Well the weather feels wintry so here is a card to match

 With the weather so Wintry I decided that a card to match was what was needed, The base of the card is Bashful Blue & I used one of the Serene Snowflake stamps to stamp a background pattern with Night of Navy ink. The main panel is stamped on Very Vanilla card stock & mounted on a layer of Night of Navy. The tree's from Lovely as a Tree are stamped onto the layer in Garden Green. The misty background is Marina mist applied using a sponge Dauber.
The Deer from the Winter Post set is stamped in Early Espresso in front of the tree's. To make the snow effect I used the Versamark pen to scatter the snow, this was sprinkled with heat & stick powder, heated using my heat gun & when melted I sprinkled on Dazzling diamonds & heated briefly until set.

All of the above products are from Stampin' Up & are available to purchase through me.

Using up the leftovers

Every now & again I have a little tidy up in my little room and then bits & pieces from previous make & takes make there way to the top of the pile & this is how this card came about. A few weeks ago I was experimenting with my Pocket Silhouettes set & had made up the scalloped embellishments using Pretty in Pink Ink & cardstock, Melon Mambo Ink & Cardstock & Rich Razzleberry Ink & cardstock. So all that was left for me to do was mount them & make them into a card.

The base of the card is Melon Mambo & the strips of Rich Razzleberry were stamped with Rich Razzleberry ink using the So swirly wheel.

More Simply Scrappin' Christmas Jingle

Another Christmas card using papers from the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' kit.

How simple is this card I may use it as my card to send out this year. The trees are hand cut from the Christmas Jingle papers & inked around the edges using Early Espresso ink. The tree trunks are cut from Early Espresso card using the Word Window punch, half on the edge of the page. The bow is a folded bow & stitched under the button so it is hidden. The button comes from the Brights collection.
I love the simplicity of this card & it would be quite quick to make up in batches.

Technique Thursday

EMBOSS RESIST Directions: 1) Stamp and heat emboss your image. Allow image to cool. 2) Apply ink directly to the paper (over and around the embossed image) using a sponge or brayer. 3) Wipe the embossed image with a tissue to remove the excess ink. Variation: watercolor resist 1) Once you've embossed an image, scribble around and over the image using a Watercolor Wonder Crayon, and blend using an Aqua Painter. Wipe the color from the embossed image, and allow to dry completely.

What a mixed bag !!

What a week!! 
Since I last  updated you with my ramblings I have a had a funny week. Firstly Paul gave up smoking Last Friday 1st October & he is still doing very well & I haven't had the urge to walk the dog! He is very calm & laid back about it all. 
On Saturday morning I realised that I had survived a whole week with my half empty nest situation & more too the point Dan had survived his first week of Uni without any major incidents, I was having a cup of tea at 8 o'clock & it dawned on me just a week earlier I was sitting doing exactly the same but breaking my heart about Dan going away, we both survived the week so that was an experience.
Saturday also saw my first crop which was lovely & I had 14 Ladies that all came along for some crafting time & some lovely home baked Lemon Drizzle cake, Oatmeal & Raisin cookies & Chocolate Brownies, all made by Paul as I now work All day on a Friday.
I also started my new working hours & now have 2 full days where I work from home, so far I haven't managed to achieve much as On Thursday last week I had an appointment with a small business adviser & Abi off school following her Physio assessment.
Monday was a working from home day where I managed to get a few samples made & the classes sorted for my new stampers 6 group Monday evening.
Today has been a very weird day firstly I was working at the demo table opposite the lift & the lift was out of order. 

Seriously if the lift sign says out of order !! & they entrance is blocked off , do you still think its a good idea to move the barrier & use the lift?? apparently if the doors open it constitutes a working lift according to some of our customers.!!! This went on repeatedly over a period of 4 hours, I really thought that Jeremy Beadle was going to pop up & say " you've been framed"
A serious amount of twisted logic in store today.

I was forward planning some Christmas ranges today & that got me thinking about what Christmas means to me & I remembered that it will soon be time for the Starbucks red cups, for anyone not in the know that's when the red cups come out filled with deliciousness otherwise known as Eggnogg Latte 530 Calories in a paper cup.

 Well as I popped into Starbucks on my lunch break to enquire about said Red cups it seemed rude not to have a drink whilst I was there So a small Vanilla Latte, my first Coffee since last December when they retired the Red cups...............I was certainly buzzin this afternoon. By the way the red cups are already in-store ready for release in the next few weeks

The Afternoon did improve significantly with the arrival of 6 firemen, without the need of a fire or whole store evacuation this was a real result, because if you didn't know before you all now know that fireman have a very strange effect on me, There is definitely something seriously sexy about a fireman.

Tomorrow is a working from home day so I'm sure that it will be uneventful. But I do have plans for the weekend On Saturday I plan to have a day making seasonal Punch art, so watch this space & Sunday is Stir Up Sunday when I plan to make the Christmas cake & Christmas puddings, that reminds me if anyone has a good Christmas cake recipe please feel free to pass it on.

Well I guess that only leaves me one thing left to do & that's to leave you with my random thought of the day.

Why do they put locks on the doors of 24-hour stores? 

Why is it called rush hour when everything moves so slow? 

Christmas is Coming

I am loving the Simply Scrappin' Kit Christmas Jingle it is Sadly only available Whilst stocks Last but it represents great Value for money as there is so much in there you could probably make at least 20 cards using the papers & embellishments with just the addition of some extra Cardstock & adhesive.  So here are just two cards using some of the kit.

 The card stock for these cards is Real Red, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White.
The inks are Cherry Cobbler & Old Olive.
That stamp set Seasons of joy has made another appearance this week as the focal point of these two cards.
Additional items used are Word window punch, 1/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, Vintage Brads & the bling is the lovely Rhinestone Jewels from the new Stampin' Up catalogue.
All of the papers & other embellishments are from the Simply Scrappin' Kit Christmas Jingle.

A new stampers 6

Last night was the first meeting of my new Stampers 6

There were only 4 ladies last night but we got off to a great start & made some lovely cards using one of my favourite sets Seasons of Joy.

 I don't often make A5 cards but it worked really well for this design.

The base of the card is very vanilla with an Old Olive layer. The tree from Seasons of joy was stamped onto Vary Vanilla cardstock in Old Olive & the lovely versatile swirl from the set was stamped across the corners in Cherry Cobbler, cant you tell I love swirls. next I stamped the Bella Toile stamp onto Very Vanilla using the beautiful festive Cherry Cobbler ink. I then used 1 1/8" square punch to punch out 14 squares, I recommend that you layout all of the elements of the card before gluing anything down.

The greeting is from Sincere salutations & is again stamped in Cherry Cobbler, can you see a pattern forming here. The greeting was punched using the scallop oval. I finished the card off using a rhinestone jewel on the star of the tree & a ribbon wrap using Very Vanilla Tafetta.

 The above picture is the second card we made which is a slider card & the picture below is the card when it slides open.

The slider card is made from Rich Razzleberry card stock which has been scored at 3 3/4" - 7 1/2" and folded on both score lines. Yo then need two layers one for the inside of the card & one for the layers on the front of the card. I have used the same colours inside that I have used on the front.

2 pieces of Pretty In Pink 9 cm x 14 cm

2 pieces of Whisper white card 8.5 cm x 13.5 cm

( sorry for the mixed measurements but my scoring board is American & in inches & my cutter is in cm)

These pieces make up the layers but I do recommend stamping them before mounting them.

Again this card although not Christmas it uses the swirl from Seasons of Joy Christmas stamp set.

On the front the swirl was stamped in Pink Pirouette twice freehand & then stamped as a shadow in Early Espresso using the Stamp a ma jig to line them up. On the inside Layer the greeting from Sincere salutations is stamped at the top of the Whisper White cardstock & the swirls at the bottom again in Early Espresso.

On the Pretty in Pink card two of the Butterfly solid stamps from Flight of the Butterfly in Pretty In Pink ink & punched out using the butterfly punch. Then using Melon Mambo ink stamp two of the flower butterflies onto vellum & quickly sprinkle with Heat & Stick powder, Heat & whilst still hot sprinkle with Dazzling diamonds glitter & heat too set. Punch these two butterflies out & assemble using glue dots.on the centre of each butterfly allowing for movement in the wings.

Additional supplies 1" circle punch, 1 /4" Square punch, 36cm White Grosgrain ribbon.

Poem for a friend

POEM FOR A FRIEND
AN ERASER, SO YOU CAN MAKE ALL MISTAKES DISAPPEAR, 
A PENNY SO YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO SAY "I'M BROKE",
A MARBLE IN CASE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LOSING YOUR MARBLES AT TIMES, 
A RUBBER BAND TO STRETCH YOURSELF BEYOND NORMAL LIMITS, 
A PIECE OF STRING TO TIE THINGS TOGETHER WHEN EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART, A BUTTON FOR YOUR LIPS SO YOU'LL ALWAYS THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK, 
A KNOT SO WHEN YOU REACH THE END OF YOUR ROPE THERE'S STILL SOMETHING TO HANG ON TO, 
AND A HUG AND A KISS TO REMIND YOU THAT SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE REALLY CARES ABOUT YOU

Christmas is coming & I am loving preparing for it

Okay day three of Delightful decorations

What can I say this is such a versatile set. for the stripy bauble I have used the matching punch & the papers from the simply scrappin' kit Christmas Jingle.

The inks are Real Red Old Olive & whisper white.

I will be back tomorrow with some more samples using some of the other fabulous stamp sets from the new catalogue.

If you would like to order any of the above products contact me to place an order.

Delightful decorations, take two

I am already loving this Delightful decorations set, In this card I have used Perfect plum papers & Perfect plum designer series papers, The scallop border is cut from Elegant eggplant cardstock.I stamped 4 images of the decoration the first ornament was glued flat onto the card & the other three ornaments after being stamped in Elegant eggplant I went over the images with Versamark ink & covered the images with Clear embossing powder & heated with the heat gun which gives them a lovely shiny surface. The remaining three images are folded in half through the middle & glued back to back to make a 3D decoration.

All of the above products are from Stampin' Up & are available to purchase through me.

Delightful decorations & I can now share them with you

Whooooo New catalogue release day is officially here & I can share my excitement with you

I have been waiting to share this card with you Delightful decorations is one of the fabulous new stamp sets in the new ideas catalogue, I have also used Lovely as a tree for the branches Stamped in Old olive ink. The two decorations are punched out using the matching punch. The dotty decoration is from one of the stamps & the swirly red ornament is stamped in Versamark & heat embossed with white embossing powder using the swirl stamp from Baroque motifs, which has to be my favourite ever stamp. The Red dots are made using the Real red Stampin' Write pen & covered with Crystal Lacquer. The ornaments are both popped up using Stampin' dimensionals.

All of the above are from Stampin' Up & are available to purchase through me as an independent demonstrator.

New Punch design

Starting with the new 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog and continuing with all new punch designs going forward, Stampin' Up! has adopted a new body style for our punches!
A few features of the new punch style:

• Low-profile, rectangular punch body allows for easier stacking and storing
• Punches lock shut for easier storage and transport
• Dual labels on top and end allow for easy identification and selection when stored
• Available in three sizes: small, medium, and extra-large
• New punches allow for larger punched images and more intricate designs while providing greater ease of use.
• Extra -large punch images also allow for two-step designs like the Two-Step Bird punch in the Occasions Mini Catalog
• Corner punches allow you to punch a corner design along the inside edges of a page, not just corners
• larger, whole-hand handle design provides better leverage for easier use
• Available in an exclusive Stampin' Up! colour

Image © Stampin' Up

Clear Mount Rubber Stamps

Starting with the 2010 / 2011  catalogue, Stampin' Up! now offers repositionable, clear-mount rubber stamps--in addition to our award-winning wood-mount rubber stamps! These new clear-mount stamps are designed to maintain the unbeatable image quality you love about traditional Stampin' Up! stamps, while at the same time offering the flexibility, ease of use, and storability inherent in repositionable rubber stamps. Contact me to to learn more about this clear new option!

Clear-Mount Rubber Stamp Features

• Nine different sizes of clear blocks available individually or as a discounted bundle.
• Blocks have ergonomic grooves on all four sides for easy grip and traditional wood-mount feel.
• Stamps and blocks are durable and easy to clean with your Stampin' Scrub and Stampin' Mist.
• Optional image labels on stamp backs let you decide if you want to see the image through the block or not.
• Tight die-cutting for easy image positioning.
• Large clear blocks can be used to create collages or spell words with alphabet sets.
• Stamps store easily in standard, DVD-type cases with artwork on front and spine, making organization easy.

Image © Stampin' Up

TWO-STEP PUNCHES ~ WHAT ARE THEY?

You’ll love our new flat punch style that features a larger cutting surface and a sleeker body, giving you greater cutting precision, better punching leverage, and space-saving storage. But even more exciting is that with this new punch style, we’re introducing a new type of punch—the Two –Step punch—which offers you more than one image in a single punch! Layer these images together in a creative collage or singly as a simple accent. It’s like getting multiple punches in one! Use our Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch to layer your own bird on a branch using a variety of card stock and paper. Let your creativity flow with punches!

Shimmer Paint ~ What is it?

SHIMMER PAINT

Add a bit of shimmer with our acid-free shimmer paint. Shimmer paint adds a vibrant dimension that enhances the look of anything without actually changing its basic appearance.

Plus, shimmer paint is pigment ink, so you can do almost anything with it that you can do with ink--you can stamp with it, cover an entire section of card stock or paper with it, or apply it over a stamped image or Rub-On. Apply it with a sponge or sponge dauber directly to a stamp or paper.

• Available in 3 colours: Champagne Mist, Frost White, and Platinum
• 0.5 oz. each
• Non toxic

To order your shimmer paint, contact me via e-mail or leave a comment on this post.

Sneak peep #4

Cute by the inch is one of the beautiful Level 2 hostess sets that you cannot buy & are only available to hostess's during the coming year.
What Occasion would you use this card for?

Wedding?
Anniversary?
Just to say I love you or I'm thinking about you?
Thank you
Just about any occasion that you can think of would suit this card
The base of the card is Basic Black with an embossed layer of Whisper White, Mounted on that is another layer of Basic Black card that has been edged with the New Scallop Trim Border punch. The stamped images are from the Cute By The Inch Level 2 Hostess set, this is just 2 of the 9 stamps in the set. These are stamped in Basic Black & Cherry Cobbler & cut using a 1" Square punch & matted onto squares cut with a 1 1/8" square punch from Cherry Cobbler card.
All of the products on this card will be available to purchase from Tomorrow 1st October. I think that Cherry Cobbler is going to be one of my favourite colours this winter.

Sneak peep #3

Well here is my favourite of the first batch of sneak peep cards I just love the freshness of this card.

The colours on this card are Old Olive, Whisper White & Garden Green ( despite the awful photo, I cant seem to get any good lighting today ).

The colours of the Ink are Old Olive, Wild Wasabi & daffodil delight. The stamps are the Level 2 hostess set is Cute By The Inch, Fresh Cuts & Pocket Silhouettes. The accessories on this card are the 1/2" circle punch and the lovely new Extra Large Petal punch 119273, Two step bird punch, also new is the bling on the centre of the flower.

Please contact me if you would like to see a new catalogue or place an order.

Sneak peep #2

Well if the first sample did't wet your appetite for this level 2 hostess set then maybe this will help you make up your mind to book a party with me or one of my fellow creative coaches.

I just love this card the base of the card is Kraft card, which I still cant get used to call it Crumb cake which will be it's new name from tomorrow, The other card stock colours are Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Old Olive & Whisper White. The stamp set is Cute By the Inch a Level 2 hostess set, the sentiment is from Bella's Bloom ( retiring 30/9/10 ). The accessories are 1" square punch, the new Large curly label punch & Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon.

This set is only available to a Stampin' Up hostess, please contact me if you would like to ost a party or event.

Sneak peep #1

Well it is nearly time to unveil the new Stampin' Up catalogue for 2010 ~ 2011. The set featured in the first of the sneak peeps is a Level 2 hostess set that has caught my eye. This is a hostess only set & is only available if you host a party with qualifying sales or join a Stampers 6 or Stampers 10 group that has the appropriate level of qualifying sales.

The stamp set is called cute by the inch and has some lovely stamps that are suitable for a variety of different occasions & is exceptionally versatile. The card base is Night of Navy with the addition of some lovely Bashful Blue cardstock. I have stamped with the Night of Navy ink on just 2 of the lovely stamps. Accessories used on this card are 1" square punch, Bella Bleu papers that are retiring at midnight tonight. The paper piercing tool & the pricking mat set are still in the new catalogue. The brads are from the current Earth elements set, from 1st October the brads will be in new colour families which you are going to love.

If you would like to book a party to be in with a chance of getting this fab set as your hostess gift then please contact me, or if you would like to join one of my stamping groups please contact me.

New Crop starting this weekend

Yes the rumours are true I am starting a new crafting group / Crop Called Creative Moments

The group is a social crafting group so everyone is welcome whether you are a card maker, Scrapbooker, Patchworker, Knitter etc.....Basically if your craft is portable then come & join us.

The first meeting is Saturday 2nd October
10.00 ~ 16.00
Where the United reform Church, Jessop road, NR2 3NG

In the large hall to the side of the church
Cost £5 including light  refreshments
( lunch is not included ) but there is a parade of shops very close which includes a Dominos pizza & Chinese.

Sharon a fellow Stampin' Up demo will be doing a make & take Stamping class ~ A small charge for this class, just bring your own scissors.

Karen from Craftbuddies will be bringing her papercrafting shop so you will be able to stock up on craft stash.

October 4th is also World Card Making day
Be amongst the first to see the newly released products at the  launch of the brand new Stampin' Up catalogue

Scrapbook Layout challenge ~ I will post a layout or colour challenge on my blog on the 15th September. To take part make a layout using the sketch at the crop or bring a layout with you. Layouts will be displayed & a winner chosen, I will provide a prize for the winner & photograph the layouts for my blog for inspiration for others. The prize this month is a lovely Stampin' Up Christmas papercrafting kit.

At each meeting I will have sale tables available so if you have an overstock of craft items that you wish to sell then feel free to use one of the tables.

Octobers meeting will have a scrapbook layout challenge so watch out for details on the creative moments blog.
http://creativemoments-crop.blogspot.com/

Please let me know if you would like to join us as places are limited.
you can contact me

E~mail
lovellsinnorfolk@hotmail.co.uk
Mobile
07722779399

Many Thanks

The excitement is building

Well it is finally hear the last day of the current Stampin' up catalogue & mini catalogue. There are still some bargains to be had, but I will need the order by 4pm today to get it processed before the deadline this evening. But the best news is the beautiful new catalogue will be available online & you can order from it from tomorrow 1st October.

The card uses two stamp sets that aren't being retired Garden Whimsy & Basic phrases, both are going to be in the new catalogue.

The cardstock colours are Old olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White & Real red. The inks are Old olive & Real red. The accessories that also feature on this card are Spiral punch, Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8 circle punch & Stamp a ma jig.

All of the items that I have used on this card are not being retired so you can loo forward to seeing them in the new catalogue tomorrow.

Technique Thursday

MASKING

1]   Stamp image on card stock.

2]   Stamp it again on a piece of scratch paper.
3]   Cut carefully around the scratch paper image, cutting just inside the lines; this will be your mask.
4]   Place the mask on top of the card stock image.
5]   Stamp another image over a portion of the mask to create layered, interacting images.
6]   Remove the mask to see the finished look. 
7]   To stamp a partial image, use tape to cover the part of the stamp you don't want to appear, ink the stamp, remove the tape, and stamp the image.
QUICK TIP 
To ensure that the mask stays in place, stamp image on a Post-It® note.

What a weekend

What an emotional rollercoaster this weekend is turning out to be, yesterday we took Dan t Nottingham to start his University journey for the next 4 years of his life. I have been fine all the way through his preparations for Uni, until Saturday morning when his stuff was being loaded into the car, I took one look in the mirror & suddenly it hit me like a tidal wave that I had a son going to Uni. I am so amazingly proud of Dan.

I did manage to pull myself together for the rest of the day & took him shopping in Tesco for his first food shop & kept reminding him to look for the BOGOF offers & make the most of his money. I am lucky as both my children can cook properly. After we went back to his accommodation we unpacked the food & as we came out of the kitchen another Mum was leaving her son & breaking her heart, that was it the tears started again.

Well I survived the emotional day & Dan ended up with a very soggy shoulder. But he is settling in well & I am sure that he will make the most of the amazing opportunity.

Well the nest is a little emptier today, but we have a very busy day as I am taking a coach load of crafters from Norwich down to Alexandra palace in London for the big Stamping & scrapbooking show.

Well the picnic is packed and with my chipboard in hand I am off to meet the coach and the crafty ladies eager for some stash shopping.

It's finished

 Well as promised the first of the 'can can' scarves is finished & Abi is modelling it beautifully. This knits up so quickly & I did over a metre in a couple of hours whilst watching the soaps. If anyone is looking for this yarn it is stocked in Jarrolds in Norwich & they can post it out to you.

I am currently working on two more of these scarves in Autumnal colours and another in beautiful greens, I will be back to show you those when there finished.