If you go down to the woods today...

Here's my entry to this weeks Cupcake Craft Challenge. The theme this week is 'If you go down to the woods today...' and basically you have to create a card featuring a teddybear!

My friend Ruth is completely into punch-art (cards created using paper punches) and she has got me hooked aswell! I saw a version of this cute teddybear on Julies website (i had to vary it a little bit because i didn't have a couple of the punches she used) but i'm still very pleased with the final result!

This cute little bear has been made from 'Soft Suede' cardstock. His body has been made from the '1-3/4" Circle Punch', his head from the '1-3/8" punch, his arms from the 'Heart Punch' with i have cut in half and then rounded off the round edge of the heart with the 'Corner Rounder' to make them thinner. His feet are made from a '1/2" Circle Punch' and i have used the '1/4" Circle punch to create his ears and his paws (from Pretty in Pink cardstock). His inner ears have been made using the 'Owl Punch' (the little circles that usually create the owls eyes) I also used the small heart from the 'Owl Punch' to create the bears nose. Before constructing the bear i used a 'Sponge Dauber' with some 'Soft Suede' ink to give some texture.

I placed the bear on some 'DSP' from the (soon retiring) 'Nursery Suite' collection and mounted it onto a 'Pretty in Pink' cardbase.

I popped a 'Welcome Baby' sentiment (from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset) inside the card. Cute hey?! I'm a bit addicted to punch-art now - so keep checking back on this blog to see more!!!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Today is my friend Hannahs birthday! I have completely turned her to the darkside of crafting and i know that she will totally appriciate a handmade card! So here is the card i made her:

I've seen lots of cards of this style before but i haven't actually made one until now! The card base i used was 'Crumb Cake', it bgan life as a neat rectangle and then using my 'Paper Cutter' i trimmed it on a diagonal, and then scored it twice and then folded it one way and then the other, to create a concertina effect. I used some of the beautiful 'Springtime Vintage DSP and cut them to the right size to create the panels. Before gluing down the first panel i wrapped some of the lovely 'Rose Red' 'Seaming Ribbon' around it and then created a pretty big bow!

Here's the card in its unfolded form:

I cut a rectangle of 'Rose Red' cardstock and used my 'Eyelet Border' on one edge. I then mounted a secound rectangle of 'Very Vanilla' on top, with a 'Happy Birthday' sentiment (inked in 'Rose Red') from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset.

Such a pretty card, this 'DSP' is so beautiful and it is such a shame that it is retiring at the end of the month. Make sure you get an order in before it's too late: amyjtidd@gmail.com

I hope Hannah likes her card and has a very happy birthday!!

Happy Birthday Jean! (A 'Springtime Vintage' Card)

Hi guys! Hope you're having a brilliant weekend! I've just got back from a lovely lunch at a local hotel - where we had a massive carvery!! I'm completely stuffed now and can barely move! We went out to celebrate my Nan-in-law's birthday! Before i head off for a lazy afternoon nap i thought i'd post the birthday card that i made for Jean, which i CASEd from the Hautocraft blog, using the beautiful (but sadly retiring) 'Springtime Vintage DSP':

The cardbase is 'Crumb Cake' 5"x5". The 'Rose Red' card used in this card is 4.5"x4.5". I have chopped up lots of 1 inch squares of 'Springtime Vintage DSP' and then arranged them into a 4"x4" square arrangement. I stamped the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment is from the 'Something to Celebrate' hostess stampset. It was stamped in 'Rose Red' ink onto a rectangle of 'Crumb Cake' card and then 'Sponge Daubed' the 'Rose Red' ink around the edges. This is such a lovely card and could obviously be made from any of the beautiful 'DSP' collections Stampin' Up! have to offer! Finally i tied some of the beautiful 'Rose Red' 'Seaming Ribbon' into a bow!

Don't miss out on the lovely 'Springtime Vintage DSP' - IT WILL NOT BE CONTINUING INTO THE NEW CATALOGUE. So if you want to get your crafty paws on some you will have to order it by the end of September. Here is a close up of what these stunningly vintage 12x12 papers look like:

Don't delay - order today: amyjtidd@gmail.com 

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

Owl Be Home Soon!

Hi all. Hope you have lots of lovely things planned for this weekend! I'm sure i'm making the most of my last few days in Tanzania! But almost certain that i will be desperately missing my hubby!!!

Today i have a little voucher card holder to share with you - it is not too different from one i made a month or so back...

This project was made with some 'Pretty in Pink' Cardstock. I started by folding the card as i would do for a regular card make, and then laid it on over my 'Top Note Die' ensuring that the right hand fold would not be cut by the edge of the 'Top Note'. I then layered up my cutting plates and ran it through the 'Big Shot' The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset and has been inked in 'Early Espresso.

I used the 'Owl Punch' and scraps of 'Early Espresso', 'Whisper White' and 'Springtime Vintage DSP' to create the owl, layered him on a 'Whisper White' circle created using the '1-3/4" Circle Punch', his branch has been created from 'Early Espresso' card scraps using the 'Two-Step Bird Punch'. 

Here's the inside of the project:

You will notice that i ran a second piece of 'Pretty in Pink' card through the 'Big Shot', cut it in half to create the voucher holder, i stuck this down securely with some red sticky tape. To complete this project i punched two small holes using my 'Crop-A-Dile' and threaded some 'Chocolate Chip' 'Grosgrain Ribbon' to bind it together.

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 Anniversary Hubby!

Hi all, It's a year today that i had the happiest day of my life marrying my wonderful hubby!!

Unfortuately i'm not in the same country as him to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, but i'm certain that we are going to have plenty more happy anniversaries to make up for this one and we are off to the Dominican Republic when i return from Tanzania to spend some quality time together! I can't wait!!

Here's the card that i made for my wonderful hubby for our first anniversary:

The card base used her is 'Early Espresso', on each panel of the card i have placed a strip of 'DSP' from the 'Woodland Walk' collection, which i have punched a hole out of each using the '1-3/8" Circle Punch'. I have used the 'Owl Punch' to create the his and her owls. The owls were created from scraps of 'Early Espresso', 'Very Vanilla' and some 'Springtime Vintage DSP'. The branches have been created using the 'Two-Step Bird Punch' from 'Certainly Celery' cardstock. Here's the inside of the card:

I have run some 'Crumb Cake' cardstock through the 'Big Shot' with the 'Top Note Die' to create an insert. The sentiment comes from the 'Something to Celebrate' set and has been inked in 'Early Espresso'.

I hope my hubby loves this card, and if by some chance he is looking at this blog i love you baby... can't wait to go to the Dominican Republic and spend some time with you. Miss you xxxx

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

Bordering on Craftiness!!

I can't believe it's Monday again!! I hope you all have a good day - don't forget only four more days until the weekend - not that i'm counting!!

Today i want to share with you my entry into the CAS-ual Fridays challenge, with this week is called 'Getting Edgy!', in other words the challenge was to use a border punch or rip some cardstock to add a fun edge to a card. Here's my card:

The cardbase that i've used for this project is 'So Saffron'. I have then cut strips of 'So Saffron', 'Perfect Plum, 'Pink Pirouette', 'Certainly Celery', 'Bashful Blue' card and edged with the the 'Eyelet Border Punch' and layered these up. To finish off this card i wrapped some 'Certainly Celery' ribbon around. The sentiment is from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset, inked in 'Certainly Celery'. (I ensured it was all nice and straight by using my 'Stamp-a-ma-jig'.)

Hope you like! It's a great way to use up scraps of cardstock!!

Belated Anniversary Wishes: Poppet and Dan!

One for my bestest friends Laura (Poppet) and her hubby Dan got married on the 19th June 2010, so yesterday was their first wedding anniversary! Because of the Father's Day clash i have had to post their card today. Here's the card that i made for them:

The cardbase is 'Pink Pirouette', which was folded like a usual card and then i folded the front over a second time to create a slightly quirky card style. I ran the front panel of the card through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder' to add a bit of texture to this card. I next ran a piece of 'Whisper White' card through the 'Big Shot' with the 'Top Note Die'. Using the beautiful 'Bella Toile' background stamp i stamped the whole of the 'Top Note' with 'Crumb Cake' ink. Using 'Pretty in Pink' ink i stamped two butterflies (created by the A La Carte stamp 'All in a Flutter') The 'Happy Anniverary' sentiment is from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset and has been inked with 'Early Espresso'.

I have placed a second 'Whisper White' 'Top Note' inside the card to create an insert.

I hope Laura and Dan had a wonderful first anniversary and celebrated in style! I can't believe how grown up we all are now... less than one month until mine and my hubby's first anniversary - unbelievable!

Happy Father's Day!!

It's Father's Day! So Happy Father's Day to all you dad's out there!! I hope you have a great day!! Here's another father's day card that i made.

I'm entering this into the 2nd glitter geeks challenge:

This card began life as a piece of 'Very Vanilla' card. Next i ran a piece of 'Baja Breeze' card through the 'Big Shot' with the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder' and placed that at the bottom of the card. Next i cut a strip of 'Soft Suede' card and used the 'Eyelet Border Punch' to create a decorative edging. I made an oragami shirt from some 'DSP' from the 'Elegant Soiree' collection. (There's a tutorial of how to make these shirts at Martha Stewarts blog) I used some scraps of 'Baja Breeze' to make the tie. The sentiment is from the 'Something to Celebrate' stampset and is stamped in 'Basic Gray' ink.

This card is for my Dad. I can actually picture him wearing this shirt! It's definately him!! I hope he likes it!!

Hope you all have lovely plans for father's day! Have a lovely Sunday everyone! xxx

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

Congratulations On Winning Blog Candy!

Now you may remember that last week i ran my blogcandy competition and the lucky Crafty_Nessa won the craft stash!

I finally got my bum in gear and got it posted off to her on Thursday. I heard from Vanessa on Saturday and sadly the parcel was ripped in transit and she still has not recieved all the goodies... which is a real shame. Royal Mail are on the case and is currently searching for the missing items. (Did you know that Royal Mail have twitter?! I've been having a really useful twitter conversation with them trying to locate the missing pieces of the prize!?) Fingers crossed it will arrive soon.

One things that Vanessa definately did recieve is the little Congratulations card that i made for her. Here it is:

The cardbase used is the 'In Colour' 'Concorde Crush'. I next ran some 'Melon Mambo' 'DSP' through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Top Note Die' and then turned it 90 degrees and ran it through again to create this shared shape. The daisy has been created with 'Melon Mambo' and 'Concord Crush' card which has been run through the 'Big Shot' with the 'Flower Daisies Die'. I just love this Die!

I used the 'Top Note Die' and some 'Whisper White' card to create an insert for this card using the same technique:

The congratulations sentiment is from the Level 2 hostess set 'Something to Celebrate' (available in the mini catalogue)

I've entered this card into the Totally Gorjuss craft challenge - the theme this week is : Flower Power.

I hope Vanessa likes her card and i hope that the rest of  her prize finds her soon. For all of you who were not lucky this time, don't worry i hope to run another blog candy comp soon! So keep checking back here for details!

A Top Note Hand Bag Card!

Hi all! Those of you who are regular followers of my blog will know that recently i have been experimenting quite a lot with my new 'Top Note Die'. I have seen several cards online using the 'Top Note' to create little hand bags! As soon as i saw these cards i just knew i HAD to give this type of card a go! Here is my take on this design:

I used 'Wild Wasabi' card stock for the card base. The handbag has been made out of the beautiful 'Springtime Vintage' DSP which i ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Top Note Die'. The great thing about Stampin' Up! DSP is that it is double sided. So to create the handbag all i needed to do was fold the 'Top Note' about a third of the way. I used my 'Crop-a-Dile' to create two holes and used some lovely 'Rose Red' 'Seaming Ribbon' to make the bag handles. I placed a 'Rose Red' 'Designer Button' to create the handbag fastener and placed a 'Basic Rhinestone' in the centre of the button. The sentiment is from the 'Something to Celebrate' Level 2 hostess set, inked in 'Rose Red' on 'Very Vanilla' card stock and then mounted on some 'Rose Red'.

This card i made for my good friend Fiona, it's her birthday today so i hope this card found its way to her safely! Have a fab day Fi!

Check back tomorrow for another variation of this card...

Two Reasons To Celebrate: My First Blog Award! and My Dad and Step-Mums Anniversary

Hi all, just to warn you that todays post is going to be a long one!! I have two reasons to celebrate today! Firstly i have been awarded my very first blog award by the lovely Stephanie-Emma (The author of the fabulous craft blog: Crafty Boots.) Here it is:

Conditions of receiving this award are, that i have to mention the person who gave me the award (Stephanie-Emma), tell you 7 things about myself and then i get the privilege of passing on the award to up to 7 other bloggers!! So here you go things about me:

1. I'm married to my lovely hubby and we will be celebrating our first wedding anniversary on July 17th.
2. Unfortunately i'm not going to be in the country on July 17th - i'll be in Tanzania - I'm going there for the whole of July (Don't worry i'm already busy crafting and loading up scheduled posts to keep you going whilst i'm away!)
3. I currently don't have a craft room, so have completely taken over our dining room table on a permanent basis!
4. I have always been crafty, but have been serious about it for the last five or so years.
5. I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in February and love sharing their products with others!
6. Unfortunately crafting is not my full-time job (although i would love it to be) i'm actually a college lecturer!
7. I have two lovely cats - Dewey and Crazy!

Here's the seven people i would like to pass on the award to:

1. Julie H - http://the-crafty-bug.blogspot.com/
2. Diane - http://crafty-ducks.blogspot.com/
3. Cate - http://blueangelcrafts.blogspot.com/
4. Katie - http://deepbluecrafting.co.uk/
5. Alison - http://alierobson.blogspot.com/
6. Emma - http://knit-stress.blogspot.com/
7. Lucinda - http://bakesbooksandmyboys.blogspot.com/

Secondly, today is my Dad and Step-Mum's wedding anniversary!! 7 years today!! They are actually on holiday in Malta to celebrate (lucky them!). They have taken my nan with them, so i popped their wedding anniversary card in her luggage so she can give it to them today!! Here's the card i made for them, i hope they like it:

The cardbase is 'Rose Red' (I think this colour is quickly becoming my most favourite colour!) and i have run the card through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder', the flowers of which have been embellished with some 'Basic Rhinestones'. I created a flower out of some strips of 'Rose Red' and 'Pretty in Pink' cardstock edged with the 'Eyelet Border Punch'. I then ran it through the 'Crimper' and then turned it into a flower, placing a subtles 'Designer Button' in the centre! The sentiment is from the Level 2 hostess kit 'Something to Celebrate' set.

 I really hope they like the card and have a lovely day!! Happy Anniversary - Love youxxx

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!!!

Mini Catalogue Launch Party: 23rd April!!

Hi all, I have had a brilliant day! Today was my mini catalogue launch party and it was a real success. Many thanks to everyone who everyone who attended. I hope you had fun!!

So, today i want to share with you some pics from todays event! If you couldn't attend today, don't worry you haven't missed out. Contact me and we can organise a craft workshop just like this one in your own home - FREE OF CHARGE!

So here are the pics:

The calm before the storm:

The weather was so lovely today i was able to have two 'make and take' tables on the go! Which was just aswell with 14 attendee's in total!!

Here is my sample table, featuring lots of projects made with products from the Stampin' Up! mini catalogue:

The 'make and take' projects:
We made two projects today. The first is a card using the 'Plane and Simple' stampset - which is great for making mens cards and gifts. The Card is using 'Very Vanilla' cardstock and 'DSP' from the 'Brights DSP Pack' (which is great value for money)

The second project is a lovely Easter 'Pillow Box', which gave me an opportunity to demo the 'Big Shot', which was warmly recieved!! This box uses 'Bashful Blue' cardstock, a little piece of 'So Saffron' and an even smaller piece of 'Whisper White'. Two punches were used: '1-3/4 Circle Punch' and the 'Scallop Circle' Punch. The stampsets used were 'Forest Friends' and the Level 2 'Something to Celebrate':

Finally my crafty customers:

Thankyou to everyone who came today! I hope you had as much fun as i did! I'd love to have some feedback, so please leave a comment (and if you haven't done so already add yourself as a follower to this blog!)

Just a reminder that i will be putting the order through tomorrow at 7pm, so any final orders need to be emailed to me by the: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Check back in tomorrow for a lovely easter project! Have a lovely Easter weekend! xx

Hawaiian Tropic!!

Hi all! I can't believe it is Friday already! Time really does fly when you're having fun! I have had a jampacked week meeting up with friends and family! Yesterday i spent a whole day with my friend Sally creating lots of crafty delights, which i can't wait to share with you!!

Today i want to share with you a card i made for our friend Becky's 30th birthday. She is having a Hawaiian themed birthday party tomorrow but sadly we are unable to make it as we are already out celebrating two other friends 30th birthdays. (April is another busy birthday month!!)

So with the Hawaiian theme in mind, here is the card that i created:

I can't take much credit for the actual design of this card, i googled Stampin' Up Hawaiian cards images, and came across 'snowman lover' blog. On her blog was several tutorials on how to make the cute little Hawaiian shirts!!

The cardstock used is 'Old Olive' and 'Pumpkin Pie', all the DSP i used is sadly retired and from last years 'Petal Party' scrapbooking set, but you could use any DSP, maybe 'Greenhouse Gala' DSP would fit fell with the Hawaiian theme?? I finished off the shirt with some 'basic pearls' as buttons!

The sentiment is from the (new mini catalogue) level 2 hostess set 'something to Celebrate', as far as sentiment sets go this has to be the best Stampin' Up has to offer, with a sentiment for everything. But to get your mits on this set you have to host a workshop, why not email me to organise one: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Check back in tomorrow, as i have another 30th birthday card to share, and anyone who is a fan of the 80's is going to love this one!!