Arrows CQC228 FMS123 & SUO90

Hello!

Wow, where has the week gone?! This week feels like its just flown by, and I'm not really sure where it went!! I'm off to London for a day out today so here's a quick make for you!

I haven't had much time to do the challenges - they're something I really enjoy doing and its fun to be stretched. This week I'm combining the Colour Q challenge, Freshly Made Sketches and SU Only. SU Only's Challenge is called Punch Parade!! I LOVE punches so as you can imagine, this challenge was totally up my ally!

Isn't this such a bright and fun colour combo? I didn't have Cool Caribbean and Ruby Red but just substituted the nearest colours I did own.

This card came about a little by accident. My friend was over one evening, and she'd placed an order which qualified for a FREE Sale-A-Bration item. When I showed her the Banner punch she was definitely tempted however a little disappointed that it was so short. I had picked it up and was playing around and showed her that by just slipping the card in the punch only at the banner end, you could use the punch just to make the banner end. I did it several time to show her how to do it, at the same time I notice the cute little "arrow" shapes that here falling out. Love it! 

Stamp Set: Lots of Thanks

Ink: Pacific Point

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Soft Sky

Punch: Banner (SAB)

Embellishments: Whisper White Baker's Twine

I know this is a loose take on the sketch but I love that sketches can be taken literally or with a creative twist. I was also debating about adding the small white layer onto a Pacific Point card base but eventually decided against it for white. This just meant that the coloured arrows really popped! 

So, do you like these fun arrows?! Love versatile punches! I hope you'll try using punches in a fun and different versatile way. 

Happy Stampin',

watch me on you tube?!

I am sorry once again for being a absentee blogger once again! But I promise you I have a good reason (or two!). 

I'm trying something new! I am trying my hand at some you tube videos! For all of those craft obsessed people like myself who can spend hours watching youtube crafting tutorials, now you can while away the time with the lul of my voice! Haha! Maybe not so much of a lul but hey! I'm on there doing my thing! 

So I am hoping to do some general demos with different products and techniques and I am also planning (in the pipeline) to do some product reviews/how to use and get the most out of a certain product! For example the Big Shot or the Simply Scored board so watch this space! 

In the mean time I have a could videos already on, one was for this sweet little place setting favour for our Thanksgiving meal which we celebrated on Saturday! 

Ink: Raspberry Ripple

Cardstock: Raspberry Ripple, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

DSP: Orchard Harvest

Big Shot: Little Leaves, Lots of Tags, Mini Milk Carton

Punch: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border

Ribbon: Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin

Accessories: Pearl

For those of you interested to know what I filled these with - two Ferrero Rochers fit perfectly inside!!

And don't forget that if you switch up the colour combo and DSP you would have a delightful place setting for Christmas too! (Or any other dinner party for that matter!)

Please do feel free to leave me some feedback about my videos, if you like them and what you would be interested in seeing yourself! 

Have a lovely day! 

Amanda xx

addicted to baker's twine??

Now, the new mini catalogue is just crammed full of lovely new stamps, ribbon, punches, paper and of course the score board but I think the product I am most excited about is the Baker's Twine! For those of you who don't know me, I have developed an obsession with baker's twine - I've seen so many projects on the internet using it and I've been LONGING (as my long suffering customers well know) for Stampin' Up! to bring out some baker's twine for us over here! And now we have 6 fantastic colours! 

Baker's twine is a mixture of white and coloured threads twisted together to make up a pretty twine that can be used for wrapping around cards, gifts and so much more. 

What I love about it is that its got colour which is thin and subtle that won't detract from the main focal point. Its also really inexpensive at £2.50 for 22.9 metres of the stuff which means that you can wrap it several times around a card or gift guilt free!!! 

So, I've been having great fun playing with the twine and have some projects using it to show you over the next few days. Today I thought I'd really go all out and use baker's twine as the main theme of my card...

Entwined in Baker's Twine

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Lucky Limeade

Cardstock: Whisper White

Big Shot: Lots of Tags

Punch: Modern Label

Twine: Island Indigo, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Calypso Coral

Accessories: Rhinestones

Extras: Simply Scored, Lime Green Sharpie

I wrapped the baker's twine around the whisper white cardstock in bands of colour - I thought that wrapping the twine around white cardstock would really help make the coloured strand running through the twine pop! I made a simple scored frame on my whisper white card base for the twine to sit inside. On top of that I layered up a few tag/label punches, again in white with limeade of the sentiment and for a little glitz I added some rhinestones which had been coloured with a lime permanent marker. And that's the card folks. I love it - definitely a subtle card but a great way to showcase the lovely baker's twine! 

So are you lovin' baker's twine too? I really hope you are and if you haven't tried it yet, go on...its only a couple pounds for a whole lot of joy and goodness!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

'twitterpated' owls

I am super duper excited!! One of my good friends (and bridesmaid) got engaged last Sunday! I am so happy for her!

Anyway, an engagement means I needed to make a lovely and special card for them to say congrats! 

This card actually came from a card I pinned recently on Pinterest - it was two owls in a cluster of leaves and some hearts. I just loved how the owls had their eyes closed, if you want to see the original card I pinned you can see it here. 

Engagement "In Love" Owls

Stamp Set: For My Family

Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Riding Hood Red, Basic Grey, Sahara Sand, Peach Parfait

DSP: Twitterpated

Punch: Owl Builder

Big Shot: Lots of Tags, Little Leaves

Uh this doesn't really need any explaining. Its cute owls. I think the closed eyes enhance their cute "in love"ness! 

Hope you enjoyed today's exciting little share! Join me tomorrow for some more creative inspiration! 

Thanks for stopping by, 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

so timeless...

So, did you enjoy your extra hour this morning?! We have been away visiting Stuart's aunt, uncle and cousins - Esther had a Stampin' Up party and then we stayed for the weekend for some fun - got back last night completely shattered and so I enjoyed my extra hour snuggled up in bed asleep. I must've been out of it for almost 12 hours!! wowee! 

Today's post features some of the Timeless Portrait DSP - thought it would be appropriate to have a 'time' related post seeing as the clocks went back! :)

Timeless Daughter

Stamp Set: For My Family

Ink: Versa Mark

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Island Indigo

DSP: Timeless Portrait 

Emboss: White Powder, Heat Tool

Big Shot: Lot of Tags

Punches: Decorative Label

Accessories: Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Brads

I just used a few scraps of the DSP to make this card and punched out the girl silhouette with a punch - I thought about cutting it out but thought that the blue just set it off against the vanilla background and it was quicker too!! I tied some ribbon on too and cut out a tag with the big shot. I embossed the word daughter on it and also embossed the brads white to tie in as silver didn't go!

Altogether a simple and elegant little card.

I hope you enjoyed seeing something else new in the catalogue - please do leave a comment and let me know what you think! I love reading them! Thanks.

Happy Stampin',

Amanda

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

in-love with in-colour...concord crush

This post is a little late, I made the card using the Sketchy Sunday sketch challenge, last week and then I just didnt quite get time to post it...so here it is. Better late than never hey?  

Concord Crush Rosette

Stamp Set: Greenhouse Garden

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Certainly Celery Always Artichoke

DSP: Concord Crush (6"x6" Hostess only pack)

Ink: Concord Crush

Accessories: Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon

Punches: Two Step Bird

Extras: White Gel Pen, Big Shot, Lots of Tags Sizzlets

This card really came out as I had recently got the hostess only pack of 6x6 in-colour dsp and having not really had a chance to play with those colours yet thought I'd just set myself a few cards to make...I have a few more that I'll show next month as part of the Simply Stampin' Challenge! Can't wait! I thought I'd use the Sketchy Sunday sketch as a starting point for my card. I love the vast expanse of Concord Crush dsp, it just allows the eye to really drink in gorgeous deep colour. As a focal point I cut out rough circles from Concord Crush dsp and Riding Hood Red cardstock, distressed and then layered them up. For the centre of the flower I stamped the smallest flower from Greenhouse Garden. I used two of the bird wings from the two step bird punch for the leaves. Finally I added some ribbon and a tag from the big shot to fill it out a bit and create a balance between the expanse of colour and detail. 

I hope you enjoyed this card, please do let me know what you think, I love reading people's comments! 

Have a nice day!

Amanda xx