Been craft shopping again..

..yep, it just has to be done.  It would be rude not too!! Had a fab day out on Sunday with Sarah (alas not Ali or Ju, you guys were sadly missed) at Ally Pally in London. As you can see I did buy some essentials like the massive pile of double sided and red line tape.  Apart from that I have bought stamps, ribbon, dies and cards stock all relating to what I believe will eventually transpire into Christmas cards.  I can't wait to start with the Papermania Home for Christmas Range, fit's in perfectly with my Nordic theme which I hope to transform my house in time for Santa's visit.  I'm sure Jake and Aryan have been good?  They have, right?  xx

Jazz..

..I will be honest, I know nothing about Jazz so it's always difficult to create something you have no knowledge about.  That is until I found these papers by Graphic 45, I just fell in love with them and thought it would be the perfect card this year for my great friend Lesley.  This is a lady who I have to "blame" for getting me into the card making game!  Lesley produces stunning craft work, no matter what she touches it looks amazing, which is why I always feel inferior when creating for such talented friends.  Anyhow, I know that Lesley loves Jazz, texture, grunge, stitching anything a bit "munchy" so these are my "munchy bits" that I have used-
Graphic 45-All that Jazz and Applause papers, Graphic 45 Trim No.3, Flowers No.30, Metal clothes pin(extra munchy!), Sentiment is using Stampin Up teeny tiny wishes, brad Papermania neutrals and all other cardstock is from Payper Box. Inks used were Tim Holtz distress inks - peeled paint and walnut stain.  I have machine stitched some elements on the design for extra definition and texture, just loooovvve this paper. So my luvvers(as Lesley would say) have a great day. xx

Mix it up..

..a little. Don't just use your stamps once and put them back in the cupboard never to be seen again.  I know, that's what I have done, but I'm taking a new approach, to discover how many ways I can use one stamp.  Now, you have already seen this stamp a few blogs ago, so I stamped this in the same manner using the same pens.  This time I have used my embossing folders for the background, stamped a sentiment (SU stamp and  Tim Holtz Dusty concord ink), plus cut one from the Tim Holtz typeset die, a couple of embellishments and there you have it.  A completely different look using the same stamp.  I think this design is much more modern whereas the other was more traditional, which is good as the traditional card was for an older lady and this one is for a younger one so they suit the recipients well.  Give it a go, challenge yourself, you will be amazed at what you can create using the same stamp. x

One special couple..

..thats how I would describe my very good friends Lis and Nick.  Although we no longer live close by I think of them every day, I still live in hope that one day they will come back to my area. I grew up with these guys and our children played and grew up together, so it really was such a wrench when they decided to move to Gloucester.  Where they live now is so beautiful and yes, I am due to visit, its just sorting myself out a free weekend.  Free weekends just haven't happened for the last 9 months. Still, I wanted to make them a special Anniversary card to help them celebrate their special day. The numbers were stamped using 7 Gypsies numbers in SU basic gray and Tim Holtz Fired Brick Distress inks, the hearts were stamped using a one of Sarah's stamps.  The hearts were cut from the Sizzix primitive hearts die, sentiment from SU tiny wishes set. Embellishments are a metal key, love ribbon and paper ribbon.  The 3 and 10 were stamped in red to emphasize the date and month of their wedding anniversary, all cardstock from Payper Box.  Have a wonderful day you two and I will see you both soon. xx

50 Golden years..

..of wedded bliss, amazing.  This card was made for Sarah's parents to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.  It looks quite simple and straight forward, which it is, it's only when you start to list your "ingredients" is when you are really surprised at what you need to create it.
So, without further a do here they are-
Sizzix serif number dies, Stampin Up scallop punch, 13/8" punch, 1" punch, framelet label dies, tiny tag punch, Tim Holtz elegant flourish die, Bazzill card(brown), Paper Company-wedding white swirl on gold, Penny Black paper-Script white foil,Liqiud Pearls-lemon yellow, finishing touches-wooden hearts and brad.  All basic cardstock is Payper Box. If you are wondering how the roses were made, these were by using the Stampin Up curcle punches and cutting in a spiral, rolling these up and glueing using Cosmic shimmer glue-now ain't that just the best wet glue?  It never lets you down! So, Tony and Elizabeth, have a wonderful day today, I know that Sarah has been working very hard to make this day an amazing one for you.  Happy Anniversary.x