 

It's Christmas tomorrow!  So here's a little card, that's to wish you all a safe and peaceful Christmas.

More Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade, joined by Crumb Cake and Early Espresso.  The colour spritz tool is great fro creating this aged background in Pear Pizzazz. I've used Early Espresso to over stamp the children and sled and added decoration with the wreathstamp.  All stamps are from the Welcome Christmas set. 

Do check out tomorrow's post.

Merry Christmas!



Joy to the World 2

 

Pear Pizzazz again, this time with the most glittery glitter I have ever seen, it's mirror like! I stamped the wreath from Welcome Christmas in versamark, covered in heat and stick, heated, covered in glitter and reheated to set the glitter...I stamped the letters individually from the same set in Old Olive, and added a gem to each. A bow of Pear Pizzazz finishes it off.

Don't forget to check out my blog over the Christmas period...if you live in the UK you might be in for a surprise...



Joy to the World

Individually colour the letteres on the Joy stamp from Welcome Christmas and punch out using the decoration punch, stick some gold elastic cord to the the back and secure under a boarder created with the scallop boarder punch. I've picked Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz for my colour theme over the next few posts, look how it can be very modern, but traditional Christmas at the same time.

Merry Christmas Pooch

 

This little dog is taken from the Hostess Level 2 free stamp set called Long Fellows, this is not a Christmas themed set at all, but it just goes to show how with the use of a Christmas sentiment and Christmassy colours how you can adapt them for use this season.  The background is created with the Sassy Sparkles wheel. The sentiment comes from Contempo Christmas. Real Red and Early Espresso are highlighted with Whisper White. An Early Espresso brad and crinkled Real Red ribbon (use Sticky Strip for the best results) complete the look.

Ornament Dangle Card

 

I hope you all survived the snow.  Here's a little card I created with Contempo Christmas and the coordinating Contempo Wheel, Poppy Parade ink and designer series paper and the amazing Stampin' Up! gold embossing powder.  Amazing? why...I have often found gold embossing powder to be a bit patchy, this one forms a really great even raise layer of elegant sheen, no pitting at all.  The baubble fits within the 1 3/4 inch (4.4cm) circle punch when cut out.



Concord Crush Christmas Card



Merry Christmas everyone, what a simple quick and easy card.  Stamp Seasons Greetings from Welcome Christmas on to Whisper White and cut out, create two slots at either end of the sentiment.  Wrap Concord Crush ribbon around a piece of Concord Crush card folded to 4"x4", thread through the slots and tie in a knot.  The simplicity is created by using only two colours and the elegant sentiment. Of course the colour coordination is perfect, as this is one of Stampin' Up!'s strong points, another is the quality of their rubber stamps, which are so deeply etched, whether you choose the new clear mount or the wooden backed stamps the quality doesn't vary. 

I inked the stamp using the Concord Crush Stampin' Write Marker. 

 

This beautiful scroll frame is highlighted with the swallow and Really Red satin ribbon.  The just because sentiment is also from the Notably Ornate stamp set the final stamp in the set is an oval, which coordinates with our oval punches and says 'take note', amazing.  The Love Letters papers have 2 sheets with the scroll frame enlarged, ideal for a large central photo (more later).



Contempo Christmas Scrap page

Contempo Christmas and the new In Colours make up this page.  Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso with a touch of Very Vanilla and Bashful Blue make up the colour theme, just a slight variation on the dark red and dark green that is so often used for Chritsmas, just a little edge to it.  I love the 1/8" (3mm) Early Espresso ribbon with it's white trimmed edges. 

The sentiment says, Christmas is love with all the trimmings, part of the Contempo Christmas Stamp Set.

Playdate in the Park

Here's a quick scrapbook page I knocked up in an hour.  There's a rare picture of me...in the glasses, if you've ever wondered what I look like...LOL  I'm sorry about the 'flare' on the photograph, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to photograph items well with the lower autumn light levels, I hope it doesn't spoil your enjoyment of the page.

Isn't it amazing what you can create from three squares of 6x6 patterend paper?  These patterns are from the Playdate Designer Series Paper, a little Real Red satin ribbon, Real Red button and card and Old Olive buttons with Linen Thread complete the look.  Circle punches and the Scallop Boarder punch are a must for this project.

There's a hidden journaling panel with a scalloped edge slipped in behind the photo to the right.

The Real Red compliments the red and pink coats in the photograph, pick up on colours within your own photographs to tie in with your paper colours.

Don't forget to use strong double sided tape to create the folded ribbon look, alternatively use a running sewing stitch and gather the ribbon that way.

This is a no stamp scrap page.

Dasher gets out and about

 

If you loved the Dasher bottle tag, ideal for Christmas, why not come and see him close up?

I'm taking Pink Cottage Craft to the Craft Fair at Eaton Village Hall, Norwich on Saturday 27th November 11-3 and to the Craft Fair at Hadleigh Guildhall, Suffolk on Saturday 28th November, look out for the bright pink table cloth and lots of hand crafted papercraft goodies. The Dasher bottle tag will be available to buy, jazz up any bottle and add your personallised message.

At Eaton there will be a raffle for the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund. I have given this lovely Dasher Candle gift set for a prize, pop in and take part in the raffle to try to win him.

Sassy Sparkle's wheel completes the look.

Beware Pirates Scrap page

 

I was inspired by this photograph of a musical friend, who with her orchestral collegues, often takes part in a themed last night, of course only where the orchestra is hidden.  AAAArrrrrrrr!

The Beware Pirates stamp set and the Newsprint DSP go so well together, add Basic Black card and ink and assemble on a 6x6 Real Red card base, a very quick page indeed..



Children In Need

The guys at work are fundraising for Children In Need today and have choosen Pirates as their theme. I created 12 cards using the Beware Pirates stamp set, Basic Black and Early Espresso ink, tea stain distress ink from our Distress Kit, Linen Thread and Very Vanilla and Soft Suade card. Above are four simple designs. I hope these will be sold today to raise some more money.

Dasher Bottle Tag Recipe

Here's the recipe for the Dasher Bottle Tag, as promised.

Supplies:

Dasher Stamp

Cardstock: Real Red and Whisper White

Ink: Real Red and VersaMark

Tools: 1 3/8" Circle Punch; Corner Rounder

Ribbon: Elastic Gold Cord or Real Red Satin Ribbon

Other: Stampin' Dimensionals; Heat and Stick Powder and Dazzling Diamonds; or Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

How To:
1. Cut a piece of Real Red card to 14cm x 6.5cm, score a line across the narrowest dimension at 6cm from one end.  At this end round the two corners.  On the smaller section you have created use the circle punch to cut out a central circle.  (Note the 1 3/8" Circle will allow use over a champagne cork.)

2. Cut a piece of Whisper White 7cm x 6cm, stamp Dasher in Real Red ink in the centre of the piece of card.  Leave for a few seconds to completely dry, to avoid smudging with the next step.

3. Cover the stamped image piece of card all over with VersaMark ink.  Things can get a little sticky at this stage. Choose either step 4 or step 5.

4. For the Dazzling Diamonds version: sprinkle heat and stick over the top of the VersaMark and heat with a heat tool.  Sprinkle a good coating od Dazzling Diamonds over the top and shake off the excess.  Reheat the image with a heat tool to stick the glitter to the card.

OR

5. For the Clear Emboss version: sprinkle Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder over the top of the VersaMark and heat with a heat tool until melted.

To assemble mount the image on Stampin' Dimensionals and add to the lower, larger part of the tag.  Add a Gold Elastic Cord bow or Real Red ribbon satin knot to finish.

Dasher too!

Here's the second version, using VersaMark and clear embossing powder to give a textured sheen finish.

I will post instructions shortly

Dashing all the way

Dasher is so popular, there are lots of things to create with him...here's a bottle tag made using Real Red and Whisper White card, Real Red and VersaMark ink, heat and stick powder, gold elastic cord and of course Dazzling Diamonds.  Ideal for gift giving at Christmas.

I made him back in September for a training swap in two versions...beware of imitations...

2 Today

I made this some time ago, but just love the way that the stamp set is so versatile, the colours on the card can be changed to suit a little one's favourties, or just to be gright and funky.

The card is created from a a piece of cardstock 12" x 4", folded into 3 panels. Use the Stampin' Around along the length og a piece of A4 card, before cutting into panels, the track will then join up visually, when matted and assembled.

Choo Choo, Right on Track and Schoolbook Serif Numbers stamp sets.

Perfect Punches

The last example from my Bedford showcase is below, here I used the small flower from Baroque Motifs as a scattered background effect and used the small rhinestones from the Basic Rhinestones pack to create centres for the flowers.

I really don't think that a Christmas card is extra special without a bit of glitz here and there, do you?

Bundle Up for Christmas

It's a new promotion, yeeahh!

From 1st November to 29 December you can get exclusive Christmas Stampin' Up! ribbon for free when you buy one of the excelent value Christmas Bundles.
I already have the welcome Christmas Stamp Set and I love it.  And the ornament punch not only goes with the Delightful Decorations Set but with the bauble in the Contempo Christmas Stamp Set.  I just love these free ribbons, I can't wait to get mine, they make our products so versatile and they're limited edition, just what I need for my mamoth Christmas card making sessions.

More Christmas card samples on their way...

Another Make and Take

Here's another version of the make and take from Bedford. 

Using the Joy at Christmas Stamp from the Perfect Punches set with Basic Black, Crumb Cake and Riding Hood Red.  Using the 1 1/4" circle punch I cut out the centre of a second stamped image and layered it over the first image using Dimensionals.  The first image was cut out using the scallop circle extra-large punch - such a time saver and so versatile.

I've one more on version to come...

Glitter and sparkle and so it begins?

Well I'm not quite up for Christmas yet, but I have just brought my Mum's Christmas pressie, not that I'll reveal what it is until the big day!

I've been playing with my Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, you can add it to an alcohol thinner (isopropyl alcohol) with a drop of water, pop it in a misting bottle, shake really well, and spray...here I've created a back ground.  Next I stamped the Eiffle Tower from Artistic Etchings in VersaMark ink and then used heat and stick powder to apply the glitter.  The small corner motif is also from Artistic Etchings and this is embossed in gold.  I've added a paper bow from the Newsprint Designer Series Papers with a couple of Crumb Cake* brads from the Neutrals brad collection.

I thought this reminded me of New Year celebrations in Paris, with all the fireworks going off!

Or use it straight from the bottle with a Sponge Dauber (I use the paint that collects in the lid of the pot, as you really have to shake it) to highlight projects or produce a subtle shimmer on solid type stamp images.

*Crumb Cake is an American cake, colour wise think Kraft.  Although now I'm thinking cake...yum...roll on lunch time....

I'm back....

I've been soooo busy and unable to get to the computer to upload any photos...nor have I had much time to craft, which I find alarming...who is steeling all my time?

Here's one of the make and takes we did in Bedford on 13th.  A simple but effective design with Basic Black, Riding Hood Red and Bashful Blue cardstock, Riding Hood Red ink and Basic Black Striped Ribbon.  The stamp set is Perfect Punches, co-ordinating with the oval extra large and oval large punch to layer the sentiment, and the Scallop Edge Border punch to create the decorative red edge.  The completed card is 4"x 4".

A big thank you Carolyn, Lindsay and Liz!

Bedford Open Evening 13 October

Just a quick update on the my Bedofrd Open Evening.

I've changed location to the White Horse, 38 Newnham Road

Don't forget it's 6-9 come for all or part of the evening, relax, and let me know if you're coming.

Come and make a card to take away (by pre-booking), purchase retired items, and see the new catalogue.

See you soon!

It's Here - the new catalogue!

 

Finally, I can reveal the contents of the new catalogue! Woohooo!

The link to the 'flash' version of the catalogue is here, you can even flick the pages like the real catalogue, none of that lovely just printed smell though.  I love the smell of new book, always have, I can distinctly remember being sat in primary school starting to read a new library book and sniffing the pages...was i destined to work with paper, perhaps.  Was I destined to usually have my nose in a book definately!...LOL

You may need to down load flash player, this is free, and won't take up too much space, even if your computer's clonky like my old laptop.

Don't forget 6-9pm party at mine on Sunday night in Ipswich, drop in, and play!

The Bedford event has moved to 13th 6-9, again drop in and play...it's going to be at the Bedford I-Kan on Mill Street.

This is the cat stamp from the Long Fellows, a Hostess Level 2 set, they are all so cute, if a little blurred - it's the photo and not the card...LOL.  Could you hold a workshop and secure sales to get him?  I can coach you though finding guests, from friends at work to the dentist or parents from your child's school, to when to send them a reminder so that they don't forget to come!  Ask me more.

New Catalogue Launch

The new products in the new Stampin' Up! catalogue will be available from 1st October.  Woohoo!

On 3rd October as a celebration of the new catalogue and National Card Making Day I will be hosting a drop in session, in Ipswich, to view the new catalogue between 6pm and 9pm.  There will be a gorgeous card to make and take home with you, a door prize, sales of retired products, lots of samples to view and details of forthcoming workshops, classes and events.  Of course, you can buy your copy of the new idea book and catalogue too!

On 6th October I will be doing the same in Bedford.

Please email for more details.

Training Time

I'm so excited, I'm off to a training session on the new catalogue tonight!  I can't wait to see all the new stamps and colours which will be available to buy from 1st October!

We'll be doing a make and take, which I'll post on the 1st....we're not allowed to do the whole sneak peek thing.

Why not come and see the fablous new colours and stamps, and the new catalogue for yourself on 3 October in Ipswich or 6 October in Bedford?  I will be selling off a number of retired items too.

Of course Sunday 3rd October is National Card Making Day, so shall we make a bit of an event of it? 

More details on all these dates, and more, to follow.

Rolling/Spinning Train Card

Here's one of the cards we created at the September class, the train spins it's way along the track as you tilt the card.  Email me for details on how to make this.

Happy Harvest

We don't celebrate 'thanks giving' as the American's do, but we do have 'Harvest Festival' and more and more people are growing their own vegetables, most of the allotments around here are full!  Or perhaps, the card could be used to wish someone good luck at the local flower festival, horticultural or agricultural show.  (When I was 13 or 14, I won first prize in the local show, where I was living, with my Gladioli...I beat my Granddad, who has been regularly showing for more than 40 years, and he was a judge at national level for chrysanthimums...My onions weren't bad either that year, but, I've not entered since.)

This card uses Pumpkin Pie and More Mustard cardstock with Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive ink. Use Dot Dot Dot to stamp onto plain cardstock.  Stamp with the truck from Loads of Love and cut out.  Stamp the truck again on More Mustard, colour and highlight the wheels, stamp again with the pumpkins and sentiment.  Stamp the pumpkins on to Pumpkin pie and cut out and stick to the mustard layer. Add a piece of gold elastic to complete.

Guernsey

Guernsey was beautiful, just a shame I didn't have much time there!

This is the High Street, with the flags out for the Battle of Britain comemorations.  The Red Arrows appeared at the air display.

Moving Home

Make moving home a less stressful event with this Bashful Blue Just Moved Card.  It's stamped in Not Quite Navy using the Loads of Love and Loads of Love Accessories sets, and some taffeta ribbon.

Scraps #1

I know as crafters we collect all the left over bits from our projects, but how often do we use up the bits?

This 3"x 3" card has been created from 9 punched and inked hearts, using the Sweet Pea papers, Old Olive, Real Red and Bashful Blue textured cardstock.

The flower stamp is from the Baroque Motifs and the sentiment from Cheers and Wishes stamp sets; all of course from Stampin' Up!

Driving by with a birthday hi!

Retiring! The Loads of Love stamp set and the Hostess Level 1 papers will be retiring at the end of September.  This is one of my favorite sets, being so versatile and masculine too.  It's just £14.21, that's 25% off.  Couple it with the Loads of Love Accessories at £7.98, a whooping 50% off and the Tailgaiting or Time for Tree (christmas) wheel at £4.13 each (25% off) for a great versatile little package. 

This card uses the sahara sand and sage shadow papers from the Level 1 Hostess designer papers.  These papers are only available until 30 September at the latest.  With loads of products retiring (many at reduced prices) at the end of the month, place an order for £150 and make your choice of Hostess level one products and free goodies of your choice, worth £15, from the catalogue.

Add some linen thread tied in a knot to create a subtle masculine card.

Retiring Items

The new catalogue is just around the corner, so lots of items from the 2009-10 catalogue, Mini Catalogue and 11 New Products will not be available after 30th September.  From today Stampin' Up! will publish daily lists of the items still available and also their reduced price.  Here's the list!


When the new catalogue arrives on 1st October there will be new postage and packaging, you'll be able to order as many, or as few, of the goodies as you like for a set postage and package rate.  No more messing around trying to work out the 5% rate....hurrah!

Just a quick reminder to check out my list of classes and events.  I hope to add some dates for Bedford shortly, once I've found a good local venue.

11 September Class

Class details are up on the classes page, or click on the photo on the left panel for more information. Something for the advanced crafter as well as beginners:

Birdhouse for the Soul

Oh, the last bank holiday weekend before Christmas!  I'm not sure whether to be happy that Christmas is coming, or sad that the summer is over for another year. 

On 1st September the list of retiring items from the Stampin' Up! catalogue will be published, this is your last chance to get hold of these items.  I imagine there will be a number of items, as the colour renovation for the new catalogue will mean that all the old colours will be lost, as so many of the papers, card, ribon and kits include retiring colours.  The retirement will make way for new colours and new stamps and other goodies, I can't wait.

This pattern has been adapted from the Crafts Beautiful magazine and uses scraps of the Cottage Wall designer series paper and the large bird punch from Stampin' Up!

I hope you like it.

Wedding Invitation Collage

Isn't Picasa a wonderful piece of software?  You can create collage with multiple photos like this.  That last post inspired me along a wedding theme.  Here are a few wedding invitation samples I made up using the wonderful striped speciality designer series paper called Bridesmaid, it's in the Very Vanilla colourway with a great vanilla foil on top, it comes in a pack with an elegant sort of swirl motif.

Here I've used a band of pleated light weight Stamin' Up! velum and Very Vanilla ribbon.  The hearts are created using Orchid Opulence cardstock and the triple heart punch (purple ones), the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set and shimmer paints for the champagne and silver hearts - one is direct stamped with the second heart stamped without reinking the stamp producing a more subtle image.

Variations
This speciality paper comes in Whisper White (Bride) and Basic Black (Groom), change the colour scheme to match the colours for your wedding, or just produce elegant invitations and wedding stationnery to suit.  Need more ideas, want to learn how? Contact me

Cherish

This page is easy to make, with the Bella Bleu designer series paper (DSP),  Baroque Motifs stamp set and Not Quite Navy Ink.

Add your journalling on the small oblongs of sand DSP.

Happy 30th Birthday

Here's a little card I made for my friend's birthday at the begining of the month. 
Heat and Stick is a marvelous product, the glitter won't shed!

The brads and flower are both from the Pretties Kit, which includes absolutely loads of blossoms, brads, beads, hat pins, and flat backed pearls, enough to keep most crafters busy for months!

This is the Whimsical Wings stamp set, a hostess level 2 gift.

Thank You Gifts

 

5 variations on a theme.  I give out these sets to people who place their first order with me, as a thank you gift.  Want to recieve one?

Pocketed Gifts

I've a number of samples of various beauty creams I've recieved over tha last few months, I've decided to create 4 pocket cards to hold them.

 

 

Promotions

Don't forget to check out my promotions page, for the latest offers and additional inspiration!

See the link near the top of the page.

Look Who's Come to Stay

Oscar!

He found the basket full of clean and ironed clothes!
Shame he's only here for 5 days!

Paper Folded Photo Frame

I've just tried to say the title of this post, and got in an awful muddle...try it yourself...it's a bit of a tongue twister!

I love paper folding!  This is a small 6" x 6" scrapbook page, using a a folded piece of 6x6 designer series paper from the hostess papers with a Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive Colour and the Baroque Motifs Stamp Set (Item 113490). 

Want to know how? Contact me.

Medallion Stamped Bag

Use White Craft Ink on fine grained cotton (doesn't work on woven material such as 't'-shirt fabric), over a piece of card to provide a stable stamping surface.  Iron the stamped image with a dry iron to set the ink.  The medallion background stamp needs a lot of pressure to achieve this level of impression and a great deal of ink, due to its size.  I left the stamp in place for a few moments before lifting it.  I created stamped three bags, two in black and one in pink (no surprise there!)