I'm just lovin' it!

Honesty - Art journal

2011-12-30T11:00:00.001Z

I started Art Journalling in July, bought all the products, a couple of nice journals, inks, paints, lots of downloads from Art from the Heart and did just a couple of pages! Now I have joined this fabulous year long class with Stephanie Ackerman (with our very own FB group) for 2012, I am determined to make more use of my journals and stash!

The class starts on 1st Jan, and to get us ready we have been given our first word, which is HONESTY and we have been asked to think about this word so that we will be ready to go on the day! I "googled" the word, as you do :) ! and found the inspiration to make this art journal double page......

Hope you like it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Happy journalling.

Carole
x

Doing more of what makes me happy

2011-12-29T19:06:00.000Z

I saw this picture on the lovely Stephanie Ackerman's blog last week and decided to do just that!

Today I resigned from Stampin' Up, I've not resigned for any other reason than just to do more of what makes me happy and to reduce the levels of stress I've been feeling trying to continue with my Stampin' Up business.

2012 for me will be for myself and my family, I'm going to do more of what makes all of us here happy and who knows I might even share some of those things and times with you all on this blog.

I intend to do more crafting for me using a variety of products that I've collected over the years, rather than make projects because I felt I ought to because I was a Stampin' Up demonstrator!

So for now happy crafting to you all and I wish all my readers a very happy and crafty 2012!

Carole

Wedding mini album

2011-12-18T17:41:00.000Z

I have spent the day today working on this mini wedding album and am really pleased with how it turned out. I had been putting it off, mainly because I thought it was going to be more difficult and of course, because I've had so much to do, like we all have this time of year.

Let me know what you think.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.

Carole

What is a girl to do?

2011-12-09T13:41:00.000Z

Hello everyone,

Just thought I'd post you some cards I've just made. Now I have allowed myself some freedom to use what I like for a while, giving me a chance to use up stash I've had for ages, rather than panicing about using stash I have to/ought to, I made these beautiful cards this morning.

I was going to write some cards today, not make any......but then I opened Facebook and found my lovely FB friend Stephanie Ackerman had put out this freebie on her blog and I just had to play!

You are probably not aware but I've been doing some of Stephanie's classes and enjoyed every moment. I have signed up for many classes over this last year by all sorts of different artists, of which many of them I only pay and watch but with Stephanie's classes I have actually joined in and played along.

So the future for me is uncertain at the moment, with the decisions I have to make bearing in mind the time it looks like I'm going to have to set aside to care for my daughter next year, I can tell you all one thing I will be doing and that is this class with Stephanie. So if any of you "my ladies" want to sign up for this class that is going to run for a whole year, I will be happy to work along side you when I can.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.

Carole
x

All wrapped up

2011-12-05T14:33:00.000Z

I'm back today with another quick post to show you some little gift bags I've made to put little prezzies in for my girls. I'm seeing Kim tomorrow and still have a card to make for her but at least I have a little gift for her all wrapped up in one of these......

I can tell you all this sick leave is doing me the world of good, I made 20 Christmas cards yesterday and made these little bags and a couple of boxes this morning.....life is tough - lol !!!

The bags were cut out with my Silouette - it really is the best!

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Ginger

2011-12-04T14:53:00.000Z

Just a quick post today to introduce you all to Ginger. This is the stamp Stephanie Ackerman designed which I purchased from Purple Onion.

I hope you like the card I made using her............

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Flowers and cards of support for us

2011-11-28T13:15:00.001Z

Look....................

What a lucky girl I am. My lovely Stampin' Up upline, Michelle Last has sent me this gorgeous display of flowers as she couldn't get to me last week to give me a hug. I have also received some lovely cards from friends who are praying things will work out for my Sarah and praying for my pain to disappear.

Thank you so much ladies, I feel blessed with the friends I have, it really makes a difference chatting to friends too, so thank you to all of you who have listened to me this past week, I'm really grateful.

With love to you all.

Carole

xxx

Doin' what I like.......

2011-11-24T16:38:00.002Z

......... with what I like!

It's been a difficult couple of months and with more unwanted news this Monday, I have decided life is just too short and I'm too old to be told what to do all the time! I'm a crafter and you all know how much I like the major company that I usually support whole heartidly, but just sometimes there is a need to break a rule or two and with the news I've had this week, I'm doing what I like with what I like and sharing with all of you what I've used and whom I have gained the inspiration from because I want to!

I have taken a few on-line classes over the last year or two and many of these classes show all product types and companies including the one I have liked and supported most for quite a while. So I feel it only fair to share with you the inspiration behind this lovely card I made today for a friends birthday.....

The inspiration came from Stephanie Ackerman, she is a fabulous doodle artist and has a lovely inspiring blog, you can take a look at it here. I took one of her doodling classes last year and I took another one just the other month and enjoyed every minute.

She has recently designed a set of stamps and one of them especially reminded me of my daughter Sarah, the stamp is an image of a sweet girl, her name is Ginger and reading how Stephanie described her personaility, Sarah jumped to my mind immediately. What Stephanie didn't know was that Sarah likes to been seen out in riding boots, horses have so much more energy than she has.

With the image of ~~Sarah,~~ Ginger in mind, I just needed to get Ginger in my stash, so whilst shopping at the on-line American site (here) I added a few more bits to my "cart", as you do, including the stamps used in the card above.

Obviously apart from the stamps everything else is from that lovely company I support so often.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Halloween treats

2011-10-31T11:12:00.000Z

I have my neighbours little grandchildren popping roung later to trick or treat me. Look what I've made for them:

I chose happy looking bats as they are only little!

The treat boxes were made using my Stampin' Up Pillow Box die, the Square Lattice & Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders, the circle was cut from Peach Parfait card stock using the Stampin' Up Circles #2 die and the happy little bats were download and cut with my Silhouette.

Have a happy day and thanks for popping in to see my blog today.

Carole
x

Afternoon with a real Princess

2011-10-30T18:06:00.000Z

Hello everyone,

I've had such a lovely weekend. Usually I am either working/teaching or we have visitors, usually the girls with their boyfriends. Nobody ever mentioned that when they grew up our weekends might mean lots of fun, but also lots of cleaning and shopping before and then lots of cooking whilst they are all here (girls need clothes and boys need food and plenty of it!), followed by extra washing and ironing when they've gone back. I alway love having them home though, playing mother hen has always been right up my street and I do feel a huge amount of sadness when they leave.
Anyway, this weekend, I have played and played, both girls are happy where they are and I have no work commitments really pressing and as part of my on-going therepy, I've allowed myself to play! I started a new on-line class last week and have spent lots of time making some lovely projects, which you will be able to see if you attend my crop on 19th November. Today though, I spent time scrapbooking, David and I searched our loft yesterday morning looking for photos and we found a huge amount of them, photo's I'd forgotten we had. I've only opened a couple of packets so far and when I found these photos, I knew I'd have to scrapbook them!

Normally if I'm scrapbooking I use very little product and spend very little time, but now I have given myself time, I thought I'd use both......time and lots of product. We so often buy product and save it, we shouldn't save it we should definitely use it whilst we love it and whilst it's new!

This album page is made using one of the new scrapbooking kits from Stampin' Up that I bought this month, it's called Country Club. Since I was little, green has been one of my favourite colours and in Country Club, Stampin' Up are using my favourite shade - Pear Pizzazz.

I teamed the Country Club Simply Scrappin' kit with Pear Pizzazz DSP and buttons from the Stampin' Up Regals collection. I also used the Stampin' Up Sizzix Timelesss Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits Dies for some of the letters and numbers. I made the rosette using Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding Ribbon and Stampin' Up's Linen Thread to tie a little knot in the buttons. The word "Celebrating" and the little horseshoe are die cut from my Silhouette.

Happy crafting and looking forward to sharing more at my crop on 19th November.... email me to book your space.

Thanks for looking at my blog today.

Carole
x

Crafting definitely helps with stress

2011-10-26T17:19:00.000+01:00

I'm back, I needed to craft to help with my stress levels! Sarah, my daughter, was lept on, on Saturday night in Oxford and her foot has been pretty severely injured. The doctors (she has two, private ones, these days....she is so lucky and I'm so grateful to them!) saw her and sent her for x-rays and now we are waiting to see what the consultant has to say about the damage.

Crafting always makes me less stressed and I wanted to make a simple, clean looking card for one of my ladies, to let her know that I am thinking of her at the moment. I came up with this one......

I was so pleased with it that I decided to make a whole set......

As I started making them, a request came in via our Pink Ladies Facebook group for samples of cards to be used at the NEC next week, so with no further ado and whilst everything was out I made two of each! I hope you get to see them at the NEC if you are going.

I have used four of the new In Colours, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Island Indigo. I stamped on Whisper White using one of the new hostess sets, Simply Soft, This is a two step stamping set so my Stamp-a-ma-jig came in handy too. I have used my Fiskars trimmer to double emboss the edges of the Whisper White mat.

I'm feeling so much better and calmer after crafting today.

Happy crafting and thanks for popping by my blog today.

Carole
x

Stampin' Up mini album

2011-10-25T13:49:00.000+01:00

After a hectic weekend pretending to be the most perfect mother, I decided to take a break from my kitchen sink duties yesterday and got back to some "real work"! I know I'm supposed to be resting but......a girl has to have some fun and fun I did have making this little gem of a mini album.

I absolutely love it. I chose some pictures of the Tim Holtz event I went to in February and printed them off on my new mini Canon Selphy photo printer - it is so cute!

To make the mini album, I used one of my very favourite colours River Rock from Stampin' Up along with Marina Mist and Soft Suede. The papers are from the new 2011-2012 Stampin' Up catalogue and are called Beau Chateau.

I will be teaching my ladies how to make this mini at my Chilton Crop on Saturday 19th November.....you have to be there or you will miss it! Email me to reserve you a place.

Happy crafting and thanks for visiting my blog today.

Carole
x

Sponging backgrounds

2011-10-17T14:52:00.000+01:00

I know, I know, I Know......it's been ages! I am giving myself a couple of months off my regular classes in order to try and catch up with things that have been left and neglected, as well as give myself some time to try and rest my weary arms and shoulders!

Here is a card I made this morning, it is very very late but, I just can't be creative when I'm stressed or unhappy and with the loss of an elderly neighbour and moving Kim back to Bath had taken all the time and energy I had, so I was unable to come up with a card for the occasion. I am hoping the lady in question won't mind too much (sorry it's so late Alison!)

I used Stampin' Up cardstock in Sahara Sand and Stampin' Up Bravo Burgandy ink to sponge through the stencil I made using my new Silhouette, which I absolutely love. I also used the Silhouette to cut out the word on the front, using Black Stampin' Up cardstock.

I used Stampin' Up's Dazzling Diamonds to highlight each balloon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy crafting,

Carole
x

Happy Birthday Kim!!!

2011-09-19T12:54:00.000+01:00

As I mentioned in my last post, it's my daughter's birthday today and I'm just feeling a little sad as I'm missing her. She is abroad travelling and I thought I'd post her card (well all of them, from her family and friends too) she even sent me an address, but after thinking about it, she is only renting an apartment for a week this week and I didn't know when best to send it, to get there and I also thought the cards could arrive and they would be locked in a locked postbox at the foot of the apartment block and only the owner would have a key. So I've emailed her a picture of her card and she can have it along with the rest of her cards and prezzies when she finally gets home after her very long year abroad.

I hope you like her card, there is a little Sneak Peek from the new catalogue, can you spot what is new?

Well lots to do again, I have a major clean up operation to complete round here, after bringing everything back from my crop on Saturday - the best ever day - it was soooooo funny!!!!

Crafty hugs to everyone.

Carole
x

A treat for me....

2011-09-19T12:40:00.000+01:00

What a lovely surprise I had this morning, one of my lovely ladies, Simone, lent me some of her scrapbook albums over the weekend and popped round to collect them, bringing with her a card and some beautiful cupcakes that her daughters had made for me.

Take a look, how lucky am I?

I love being a Stampin' Up demonstrator, you can meet the nicest of people and some of the nicest families, I feel very lucky! Thank you Simone', Giovanna & Alissia, you are all very special.

I woke with thoughts of my daughter Kim today, she is 22 today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM, if you are looking for your birthday card, check your emails!!!! .......... and if you were home you could enjoy one of the above yummy looking cakes!

I will post the card I made for Kim on here later ........... it contains a sneak peek!

Have a great crafty day.

Carole
x

Wedding Card

2011-08-19T07:32:00.000+01:00

I've been playing around with wedding card ideas and here is one idea that I've had using mainly Stampin' Up products......

I have used Night of Navy CS and ink, Springtime Vintage DSP, Baja Breeze cardstock and Seam Binding Ribbon, Very Vanilla and Pear Pizzazz CS, Scalloped Trim Border Punch, small Heart punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, Two Step Bird Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Basic Rhinestones & Basic Pearls. The sentiment is from the Level 3 Hostess set Occasional Quotes - I'm going to miss this one !

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Book covering

2011-08-18T06:47:00.001+01:00

Sometimes it is nice to be creative in other ways than making a card. For todays project I have covered a sketch book. I've used masculine colours and kept the embellishment to a minimum just to show a well made project can be kept simple and it's simplicity is what appeals to the person who receives it.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think ;) !

All the products used to cover this book are by Stampin' Up and inclue Night of Navy DSP and 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. The word "notes" was die cut from Timeless Type Junior Alphabet available from Stampin' Up.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you want further information on my classes or if you are interested in purchasing Stampin' Up products.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Welcome Christmas

2011-08-17T06:47:00.001+01:00

Hello again,

For those of you who would prefer to make very quick and simple cards for Christmas, might like this sample......

I've used one of my favourite Christmas Stampin' Up stamp sets, Welcome Christmas. I have done very little matting and layering on this card, instead of mats I've used a sponge and sponged the edges of the Crumb Cake card stock with Crumb Cake ink to highlight. I have used DSP from Jolly Holiday once again and a few Stampin' Up Basic Pearls to finish off this card.

You can order this Stamp set along with any other Stampin' Up products from me, if I've inspired you, all you need to do is to email me, you will find my email address on the sidebar of my blog.

Happy crafting and thank you for visiting my blog.

Carole
x

Chistmas on my mind

2011-08-16T06:47:00.002+01:00

I've been avoiding it but with the craft challenges out there that I want to take part in, I have decided I really need to settle down to making my challenge cards with Christmas in mind. If I continue to avoid Christmas, I know it will creep up on me and I'll be in a major panic in a month or twos time!

I found CardPatterns last night and felt I could carry on and make another Christmas card or two, using the supplies that were out from my last post using this lovely card layout.......

I love the look of this layout and again found it easy to follow and made this card in just a few minutes............

It couldn't be easier.

I have used all Stampin' Up supplies apart from the peice of lace. Delightful Decorations stamp set, Jolly Holiday DSP, Cherry Cobler ink and cardstock, Crumb Cake card stock and Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits die.

All these products are available to order from me, along with any other supplies you would like to purchase from the Stampin' Up Idea's Book and Catalogue.

Email me to order.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Clean & Simple challange

2011-08-15T20:05:00.001+01:00

Good evening everyone,

I have just found another challenge that I quite fancied joining. It's called the Clean & Simple Stamping challenge blog. Every week or two they give you a layout to use as a starter for your project. This week they have joined forces with CAS-ual Fridays so I can enter the same card twice, how fab is that? The challenge is so simple, I knew it wasn't going to take me more than a few minutes to come up with something.

Here is what I made.......

It couldn't have been easier. I used Crumb Cake card stock for the base, which I stamped with a snowflake image from Serene Snowflakes in Whisper White Stampin' Up Craft Ink, along with Very Vanilla Cardstock and Ribbon, Cherry Cobler card stock and Ink and the beautiful Christmas Bauble is from Delightful Decorations, rested upon a piece of Jolly Holiday DSP.

Just a very quick post, but another one at least to keep you going for now.

Have a great week and happy crafting

Carole
x

Baby Blossoms

2011-08-14T09:58:00.000+01:00

I'm a top 3 winner of the Simply Stampin' Challenge for last week, that must be beginners luck! I hadn't entered challenges before and the first time I do I'm a winner! Thanks to everyone at the Simply Stampin' challenge blog for choosing me, I'm chuffed!

As I'm on a roll, as it were, I thought I'd enter again this week. It is so much fun to follow a challenge and easy as you don't have to sit and think too much about what you are going to do as the challenge directs you. I have spent less time thinking about what to use and more time crafting for a change!

The Simply Stampin' Challenge this week is to make a card using the following colours:

This is the little card I came up with......

.......its another simple card and the first time I've used my Baby Blossoms Stampin' Up stamp set. I used the inks as mentioned above. The main part of the flower is the second impression of Pacific Point, as is the centre oval of Pretty in Pink. The sentiment is from the Level 3 hostess set Occasional Quotes.

I hope you like it, have a crafty day........I'm off for a long walk today, got to use some of the calories I consumed yesterday!

Carole
x

Pinwheel card

2011-08-13T18:25:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post from me today to show you a Pinwheel card. I was surfing this morning and found this video on how to make a Pinwheel. I still have all my supplies out from making the whole Blueberry Crisp collection so I decided to add to that collection this little Pinwheel card.

Here it is...

.....very easy and sweet, I thought.

I've used all Stampin' Up supplies apart from the cocktail stick!

Blueberry Crisp Designer Paper
Sahara Sand Card Stock
Pacific Point Ink with a little CS punched with Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack
Not Quite Navy Brad
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Hope you find time to craft this weekend....have a good one.

Carole
x

Toilet Paper Flower

2011-08-10T06:47:00.001+01:00

I found a bit of left over toilet paper paper I'd made for my butterflies and decided to see if our Stampin' Up punches would punch through it and they did! I think for this you must make sure the paper is very dry, leave it overnight, if you try and punch it when damp, I feel you might just ruin your punch, so be careful.

I saw a little scallop circle card and it gave me inspiration to make this one....

The base is two Scallop circles cut out of Crumb Cake Card Stock. I scored the top circle at the top about half and inch down and stuck it with redline tape to the bottom scallop circle. I then die cut another, smaller scalloped circle out of Crumb Cake DSP, which I stamped with Soft Suede Ink to make the background a little more interesting. I then added the punched Toilet Paper Flower to the card with a sentiment and finished it off with another of my Toilet Paper butterflies.

Products used:

Stamp sets, all Stampin' UP.....

Bliss, Clearly for You and En Francais.

Punches and Dies:

Word Window, Boho Blossoms and Beautiful Wings Embosslits.

Have a great day and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Use it Tuesday Challenge

2011-08-09T17:52:00.000+01:00

I really needed to do some housework today but my mojo has definitely taken over today. Earlier this morning I saw that my friend France had made the most beautiful tag, with the theme "Indian Summer" in mind, for the "Use it Tuesday" challenge blog. I thought then that I could come up with something using one of my other favourite packs of Stampin' Up Speciality DSP, Sweet & Sour. But then the thought dissappeared and as I don't usually get time to make cards for challenges, I suppose I thought I wouldn't manage it and continued to think about my cleaning!

But after the little race I had earlier with Debs, I felt in the swing of things and decided to make a wedding card for one of my friends daughters who is getting married a week on Sat and enter the challenge with it. Here it is, enjoy..................

I have used Peach Parfait (I'm right out of Pumkin Pie!) and Rose Red Stampin' Up card stock, with Rose Red ink and paper from the Speciality DSP Sweet and Sour, which I thought was just perfect for the Indian Summer theme. I've also used Stampin' Up stamps from the sets Occasional Quotes (level 3 hostess) and the initials are from Broadsheet Alphabet. I have used a mini paper clip (from Stampin' Up Clips assortment) with a piece of Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon tied onto it. The whole project is finished off with Basic Pearls (wish we could call them "the best ever Pearls!)

Lets hope the weather will hold out for the day of their wedding and let that Indian Summer theme continue for them.

Hope you have enjoyed another post from me today.

Carole
x

Fast & Fabulous

2011-08-09T15:50:00.003+01:00

My friend Debbie has just sent me this link for the Simply Stampin' Challenge and we are racing to get our cards on.......here is mine........

I decided to use a stamp from the Fast and Fabulous Stampin' Up hostess set, hoping it would be a fast and fabulous project!

I've also used paper from Blueberry Crisp again (what a surprise!), Not Quite Navy ink and brad and Sahara Sand Card Stock. The sentiment came from Stampin' Up So Happy For You.

Debbie card is now up on the site and if you click on her name above you will be able to see her pretty creation.

I still have another project waiting in the queue that you can see tomorrow and I'm about to enter another challenge......I'm hooked, watch this space!

Happy crafting
Carole
x

Blueberry Crisp Collection

2011-08-09T10:45:00.000+01:00

I have been lovin' this Blueberry Crisp Stampin' Up paper so much, I have made a collection of papercrafting items now using it. Check them out, let me know what you think......

I am rather pleased with them, I think the co-ordination of Stampin' Up products comes to life when you see a display like this.

On display is a Double Accordian Mini Album, a Hard Backed Mini Book filled with uplifting quotes, a Mini Magazine Holder with cards to match and a Double Pillow Box gift box.

I made the Hard Backed Mini Album from scratch using book binding techniques, with my friend Maria Adams last week. We both made one, I hope she will put hers on her blog soon.

Supplies used were mostly Stampin' Up, the little flowers on my hard backed mini book were from my old stash.

Stamp sets:

Broadsheet Alphabet
Afterthoughts
Four Frames
Perfect Punches
Cottage Garden for the flowers on the double accordian album, which I used the rock n' roll technique for and coated with Crystal Effects.

Card stock and ink used:

All Stampin' Up: Pacific Point, Night of Navy & Very Vanilla

I am now going to try and schedule a post for tomorrow with another little project I made in a few minutes this morning - I'm spoiling you all, enjoy!

Happy crafting and hopefully you will check back tomorrow to see if my scheduled post works!

Carole
x

Blueberry Crisp Gift Set

2011-08-05T13:03:00.000+01:00

After a couple of very busy days with friends visiting, crafty and non-crafty (yet to be converted - lol !!!) I spent the early part of the morning catching up on my emails and then did a bit of "surfing", as you do ! It wasn't long before I found this fabby video on YouTube.

I set to immediately, to make it, it was really quick and easy, this is my first attempt using my favourite colour recently - Pacific Point.

I filled it with 6 cards and envelopes. I used papers from Blueberry Crisp to make the simple cards, along with Pacific Point, Sahara Sand & Very Vanilla Stampin' Up card stock. I made 3 like this with different sentiments on from the most useful stamp set Stampin' Up sell, in my opinion, Sincere Salutations.....

and 3 the same as this, using my favorite "blokey" stamp, Sail Away, which I stamped with Whisper White ink and embossed it with Stampin' Up's White embossing powder.

The front of the box is finished off with my initial stamped with the retired Typeset Alphabet and the Four Frames image, which I have punched out using the Decorative Label Punch.

Hope you like it. Please email me if you would like to order any of these or any other Stampin' Up product or wish to pop over to take a look at the catalogue and some of the other projects I have made.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

August promotion

2011-08-03T15:55:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone,

It's been a month.....I've had computer problems and my "tech" guy has been too busy to fix them! Eventually though after gentle persuasion, he worked very hard on my problems over the weekend and look.....I'm able to blog again!

So without further ado, let me send you to a link of the flyer with the details of the fabulous August "Our gift to you" offer....just click on the picture.....

Last night I had a little open evening for a few ladies I haven't seen for ages, it was so nice to catch up. This is the little project we made.....

I have photographed the little "double" pillow box with a few of the clips from my stash of the 24 piece Clip Assortment from Stampin' Up. The ribbon is the 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain ribbon in Rich Razzleberry. Both are available this month for free along with an exclusive Stampin' Up cosmetic bag, if you order £75 worth of Stampin' Up product or host a workshop with sales of £250.

My lovely friend Debbie came over last night too and has posted really nice photographs and comments about last night. Please check out her blog for better piccies!

Catch you all soon, enjoy this sunshine.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

New crafting buddies

2011-07-06T23:53:00.000+01:00

Gosh I'm back again, I haven't blogged this much ever!

Well I just wanted to link you to my new friends blogs, firstly Debbie, who came over to craft with me this afternoon. We made the card that she has put on her blog so check that out. You will recognise my current favourite style and my toilet paper butterflies!

And Sharon, who I met at the weekend at the Newbury craft show. I am hoping to see her again at my next Charney Bassett meeting.

It was great to look at your blogs ladies, you both seem much better at blogging than me - its just taken me an hour or so to do the links on mine !!! lol.

Happy crafting and blog hopping.

Carole
x

Newbury Show thank you cards

2011-07-05T15:24:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone,

I am back again second blog post this week, I hope you are enjoying my posts! If you are, please leave me a comment and let me know.

I have heard now that the team of independent Stampin' Up demonstrators on the stand at the ArtStamps show in Newbury talked to more than 300 ladies - wow! No wonder I'm exhausted and a little "hoarse". Apparently not many ladies though from the Abingdon/Oxford area, where were you?

Oh well, I have sent out mini catalogues and hand made cards to the ladies who visited the stand from my area, I hope you enjoy leafing through the Mini and whilst looking at the card, it brings back happy memories of a lovely day (at the races!) at the craft show.

My photography still is pretty bad and I'm sure my cards looked much better than this in real life but here is a photo of the card each lady will receive:

All items used to make this card are by Stampin' Up and mostly from the Mini catalogue.

Happy craftng.

Carole
x

Toilet paper butterfly

2011-07-03T08:48:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone,

I had a fab day at Newbury craft show yesterday chatting to lots of ladies about Stampin' Up. I gave out a few of my toilet paper butterflies and thought I'd post a card I made using one.

The supplies I used were:

Whisper White cardstock
Rose Red Designer Paper
Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon
Modern Label Extra-Large punch
Word Window punch
The greeting was from Occasional Quotes

The beautiful butterfly was made using two sheets of Andrex toilet tissue folded to make four layers, which I spritzed with water and re-inkers (So Saffron, Rose Red & Pumkin Pie) and whilst still wet I put them, into the Elegant Bouqet embossing folder and ran it through my Big Shot. After leaving them to dry I die cut them using the Beautiful Butterflies exclusive die for Stampin' Up from Sizzix.

All the above products are available from me, please email me with your order.

Have a great day and happy crafting.

Carole
x

Newbury craft show

2011-06-29T16:04:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post from me to remind you all that I will be on the Stampin' Up stand at Newbury this Saturday. Please come and say hello.

Happy crafting until then.

Carole xx

Lap of Luxury Designer Paper

2011-06-24T13:35:00.000+01:00

Hi Everyone,

I love the way that Stampin' Up co-ordinates everything across their whole range.

I won some papers last month and decided to chose papers I hadn't bought yet. I chose:

Lap of Luxury
Love Letter
Sweet Stitches

Here are a couple of cards I've made using Lap of Luxury. They are cards that I did have to spend a little more time on, but I am really pleased with how they turned out.

It has been such a lovely morning here with the sun shining, so I decided to take the photos outdoors. I just wish I could have cropped the photos........note to self.....learn how too!!!

Enjoy your weekend.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Another month passes me by!

2011-05-30T20:21:00.000+01:00

It really doesn't seem a month since I last posted, I don't know where the time goes!

Oh well.....I am sure you are far more interested in seeing a few projects I've made, rather than hear my pile of excuses, so here goes...........enjoy!

I love this stamp set, it has to be one of my favourites of all time - Nature Walk by Stampin' Up. I made a pleated style card, using the Designer Paper that matches the stamp set Botanical Gazette.

On this Sympathy card I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch, together with our new Stampin Up Decorative Label Punch and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.

We were invited to a wedding earlier this month and this was the card I made to use as our reply. I've used the Top Note Die from Stampin' Up, together with the So Many Thanks stamp and embellished with Basic Pearls and Kraft Taffeta ribbon by Stampin' Up.

I loved making this card fom my dear friend who recently turned 21. I used the stamp set Party This Way, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Extra Large Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch and on the front I used part of the Top Note Die, Fun Flowers Bigz L Die, Word Window Punch and Modern Label Punch. The paper is from the Nursery Suite Speciality DP from Stampin' Up.

I actually had a bit of fun creating this album page today. Whilst surfing the net, as you do ;) I caught this layout and had to give it a try. The base card of this 12 x 12 album page is Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and I've used Stampin' Up Designer Paper from the Regals Stack. I've used Stampin' Up Chip Board Alphabet and Stampin' Up Punches for the embellishments. I splattered the whole page (covering the photos for a minute) with white acrylic paint to finish it off.

I made lots of these cards for a Pink Ladies team swap to swap at a reward day I went on. I used the Flower Daisies Die and the Beautiful Wings Emosslits Die. The Stamped sentiment came from a very useful set, in my opinion, Perfect Punches by Stampin' Up and I used the perfect punch to go with it Extra Large Oval. The ribbon is the Stampin' Up 1-1/4" Striped Grossgrain in Early Espresso.

Wow, what a post, hope you found it worth waiting for!

Email me if you would like any more details of supplies or stamping classes and scrapbooking crops in Oxfordshire.

Most of the supplies are from the Stampin' Up 2010 - 2011 Idea book and catalogue, or the Stampin' up Mini catalogue 1st April - 30th September 2011.

I'll order your products and have them delivered directly to you or you can pick them up from me.

I accept PAYPAL these days, so email me with those orders. I will be giving away lots of bits and bobs as treats for all orders placed in June :) !

Have a great June and happy crafting.

Carole
xx

Trying something different

2011-04-29T09:43:00.000+01:00

I have been having a great time crafting recently. I attended an arty day workshop up in Harrogate last week and thoroughly enjoyed working in a different style and with different mediums. Whilst working away, in the back of my mind, I was working out in my head how I could recreate this style with Stampin' Up products. We made very nice arty tags out of sheets of canvas, I didn't quite finish mine, but they will be finished ready to show the ladies that attend me classes in May (hopefully).

My favourite part of the workshop I attended in Harrogate, was the use of uplifting quotes that our lovely and extrenely talented teacher (Dyan Reaveley) had printed onto canvas for us to attached to our tags.

I used this idea and made a little star book for my daughter Sarah, who loves to read little uplifting and happy quotes. I typed and printed the quotes and then stamped pretty Stampin' Up images, delicately decorating the white canvas. Here is a photo of how the simple little book turned out:

I have made a little something else too. Sarah is moving to London very soon and with me all rareing to go to try different styles of cards, I have made this card in the style of another artist I've been following from America.

I think this card shows that with Stampin' Up we can create something just a little different, especially with the introduction of the Big Shot and some fabulous dies to go with it.

You will be able to see that I've used the new Top Note die as my base, I cut out some canvas with this die together with a peice of dictionary paper and used a variety of inks to colour the base layer. I also used the Flower, Daisies #2 and the Little Leaves die for embellishing. I made the house out of the Stampin' Up Square Punch, the Word Window punch and the Small Heart Punch, using a Basic Rhinestones jewel on the heart and a tiny pearl from the Basic Pearls set. The main colours I used were Soft Suede, More Mustard and I chose Bravo Burgundy as my actual card mount.

Right I've got a load of clearing up to do and a wedding to watch. Enjoy your day.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

If you are interested in purchasing any of the Stampin' Up products that I've used please don't hesitate to contact me.

Just happy to play.........

2011-04-02T15:03:00.000+01:00

Whilst all the other Stampin' Up demonstrators are busily beavering away at updating their blogs and web-sites, emailing their customers and checking which dates are available in their own diaries for parties, workshops and classes - I've been playing - enjoying myself in fact! I have many of the new products in the new Stampin' Up mini catalogue and have made lots of samples. I just find that it still takes me ages to put them all on here! Anyone living close, can contact me and arrange to come over for a coffee and take a look at the new mini and the samples I've made. You can still book a party with me too, just let me know that you'd like one and we can arrange a date.

If you attend my regular classes you will know when your next class is and hopefully will be looking forward to seeing what I've made and excited about making some of my designs. If you haven't been to one of my classes lately you might well want to come back, enjoy some crafting time with me and see what lovely cards we are making these days. Send me an email, if you'd like to try another session.

This is a card that I made this morning, I've had a new load of stash arrive, although I am supposed to be on a spending freeze! Hope you like it:

I have used some Stampin' Up products for this card, the products used are as follows:

Stampin' pastels, whisper white cardstock and taffeta ribbon (which I pulled through my So Saffron Ink Pad), Regal Rose Ink and Designer Paper, Oval All stamp set, new Bitty Buttons and Beautiful Wings Embosslits die.

Have a great weekend.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Twisted Easel Card

2011-03-29T15:44:00.000+01:00

I've had such a lovely morning, I went over to Lechlade to the Christmas Shop searching out bits for a special class I will be running in June. My lovely friend Sue told me all about it and realising that it was only about 40 minutes away I hot footed it over there to see if they had what I needed.

The lady who owns the shop and her assistant were very friendly and welcoming. They were dashing around the shop selecting items that I could use for my projects, it was extremely difficult to decide on what I wanted (I wanted it all really - lol), but I did come away feeling very proud of my purchases! Watch this space for a sneak peek coming soon!

In the meantime I have a little card I made this afternoon, it's a twisted easel card. I've been meaning to make one for ages and finally got the inspiration today to make one.

I have used all Stampin' Up products; Cardstock in Wild Wasabi, Garden Green & So Saffron, Designer Paper from the Subtles paper stack, Eyelet border punch, Extra Large Fancy Flower punch, Flower for You stamp & a stamp from the Punch Bunch Sale-A-Bration stamp set.

Will be back soon with some work that I've had to keep secret!

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Left over bits!

2011-03-13T11:22:00.000Z

This morning I am supposed to be tidying away all the bits and pieces I used in the classes I taught on Friday at Sue's. As I started putting away the tools I came across my box of unused ready cut bits for the cards we made. I always cut a few extras and this month we had two or three ladies unable to attend so I had even more bits left over. Normally I divide them up into my scrap cardstock/paper boxes and use them up later but this morning I decided to play with the bits and make a few different cards with the bits I'd cut for other designs.

Here are 3 of the cards all made with the same bits, just placed differently.

I have used Designer Paper, Whisper White cards stock, Always Artichoke ink, Basic Pearls, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Scallop Trim Border punch and the Sweet Summer stamp set all from Stampin' Up.

Have a great Sunday.

Carole
x

Ornate Flowers

2011-03-07T16:05:00.000Z

I am back from a nice day of crafting with my up-line Michelle Last. If you would like to see what we made then pop over to Rose's blog, you will find the link on my side-bar. Rose finished her project, but I'm afraid I'm still working on mine!

I really enjoyed making those lovely flowers, so this morning I sat down and worked out how to make them so that they still looked nice but dried faster. I stamped the little flower from Cottage Garden with Blushing Bride ink and "rock & rolled" it around the edges with Soft Suede ink, then cut it out, put it on the card and then using the Crystal Effects like a pen, I scribbled the Crystal Effects on. This way I got a very shallow but still lovely effect that dried quicker.

With my renewed Crysal Effects enthusiasm, I then drew over the Ornate Flower, which I'd stamped onto a piece of dictionary paper, that I'd given a wash with white acrylic paint and Blushing Bride re-inker to soften the words.

I am pleased with the finished card and it will be one we make in this months classes.

Hope you like it.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Time with Tim

2011-03-05T18:04:00.001Z

Many months ago I secured a couple of places at the Artsy Crafty 6 hour, mega crafting event at Newport Pagnel, with the extremely talented Tim Holtz, Leandra from Paper Artsy and Lin Brown from LBCrafts teaching two inspiring classes.

With Tim we made one of his configuations boxes, the class was so well planned, organised & equipped. Tim was, as you can imagine, very clear in his teaching, very good at explaining and showed some really inspiring creative projects all made with his configurations boxes, it has left me wanting to make more!

Tim was also very available to each of us, with a little extra idea here and there and if we needed anything extra we only had to ask and Mario was on the case!

I didn't manage to finish my project on the day but I did get immediate inspiration as to how I was going to use my box. We were taught how to make the carved tile letters and were advised to make three of them to use and it didn't take me long to think of C, S & K, for me and each of my girls. We were given a whole little sack of miniture goodies and I set too working out what item belonged to each of us and this is what I came up with:

C for Carole - in and around my box is tiny bottle of gin and an artsy flower.

S for Sarah - I had plenty of thoughts about things to attach around her little section. I had in mind the numbers, because she is a mathematician, the key is hoping that she will find a flat in London soon, the hope tag is hoping that she settles well into her new job and the ticket of course, because she will have to look after her tickets whilst dashing around the big smoke!

K for Kimberley - as soon as I saw the wing I assigned it to Kim straight away. Out of my daughters Kim is the most like her father, she is the one who always makes me remember him, he like her, loved to go places, see things and talk in other languages, so I gave her the wing in memory of her father, who's mother always told me he had wings! The tiny little bird is there representing a spare pair of wings, just in case and I've given her a couple of tickets, she will need them to get in to the next museum, theatre or cinema which ever she decides. After the picture was taken I stuck a little pen nib just under the K, as she has a passion to write.

D is for David, I was a little concerned to start with about missing him out, but needn't have worried as I soon realised I'd got a fourth initial to choose. Tim came round with letter stickers to each table and I rushed in to get my "D"! By this time though, I'd committed the main focus box and was unable to add things assigned for especially him - but you will note; I've got him firmly held with a chain and whilst finishing my project today he giggled and told me to stick some money in, as he reckons that's why I love him!

This is my completed configurations box. I am so pleased with it and I have loved adding a few of my own items, like the watch in the bottom left section. This watch was given to me by Rudi's brother and wife over twenty years ago, I wore it and wore it until it made my wrist go bad (I wore off the top coat of metal and was allergic to what was underneath) and it was at that point my mother bought me a gold one.

You can't really see it very well but the little train wagon in the bottom middle compartment has "South Leicester" written on the side. I picked it up this morning from a model railway exhibition, along with the old Beetle car and some track for my wagon. I was delighted when I saw it this morning, I just had to have it (I come from Leicester and live near Oxford now, in case you didn't know!) and these last couple of treasure purchases gave me the enthusiasm to finish my project today.

Other pics for you: this is Mario and I, he was great and helped Tim prepare all the things we needed for our project - bless him.........I know what pre-class prep is like and really appreciated how well it was done.

This is Alain from Ranger, he isn't normally the one who gets asked for a photo opportunity, but he reminded me of someone and I just couldn't resist being a little cheeky - he is cute ;) !

This is Francois, I found her blog during the weeks leading up to the event and she is amazing, you should check out her blog it is called "Papillon", (I will try and put in a link later, when I find my bit of paper that tells me how!) she travelled all the way from Belgium for the class and was a pleasure to meet. She is hoping to get a place at Ranger U - the university of Ranger and I hope she gets one soon.

This is my final picture for you to take a look at, its the project I made with Leandra and Lin, I think this picture is one that I took of their sample, it looks better than mine!

I hope you have all enjoyed reading my extended post, a post I hope you will think is well worth the time it took me to write it!

Happy crafting to you all.

Carole
x

Treats!

2011-03-02T17:25:00.000Z

I know, its been a while again..........but here are a couple of pics for you. The first one is a photo of some treats I've been making up today, for my girls who promoted and won a treat day that Michelle Last offered at the end of last year. We finally get our treat day this coming Sunday and I can't wait to be there, along with 3 members of my team! Well done girls!

The other picture is a photo of the swaps I will be swapping on the day, sorry I can't show you more......I have used some new product on them from our the new Stampin' Up mini catalogue which launches next month!!! Its so exciting, I can't wait to show you all what we are getting!

Hope to back with you all soon.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Stampin' Up Colour Coach

2011-02-05T12:09:00.000Z

I'm back, hope you didn't miss me too much. I dashed off to see Kim in France. After the news of her accident I just needed to see her and give her a special "mummy hug", she needed one and nobody else could give it!

I think she will be OK though, thank goodness. Thanks to all of you, my crafting friends, for your thoughts, prayers and special wishes, we were both extremely grateful.

I'm trying to get back to things, although I've been back for more than a week, I don't know where my time has gone again and with two all day workshops coming up this week, I've got to get my skates on with the prep for those this weekend.

Here is a card for you to see, I made a calendar almost identical to this with my lovely "Newington" ladies last night they loved the technique. In fact it was two of them who inspired this card, they had seen a similar card made on the internet and forwarded me a copy to see what I could come up with and this is it!

I used my latest favourite tool, the Stampin' Up Color Coach, to come up with this colour combination. The colours I used were; Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue and Crumb Cake. I stamped the background with the En Francais background stamp, then die cut some swirls and layed them over, cafefully sponging over with Crumb Cake ink. I then removed the swirls and stamped the right side with the lovely flourish from the FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Bliss, with Bashful Blue. Then I stamped and cut out the butterfly to add dimension, which together with the dimension from the Fleurettes Flower I chose made a very pretty card I think.

Have a great day and happy crafting.

Carole

New baby

2011-01-18T08:45:00.003Z

We have friends who have just had a new baby girl, so with some joy in my heart this morning, I made them this simple but pretty card.......

I used the "welcome baby" stamp from my FREE Sale-A-Bration set; Punch Bunch, Pretty in Pink cardstock, ink and designer paper, together with Certainly Celery DP and ink. The diamonds are from Stampin' Up jewel basics and all punches are from Stampin' Up.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

For Kim..........

2011-01-17T08:28:00.001Z

Little did I know how much I'd need these stamps when I ordered them just after Christmas, from the States. I ordered them just for a change............to have something different..............because I wanted them! They arrived on Thursday, the day Kim had an accident in France, so after pacing all weekend, packing my bags to go over and being told to hang on, to wait and decide on Tuesday if I'm needed, I made this card. Its me holding her hand right now, from a distance.

Carole
x

p.s. Kim has a blog giving all the details its http://www.brestoftheblogs.wordpress.com/

Basic Phrases

2011-01-04T11:34:00.000Z

The last Stampin' Up incentive won me a couple of Stampin' Up Stamp sets. For one of them I chose Basic Phrases partially because I think the sample on page 76, of the Ideas Book and Catalogue is simple but really nice and partially because the phrases available to use in this set will definitely suffice for a very long time.

Due to all the bad weather my daughter didn't manage to make it home for Christmas, so today I am sending her a little parcel packed with a few treats and prezzies. It seemed too late to send her a Christmas card so I decided to try out my new set and send her a kiss and cuddle card instead.

I also made her a little nail file holder, I got the idea from Jane at Cheshire design house, it was a swap she made for Convention.

Obviously I need to pracise with the sewing machine, I have been sewing on most of my cards lately and the lines of sewing are not at all straight, still practice makes perfect and I don't mind practicing, I am lovin' the machine sewing on cards at the moment.

Here is the pic, enjoy:

This would be a great stamp set to choose if you were thinking of ordering enough product to gain a FREE Sale-a-Bration! I'm ready and waiting to take your order ;) !

I will be back soon.

Happy creating.........

Carole
x

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T11:48:00.000Z

Over the holidays I've been playing with old peices of hardboard, magnetic paint and magnetic sheets, which I have die cut, inked or covered. I bought the magnetic sheets more than a year ago so really felt I needed to get on with a project to use them.

I painted the boards with blackboard/magnetic paint using a sponge roller, for quickness really, as I had a few to do - for a Special Projects day coming up! I used 3 coats of paint, drying them in between with an old hair dryer (well it is now!)

The butterflies, letters and leaves were all die cut from the magnetic sheets. The butterflies have been cut and covered with Stampin' Up Blushing Bride designer paper from the stack, the leaves have just been daubed with Pear Pizzazz ink and the letters have been left white.

This was a really fun project to make, the magnetic die cuts cling nicely onto the board holding the note in place.

Wishing you all a very happy and crafty 2011.

Carole
x

Do you believe in Magic?

2010-12-31T14:53:00.000Z

I've just been "surfing" and found this most beautiful post. I really wish I could write just like this!

Enjoy!!!

Remember though, that we can have the magic of FREE stamps with Sale-A-Bration, call or email me with your order!

Wishing you all a very happy and magical New Year.

Carole
x

Snow chuffed & Sale-a-Bration

2010-12-30T10:12:00.001Z

I hope you have all enjoyed the sort of Christmas that you wanted. With all of the snow here our plans had to change but we still had a nice, peaceful time. I very much missed people I couldn't be with, as I always do, but relaxed knowing there was nothing I could do about it!

I have been very busy card making, with so many friends and relatives with birthdays from now until the middle of Feb that I thought I'd better get on making their cards, otherwise life will get busy again and they will be made in a rush! I have really enjoyed designing and making them. I've used stamps from Stampin' Up's Sale-a-Bration sets - take a look, the sets are great this year:

Click here for all the details

These are some of the samples that I've managed to make, wow look how many!

I have been a little crafty, making two of some, one to give away and one to keep!

Back to my title "snow chuffed", the reason for this is that I have my first blog award! My lovely friend and Stampin' sister Keren has awarded me this lovely award, her blog is amazing she tells you the most interesting stories of her family life, together with showing lovely Stampin' Up projects, check out her blog here.

Wishing you all a very happy 2011.

Carole
x

All supplies are Stampin' Up; Stamp Sets: Bliss, Punch Bunch, So Happy for You, & Sweet Summer. Cardstock & Ink: Bashful Blue, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Real Red, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, & Naturals Ivory.
Punches: Two-Step Bird punch, Curly Label punch, Scallop Circle punch, Extra Large Circle 1 3/4" punch & Scallop Trim Border punch.

I must be Crackers!

2010-12-09T15:04:00.000Z

Its already the 9th day of Christmas and I'm not getting on with it basically! The trouble is, I have so many plans and so little time!

I did though help the ladies of Harwell W.I. get on with their Christmas preparations by showing them last night how to make a re-usable Christmas Cracker. I have been making these crackers now for a few years and although I vow every year that I won't teach them again someone talks me into it!

These crackers are not too difficult to make but trying to get 30 W.I. ladies making them at the same time can be quite a laugh! They are made on rolling pins and ladies are asked to bring along their own - well you probably can imagine how many different types and sizes of rolling pins turn up and thats when the class turns into fits of giggles! I tell them I am talking about rolling pins, but somehow they have other things on their minds when I mention "Oh that's a big one - where on earth did you get that one"! Well as the making of them goes on, the inuendoes continue and making them seems to be so difficult!

There was a lovely lady there last night, she was having a little bit of difficulty half way through and when I went to investigate I saw that hers was an extremely short one - I told the rest of the class that this poor lady only had a little one and it wasn't working at all well, when she replied "Oh this isn't a rolling pin, my husband told me that I didn't need my rolling pin and his tube of mastic stuff would be fine"! I asked her to pass a message back to her husband that went something like "please tell your husband that if the instructions request a rolling pin then a tube of mastic stuff won't work! Or words to the same effect!

By the end of the evening, there were many lovely crackers to be seen and a few ladies told me that they had enjoyed the laugh - thank goodness, I came home exhausted and needed a little something to help me calm down after the event.

Hope your Christmas preparations are going better than mine.......happy crafting.

Carole
x

Your smile.........

2010-12-05T19:13:00.000Z

.......it lights up my life! I saw that on a scrapbook page today and am blogging it, hoping that will remind me later, to make a page with that title myself.

I know it's already the fifth day of Christmas, I am thinking about Christmas, honestly, I am every day - I promise! I've just got other things to do first! My MIL is coming on Tuesday and I've two classes tomorrow - a girl needs to clean - sometimes! (David calls it my time of the month - if only he helped, I wouldn't be so bad tempered about it!)

Here is a card we made in class a month or two ago............I know you are only looking for a card, I'm not silly, sorry if you made this in one of my classes!

I've used the Stampin Up stamp sets called Contempo Chritsmas and Delightful Decorations along with Cherry Cobbler Card Stock and Jolly Holiday papers.

Enjoy and happy crafting......

Carole
x

Day two of Christmas

2010-12-02T13:30:00.001Z

I turned on the t.v. this morning only to see for the second day in a row the terrible disruptions being caused by our early snow fall. It looks just like Christmas and the general feeling of good will and community spirits are making it feel like Christmas too. I saw on the news, a farmer taking midwives into work on his tractor and people all gathering around sharing infomation on train times etc. I love all this community spirit, it seems a shame it takes a huge blanket of snow to bring the best out, in us all.

I called my friends this morning who live in South Yorkshire, their village is just next to the one where there are 200 lorries stranded. He told me that his neighbours were being great, he called one last night to ask if he could borrow an onion to cook with, its funny he said, he had grown lots this year and they were all in his greenhouse drying out, just a shame he couldn't open his back door, let alone get to his greenhouse. Now things must be bad if you can't get to your onions!

I've decided to work from home again today, funny that - we hardly have any snow, we are so very lucky, but at least I do have the best job in the world and I can stay in and craft and still call it work!

Here is a piccy of me taken this morning after bringing in our bins:

You see hardly any snow and still not cold enough to wear jeans, although I did pop on a jumper!

Back to what am I doing about Christmas today though.........well nothing actually. It's my brother-in-laws birthday next week and I felt the need to make a little card for him instead. Here it is, I hope you like it:

On my crafting table at them moment I only have my Stampin' Up In Colours out. I really love them, I have a class on Friday evening and thought I'd use nothing but In Colours for this class, so this card had to be an In Colour. I used Concord Crush, which is a really deep purple and two Stampin' Up Stamp sets; Afterthoughts (level one hostess set) and Party This Way, which we were given at Convention and I thought then that it was a great Stampin' set for male cards.

As it is my Day Two of Christmas, I did pop a little reindeer into the piccy........I just had to really!

Happy crafting, see you tomorrow.

Carole
x

First day of Christmas

2010-12-01T19:40:00.001Z

Well it really is the first day of Christmas and I am determined to be happy about it. I signed up for an on-line class today that is going to support me through this busy and what I normally normally find a stressful time!

The class is all about the 37 days of Christmas and I am going to make time each day to 'enjoy' these special days we have. I am supposed to blog, scrapbook, take a piccy or journal my way through the next 37 days. I am hoping to put time aside each day to do something that might just end up as a nice paper-crafting project.

Lets just see how far I get................I hope to share all my progress with you!

So we are now on DAY ONE......

Today I joined the class and thought that that was enough for the day, but now it's around 7.30 p.m. and I can share with you more of my JOY today. Firstly, I know it's boring but I did get my ironing done! Then my lovely downline, Rose, came for lunch and she sat and made her ATC swaps (for a group she attends each month). She was using some lovely Stampin' Up products and her ATC was really Christmassy and lovely. Then I had my hair cut - I meant to ask DH to take a piccy of me getting my hair done, but I forgot so I did get one of him having his cut (it wasn't good!) and one of our lovely hairdresser, Michelle.

Thinking that was all the excitement round here for today and pondering my next move.... was I going to do a blog post?....... make a scrappin' page?........ or write note in my diary to remind me to write something later?.........then the door bell rings and it's a very nice man collecting money for the local Lions club. Father Christmas travels around here every year collecting money for the charity. I emptied all the coins from my purse in the excitement and rushed back to get my camera, only to witness the actual "Father Christmas" leaving my neighbours house! Well I called him, "Father Christmas!" I shouted, but he didn't hear me and was off towards another house and it was too cold to wait, so I took a photo of his road sleigh and ran indoors. I called my neighbour and asked how she had managed to have him call at her house. Obviously, I said, "He's called at yours because you have a BMW on the drive and your house looks posher than mine." "Oh no," she replied, "I stood in my porch with my jumper pulled right up and he came right over and said that I was a good girl!"

The conversation went on........but I couldn't possibly share the rest, my neighbours are very respectable, they go to church and everything........ just thinking, perhaps the Lord really thought I needed a good laugh today and he gave one to me.....thank you Lord!

So this is the photo of Santa's sleigh (trailer!).

Hope to be back tomorrow.

Happy Stampin' and crafting for now.

Carole
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Autumn birthday (for men)

2010-10-31T10:10:00.000Z

Well I know its been a while! I've been quite sad over the last month, one of the lovely Stampin' Up ladies in America, who's blog I've been following for a couple of years now, has been sharing her own family's cancer journey and last week her husband passed away. Whilst reading her story, it took me back to memories of my own loss, especially as she has two small children to bring up.

So whilst following her family journey, I've found it difficult to blog, not being able to think of much else, other than connected stories, of which I know of many, unfortunately.

I feel the pain of people left behind, but I've got to move on and try and pull myself out of these negative feelings, and to help with that I'm thinking of happy thoughts of the Stampin' Up Convention which is later this week. I really enjoyed last years Convention in Germany and can't wait for this one.

I've been busy making swaps, which I will share after Convention, but in the mean time, I'll share with you a card I've just made for my neighbours birthday, who will celebrate his birthday whilst I'm away.

I have used my electronic die cutting maching to produce the image, over stamped it with a Friends text stamp using Stazon ink and sponged autumn coloured inks on the top. The image is mounted on Chocolate Chip card stock and the crinkled birthday wishes banner was made using Sahara Sand, as was the main card. I used one of my new lovely buttons from the Stampin Up Neutrals range for my final embellishment.

Enjoy and happy crafting.

Carole
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Welcome to my Stampin' Up team!

2010-10-08T10:04:00.001+01:00

I would like to welcome Sarah, Helen, Catherine and Julie to my team. We had a great night last night laughing and having fun whilst choosing Starter Kits! The kit is only £119 this year for £230 worth of product - email me if you would like your Stampin' Up supplies at a discount, its easy and you don't need to do "parties or workshops", if you don't want to. Everyone is welcome to join my team, no stress just crafting and more tips and help from me!

Happy crafting......

Carole
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Stampin' Up - New Year

2010-10-06T09:48:00.003+01:00

Good morning,

It seems ages since I posted on here and apologies for going "missing" again!!!

I do though, have a great excuse (for once)! As you know September was the last month for the old Stampin' Up catalogue and the end of our Stampin' Up year. With so many wonderful products retiring, many of you were tempted and decided to order, keeping me and my UPS man extremely busy! Thank you to all of you who ordered and I hope that you are all enjoying using your new stash.

So our Stampin' Up New Year began on 1st October. I have added, to the side of my blog, a copy of the catalogue. If you click on it, it should take you to the Stampin' Up website copy, so no need to download it onto your own computers.

If you would like your own "proper" copy, then email me and we can sort you one out. Of course they are free if you host a party. The hostess gifts this year are so nice and in my opionion so much nicer than last years, as are many other new products and colours now available. You are free to have your own individual parties, all by yourselves if you like, quite a few of you ladies were doing just that at the end of the year, gaining the freebies and hostess gifts, its one way of getting those lovely gifts - for free!!

Anyway, take a look at the new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up Ideas Book and Catalogue and we can go from there. Just let me know if you would like to order, have a party or come and try the products at one of my classes. If you are lovin' all the products, as much as I do, in the new catalogue and would like the chance of ordering them for yourselves with a 20% discount, let me know and I'll tell you how - it really is easy and you don't have to run a business!
I hope to be back with some samples to show you soon but I do like the ladies who come to my workshops and classes to be first to see samples, as I feel if they see them here first it spoils their surprise just a little!!!

Hope to see you at a class, workshop, party or crop very soon.

Happy crafting and catalogue surfing!

Carole
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Changes to my class dates

2010-09-14T15:05:00.000+01:00

I have just updated my class dates on the side-bar of my blog. If you have any questions, just let me know.

Carole
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Deliveries, deliveries and more deliveries

2010-09-14T14:52:00.000+01:00

I am sure my neighbours are all whispering about me and my UPS delivery man. He's been popping in most days, at least they see him with parcels!

I didn't realise what a full time job it was just ordering and sorting orders at this very busy time of the year. So apologies for neglecting my blog again, but at least I'm ordering and sorting out your new fabulous Stampin' Up goodies.

Although I have been rushed off my feet, I did manage to meet up with my lovely friend Chris yesterday, it was her birthday and we managed to get together for a lunch time catch up. I didn't manage to take a photo of the card I made her but this is one very similar. I photographed it with a similar gift that I bought for her too. I found these lovely tweezers, with a little light in the middle of them. You have to press the "diamond" to turn the light on and off. I bought a couple of pairs for gifts, but I think I may well keep this pair for myself, now I've seen how fab they are!

My card today has a pocket on the front with a tag inside that says "happiness always" on the bottom. I am hoping my friend will use it as a bookmark when its time to take down her cards.

To make the card I used, Chocolate Chip card stock and ribbon, Crumb Cake card stock, papers from Sweet Pea Designer stack, Pretty in Pink card stock, Boho Blossom punch, brad and white Signo Gel pen and linen thread, all from Stampin' Up.

Enjoy.

Have a great day.

Carole
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Golly.....what a week!

2010-09-08T12:25:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone,

Apologies for being absent from my blog for a week. I am back to teaching classes, after my two month break! I really enjoyed the summer, but it seemed to be over far too quickly.

As you will see from my last blog post, the Stampin' Up year is almost over and this really is your last chance to purchase stampin' goodies on the "last chance" list.

I would like to thank all of you lovely ladies who have placed orders with me this month and over the last year. I am sure you are all enjoying the quality of the products and the fantastic colour coordinations available across the Stampin' Up range.
There is always a bit of a delay this time of year, those picking robots (I think SU use robots) are working round the clock picking and packing orders galore, so apologies if you are having a longer wait than usual.

I am almost at my sales target for the year, I just have to place another few orders totalling around £300 in order to get to my own personal goal, which will hopefully see me recognised again as one of the UK's top Stampin' Up demonstrators at this years Convention in November. So please don't delay if you would like anything at all, especially if its on the last chance list.

I have seen a copy of the new Stampin' Up catalogue and prices will be increasing slightly, so now is an even better time to get your orders in for ink, cardstock, Snail refills and Fiskar cutter blades.

Here is a card made a week or so ago for one of my friends birthdays, I used stamps from the Playful Petals Stampin' Up stamp set, together with card stock, ink and ribbon in the colours of Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Rose Red.

Have a great day and I will be back with you again soon.

Carole

LAST CHANCE LIST

2010-09-01T06:43:00.006+01:00

Good morning everyone,

It was a late night for me last night. I waited up hoping to see the last chance list appear on my screen until after midnight, but it just didn't turn up! But its here now!

There are definitely bargains to be had and it will really be your last chance to purchase what is on the list.

Take a look at the list and email me your orders.

Enjoy:

http://204.228.150.61/docs/lastchance/en-GB/Lastchance_en-GB.pdf

Have a great day.

Carole
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Stampin' Pastels

2010-08-23T11:14:00.000+01:00

My card today uses the Stampin' Pastels from Stampin' Up. I demonstrated the Stampin' Pastels last week at a Stampin' Up party and now want to use them again - all the time! I love that these work so well on our Whisper White card stock. Because Whisper White is so smooth, it works really well without leaving a mess behind, like you can get with some card stock.

I have used stamps from the hostess level 2 set Itty Bitty Buds for the background, with the candle and greeting coming from the stamp set Big Bold Birthday, which is on offer this month. Don't miss it, its down in price from £23.95 to £19.16.

The colours of Stampin' Pastels used were Summer Sun, Pixie Pink and Certainly Celery. Ink and card stock used was Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun and Whisper White.

Have a great day.

Carole
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My card for "HOPE"

2010-08-21T14:56:00.005+01:00

Its been a bit of a miserable week for me, I've heard news that just sends me right down in the dumps! I am someone who often suffers the pain of others, even if I don't know them at all well, or in deed at all! I have also been greatly saddend this week by the news of one of my own family members doing very well who has used money "willed" to my girls and refuses to pay them their inheritance. People have a cheek, fancy conning money out of a very sick person and making promises that they haven't kept. I am sure my mother is turning in her grave with whats happening.

This morning in my email inbox came an email of a blog update that I follow, the lovely Keren Baker. She writes some lovely blog posts, I don't always stop and read the whole of her posts, but when I do I seem to come away feeling that I've learned something. Her card today was a card of HOPE, she wrote about the rain she had endured during her recent family holiday but was grateful for the blessings in her life and she mentioned the Pakistan flood crisis.

Her card of HOPE has helped me today, I have used her idea and CASED it, I am calling it my therapy today, I've made it for all of the following reasons:

I hope that all the people in the world who are suffering can find some peace and happiness in their lives.

I hope that all the people doing wrong, will find ways of putting things right.

I hope that everyone suffering life threatening and life limiting illnesses can make the most of each day.

I hope that the economy picks up enough so that people searching for jobs can find one.

I hope people suffering loneliness can find comfort and friendships.

I hope all who suffer depression can be gently lifted out of it.

I hope that all who are sick, in pain, or have broken bones can be healed quickly.

These are just a few "hopes" that are springing to mind today and this card is for all who feel the need for a little bit of HOPE.

If you would like to see Keren's card check out her web site here: http://kerenbaker.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/card-for-hope/

Well I'm feeling so much better now that I have counted my blessings, there are many. Thanks to Keren for making me count them today.

Have a great crafty day.

Carole
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Stampin' Up - Grungy

2010-08-14T16:22:00.000+01:00

After speaking to and emailing my lovely friend and customer Lesley about my last card I made from Big Bold Birthday I came up with this today. My friend reminded me of a class I taught a couple of years ago now, where we made icing from glue, flour and Stampin' Up re-inkers to ice a cake on a card.

I gave it a go today and was really pleased with how this grungy card turned out. The photo is not all that good again, but I think you can see the idea.

I sprinked the top with Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin' Up very fine glitter) and made a button using Bashful Blue Designer Series Paper and a clear Stampin' Up buttom. Its so easy, these button are the same size as our punches so all I did was to punch out a 3/4" circle, distress the edges with Soft Suede Ink and glued it with Stampin' Up Crystal Effects.

The main card was made using Soft Suede card stock and Bashful Blue Designer Series Paper. The stamp set used was Big Bold Birthday.

Enjoy.

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Boho Blossoms

2010-08-12T12:53:00.000+01:00

I've had a lovely couple of days again, my Stampin' Up sister came over yesterday, we chatted, giggled, crafted and ate, of course! It was great to have her attend my class last night too. It was a particularly giggly class - not sure why, but we all did have some fun! These two hour evening classes are a bit of a joke really, with ladies starting to arrive from 7 and are here still chatting at almost 11. There always seems so much to catch up on and with cards to make, the time flies.

After our late night last night, this morning Peg and I had a lazy start and after breakfast we crafted again and both made a card like this:

The background paper is from the Stampin' Up Night and Day collection, the flowers have been stamped in Tempting Turquoise from the One of a Kind stamp set, I snipped into each petal and embossed from behind to give them more depth. The flower stems were stamped in Certainly Celery and the stamp used was from Playful Petals and the leaves were also stamped in Certainly Celery and is the leaf stamp out of Vintage Vogue (thanks Peg, she knew immediately which stamp set we needed for a good leaf!). We finished off the card with the sentiment from One of a Kind and pricked the edges of the top white mat using the Stampin' Up Mat Pack. The butterflies are from a US Stampin Up Embosslits called Beautiful Wings.

Enjoy and have a great day.

Carole
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Big Bold Birthday

2010-08-10T19:15:00.000+01:00

My lovely friend Rose came over this afternoon and with inspiration evading us we decided to CASE the lovely Monica Gale's card. After seeing her blog and video I purchased this set (which arrived yesterday) - she should get extra comission for this - as far as I'm concerned! At least its one of the sets that is 20% off this month!

Every month Stampin' Up send us information on new tecniques to try and this month they suggested we try making an ink pad using felt and Stampin' Up re-inkers. We thought that the balloon stamp on this card would be great using this technique and here is the result:

The two cards together looked great, but after the photo was taken I moved the flower on the card on the right! Also after Rose had left for home, I actually embellished further with Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamond glitter.

The thing that Rose and I loved the most was the colour combination - Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa & Apricot Appeal. Two of these colours will be leaving us at the end of next month, so if you like this colour combo let me know and I can place an order for them for you.

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Flower pot treat

2010-08-09T11:42:00.000+01:00

Gosh time flies, another week has gone by without a "new post" from me.

I had a great time over the weekend working, here is a little treat I made:

Unfortunately the photo isn't great - I keep meaning to book myself onto a photography course, but I will have to retire first, in order to have the time!

Stampin' Up products used:

Word Window punch
Scallop Circle punch
Boho Blossoms punch
To the Nines Speciality paper
Pretty in Pink ribbon and Card Stock
Rich Regals brad
Small Cellophane Bag.

Have a great day.

Carole
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Thank you card

2010-08-03T10:32:00.001+01:00

I've just found the photo of another card card I made recently, it was the card I sent to my friends in Dorset thanking them for the lovely few days I spent with them last week.

The inspiration for this one came from a surfing marathon I did, sorry to say that I can't now remember where I'd seen something very similar :( but I thought it was a really nice layout for a card. The colour inspiration came from my friends love of green and the main colour of her "feature wall's" wall paper in her newly decorated dining room.

Products used:

Stampin' Up card stock in: Whisper White, Black & Certainly Celery
Stampin' Up stamp sets: En Francais, Touch of Nature & Tiny Tags
Stampin' Up ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron & Black

Another Stampin' Up product used, that I haven't used very much in the past was the "Watercolor Wonder" crayons, to colour the image - it was so easy, they might be might next favourite product!

Enjoy!

Carole
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Quick & Simple

2010-08-03T10:16:00.000+01:00

Its our friend Malcolm's birthday today. Happy Birthday Malcolm - I hope those ladies are all spoiling you, letting you put your feet up and giving you a day off decorating!

This is the card we sent that I made. Its pretty simple really, the image is one found on the internet (he is a bit of a Poker fan, and I found this looking for funny pics of Poker - as you do!)

I used a technique that I have been wanting to try for ages - making embossed dots with the Crop-A-Dile. I remember seeing it at the very first Stampin' Up training I went to, another demonstrator had used the idea on her swap and as I hadn't used that idea yet, I thought I'd give it a go and was pleased with the result.

Hope you like it:

The other products used were:

Stampin' Up cards stock in: Crumb Cake, Black & Real Red
Stampin' Up "happy birthday" stamp from: Occasional Greetings
Stampin' Up Marker Pens in: Black & Real Red.

Have a great day of crafting.

Carole
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August Offer

2010-07-30T16:06:00.002+01:00

Hi All,

Its almost August and while I have a moment, I will let you all know about the "two-step into fabulous" offer Stampin' Up will be running during August.

Click on this link for all the details:

http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/documents/TwoStepFlyer_0810_UK.pdf

Here are the prices typed if it helps:

LOADS OF LOVE was £18.95 now £15.16

BIG BOLD BIRTHDAY was £23.95 now £19.16

TRENDY TREES was £12.95 now £10.36

GREENHOUSE GARDEN was £22.95 now £18.36

SOMETHING SWEET was £23.95 now £19.16

TINY TAGS was £18.95 now £15.16

BIRD ON A BRANCH was £14.95 now £11.96

This is a great opportunity to treat yourselves to those stamp sets that were a little more expensive than you wanted them to be!!!

Please email me if you would like to place an order.

Have a great weekend.

Carole
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I must not swear .........

2010-07-23T18:40:00.001+01:00

But I'm going to! I've been CLEANING! - So sorry to have sworn, please forgive me!!!

I've nothing to show you today, here on my blog, but you should come over and see how clean Kim's bedroom is and how clean all my outside white plastic window frames, windows and facias are! They are amazingly clean and sparkling! I'm sooooooo pleased with myself!

I've also had a friend over who helped me clear out some old card/project samples, well it took us ages deciding what to do with them? Do we revamp? Do we just chuck? or Can any of it go to charity? Well we sorted it all appropiately and I'm really pleased that I now have room for some more new samples, so I had better get making!!!

Well, when I've done my paperwork!!!! Thats next - funny how its always next!!

I'm out doing my other new hobby tomorrow and perhaps I will do some paperwork on Sunday and Monday, as I'm now hoping to go away on Tuesday - Wed/Thurs next week. Some of our friends moved to Dorset at Christmas and I'm dying to have a "nose" at their new home (I feel it necessary to picture my friend in her home surroundings when I call her), so I phoned and have arranged a visit! Lets call it a mini holiday, I'm sure I need one of those! And she lives close to Martin Clunes, so that makes my visit even more necessary, he hasn't met me yet!

So while I'm cleaning, tidying, clearing out and getting on top of my post, filing and books, I hope you can be having a great time out in the sunshine or crafting.

I will be back as soon as I'm up-to-date, but in the mean time, if you need anything from Stampin' Up or want to come over let me know!

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Cupcakes

2010-07-20T19:10:00.000+01:00

I have two new hobbies, not sure when I am going to have time for them, but I do have two new hobbies! One of which is cupcake making, very inconveniently timed when my DH is on a diet! The other of which I might share with you some other time! It would take far too much time to tell you all about it now (but thanks to Fiona C who introduced me to it - x )

Well DH is hoping that I spend much more time on my other new hobby, but his eyes did light up when he smelt what was cooking this afternoon.

Here are a couple of pics:

C U P C A K E S ! ! !

Wow these are special, I only made 6 (first trial) and the first one decorated had to go to my lovely neighbour Jimmy Rowe, who happily lent me his nozzle (piping of course!) so that I could have a little go at fancy icing.

So as David is on a diet and losing lots of weight and I'm gaining what he loses :(, why did I think to come up with Cupcakes now? Don't ask, OK I'll share.... I went to a fund raising event for our local hospice, Sobell House, at the weekend and I ate the most delicous cupcake (for charity, I had to, honestly the money was going to charity and it wouldn't have looked good if I had said I was on a diet!). Enjoying that cake made me think that I could also make cupcakes and have spent the past couple of days researching the subject and this is my first attempt. Malteser cupcakes, oh I wish they weren't so flippin' good!

I can't imagine trying any other recipe now!

So if you fancy trying my special cupcakes you will have to start attending some of my workshops/crops, where I hope to be making cupcakes for charity. I want to raise money for the Marfan Association, which is the association that supports families affected with this light limiting Syndrome.

If you would like me to make you some, let me know and I'll see if I have any time.

Happy creating.

Carole

Sailing boats

2010-07-12T14:32:00.000+01:00

I made these cards some time ago and whilst shifting through lots of projects looking for something else, I found these today and remembered that my lovely customer Fiona wanted to see these samples - so thought I'd blog them for her to see.

Stampin' Up products used:

Whisper White Cardstock

Brayer

Sage Shadow & Bashful Blue Ink

Black Stazon Ink

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Carole

Embossed borders

2010-07-11T11:49:00.000+01:00

I have been working again........its non stop around here!

Hope you like this card, I've used my Fiskars Paper Cutter, with the scoring blade in and have embossed the edges of the image mat.

I have used the following Stampin' Up products:

Vintage Vogue & Of the Earth stamp sets

Whisper White & Rose Red card stock

Old Olive button

Linen Thread

Rose Red Ink

Night & Day Speciality paper

Have a great day of crafting.

Carole

Mini Album

2010-07-10T12:16:00.007+01:00

I've put together a little mini album to show off one of my new favourite colour combinations; Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White. I can't beleive its taken me three days to design and make it, but I am pleased with all of the new techniques I've used and the finished result.

Hope you like it:

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

If you fancy making one at an all day workshop, let me know and it can be arranged.

All products used are by Stampin' Up apart from the binding. Card stock is Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Designer Paper is: Cottage Wall, Stamp sets used were: Vintage Vogue, Live Your Dream, Close as a Memory, Baroque Motifs, Framed with Love, Tiny Tags and Polka Dot! I also used Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon and Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon and punches: Large Heart, Boho Blossoms and Medium Jewelry Tag.

Have a great day and happy crafting.

Carole
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Penny Slider Card

2010-07-09T17:07:00.005+01:00

I'm back, two posts in one day, no wonder my house is a mess!

I wasn't really too sure about the car spinning, I really wanted it to be driving by nicely!

On this card I used 4, 1 euro cent coins, making two slider mechanisums so the car couldn't spin! It does though, slide as planned, quite nicely in fact.

If you would like to make one with me, check out when my next class is!

Stampin' Up products used: Loads of Love, Neighborhood (Neighbourhood) wheel, Brayer, Stampin' Up ink and markers, Naturals Ivory & Going Grey Card Stock and one of my new favourite products Platinum Shimmer Paint for the chrome!

Have a great weekend, its looking like its going to be a hot one ;)

Carole
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Penny Spinner Card

2010-07-09T14:06:00.005+01:00

I have been asked recently about Penny Spinner and Slider cards. Here is a penny spinner card I've just designed using the "Loads of Love" stamp set and the "Neighborhood" wheel, both from Stampin' Up.

I masked off the houses with a fab product I've just learned about - Frisket Film.

Email me if you would like info about Frisket Film.

Hope you like the card:

the car actually spins really well - looks like a horrible accident, I'm pleased to say that nobody gets hurt in my art work - the car is empty and nobody is walking along the side of the road!

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Touch of Nature

2010-07-08T09:18:00.006+01:00

I am just lovin' my sponged backgrounds. They do take a little practice, but so long as you go very gently onto the ink and then very gently onto your cardstock, you can create a background that doesn't show spots - you know - the ones that show with the first "hit" of the sponge!

I also work on a craft sheet, I start off my cardstock first, placing my sponge lightly onto the craft sheet and in a circular motion gently travel the sponge towards the card. If you don't have a craft sheet, then I understand you can use a peice of waxed paper.

Its handy to have a damp peice of kitchen towel to clean your mat each time you change colour.

Here a couple of cards, the one on the right is using only stamps from the set "Touch of Nature" and a little shrink plastic! The stems on the card on the left is from Autumn Days, with the flowers made from the Boho Blossom punch.

Have a great day.

Carole
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Joyce's birthday

2010-07-03T06:38:00.004+01:00

Happy birthday Joyce!

My lovely friend Joyce is 60 today, I'm sure she won't mind me telling everyone!

I've made a card inspired by one of my other lovely friends, Maria Adams, hope you like it:

I've used some papers from my stash along with the Vintage Vogue stamp set and flower from the Pretties Kit by Stampin' Up.

I'm off to Newbury for the Artstamps show today. Its all work again around here, what a job - but someone has to do it!

Have a happy day everyone.

Carole
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Oh blogs!!!!

2010-06-25T17:02:00.006+01:00

Things were calming down around here so I started to blog earlier and wish I hadn't bothered! I signed in and was greated with the opportunity to update my blog with ease - my foot!

I thought I would give it a try and lost so much, nothing worked and I still can't get things back to normal, even my very own tech guy has given up on it - he is so cross I didn't make a copy first!

Oh well this will have to do for now, I will try again next week. But in the meantime, I was crafting with my lovely friend Rose, yesterday afternoon and this is what we came up with, two lovely scrapbooking layouts, using the lovely Cottage Wall DP from Stampin' Up along with Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White:

Have a great weekend.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Its been ages!

2010-06-13T21:08:00.003+01:00

Hi Everyone,

We are back. The girls and I had a fab time and can recommend Ragdale Hall, health spar, for a fab girly time away. We were pampered, we had massages and facials, we swam in the pools and lazed around in the many different areas of the thermal spar. We couldn't believe the improvements made since we last visited.

I first started going about 20 years ago, I remembered being weighed on my way in, just wish I had been this time - I put on about 3lbs! The girls of course, lost weight, they attended the various classes etc, etc but I was there to "chill", and the scones were so nice and the wine tasted really good and their latte coffee's were just as good as Starbucks - whats a girl, who is chllin' supposed to do?

So back on the diet.......next month!

I've been out today to a crop that I enjoy, I didn't feel much like scrappin' and with all the card classes I've got booked for this week, I thought that I needed to design, so here is a little treat for you......

The cardstock and ink are by Stampin' Up, the other products were purchased on a mercy mission that I had to take on Friday, for my daughter! Well I had to "lose" myself for a few hours around the Bucks area - so I shopped!

See you all very soon, happy stampin'.

Carole
xx

A treat for my girls

2010-06-08T07:48:00.003+01:00

I thought I'd just give you all a treat before I go away for a couple of days with my girls. We are off for a bit of pampering.........I can't wait!

I think this is a lovely layout for a card, whilst I'm away try and make one too using a similar layout!

See you all when I get back.

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Day Workshop

2010-06-07T20:06:00.005+01:00

Hi Everyone,

Here are 6 ladies who can't believe they are the lucky ones who have managed to book a place on one of my all day workshops!

If you want to know what you are missing email me and I will put you in touch with any one of these ladies who will let you know exactly what you are missing!

My all day workshops have become more and more relaxed, with an extended morning session, great healthy lunch provided and an afternoon filled with fun, laughter and a few more card making ideas!

I can run a day workshop for any of you and you friends, just let me know that you are interested and we can organise a date.

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Precious

2010-05-30T19:35:00.003+01:00

I said that I would try and get back to you with the scrapbooking page I did yesterday. I was hoping to complete it, but actually decided it was OK just like it was. I might journal later, you might recoginise the photo, its my youngest daughter Kim, she has been at University for a couple of years now and has spent most of her free time away from home with her boyfriend, oh yes she popped in, spent some time here but its not like I expected. I thought she'd be home regularly for longer periods etc, etc etc. Well it seems that I am now going to see even less of her now, she has been offered a really great job in France, for her "year abroad", the contract is for 54 weeks! Then she needs to spend 3 months in Germany before she gets back for her final year at uni. So I made this page, as I can't stop thinking about her, chosing one of her "facebook" photos and all I could think of was how precious she is to us all, me, Sarah and David. She is always happy, she tries to cheer us all up if we are down and now she is off for a whole new adventure. I look at this page and realise how difficult it is letting our children "go free", letting them get their own lives, but hopefully she realises how precious she is to us and will take complete and utter care of herself!

Enjoy the page, its simple, but simple is what I do best!

and Kim, if you see this, please take care, we all love you very much.

Mum
xxx

New Home

2010-05-30T15:55:00.003+01:00

I am having a lovely weekend, although I am sure I shouldn't be saying that, as David has gone away to play American Softball for the Oxford Devils. Its the national championships which are being held somewhere in the Manchester area. I was supposed to go and support but couldn't let my scrapbooking ladies down, well that was my excuse anyway!

After spending the whole day yesterday running my crop and tidying up after it this morning, I've spent the afternoon thinking of some of our friends who have moved house this weekend. If we had been free we would have helped them, but with the way my arms are and David being away we were unable to offer our support this time.

Hope you like the card I've made them:

I will be back later with a scrapbooking page made yesterday - hopefully.

Carole
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Messing about with metal

2010-05-27T09:21:00.002+01:00

Just a little peek at something a bit different:

Something to look forward to at my classes in June.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Whisper White Carnation

2010-05-14T11:59:00.003+01:00

I have made this lovely little box and embellished it with a carnation. I made the carnation out of Whisper White cardstock. I punched three scallop circles and ran them through my paper crinkler a few times and then screwed them up and rolled them around like little balls of rubbish for a bit and then carefully separted each scallop circle into two peices, I then placed them on top of each other, split side up and put a brad in the middle and lifted and arranged each layer.

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Allotment starter kit

2010-05-14T10:09:00.004+01:00

- I don't think so!

I had a fab day yesterday doing a scrapbooking/mini book starter class with a lovely group of ladies at High Wycombe - hello everyone, it was lovely to see you all.

On the way home I popped into John Lewis (I was passing!) and picked up this lovely little Allotment starter kit. Just the job for the personal supplies I need when I go to a crop or class, as a customer.

I immediately removed the gardening supplies and filled the handy little bag with my crafting tools, small but perfect just for me!

I will be back later with a picture of my carnation as promised!

Carole
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Another sponged background

2010-05-09T15:02:00.002+01:00

I am just lovin' these stamped backgrounds. I taught my first sponging class yesterday and it seemed to be enjoyed by my Charney ladies. Here is another card, simple but I like it. I've made it for someone special and it will be in the post on Tuesday (classes all day tomorrow)!

Enjoy your Sunday.

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Take two!

2010-05-06T17:48:00.003+01:00

How many of us make a card, pop it in the post and then come home and make another, sometimes changing it slightly and it turns out better?

Well this is what I've just made after posting the last one to my young friend Alex!

Enjoy, happy crafting.

Carole
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Exciting news

2010-05-06T15:32:00.005+01:00

Hi everyone,

What a lovely 24 hours I've had, my very lovely customer and friend Claire has decided to take the plunge and join my Stampin' Up team. She came over last night, we went through all the important stuff and then she showed me a few lovely cards she had made. She got the inspiration for a couple of her cards from one of the lovely ladies in our Pink Ladies team, Peg. She had made a lovely job of making a convertable car out of the Stampin' Up pick up truck, and seeing Claire's cards gave me the kick I needed to make a card to celebrate my friends daughter passing her driving test - congratulations Alex on passing your driving test and congratulations and good luck to Claire on taking the plunge!

Here is my card, hope you like it:

Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper

2010-04-30T08:41:00.005+01:00

Choosing paper from a catalogue is always difficult. I quickly turned the page of the new Mini Catalogue when I saw the Autumn Meadows DP, dismissing it instantly. I was then talking to Rose and she told me how much she liked the paper, she assured me that I'd use it and love it. Well I have used it and I do love it. I was surfing the net yesterday and found a really nice card made by Michelle Zindorf. I spotted the DP straight away and with me now wanting to sponge everything in site, it fitted in with my new style and I couldn't wait to have a go and use her card as inspiration. This is the card - hope you like it:

I enjoyed making it so much that I made another:

I used white shrink plastic to make the shells on the cards. The other products used were: Autumn Meadows DP, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White & Chocolate Chip CS; More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal & Chocolate Chip ink pads and a piece of old string! The white dots on the cards are added using a white gel pen.

Have a lovely Bank Holiday Weekend.

Carole
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Catching up with my pages!

2010-04-13T17:46:00.005+01:00

I often design scrapbook pages and layouts to show at my crops, but don't always manage to actually finish them! I have spent the afternoon sticking and glueing and feel that I have really accomplished something!

I was inspired to finish this first double page spread with my latest favourite technique of sponging edges. I gently sponged the edges of everything in sight, just go gentle with your sponging, start off the page and gradually/lightly sponge in a circular motion. You can always add more!

This next layout you will also see a very small amount of sponging, but it was my new Stampin' Up Extra-Large Two-Step Bird punch that inspired me to finish my double page spread. I was teaching the block background and just threw on these photos at one of my crops to show, but felt the trains were a little boring!!! Now with the addition of my newly acquired punch and using my old friend "Colin the Cricut" I am pleased with the final result.

Why don't you catch up on some unfinished projects?

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Should I have been a cook?

2010-04-09T18:17:00.002+01:00

Hey ladies,

Most of my regular ladies do know that I do like to cook, when I get a chance that is! lol

For our Easter Sunday roast I decided to try the well advertised Chicken dish from Delia/Waitrose. You all know I just love to shop at Waitrose, my excuse is that it is my most local supermarket and I don't spend too long in there at a time and time is money!

Well we all really enjoyed the meal, in fact it was the best Chicken dish I had ever cooked the only problem was that the house was full of smoke, one of my tops was ruined (oh no, what will I wear now!) with the splattered fat as it came out of the oven and of course the oven, well you have never seen such a mess! I pride myself with a clean oven, in fact I clean it every time I use it - check it out next time you are here. I hate dirty ovens, the one that I had had before was here for 20 years and was still in prestine condition, looked liked it was unused and I was sad to see it in the skip.

Well back to Delia's lovely chicken, we decided to write a comment on the Waitrose website, I half rememeber Kim writing it and checking it was OK, I don't know where the name came from "Stressbunny", obviously how I was feeling at time with the site of my splattered top and oven! I still recommend this recipe check it out, you can print it out with my comment to remind you if you like!

http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Delia%27s_Roast_chicken_with_Riesling,_grapes_and_tarragon.aspx

Happy cookin'

Must do some craftin'

Carole
xx

I'm back!

2010-04-02T18:59:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone, I'm back from my travels. Who else would drive 307.2 miles to go and clean out a fridge, take an elderly gentleman shopping, cook 3 different meals (3 of each), help change a bed (oh and manouver a special matress around the place) and run the Dyson over? If only I did jobs like that at home! Good job I do really love this couple! It took me a couple of hours to recover when I got home, the traffic was pretty bad and it tires me out driving a long way, but thats enough of all of that, this is what I've just made:

Its Sarah's friends birthday tomorrow and Sarah asked if I could make a card for her and as this young lady is celebrating her birthday in Australia, I thought a beachy type card would do nicely. During a class last week we were making tags the Tim Holtz way (trying to use Stampin' Up ink) and this is one that came out really well. I am pleased with the final card, I love this stamp set - "Life's a breeze", I had sold mine sometime ago and decided to get another set to play with.....I am dreaming of sunshine and holidays at the moment. Must get one booked!

Enjoy and happy stampin'!

Have a great Easter.

Carole
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About time!

2010-03-31T21:54:00.004+01:00

Hi everyone,

Thanks for being so patient with me, as I sit here amoungst a mountain of things to do still, somehow I feel much calmer now I'm writing to all of you.

Life got so busy here, I took on extra classes and parties to keep up with demand and found myself running just to keep up with everything. I used to cut up all the bits for a class a week in advance and recently found myself still chopping bits at 11.00p.m. the night before a class or party - I hope you didn't notice!

With all the extra classes and other things I said "yes" to, something had to go and it was my blog that you all noticed - so apologies for that. All the rest of the stuff I shoved to the bottom of the pile will just have to wait until the summer now!

Whilst writing this, I've had a call and have to head away tomorrow for a couple of days so will try and 'post' again when I return.

Until then, here is a little something I've made recently:

and this is just one picture of one of my recent Stampin' Up deliveries of ink for all you lovely ladies now lovin' our super duper ink pads:

Wishing you all a very peaceful Easter. Will update my blog and email you all as soon as I'm back.

Happy crafing and thank you all for your continued support.

Carole
x

Busy again.........

2010-03-15T20:37:00.002Z

Hi Ladies,

Just letting you know that I haven't forgotten you! I'm just up to my eyes in work and stuff at the moment and need to catch up!

Sorry to keep you waiting and I do know that this blog needs updating, but I am only just little old me and could do with a whole load of staff!

Keep smiling.

Will post something soon, I promise.

Happy crafting.

Carole
x

Scrapbooking "Grunge" style - page one

2010-03-09T08:55:00.003Z

I posted a photo over the weekend of the front page of my Grunge style mini album. This is a picture of the first page. Again I have used mostly Stampin' Up stash with just the addition of some rub-ons (I've had for ages!), mini diamonds and some kitchen foil.

I love these butterflies, they are a Stampin' Up Embosslits die, only available in the USA at the moment, lets hope we get them soon! My wonderful friend sent me the die and I was extremely grateful.

I'm taking the day off today, I tried to yesterday, but it didn't happen!

Have a great day.

Carole
x

I'm on a roll....

2010-03-07T12:47:00.003Z

This is like waiting for a bus, you don't get one for ages and then all of a sudden, there are loads of them!

While I've been messing around with "grunge" and trying to mix Stampin' Up with products I've had in my cupboard for years, I've just come up with these two lovely cards. Enjoy!

Carole
x

After a good nights sleep......

2010-03-07T08:44:00.002Z

It was pretty late when I started this project last night. My daughter had a couple of her really lovely friends over for dinner and it wasn't till after they had gone that I decided to "work"! I took advantage of my completely tidy and clear table and got a whole lot of different stuff out and I was pleased with what I had made, which is why I posted it onto my blog late last night. But after a good nights sleep, I got up and wasn't so pleased. It only took a few minutes to work out what this page needed.....I hope you like it.

Have a great crafty day.

Carole
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Scrapbooking "Grunge" style

2010-03-06T23:39:00.004Z

Second "post" of the day, I can't believe it!

Thought I'd share a little something with you, you see its all work and definitely no play round here again and as you can see I've been working really hard! I have tried to see if I can meet Grunge with Stampin' Up! I have made this 6 x 6 scrapbook page to trial out as many Stampin' Up products as I can on a Grunge theme. I have used alcohol inks for the background, but I have used my Stampin' Up Vine wheel, versa mark, heat and stick powder and my new favourite SU toy - gold glitter. I have also done the whole page on Whisper White cardstock, which takes the alcohol ink really well. The "all about" is stamped on to Whisper White too, I used an old retired Stamp Set and the tiny square SU punch.

The photo is a transfer using clear packing tape, laser printer and a bowl of hot water. It took a little patience rubbing the paper of the back, but I think it adds to the Grunge appearance.

Let me know what you think.

Carole
x

Touch of Nature

2010-03-06T15:17:00.003Z

It seems ages since I "posted" a card here on my blog, so thought I'd just post one we have been making in class this month. I think the stamp set Touch of Nature was one of the first I bought when I became a Stampin' Up demo and I use it pretty regularly. This time I tried a stamping technique that I haven't tried for ages, basically I stamped the buttlerfly with Stazon onto some acertate, turned it over scribbled on Crystal Effects, sprinkled on some of the Stampin' Up fine gold glitter, covered the image/Crystal Effects with a peice of crumpled tissue paper and put on 4 drops of 2 colours of re-inkers, spread those about with a paint brush and left it to dry. As soon as it was dry I cut it out and glued the tips of the butterfly to the cut out circle on the card.

Why don't you have a go? If you haven't got re-inkers try turning a couple of Stampin' Spots over and twisting them onto a non-stick craft sheet next to each other, wet your tissue paper with Crystal Effects and pick up the colour with that directly from your craft sheet and place that on top of the glitter on top of the stamped image on the acertate. I just tried it and it worked, the colours were pretty light, but it did work.

See you soon.

Happy crafting.

Carole
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