I Return....

Hi! 

Its been a while. What with a new job to get used to, exciting holiday in America, redecorating and now Christmas planning I'm afraid blogging and even CRAFTING has got pushed to the bottom of the list!! I'm finally getting to that stage where I have more energy (I don't come home and crash out to sleep on the sofa). I will update you further o everything that's been going on over the next few weeks but today I just wanted to get back in with a short little post!

Tonight, after work I went to Warwickshire for a Sale-a-Bration Creative tour! I've seen some gorgeous new things and I'm sure you enjoy seeing sneaky peeks in weeks to come! I feel so pepped up and encouraged! (Thanks Michelle!!)

As I can't really post without showing you something pretty...I've got a birthday card I made for my sweet godson Euan's 2nd birthday back in July to show y'all...

Stamp Set: Remembering Your Birthday

Ink: Versa Mark

Cardstock: Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Basic Grey, Smokey Slate

DSP: Moonlight

Punch: Owl Builder, Banner

Big Shot: Decorative Dots, Typeset Alphabet (retired)

Embellishments: Mini Brads

Other: White Embossing Powder

I used my favourite technique - selective embossing and then added some little punched dots on top for more colour. 

I just love this paper and the banners look so fun and celebratory.

I'm planning to wean myself back into blogging, creating shorter blog posts which hopefully will be easier to maintain in my busy life I appear to be leading at the moment! 

I'm off to bed as I am completely wiped out!

Have a great day!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda 

Make it Masculine

Hello there!

Bit of a different day to what I'd origionally planned. I was supposed to be going to my friend Vicky's today for a crafty play time and good ol' catch up. I haven't seen her since convention back in November so totally over due for some play time! Unfortunately I've had a rotten cold all this week, super sore throat, hardly and voice and earache to boot! So I've had to take rain check on our play date! Oh and in case I didn't feel bad enough, I've also got the dentist this afternoon - ugh!

I realised that I hadn't show you the card I made for Stuart for his birthday! It was inspired by the masculine card I showed you last week. He really liked it so I thought I'd make another similar version for his birthday! 

Stamp Set: Remembering Your Birthday

Ink: Versa Mark, Whisper White

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate

DSP: Modern Medlay

Punch: Banner, Merry Minis

Embellishments: Mini Brads, 

Other: White Embossing Powder, White Gel Pen

I got him a mandolin for his birthday so I knew I totally wanted to use the music notes paper in the Modern Medlay paper pack. I also went all out and made the card a tall one - I actually think I prefer it tall! What do you think?

I used the chalkboard effect here again - just works so well here and adds a little something extra while still keeping it clean and manly!

The arrow paper clip was just a little last minute addition, I had the pack of clips sitting on my desk and I still haven't used them so I thought I'd just slip on of the corner. Pit there wasn't a treble clef shaped one but hey, this still works well!

There was a little more of the chalk board effect inside to finish off the card and sentiment beautifully! 

I thought I'd just finish today's post off with another quick masculine card I made with some left overs I had kicking around - It's not much different to the others I've done so I thought I'd include it here.

I know masculine cards aren't easy so I hope that these two cards have helped you with a few new ideas for the men in your life!

Now, here's a question for you, would you like to see masculine cards become a regular feature on my blog? Say once a week perhaps? Comment me on your thoughts, I'd really appreciate them. 

Happy Stampin',

A Masculine Birthday

Hello!

Second post of the day today!! How fun!

Yesterday was the Inky Fingers kit challenge, and if you remeber, I said that was my second attempt, well I thought today I'd quickly share with you my first creation. Its still a cute card but just didn't use all the components that I was given! 

Stamp Set: Remembering Your Birthday

Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate

DSP: Modern Medlay

Punch: Merry Minis, Banner (SAB)

Accessories: White Emboss Powder, White Gel Pen, Mini Brads

I used the chalk board technique on this too. I'm really loving the chalk board effect at the moment and I think it makes the perfect component for a masculine card. 

The ruffled DSP was really simple to do, just tore the edge and and then randomly folded it to fit the length of the black cardstock. There's plenty of snail holding all that DSP down! 

I thought the mini brads looked quite sweet in the centre of the stars on the banners and just added that faint hint of sparkle! 

Please do check out the other lovely design team's creations on the Inky Fingers blog and play along with this week's colours! I can't wait to see what beautiful things you make! 

Happy Stampin',

Inky Fingers Challenge 4

Hello!

Its Monday again! And now its time for a new Inky Fingers Challenge. Its the fourth week in the month so that means its a "Kit" challenge! Julie sends everyone who requests it a kit of goodies to use to make the card. 

Stamp Set: See Ya Later, Express Yourself

Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black, White Craft

Cardstock: Basic Grey, Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Real Red

DSP: Modern Medlay

Punch: Owl Builder, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Banner (SAB)

Ribbon: Real Red Taffeta 

Accessories: Antique Brad, Mini Brads

Extra: White Emboss Powder, Crystal Effects

This is actually the second card that I made. I didn't realise I had to use EVERYTHING in the kit, so I merrily went to creating a card that only used some of the bits. I couldn't seem to make the red card and ribbon and the big antique brad work, so I thought I'd just leave it a monochrome, masculine card. 

So I fiished off the card and sent it off to Julie only to get an answer that I hadn't used everything. I was like say what?! That's a lot! I scratched my head and thought hmm, how do I get those bits in?! 

Back to the drawing board I thought I'd have a go at making a more manly Valentine card! (I got Stuart's approval so in my book, its okay for a guy!)

I did the chalk board technique with the sentiment and added the red heart from the owl builder over the embossed heart. The red really pops against the black! What was really baffling me was the ribbon, I didn't want to add a bow because that's not manly apparently. I eventually thought I'd add it as a tiny little strip on the banners.

Actually I'm really please with how this turned out. The red pops and really lifts the card. To make the hearts even more special I added crystal effects. 

Be sure to check out the other design team's creations over at the Inky Fingers blog. 

Happy Stampin',

Butterflies!!

 Hello there! 

I'm back with a lovely summery card for you today! 

I don't know what the weather is doing where you are but if its anything like what we have, its not spring or summer like! Its cold and there is a threatening sky which might pour at a moments notice. Ugh! So what better way to cheer yourself up than with a bight and cheery card!

Stamp Set: Kindness Matters

Ink: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Black Stazon

Cardstock: Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White

Big Shot: Apothecary Accents Framelits, Delicate Doilies Sizzlit, Lacy Brocade TIEF

Accessories: Mini Brads

 This is such a pretty girly card and I just love it! The butterflies are coloured with blender pens for a watercoloured effect. The idea for the little half doily sticking out from the butterflies was actually inspired by a half doily stamp fro the same set (see all the stamps in the set below) The little banners at the bottom was just using up tiny scraps. I really like the punchy bright Lucky Limeade with the pastel Wisteria Wonder and Pool Party, it just adds a little pop to the soothing colour palette. 

Lucky Limeade is due to retire at the end of June as it is an in colour. The other in colours in the set are all sticking around and joining the core colour groups as part of the colour refresh! But, I'm bummed about Lucky Limeade!! Its my "go to" green! I love its vibrancy and it just seems to work so well with so many colours! I guess I will have to fall for a different green now! 

Do you have a "go to" green?

If yours is Lucky Limeade I'd definitely recommend stocking up on supplies - cardstock, ribbon/baker's twine etc before it goes for good! Oh and don't forget the all important ink refill so your beloved Lucky Limeade ink pad doesn't run dry! 

So why not leave me a comment and let me know what your favourite green is? 

Have a great day - despite the crumby weather!

Amanda x

moving forward...

There are so many lovely new stamp sets in the catalogue, I have a wish list as long as my arm! One set however that I didn't pay much attention to was Moving Forward. It has cute kiddy images like a bike and boat as well as a frog and bird which could be used for a modern style card - not necessarily kiddy ones. So I hadn't really noticed it until I was reading Heather's blog and she did a little series of cards using this set and I was hooked! It went from not even being on the list to pretty much the top! 

Well, I got it! Its so cute and different - I love it! I thought it'd be perfect for a card I wanted to make to congratulate some friends of ours who are adopting! They have 2 kids - one girl and one boy! Seeing as they aren't babies I didn't want to make it too much like a new baby card so I thought these images would work perfect for a couple of toddlers! 

Stamp Set: Moving Forward, Curly Cute

Ink: Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, So Saffron

DSP: Floral District

Punch: Itty Bitty, Scallop Trim

Ribbon: Pretty in Pink Satin (retired)

Accessories: Mini Brads

Aren't the mini brads just the cutest little accent?! They add a little fun to the card but not as glitzy as rhinestones or pearls would be! 

What do you think? Hope you liked it! 

Amanda xo

winter wonderland

Good morning! Its Monday again...I hope you all had a good weekend?! 

Well I thought what better way to start off a Monday than to introduce you to another new stamp set which is in the Autumn-Winter catalogue at the moment! My friend Emma, bought this set, its such a cute set with ducklings, bunnies drinking cocoa, kids in puffer suits making snow angels and lots more... so I cheekily asked her if I could borrow it. To make samples to show her what she could do with it for Christmas of course!! She kindly let me so I have lots of sweet cards to show you over the coming weeks using Winter Wonderland. (Thanks so much Emma!!)

Christmas Ducklings

Stamp Set: Winter Wonderland, Come to Bethlehem

Ink: Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Pool Party

Accessories: Mini Brads, Silver Dazzling Details 

This card is post friendly, cheap and very simple. the longest bit will be colouring in the ducks and waiting for the dazzling details to dry! The dazzling details was thinly applied to he edge of the white banner potion of the card for glitz - its really inexpensive at £2.25 a bottle and will go a long way! Its really glittery, I added a little bit to the snow and ground ad well for added shine! 

The brads work out at less than 2p each so they are a bargain also! but if you didn't want to use them I think this card would look cute without them too. Or if you wanted an alternative embellishment why not try adding faux brads with the silver dazzling details seeing as you'll already have it out! I stamped the snow in the background of the Pool Party too for a little added depth and texture, its subtle but a nice, quick and easy touch. 

I used the Merry Christmas from Come to Bethlehem because its the one I own but if you had another sentiment in a similar size I think that would work well also! 

Have a great week! 

Amanda x

tagtastic birthday

Last Friday was not only Donna's birthday but also Stuart's uncle Dave's birthday. Here's the clean and simple birthday card I made for him! 

Happy Birthday Bear

Stamp Set: Tagtastic (Hostess)

Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Confetti White

Punch: Decorative Label

Accessories: Mini Brads

So I had these strips of Espresso lying around that I thought would work as little banners - I cut a snake tongue end to them. I attached them to my Confetti White card base with mini brads. As the focal point I stamped the bear on the bike stamp from Tagtastic, coloured it in and punched it out. Finally to tie in the dashed line on the bear stamp I did a dashed line all around the edge of the card! 

Do you like it? Manly enough? Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think! I love reading them! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx