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!!

A crafty make-over of my teacher planner!

Term began last week and teaching is well underway! A week and a half in, just getting use to all my new classes and slowly learning all the new names! It's all fun! I love the standing up in front of the class and teaching, but the planning can be such a drag, so i thought i'd give my planner a crafty makeover to make it slightly more bearable!! Here's the before shot:

Quite plain and dull - i think you would agree!! And here it is after its makeover:

I'm not claiming this took forever, it really didn't - quite literally 5 minutes!! I cut a beautiful piece of 'Springtime Vintage DSP' to A4 size. I love this paper - with it's big bold design, it is perfect for covering notebooks!! I glued this paper onto the blue planner cover. I then cut little snippets of 'Pear Pizzazz', 'Rose Red' and 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming Ribbon' and tied them around the spirals of my planner! Isn't it lovely! I've already had lots of compliments from other teaching staff at my work ... and it does make planning just that little bit more bearable!!

Now don't forget, all the 'DSP' out of the current catalogue (including 'Springtime Vintage DSP') is retiring at the end of this month - so  you really don't have a lot of time to stock up on your favourite DSP's before they're gone for good. Email me to make your order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

I've entered this project into a fewchallenges:
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Add a bow
Lollipop Crafts Challenge - Anything but a card
Quirky Crafts Challenge - Anything but a card

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 

Tealight Delight! WITH a Tealight Tutorial

Hi everyone, hope you're all having a fab weekend. I've had a really chilled out day today. Popped into town with my sister to do a spot of shopping and have some lunch and then managed to squeeze in a spot of crafting!!

It was my Husbands Nans birthday on Thursday and we're actually meeting up with his family tomorrow to go out for a meal and celebrate. I brought her lots of lovely things today but also thought i'd make her a gift. I've had this idea for a while so thought i'd try it out. You start off with a plain and simple tealight:

And then punch out a '1-3/8" Circle' from your favourite 'DSP' (I used the beautiful (but sadly retiring 'Springtime Vintage DSP') and punch a smaller hole in the centre using your trusy 'Crop-a-dile':

Then you've guessed it, slip the 'DSP' over the wick:

There is no need to stick these 'DSP' circles down - and of course you must tell your recipients to remove the paper circle before lighting!!

I made six of these pretty tealights and then packaged them up:

I popped the tealights into a 'Cellophane Bag' and sealed it up. Ran a piece of 'Pretty in Pink' cardstock through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Top Note Die' and folded in half length ways. Cut a 3cm wide strip of 'Very Vanilla' card stock, and then layed a 2cm wide strip of 'Springtime Vintage DSP' over top. Punched out a 'Rose Red' tag, using the 'Extra Large Tag Punch' and a 'Very Vanilla' tag using the 'Large Tag Punch'. On the 'Very Vanilla' tag i stamped 'best wishes' (in 'Rose Red' ink) from the 'Silohouette Sentiment' stampset. I punched a hole out of the tag using my 'Crop-a-dile' and ran some 'Rose Red' 'Seaming Ribbon' through it. I tied the tag around the 'Very Vanilla'/'DSP' strip and then stuck it all down using some 'Sticky Red Tape'... and there you go a lovely little gift!! It came out even better than i expected!! I'm definately going to be making lots of these to give as christmas gifts!!

I'm entering this project into the 'Daring Cardmakers' challenge - which this week is 'How Many Candles? I know it's not a card, but hopefully the'll appriciate it anyway!They are sponsored this week by 'Funky Hand'.

My First Crafty Boots Challenge: Anything Goes!

Hi everyone! Today is the day - the grand launch of 'Crafty Boots Challenge' blog! Stephanie-Emma the founder of Crafty Boots has worked very hard to get it up and running and i'd like to thank her for inviting me to be on the Design Team!! If you're visiting my blog from the Crafty boots Challenge then a big hello to you!!

Todays challenge is 'Anything Goes', a nice easy one to get you going - why not enter a masterpiece?! I can't wait to see and comment on all your work!

Here's my DT creation, a 'Springtime Vintage' CD case:

The CD case is made from 'Pretty in Pink' cardstock and i have layered some beautiful 'Springtime Vintage DSP' onto it. I have used my '1-1/4" Circle Punch' and '1-3/8" Circle Punch' to make easier access to the CD!

I have made a decorative belt around the CD Cover, out of a strip of 'Pretty in Pink' cardstock and a strip of 'Springtime Vintage'. The Flower has been made out of several 'Pretty in Pink' and 'Very Vanilla' 'Scallop Circles', which i have snipped and scrunched and then glued together to create this beautiful 3D effect. I have punched a '1/2" circle' out of the 'DSP' and glued this in the centre. Before gluing the flower in place i glued some 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Seaming Ribbon' underneath to create leaves! And there you go ... one very vintage looking CD cover.

I'm always popping pictures onto CD's for people as gifts, so this is a lovely way of making them a bit more special!

I'd love to know what you think, so please leave a comment and if you would like to order any Stampin' Up! products and have them delivered straight to your door then please drop me an email - i look after my customers well!! (There are online versions of the catalogues on the right-hand side of this blog - ALSO don't forget to check out the sale items!!)

PLEASE NOTE: this beautiful paper will be retiring from the catalogue at the end of this month - so if you want to get your hands on it - order it NOW!!

Swap Shop!

Hi all! On Tuesday i went out for a lovely meal with some of the ladies from the Stampin' Up! team i belong to - blue angels! We had some good food and talked crafts!! The main topic of the night was the retirement list and the sale!!

Whenever we meet up we all try to make some swaps! In other words we all design a project and make several of them to share with everyone else! It's great! I have lots of lovely things to share with you over the next coming weeks! (and we're meeting up again on Saturday so will have even more!!)

So today i have the project that i swapped:

Here's a close up:

The cardbase used is 'Crumb Cake', i have used some 'Very Vanilla' cardstock and stamped the sentiment (from the 'Because i Care' stampset) in 'Baja Breeze' the strips of 'DSP' are from the 'Springtime Vintage' collection and the ribbon used is 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming ribbon', secured in place by some 'Red Sticky Strip'.

You will notice that it is a variation of the card that i made for Julie Halls - so not overly original - however it was a lovely quick make and with a quick change of sentiment could make some lovely thankyou cards!!

Keep checking back to see the swaps that all my clever Stampin' Up! friends have made!!

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!!

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!

Vintage Sour Cream Box

Hello everyone! I hope you're not missing me too much and that you are all still visiting my blog without my persistant pestering on Facebook and Twitter!!

Today i have a little sour cream container to share with you that i have made with some of the lovely 'Springtime Vintage DSP', there are loads of tutorials on how to make these online... they really are very simple!

As i mentioned before the paper used is from the 'Springtime Vintage DSP' Collection. I have used a stamp from the 'Four Frames' set in 'Crumb Cake' ink onto 'Very Vanilla' cardstock and have coloured the roses in using my 'Stampin' Write Markers'. The 'Thank You' sentiment is from the level 1 hostess set 'Silhouette Sentiments', also in 'Crumb Cake'. I have punched it out using my 'Decorative Label' punch, and then punched out some coordinating DSP and layered it up to create a border around it.

Here's the box from another angle, so you can see the shape of it a little more clearly:

The trick is to use the super sticky red tape to hold these boxes together, otherwise they ping open! These i think would make wonderful wedding favours and they are superfast to make! Why not give them a try?!

A Card For The Love Birds!

Hi everyone! I hope you are all having a fab weekend! I've had a lovely day out with my sister today shopping, trying to buy everything i need for my trip to Tanzania! Not long until i go now! I'm so excited!!!

One preperation i have had to make is ensuring that i have made cards for all the big events that i will be missing whilst i'm away - one of which is my good friend Ruth's first wedding anniversary. (I actually missed her wedding last year aswell as i was on my honeymoon, hopefully i will be in country to celebrate her second anniversary!!)

Here's the card that i made for her and her hubby:

A 'Rose Red' card base, with a strip of 'DSP' from the 'Springtime Vintage' collection. The birds have been created with the 'Two-Step Bird Punch' in 'Rose Red', the wings are 'Pretty in Pink', i have used two small 'Basic Pearls' as eyes! The branches are punched from 'Crumb Cake' cardstock. I glued the birds and branches onto some 'Whisper White', layered on some 'Rose Red' and then some 'Crumb Cake' card. The little hearts are created from some scraps of 'DSP' and have been punched out using the 'Owl Punch'.

I'm entering this card into the 'Cupcake Craft Challenge', this week it's a sketch challenge.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Happiness Held is the Seed, Happiness Held is the Flower...

Good morning everyone! No work for me today as it is halfterm! I'm just off to the garage to get the brakes fixed on my card, but before i do i just want to share with you a card that i made using the fabulous 'Growing Green' stampset, as well as the 'Happiness Shared' set for the sentiment:

I have used 'Not Quite Navy' (from the 'Regals' collection for the cardbase. I then used some DSP from the 'Springtime Vintage' papers, which i have edged with the 'Eyelet Border Punch'. I then cut a square of 'Baja Breeze' card, and using 'Baja Breeze' and 'Not Quite Navy' ink randomly stamped the rose stamp from the 'Growing Green' Set.! I bordered this on 'Whisper White' cardstock. Then on a scrap piece of 'Whisper White'. I accidentally stuck this wonky, but actually liked this layout, so kept it!! I stamped another rose in 'Not Quite Navy' and then coloured it in using 'Blender Pens'. Using 'Dimensionals' i attached this to the card. The sentiment is from the 'Happiness Shared' stampset and bordered on 'Baja Breeze.

Another card without the 'Big Shot' in sight!! Although i can't believe how reliant i have become on it, i seem to use it all the time! It's definitely the best piece of crafty kit i own!! It seems quite strange not using it on a card!

Have a fab day everyone! Thanks for visiting!

DCM Challenge: Passion for Fashion

Hi all, back again as promised with another 'Top Note' handbag design. Here it is:



I'm entering this card in the 'Daring Cardmakers' Challenge - which this weeks theme is : Passion for fashion! It's an exciting dare this week because it has been sponsored by 'imagine that' and there is a prize up for grabs!!

This card was made in exactly the same way as yesterdays card, so i'm not going to insult your intelligence by going through how to make this card again, check yesterdays post for details! The only difference to yesterdays card is the direction that i folded the 'Top Note' to make a different size bag! I also used a 'Corner Rounder' to shape the card, and embellished with some 'Basic Rhinestones'.

I hope over the last few weeks i have inspired you to use some of your products in different ways! If you love the 'Top Note' Die as much as i do then why not treat yourself and make an order!! Email me over your order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Tomorrow i have yet another project using to 'Top Note' as well as the wonderful Stampin' Up! exclusive 'Milk Carton Die'.

Right, i'm off to have a big glass of wine and celebrate the start of halfterm! Have a wonderful evening! xxx

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...

Because I Care

Hi all! Another quick post tonight...  just want to share with you a card i made to send to my manager, who has been off work for the last few weeks. I just wanted to send him a little card to let him know that i'm thinking of him. So here it is:

I had started off with the 'Always Artichoke' card as my base with the intention of making a masculine card... but i didn't quite achieve that! But any how i hope he still like's it!

I used 'Springtime Vintage DSP' and ontop of that placed some 'Very Vanilla' cardstock which i have edged with some 'Always Artichoke' ink appliued with a 'Sponge Dauber'. The beautiful flowers have been cut out of another piece of the 'Springtime Vintage DSP' - i just love this effect and it's another great way of using the DSP! The sentiment is from the Level 2 hostess set 'Because i Care' and the foilage has been created using a stamp from the 'Vintage Vogue' set.  I then used the 'Decorative Label Punch' to punch it out. To create the border around the sentiment. I punched out a couple of 'Decorative Labels' and then chopped them in half and then used them to mount the sentiment!

Pillow Box Basket!

Hi all!! Hope you have all enjoyed the lovely bank holiday Monday! How lovely is it to have a long weekend! I have had such an amazing weekend! Before i share my craft project with you i just want to say hello to some of my newest followers - a big hello to Sherie Ann, Stephanie and Laura M! Hope you enjoy my blog!

Today i'm sharing a project that i made during my crafty day with Cate and Ruth!! It's a basket made using the 'Pillow Box' die. I was so excited to stumble across a tutorial to make this on the Splitcoaststampers YouTube channel! I love the fact that you can make other items using the 'Pillow Box' Die other than the regular box!! So here it is:

The cardstock used for this project is 'Crumb Cake'. The basket is made from three 'Pillow Box' templates, stuck together with 'Sticky Strip'. I have wrapped around some of the beautiful 'Springtime Vintage' DSP and used some of the lovely 'Rose Red' 'Seaming Ribbon' on the handle!

This basket could be used in so many ways, maybe as an alternative to a gift bag - what a lovely way to present a gift, or maybe as a flowergirl basket for a wedding!!

I love experimenting with products and coming up with alternative uses!! Hope you like!! Check back soon for another craft project!!!

It's The Final (Wedding) Countdown!!

Hello everyone! Sorry for posting late but i have been quite busy today in one way or another! Last night i went out for my friend Iwonas hen do! We had a fab time, playing lots of games, having a ride in a limo, going to a casino and having a good dance to finish off the evening!! Here's a few pics of the evening. 1st pic is of the beautiful bride to be, we creatively made her a wedding dress out of white bin liners and toilet roll! Next pic is of me and my best friend Suzanne in the limo! Below that is a pic of me collecting mine and Suzannes £60 winnings from the slot machine and finally a pic of me and Iwona playing on the roulette table!

It was a really fun night, and not too long now to her 1st wedding (the UK one! They are also having a Polish wedding in October!! We're really looking forward to that one!)

Anyway along the theme of weddings, it seems that all of our friends are getting hitched at the moment! We have three weddings this year and another two now planned for 2012! I remember how excited i was counting down to our wedding so i decided to get crafty and make a wedding countdown project for the 2012 couples. I got the idea from Karla Anders blog (where she had created a similar birthday countdown project) Here they are:

I could resist the new 'Sprintime Vintage DSP' and the lovely 'Seaming Ribbon', the cardstock used is the versatile 'Crumb Cake' and i have used 'Crumb Cake', 'Night of Navy' and 'Rose Red' ink and the 'Just Perfect Alphabet' set to create the 'days until your wedding', the numbers have been created using  'Rose Red' and 'Baja Breeze' ink, depending on the project and the 'Schoolbook Serif Numbers' set, stamped on 'Whisper White Card Stock' and then mounted on 'Baja Breeze' or 'Night of Navy' card. I have backed the numbers with velcro (attached with red 'Sticky Strip') So the recipient can alter the numbers as they countdown to their big day!!

Here they are individually:

 

Material wise this project uses very little card etc, just a word of warning, they take a fair bit of time to make, as you have to stamp and mount A LOT of numbers!! (Approx 24 for each project in total!) If you wanted to speed up this project i guess you could do a weekly countdown! 

I'm so happy with the final product and will definately making some christmas countdowns! So if you would like one, put in your order! I'm thinking of using the 'Jolly Holidays' DSP, but can customise them for you if you would like!

Sorry for the mega long post! Thanks for visiting and i hope you come back to see more of my crafty creations soon!! xxx

Happy Wedding Day Wills and Kate!!

Hello everyone!! Woo hoo! Another day off all thanks to the royal wedding and i've had such a lovely day crafting with my friends Ruthie and Cate!! (We, of course, watched the royal wedding first! Didn't Kate look beautiful!!) Here's a pic of us making my house very very messy!!

 I have decided to devote this weekend to the theme of weddings! So please keep returning to view my daily posts. So in celebration of the royal wedding here is todays creation:

 

I have entered this card into the 'Daring Cardmakers' Royal challenge!! I have CASE'd this beautiful card from Jaynes blog, isn't it just so lovely!! I have changed the cardstock from the original design, it's 'Marina Mist' from the 'Subtles' collection and the very versatile 'Crumb Cake' and i have used the 'Springtime Vinatge DSP' to create the Union Jack. Thankyou Jayne for the inspiration!!

Check back tomorrow for my next wedding related post - well it's actually hen party related, as i'm off to my friend Iwona's hen do tomorrow night! Can't wait!!

Making The Most Of The Bank Holiday!!

I can't believe it, the Easter hols are almost over, just this bank holiday left to enjoy and then back to work, but only for three days and then another long weekend!! So not really that bad!!

I have been playing some more with the Springtime Vintage DSP after being inspired by Cate's crafty designs. I went to Squire's (a local garden centre to me) and brought several small boxes. So with this project i simply wrapped up this cute little box with a sheet of DSP.

I've used a stamp from the 'Four Frames' stampset, inked in 'Early Espresso', and then used 'Blender Pens' and 'Pear Pizzazz' and 'Rose Red' ink to colour in the roses. The 'for you' sentiment is from the 'Clearly for You' set from the mini catalogue, for exact precision i have used my faithful 'Stamp-a-ma-jig'! I used my new 'Decorative Label punch' which coordinates perfectly with the 'Four Frames' set!! This box was finished off with some lovely 'Rose Red Binding Ribbon'!!

Hope you all have a lovely bank holiday!! If you have no plans then why not get your craft kit out and have a play!!

Another Inspiring Project (or two) from Cate!

Hi guys, back again with another project from Cate's (my good friend and upline) Mini Catalogue launch party!

The second project we made was a 'Chocolate Wrapper' project, which would be brilliant for table gifts, party bags or wedding favours!! Here it is:

This project showcases the beautiful 'Springtime Vintage' DSP (check back here tomorrow for a card using DSP from this pack!!) We wrapped a chocolate up in this beautiful paper, crimped the ends using the 'crimper', i wrapped a little piece of 'Crumb Cake Binding Ribbon' around. The frame is inked in 'Early Espresso' and is from the 'Four Frames' stampset. The sentiment is from the 'Just Believe' set. There just so sweet! Excuse the pun!!

Finally i want to quickly share with you a little gift box Cate gave to all her party guests, all the boxes had sweets in them, and one lucky person found a button in hers and won the 'Itty Bitty Bits' stampset!! Lucky Veronica!!

This is using the 'Big Shot' and the wonderful 'Pillow Box' Die. The box is made out of  'Baja Breeze' cardstock, Cate then wrapped a piece of 'Springtime Vintage DSP' around the box and then finished it off with some 'Crumb Cake Binding Ribbon'. Isn't it lovely!!