Mainly Flowers

Blog Candy Draw - Finally!

2009-11-13T13:42:00.004Z

I'm so sorry for the total lack of posting and delay in doing the blog candy draw. I've had a few things going on at home that have had to take priority. With 134 entries, and the lack of time, I was forced to resort to Random.org to do the draw for me. I much prefer the name out of the hat, but it wasn't possible. The number that came up was 50, and counting down the entries I arrived at this one:

Congratulations Julie!

Please use the contact me tab at the top of my blog so that I can organise your prize. Thanks!

Blog Candy

2009-10-14T17:58:00.005+01:00

At last - here is the promised blog candy! It consists of two whole reels of ribbon, designer paper, pewter hodgepodge, and a Yummy stamp set. If you would prefer you can swap the Yummy set for either Botanical Blooms or Polka Dot Punches. If you also link to this post from your blog, and you win the candy, I will add £10 of free goodies of your choice from the UK Stampin' Up! catalogue.

All you have to do to be in with a chance to win it is to leave a comment on this post. I will do the draw on 31st October.

Poinsettia Cards from Class

2009-10-12T23:11:00.002+01:00

These are the two cards from the morning session of Friday's punched flowers class. We started with this single flower card to warm up with. The flower is made using designer paper, and two sizes of birch leaf punch for the petals, with little yellow pearls in the centre.

The second card uses the same flower, but in a creamy pearlised paper for a different look, and has some maple leaf ivy with some simple little flowers to build up more of an arrangement.

I promised Candy yesterday, but my day hasn't gone as planned, so here I am at 11:30pm - typing on my laptop and keeping a coughing child company whilst she goes back to sleep. I'm hoping to get the candy photographed and put up tomorrow. Sorry about that!

Last Stop on our New Catalogue Safari

2009-10-11T15:42:00.003+01:00

Welcome to the last day of the safari - and we're flower spotting again. But then what else would you expect from me?!

This card is for my daughter Nicola who was 21 yesterday.

Card/Paper: Barely Banana, Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery, Whisper White plain & textured
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery
Stamps: None - computer generated wording
Other: Pretties Kit pearls, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds
Card Size: 21cm x 15cm (approx 6" x 8.25")

Keen eyed safari goers will also spot the new border punch that I've used on this card. It's so nice to have a pretty border punch that will work happily on card as well as paper! I punched the edge of a piece of card, and then trimmed off the punched edge to make it into a narrow strip which I snipped and curved along the edge of the white.

The top corners and the line of holes for the faux stitching were done using more new items - the mat pack and paper piercer. Even though the template has holes in straight lines, you can use it to prick along a curve as I have done here.

I used my drawing program and a font called Harrington to generate the 21 and the greeting. The mat layer on the 21 has been cut from Whisper White then glittered using Heat & Stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I embossed the yellow numbers using a Cuttlebug folder, and sponged the edges with the matching ink. The background was quilted using my Fiskars paper trimmer and bone folder.

I've discovered that the paper piercer makes an excellent tool for scoring the line down the middle of my leaves and petals, so I've used that for these ones, along with an embossing stylus. I used three punches for the flowers - the Scalloped Circle, Five Petal Flower, and Boho Blossoms Punches.

Come back tomorrow for some blog candy to celebrate the safe return of the safari party!

Christmas Roses

2009-10-10T12:30:00.002+01:00

I had a lovely day teaching a floral punch class yesterday at my local craft shop. It's so nice tucked in the class room there, overlooking the fields and away from the world. Easy to ignore the rain when you're engrossed in making flowers! Thank you to all the ladies for being such a lovely group to teach.

This is the card we made in the afternoon. The large white flowers - the Christmas roses - are made using a birch leaf punch for the petals, stuck onto a five petal flower shape to give the spacing and finished with a stamen punch for the centre. Holly leaves and a maple leaf punch for the ivy had a little brown sponging round the edge for a bit more dimension. The centres of the small white and red flowers all have liquid pearls.

We had a little extra time, so made a tag to match the card.

Don't forget to hop over to Natalie's blog today for the Safari!

On Safari with Bella Toile

2009-10-09T00:29:00.005+01:00

Phew! I've managed to be on time for my second turn at hosting the safari - although a flat camera battery did its best to thwart me. That's what you get for forgetting to turn the camera off. Really must get a spare battery! Still, it's charged up overnight, and fortunately it's not raining this morning so I could get outside for some good light.

Card/Paper: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Ink: Always Artichoke, Versamark
Stamps: Bella Toile, Fresh Cuts
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

My first order from the new Stampin' Up! catalogue arrived yesterday, but I have been very good, and did my preparation for the class I have today, before playing with anything! Sadly I didn't have a lot of time, so had to content myself with this very quick card for today's post. I used my lovely new Bella Toile stamp, and heat embossed it using Versamark and clear embossing powder. The Stampin' Up! powder is very fine, and perfect for the detail in a stamp like this. I didn't want to cover up the image too much, so I just added a strip of card punched with the Eyelet Border punch and some ribbon. Finished off with a sentiment from Fresh Cuts.

Off on the school run now, and then to the class I'm giving at my local craft shop.

If anyone is waiting on an email reply from me, I couldn't access my email account last night, and still can't this morning. My apologies for this - I'll sort it out when I get back late this afternoon.

Robin Step by Step

2009-10-06T15:39:00.003+01:00

Here's a little step by step for the robins on this card. You'll need:

Scraps of Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, and Basic Black card.
Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa ink.
Close to Cocoa marker.
White gel pen.
1 3/8" Circle Punch, Five Petal Flower Punch and 1/8" Circle Punch.

Punch out one 1 3/8" circle of Chocolate Chip, and one of Ruby Red. Put the red circle back in the punch as shown - so that the edge is about half way across the gap. Punch with the card in this position to give the tummy shape.

If you have trouble punching the tummy like this, then lay the Chocolate Chip circle over the red one so that the edge of it is touching the centre of the circle. Easier if you make a dot in the centre of the red circle first. Use the edge of the Chocolate Chip circle to draw a line on the Ruby Red one, and then cut out using scissors or a craft knife.

Punch out a Five Petal flower from Chocolate Chip, and another from Close to Cocoa. Mark the centre with a dot and cut into this dot from between each petal to divide them as shown. If you're only making one robin, then you can save card by only putting the card into the punch a little way - enough to get one petal of Close to Cocoa, and two of Chocolate Chip.

Sponge the edges of the Chocolate Chip pieces with Chocolate Chip ink, and the Ruby Red and Close to Cocoa pieces with Close to Cocoa ink. Use the Close to Cocoa marker to draw in a line on the beak. Punch a 1/8" circle from the Basic Black card. Alternatively draw in the eye with a black marker. Use the picture of the finished robin above to assemble the pieces. Add a white highlight to the eye with the gel pen. Once the robin is stuck to your project, draw in his legs using the Close to Cocoa marker.

Safari Bus Arrived at Last!

2009-10-04T16:00:00.005+01:00

My turn to drive the safari bus, and of course it's late! One or two little hitches, and of course, being me I had to stop and look at the flowers. So it's now late afternoon instead of morning - but we've turned up eventually, so hop on board for my tour!

Today we're visiting the Autumn Harvest set from the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue. I love this set. It has a lot of potential for cards throughout the year. Christmas, masculine, pretty - it can do them all. My first card uses the pine cone stamp from the set for a kind of rustic masculine Christmas card.

Card/Paper: Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke
Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Season of Joy, Sanded
Card Size: 12.5cm x 12.5cm (approx 5" x 5")

I inked the stamp using my markers in Always Artichoke and Close to Cocoa. Then I just randomly dabbed the tip of the Chocolate Chip marker over the pine cone to give a slight variation in shading. This was then stamped onto Very Vanilla. Using a sponge dauber I put a little Close to Cocoa around the edges of the vanilla card. The background is Always Artichoke card, stamped again with the pine cone around the edges in Always Artichoke ink. Matted onto Very Vanilla. The base card is Close to Cocoa stamped with the Sanded background stamp in Close to Cocoa ink, and again sponged around the edges using the dauber with Close to Cocoa.

Having stopped to look at the flowers, my second card had to include some of them! This time I used the ivy/maple leaf and dotted flower spray stamps as a background to the punched flowers, and also to frame the ribbon.

Card/Paper: More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Whisper White
Ink: More Mustard, Always Artichoke
Stamps: Autumn Harvest, Sincere Salutations
Other: More Mustard 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, 1/8" Circle P
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

The large flower was made from one punched Scallop Circle. I cut between every other scallop towards the centre, lightly sponged on some More Mustard ink, then used scored down the centre of each petal. The centre of the flower uses two of the Boho Blossoms punch shapes. I'll do a step by step when I get the chance!

Continuing with our tour of the catalogue, let me show you a couple of the new things that caught my eye:

There are some lovely new designer papers - some bright and cheerful, and some more subdued. Being on the more subdued side of the fence, here's one of my favourites Bella Bleu. Can see some very restful, elegant cards and scrap pages made from this.

Designer Brads - mmm, yummy. Love those Filigree Flower ones - of course!

And finally, not quite as thrilling as new stash perhaps, but if you are tired of your wheels rolling all over the place, here are some nice boxes specially designed to keep them under control.

If you're still with me after all that, it just remains for me to say that Natalie is our driver tomorrow - so fasten your seatbelts!

Twinkly Trees

2009-10-03T21:20:00.002+01:00

Card/Paper: Night Of Navy, Brocade Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Versamark
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, En Francais, Birthday Cheer and Wishes
Other: Night of Navy 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

I've never really been one for glitter, but Dazzling Diamonds and Heat & Stick have converted me. It's so twinkly! On this card I stamped the tree image, and then used the Versamark pad directly on the paper to get a good covering over the whole image. Then embossed with Heat & Stick powder, then sprinkled on the Dazzling Diamonds. You can see the sparkle a little bit better if you enlarge the image, but unfortunately, the picture can't quite capture the frosty twinkle!

I made the same card in different colours - but think that I like the blue one best.

Card/Paper: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Bravo Burgundy, Versamark
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, En Francais, Birthday Cheer and Wishes
Other: Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

New Catalogue

2009-10-01T14:17:00.003+01:00

The new 2009-2010 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue is now available to view online. Click on the image to browse. If you don't like online catalogues, you can purchase a lovely paper copy from me for £5 including postage. It will come with a £5 money off voucher against your first purchase from me of £35 or more.

Anyone for a Safari?

2009-10-01T11:42:00.003+01:00

I can't believe it's the 1st October already - seems only a few weeks ago that it was the release of last year's new catalogue! But here we are, with a sparkling new catalogue again, and to celebrate the launch, a few of the SU team I am in are having a little blog safari.

We are starting off at the lovely Caz's today, and she has the link for tomorrow's visit. Each day one of us will have something made with a set from the new catalogue, and details of new products. By following the links each day, you will be led on the safari around our blogs. If you are coming to this post after the 1st, Just start with the link here to Caz's blog, and you can catch up!

Be sure and ride with us to the end of the safari - I may have a little candy for those who do!

New Catalogue and Blog Candy

2009-10-01T00:10:00.003+01:00

The new Stampin' Up! catalogue was launched tonight, and to celebrate the occasion there are three blogs offering Stampin' Up! Blog Candy:

Jenny's Blog -- Candy post here

Lousette's Blog --- Candy post here

Suzanne's Blog --- Candy post here

Twinkly Blue and White Snowflakes

2009-09-29T22:32:00.002+01:00

Unfortunately I couldn't capture the twinkle of the all over glitter on the round snowflake image on this card. The large snowflake image was stamped in blue ink and then covered with heat and stick powder and fine glitter. The background was stamped with the small snowflake in Versamark on the blue Bazzill, and then the edges sponged with blue. The mat behind the snowflake image was also sponged. The punched snowflakes are finished with Stickles for more twinkle. Greeting is stamped in white Stazon. The card measures about 5 1/4" square.

White and Yellow Birthday Bouquet

2009-09-28T18:53:00.004+01:00

I'm very pleased with the punched border design on this card, even if I do say so myself! I was just playing around with my new Martha Stewart punch and came up with this. The brocade background design in the centre is stamped using Versamark ink onto Bazzill card which gives a nice texture to the design (you can see it on the enlarged image).

I used my Woodware punches to create the flower bouquet - Christmas Flower multi punch with snowflake centres, and three different sizes of Birch Leaf punch for the leaves. The stalks are narrow strips of green card. The tag is just cut with scissors after stamping the greeting on a scrap of card. All finished off with a sheer white ribbon - never sure what it's called - organza? - and flat backed pearls on the corners. Oh, and liquid pearl centres for the flowers.

Merry Christmas Robins

2009-09-27T21:27:00.002+01:00

Card/Paper: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
Stamps: Season of Joy
Other: Gold elastic cord, White Gel Pen
Card Size: 21cm x 7.5cm (approx 8.25" x 3")

This is one of the make and take cards for my stamper's ten members this month. The robins are made using the 1 3/8" circle punch, Five Petal Flower punch, and the 1/8" circle punch. Really easy to do - and quite cute I think!

Glitter Pot Classes

2009-09-11T17:20:00.002+01:00

If you aren't doing anything on Wednesday next week (16th) there are still a few places left on my classes at the Glitter Pot - details here. I am also doing classes on 9th and 29th October. It would be great to meet some of my blog readers there!

Poinsettia Bookmark Card

2009-09-11T16:48:00.003+01:00

Card/Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Versamark
Stamps: Season of Joy
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Gold Cup Sequins, 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

This is one of the projects from our August stamper's ten meeting. It's a bookmark card - the right half of the back of the card can be detached by the recipient and used as a bookmark. The green background card has been stamped using Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. The flowers have a crease along each petal to add a bit of dimension, and each flower has two layers, finished with three gold sequins in the centre.

Inside view of the card - you can just about make out the line of perforations for detaching the bookmark (between the green and white backgrounds) if you enlarge the picture.

If you would like to receive regular monthly project packs, click here for more details about my stamper's ten club.

New Idea Book and Catalogue

2009-09-11T10:51:00.002+01:00

Nearly time for the new UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue! If you are already in one of my stamper's ten groups, then I will be sending one out to you automatically, free of charge as soon as I receive them. If you are not a member one of my groups, but would still like to receive a copy, please let me know. The charge is £5 including postage - or free if you would like to join in the stamper's ten fun! See here for details.

Last Chance List Update - and Mini Catalogue Reminder

2009-09-11T10:39:00.004+01:00

Just a reminder that items on the Last Chance List are only available until the end of this month. Also three more items from the list are now sold out: Flakey Friends, Bee Happy and Mixed Bouquet.

Don't forget that the mini catalogue also expires on 30th September and that items from the mini may or may not be continued into the next catalogue (small print at the bottom of page 2). Click on the mini catalogue image in my side bar to the right to view the online version. If there is anything from the mini that is on your wish list - order it this month!

New Stamper's Ten Group

2009-09-03T02:16:00.002+01:00

I have only four places left now in the new stamper's ten group - details here. If you would like to find out more, or to join in with the fun, use the contact me tab above.

Golden Anniversary Card

2009-09-03T01:52:00.002+01:00

I started with a clip art line drawing of a bell, which I cut apart into the back, clapper and front for the 3d effect. I cut the two bells out of a pale gold card with a slight pearly sheen, then used SU Creamy Caramel ink to add some shading. The upper portion has been embossed using a Cuttlebug Divine Swirls folder. I curved the top layer of the bells slightly, and raised the middle up with foam pads.

The flowers are made using a creamy pearl paper. The larger ones have been sponged with Creamy Caramel around the edges of the petals. I used the same bronzy gold card for the centres of the flowers, the leaves and the matting. The centres of the smaller flowers are Liquid Pearls Gold, and the flat backed pearls in the middle of the larger ones were white, and then I coloured them with a brown permanent marker.

The greeting is computer generated, and the corners of the background were punched using an x-cut punch - don't think that one is still available to buy.

Last Chance List Update

2009-09-01T23:31:00.002+01:00

Just to let you know that two of the items on the Last Chance list have gone out of stock already on the first day!

They are:

104036 All Wrapped Up

100319 Happy Hearts

So if there is anything you want from the Last Chance list let me know before it goes out of stock for good!

Last Chance List

2009-09-01T09:47:00.006+01:00

Stampin' Up! have released the Last Chance List in preparation for the release of the new idea book and catalogue next month. This is a list of all the items that are retiring from the catalogue. They will only be available until the end of this month, or until supplies run out, whichever comes first. So don't delay if there is something you really want. Some items have been discounted by up to 50% so even more reason to hurry! Click on the image to download a pdf of the entire list.

All of the current hostess sets are retiring, but are not available to buy during this last month - they can only be earned for one more month by hosting a qualifying Stampin' Up! party/workshop. If you would like more details of how to earn the hostess benefits, please use the contact me tab above.

Of course I have my own special offer to help tempt you even more! These discounts (given off the Last Chance list items only) are in addition to those given by Stampin' Up!

For a total spend of £30 or more - 10% discount on all items.

For a total spend of £50 or more - 15% discount on all items.

Shipping will be direct to you at a charge of £3.95 for the first £80, and then 5% of the balance.

I will put the names of all who buy from me into a draw. The prize for this draw will be:

£3.95 of free postage + your choice of one of two level 2 hostess sets + your choice of one of three SAB sets

Use the contact me tab above to place an order, or to ask any questions. If you don't have the current catalogues click on the catalogue images in the right hand column of my blog to view the online versions.

I have an extra little surprise for the first three people to place an order with me!

Fan Fold Medallion

2009-08-12T19:30:00.000+01:00

This is the last of the cards we did at the Glitter Pot. It uses My Mind's Eye papers, Bazzill Basics card, and a Stampendous greeting. The medallion is made by fan folding a 12" strip of paper after punching the edge with an edging punch (Martha Stewart - Doily Lace). Then you join the ends and persuade it into a circle.

Tumbling Circles

2009-08-11T19:30:00.000+01:00

I am losing the battle for time in getting all these posts on before going on holiday, so the next few will be just pictures for contemplation, and very sparse with the words!

Basic Grey Papers, Woodware Greeting, Bazzil Basics Pomegranite card. The edges have been scored and rubbed with brown ink. Corners punched with a Woodware Squared punch.