The sun may have disappeared....

....but I think this is a really sunny card...I am loving this colour at the moment, it's really cheery and now that the rain has reappeared I think I need cheery!

This is an anniversary card for some good friends of ours who have been together forever but only got married a couple of years ago.

I have tried a new technique (to me) using vellum and I really like this although this doesn't show it at its best.  I have stamped the image using white ink then dry emobossed the back to colour it in.  I did add a bit of green colouring pencil just to add a bit of interest.

The boys have a friend over for a sleep over tonight so who knows what time I'll get to bed....

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used: all SU unless stated; Whisper white card, daffodil delight card and brads, beyond the garden dsp, reason to smile stamp set, white craft ink, scallop oval punch, 

Non SU: white satin ribbon, green water colour pencil.

Girly birthdays

I have been so busy trying to make all the personal cards I need for this month, it's been like working on a production line!!! and I'm still not done.

I do have a couple of special little girls who have their birthdays this month and when I recieved a swap from a fellow demonstrator at training earlier in the month, I knew this is what I had to do, Thank you Tina Angus.

What do you think of these pretty party dresses, they are really cute.  They are made using the mixed bunch stamp set, blossom punch and round tab punch.

Aaron told me he thought the cards were too simple but I think I like them because they are simple.

I have Elliots birthday this month and he has to be the hardest child to buy for!!!!  Every birthday and Christmas I have people asking me what he might like and I end up giving them the ideas I may have had...it's so annoying.  He's debating between a bike and a scooter from us at the moment so who knows what he'll end up with.

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used: All SU unless stated; Whisper white cardstock, mixed bunch stamp set, blossom punch, lace ribbon border punch, rose red card and ink, pink pirouette card and ribbon, Adorning accents embossing folder, pearls, round tab punch, sentiments from curly cute and happiest birthday wishes.

Schools Out......

Thank goodness for that!!!!!  I am really glad that the school holidays are here, we are all really in need of this break and for the sun to shine, well, thats an added bonus!!!

We went away for a few days straight after school finished last week which will explain my recent absence but we had a fabulous time and my husband has been off this week so all in all we have had a great start to the holidays.

How busy am I  with personal cards at the moment.....its mad...but I'm sure I'll get there!
Today I though I would show you the teachers gifts. I wanted to give something different as I am sure they set the same things every year.  Also, the boys are leaving their current teachers and moving to new classes (they go to a really small school and have the same teacher for two years!)

There are tea bags, chocolates and a cake in the teacup.  I think this looks really impressive and think they went down well with the teachers.  The labels are made using the framelit dies and the apothecary art stamp set.

It's an exciting few months for Stampin' Up.  We have a new seasonal catalogue coming out on 1st September and then a new  big catalogue on the 1st October.  I have had a sneek peek at the new seasonal catalogue and its fabulous, as always, it has some really unusual bits.  I am also happy to announce that I have my first recruit and I am really excited about this.  Its going to be a hectic few months but I am really looking forward to it and if anyone wants to join me on this incredible journey then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used (labels only);All SU; Framelit dies, Apothecary Art stamp set, Rose red card and ink,

Quarterly training

Yesterday I went to our quarterly training event, it was Christmas in July.  We made some amazing things but I do feel it is far too early to be putting anything christmassy on here yet so you'll have to wait....
We also swap with other demos so you come home with bags full of inspiration, some really were outstanding this time, as always though. 
I meant to take a photo of all of my swaps (as I did make 44) but forgot but I can show you 1 as one lady was unwell and unable to make training.

I saw this idea for a background a while ago on you tube although I can't give the credit as I'm not sure where.  It has been made using bog standard masking tape.  You run the tape through the ink pad sticky side down and lay it done onto the card making sure you peel it off carefully.

We've been on a picnic this afternoon with Elliots football team.  It was really lovely although all the Dads are probably spending the rest of the afternoon on the sofa feeling sorry for themselves as they had a Dads match - it was a sight - they were all exhausted by the end!
We managed to win a two night break in the raffle aswell so that was a nice surprise.

I've been thinking about the teachers cards and gifts but will be back with more tomorrow (can't believe that another school year is almost over!)

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used: all SU unless stated: Island indigo card, confetti cream card, Just Believe stamp set, beautiful wings embosslit, river rock ink, baja breeze ink, chocolate chip ink.

Many reasons to smile......

I'm off to work again this afternoon but I've had a lovely week. On Wednesday we had the olympic torch come through the town.  I have to say that I wasn't going to bother but really glad I went.  The boys were really lucky that the school took them into town on the train to see it which they loved, it was a real adventure.  We had Claire Balding carry it past us although my picture isn't that great!!

She is there...honest!!  She ran too fast!!!!

Anyway, I had a workshop last night that was really lovely.  I had a great time with some really lovely ladies, it was a late finish but worth it.....

The hostess wanted some form of heat embossaing done so I made this card using a brand new set that is available next month....giving you a sneek peek!!

It a two step stamp set called Reason to Smile and its beautful....you may well see it often, I'll apologise in advance!  There is an offer with this stamp set but I will reveal all nearer to the end of the month.

We had the boys school reports this week and they have both done very well, we are very proud of their achievements,  they are working very hard with their school work and for that we are very pleased.  Aaron just needs to be a bit quieter in class!!!!! Bless him!!

So, I'm off to work...Joy!!!

Thanks for stopping by
Take care

Supplies used: Daffodil delight card, Not quite navy card, eyelet border punch, beyond the garden DSP, versamark ink pad, white embossing powder, reason to smile stamp.

Guitar Thanks...

What is it with my boys and the shower???  They love it and would be in there all evening given half the chance, I know that won't be the same in a few years, I'll be dragging them into it.  Elliot has been in the shower for nearly 20 minutes....

I mentioned that Aaron was in a concert the other evening and he asked me to make a thank you card for the guitar teacher.

The main image isn't from Stampin' Up, not sure who its from but I borrowed it from my Mum, but I thought it definately needed a guitar. 

It's also not a colour combination I use very often but I like it!!!  I really must try and be more adventurous with my colour choices in future I think!

So, I have just watched Andy Murray lose at Wimbledon, so close but so far!!!  Maybe next year.......

We have the olympic torch coming our way this week so we'll be out on the streets cheering (and in the rain no doubt!)

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used: All SU unless stated: Wild wasabi card and ink, Perfect plum card, so saffron card, curly cute stamp set, perfect polka dots embossing folder, chantilly crochet trim,

Suede effect flower

You'll be pleased to know I have finally sorted and cleaned my craft room and I even found the die I thought I had lost, no such luck with the punch though...

I have made a card for a friends birthday and, as I do every week recently, I had a look over at the simply stampin challenge blog and thought I would give it a go.
The challenge is clean and simple and although these colours on this card  may not normally be my first thought as clean and simple, I think it works.

 I tried the suede effect for the flower.  I kept running the flower between my thumb and bone folder the break the fibres of the card.  The card will start to peel apart and when this happens you slowly seperate the two pieces.  The close up shows it although the light isn't that great.

Last night Aaron was playing the guitar in a concert at our local theatre.  It was really good and I was really proud of him.  He was on edge all day but he thoroughly enjoyed being on stage and with the recent 'song writing' he and his friends are doing he may just make his fortune.......

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used; all SU unless stated: Crumb cake card, Wild wasabi card and ink, Blossom punch, Boho blossom punch, little leaves die, curly cute stamp set.

Tea Shoppe

I know.....I promised another card using re-inkers but I have a confession to make!!!  My craft room is in such a mess I can't find them anywhere!!  I have been meaning to tidy/sort it for weeks now but I think the time has finally arrived where I cannot attempt to make another thing in there!!!  In the mess (or I am hoping thre are there!) I have lost a puch and a die...not happy but I guess its my fault and mine alone!!

Look at what is on offer this month first though.....

For an order during July of 45.00 you can get a FREE ribbon and brad pack that matches the Everyday Enchantment DSP.  You may remember this was available during Sale-a-bration, well, it's back by popular demand (and while stocks last) and the ribbon and brad pack are a match made in heaven.

So, I have decided to show a card that was my make and take at my last workshop. 

 Please ignore the dodgy bow....it did start off looking ok but due to transport it now looks a bit rough.

We used the simply scored tool to give a faux tile effect.  I have seen the technique about before with slight differences but I think they all look effective.


We had sports day this week which was lovely.  They decided to hold an all day event which I thought might be a bad decision but we all had fun.  I even managed to show my children up...oops!!  In the afternoon they were concentrating on the paralympics and I played volleyball on my knees.  The only problem was that I was wearing a dress so to start off with I tucked it in my knickers and then I went for a fairly ambitious shot and I'm not sure what happened but lets just say it wasn't that ladylike!!!!
It's only right for parents to embarress their children....isn't it!!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Take care

Supplies used: All SU unless stated: Melon mambo card and ink, very vanilla card, lucky limeade card, pretty in pink ink, french foliage stamp set, tea shoppe stamp set, simply scored tool, scallop oval punch, very vanilla seam binding ribbon.