Throwback Thursday...

Now as you know we are Stampin Up independent Demonstrators and one of the fab things that means we get are gorgeous catalogues! We get 3 a year an annual and 2 seasonal/ mini catalogues.
These catalogues are not just full of fab product but they also contain a multitude of gorgeous inspirational samples to drool over 😉 When Gill and I started out they were called Ideas book and catalogue and I still think thats a great description of these gems.
So for todays samples I have taken inspiration from the cover of the 2011/12 Ideas book and catalogue.
I love the softly vintage feel of the crumb cake with the flash of colour from the grapefruit grove. I added a subtle pop of gold foil to my project.
I have used the Positive Thoughts stamps again and used my spong daubers to add blended edges to all the cut edges to help create the vintage feel.
And what card isn't complete without a little sparkle?? I used the oh so swish champagne rhinestones from the spring summer mini. They give a stunning little glint to he center of the butterfly.

Watercolour Wednesday

Gill and I hold regular classes every month. We take it in turns to design for each class and often ask our attendees what they'd like us to create for class. Sometimes they want us to use a certain stamp set or show them a certain technique.
Well one of our attendees asked for a class showcasing the...Stamparatus!! This fantastic tool is a stamp positioning tool par excellence!!!
One of the fun techniques that I showed was called the Stamparatus Slap! And the reason I'm sharing it with you today on watercolour Wednesday is because it uses lots of water!!
Firstly position your stamp in the stamparatus and stazon ink to stamp the image onto shimmery white cardstock .
Now clean your stamp and taking Stampin write markers colour your stamp. Now spritz the stamp with water, about 6 to 10 sprays depending on the size of the stamp just make sure its wet!
Now the fun part quickly slap the plate closed! Lift back and mop up your plate up.
If there are puddles on your work gently use the corner of a piece of kitchen roll to wick it away. Now let the piece dry, you can use a heat tool if you're impatient like me 😉.
 If the ink doesn't splat quite the way you'd like it too you can repeat the process solong as you don't move the stamp and place your card in the same place.
I hope you like this slightly messy but fun water coulouring technique 😊

Tips, Tricks and Techniques...

Today I thought I'd create a card using the rock "n" roll technique....but then I discovered that the stamp I wanted to use was tooo small!!!
The rock "n" roll technique requires that you ink the stamp in one colour then using another ink pad gently rock and roll it around the edge of the stamp.
Sooo what did I do? I reached for my trusty Stampin write markers!!
I inked the stamp with an ink pad first then ran the marker pen around the edge and down what would be the spine of the feather. Now a gentle huff and I was ready to...rock "n" roll 😂😂😂
The colours I used were Highland Heather and Seaside Spray ink pads and Gray Granite marker pen. The feather and sentiment stamps are from the positive thoughts set from Stampin Up.

Make it simple Monday...

This week is the run up to our annual weekend crafting retreat. And yes as you can imagine it's a very very crazy busy!!!
So a make it simple project is just what is called for!! And today's inspiration is very simple just 1 sentiment stamp and 1 image stamp and 1 ink to create the cards today.
I used generational stamping to create the ombre effect with the flowers.  This is a very easy technique you ink the stamp once, stamp, then gently huff on the stamp and stamp again. Huff on the stamp again and stamp. Huffing gentle remoistens the ink to reactivate it. It's a great way to make the most out of a few items from your stash.

Tips, Tricks and Techniques Tuesday.  

Today's tip is to do as I say again! I cannot tell you how many times I made this card and each time I got it wrong! The important TIP... Check what colours of card you use and how they blend together.

That's it, that's the tip from me. Silly isn't it? You would think that I would have got it right the first time but no, not me! I really did have a bad day today!
However, once I got the colours right, it was plain sailing as they say.

I used Whisper White card base and a Granny Apple Green card mat. I used the lovely dies called Sending Flowers and Perfectly Framed stamp set for the messages.

For more information on the Perfectly Framed stamps, please click HERE  

The stamps coordinate with Ornate Frames Dies, HERE

The dies are from a selection of special products available only while stocks last or until 31st March 2020  For a quick look, please click HERE  

Do please go and have a look as there are some beautiful products available.

What I did wrong was I used the same colour card base as the mat. It really didn't work at all!

Make It Monday  

Hello and welcome back. Cary's projects were up to her usual high standard last week weren't they?

Well done Cary, again.

Today I have made a different version of one that I made for a class last week. #simplestamping really is the word. I used a Whisper White card mat, Balmy Blue card base, Memento, Tuxedo Black ink pad and ordinary colouring pencils. Yep! That's all. The idea of #simplestamping is to prove that you can make a card very simply using the above tools and a stamp set. The stamp set I used was a Hostess set called New Wonders. Hostess sets can be earned when you hold a workshop or demonstration, class or 'party' with total orders gained of £150 or more. You earn 10% Hostess Pounds and on £150 you get £15 to spend. The stamp set only costs £12.50 so you would have money still to spend!   For more information on the stamp set, please click HERE

The stamping was very straightforward and once done, I coloured the images in and very gently rubbed the light blue around the images.

A close up of the images below.

It was that simple, I'm really quite pleased with this one!

Fun fold friday...

It's that Friday feeling again...time to kick back and look forward to a few days Crafting time, if you're lucky 😉😉😉
With a restful time in mind I'm sharing another very simple fun fold...so simple you don't need any measurements!!
First take a piece of cardstock, mine measures 17 cm x 29.7cm ( standard A4 length). Now fold it in half. Next fold each half in half to create 4 panels! Use a good bone folder to reinforce theae folds.
Now the "tricky" part  take a punch, I've used the everyday lable punch from Stampin Up, and with the first panel folded over the second one. Put the punch about a third of the way up and punch through both layers. Now open the card up and fold in half so that the punched out area are visible and uae them as a guide to punch the remaining 2 panels. ( see the photos)
And that is the basic screen or panel fold card.....sooo easy!!!
To decorate I've used the My Meadow stamp set to create a scene. I did this befor cutting my panels so that it was a continuous image. Now if you look at the photo's you'll see that I stamped it one way and stuck it down in another order!!! It was a happy accident 😂😂 so pay attention with yours!!!
Any way thats it for me this week. Please joun me next week when Gill will be providing the inspiration.
Have fun
Cary xx