Greeting Card Kids Swap

I went to the wonderful Julie's Training yesterday and had a fantastic time - Thanks Julie! As you may know, when Stampin' Up! demonstrators get together we like to make a little card front or 3 D item to swap with each other.  This is great as we get lots of ideas and samples of different stamp sets, ribbons and papers etc (that we may not have ourselves) to show our customers.
I made my swap using the Stampin' Up Greeting Card Kids stamp set which is in the new Annual Catalogue. I love this set, it reminds me of books I used to read at school!

It's a 'colouring in' set, I used to avoid these sets but now I've got my aqua painters i can't get enough of them. I stamped the image using black stazon ink onto very vanilla card stock then coloured them in using ink pads and my aqua painter. If you are not used to painting with aqua painters or are a bit heavy handed I would advise you use water colour paper otherwise your card may buckle if it gets too wet. (I used to do a lot of painting on parchment so I'm used to keeping a dry brush).
This is my swap card, it's quite a simlpe layout, but it does take quite a long time to make over 30 of them, all that colouring in!

 I made it two slightly different versions.

 Here are a few of the 34 card fronts I made.

Recipe
Stamp Set: Greeting Card Kids
Ink Pads: Riding Hood Red & Marina Mist or Raspberry Ripple and Midnight Muse, Gumball Green and Soft Suede
Marker Pen: Blushing Bride (scribble this on to the top of an ink pad then pick it up with your aqua painter).
Card Stock:Very Vanilla, Gumball Green, Riding Hood Red, Midnight Muse and Soft Suede.
Accessories: Gumball Greet stitched satin ribbon, silver dazzling details glitter and lattice square textured embossing folder.
Punches: 1/2" and 3/4" circle and scallop border trim.
I got some gorgeous swaps which I will have to photograph and download to show you.

Flash Card Challenge - Card 3

For my third flash card I inked up my new stamp set - Greeting Card Kids - I LOVE this set it is so cute! See my post on 14th October if you want more info about my flash card challenge.
I used crumb cake as my card base and the flash card pieces were old olive and very vanilla, I also used a bit of my bonus holly berry bouquet DSP. I ran the old olive card through the big shot using the striped embossing folder.
Here is my card:

I stamped the little girl in black stazon then coloured her inl using aqua painters, you have to be careful not to make the card too wet as it's not water colour paper and can buckle. I added some old olive satin ribbon.

Flash Card Challenge - Card 2

For my second flash card, I used half a sheet of very vanilla as the card base. This is a new thing for me as I never use very vanilla or whisper white as a card base as it's thinner than coloured card stock but I did like it so this may be the start of a new trend. See my post on 14th October for more details on my flash card challenge.
I used the river rock framelit left over from yesterdays card and stamped on it using the apothecary art stamp set and my stamp-a-ma-jig to line it up. Another first for me using coloured card stock to stamp my image for a card topper. I used a cherry cobbler and very vanilla flash card piece and the spare piece of cherry cobbler card from the kit.
Here is my card:

I embossed the card front using the vintage wall paper embossing folder and sponged some crumb cake ink on it for a vintage look. Here's a close up of the topper, coloured in using cherry cobbler and artichoke ink using and an aqua painter.

Here is the inside, I cut the cherry cobbler framelit from the inside of the larfer framelit used on the card front, just in case you think I am cheating!

Flash Card Challenge - Card 1

This is my first flash card I made using the flash card challenge kit. (See yesterdays post if you're not sure what I'm on about).
I made a diorama card using half a sheet of river rock card using the third smallest label framelit, (keep the cut out label to use for another card) see Sally Jo's instructions. I used a soft suede and very vanilla card piece.  Cut the 3rd smallest label framelit from soft suede piece - you will need to put it at an angle. I punched a 1" circle and modern label from the middle of the soft suede framelit (this will be covered up by very vanilla) then cut in half lengthways.
I stamped the large tree from the lovely as a tree stamp set in always artichoke ink. I cut this out using the 3rd smallest framelit again.  There were missing edges so I just cut this level between the curves on the side. I used the two halves of the soft suede framelit to edge the very vanilla.
Using some of the spare very vanilla card in the kit I stamped Merry Christmas in soft suede (From Teeny Tiny Wishes set) and punched out using word window. I stamped the pine cone in always artichoke and punched out using 3/4" circle punch. I mounted these on the soft suede modern label and 1" circle. I added some soft suede taffeta ribbon. If you have survived the instructions, here is my card:

And a different angle:

Flash Card Challenge!

The flash card was developed by a US Stampin' Up Demonstrator called Connie Stewart, you will find her video explaining this on you tube here. Her concept is very simple, she cuts card into pieces so when she wants to make a card in a flash she just needs to take out a piece of neutral and a piece of coloured card along with half a sheet of A4 card for the base, adds some stamping, punching etc and hey presto.

It's a great idea because it makes 

I have adapted her template into metric, so to make your flash card pieces take:

1 A4 Coloured Card Stock,

·         Trim down to 21cm x 28cm – keep the left over to use on your flash cards

·         Cut in half (at 10.5cm) then cut each strip every 7cm.

·         You will end up with eight 10.5cm x 7cm pieces (and a 21cm x 1.7cm strip)

1 A4 Neutral Card Stock, e.g. very vanilla or whisper white.

·         Trim down to 20cm x 26cm – keep left overs

·         Cut in half at 10cm then cut each strip every 6.5cm

·         You will end up with eight 10cm x 6.5cm a 21cm x 3.9cm and a 26cm x 1xm piece.

Card base is half A4 card (you can cut it in half length ways or width ways.

Each time Connie makes a flash card she uses a piece of coloured card, neutral card and a card base (1/2 sheet of A4 card).

I gave my stampers 5 a flash card challenge kit this month. This is the kit I gave them, (it included a bonus piece of DSP and 2 extra pieces of very vanilla). The challenge is to make 6 cards using the kit, their stamp sets, inks, punches etc, they are allowed to add embellishments such as ribbon and brads etc but must not use any more card or DSP.

If you would like to join in Here are the instructions containing a list of what the kit contains and hints and tips. I can't wait to see what everyone has come up with. I will show you my first card tomorrow.

Halloween Treat Box Card

Here is another Halloween Treat Box Card. This time I tried to make it into a grave stone by shaping the top of the box using the Label framelits. I do love these googly ghouls, I've made loads but don't worry I haven't photographed them all, (yet!).

I will be at St Nicholas's Church Hall in Guisborough on Staurday 13th of October, (10am-3pm) so please pop along and say hello.

Stampin' Up! Googly Ghouls

I have been making some Halloween treat boxes using the googly ghouls stamp set.  This is a great little stamp set and fantastic value as you can buy a Ghoulish Googlies Bundle that includes the stamp set, printed tags, glassine bags, googly eyes and bakers twine. Here is the treat box card I made.

 Open up the box to find some chocolate eyes, yummy, yummy! Underneath the eyes it says Boooo! 

Stampin' Up! Ornament Keepsakes Again

This is the last of my ornament keepsakes posts, (for now....). We didn't have time to make a big ornament during our class but we made little ones so people could get the idea of how to join the ornaments together.
The first picture shows the ornament made using six stamped and die cut ornaments.  Again we used Midnight Muse.

The second ornament uses five large ornaments and five circles so you get a front and back to the ornament.

Here are both ornaments together.

More Ornament Keepsakes

This is another card we made at class using Stampin' Ups ornament keepsakes stamp set and matching framelits. The good thing about this card is that it uses three different ornaments so that you can die cut them all at the same time, (use bits of post it notes to keep the framelits in place when you use them).
Again we used the new in-colour midnight muse, I think this is going to be a firm favourite. 

 The second card also uses the snow flurry die. I jazzed both cards up with the dazzling details glitter although you can't see it that well on the photos, (fine glitter and glue in a squeezy tube), quick to use and mess free unless you stick your hand in it! It can take a whole to dry if you apply it thickly, I did imagine some people going home holding a card in each hand.

Here are all three cards together.

Ornament Keepsakes and Triple Time Stamping

We used the beautiful Ornament Keepsake stamp set and matching framelits at class yesterday. We re-visited triple time stamping for the first card, that's where you temporarily stick three layers on top of each other, (the two way glue is great for this). Stamp on them and then carefully unstick and mount on card, make sure you keep it the right way up.  It's a simple technique but looks as if you spent lots of time making the card.

 The colour is one of the new in-colours called Midnight Muse, it's lovely and bashful blue. Here is a close up.

We stamped an insert for the inside as well, the sentiments come from the new Greetings of the Season stamp set.

New Catalogue and All Day Start Stampin' Class

As you will know from the Blog Hop yesterday the new Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 Annual Catalogue has now arrived!!!  It is HUGE and so is my wish list!

Click HERE to view the catalogue on-line. If you would like your own copy I can post one to you for £5.50 just email me and I will deduct this off your first order of £25 or more.

I can finally reveal the name of the stamp set we will be using in my Start Stampin' Christmas Cards class on Saturday the 3rd of November, it is ..........

Open Sleigh

Isn't it gorgeous? I chose this set because it contains some beautiful images and sentiments so you can make some wonderful cards just from one set of stamps. As a bonus that swirl can be used through out the year on all sorts of cards. 

This class is ideal for beginners as well as experienced paper crafters as you will get a goody bag that has everything you need to make the projects in class, step by step tuition by me as well as written instructions. I have designed some cards so that you can carry on crafting at home as included in the cost is your own Open Sleigh Clear Mount Stamp Set, ink pad  and everything* you need to make more cards at home.  *All you will need to bring is dry and wet glue and a packed lunch! So if you have never been to one of my classes before now is definitely the time to start.

If you are new to crafting and don't have any clear acrylic bocks or you prefer wood I can order  wood mount for only  £3 extra.

So how much does this AMAZING All Day Class cost?  Well, it is only £35 which includes a Stampin' Up! goody bag of over £28 of products. What's more if you book and pay your £20 deposit by Wednesday October 3rd you can get the class for only £30 - just contact me for more information or to book your place.

In Love With Stamping Blog Hop!

Welcome to the In Love With Stamping Stampin' Up Autumn/Winter and 12/13 Annual Catalogue Blog Hop! I suspect you have just popped over from the lovely Elaina's blog. I thought I would showcase the very cute Frosty Friends stamp from the Autumn/Winter catalogue, at only £10.95 it is a great for new stampers and those who want to make some quick fun cards, (and don't want to spend too much as they have already bought the Amazing Ornament Keepsake Bundle!).
Introducing Frosty Friends.....

My first card is an ideal card for new stampers as you only need the one stamp, a set of 2011-2013 in-colour Stampin' Write marker pens, In-Colour card bundle, whisper white, dazzling details glitter and the festival of Prints Designer Paper Stack, (also some adhesive and scissors/paper trimmer!). 
The colour scheme is Island Indigo and Pool Party.

For my second card I also used the Greetings of the Season stamp set,(greeting is inside so you can't see it!) the 1 1/4"Scallop Circle Punch and the 1" Circle Punch.

Last but not least is a box card I made using Frenchie Jo's Tutorial. I love these little box cards they only use half a sheet of A4 card stock but with a little chocolate treat in they make ideal Christmas cards for the children's teachers, work colleagues and neighbours etc... In addition to the basic kit you need the modern label punch (I also used a little strip of acetate for the window) but if you haven't got this you could always leave the window out, more of a surprise when you open the little box. I changed the top of the box so that you can open and close it without tearing the box. Don't stick the little strip down, close both ends and trim the lid as in my picture, I used the punched out modern label to make the tab to open the lid. (This will make more sense once you have looked at the tutorial!)

See you later...

Thank you for stopping by, your next hop is over to the wonderful Sarah . If you like what you see please follow me! (Free Attic Boutique Handbag Tutorial for all my followers - just email me and let me know you are following me).