Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge 19

So, Dawn has issued another colour challenge over on her blog.  And boy, is it a challenge!

Whilst I love all these colours, I would never have put them together in one project.  So, I dug out my colours – I’ve used Stampin’ Up!’s Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Lavender Lace.  And I stared at them!  Almost gave up!  Stared some more!  Almost gave up again!  Decided just to get on with something!  I had already die cut the butterfly as a trial of my new die (US contraband – courtesy of Ebay!)  And here’s what I finally came up with:

I managed to keep the blue to a minimum by just using a button.  As a lady of a very simple style, 5 colours is a real struggle for me!  Still, I managed it, and I’m pretty happy with the result too.  Hope you like it.  We’re off to my Nephew’s 1st Birthday Party this weekend, so not much crafting for me – too much traveling!  See you here on Monday for Week 9 of Crafty Christmas.  Have a great weekend – especially my visitors from the US – Happy Thanksgiving!

Card, Button and Ribbon – Stampin’ Up!, Stamps – PTI

Anyone for a party…..

I hope you’re all having a good week,  Short but sweet here today.  I’m working hard in the background to get my next Class by Email ready for next week.  I promise, you’re going to love it!!!  I’m also beavering away at Christmas gifts, birthday cards and stuff.  This time of year is always mad for me.  I did have a slight feeling today that I might be getting somewhere – so that’s good!  I’ve managed to get the girls birthday party invites ready.  They will be 3 in two weeks!  With them and their friends being at Pre-School now, and two of their friends (another set of twins) being on holiday at the time, we’re just going to have a small tea party.  I will be handing these invites out tomorrow…

I’ve used the new SU! Cupcakes Wheel, then coloured them in with my Stampin’ Write markers.  The colours are my favourites again – chocolate chip, regal rose, close to cocoa and pretty in pink – look yummy don’t they!  The plan is to have favour boxes on the day to match – we’ll see!  See you back here on Friday.  XX

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like a Crafty Christmas – Week 8!

OMG!  Week 8!  Panic has officially set in!  I still have so much to do.  I have parties planned, samples I want to show at them I haven’t made yet, and all my Christmas preparations to do.  Not to mention the girls birthday cards, party invites and favours!  Oh, and my new Class by Email which will launch (hopefully!) on 1st December.  So, another quick but effective Crafty Christmas project for you this week.  Ever since I saw the wheels that Stampin’ Up! do, my thoughts turned to creating my own wrapping paper.  Your gifts will stand out from everyone else’s – by a mile!

Click here to download PDF tutorial

Stampin’ Up! do several wheels for Christmas, and all of them are gorgeous.  Why not try the Holly one with Old Olive ink, or the So Swirly with Real Red ink.  Have fun playing with your rollers, they are so versatile.  Back on Wednesday again this week.  Til then. XX

12 Blogs of Christmas – Blog Cruise!

Hello, and Welcome to the 12 Blogs of Christmas Blog Cruise.  If you’ve hopped over here from Kara’s blog, then welcome!   Aren’t her projects just fabulous.  I just hope I can measure up the standard of projects you are going to see as you cruise around all these fabulous blogs.  If you’re not quite sure what’s going on, simply read my post, and at the bottom you will have a link to the next Blog in the Cruise.  You will then link from Blog to Blog, until 12 Blogs later you will end up back here!

Right, so are you sitting comfortably?  Have you got a cup of tea?  How about some biccies or other favourite nibble?  Good!  If you’re looking for Christmas inspiration, then look no further than this Blog Cruise.  12 fabulously talented ladies have lined up for you the very best in Christmas projects to keep you sorted for the whole of December.

I’m loving packaging and presentation this year.  3D projects are just my favourite so I had to make a couple to show you.  First up is a gorgeous box.  It would be perfect for all sorts of gifts, but I was thinking a small Christmas cake or Mince pies when I made it.

It’s really very simple to construct.  The base is just a whole piece of 12″ x 12″ card, scored to give a 5″ square base with 3.5″ sides all round.  I’ve then covered the side panels in DSP from Stampin’ Up’s Bella Bleu collection.  The lid is then made from Chocolate Chip card, with a 5″ square top and 1″ sides.  I then tied a length of the NEW Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain around the whole thing.  This stuff is so lovely.  Easy to tie, and gives projects are really luxurious feel.

Here’s a good view from the top.  I’ve added the lovely tag stamp from the Winter Post set – did I mention this is my favourite for this year!  I’ve stamped it in both Real Red and Chocolate Chip, then cut them out and layered them up.  Added a Kraft circle underneath and added it to the box.

Right, on to my second project for you today, and I’m totally in love with this one!  I’ve really gone for a ‘Foodie’ theme with these projects:

It’s a Hot Chocolate mix, presented in it’s own little box!!!  Now the box is a Lauren Meader Template that I have adapted for this occasion.  The base dimensions are the same, I’ve just made it taller to accomodate the jar I’ve used.

Here’s a close up of it.  It’s made from Chocolate Chip card, stamped randomly with the snowflake from Winter Post using Craft White ink.  I’ve then stamped the skaters from the set in Chocolate Chip onto a White card circle, and then layered this onto a Real Red Die cut shape (you could use a larger circle if you don’t have access to a die cutter).  I added a band of Kraft Tafatta ribbon around the box, and mounted the skater panel on top.  The handle has a a length of Real Red Grosgrain tied around it, and again I’ve added the layered tag image.

The jar itself, I think, used to hold coffee (Dowe Egberts?).  I’ve layered all the necessary ingredients into it for delicious Hot Chocolate.  First, 4 tablespoons of Cocoa, then 4 of Sugar.  Next comes a layer of mini chocolate chips, and then it’s finished off with mini marshmallows (as many as I could cram in the jar!)  I then tied it up with more Real Red grosgrain ribbon:

I seem to have forgotten the label in this picture, but it’s the tag stamp again, on a circle of Kraft card.  I’ve then written the mix instructions on the back of it (Add 3 teaspoons of mix into a cup, and pour over hot milk.  Stir and Enjoy!)  Do you know someone who would love this?  I do – and they are getting it for Christmas!  Presents don’t have to be expensive – thoughtful is more important, I think.

Right, that’s all from me.  I hope you’ve enjoyed my projects. Please leave me a comment letting me know what you think, I love hearing from you all.  Now, for the next stop on this fabulous tour, please Hop on over to Shaz’s StampinBoutique, where she has some lovely projects to show you too.  To get to her blog, simply click on the Blog Cruise Logo below:

Don’t forget to come back on Monday for Week 8 of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like a Crafty Christmas (Yes, I know, Week 8 – Panic!)  See you all soon,  Hugs, Val.XX

Unless otherwise stated, all materials used are from Stampin’ Up!

My Nephew’s Birthday….

Here’s a picture of the card I’ve made for my Nephew’s birthday.  He’ll be the grand old age of…..1 next week!  I took this card from the Mini catalogue Stampin’ Up! had earlier in the year, and this card was the sample for the stamp set, Choo Choo!  Sometimes a card is so good, you just have to copy it ‘as is’.

I changed the colours round a little and added the Funky Forest wheel as a background behind my train.  I’m really pleased with it, but I don’t suppose he’ll be all that fussed!  Unless he can chomp on it (he just got his first teeth)!  I’ve bought him a real boy toy for his present.  With two girls I don’t really get to buy boy presents often, so I like to buy what I would buy if I had a boy.

Right, don’t forget to check back here tomorrow for the Blog Cruise – The 12 Blogs of Christmas.

I’ve made my projects, and there’s going to be 12 blogs for you to hop around.  So, come at a time when you can settle back, have a cup of tea and a choccy biccie on hand and just cruise round and soak up all that inspiration!  See you then!  Hugs, Val.XX

It’s coming……

Make sure you come back over to my Blog on the weekend as I will taking part in a Blog Cruise entitled ‘The 12 Blogs of Christmas’.  Basically, you will be able to link from Blog to Blog all the way around 12 Blogs where each person will be showing off some lovely Christmas projects to really get your creative juices flowing.  I will also have two Christmas projects to show you, giving you access to lots of Christmas projects!  That should keep you going all of December!  Check back here on Friday for more details.  Now onto a a quick project inspired once again by Dawn McVey:

This card is really pretty in real life.  And it was super quick to make.  I’ll be back here on Friday with another project and the Blog Cruise on the weekend.  Don’t miss them. X

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like a Crafty Christmas – Week 7

I hope you all had a good weekend?  I’m sorry I wasn’t back on Friday as promised.  Sadly I wasn’t unable to attend the meeting with the other Demonstrators as one of my girls was sick and I didn’t like to leave her.  I missed the last meeting for the same reason!  Maybe next month – fingers crossed!  Anyway, onto this week’s Crafty Christmas project.  I’ve kept it really simple this week for two reasons.  One – I’m short on time!  Two – after a hectic Christmas, you’re probably going to need quick and simple Thank You cards.

Click here to download PDF tutorial

I think Thank You cards should be simple but elegant – after all, it’s what you write inside that’s important.  I’ve used my new Paper Piercing tool and Mat Pack on this card.  It is sooo easy and quick to use!

As I said last week, I’m going to be cutting back on my posts a little, so I will be back on Wednesday with my next one.  I’ll have some news about something happening next weekend you’re not going to want to miss!

Just a quick one….

Sorry there wasn’t a post yesterday, time and life are catching up with me!  I’ve been busy working on the design for my Christmas cards, which I think I’ve decided on now, and I’ve done another sheet of those teapots.  I think in the run up to Christmas I may have to cut back on the number of posts I do.  I’ll still be here regularly, but maybe not every day.  Hopefully once the busy season is over though, I’ll back into it full swing.  Don’t worry, I’ll still have plenty to inspire you.

Here’s a card I made very quickly yesterday.  Inspired once again by Nicole Heady, I made this card using stuff I already own – rather than coveting new stash!!!!  Ok, so I’m still coveting, I just know I can’t have it!

The base card is Stampin’ Up!’s Cameo Coral, stamped with Cameo Coral ink.  Then Basic Grey card, with the leaves heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The sentiment is stamped then in both colours, and the flowers added last.

I wasn’t sure about the colours when I first made it, but it was late and the light was poor.  This morning it looked much better, and as the day has gone on I’ve become more and more pleased with it, and I’m thinking about making a batch as gifts for mine and Paul’s Grandmother’s for Christmas.  I’m off out tonight to meet up with some fellow Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators, so I’m sure I’ll be full of gossip here tomorrow!  See you then. XX

Stamps – PTI, Card & Ink – Stampin’ Up!, Flower Punch and Buttons – from my stash!

CASE’ing Dawn again…

Morning all!  I’m in quite a good mood today.  I’m really pleased with what I have to show you today.  I just wish the idea had been mine!  Have you seen the embellishments Dawn McVey has been making over on her site?  They are absolutely to die for, and I just had to copy them.  Follow the link to see Dawn’s originals, while here are my attempts:

Aren’t they just the cutest little embellishments you’ve ever seen!  I’m completely in love with them.  I’ve been stamping teapots like mad, so I’ve got enough stamped for about 6 sheets of these.  Just got to cut them all out now!  I’m going to use them in my Christmas gifts.  I’ve use Stampin’ Up! colours of Real Red, Chocolate Chip and Tempting Turquoise along with some of their Designer Buttons and Linen Thread.  Here’s a close up:

You should also take a look at Dawn’s butterfly embellishments here.  These are also absolutely fabulous.  So much so, that I just had to have the Sizzix Die she used to make them.  However, it is a Stampin’ Up! exclusive die and only available in the US.  So, sad as I am, I stayed up til midnight on Sunday night to place a last second bid on Ebay to claim my own – I won it!!!!  Just have to wait for it arrive over here.  Once I’ve made them, I’ll show them on here.

Have a great day, and see you back here soon.

 

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like a Crafty Christmas – Week 6

We’re now halfway through my Crafty Christmas feature – which also means we’re halfway nearer to Christmas – and I am so not ready!!!  I made some lists this weekend of all the things I’d like to achieve by Christmas – room by room.  They are HUGE!  Will I get it all done?  Who knows!  I’ll give it a good go.  Good job I work best under pressure!  Right, on to this weeks tutorial.  Now, I made this card a couple of weeks ago.  But I don’t normally make square cards and I had no idea what to do about envelopes.  But then my friend Miriam reminded me about something she had seen on Andrea Walford’s site about 4″ square cards and how to make envelopes for them from ordinary sized ones.  Perfect, so thankyou Miriam for reminding me of this.

Click here to download the PDF tutorial

I struggled a little with the instructions for how to create the new flap for the envelope, so I hope they make sense.  To see Andrea’s original project, and perhaps a better explanation of how the envelope is made CLICK HERE.  She used DSP instead of card, but the principal is the same.  She also made a cute little box to put her cards in, and you could do the same with this card and turn it into a gift for someone.  Have fun.  I hope you’re enjoying all the tutorials.