Happy Mother's Day

Hi all,

Hope you've been having a good weekend so far, enjoying looking at the Mini Catalogue Blog Hop Marathon that was posted yesterday morning from 10am and if you're a Mum, having a good start to a relaxing day :)

Just a quick post to pop a card that I made recently for my Mum for Mother's Day. I used the new Top Note Die and Baby Blossoms stamp set - both items available from the new Mini Catalogue which I'm very excited about :)

Baby Blossoms Mother's Day Card


Stamps: Baby Blossoms (P.16) and Occasional Greetings (P.21).
Cardstock: Rose Red and Whisper White. Designer Series Paper - Rose Red.
Inkpad: Rose Red, Pretty In Pink and Pear Pizzazz. Versamark Stamp Pad.
Accessories: Big Shot, Bigz Die - Top Note Die, 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon - Pear Pizzazz, Jewels - Basic Pearls, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Paper Snips, Bone Folder and Dimensionals.
Card Size: A6.

Enjoy your day.

Bye for now,

Alex

Mini Catalogue Blog Hop

Morning all,

After the exciting release of the brand new Mini Catalogueyesterday , what better way to introduce some of the new goodies in the Catalogue to you, than a Mini Catalogue Blog Hop. Myself and 55 other demos have enrolled on a blog hop (split into four groups) to showcase lots of exciting new projects for you to be inspired by. If you have come from Natalie's blog, welcome, you're heading in the right direction.

So, without further ado, here are some new projects I have recently been working on to showcase some products from the current Idea Book & Catalogue, along with the new Mini Catalogue:

So Many Thanks Card


Stamps: So Many Thanks (P.112).
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette. Designer Series Paper - Subtles - Pretty In Pink, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi and Certainly Celery.
Inkpad: Crumb Cake and Marina Mist.
Accessories: Big Shot, Bigz Die - Top Note Die, 5/8" Satin Ribbon - Whisper White, Multipurpose Adhesive, Bone Folder and Dimensionals.
Card Size: A6.

Stamp set as used in the card above:

Baby Blossoms


Stamps: Baby Blossoms (P.16) and Occasional Quotes (Level 3 Hostess Set - P.14).
Cardstock: Marina Mist and Whisper White.
Inkpad: Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, Pear Pizazz, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue.
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, 5/8" Satin Ribbon - Marina Mist, Paper Snips, Bone Folder and Dimensionals.
Card Size: A6.

Stamp sets as used in the card above:

Baby Blossoms (Mini Catalogue, P.16):


Occasional Quotes (Level 3 Hostess Set, P.14):


Simply Said


Stamps: Simply Said (P.47) and Occasional Greetings (P.21).
Cardstock: Regal Rose and Whisper White. Designer Series Paper - Brights - Regal Rose.
Inkpad: Pear Pizazz and Regal Rose. Versamark Stamp Pad.
Accessories: Big Shot, Bigz Die - Top Note Die, 5/8" Satin Ribbon - Whisper White, Stampin' Write Markers - Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight and Pretty In Pink, Crystal Effects, Paper Snips, Bone Folder and Dimensionals.
Card Size: A6.

Stamp sets as used in the card above:

Simply Said (P.47):


Occasional Greetings (P.21).


Here are the projects together:


Hope you've enjoyed looking at the various cards I've made. I had a lot of fun making these :) Please blog hop onto Kim's blog where you'll see more projects from the Mini Catalogue.

Here are a list of the other Mini Catalogue Blog Hop groups to check out when you have some time...

Group 1
Group 2 - - - The Mini Catalogue Blog Hop you're currently viewing :)
Group 3
Group 4

Remember to check back later this afternoon to see the sneak peeks of today's Stampin' Up! Class in all it's glory :)

Bye for now,

Alex

Trendy Trees - Thanks So Much.

Hi all,

Recently been attending a lovely craft group and got to play with their Stampin' Up! stash that they've acquired through my Workshops :) Decided to stamp up "Trendy Trees" as it's a stamp set I'm eagerly awaiting to buy this weekend, so thought I'd make a small card with some of the images I stamped up the other day.

Trendy Trees


The cardstock base looked a bit bare, so decided to use a stamp from "Seeing Spots" stamp set as it was a close match to the style from "Trendy Trees". I versamarked this on the base cardstock to create a watermark background. If I had the Trendy Trees stamp set, I would have done this with the circular stamp from this set.

Stamps: Trendy Trees and Seeing Spots.
Cardstock: Close To Cocoa, Whisper White. Designer Series Paper - Cottage Wall.
Inkpad: Old Olive and Close To Cocoa. Versamark Stamp Pad.
Accessories: Sponge Dauber, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Bone Folder and Dimensionals.
Card Size: 4x4.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day.

Alex

Explosion Box

Morning all,

Yay: It's the weekend!

Recently had a bit of time and decided to experiment and make an Explosion Box. I've not made one before but like the idea of how you take off the lid to reveal an "explosion" of something special inside. I plan to embellish the inside of the box below with pictures of my cute nephew.

I decided to use up my retired DSP called "Junior Varsity" as it's nice and colourful for children.

Here's the completed box:


When you take the lid off:


Inside, revealing the 12 x12 sheet of matted layers, without the embellishing:


Stamps: Seeing Spots.
Cardstock: Certainly Celery. Textured 12 x 12 Cardstock - Bashful Blue. DSP - Junior Varsity (retired).
Inkpad: Certainly Celery. Versamark Stamp Pad.
Accessories: Sponge Dauber, 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon - Brocade Blue and Bone Folder.
Box Size: 4" x 4" x 4"

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend in the sunshine :)

Bye for now,

Alex

Birthday Wishes.

Hi all,

It's a special someone's birthday today, and because I recently received some new stamps, I decided to ink one up for her card. This card was CASEd and inspired from Michelle.


Stamps: cc designs - Spring Kit.
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana and Whisper White. Cutie Pie Designer Series Paper (retired).
Ink Pad: Memento Tuxedo Black.
Accessories: 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon - White. Stampin' Marker - Rose Red. Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Birthday, 3D dimensionals and SU Bone Folder.
Card Size: A6.

Thanks for looking.

Bye for now,

Alex

Another Sale-A-Bration Card

Hi all,

I'm on a roll! lol. Two cards in one day, wow... I'm loving my new stamp sets that I've recently earned free - see here for all the details :)

Decided to stamp up the cake from Happy Moments and turned it into a chocolate sponge cake! Have used my Eyelet Border Punch, a fab punch that I really can't get enough of and decided to christen my Gold Embossing Powder, that I've only had for, urm, one year! lol.

Here's the card below:


Stamps: Sale-A-Bration: Happy Moments and Whimsical Words (sentiment) and Polka Dot Background.
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. Designer Series Paper - Sweet Always (retired).
Ink Pad: Basic Grey. Versamark Stamp Pad.
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, 5/8" Grograin Ribbon - Regal Rose, Gold Embossing Powder, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, 3D dimensionals and Bone Folder.
Card Size: A6.

Thanks for stopping by.

Alex

Christmas Cards Revealed.

Hi all,

Hope you're having a good day so far and the food and drinks are merrily flowing...

Here are the sneak peeks I've been teasing you with, they were made for a friend's nephew and two nieces:

Card One


Stamps: C.C. Designs - Swiss Pixies - Santa Birgitta Digi.
Cardstock: Old Olive, Real Red and Whisper White. Patterns Designers Series Paper - Old Olive.
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon - Old Olive, Bone Folder, Copic Markers, Corner Rounder Punch, Linen Thread from stash and Red Button from Mum's Button Tin.
Sentiment: Computer generated.
Card Size: A5.


Card Two


Stamps: C.C. Designs - Swiss Pixies - Nora Digi.
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Rose Red and Whisper White. Designer Series Paper - Cutie Pie (Retired).
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Taffeta Ribbon - Bashful Blue, Bone Folder and Copic Markers.
Sentiment: Computer generated.
Card Size: A5.


Card Three


Stamps: C.C. Designs - Sugarplums - Ornament Trevor Digi.
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Ballet Blue, Real Red and Whisper White.
Accessories: 5/8" Grograin Ribbon - Brocade Blue, Bone Folder, Nestabilities - Labels Eight, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots and Copic Markers.
Sentiment: Computer generated.
Card Size: A5.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your day.

Bye for now,

Alex

Cute Magnolia Card

A little while ago I was asked to make a Granddaughter card for a soon to be four year old and so I used a cute Magnolia image along with a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder and SU Designer Series Papers to create the card below. Apologies for the slightly blurred image, unfortunately I no longer have the card to take another photo :(


Stamps: Non-SU: Magnolia.
Cardstock: Pretty In Pink and Whisper White. Designer Series Paper - Tea Party.
Ink Pad: Pretty In Pink. Non-SU: Memento Tuxedo Black.
Accessories: Sponge Daubler, Copics, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Numbers. Sentiment Computer Generated.
Card Size: A5.

Thanks for stopping by.

Alex

Sunday ramblings

Hi all,

Hope you've all been having a lovely weekend, it certainly was warm here - the sun was just shining all weekend long :)

Anyway, have been busy making a few cards and boxes and thought I'd share. Remember I made a paper piecing card using Crazy For Cupcakes stamp set the other week? Well, I've made a matching box that I'm really pleased with. Here's the complete combo, hope you like:


That's it for now, have a good week.

Alex

Crazy For Cupcakes

Hi all,

It's been a busy week per usual and I'm trying to make a few more cards to add to my collection. After seeing Kate's birthday card I decided to CASE it because I just loved how she paper pieced the balloons and added the sentiment around the balloon :) Thank you Kate.

Here are mine below:


Stamps: Crazy For Cupcakes.
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue and Old Olive, Red Rose and So Saffron and Chocolate Chip and Brocade Blue. Designer Series Paper - Junior Varsity.
Ink Pad: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Brocade Blue and Old Olive.
Ribbon: 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon - Bashful Blue and Rose Red. 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon - Brocade Blue.

Thanks for stopping by.

Alex

Designer Series Paper Offer For May 2009

Stampin' Up!
Scrapbook/Designer Series Paper Promotion
1 May - 31 May 2009

This post will remain at the top until 31 May.
Please scroll down for new posts.

Hi all,

Hope you're having a good week so far and looking forward to a long Bank Holiday weekend. Thought I'd let you in on another great offer from Stampin' Up! which begins Friday 1 May for the whole month of May. In fact there's two great offers to take advantage of this month! See below:

Offer 1
What better way to reward yourself than with some lovely Designer Series Papers? Buy three packs of any DSP from the current Idea Book & Catalogue and/or from the Mini catalogue and get one pack absolutely free! That's a saving of £7.75.

Can't warrant buying three packs all to yourself? How about club together with yourself and two friends and split the fourth pack between you, saving you £7.75!

Whether you *need* these papers for cardmaking or for scrapbooking, there's no better time to buy than from the 1st of May. All packs contain 12 sheets (2 each of 6 double-sided designs) use the 12" x 12" (30.5cm x 30.5cm) Designer Series Paper featuring exclusive patterns printed on both sides to co-ordinate beautifully with SU cardstock, ink and accessories. These papers can be trimmed to be used in any size scrapbook layout, mini book, matting cards or 3D projects and are also acid and lignin free.

Watch this space for an upload of some cards and 3D items I've recently made using various Designer Series Papers.

Offer 2
Join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator with our specially priced Scrapbooking Starter Kit at just £99. If you join as a demonstrator through me before the end of May then you can also choose any catalogue stamp set, any value, in addition to your starter kit. Email me on alexhau@rocketmail.com for more details about becoming a demonstrator and joining the Stampin' Up! family.

Below is the Promotional Poster if you're interested in the May Offer:

Bye for now,

Alex

The Big 4-0

Hi all,

Hope everyone's having a good week so far. I have recently been commissioned to make a 40th birthday card and thought as the lady's birthday was yesterday, it is now safe to upload it.

I bought some new Designer Series Papers recently from the Mini Catalogue because of the May's Offer of buy three packs get the fourth pack free deal, so I thought I'd christen the patterned papers - it really wasn't hard to cut into them! lol. Luckily, I haven't got into the phase/stage where I stroke the papers only! hee hee hee. I also christened my new Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamps that I received a few weeks back too :) I love how you can spell anything you want, might think about doing some Grad cards with this stamp set soon.


Hope you like the card using new goodies - 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in So Saffron, Tea Party Designer Series Paper, Occasional Greetings and Schoolbook Serif Alphabet.

Please feel free to leave me a comment as I do enjoy reading them.

Bye for now,

Alex

New Workshop - Saturday 25 April 09

~ This post shall remain at the top until Thursday 23 April ~

Please scroll down for new posts.

For any of you that live nearby, I have my next workshop scheduled for
Saturday 25th April at 10.30am.

Do you have a few hours to spare and would like to make three cards using different techniques, stamp sets, designer series paper, punches and ribbon?

Email me for more details if you'd like to join some lovely crafters for a few hours of
fun, chat and refreshments a week on Saturday.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Bye for now,

Alex

PLEASE NOTE:
This workshop is nearly full. Please contact me to guarantee your space.
*COMING SOON: A new post detailing next months workshop*

Another "A Rose Is A Rose"

Hi all,

Okay, so I'm loving this stamp set so much I decided to stamp again in different colours and decided on a different layout. Hope you like.

A Rose Is A Rose


Bye for now,

Alex

A Rose Is A Rose - 80th Birthday Card

Hi all,

Well I'm on a roll here, so thought I'd upload another commissioned card that I've just this minute finished. My Mum's friend asked me to make a card for her Mother's birthday and so I started it last night and finished it off this morning. I'm really pleased with it, so thought I'd upload it as I think it's safe to say she doesn't blog hop!

I've recently accumulated £35 of free merchandise for spending *cough* so much recently, so I thought I'd invest the money and buy "A Rose Is A Rose" as I've seen so many beautiful cards made with this stamp set.

Enjoy!

A Rose Is A Rose - Outside

A Rose Is A Rose - Inside


Thanks to Carole for the idea of stamping the rose inside.

Recipe (All SU items are available from the current Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009).
Stamps:-
A Rose Is A Rose (2008-09) - Set of 14 stamps. P.44. I have used various roses and petals.
SU Cardstock - A4 Whisper White, Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, Old Olive. P67 - 69.
SU Designer Series Paper (2007 Retired Accessories - Available while supplies last) - Certainly Celery. P.93.
SU Ink Pad - Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and Old Olive. P.68 - 69.
SU Markers - Old Olive for colouring the 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon. P.67.
SU Ribbon - 1/4" (6.35mm) Grosgrain Ribbon - Whisper White. P.80.
SU Punches - Scallop Edge Border Punch. P.86.
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. P.85
3D Foam Pads.

NON SU: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swiss Dots

Thanks for stopping by, please feel free to leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.

Alex

What a busy weekend...

Hi all,

Just wanted to say that I had a lovely weekend and held two successful workshops on Saturday morning and afternoon. Thank you to the lovely ladies that came, all the cards were made by using the one stamp set called "Simply Said" (Set of 11 stamps). I wanted to show the ladies how versatile one stamp set can be and with a bit of creativity, how you can make so many different card designs. Just changing the colour cardstock, ink pads, ribbons and layout can really make all the difference and give you so many new and exciting cards!

It was lovely to see everyone's cards looking so unique and individual to each person, as all the ladies were able to change/adapt certain parts to their card, e.g. choosing which side of the double sided designer series paper to use for card one, or what colour to colour in their flowers for card two or whether to stamp certain parts in either chocolate chip or bordering blue for the third and final card for example.

Below is a picture of the cards we made for the workshop:


Card One
Recipe (All items are available from the current Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009).
Stamps:-
Simply Said (2008-09) - Set of 11 stamps. P.31. I have used two out of the eleven stamps for this card.
Sincere Salutations (2008-09) - Set of 8 stamps, P.62. I used "Birthday Wishes".
SU Cardstock - A4 Pretty In Pink and Whisper White, P67, 69.
Patterns Designer Series Paper - Bashful Blue, P.71.
SU Ink Pad - Pretty In Pink and Barely Banana, P.69.
SU Taffeta Ribbon - Pretty In Pink, P.80.
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig was used to stamp the two little flowers on top of each other.

Card Two
Recipe (All items are available from the current Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009).
Stamps:-
Simply Said (2008-09) - Set of 11 stamps. P.31. I have used a different stamp to the previous card.
SU Cardstock - A4 Barely Banana, Bashful Blue and Whisper White, P67, 69.
SU Ink Pad - Basic Grey. P.67.
SU Stampin' Write Marker Pens - Various colours chosen by individual crafters.
SU 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon - Very Vanilla, P.80.
SU Punch - Scallop Edge Border, P.86.
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to align the flowers in a repeated pattern across the whisper white cardstock three times.

Card Three
Recipe (All items are available from the current Idea Book & Catalogue 2008-2009).
Stamps:-
Simply Said (2008-09) - Set of 11 stamps. P.31. I have used a number of different stamps to the previous two cards.
SU Cardstock - A4 Bordering Blue, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, P67, 69.
SU Ink Pad - Bordering Blue and Chocolate Chip. P.68, 69.
SU Stampin' Write Marker Pens - Bordering Blue.
SU Punch - Scallop Edge Border, P.86.
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to align the flowers and hearts on top of each other.
Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time, bye for now,

Alex

Stampin' Up! Workshop...

Hi all,

Well, I don't know where the time has gone to, but it's only a week to go until I hold my new Stampin' Up! workshop. I'm so excited to be able to hold a workshop for some lovely enthusiastic ladies and I can't wait for their creative energies to follow and multiply as we start creating three beautiful cards using the stamp set "Simply Said" that is currently available in the current Idea Book & Catalogue.

I have decided on three cards based on this stamp set and will over the next few days begin to cut up all the cardstock, gather together the ribbons and punches etc and begin to get prepared for the big day :)

Card Number One:

Card Number Two:


Card Number Three:

Hope you like the sneak peeks of the cards we'll make next week.

Until then,

Alex