April 2013 – Stampdelicious

Well Hello! has it really been only two weeks? feels both longer – lots happened – and shorter – where did the time go? I know from talking with my other pals they all feel the same. Long winter means that we are all rushing like made to straighten our gardens ready for some much needed warm summer days…Come on summer, need you now!!!

As you know I am on a design team and this time the challenge is ….Altered item…hmmmm this one had me thinking, I dont actually do many altered items… (What do you do? I hear you shout!!!! I know, right? I spend hours crafting and most of it is in class preparation…honest!) I had spotted these slightly larger than normal cotton reel thingummy bobs…and that got the juices flowing a little…so this is what I came up with….

: Started like this….

And in the wink of an eye they became this….(Actually took a teensy weensy bit longer than that but …hey ho!)

: Altered Cotton Reels

Here are a couple of close – ups…

I do hope that you like them, I have used cotton reels, Vintage lace, two types of seam binding, one Stamping Up rose red and one not, flowers, pearls, Memory Box die cuts, bits of dowling out of my dads workshop (shhhh! don’t tell him!!!!) and dolly forms or rather the Dress Up die Cuts from Stampin Up! – which are every where right now! I used some glossy accents to secure the dowling into the cotton reels and placed a small circle of card to cover the base for neatness. Remember, that you can make these in the wink of an eye (!!!!) and please share your finished item with us……until next time, remember to stamp your place in the world! xxxx

PS> for my monthly Stampdelicious by Stamp girls, the previews should be out within the next 24/36 hours – but I really think you will love these projects!

Hello girls – cant believe how fast the time has flown but it has been an incredibly busy time. I think I mentioned previously that I have started a new job…I am still in training but it is incredibly intense and I come home exhausted from all the technical work! In addition to that I was away over Easter to the Tartan Stampers Mini convention up in Glasgow. What a fabulous and exciting time that was. We got loads done although I spent most of my time chatting and catching up with folk and as usual have loads and loads to finish….when I do I promise to share them on here, but I did meet up with lots of good friends including Susan and Margaret Ann and I shared a room with another good friend Moni. Around the tables were lots of other people I havent seen in a while who created some amazing projects but I want to give a shout out to a couple of people: Fiona Cooper – your project was so lovely and I sadly do not have a pic of it, nor do I have the card as MB snapped the card up to give to his Aunt! Sharon – I havent finished your project but I will as I loved it! (will be CASEing that idea!!!!) Fiona Duthie for your amazing Dolly form inspiration! loved that project too (and another I will be CASEing….but shhhh, no one needs to know what might be coming up in the near future so dont tell anyone….) and finally my partner in crime Lorraine McCormack….thank you for so much fun! To the Cocktails!!!! So for some general news before the pics….Stampin Up are about to have a Colour Refresh!!!! Yay! What does that mean? well it means some of our less popular – although lots of my favourites!!! – colours are retiring and we are having some brand newies to replace them. What will they be like? well here is some info to help you….BUT REMEMBER…the retiring colours are available ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST so if there is a favourite colour of yours that is retiring, email me now with your orders before stocks run out…. So these are the retiring colours…….Spotted your favourite colour in there? I confess that all of this bottom row feature in my favourites! I am really sad to lose these colours….BUT you can still order right now so stock up! Sad on one hand but exciting on the other….NEW COLOURS!!!!! yippee. I have no idea what these are going to be like but I am excited nonetheless! The new colours will become available with the New catalogue later in the summer so watch this space for more news….. Okay onto the bit that includes pictures…..So what have I been up to…Well, no funny stories this time I am afraid although I will say that if you happen to be on YouTube and typed in Tartan Stampers Harlam Shake you might find something fairly disturbing….not dreadful or horrid, just a little disturbing, for crafters at least! We had so much fun making this short 30 second vid and I am on there….you have to look hard but I am in it! Pictures…..First up I have pictures from last months Stampdelicious by Stamp….

*Fancy Favour Bigz XL wedding favour box*

This first one is made with Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Basic Black cardstock and Sahara Sand seam binding. I made the roses using scallop punches and rolling them with my tweezers securing the base with hot glue.

I would love to take credit for this but sadly I cannot. The lady who created this is an american demo called Cindee Wilkinson and here is a link to her original creation HERE. I have used artist Board, stamped it with Crumb Cake ink and the Swirl from Everything Eleanor. I have then used Very Vanilla card stock stamped with En Francais in Sahara Sand. The dolly forms were created using Dress Up framelits and Crumb Cake cardstock. The rest of the items are: Rose Red and Very Vanilla Seam binding, Doilys, Flower Trim, two tone ribbon in Pink Pirouette, and pearls. I loved making this. And finally…..

Again another item I cannot claim the credit for, the original one is created by Petronella Hardy at keepstamping.com – again another great creator! This card is made with Ovals Framelits, Sahara Sand, Basic Black and Very Vanilla cardstock, the Dress Up Framelits, Love and Laughter Stamp set, Hello Doily Stamp, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, pearls and the fabulous and very versatile Flower Trim. Phew! All those lovely ladies who subscribe to Stampdelicious by Stamp will be making these super projects over the next few days………. Want to get projects by post? included in the kits is everything you need to create a finished project (or three!) but not including glue, tape etc. All pearls, stamped items, die cuts etc included but not the stamps themselves. The next sneak peaks will be up shortly so be looking out for those…… As well as all the stuff I have been making for the mini convention, my usual classes, the design team I work for and Stampdelicious by Stamp, I often get asked to make cards and projects for special occasions, and Yes Kim, I havent forgotten yours….I am still coming up with ideas….so I thought I would share a couple that I have made recently….

This first one is Stampin Up through and through…it has Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake cardstock but I have used Basic Black, Sahara Sand and Regal Rose ink pads, stamp sets include: Elements of Style, From My Heart, Kindness Matters and Established Elegance. The butterfly punch and lots of pearls. The next one I made for a lovely lady I met at my new job called Jackie. She is one of the trainers there and was with us for the first week doing some very hands on training with us, but she was so lovely and inspirational, we hardly realised we were being trained! Best of all? she is a crafter!!!! Well you just knew she was going to be lovely as soon as you knew that didn’t you? here is the card I made for her…. Okay girls….this has been quite a long one….I have another blog post to do for Sunday but first I MUST finish my project….I am out first thing running 5k across a park with my youngest son – he will beat me hands down, in fact he will be finishing his second Milkshake in the Park cafe before I get in! I will keep you posted…..Until next time, remember to stamp your place in the world! xxx