Flowering Desert Week: Party time!

To mark the end of Flowering Desert Week, I have the projects from last week’s party to show you. All the guests made the card above, adorning their cacti with a wooden flower from the Butterfly Elements Sale-a-Bration pack, and I demonstrated this fab little box below...

The box is made using the Stitched Rectangle Framelits which are hidden away on Page 28 of the Spring/Summer catalogue. I used a tutorial from Chicnscratch.com to make this cute little box from two of the largest rectangles, which gives the box a cute stitched edge.

The ribbon is dyed using Stampin' Write Markers. You just have to make sure you leave it time to dry. For instant drying, use Stampin' Blends, which are alcohol markers so dry much quicker.

I hope you’ve enjoyed Flowering Desert week and are inspired to take another look at this fabulous stamp set.

Video tutorial: three ways to dye your own ribbon

This spring-like card showcases a variety of products from the Spring/Summer catalogue, including the fabulous Stitched Rectangle Framelits - which stitch outside AND inside the cut line. As you can see above, this creates a really lovely frame.

I’ve added my flowers and leaves from the Well Written Framelits set (it’s not just words!) and finished off with a Pool Party ribbon, which brings me to the reason for this project...

The pastel ribbons from the Sale-a-Bration brochure have proved so popular – staggeringly so – that they are now all gone and won’t be available again. But this needn’t be an issue... as you can easily make your own using supplies you are sure to have in your craft stash.

Watch the video below to see how...

In Color Taster packs - cardstock and ribbon!

So, what did you think to the new catalogue? I placed my order yesterday and went completely “off-list”, bizarrely ignoring items from my wish list and choosing completely different ones! I’m sure to have forgotten what I ordered so it will be a nice surprise when the UPS man turns up in a few days. 

What I can offer you from my first order is an In Color taster pack. As you know, I’m pretty slow to come round to the idea of new colours, so you may be too. With this little pack you can have a play around before deciding whether you want to invest in ink pads and full packs of cardstock/ribbon. 

This is what you’ll get in Helen’s In Color Taster Pack. There are only a few available at the moment, but I can order more!

- 1 metre of Dotted Lace Trim in each of the new colours:

- Four sheets A5 cardstock (two A4 cut down for cheaper posting) in each of the new colours:

• Cucumber Crush 
• Delightful Dijon 
• Mint Macaron
• Tip Top Taupe 
• Watermelon Wonder Dotted Lace Trim

The cost for this Taster Pack is just £8.75 if you can collect, or £10 to have it posted to you (UK only). Shout up quickly and I’ll allocate them on a first come, first served basis. If you don’t manage to get one of the first batch, I’ll put you on the list for the next order. 

I don’t have any more In Color samples to show you just yet (been too busy to play!) but there is a tiny glimpse of In Color on this project... can you spot it? This is made using the fabulous Sprinkles of Life stamp set from the inside back cover of the catalogue. For every one of these sets sold, SU will donate £2 to Ronald McDonald House Charities in the UK, helping families stay together while children are receiving medical treatment far from home. 

In Color Ribbon Bundles available

I’ve been having another sort-out and have some ribbon bundles leftover from my recent In Color share. These ribbon bundles contain ONE YARD (92cm) of each the new In Colours (5yds in total). This is because the ribbon comes in 10yd reels so it was easier to split using imperial measurements. 

These bundles are a fantastic way to have a play with all the new In Colors at a very low cost. If you would like one, they are available from me for £4 each (£5 if you require postage). Please shout up ASAP as I have very few left. 

Also don’t forget to book for my September Christmas Workshop, where we’ll be making gorgeous projects with new stamps from the brand new Autumn/Winter catalogue. It’s sure to be a fun afternoon, so don’t miss it! You can book here, or by clicking the button on the left.