At long last the great unveiling!

So, it's the 1st of October, so you know what that means - Stampin' Up!'s new Idea Book and Catalogue goes live at 11am today!!

Being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I was very fortunate to be able to pre-order certain items to have a 'play' with before today. This is my first offering to you - I used the gorgeous, gorgeous new Designer Papers called Greenhouse Gala along with the new dark brown (my new black!!) Early Espresso.

These papers have three of my 'got to have' new colours, Baha Breeze, Early Espresso and the new In Color Pear Pizzazz. "What's an In Color?", I hear you say - we are getting an extra five new colours every year that will last two years, and Pear Pizzazz is amongst our first release! Stock up, it's gorgeous!

Stampin' Up! have made soooo many changes for me to tell you about that this would be a very long post. The main changes come in the form of; out with the old and in with the new colours (we have been telling you of this for a while); flat rate of £4.95 postage per order, by the uber-efficient UPS (no more will it or won't it come today!!); a different designed punch and LOTS more shapes; ribbon galore; and, more importantly, more stamp sets!

If you haven't got a copy of the new Idea Book and Catalogue, order one now!!!

Take care until next time ......

Kelly

A cute box from scrap!

Whilst making a Basic Black box to fit a pressie into, I got it completely wrong and the lid didn't fit.............but, did I throw the lid away? Of course not, I kept it! It has been in my craft room for a while and then when making another box and getting the measurements wrong (again!) this gave me the base!!!! Remember, never throw anything away.................

All I added was a bow of the gorgeous black and white striped grosgrain ribbon around the box base. For the top I added a couple of flowers from the Pretties Kit, with a Certainly Celery flower punched using the 5 Petal Punch, a circle of the ribbon and a Crystal brad from the Pretties Kit held it all together. The foliage is punched from Certainly Celery using the branch from the Bird punch.

All Items Stampin' Up!

Card: Certainly Celery, Basic Black

Pretties Kit

Bird Punch

5 Petal Punch

Another pyramid card...

While I was putting the finishing touches to yesterday's card my Mum called in, and, of course, I had to show her how to make one. I grabbed a sheet of Pink Passion and just made the base card.

After she had left, and because I had the paper on my desk, I finished it off using Night and Day papers and the Circle Circus stamp set stamped in Basic Black and Pink Passion.

Not sure is it is finished though.....................

All Items Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Circle Circus, Tiny Tags (mini)
Card: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Pink Passion
Paper: Night and Day Speciality Paper pack
Scallop Circle punch
1 3/4" circle punch
1" circle punch
3/4" circle punch

Pyramid Card for Helen

My Stampin' Up! upline, Helen, showed me this card on the web (stampowl.blogspot.com) knowing I would have to have a go, then I could show her how to do it - crafty(!) isn't she!!

I used one of my least favourite colours, Green Galore, as I was just having a go, and teamed it with the black polka dot paper from the Night and Day speciality designer paper pack (Mini). As the card started to come together I could see the large flowers from the Greenhouse Garden stamp set falling down the front, stamped using Green Galore and Basic Black. I tied this version together with some of the white grosgrain ribbon that I inked using Basic Black (as Stampin' Up don't have a plain black ribbon - YET (hopefully - please!)). The small sentiment is from the Tiny Tags stamp set (Mini) which I punched out with the Word Window punch and layered onto basic black. I also punched out the branch from the new bird punch (Mini) in the same colours.

Take 3 pieces of 10cm x 10cm card and fold them corner to corner to form a triange. Open them out. Lay the first piece down with the fold going from top left to bottom right. Take the second piece, and with the fold going from top to bottom (so it looks like a diamond) line the top right edge up to the fold of the first piece (corners must meet in the middle at the top) and stick. The last square needs to have the fold going from top right to bottom left, stick this to the diamond shaped second piece, again lining the top right straight edge up to the fold of the second (diamond) piece. Once all the pieces are glued together fold it to look like a pyramid. This version was tied closed using ribbon. Clear as mud.........................................!

All Items Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, Tiny Tags (mini)
Ink: Green Galore, Basic Black
Card: Green Galore, Basic Black, Whisper White
Paper: Night and Day Speciality paper pack (mini)
White grosgrain ribbon
Bird and a Branch punch
Word Window punch
Black Stampin' Write marker

All the 7's Vintage Vogue bag

I saw this bag demonstrated by Monica Gale at our Stampin' Up Demonstrator training day in Sheffield recently. She used the gorgeous Vintage Vogue stamp set from the Mini Catalogue.

I call this bag the 'All the 7's' as it is so easy to make. Take a piece of A4 cardstock and score along the landscape edges at 7cm, 14cm, 21cm and 28cm. The thin piece that is left on the end is the flap and the bit you put your sticky strip on to fasten it together. Turn the card to portrait and score at 7cm down one side to form the bottom of the bag then cut along the first score lines up to this 7cm score line and cut off that little piece at the end (just upto this 7cm score line). Assemble, pinch in the top to shape and add a handle/tie of your choice to the top. I used the Round Tab punch cut in half with a hole punched out of both pieces. These were stapled to the top of the bag and then a piece of ribbon threaded through the holes and tied in a bow.


I demonstrated this bag at a party yesterday and the ladies loved it.

All Items Stampin' Up!
Stamps: Vintage Vogue (Mini Catalogue), Totally Tabs
Card: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum
Punch: Round Tab punch
Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon

Vintage Vogue Book-style Box

I saw this little box at the NEC and have made a modified version.

I used the lovely Vintage Vogue stamp set from the Mini catalogue, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla cardstock, Close to Cocoa, Elegant Eggplant and Always Artichoke inks, crystal brads and some Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon.

I stamped the flowers using the 'Rock n Roll' technique, firstly stamping the image in Elegant Eggplant and then rolling the edges of the stamp around in Close to Cocoa. Fantastic...... it's a shame you cannot see the full effect.

This is probably, in my humble opinion, going to be the hottest stamp set in the catalogue, so if you haven't ordered yours yet let me know and I can get it ordered ASAP for you!!

Bird on a Branch in an air freshener!!

Do you have those gel-scented air fresheners that dry up and leave you with a glass thing that you don't know what to do with?

The papers are from the new Sweet Pea designer paper stack and the bird and branch is the new Extra Large Two Step Bird punch, both of which can be found in the new Mini catalogue. The flower is punched with the Boho Blossoms punch.

Cute isn't it?

Altered Coffee Tin

My husband gave this tin to me and said "Can you use this?" - I wanted to say "Don't be silly I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, of course I can use this!", but I smiled sweetly and said, "Yes dear, thank you."



So, out came the Sweet Pea paper AGAIN (actually I haven't put it away since it was delivered!) and this is what happened.



The only problem is, even though I washed the tin, it still smells of hazelnut coffee!

All Items Stampin' Up!
Paper: Sweet Pea designer paper stack (available from 1st April)
Card: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Stamps: My Sweet Pea (available from 1st April)
Ink: Old Olive, Sage Shadow
Ribbon: Old Olive Grosgrain

Sweet Pea note pad

Apologies for lack of posts, just recovering from the headache from hell!!

I found these little note pads in Wilkinsons and knew they would look cute covered in the soon-to-be-released Sweet Pea designer paper stack.



What do you think? I love these bird images!

Really Nervous!!!!

My first Stampin' Up! workshops start today and over the next two days I have fifteen crafters coming to create a gorgeous project. I hope they all have a great time and I don't make too many mistakes!! Here is one of the bags they can choose to make.

Wish me luck and hope I won't be cowering in a corner eating all the chocolate biscuits!

Stamp With Us Challenge

Deep breath.....relax..... OMG, this is my first attempt at a challenge!! PANIC!

I adore these colours and would love to be a good enough knitter to produce something like these scrumptious looking cakes! As soon as I thought about the colours in this challenge I could see the project I wanted to do.

A recent parcel through the post brought me Michelle Powell's new book and this little bag is on the front. This is my interpretation of it.



I started off with a 10cm x 29cm piece of Creamy Caramel cardstock and formed a basic bag shape that is 3cm deep, 10cm wide and 7cm high. I used the 1 3/4" circle punch for the handles and the 1 3/8" circle punch for the inner hole. Using the Mat Pack and Paper Piercer I pierced holes around the top edge of the bag, around the circular handles and to form the stems of the flowers. A white gel pen was used to make faux stitching in between the pierced holes.

I die cut several flowers in Sage Shadow, Blush Blossom, Pale Plum and Bashful Blue cardstock and stuck some of them on the front of the bag with Tombow adhesive and some were popped up on dimensionals. A small knot of Bashful Blue taffeta ribbon was tied around the handle.

When my husband saw it his first thought was "ooh, that should be filled with Mini Eggs!", and looking at it, the colours would match perfectly!!!

All items Stampin' Up! unless stated:
Cardstock - Creamy Caramel, Sage Shadow, Blush Blossom, Bashful Blue, Pale Plum, Whisper White
Punches - 1 3/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle
Ribbon - Bashful Blue Taffeta
Uniball Signo white gel pen
Mat Pack
Paper Piercer
Tombow multi adhesive
Stampin' dimensionals
Miscellaneous - flower dies.

Sunny Days Scrunchy Flower Brooch

First of all I would like to apologise for the quality of these photographs - I'm not the worlds best photographer!

I found this gorgeous flower on Carrie Stamps blog. It is so easy to make as it only uses the Scallop Circle punch!



I used the Sunny Days Simply Scrappin kit for the flower and I punched two of the 5 Petal Flowers in Old Olive for the leaves.

Flight of the Butterfly votive

These are so cute I just had to have a go!!

My little girl had some battery operated tealights for Christmas and as soon as the wrapping paper came off I knew what I was going to do with them..........

The main body is Pale Plum cardstock which I scalloped around one edge. I then used the Butterfly punch for the 'windows' and added vellum cardstock to the backs. The tiny flower and spotty Bashful Blue butterfly is from Flight of the Butterfly stamp set. I ran some Whisper White through my Big Shot with a dotty embossing folder, then used the Butterfly punch to make two larger butterflies. A thin strip of Mellow Moss was fringed and stuck around the base to make 'grass'. My favourite white gell pen was used to add highlights here and there.

Gorgeous....

(Of course, I don't recommend you use a real tealight inside!)

Kaleidoscope Handbag

This is my take on a bag I saw on Becky Roberts' blog, Inking Idaho, and it is sooo cute! I don't have the Chocolate Chip stitched ribbon so used cardstock instead and added faux stitching with a white gel pen!

Love it!!

Birdhouse with quilling

Sooo cute!! Told you there would be more quilling!

The house and quilled flower is cut from Tall Tales designer papers, and the quilled leaves and stem are Old Olive cardstock.

The roof looks a bit wonky in the picture, but in real life it is straight - honest!!

Queue Up candle

Love it, love it ..................


I wanted this stamp set just for this stamp. Mellow Moss grass and touches of Real Red, Barely Banana and Creamy Caramel - how cute is this??? Got to now make more of these candles with all the images from the Queue Up hostess stamp set!!

Kaleidoscope mirror

I have had this Ikea 99p mirror for ages, just waiting ................

When I saw this gorgeous peacock image in the Kaleidoscope DSP range I knew I had to use it on the mirror.

I stuck the background paper (amazed that my measuring and cutting were spot on!!) to the mirror frame with sticky strip and the peacock and other elements were attached with Tombow adhesive. Going to look at it for a while before deciding whether to go the Glitter/Crystal Effects route!! Any advice welcome.........

Happy Moments handbag

Wow!! Pink Passion and Basic Black, what more can you say?

I doodled a basic handbag template and cut it out from Pink Passion card. I wheeled across the flap with the Whimsy jumbo wheel and added highlights with a white gel pen. The black and white striped grosgrain ribbon was my inspiration for the whole project and looks amazing tied in a simple knot. The bird and cage image is from the free Happy Moments stamp set that is in the Sale-A-Bration range and punched out using the largest circle punch. Helen showed me how to create a scalloped edge by using the scalloped oval punch - will definitely be doing that again! The handle is a strip of Basic Black card.

Merry Moments Stocking

I apologise for the lack of posts recently, but we have entered silly season in the Austin household. Husband's birthday on the fourth, he then went away on business and left me with an over-excited five year old, family for big lunch, pressies to sort out, decorations to put up, oh and new kitchen, bathroom and downstairs loo flooring to sort out!!!! I kept walking past my craft room and gazing longingly at everything but just did not have time to sit and play. Then when I eventually had some time to craft I got crafter's block! Phew, anyway......

Sorry, I just couldn't resist. After making the wreath I had some holly-ish leaves left and didn't know what to do with them. As I do not have a christmas stocking, (and no chance of anyone actually buying me one!!) I thought I would make my own! Unfortunately it is only a front so Santa couldn't actually fit David Boreanaz in it.... maybe next year, Santa, please......

I love this red baubley Merry Moments DSP and teamed it with Very Vanilla. I sponged Creamy Caramel around the edges for the 'aged' look and added some of my left-over holly-ish leaves and berries. I added faux stitching around the Very Vanilla to finish it off.

Merry Moments wreath

It has taken me a very long time to get my head around this. I found a foam wreath ring at the NEC and have sat looking at it since then. I finally plucked up courage to start it, the hardest part was deciding 'Do I punch out scallop ovals and hope they look hollyish?' or 'Do I draw out all the leaves and cut them out with scissors?'.

The first thing I had to do was cover the whole ring with thin strips of Garden Green CS using PVA - never again!!! I used the Scallop Oval punch (!) to punch out Garden Green and Merry Moments leaves which I scored down the centre and then sponged with Creamy Caramel ink around the edges. The poinsettia-style flowers were punched with two of the 5 Petal Punch and layered with flowers from the Flower Fusion and they were all joined using brads. A bow of 5/8 Real Red grosgrain finished it off.

Would I make another one - not a chance!! Well, ask me next year ........