Lavenderstamper: 2009

Thursday, 24 December 2009

Alll that hard work

Well as they say the best laid plans!!!!

All the work I put into the scrapbook for my Mum as she chose to be on her own this Christmas looks like it has gone to waste. I posted the three large parcels on Saturday & they still haven't arrived & the parcel with my Grandsons presents in we paid to have 48hr guaranteed at exhorbitant cost still hasn't arrived, some 5 days later & parcelforce just dont care.

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Sale~A~Bration is coming

Well its that time of year again when Stampin Up! are still in the Giving mood!
From 30th December - 28th February 2010, Spend £45 on Stampin Up! products from their current catalogue and receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set of your choice.

If you have ever considered becoming a Stampin Up! demonstrator now is the time, Join Stampin Up! as a demonstrator during the Sale-A-Bration and you can choice any stamp set in the current 2010 catalogue!

If you would like to place a qualifying order during Sale-A-Bration, not only will you receive one of four stamp sets of your choice for FREE (see below) you will also receive free P&P saving you £3.95

Saturday, 19 December 2009

Special card

I have been asked by Paul to make some special cards for one of the guys he works with for his wife & parents,

This is the inside of the double extender card

So I used some of my Stampin' Up papers & stamps

Top tip when cutting the cardstock always start by cutting your largest pieces first

Base cardstock

One 8" x 6" base (A), two 6" x 6" front pieces (B) & two 12" x 6" extender pieces (C)

Co-ordinating cardstock

Two 1 3/4" x 5 3/4" pieces
eight 1 3/4" x 1 1/4" pieces
two 1 1/2" x 5 3/4" pieces

Patterned papers

Two 3 3/4" x 2 3/" pieces
three 3 3/4" x 5 3/4" pieces
two 1 1//2" x 5 1/2" pieces
eight 1" x 1 1/2" pieces
four 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" pieces
four 3 3/4" x 1 1/4" pieces
two 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" pieces

30" piece of ribbon
adhesive
front embellishments

Base ~ mark centre line down base piece (A) and set aside

Extending sides ~
Scoring ~ using both pieces (c) create sides as folows:- lay horizontally, score from top to bottom at 2" in from the left edge again at 4" from the edge, turn sheet 180 degrees and score 2" from edge & again at 4" on both pieces of card. Looking at the pieces the lines should be symettrical.

Cutting ~ Turn vertically & mark 1 1/2" from left edge & cut from 1st score to last score, flip 180 degrees & repeat, on both pieces of card.

Folding ~ fold on all score lines, with the first fold being a mountain fold, second is a valley fold, third is mountain and fourth is a valley fold.
Now push 2 centre folds in opposite directions & concertina fold card closed. The front panel should form a 'T' shape that has been turned sideways. Do the same to the second piece of card.

Front panels ~ Working from top to bottom score 2" in from one side to create a score line thats a third of the way in on both pieces of card.

Assembling Project

Secure last scored section of left extending panel to base at the left and just up to the centre line. repeat for the right extending panel working to create the opposite side ( glue the 2" panel & the middle section of the extending panel ) . Add front panels to remaining outer edges by 'tucking' 2" section behind extending panels. Your project should now close & extend outwards in both directions when opened up.

Decorating panels

Decorate larger panels with larger sized pieces as above just using patterned papers and remaining pieces of co-ordinating cardstock.

Ribbon ~ add ribbon across front of project to tie closed at right side.

Decorate the front and internal panels with embellishments, pictures and text as desired.

All cardstock, papers & stamped images except the greeting are copyright Stampin' Up and are available to purchase through me as a creative consultant reprsenting Stampin' Up

Thursday, 17 December 2009

December daily

Anyone else doing the Ali Edwards inspired December daily?

Well how are you doing? I am sure that its better than me, despite having crafted everyday for the past week I still haven't done a single project for myself. I have made cards, 20 scrapbook pages, 100+ gift tags. I have started the december daily & prepped all of the pages, printed all of the acetate overlays & put the book together, where I have been doing all of the homemade Christmas projects I have been taking the pictures & in a note book I have kept a daily diary of the happenings of our household so when I get sometime this week I can catch up on my December daily.

One thing I have learnt this year is to start in November & get my December daily ready well in advance, this year I collected all of the components together & boxed them up, but didn't do any other prep. Ali edwards is an inspiration & I have spent ages on her blog being inspired.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

I am loving the homemade Christmas

The scrapbook for Mum is finally finished, here are the last few layouts. I have really enjoyed the challenge of 20 layouts from 2009. That was until we were at the crop last week chatting to Alison & she commended me on using my best papers on projects that are being given away, only or Abi to reply that it was okay as we would get the scrapbook back in time, when my Mum falls of the twig, Out of the mouths of babes!!

I have just weighed the scrapbook when it's all packed up & it weighs in at a chunky 2kg so that is going to be costly to post, ........ £8.50 to be exact......Wow

Sunday, 13 December 2009

Homemade Christmas ~ Update

I have managed to complete a few more layouts for the album I am making for my Mum, I have to get it finished by Wednesday so I have been working on it all afternoon since we got back from the city with some more Christmas shopping.

Christmas portraits

Christmas Portraits

I had the kids do each others Christmas portraits for the last page of my Mum's scrapbook album.I love the results.

Saturday, 12 December 2009

Just 13 days to go

Just 13 short days to go to the big day & for once I feel in control in Christmas & not the other way round, with Christmas being in control of me as it usually is.
Today Abi & I went over to Thorpe marriott to the crop & I managed to complete 2 layouts for Mum's album whilst chatting with Alison.

When I got home my lovely little netbook had arrived, did I say it is a beautiful festive red. I love it.

Monday, 7 December 2009

Day 3 of a homemade Christmas

The creativity continues
I have managed to make a few more layouts, mainly for my Mums album.

This one is for my own album,

just documenting how much I am lovin the Ltd edition Starbucks Eggnog Latte.

Oh & that reminds me Dear Santa...I have been good all year...its just a misunderstanding on other peoples part for stuff that I have said or done ; )

If you hapen to be passing a store that sells American craft albums I need a new 12 x 12 album preferably with a red spine for my seasonal layouts.
Thanks Santa
XX

Tonight I am going to play catch up on my December daily, I am loving journaling the festive month & I think this is the first time for many years that I have felt that I am in control of Christmas rather than the other way around.

Sunday, 6 December 2009

Day 2 of a homemade Christmas

I hope that your all having a lovely weekend, I am still having a homemade Christmas day.
Today I am working on pages for a scrapbok for my Mum. My mum has decided not to come to us for Christmas this year & whilst I was upset when she first told me as i'm an only child this will mean that she's on her own, But she has made her decision & I have to respect that. So I decided I would make her a scrapbook, she doesn't have internet access so she doesn't see the updates I make as to what we have done throughout the year, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
I have scrapbooking kits & stash all over the dining table & disney movies on a perfect day. Abi is in the craft room doing some more pages to her mini books.

Here are some of the pages I have made so far.