Gifts of gold, with Botanical Builder Framelits and Gift Box Punch Board

This is the gift I sent out to customers who place an order of £25 or more during April, as a thank you for helping me promote to Gold. So, lots of gold glimmer paper on there, plus an opportunity to use some retiring items. At a glance, leaving us from these projects are the Botanical Blooms stamp set and co-ordinating Botanical Builder Framelits, Tin of Cards stamp set, Kraft cardstock and the Gift Box Punch Board I used to create the box.

The ribbon has already gone, as it was a Sale-a-Bration item but I couldn’t resist using it as it’s gold. And, as I’d promised a “gift of gold”, inside the boxes were some gold buttons.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to say my pre-order is due to arrive today, so maybe soon I will have some sneak peeks to show you! And, of course, some catalogues!

Jolly Friends - a Christ-moose?

This moose seems to be everybody ’s favourite image from the Jolly Friends stamp set. Everybody’s except one; I’m afraid I can’t remember who it was but they said they liked all the images apart from this one! There’s always somebody who likes to be different, isn’t there? Usually, it’s me...

These are the thank you cards I made for last month’s club order. I got the hanging hat idea from Kelly; I thought it was so cute. The images are stamped in Soft Suede, then painted very quickly and lightly (to avoid smudging) using ink pad links and a simple paintbrush. You do have to be careful though, when using Whisper White, as it’s not really made for watercolouring. A light touch is needed.

I made tent-topper cards for a change, using a quarter of a sheet of cardstock to make the “tent”, and then mounting the image on top. Very simple but quite effective.

Jolly Friends Photopolymer Bundle [143511] £26.50	One Big Meaning Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139420] £17.00	Real Red A4 Card Stock [106578] £7.25
Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock [133674] £6.50	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] £6.00
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975] £6.00	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978] £6.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £5.50

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Oh My Goodies - fabulous 3D "wow" project

How’s this for a project to take me out of my comfort zone? Not only is it pretty and pink, it is 3D and actually quite complex. I found the idea on Pinterest (where else?) and traced it back to a Youtube video by genius German demonstrator Alexandra Grape. The tutorial was in German but I didn’t let that put me off – and Alexandra had helpfully put the measurements across the screen. I even picked up a few new German words along the way, including my favourite, “Gästegoodies”. 

I won’t attempt a tutorial here as you really need to see the video. But I will say that the mechanism is extremely clever but very simple. It’s a strip of plastic (cut from a document wallet) wrapped around the cardstock, so that when you pull the chocolate out of the tunnel, the greeting pops out of the other side at the same time. Genius! Come back tomorrow for an Easter-themed variation on this project. 

Apologies for the ropey picture, by the way; I took them in a hurry before heading off for the weekend. 

Oh My Goodies Clear-Mount Stamp Set [134090] £16.00	One Big Meaning Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139420] £17.00	Timeless Textures Clear-Mount Stamp Set [140517] £18.00	Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper Stack [140548] £7.25	1-3/4" Circle Punch [119850] £16.00
1-3/4" Circle Scallop Punch [119854] £16.00	Scallop Oval Punch [119856] £16.00	Large Oval Punch [119855] £14.50	Tag Topper Scalloped Punch [133324] £21.00	Early Espresso A4 Card Stock [121686] £6.50
Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] £6.50	Gold Foil Sheets [132622] £3.75	Card Stock A4 Blushing Bride [131287] £6.50	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974] £6.00	Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [131172] £6.00
Gold Sequin Trim [132983] £4.50	White 1-1/4" (3.2 Cm) Jute Ribbon [137904] £8.25	Gold 1/8" Ribbon [134583] £4.50	Gold Baker's Twine [132975] £3.25	Banner Punch [133519] £11.50

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A Little Thanks with Sprinkles of Life

It’s been an extremely hectic week and I’m exhausted. I won’t bore you with details but part of the dashing around has been in preparation for Peak 2015… and I’m not even going! What’s Peak 2015? This is a huge Scout/Guide camp which takes place at Chatsworth (US readers may recognise this as a location for various period film dramas, such as Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre and The Duchess). There are thousands of Scouts, Guides, Explorers, Brownies, Cubs and Beavers attending, and it’s a massive undertaking. We visited the site last night so our son could help put up tents and it’s very impressive, almost a mile long with all the amenities of a small town. It’s an international camp, too; some friends of ours are hosting US Scouts in the run-up to the event, and we saw a minibus of German Scouts arrive last night. 

A lot of my customers are going as leaders - even two of my younger stamping friends will be working, like my son, for half the week as Explorers - and I hope you all have a fantastic time. But also please know that your efforts are appreciated! Thank you!

More thanks along the way, with this little batch of cards, which I made for my new Virtual Hostess Club members, on arrival of their first order. Credit must go to my Mum, who did some of the colouring for me! (If you knew her, you’d know how remarkable it is that she was actually crafting!)

Sprinkles Of Life Photopolymer Stamp Set [139971]	One Big Meaning Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139420]	Farmers Market Designer Series Paper [138448]	Tree Builder Punch [138295]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]
Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490]	Blackberry Bliss A4 Cardstock [133682]	Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Pad [138324]	Tip Top Taupe Classic Stampin' Pad [138325]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]
2015-2017 In Color Stampin' Write Markers [138333]	Brights Stampin' Write Markers [131259]	Blender Pens [102845]

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Little thanks, little box with Envelope Punch Board

I don’t have much to show you but I do have this little box, which I CASEd from a German demonstrator called Christina, who also has a handy tutorial on her blog. Yes it’s in German but I’m sure you can work it out from the pictures and the figures: I did! It uses one sheet of 6” x 6” DSP, which makes it perfect for our new paper stacks, which now come in this size. 

I haven’t decided what to put in it just yet, will have to have a wander round the shops. Do you ever do that? Make a little box then take it shopping with you so that you can see which treats fit inside? It does sound a little deranged but I have resorted to this method after learning the hard way. So many times I have bought sweets or chocolates for a certain container (I’m thinking now of the test tube craze and those long thin cello bags) and they’re too big to fit. So then I have to eat them of course…

One Big Meaning Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139420]	Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper Stack [138442]	Calypso Coral A4 Card Stock [124392]	Envelope Punch Board [133774]
Tag Topper Scalloped Punch [133324]	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [126953]	Gold 1/8" Ribbon [134583]

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