A Tuesday teaser

No project today, just a little quiz for you. What do think this is? The clue is that I should have worn gloves because now I feel like Lady Macbeth! Out, damn’d spot! out, I say!

Supplies: not telling...

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Masculine Monday

No, Masculine Monday isn't a new regular features - it just sounded right! 

It’s Father’s Day on Sunday and if you have The Open Sea, you’re home and dry, so to speak. This is a birthday card (obviously) but could easily be changed for any occasion. It was inspired by someone out there on the internet but I made it a while ago so unfortunately can’t remember. It was really fun to make because of the background.

I began with a Confetti White card base. I love this cardstock, with its flecks of colour. It’s heavier than our Whisper White so perfect for card bases. It’s also good for watercolouring, or blender pens, too as it’s more absorbent.

I cut more Confetti White into a panel and decorated it before popping it up on Dimensionals. Decorating it was the fun part: I stamped the Open Sea images in Crumb Cake, stamping off to keep them nice and pale. I also used the flat stamp from the Distressing Kit to ink around the corners and edges to give it an aged effect.

I stamped the word in Island Indigo and the words in Cherry Cobbler – using clear-mount stamps means it’s really easy to get the images where you want them.  The anchor was the tricky bit – this was stamped onto Very Vanilla cardstock and cut out, yes – even the hole at the top. The hole is important as it gave me somewhere to thread that gorgeous Baker’s Twine that everyone’s going mad for! A dot of adhesive make the twine stay in place while looking casual and random. Sssh, don’t tell!

Stamps: The Open Sea, Curly Cute

Cardstock: Confetti White

Ink: Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Baker’s Twine, Distressing Kit

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Ooh la la, it's la chat-urday

Once again it’s Caturday... or, rather, Chat-urday... as today we go back to 2010 and travel deep into France to an absolutely gorgeous B&B in Provence, where we stayed for a couple of days. I didn’t think I’d like Provence because of the heat but we had an air-con unit in our room, there was a swimming pool, and the evenings were just gorgeous... not to mention the breakfasts under the peach tree in the mornings. Happily, the place (La Nesquiere – check it out) was swarming with animals, including this rather shy cat. One of the dogs was a lot more forward and sat with his head on one of the kids’ knees while we ate breakfast!

Flower trio

Now I wasn’t sure about this one – but when my Mum saw the full set of Mixed Bunch cards, this is the one she picked out and said she liked. Personally I think I was losing interest by this point and feel it could do with a bit more embellishing.

Again, CASEd from someone on the internet whose name I have lost. Oops. 

The full set will be going in a box or tin of some description (not decided yet) as a gift for one of the teachers at my son’s school, who is retiring after 27 years’ service. I can’t imagine working for 27 years in one place... but then I’ve already clocked up 11 years at the day job and four and a half as a Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator! Time just flies when you’re having fun, doesn’t it? And I definitely don’t mean that sarcastically when referring to Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, It’s Your Day

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Confetti White

Paper: Beau Chateau

Ink: Soft Sude, Marina Mist

Accessories: Blossom punch, Basic Pearls

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Two ways with two punches

Another Mixed Bunch sample and I like this one a lot more now that I’m looking it it a few days later. I CASEd it from a sample I saw on the internet but I’m really sorry, I’ve lost the bit of paper I was using as a guide and which had the name of the originator on it. I think it was a US demonstrator. Maybe I like mine more now that I can’t see hers – sometimes it’s easy to be harsh on your own creations if you’ve been trying to copy someone else.

I really love two things about this card and they both demonstrate the versatility of the punches:

1. The way the Blossom punch is used to create the effect of leaves. Totally nicked that from the US demonstrator I CASEd from.

2. The very very tiny Pear Pizzazz flower on the centre of the main flower. This was inspired by the card I was copying. I didn’t have the right punch so used one of the bits which fell out when I punched the Lace Border punch to go under the Thank You.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Curly Cute (just for Elizabeth in Texas!)

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla

Paper: Beau Chateau

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Lace Border Punch, Blossom punch, 1” circle punch

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Mixed Bunch medallion

Happy Monday! Hope we get nice weather for the bank holiday but you know how it usually is. Wouldn't want all those street parties to be a wash-out!

Anyway, if it rains you can always stay inside and do some crafting instead! And I'm back to Mixed Bunch samples today with another pink and brown affair. Still using up the Beau Chateau paper, which just never ends, and some scraps left over from my Beau Chateau class. Hmmm.... don’t think I ever posted the samples from that event, did I? Must rectify that before the paper retires at the end of September!

The Pink Pirouette panel is “debossed”, ie it’s embossed but I’ve used it upside-down. Why? I don’t know, it just happened that way. Makes a change anyway.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, It’s Your Day

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette

Paper: Beau Chateau

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: Blossom punch, ¾” circle punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Big Shot, Basic Pearls

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Caturday is for courting...

Caturday again and it’s the first day of the extra-long bank holiday weekend. Hope you’re doing something nice. Maybe getting out the bunting and holding a street party to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee?

Slinky, our oh-so-sexy pin-up of the day (although, to be honest, I think it's probably only me, my friend Alison, and Emma in Wales who are smitten), will probably be celebrating with his... wait for it... girlfriend! Yes, we found out this week that he has been “stepping out” with one of the lady cats from next door. Her name is Theo and, frankly, she’s not the sharpest tool in the box so they are very well suited. 

TWO great offers!

Wow! I wake up to TWO great offers from Stampin' Up!® today! In brief, you can earn FREE Designer Series Papers when you purchase three packs (it's a "four for the price of three" offer). Additionally, if you host a party, there are extra benefits to be earned if it reaches £325. Please click the Paper Party banner at the top of the page for full details.

Got to dash but before I go, here's a fun project I made using Twitterpated fabric. Soooooo easy! And I really like the boho, beachy effect. All you do is tear some strips of fabric and wrap them around a cheap bangle. Secure with Sticky Strip at the beginning and either tuck in the end or secure with more Stick Strip or fabric glue. Quick, easy and I love it!

Supplies: Twitterpated Designer Series Fabric, Sticky Strip

Classic pink and brown

Here’s another card from the set I made on my Mixed Bunch morning. This one doesn’t use the punch but you could add an extra dimension by overlaying a punched flower onto the main flower on the card. I love the combination of pink and brown – you really can’t go wrong with it; this combo is Soft Suede and Pink Pirouette.

Ooops, totally forgot to say that this card was inspired by US demonstrator Julie Davison.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette

Paper: Beau Chateau

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: Scallop edge punch, Soft Suede taffeta ribbon

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Maybe later...

Have loads of samples to show you but just realised the time! Will have to try later or I'll be late for work.