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!

Zesty Colour Combo!

Happy Bank Holiday Monday everyone! What beautiful weather it is, much more summery than i was expecting and i guess the weather is totally reflected in the card that i want to share with you today!

I have completely dedicated today for crafting, hubby is at work so i can make as much mess as i want!!! The first thing i did this morning was log on the Cupcake Craft Challenges to see what this weeks challenge is! This week it is 'Zesty Colour Combo' in other words you have to create a card using the following colours: orange, green, yellow and white. So i decided to make the challenge my first crafty make of the day, here you go:

I have created a beautiful tri-fold card. The cardbase is 'Old Olive' and the panels have been made with 'Daffodil Delight' and 'Tangerine Tango' cardstock, some of which has been run through the 'Big Shot' with the 'Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder'.

Here's a close up of the front of the card:

The daisies have been created with the 'Flower Daisies Die' using 'Whisper White', 'Tangerine Tango' and 'Daffodil Delight' card. An 'Old Olive' 'Designer Button' has been placed in the centre to coordinate. the daisy is layered on shape that has been created using the 'Top Note Die' and the 'Big Shot'. You basically keep rotating the card on the die to create the effect. (I will try and post a tutorial on how to create this shape soon - you may need to remind me!) I have also placed some beautiful butterflies created from some scraps of 'Brights DSP' and the 'Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die'. I have placed a few 'Basic Rhinestones' on the butterflies for a bit of bling effect! The ribbon featured is 'Old Olive' 'Grosgrain Ribbon'.

Here's the card in it's open form:

The sentiment featured in this card is from the 'Cheers and Wishes' stampset, which i have punched out using the 'Decorative Label Punch'.

I just love this card!! A lovely bright creation to get me in a summery mood. Let's hope the sunshine continues through halfterm!!

Whilst you're here visiting, why not check out my blogcandy!!  Have a fab day and please check back tomorrow for another crafty make! xx

Shock Horror... a card made without the BigShot!!

Hi all! Hope you are all having a fab bank holiday weekend! I have had a lovely day, i've been out for lunch today with my Nan, sister Jamie and my cousin Kirsty! I had planned to get some crafting done today but so far that hasn't happened, but i guess i've got a whole week to get plenty done!

Recently every card or project that i have made has used the wonderful 'Big Shot', however i don't want to neglect those of you who haven't (yet) treated themselves to a die cutting machine... so today i have a non-bigshot card to share with you:

I have used the 'resist emboss' technique to create this card. I started off with a piece of 'Very Vanilla' cardstock, and 'Versamarked' the 'medallion' stamp on to it. I then sprinkled some 'clear embossing power' on and heat embossed it. I then used a 'Sponge Dauber' and some 'Rich Razzleberry ink to sponge all over the image and embellished the image with some 'Basic Pearls'. I mounted this onto the 'Whisper White' card and then mounted all of it onto the 'Early Espresso' cardbase. I finished off this card with a strip of 'Early Espresso' card, which i edged with the 'Eyelet Border Punch' and then ran it through the 'Crimper' a little piece of 'Silver Elastic Cord'.

I'm really pleased with this card - i'd love to know what you think. Please leave a comment. Have a fab bank holiday Monday.xxx

A Milk Carton Birdhouse!

Woo hoo! It's the weekend and the start of my halfterm!! Today i want to share with you a little project i made sometime ago. I popped this project on my display table during my mini catalogue launch party and it recieved a lot of attention!! So here is a little birdhouse made with the (Stampin' Up exclusive) 'Mini Milk Carton Bigz L Die' and the 'Top Note Die'. Here it is:

I firstly ran some 'Pear Pizzazz' card stock through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Mini Milk Carton Die', before constructing it i punched a circle out of one side using the '1-3/4" Circle Punch and placed some acetate behind it to create a window. I then constructed the milk carton. To construct the roof i placed a piece of 'Rose Red' through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Top Note Die'. The then trimmed two ends off of the top note and folded it in half. I placed some yummy sweets into the milk carton before attaching this to the top of the milk carton using some red sticky tape. There you go bird house complete! Simple really! For this project i used the 'Two-Step bird Punch' to decorate it. I punched the bird out of some 'Soft Suede' card (and used a 'Sponge Dauber' and some 'Soft Suede' ink to add some texture) then using a little scrap of 'Daffodil Delight' made his beak. (You could of course use the lovely owl punch or the beautiful bird stamp from the 'Nature Walk' set instead.)

I hope you like this crafty make! I have to say i'm totally in love with my 'Big Shot'. I really don't know how i survived without it!! The Stampin' Up! 'Big Shot' comes with a three year warranty. There's also a whole range of dies which are exclusive to 'Stampin' Up! Why not check them out in the Mini Catalogue (an electronic copy of this catty can be found on the right hand side of my blog.) Email me to find out more about the 'Big Shot' deal i'm running for my customers this month: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Hope you have a fab weekend!

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...

Top Note GiftCard Holder!

I have recently purchased an exclusive Stampin' Up! 'Top Note Die and i'm addicted to using it!! 'Today i want to share with you a giftcard holder that i made, here it is:

To make this project you need to run some 'Poppy Parade' cardstock through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Top Note Die'. You need three 'Top Notes' in total. The owl has been created using the lovely 'Owl Punch' and scraps of 'Early Espresso', 'Bashful Blue' and 'Whisper White'. I constructed the owl and mounted him onto 'Whisper White' card, mounted on to 'Early Espresso'. (The hearts also come from the 'Owl Punch'.) I layered two 'Top Notes' together and then punched a hole in the top lefthand corner using my 'Crop-A-Dile' and then used a piece of 'Early Espresso' 'Satin Ribbon' to tie them together. Once you have done that you're ready to create the inside...

You now need to chop the third 'Top Note' in half and run some 'Red Sticky Strip' along three sides and then attach to the back 'Top note', this will create a place for you to slot in a gift card, gift voucher or money.

I'm often quite reluctant to give someone a gift voucher as i feel it lacks a personal touch, but now problem solved!!