Butterflies...flying away

One of the retiring stamp sets I'll miss the most is Butterfly Prints, it's such an inexpensive and versatile little set that co ordinates with the butterfly punch, which is also retiring.  Both items are still available if you hurry! Items on the retired list are only available while stocks last, or until the end of the month, so if there's anything on the list you can't live without, please give me a call ASAP, before it's too late!

Here's a card I made using an elegant colour combo of River Rock and Basic Black...RR isn't a colour I'd normally reach for, but I used it in a challenge over at Stamp Nation.

Stamp sets:  Butterfly Prints, Curly Cute
Cardstock: River Rock, Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black
Tools: Butterfly punch, Scallop Trim Border
Embellishments: Linen thread

Next time, I'll be back with some new items from the seasonal catalogue.  Until then, jolly stamping!

Allie x

Proud Mum moment

I'm proud to share a card with you today that my daughter Daisy designed and made while we crafted together yesterday.  One of the things I love about working for Stampin' Up is that it gives us a chance to spend time together, and that she can share my passion for papercrafting.

Daisy's striking card uses the eyelet border punch, which is on the retired list and only available this month, or while stocks last!  They are selling out fast!  And if you want a wide selection of birthday sentiments, you can't do better than the Happiest Birthday Wishes hostess stamp set, also on the retired list.

She also used the boho blossoms punch and antique brads to create the feature flowers and the modern label punch for her sentiment.  Her colours are real red and basic black.  For the final touch, she's added some basic jewels rhinestones.

Thanks for visiting today.  Back tomorrow with another project!

Do mummies cartwheel? They do now!

I've been having such fun playing with the Googlie Ghouls stamp set from the new Autumn/Winter catalogue!  I love it!  These images are so cute, and are designed to be used with Stampin' Up's new self adhesive googlie eyes!  I don't know how, but Stampin' Up has managed to make them even googlier than usual...just looking at the package of eyes makes me smile :)

This idea popped into my head and I had to give it a go....the idea of the little mummy cartwheeling across the card going boooooooooooooo and popping up behind the windows with his little eye rolling made me crack up!  I've finished the card with a scrap of brand new striped satin ribbon stapled to the side.  That ribbon is so lush and the understated colours make it ideal for man cards too.

Hope you like my ghoulish make today.  Back soon with some more projects from the fabulous holiday catalogue!

Something old, something new

Exciting times in the world of Stampin' Up!  The new Autumn/Winter catalogue is now live.  It's full of gorgeous new products for your Autumn and Christmas crafting.  Click here to view the catalogue online, or contact me for a copy.

Also, the retirement list is now available.  Our new annual catalogue will be launched on 1 October, and those products that won't make it into the new book will be retired, never to be seen again!   Some are being offered at discounts of 25, 40 or even 70 per cent!  So if you'd like to grab a bargain, or if there's anything in the current catalogue you MUST have, check out the retirement list, it could be your last chance.

Retiring stamp sets are listed here
Retiring accessories are listed here

Drop me a line or give me a call if you have any questions, or if you'd like to make an order.

Until next time, jolly stamping!

Allie x

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