hello baby!

I am so excited, I'm currently on my way to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandria Palace in London. It's my annual show I always try to get to - filled with textile art and crafty things. Its my day of crafty fun SU free! I'd sure I will come back full of inspiration for creating things and adding what I saw to cards! Watch this space!!

One of my best friends had a baby back in July. He was 6 weeks early and arrived just before I left for holiday. Its been a busy and difficult time for them so it wasn't until this past week that I have finally got around to meeting Euan! 

Obviously I had to make a card for this occassion - what kind of paper crafter would I be if I didn't!?! Anyway I thought I'd make a boy and girl version just to show you and because I had fun making them! 

Baby Tootsies

Stamp Set: Baby Prints

Ink: Baja Breeze/Pretty in Pink, Midnight Muse/Primrose Petals

Cardstock: Whisper White, Midnight Muse/Primrose Petals

DSP: Patio Party

Accessories: Buttons, Itty Bitty Buttons

Baker's Twine: Whisper White 

I just fell in love with the cute papers and thought the baby feet would match in perfectly! 

I don' think I need to do much describing of this card - its very simple but super adorable! I love the button embellishments on this card - sweet way to use buttons and hey its not in the middle of a flower or anything for once!

To get more use out of my clear mount Baby Prints stamp set I decided to doctor it a bit. I cut the words apart because while I'd use "baby" on a card I don't have much use for "baby firsts" at the moment and sometimes masking can just get a little tedious! I also cut apart the hands and feet because I thought it would be fun to do walking feet across a page (watch this space!) or just do one hand/foot print! As long as you're careful with doctoring and cutting, there is absolutely NO reason why you shouldn't cut up your stamps. If you're going to get more use out of the stamps because of it I say by all means go for it! 

Hope you enjoyed today's share and quick tip! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Amanda xx

take comfort

I thought I'd give you a break from Christmas today. 

I don't know if you remember a little Twitterpated creation I made back in the Spring. I enjoyed its "quilted" look so much that when I saw the new Comfort Cafe paper I just knew I had to make a card showcasing the gorgeous patterns and buttons in this suite! 

Comfort Cafe Quilt

Stamp Set: Itty Bitty Banners

Ink: Midnight Muse

Cardstock: Crumb Cake

DSP: Comfort Cafe

Punch: Postage Stamp

Accessories: Naturals Buttons

Baker's Twine: Pool Party

It was just so much fun punching the different patterns and so quick and easy too! I added a little strip of paper to the bottom middle patch - it breaks up the blue and just makes it look a little different! Some buttons, baker's twine bow and little banner sentiment were added to finish it off! 

What do you think? 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

evergreen christmas

Yesterday I introduced you to the Apothecary Accents framelits. Today I have another creation using the framelits and yes, its Christmassy! 

Silent Night Accents

Stamp Set: Evergreen

Ink: Gumball Green, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Champagne Glitter Paper

DSP: Candlelight Christmas

Punch: 3/4" Circle, Itty Bitty

Big Shot: Apothecary Accents

While this card is more complicated than yesterday Its still not hugely difficult and I used lots of left over scraps. I used the circle punch to make the scallop trim so if you don't have and edge punch this is a great way to make a fancy edge! I added some small strips of glitter paper which gives a great sparkle but why not substitute for scraps of DSP instead?! I saved on cardstock by sponging Espresso around the edge of the accent to add that colour and depth without adding more expense and weight! (its a great trick which I use all the time! And you get more use out of the ink pad too!)

There are so many great Christmas stamp sets in both the new Annual catalogue and the Autumn/Winter catalogue there's plenty of choice, whatever your style! Evergreen has got to be one of my faves! And the tree can be used for non Christmas cards too! I love it when I find a Christmas stamp set I can use at other times of the year too!!

What's your favourite Christmas stamp set? 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

is your life manic?

Well, is it? I know everyone is super busy these days so you're probably thinking, I just don't have time to make card, in particular Christmas cards...because I need a lot. Well I'm here with another nice, quick and easy Christmas card for you! 

And don't forget, everyone needs a little bit of relaxation away from busy days and life. Why not let a spot of crafting be your "escape" zone?! If you'd like a more social activity, invite a couple friends over, have a glass of wine or cuppa (it'll be cheaper than a take away, meal out or night on the town!). Or if you have kids why not get them involved - they'll love it and it will create a great bonding session and activity for you to do together away from video games, computer or the tv!

Christmas Accents

Stamp Set: Come to Bethlehem

Ink: Early Espresso,

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade

DSP: Festival of Prints

Big Shot: Apothecary Accents Framelits

Accessories: Brushed Bronze Button

Baker's Twine: Cherry Cobbler

I'm really liking these Apothecary Accent framelits at the moment, They are perfectly designed to use individually but equally work well by layering them up! They easily cut up to 3 pieces of DSP/cardstock at one time which means making cards in bulk is super easy and simple! I've used a button here as an embelishment but why not use a small stamped image, ribbon strip or a few rhinestones/pearls for a more postal friendly embellishment?! 

If you like the look of this card and would like to give it a go why not drop me a message and I would be glad to help you with all that you'll need to make as many as you need! Seeing as these framelits aren't Christmassy they will get used throughout the year making them an excellent purchase!!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

whirlwind weekend take 2

I'm back as promised with another darling little project that I demo'd this weekend for a couple of parties. It was World Card Making Day yesterday so in honour of it I focused on some card making techniques and tools! 

This project is another Betsy creation. I'm sorry but you're probably going to see a lot of Betsy Blossoms creations in the coming days as I am just crazy for the sweet bird, flowers and leaves!

Rainbow Blooms

Stamp Set: Betsy Blossoms, Betsy Blooms (wheel), Itty Bitty Banners

Ink: Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green

Cardstock: Whisper White 

Big Shot: Labels Framelits 

Extras: Festive Paper Piercing Pack

Ribbon: Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain

Accessories: Rhinestones

This card is showing off the beautiful co-ordination that Stampin' Up! has! See how the flowers in the wheel stamp match so perfectly wit the flower from Betsy's Blossoms?! I love that! So I inked and wheeled the Betsy's Blooms in 3 colours - like a rainbow! In all honesty, I haven't used wheels in a while, they got a little forgotten about but recently I have regained my love or wheels and how easy they make patterned backgrounds! They are really quite inexpensive and so easy! If you haven't tried wheels yet you have to give it a go, they're so much fun! 

I was also showing off the new piercing packs that Stampin' Up! have. Its so neat that they co-ordinate with framelits and punches that SU! carry. Yes, there's that word again, co-ordination. It really is at the heart of what Stampin' Up! is all about and one of the reasons I love them as a company so much!! 

Its definitely got a good pop of colour! A cheery card as we head towards the coldness of winter! I'm not a fan of the cold so hanging on to summery cards and colours as long as possible is a must for me! 

Have a great Sunday,

Amanda x

betsy's birds

Good morning! 

I've got another Betsy's Blossoms creation for you today! 

Stamp Set: Betsy's Blossoms, Itty Bitty Banners

Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry

Cardstock: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

Punch: Itty Bitty Punch Pack

Big Shot: Vintage Wallpaper

Accessories: Rhinestones

Quite a simple card. The leaves and bird were stamped and cut out. The background was embossed and then leaves and bird adhered over top. I punched the sweet little flowers and added them to the leaves and finally the sentiment. 

Isn't this bird darling? I just love it! I actually stamped the bird several times, cut out the wings and body separately so I could layer them up with dimentionals for a 3D effect! 

Is Betsy's Blossoms on your wish list?! I'm sure glad I got mine! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Amanda xx

whirlwind weekend!

Man oh man! Its been one of those weekends!! I have had a lovely but tiring weekend filled with LOTS of crafting with LOTS of lovely people! 

Last night my lovely friend Emma hosted a party for a few friends, it was a nice relaxed evening and her cute little boy kept us all highly amused! 

Today was Wendy's turn to host! It makes me so happy to see someone get so excited about hosting and inviting so many people! She truly had a house full, everyone seemed to have a great time! I don't feel like I stopped talking (and listening to questions and stories) ALL afternoon and still didn't get to talk to people half as much as I would have wished to! But we had fun, that's the main thing!!

So I thought I'd share with you one of the cute little projects I shared with them all! Seeing as its World Card Making Day today it seemed appropriate that I focus on showing some cards and different techniques! Here's what we did!

Believe Snowflake Gradient

Stamp Set: Snowflake Gradient

Ink: VersaMark, Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, Midnight Muse

Cardstock: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder

Punch: Decorative Label

Ribbon: Whisper White Organza

Emboss: White Embossing Powder

This is an emboss resist technique I've show before - but with a twist! To begin I embossed the snowflakes. Next step is to sponge over the snowflakes with ink, before I've just used one colour but here I did a gradient look using 3 colours. Begin with lightest colour and work darker! Sponge the colour on in nice smooth strokes leaving a white gap of "light" down the centre; as you apply the different colours, over lapping slightly as you go, the colours will blend together to form a smooth transition between ink colours. After you've finished sponging the ink use a paper towel or tissue to wipe off any ink that will have pooled over the embossed snowflakes to bring them back to a lovely clean glossy white! 

I stamped and punched the sentiment, added some ribbon and matted on some more card to finish it off. Another card perfect for mass producing in time for Christmas! 

This card was inspired by a card I found somewhere on the internet - she had brayered hers which looked lovely but sponging give a lot smoother look in my opinion.

I think this has got to be one of my favourite creations of late - the snowflakes are so elegant and classy and I've fallen head over heels for this gradient emboss resist technique! (look out for another emboss resist card coming soon!)

I'll have a double post for you tomorrow as I already had a project all lined up for you but I'd love to show you another card I showed at this weekend's parties in honour of World Card Making Day!

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx