Another special birthday...

These BIG birthdays just keep coming....I've had quite a few just lately and I have a few coming up.  Its my next door neighbours 60th early next month and so although I wouldn't normally send her a card, this is special....

I have used the Apothecary Art stamp set and coordinating framelit die, both from the Summer Mini - LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. 
The base is calypso coral with a hint of lucky limeade.  I then embossed some very vanilla cardstock and ran the brayer over it with calypso coral ink.  The flowers have been coloured in with a blender pen to give it a nice watercolour look.

I have just returned from Aarons football presentation evening and I have one very happy boy - he won the Managers player of the year (the spirit of the sport award!)  He hasn't had an easy season so it was a shock to all of us that he won but I'm very proud of him.

We had card club last night - It's always a night of fun with lots of giggles - and we made a card using another set from the mini so I'll be back with that tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used: All SU unless stated; calypso coral ink and card, lucky limeade ink and card, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, apothecary art stamp set, framelit die,

A Variation on a Theme...

Wow.... what a hectic weekend we had...we were out all weekend on various sporting events with the boys and I now have a nice tan to prove it.  Although I was very good at applying protection regularly I got very burnt - no shade and a windy day make for a dodgy combination.... Anyway, the boys had a great time and both did really well.

This weekend won't be much quieter either, do you have any plans for the jubilee celebrations?

So, my variation on a theme.  I was asked to make a card for a friends 60th birthday (I can show you now as her birthday has been and gone!) and with the bits left over, I made an anniversary card for my friends celebrating 10 happy years together.

The Birthday card....

Have used my favourite Twitterpated DSP again and check out the ribbon....fabulous pleated ribbon - it's beautiful!  Notice the rosettes again, sorry, but I am loving rosettes!!

The Anniversary card now then...

I did make too many rosettes for the 60th card so I couldn't let it go to waster now could I????
I have used the Everything Eleanor stamp set on both cards, another beautiful set.

I have card club tomorrow night and I am working so I'm off to check I am organised.
Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplied used; All SU unless stated: Pool Party card and ink, twitterpated dsp, pleated stin ribbon. ribbon border punch, boho blossom punch, pearls,pretty in pink ink and card, delightful dozens,beautiful wings, edgelits.
Non SU: nestabilities, 60 die

The sun is shining......finally!!!

At last.....we see the sun.  I think we are all a bit fed up with the weather so its so nice to finally have some warmth.  It would have been nice to see it last weekend though as I was in Dublin and although it wasn't wet (which was forecast!) it was a bit chilly.  It didn't stop us having a great time.  I did try Guiness for the first time and really didn't like it.

So, it was my husbands birthday last week so had the dreaded task of making TWO male cards....not a great prospect...did ok, I think !!

 This was for the boys to give Daddy.  I have used the amazing Twitterpated DSP, honestly, its great.  It is girly and pretty one one side and quite masculine on the other, so versatile!  Then using my favourite tool of the moment, I had to do a rosette somewhere.  I this this could be adapted for all the men and boys out there....

This was from me.  Another favourite for men for me is the French Foliage stamp set.  I have added a dash of colour with the retired Sale-a-bration DSP.  My husband doesn't get that enthusiastic about birthdays though, he actually cooked tea that night, bless him!

We have a hectic weekend ahead, Saturday Aaron has a football tournament and Elliot has an athletics competition then on Sunday Elliot has a football tournament....it's all go and the thought of sitting in a field all weekend might have been a horrible prospect earlier in the week but the sun has made the idea a little more acceptable.....

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care xxx

Supplies used: All SU unless stated; Island indigo card, twitterpated DSP, Lucky limeade card and ink, designer printed brad, simply scored board, happiest birthday wishes stamp set, crumb cake card and ink, chocolate chip card and ink, french foliage stamp set, sqaure lattice embossing folder, lucky limeade bakers twine, very vanilla card, spritzer tool, word window punch.
Non SU: small alphabet stamp spelling out Daddy

30th Birthday Wishes

What a lovely day today....  We are planning on going camping this summer and my brother very kindly gave us his tent to try out.  So, before showing ourselves up at a campsite we thought it would be wise to try and pitch it today....and very successfully I might add!!!!  I was very impressed with ourselves.

I said in a previous post that I had some special birthdays coming up....well, this one I can show!!

It's a top note style card, the idea was from www.cardsandacuppa.blogspot.com, it's a great blog, check it out.
I have used pool party and very vanilla card with the very versatile baroque motif stamp set. There is also a tutorial for the ribbon flower on the cards and a cuppa blog.

The birthday girl is being a bit like the Queen and having many celebrations and knowing her, she will enjoy each one fully.

I have a lovely week planned so I will be back.  Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; All SU unless stated: Pool party ink, ruffled ribbon and card, very vanilla card, chantilly crochet trim, baroque motifs stamp set, lace ribbon border puch, top note die.
Non SU: '30' die cut numbers.

Need for Speed...for the boys

Thank Goodness it's Friday..... I've only been at work one day this week and I was off the week before but I am so glad its the weekend....

I have been making lots of things this week but I am unable to share them with you yet as they are for a few people who I think read this and I don't want to spoil the surprise!

It's my friends sons birthday later in the month so I had to  make an attempt at the dreaded boy/man card.  I saw this really cool idea, whilst blog hopping, using the Adorning Accents embossing folder and the fab new Simply Scored score board, although I can't remember where to give that person any credit - sorry.

I really like this idea - you may see it quite often....

I have a slight addiction for Pinterest at the moment and it has inspired me to sort out my craft room (not sure it can be called that!) but it has so many cool things that  I am now on a mission to get it sorted.
Have a look, but be warned....it is addictive!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Take Care

Supplies used; all SU unless stated: confetti cream card, crumb cake card and ink, marina mist card and ink, Happiest Birthday hostess set, Need for Speed set, chocolate chip ink, simply scored, adorning accent embossing folder, distressing essentials kit

Tea Shoppe....

Yet another fab set from the new mini.....you HAVE to see it!!!

This was my first purchase during the pre-order period (yep, thats right, another perk as a demonstrator - get in touch if you are interested in joining Stampin' Up!) as I thought it was a bit different and I am having lots of fun playing with this set...

I have used the gorgeous Adorning Accents Edgelit dies and matching embossing folders with this and the equally gorgeous Twitterpated DSP.

So, just a quick post today as I am trying (and failing at the moment) to make my husbands birthday card.  Its his special day on Sunday so I best get my finger out!!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; all SU unless stated: Pretty in pink card, Melon Mambo card and ink, Tea Shoppe stamp set, Adorning accents die and enbossing folder.

Up, Up and Away.

I am loving this set.... (along with the whole new mini catalogue...)

Before I became a SU demonstrator I would occasionally enter a few challenges, I found it gave me a bit of inspiration and was just fun to do.  Now I don't seem to have enough hours in the day, why, I don't know, but I do always have a look over at the Simply Stampin challenge blog and this week I made the plunge and decided to go for it....I guess it may have helped that the lovely Amanda is a guest designer.....so here is my card....

So, fingers crossed for my first challenge in a while......

Will be back later in the week with yet another lovely set from the new mini.  It really is a 'must see' catalogue so if you want to book a party or come along to card club please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; all SU unless stated: Pumpkin pie card and ink, tempting turquoise ink, so saffron ink. up, up and away stamp set, crumb cake card, marina mist ink, mat pack and paper piercing tool, linen thread.

The new Summer Mini is here...

Woo Hoo.....The Summer Mini is here (and I was away to miss the launch...) but I'm back and have spent the day playing with all the lovely new things and there are lots...believe me!

There are lots of reasons to love the new catalogue....we've got new dies, new tools, new ribbon and fab new stamps...if you want to book a party, please do get in touch.

There is one other reason to love Stampin' Up this month.  The starter kit price has been reduced to 99.00 and it can be fully customised to your needs, you can choose up to 130.00 worth of products.  You will also recieve business supplies valued at 45.00.  Thats a whopping 175.00 worth of goodies for a lovely price of 99.00....what more could you want!!! 
Well, there is more!! Join in May and you will recieve a FREE ticket to this years convention in Germany (worth 149.00).  You will be responsible for travel and accomodation.

So, as I said, I have been playing all day and loved every minute of it.  Although I really enjoyed our holiday, I did miss my addiction....I really needed my fix!!!  It's my Father in Laws birthday next week so I made this card for him.

This is made using a new set called Up, Up and away and is great.  It can used for men, ladies and kids alike and I really like stamps sets that are versatile!  The papers are also new, called Twitterpated.  Like most papercrafters, I love papers but this set I think is my favourite.  One side is pretty and feminine and the other side is quite masculine, as used above.  Again, I like to get value for money!!!

I will be back over the weekend with other examples of all the fab new goddies.
Until then, Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; all SU unless stated: Indigo Island card and ink , Twitterpated DSP, Lucky Limeade Card and ink, Pool Party card, Up, Up and Away stamp set, Whisper White card, Curly label punch.
Non SU: Die cut alphabet and scallop nestabilities.