Monday 31 March 2014

My Mixed Media Mini…..

Welcome. Today's project is my version of a mixed media mini album. I love mini albums so much! But I admit I don't go for long drawn out tutorials. Again, I don't have the time, patience or focus for anything too complex. Although today's mini isn't an afternoon project( well it could be if you work much quicker than I do!). The mini it's self is very simple to do. The embellishing is purely up to you on how elaborate or simple you wish to make yours.  As you can see with mine it is going to take me this week, assuming my work load doesn't get too hectic and I can squeeze in a few hours of "me time".

So let's get started with the basics. I started with the kraft envelopes Stampin Up sells. I happen to get my hands on the UK and US ones and only just found a couple days ago that they are different in size! The US measure approximately 5 3/4 x 4 1/2 ", where the UK version is 3 1/2 x 5". No idea why they varied the size but for this project they came in very handy!

I have stitched together 4 small and 4 medium size envelopes. If you don't have any Stampin Up ones just use what you have on hand.






Once you have stitched the two medium envelopes and two small envelopes together you will end up with one end on each grouping. I decided to seal these together to add some interest inside my album. You of course could simply arrange yours so this seals to the front and back of the album and then cover it with your choice of papers. I like to be different:-)


Once I have attached the two sides together I began adding some fancy edging to the pockets formed by cutting the ends of the envelopes off.

Now the fun bit! Embellishing. I am really happy with the result. What do you think?







I am especially proud of the fact I managed to up cycle a coaster from the British Heart Association. Every year they mail out these coasters to people and I just don't have the heart ( no pun intended ) to send them back. So today it has found another use, covered in lovely papers mind you, but better than ending up in the trash …er……rubbish.

So there you have it! If you like what you've seen then stop in again. I will be adding more pages, tags and lovelies to this mini. Have a wonderful day. Cya soon!

Friday 28 March 2014

Bunch of Flowers Wreath

Happy Friday Y'all. Another long week here and l am looking forward to a relaxing weekend in my studio! I am having crafting withdrawals and need a nice long session of glue, scissors and stamps.

On to today's project. I am especially proud of how this wreath turned out. I have had this burlap ribbon in my stash for a while. I found it's a little too "bulky" for card making. But it's perfect for a wreath! Have a looksey……



I found a roll of Stampin Up Burlap ribbon covered my 9" wreath. I was hoping to make a larger one but couldn't stretch it.




The flowers are a combination of all my retired and current Stampin Up dies and punches. I even managed to use up the remainder of Tea for Two Designer Series Paper. I think these papers have really complimented the burlap to give me the Shabby Chic look I was aiming for.



 Well that's it for today folks. I hope you have a great weekend and will visit again. Cya!

Wednesday 26 March 2014

hello from the secret garden

Happy Wednesday Stampers. I hope you've had a good start to hump day. I have spent the morning at the dentist , so not such a great start for me! I have managed a little time to make this card though.

 I have combined  gingham papers and the Secret Garden stamp set to create this cute little "hello" note.





 This card has definitely brightened my day, I hope it has yours too! Thanks for stopping by. Cya soon.

Monday 24 March 2014

Art Journal…….

Welcome! If you haven't been following me lately you may have missed the first few pages of my new Art Journal.  I freely admit this is a new journey for me. I am not sure what others chose to use their art journal for…..maybe their aren't any rules. For myself, I am using this as a way to express my creativity. I don't intend for my journal to have a theme or particular colour scheme. I have tried that in the past and it just don't work for me. Perhaps that's due to my lack of focus lately. I lose interest in those projects.

So on to today's pages…..


I found a stash of retired Stampin Up Designer Series papers I had forgotten about. I knew I wanted to work on the chalkboard technique as I recently bought these great little quote stamps and hadn't had a chance to use them.






I embossed these little birds in black. I mounted it on some black card stock but found it was too bold so I rubbed it down with the embossing buddy and that gave it a much softer look.








Well there you have it! I am enjoying working on this album and am thinking I would enjoy taking a journalling class if time allows. I hope you will give one of these albums a go as well. Come back again. Cya!

From My Heart

Happy Monday Stampers. I hope you had a great weekend. The weather could have been better but at least I didn't have to feel guilty staying inside crafting.

Today I have combined From the Heart with my all time favourite Stippled Blossom to create these cards.



I love the look combining these two sets gives, so soft and feminine. The colours used here are Daffodil Delight, Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

I hope you will come again and more importantly get busy stamping! Cya soon.

Sunday 23 March 2014

happy day…...

Oh Happy Day! Welcome to my studio. Today I thought I would share a few of the projects I have been working on.  I am trying to break away from my usual style and be a little more daring in my creations. So this card combines a lot of textures I wouldn't normally use together but they seem to work well. What do you think?





 So on to the next project I have started. I have been wanting to do more journaling and scrapbooking but admit I am totally intimidated when I sit down to start an album. The task seem mammoth ! So many designer papers, colours and themes to choose from. I find myself scrolling through pages of inspiration online and in the end I just pack it all up and shove it back in the drawer!

Yesterday I thought to myself its time to tackle this once and for all. So I started with this scrapbook I bought on clearance the other day. Bit boring but a bargain so I had to have it lol.



 Now this is not the end product, only the beginning. I always leave my album covers to the last to finish. Otherwise I end up ruining all the embellishments during the creating of pages.

 Here are the two pages I have completed so far in my Creative Journal.











 I am loving the idea of a Creative Journal with no rules! A place to just create, add whatever suits me and even work on a few journalling notes along the way. This album will reflect what I like with no worries of what's trending at the moment in the crafting world.  I am super excited to work on this album, and that is a first!

 So if you like what you've seen please check back regularly to see what I add to this journal. Hopefully   I can inspire you to try one yourself. Have a great Sunday!

Saturday 22 March 2014

Morning Meadow Gift Tags

Hello. I hope you are enjoying a relaxing Saturday wherever you are. I love Saturdays. It gives me the chance to get the creative juices flowing. So often during the week I just have enough time for a quick card or posting on my blog. But Saturdays I have devoted to spending time in my studio and just letting whatever happens happen!

Here is what I created today……


I just love little tags of any sort! I dug out my ol' Two Tags Die, retired, but never leaving my crafting stash. I combined Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush for little beauties. I can't seem to get enough of this colour combination……so fresh and cheerful!




These are quick tags you can make and keep on hand for any gift giving. I hope you will be inspired to try these yourself. If you want a list of supplies used just contact me and I will email you what I for my tags.

 Thank you for stopping by. Go enjoy your weekend and I shall see you soon!

Thursday 20 March 2014

Happy Easter Everybunny.......

Hi Stampers. I hope today has brought you sunshine and the opportunity to get busy making something beautiful!

I wanted to get my Everybunny stamp set out and get busy making some Easter cards to give to friends and family this year. This is such a cute stamp set I am just sorry I don't get to use it more often.









I used Crisp Cantaloupe for this card along with Stampin Up Designer Series Paper from the Birthday Basics. The stitching on this card is made using coloured pencils,  I am useless with a sewing machine!

I hope you have enjoyed stopping in today and will visit again. Have a great day!

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Sketched Birthday Wishes

Welcome back Stampers! Today I have been working on colouring with the Stampin Up watercolour pencils. I love the look these pencils give to any image. I just need more practice time!


This card is a quick and easy project to make. I have chosen to use So Saffron card stock for the primary colour of this card. I love the softness of this shade of yellow. I inked up the balloon stamp in Daffodil Delight and stamped onto the So Saffron to create a subtle background. The sentiment has been stamped in Soft Suede ink and then using the Bitty Banners Framelits I cut it out using my Big Shot.

The cake image just takes some time to get the shading the way you like. I chose to use Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise and Melon Mambo to colour my image. Using the circle Framelits I cut out the circle and a circle frame just to make the image pop a little more.


If you have enjoyed this card please leave me your comments. It's always nice to hear from you! Have a wonderful day.

Monday 17 March 2014

I'm here for you

Happy Monday to All! I've enjoyed a wonderful weekend with glorious weather. I hope you did as well. With this spring -like weather I decided my next card would use some of the spring colours I am seeing everywhere I look.


The stamp sets used to make this card are: Morning Meadow, Summer Silhouettes, En Francais  and Blooming with Kindness.


 I first stamped the background with En Francais in crumb cake. Next I used Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and Blushing Bride for the leaves and flowers.  My butterfly image is from a non Stampin Up stamp which I can't recall the make. Any butterfly stamp will work though. I stamped the butterfly image directly on the card stock then a duplicate on another piece of card stock. I coloured in the butterfly with my watercolour pencils

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Birthday Wishes

Hello and welcome back. The welcome back is more for myself than you! I am sorry for the long absence in posting on my blog. I had a nice visit back home with my family. Upon returning I have found it difficult to find the time or inspiration to create anything.

Sometimes I think it is nice to take a break from our day to day life. I am hoping that I can return to my crafting with some fresh ideas. So let's take a look at my first card in a very long time......


I love the colour combination and think this will bring a smile to a special birthday girl I know!


Thanks for stopping by today and please come again soon as I have a lot of new and exciting projects planned for the upcoming months. Have a wonderful week.