Hearts a Flutter Card #2 for SU! Convention '13 in Manchester

Hi there,

I'm back today with my second card I submitted to SU! for their boards in Manchester for convention. I went with a similar theme for both with a Crisp Cantaloupe, Smoky Slate and a touch of Coastal Cabana again.

I used the Hearts a Flutter stamp set across the centre of the card to start then die cut the "Love" sentiment using the Expressions Thinlit die (with a piece of baking paper between the die and card for easy removability (is that a real word? lol!)). I then cut small slits either side of the word and threaded Smoky Slate Chevron ribbon through to tie a beautiful bow...

 I then die cut about 5 more of the sentiments from Coastal Cabana card adding them in layers (to adhere; dab the back of each one with a glue pen on scrap paper then build up layers)  finishing with the stamped image at the top..

 and here they are both together.

and here is a pic of my team the Southern Belles (those that could make it) last Friday evening after the awards ceremony which was very inspiring!

OK, that's all from me for today, we are off to Winchester for the Christmas Market in a bit so hopefully we'll be feelin' festive later! Plus, it's nearly decorations time! Whoop!!

Stampin' Hugs from me for today,

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Hearts a Flutter Card #1 for SU! Convention '13 in Manchester

Hello there,

I had a lovely time today making Christmas cards at my last stamp-a-stack before Christmas, I do have one General class still though if you fancy joining us? It runs on the 7th, 10th and 11th December with plenty of carol singing (optional ;-)) and mince pies too!! Message me to come along!

So, before convention SU! had a competition to have a chance at winning some prizes by making a card, scrapbook page or 3d item and so I figured I would give it a go! Sadly, I didn't win but hey, I had fun trying! 

This is the first card I made using the Hearts a Flutter stamps and matching dies...

 I used a colour combo of Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana and Smoky Slate, I love this combo! This simple ribbon rose was made with Crisp Cantaloupe ruffled ribbon which I simply adhered to a 3/4" punched circle of card coated in sticky strip and cupped with a DSP flower made using the Boho Blossom Punch

 This 'love' element was made by die cutting the Expressions Thinlits five times,

TIP: Use baking parchment or wax paper between the die and the card and the die cut shape simply pops out, no problems!

Layer them up using a glue pen then coat with Crystal Effects for this lovely shine ;-)

and I added a scalloped edge across the bottom with the Large Scalloped Edgelits die.

These edgelits are made so much easier to use with the help of the Magnetic Platform!

and here it is on the display board...

and closer...

OK, that's all for today, I have work tonight so I need to try and pack up from today's class before I go ;-)

Thanks for looking today,

Stampin' Hugs,

  

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Cork Pendant General Swaps for Convention '13 with Top Tips!

Hi there,

Today I have some different General Swaps I created with the Cork pendants as the feature, these were easy to make with a few Top Tips which I will share as I go!!

So, to make the pendants I simply purchased new corks online and a small vice to hold them, then I took a sharp(ish) kitchen knife and sliced them into circles. This takes a bit of practice to get them all the same width (mine weren't) and staraight (mine were not that either, but I did try ;-))

 So, First TIP: Sand the cork circles after cutting and before colouring and stamping to get the best coverage and neaten the whole charm.

TOP TIP 2: I inked the whole cork round by pressing it into an ink pad, I tried using pens but didn't like the effect. Also you need to choose pale colour as the cork darkens the colours, the darker colours are nice but I found it was too hard to see the stamped decoration on these. 

So, I coloured mine with Soft Sky, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron and I did make just one with Pear Pizazz  too ;-)

So, this was the basic layout for all the cards. I did also add small eyes to the top of the cork pendants so they can be removed and made into necklaces, pendants for bracelets or even earrings if you'd like.

Top Tip 3: Ink the whole charm using SU! classic ink pads but only stamp with Staz On for the images, I tried stamping the images with the classic pads but the colour bled overnight, so I had to re-sand and re-stamp!  

The pink version used the cute little butterflies from Make a Cake

 The Pool Party version used a Papillon Potpourri butterfly

 So Saffron colour used En Fracaise and Summer Silhouettes, 

 and the Soft Sky pendant (teamed with Island Indigo card) used Betsy's Blossoms, I think this was my favourite, I liked how the flowers looked stamped on the charm :-)

 finally, the Pear Pizazz with old Olive version, I made this but thought it might be too dark but as I had finished it I made it up into a card anyway ;-)

TOP TIP 4: Add your rhinestones then coat in Crystal Effects, the stones won't adhere well on their own and also the ink will rub off  too, Crystal effects will seal both the ink and gem!

And finally here they all are together...

 Well, that's me for today, I have a boat load of things to do for tomorrow's class so I'll see you back here soon :-)

Stampin' Hugs for today,

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Special Team Swaps, Lavender Bags made from 1" Ribbon

Hello!

Well, I'm back from the most amazing time at Stampin' Up! convention in Manchester. It was so great to meet up with old friends, make new friends and of course be totally inspired by wonderful projects and products ;-) I would 100%  recommend this experience to anyone and everyone who loves to create!!

So, as I was going I decided to join in a Jem's team swap (32 of us decided to go one better and make special swaps) and I decided to make lavender sachets with the Cherry Cobbler Stitched edge Grosgrain ribbon (this is actually on offer with boxes this month too! see HERE)

I cut pieces of the ribbon to 18cm lengths and sewed up each side, stuffed them full of yummy smelling lavender (with the help of Zoe) and added a hand made/stamped cork charm to each bag (more on these charms tomorrow).

Each lavender bag was then added to a co-ordinating (to the charm) card base, the background on this first one was embossed with the Honeycomb Folder and stamped using Versamark using Make a Cake stamp set

This design uses the Betsy's Blossoms set and the Chevron Folder, the card behind is actually Island Indigo, not that it looks like it here!

This one uses Papillon Potpourri

Erm, not sure what happened to my colours on this photo either but the base card was actually Old Olive!! Anyway, the stamp set used for this was Summer Silhouettes with some En Francais too :-)

OK, that's all for today but I will be back tomorrow with more details on the rest of my general swaps including how to make your own Cork Charms too!!

Thanks for looking and I hope you'll be back tomorrow for more ;-)

Stampin' Hugs for today,

 

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Roomie gift with the Pansy Punch

Hello there,

So, today's card... well, isn't actually a card! It's my gift for my lovely roomie, upline and very good friend Jules. 

I decided to make her something decorative for her craft room and I found some polystyrene balls dying for the SU! treatment and came up with this using the Pansy Punch (cheaper as a bundle with the stamp set) and some Crisp Cantaloupe DSP hanging from White Organza Ribbon...

 I began by punching some of the flowers in matching card and sticking these directly to the ball with tombow, then punching a ton (OK, maybe not a ton but quite a lot, perhaps a 12"x12" sheet and a half) of the flowers from the In Colour Stacks. I then curled half upwards and half of them downwards with my bone folder, layering and adhering to the ball with pink pearl tipped pins

 I made a simple box with Coastal Cabana card to sit the ball in measuring 21cm square. 

Score at 4.5cm and 16.5cm. 

Stamp your pattern using the matching Flower Shop stamps before glueing.

 I used some (retired) gusseted cello bags  to protect the ball (which at the time of writing this post are still available in the Clearance Rack, please check over there soon if you need some as I'm not sure how long they will last ;-))

I tied a simple knot around the top of the bag with Crisp Cantaloupe and Coastal Cabana ruffled ribbon with some bakers twine too.

to end up with this...

Hopefully she will like it, I'll let you know!

OK, I'm back later today so I'll share some of the swaps I received plus some more that I have made with you from tomorrow onwards.

Stampin' Hugs from me for today,

 

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Team swaps, Washi Tape Coasters. MINI TUTORIAL included

Hello there,

Today I have the swaps I made for my downline, I wanted to do something a bit special for my team and so I came up with these coasters. I did run into a few problems along the way so I will talk you through the process I found that works as I share them with you!

So, I purchased some of the thin cork coasters from IKEA as my base, and painted two from each pack of four using simple white emulsion paint. Leave to dry.

Then glue the white painted coaster to another (unpainted) coaster using tombow, (I sandwiched the images together so they weren't seen) 

I had to hold them together with pegs around the edges, like so, for a good 15 mins to ensure they were stuck firmly.

 Now, the first time I made these (that's right, I had to re-make these twice 'cause I didn't know to do this step!) I simply added the tape, Please DO NOT do this!!! You MUST add glue to the top of the painted coaster first! So, I added a thin layer of Modpodge, (you can use tombow too) then added the strips of tape. I just tore the ends then went round after and trimmed them from the bottom to neaten. I then rolled over the taped area using my brayer to flatten. Leave to dry for a couple of hours.

I did 2 coasters each, 4 different designs using the Gingham Garden and Season of Style tapes...

1.

 2.

 3.

 4.

 Plus an extra one for me ;-)

Now to finish, I added 3 thin layers of modpodge, leaving overnight to dry between each coat, (I stood them on cups so they didn't stick to my surfaces) and then I got hubby to spray coat them with Varnish as an extra measure. I just really hope they hold up under hot cups, mine has been OK so far though...

 Here they are packaged up...

 and a couple of close ups of the tags, I made Washi tape feathers

and the Tape It and Creatively Yours stamp sets to decorate the tags 

And finally, want to see how I layered up the ticket punch at the top of the tags??

You will need the Ticket Duo Punch (obviously!) and the (retired) Designer Label punch

Punch out using contrasting card. Cut both punched shapes in half and trim the edges away from the designer Label punch, layer to finish!

Whew! 

That's from me for today, I'm back tomorrow afternoon so I'll schedule another little make for the morning for you,

Thanks for looking today :-)

Stampin' hugs,

 

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Mini Tic Tac Holders for General Swaps using the Envelope Liner Framelits Die. MINI TUTORIAL included.

Hello again!

Today I am sharing with you some general swaps I am taking with me to the Stampin' Up! convention in Manchester this weekend. 

I found these super cute mini boxes of Tic Tacs in the airport in Malaga on the way back from our summer holiday and knew they would be perfect for prettying up as a swap! 

And this is what I made using the smallest Envelope Liner Framelits die. 

This design uses the Season of Style paper stack, (you can die cut 2 of these mini liners per sheet!) along with the Christmas Messages stamps and the 1+3/8" circle and 1+3/4" scallop circle punches,

 This design was made with the Winters Frost paper stack and the Warmth and Wonder hostess only stamp set (get your own in my new hostess club starting now!) punched out with the 1+14" scallop circle punch and layered with the Artisan label Punch

So, how do you make these little pockets of loveliness?

Well, I'll show you!

Simply die cut out the smallest liner, fold up and staple the sides, et voilà!

 tuck in your mini Tic Tacs (or other sweet treat, why not try Elizabeth Shaw mints or Twilight mints, even Quality Street or the like would work)...

 Fold the front over, tie a strip of 1/8" tafetta (I used Old Olive and Silver) ribbon around to secure closed...

and decorate to match your Christmas table. Why not leave a loop to add these to your Christmas Tree!

They would also make a fantastic advent calender, just add numbers to the fronts! 

*try using the Memorable Moments ,  ABC Sketch or ABC outline sets*

OK, I hope you liked today's post and I'll be back soon with more swaps and goss from Convention 2013!!

Stampin' Hugs,

 

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