Crafty Boots Challenge: ONE!

It's that time again - another Crafty Boots Challenge and i have to admit when i saw the theme i was a little confused!! The theme this fortnight is ONE... and it is as open ended as it sounds! The reason for this theme is because Crafty Boots Challenge is now ONE year old!!!

With my very busy schedule of being a new mummy i haven't been very adventurous and have interpretted the theme as 'ONE' brand of crafting products AND YES UNSUPRISINGLY THAT BRAND IS OF COURSE STAMPIN' UP!!

I started with a 'Blushing Bride' cardbase which i ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Manhatten Rose Embossing Folder'. I placed a strip of 'Whisper White' cardstock along the top of the card which i edged using the 'Eyelet Border Punch', before gluing it down i tied a piece of 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming Ribbon' around and tied a bow!

The sentiment is from the hostess stampset 'Tagtastic' inked in 'Baja Breeze' and then punched out using the 'Decorative Label Punch. I placed a couple of tiny 'Basic Pearls' on it (although the photo doesn't pick these up well - sorry) and then layered it on a 'Baja Breeze' 'Decorative Label' which has been snipped in half to elongate it.

If you would like to order any Stampin' Up! products and you don't have a demonstrator you can order through me regardless of your location as all orders are delivered by UPS! The catalogues are available to view of the righthand side of my blog. There is a BRAND NEW winter mini catalogue available and also Stampin' Up! retirement list with some amazing sale prices!! If you like what you see email an order over to me today!! My email address is amyjtidd@gmail.com

I look forward to seeing your interpretation of the theme!

Engagement Wishes for Lloyd and Katie!

July was a super busy month and i made so many cards i didn't have time to feature on my blog! Exciting news my cousin Lloyd popped the question to his girlfriend Katie and she of course said YES! So i made this engagement card to send to them:

On a 'Very Vanilla' base i layered up a strip of 'Cherry Cobbler' card and then a piece of 'DSP' from the 'Holly Berry Bouquet' collection, whih i embellished with some 'Basic Pearls'. I then cut a square of 'Cherry Cobbler' card and glued that onto the 'DSP'. I punched a 'Heart' from some 'Very Vanilla' card, which i ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Adorning Accents Embossing Folders' to create the cute heart texture!! and then glued it into place using some 'Dimensionals' to craete a 3D effect. Finally i stamped the congrats sentiment from the 'Tagtastic' stampset onto some 'Very Vanilla' card using 'Cherry Cobbler' ink, mounted it onto a slightly larger piece of 'Cherry Cobbler' card and then finally embellished the sentiment with some of the teeny 'Basic Pearls'.

Wishing Lloyd and Katie all the best for the future! Congratulations guys! xxxxxx

(And don't forget if you would like to order any of the products used to create this card drop me an email: amyjtidd@gmail.com - you can view the catty online via the link on the righthand side of this blog!)

A Choc-a-holics Card!!

Hey all! Those who know me well will know how much i LOVE chocolate! Well my good friend Hannah knows that more than most. Sadly she couldn't attend my baby shower as she was busy escorting her Girl Guides to Cranleigh carnival - she did however buy me this fantastic gift:

A scrummy, yummy Cadbury chocolate box!! I'm quickly working my way through it!! What a fantastic gift! So to thank her i made this chocolate themed thankyou card:

I started off with a 'Concord Crush' cardbase and then layered some 'Whisper White' card, with the 'Thanks' sentiment from the 'Tagtastic' stampset inked onto the corner of it.

The chocolate bar has been made from some 'Concord Crush' card which i embossed using the 'Big Shot' and the 'Stripes Embossing Folder'. I embellished the wrapper with some 'Bakers Twine' which i tied in a bow!! and some 'Basic Rhinestones'. The chocolate was created from some 'Chocolate Chip' cardstock, i layered some squares of 'Chocolate Chip' card inked on the edges with some 'Chocolate Chip' ink. I tore the chocolate bar to create a nibbled effect!

Thankyou Hannah for a fab gift! I loved it!!

A Card For A Cool Rider!!

So today i have a card to share with you for all your 'Motorcycle' fanatics!!

The cardbase has been created from some 'Night Of Navy' cardstock that i shaped into a 'rocker' card using the 'Large Scallop Die'. I then ran it through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Perfect Polkadot Embossing Folder' to add texture to it!!

On a piece of 'Whisper White' card i stamped the 'Motorcycle' stampset using 'Early Espresso' ink. I ' partially coloured the 'Motorcycle' using 'Pear Pizzazz' ink and a trusty 'Blender Pen'. The sentiment is from the 'Tagtastic' stampset which i selectively stamped using an 'Early Espresso' 'Stampin' Write Marker'. I mounted this onto a piece of 'Pear Pizzazz' card using some 'Dimensionals', before gluing it onto the cardbase.

A nice, simple card for any 'Motorcycle' enthusiast!!

If you like the look of the products used on this project - why not make an order today. Email it over to me ASAP to take advantage of the April promotion (a FREE pack of 'DSP' with orders of £45) Drop me an email: amyjtidd@gmail.com

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!!

Happy Anniversary Suz and Andy!

What a busy couple of days!! Yesterday was my birthday - last night we went out for a scrummy meal and this morning we had our 20 week scan. Baby Tiddlywink was very very lazy to start off with but soon woke up!!

Today is also special at is our good friend Andy and Suz's Anniversary! So here is the card i made for them:

The card is a 'Baja Breeze' base, with a piece of 'Basic Black' layered ontop. On that i glued a piece of 'Marina Mist' which i ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Perfect Polkadot Embossing Folder' to create some texture. The moon was created from a piece of 'Whisper White' punched out using the '1-3/4" Circle Punch'. I then punched two owls from 'Basic Black' card and some branches using the 'Two-Step Bird Punch'. The 'just for you' sentiment is from the 'Tagtastic' stampset, inked in 'Basic Black', i coloured the small flowers from 'Marina Mist' 'Stampin' Write Markers' and then a few teeny tiny 'Basic Pearls' in the centre of them! I punched this out using the 'Decorative Label Punch' and bordered with a 'Basic Black' 'Decorative Label'.

I hope Andy and Suz have had a fab day!

A Thankyou TopNote Card!!

Hey all! Hope you have had a good weekend. I have and can't believe it is almost over!! Today i went down to the seaside with my sisters and whilst there had a scrummy lunch and did lots of shopping!! I'm upset the weekends over but totally looking forward to the week ahead - tomorrow is my birthday and then on Tuesday we have our 20 week scan! Can't wait!!!

Unsuprisingly i haven't had a lot of time to craft this weekend but i have a thankyou card i made earlier in the week to share with you, that my friend Ruth asked me to make for her. I used a similar design to the 'Top Note' card that featured on my blog the other day. (See here) Fiona taught us how to make cards like this and i just love the layout and know i'll be using it a lot in the future:

The card base used is 'Crumb Cake'. The 'DSP' used in this card is from the 'Beau Chateau' and the 'Nursery Nest' collections. As you can see i have used the 'Top Note Die' in this design. The thanks stamp is from the 'Tagtastic' set, inked in 'Baja Breeze', punched with a '1-3/8" Circle Punch', layered onto a 'Soft Suede' 'Scallop Circle' with a little 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming Ribbon' and a couple of 'Basic Pearls' to embellish the card!!

Ruth wanted these cards made to give to colleagues who accompanied her on an Duke Of Edinborough expedition with some of our students. Despite being nervous about the trip and all the organisations it all went well! It's the first one that Ruth has organised and she did a fab job! Well done Ruth!!

Don't forget if you like the look of any of the products i have used you can buy them straight from me (all orders of £45 will also earn yourself a FREE stampset or pack of paper!!) Email over your order today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Crafty Boots Challenge: Fantasy

It's that time again, another Crafty Boots Challenge and this fortnights challenge is: Fantasy... This could be anything like Castles/fairies/unicorns/father christmas... you get the idea!! So here is my DT offering:

I really didn't know where to start with this challenge and this is what i finally came up with ... a fairy princess castle!!

It started life as a 'Marina Mist' cardbase. I hand-snipped some 'Whisper White' card into cloud shaped and added some detail on with a 'Bashful Blue' 'Stampin' Write Marker'. I then hand-snipped some 'Cheerful Treat DSP' to create the grass.

The castle was created from three wide strips of 'Blushing Bride' cardstock. I drew some brick detail on using a ruler and a 'Stampin' Write Marker'. To create the pointy roof i ran some 'Brights DSP' through the 'Big Shot' using my 'Perfect Pennants Die' and used some 'Melon Mambo' card stock edged with the 'Eyelet Punch' to create the frill! The windows was created from some 'Melon Mambo' card, which i hand-snipped to shape (notice that i ran a strip of 'Basic Pearls' along the bottom of them - you can't have a princess castle without bling!) and i punched the door out using my 'Large Tag Punch' (which a 'Basic Rhinestone' on it to create the handle - more bling!!)

Finally i stamped the 'just for you' sentiment (from the 'Tagtastic' stampset) in 'Melon Mambo' ink onto some 'Whisper White' card, punched it out using the 'Decorative Label Punch' and bordered it on a 'Melon Mambo' 'Decorative Label' which i cut in half to elongate! I love this effect!!

So get your craft on and get involved with the Craft Boots Challenge! I can't wait to see your entries!!

(And if any of you fancy making a Stampin' Up! order just email me: amyjtidd@gmail.com - i offer free P&P - usually £4.95 - with all orders over £50!)

PhD Congrats

For a while now my friend Hannah has been doing a lot of ground work on her Phd, during halfterm she had to go for a meeting with her professors, it went really well and she had it confirmed that she has been upgraded to PhD status!! Which means with a lots of hardwork one day in the future she will be Dr Hannah Roberts! She is very clever - probably the most clever person i know and i wanted to make her a card to celebrate her academic success so far! So here it is:

I started off by stamping the congrats sentiment (in 'Melon Mambo') from the 'Tagtastic' stampset onto some 'Whisper White' and punched it out using the '1-3/4" Circle Punch' and embellished it with some teeny tiny 'Basic Pearls'. I then ran some 'Rich Razzleberry', 'Melon Mambo' and 'Pacific Point' cardstock through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Perfect Pennant Die' and layered them all up. Next i glued a trip of 'Pacific Point' card onto a wider strip of 'Rich Razzleberry' card and ran it through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder'. I glued into onto a 'Melon Mambo' cardbase and then layered the congrats sentiment ontop. Finally i ran some pieces of 'Pacific Point' through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Timeless Type Alphabet dies' to create the PhD in the bottom left corner.

This card is a little late as i have been off work and haven't seen her since she told me the news via facebook. I hope she likes her card!!

If you like the materials i have used in this card and would like to purchase any of them then don't hesitate to make an order. Email it over to me at: 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

Tagtastic Just For You Card!

Today i have a card to share with you that i made for my Father-in-laws partner Elle. It was her birthday recently and i wanted to make a special card for her.

I began with a 'Pretty in Pink' cardbase and then stamped all over it using the circular stamp from the 'Artistic Etchings' stampset (using 'Melon Mambo' ink). The 'just for you' sentiment is from the brilliant 'Tagtastic' stampset - which is one of the new hostess stampsets from the new catalogue! I stamped this (using 'Melon Mambo') onto 'Whisper White' cardstock and then punched it out using the 'Decorative Label Punch'. I then punched out another 'Decorative Label, snipped it in half and layered the 'Whisper White' label ontop of it.

The large 'Whisper White' shape was created using my 'Big Shot' and the 'Top Note Die', by rotating the card around the die several times you can create different shapes! Next i ran some 'Melon Mambo' card through the 'Bigshot' using the 'Perfect Pennant Die'. Finally i stamped the 'All in a Flutter' butterfly onto some 'Whisper White' card using 'Melon Mambo' ink, i snipped this out, placed some 'Basic Pearls' down the centre and then used Stampin' Up! dimensionals to raise it!

I hope Elle liked this card and the gift we brought for her! I really enjoyed making it and playing with lots of the new Stampin' Up! goodies!

Want to have a little look at these products in the flesh and have a play?! Why not pop along to my FREE Craft Open House this Saturday. Everyone is welcome. Email me for details: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Another 'Tagtastic Card'

Happy Sunday! I have another card to share with you today using the lovely new Stampin' Up! hostess set - 'Tagtastic'. You can get your hands on this fab new hostess set by hosting a Stampin' Up! of your own or making a qualifying order! This stampset is fab and i have already made lots of cards using it - i can't wait to share them all with you! Here is what the stampset looks like:

Isn't it a great set! The card i have to share with you today is using the 'Thanks' stamp from the set, and is quite similar to the congrats card that i shared with you yesterday:

A 'Soft Suede' cardbase, with a piece of 'Very Vanilla' layered on it. This 'Very Vanilla' card was ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder'. On that i layered some 'Baja Breeze' with i have ran through the 'Big Shot' using the wonderful 'Perfect Pennant Die', layered ontop of that a 'Soft Suede' 'Scallop Circle. I finally stamped the thanks sentiment in 'Soft Suede; ink onto 'Baja Breeze' cardstock, punched it out using the -1-3/8" Circle Punch', embellished it with some 'Basic Pearls' and raised in ontop of the 'Scallop Circle' using some 'Dimensionals'. I completed this card by wrapping some 'Baja Breeze' 'Seaming Ribbon'.

I just love the 'Perfect Pennant Die', check back tomorrow for another card made using this wonderfully versatile 'Big Shot' Die!

Happy 2nd Wedding Day Rob and Iwona!

Hiya, i hope this post works - i have scheduled this as we are actually in Poland for a long weekend! Today we will be going to a wedding! Rob and Iwona are having their big fat polish wedding this weekend and we feel very priviledged to be part of it all! So i thought today i would share with you the card i made for them - and yes it uses new Stampin' Up! products:

This card was actually quite quick to make! I stamped the congrats sentiment (fromt he fab new hostess set - 'Tagtastic' ink 'Early Espresso' ink. I embellished the sentiment using the teeny tiny 'Basic Pearls'. I punched it out using the '1-3/8" Circle Punch'. Next i ran some 'Baja Breeze' through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Perfect Pennant Die' and glued the 'congrats' sentiment to it. Next i ran a piece of 'Very Vanilla' through the 'Big shot' using the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder', wrapped a strip of 'Early Espresso' 'Satin Ribbon' around it. , layered this on some 'Baja Breeze' and then glued all of this onto a 'Early Espresso' cardbase.

I hope Rob and Iwona love their card and have a very happy wedding day!! Have a great weekend!