Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, winter is coming

Today I'd like to share a beautiful project we made at our recent Julie's Jems shoebox swap.  This stunning wall hanging was created by my uber-talented Stampin' Up sister Sally Jo.  I love everything about this project and it was such fun to make.  Ever since I made it, my head has been buzzing with other ideas using this format, so I am sure you will see projects inspired by this one in the future.

NOTE: The gorgeous mixed bunch stamp set (and matching punch) that I've used in the background on this project (cunningly disguised as a snowflake) is from the Summer Mini catalogue, which finishes tomorrow!  If you would like to get your hands on this set, or anything else from the mini, give me a call before it's too late!

Stamp sets:  Letter it, Mixed bunch
Inks: Soft suede, early espresso, crumb cake
Cardstock: Very vanilla, pear pizzazz, early espresso, cherry cobbler
Tools: Big shot, top note die, bird builder punch, itty bitty punch pack.
Embellies: Basic rhinestones, linen thread


The next day or two will be unbearably exciting for me!  Firstly, the new Autumn/Winter mini catalogue goes live on Saturday!  It is packed full of gorgeous brand new seasonal products for Autumn and Christmas.  It's so good,  I can't wait to show it to you, and I'll be sharing some super fun projects I've been making over the next few days. If you'd like a copy of the seasonal catalogue, drop me an email or give me a call!

Also on Saturday, the Stampin' Up retired list is going to be published...our new main catalogue is published on 1st October, and we will find out which items are not going to be carried over into the new book.  So you have one month to order those products, and then they will be gone forever!  Some might even be discounted!  Exciting!!!!

Back tomorrow with a  seasonal sneak peek!

Allie xx

The return of an old friend

A friend of mine commissioned me to make a special card for a two year old this week and I decided an easel card using the Fox and Friends stamp set would be just the ticket.  I haven't inked up Fox and Friends for a long while...I'd forgotten how much I love the cheeky little monkey!  Sometimes we get so caught up in the excitement of new designs that we forget old favourites!

I was inspired by this card by Monica Gale.  Part of the brief was that there had to be lots of pink, so I decided to make the most of some Blushing Bride before it retires next month  I've teamed it with rose red and pear pizzaz, which is sadly also a retiring in colour.  I've made a flat bow with the retiring blushing bride stitched poly ribbon.  The branches are made with the bird builder punch and the little flowers are from the itty bitty punch pack.  I've used my timeless type alpha sizzlit dies with my big shot for the name and number 2.

This picture shows the easel.  It's a simple but effective style of card.  I've added some basic rhinestones for a bit of bling!

I hope you like my make today!  I'm very excited because there is a LOT going on in the Stampin' Up world at the moment.  Firstly, there are only three more sleeps before the new Stampin' Up Autumn/Winter mini catalogue is published!  It's full of gorgeous seasonal products for the coming Autumn and Christmas season.  On the same day, the Retired List is published!  Our new annual catalogue goes live on October 1, and on September 1 we get a list of what products will not make it into the new book.  Many of these products will be discounted, so it could be time to grab a bargain.

As a demonstrator, I get my hands on the new catalogues early, and get the privilege of ordering some of the new products before anyone else can...it's one of the best perks of being a demo!  In the next few days I'll be giving some sneak peeks of gorgeous new stuff from the "Mini".  I look forward to sharing them with you!

In the meantime, if you'd like to order any of the products you've seen here, please get in touch and I would be happy to help!

Until next time....jolly crafting!

Allie xx

Free stuff...a reason to smile

Happy Bank Holiday to you!  It's a very cold grey day here in Cheshire so I'm taking a "crafting in my jammies" day!  I'm sharing some projects today that I made with the beautiful Reason to Smile stamp set, which you can still get your hands on for FREE with an order of £60.  You'll have to be quick though....it disappears forever on 31 August!

This card is a case of this design by Danielle Daws.  I've used whisper white and tempting turquoise and the flowers on the top panel are heat embossed using whisper white embossing powder.  The original card was stitched, but I've paper pierced instead (I don't have a sewing machine yet).  I've finished it off with a lush white satin ribbon bow.

Here's the inside, which I've treated to a little stamping...

And the arty farty angle ;)

My next design is inspired by the wonderful Victoria Rogers at Blue Jelly Stampin. I love her work.  It's the first time I've tried this technique.  I've embossed the flowers in white on Crumb cake cardstock, and then coloured in using whisper white craft ink and a blender pen.  Then I've used coloured ink (squished direct from the ink pad onto an acrylic block) to colour over the top.  I've used the retiring in colours Blushing Bride and Concord Crush.  I really enjoyed the colouring...very therapeutic!  There are a couple of stray spots of embossing powder because I forgot to use my embossing buddy to remove static from the cardstock before I started. Doh!  I'll remember next time!  I've finished off with some of the lovely stitched poly ribbon in blushing bride.

And a very simple one with concord crush...

Hope you liked my makes today.  If you'd like to order any of the supplies used, or any other Stampin' Up supplies, I'd be happy to help.

Back tomorrow with a commissioned card and maybe some more reasons to smile ;)

Until then, jolly crafting!

Allie x

My first ever shoebox swap!

On Saturday I attended my first ever shoebox swap, organised by my Stampin' Up mummy, Julie Kettlewell, and attended by 18 members of our team, Julie's Jems.  Each person had to design a project and put everything to make it into a box.  We were spilt into two tables of 9 and our boxes were passed around our table, so we each got to make 8 other projects!  How cool is that? It was such a great fun and inspiring event, I can't wait for the next one.

I'd like to share with you the project I designed for the swap, which includes an exciting sneak peek!.  It's a very simple card, but, wait for it - it uses ALL THE NEW IN COLOURS!!!!  One of the perks of being a demo is that we get our hands on the new goodies before everyone else!  Not only are these brand new colours, available from 1 October, but they are also a new style firm foam ink pad, and they are AMAZING!   Get saving, because you are going to want to get them.  You won't believe the quality of image you get with the new pads!  Here's my card, using the Aviary stamp set.

I love the cute little owl, and doesn't he look amazing in Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit and Primrose Petals!  It might not show on the photo, but I've made decorative scorelines on either side of the stamped panel using my Simply Scored tool.  An on trend banner for the sentiment completes this simple but cute card.  I hope you like it!  I did provide sparkly gems just in case my fellow Jems wanted to bling it up a little, although I stuck with the clean and simple design which seems to be my style :)  Hope you like my make and I'll try to post some of the other girls' projects soon, but obviously I  don't want to do that until they've posted them on their own blogs!

Back tomorrow with another project using the Reason to Smile stamp set, which is FREE this month with a £60 order!

If you'd like to order any of the supplies I use, I'd be happy to help. Please contact me on 0781 4451627 or 01625 470886, or email me at alliejolliffe@hotmail.com.  The new seasonal mini catalogue goes live on 1 September, and if you'd like a copy, please let me know.  It's chock full of gorgeous new products for Autumn, Halloween, Christmas and beyond!

Until tomorrow, jolly crafting!

Allie xx

Supplies (all Stampin' Up):

Cardstock:  Crumb cake, whisper white
Ink: Crumb cake, midnight muse, raspberry ripple, gumball green, summer starfruit, primrose petals.
Stamps:  Aviary, Petite Pairs
Tools: Scallop border punch, Simply Scored

A Reason to Smile throughout August!

Take a look at the fabulous new offer Stampin' Up has for you throughout August.  The gorgeous exclusive two step stamp set Reason to Smile is FREE with a £60 purchase.  It can also be purchased at the RRP of £14.95 clear mount or £18.95 wood mount.  You'd better hurry though, because it's only available this month and then it's gone forever!

If you'd like to make an order, please email me on alliejolliffe@hotmail.com or call on 0781 4451627/01625 470886.

I'll be posting some projects using this lovel set over the coming days.

Until next time,

Jolly crafting!