Sneak peek: Peaceful Noel

This stamp set from the upcoming Autumn/Winter catalogue is called Peaceful Noel but I think it's versatile enough to use for much more than Christmas projects. 

Here I've stamped in Lovely Lipstick to make an everyday card with a greeting from Love What You Do. Not sure I've quite pulled off the non-Christmas effect, but it was fun trying!

Botanical Tags gift sachets

I rustled up these mini envelope sachets in minutes for some team gifts this month. I love the Botanical Bliss bundle with its elegant tag dies. You can use them as tag toppers/bookmarks or use the additional die to cut around the flower, as I’ve done here.

Botanica Bliss brayered card

I’ve rediscovered brayering since the arrival of the new sponge brayers, and used it to create a set of thank you cards to accompany this month’s orders.

I stamped using the Botanical Bliss stamp set, with its striking bird and delicate leaves, which stand out well against the brayered background.

I’ve used the Subtles Embossing Folder again - I just can’t get enough of it. It’s definitely a must-have product and I highly recommend it. It turns any piece of cardstock into textured cardstock for a really elegant look.

Caturday - Elsa

Meet Elsa, who belongs to fellow SU demonstrator Joanne. Elsa is one half of a beautiful black cat due; you’ll meet her brother, Boris, next week!

Out of this world X-Files card

A fun project for you today. My illustrator daughter, a big X Files fan, put me up to this X-Files card and we had fun brayering over some die-cut clouds from the Up & Away Thinlits set. The trees were easy – they come from the must-have Waterfront stamp set – and the words are stamped using the Labeler Alphabet. 

But how to make a UFO? That happened purely by chance, using the Pretty Label punch. Take a look...

Sneak peek: Detailed Deer Thinlits

Another sneak peek for you... this time some stunning new dies which will appeal to your wild side!

They're called Detailed Deer Thinlits Dies and there is, of course, a co-ordinating stamp set which I have resisted... so far. I love the white on white look but felt this needed something to make the deer stand out a little - can you guess which stamp set I’ve used?

The pearls are coloured with a Pool Party Stampin' Blends alcohol marker. Takes seconds and makes your pearls co-ordinate with any project.

Sneak peek: Peaceful Noel

Fancy a sneak peek? This is a gorgeous new stamp set from the upcoming Autumn/Winter catalogue called Peaceful Noel. Yes, it’s a Christmas set, but I took one look at it and decided it could be so much more.

This is why I chose it for my upcoming All-Day Craftathon - everybody who attends will receive this set in their kit, and we’ll be using it during the day to make festive projects as well as non-Christmas projects such as this one.

Not everybody was impressed with my efforts though... Hamish just loves to photobomb when I’m trying to sort out my project images.

I love this colour combination, but I have to confess it’s the first outing for Pacific Point for absolutely ages. I don’t know why; it looks lovely with Mint Macaron here. Maye that’s why? Maybe I needed Mint Macaron and Mossy Meadow to come back (I’m so pleased they did).

Caturday: Millie

This is Millie, who lives near my customer Angela and visits regularly. Apparently she has a habit of turning up just as Angela is going out, making her feel guilty for leaving her sitting in front of the house. Millie probably doesn't mind - she's probably making use of Angela's facilities while she's out!

Sneak peek: Winter Woods

Who’s ready to start on their Christmas cards? The Autumn/Winter catalogue will soon be open for business, but as demonstrators, we get to order early so we can prepare some lovely samples to show you.

This gorgeous Winter Woods stamp set works great on its own but even better when combined with the Rooted in Nature set, which has smaller trees. And the dies are fabulous, too - look how gorgeous they look with the branches popped out.

Delightfully Detailed cards in minutes

Honouring my team achievers this month was easy with the Delightfully Detailed Notecards and Envelopes and matching laser-cut paper. Some copper elements and a die-cut sprig from Botanical Tags provide the finishing touches. Scroll down for more designs...

Blueberry dandelions

Let’s start the week with another Dandelion Wishes project - and why not? It’s proving to be the most popular stamp set from the 2018 Annual Catalogue so far!

I used the Stamparatus to stamp the image in Blueberry Bushel, then stamp again on top in Versamark so it could be embossed. Clearly some of the embossing missed the mark as the blue ink has spread when I watercoloured in Lovely Lipstick, but I don’t mind as the result is quite effective.

I know some people are resistant to the new In Colors, because they’re rather bright, but I think they are a great addition to our collection, and can be quite tasteful when separated from the crowd!

Caturday - Lea Green cat

I love it when people send me pictures for Caturday – because it’s quite difficult to find 52 different cats each year!

My customer Angela tells me this cat lives at Lea Green, and she encountered it while camping with her troop of Guides. They had six hours of rain, and he was nowhere to be seen. But he appeared as soon as the sun came out, as cats do.

Peaceful Place squirrel

I do love this little squirrel from Peaceful Place - I've stamped him onto Wood Textures DSP for a different look. The background is Hardwood and I've used the Layered Leaves embossing folder down the side for a bit of extra interest. 

Oh, and Artisan Textures around the edge of the card, and a tiny greeting from Waterfront. Yes, it's product heavy but if you've got it, use it!

Sponging with Dandelion Wishes

Friday was my monthly Crafty Friday event and, for the first time, we took things outside onto the covered patio.

The theme was sponging and we used the popular Dandelion Wishes stamp set to make two projects; this delicate emboss resist card and the one you see below.

For the card above, we stamped in Versamark and then embossed in clear or white (it really doesn’t matter when you’re using white cardstock) before sponging over the top in Bermuda Bay. Well, I used Bermuda Bay – the ladies could choose as the rest of their supplies would go with absolutely anything. The only stipulation was that it had to be in my trolley which I’d wheeled outside! The background is Softly Falling, but showing the “debossed” side for a change.

Next we moved onto this project...

This time we punched a circle from a sticky note and used it to mask the cardstock, which we sponged in a circular motion. On top of this we painted light strokes with water, to create a vague Vincent van Gogh-ian effect. We stamped in black on top.

Again, everyone made something slightly different – they had the choice of any colour... as long as it was an In Color, as that was the DSP pack I had.

Brayered background with Delightfully Detailed laser-cut paper

I do love a fancy background technique. Well, I say “fancy” but often they are really easy to create, as with this one which is simply brayered with Grapefruit Grove, Poppy Parade and Lovely Lipstick. 

It goes really well with the Very Vanilla laser-cut paper laid on the top. But what do you think of the colour combo? Be honest, I can take it!

Caturday: The Ginger Ninjas

These boys used to do everything together - they even used to move together, like a very small and furry shoal of fish. But, like the two brothers who founded Aldi and Lidl, things eventually turned sour and now they generally only meet up for a bit of a half-hearted squabble.

They both now live with us officially, after hanging around hopefully for many years. Their owners moved away and we came to an arrangement before they left.

Mr T is on the left - he’s the handsome one of the pair. Poor Hamish always looks a bit sad and dishevelled, but maybe he’ll smarten up as he gets used to spending more time indoors.

Delightfully Detailed laser-cut paper with brayered background

Another project from my brayering session. For this one, I masked a panel and brayered in Pacific Point, graduating it towards the top so it faded out. On top of this I sprinkled some water and allowed it to dry, which gives a lovely effect.

To create a focal point, I trimed a section from the Delicately Detailed Laser-cut DSP and sponged in different colours. It’s not easy to stick down but I used some tiny dabs of Tombow which did the trick.

Some Soft Sea Foam sequins finish it off - I'm in love with these!

Brand new products - and Bonus Days return

Don’t miss these special products, available during July! There’s a fabulous all-season stamp set called Blended Seasons, with co-ordinating Framelits. 

PLUS a set of Watercolour Pencils in NEW COLOURS which you really won’t want to miss. 

These products are only available during July, while supplies last, although the pencils may reappear in a future catalogue. 

And there’s more!

Bonus Days are back! Spend £45 during August and earn a £4.50 voucher to spend in September!

Please ask for more details