Raise it up

We had all fallen in love with the Irresistibly Yours papers that had appeared in the Sale-a-Bration catalogue, so a couple of weeks ago, before we had been able to order any of the new collection of papers in the 2015-2016 Annual catalogue, we spent an afternoon at the Monday class, using clear embossing powder and various stamps etc to create our own embossed background papers which we could then ink and colour.

The card above used the small daisy stamp from the flower patch set.to create the background, which was then inked up with melon mambo. the flower embellishments were fro this same stamp set.

I used versamark to ink through the star stencil on this background before adding the embossing powder. A trio of inks created the ombre effect and the star framelets used to cut matching stars.

Having recently revamped our bathroom, I had used small square glass tiles to decorate a mirror. The mesh I used as a stencil for this background was the waste that the small tiles had been stuck to in the packaging. It gave a lovely bubbles effect that suited the fish from the "By the Tide" stamp set.

This chevron background stamp has now been retired, but the large size of this stamps gives an instant covering and impact and there are plenty to choose from in the current catalogue -brushstrokes and dots and the world map would work well with the balloons.

A simple stamp from the Work of Art stamp set created the stripes that were  then embossed on this background. Coloured blue by inking or spritzing they form the perfect background for this majestic ship from the "The open sea" stamp set.

It is lovely to have a collection of papers that we can ink up and spritz in the new catalogue, but by looking afresh at the stamp sets on your shelf and your stencils, embossing folders and even objects around your home, the only limit to the backgrounds you can create with a versamark pad and some embossing powder, is your imagination.

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Happy stamping

Helen

Barnyard Babies

Thought I would share one of the lovely new stamp sets from the new catalogue. These cute guys are the barnyard babies - and they include a little duck. This is going to be a versatile kit for the kids of all ages - and there are lots of cheesy little sentiments to go with it. 

For my card I used just one colour - the fabulously named tip top taupe. This is one of the new in colours. I stamped all these farmyard favourites onto a strip of whisper white card, which I then matted onto a strip of tip top taupe cardstock. I used the little rosette stamp to create a background on my card blank. I added  the "Have an award winning day" sentiment which I had stamped with tip top taupe and matted onto matching card. The final embellishment was a piece of burlap ribbon anchored down with an antique brad.

But it doesn't end there.....

I created a matching envelope using my envelope punchboard and the fabulous new double sided envelope paper. Doesn't it look great and really adds the finishing touch. True co-ordination as only Stampin' Up can do.

If you need some barnyard babies in your life, then get in touch, or go over to my online shop by simply clicking on the relevant image below.

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Helen

xx

Bouquet finale

Well today has been a busy one, with crafting all the way. The evening was finished off nicely with 3 lovely ladies at the last of my sessions with the now retired Bouquet kit. Some pansies, poppies, daisies, chrysanthemums and wild roses were created and at least one blister gained from a hot glue gun, but they are well on there way now to completed bouquets. I have been promised pictures of the finished articles when they are finally completed. Hopefully they will find something nicer that the beer glasses we used on our crafting table, to display them in. 

The next all day workshop will be creating this beautiful display rack. There are paper pompoms to make, frames (including a shaker frame) to create  bunting to decorate. It should be a good day. It is on 18th July, 10am-3.30pm at All Hallows' Church Hall, Market Square, Wellingborough. The cost is £35 to include all the kit and equipment you need to complete the project. Bring your lunch,but drinks and cake will be provided.

Contact me to book a place by 4th July, so I can order your kit.

Happiness is a beautiful stamp set

The weekly deals have gone live and they include this beautiful stamp set at a bargain price. It is on my wish list, because I haven't succumbed yet. Have you? Follow the link on the page to check out the other deals this week. there is another couple of must have stamps.

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Paper samples

At my recent catalogue launch event, I offered my customers the opportunity to purchase some sample packs of all the beautiful new designer series paper packs and this was quite popular, so I am extending the opportunity to you.
The packs normally come as 12"x12" papers, 12 sheets, 2 each of 6 double sided designs. I am offering sample packs of 12 sheets of 6"x6" papers, 12 sheets, 2 each of 6 double sided designs.
The large packs are £10 each, so naturally the sample packs are £2.50. However, if you order one of each of the eight packs, I am offering you them for £18, a saving of £2.
This gives you an opportunity to browse, feel and yes -smell the lovely papers and decide if you would like to purchase a complete pack.

If you are interested in this promotion, then do get in touch with me.

Helen
xx

All that glitters

We had great fun this afternoon at the Love-a-Duckie craft group, which is held every Monday afternoon in Tesco's Community Room at Victoria Park, Wellingborough. We were playing with Stampin' Up's heat and stick powder.You use it like an embossing powder; first stamping the image in Versamark ink, before sprinkling on the white, quite coarse powder. When heating it with the heat gun you have to be careful not to overheat it, just long enough for it to change from white to a clear tacky adhesive. You are then able to add bling. Stampin' Up do some pretty glitter in gold, silver and dazzling diamond. However, like many of us, over the years I have collected a myriad of colours in glitter and we delved into my box to see what we could find. The swallowtail butterfly was covered in a rose pink,whilst the peacock was suitably adorned in blue.

The fern from the butterfly basics set was also given the glitter treatment.

The main image was sprinkled with a holographic glitter which gave it a green tint on the black card. The glitter border was created by first laying down a border of double sided tape and then covering with blue glitter. I added an embossed background to this card, using the new boho chic folder. The sentiment also came from the Butterfly Basics stamp set.

To ring the changes, I again used the same fern stamp, but I dug back into my stash and found some gilding flakes. Unfortunately Stampin' Up don't stock these pots of loveliness, but they gave us the heat and stick which allowed us to play with them.

 On this Gold colored fern,I added the mesh image from the Butterfly basics set and embossed it with gold embossing powder. I drew a border with the gold and silver pens which are now retired.

For the background on this silver fern, I inked the decorative dots embossing folder with versamark, before running it through my big shot.I then sprinkled on the heat and stick, heated it and added gilding flakes.

My little pot of heat and stick went a long way and I can see it be used a lot as we start to think about Christmas projects. 

I also think it is good to remind ourselves that our Stampin' Up products are fabulous on there own, but they can also help us to breathe new life into things that are sitting at the back of our craft cupboards.

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Do get in touch if you are interested in any of these products.

Have fun with your crafty stash

Helen