simply stampin' challenge, week 31

This week over at the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog its back to a sketch challenge again! This week's is great so why not create your own card using it and submit it this week - you could be top 3 and I would love to see what you come up with! 

Here's the sketch and my take on it!

Merry & Bright Dasher

Stamp Set: Dasher, Serene Snowflakes, Season of Joy

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red Textured

Punch: 3/4" Circle

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

I thought dasher would be perfect for this sketch - he's just so cute! I stamped the small trio of snowflakes over the ivory background as the design matched up really well with the snowflakes surrounding dasher's antlers. I decided I wanted to do a larger scallop edge than the scallop border punch would do so I punched a bunch of small circles and then adhered them in a row so half the circle was overhanging the edge. I added a strip of Riding Hood Red cardstock and added brown stitching lines to that strip and the scallop edge. The sentiment was done by colouring in only one of the sentiments on the block from Season of Joy - a great way to get more use out of the block! I adhered everything together and then finally added some spots of glue and added dazzling diamonds glitter! The sparkle really finished it off! 

So, leave me a comment and then please head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog, check out what the other design team members have created for you and then get creating yourself! I cannot wait to see what you come up with! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

gift bags with a difference

I was surfing the net one night a little while ago when I couldn't sleep and got into watching youtube videos, I find it quite theraputic watching others craft and often get some fab ideas. On this occasion and found this excellent tutorial for how to make a gift bag out of an envelope. Now, I'm stupid and didn't save a link to the video, I really wanted to share the link with you. This is such a fantastic idea - I'm always in need of gift bags for pressies and finding one that's the correct size is almost impossible and can end up being quite pricey!

Below are a few examples of Christmas themed gift bags in a variety of sizes (depending on envelope size) and also different closures! This was the make and take project we did at Sue's party last week.

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive

Cardstock: Whisper White Real Red

Accessories: Real Red Grosgrain

Extras: Crop-a-dile

Envelope: to fit A5 card

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Crumb Cake, Rose Red

Cardsrtock: Crumb Cake, Rose Red

Accessories: Rose Red Seam Binding, Rhinestones, Linen Thread

Punch: 5 Petal, Boho Blossoms, Decorative Label

Extras: Crop-a-dile

Envelope: to fit A4 letter

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Marina Mist, Night of Navy

Punch: Eyelet Border

Accessories: Rhinestone Brads, Linen Thread

Extras: Crop-a-dile, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

Envelope: to fit square card

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Punch: Decorative Label

Accessories: Rhinestone Brad

Extras: Crop-a-dile, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

Envelope: to fit A6 size card

I hope you liked today's share! They're so easy to make, have a go today!! 

Hugs,

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge, week 28

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge is a sketch challenge. I have to admit this sketch wasn't easy, I really struggled with adding so many layers. Eventually I had to remove one layer as it just wasn't working out, so without further ado, here is this week's sketch and my card...

Season of Joy Christmas

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive

Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive, Real Red

Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Pearls

Extras: Sponge

I used stampin' write markers to colour in the wording stamp in real red and old olive which really makes all the sentiments stand out from each other and breaks up what can turn to be a LOT of one colour! I then sponged the edges and added some trees to tie in the old olive and the poinsettias to tie in the real red. Final thing to add to this card was some ribbon - overall I am quite happy with how this turned out. What do you think? 

Please do leave a comment and then head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog and check out the other design team member's entries. Please do enter yourself, I'd love to see how you interpret this sketch! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge, week 17

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge is a colour challenge. And here they are...

Celebrate Swirly Flowers

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases, Season of Joy, So Swirly

Ink: Real Red, Certainly Celery 

Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Real Red

DSP: Poppy Parade (Hostess Only Pack)

Punches: Modern Label, Itty Bitty, Boho Blossoms

Accessories: Basic Pearls

Extras: Sponges, Dimensionals, Jumbo Handle

y This is a little bit of a Christmassy card but by changing the colour combo this card works well at any time of the year! I think this is a card layout that I will be turning back to again and again! I wheeled out the So Swirly wheel in Certainly Celery on Certainly Celery cardstock. I tore the edge and inked it up with Certainly Celery ink to add some definition and adhered it to the Whisper White card base. To blend the Whisper White and Certainly Celery together I inked around the edge of the cardstock to soften the look. I stamped the flowers from the Season of Joy set on Real Red cardstock and layered some punched flowers using Poppy Parade dsp in the centres and on top of that some pearls. Finally I stamped the sentiment on some Poppy Parade dsp and punche out with the Modern Label punch, inked around the edge to finish!

Please head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge, check out the other fab design team entries and then enter yourself! 

Hugs,

Amanda 

xx

so swirly in july with class

Today was my July class. I had four lovely ladies and we all had such a great time together! I have to say I really love my classes, not only do I get to wow my attendees with fab projects and products from Stampin' Up but I get to have a really good time crafting with some lovely people. It is such a pleasure getting to know so many new people and a joy to see how every one's projects turn out so differently and so fabulously! 

Now onto this month's class. This month we used the Jumbo wheel. We were also going to use the builder wheel but we just ran out of time and to really get into it, it needs some more time so it will be added into a future class instead! This is the card we made using the So Swirly jumbo wheel!

So Swirly Flowers

The other techniques we focused on this month was decorating chip board! We all decorated our chip board using two techniques, covering with designer paper and inking! Its amazing how easy it is to bring chip board to life and how professional it looks! And by decorating it yourself you can  make them co-ordinate perfectly with whatever project you are working on! We added our chip board to the 3D project we made with was a baking sheet message board! 

This is one that I did a few weeks ago for a Simply Stampin' Challenge, I did another today during my class using the Oh Sew paper... GORGEOUS!!!! I will upload photos of that message board later this week! 

The message board makes a great home accessory - personalise to fit in with your home/office/kitchen décor. It also makes an extremely affordable but gorgeous little gift! In the current economical climate everyone is looking for ways to save and with a project like this, they cost next to nothing!

Baking Tray Message Board & Bottle Cap Magnets

If you like the look of these projects and you would like to have a go yourself please do get in touch and we will schedule a catch up class! I would love to show you how to do these projects, they are just so much fun and easy to do too! Email me on amanda_burditt@hotmail.co.uk to book your catch up class now! 

Look forward to hearing from you soon! 

Amanda x