Frosted Christmas wreath

Last Friday’s wreath class was the first workshop I’ve held in our new kitchen/dining room combo and it worked a treat. So much more space to play with. 

Everybody began with this:

And ended up with this:

It’s a fabulous wreath design, so simple yet so effective. I have to thank Yorkshire demonstrator Monica Gale for the idea as it’s a project I made on her retreat in October. I’ve since seen a couple of similar wreaths for sale in shops, so the frosted look is very clearly on trend. 

It’s a pretty simple recipe: as well as your wreath (of course), some frosted berries (eBay), 40+ flowers (which I’d kindly and painstakingly already cut out for my class-goers), around 15 pine cones of various sizes, and some silver glimmer paper.  Oh and a hot glue gun is essential.

Now I’m wishing I’d bought extra wreaths as I fancy having a go at a red and gold version.  After all,  I do have quite a few pine cones left over…

Silver Glimmer Paper [124005] £4.50

Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £7.25

Originals Flower Spiral Bigz Die [129379] £16.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Scallop Tag Topper box

I made this box several weeks ago but just haven’t got round to posting it here yet. I know it was weeks ago because those flowers behind the box (thrift?) have now died back. 

I wanted to show that you CAN use the Scallop Tag Topper punch on pieces of card which are wider than 5cm, which is the width of the slot on the punch. 

I’m not going to attempt explain how to do this, as another demonstrator called Heidi has done this for you. Click here to see her fabulous tutorial. 

Some of the items used here are retiring at the end of the month… which is alarmingly soon! So, if you need any Raspberry Ripple cardstock, Summer Starfruit cardstock or Silver Glimmer Paper (we’ll still have glimmer paper but it’s changing), get your order in now!

Also, time is running out to join me at my Catalogue Launch Party on 12th July. At this fun event you can expect:

• Make & Takes
• Demonstrations
• Prize Draws
• Games
• Retired product sale
• Special offers exclusive to attendees
• Homemade cake

Yes, that’s right – I’m holding my retired product sale at the same time as my catalogue launch, so if you’re after bargain, don’t miss this event!

You can register for the event HERE, but registration will close automatically on Sunday, 29th June at 11pm.  

133035	126974	131301	131288
127545	124005	127542	133325
133324	130019	129379

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Hardwood muslin bag with Spiral Flower Die

I love these little bags and here’s one that didn’t make the cut for our Art in the Round workshops. I stamped the bag using Hardwood in Baked Brown Sugar, but it was a little too subtle for my liking – which is why it didn’t make the cut for Art in the Round. But I do like it with the addition of this fun tag. These wouldn’t have been practical to make at the Roundhouse, as you really do need a hot glue gun to get the best out of this Spiral Flower Die. 

I made the tag with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, a really versatile tool which I’ll be showcasing over the coming days. 

Stampin᾿ Up! Supplies

Table built by craftingbecky.com

Mini Muslin Bags	Crushed Curry 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Card Stock A4 Baked Brown Sugar	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Card Stock A4 Crushed Curry	2013-2015 In Color Core'dinations	Wetlands	Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad
Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Hardwood	Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin' Pad	Fringe Scissors

Spiral Flower tags

A bit late to the party, as usual, but I have finally fallen in love with the Spiral Flower Die! Armed with my new hot glue gun, I made almost 20 of these little beauties the other evening. Most of them were Summer Starfruit, to adorn these little tags I made for members of my Virtual Hostess Club. All 10 members of the club will be getting three flower die-cuts to play with this month; I found it took me a few attempts to get used to using this die, so thought they’d better have a few to try before they decide whether they “need” it or not. 

The tags showcase the 2012-14 In Colors which, of course, will be retiring at the end of June. I’ll be very sad to see them go as they have been my favourite set of In Colors so far! I will be especially sad to see Summer Starfruit retire as, to me, it’s the perfect shade of “dirty yellow”. 

The stamp comes from the Hello, Lovely stamp set, which we all received at last year’s Convention. I’m ashamed to say that I’d forgotten I had it and haven’t really made the most of it, but this greeting (it’s one half of a larger image) is just right for these tages. 

If you haven’t played with it already, you’ll love the Scallop Tag Topper Punch. Just feed any strip of cardstock into it (5cm wide or less) and create tags as long as you like. I haven’t had chance to explore all its uses yet but have a great long list of things I want to make with this, so watch this space over the next few weeks!

Finally, my current Virtual Hostess Club is coming to an end soon. This is a fun way of spreading the cost of your purchases over 10 months, and enjoy being the hostess for one of those months. Places are limited, so please get in touch for more information or to reserve your spot! 

Product List

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133325	129379	126847	126848
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All packed up and ready!

I have a class here this evening which should be really fun; a small group (necessitated by the size of my table) will be playing with the cute little stamp set, Springtime Hello. Everybody is getting a stamp set in their kit so there will be no waiting around for stamps at least!

I’ll start showing you the projects on Sunday, if I get time to post – I will be heading off to the Food & Craft Fair at Broomfield Hall, so please pop into say hello as I will be delighted to see a friendly face! 

Here are this evening’s kit bags, all packed up and ready to be delved into. I used some of the Brights DSP Patterns Stack and made a name label in My Digital Studio. The finishing touches were a punched butterfly and a paper flower made using the gorgeous new Spiral Flower Die. 

After my initial reticence about this die, I had another play and fell in love. Yes, another U-turn to add to the growing list! So I just had to order it in my final Sale-a-Bration order of the year. You do really need a hot glue gun with this die and I realised that my hatred for hot glue guns was deeply unfair, as I had only ever used a cheap one from Home Bargains. Once I’d had a go with a good quality model, I was hooked - so I’ve ordered one of these today, too. 

Today I learned that it’s not possible to mend your rubber gloves with hot glue! I cannot bear to wash up without rubber gloves, as I have such dry skin, and was horrified when the inevitable hole appeared (always the right hand, so if anyone has a collection of right gloves to go with my array of left gloves we could arrange a swap!) and I had no spares available. 

Nothing ventured, I thought, so I attempted a repair with my (cheap Home Bargains) glue gun. It lasted for the washing of two cups and a spoon, then simply floated away. 

Product List

117155

131282

129379

129406

134976

Spiral Flower debut

I love this gorgeous Hardwood background stamp and wish I’d ordered it! Fortunately, my friend Kelly has it so I had a go with it and made this very simple card. 

The most complicated element on it is the paper flower, which I made using the fabulous new Spiral Flower Originals die. My flower isn’t perfect but a) it was my first go and b) does it really matter? For the record, I deliberately “smashed” it, to make it look a bit more shabby chic! Then I covered up the uneven centre with an oversized pearl. As the saying goes, “there are no mistakes, only opportunities for further embellishment”. 

I’m still loving my Fringe Scissors - that little pop of coloured fringing really finishes off the card, I think. 

Stamps: Simply Celebrate, Hardwood

Cardstock: Summer Starfruit, Baked Brown Sugar, Naturals White, Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple

Ink: Black Stazon

Accessories: Gold thread (from Good as Gold SAB kit), Spiral Flower Originals Die, Large Pearls, Fringe Scissors