Flower Power

Hi there!

Another late-ish post today. Feeling a bit down today - mostly tiredness and been struggling with some headaches and dizziness. Not sure if its just a bit of a bug or the current air pollution we're experiencing is having some effect too. Work has just been one of those GRR days too. Glad to be home and relaxing now. I'm about to make dinner and chill out with some crafting - totally need it! 

I've got quite a simple card for you today that I actually made write a while ago but just hadn't shared with you yet! 

Stamp Set: Flower Shop, Sweet Essentials

Ink: Old Olive, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry

Punch:Artisan Label

Embellishments: Brights Candy Dots, Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon

The flowers were just stamped and then punched with the artisan label punch. I also punched another artisan label in the coordinating colour and cutting it in half matted it behind the flower for just a little border of colour along the top and bottom edge.

The candy dots add a nice embellishment to the flower centres but are just so nice and flat too - perfect for the post! 

I also love using the taffeta ribbon - the bows seem to tie really flat so there's no bulk! 

What do you think? Like it? 

Happy Stampin',

Simple Sunday - Baby!

Hi there! 

I've decided to start a theme for my Sunday posts. SIMPLE cards, I hope you won't confuse simple with boring but I thought it'd be cool to show a simple, quick, easy and low product use card once a week. As a demonstrator, we get lots of goodies, and it's tempting to throw everything at a card/project but its also important to remember those who don't have lots of money and all the products in the world, so this is designed to show folks out there simple and easy cards that ANYONE can make!

Today's uses a  Sale-A-Bration set I am totally loving at the moment - Banner Blast!! The patterns on the banners are just so fun and I love the little extras - flower, star and heart - which really makes this set so much more than just a few little banners but a great all round set! 

Earlier this week I showed you a relatively easy card using the Banner Blast set to make a bright and fun birthday card. Today is the turn of a Baby card!

Stamp Set: Banner Blast (SAB), Sweet Essentials

Ink: Marina Mist, Old Olive

Cardstock: Whisper White

Punch: Banner (SAB)

Embellishment: Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon

I just want to point out that the banner punch is absolutely wonderful, but if you don't have it, the banners are so straight forward to cut it wouldn't be a problem to cut these out - snip them to different lengths for a little more variety.

I really think its the star that makes this card stand out! Its just so fun and perfect for a new baby boy. If you're wanting to make a girl version I'd maybe substitute the star for the adorable little heart.

The star is stamped twice in the same colour before reinking for the two tones - great way to get more use from an ink pad. Another great ink pad extender is sponging around the edge of the card - adds that pop of colour without all the extra card! 

Have a great Sunday!

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',

Flower & Ribbon FMS

Hey!

I'm back, and its Friday! Are you doing anything fun this weekend? Think its going to be a quiet one for us. 

Well on to today's card, and I'm playing along with this week's Freshly Made Sketch.  

And here's my take in the sketch...

Stamp Set: Morning Meadow, Express Yourself

Ink: Crushed Curry, Night of Navy

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Night of Navy

Punch: Pansy

Ribbon: Night of Navy Stitched Grosgrain, Silver Taffeta, Silver Baker's Twine

Embellishments: Night of Navy Button (retired), Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Rhinestones

I saw a cute little treat holder with a flower and lots of ribbon on Peanuts and Pepper Papercrafting, I thought I really had to give it a go. I am a huge ribbon hoarder but seldomly actually use it on my cards. So its basically a bunch of very BIG bows layered under the flower. They were so big it looked pretty rediculous before they were placed behind the flower. 

I chose a colour combo that is bright and punchy - just what yo need to brighten a dreary winter day! Its not a usual choice for me but I've been seeing quite a bit of blue and yellow around and thought I'd try it out. The silver just added that little extra something.

The doily is all scrunched in the middle to make it smaller and also gives it a little more texture and body. I thought with everything going on under the flower the flower itself looked a little plain but the navy button finished it off nicely.

I hope are all having a great end to your week,

Happy Stampin',

holiday oraments

The holiday ornaments framelits and coordinating stamp set are fab! They make almost instant cards! Not to mention you can make some really fab 3D ornaments for your tree with them too! (Watch this space for a photo of my ornaments which I've made) 

Stamp Set: Ornament Keepsakes

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock: White Shimmer, Cherry Cobbler

Big Shot: Holiday Ornaments, Holiday Frame Emboss

Ribbon: Whisper White Taffeta

Accessories: Pearls 

Have a great Monday folks! 

Amanda x

origami wreath decoration

Some of you may remember this wreath ornament that I made for a class last year. Its pretty simple to do, just a little bit of folding and slotting together! I had a request for instructions from a customer and after looking on my computer for them to email her I realised they wouldn't be on here as they are on my old computer (the one that only had half a screen and drove me mad, remember?!)! So I decided to draw a line under that and make y'all a video! Now you can all enjoy learning how to make it and maybe even make some of your own!

If you have any questions please do drop me a message! 

Enjoy!

Amanda x

use up your scraps!

I wanted to show you a card using the holiday ornaments framelits today. It actually uses the negative space cut out so you can use the ornament shape for another project! Behind the ornament I laid down strips of ribbon (great for using up scraps that aren't big enough for tying into knots or bows but too precious to throw away!) I just love all the different textures and colours you can achieve doing this tecinque with very little ribbon too! I added a bow too and red stitched outline around the ornament to give it a little more definition. I added some more of the ruffled ribbon to the top and bottom of the sentiment, the ruffled ribbon gives a lovely border! 

Ribbon Ornament

Stamp Set: Curly Cute

Ink: Real Red

Cardstock: Whisper White

Big Shot: Holiday Ornaments Framelits

Ribbon: Old Olive Taffeta, Real Red Taffeta, Gumball Green Stitched Satin, Lucky Limeade Ruffle, Gumball Green Sweater Trim

Have a great day! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge 75

It's Saturday once again which means another Simply Stampin' Challenge! This week's challenge is a theme...

Baby, Baby ...

Bundle of Love Girl

Stamp Set: Bundle of Love

Ink: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Blushing Bride, Perfect Plum, Basic Black

Cardstock: Whisper White

DSP: Nursery Nest

Punch: Modern Label, 1" Circle

Ribbon: Whisper White Taffeta

So I stamped some of the accessories from the Bundle of Love stamp set on Whisper White cardstock and coloured them in using a blender pen for a watercolour finish. They were punched out with a 1" circle punch and layered on top of some DSP from he Nursery Nest. I added some taffeta ribbon to the card  and tied an additional piece of ribbon to the bow for a bit of a different look. A modern label punch with a sentiment just finishes it off! 

Hope you enjoyed this! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge 67

Good morning! 

Simply Stampin' Challenge time again folks! This week is a sketch again and here we have it...

And my interpretation...

Birthday Cupcake

Stamp Set: Easy Events

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Basic Black

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Rose Red

Punch: Owl Builder

Ribbon: Blushing Bride Pleated Satin, Pretty in Pink Satin, Pretty in Pink Taffeta (Retired)

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds

So Deb did some beautiful CAS cards with the Easy Events stamp set last week which has made me want to get my set out for a play again! 

As you can see I rotated the sketch! 

I started by stamping the cupcake and colouring it in with a blender pen for a watercolour look, I mounted it on a some crumb cake for a border and help it stand out against all the pink I was about to throw at the card! I wanted to try something different for the strips in the background so I thought I'd raid my ribbons for pinks - hence the retired taffeta because the colours matched - it really showcases the ribbons and different textures. They were adhered/tied to the card and the cupcake popped up on top. To finish it off and add a small bit of pop to the card I punched the tiny heart from the owl punch and added it to the top of the cupcake and added glitter! That cupcake looks SO yummy!!!

I hope you will head over to the Simply Stampin' blog to check out the other amazingly talented DT entries, and enter yourself! Oh and don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know what you thought to this card! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

a special card

Hiya! 

Okay so I've just posted a C25K update (seem my previous post) but I thought I'd also show you a special card I was commissioned to make last month. 

It was for a 80 birthday and I was asked to make it a big card (oh I don't really do big cards - a challenge for me!!) and pinks and roses. I used a retired stamp set here as it was the only one I had with roses. Even though its retired I couldn't help but share this with y'all! 

Rose Wreath 80 Birthday

Stamp Set: Baby Blossoms (Retired), Apothecary Art

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Regal Rose, Wisteria Wonder

Big Shot: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet

Ribbon: So Saffron Taffeta (Retired)

Accessories: Pearls

So this has still got to be one of my favourite stamp sets - so so darling! So sad its retired! So i had a rough circle pencil line which I followed to make my wreath. I stamped the ditsy flowers in wisteria - the base was stamped off for a lighter shade and then the coordinating detail stamp in full strength for that subtle pretty look. I then added in lots of leaves in the spaces with Pear Pizzazz (going to miss this colour SO much when it retires in September!!!) I then stamped in some scrap vanilla lots of roses and spent time cutting them all out to layer over the top - great way to add dimension, depth and perfect placement! I also added a bow to the wreath because I think a wreath has to have a bow! In the middle I added a banner with happiest birthday and an 80. The way I made this card "big" was to just use a larger card base, layer up some of the colours I used in the wreath as mounts and just have a plain and simple large boarder around the edge. Oh and of course I added some pearls for pretty bling!

Apparently the recipient loved it! I am so glad! 

Hope you liked this! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge 61

Saturday again and another challenge over at the Simply Stampin' blog. This week is a sketch, here it is...

Woven Ribbon

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Crumb Cake 

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand

Ribbon: Crumb Cake Taffeta 

Right so I was just not inspired what so ever with this sketch. I didn't want to just follow it exactly because well I'm not really sure why to be honest. I just knew I was running out of time and hadn't done anything! So I'd had the idea of doing some sort of weaving thing and as it developed in my head I thought I could weave bits of ribbon together! Now granted this is quite a plain card but I've been enjoying the monochrome cards everyone's been making last week and decided to just run with the theme. Also, I decided that the taffeta ribbon was what I wanted to use and Crumb Cake was the only colour I had! So I've VERY loosly followed the sketch to be honest and I brought the strips that were behind to the front and the centre panel moved back. The ribbon was cut into strips and adhered to the back, it just weaves up and down through the crossing ribbons. I added a bow to finish it off! Oh and a little bit of faux stitching too! 

So what do you think? Its a bit of a different card right!? I hope you like it and will play along with us over at Simply Stampin' Challenge! 

Have a fantastic weekend! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

Oh P.S. Simply Stampin' have a Design Team feature on me this week so if you'd like to know more about me and why I'm so crazy about paper check it out! x

simply stampin' challenge week 56

Hi there! 

Okay I'm afraid this is going to be a super speedy post today as its gone 1am and I am shattered and need my beauty sleep so I can make sense at my class tomorrow morning. 

Its Simply Stampin' Challenge time again and this week is a colour challenge - 

Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, Marina Mist

Carstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette

Punch: Doily Triple Layer

Ribbon: Chantilly Crochet Trim, Marina Mist Taffeta

Accessories: Pearls

Extras: Color Spritzer

So I spritzed the background with the color spritzer and markers and then 

added some doilies over the top - covering a mistake I made. I added lots of pearls and some crochet trim and taffeta ribbon. 

I hope you liked it, I must say I not totally sold on it but I thought I'd just leave it as if I did any more to it I think I would like it even less. So its a bit different from cards I usually make. What do you think? 

I hope to see your creations over on the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog this week! Thanks for stopping by, sorry I'm so brief this week!

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge week 49

Good morning all! 

Can you believe its Saturday again?! Geesh! This week has just flown by and in all honesty I don't know where its gone! Its another Simply Stampin' Challenge today and this week is a sketch challenge! Its a nice simple one for you all! Enjoy...

Just For You 

Stamp Set: Tagtastic, Borderlines

Ink: Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink, Pear Pizzazz, Sahara Sand

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Pretty in Pink

Ribbon: Very Vanilla Velvet, Victoria Crochet Trim, Very Vanilla Taffeta 

Punch: Decorative Label

Accessories: Pearls

To start with I rotated the sketch 90 degrees! (You're allowed to do that you know!) Now, I stamped the leaf branch from borderlines on the cardstock - I have to admit I got this set because I thought it was so cute and for some reason hardly touched to so I've been trying to find creative ways of using it! I stamped it three times at varying heights just for added appeal. I then added some strips of velvet and crochet trim ribbon to make up the next layer of the card. for the top layer I stamped, coloured in and punched out the tag with "just for you" on it . I layered a little Pretty in Pink cardstock behind it. Finally I finished it off with a tafetta ribbon bow and some pearls.

I hope you like it! Please check out the other creations on the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog. Please do leave me a comment, I love reading them! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

sammy's birthday

Good Morning folks! 

A really quick post for you today - busy weekend and all that! It was my friend Sammy's birthday on Thursday so Kat and I took her out for the day. We had some lovely paninis for lunch and then went to a ceramics cafe to paint something. Its crazily addictive! So here is Sammy's birthday card.

Stamp Set: Everything Eleanor, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi

Ribbon: Rich Razleberry Striped Grosgrain (Retired), Very Vanilla Taffeta

Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, Itty Bitty

Accessories: Pearls, Brights Brads

So I stamped the flourish in the background and then added some of the striped grosgrain ribbon - I tied a bit of the taffeta ribbon to break up the shape a bit. I then made a rather 3D flower with the Everyday Elegance DSP, added it just under the ribbon and then added a few more smaller flowers with the Itty Bitty punch. I stamped the sentiment and did dashed stitching around the edge of the Wild Wasabi before adhering it to the Vanilla cardbase. To finish it off I added a few little pearls! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

what you missed

For those of you who didn't make it to my class this month I thought I would share with you what you missed!  We had so much fun this month getting into the Christmas spirit and making Christmas decorations (yay!!).

Thanks to all those who came and for those who missed it, why not come along to next month's class?! We will be making a re-usable advent calendar using a 24 hole muffin tin! It is SO cool - look out for a photo of it coming soon!! I already have quite a few booked on and only have a couple spaces left so hurry - book your spot today. Contact me on amanda_burditt@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you :)

Amanda x

decorate for christmas class

Just a sneak peek of a few of the projects we will be doing at the Decorate for Christmas class on October 15th and 19th. These samples use the previous and now retired Jolly holiday DSP, we will be using the really gorgeous new Holly Berry Bouquet Speciality in this month's class! 

Funnel Ornament

Wreath Ornament

Mini Christmas Tree decoration

As well as these 3 projects I have a few other ornaments lined up for you to make but they're a surprise! So why not come along, have a go at making several ornaments and decorations. They are all quite simple and inexpensive to make but look lovely in the tree or around the home. The perfect decorations or even gifts!! 

If you would like to attend class this month please do book asap as spaces are limited and I guarantee you will have fun! Cost is £13.50, well worth it for 3 hours of crafting, chatting, tea and cake.

Hope to see you there! 

Amanda x