photo mini album

A family friend asked me if I would be able to make some sort of photo album to commemorate the work 5 lovely ladies have done over the past 10 years or so making it possible for 10 european countries to use KYB (Know Your Bible) Bible study materials. I was more than pleased to be asked to do this, and after some research and talking over exactly what they wanted, here is what I produced. I finished these just before I left for the States but had to keep everything a secret as the ladies whose books these were for didn't know anything about and weren't presented with them 'til the beginning of June. Now I can show you what I made, I'm very excited!

Mini Book

These are quite some mini books.With hard covers these are really made to with stand quite some handling and really look like a real book. The front cover was decorated with a bunting style banner with the ladies' name on it. The inside pockets were origionally envelopes but I altered it slightly and actually made my own pockets (to save on decoration). On the front of each pocket was the countries name (one pocket for each country they worked with), a flag of the county and then on the back cover was a map and a icon from that country. Inside the pocket is a perfect place to put notes and photographs. Ribbon runs through the whole thing to tie it together. 

I have to say I am very pleased with how they turned out. It was a lot of worth it but so worth it to see and hear how pleased everyone were with them!

I'd love to know what you think! Please leave a comment.

Amanda xo

i'm crushing...

As I said, This colour combo was gorgeous and therefore I actually made a couple cards using the same combo, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake and Concord Crush. I think one of the reasons I have taken so well to this combo is because of its heavy use of neutral colours. The nice thing about a mostly neutral coloured card is that any colour you put in it just really pops and stands out all the more! This is clearly shown in my card below. 

Together Forever Wedding Cake

Stamp Set: Fun and Fast Notes, Fast Flowers Wheel

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzaz (just the very slightest bit to bring out the leaves)

Extras: Blender Pen

The strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock and the Fast Flowers wheel breaks up the large expanse of Vanilla cardstock. The Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip cardstock frame the centre image. I used a blender pen to colour in the image. Concord Crush was used on the flowers on the cakes and also a little sponging around the edges...draws out the colour and also draws in the eye! It definitely shows the eye where the focal point of the card is! 

I hope you liked this second colour combo card. Please do leave me a comment, they make me smile lots! :)

'till next time,

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge, week 11

Wow, can you believe its week 11 on the Simply Stampin' challenges already?! Can't believe how time is flying by! This week is another colour challenge. The colours are so lovely I have 2 cards this week, one you will get today and the other sometime later in the week! Without any further ado, here are this week's colours and my first card...

Stamp Set: Greenhouse Garden, Fun & Fast Notes

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Concord Crush (6x6 Hostess Only pack)

Ink: Concord Crush, Chocolate Chip

Punches: Eyelet Border, Modern Label, Corner Rounder

Extras: Crimper, Crop-a-dile

This is a really simple card, sometimes simple is the most effective though, right?! A few strips of Concord Crush DSP split up with a little bit of Chocolate Chip cardstock. The eyelet border punch mimics the polka dot DSP. I stamped the sentiment on some Very Vanilla cardstock, punched out with te modern label punch and then sponged the edges to give it a softer look. I stamped and cut out a few small flowers from the Greenhouse Garden stamp set to embellish the sentiment (I think the finished effect it looks similar to a stamp in the Just Believe stamp set - just to prove you can get inspiration from stamps you don't own!) To help marry the sentiment and the strips of DSP (and also to soften the very bold flowers) I punched out dots of Very Vanilla cardstock using the small end of the crop-a-dile and added them to the middle of the flowers. Finally I crimped the edge just to break up the large expanse of Crumb Cake, and then rounded the corners. 

Check out the other design team entries at Simply Stampin' Challenge blog, and please do enter!

Please let me know what you think! Are you a lover of Concord Crush?! I certainly am!

Check back later this week for my second entry! 

Amanda xx

in-love with in-colour...five in one!

Just an extra little bonus card for you all! When you thought that was all you were going to see of the in-colour play series, right? Wrong. I thought now that I had done a card focusing on each separate colour I would do one with all five! It was a little bit of a challenge for myself as they are all quite different colours but I really wanted to show how all the colours, however different they are all work really well together! So your combinations are endless!!

In Colour Hello

Stamp Set: n/a

Cardstock: Crumb Cake

DSP: Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade (6x6 Hostess only)

Ink: n/a

Punches: Scallop Square, 1" Circle, Corner Rounder

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones

Extras: White Gel Pen

I used a similar idea to my Poppy Parade card using the scallop square punch to create a patchwork pattern. I alternated Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait for this as they are softer colours but won't melt away against the background. On top of this I punched out Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade and Concord Crush which I distressed and layered up to make cute little roses. The Blushing Bride subtly fills out the flowers and the Poppy Parade and Concord Crush add a focal point and accent colour. Small strips of these two darker accent colours were added on the bottom to finish off the card. Finally I added some white stitching, hand wrote the sentiment, and added rhinestones to the centre of the roses!

So, do you like it? I hope you do! I may do a few more of these in-colour focus cards over the next few months but for now this concludes the end of my series! I hope I have made you fall in love with the colours and patterns in this gorgeous little pack (which you can earn for FREE!!). I arrive back on Thursday 9th June, so please do drop me an email at amanda_burditt@hotmail.co.uk to book your workshop so you can earn your own paper pack!  

Look forward to hearing what you think! 

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge, week 10

Today is a very special day! Its my cousin Rachel's wedding day!! I am so excited! Anyhows, I probably can't express my excitement to its max as I'm actually writing this post a few weeks previous as I'm in the States at the present time. I will have a full report on everything when I return!! But one thing I can say, I cannot WAIT to see the dress! I'm sure Rach is going to look absolutely stunning!!! :D 

This Simply Stampin' Challenge is a sketch and I loved this week's sketch! 

Floral Rosette

Stamp Set: n/a

Cardstock: So Saffron, Certainly Celery

DSP: Rose Red, Pink Pirouette

Punches: Eyelet Border, Two Step Bird, Corner Rounder

Accessories: Daffodil Delight Button, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread

Extras: Dimensionals

I love this card!! And its so simple! I cut out and distressed a number of different sized DSP circles and then layered them up, it makes a really great quick rosette and all you need is paper and scissors! To finished off the middle with some linen thread and a button! I added a band of Rose Red DSP, a strip of Certainly Celery punched with the eyelet border punch and some ribbon. Finally I added some leaves from the two step bird punch in Certainly Celery and then rounded the top corner. It just helps mimic the rosette. 

Now, don't forget to check out the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog to enter and to see all the other design team member's entries! 

I hope you loved this as much as I do! Please do leave a comment, I love reading them and they bring a smile to my face! 

Amanda xo

from the other side of the pond!

Just a quick little update to just let you all know that I am still alive and well. Enjoying some quality time in the States with family!

My flight over was fine, delayed which meant I missed my connecting flight so it meant a lot more waiting around which was a bit sucky but the flight itself, although the beginning and end were a bit turbulent was overall quite good. I even managed to sleep on the plane, something that never happens for me! My cousin Rachel met me at the airport and after trying to track my bag (it was still in Chicago!!) we got over to Grandma's and went out for a lovely Italian meal.

I have had some real nice times with some old friends of mine. With Kate, shopping, seeing her house getting all fixed up, eating out and seeing her new hobby - furniture making! whew! With Angela, I got to meet her hubby and 2 little kids, they are just the sweetest, so we went out for a meal with them and to the park so the kids could play! I also met up with some good old friends of mine, Keith and Mary for a meal and then played scrabble! I'm afraid I wasn't very good, but I'm going to blame the jet lag!

I also got to spend last Friday with my cousin Rachel, we went shopping, I got clothes and stuff. It was really lovely to be able to see her and hang out with her again! I only wish we had more time but I was very grateful that she managed to take a day out of wedding planning to hang out!! That evening we did some wedding stuff like place cards and programs etc - fiddly but necessary stuff!

Lots of time with Grandma, she likes to talk so I've been practicing my listening skills!!

I have to say, I have loved being out here, soaking up Wisconsin but I am missing my Stuart terribly! I'm counting down the days 'til i see him once again!

So that's all I'll leave you with for now and will blog more fully once I get back on British soil...complete with jet lag...ugh! Its always so much worse coming back to England I feel!!

Amanda xo

june class

Its June 1st today, that means the unveiling of this month's class techniques and 3D item. 

Techniques:
Embossing
Emboss Resist
Heat & Stick with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Watercolour Resist
3D Item:
Envelope Mini Book


Just to remind you the class is on Saturday June 18th from 11am-2pm and costs £12.50. This includes all the materials you will need to make all the projects and also lots of tea and cake! :) Places are limited so please book.


It would be lovely to see you there, I promise it will be fun so please do book your spot as soon as possible to avoid disappointment! 


To book, email me at amanda_burditt@hotmail.co.uk


Take care, 


Amanda xoxo