daffodils

Man, I am beat! I am so tired - its been a long couple of days (I am writing this on Thursday night and scheduling it for Friday morning - what I do with most of my posts!). On the plus side my craft room is looking amazing! I think its the tidiest its EVER been - and we've only lived here for a year and 8 months - whoops! Ive still got bits to do and tidy and organise my storage systems and stuff but its getting there!

Now onto a card to share with you! Today's is another of the March card club series. Definitely very springtime - 

Easter Daffodils

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Peach Parfait

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz

Punches: 5 Petal Flower, Boho Blossoms, Decorative Label

Extras: Sponge, Embossing Stylus, Mat Pack

First we sponged the flowers with a little bit of Peach Parfait ink and then laying the punched flowers down on the mat pack we used the embossing stylus in the centre of the flowers to give a bit of shape to the flowers. Three strips of cardstock were laid down for the stalks and then the flowers added to the top (we put dimensionals under the yellow flowers to help it keep its shape! For the grass its just a strip of Pear Pizzazz cardstock that I snipped in to every couple of millimetres - after the entire thing was snipped in to I cut in at an angle to give it some varying height and a little more texture. I guess its similar to what a hair dresser does when they cut layers in your hair? The final thing to do was to stamp the sentiment, punch it out wit the decorative label punch and sponge. I just slipped it in under the grass and there you have it, one quick and simple Easter card!  

I hope you liked today's quick post. Come back tomorrow for another Simply Stampin' Challenge! 

Have a great day! 

Amanda xx

blossom into springtime

Man oh man, busy weekend - filled with work, people turning up at the wrong time, cooking and cleaning and some waking up late! Well despite everything both Mums seemed to have a good time yesterday on omther's day - I cooked diner for them. Yum!  

Anyway its a gorgeous day today so I thought I'd show you one of the sweet cards that we made this month at card club! 

Birthday Blossoms

Stamp Set: Simply Soft (Hostess), Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla

Punch: Decorative Label

Accessories: Champagne Shimmer Mist

Extras: Sponge

So I stamped the blossoms several times and coloured them in with my stampin' write markers. I stamped the seniment on a strap piece of cardstock and punched it out with half the decorative label punch. I also filled in a little bit of the dead space with a few of the little blossoms. I sponged the pretty in pink cardstock with some regal rose ink and then adhered everything together! Finally I spritzed it with champagne shimmer mist for some sparkly shine! 

Have a lovely day everyone! 

Amanda x

springtime is precious

Sorry I've been a bit hit and miss the last couple of weeks. Its been super busy around here - this week hasn't been as bad as last week but still really busy. I decided to take a day off on Tuesday though, just felt worn out and needed a day off of being creative just to sit back and enjoy some me time. 

So I just thought I'd show you my lovely afternoon in picture form.

An AMAZING veggie stirfry, chick flicky movie and chocolate! Yum!! 

Last few day I have also not been feeling too good - migraines, tummy ache etc. Ugh! anyway I thought I use some of this down time to catch up on my blogging and prepare for my SUPER long busy weekend!!! 

Below is one of the cards from card club this month. 

Stamp Set: Precious Butterflies (Hostess)

Ink: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Whisper White

DSP: Domestic Goddess 

Big Shot: Top Note, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Accessories: Rhinestones

Extras: Sponge

I cut a mask with the top note die and teporarily adhered it to my card base. I then sponged with So Saffron and Certainly Celery ink  to fill in the blank masked area. I then stamped the spring sprig around the outside before removing the mask. I stamped my sentiment on the card and added some embosslit butterflies! 

Do you like it? Why not leave me a comment and let me know! 

Just one final note, I am putting through a Stampin' Up! order this weekend so if you would like to grab some SU goodies with free shipping and take advantage of Sale-A-Bration before it ends on March 31st then please email me on amanda_burditt@hotmail.co.uk or call me on 07717206098 with your order by Saturday evening! Don't miss out on your chance to get free products! 

Thanks for popping by!

Amanda xx

a flutter of butterflies

Saturday was Stu's Great Aunt Lil's birthday - I do cooking and clean for her a couple times a week so obviously I needed to make her a lovely card for her special day. Here's her card...

Fresh Butterflies

Stamp Set: Fresh Vintage (SAB), Teen Tiny Wishes

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand

DSP: Everyday Elegance (SAB)

Punch: Decorative Label

Big Shot: Beautiful Wings Embosslit

Accessories: Pearls

Extras: Sponge, Colour Spritzer

I stamped the large flower stamp from Fresh Vintage twice back to back in the background then stamped and punched the sentiment with the decorative label punch, sponged and added it over the top of the floral image. I used the colour spritzer to spritz Crumb Cake and Early Espresso ink over the background to add a bit more texture. I added a load of little butterflies all over the card and added some little pearls to the centres. 

What did you think to today's share? 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

wreath class

I have been meaning to put up a photo for a week or so now of the flower wreath that I made for this month's class - so you could see what the lovely class girlies had fun making and what you all missed out on! Finally I got around to photographing it and uploading it for you all to see! It was super fun making it and the girls that came to the class really seemed to enjoy making it! 

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Peach Parfait

Cardstock: Whisper White, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi

Punches: Owl Builder, Blossom Builder, Itty Bitty, Circle (Various Sizes)

Big Shot: Blossom Party die, Little Leaves Sizzlit

Ribbon: Wild Wasabi Striped Grosgrain

Extras: Sponges, Polystyrene Wreath

How gorgeous is that?! I love mine and have it hanging in my living room on the door - our wall is painted in Wild Wasabi so it fits in really nicely!

If you missed out and would like to create something lovely for your house why not come long to March's class and make some pretty bunting (to die for!!!) using the pennants die and big shot! I will upload a photo of my bunting beginning of next week for you all to see!

Please do leave me a comment, I love reading them!

Happy Craftin',

Amanda xx

penguin fest!

It was my mother-in-law's birthday on Saturday so obviously I needed to make her a special card! She LOVES penguins and seeing as I recently got the owl punch I thought I would put it to good use and make some penguins out of it!

Pop-Up Penguin Fest

Stamp Set: Outlined Occasions (SAB)

Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Peach Parfait

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Peach Parfait

Accessories: Lemon Baker's Twine

Punch: Owl Builder, Itty Bitty, 1 3/4" Circle

Big Shot: Sweet Buttons Embosslit, Blossom Party Die

Extras: Sponge

Now, its super easy to make the owl punch into  a penguin! All I did was cut off the ears! I also cut off the feet and added peach parfait feet instead! I cut out tiny little triangles as beaks! They were accented with little flowers and hearts! Cute as! 

Now, I don't do pop up cards! The last time I made a pop up card I must have been about 14! However I did a little google search to get a few ideas for card design and saw a really cute pop up card with the penguins so I thought why not! I made the steps and added penguins inside. I also sponged the edges before sticking this piece of cardstock onto the card base. 

On the front of the card I added a large banner with Celebrate on it, coloured with the markers and sponged. I layered up the large flower from the Blossom Party die, circle punch and then topped with a penguin. I finally wrapped some baker's twine around the card and added a bow to both sides. On the inside I also added a embossed button. 

My MIL loved it! She was so pleased with it and was really surprised to see the pop ups inside! 

Do you love it too? Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think! 

Happy Craftin',

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge week 47

This week it is another colour challenge over on the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog. I've been looking forward to this one - its time to flaunt your girly side and get down with the pinks and purples. Here we go...

These colours match some of the papers in Stampin' Up!'s Flirtatious DSP so I thought it was time to whack it out and get cracking! If you don't have all the colours listed, no worries, just use the closest ones that you do have!

Doilies and Butterflies

Stamp Set: Teen Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo
Cardstock: Whisper White
DSP: Flirtatious
Big Shot: Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Top Note
Accessories: Pearls
Extras: Colour Spritzer, Sponges

So I wanted to try something different and I had the idea that I wanted to use the top note negative as a mask so that I could sponge the top note shape onto the card. I then sponged the masked area with Pretty in Pink ink. Next I tacked down one of the doilies from the die cut sheet in the Flirtatious paper and using the Colour Spritzer and my Melon Mambo marker I spritzed it well to give the doily outline! I was planning on using the correct side of the Mambo doily next to the spritzed one but it was a bit too dominant - then I had an idea - to cut out the centre of the doily and use what remained as a frame! Inside I stamped the sentiment and then used the butterflies embosslit to cut some cute little butterflies from the Flirtatious DSP. I added some pearls to finish it off.
I thought it would be a shame not to use the centre of the doily so I used it to decorate the inside of the card and added a couple more butterflies!

Wow long explanation today - sorry about that! So what do you think? I hope you liked it! Please leave me a comment and then head on over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog to see the rest of the design team entries and then enter yourself! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

heart on a line

Last night was my first ever card club. I had 6 lovely ladies come and we all had a great time! In fact I have had such a good response to my card club that I have added another date for this month - this Friday (Feb 10th)! I have 4 ladies booked on already, if you would like to come along and make 5 great cards for £7.50, its not too late! Call me on 01604 949827 or email me on amanda_burditt@hotmail.co.uk to book you place! 

This is one of the cards that we made this month....

Heart on a Line

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes, I {heart} Hearts

Ink: Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder

Punch: Cupcake Builder

Big Shot: Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder

Accessories: Linen Thread, Mini Clothes Peg

Extras: Sponges

So the edges of the cardstock were sponged lightly. The "clouds" are punched from the cupcake builder and run through the big shot for some texture. Linen thread was wrapped around the pool party cardstock and tied in a bow. Finally I stamped and cut out a heart and added it to the line with the mini clothes peg. Lastly I stamped a sentiment at the bottom in Wisteria. 

Hope you liked this cute little card - its very cheery!

Happy Stampin,

Amanda x

easy events

For any of you who know me, you'll know that I LOVED Fun & Fast Notes. So when it got retired last month I was a bit gutted - it was a great all round stamp set that had something for pretty much every occasion. So when the new catalogue came out I was eager to see what the replacement set would be. It is a very sweet set called Easy Events. It has both images and sentiments - its lovely!

Wedding Wishes Birdies

Stamp Set: Easy Events

Ink: Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Big Shot: Vintage Wallpaper Emboss Folder

Accessories: Very Vanilla Seam Binding

Punch: Decorative Label

Extras: Sponge

I embossed and tore the crumb cake cardstock for a softer edge. I stamped the birds, coloured and punched out. Added some ribbon, the sentiment and assembled. Really simple but elegant little wedding card! 

What do you think? I hope you liked this card, I'd love to know what you think! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

fun with flames

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a little bit of a thing for fire! Its just so pretty and fun! Anyway I was making a card using the Everything Eleanor stamp set - did I tell you I'm in love with this set at the moment?! So I was making this card and as this set is quite vintagey I thought it would be fun to see what it would look like to start burning away bits of the card and ribbon for a vintage burnt look.

Burnt Eleanor 

Stamp Set: Everything Eleanor, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Big Shot: Vintage Wallpaper

Accessories: Pearls

Ribbon: Crumb Cake Seam Binding 

Extras: Sponge

A pretty simple card of stamping, sponging and layering the various elements of the  card, Its a very monochromatic card - all very brown. I think it really helps all the textures to shine through!

While creating this card i started burning elements of it with a lighter and candle. Love it! Probably not a card I would recommend trying at home - unless you are in a very unflamable place (you can imagine a craft room full of paper and fabric is not the best place to decide to experiment with fire! 

Hope you liked this little experimentation, please do leave a comment. I love reading them! :) 

See you tomorrow for another little creation! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

everything eleanor

Wow what a set!!! This is a new set in the catalogue and I just LOVE it!! Its called Everything Eleanor and its just absolutely fabulous! I think its my absolute favourite set at the moment! (Its not even in the American catalogue - that's how special it is!!) I'll share loads of cute projects done with this over the next few weeks but here's today's! This is one of the cards I demonstrated at Sue's party on Monday. 

Thank You Kissing Birdie

Stamp Set: Everything Eleanor, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Versa Mark

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede

Big Shot: Vintage Wallpaper

Embossing: Gold Emboss Powder, Heat Tool

Accessories: Silver Brads

Extras: Sponges, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

So this card highlights the 'kissing' technique. It involves inking up two stamps, a plain stamp (frame) and then another with pattern (flourish). Then you kiss the two inked stamps together. This means the pattern from the second stamp has now been transferred onto the plan stamp. Its a fun technique and really effective on this card. I then stamped the frame and cut it out, and used soft suede ink to sponge the edges and very lightly over the baja breeze frame to give it a vintage feel. I then ran the very vanilla cardstock through the big shot in the vintage wallpaper embossing folder. I stamped the flourish over the soft suede cardstock in soft suede ink to just add a little pattern and then sponged the edges before assembling the card. Oh the other thing I did was heat emboss my brads - I only had silver but wanted a vintagey gold brad so I inked up the heads with versamark, dipped them into gold powder and heated them. This is a great little trick if you don't have the right colour brads! 

I hope you enjoyed this little card as much as I do, please do leave a comment and let me know what you think! As I said there's lots more to come with Everything Eleanor  so stay tuned! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xoxo

doilies

here's a bit more of a rustic style card using the Delicate Doilies stamp set. I used the colour scheme from the Simply Stampin' Challenge a couple weeks ago - Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede and Chocolate Chip to create this card. I am really loving this colour palette, such lovely rich earthy colours! 

Hello There Doilies

Stamp Set: Delicate Doilies

Ink: Versamark, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz

Embossing: Clear Powder

Punches: Modern Label

Accessories: Pearls 

Extras: Sponge

I stamped the larger doily in versamark and then embossed with clear embossing powder. I inked over the top of it with Pear Pizzazz and them stamped and embossed a few more smaller doilies and inked up with Soft Suede and Chocolate Chip. I punched out the Modern Label and hand wrote the sentiment. To finish it off I couldn't help but add some pearls! I'm going through pearls like crazy these days! 

Please do leave a comment, I love hearing what you think!

Tomorrow I have something new for you using another new stamp set...its totally gorgeous and one of my new favourites! (even more so than delicate doilies!! Hard to imagine I'm sure!)

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

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

a little bonus - happy birthday mum

A little bonus post for you today, just wanted to share the little card I made for my mum's birthday last month.

Birthday Flowers

Stamp Set: Something to Celebrate (Hostess - retired)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Garden Green, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Ink: Rose Red, Garden Green

Punch: Bird, Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty, 5 Petal Flower, Corner Rounder

Accessories: Rhinestones, Rhinestone Brads

Big Shot: Lots of Tags

Extras: Crimper, Sponge

Hope you enjoyed this quick little post today. Isn't the card gorgeous?! And so simple to make! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

awesome august

A few days ago was my August class. This month's class focused on punches! I love punches so to do a class on punches was just so much fun!! Here are the project we did...

Flutter Away Butterfly

A cute card using the stencilling technique. To finish it off we added a fe punched butterflies out, this made it look like the butterflies were flying off the page! 

Flower Box

This was the main project we focused on this time as it involved rock and roll, glittery, glossy butterflies, gorgeous rolled roses, and fluffy 3D flowers! 

If you would like to have a go at learning these techniques and doing these projects yourself please get in touch for a catch up class, I have several people who have expressed an interest so please don't hesitate, contact me now, at amanda_burditt@hotmail.co.uk

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I and six lovely ladies got up to on Saturday, and I would love to share it with you too. Please do leave a comment.

Hugs,

Amanda

xxx

simply stampin' challenge, week 20

Just not with it yet! I've been super busy with rabbit sitting, 3 workshops and other life happening that I just haven't had time to focus on my blog lately...whoops! Anyway I managed to sort of do the Simply Stampin' Challenge this week. By this I mean that I got it made and submitted just in time but was lacking inspiration slightly!! So I did a really simple card, sorry its nothing to write home about. It wasn't 'til I looked at the other entries today that I realised I used the wrong colour. Some how I read Pink Pirouette not Pretty in Pink, so sorry about that. So, moving on, this week's colour challenge colours are...

Hello Flower 

Stamp Set: Tiny Tags

Ink: Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, Pacific Point

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Early Espresso

DSP: Pink Pirouette

Punches: 5 Petal Flower, Boho Blossoms, Jewellery Tag 

Accessories: Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, Brad

Extras: Sponge, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals

So now you've seen my uber simple effort this week please visit the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog for more inspiration and to enter. Weeks 20-23, there is also a chance to win a stamp set! Its is the uber cute Forest Friends, so for your chance to win please do enter! 

Take care,

Amanda xx

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

sail away...

Well I finally got around to purchasing the Sail Away stamp recently. Haven't regretted it for a second! I love it so much, if for no other fact than it makes a really quick and simple masculine card! 

Atmospheric Sail Away

Stamp Set: Sail Away, Fun and Fast Notes

Ink: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Basic Black

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy

Punches: Modern Label

Extras: Sponges, Dimensionals, Blender Pen

So this card is actually pretty simple, just requires a LOT of inking and getting rather messy hands! I don't think I could consider myself a crafter without getting messy every once in a while though!! Haha, and with me that seems to be more often that not! So I stamped the sail boat of some Very Vanilla cardstock and the sails on a separate piece and cut them out. I then began inking the edges of the cardstock, being quite vicious with the inking and not at all careful working futher and further in. I layered the Not Quite Navy and the Night of Navy inks on to of one another to create the atmospheric sky and sea. I shaded the cut out sails with a little bit of Crumb Cake and a blender pen and then adhered the sails to the inked up cardstock. I layered it up on some Not Quite Navy and Night of Navy cardstock and finished it off with stamping the sentiment from Fun and Fast Notes on some Very Vanilla cardstock, punching with the modern label and then inking the edges before adhering below. 

I think this has got to be one of my favourite cards I've made recently! What do you think? Please comment.

Til next time,

Amanda x

give it some texture!

The third of the cards I made for women leaving a women's Bible Committee. This one was for a woman who is moving to Norfolk!

So Sorry You're Leaving 

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake

DSP: Playdate

Punches: Corner Rounder

Extras: Brown Pen, Sponge, Crimper

I chose a couple green patterns out of the Playdate paper which I layered up to look like hills (I know Norfolk is really flat but the hills worked for the card). I sponged the background to look like a sky with clouds. Then made the house with some red dsp from the Playdate collection again and also some Crumb Cake. When I started putting it together I just couldn't get the house to work, I think because everything was so textured and patterned the flat cardstock stuck out like a sore thumb, so I decided to give it a go and crimp it...seemed to work! Finally to tie everything together and give it a slightly more country feel I drew brown stitching lines around everything. I finished it off with the sentiment, half stamped and half handwritten. I really love the half and half style, it ties together the geometric patterns and the hand made quality together nicely! 

Hope you enjoyed seeing today's card, I love doing cards on commission. Especially for an occassion that isn't an everyday one as it really stretches my creative brain! 

Hugs,

Amanda 

vintage loving

Hello friends! 

Just a quick little post for you today...

Vintage Love

Stamp Set: Punch Potpourri (Hostess Only), I {Heart} Hearts, Basic Phrases

Ink: Basic Black, Rose Red, Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Crumb Cake

Extras: Sponge, Dimensionals, Blender Pen

I stamped the heart from Punch Potpourri on some Very Vanilla cardstock and coloured in the flowers using the blender pen and finally cut it out. I then stamped some hearts from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set on another piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. I then sponged the Very Vanilla cardstock and the Vanilla heart with Crumb Cake ink to give it a vintage aged feel. Finally I adhered all the elements together and stamped the sentiment at the bottom of the Vanilla cardstock. This would make a very cute little wedding card for someone or indeed an anniversary card!

I hope you enjoyed this sweet and simple card today! Come back tomorrow for another one!

Look forward to reading all your comments!

Hugs,

Amanda x