In Love With Stamping Design Team Challenges

I am lucky enough to be on the In Love With Stamping Forum Design Team for the next 6 months which means I will have to get my act into gear and make some cards each month. The following is from the August Challenge.

The first challenge was to use Basic Gray, So Saffron and Certainly Celery Cardstock as the colour scheme and the card below is what I came up with.

So Saffron and Nouveau Chic Patterned Paper, Whimsical Wings Level 2 Hostess Set and Oval All Stamp Sets. The rose I made myself using Basic Gray cardstock and some Dazzle Diamonds sprinkled on afterwards, the leaves are from the Bird Punch.

This card I also made for the same challenge, again using the Nouveau Chic Patterned Paper, Basic Grey Cardstock stamped with Papertrey Inks Tin Types Stamp set for a bit of pattern. The Praying for You sentiment is from Verve Stamps and the beautiful flower is from the In Bloom Stampin Up Stamp Set.

The next challenge was an inspiration piece, we were shown the picture below and had to make something using inspiration from this sketch.

I made a box using the Groom Speciality Patterned Paper and put little tags into each of the 4 sections using colours from the picture. I tied silver elastic thread so that they can be hung off of gifts. This would make a wonderful little gift for someone.


The next challenge was a sketch challenge using the sketch below.

I used the Sweet Pea Paper Stack to make the strips of paper, stuck them to a piece of Taken with Teal cardstock (that is retiring at the end of next month) and cut around leaving a small border.

I used Trendy Trees stamp set for the images, the scallop border punch for the edging along with a Martha Stewart punch and a Stampin Up button and ribbon to finish it off with.

The next challenge was to use Saran Wrap (or cling film), scrunch it up and dab ink or paint onto your project in some way.

I used the Stampin Up Silver Shimmer Paint and dabbed it onto Night of Navy Cardstock. I used the Season of Joy Stamp Set for the main image and cut out some snowflakes in silver cardstock to make a nice Christmassy card.

I also made a card for this challenge using ink. I dabbed the cling film onto an inkpad and decorated some pale plum card. I then stamped it with the En Francais background stamp. The image is from Vintage Vogue Stamp Set using the Oval All for the sentiment. This was finished off using Old Olive Satin Ribbon.

Have a great day everyone, hope you enjoyed what I have made, if you would like to join in with the challenges visit www.inlovewithstamping.com.

Update and a card at last....

Hi all, life has once again taken over... my grandson who is 5 weeks old today was admitted to hospital Wednesday evening, he has been projectile vomiting and is not gaining weight, he has in fact only put on 1.5lb since he was born. His grandad (on his dad's side) had the same problem as a baby and needed an operation to right it, it is hereditary so is possible this is what my grandson has.... so Wednesday night they had a Surgical Team and a bed on standby in London, but typically, after being put on a drip stopped being so sick, so was sent home yesterday evening with medicine and an ultrasound appointment for 2 weeks time. Unfortunately overnight he started being sick again and out of 5 feeds, he projectile vomited 3 times and in the end was continually crying as he was so hungry, my poor daughter has not slept in days. Today he went back to hospital and as I type he should be having his ultrasound scan, depending on what they find depends on what happens next, she is moving from hospital to hospital at the moment as the scan as it a different hospital to where he was admitted. My other grandson who is 17 months old thinks he lives here at the moment, and he is also not very well (those awful colds going around at the moment) and really needs mummy and daddy at a time like this, but he is enjoying playing with my 6 and 8 year old, and daughter is happy he is worn out when he goes home... so fingers crossed that if there is anything wrong they will see it on the scan, if not, that he will stop being sick and start gaining weight....

Finally got around to making a card today, but only a simple one as I left my 16 year old in charge of my grandson whilst I did it... Recipe:- Patterned Paper - Stampin' Up! To The Nines Speciality PP. Cardstock - Stampin' Up! Sage Shadow, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White. Stamp Set:- Season of Joy, Circle of Friendship, Trendy Trees. Punches:- Stampin' Up! Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1" circle, Eyelet Border. Misc:- Stampin' Up! Dazzling Diamonds, Glue Pen.

And here is what it looks like opened....

Hope you have a great evening girls... xx

I Haven't Deserted You, Just Been Really Really Busy.... sorry...

Well I cannot believe it has been nearly a week since I last posted, but life has just taken over at the moment.... Last Thursday I went Christmas Shopping For the 3rd Thursday in a row, hopefully only one more next week and that should be everything finished.... Saturday one of my Inkspots And Markers ladies came over with her husband so that we could do some scrapping together, must say I chatted too much and didn't get much done, but here is the card I made..

Sunday my Step Dad's brother died, although they knew it was going to happen, no-one realised it would be so quickly, and just before Christmas too.... how absolutely awful as he has children and grandchildren... I just had to make a card for him, to show how sorry we all are...

For this card I used Kraft, Real Red and Bashful Blue cardstock, plus some of the Bashful Blue Patterned Paper. I used Stamp Sets Lovely as A Tree and Close as A Memory. The tree was embossed using Black Embossing Powder... I tied some of the Linen Thread around 2 Stampin' Up! Black Brads...

I have been desperately trying to get all my Christmas Cards made so that I could write them and send them out so that I can concentrate on other things that need doing, and apart from around 6 I have finished them. I make the ones I give out in Church all the same (don't want any arguments that yours is better than mine.... lol) and I feel pressured to make my own as our Pastor always says "I have been waiting to see what you would make this year"... so these are the ones I have made for Church, they look a bit dull in this photograph, but look much better and sparkly in realy life, the gems in the righthand bottom corner are silver..

I used the So Swirly wheel with an uninked cartridged inked with versamark, ran this over the cards and then embossed using the Silver Embossing Powder. The main part of the card is a Stamp Set called Christ is Born, I stamped the other sentiment from the set on the inside, onto red card and using Silver Ink.

The next card is the special card that I have made for family and best friends, I used the Stamp Set Silent Night for this, I stamped the image, coloured it in with markers and then using Heat and Stick Powder and Dazzling Diamonds, I went over the top of the whole image to make it nice and sparkly, I used Always Artichoke as the card base and the retired Patterned Paper Dashing, which you can still buy whilst stocks last. And try as I might, even when I used the Stamp A Ma Jig, I could not get the Happy to sit straight, I think I managed it on 1 in 9 cards.... never mind, at least you can tell they are handmade... lol


Tomorrow is another busy day, my little boy is performing in his Christmas Play (he is 6) tomorrow afternoon and of course we all have to go watch him, he is A Cloud and Wind... so should be interesting... hope to get back here as I have something else to show you, but cannot share it today, so watch out for it...

Am about to go off and make 10 cards for a swap I am in, I have an idea, but as usual I am sure it will all change...

Have a good evening everyone, take care xx

Day 10 - 12 Gifts of Christmas

So we are nearly at the end of our 12 days, todays gift I have seen several times on blogs and forums, but I have taken it to the next level (meaning I haven't seen one quite like this before).. so lets get on with making this....

Tealight Shade (please only use the battery operated tealights in it, I am sure it is highly flammable otherwise).

I started with an A4 sheet of vellum and cut it down to 6", the other side I left alone.

I picked a stamp set that I wanted to use, this was Wondrous Gifts and stamped onto the vellum using Always Artichoke and Bravo Burgundy Ink Pads. I dried it off using a heat gun...

Now this is the bit I didn't do, but in hindsight (such a wonderful thing) should have done. Stick double sided tape along both long sides and along one of the short sides, but do not remove the strip. Next I took a Versamark Ink Pad..

and light dabbed it all over the vellum. Once it was totally covered (dab the vellum not rub otherwise you will smudge the ink already on it) I sprinkled it with Stampin' Up!s Heat and Stick Powder. I then removed the excess and put it back into the pot.

I heated it until all the Heat and Stick Powder had melted and then sprinkled it with the Dazzling Diamonds, I then removed the excess and put it back in the pot.

I reheated again to set the Dazzling Diamonds. Remember not to leave the heat gun for too long in one place and remember you will have your double sided tape along the edge, so try to avoid direct heat on that too... Once the Dazzling Diamonds is set in place, set this aside and we shall make some decoration for it.

I took a sheet of Bravo Burgundy Cardstock and using the Scallop Edge Punch punched scallops all along 1 edge...

After the edge was scalloped I cut the piece of cardstock to the depth that I wanted. I then repeated to make a second strip.

I then peeled the strip of the Double Sided Sticky Tape and stuck the Bravo Burgundy Cardstock strips all the way around the top of the vellum sheet and the bottom of the vellum sheet. I then made the Vellum sheet into a circle, first peeling the strip from the Double Sided Tape on the short side of the vellum.

I then placed a Battery Operated Tealight Candle on the side and placed the shade over the top. You could make a base for it if you like, but I prefer mine without. Then all it needs is a nice dark room to show it off properly.

To be honest, these photos do not do this justice at all, it really is so, so sparkly if you use the Dazzling Diamonds and really does look Christmassy... just have a go and see for yourself.

I have also made a Moving Home card... for this I used Real Red and So Saffron Cardstock, along with Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon. The stamp set used was Loads of Love and the Loads of Love Accessories too... The Patterned Paper is So Saffron Designer Paper.

I will be back tomorrow with Day 11 or the 12 Days of Christmas...

Have a good evening all, take care xx

A Rose is a Rose....

Isn't this card beautiful?? This stamp set is absolutely wonderful and I just knew that if I did it in blue, it could become a Christmas Card for someone who doesn't really celebrate Christmas...


I used A Rose is a Rose Stamp Set, Brocade Blue Ribbon, Brocade Blue Cardstock and Inkpad, Bashful Blue Patterned Paper, and Bashful Blue Inkpad.... I used the clear gem brads from the Pretties Kit. I used the Dazzling Diamonds to bling up the rose and its petals which I think just makes it more magically Christmassy....

And if you would like to become a demonstrator and you sign up with me during October and November you could pick this Stamp Set and receive it FREE along with any other stamp set of your choice too.... problem is, I only need 1 more person to sign up, and then all the stamp sets will be gone. If you would like more information about becoming a Stampin Up Demonstrator, e-mail me at LindaLloyd@gmx.net

And I have survived the first day of half term...... a miracle in itself...

Have a good evening all x