Stamping delights

Managed a quick (okay, not so quick, no crafting I do is quick) card today before spending the day out and about with Mum (garden centre, coffee shop, Sainsbury's, the excitement of my life is overwhelming).


This card features Hero Arts stamps:
Dots and flowers background stamped and embossed in white, distressed with Vintage Photo distress ink.
Antique brocade cling stamped with distress ink and butterflies punched out.
Panel background created with distress inks (broken china, peeled paint, shabby shutters).

Botanical Tulip digital download (Hero Arts at Two Peas in a Bucket) coloured with markers and triple embossed with UTEE.
Sentiment from the Thoughtful Messages clear design set, mounted on oval punchies (Stampin' Up).
And, of course, the faithful Fiskars Apron Lace punch.

At the garden centre I bought a new Sizzix embossing folders set - I had only been admiring that large embossed background on a card in an online gallery this morning before going out!

At Sainsbury's my mum bought me some yellow tulips (just one of THE perfect spring flowers) and a fruity/creamy/meringue from the bakery section (well she bought herself two fruit tartlets and they had a buy two get third free offer on the cake counter hence my good fortune). It's sat hidden in a box in the fridge ready for when I get the munchies later on tonight.

Have just cooked chicken nuggets (homemade you know!) chips, peas and sweetcorns for the kids (including two visiting additions) and after my cuppa I will be back into the kitchen again - chicken/lemon/rocket risotto for me and DH tonight.

Shopping for Stash

From older stash right here at home.


The challenge last week on the KI Memories blog was to use product from older ranges in a new project. For some reason KI Memories isn't that easy to find in the UK any more. I don't know why that is now, it hasn't always been like that - I know because I have a pile of the older papers as evidence!

For this page I used papers from the Bloom collection as well as a couple of embellishments. Some of the butterflies were cut from a patterned paper, others from punches and the largest one in the title was created by cutting around a (K&Co) chipboard butterfly. I even went diving into the boxes of older alphabets. Rub-on letters. I remember when I couldn't do a page without using rub-on letters. And these little pink ones from KI Memories went on as smooth as ever. The large glittered chipboard letters I dug out of another box. I think these were by Making Memories.


And the journaling stamps, I think these were about the first set (or high up there on the list) of clear stamps I bought. I didn't keep the packaging but I have a feeling they are Li'l Davis (yes, I said they were old!). I wanted a larger space for journaling than one block provided, so I stamped it once, stamped again onto scrap paper, cut out and then used that to mask the first stamped image and stamped a second image on top - although of course the second image actually looks like it is behind the first. Oh I used the Fiskars Apron Lace punch (again) and spritzed with the Radiant Rain Teal Zircon (again). Nothing like getting your money's worth out of stuff LOL!


The card is created using Hero Arts stamps. I bought the Truly Appreciated set (bargain from Ebay - okay this veers from the shopping from stash theme I know). I love the extra large sentiments and also the little images that are on the sheet are really useful too. Here I stamped one randomly onto the background and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The butterflies and flowers are also Hero Arts stamps, which I coloured in using Sakura Stardust pens and a watercolour technique (yay for Create and Craft, I never knew you could watercolour with these, but you can and the effect is gorgeously sparkly).

I also used a Nestabilities label die, KI Memories Bloom paper, KI Memories Pop Culture sticker strip and a selection of stick on pearls and gems. I love using bright colours. So cheery.

I'm back ... and all of a flutter!

Oh heck how predictible is that title for what I am posting? You will see!!!

I've not blogged for so long. That's what comes with having a boring life (like woo hoo when it's supermarket day) plus being too lazy to photograph what I've been doing to share anywhere.

Anyhow. I want to get back to the land of the living, including the land of blogging. Just to share things, though I will generally not bore with lots of personal stuff.

Except to say that YAY good news is that Chiara has been accepted for high school of choice. So ends another six months of anxiety (and this time I didn't put a second option, nor the local education authority option *gulp* so, yep, this was a good result). Apparently there will be a different system for when it is Mia's turn because she has a statement of special needs. Just when I had got the hang of it.

So onto scrappy stuff. I've been neglecting my craft desk rather too much lately and want to get back into the swing of things, which means I am trawling the net for challenges to take part in. Hence this post because I found one on the Bo Bunny blog. To use green, aqua, cream/white. So perfect for me because it fits right in with their Flutter Butter range which I absolutely adore. So much that I am sharing three pages using this range. Confession, the first one Such a Girly Girl is the one I created for the challenge, the other two I did at crop sometime last year, but the Full of Promise page was sitting in a to be finished pile (something else I want to get motivated to sort out).

The papers in this range are so pretty and I'm pleased to say that my new local scrapbooking shop stocks Bo Bunny so I have lots more papers ready to use. I'm hoping they will have some of the new ranges in soon too.

Such a Girly Girl records how much Mia loved pretty dresses at that moment in time. She still does to an extent ... certainly more so than Chiara ever has.






I spritzed the cardstock background with Radiant Rain Teal Zircon and used Vintage Photo distress ink to blend and add a softer look. Used the Fiskars Apron Lace punch liberally (on the accordian fold flower too, see?). The sheer journaling spots are Maya Road, bracket sticker October Afternoon, Prima crystals, letter rub-ons Scrapworks and tiny letter stickers Adornit. And lots of hand stitching. Was doing this late at night and the sewing machine is just too noisy for then.

This next page uses an older photo of Chiara. She suffers dreadfully with lack of confidence despite me always telling her different. She's pretty bright, determined and beautiful. Wish she would see that for herself.




I used Bazzill dotted swiss cardstock background, scalloped edge from a DCWV cardstock pack, American Crafts chipboard letters, My Little Shoebox tiny alphabet stickers, Hero Arts stamps, brads of various sources including MME and Autumnn Leaves, lots of stick on pearls and my trusty photo corner punch by EK Success. I love this punch!

Finally, a page featuring myself *gasp* and the guinea pigs. They are so cute!




The gorgeous butterfly stamp is by Hero Arts, the journaling card Cosmo Cricket, journaling notepaper Making Memories, felt letter stickers American Crafts and ... yes ... I told you I love that corner punch (I stamped and embossed using a Hero Arts stamp to add some subtle interest to them).

You can see the difference between crop pages and at home pages that's for sure! I love doing the busy pages but generally when I am at crop I stick to plainer layouts. Not really because of lack of product (you should see how much stuff I take with me) but because I don't concentrate on scrapping as much whilst out at crop, I love socialising more!

Cybercropping

Taking part in the challenges and classes over on UK Scrappers this weekend. Unfortunately the gallery server is overloaded so I am just uploading my project photos here for now. More info later. Excuse not so good photos, I took them all at an angle to overcome flare from the flash, it being so dark early here nowadays.

Some more stamping stuff

Phew! Chance to get my breath back! The stamping challenges over at 2 Peas were such fun, I completed LOTS over the week.



For this I used papers by Basic Grey Sultry, stamps by Penny Black (flowers) and Hero Arts (sentiment), ribbon by Stampin' Up. I applied markers direct to the stamp (I've never been confident with this and it took a couple of goes before I was okay with it) and shaded the edges with vintage photo distress ink. The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed with an antique linen embossing powder. To finish, I simply embellished with stick on crystals, Stickles and felt photo corners die cut with Sizzix.



This was for an acetate challenge and I included a felt flower coaster (from Matalan if I remember correctly) as the main element. The background was embossed with the Cuttlebug swiss dots folder and edges machine stitched. I stamped the flowers (Hero Arts) direct onto the acetate and attached the acetate to the backing by way of threading the buttons through all layers. The sentiment was layered onto a punched scalloped circle and a couple of heart topped pins and punch out butterflies finish it off.



I have finally discovered (or should that be succumbed) to a couple of the Sugar Nellie stamps. I chose this one (and another called Catch a Falling Star) for their simple lines, figuring they would be easy to colour for myself and my kids! The ones on these cards have been paper pieced. The square card uses Scenic Route Laurel papers, Sizzix die cut felt flowers and features a pocket inside. The long card uses K&Co papers and ribbon from Stampin' Up. Sentiments are all Hero Arts. The hearts were utee'd and applied with a foam dot for extra dimension.





*cough* *splutter* too much at this house. Josh was ill last week, Mia went downhill rapidly on Sunday after going to a party. Her fever was at 40.5 degC yesterday, but what was most worrying was that she had slept constantly, not had any liquids and I couldn't get any medicine down her - neither Calpol/Nurofen for the fever nor the Epilim for her epilepsy. After speaking to pharmacist, NHS Direct and GP we were directed to Children's A&E where we had to don masks (suspected swine flu) and put in an isolation area. A nightmarish 3 hours ensued with us almost at the point of having her have suppositories for paracetamol and IV for anti epileptic medication. Such a trial. Thankfully her fever is not so bad today, took another three hours this morning to persuade her to have the Epilim and Nurofen and I dare say it will be another battle again tonight. To top it all I have got some signs of a bug now too.

Oh ... but I did spend a lovely hour or so doing a beading project with Chiara. She made a necklace for herself and I made a necklace and earrings for my mum. Will photo later. I also finished all the ironing, thought I better get it done before I was too ill to be bothered.

Gammon, mashed potatoes, carrots, peas and parsley sauce for tea. Off to get it ready now. Yum!

Stamptoberfest

That's the name of the 2 Peas in a Bucket week long event full of stamping challenges, started 17th October and finishing 25th October. Get over to the stamping forum to check out all the different challenges (which can be combined generally). There are lots of raks and a major huge prize from American Crafts. I only found out about it last night and it was late so have just done the one card so far.



This is a scrapling card (2.5x4.25" ish). I used a digital stamp by Hero Arts (dictionary page - which I can see will be very useful)) I printed this onto glossy cardstock (a 4x6 photo paper) and then blended peeled paint distress ink onto it. After drying I stamped the Stampendous leaf image and embossed in copper then blended some frayed burlap distress ink over. I cut the sheet down and used three small blocks as a background for the sentiment (Hero Arts). I don't know the make of the little frame stamp as it was bought second hand). Ribbon is Fancy Pants and gems by Papermania.

I've been rather lucky on 2 Peas in the past, having won a set of American Crafts Goodies, a Basic Grey cardmaking kit and a set of stamps, kudos to them and the generous challenge hosts for not discriminating against international peeps!

Shopping sprees galore

Heck. I need another (expensive) hobby like a hole in the head. But the jewellery making classes have been such fun. A pity it's only for five weeks and next week is the last week, sob.

It's a beginners class, so only pretty simple stuff, but all so effective! Anyhow, as well as the specialist beading shop in town I did a trip to Hobbycraft (the local shop didn't have any crimping pliers) and me and Mum went to town on filling the basket with beadie goodies which are all now awaiting to be strung up. I was tempted to buy a beading book but held back and got a couple from the library (all they had) plus I am sure there must be just STACKS of inspiring ideas out there on the www too.

Off soon to see my Dad to give him his birthday card and pressie. Inspired, as ever, by the incredibly talented Jennifer McGuire, I played with some new Hero Arts stamps (from my blog prize win). I used the design block dots and flowers together with distress inks and a clear embossing resist technique (as featured over on two peas in a bucket fall stamp camp week 2 class).

The distress inks I used were faded jeans, peeled paint and frayed burlap. Because these are the only three colours I have LOL! I then stamped on the chipboard letters using the woodgrain stamp. I didn't quite dry the initial inked layer very well which resulted in the embossing powder taking over at the edges, I quite like the way this adds an even more distressed effect though. Love happy accidents :)




Other great finds this week .... found out the wonderful revamped village chippie does gluten free frying. Yippee! (also vegetarian frying for those that are interested). So anyone travelling along the A6 in Derbyshire look out for the Ambergate chippie!

And a new local scrapbook supply shop in Hulland Ward. A bit on the expensive side, but it is stocking the lush Bo Bunny ranges (amongst others) and it is so nice to see things in the flesh so to speak. I bought some of the Tis The Season and Kitchen Spice ranges plus added another couple of papers to the Flutter Butter pile already in my scrap room. Nice to support local enterprise, eh?!