Busy Week

It's been a very busy week, yet another parcel arrived from Stampin' Up! (They come via UPS and I can track them on line, they tell you the day they're due to be delivered, and sure enough they are!) 

I have been on a mission to get the spring cleaning done in the house, but with 3 loads of washing drying in one day, I've still got to catch up on the ironing.  Then there's the watering of the garden, if I don't I'll loose the third crop of apples in a row, the tree's a dwarf variety in a very large pot, if the watering's patchy the apples drop whilst they're still small, fingers crossed I'll manage to keep more than 4!

I did manage to catch a couple of hours at the beach, I'm not much of a sunbather, but it felt like I'd at least had a weekend. 

This Saturday I'm going to be at the Banham Country Market 9am-1pm 3rd July, so I'm packing all my samples and details of the class on 24 July at Needham Market (see link at the top of the page).

Suffolk Papercraft Fayre

 

Oh my goodness there are lots of fans of papercrafting out there. Here's a couple of photos of our stand.  I hope you all enjoyed the fayre I did, it was fab meeting lots of lovely new ladies and meeting friends. There were even a couple of people who were new to crafting...I think they'll all have caught the bug by now...

We must have meet more than 100 people, wow, some party.

Carole's son Ryan has drawn the prize winner, it's Mary Huggins, from Harlston.  Congratulations Mary, you'll be receiving your parcel very soon.

I'd just like to thank everyone for turning up, thanks to Liz S. for placing an order, thanks everyone who took the time to do our make and take, enter the prize draw or picked up a leaflet for our class next month, finally thanks to Janina B for organising the hall and to the wonderful Carole Claxton (below), my  upline for inviting me.

For those of you who have requested a workshop or more information on classes or becoming a Demonstrator Carole or I will be in touch soon.

12 Days of Blogging #12

Day 12, I think I deserve a treat...

Using Lovely Lilac and Pink Passion card and Elegant Eggplant Ribbon I created this Sweet Treat. I've used our two way Tombow glue as a temporary fix on the back of the packet of hot chocolate for additional security. The stamp comes from the Darling Dots Hostess Level 1 set, see day 6 for more info.

Well it's been a great 12 days, hard work, but great. Thank you for all your comments and links, I hope you feel inspired to go and create something amazing.

Don't Forget

Don't forget....
It's Father's Day... tomorrow
It's the Suffolk Papercraft and Cardmaking Fayre at Needham Market...tomorrow
It's the last day of my 12 days of sweet treat cups...tomorrow

Scroll down to see todays card offering and for details of the Fayre.

Carole Claxton and I are also putting the finishing touches to our all day papercrafting event on 24th July, which will include 3d items, cards and a mini book themed around Vintage Vogue and My Sweet Pea stamps sets. More soon

Have a great weekend and I hope to see you in Needham Market

12 Days of Blogging #11

Day 11, more stamping...

Using the five pettal stamp I stamped one flower (from A Beautiful Thing) in Mellow Moss and one in Gable Green. On the latter I stamped the swirl design in Mellow Moss. I cut out and curled the edges, pierced a hole in the centre and inserted a clear Rhinestone Brad. I created the sliding door as before and stamped the swirl design in a random pattern across it. I stamped the sentiment from Cheer & Wishes (its a versatile set) in Old Olive on to Glorious Green card and mounted on a Mellow Moss card base. The hair band was another find from a pound shop!

Creating your own designs inspired by this one, then please link back to my blog.

12 Days of Blogging #10

Day 10, are you convinced yet that these are great? Of course you could just fill them with sweets or sunflower seeds, or create a gumball machine, baby's rattle or magnifying glass with the co-ordinating stamp set (Something Sweet), but why not explore some more...

This card uese less than half a pack of hair bobbles picked up from a pound shop, which girl, young or old with longer hair wouldn't appreciate this small well thought out gift? Nautical, with a splash of red is in fashion this season.

This card uses papers from the 6"x6" Patterns Paper Designer Series Paper III, available as a Hostess Level 1 gift, see day 6 for more information on how you can receive this gift for free (subject to sales). A patterned paper sliding door was created, so that when the hair bands are removed there is still interest on the card. The real red flower is taken from the Blooms Die Cuts pack. (There's Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Bashful Blue too.)

Posting?

I would recommend the Sweet Treat Padded envelopes, which are printed with a pattern of dots, very sweet, with clear areas left for the stamp and address. Providing that your card does not weigh over 720 grammes then you will only need a Large Letter Stamp to cover postage, just a little extra to show someone you care? Bargain I'd say.

Inspired? PLease come back tomorrow, only 2 days left to go!

12 Days of Blogging #9

One for the dogs today. These little bone treats are so cute.

Well this card started out a disaster...I mistakenly thought that stamping the Tailgaiting Stampin' Around in Bashful Blue would show up on Brilliant Blue, well it did for a minute or so, but once dried it was impossible to photograph. The printed sentiment was also cut too wide and everyting cut and glued....agghh what to do?

Well, I stuck two strips of Scalloped Edged Ballet Blue on top of the sentiment to reduce its width and stamped Tailgaiting in black on to Whisper White. I created an undulating top to the Whisper White by following the line of the stamp, picking up on the scallop of the sentiment boarder. I coloured the lorry with ink from a Brilliant Blue ink pad stamped on to a plastic sheet, picking up the colour with my Aqua Painter. The shadow and green highlight is created in teh same way. The dogs are coloured with neutral Watercolor Wonder Crayons, and water brushed.

You will need to use StazOn Cleaner with the black ink cartridges on the Stampin' Around.

Not a bad rescue...

12 Days of Blogging #8

A simple card for day 8.

Created from a simple colour scheme of Pumpkin Pie and Ballet Blue. The card fish is created from the punched out circle which forms the hole for the Sweet Treat Cup, and a folded tab created by the Round Tab punch. See day 7 for how to create the sliding door. The second fish is created with the eye punched from the card fish and a knotted ribbon. Print a sentiment from your computer on to Whisper White card. Fill the cup with cat treats. Be warned your cat will be able to smell this so do put it somewhere secure, if it's his favoutites. Alternatively secure the treats in cling film - before placing in the cup, not so pretty, but perhaps safer?! The quick release sliding door is a must for desparate cat's owners access...use cat mint at your peril....

12 Days of Blogging #7

What a way to give someone a lift with 3 ballons in a card, I know ballons always make me think of celebrations, a happy moment in my life, why not send a similar card to cheer someone up and let them know you are thinking of them?

Stamp the lorry from the Loads of Love stamp set on to Ballet Blue card and cut out. Using the neutrals Watercolor Wonder Crayons - yes it's spelt right, Stampin' Up! is an American brand that's been going since 1990. Sorry back to the crayons...colour the wheels in lightly in basic black. Highlight the bumpers and wheel arches in Sahara Sand. Using a paint brush dipped in water or an Aqua Painter (my favourite) wash over the decorated areas to achive a smooth finish. These crayons create a much smoother finish than watercolour pencils, and there's no waste wood as they are colour through and through, with a paper wraper. They're not waxy as you might imagine, I guess it's their solid nature that makes them a 'crayon'.

It was a little tricky to line up all the punched holes this time due to the layers. Punch the hole with the 1-3/4" (4.4cm) circle punch on the Ballet Blue base card first, making sure that the card is in as far as it will go. This allows for the diminishing sizes of the top layers of card Brilliant Blue on a Whisper White mat. Line up and punch the top layers. To allow for the sliding door use Mini Glue Dots around the location where the door will go to introduce a slim gap alowing the door to slide. Stamp the sentiment. Attach the cup to the rear of the top layer, fill with ballons and insert the sliding door (a square of card with a tab - created using the Round Tab punch). Mount the lorry. Wrap a length of Linen Thread around the spine of the card and tie in a knot.

Change the sentiment and create a male themed birthday card. If this inspires you then please link back to my blog.

12 Days of Blogging #6

Taken with Teal is saying a fond farewell at the end of September. It's such a shame as it is set off wonderfully by the platinum shimmer paint, from the mini catalogue. Apply directly to a stamp with a spounge dauber and stamp to your hearts content. Just remember to clean your stamp with StayOn cleaner when you're finished.

Place a small amount of Dazzling Diamonds in to the cup along with two or three stamped stars, from Darling Dots - hold a workshop, invite your friends and your friends' friends achieve overall sales of £150 and this set could be yours as a 'Hostess Level 1' gift along with £15 of free goodies of your choice.

There's no sliding door on this card, as the Dazzling Diamonds woudl go every where...LOL.

The Congratulations stamp forms part of the Cheer & Wishes stamp set used on day 4...and later on too...great for all those sentiments for card fronts.

Like this one? you know the drill...comment and link back from your blog...

Suffolk Scrapbook and Cardmaking Fayre

20 June

10-4

Demonstrations and Make and Takes by Carole Claxton and myself

Come and make this cute little bunny card

Free Entry

Light refreshments on sale

Needham Market Community Centre

School Street, Needham Market, nr Ipswich

12 Days of Blogging #5

So day 5 an the little Giraffe from Fox and Friends makes an appearance, again with an eraser, but this time a s a birthday card. Pumpkin Pie ink with Really Rust and Yoyo Yellow card and a Barely Banana heart. The Really Rust button is tied with linen thread.

No more Fox and Friends on this tour, come back tomorrow for my next treat.

Inspired? Please comment and link back to your creations

12 Days of Blogging #4

Inspriation number four; we're off to a roaring start...sorry I couldn't resist...

The Fox and Friends stamp set contains 7 amazingly fun animal characters, a whale, monkey, turtle, wide eyed owl, giraffe, fox (funny that!) and this lovely lion.

This lion eraser has movable legs and co-ordinates perfectly with the lion stamped in Pumpkin Pie. Really Rust and Yoyo Yellow card complete the look. Use to create an invitation (Cheers & Wishes stamp set) to a child's birthday party and stamp the envelope to build anticipation.

Love him? Created your own please comment and link below

Don't forget to come back tomorrow, you never know who you might meet....

12 Days of Blogging #3

Stickers. Which Child doesn't love stickers?

Team cheap stickers with Brilliant Blue stamped Choo Choo stamp set and the number 3 from Schoolbook Serif Numbers and you have a perfect card for a budding train driver's third birthday.

Have you caught the bug of the Sweet Treat Cups?

Yes? contact me to buy at pinkcottagecraft@yahoo.com

No? Come back tomorrow for more inspiration!

12 Days of Blogging #2

Day 2; inspiration number 2

This is a pale pinky plum shell button bracelet, from my local pound shop, an ideal small gift to send through the post. Again the sliding door.

This card uses Mellow Moss card set at an angle on a Pale Plum card with a flower from the 'My Sweet Pea' stamp set stamped in Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive. Elegant Eggplant ribbon too.

Great for a female friend or teenager or tween.

Inspired? Please link back to my blog and/or leave a comment.

12 Days of Blogging #1

Stampin' Up! Sweet Treat Cups come in packs of 12, so I challenged myself to come up with 12 designs to inspire you, some quick and easy some more advanced. At only £2.50 for 12 they add a whole new dimension to your crafting.

This one started with the 'punch art' of EB the cat, whom we sadly lost to old age in April. A curled up purple cat collar fits snuggly in the sweet treat cup, held in place by a sliding door.

Elegant Eggplant ribbon finishes off the Appricot Appeal and Pale Plum card. Perfect for welcoming a friend's new cat or cat's birthday. Choose your colour scheme to match the collar.

Inspired by this card, if you post it on your blog, please link back here.

Want more? Come back tomorrow...see you soon

New Products Blog Hop: 2

Oh my goodness where do I start? I just love love love this Cottage Wall designer series paper and Window Sheets (they're printed acetate sheets), and the rich razzleberry dotty ribbon are to die for...

When creating scrapbook pages, I find it's useful to take digital photos of the creation process. The dotty ribbon was the inspiration, as soon as I saw it I knew I had these amazing photos to scrap...only one is in focus, as she was moving 2 quickly, but I think the blurriness portrays this sense of movement and the black and white photo means that you focus on the one unblurred image. I hoped to add couple of shots showing the page in progress, but Blogger's not playing today (I'll try a later post), I often use scrap paper and print my photos on copier paper initally to avoid mistakes, and free up the creative process. Nothing is stuck down until I'm completely happy.

To hop on to some more fab creations starting with the lovely Jo who's next on round 2 of the blog hop click on her name or perhaps you'd like to go backwards around this loop and visit Teri's creations here?

Round 1 is here if you need more inspiration and yet more in Round 3. So if you've completed the marathon of all three rounds you will have seen at least 45 amazing projects to inspire you, all starting with the 11 new products. WOW!!!

From 9 June I will be posting a new project everyday for 12 days, do come back to see more.

On 20 June Carole Claxton, another lovely Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and I are going to be demonstrating at the Suffolk Scrapbook and Cardmaking Fayre, its a major event. We'll be doing 'make and takes' so come and play. Look out for our show specials and for an announcement of our July crafting day. It opens 10-4pm ans is at the Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market. Its free entry and there's lovely teas and amazing cake - if it was anything like last time! There's free parking too, or you could jump on the train.

More scrapbooking? see if you can spot another scrapbook page on my blog...and no they're not related...

3d Cockateel

I was inspired by a number of the grunge type feel projects in Craft Stamper magazine, the Night and Day Speciality Designer Papers and bird two step punch in the Mini Catalogue to create this 3d piece.

I covered three pieces of chipboard in three different patterns from the Night and Day papers. I used a nail file to smooth the edges for a better finish. I stamped and embossed the large flourish from Baroque Motifs on the top of each piece of board, you can see the pattern shining in the photograph. I stamped a clear button, I sell those too, with the flourish in black StazOn ink and tied it to the 1-1/4" (3.2cm) black striped grosgrain ribbon. I also stamped the flourish on a flower from the Pretties Kit, securing a clear Rhinestone Brad in the centre. I cut out the photograph from one I took at the Pet Porpoise Pool at Coffs Habour, Australia. (They rescue and breed, otherwise I wouldn't have visited) This beautiful boy has a hint of pale sulphur yellow, so I turned the photograph in to black and white for the project.

I punched out the birds and after inking the edges placed them on the flourishes within the paper to act as tree branches.

I have not covered the backs of the board, on purpose, I'm waiting for inspiration to use this for another piece of art on a different theme, so that I can ring the changes to my home decor.