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

Waterfall Album!

Last month my crafty friend Jade attended a craft class held by another fellow demonstrator and learnt how to make beautiful waterfall albums! Unfortunately due to being heavily pregnant i was unable to attend however Jade kindly shared this technique with me at a recent crafty sesh at her house and i made one for my friends Jen and Andy for a wedding gift!!

Here's the front of my completed 'Waterfall Album':

The colours are 'Pool Party', 'Island Indigo' 'Crumb Cake' and 'Whisper White'. You can just see in the photo there is a panel of 'Pool Party' which has been run through the 'Big Shot' using and then the 'Stripes Embossing Folder. I have also used some 'Crumb Cake' 'DSP'.

To create the image on the front i (well ... if i'm honest, Jade) printed the 'Congratulations Jen & Andy, 21st july 2012 on the computer and then stamped the image from the 'Apothecary Art' stampset in 'Island Indigo' ink - i had to carefully line this up using my trusty 'Stamp-a-ma-jig'. I cut this image out using the 'Big Shot' and the 'Labels Collection Framelits Die' and then mounted it onto a larger 'Island Indigo' label! Here's a close up:

Here is the inside of the album:

I kept the pages inside treasonably simple with the view that Jen and Andy could add some photos from their wedding reception and some captions in themselves. I simply embellished the album with 'Crumb Cake' DSP', 'Island Indigo' card which has been punched using the 'Eyelet Border Punch' and the beautiful butterfly from the 'Clearly For you' stampset inked in 'Island Indigo'.

The other pages fold out like a 'waterfall' when you pull the tab (which was created from a 'Decorative Label Punch')

The mechanism to create this card is very technical and difficult to explain - i suggest you google waterfall cards/ albums and you'll find a range of tutorials to guide you though it! I was lucky enough to have Jade's guidance!

I have to admit this project was completely time consuming but i'm thrilled with the final product - although i think it is fair to say  special people will receive one of these made by me as they are hardwork to complete!!!!

Baby Shower Thanks!!

Last week was my baby shower! I had the most wonderful day and still overwhemed by the amount of effort and love that my friends and family showed to make it so special! I had a lot of people to thank and made these cards to express our gratitude:

I used 'Bashful Blue' card to create the cardbases (3 from each piece of A4!!) On which i directly embossed the 'Designer Frame' from the 'Textured Impression Embossing Set' using my 'Big Shot'. On a piece of 'Whisper White' cut to size i stamped the baby using 'Basic Black' ink and the 'All in the Family' stampset and coloured it in using 'Bashful Blue' and 'Pink Pirouette' 'Stampin' Write Markers' and then glued this into the frame. Finally i stamped the thankyou  sentiment from 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' using 'Bashful Blue' ink and punched it out using the 'Word Window Punch' sticking it into place using some 'Dimensionals' to give it a 3D effect.

Here's a close up:

These cards with a change of sentiment would be perfect to give someone at a baby shower, pregnancy and baby annnouncements, new baby cards, christening cards etc... and of course you could change the colour combo depending on the sex of baba! If you'd like to order some materials to make cards similar to these email me today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

I really hope all the ladies who attended my baby shower know how fabulous they are and how grateful i am for all the beautiful gifts both myself and bump recieved!! Love you all!

Anniversary Wishes!

June and July are always very popular wedding months - and so i have had lots and lots of anniverary cards to make. Today is Dave and Sarahs first wedding anniversary and here is the card that i made for them:

I embossed the bottom of a cardbase using my 'Big Shot' and the 'Adorning Accents Embossing Folder'. Next i glued a strip of 'Cherry Cobbler' card and 'DSP' from the 'Holly Berry Bouquet' collection. I stamped the 'Happy Anniversary' sentiment from the 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' stampset using 'Cherry Cobbler' ink (which i lined up using the fab 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' tool. Finally i punched two hearts out of 'Very Vanilla' and 'Cherry Cobbler' cardstock, using the 'Heart Punch', which i ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder'. I glued the 'Cherry Cobbler' heart onto the base and then raised the 'Very Vanilla' heart using 'Dimensionals' to create a 3D effect!

Happy fathers Day! (From the Cats!!)

Ok ... yes, many of you will probably think that i'm incredibly sad to create this card for my hubby! But the cats are part of our family and every year since we've had them i have made a Father Day for him from the cats!!

On a 'Real Red' card base i mounted a piece of 'Just Add Cake' stripy 'DSP'. On a piece of 'Whisper White' card i stamped the man image and the two cats using the 'All in the Family' stampset (hint: you may want to use a 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' to line up all the components nice an straight!!) I coloured the images in using 'Stampin' Write Markers' and then mounted it onto a piece of 'Real Red'card and then glued in onto the cardbase.

I stamped the 'happy fathers day' sentiment from the 'Teeny Tiny Wishes' set using 'Marina Mist' ink and then punched it out using the 'Word Window Punch'. Finally i ran some 'Marina Mist' card through the 'Big shot' using the 'Timeless type Alphabet Dies' to create the word 'Dad' which i glued in place at the bottom of the card!

This Fathers Day is a little bit more special for my hubby this year - as he not only gets a card from the cats but also from Baby Tiddlywink! I got a lot of enjoyment making Fathers Day cards this year - check out my blog tomorrow to see the card from bump!

A Card Just For YOU!!

Hey all, sorry for such a late post! I've been super busy today - went out for a lovely breakfast with hubby, followed by a midwife appointment (baby lovely and healthy!) and then a mooch around town, coffee and had my nails done (a lovely bubblegum pink!!) Lovely day!!

Today i have a card that i made using the beautiful 'Just Believe' stampset - which i know if a few of my customers favourite!! As well as the 'Beyond The Garden DSP' that is currently FREE with any order of £45 for this month only!! Here it is:

On an 'Old Olive' cardbase, i layered some 'Beyond The Garden DSP' to create a background. Onto a piece of 'Pear Pizzazz' card i stamped the grass image from the 'Just Believe' set using 'Old Olive' ink, and ran a strip of 'Old Olive' stripy 'DSP along the edge, before mounting it onto a piece of 'Old Olive' card and gluing it to the base. Next i stamped the circle image (from 'Just Believe') using 'Pacific Point' ink, punched it out using the '1-1/4" Circle Punch' and then mounted it onto a '1-3/8" Circle' punched from 'Old Olive' card. Finally i stamped the just for you sentiment into the border stamp (both also from 'Just Believe' - lined up with the 'Stamp-a-ma-jig') onto some 'Whisper White' card then mounted onto some 'Old Olive' card.

Don't forget - make an order this month and you can recieve one of four packs of 'DSP' for FREE! What are you waiting for? Email your order over today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Just Believe Notelet Gift Box

Last week i shared with you a lovely gift idea - a box with a set of handmade cards featuring the 'Just Believe' stampset. Today i have a similar project - a cute little box with a set of notelets:

Here's a close up of the beautiful box. Created with 'Early Espresso', 'Marina Mist' and 'Whisper White' cardstock:

The image and sentiment are both from the 'Just Believe' stampset, and have been inked in 'Marina Mist' and 'Chocolate Chip', a couple of 'Basic Rhinestones' have been placed in the centre to add a bit of bling!!

Heres a pic of the box open:

This box is known as a pizza box, there are plenty of templates online if you would like to create one of these. 

And now for the cute little notelets:

An 'Early Espresso' cardbase, the image has been stamped several times with 'Early Espresso' ink. Some 'Whisper White' 'Satin Ribbon' has been wrapped around. The Friends sentiment has been stamped onto some 'Whisper White' card using 'Early Espresso' and 'Marina Mist' 'Stampin' Write Markers' and then hand-snipped. Finally a teeny tiny 'Basic Rhinestone' has been placed in the centre of the flower.

This second notelet is a 'Crumb Cake' cardbase. The image has been stamped using 'Early Espresso' ink, with some 'Basic Rhinestones' to bling it up! The sentiment was stamped onto some 'Marina Mist' card, punched out using the '1-3/4" Circle Punch', scrunched up a bit and placed on a strip of 'Whisper White' card, edged with the 'Eyelet Border Punch'.

This final notelet has been made from 'Marina Mist', the image (using 'Marina Mist' ink) has been stamped onto 'Whisper White' card, the thankyou sentiment was then inked over it using 'Early Espresso' ink (layering up is easy using a 'Stamp-a-ma-jig') This was layered onto some 'DSP'. The cute little flower was punched out using the 'Boho Blossom Punch', and placed a 'Basic Rhinestone' in the centre.

I think you'll agree this little notelet box gift is another fab project showcasing the 'Just Believe' stampset. A Stampin' Up! colleague of mine Jade came up with this super little project - isn't she clever!!!

If you would like to purchase any of the materials used in this project - or any other Stampin' Up! products drop me an email: amyjtidd@gmail.com It's not too late to get your orders in for Christmas!!

Snowman Punch-art!!

So today i have a really fun card to share with you designed by my talented friend Ruth! A punch-art snowman and was made when we was in the Isle of Wight after half-term:

The snowman was created from two 'Whisper White' circles created using the '1-3/4" Circle Punch' and the '1-3/8" Circle Punch', his buttons and eyes were created from some 'Basic Black' card punched using the 'Crop-a-dile' tool. His nose was hand-snipped from a little piece of 'Pumpkin Pie' cardstock and his mouth drawn on with a 'Basic Black' 'Stampin' Write Marker'. His hat was made from a piece of 'Basic Black' punched out using the 'Round Tab Punch' which was cut in half and finally his arms was created using the 'Two-Step Bird Punch' (The branch bit with the leaves snipped off!) There you go thats how you make Frosty!

We layered Frosty onto a piece of 'Pacific Point' cardstock and then layered it onto some (retired) 'DSP' and glued that onto a 'Whisper White' cardbase. The 'Merry Christmas' sentiment is from the fab Christmas set 'Contempo Christmas' (we used the 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' to ensure it was lined up perfectly!)

Finally we ran a strip of 'Pacific Point' card through the 'Lace Ribbon Border Punch' and threaded some thin 'Whisper White' ribbon through it!

Don't you just love this card! Ruth was so clever to come up with this original punch-art design - and i'm sure she wouldn't mind you CASEing it as long as you give her some credit!!

Want to get make some handmade cards of your own for Christmas... why not come along to my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack class!! This will be held on Saturday 26th November - keep checking back for more details, or email me if you're interested in coming along: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Happy Engagement Dan and Jade!!! (Envelope Scrapbook - Journey to marriage journal)

Hi all. A while back you may remember me telling you how happy i was for my cousin Dan , who met the girl of his dreams and popped the question. They had their engagement party this weekend, sadly we couldn't go, but i wanted them to know that i was thinking of them and wanted to make them something special. I already made them an engagement card - so decided to make them an envelope scrapbook to journal their journey from first love, proposal, engagement party, wedding and then the future!

I used a fab tutorial from the website: http://www.making-mini-scrapbooks.com/ and heres my creation:

To create this envelope scrapbook i used 'Very Vanilla', 'Bashful Blue' and 'Early Espresso' cardstock, as well as the lovely 'Bashful Blue' 'DSP' from the 'Cheerful Treat DSP' (a fab new hostess product) I also used five cream envelopes.

The front of the envelope scrapbook:

Notice that i used the beautiful 'Monogram Sweet Alphabet' stampset to add their intials to the product (which i lined up using my trusty 'Stamp-a-ma-jig') . I embellished their initials with some teeny tiny 'Basic Pearls'. I also used the pearls to decorate the 'Lace Ribbon Border' punch. I also added some 'Very Vanilla' and 'Early Espresso' hearts created using the 'Large Heart' punch.

Here's a close up of their initials:

The spine of the book:

Notice how i used some lovely 'Satin Ribbon' to tie the book up.

Now, using the tutorial i created a card zig-zag spine and glued five enevelope into it. the idea is that each envelope had a suitable love quote on it and an instruction for the happy couple, with a decorated card inside to write on or mount a photo:

Envelope 1.

Envelope 2.

Envelope 3.

Envelope 4.

Envelope 5.

I decorated each envelope with strips of 'Very Vanilla', 'Bashful Blue' and 'Early Espresso card. and pieces of 'DSP', as well as a 'Scalloped Circle', '1-3/8" Circle' and a snippet of the 'Lace Ribbon Border' with a blingy 'Basic Pearl.

Each envelope had a decorated card that Jade and Dan could complete their tasks on:

The happy couple will not be getting wed for a while yet although they will have lots of wedding planning to do!!  This gift will give them the opportunity to journal the exciting journey they are on. I wish them both the very best of luck!!!

Christmas Joy!

Ok, i'm super busy at the moment prepping for my craft open house tomorrow - it is not too late to get yourself involved. Email me now if you want to come along: amyjtidd@gmail.com

We will be making a Christmas project using some of the new Stampin' Up! products, so to whet your appetite i thought i'd share with you a Christmas card project:

This card was inspired by another member of the 'Blue Angels Team': Fiona from a recent swap she gave me at some training! It uses the beautiful 'Welcome Christmas' stampset. I coloured in the wreath stamp using 'Old Olive' and 'Real Red' 'Stampin' Write Markers' and stamped it onto some 'Whisper Whiote' cardstock. I then stamped the 'joy' stamp over it, using the 'Stamp-a-ma-jig to ensure perfection! I used some 'Crystal Effects' to make the berries POP and tied some 'Real Red' 'Taffeta Ribbon' into a bow and glued it into place using some 'Red Sticky Strip'. I mounted this onto some 'Old Olive' card and then glued it all onto a 'Real Red' cardbase!

Want to have a go at making a lovely Christmas project like this?! I promise you that ANYONE can make lovely cards with just a little bit of tuition, so why not pop along to my crafty workshop tomorrow 11am - 3pm. If you can't make it, why not book your own. They're free of charge to hold and you and your guests will make a free project and you could earn free craft products at the same time!! Get involved and email me for details: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Enjoy Your First Day At School!

Happy Wednesday everyone! Hope you are all having a good week! Today i have a card to share with you that i made for a special little friend of mine! My friends son - Jack, starts school today! I couldn't resist making him a card to wish him luck!

I began with a 'Whisper White' rectangle of cardstock and stamped out this cute little boy and the two cats using stamps from the 'All in the Family' set. (I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up just perfectly!!) and the i coloured them in using my 'Stampin' Write Markers'. The boy is meant to be Jack - i coloured his clothes in to match his new school uniform! The two cats represent my lovely cats - Jack is completely obsessed my cats (Dewey and Crazy) so i thought i'd feature them in this card! I wrote the sentiment by hand using my 'Real Red' 'stampin' Write Marker'. I mounted this onto a piece of 'Pacific Point' card, then layered this onto a piece of 'DSP' from the 'Celebrations' collection. All of this placed onto a 'Pacific Point' cardbase.

I hope Jack has a lovely first day at school! I can't wait to hear all about it!!

(I'm entering this into the Cupcake Craft Challenge - this week the theme is 'Back to School!)

'So Many Thanks' is Retiring!!

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING!!

There is a new Stampin' Up! catalogue coming out on the 1st of October, which is very very exciting ... HOWEVER to make way for lovely brand new Stampin' Up! goodies, we are saying goodbye to some amazing stampsets and papers ... BUT we have had some warning - there is a retirement list - and some of the retired goods even have a discount on them! Check out the retirement and sale list at the top of my blog. You must have your order in by the 30th September - once they're gone, they're gone!

One of the stampsets that we will be saying goodbye to is the 'a la carte' stamp called 'So Many Thanks'.

This little stamp is so wonderfully versatile - you can very quickly make a batch of handmade thankyou cards - but it is going and will not be in the new catalogue - so if you want it you have to order it THIS MONTH!

You can make beautiful cards - just like this one:

This card was made by a lady called Fiona - who is a member of the Blue Angels team - she made this as her swap at our recent team training. The cardstock used in this design is 'Very Vanilla' and 'Basic Black. The flowers created here are from the fabulous 'Greenhouse Garden' stampset - if you like 2-step stamping you will LOVE this stampset!! (Tip: to layer these stamps up easily use a 'Stamp-a-ma-jig') She used 'Regal rose' and 'Basic Black' ink. She used the 'Scallop Trim Border' in this card. The central focal point of this card is the 'So Many Thanks' image, inked in 'Regal Rose' and mounted on 'Basic Black' cardstock. Fiona used some 'Dimensionals' to raise the 'So Many Thanks'. I think you'll agree it's a beautiful design!!

Would you like to learn how to two-step stamp? Why not book a workshop around your house - i will come around and teach you and your friends how to create beautiful cards like this!! Stampin' Up! have several two-step stampsets in the new catalogue (and Greenhouse Garden will be staying for another year!) So check them out!!

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!!!

Scrap Challenge!

Hello everyone! It is officially the weekend!! Woo hoo! I love long weekends!! I've only been back to work for three days but i sure do feel like i deserve these next four days off!! Work has been hectic. We've been crazy busy with mocks!!

Before i share with you today's crafty project i just want to say THANKYOU and HELLO to ALL my new followers!!! It's been a long while since i welcomed new followers, so hello to Suzy T, Amanda O, Marie, Sophie, Jayne, Emma, Stephanie Emma, Crafty Helen and Busy Lizzie!! I hope you all enjoy my blog. I always welcome your comments!

Also just to let you all know that i have joined the Twitter revolution. So if you're on Twitter please add me!! My alias is @CraftyThINKer.

Anyway back to the crafting: My scrap box is ever increasing, i just cannot throw away any card scrap - even if it is the teeniest little piece!! So the other day i set myself a challenge to only use scraps to make a quick card ... here's the result:

My inspiration for this card came from Sarah Makins Blog. The cardbase is 'Red Riding Hood' from the 'Regals' collection. I have used strips of 'Love Letters' DSP, some edged with the 'Eyelet Border' Punch and mounted these on 'Whisper White' card and wrapped a piece of 'Real Red' 'Satin Ribbon' around before adhering it to the cardbase. I then used a stamp from the 'Four Frames' set, inked in black. the sentiment is from the 'Because I Care' set (which is a level 1 hostess set) I used my 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' to line the 'thank you' up nice and neatly. I used the coordinating 'Decorative Label Punch' to punch out the shape and used 'dimensionals' to raise the frame and make it 3D. Easy Peasy!!

I'm making the most of the weekend! Of course i will be crafting! In fact my good friend Ruth is coming round for a crafty day tomorrow! Can't wait!!

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!!

Getting my craft gear in order!!!

Hiya all! IT'S THE WEEKEND!! Woo hoo!!! and what a lovely Saturday i've had!!

This morning i went to my upline Cate's (Blue Angel Crafts) for some team training!! It was lovely to catch up and get some tips on how to run workshops!! We also had an opportunity to have a sneaky play with products from the soon to be released mini catalogue!! Here's a pic of me and some of the team. Diane (Crafty Ducks) and Katie (Deep Blue Crafting) having a crafty moment:

Unfortunately i cannot show you anything we made quite yet - you will have to be patient and wait until the 1ST APRIL!! (I plan to hold a launch party in April and everyone is welcome - check back at the blog for details!!)

This afternoon i have been have been organising all my Stampin' Up! gear!! I couldn't resist having a play with a new stampset of mine 'Broadsheet Alphabet' to make some labels for my craft storage boxes!!! Here they are all together:

The inks used are all from the 'brights' collection and the mounted cardstock is the lovely 'Tempting Turquoise'

And i couldn't resist punching out some butterfly's using the wonderful 'Butterfly punch'!!

I love the quirky font!! Some of the letters i have slightly masked using a simple little post it note) This has prevented the stamps from overlapping and looking messy. (I learnt this technique recently at Cate's craft retreat!!) You may be wondering how i managed to keep it all straight and neat - well i used the AMAZING 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' which i simply cannot craft without!! (If you would like a demo of how to use the 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' tool, which will allow you to do two-step stampin and lots of other wonderful things why not book a workshop!!)

Well anyway, i'm planning to continue with the craftiness and have a play with some of the mini catalogue products! I can't wait to share these with you!!! Have a great weekend! x