More for Men!

Good morning to you!

Well, it's absolutely dreadful here today, it hasn't stopped raining this morning at all! It's supposed to be the summer isn't it?? lol!

Anyway, as I said yesterday I have had out Engraved Greetings and I made another card for a man using it. {It's O.K. this is the last for a little while :-)}

 Now, I made this card using a combo from the colour coach so I know the colours work together fine, I like the layout, I love all the elements especially the sentiment (as you know) however, I am just not in love with this card...

I think it might be the Pumpkin Pie, I don't mind orange, especially in the *ahem* summer, but I suppose I only like it with certain combos and this might just be a bit too far out of my comfort zone?!

Again I layered up the sentiment

and inside was decorated to match too,

Well, anyway, I am sure you guy's will let me know what you think of today's card ;-)

Thanks, as always, for taking the time to visit here, I really appreciate it
Stampin' Hugs for today

Mens Birthdays!

Good morning!

Apologies for a lack of post yesterday, the housework monster reared it's ugly head and made me do it!! ha ha! But now I have a clean house so last night I crafted 'till  the wee early hours of the morning, ah happy days...

Anyway, I am just off to town but wanted to share this card with you first, as you saw on Monday I have had Engraved Greeting out so decided to make a couple of "boyish" cards with the brilliant birthday sentiment,

I used an old Mojo sketch again and the colour combo of Old Olive, Night of Navy and a touch of Daffodil Delight with the Square Lattice Embossing folder used on the panels behind for a bit of texture. The background was stamped using Trendy Trees and Circle Circus,

I layered up the "H" and "B" as I always seem to do with this image ;-)

and well, as you know, no card is complete without a bit of ribbon and a button, even on a mans card! I made a know instead of a bow and Voila! a manly ribbon treatment! (I hope) he he!

and finally a bi of stitching to tie in the inside,

O.K. I really have to dash off now!

Thanks as always for dropping by today and I hope you get a chance to get inky today :-D

Stampin' Hugs,

Less is More

Hello,

I sure do hope this post publishes today! lol! OMG how bad was the weather yesterday?? It never stopped raining here all day and from what I have seen I think it was like that across most of the country, those poor I.O.W festival goers...

Anyway, talking of the Island, I am entering in Mandi (who lives on the I.O.W ;-)) and Chrissie's Less is More challenge and this week it is One Layer plus a border.

 I even managed to pay enough attention and fulfil all the criteria too! get me! he he he!

So, I have been playing with Engraved Greetings again, this stamp set is such a brilliant bargain at just £12.95 for this one and a Happy Birthday one too, more on that tomorrow ;-)

This stamp set is great for both boys and girls and just so elegant. It is tucked away on page 86 if you fancy a look the link is under Catalogues and Ordering across the top of this blog.

O.K. first card is a 6"x6" one, the stamp was inked using my Markers to get the mixed colour look in Concord Crush, Melon Mambo with just a touch of Pear Pizzazz and not forgetting the couple of Basic Rhinestones I used to bling it up a little ;-)

inside I made the border a little wider and stamped the image without re-inking it for a washed out look to compliment (I hope) the outside,

and this second one is just under 4" square, I think I prefer this one,

no second stamping inside due to the small size but I did add some doodling to finish and not forgetting the bling on here too :-)

Well, that's todays cards for you, I have plenty of crafting to do today now I have finished the ton of washing Josh brought home with him yesterday!

Thanks for stopping by today,

Stampin' Hugs,

June Techniques Class, Part 2

EDIT TO SAY, SORRY I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS DIDN'T PUBLISH THIS MORNING, BUT HERE IT IS A LITTLE LATER THAN PLANNED :-)

Happy Sunday to you!

My eldest boy is coming home today :-D He has been in France for a week on
 an adventure holiday with the school, I hope he has had a nice time but it will be good to see him home safe and well.

Anyway, I am here to show you the second card we will be making at this months class, I was asked to do a technique class by some of my regular ladies. Therefore I think this would be a brilliant class for people who are a little unsure of what to do or are beginners at crafting as I will be taking you through step by step, at the same time though it will still be challenging enough for more experienced crafters too ;-)

These buttons are die cut from Poppy Parade card to match the flower Designer Series Paper using the cute Button Embosslit and then covered with Crystal Effects, sentiment id from the Level 2 Hostess set Something to Celebrate,

Bella Toile background stamp used here with clear embossing powder for the panel to mount the flower,

This flower is one I have done a tutorial for HERE, but if you would like to learn hands on then please message me to reserve your place,

Colour combo I have used with Poppy Parade is So Saffron and Baja Breeze, I do love this combo, regular visitors will have seen me use this combo before ;-)

For the first part of Junes class see THIS POST for more details, but here they all are together,

Well, I hope you like the projects we will be making and I look forward to welcoming you to our fun and friendly class :-)

Thanks for stopping by today,

Stampin' Hugs,

A Colour Challenge at Simply Stampin'

Good Morning to you all!

Well, it's finally the weekend so that can only mean one thing, yes a new Simply Stampin' Challenge :-) and this weeks colour challenge is yummy!! We would love it if you could find 5 minutes to play along, also don't forget to visit the other Design Teams blogs and see their wonderful creations too, so back to the colours...

Concord Crush, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla

Now, I know I always say I love the challenges on SSC (and I really do!) but this week I LOVE the colours, I admit, I wasn't sure when I read them but as soon as I started playing, well, I was really pleased with the end result, I have already sent it up to my Nan and she was dead chuffed too :-)

I made another ribbon flower which we will be making at this months class.

I unexpectedly have a couple of free places again on Monday if you wish to join us, message me for more details :-D

 See HERE for the first two projects we will be making and pop back tomorrow for the last sneak peek :-)
Sentiment is from the very versatile Sincere Salutations finished with some more of the super soft Stitched In Colour Poly Ribbon and an Itty Bitty Button.

 You can also see here I spritzed the Concord Crush card layer with shimmer spray,

I added a punched flower inside, embossed to match,

 and finally I just like this shot, it just shows the dimension nicely ;-)

We would love it if you can join this challenge with us, there are more details and inspiration over on the Challenge Blog

A couple of things before I go today,

If you like my blog then please visit and 'like' my Facebook Page--just a bit more of Cards and a Cuppa!

Also don't forget I am still taking bookings for Junes class, as I have mentioned, but not forgetting the Breast Cancer Charity Class too on the 9th July, it promises to be great fun! and if you live too far then I am also doing this class by post! again contact me for details,

And finally pop over HERE to see how you can SAVE during June and July, there is an offer for everyone there!!

Thanks for stopping by here today, I am already looking forward to seeing what you create with these colours.

Stampin' Hugs,

First Part of June's Class

Hello,

Well, it has just absolutely thrown it down! and being so close to the I.O.W. I truly feel sorry for the poor folks at the festival this weekend, I hear it isn't going to get much better either!! and now it is heavy hail stones too, eek!

Anyway, this morning I have been finishing off my designs for this months class, my regular ladies wanted a techniques class so I have incorporated 3 ribbon flowers, heat embossing and dry embossing.

It promises to be great fun and I have had a couple of spaces become unexpectedly available too, so contact me now reserve your space!

So, onto the first card, I am using the lovely In Colours for this months class and this pretty pink is called Blushing Bride and I have used the colour coach to team it with Sahara Sand and Perfect Plum, 

I embossed the patterned paper with the Vintage Wallpaper folder and used the gorgeous Stitched Poly Ribbon for the flower centre,

There will also be enough matching paper for you to decorate the inside,

and second project today is a little pillow box with another cute ribbon rose, this time using seam binding ribbon and again the Vintage Wallpaper folder,

I used Tiny Tags to decorate the Rose Red box, there is also an abundance of shimmer spray this month too ;-)

so, that's two of the projects for this months class, I will be back on Sunday with the other one as tomorrow is of course Simply Stampin' Challenge day and it's a goodie again, do come and see and if you get a chance we would love you to play along,

Thanks for stopping by today,

Stampin' Hugs,

Birthday Boy

Hello there!

Wow! What a lot of people visited yesterday! I am so happy to have you visit me here :-D

I am again a little late posting today as I have had Zoe poorly and up 4 times in the night last night! But she seems to be O.K. at the moment, fingers crossed. Normally it would be fine as I am at home during the day and we could just hang out... but DH is off today and I was really hoping for lunch out, or at the very least a coffee out somewhere! kids huh? perfect timing ;-) he he!

Anyway, onto today's card, I am in love with the New level 1 hostess set from the mini catalogue A Slice of Life, it has such cute images included and I wanted to have a little play with the birthday cake and candles...

 in fact as I look at this it is very similar to this weeks Simply Stampin' Challenges sketch this week, hop over and take a look ;-)
you can see here I added Crystal Effects to some of the layers and spots after I had coloured the cake using just about all the blue ink pads I have and a blender pen,

I ruffled the Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon by pulling a thread from the centre and this sentiment is from the Level 2 set Something to Celebrate, also from the new mini catty, I inked it using my markers to get the cute two tone effect. For a great deal when ordering during June and July go HERE

DSP is Certainly Celery from the Subtles paper stack,

And finally I did a little stamping on the inside to finish it off but I think I may add a white layer in here too...

O.K. that's it from me today, thanks as ever for dropping by today, I hope you have enjoyed today's card and I will be back tomorrow with more crafty goodness,

Stampin' Hugs,

WOYWW....

Good morning!

I am a lot later today in posting but I am here ;-)

'tis horrible here again today so, nothing else for it but to hide away in my craft room! always a silver lining!!

So, here is my desk, I didn't manage to get involved last week but congrats to Julia on her 2 year anniversary, I am looking forward to smooching round all your desks and seeing your PIF's.

I have a couple of changes to my workspace this week..for a start it actually tidy (for me!)

A closer look to the right, and I have swapped my bottom punch bar to above the other one and gotten a cd rack which I put along the desk to hold my ink pads and new style SU! punches, it also gives me a little shelf,  which I can keep more "stuff" upon ;-)

and to the left which is probably a better pic of the cd holder tbh, plus a few home made bits for the craft fairs I have been attending.

and some crafty goodness too, I used my embossing folders to add a little prettiness to these small serviettes I picked up in Ikea the other day, I think they would be fab for adding a little extra touch to say a birthday, summer bbq or even a wedding table..

and a closer look at the patterns, L-R Square Lattice, Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folders, all Stampin' Up!

Right, I am going to have a really good try at getting round to as many of your desks as possible today! 

But thanks to you for visiting me today, I will be back tomorrow with more crafty goodness,

Stampin' Hugs,

Get Well Soon Evelyn!

Hello,

Well, we did end up in IKEA for brekkie yesterday! and Jungle Jeans for a couple of hours of running (the kiddies!) and coffee and chatting (me and DH) a lovely day all in all :-)

But, back to reality today, all back to work and school and I have several cards to make plus I have to re-attach my punch bar as I purchased a cd unit to make a little storage unit/ shelf for my desk, more pics to follow!

But today's card is for a good friend and SU! team member had a trip to the hospital yesterday, I am pretty sure she will still going to be in there so I think I am safe to share it with you ;-)
I used a combo of Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso and Perfect Plum, I started with a page from the colour coach but ended up combining 2 combinations from the same page to come up with this, I like it, what do you think??

I used an old sketch I had noted down, I think it was a Mojo one but can't remember and my book is in the other room...

The Images are from Little Additions with a flower "cushion" made with Boho Blossoms punch and rhinestones to bling it up ;-)

Sentiment is from Sincere Salutations,

Another chair decorates the inside,

and finally the side view.

Well, I hope Evelyn is well on the way to recovery and I am sure you will all join me in sending her many well wishes, Big hugs Evelyn xx

and many thanks to you for stopping by today, back tomorrow

Stampin' Hugs,

Baby Card for Niki and Ben

Good Morning,

Well, for most of us the kiddies are back to school today...except mine! They are on an inset day! and Neil has also took a day off work so we are going to take them out for a bit, not quite sure where yet but I suspect it may involve breakfast in IKEA ;-)

So, as promised I have the matching card I made for Niki and Ben to celebrate the birth of their beautiful baby Sophie,

 I have used Crumb Cake as a base (loving it!) with more Pretty in Pink DSP from the subtles paper stack on page 91, top corner if you have missed them, they are fab! and great value too at just £15.50!!

 Sentiment is computer generated and I used the Little Additions set with Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake and Versamark inks to match yesterdays page :-)

A scrummy bow with matching Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, I hand cut out the cot attaching it over the bow and finishing with a strip of Basic Rhinestones to bling it up! You're never too young for bling, eh Sopie?!

a little more decoration on the inside using Little Additions and Something to Celebrate the Level 2 hostess set I also used on the 8x8 page.

and one final picture of both the card and scrapbook page/visitor book together.

I really love how everything matches, one of my favourite things about SU!

Well, that's it for today, thanks as ever for visiting and for your sweet comments too! They really make it all worthwhile!

And for a bit more of Cards and a Cuppa visit my facebook page and "like" for direct links to my blog posts, special info and sneak peeks :-)

Stampin' Hugs,