Happy Valentine's!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Today I've got the cards from February's card club to show you! 

Aren't they lovely? There's something about hearts that I just love! I like that they can be used for a variety of occassions such as Valentine's, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, or just for a cute card to sent to a friend on their birthday or to let them know you are thinking of them! 

Stamp Set: Hearts A Flutter

Ink: Real Red, Pool Party

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red Pool Party

DSP: More Amore

Ribbon: Pool Party Satin (SAB)

Big Shot: Hearts A Flutter Framelits, TIEF

I just love the chevrons in this card, both in the embossed cardstock and in the DSP strip! Isn't the scallop heart pretty? 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

moving forward...

There are so many lovely new stamp sets in the catalogue, I have a wish list as long as my arm! One set however that I didn't pay much attention to was Moving Forward. It has cute kiddy images like a bike and boat as well as a frog and bird which could be used for a modern style card - not necessarily kiddy ones. So I hadn't really noticed it until I was reading Heather's blog and she did a little series of cards using this set and I was hooked! It went from not even being on the list to pretty much the top! 

Well, I got it! Its so cute and different - I love it! I thought it'd be perfect for a card I wanted to make to congratulate some friends of ours who are adopting! They have 2 kids - one girl and one boy! Seeing as they aren't babies I didn't want to make it too much like a new baby card so I thought these images would work perfect for a couple of toddlers! 

Stamp Set: Moving Forward, Curly Cute

Ink: Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, So Saffron

DSP: Floral District

Punch: Itty Bitty, Scallop Trim

Ribbon: Pretty in Pink Satin (retired)

Accessories: Mini Brads

Aren't the mini brads just the cutest little accent?! They add a little fun to the card but not as glitzy as rhinestones or pearls would be! 

What do you think? Hope you liked it! 

Amanda xo

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

mixing it up with new bow techniques!

Happy Sunday folks! 

A quick little post for you today using the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set...

Flower Friend

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Mixed Bunch

Ink: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Punch: Blossom, 3/4" Circle, Modern Label

Ribbon: Certainly Celery Satin, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine

This was the card that we made at class this month to showcase a few bow techniques. First off was the flat bow - easy to do and no wasteage, also its flat so it'll go through the post with no aditional postage. The second bow was the little baker's twine bow made using a fork! Yep, just a normal kitchen fork!!!

Its a pretty and simple card but I really like it at the moment! It's just so summery! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

get more use out of a stamp!

Quick post today with a card made using the Happiness Shared stamp set I borrowed from Rhoda.

I'm hoping for another nice day today! Although if its not, I won't be too gutted as I've got lots of work to do - been too busy playing in the sunshine! Woops!

Happiness Shared Roses

Stamp Set: Happiness Shared

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Confetti White

Ribbon: Marina Mist Satin (retired)

Here's a nice way to get more use out of a stamp - using just part of the stamped image can make it look like a different image! This is great for using in a series!

This is actually the first time I've ever made a "flat bow" - its a great way to make a bow because it lays flat on the card and can be put through the post (no extra postage needed - bonus!) and no wastage either. I don't know why I haven't made any of these sooner! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

50 anniversary - card 6

I thought I'd show you yet another of the anniversary cards I made recently. Are you getting bored yet?!

Polka Dot 50 Bow

Stamp Set: 

Ink: Versa Mark

Cardstock: Very Vanilla

Big Shot: Alphabet Simple Numbers, Perfect Polka Dots

Ribbon: Very Vanilla Satin

Extras: Gold Emboss Powder

So I embossed the card with the polka dot embossing folder and then added some of the lovely satin ribbon to the card. I wanted to keep everything very clean and monochrome so the textures and gold 50 and sentiment would really stand out!

Hope you enjoyed seeing another anniversary card today! Hope you are all having a great day! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda xx

50th anniversary - card 3

First day back to school today for Stuart, he has a days grace though as the children aren't back 'til tomorrow so today he is being trained up and taught "new" ways to handle them! Back to school also means getting back into routine for me. I have to say I LOVE having him home for the school break but I do get out of a routine and things I should be doing just don't get done. So I am looking forward to settling back into planning events, crafting, blogging and housework. 

Just a quick post today - I thought I'd show you another of the anniversary cards I made last month. Here's the one I made for my mom and dad to give. 

Doily Sparkle

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand

Ink: VersaMark

Punch: Doily Triple Layer

Big Shot: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet

Ribbon: Very Vanilla Satin

Accessories: Pearls, Champagne Shimmer Mist 

Emboss Powder: Gold

As before I cut out the 50 using the timeless type alphabet after I'd embossed a piece of cardstock with gold embossing powder. I used the triple layer punch to do some pretty doilies that layered on top of one another to give some depth and added colour to a very light coloured card. I was trying to go for and elegant card that just had a really small pop of colour! I tied the ribbon around the card in a bow and assembled the doilies and 50 around it. I finished off the card with some pearls and a few spritzs of the champagne shimmer mist - this one REALLY glittered - you can see it sparkling in the photo. Love it!

What do you think? I hope you like it!

Happy Crafting,

Amanda x

50th anniversary - card 1

Did everyone have a nice Easter? I hope you did! 

I've been kind of quiet on my blog recently, sorry for that! My upline, Rhoda, is down for Shetland on holiday at the moment, its been nice to hang out with her for bit. I've also been spending LOADS of time playing with some stamp sets she brought down for me to play with! Oh yes my life is SO good!! I have tonnes of things to sow you over the next few weeks! Woohoo!

Today I have the first of several 50th anniversary cards I was commissioned to make last month. In total I ended up having to make 7 50th Anniversary cards all for the same couple! Obviously they all had to be special and different. Here's the one I made for the husband to give to his wife.

50 Anniversary Vines

Stamp Set: For my Family, Borderlines

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, VersaMark

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride

Punches: Decorative Label, Itty Bitty

Big Shot: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet

Accessories: Gold Emboss Powder, Pearls, Champagne Shimmer Mist

Ribbon: Very Vanilla Satin

I stamped the vines all over the background, then used the decorative label punch to make a window for my 50. The fifty was gold embossed and then cut with the timeless type alphabet. As this was a very long card I tied some ribbon around the bottom - where the vines didn't reach and below that I added half a decorative label with the sentiment to my wife (just to make it even more special!) The final thing I had to do was add lots of cute little flowers to the card and loads of tiny pearls!! Oh and spritzed it with glittery shimmery gold mist too! 

I really love this card! I hope you like it too. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think! 

Come back tomorrow and I'll show you what I made for the wife to give to her hubby!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

paper players challenge

Any of my faithful blog readers will know that I am a design team member for Simply Stampin' Challenge blog. I love doing it, but what with having to produce an entry for that every week, my own personal projects, SU business stuff and general life I don't really find time to look at other challenge blogs and NEVER seem to be organised enough to actually enter any - I've had the best of intentions several times but not quite succeeded. Anyway, today I was surfing the net and came across The Paper Players. Their sketch for the week looked interesting and I thought I could do something with it! So here's the sketch I was working from along with my own take on it!

Spring Flowers & Frame

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango

Punches: Scallop Circle, Boho Blossoms, 5 Petal Flower, Curly Label, Scallop Trim 

Big Shot: Little Leaves, Oval Frame

Ribbon: Very Vanilla Satin

Accessories: Brights Brad, Rhinestones

So this was actually my third attempt at this sketch - my first two attempts just developed into something else and they were so pretty I didn't want to mess around with them to fit the sketch so this is my third try and its using a few left overs! Oh I love cards that use leftovers! I had this Razzleberry flower which has been sitting in my craft room for probably about 9 months now - its the scallop circle, split cardstock to make it poofy and fastened with a brights brad. Underneath is the 5 petal flower for the leaves. I had the idea that it would look really nice in the oval embossed frame but it looked a little lonely so I used some little tangerine boho blossoms and little leaves to fill it out. I added my sentiment to the side and punched a border with the scallop trim for the bottom of the card. Finally I added some ribbon and rhinestones to just finish it off. 

I hope you like this little number - I'm quite pleased with how it worked out - its defo a hand delivery number though as the flower is POOFY!!! Let me know what you think and leave me a comment! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Amanda x

blossom party pot

Thought I would quickly share with you another of the cards we did at this month's card club today. It was a fun card to make - I've seen them floating around on the internet for quite a while and thought it would be a really fun springtime card to make. Once you know where to cut it was surprisingly VERY easy to make and looks fab! 

 

Blossom Party Flower Pot

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade

DSP: Berry Blossoms

Ribbon: Whisper White Satin

Big Shot: Blossom Party

Extras: Paper Crimper

So I adhered the ribbon to the card as well as the piece of polka dot DSP. I made the flower pot into a pocket with one glue dot on either side top corner! Next I stamped the sentiment and then adhered that peice if Whisper White to the Early Espresso mat. At the to of this I added 3 dimensionals - centre top, then on either side slightly lower than the middle one - this is where I stuck my flowers I then slipped the insert inth the pocket and added some leaves to fill in the gaps. (I made my leaves by folding a piece of cardstock in half and cut a half leaf shape along the fold, while it was still folded I ran it through the paper crimper for some texture, when it is unfolded you have a beautiful leaf!) Once I had added my leaves I stuck the bow on in the gap left, and voila! as simple as that! 

Hope you liked this - sorry I haven't been very diligent with blogging this week - I spent the day today tackling my craft room - it went really well actually, Ive seen bits of floor and desk that I don't think I've seen for about a year! Woah *embarassed* anyway I am intending on having another good old crack at it tomorrow and then start organising my things - I really need to sort out some better storage solutions for my craft things - that's how it gets in such a mess because I get EVERYTHING out in order to use it...ugh! I've been pinning (on pinterest - my latest addiction!) solutions and ideas so stay tuned to see how my craft room turns out - maybe I'll even get the chance to take a few photos when its all done! I considered taking a photo of the carange that was the before shot but I was too embarrassed to have anyone see it! I'm just glad its looking so much better alreadY! Anyway I should stop babbling o and get cracking once again! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Have a great day! 

Amanda 

chasing my tail!

Hi there! 

Sorry for not posting last week, its been one of those super hectic weeks. I'm sure you know the type - everything seems to come at once - prepping for card club, ordering bits and pieces, Stampin' Up party for a friend, making and organising things for a craft fair (this past Sat), helping my dad with work on our roof, helping a friend with a crafty project or two of hers as well as the usual church meetings, house work and so on. I've hardly had time to stop! 

Anyway, I now have lots of pretty things to show you this week as a result of not posting any of my makes from last week! Score!

Today's card is for my good friend Donna who's birthday it was on Friday. She is a loyal crafting buddy of mine and her favourite Stampin' Up! colour is Rich Razzleberry so I obviously had to make her a razzleberry card, right?! Right!

Happy Butterfly

Stamp Set: Flight of the Butterfly

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Cardstock: Confetti White, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Rhinestones, Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon (Retired)

Punch: Butterfly

Extras: Frost White Shimmer Mist

So I started off by stamping the butterflies - I inked up the butterfly stamp in Rich Razzleberry and then stamped twice on scrap paper before stamping on the card for a paler background shade. Next I stamped the flowers, this time stamping off once on scrap paper before stamping on the card for a slightly darker shade. I was really trying to build up layers on this card without using tons of cardstock. I stamped and punched out the butterfly in Rich Razzleberry. I added some ribbon to the side of the card, stamped the sentiment and added the butterfly, finishing it off with a few little rhinestones. To just give it a little bit more glitz I spritzed it with the shimmer mist. 

I thought I'd just finish off today with a little picture of inside the card - another little butterfly! 

Please leave me a comment, I love reading them. Thanks.

Have a great day! 

Amanda xx

soft sympathy

Sympathy cards are some of the hardest cards one has to make - they're not really cards I really enjoy making because there's always a sad reason why its being made. Anyway I have a little sympathy card I made this week to show you. 

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Simply Soft

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

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede

Ribbon: Pretty in Pink Satin

Accessories: Champagne Shimmer Paint (Mist)=

I stamped and coloured in the blossoms from the Simply Soft stamp set and then mounted on some Soft Suede and Pretty in Pink cardstock. I tied some ribbon around the card and stamped the sympathy sentiment from Teeny tiny wishes below. Finally I adhered the blossom branch to the card and finished it with a glittery spritz of champagne shimmer paint.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Amanda x

Easy Cupcakes

Just a couple really super quick and simple birthday cards for you today using Easy Events! I love that this set has a great set of images for all kinds of cards you need to make, and also has sentiments! 

Easy Cupcake

Stamp Set: Easy Events

Ink: Early Espresso, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, Corner Rounder

Ribbon: White Satin

Extras: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack

Okay really easy one here, I stamped the cupcake on Whisper White cardstock and then coloured it in with the markers and punched it out with a circle punch. I punched a scallop circle from the same colour cardstock as the cupcake frosting and used the paper piercer to pierce a hole in each scallop - it just adds a little more interest to a very simple card. I stamped the sentiment in the bottom right hand corner of the card. I wanted a really clean look so used White ribbon for a subtle tone on tone effect, added the cupcake topper and rounded the bottom left hand corner! This is a fab card to have on hand for those birthdays that you forget or come up faster than you were expecting yet still looks really pretty. Do you like it? I hope you do!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xoxo

every little bit

Nothing incredibly new today - this is another version of a card I made about a year ago. This is just a little bit more of a girlie updated version! Enjoy!

Handbags and Gladrags 

Stamp Set: Every Little Bit

Ink: Basic Black, Peach Parfait, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron

Cardstock: Whisper White, Sahara Sand

Ribbon: Pretty in Pink Satin 

Punch: 1" Circle, Corner Rounder

Extra: Paper Crimper

I stamped the purses and perfume bottles on Whisper White cardstock and used the markers to colour them in then punched them out with the circle punch. I rounded the top two corners and crimped the bottom of a Sahara Sand cardbase. I them adhered all the circles down in two rows with dimensionals, added some ribbon and finally did a faux stitching line around the edge of the cardstock. 

Hope you have a brilliant day,

Catch you tomorrow!

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 few wedding things

If you remember that at the end of August it was my cousin Ben's wedding to his beautiful bride Hannah. I just thought you would like to see the card and gift I made for them! 

Stamp Set: I {heart} Hearts, Basic Phrases (Retired)

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Shimmer Paint

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Pearls, Button

Extras: Mat Pack, Paper Piercer

Embroidery hoop with aida in it and filled with stitching - their names, wedding date and a Bible verse. A big buttons heart fills in the centre.

Finally a quick picture of Ben and Hannah.

Catch you again tomorrow, 

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge, week 27

Hi there!

Man I am behind with so much! My computer is still a nightmare and as a result making it difficult to use and I just haven't the patience to blog most of the time with the way my computer has been. However I have missed the last couple weeks of Simply Stampin' Challenge and I have to say I've missed it, so I just HAD to bear with my computer to upload this week's entry!

This week's challenge was a theme: Swirls and Pearls. It sounds so glamorous doesn't it?!

Doilie Ruby Wedding Anniversary 

Stamp Set: Delicate Doilies, Basic Phrases (retired as of yesterday!)

Ink: Frost White Shimmer Paint, Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls

I got asked to make a Ruby Wedding card this week and I thought it would go lovely with the theme Swirls and Pearls. Also a great excuse to get out my NEW stamp set - Delicate Doilies!! Just love it!!So i stamped the background with doilies in the shimmer paint, added some ribbon and LOADS of pearls!!! Finally added a sentiment to finish off the card! 

Hope you liked it - please do leave a comment. Also check out Simply Stampin' Challenge blog for the other design team creations! I hope to see your creations on there too! 

Until next time, 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

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

for rhoda

A couple weeks ago it was my upline, Rhoda's, 30th birthday, so she obviously needed a special card! Unfortunately I didn't have anything with numbers on it, so I improvised and it actually worked even better than I was expecting! Here we go...

30th Birthday

Stamp Set: Slice of Life (Hostess Only), Basic Phrases, Candle Crazy Builder, So Many Stars Builder

Ink: Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Perfect Plum, Basic Black

Cardstock: Regal Rose Texture, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Punches: Modern Label

Accessories: Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds

Extras: Blender Pen, Jumbo Wheel Handle, Wheel Guide, Builder Spindle and Spacer, Dimensionals, Tombo, Pencil, Black Pen

So I stamped my cake in some Very Vanilla cardstock and the coloured it in with a blender pen. I drew in pencil the 30 on top of the cake so I could get it exactly how I wanted it before tracing over in pen. I added a spot of glitter to the top of the 30 to make it look like burning candles. I ran the builder wheel across some Perfect Plum cardstock, added some satin ribbon in the centre and adhered it to the Crumb Cake base card. I mounted the cake on some Regal Rose and Rose Red cardstock, and adhered to the card with dimensionals. I then stamped and punched out the sentiment, adhered with dimensionals and added a few pearls. I also decided to add crystal effects to the cake stand to give it a little extra glossy shine. I Rhoda liked it! 

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought, I love reading them! 

Come back tomorrow for another card! 

Hugs,

Amanda 

gorgeous foliage...

I am just completely in love with the French Foliage stamp set. The more I play with it the more I like using it. Again this card is another one showcasing the wheel. I think I really am going through a wheel phase at the moment.

French Foliage Birthday

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases, French Foliage, Texture

Ink: Old Olive, More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Old Olive

Accessories: Early Espresso Satin Ribbon

Extras: Clear C Block, Dimensionals, Jumbo Handle, Copy Paper

I just LOVE this card. I wheeled out the texture wheel on the Old Olive card base. I then inked up a clear block (the kind you use for clinging your clear stamps to) in More Mustard ink and stamped it on Very Vanilla cardstock. It actually was just an experiment but worked so well, I was dead impressed! And the texture that the clear block picked up from the ink pad was great, fitted in with the texture wheel. I laid thin copy paper over the edges of the clear block stamp and stamped the leaves so that they over hang the edges. I added the ribbon and stamped the sentiment to finish. 

So, what do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Amanda x