Caturday - kittens!

Better late than never, it's Caturday. And here we have two gorgeous black kittens.  One is more confident than the other but they are sooooo cute and have very loud purrs. They are named after the Three Musketeers - Athos, Aramis and Porthos. But... but... there are only two of them! Well observed. The third one has already been rehomed. But we have no idea what that one was called so we just call these "the cute little black kittens". Daughter and I want to call them Alan and Graham.

Sneak Peek: Soho Subway

When my friend and downline Kelly came round the other morning, I put her to work as usual. I gave her the choice of creating something with a new floral background stamp we have, or decorating this notebook which she’d given me last year.

I was so pleased when she chose the floral option as it meant I got to have a play with this fabulous fabulous new Designer Series Paper, called Soho Subway. This paper is right up my street, I absolutely love it. It has grungy, distressed designs, like this piece of old wood pattern. Plus some newsprint which, as you know, I really love. There’s a map page, some gorgeous swirls and some old printer’s blocks, too. Love it and I can’t wait to run a class to cover a journal with this paper!

Better dash – busy day today as I have my big catalogue launch party tomorrow afternoon. All the project kits are packed, thanks to my friend, Sue, and the bags are partially packed, thanks to my daughter, but there is still a lot to be done. Going to get the daughter baking later…

Stamps: Happy Day

Cardstock: Island Indigo, Early Espresso

Paper: Soho Subway

Ink: Early Espresso

Accessories: Naturals Buttons, Natural Trim, 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon – Early Espresso

Sneak Peek: Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder

Another outing for the new Mosaic punch. Yes, there’s a stamp set to go with it but I was enjoying my “white phase” too much to use it.

This card is similar to one that guests will be making at my Catalogue Launch Party on Saturday… but I’ll let them play with more colours and do more stamping. I picked up the idea at the Stampin’ Up!® Regional Training session last month. I love the way the coloured cardstock just peeps out subtly from behind the white.

I have to say, I’m enjoying Crisp Canteloupe a lot more than I thought I would, especially considering that it’s a paler cousin of Calypso Coral (which I am warming to, at last).

Stamps: Happy Day

Cardstock: Crisp Canteloupe,  Calypso Coral, Whisper White

Ink: Crisp Canteloupe

Accessories: Modern Mosaic embossing folder, Mosaic Punch, Blossom Party Originals Die, Vintage Faceted Buttons

Sneak Peek: New In Colors

Today I’d like to introduce the brand spanking new In Colors for 2013-2015. I made this very simple card to show them off.

From left, we have Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Canteloupe, Baked Brown Sugar and Coastal Cabana. They are reminiscent of ice cream flavours – with the Baked Brown Sugar acting as the cone. Delicous!

Stamps: Happy Day

Cardstock: Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Canteloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana

Ink: Strawberry Slush

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Bitty Butterfly punch

SNEAK PEEK: Quatrefancy paper and Mosaic Punch

These are more fresh colours to make to you smile. They are from the new Quatrefancy Designer Series Paper. The only problem I have with this paper is how to pronounce it? Do I go for a Derbyshire “kwattre-fancy”? Or do I take a stab at a French pronunciation – “cattrefonsey” – and throw in a Gallic shrug for good measure? What would you do?

You probably don’t care. You’re probably way more interested in what looks like a brand new punch. And why yes, it IS a brand new punch. The all-new Mosaic Punch which I’m sure you’ll love. I do. Didn’t particularly want it but it was a freebie – a demonstrator perk – and I’ve used it loads! It’s so often the way…

Stamps: Happy Day

Cardstock: Pool Party, Whisper White

Paper: Quatrefancy

Ink: Island Indigo

Acccessories: Mosaic Punch

Caturday - Sox

Ooh, the stakes have been upped with this fancy montage, haven't they? Not my work, I'm afraid - today's Caturday belongs to my downline, Sam, and is apparently "a little diva". That's Sox, not Sam!

Today is the cat shelter tea party so, if you're free, please pop along to 27 Delves Bank Road, Swanwick, to take a look at the cats and enjoy a cup of tea and slice of cake! 11am-2pm.

Sneak Peek: More Gingham Garden Washi Tape

Can you bear yet more washi tape creations? I do hope so as I will keep them coming until I run out of tape! I love the clear, crisp colours and the funky designs. Oh go on then, I’ll confess…

You know I’m a pretty lazy stamper, right? Can’t be bothered to heat emboss, fussy cut, faff around with glitter etc? Crafting time is pretty limited for me so I usually like to “stamp and go”. I need instant results. Well, that’s exactly what you get with washi tape, and that’s why I love it. For this card, which has lots of lovely colours and patterns on it,  I only had to get one ink pad, one stamp set and one punch out… the rest of the work was done by the tape.  Come on, Stampin’ Up!®, we need more of this tape please!

Stamps: Label Love

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Whisper White

Ink: Island Indigo

Accessories: Artisan Label Punch, Gingham Garden Washi Tape, Island Indigo Baker’s Twine, Very Vintage Designer Buttons