Stop Monkey-ing Around!

Don't forget the stampin up retirement sale is only on for this month. Many items are on sale and everything on the list is going for good. In other words 'you snooze, you lose'

One item that already has sold out is the favourite set 'Fox and Friends'

At the weekend I went around my crafty friend Jades and we used this set one last time to make this card:

On a 'Crumb Cake' card base (trimmed shorter on the front) we layered a piece of 'Chocolate Chip' card edged along one side using the 'Scallop Trim' Punch. We then layered a piece of 'Pool Party' card, with a stamped sentiment from the retiring 'Happiest Birthday' stampset.

We then punched out three branches using the 'Two Step Bird Punch' from 'Old Olive' cardstock and glued them into place. Finally we stamped three monkeys from 'Fox and Friends' onto 'Crumb Cake' card using 'Chocolate Chip' ink. We cut these by hand and glued them into place.

As I said this stampset is now out of stock. Don't miss out on other retiring sets you love. Check out the list on the right hand side of my blog NOW and then email over your order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

A Monkey New Baby Card From Jade!

Back again with another beautiful handmade new baby card. This time a card made by the wonderfully crafty Jade!

She actually used my own stamp set, 'Fox and Friends' to create this card with the cute little monkeys (very sneaky!)  Jade carefully stamped them using her 'stamp-a-ma-jig' so they 'hang' from each other. You will see the middle one has been cut out by hand and raised up with dimensionals and his tail is looped into one of the letters, i love this effect!

Jade used the 'Top Note die' cut from 'Whisper White' card stock and mounted this onto a 'Bashful Blue' 'Top Note' and then added the lettering cut with the 'Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies', of course stamping the cheeky monkeys first.

Jade the stamped out  out the 'hello baby' sentiment from the 'Teeny Tiny Wishes 'stamp set placed just above the 'BOY' inked in 'Bashful Blue', and then she mounted the panel onto 'Shimmery White card; and added a 'designer button' to finish.

I just love this card and of course with changing of sentiments and wordings it could be a fab kids birthday card too!

Thanks Jade!!This card is fab and will most definately be going in Xanders scrapbook!  xxxxxxx

Camberley WI Demo!!

Stupid baby brain!!! It wasn't until the beginning of this week that i realised that i made a stupid mistake a double booked myself for tonight. I should have been assisting Jade (a fellow Stampin up!) tonight as she is visiting the very large Camberley WI group - unfortunately it had completely excaped my mind that it is also my work open evening tonight so now i'm unable to go along and Jade will have to demo solo! I'm sure she'll do a fab job!! We designed the card that Jade will be demoing to the ladies at the weekend. The plan is that Jade will show the ladies how to make the card and to show off some Stampin' Up! products and then assist the ladies to make the coordinating bookmark!

To create the card:

On a 'Soft Suede' cardbase we layered some 'Old Olive' card and some 'DSP' from the 'Cheerful Treat' hostess collection. We then glued in place some strips of 'Soft Suede' and 'Old Olive' card across the card and then stamped the sentiment from the 'Petite Pairs' stampset onto some 'Very Vanilla' card and then punched it out using the 'Curly Label' punch.

To create the coordinating bookmark:

On a strip of 'Soft Suede' card we stamped the 'Woodgrain' pattern using 'Chocolate Chip' ink. We punched a 'Scallop Circle' from some 'Old Olive' card and then stamped the wise old owl from 'Fox and Friends' stampset using 'Chocolate Chip' ink and then punched it out using '1-3/8" Circle Punch'.

We tucked the bookmark into the card to finalise the design!! I hope the ladies enjoy crafting with Jade this evening!

Crafty Boots Challenge:No Girls Allowed!!!

It's that time again ... another Crafty Boots Challenge! This fortnights theme is: No girls allowed (not necessarily boys stuff just no images of girls allowed!)

So here is my DT creation for this challenge. It features the 'Fox and Friends' stampset - which i love so much!

I started with a 'More Mustard' cardbase, which i stamped with 'paw prints' from the 'Patterned Pets' stampset (also in 'More Mustard' ink). Along the spine of the card i glued some 'Chocolate Chip' 'DSP'. I then cut a strip of 'Cajun Craze' card which i edged using the 'Scallop Trim Border Punch' and glued down the middle of the card.

On a piece of 'Very Vanilla' card i stamped the lion image fromt he 'Fox and Friends' stampset in 'More Mustard' ink. I punched it out using the 'Curly Label Punch' and then lightly distressed the edges using some 'Chocolate Chip' ink and a 'Sponge Dauber'. I then mounted this onto several 'Cajun Craze' 'Curly Labels'. On a seperate piece of 'Very Vanilla' card i stamped out the lions face using 'Cajun Craze' ink, cut it out and then glued it into place using a 'Dimensional' to create a 3D effect.

Finally i stamped the 'happy birthday' sentiment from the 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' stampset and punched it out using the 'Word Window Punch'.

i think you'll agree a masculine card - that is definately not for girls!! I can't wait to see your Crafty Boot Challenge entries!!

Don't forget if you would like to order any Stampin' Up! products - why not take a browse through the catalogues on the right of this blog. You only have until the end of the month to order any items you love from the 'Spring Mini Catalogue' before they're not available... so get your order in ASAP - email me today: amyjtidd@gmail.com (and don't forget if your order is £45 or more you will recieve a FREE pack of DSP with your order, as well as FREE P&P (usually £4.95)

Patchwork Everyday Enchantment Fox and Tortoise Cards!

Hey all, back again today with more cards that feature retiring Sale-a-bration papers - 'Everyday Enchantment DSP'. If you would like to own these papers for yourself you will have to make a qualifying order by the end of this week... don't delay - email over your order today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Today i have a card inspired by my upline Cate - but altered a bit to suit my style. So here are the two cards:

The cardbase is 'Poppy Parade'. On which i layered some 'Very Vanilla' card. I stamped the 'thankyou' sentiment from the 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' on the bottom, using 'Chocolate Chip' ink. I punched out 12 squares using the 'Postage Stamp Punch' for each of these cards from 'Everyday Enchantment DSP'  and layered them. On both cards i punched a piece of 'Very Vanilla' using the 'Modern Label Punch', which i 'Sponge Daubed' using 'Chocolate Chip' ink and tucked a piece of 'Very Vanilla' 'Seaming Ribbon' before gluing it in place.

The differentiating feature of the two cards are the characters that i have used form the 'Fox and Friends' set. First up the cute tortoise, which i inted using 'Pear Pizzazz' and 'Chocolate Chip' 'Stampin' Write Markers' and raised using a 'Dimensional' to give a 3D effect:

Next up the wise old owl!! Which i inked in 'Chocolate Chip', cut out and raised using a 'Dimensional':

Check out the SALE-A-BRATION stampsets and papers in the leaflet on the righthand side of this blog. Make a qualifying order of £45 to get one for FREE! Email me today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Mock Croc Technique (and tutorial!)

Hi everyone! Yesterday i went to a Stampin' Up! meeting with my team - the Blue Angels. There was 10 of us at the meeting at it was lovely to catch up with everyone and share ideas. Cate organised a couple of lovely make and take projects (which i will share with over the next week or so!) and we also did some swap projects. Basically we all made one project and produced it 10 times and swapped them with one another - which means i now have lots of lovely projects to share with all my CraftyThINKers!

Anyway i decided to do something a bit different for my swaps. I have seen the 'mock croc' technique online - it is basically a technique where you can 'alter' a simple piece of card creating it into a piece of faux leather (I'm therefore entering this into 'CupCake Craft Challenge', this weeks challenge is 'Alter It') that looks like this:

I have seen this technique used in several tutorials online and thought i'd give it a go to create some bookmarks for my swaps - the finished product looked like this:

Would you like to know how to create this effect? Well here you go - for the first time ever on my Crafty ThINKer blog i have created a step-by-step technique tutorial:

Step 1:

Start with a piece of cardstock and cut it to size - it can be any colour you like - in this tutorial i use 'Chocolate Chip'

Step 2:

Then dab your 'Versa Mark' (which can be found in the Stampin' Up catty) completely over your cardstock.

Step 3:

Next sprinkle 'Clear Embossing Powder' completely over your card!

Step 4:

Now use your 'Bone Folder' to squiggle lines through your clear embossed cardstock - don't think about it too much just do it nice and quickly!

Step 5:

Then use your 'Heat Tool', heat your 'Clear Embossing Powder' to create a shiny texture.

Final Product:

And you end up with a faux leather effect!!! Clever huh!

The bookmarks:

You can actually create 14 bookmarks from one piece of A4 card!! As i said before i used 'Chocolate Chip' cardstock. To create the toppers i stamped some tortoises from the 'Fox and Friends' stampset onto 'Very Vanilla' cardstock - using 'Soft Suede' and 'Wild Wasabi' 'Stampin' Write Markers'. I punched them out using a '1-3/8" Circle Punch' and mounted them on some 'Wild Wasabi' 'Scallop Circles'.

Here's a final close-up:

Sorry for the massively long post - hope you have found the tutorial useful - i would love to see any projects that you make using these techniques - please email me any pics of your crafty makes!!

Now... one final thing - tomorrow is the launch of the Crafty Boots Challenge Site - as you may know i'm a member of the design team! I'd love as many of you CraftyThINKers to get involved with the challenge! I'll be keeping an eye out for you all!!!

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!!

Welcome Baby!

As i mentioned in a previous post, several friends and family members are expecting babies this summer. So i have a made this card in preperation for this:

I ran a piece of 'Bashful Blue' through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder' to create the card base. The giraffe (from the 'Fox and Friends' stampset) and the 'Welcome Baby' sentiment (from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset) are inked in 'Bashful Blue' on 'Whisper White' card. The giraffe was mounted onto some 'So Saffron' card stock. The card has been embellished with some 'Grosgrain Ribbon' and a 'Basic Pearl' on the sentiment.

I know that we are expecting at least one boy this summer, so this card will be perfect for that occassion!!

Happy Birthday Jack!

Today is my neighbours little boys birthday! Today Jack turns 4! Quite unbelievable really - time has gone by so quickly! I can remember Rory and Poppy bringing him home and he was teeny tiny!!

I'm obviously out of country so i have been ultra prepared and made cards in advance for birthdays, anniversaries etc...

So here is the card that i have made for Jack:

This card was a fairly quick make. Starting with a 'Pear Pizzazz' base. The next layer is 'DSP' which is from the 'In Colours' Level 1 hostess pack. Next a piece of 'Whisper White' cardstock, stamped with the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment from the 'Something to Celebrate' (Level 2 hostess) set, in 'Early Espresso' ink. I have used a strip of 'Soft Suede' in the centre, and edged this using the 'Eyelet Border Punch'. The cute little monkey is from the 'Fox and Friends' stampset and has been stamped in 'Chocolate Chip' ink, i have used a 'Crumb Cake' 'Stampin' Write Marker' to colour in his belly and face! I punched him out using the '1-3/8" Circle Punch' and layed him (using a 'dimensional' on a 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Scalloped Circle'.

A perfectly fitting card for the little monkey that is known as Jack. (I'm allowed to say that as he refers to me as the 'Cat Lady'. Hehe! Hope you have a fab day!! xxx

I'm off to Tanzania!

Jambo all! 'Jambo' means hello in Swahili! Yes, today's the day i'm off to Tanzania today for four whole weeks! I really can't wait! I'm going on a work trip and taking 15 students with me, we have a jam packed expedition planned and during our trip we will be going of safari, volunteer work in schools, some conservation work, as well as some scuba diving!! It's going to be amazing!

Now i thought it would be completely fitting to have an African themed project for today. We will be celebrating a couple of birthday's whilst we are away, so here's one of the cards that i have made to take out with me:

This card style is referred to as a 'Tri-Fold Card'.  I have used the wonderful 'Colour Coach' to match up these colours. The card used here is 'More Mustard', 'Cajun Craze' and 'night of Navy'. The lion comes from the 'Fox and Friends' stampset, and i have stamped them in 'Cajun Craze' and 'More Mustard' ink. The central lion has been stamped on  a scrap of 'Very Vanilla' cardstock, which has been punched out using the '1-3/8" Circle Punch' and i have used a 'Sponge Dauber' to edge the circle with some 'cajun Craze' ink. i have layered this lion on a 'Night of  Navy' 'Scallop circle'. The sentiment is from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset, inked in 'Night of Navy'. You may notice that there is also some 'Early Espresso' 'Satin Ribbon' to hold the card together.

This card style is quite unusual as it doesn't stand the same way as a regular card, so i have created a folded stand to prop this card up:

Now don't worry i'm not completely neglecting you. I have scheduled blog posts whilst i'm away so please keep checking back! Hope you have a lovely July!! xx

Cupcake Challenge 145... Things with Tails!

Hi all! Hope you are all having a good week. My latest Stampin' Up! order arrived yesterday! I now have a full set of 'Stampin' Write Markers!! Woo hoo! Can't wait to play and show you what i have come up with!!

Also a couple of my regular customers put through an order and i had the pleasure of delivering these to them today! I always like to give my customers a little thankyou gift and so i made a little 'Pillow Box' for each of them and placed some ribbons and buttons in each of them:

Both the boxes were made by running cardstock through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Pillow Box Die'.

Here's some close up's of these creations:

This first box is created with 'Crumb Cake' card. Before assembling the box i used the foliage stamp from the 'Growing Green' set and stamped it all over the box template with 'Crumb Cake' ink. Next i stamped the turtle from the 'Fox and Friends' set in 'Pear Pizzazz' onto a scrap of 'Very Vanilla' and punched it out with the '1-3/4" Circle Punch' and then mounted on a 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Scallop Circle Punch'. I embellished the scallop with some 'Basic Pearls'. I wrapped some 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Binding Ribbon' around the box.

Here's the second box:

The cardstock used for the second 'Pillow Box' is 'Pacific Point'. The whale is from the 'Fox and Friends' stampset and has been stamped in 'Tempting Turqouise' ink on some 'Very Vanilla' card. This has been punched out using the same circle punch as above mounted on a 'Daffodil Delight' 'Scalloped Circle'. Finally a piece of 'Grosgrain Ribbon' is wrapped around the box.

Why not make an order and get a free gift as a token of my thanks!! The catalogues are available to view on the right of this blog, but i'm happy to send you a real catalogue if you want to browse! My email address is amyjtidd@gmail.com

I'm entering these creations into the Cupcake Craft Challenge, which this week is 'Things with Tails'.

Thank You to All My Lovely Customers!!!

Hi everyone! How exciting, i returned home from work yesterday to a massive box of Stampin' Up! goodies, lots of customer orders (as well as a few little 'treats' for myself!)

I always like to say thankyou to my customers with a little handmade card. So last night i made a batch of thankyou cards, here they are:

The cardbase is 'Bashful Blue', which i ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder'. The owl (from the 'Fox & Friends' set) is stamped in 'Pear Pizzazz' ink on 'Whisper White' cardstock, then punched out using a '1-1/4 Circle Punch', then mounted with 'Dimensionals' onto a '1-3/8 Circle' punched out in 'Bashful Blue'. Both of which were mounted onto a 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Scallop Circle'. The 'thank you' sentiment is from the 'Because i Care' level 1 hostess set, inked in 'Pear Pizzazz' ink on 'Whisper White', mounted again on a scrap of 'Pear Pizzazz' cardstock. I always leave my customer cards blank so they can reuse them if they wish. I hope you like them!!! Here's a close up:

I'm regularly putting Stampin' Up! orders through, so if you would like to make an order drop me an email: amyjtidd@gmail.com

As i said, i have a few new crafty goodies!!! So i'm hoping i can have a play this weekend! Can't wait to share all my creations with you!!

May the Forth Be With You!

Hi all, Hope you are well! I can't believe how quickly the week is flying by!! Today is my friend Lucinda's little boy's first birthday!! Happy 1st Birthday Harry!!!

Here is the card that i made for the little man:

This card is CASE'd from my upline Cate (Blueangelcrafts). The card used is ' Wild Wasabi', 'Bashful Blue' and 'Whisper White'. Firstly i created the 'Harry' using 'Bashful Blue' and 'Wild Wasabi' ink and the 'Broadsheet Alphabet' stampset (I used the 'stamp-a-ma-jig' to line up the letters nice and straight). The 'is' is handwritten using an 'Old Olive' 'Stampin' Write Marker' and the '1' is created using 'Schoolbook Serif Numbers' set.

The tumbling monkeys come from the 'Fox & Friends' stampset, inked in 'Soft Suede' and then i have coloured in their faces using 'Crumb Cake' ink and a blender pen! They look mischevious don't they!?!

I hope little Harry likes his card! I was really tempted to make him a Star Wars card given the fact his birthday is on May the 4th, but i'm sure he will be sick of that joke in a few more years time!!

I also want to take the opportunity with this post to plug Lucinda's blog: Bakes, Books and my Boys. It is absolutely fabulous. Seriously this blog could easily be transformed into a book and make her millions! It's a brilliant guide to becoming a perfect housewife! Please take a look!!