Lilypad Lake Take 2

Hello again, I'd no sooner finished my last card when an idea popped into my head based on an Xmas card given to me by Susan, aka Craftyduckydoodah. who happens to be my upline. Once again I used the Lilypad Lake bundle. This really is going to get alot of use! As I'm typing, an idea is formulating for desk top calendars...

This time I used the waterlilies and heron. I started by stamping the heron and waterlilies on scrap card and colouring them in using Watercolour Pencils and a blender pen.

I stamped a piece of Whisper White card with the dots from the Waterfront stamp set; these seem to be my new "go to" since Gorgeous Grunge was retired.

Next using the Stitched Shapes Framelits, I die cut a Whisper White square  and a frame using Balmy Blue. I stamped waves at a slight angle on the white square.

The white square was adhered to the white dotty card, at a slight angle so that the waves looked straight. Then I added the border, keeping it parallell to the top and bottom of the card.

The die cut waterlilies were stuck onto the water while the heron overlapped the frame. The sentiment from Cake Soiree was stamped directly. This was then attached to a Balmy Blue layer before being stuck on to a Whisper White card base.

Susan's original design

I hope you like my interpretation of the Xmas card above. As usual, for a cohesive look I stamped both inside the card and on the envelope.

Bev🎕

Thank you for viewing my blog today. I'd be very happy to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if you don't already have one. If you would like a copy of the current catalogue, I can arrange for you to receive one if you contact me.

If you'd like to place an order for any current items, please click on the "Shop With Me 24/7" button near the top of the page or alternately, click on the product links below.

Yachting on Lilypad Lake

Hello, I was so pleased the Lilypad Lake bundle arrived before I had to go back to work after having a week off. It looks as if it will be such a versatile set...and with the image of the yachts, perfect for those hard to make masculine cards.

I started with a Balmy Blue base card; I really have been calling for this type of blue since I joined Stampin' Up!. It will feature in my cards...alot! I then die cut 2 circles, one in Whisper White and the other in Night of Navy. I placed a smaller die inside the navy one and cut that too, creating a border. I then used Linen Thread to wrap round it.

I die cut waves in Balmy Blue and stuck them onto the white circle, trimming the excess once the glue had dried.

On scrap white card I stamped and coloured in the yachts before die cutting them. They were placed on the blue waves, using dimensionals for a 3D effect. I stamped the sun too. The Navy circle was placed on top, again with dimensionals.

I stamped waves onto a slightly smaller piece of Whisper White card and adhered it to the base. A sentiment was stamped directly onto it in Basic Grey. I don't know about you, but I often find Black a little too harsh. Finally I secured the circle onto the card, matching up the waves.

I hope you like the first of what I hope will be many cards made with this set.

Bev🎕

Thank you for viewing my blog today. I'd be very happy to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if you don't already have one. If you would like a copy of the current catalogue, I can arrange for you to receive one if you contact me.

If you'd like to place an order for any current items, please click on the "Shop With Me 24/7" button near the top of the page or alternately, click on the product links below.

In Colours 2018-2020

Hello again, in my last post, I showed card fronts that had been given to Susan, my upline, at various Onstage events. She sadly could no longer keep them as she's just moved house.

I'm taking one of those designs, created by Mikaela Titheridge who just so happens to be Susan's upline to use as my inspiration! This is Mikaelas card below.

I decided to showcase the new In Colours for this year in my design. They are so vibrant.

I diecut 2 hearts and then stuck them down before embossing. I confess to trying a different embossing folder but as it looked too busy, I decided to use Softly Falling as in the original card. I looped some Silver Metallic Thread and stuck onto the hearts. The word "Love" was die cut and placed over the top, using mini dimensionals to raise it slightly.

A stamped sentiment was placed top left alongside some random hearts, using the new In Colours.

I matted and layered the card front onto Lovely Lipstick and Blueberry Bushel before mounting onto a Whisper White base card. I hope you like my interpretation.

Bev🎕

Thank you for viewing my blog today. I'd be very happy to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if you don't already have one. If you would like a copy of the current catalogue, I can arrange for you to receive one if you contact me.

If you'd like to place an order for any current items, please click on the "Shop With Me 24/7" button near the top of the page or alternately, click on the product links below.

A little bit of recycling...

Hello, you probably don't know but my day job is as a teaching assistant, working in the special needs department of a college. It's a job I love, but it leaves little time to craft...until the school breaks, that is.

During half or end of term breaks, I try and create as many cards and blog posts as I can to get me through to the next holiday. Sometimes, though, I find it difficult, especially when I know there is a new catalogue launch due. As yet I haven't got any of the new stamp sets. One that I couldn't resist is due any day but I'm holding on so that I can place a really large - for me - order so that I make my next quarters targets.

Now, luckily for me, my upline Susan of Craftyduckydoodah moved earlier in the month. Why would that be lucky? Let me explain. Susan always goes to the Stampin' Up! Onstage events which are held twice a year. Hundreds of demonstrators go and share their crafty ideas and find out about the next release of products and catalogues. They get to use some of these products too. But what's even better is that they make swaps to share with each other. Now with Susan moving, she hasn't so much space in her new craft room and has kindly donated the swaps she has received over the last year or two.

Most happen to be card fronts. They were given for me to either make into cards or use as inspiration. So, where possible, I'm going to make into cards... but please remember, they are not my original designs. I might have to adapt some slightly to fit on card bases, or choose to add the odd embellishment.  I'll note the originator of each one where I can.

Hilary Gregory

Allison Harbour

Mikaela Titheridge

Jan Malcolm

Jay Soriano

Angela Law

Josephine Law

Lucy Dyer

I think you'll agree that Stampin' Up have some very talented demonstrators. I still have a bag full of more card fronts to use up, so will be kept quite busy for a while yet. They have given me inspiration even though I don't have all of the stamp sets, I can see where I can substitute sets and get quite a different look.

Bev🎕

Thank you for viewing my blog today. I'd be very happy to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if you don't already have one. If you would like a copy of the current catalogue, I can arrange for you to receive one if you contact me.

The hardest cards to make...

Hello, sometimes we have to make those difficult cards. I know, you're thinking of cards for men since Father's Day is coming up! Unfortunately although they can be troublesome, cards to offer sympathy and thoughts for someone going through a difficult time can be so much more problematic.

There are no hard and fast rules for such cards. Should you use colour? Are muted shades or monochromatic schemes better? Can you add a little bling? What about sentiments and verses? Should the design be simple? There are so many things to consider when creating such a card.

Having seen the fabulous new colour, Grey Granite - it's softer than Smokey Slate with a slight nod towards beige - I decided this would be the perfect colour for a thinking of you card. I've used a retired set called Summer Silhouette as although I know there is a brilliant stamp set called Dandelion Wishes in the new catalogue, it wasn't available  to order although it will be by the time you see this post. I'll add it to the list below.

Dandelion Wishes

I started with a Whisper White card base and added a Granite Grey layer that had random white dots stamped onto it. I used to use Gorgeous Gunge but it has now retired. Luckily, I discovered there is a replacement stamp in the Waterfront set. Certainly different, but perfect for this card. The sentiment from Heartfelt Blooms was stamped in Whisper White towards the bottom right. For tonal interest I added a band of Basic Grey ribbon across the centre.

The flower was stamped onto a piece of grey card and diecut into an oval, before being placed onto a scalloped white oval. This in turn was place slightly to the left on the base card, using dimensionals.

Now I had planned to to just use grey and white for this card. However, I felt it looked too bland. I punched a butterfly out of vellum and coloured it with Watercolour Pencils, blending the colours together for a soft look. I also used Wink of Stella for a little shimmer. But where to place it? 

I'm not normally this indecisive! In the end I went with the placement in the right hand picture. I also stamped the inside of the card and the envelope for a cohesive look.

I hope you like the finished card, maybe it's even inspired you to create something beautiful.

Bev🎕

Thank you for viewing my blog today. I'd be very happy to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if you don't already have one. If you would like a copy of the current catalogue, I can arrange for you to receive one if you contact me.

If you'd like to place an order for any current items, please click on the "Shop With Me 24/7" button near the top of the page or alternately, click on the product links below.

New Catalogue...

Eeek, I'm so excited to finally be able to share the new Stampin' Up Annual Catalogue with you. As a demonstrator I received mine in early May. I was even able to purchase a pre-order of selected items to show you all. The one thing I haven't been able to do is show the inside of the catalogue.

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So, I thought I'd start by showing a selection of my favourite things now that they can be ordered by the general public. I have to confess, my wish list is rather extensive...

If you regularly look at my blog, you'll know that Stampin' Up! have had a colour revamp bringing in 10 new colours and 6 former In Colours that will be in the core colour families. This is in addition to the 5 new In Colours this year which will remain until the end of May, 2020. If you haven't seen the colour changes, click HERE to go look at the post. Obviously I have all the new colours in cardstock with the coordinating Write Markers and inkpads.

So onto stamp sets, dies and bundles...

Stampin' Up! very often sell stamp sets with either a coordinating punch or set of dies. By buying as a bundle, you can save 10% on the individual prices.

My first choice is Lilypad Lake which also has coordinating dies. The yachts are perfect, as a standalone or in conjunction with another set. I have an idea for the yachts with High Tide. Of course there is also the heron - or is it a stork?

image curtesy of Stampin' Up!

Now I love making cards for babies and children. It's a good job really as so many of my former colleagues are starting families, which means I tend to make quite a few. I was so disappointed to see that Moon Baby has been retired. Not that it will stop me from using it! Stampin' Up! have brought out a worthy successor though called Sweet Baby, it also has coordinating dies so no more fussy cutting. It is an adorable bundle and if I could only choose one, it would be this.

image curtesy of Stampin' Up!

Botanical Bliss doesn't on the face of it really grab my attention. Until, that is, I saw the Botanical Tags Thinlet dies. What a stunning combination; definitely a set to order soon. I already have so many ideas...

image curtesy of Stampin' Up!

image curtesy of Stampin' Up!

A bit of a surprise for the next one...Best Bunny... perfect for babies, Easter and surprise birthdays. I've been waiting for SU to design a bunny I liked and this is it. This has a coordinating punch.

image curtesy of Stampin' Up!

In Every Season has 12 of the the most beautiful floral dies; perfect for desk stationery. This is a stand alone stamp set.

image curtesy of Stampin' Up!

Another to surprise me is Love You To Pieces. Again, this has coordinating dies and is based on a jigsaw! So many ideas for Valentines Day, love and romance...

image curtesy of Stampin' Up!

And finally, a set that has grown on me over the past month. Having seen what so many talented designers have created with the Graceful Glass suite it has made it onto my must have list. I love the designer vellum and coloured with eithe watercolour pencils or stampin' Blends, it looks amazing.

image curtesy of Stampin' Up!

This is by no means the full list. I've only included some of the latest sets I hope to get over the coming months. It doesn't include any carrying over that I wanted but didn't get, or ones that I haven't already got lots of ideas for!

And I haven't even made the list for accessories... Yet!

Bev🎕

Thank you for viewing my blog today. I'd be very happy to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if you don't already have one. If you would like a copy of the current catalogue, I can arrange for you to receive one if you contact me.

If you'd like to place an order for any current items, please click on the "Shop With Me 24/7" button near the top of the page or alternately, click on the product links below.

Painted Harvest - Team Challenge

Hello, a little while ago I saw a design challenge on the team page of the group of demonstrators I belong to. We had to come up with a card, taking inspiration from normal everyday objects. At the time I couldn't think of anything... then one evening as I was getting ready for bed, I spotted a Laura Ashley carrier bag. Now I use this bag to throw my project failures - yes I do have them! - and paper/card trimmings ready for the recycling bin. How could I have missed this inspiration; I see the bag every day.

I decided that Painted Harvest was the closest match to the flowers and so used Pink Pirouette and Melon Mambo with Pear Pizzazz for the leaves.

I randomly stamped the flowers and leaves, ensuring I stamped off the page for a natural look. As these are 2 step stamps I stamped first with the lighter colour, using the smaller stamp in the darker colour. I could have stamped off first, to get a lighter colour for the larger stamp, which isAny spaces left were filled in with the orange dots.

Leaves were stamped onto scrap paper and punched out to add next to the sentiment which was stamped onto a Whisper White punched Everyday Label. For a little more interest, I punched out a Pretty Label in Melon Mambo and cut it in half, arranging it to show behind the sentiment.

I hope you like my interpretation, it just goes to show that inspiration can be all around us in all sorts of objects.

Bev🎕

Thank you for viewing my blog today. I'd be very happy to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator if you don't already have one. If you would like a copy of the current catalogue, I can arrange for you to receive one if you contact me.

If you'd like to place an order for any current items, please click on the "Shop With Me 24/7" button near the top of the page or alternately, click on the product links below.