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.

More Thank You Cards....

After making that gorgeous Scrapbook at Monica and Bekka's Training Day in Peterborough, I still had quite a bit of the Sunny Day Scrappin' Kit left (well actually we only got half the kit each but there is still tons left, you definately get your money's worth with these kits).... I am determined to use it up, so after using some on a couple of thank you cards the other week, I decided to make another 10....

I did run out of cardstock so just used the matching cardstock that I had that matched the kit.... this is Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink and Old Olive, but I did also add some Kraft Cardstock just coz I like it....

The ribbon didn't come in the kit either, but you can get Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise in the narrow grosgrain and Old Olive in the wider grosgrain, all which match this gorgeous set...

There were plenty of stickers and patterned paper left to make these cards...

and a tip I found this weekend is when you send cards to someone, like this thank you card, write your message on a Post It Note and stick it inside, that means that the recipient can also forward the card on, so an extra little thank you gift for them.....

I did stamp the "Thank You" sentiment, this is in the Ovals All set and punches out nicely using the Scallop Punch...

I stamped the cardstock on the tall cards using the little leaf/tree stamp from the Saleabration Set Good Neighbours.... I just love this set....

and I also punched out little circles to add even more colour to the cards and stuck them on... here I have used the Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon...

These cards didn't take long to make either, probably around 30 minutes and that was because I used the Scallop Border Punch to punch along a lot of the cardstock I used.....

I have already used one of these cards already, but still have 9 left to use... I tend to use tons of thank you cards so will be making some more soon.....

Especially as I still have a load of the Patterned Paper left....

And can you believe, just before the training day I ordered my own Sunny Day Scrappin' Set, so once I finish this one up I have a whole new set to play with.... cannot wait as I want to use some of the stickers with the On Board Chipboard I won at Training Day....

Hope these cards might inspire you to use up some scraps you have laying around, I am really bad at using up scraps which is why I have set the goal of using this set up before starting my new set.... and the colours are so lovely and bright they are really great for the grey days we have had recently.... add a bit of colour to your life....

Just to let you all know, my card classes are full for this week but there are still a few spaces left for next week.... so if you are in the area and want to make some beautiful cards using A Rose is A Rose stamp set, then drop us an email at LindaLloyd@gmx.net...

Right off to make something now, the morning started badly with a dead battery on my car which is now on charge, then it has took me forever to blog, so really need to do something constructive.

Have a great day all xx

Happy New Year Everyone

Well I just wanted to wish all my blog readers a very Happy New Year, hope this year is filled with everything you hope for, that you will fullfil your dreams and you will all have good health.

Me and DH held a New Year's Eve Party at our church and everything went really well, no catastrophes, everything went to plan, there was enough food and drink and it even snowed whilst we were taking my son and girlfriend home afterwards and I just love the snow..... so definately a brilliant evening had by all....

Anyway, today I want to finish up with my Christmas things, this time it was a gift for my Mum, pennies were very tight this year and I wanted to make special things for special people. I used to make jewellery a few years back and my mum used to love my earrings so I decided to make her 3 pairs for Christmas.

I decided that I would use 3 different colour metals and stones so they would all be completely different and would match with more of her outfits. The first pair (I did make 2 although there is only 1 in the picture) I made in gold using brown and cream coloured stones.

The second pair were made using silver and more cooler colours of purple and blue, in fact I think these are my mums favourites as she was wearing them when she popped round on Tuesday...

This pair I used antique copper wire and turquoise stones, I wasn't sure if they were a bit longer than my Mum would normally wear, so I offered to shorten them but she said she likes them just the way they are, so I think they were a hit. In fact I like this pair so much I may have to make myself some similar.

And of course I had to make a box to put them in... unfortunately I underestimated the length of the long ones and they hung slightly below the edge of the box, though not to worry, once the box was shut you couldn't see. I used Bordering Blue and Kraft coloured cardstock from Stampin' Up! and Bella Bleu Patterned Paper also from Stampin' Up!

On the outside of the box I used Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon and the Scallop Oval and Oval Punch and the Oval All stamp Set all from Stampin' Up! and Bordering Blue, Kraft and Not Quite Navy Cardstock.

If you would like to purchase any Stampin' Up! items from me, for the next 2 months for every £45 you spend you can order a free limited edition stamp set. With a choice of 4 to choose from there should definately be at least one that you would love to own. Click on the Saleabration Leaflet on the left hand column to find out more details or email me on LindaLloyd@gmx.net.

Have a great evening all xx

Not so nice Monday....

The weather here has been apalling this afternoon, it has winded, it has rained and all at once too and just at the time the children come out of school, funny enough now it is evening, the sun has come out at last. My daughter drove down to Cornwall yesterday and she says the weather is lovely there, infact I saw for myself as she sent me photos, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, but they also have the wind, which was just as well as she was going surfing today.

I had a lovely Mother's Day (well actually I did more work than ever and even cooked my dinner for everyone) and got some lovely presents, 2 CDs that I wanted, the new Tim Hughes, Happy Day and the new Delirious Album which is possibly their last ever. I also got a gorgeous blue toiletry bag full of Dove toiletries, some chocolates and wine, 3 books, 1 of which I asked for and the other 2 were surprises, my 12 year old son bought me a rose and then weeded all the overgrown garden and planted it for me, and my 6 year old made daddy go out and buy me some flowers..... from my son of course... lol I also got some gorgeous flower candles, but they are truly too beautiful to burn, so am going to have to think on that one.... lol because what is the point in having candles if you dont use them...

Today I have been making a bag and card for my Sister's birthday tomorrow, they are totally matching, and I have no idea how she is going to open the bag. It started off as a brown lunch bag, I folded the top over and then put panels on the front and back and joined them at the top, so I am thinking she is going to have to cut it open... lol not my problem. So here they are...

I have been using new stash from the New Mini Catalogue which comes out on 1st April, and the new items are truly scrummy... I used So Saffron and Certainly Celery Cardstock, the new Playful Petals Stamp Set plus the Ovals All Stamp Set along with the Oval Scallop Punch and the Oval Punch, these are proving to be really popular, I have sold 3 sets of these already. The Patterned Paper is called Tea Party and the ribbon is Certainly Celery Grosgrain. On the bag I actually used the stamp from Ovals All, but on the card I used the stamp from Ovals All but only coloured in the flower part with my Stampin Up Marker in So Saffron, then using my Stamp a ma jig I stamped Happy Birthday from the Very Versatile Stamp Set and punched it out using the Oval Punch. How versatile are these sets when you can just mix and match.

I have one place left in my Paper and Ribbon Share, this will be sent to you at the beginning of April sometime as some of the paper and ribbon is from the new Mini Catalogue and I cannot order this until 1st April, but I promise you, the items will be ordered on 1st April, so you dont have long to wait now.

Dont forget the fantastic offer on the Starter Kit, just £125, and if you add just the stash up it comes to £217, so one really big bargain here, and all you have to do after signing up as a demonstrator and receiving this kit is to meet a target every quarter (and guess what, the first quarter doesn't count, you dont have to reach your targets until your second quarter, but you do need to sign up this evening, or tomorrow to get the Starter Kit at this price).

Off to Beavers now, sewn on the badge I need to and I will be staying to help, so need to get dinner ready so that they can just put it in the oven and cook it... have a great evening all xx