A Foxy Friend For Global Design Project!

Hi! I am popping in super quickly with my card for Global Design Project – it’s totally last minute! Mine and hubby’s plans for a new mattress and sofa took on epic proportions as we have trailed round so many stores looking at possible options, looking online for prices comparisons, beating down salesmen – you name it!

After 2 long days shopping, we have a mattress on order and the sofa is chosen, we are just waiting on fabric samples now to make a final decision on colour. Furniture is picked out, but we need to coordinate on all our deliveries so we can get time to paint the lounge before the new stuff arrives! Whew!

So, whilst I made my card, finding time to post it on the blog has been a struggle, but better late than never, right?

This week’s challenge at GDP was a theme of animals/pets! As I discussed in yesterday’s Facebook Live, this was a tricky subject for me as I’m not an animal person by nature. However, a couple of sets in my collection fitted the bill, and I went with Mr Foxy…

I incorporated a few elements from previous cards into this one – the leaf base for him to sit on, the cloud edge to the white panel using my Detailed Floral Edgelit – and I love Mr Foxy in Delightful Dijon!

I also wanted to bring you a quick public service announcement! At some point over the weekend (probably tomorrow night) the blog may go down for a short while. This is to allow for my lovely website lady to transition me from WordPress across to my new host provider. Moving to self-hosted wordpress will allow to do all kinds of things here on the blog that just haven’t been possible previously, and I can’t wait for the move! We’re not sure how long the blog will be down for it – it could be as little as 10 minutes, it could take as long as 24 hours. Please be assured though, that we’ll be back up and running as soon as possible, and sharing again as soon as.

I have no idea whether the move will affect bookmarks, RSS feeds or anything, so if you suddenly notice you haven’t had anything from me in a while, that may be why, and you’ll need to resubscribe – but hopefully all these things will stay the same.

I’ll post my Saturday Colour Inspiration on the Stamping With Val Facebook Page tomorrow instead of here, but hopefully normal service will resume on Monday.

See you on the other side,

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

Everything You Need For A Stampin’ Up! Halloween…

Hi! So, it’s half term here with my kids, and we’ve been to the cinema this morning to catch a movie we’d been hoping to see – The Secret Life of Pets! It was so funny! I know we’re late to see it, but at least we got there in the end. Our cinema is offering some special Children in Need screenings this half term, where the proceeds from certain showings are going to the charity, and this was one of them – so that was another great reason for seeing it now.

With just one weekend until Halloween, I thought I do a quick round up of all my recent Stampin’ Up! Halloween projects. That way, if you’re on need of some last minute inspiration, you won’t have to hunt for it – because I’ve collated all together for you! All my projects are quick and easy too, so you won’t need a lot of time to whip some of these up! Some of the projects have videos too!

You can also check out all my Halloween Posts ever by clicking HERE!

Hope you find something to inspire you there – have a spooky week!

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

Always Grateful For The Artisan Design Team Blog Hop

Welcome to the Artisan Design Team Blog Hop for October! The Artisan Design Team is a group of 20 demonstrators worldwide, chosen by Stampin’ Up! to share their creativity. For this hop, we are focusing on a theme of ‘grateful’.

This post’s title kind of says it all really. I will always be grateful for my time on the Artisan Design Team. It has been a total dream to work with some of the best designer demonstrators out there, and to have made new friends all over the world!

When asked what makes Stampin’ Up! for me – I always reply ‘the people’. I love the product, but for me, the people are what make this little business of mine all worthwhile. The customers, all of whom are now my friends. The staff from local and global home offices. The other demonstrators, both in the UK (can’t wait to meet up with lots in a few weeks) and all over the world as we get to know each other virtually. The people who follow the blog and leave kind comments (wink, wink!). I’m grateful for ALL OF YOU!

For this blog hop, I kept things kind of simple – and focused on another thing I’m grateful for – cake! I am always grateful for cake! I wish I could send you all a cake!

For this project, I created a ‘tray’ for my cake using the Stampin’ Up! Paisley & Posies Designer Series Paper. I simply used my baking tin as a kind of template to draw on the back of the card, then cut out and stick together.

I always bake my cakes in liners so they don’t stick to the tin, but they also help with minimising the grease staining onto the card tray too.

I then popped my cake into one of the new Gusseted Cellophane Bags then tied it all up with ribbon from the Ribbon Trio Pack in the Stampin’ Up! Autumn/Winter catalogue.

Finally, I created a tag using a 3×4 card from the All Year Long Project Life Card Collection. I added the sentiment, cut from another PL card, and finished it off with a couple of the cute Copper Mini Pinecones.

Let me know if you’d like more detail on how I created the ‘tray’ for my cake, and I’ll see what I can do.

If you live in the UK, and need any Stampin’ Up! supplies to make this, or any other project, you can get everything you need in my Online Shop. For this project, the items I used are listed below and you can click on any product image to add them to your shopping basket:

What I Used For This Project:

Petals & Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper £11.75	All Year Long Project Life Card Collection £14.50	Mini Pinecones £6.75
6″ X 17″ (15.2 X 43.2 Cm) Gusseted Cellophane Bags £6.00	Ribbon 3/8″ (1 Cm) Trio Pack £10.00	Linen Thread £4.25

Many thanks for stopping by. Please hop onto the lovely Allison in Canada who I’m sure will be grateful to see you!

If you any reason, you find the blog hop breaks at some point, please bear with us and try again in a short while. We do our absolute best to have the hop correct at ‘go live’ time, but sometimes mistakes happen. We aim to fix them ASAP, but we are all at different points in our day (it’s 2am for me so I’m asleep, for example) so it might take us a little while to sort it depending on where the problem is.

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

 

Stampin’ Up! Paper Promotion – Buy 3, Get 4th FREE!

Hi! Middle of the week – nearly time for my little break! Well, I say break – but that may be debatable! The kids have a week off school, so does hubby. The in-laws are visiting for a few days. Did I say break? Hmm!

Anyway, I’m popping in with a quick reminder today about the current Stampin’ Up! Paper Promotion: Buy 3 packs, get a 4th for FREE! It’s a great deal – especially since it includes some of the current Christmas papers too:

This promotion is available until 31st October, so don’t miss out – grab yours now!

This one above is totally my favourite paper! I used it my Candy Cane Packaging Class, which you can still enjoy – it’s all online! Over 2 hours of fun video tutorials and written instructions to create 5 fabulous bags & boxes for you festive gift giving:

I also have a tutorial for the gorgeous Star of Light Card Class available too:

Both tutorials cost just £10 each and are bursting with fun projects and techniques – and you can take part no matter where you are in the world – love that!

Thanks for stopping by today. I’ll be back tomorrow with the Artisan Design Team blog hop – and our theme is all about being grateful. See you then.

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

Stampin’ Up! Paisleys & Posies For Global Design Project

Hi! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend? I must admit that the last few weeks of our busy ‘back to school’ routine has me worn out, and by the weekends, I’m just looking for a rest. It’ll get better/easier as we go on, but for now, me and the kids are looking forward to half term next week!

Today I have a beautiful project for you, and I am so in love with it. I think it looks even better IRL! I was inspired by the current challenge offered by the Global Design Project. Run by a talented group of international designers, they always have an inspiring challenge each week. This week is a sketch, and I love sketch challenges the most!

Check out the sketch:

A classic layout (no wonky bits!) – so I’m in love! Here’s my offering:

I’m sorry to blow my own horn – but I love this card! The base is Crumb Cake, and onto it I’ve white heat embossed a background of elements from the Paisley & Posies stamp set. I’ve then added my sentiment layer – the sentiment itself is from Mixed Borders, with another Paisley element. Finally, I’ve finished it with it with Gold Shimmer Card just peeping out top and bottom of the sentiment layer.

To make this card, you can grab everything you need from my Online Shop – just click the images below to add them to your basket:

What You Need To Make This Project 

Paisleys & Posies Photopolymer Stamp Set £19.00	Mixed Borders Photopolymer Stamp Set £19.00	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad £6.00	Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad £6.00
Versamark Pad £7.75	Gold Glimmer Paper £4.50	White Stampin’ Emboss Powder £4.50	Heat Tool – Uk Plug £27.00

I’m loving this sketch – I’ll be using this one again – maybe even this week!

Many thanks GDP for a great sketch – I’ll be back!

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

Saturday Inspiration – Colour Combination

Hi! Popping in quickly with a fun & festive colour combination for you. Will you get any crafting time this weekend? Have you made a start on your seasonal cards yet? I have made a few for various classes I have done, but I’ve not sat down for a serious Christmas card making session yet. Not sure when I’ll get chance actually! I need to get that scheduled in somewhere, ASAP!

When I make my Christmas cards though, I tend to err on the side of traditional when it comes to colours and style, so this combination is a classic for you:

Did you get the Holly Berry Happiness bundle yet? It’s totally becoming one of my favourites for this year!

I hope you manage to find some crafty time this weekend – enjoy, whatever you’re up to.

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

Star of Light Card Making Class Kits & Online Tutorial – Now Live!

Hi! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week? Mine, as always, has been busy. Amongst providing a taxi service for my children which has become my recent life – I’ve been getting everything ready for the Star of Light Tutorial that is available from today!

I am particularly pleased with the Card Keeper Tutorial that is included. The supplies for this box are not part of the card making kits, but a video tutorial is included with the Online Tutorial sent to everyone purchasing – with or without kits. Would you like to see what it looks like?

This box is designed to hold 12 cards & envelopes – perfect for the Star of Light class. I’ve included a full step-by-step video tutorial for this box in the online class – all 45 minutes of it! It is worth it though, the box looks stunning when finished.

Do you know what else? Because many of my blog visitors and class purchasers are from the US, I have included a full re-design of this box, in inches, to suit your card & envelope sizes!! There is of course, a metric version, for those using EU/SP sized cards/envelopes – no one is left out here!

I can’t wait to share this tutorial with you. If you’d like to purchase your copy, click the button below, and for just £10 (with the rubbish exchange rate right now for the £, this is a bargain in all countries!) the tutorial can be with you in time for some weekend crafting! I’ve sent one batch out today, but I’m happy to send another batch late tonight or early tomorrow morning for those purchasing today so you won’t waste a minute of your weekend craft time!

If you live in the UK, you can purchase a Card Making Kit for this class. The kit included the Star of Light stamp set, plus supplies to make 12 cards (2 each of 6 designs) & envelopes. These will be posted out at the beginning of November, and you’ll receive the tutorial for FREE! You can also choose to add the coordinating Starlight dies at a reduced price – just £20 more!

To register for a card making kit for this class, just click the button below, fill in your details, pay for your class, then sit back and wait for a gorgeous box of Christmas crafting to arrive at your door!

Any questions, please just ask. X

Thanks for stopping by today. I’ll be back tomorrow with another fun Colour Combination – did you like last week’s? You can see it here.

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

Use Your Stampin’ Up! Paper Stash!

Hi! Happy Hump Day! Hope you’re having a fun week? Today, I want to ask you a few questions about your paper stash!

Do you hoard paper? Do you find it too pretty to use, or even cut? Do you buy multiple packs so that you have some to use and some to keep? Perhaps you fear using it in case you think of a better use for it later on?

I have suffered from all these things my friend – you are not alone! In fact, I know this is a common condition amongst crafters – nearly everyone I know has suffered at some time.

Over time, I’ve gotten better, mostly for two reasons. Firstly, by buying from Stampin’ Up!, I know I can easily get some more if I use it. Secondly, I know that Stampin’ Up! will bring out more paper I love just as much really soon! This knowledge has stopped me being quite so precious about using up my paper stash (not perfect, I think I’ll always suffer a bit!). So, when Stampin’ Up! announced their current Paper promotion (buy 3 packs, get a 4th free), it was only right that I make a card using up some of my current stash – so I could justify getting some more of course!

I first showcased this card on my Facebook page during my World Card Making Day celebrations. It’s a great way to use up some of those papers, and it’s such a versatile design, you can turn it into anything! Think weddings, Christmas, baby – cards for all these occasion could be made using this deign.

If you’d like to watch a video of how I created it, you can see it on of my Facebook page – Stamping With Val – or click the link below:

If you fancy giving me a like, or a share while you’re over there, that could be lovely too of course. It also means you’ll see more of the content I share over there.

And if you’d like to add some more paper to your stash, then just click the image below to see all the papers in the offer in my Online Store;

Thanks so much for stopping by today – let me know what your paper stash is like, won’t you?

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

Stampin’ Up! Star Of Light Card Class – Card Making Kits Or Online!

Hi! I hope you had a great weekend? I was lucky enough to have a fairly quiet one, which was lovely. I rejoined my local gym last week though, so I spent a few days aching, and not really getting much done. I’m back and raring to go this week though, and I’m super excited about the news I’m sharing with you today!

I have a brand new class launching using the Stampin’ Up! Star Of Light stamp set. But the really exciting thing is that for the first time ever, I am also offering card-making kits! Check out all the details below:

Star Of Light Christmas Card Making Kit

£40 including delivery (1st Class Signed For) – UK only.

Add on the Starlight Dies for just £20

Online Tutorial only – £10

Deadline to Purchase the Kit: Monday October 24th 2016

Get started on your Christmas card making with the gorgeous Star of Light stamp set from Stampin’ Up! You can’t fail to create stunning cards with this stamp set!

Your Christmas card making kit will include the Star of Light stamp set, supplies to make 12 cards (2 each of 6 designs) and envelopes. You will also receive emailed PDF and video tutorials for all 6 card designs, plus a stunning card-keeper box to store/gift the cards in (tutorial only, no supplies).
You can add on the coordinating Starlight dies for just £20.

Just click the order button below and fill in your details.

You’ll then be sent an email asking you to confirm and pay for the card-making kit you would like.

In order to create the cards exactly as I have, you will also need the following ink pads: Crumb Cake & Marina Mist. The class also utilises Versamark ink pad, white embossing powder and a heat tool. However, you can substitute any of these items for products you already own, or you can purchase anything you need here:

Purchase additional card making supplies here:

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad £6.00	Marina Mist Classic Stampin’ Pad £6.00	Versamark Pad £7.75
White Stampin’ Emboss Powder £4.50	Heat Tool – Uk Plug £27.00

Class Kits will be posted on 1st November. They will be sent 1st Class Signed For, and should arrive in 1-2 days.

Sadly, at this time, I am only able to offer card-making kits to those living in the UK.

However, regardless of where you live in the world, you can still make these projects!

Just purchase the online tutorial below, then purchase the necessary supplies from a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator in your market. All my tutorials come with a full supply list, and I can point you in the direction of a demonstrator in your market if you don’t already have one.

If you would just like to purchase just the Online Tutorial for this class, you can do so using the button below. Classes will be emailed on Friday for all those purchasing between now and then, and then within 48 hours after Friday.

I hope you are as excited about this new adventure in my business as I am – let me know what you think! If you have any questions regarding this class, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX

Halloween Week – Mini Cards!

Hi! Thanks for stopping by again. All this week I’ve been sharing Halloween ideas using several seasonal products from Stampin’ Up! For my final project, I’ve some cute Mini Cards for you:

Sweet and simple – you could have the kids make them to hand out to their friends, or to pop a treat inside.

I’ve used the fabulous bundle; Spooky Fun stamp set and Halloween Scene dies for these cards – it’s my favourite pair of Halloween products from the Stampin’ Up! Autumn/Winter catalogue. These are easy to create, just make an A6 size card base, add a mixture of images and die cuts from the products and add them to your card fronts!

Here’s what I used:

Product List

Spooky Fun Photopolymer Stamps £14.00	Halloween Scenes Edgelits Dies £22.00	Pumpkin Pie A4 Card Stock £7.25	Old Olive A4 Card Stock £7.25
Elegant Eggplant A4 Card Stock £7.25	Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate £7.25	Basic Gray A4 Card Stock £7.25	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad £5.50

Click on any product image to add it to your basket in my online store.

I really hope you’ve enjoyed Halloween week here on the blog – I’ve certainly had fun creating and sharing with you.

Crafty Hugs, Val. XX