What a Weekend :)

Hi all,

I'm so thankful to all of you who sent special good luck wishes my way for my first SU Open House Day that was held at the weekend :) I received a beautiful card off my upline, Carole on Friday which was a lovely surprise to wish me good luck as she was unable to come on the day. I haven’t managed to take a photo of her card yet, so I’ve copied and pasted her card from her blog (hope that’s okay Carole). Here it is below:

So, on Saturday it was my first SU Open House Day and I'm pleased to say that it went very well. I thank so many people for making this possible, my Mum and my beau especially as they helped make the day run smoothly and a success :) It all kicked off at 1pm and I opened my house to friends who have a passion for crafting. I had a pleasant turnout and thank Janet, Elizabeth, Erin, Alison, Debbie, Adrienne, Sandra, Barbara and Pauline for coming and making my event a fun and successful one. We had a lot of fun making a couple of cards for a make and take session and the ladies all went home with a stamp from the SAB promotion Polka Dot Punches to play with :) Hope you've inked them up ladies!

It was lovely to have met so many new faces on Saturday who share a passion in papercrafting, a hobby I can't get enough of! I can't wait to see you all next month in my cardmaking class :)

Below are the make and take cards the ladies were able to make.

Round One

The ladies were able to choose to make a card either in a combo of Rose Red/Pretty In Pink/Regal Rose, Certainly Celery/Apricot Appeal/Barely Banana or Night of Navy/Ballet Blue/Bashful Blue and had the option to stamp it up in either the baby rattle, birthday cupcake or birthday present from the stamp set Occasionally with a sentiment from Fun & Fast Notes.

Here are the pictures of these cards:

Round Two

For the ladies that were able to stay for longer, there was a second make and take to make using the Loads of Love stamp set and Loads of Love Accessories with various tools such as the Stamp-a-ma-jig, Crop-A-Dile and different sized tag punches.

Here is the completed card using Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel and Designer Paper Series.

Also, displayed in the lounge I had a table full of various Stampin' Up! literature, SU goodies that I've been making over the upcoming weeks. I know so many of you are dying to see more than my sneak peeks that I posted earlier last week, so here they are in all their glory. Hope it was worth the wait.

Loads of Love - Card

Fun & Fast Notes - Card

Fun & Fast Notes - Bag

Fun & Fast Notes - Altoid Tin

Crazy For Cupcakes - Purse Box


Crazy For Cupcakes - Card


Polka Dot Punches - Notepad


Fun & Fast Notes - Mini Gable Box


Perfect Presents - Pillar Box


Occasionally - Star Favour Box


Here's a picture of all of them together:


Right people I think you've probably got square eyes by now what with such a long post from me.

Have a good evening.

Alex

Open House Day...

THIS POST SHALL REMAIN AT THE TOP UNTIL SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY.

Hi all,

Well I said I'd let you know if and when I hold an Open House Day, and so here I am. The date set is for Saturday 21 February. I will open my house to those interested in joining me in learning about Stampin' Up! and what it has to offer. If you are a crafter, or have a keen interest, it'll be lovely for you to come and join me for a few hours to browse through the Idea Book & Catalogue, look at some samples for inspiration, take part in a small make and take for yours to keep and hopefully depending on popularity and turn out, I hope to hold a few small prizes such as free postage on your first order from me and perhaps a little raffle.

Remember if you buy anything between now and the end of February, you will be entitled to choose from a choice of four SAB stamp sets for every £45 you spend before postage and packaging :) What better incentive to come along and join in the fun!

Please get in contact with me (email) if you'd like to come by on Saturday 21 February. I look forward to hearing from you.

Love,

Alex

Quick hi...

Hi all,

Just thought I'd post a quick "hi" because I haven't blogged since Monday. I'm alive, just buried in crafting goodies for my open day tomorrow :)

Must dash, I have cardstock, ink pads and ribbon everywhere! lol.

Bye for now,

Alex

New Goodies Made For Open House Day...

Hi blog,

Well what a busy weekend I've had crafting-wise :) Next Saturday is my SU Open House Day, so until then, I've been busy making SU goodies to show off for the day so that people can see the potential of cardstock, rubber stamps and an ink pad or two! Not only can you make cards, but other 3D items too or scrapbook layouts, the potential is limitless.

The other week I uploaded a couple of pilllow boxes that were made using Loads of Love stamp set and Fun & Fast Notes, so I decided to make a few cards to match.

Below are sneak peeks of all the items I've been busy making over the past weekend. Hope you like and will return after next Saturday to see all the 3D items and cards in their full glory :) Enjoy...

Loads of Love - Card


Fun & Fast Notes - Card


Fun & Fast Notes - Bag


Fun & Fast Notes - Altoid Tin


Crazy For Cupcakes - Purse Box


Crazy For Cupcakes - Card


Polka Dot Punches - Notepad


Fun & Fast Notes - Mini Gable Box


Perfect Presents - Pillar Box


Occasionally - Star Favour Box


Hope you've enjoyed viewing my little sneak peeks :) I'll post back in the next few days when I've finished making a card for each 3D item I've made :) and will upload the corresponding sneak peeks. lol.

Until then...

Alex

Finally Boo Bear...

Hi all,

Hope everyone's well. Can you believe it's snowing outside again! It's getting quite thick as I type...

Anyway, at long last all my recipients have received their Boo Bear Cards and I did say I'd post mine once they all went out to their respective new homes :)

So, here it is... the long awaited Boo Bear card that I made:


Used the Go-Kreate Boo Bear die cut to cut out this gorgeous little bear! For the swap I did over at SCS, I had six of us participating in all, so I managed to cut up five for each person and sent them out. I purposely gave each recipient a different coloured Boo Bear, so mine was white, whereas, others where black, grey, blue, brown etc.

Recipe
Card base - Royal Langnickel - Opalescent White A6 blank card and envelope.
Papers - Pink Bazzill Bling Cardstock, Stampin’ Up! A4 Cardstock - Whisper White and Pretty In Pink and Stampin’ Up! 12x12 Textured Cardstock - Whisper White. (P.67-69).
Inks - Stampin’ Up! Pretty In Pink Ink Pad (P.69), VersaMark Stamp Pad (P.67.).
Pastels - Stampin’ Up! - Stampin’ Pastels (P.67).
Pens - Black Pen - Letraset Pigmented Ink Water-Based Marker-Proof and White Pen - Inkssentials Opaque Pen.
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Bloom Dots.
Stamp Set - Stampin’ Up! “Weather Or Not” (Handbags).
Sentiment - Computer generated.
Die Cuts - Go Kreate Boo Bear and Spellbinder Nestabilities - Labels Two.
Ribbon - Ribbon Stash.
Stampin' Dimensionals - 3D Foam Pads (P.87).

Hope you think this card is cute, I certainly had a lot of fun making her :) Please feel free to leave a comment.

Bye for now,

Alex

Blog Award :)

Hi all,

Well, another blog award for me! lol. How lucky am I? Thank you to Germaine for giving me this award - it really is appreciated and I have it lined up on my mantlepiece with my other two awards! :)

I think I need to give this award to seven other people, whose blogs inspire me... well let's see:

1) Carole - You've been a great upline and I really appreciate all that you've done for me, you're my #1 (UK).
2) Sarah - Love the Magnolia cards on your blog, and the music. (UK).
3) Lynda - Great cards! (Australia).
4) Lilian - What a lovely blog - gorgeous Magnolia cards! (Philippines).
5) Michelle - Want help on your blog, she's the one! Lovely cards and inspiration. (UK).
6) Abi - Lovely card ideas. (UK).
7) Angie - Great blog. (US).

Check out the above seven people's blogs, they're just inspirational! Have a good day people :)

Alex

Boo Bear...

Hello all,

I was hoping to post my Boo Bear card this morning, but according to some early email messages, a few still haven't received it, despite posting them out on Saturday! Apparently, up north, they've had more snow last night, so that's why poor Boo Bear is being delayed! So, out of the six of us, three of us have Boo Bear cards. The remaining three will hopefully receive him/her soon. Oops, a hint *wink wink* I turned my Boo Bear into a girl :) I'll wait till I hear more news from the remaining recipients before I post mine here.

Until then...

Alex

Who's 13 Today...

Hello blog,

Well what a day, just didn't stop raining did it? Okay, so it's my friend's daughter's 13th birthday today - Happy Birthday Irina :) I've heard today that she loved the card, so it's safe to say that I can now post it here...

Front View

Inside View


Back View


Recipe
I used numbers 1 and 3 die cuts out of chipboard for the base of the card, then covered with SU and Bazzill papers - Ballet Blue and Red (Would have used SU Real Red, but I've run out since making the Chinese New Year cards).
Used Versamark Stamp Pad with a variety of football stamps (football, football boot and trophy) all over - Woodware Stamps.
Cut out and spelt the name "Irina" using my Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter Machine (this is about the fourth time I've used it now! lol) and placed letters onto front with Zig Zag Glue.
Stamped another football onto the SU Ballet Blue cardstock, cut out and attached with 3D foam pad to raise it off the base of the card.
Finished the two chipboards with my Big Bite and added SU Pewter Jumbo Eyelets (P.82).
Then finally attached with ribbon from my stash :)

Hope you like, please feel free to leave me a message.

Bye for now,

Alex

Friday's Ramblings...

Hi blog,

So, at last it's Friday! Been busy cardmaking and was recently asked by a friend to make a card for her soon to be 13 year old daughter :) I was given the theme of red/blue/sporty and so I got to work and made a card I'm really proud of (hope my friend and daughter like it as much as I do!) Anyway, I'll post it late Monday just in case between now and then the daughter accidently sees her card online!

On the Boo Bear front, yay we finally got post! All the Boo Bear Cards are now in, and I'll be swapping them all out tomorrow morning to catch the lunchtime post. Hopefully the recipients should get them by Tuesday and once I know they've been received, I'll post my card that I made for this swap as there's a few of you dying for me to reveal more than my sneek peek that I posted the other day :)

Hope to craft lots this weekend... Until then...

Alex

New Birthday Cards...

Hello blog,

Well yesterday morning my dear Mum asked if I could make a few birthday cards for her friends. I jumped at the chance and said that I'd love to. I wasn't given much time warning, so I had to make one very quickly, and cheated on another one because my Mum said the recipient would love a girly one - so what did I use??? You guessed it, my Boo Bear card swap card :) These two had to be done yesterday, but last night and this morning I had proper time to do the third birthday card and am pleased with all three. For now, I'll post you two, as I shall not post the Boo Bear card until all my swap cards are in and ready to swap out! :)

I have used my lovely Penny Black clear rubber stamps for the image but Stampin' Up! papers :)
Here they are, enjoy looking:


Recipe
Stamps:-
Penny Black - Hugs (2009) - Set of 13 stamps - various images and sentiments.
Penny Black - Critter Party (2008) - Set of 15 stamps - various images and sentiments.
SU 12x12 Textured Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa and Cameo Coral - P.68.
SU A4 Cardstock - Whisper White.
SU Ink Pad - Basic Black- P.67.
Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad - P.67.
Prismacolor Pencils and Sansodor (Low Odour Solvent) - known as the Gamsol Technique.

My next card was made with the same main image using Penny Black clear stamps and have combined with Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and a Stampin' Up! stamp.


Recipe
Stamps:-
Penny Black - Hugs (2009) - Set of 13 stamps - various images and sentiments.
SU Stamp Set - Riverting (200) - Set of 8 stamps. Not available in the UK catalogue yet. This is a Retired Set from the US Catalogue. I have used "Enjoy Your Day".
SU 12x12 Textured Cardstock - Chocolate Chip - P.68.
SU A4 Cardstock - Whisper White.
Non-SU Cardstock - Red Cardstock from my stash. Have run out of Real Red on my Chinese New Year Cards - oops!
SU Ink Pad - Basic Black- P.67.
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Bloom Dots.
Letraset Promarkers to colour in the image.
Nestabilities - Circles and Scallop Circles.
Ribbon - Non SU bought by Mum whilst she was holidaying in Boston last year.

I have made the sentiment stamp a 3d effect, see below picture for a close up:


I have stamped the SU sentiment stamp "Enjoy Your Day" on red cardstock, and then again on SU Chocolate Chip. Cut out the small circle of Chocolate Chip and have used Dimensionals to place on top of the original red stamped image to create a 3D effect :)

Okay, that's my ramblings for now, must get on as I have a few more cards to made today.

Until then...

Alex

Boo Bear...

Hello all,

WOW with all this snow, it's been lovely sitting here at home with all my crafting goodies surrounding me. I've been busy making cards for a Boo Bear Card Swap that I'm hosting over at SCS. I've been hosting card swaps for the past year now, and have hosted around nine in total, I love it! :)

Anyway, I hosted the Boo Bear Card Swap whereby I bought this adorable die cut and made enough Boo Bears for everyone that participated in the swap. Five each were given to the six of us and it was up to individuals to interpret and make a card using the said die cut.

Well the due date was on Friday just gone and I've got all but one card in. The other one is on it's way, just that due to snow, I've not seen the postman for the past two days! So, when I receive all six sets in, I'll be swapping and posting them all out to the recipients so that everyone gets a selection of different Boo Bear cards back not including their own.

Anyway, I wanted to give you a sneek peak of my Boo Bear Card, and hopefully in due course, I will post the whole card up for you all to see.


Okay, I think I've teased you enough now, so I'll be off.

Until next time...

Alex

Thank You...

Hello blog,

WOW: I heard we were going to get snow by Monday, so was I surprised to see it was falling hard from the sky earlier today :) I so love seeing fresh snow on the ground, and even better when I walk in it and hear the crunching underneath my boots! lol.

Anyway, I wanted to share some cards I recently made for a few special people to say "thanks". I've used my new Stampin' Up! stamp set called "Seeing Spots" that I received as part of my Starter Kit and decided to use the different stamps in the set with different colour ink pads so that I could create three different cards. Hope you like:

First card I did, I used my two favourite colours - Bashful Blue and Pretty In Pink.


Recipe
Stamps:-
Seeing Spots (2008-09) - Set of 6 stamps. Available to buy in the current UK Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009 - P.50. I have used two out of the six stamps.
Circle of Friendship (2008-09) - Set of 8 - P.60. I have used "Thank You For Everything Over & Over Again".
SU Cardstock - A4 Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Pretty In Pink - P67-69.
SU Ink Pad - Bashful Blue and Pretty In Pink - P.69.
SU Ribbon - Taffeta Ribbon - Pretty In Pink - P.80.
Nestabilities - Circle.

Okay, here's another Thank You card that I've made using the same stamp set as above, just chose two different stamps from the previous card:


Recipe
Stamps:-
Seeing Spots (2008-09) - Set of 6 stamps. Available to buy in the current UK Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009 - P.50. I have used two out of the six stamps.
Riverting - Set of 8 stamps. Not available in the UK catalogue yet. This is a Retired Set from the US Catalogue. I have used "Thanks So Much".
SU Cardstock - A4 Whisper White, Certainly Celery and Apricot Appeal - P67-69.
SU Ink Pad - Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Basic Black - P.69.
SU Ribbon - 1/4" (6.35mm) Grosgrain Ribbon - Certainly Celery - P.80.
SU Ticket Corner Punch - Only available to buy from the US catalogue.
SU Stamp-a-ma-jig - This tool is a god send!!! It helps me line up the stamps perfectly so that I could ink the outer circle with Certainly Celery, and the inner circle with Apricot Appeal :)
Nestabilities - Circle.

Okay, my last card for the night is my last Thank You card that I've made recently:


Recipe
Stamps:-
Seeing Spots (2008-09) - Set of 6 stamps. Available to buy in the current UK Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009 - P.50. I have used two out of the six stamps.
Riverting - Set of 8 stamps. Not available in the UK catalogue yet. This is a Retired Set from the US Catalogue. I have used "Thanks So Much".
SU Cardstock - A4 Whisper White, Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery - P67-69.
SU Ink Pad - Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Basic Black - P.67, 69.
SU Ribbon - 1/4" (6.35mm) Grosgrain Ribbon - Certainly Celery - P.80.
SU Ticket Corner Punch - Only available to buy from the US catalogue.
SU Stamp-a-ma-jig - This tool is a god send!!! It helps me line up the stamps perfectly so that I could ink the outer circle with Certainly Celery, and the inner circle with Bashful Blue :)
Nestabilities - Circle.

Thanks for looking, please feel free to leave a comment :)

Alex