A YEAR OF STAMPIN'UP CARDS ..

Hello how are you? getting ready to party no doubt LOL
Is so hard to believe that there are only a few hours left in this Old Year and one has to ask the same old question WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? to be fair I am not interested where is it going, I am more interested to know why is it going so fast? hard to believe indeed.
Most people started to show their favourite cards on their blogs and last night decided to put together a collage of my favourite projects this year. It was fun for me to look past all those months and I was shocked do discover that I do not blog that much, some months I had a hard job picking a winner. Hmm can you see a resolution being made here? I will not make one though but will try and post more.
I want to thank each and every one of you for visiting my blog for your lovely and encouraging comments and to wish you a fabulous and very HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!

Here's my collage for you all.  ENJOY !!
click collage for an enlarged view.

See you next year !!!!!!!!!

STAMPIN'UP! SALE-A-BRATION 2011

IS LIVE......................!! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yep once again we kick off the New Year with this fabulous promotion. Everyone that connects with Stampin'Up! during this two months can benefit from FREE STAMPS !!!
Here's how you can earn FREE STAMPS

AS A CUSTOMER - Spend £45 and choose a FREE stamp set of your choice, there are four fabulous ones to choose from see below. 

HOST A WORKSHOP - Host a Stampin'Up workshop with me and if the total sales for your workshop reaches £300 you will get to choose a FREE stamp set! more free stamp sets!!!

Join my Team- Become a Passionette during the Sale a Bration period and choose an EXTRA FREE STAMP SET in your Starter Kit, the set can be of any value. How fab is that? This makes the whole Starter Kit such a good deal and now is the perfect opportunity for you to take the plunge and start your own business, I can show you how you can earn enough money to take your whole family on holiday. I am looking forward welcoming lots of new people to our fun team and you might want to read a bit more HERE about the types of demonstrators then email me for more details and a no obligation chat. You will get a bumper pack full of business supplies and tools to help you on your way.
LOOK WHAT SETS ARE ON OFFER !!!

Aren't they just delicious? I love them and to me this year selection of free stamps is the best is ever been. Love them all. I have a lovely card to show you using that cute owl stamp from the Punch bunch set, now I can tell you that you will want to get this set for sure as we have been told that the matching owl punch will be available in the UK along with our mini catalogue, how exciting is that?? Back to my card 

I have used a tempting Turquoise card blank, Old Olive and Melon Mambo designer papers and Pumpkin Pie satin ribbon, I adore this ribbon in this particular colour. This card is one of a full set and I will reveal more tomorrow. I coloured the owls using markers. For now make your list and decide which set is going to be yours first, then email me to place your order.

Till next time Hugs xxx

Birthday Passionette......once more this month

Hello there.. How are you? well I hope.  Did you have a lovely Christmas? I did scheduled a blog post to go live on the 25 wishing you all a Happy Christmas but unfortunately Blogger wasn't my friend and it didn't work.
We returned yesterday from a wonderful trip to Germany celebrating a white Chrsitmas with family and friends. It was lovely although I was extremely poorly the whole time and I am still not right now. I tell you how bad I was, I managed to loose 1 1/2lbs in weight!!! I must be the only person in the land not to have put weight on at Christmas!! and that bothers me as Christmas is the only time we are allowed to indulge a bit.
Anyway back to business today is a very special day, one of my lovely Passionettes Lindsey, celebrates her Happy Birthday. Is a milestone birthday and I am sure she celebrated in style (I only wish I could have joined her yesterday).
Lindsey's favourite colours are
Chocolate, Olive and turquoise. Here's what I come up with

I had a play with the Broad Sheet Alpha again I really like this alpha a lot, perfect for all sorts of titles and messages like the one on this card.
The Birthday word belongs to a stamp from the Perfect Punches set (see it used fully on a card in the previous post).  Here I have used a chocolate chip marker to pick up only the word I needed, our markers are perfect for omitting unwanted parts from a stamp.
The letters in GIRL were individually inked in various colours and stamped randomly, I wanted a playful feel to the title to match the font of the alpha,  every letter in this set has a slightly different height or size.
I added the wording to a strip of tempting turquoise card edged with the eyelet border punch. Also topped everything with a dimensional chocolate bloom and some stripy ribbon behind and I was done.
The wonderful dotty paper in Old Olive comes from the Brights designer paper stack.
 My sweet Linz I hope you had the BEST Birthday ever and I hope you liked your card.
I also wanted to share with you the ornament I bought for all my 1st level this Christmas. Each year I buy them a different ornament and this is 2010

A very glittery affair once again, I did fell in love with those sweet birds. And the cards I sent my team

 Crumb Cake 10cmx10cm bases stamped with the Music Notes wheel, Cherry cobbler Old Olive and Espresso ink. One stamped espresso wreath from the Welcome Christmas set , 3cherry cobbler punched and   scrunched up flowers topped with a tiny pearl,  the sentiment from the Gifted set stamped on half of modern label punch out and one little bow from an old olive narrow grosgrain.
I also added a hand made tag to the ornaments.

Matching colours and the Gifted set. I am actually still making tags and some toppers ready for next year, I needed lots of tags and I was struggling to get them done in time so I am not getting caught again next year.
Thank you for joining me till next time HUGS xxx

Birthday Passionette........

Hello there hope you are well, I woke up yesterday feeling YUKK :-( the lurgy took hold of me but I am medicating myself round the clock and I am determined not to let it spoil my family time, then my Internet went down for a whole 24 hours). Talk about being completely and utterly lost.
But is all good and today is my dear Jackie's Happy Day. Jackie is one of my lovely Passionettes and she is a fabulous and very prolific scrapbooker. In fact that's how I have met Jackie on a scrapbooking retreat.
So bearing this in mind here's the card I have made for her.

Jackie loves red and I love those papers from the *LOVE LETTER* collection:) a lot!!> I also love the Notably Ornate stamps. Basic Black, Real Red and Very Vanilla gives you such an easy and elegant combo. The sentiment comes for the Perfect Punches and the monogram from the Broadsheet  alpha stamp set. You know what's even better? the fact that those stamp sets were absolutely free. I earned them for free like most of the stamp sets I own, I love being a demonstrator and if you love free stamps and [product you too could become a demonstrator and start a new venture in the New Year. I am looking to build my team and would invite you to join me if you are thinking about it. Read more here then get in touch for more details and a no obligation chat.
Here's a close up of the accents on this card all grouped together.

 I added a black button topped with a clear rhinestone as well as using one of those blingy stones for the monogram. Black satin ribbon has been added as well.
Jackie I hope you had a fabulous day and my card got to you in time.
Till next time BIG HUGS xxx

From our house to....

... our neighbours and friends houses.
Hiya how are you doing today?
Well I do not know when or if I am ever going to be ready for Christmas , I am now at the stage of well and truly frazelled but onwards and upwards. I do need a break and I look forward to a few days off. I am so grateful that I do not need to cook or entertain this year, wooohooo chilaxing all the way for me if I make it that is LOL>
Now look at these

By last week I was in desperate need of quick and cute gift wrapping ideas and those boxes are the easiest thing in the world. Added bonus is that if you make them from 12x12 card they're not only cute but quite roomy. I literally made 12 of these in less than 2 hours. The wreaths come from the Welcome Christmas stamp set, and before you ask no I am not sick of using it, in fact I am sad I will have to put it away till next Christmas soon.

They ended up being so quick because of the wonderful self adhesive borders from the Christmas Jingle Scrapping Kit. Easy peasy decorating but very effective looking, I was rather pleased with them especially after dousing them in Shimmer Mist. Oh and did you spot something? my lovely red pearls? no SU don't sell red pearls yet I coloured mine using shimmer paint and real red re-inker. So easy to make, all you have to do is take a dauber and moist it with some Frost White shimmer paint then add a drop of re inker in your chosen colour and dab onto the pearls while they are stuck on their backing paper, easy and so lovely you can have pearls in every colour, yay!!!

Combo wise I threw caution to the winds and grabbed what was near to hand, I was rather desperate to get those out I'm telling you LOL!
First one from the left uses River Rock I used this colour a lot for my cards this year is lifts red and espresso like no other colour just fab, soft suede next and the one and only Crumb Cake. All the accents in real red, old olive, espresso or chocolate chip.
FREE ribbon which is gorgeous and it looks even better for being free and some clips to keep the tops closed.
Inside? A yummy treat of peanut clusters, milk chocolate covered peanuts very morish you need to eat the whole box in one sitting. I am so grateful for having such lovely neighbours and sweet friends and I am sure they will appreciate my little gifts.
Keep your chin up and hang in there not long to go now, the thought of lay ins and a few lazy days spent with family is what keeps me going right now.
Keep warm and till next time Hugs xx

GIFT GIVING TIME.......

Hello there how are you doing? I am getting there although  painfully slow if I may say so. The days are fast running away from me, there is far to much left to do and is snowing all over the country which means nothing runs properly.
I have been so busy making things as well, and I have to share with you some of the gifts I made with a huge help from one of my dear friends, Ali (thanks hun). These are sweet treats for the little people and some bigger ones in our lives.

awww aren't they cute? Punch art is both fun and cute.... and perfect for children and adults alike. This little reindeer has masses of cute appeal I am sure you will agree.

I have used the last of my Cocoa designer papers for these cute little holders and I am so sad as is just lovely paper and cannot buy no more of it, well I could get some more if I bought another bundle but I already bought 2 so I better not LOL.

The holders were made out of River Rock card stock, Rudolph was made from Soft Suede and Early Espresso card stock.
Here's a close up

Have you spotted his linen thread tail yet? Makes me smile every time I look at it. I have used the 1 14" square punch for the body, large oval and scallop oval for the head, 5 petal flower punch for ears, bird punch for the antlers, 1/2" for eyes and nose and the hoofs were made with the retired 3/4" circle punch. I drew his legs with a Espresso marker. I also made a mixture of boys and girls, some have eyelashes drew on so they are girls LOL. I am so pleased with them and I hope my little recipients will be too.
Don't forget you have until the 29 Dec. to buy the bundle to make this cute little album

Check this post HERE for more details.
Right back to business and my chores, speak soon till next time Hugs xxx

Birthday Passionette........

Hello there and I hope you are doing ok. Today is Stevie's one of my Passionettes Happy Birthday !!! I always try my hardest to remember all of my girls birthdays and send them a card even though sometimes it ends up a month early, or a few days late. Yep I did send Stevies 2 lots of Birthday wishes this year, one on November 17 eeeks, and TODAY.  LOL.
Ok so onto today's project a slight departure from Christmas cards here's the card I designed and made for my lovely Stevie.

Stevie likes browns and green together a sort of lime green, and this was the closest I could get to lime green. I used Early Espresso, Certainly Celery and River Rock card stock, Celery taffeta ribbon and pretty pearls. I like the shabby look of this card and this bloom from the Because I Care hostess stamp set is just so pretty.
I stamped my image onto watercolour paper using Basic black ink pad and watercoloured it using Certainly Celery and Marina Mist ink pads. The leaves and stem was coloured in Soft Suede, the print paper comes from the Newsprint Designer Paper. Sentiment from the Perfect Punches set. I also used my white signo pen to pick up some of the centres of the flower heads.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Stevie, I  hope you will enjoy your special day and indeed enjoy your card my sweet. hugs xx
Right day off today and I am running errands hair appointment, some cards and gifts to be delivered, and back to more present buying. I am doing it all today and tomorrow I decided... haha watch this space.
Thank you for joining my till next time HUGS xxxx

THANK YOU................

Hello there, I feel like a hamster on a very fast spinning wheel. Things are slowly coming together though and the list is getting checked little by little.
I have a winner for my blog giveaway, I used a random generator to pick a number between 1 and 40 and the winner is............

NUMBER 10 !!!!!!!!!!! which waaaaaaaaaaaas




Gina !!!!!!!!!  

 Gina said...

Hadn't seen new look before as I read in Google Reader, it's fab. I love purple and silver best although I've gone all real red and old olive this year. Cant wait to get my hands on that punch!!!

Woohoooo Gina well done my sweet. I will post your big bundle of lushness very soon :)

I want to thank you all so very much for taking the time to leave comments and thank you for your inspiring combinations, dare I say I might try some out as I am so not done with my cards yet LOL>
and for something crafty I have been making a few of these lately. Welcome Christmas again but you will see even more of it as I cannot stop using it, so gorgeous.
I used Real Red card stock for the base the top is Crumb Cake edged with the eyelet punch, the wreath stamped in Always Artichoke a cute real red button for dimension and the whole lot sprayed with Shimmer Mist for glitzy sparkliness. Oh and my fave ribbon the wide stripped grosgrain.
Right this girl has to go back to work, if you are feeling a bit frazzled hang in there  NOT LONG before we get a nice break.

Till next time Hugs and

Stampin'Up! Welcome Christmas- scrap your memories

Helllooooooooooo. How are you doing with your preps for the big day? I have to say the deadline catches me out every year even when I do try to plan ahead, crazy but I am finally getting there, the gifts and cards for my downline are made, wrapped and will be in the post tomorrow a whole week earlier then last year(told you I was trying), my customer cards nearly all done emphasis on nearly. On a personal note no decs up, shopping for family and friends not finished and I still need a coat as we will be spending Christmas in Germany with family and Germany gets very cold around this time. If you bought a nice coat this year help me out please.

 I hope you are doing a bit better than me although I am sure you are just as busy. 

Today I am sharing with you something special as we look forward to Christmas. I have designed a sweet mini album that would be perfect to document your Christmas 2010, it can be your family traditions, it can document your home beautifully decorated for the season, your children's received gifts...anything really. And while I made quite a few albums to gift this year I will be keeping this one for myself , it is all mine LOL 

 Now you know by now that Welcome Christmas is my favourite Christmas set from this year Stampin'Up! catalogue. I have used it for all my personal card making this year. I love the nostalgic vintage feel that is so popular right now. And as it is on special right now, I decided to design this lovely album using the Cocoa Speciality papers available till the end of December.

Here's a few more photographs that shows a bit more of the way the album opens and the inside decorations.   Isn't it lovely? I am just in love with it. And I am particularly pleased with my open window front element, fun and very dimensional.

The colour scheme is soft and very warm, neutral shades of Crumb Cake and Soft Suede accented with Real Red for a full festive feel.
 Would you like to make one for your family or indeed for yourself ?  This is a project that would make a lovely gift for Christmas but it doesn't have to completed NOW or before the big day if you have to much on your plate right now. This kit will be lovely to have on hand to keep you occupied on Boxing day while the kids are playing with their new presents, or in the new Year once the madness has calmed down a bit. However please keep in mind that this kit is available for a limited time only so buy it before the end of December as those papers and ribbons won't be available after that.
I will not sell the instructions for this little beauty instead I will offer them for FREE with the purchase of  a Welcome Christmas bundle or a £40 order if you already have the set and papers.

The bundle consists of

One Welcome Christmas stamp 

One pack of Cocoa Speciality Designer Paper 

Full step by step instructions.
You could make 3 albums with one set of papers but you will need to provide some additional card stock.
One FREE spool of yummy ribbon of your choice, see below.

From top left Real Red Polka Dot 3/4" grosgrain - code 115608

A picture of the lovely Cocoa designer paper, it even has 2 sheets of flocked designs very pretty.

Bottom left Mistletoe Originals - code 116792

Next is the Riding Hood  red 1 1/4" - code 113099

And last and the one I have chosen for my album the gorgeous Sleigh Bells- code 116795

HOW MUCH will it cost ? Prices below include postage costs.

Wood mount option delivered to your door- £39.99 

The clear mount option -£34.99

Add a pack of flat backed self adhesive pearls for an extra £2.75. This is a deal from myself and not from Stampin'Up!

You will receive the full step by step tutorial in an email plus a link to a video tutorial that shows how to construct and assemble your album. 

If you are a member of my Stampers 10, or a member of my direct downline you will receive this tutorial absolutely FREE, I am grateful for all your support always.

Additionally you will need a 12x12 Crumb Cake sheet of card stock, one A4 Real Red piece of card stock and one A4 Soft Suede piece of card stock.

You will also need Real Red, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede ink pads. Should you wish to order any of the additional items needed please email me telemech01@aol.com. 

  

To order the bundle click on the BUY NOW button below and choose your option. Don't forget to specify your choice of FREE ribbon in the comment box otherwise I will send the Sleigh Bells one by default. Please note this offer is only valid until 31December however  if you require this before Christmas the last day for ordering is 15 December.

Also 15 of December is the last day of ordering for my WISH LIST service, find out more HERE. 

Welcome Christmas bundle

Bundle Option Wood mount £39.99 Bundle Option Wood mount plus pearls £42.75 Bundle Option Clear mount £34.99 Bundle Option Clear Mount plus pearls £37.75

Right I have to go now and make some more cards till next time, Hugs xxx

New Look Blog and Stampin'Up! giveaway ....

Hello there, thank you so much for your emails and comments about my new look. I am so very happy with it and I cannot stop hovering my mouse over the moving nav bar at the top just how posh is that?
Michelle at Laycock Designs is a truly wonderful and talented lady blessed with the patience of a saint, believe me I know this as I have really tried it over the last few weeks, I am a nightmare at deciding stuff but Michelle had kept me on the right path with her extended knowledge in web design. I would totally 100 trillion % recommend Michelle and Heather to anyone thinking of treating themselves to a blog/website makeover, they are both incredibly professional and very, very good, they sure know their stuff.

I like my design so much that I had to create a card to match it .. look

I do not think I have ever used a punch as much as this bird one. I have made Birthday cards, Christmas cards, bereavement cards so lovely and so very versatile, I adore it.
Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Baja Breeze were the colours used and they look so happy together, very fresh and festive. The JOY word is from the Welcome Christmas set. The designer paper in Baja Breeze is positively yum. A touch of Old Olive was added with the tafetta ribbon and card stock for the branches.
Here's a nice close up of the little flowers in Cherry Cobbler which were made using the Boho Blossom punch.

I only wish I would have used a slightly bigger pearl for the eye of the bird is sort of lost in that smaller size, I will change it I think.
So my new look causes for a celebration. I am offering my blog readers the chance to win some yummy Stampin'Up! products. In order to qualify you will need to subscribe to my blog become a follower and leave me a comment answering what is your favourite Christmas colour combination. While you are here you might want to subscribe to my mailing list as well, you will find the box top left corner of this page. I have some exciting things planned for 2011 so you might want to be on my list to find out about them.
The Giveaway closes on Wednesday December 15th at 12 am. The winner will be determined by a random number generator and announced on Thursday 16 th December.
Want to see what's up for grabs? Have a peek at this yummy lot.

A full stack of 12x12 Sweet Pea designer paper, yummy colours and patterns all double sided sheets wonderful quality thick enough for gift bags and handbags, scrapbooking card making etc.
A Stamp A Ma Jig- wonderful tool should be part of every crafter's arsenal, this is a positioner that will allow you to stamp straight every time, or to stamp something in the exact desired spot, ideal for the two step sets as well for perfect alignment.
Two full reels of ribbon- Certainly Celery poly twill ties like a dream and So Saffron gorgeous grosgrain.
Also included in this giveaway are not one but 2 brand new stamp sets.
The one on the left is a level 2 retired hostess set and the one on the right is a useful sentiment set that just about covers every occasion, yummy font as well.
Let's see if I can reach 360 subscribers, tell your friends and GOOD LUCK !!!!

Oooooh check my new outfit out.........

Hello there how are you? I am well and I had a lovely weekend break in London, we came back one hour before the bad snow hit us last Monday and then decided to take even more of a break, a whole week in fact but you know what? I really needed it, so I do apologise if you stopped by and there was nothing new.
So as you can notice I have been shopping for a new outfit for my blog/website and You tube Channel, Michelle and Heather have been very busy creating my new look and it will soon be ready, please bear with us while the last bits are being installed and finalised.
I will share a few pictures of our weekend away
Here's the most precious being in my world.

This weekend was just FOR HIM, everything we did was with him in mind and aunty Mimi made sure she spoilt him rotten.
We played lots just the two of us for as long as he wanted giving mum and dad a much needed break. We had fun at bath time, I read him stories at bed time and kissed and cuddled him to last me till next year, trouble is I was missing his cuddles 2 minutes after we left.
Saturday the boys watched the rugby and we (me,sis and Luca) took the little guy to a play house so that he could run around and spend some energy . We then killed a few hours while Luca slept shopping in Brent Cross, we all needed winter coats and none of us found any. We did found a warm hat though, look at this cutie hee hee

Sunday was spent visiting the Science Museum, what a fabulous place suitable for all ages and how lucky we are in this country that almost all the Museums in London have free entry? We donated generously as we think is important to continue and keep them free for as long as we can.

From top left Luca trying his hard at operating one of the displays, our favourite dispaly at the Museum, eating spaghetti like he is a true Italian LOL, he puts me to shame I tell you look at that fork with perfectly twisted strands. Checking the liquid density in those cylinders,  his favourite thing of the day flying with the Red Arrows, and pushing really hard, look at those little chubby hands LOL>
 We all had a fabulous time. By the time we finished it was getting dark and we headed for the Winter Wonderland  in Hyde Park.
Well it was just amazing, and I have to say it really put me in a festive mood.

Gorgeous food markets (the hungarian goulash was delish) and tons of rides and fun things to sample. We went on every ride we fancied LOL>
From top left, Yummy charcuterie,  Luca and Mimi riding together, being fireman Sam for 5 min., bottom left going down fast with daddy, Luca flying an aeroplane all by himself, a few colourful stalls and we found Santa but he wasn't the real one.
You see we saw him the next morning at Selfridges where we took the Santa Express all the way to the North Poll after walking through a frosty enchanted forest. The train ride was magical and exciting and one little boy was besides himself at this point, his own words were * Mummy I am such a lucky boy!* aww heart melting drip, drip, drip stuff, I love this little boy so much.
On the arrival to the North Poll we were greeted by our own personal elf (her name was Stardust) and she escorted us to a gorgeous looking log cabin where we met SANTA, the real one of course and we know it was real because he spoke LOL> He didn't get much of chance to speak though as Luca had far to many things on his wish list that he had to ask him for, honestly this little boy never shuts up, always asks you something or has something to say, my sister says he is just like me (not sure what she wants to say with that * whistles innocently*).
We said our goodbyes in the end but not before the obligatory photograph, and headed out into the freezing Oxford Street to hunt for winter coats.
And just like that before we knew it the time to said goodbye and our break came to an end. We took home  tons of photos, videos and lovely memories.
Phew!! hmm this ended up a bit detailed but I do like to look back on my blog and relive those moments.
Shall I show you something crafty?
It was my lovely's birthday yesterday and I did manage to make him a card on Sunday after my monthly class.

I love the Beware Pirates stamp set and this was the first time I have used since my purchase in October.
I started with a Basic Black card blank. Black stripy ribbon was adhered to it then on top a strip of Marina Mist card stock which I have crimped and brayered with Wild Wasabi ink.
The main panel started life as a layer of Very Vanilla on which the ship from the set was stamped in black ink. I have made a mask then brayered Marina Mist and Wild Wasabi ink all over. The spritzer tool was used to add some extra visual distressing then the whole piece was scrunched up and torn an curled before being adhered to the card blank. He looked this card up and was quite fascinated by it.
Me: Do you like it?
Him: Yeah is really good, I am still looking at it, is the best card I have seen you do in a long while.
Me: Run... fast !!
 Till next time ..hugs