In Colors with Mosaic Madness and Happy Day

I realised I never got round to showing you the projects we made at my catalogue launch party – something which is holding back Angela T from making her Make & Takes because she failed to get her priorities right on the day and snuck off early to watch the tennis! (No, I’m not going to allow her to forget that.) So, better late than never, here is the Mosaic Madness card everyone had the chance to make.

It showcases, rather subtly, the new In Colors, using Crisp Canteloupe as the card base and all five colours on the punched shapes. I showed a few variations on this card so that people could choose. The one on the right has five images stamped in each of the five new In Colors, with just a smidge of  coloured cardstock showing from behind.

The one on the left has some stamped images and a couple of plain shapes. The bottom one is punched out of the Whisper White and shows the Crisp Canteloupe through the aperture, while the top one is a piece of Pistachio Pudding punched and overlaid on top.

The "hidden" card in the centre just has the stamped images, with no coloured cardstock. 

Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Happy Day

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

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

Accessories: Modern Mosaic embossing Folder, Mosaic Punch

Caturday - a happy ending for George

The star of today’s Caturday is already famous. His name is George and he featured in the Derby Telegraph 10 days ago because he needed a home.

It had to be a very special home as George, who is only five months, has already had an eventful life with more than his fair share of problems.  If you're an animal-lover, get your tissues ready. If you're not an animal lover, then take your heart of stone away with you and come back for crafting tomorrow!

So, back to George. This poor little mite was dumped in a garden in Derby. Who would DO that? Sadly, lots of people do. Fortunately, George was lucky – he was taken in by Cats’ Protection. They discovered that his eyes had not developed properly and they had to be removed (in a VERY expensive operation, according to one of my downlines, who happened to visit the same vet last week). Then poor little George had to have a further lengthy op for an undescended testicle.

But there’s a happy ending to George’s story as my colleague, Ella, a reporter at the Derby Telegraph, has taken on the challenge of raising a blind kitten. Happily, she says he’s settling in well, following her everywhere she goes. He’s even managed to locate the litter tray, which must be a relief to them both.  Read more of George’s story here. 

Masculine card with Wetlands

I needed a masculine card for a Canadian – surely the Canada goose is perfect for the job! I thought so – and if you are now going to tell me that this isn’t a Canada goose at all but another bird. I will stick my fingers in my ears and start singing.

I LOVE Wetlands. It’s my favourite stamp set for now. And I LOVE Baked Brown Sugar, especially with Basic Black. I know, I know, all those lovely colours and my favourite combo of the moment is brown and black. What can I say? I have simple tastes.

This card is a CASE of one made by Jaydee, which I found on Pinterest.  We will be using this stamp set at my Crafty Friday session tomorrow morning. One place left if you want it - just £6, or FREE with a £30 order*.

Stamps: Wetlands

Cardstock: Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar

Ink: Black Stazon, Baked Brown Sugar

Accessories: 1 ¾” circle punch, blender pens

* cannot be part of any other workshop or club order

Introducing the 2013-15 In Colors

Can I have a round of applause please for a bunch of relative newcomers to the stamping world… the 2013-15 In Colors® (yes, I know we spell it "Colours" and it does grate with me, too, but it's a trade name). They’re a pretty subtle bunch on the whole but already they are making their presence felt on blogs, Pinterest and on mantelpieces across the land.

So let’s hear it for …

Baked Brown Sugar: a no-nonsense fellow with a sweet side, who enjoys gracing vintage projects and hanging out with oh so sophisticated Basic Black but really will rub along happily with just about everyone.

Coastal Cabana: outgoing and perhaps a little camp, this chap perhaps feels most at home in a retro situation and simply can’t wait for Christmas to come along when he’ll really shine alongside some of our festive reds.

Crisp Canteloupe: the quieter cousin of Calypso Coral, this little lady doesn’t seek attention but certainly gets it! She loves to hang out with her cousin, as well as her In Color Pals, but especially likes to get together with Mr Confident, Early Espresso. Opposites do attract, after all.

Pistachio Pudding: So reserved as to make Crisp Canteloupe look like a party animal but this fellow is definitely no wallflower. Most comfortable with his In Color pals, but also gets on well with other quiet types, such as Crumb Cake. Secretly yearns to get out and meet stronger personalities such as Midnight Muse and Early Espresso. Because let’s face it, everyone gets on well with Early Espresso!

Strawberry Slush: She’s sweet, she’s attractive, she’s pretty in pink… and, frankly, she knows it. She can carry off a retro theme, she can do girlie, she can turn her hand to pretty much anything. She’s so versatile you just can’t help loving her!

And finally can we hear it for me please, who spent AGES die-cutting and assembling all these flowers!?

Simply Pressed Clay and Gingham Garden

Talking of clay, which we were, on Wednesday… here’s another project using it, this time with the flower moulds. I coloured the clay using Melon Mambo ink and foolishly didn’t use gloves, resulting in a bit of a “Lady Macbeth” moment. Well, I say “moment” – the staining didn’t go for a couple of days… not quite as long as the Basic Black, but long enough!

The notepad is just something that I’ve been hoarding for years.  I think it came into work as part of a press pack. Bizarrely, it had a couple of pages about the company and the rest was conveniently blank. It was just crying out to be altered, so I covered the front and back with Gingham Garden DSP and then embellished with a bit of washi tape and some clay flowers.

I must put more ribbons down the side – I made this before we could order any of the new ribbons, so it’s a bit sparse!

Stamps: Happy Day

Cardstock: Whisper White, Island Indigo

Paper: Gingham Garden

Ink: Island Indigo

Accessories: Gingham Garden Washi Tape, Simply Pressed Clay, Melon Mambo reinker, Stitched Grosgrain – Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Caturday: Aurora

Yes, it's true - Kelly has a cat! Meet Aurora, who is the newest member of my friend/downline Kelly's family and has been warmly welcomed into the fold. Can't wait to meet her in person. Well, in cat.

Best of Shelli and a Designer Series Paper offer

It’s August already – what IS happening to the year? And yes I know that makes me sound old but I don’t care.

A brand new month always means lots of news from Stampin’ Up!® and I have two announcements for you.

Designer Series Paper offer

This offer usually crops up every year and it’s a great one for stocking up on your favourite Designer Series Papers. However, it nearly always causes confusion, so I’ll do my best to explain:

If you buy THREE packs of standard DSP, you can choose a fourth pack FREE. In other words, it’s a “four for three” offer. That is, you’ll get FOUR packs of DSP for £29.85, as it applies to all the £9.95 packs in the Annual Catalogue.

Best Of 25 Years

A new month means a new Best Of… stamp set and this time it’s the turn of co-founder and CEO Shelli Gardner to choose some of her favourite stamps from the past 25 years. It’s a really eclectic collection this time! There are seven stamps in the set, which is available in clear-mount only at £13.95.

All the Best Of… stamp sets are available until the end of March 2014.

Finally, in other news, today is the day that demonstrators get to pre-order from the Autumn/Winter catalogue, which is very exciting! Unfortunately, it will have to wait until I get back from work as, if I don’t get a move on, I’ll be late!