simply stampin' challenge 66

Back today with another Simply Stampin' Challenge. This week's challenge is a theme and the theme is 

Clean & Simple

Birthday Flower

Stamp Set: Apothecary Art

Ink: Night of Navy

Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight

Punches: Blossom, 5 Petal Flower, Boho Blossoms, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Corner Rounder

Accessories: Daffodil Delight Brad

So I'm not sure that the photo really does this card justice. The flower is really curvy and poofy! The tab just balances out the rest of the card and adds a place for the sentiment. 

Hope you liked this fun CAS card! I look forward to seeing your CAS creations over on the Simply Stampin' blog.

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

wedding...

So I've been doing wedding stationary for a couple of ladies recently and this was one of the samples I knocked up of a invite I could make - seeing as Ive only just started I didn't have many samples to show! 

Wedding Invite with Belly Band

Stamp Set: n/a

Ink: n/a

Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, So Saffron

DSP: First Edition

Punch: Boho Blossoms

Big Shot: Fun Flowers, Elegant Bouquet Emboss 

Accessories: Antique Brads

So inside in the middle would be the invitation wording and embossed pattern on the two sides enclosing it. Holding the whole thing together is a belly band with embossed pattern again and then a pretty flower in the centre! Its gorgeous! If I was getting married again I would totally go for something glamorous like this!! 

Hope you liked today's quick little share! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

C25K update

For any of you that know already or are reading my blog I am attempting to do the Couch to 5k program.  It helps train you and build up your endurance so that you can run 5k. This is both in an attempt to just get a bit fitter and to loose more weight in my ongoing goal to see the pandas at Edinburgh zoo - see last week's post to see what that's all about! 

Anyway last week was Week 1 of C25K (a 9 week program, uh *cough* we will see about that!). It actually went surprisingly well - week 1 involves 5 minute brisk warm up walk followed by 20 minutes of 60 seconds running, 90 seconds walking on repeat. finished off with a 5 minute cool down.

Yes I was super out of breath and had to stop walking a couple times to catch my breath and recover from stitches but by my third run I managed the entire half hour without stopping! I was so proud! I know I sound really unfit and I totally am, so for me to do that, was a great achievement! To be honest when I first started I seriously didn't think I could run for 60 seconds. My calves and feet have been aching so much! Oh joy!

Anyway, today was the beginning of Week 2! All I can say is OH MY GOODNESS!!! That was rough!! 

Week 2 is 5 minutes brisk warm up walk followed by 20 minutes of 90 seconds and 2 minutes walking on repeat, finished off with a 5 minute cool down. Wow who would have thought that 30 seconds more running would be SO challenging! Anyhow, I shall soldier on and hopefully by the end of the week it will become easier just like week 1 did! 

I'm going to try and blog about C25K each week but hopefully shorter length so you can all check up on how I'm doing, if you're interested! 

Hugs,

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge 65

Good morning folks! Back today with a Simply Stampin' Challenge today. We're back on a colour challenge today and its a beaut! I am actually in love! 

Tea for Two

Stamp Set: Tea Shoppe

Ink: Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock: Wisper White, Lucky Limeade, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake

Punch: Decorative Label

Accessories: Pearls

Baker's Twine: Lucky Limeade 

Other: Simply Scored Board

So I colour and stamped the tea cup using my stampin' write markers. Then cut it out and layered it on top of some Bashful Blue and Lucky Limeade cardstock - this provides a background and gives an added pop of colour to the rather subtle tea cup! I then added some score lines using the Simply Scored board - my goodness, EVERYONE needs one of these - they're fantastic!! I stamped the sentiment below the score lines and embellished with a few pearls! On the inside I coloured and stamped the Tea for Two image and punched it out with the decorative label punch - for another pop of colour I added a little frame of Limeade using the decorative label punch again.

I hope you enjoyed this CAS card. There's some stunning design team entries over at the Simply Stampin' blog so please go and check them out, oh and leave me a comment? :) I love reading them. 

Have a wonderful and sunny weekend! 

Amanda xx

butterflies and medallions

So getting back into the blogging pattern is going to take a little time I think! I've got a super quick little card for you today...

Stamp Set: Medallion, Creative Elements, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Versa Mark, Soft Suede

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette

Big Shot: Beautiful Wings 

Accessories: Pearls 

Extras: Clear Emboss Powder

This is pretty much a straight CASE of a card that I think Shannon West from USA made (I don't know where I saw it so don't have a link). I just like the medallion in the background and lots of pretty butterflies hovering over it! Beautiful! 

Hope you liked this quickie! 

Catch ya tomorrow! 

Amanda xx

chasing my tail...

Oh my goodness! How long has it been?!?! I seriously can't believe its been so so long since I last posted on my blog! Life just seems unforgivably busy! (And I've been a little lazy too perhaps!)

Anyway now to get caught up on what's been going on and get back into the blogging spirit!

So you remember I was talking about making a special jubilee cake a while back. Want to see what I made?! Go on then!

I've got to admit it didn't quite work out exactly as I would have liked but I'm quite a perfectionist. Seeing as this was my first attempt at cutting and piecing a cake and using fondant icing I think it turned out not too bad! 

I baked 4 loaf tins of cake - 2 blue and 2 red which were then cut up and pieced together with buttercream icing. I used my mum's homemade rasberry jam for the thin red diagonal lines. I covered the cake in fondant icing and piped on a few simple decorations. I would have done more and spent more time on it but I just simply ran out of time! 

So what do you think to it? Impressive enough?! 

Apart from baking cakes and general life I've had a couple weddings keeping me busy! Both are next April, would you believe it they're both on the same day! I somehow feel come next March/April I am going to be flat out and VERY stressed out!?! Well, I hope not but there's always lots of last minute things.

So first wedding I have made all the day and evening wedding invitations, made all the thank you cards, cut and embossed all the favours ready to assemble nearer the time. I've got the table numbers all done, all the table plan bits I can do at the moment done and the front of the menu cards completed. Feeling so prepared and so very very much enjoying it! 

Now I have 1 wedding all sorted its on to start on the next wedding. The bride and I have sorted out the design and stuff so I'm just waiting on my supplies to arrive so I can start on her invitations etc. Very exciting stuff!

When the weddings are all over I'll share photos of all the gorgeous stationary I've been making! 

For anyone who knows me they're gonna laugh/be shocked at my next statement. I have taken up running! Woah! I NEVER thought I'd voluntarily take up running and even more shocking, enjoy it - to some degree at least!

I've been on a loose weight battle since the beginning of the year, I've put on loads of weight since getting married and so the battle has begun. Stuart has come up with a brilliant incentive for me - for every pound I loose I get "panda miles" when I get to my goal weight and have earnt enough "panda miles" he is going to take me to see my favourite animal - PANDAS - at Edinburgh zoo! I am so excited! I've lost almost 2 stone already which gets me somewhere between Sheffield and Leeds! 

Anyway this past month I've stepped up my loose weight thing to a new level and started training for C25K (Couch to 5 K). My first week is going really well so far - I'm doing a lot better than I expected to do! Yes its tough but I haven't given up yet. Hopefully it'll get me fitter for hiking in the Smoky Mountains in NC next month too! Here's hoping anyway! 

Wow I've really babbled! Right, come back tomorrow for some crafty creations! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

mixing it up with new bow techniques!

Happy Sunday folks! 

A quick little post for you today using the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set...

Flower Friend

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Mixed Bunch

Ink: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Punch: Blossom, 3/4" Circle, Modern Label

Ribbon: Certainly Celery Satin, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine

This was the card that we made at class this month to showcase a few bow techniques. First off was the flat bow - easy to do and no wasteage, also its flat so it'll go through the post with no aditional postage. The second bow was the little baker's twine bow made using a fork! Yep, just a normal kitchen fork!!!

Its a pretty and simple card but I really like it at the moment! It's just so summery! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

let's have a paper party!

Stampin' Up! have really out done themselves with an AMAZING offer on this month called Paper Party!

What's even better is everyone can join in the Paper Party! 

So, what's a Paper Party?! Basically during June, buy 3 packages of Designer Series Paper and get a fourth for free!! 

And, there's no limit to the amount you can purchase so if you buy 6 packs you can earn 2 free and so on! What a great promotion to stock up on lots of lovely papers, perfect for scrapbooking, making into envelope and boxes using Simply Scored and so much more! 

Speciality Designer Series Paper and hostess DSP isn't included in this offer but with so many others to choose from you won't be lacking for options! 

If you'd like to take advantage of this offer please call on 07717206098 or email at amanda_burditt@hotmail.co.uk to place your order today!!

Be there or be square!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge 62

Simply Stampin' Challenge time again guys! This week is a colour challenge, are you ready to see the colours we have for you this week?

Hello Blossoms

Stamp Set: Bright Blossoms, Pennant Parade

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise 

Punch: Decorative Label, Modern Label

Accessories: Pearls, Cherry Cobbler Button

I decided that I wanted to use the Bright Blossoms stamp set so I had to add the tiniest bit of Limeade for the stalks and leaves! I used the 3 colours in the flowers and vase and then I wanted to emphasise these colours so used the modern label punch as strips behind the decorative label punch. For the Tempting Turquoise I just added a thin border around the edge! 

Hope you enjoyed this really simple little card! 

Have a fantastic Jubilee weekend!! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda xo

on your bike!

Hi there folks! 

Sorry for not blogging much this week, I haven't really go any excuse, it just slipped my mind and whenever I did think about it, it just wasn't a good moment! 

Anyway I hope you've all had a good week? Everyone ready for the long Jubilee weekend? I hope you're all going to do something fun with these extra holiday days! I'm going to a BBQ Street Party hosted by my old church. There's a cake competition, I'm so very tempted to enter...

Right, enough of my blabbering, here's a cute card for you to brighten your day! 

Vintage Bike Friend

Stamp Set: Pedal Presents(Hostess), Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Basic Grey, Peach Parfait, Regal Rose, Perfect Plum, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

DSP: First Edition Speciality 

Punch: Scallop Edge

Accessories: Linen Thread

I coloured in the bike and accessories in using a blender pen and then using the paper piercer and mat pack i pierced a line of holes along the top and bottom of the whisper white cardstock. I added some scallop trim strips of First Edition dsp for the vintage look and adhered everything to a Crumb Cake base with some linen thread around it too! 

I just love this hostess set. The bike is really lovely and I like that it comes with lots of fun things to fill the basket with! Such a fun and different stamp set to have so if you'd like to get this set yourself why not host a party and earn this set for free?! 

Why not leave me a comment and let me know what you think. What are you doing this weekend for the Jubilee?!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xox