Sick!

Sneak peek: Amazing Life

Christmas is over, crafting-wise... and it’s all about looking forward from now on because, as a Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator, I am now able to order from the upcoming Spring/Summer catalogue!

But those of us who attended OnStage have had a head start, with the items we were allowed to order early and with all the gifts we were given on the day. This was one of them – a lovely stamp set called Amazing Life.

I made this fun card using the new set, the Stamparatus (for perfect positioning of the cakes) and my Stampin’ Blends. What do you think? Will this set be on your wish list?

Waterfront #simplestamping thank you card

We demonstrators have been challenged to go back to basics with some #simplestamping. The challenge was to make a thank you card using just notecards, one stamp set and ink. I used the Stamparatus to get perfect positioning for all 12 of my cards, which were heavily inspired by my recent week in the Lake District. Just one reason that Waterfront is one of my favourite stamp sets!

Snowflakes and Peaceful Noel

This is one of my “bulk” Christmas cards this year – I took all the supplies away on holiday with me, but didn’t actually manage to make them until I get back. To be honest, I’m not very good at crafting away from home.

I used the Peaceful Noel stamp set and the Blizzard Dies, along with the Stitched Shapes Framelits and one of my favourite festive colour combinations; red, white and blue. Hope you like it!

Glowing Christmas house

I love this technique and will be returning to it again and again, I'm sure. It particularly lends itself to Christmas cards like this one, which we made at Crafty Friday last week.

You begin by taking a piece of Pacific Point cardstock and wiping it with the embossing buddy before embossing your image using white embossing powder.

Next simply sponge around the image – don’t get too close – using Pacific Point ink. Then build up some darker colour around the edges; I used Night of Navy at the bottom of this one and Blueberry Bushel at the top.

This bit is important: swipe it all over the whole lot using the embossing buddy again before stamping and embossing the greeting. If you don’t, the powder will stick to the whole sheet! (Ask me how I know).

Colour the front door with a Stampin’ Blend (it needs to be an alcohol markers as a water-based marker will just pool on top of the embossed image).

Finally, spatter the whole lot with some Frost White Shimmer paint, by tapping the side of a paintbrush.

Caturday: Dilly

Meet Dilly. I tried to, but she's a young kitten who was dashing around my friend's house and I was only making a flying visit so couldn't get a proper photo. This will have to do...

Deck the halls with a woodland scene dome

This was the last of three projects made at my Hygge Night last week, where we decked the halls with handmade ornaments.

I’ll be posting a tutorial on my Facebook page later this evening if you’d like to know how to make this.

Winter Woods sparkling bauble

Here’s another project created at Friday’s Hygge Night. This is a sparkly black and white bauble stamped with Winter Woods. Actually, you stamp onto tissue paper first and then apply it ... full details will be in a tutorial posting on Facebook later this evening.

Meanwhile, you can see all three projects in this video. Enjoy!

Sprig Punch wreath ornament

Friday night was my monthly Hygge Night, where we made three Christmas ornaments... all very different. This was my take on the Sprig Punch wreath which you can see in the Autumn/Winter catalogue.  Mine isn't as scrunched up because I chickened out!

The whole thing is spritzed with a mix of isopropyl alcohol and Champagne Mist Shimmer paint - you can mix it with water, but it tends to clump, and also doesn't dry so quickly so can warp your cardstock.

Read the tutorial here

Caturday: Hope

This is Hope, the latest addition to my friend Jane’s feline and canine menagerie. She’s named after Hope, Alaska, as Jane is a big fan and frequent visitor to the state. And also because we can all do with more Hope these days.

Looks like she’s settling in well. At the time of writing I don’t think she’d been introduced to her housemates yet, which include Penelope, Allie and Elsa.

One thing is for sure: Hope has definitely landed on her feet in that household!