A Flower Bookmark!

Last month i made this beautiful bookmark at a 'Big Shot' craft class hosted by Jade and i just had to share it with you:

We created this bookmark by running some 'So Saffron' card through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Fun Flowers Die'. We distressed the edges of the flower using a 'Sponge Dauber' and some 'Early Espresso' ink and then glued all the components together. We secured a 'Designer Button' threaded with 'Bakers Twine' to the centre of the flower using 'Red Sticky Tape'. Finally we glued a piece of 'Satin Ribbon' to the back of the flower!

Check back on my blog tomorrow to see how we used this bookmark to create a beautiful card!!

Happy Fathers Day!!

Today is FATHERS DAY!! So wishes all the Dads out there a very happy day - i hope you all get spoilt rotten!

I couldn't resist making hubby a Fathers Day card from bump!! So here it is:

I have Jade to thank for this design as i CASE'd it from her last week when she came around mine for a crafty session!! On a 'Pool Party' cardbase i ran a strip of 'DSP' from the 'Beau Chateau' collection down one side. On some 'Whisper White' card i stamped the dad image and the baby image created using the 'All in the Family' stampset. (TIP: use a 'stamp-a-ma-jig' to line up the componants' of the set) I coloured these images in using a selection of 'Stampin' Write Markers' and then carefully snipped them out. I created the 'Daddy' by running some 'Marina Mist' card through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Timeless Type Alphabet Dies' and glued the images and letter into place on the cardbase. Finally i stamped the 'Happy Fathers Day' sentiment, from the 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' set along the bottom of the card (using 'Marina Mist' ink). Finally i threaded some 'Linen Thread' through a 'Marina Mist' 'Designer Button' and then glued it into place on the top lefthand corner of the card!!

I hope my hubby (and every other Dad) has a lovely fathers day!!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Hey all, Sorry it has been a few days since my last post - we are currently going through the joys of changing internet provider and have therefore been without my laptop for a day or two... but now i'm back!

I hope you're all having a wonderful jubilee weekend. Shame about the weather, but nethertheless we've still been making the most of some time off! Today we went to visit hubby's nanny and grandpa, as it is his grandpas birthday on Tuesday (we're going on a babymoon to Bath) so needed to drop his gift, card and cake around today. So today i have the card i made for him, featuring the 'Need for Speed' stampset - perfect for masculine makes:

On a piece of 'Bashful Blue' card i stamped the aircraft image from the 'Need For Speed' set three times in 'Basic Grey' ink. I stamped the 'happy birthday' and 'Grandpa' sentiments from 'For my Family' set (using 'Night of Navy' ink.) I tore the edge of this card, layering it onto a piece of 'Night of Navy' and then a piece of 'Red Riding Hood'. I punched three holes into the 'Red Riding Hood' card and placed three brads through and then wrapped some 'Linen Thread' around several times, tying it off in a bow. Finally i glued this all onto a 'Night Of Navy' cardbase.

I hope Frank has a lovely birthday Tuesday, and i promise my posts will be more regular! Hope you didn't miss me too much! xxxxx

A Regal Colour Pallette Card.

Today i have a card that i have made that is not my usual kinda card. To be honest i usually stick to the Stampin' Up! 'Brights', 'Subtles' and 'In Colour' collections. But i recently did a recce of my cardstock and realised i had a lot of 'Regal' card that i have barely touched. So i decided to go out of my comfort zone and create a card with this range of colours:

This card was inspired by a card made by Catherine Pooler and love the way the 'Decorative Label Punch' is used to create a border! It started life as a 'Bravo Burgundy' cardbase. The 'DSP' used in this project is from the 'Paisley Petals' collection and i have used some 'More Mustard' card punched out using 'Decorative Label Punch' to create the border along the side of the card.

On a strip of 'Very Vanilla' cardstock i stamped the congrats sentiment from the 'Tagtastic' stampset (available as a hostess set) using 'Bravo Burgundy' and 'Baja Breeze' 'Stampin' Write Markers'. I mounted this onto a slightly wider 'More Mustard' card and finally finished off the card by threading some 'Linen Thread' though a 'Marina Mist' 'Designer Button'.

I love this card and it was such a quick make! I will definately be using this layout in the future and i love finding a new way to use my 'Decorative Label Punch'!

If you like any of the products used within this project then why not make an order. Email one over today: amyjtidd@gmail.com and don't forget you will recieve a FREE pack of 'DSP' (RRP £9.95) with all orders of £45 or over! And for the month of April i will also offer FREE P&P (usually £4.95) direct to your door with all orders over £45! This is an exclusive offer to MY customers!!

Button Buddies Baby Rattle Card!

Today i have a card to share with you using the fab 'Button Buddies' stampset:

This stampset is quite literally AMAZING ... because it completely coordinates with the 'Stampin' Up! Designer Buttons'. I have had a lot od fun recently playing with this set and last week created this card:

This card features 'Nursery Nest DSP' - which you can recieve for FREE throughout April if you make an order of £45! I love this paper collection - and it is SO versatile! I layered this paper onto a 'Pear Pizzazz' cardbase. I ran a piece of knotted 'Seaming Ribbon' around the card.

I ran some 'Pear Pizzazz' and 'Pink Pirouetter' card through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Perfect Pennant Die' to create the doily shapes and layered them on top of one another - using some 'Dimensionals' to create a 3D effect! Next on a piece of 'Whisper White' card i stamped the sentiment 'welcome baby' from the 'Petite Pairs' stampset in 'Pear Pizzazz' and the rattle image (from the 'Button Buddies' set) in 'Marina Mist'. I finally attached a 'Marina Mist' 'Designer Button' with some 'Linen Thread' tied through!

If you want to make an order - and get a pack of DSP for free, don't delay! Catalogues are on the right of this blog for your viewing. Email over your order to amyjtidd@gmail.com

Sale-A-Bration: Fresh Vintage Butterfly Card!

Hey all! Today i have ANOTHER fab card created using one of the lovely stampsets that you can earn for FREE with every £45 purchase of Stampin' Up! products!! (This deal is available from the 24th January til the 31st March'.

This week i'm showcasing the beautiful 'Fresh Vintage' stampset and the card i have to share with you today also features the 'Everyday Enchantment DSP' that is also available in the Sale-A-Bration deal!!

The 'Everyday Enchantment DSP' is a beautiful collection of papers - take a look:

And here is the card that i made using them:

This card started life as a 'Crumb Cake' cardbase! On a piece of 'Baja Breeze' i stamped the foilage stamp from the 'Fresh Vintage' stampset randomly all over it! Before gluing it onto the cardbase i punched a strip of 'Pear Pizzazz' card using the 'Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch' and then glued it underneath!

The three butterflies have been punched out of the Sale-A-Bration 'Everyday Enchantment DSP' using the 'Butterfly Punch'. Before gluing them down i wrapped some 'Linen Thread' around the butterflies and placed a 'Basic Pearl' on the centre of each one! And you may notice that on the green butterfly i stamped on the flower stamp (in 'Soft Suede' ink).

Finally i stamped the 'get well wishes' sentiment from the 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' set onto some 'Crumb Cake' card using 'Soft Suede' ink. I punched this out using the 'Word Window Punch' and placed two teeny tiny 'Basic Pearls' either side of the sentiment!!

I just love this stampset and the papers! If you like them as much as i do then why not make a qualifying Stampin' Up! order and get them for FREE!! Email over your order today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Lovely As A Tree!

OK, a non-Christmas card for you today!! Shock, horror!!! Today i have a lovely card made by a fellow demonstrator Diane - and this card has a beautiful autumnal theme! It features the beautiful 'Lovely as a Tree' stampset, which is such a stunning and versatile set - and is most definately on my wishlist!

The card base Diane used is 'Cajun Craze' from the 'Regals' collection (i often overlook these colours and must make more of an effort to use them!), she stamped the cardbase with with the oak leaf image from the Lovely as a Tree set in 'Soft Suede' and 'Cajun Craze' ink. The main image has been inked with 'Soft Suede' ink onto 'Very Vanilla' card and them mounted on matching card stock. Isn't it a beautiful image!

 

Diane used the sentiment is from the 'Clearly for You' stampset and has been inked to match the image and then punched with the 'Jewelry Tag Punch', as has the leaf image (also from the 'Lovely as a Tree' stampset), and both tags have been tied with 'Linen Thread'. I think you'll agree it is a completely beautiful card!!

 

This is the great thing about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, there is a fab team around you and you really feel like you are part of a community. It is lovely to be friends with so many talented crafty people!! I'm always getting inspiration from the team! Fancy joining us? Email me your contact details and i will give you a call for a friendly, no pressure chat! You can earn money sharing what you love with others, what can be better than that?! Get in touch: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Half-term Craft Retreat!

Yes it's half-term and me and my friend Ruth are off to the Isle of Wight for a few days to stay at her Dad's place and yes we will be taking our craft kits along!! So i will have lots and lots of crafty projects to share with you when i return on Wednesday. But don't worry ... i have scheduled some crafty projects for you Crafty ThINKers to enjoy in my absence!!

So today a crafty 'Pillow Box' project to share with you:

To make this gift box i ran some 'Real Red' card through the 'big Shot' using the 'Pillow Box Die' and constructed it using some 'Red Sticky Strip', i wrapped some 'Old Olive' 'DSP' around the 'Pillow Box' and then wrapped some 'Early Espresso' 'Satin Ribbon' in a bow! I used the 'A Special Treat' tag punch from the  wonderful new hostess stampset 'Tagtastic', stamped it using some 'Early Espresso' ink onto some 'Old Olive' card. I punched it out using the 'Extra Large Tag Punch'. I punched a hole in the top using my 'Crop-a-Dile' - i threaded through some 'Linen thread' and tied it around the 'Satin Ribbon'.

And there you go ... a lovely christmas gift box! Want to buy the 'Pillow Box Die'? Then email me over an order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

New Stampset: Delicate Doilies!

Today i want to share with a brand new stampset from the new catty - which i absolutely LOVE! I think it is definately going to be one of my new favourites! It can be found on page 69 of the new catalogue and is called 'Delicate Doilies' and they look like this:

Lovely big doilies that could be used in so many ways! At the weekend i went to Cates house (my uplines). She and Diane (another member of the Blue Angels Team' hosted their new catty launch party and Cate designed a card using this fab stampset and i couldn't resist making one! Here it is:

A 'Melon Mambo' cardbase, which has been stamped all over with one of the smaller doilie stamps (also in 'Melon Mambo ink', Then we layered a rectangle of the new 'Flirtatious DSP' onto some 'Whisper White' card. Then we ran some 'Melon Mambo' card through the 'Big Shot' using the new and absolutely fab 'Perfect Pennants Die' to create the cut out doilie shape. One another piece of 'Whisper White' we stamped another 'Doilie' from the set using the new ink colour 'Wisteria Wonder' and punched this out using the '1-3/4" Circle Punch' and raised this using 'Dimensionals'. Finally placing a 'Melon Mabo' 'Designer Button' threaded with 'Linen Thread'.

The 'Congratulations' sentiment is from the 'Wedding Sweet' stampset, inked in 'Melon Mambo, punched out using the 'Word Window Punch', layered (with 'dimensionals') onto a 'Pretty in Pink' 'Modern Label' Finally finished off with two 'Basic Rhinestones' for a little bit of bling!

I think you'll agree Stampin' Up! has done a great job with its new products, this stampset is beautifully versatile! As is the 'Perfect Pennants Die', check them out!!!

If you'd like to make an order drop me an email: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Happy Birthday Iwona!

Yesterday was my friend Iwona's birthday! I hope she had a lovely day! We went out last night for a few drinks!! I couldn't resist making her a birthday card. She has such a bright and cheery character, so i couldn't resist making her a bright and cheery card:

I have used the stunningly bright 'Daffodil Delight' cardstock for this cardbase. I then cut a strip of 'Daffodil Delight' for the centre of the card and then used the 'Eyelet Border Punch' on both sides of this strip of card and glued this into place. I then cut a thinner strip of 'Play Date DSP' and glued that in the centre if the 'Daffodil Delight' strip.

I punched out three flowers using the 'Fancy Flower Punch': one from 'Pacific Point' cardstock, one from 'Daffodil Delight' 'DSP' and one from 'Real Red' 'DSP', both from the 'Brights DSP Stack'.  I layered all three of these and secured them in placed with 'Red Sticky Tape'. I placed a 'Daffodil Delight' 'Designer Button' (with some 'Linen Thread' tied in a bow) onto the centre of the flowers, secured again with some 'Red Sticky Tape'.

The 'Happy Birthday' sentiment comes from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset and was inked in 'Pacific Point'.

I hope Iwona liked her card and had an amazing birthday!!!

Because I Care: A card for Julie

The lovely thing about card making is that you can send a card to friends and family members that totally suit the purpose, rather than trawling around the shops or settling for something less than perfect.

It's lovely to send a card to someone for a happy purpose - a birthday, a celebration, a wedding or anniversary, but sometimes you need to send a card to someone who needs to be cheered up.

A Stampin' Up! friend of mine - Julie Halls is having a bit of a tough time at the mo, and i just wanted to let her know that i'm thinking of her and personally i feel there's no better way than a handmade card:

I have CASE'd this card, but cannot find the name of who originally made it so sadly can't give the artist credit - sorry. the cardbase is 'Crumb Cake'. I have layered some strips of  'Springtime Vintage DSP' onto a rectangle of 'Very Vanilla' cardstock. I wrapped around some 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming Ribbon', stamped the 'because I CARE' sentiment (from the 'Because i Care' stampset) in 'Baja Breeze' (using my 'stamp-a-ma-jig' to ensure it's nice and straight!) and finally a coordinating 'Designer Button' with some 'Linen Thread' tied through!

I hope Julie likes this card and it makes her feel a little better about things, and when she's feeling up to it, it would be lovely to all meet up for a crafty crop!!

Handbags and gladrags!!

Hi all, i hope you're all having a lovely weekend!! Today i have a handbag style card to share with all you lovely crafty people. Here it is:

A really quick card to make - starting with a 'Crumb Cake' card base, which i have layered with some 'Elegant Soiree' 'DSP'. I then cut a seperate strip of 'Crumb cake' and cut off two corners to create the handbag flap. I then ran some 'Very Vanilla' card through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder' and then cut that slightly smaller than the crumb cake strip. I used my 'Crop-adile' to punch two small holes at the top of the card and ran some 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming Ribbon' to create the bag handle. I placed a 'Designer Button' with some 'Linen Thread' to create the bag clasp, and placed some 'Paper Flowers' in the right corner of the bag design, layered on some 'Baja Breeze' 'Satin Ribbon', with another 'Designer Button' with 'Linen thread' placed in the centre.

I'm entering this card into the Glitter Geeks challenge: Handbags and Gladrags. This is the third week of challenges offered by the Glitter Geeks - check them out and get involved!!

I'm also entering this card into the Daring Cardmakers challenge, which this week is 'Something Old, Something New...' Here's how the elements of my card fit the challenge:

• Something Old: The 'Paper Flowers' - they're retired Stampin' Up! stock, so i have had them quite a while.
• Something New: The 'DSP' i have used in this project - 'Elegant Soiree' is brand new (and isn't it lovely!!)
• Something Borrowed: The 'Baja Breeze' 'Satin Ribbon' is the remainder of a borrowed length.
• Something Blue: Quite obvious - the 'DSP', the 'Designer Buttons' amd the 'Seaming Ribbon'.

Right, i've managed to complete all my jobs for today and so i'm off to do some crafting in the garden!! Have a lovely Sunday!

Another Father's Day Card!

Here's another Father's Day card that i made. Some of you who have followed my blog for a while may recognise this design. It is a variation of a birthday card that i made some time back:

This card uses the fab 'Motorcycle' stamp from the  'A la Carte' range in the 'Mini Catalogue' The cardstock used for this card was 'Crumb Cake', the motorcycle was stamped using 'Early Espresso' ink on 'Whisper White' card, mounted on 'Early Espresso'. I have used a 'sponge dauber' to create a dust effect. I have also wrapped some 'linen thread' around to finish it off. The sentiment is from the 'Something to Celebrate' set (a level 2 stampset from the mini catalogue)

That's two done - one more to go. You will have to wait until Father's Day to see that one!!
Have a great weekend! xxx

Cupcake Craft Challenge: Bookworm

Hi all! Here's my 'Cupcake Craft Challenge' entry. The theme this week is: Bookworm. You have to make a card with a book theme or a bookmark. I decided to adapt a previous bookmark i made using the 'Flower Daisies #2 Die' instead.

I ran some 'Whisper White' and 'Daffodil Delight' cardstock through the 'Big Shot' several times using the 'Flower Daisies #2 Die' and then layered up the daisy shapes to create the flower, using 'Sticky Red Tape' to stick them all together. I then threaded some 'linen thread' through a 'Certainly Celery' 'Designer Button' and stuck that in the centre. Here's a close up of the beautiful flower:

To complete the bookmark i punched out a '1-3/4" Circle punch', stuck that on the back, then using 'Red Sticky Tape' attached some 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Seaming Ribbon' to the back and then sandwiched the ribbon between another punched circle. Here's the bookmark minus the book:

I hope you like this project. I value your comments! xxx

For All You Bookworms!!

Hello all! Today i want to share with you a lovely bookmark that i CASE'd from Dawn Griffiths website: dawnsstampinthoughts which is a wonderful website with fab tutorials! Here it is:

The flowers have been created using 'Certainly Celery' cardstock, a 'Big Shot' and the 'Bigz L Fun Flowers Die', i have 'Sponge Daubed' the edges with 'Early Espresso' ink and then constructed with 'Dimensionals'. Here's a close up:

You will see a 'Certainly Celery' 'Designer Button' has been placed in the middle, it has some 'Linen Thread' threaded through the middle. I have also used the 'Tiny Tag Punch'. I have used some 'Early Espresso' 'Satin ribbon' to create the bookmark! Here's the bookmark without the stunning 'mini catalogue' model!!

I think this would be a lovely crafty creation to make and give as a gift. Maybe if you're giving the gift of a book you could make one of these to make the gift more personal!! I know i certainly will be from now on!!!

Let's Celebrate!!

Good afternoon everyone! I hope you are all coping with this 5 day working week! I'm already shattered!!

Today i feel like celebrating!! I started this blog in mid March, and have managed (so far) to post a crafty project everyday!! and to my amazement i have an amazing 32 followers!! woo hoo! Thanks to every single one of you for your support! Here's my card to celebrate!!

This card is CASE'd from Andrea Walfords blog and was quite a quick make!! The cardbase is 'Real Red', i have then used some 'DSP' from the 'Brights' collection and some 'Whisper White' card. The bunting has been created using the '1-3/8" Circle Punch' in a variety of 'Brights DSP', i folded them in half and then stuck these down with 'SNAIL adhesive'. I have used some 'Linen Thread'. The 'celebrate' sentiment is from the Level 2 'Something to Celebrate' hostess set (i have used 'Real Red' ink) and as always i have used my 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' to line up the 'celebrate!' sentiments up perfectly!!

This card would make a perfect birthday invitation or party acceptance, or even a birthday card and is a great way of using up all those little scraps of DSP you simply can't bear to throw away!!!

Baby Blossoms!

Hi all, hope you are all well! I've had a lovely start to my easter hols! Yesterday i went to London to visit Fiona a good friend of mine who i use to work with. We had a great time trawling Camden market, looking in all the vintage shops and managed to pick up a couple of bargains! Today i went out for a wander around the shops and out for some lunch with my sister. Good times!!
Today i want to share with you a card i made with my friend Sally last week at our weekly craft club at work. We were lacking inspiration and so browsed online and found a great blog called 'roseyscraper' and we case'd a card from there featuring the beautiful 'Baby Blossoms' stampset from the mini catalogue (If you love Cath Kidson you will LOVE this stampset!)

The card features the beautiful 'Springtime Vintage DSP, from the mini catalogue. I have used the 'Scallop Edge Border' Punch. The flower has been stamped from the 'Baby Blossoms' stampset. You have to stamp the images in stages, so a 'stamp-a-ma-jig' is a vital piece of kit!! The flower uses 'Pear Pizzazz', 'Rose Red' and 'Pretty in Pink', stamped on 'Very Vanilla' cardstock and punched with the 'Large Tag' Punch, I have mounted this on 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Extra Large Tag' punch. The card has been finished off with some 'Rose Red Seaming Ribbon' from the mini, and a little piece of 'linen thread'.

A perfect card for spring i think!! I'm planning to spend the day with Sal on Thursday so hoping to make lots of lovely things to share with you! (I recieved a massive Stampin' Up! order today with lots of goodies, so have plenty of new things to play with!!) So check back soon!!

One for the Men!

OK, it's official i think  i love ALL the Mini Catalogue products! One stamp that i've really enjoyed stamping with is the 'motorcycle' stamp!! I always find it difficult to make cards for men, but this single stamp makes creating a card very easy!! You can use it quite simply - stamping it and then colouring it in, but i decided to do something a bit different with it, and try to make it look like a moving image by stamping it several times:

The cardstock used for this card was 'Crumb Cake', the motorcycle was stamped using 'Early Espresso' ink on 'Whisper White' card, mounted on 'Early Espresso'. I have used a 'sponge dauber' to create a dust effect. I have also wrapped some 'linen thread' around to finish it off. The sentiment is also inked in 'Early Espresso' and is from the level 3 hostess set 'Occasional Quotes' - this is a stampset you can earn from hosting a craft workshop in your home. If this is something you think you would like to do then drop me an email with your details and i will give you a call to arrange one: amyjtidd@gmail.com

There are also some brand new hostess sets for you to earn in the Mini Catalogue, so now is a good time to consider hosting a party - you will also earn money to spend in the catalogue (the amount will vary depending on how much your friends spend) See the 'Parties' tab above for further details!!

Check back soon! Amyxx

Just for you!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend. Before i show you my latest crafty creation, i want to say a big hello to my latest follower Kirsty!

The card i want to share with you today is a card that i gave to my Nan yesterday for Mother's Day. The card base is 'Old Olive', i have used my 'Crimper' to add a bit more texture to the base.

This card features the (exclusive to Stampin' Up!) 'Top Note' Bigz Die in Rose Red, i have then used another 'Top Note' piece in 'Whisper White' and have trimmed around the perforated edge to make a slightly smaller version. I have used my 'Stampin' Write Markers' to colour in the stamp from the 'Just Believe' Stampset. The 'Just for You' is also from the 'Just Believe' set. I have used some 'Old Olive' ink to edge the 'Top Note' with a 'Sponge Dauber' and used some 'Basic Pearls'. I have finished this card by winding some 'linen thread' around the card! I hope you like! I have lots more crafty creations using products from the mini catalogue so please pop back soon!!

Mon amour...is Crafting!!

Hello everyone, i hope you are having a good week!! Today i would like to share with you a card made using the wonderful 'Artistic Etchings' stampset!

The basecard used is 'Crumb Cake', a subtle background has been created using on of the stamp's from the 'Artistic Etchings' using 'Crumb Cake' ink. The central piece of card is 'Very Vanilla', i have used the 'En Francias' background stamp, again in 'Crumb Cake' ink and then stamped the beautifully detailed Eifel Tower stamp from the set, using 'Soft Suede' ink. I have used some 'linen thread' to add an extra effect and then mounted it on the card at a quirky angle. The card has been finished off using the 'Amour' stamp and some 'sponge daubing' around the edges. Both in 'Soft Suede'.