Welcome To The World Baby Green!!

There seems to be a baby boom at the moment and nearly all baby boys! Our friends Doug and Ally announced the birth of their little boy on the 27th August and he is just gorgous!! Here's the card i posted to them  to congratulate them on their new arrival (hopefuly they will receive it in the post either today or tomorrow):

I have seen so many cards like this online and there are several tutorials on how to create these 'onesie' cards and they're actually very quick and easy to make!!

The cardbase is 'Bashful Blue' (perfect for a little boy!) The head and leg holes have been made using the '1-3/8" Circle Punch' and the lace has been made by firstly punching out a '1-3/8" Circle' from 'Whisper White' and then punching a 'Scallop circle' around the remaining hole, to create a scalloped ring! Clever!! Finally three 'Basic Pearls' to embellish the front!!

A lovely little card and with a colour change could be suitable to celebrate the arrival of either a boy or girl!! Or why not make batches of them for baby shower invites, or arrival notices so you can inform friends and family of the safe arrival of your bundle of joy!! Don't have enough time to make them yourself? Drop me an e-mail for a quote: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Had a lovely meal out last night with some of the Stampin' Up! team i'm in! It was lovely to catch up and swap some ideas. I will be posting some of these over the next few days so watch this space!

My Nintendo DS Creation!

I'm so excited to be sharing this card with you! It's for my little cousin Callum, it was his birthday yesterday and i knew in advance that he was getting a Nintendo DS for his birthday so decided to challenge myself and make a Nintendo card. I started off by looking online for inspiration - but there were NO Nintendo DS birthday cards, that i could find, so i was on my own to create my masterpiece!! So using my own DS for measurements, this is what i came up with:

To start with, the cardbase is 'Marina Mist' with some 'DSP' from the 'Nursery Suite Speciality' collection.
The Nintendo DS was created from two rectangles of 'Whisper White' cardstock, the first one (which is used to create the bottom of the DS) i have rounded all four corners with the 'Corner Rounder', the top one i have rounded off the top two corners, scored the bottom of the rectangle and hand cut the two bottom corners out, to create a hinge. I stuck both of them together (using 'Red Sticky Tape' to create the console)

The screens were created from two 'Whisper White' rectangles and then two slightly smaller 'Baja Breeze' rectangles. I attempted to make Mario style screenshots, using scraps of 'Pumpkin Pie', 'Peach Parfait' and 'Marina Mist' to create the blocks, 'Pear Pizzazz' to make the pipe, 'Garden Green' and the 'Scallop Circle Punch' to make the bush and some 'Whisper White' to make some little clouds! I have used my 'Basic Black' 'Stampin' Write Marker' to add some extra detail, as well as write the Happy Birthday Sentiment.

The X, A, B and Y buttons have been made from scraps of 'Whisper White' punched out using the 'Owl Punch', the start and select buttons have been made using my 'Crop-a-dile', the button on the lefthand side is hand cut from 'Whisper White'. Finally all the detail was hand-drawn on with a 'Basic Gray' 'Stampin' Write Marker'.

The DS console has been glued onto the cardbase, in it's open form, the top of the DS has been raised using some Stampin' Up! 'Dimensionals' and the card fits snuggly into a 6x6 envelope!

I'd love to know what you think of my gaming make!!

Happy Birthday Seb and Callum!

Today is both my brother and my cousins birthdays! So happy birthday to Seb and Callum! I always find it difficult to make cards for teenage boys and so i've made some gadget related cards for them. I will share one with you today and keep one for tomorrow - oh the suspense!!!

So today, here is the card that i made for my brother Seb:

I was drawn towards the 'Pacific Point' cardstock for the base of the card (which is what i also used for his welcome home card, i then realised that it's probably because it's the colour of his bedroom!) and then ran a strip of 'Pacific Point' 'Brights DSP' along the side.

The i-pod has been created by cutting out a rectangle of 'Basic Black' card stock and then rounding off the corners with my 'Corner Rounder'. The i-pod screen has been made with a square of 'Sahara Sands' card, also with the corners rounded off. The sentiment is actually from the 'Fun and Fast Notes' stampset, inked in 'Basic Black' (tip: use your 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' to ensure it's nice and straight!) The i-pod dial has been constructed from a '1-3/8" Circle' punched from 'Sahara Sands' card and '1/2" Circle' punched from a scrap of 'Basic Gray' card. The earphones have been created from two 'Basic Black' circles (which are not punched - but actually the centres of the daisies made with the 'Flower Daisies Die' - if you don't have that then draw around a button and handsnip it) and i have layered two '1/2" Circles' punched from 'Basic Gray' card. I have raised these using some Stampin' Up! 'Dimensionals' and used some 'Silver Elastic Cord' to create the headphone cord.

This is not my original idea, there are lots and lots of variations of this card online, so i'm unable to give credit to the genius who originally designed this!! A perfect card for a teenager, which can obviously be made in any colour combo, with any sentiment to suit the recipient!!

Check back tomorrow as i have a Nintendo inspired birthday card to share with you - which is completely my own design! Can't wait to share it with you!!!

Parcel Gift Card Holder!

It's a weekend worth celebrating!! Not only is it a bank holiday weekend, which means everyone has more time off to chill and relax, there are also two birthdays to celebrate tomorrow - my brother Seb's, as well as my little cousin Callum's! So i have been very busy crafting in preperation and today i have a Parcel Gift Card envelope, inspired by Sue Bayliss (There's even a tutorial on there!!)

The card used for this is 'Real Red' and i have used 'DSP' from the 'Celebrations' collection. I have used a scrap of 'Pacific Point' to punch out a '1-3/8" Circle', placed a 'Real Red' 'Designer Button', with some 'Silver Cord' threaded through and tied a lovely big 'Real Red' 'Satin Bow' to place of the top!! You write your message on the back and place your gift card inside:

Notice i have punched half a circle out of the top, for easier access to the gift card and placed a small piece of velcro to open and close it!!

I'm entering this into the 'Cupcake Craft Challenge' (a great challenge site, which i have neglected for a while, as i have been away for most of the summer!) But now i'm back and ready to get involved!!

Check back over the next couple of days - i have some gadget related cards i have made for teenage boys birthdays to share with you!!

Have a great bank holiday weekend - i'm off to see Lee Evans tonight!! Woo hoo! Can't wait!!

Home is where the heart is!!

Hi all, hope you are having a great weekend! Today i have no plans other than to craft ... BLISS! As you may be aware i have recently been appointed a member of the Crafty Boots Challenge DT, and i'm now working hard on my projects!! I can't wait to share them with you and i hope you all join in!!

Now today, as promised i have the Welcome Home card that i made for my sister Jamie (She has recently been on a month long holiday to Australia - and i missed her lots!) My sister is a bit of a home-bird and so i knew this card was perfect to welcome her home!:

Now i can't take credit for this beautiful card, i case'd it from a blog called 'In the Palms', check this blog out - it even has a tutorial on how to create it!! (I did slightly alter the dimensions) The cardbase used is 'Early Espresso', the roof and base of the card is 'Whisper White', which has been ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder'. I have used my '1-3/8" circle Punch' to create the 'Soft Suede' circle and the bid has been created out of 'Sweet and Sour DSP' using my 'Two-Step Bird Punch'. The branch has been made out of a little scrap of 'Pear Pizzazz' also using my 'two-Step Bird Punch' and the flower was created out of a scrap of 'Melon Mambo' and the 'Boho Blossom Punch' - i have placed a 'Basic Pearl' in the centre! The heart at the top of the chimney has also been created from a scrap of 'Melon mambo' and the 'Heart to Heart Punch'.

Hope you like the card!! Have a great weekend!!

Whale-come Home!

Morning all, as promised i'm back today with a welcome card that i made for my brother using one of my favourite stampsets - 'Fox and Friends':

I have used 'Pacific Point' card for the cardbase, and also used some 'Pacific Point' 'DSP' from the 'Brights DSP' pack (which is great value for money!) I have used some 'Whisper White' cardstock on this card too! I stamped the whale from the 'Fox and Friends' stampset, in 'Pacific Point' and 'Bashful Blue' using 'Stampin' Write Markers', i punched him our using a '1-3/8" Circle Punch' and layered him on a 'Bashful Blue' 'Scallop Circle' (I have raised it using a 'Dimensional'.) I have hand-written the punny sentiment - 'Whale-come home!!' and blinged it with a 'Basic Pearl'!!

I came up with design completely myself and very happy with the result and my brother seemed to appriciate it too!!

Check back tomorrow for another welcome home card that i made for my sister!!

Welcome Home Seb and Jamie!!

Woo  hoo!! I have had a fab couple of days! My little sister, Jana came over for a sleepover last night, we watched films, ate lots of popcorn and chocolate, played Mario Kart and did lots and lots of crafting!!

My other sister, Jamie and my brother Seb has been on holiday in Australia for over three weeks and as i have been away for all of July and the first week of August it has been AGES since i have seen them. So me and Jana made some cakes, a welcome banner and some welcome home cards to celebrate them setting foot back in the UK!! Good fun!!

Here's our welcome banner:

Here's our cake making:

My sister Jana decorating the cakes!



The finished products!!

Jana's welcome home cards:

 Jana has used some of my 'Big Shot' daisy scraps, as well as the 'Fox and Friends' stampset and my 'Stampin' Write Markers' to create this masterpiece!

Her second card has a 'Pear Pizzazz' cardbase, the spider has been create using 'Basic Black' card, she punched a '1-3/8" Circle' for the spiders body and the legs and pinchers have been made from the branch from the 'Two Step Bird Punch' - the web was hand-drawn with a 'Stampin' Write Marker' - isn't it great!! She's definately got a knack for punch art!! I can't wait to have a go at making a spider like this one!

I love having my little sis around! She's like a mini-me!! We had a brilliant crafty time!!! Check back tomorrow to see the welcome home cards that i made for my brother and sister!!

Growing Green: Thankyou card

Today i have another card to share with you made with lovely 'DSP' from the 'Woodland Walk' Collection and the lovely 'Growing Green' stampset:



A 'Crumb Cake' cardbase, the 'thank you' sentiment is from the 'Because I Care' stampset, inked in 'Early Espresso'. I cut a square of 'DSP' from the 'Woodland Walk' collection, mounted onto 'Early Espresso' card, which I wrapped with some 'Early Espresso' 'Satin Ribbon'. Finally i stamped a flower from the 'Growing Green' stampset, in 'Early Espresso' ink onto 'Garden Green' card. I carefully cut out the flower with my 'Paper Snips' and placed a 'Basic Pearl' in the centre!

This card was inspired by a card featured on the 'Splitcoast Stampers' website - which is great for ideas if you suffering from a creative block - check it out!

A Hedgehog in the Woodland!!

I LOVE summer holidays! I have spent yesterday and today crafting! I have piles and piles of Stampin' Up! DSP and materials that i have been dying to play with so over the next few days you will be seeing some of my creations!

Todays card features the cute little hedgehog from the 'Fun and Fast Notes' stampset and DSP from the 'Woodland Walk' Collection:

The cardbase used for this card is 'Wild Wasabi', i then layered the stripy 'DSP' from the 'Woodland Walk' collection. The hedgehog was stamped (with 'Chocolate Chip' ink) onto 'Very Vanilla' cardstock, i coloured the butterfly in with 'Daffodil Delight' 'Stampin' Write Marker'. I punched the image out using my 'Decorative Label Punch' and then used a 'Sponge Dauber' and some 'Chocolate Chip' ink to distress the edges. I then mounted this on 'Garden Green' and 'Chocolate Chip' cardstock. The sentiment (from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset) is also inked in 'Chocolate Chip' onto 'Very Vanilla' cardstock and bordered on 'Garden Green' and 'Chocolate Chip'.

I LOVE the 'Fun and Fast Notes' stampset!! So versatile! Why not check it out in the catalogue and get an order in! E-mail me: amyjtidd@gmail.com

My Exciting Announcement!

Hiya guys! I have a very exciting craft related announcement for you all!!

I'm now officially on a design team for a challenge website: Crafty Boots Challenges, which is a brand new fortnightly challenge blog which will be starting up on September 5th!! So make sure you join in!!

There's some great challenges lined up, as well as some prizes, so make sure you all get involved! I'm busy working away now on my DT makes to inspire you with the challenges and very excited to be working alongside some very talented crafters!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKK! So excited!!!

Thankyou for your support!!

Amyxx

Lazy Book-Reading Day!

(Hi guys for some reason my scheduled posts have let me down so posting lots of projects at once ... hope it works - sorry if you have been missing me and my crafting - i didn't abandon you!!)

Hiya! After such a hectic last couple of days today is going to be a lazy one! Consisting of eating, reading and possibly a bit of crafting later this afternoon!

So today i thought i would share with you a corner book mark that i recently made:

I got the tutorial from a blog called 'Fireflies and Butterflies'  and it is made with 'Poppy Parade' cardstock, as awell as a little strip of ' 'Peach Parfait' (both from the 'In Colours' collection) and some 'DSP' from the 'Sunny Garden' collection. You can see i have also used my 'Eyelet Border Punch'.

And here it is in use (I'm currently reading Ceclia Ahern's 'If You Could See Me Now' It's definately worth a read!!):

Hope you're having a lazy Sunday too!! Check back tomorrow as i have a very exciting announcement!!!

Butterfly themed table favours!

(Hi guys for some reason my scheduled posts have let me down so posting lots of projects at once ... hope it works - sorry if you have been missing me and my crafting - i didn't abandon you!!)

Wow! Amazed that i am sober enough to be typing this post! It was my mum's birthday party last night and it ended up being a bit of a mad one! Lots of fancy dress and drinking way involved!! Here's a couple of pics of me and my best friend Suz!! Good fun!:



Anyway back to business! Today i have a butterfly themed table favour to share with you, here it is:

This time i have sandwiched the chocolate disc between two 'Pretty in Pink' 'Scallop Circles', placed a '1-3/8" Circle' punched from the 'Springtime Vintage DSP' and then placed a 'Perfect Plum' butterfly created using my 'Big shot and the 'Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die' (Exclusive to Stampin' Up!) and finally placed a 'Basic Pearl' in the centre! Another cute table decoration design which could be created in any colour combo!!

Hope you have liked the wedding themed week and that it has given all you future brides some ideas! If you need any help with deisgning your perfect wedding stationary do not hesitate to contact me: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Right, off for lunch and then out to the cinema to watch The Inbetweeners! Hope you have a great weekend!

Heart Themed Table Favour Designs

(Hi guys for some reason my scheduled posts have let me down so posting lots of projects at once ... hope it works - sorry if you have been missing me and my crafting - i didn't abandon you!!)

So i have been playing around a lot with wedding themed projects recently, and i thought i would have a go at making some heart themed table favours. I have used the chocoloate coins featured in yesterdays post:

 and here they are in their transformed state:

Design 1:

I have sandwiched the chocolate between two 'Whisper White' 'Scallop Circles'. I have dotted around the top 'Scallop Circle' with a 'Melon Mambo' 'Stampin' Write Marker', next layered a 'Pretty in Pink' '1/38" Circle' and then punched the heart out of a scrap of 'Melon Mambo' cardstock using the 'Heart to Heart Punch' smothered it in glue using my '2-way glue pen' and dunked it in my pot of 'Dazzling Diamond Glitter'. I have used a dimensional to stick it into place, creating a 3D effect.

Design 2:

A much simpler design, this time i sandwiched the chocolate discs between two 'Basic Black' '1 3/8" Circles', i then punched a heart from some 'Cherry Cobbler' cardstock using the 'Heart Punch' and then ran it through my 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder' for added effect and then glued it onto the 'Basic Black' discs with 'Red Sticky Tape'

Two very different heart themed designs to add to your wedding tables or maybe even your dining table if your hosting a dinner party?! Wouldn't they look fab sprinked over a valentines dinner table (I'll have to remember that idea for next year!!)

Check back tomorrow as i have a butterfly themed table favour to share with you!

Continuing with the wedding theme...

(Hi guys for some reason my scheduled posts have let me down so posting lots of projects at once ... hope it works - sorry if you have been missing me and my crafting - i didn't abandon you!!)

Weddings can be expensive, trust me - i know!! One thing i was obsessed about when planning my wedding was making sure that everything coordinated! Stampin' Up! materials are fab to use because you can ensure that all your wedding stationary matches - cardstock, ink, pens, ribbon, buttons, brads, papers all come in a set range of colours, which can literally save you hours trapsing around craft shops with swatches of colours!!

One thing brides and grooms (lets be honest - usually brides) spend ages on is trying to decide what to give away as wedding/ table favours. Well ... you can't go wrong with chocolate! and here is a cute little way of making a little chocolate go a long way, look effective and coordinate in completely with your wedding theme!!

The chocolates that i'm talking about start life like this:

You can buy these chocolate coins from wedding shops (like Confetti, online or even in some supermarkets) and then transform them for very little cost into wedding favours for your guests and the great things is they cost very little, take hardly any time to make and can 100% coordinate with any wedding theme you may have. Here's an example:

Made using the 'Big Shot' and the 'Flower Daisies Die' i ran some 'Whisper White' and 'Regal Rose' card stock through to make the daisies. I sandwiched the chocolate disc between a 'Whisper White' 'Scalloped Circle' and the daisy cutouts and have placed a 'Dimensional' dipped in 'Dazzling Diamond Glitter' in the centre! Cute, huh?! (A little hint: use the super sticky 'Red Sticky Tape' to stick everything together!! It will hold anything to anything!!)

Can you imagine lots of these cute wedding favours scattered around your wedding tables?! You wouldn't need any other decorations - beautiful!!

And the great thing about this design is you could make them in ANY colour to coordinate with any colour theme!

Wedding Invitations!!

Hi guys, here's another set of wedding stationary that i have made recently - just to give some ideas to anyone who is looking to make their own, or would like me to make some for them:

This stationary has been created using 'Whisper White' and 'Pear Pizzazz' cardstock, the 'Pear Pizzazz' card has been run through the 'Big Shot' with a 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder'. The stationary has been embellished with some 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming Ribbon' (and some faux pearl ribbon buckles, brought off of Ebay)

Invitation and RSVP Card:

Placecard:

 

Favour Box:

(Made using the 'Big Shot' and the 'Pillow Box Die')

Obviously these designs could be in literally ANY combo - and if you can't stretch to a 'Big Shot' you could always use some 'DSP' instead. So have you been inspired???

Get in touch if you need a hand designing your own wedding invites: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Wedding Invite Delight...

So, i have had quite a few people contacting me recently asking about wedding invites and ideas, so i thought i would share with you a few simple designs i have worked on for another client... i had an open brief - vintagey design, blue and green colouring:

The cardstock used is 'Baja Breeze', 'Whisper White' and a little strip of 'Pear Pizzazz', the use of the wonderful 'Bella Toile' stamp, a 'Pear Pizzazz' inkpad and some 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming Ribbon', a little bit of elbow grease and you have yourself some coordinating wedding stationary! Here's some close ups, they look a bit plain at the moment but whizz your card through a printer and hey presto!:

Invitation and RSVP cards:

Placecards:



Favour Boxes:

(Made with the lovely 'Big Shot' and the 'Pillow Box Die'.)



If you would like some help designing your own wedding invites, before making them up yourself OR maybe you would like someone to make them all for you then why not email me: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Any questions email me or leave a comment on here!! Check back tomorrow for another wedding invite design!

Get your Stampin' Up! Order in: 15th August.

This post will remain at the top of this blog until the 15th August, 2011.

I will be placing a Stampin' Up! order on the 15th August, so please get your orders into me via e-mail by 6pm: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Online catalogues can be found on the righthand side of this blog. If you haven't got a hardcopy of the catalogues i will post you one free of charge (RRP £4.95) with your next order!!

Thank you for your custom!! Amyxxx

Another Christmas Delight!

Hi guys, i have been so busy the last few days (you know how it is when you get back from holiday - mountains and mountains of washing etc) i still haven't had much time to get some new creations made   :-( So i'm dipping into my reserve bank of past projects and i'm afraid i have another christmassy themed project to share with you today... normal service will resume soon - i promise!!

This card using 'Real Red' cardstock and ink and uses my most favourite seasonal stampset - 'Contempo Christmas', i have stamped out the bauble three times onto 'Whisper White' cardstock, punched them out using the 'Ornament Punch' and then folded each in half and glued them, using my 'Snail Adhesive' to create a 3D effect!! The bauble string has been drawn on using a 'Stampin' Write Marker'. (The sentiment is from a now retired set, but Stampin' Up! have so many christmas sentiment sets - you're spoilt for choice!) This card has been finished off with a strip of 'Whisper White' cardtock, edged with the 'Eyelet Border Punch' and a piece of 'Real Red' 'Grosgrain Ribbon'.

And here's another little tip for you - you can create three cards this size from one piece of A4! Total value for money!!

Have you started thinking about christmas cards yet - if not why not? Not long to go now - and they take a while to make - so why not make a Stampin' Up! order today! Email me: amyjtidd@gmail.com

By the way - keep checking back i have a VERY VERY exciting announcement to share with you very very soon!!!

My Holiday Journal!

Hi all, It's no big secret that i have been on my travels for the last five weeks or so, and everyday that i was away i recorded all my adventures in a travel journal.

After every entry i left a blank page, and throughout my trips i have saved lots of memerobilia - such as tickets, cards, pressed flowers etc, as well as took lots and lots of photos which i have now on my return been busy sticking into my journal and of course i couldn't do it without a few Stampin' Up! essentials:

My 'sticky red tape' has been an absolute god-send - literally sticking down everything from tickets, plastic wristbands, dried and pressed flowers and chunky brocheres:

I have also been using my lovely 'Stampin' Write Markers', they come in a fab range of colours. Here i have used the wonderfully versatile 'Early Espresso' marker to draw the Elephant Dung Paper Process onto the Elephant Dung Paper that i made during my trip to Tanzania:

I have used the great quality card stock that Stampin' Up! has to offer to make pockets and labels to secure larger documents into my journal, here i have used some 'Marina Mist', 'Baja Breeze' and 'Very Vanilla' cardstock to make a pocket to hold my Tanzanian work visa:

I've still got some work to do on it, but so far i'm really very pleased with the result. I hope in years to come that my children can look over my travel journal and get an insight into all the adventures that we have had!!

As you have probably guessed from following my blog i love cardmaking and haven't really ventured into scrapbooking BUT after this project i could be tempted to dabble into scrapbooking!!!

Quick Christmas Card Make.

Sometimes you just need a christmas card nice and quick, here's my quick christmas make (using my favourite christmas stampset 'Season of Joy'):

A simple 'Very Vanilla' cardbase, i have stamped the sentiment using 'Early Espresso' ink. Next a strip of 'Early Espresso' The little flowers have been inked using 'Old Olive' and punched out using the '1/2" Circle Punch' and lined up. The snowflake has been inked in 'Early Espresso' onto 'Very Vanilla' cardstock and punched out using the '1-1/4" Circle Punch' layered onto an 'Early Espresso' '1-3/8" Circle' and then layered (using a 'Dimensional') onto an 'Old Olive' 'Scallop Circle'.

A great batch card, nice and quick, but still effective. I absolutely love the 'Season of Joy' stampset - if your budget only stretches to one seasonal stampset this is the one to buy! It's so versatile and i have seen it used in loads of non-christmassy projects too! If you wanna make a order just email me: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Hola! I'm back from the Dominican Republic!

Hi everyone! I'm back in the UK! I arrived back early this morning and have just about recovered! I went on holiday with my hubby and we had an amazing time! Despite only going for one week we squeezed so much in and still had time to relax!!

We had bit of a shaky start to the week - a tropical storm - called Emily, but she disappeared within a day leaving lovely hot sunshine! The hotel was lovely (all inclusive) and the cocktails especially were very yummy!

The highlight of the trip for me had to be swimming with dolphins, something i have been dying to do for a long time! It was a great experience!!

We also visited Los Haitises National Park - which is a haven for lots of tropical bird, including beautiful pelicans, it's basically lots of islands in the Indian Ocean, a totally breathtaking place.

As well as doing some horse riding, to go and visit the beautiful El Limon waterfalls:

All in all, a WONDERFUL trip! It seems quite strange to be back! I hope you haven't felt abandonned whilst i have been away! I have had a lovely morning viewing all the lovely messages that you have all left since i have been away! I have also noticed that there are a couple of new Crafty ThINKer followers! Hello to you!

Hopefully service will resume to normal, as i now have the rest of the summer holiday to be crafty and make lots of lovely things to show you!

Don't forget i will be putting in a Stampin' Up! order on Monday 15th August! Please email me any orders by 6pm: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Have a good day!

Dasher Card

You can't make a batch of christmas cards without making at least one with a reindeer on. So here's a card i made last year using the lovely 'A la Carte' 'Dasher' stamp:

This is the main card design i used for Christmas 2010 - i was so happy with them, they look so elegant and i recieved a lot of praise for them, although i can't take all the credit here, they were actually designed by my upline Cate. (I have been a bit cheeky and copied the instructions to make this card from Cate - why invent the wheel!)

The method is pretty straightforward although there are a number of steps:

1. Stamp Dasher in Early Espresso on a piece of Whisper White CS and cover with a strip of scrap paper

2. Using Bashful Blue on the En Francais background stamp, stamp this randomly over the whole of the base, get rid of the scrap paper

3. Stamp using the Medallion background stamp on the 4 corners of the card

 

4. Using a Sponge Dauber, dab Bashful Blue ink around the edge of the CS

 

5. Using a different Sponge Dauber, dab Champagne Mist shimmer paint around the edge of the card

 

6. Stamp a sentiment using Night of Navy ink

 

7. Stick the Whisper White CS to a piece of Night of Navy CS and punch 2 large holes using a crop-a-dile

 

8. Thread Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon through the holes and tie a knot. Trim the edges and then adher to the Bashful Blue card base.

If you have some time why not go and visit her blog - she has so many lovely ideas on there. Click here to link over to Blue Angel Crafts.

Serene Snowflakes...

No, i'm not crazy it's not snowing...well i hope it isn't! and no it isn't christmas... yet, but isn't this year whizzing by! This week i'm sharing with you all my 2010 christmas projects to give you some inspiration for this coming year.

Today a card using the beautiful 'Serene Snowflakes' stampset:

Start with a piece of 'Baja Breeze' (i love this colour!) and use the cluster snowflake stamp and 'Baja Breeze' ink to create a background! Then rip one long edge. Next rip a piece of 'Whisper White' card and layer both onto an 'Early Espresso' cardbase. The sentiment is from 'Contempo Christmas' and has been stamped using 'Early Espresso' ink (to ensure it's not stamped wonky - don't forget to use the trusty 'Stamp-a-ma-jig'.

Next stamp the bigger snowflake using 'Baja Breeze' ink onto some 'Whisper White' and punch it out using the '1-1/4" Circle Punch', pierce a hole through the centre and place a 'Rhinestone Brad' through. Layer this on a '1-3/8" Circle' punched from 'Baja Breeze and layer on an 'Early Espresso' 'Scallop circle'. Hey presto a lovely contemporary christmas card. Don't you love the colour combo!

Christmas Reef made from the 'Two Bird Punch'

Hi guys, hope you're enjoying my christmas postings this week! Hopefully they will give you some christmassy inspiration!

Today i have another christmas card to share with you. This is an idea that my upline Cate shared with me and it's soooooooo clever and actually very simple to make:

The card base is 'Very Vanilla' and i have used a 'Sponge Dauber' and some 'Early Espresso' ink to distress the edges. The sentiment is from a SU retired set. (This size card is fab because you can make three from one sheet of A4!!)

The christmas reef has been made by punching lots of branches using the 'Two-Step Bird Punch' from some 'Old Olive' card (a great way to use up card scraps!) Now constructing the reef is a little bit fiddly (Best way to glue it all together is by using a 'Glue Pen') The berries have been punched out of 'Real Red' cardscraps using my 'Crop-a-dile) and the card is finished off with a bow made from 'Real Red' 'Grosgrain Ribbon'.

Another beautful card and such a great way to make use of the 'Two-Step Bird Punch'!!

Tree Trimmings

So today a christmas card to share with you. For those of you who haven't visited my blog for a while i'm away at the moment on holiday, so i have scheduled a weeks worth of my 2010 christmas projects to give you some inspiration as i know that many people start their christmas makes early!

Todays card has been created using the 'Tree Trimmings' stampset (this set is great value for money and very versatile!!)

I have layered some 'Very Vanilla' and 'Real Red' card stock onto a 'Garden Green' cardbase and wrapped some 'Chocolate Chip' 'Grosgrain Ribbon' around.

On some seperate scraps of 'Very Vanilla' i stamped some tree decorations, from the 'Tree Trimmings' set and cut them out using my 'paper snips'.

I then stamped onto the main piece of 'Very Vanilla' decoration strings (also from the 'Tree Trimmings' set) and then sentiment (from a retired SU set) and then placed on the christmas decorations, raising them with a couple of 'Dimensionals'.

These little cards are perfect makes for work colleagues or school classes. You can create 3 cards this size from one sheet of A4! Complete value for money!!

Rockin Robin!

Yesterday i shared with you a cute little robin gift tag. Today i have another project to share with you using the 'Sponge Daubed' robin!!

You know sometimes, no matter how hard you try you can't find a present to suit, so you resort to that bottle of wine - such a versatile gift!!! Well here's a way to make them a little more personal, make a wine bottle gift tag.

For those of you who follow my blog regularly you'll know that i have shared one of these before (click here for instructions on how to make one)  - well here's my christmas take on this project!

The card used for this project is 'Soft Suede'. I layered a piece of 'Very Vanilla' card and you will see that i have used a 'Sponge Dauber' and some 'Soft Suede' ink on the edges. The sentiment is from a retired SU set. The Robin has been punched from 'Very Vanilla' card using the 'Two Step Bird Punch' and i have 'Sponge Daubed' it using 'Early Espresso' and 'Real Red' ink, his wing has been raised using a 'Dimensional. His eye and beak has been drawn in using a 'Basic Black' 'Stampin' Write Marker' and the branches have been crreated from some 'Brights DSP'.

To hang this tag off the bottle, i have punched a '1-3/8" Circle' and bordered it with a 'Scallop Circle'. Here it is serving its intended purpose:

A perfect way to craft what can be a very impersonal gift!