A Bit of A Mixture.....

Have been a busy bee today and I dont mean scrapping either.... unfortunately. I need a really good day tomorrow, so far there is nothing to interrupt, and I'm hoping to get 2 birthday cards made, 4 thank you cards and 30 swaps for a Training Day in Peterborough on Sunday, and seeing as I am out Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday is the day, I really need to get a move on.

Today's card is a bit of a mixture, I seem to have used lots of companies stash....

I used Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake Cardstock along with some Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. The punches are from Martha Stewart and the sentiment is from Verve Stamps along with the butterfly image. The pearls I had in my stash... I must admit out of all the cards I made this was my least favourite but when I asked my boys which one they liked the best this was it.... so glad someone liked it... ha ha

See you all tomorrow xx

3rd ILWS Challenge

The 3rd ILWS Challenge was to make something using limited supplies. We were to stamp on something, anything we liked as long as it wasn't cardstock.... I stamped the Eiffel Tower image onto shrink plastic and shrunk it.... (Eiffel Tower image is from Artistic Etchings Stamp Set)..

I then made the images into earrings, how cute are they.....

And I got so carried away, I made something else... I took the Whisper White Satin Ribbon and stamped it using Baja Breeze and a stamp from the Vintage Vogue Stamp Set.... different ribbon would probably work slightly better as it did seem to soak up the ink quite a lot, but I loved the way the ribbon now matches the bath fizzers in the acetate box that I made.

And then I made something else..... well I know the way to do candles normally is to stamp onto tissue paper and melt it into the candle, but I am not very good at that, I tend to melt the wax too much on the candle, so I stamped onto vellum and then wrapped the vellum around the candle. I then put Real Red Grosgrain ribbon around the top and the bottom of the vellum to hold it securely in place.

Hope you enjoyed looking at the projects today, off to see my Mum now and wish her a happy birthday.... have a good day all xx

Halloween ILWS Challenge....

The second challenge on ILWS (Just click on the bar on the left hand side of the blog and it will take you to their forum where you can join in the challenges and upload to their gallery), is to make something Halloween....

I made these type of boxes last year but I loved them so much I thought I would make them again this year.... they are full of halloween style sweets, like eyeballs etc.

And this second little bag is from Papertrey Ink, its one of their new dies, and so is the big label which I stuck to the front. The stamp set is Tiny Treats - Halloween.... am definitely loving this set... Couldn't get away with using no Stampin Up product though, so I used Pumpkin Pie and Elegant Eggplant Cardstock..... and Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon too, dont these colours go well together.

So here we are, the start to another week, need to get on and make my Mum a birthday card for tomorrow, you would have thought that by now I would have managed to be more organised.... no chance, we seem to have so many birthdays in October.... have a good day all, hope you are more productive than I have been lately... xx

Its Here.... the waiting is over.....

I thought I would start off my previews with my favourite stamp set from the new catalogue. If you have a new catalogue you will notice that a lot of the stamp sets come in the normal wooden block mounted or the new clear mount which mount on to blocks. I would just like to mention that the name is misleading, they are not clear but are the red rubber mounted onto grey rubber but you can see the picture through the acrylic block so it is much easier to stamp in the right place without the use of the Stampamajig. You can also add more than one stamp at a time to create images.... The acrylic blocks are also gorgeous (can an acrylic block be gorgeous?) they have grooves around in which your fingers fit nicely and they come in loads of different sizes so that there will always be one to fit your stamp...

This first card I made because I just had to use the stamp set. I had also just grasped brayering, and although you cannot see the gradiation in the reds very much in this photograph, it does go from dark red which is the new Cherry Cobbler, to a light red which is a new "in colour" Poppy Parade. The newsprint background is the new Patterned Paper, called Newsprint. I also stamped the image from the Artistic Etching Stamp Set onto the red and black embossed it, I then stamped some of the other images onto the Newsprint PP in Cherry Cobbler Ink and Basic Black.... More images were used for the Amour and were punched out using the Oval Punch and Oval Scallop Punch. I then finished it off with Black and Very Vanilla Grosgrain Striped Ribbon which now comes in more colours than before....

This tag I made for Stampin Up Training in High Wycombe, I again used the Artistic Etching stamp set, Newsprint Patterned Paper and Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla and Basic Black Cardstock. I finished it off with Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon. I had to make 70 of these for swaps...... wish I hadn't of embossed the Eiffel Tower image as my whole desk was covered in black embossing powder by the time I had finished.... lol

So there you have it, the first previews from the new catalogue. I will be back tomorrow with some more, hope to see you all then. xx

Wow Wow Wow........

Well I am so absolutely thrilled, but never has a trip to Lakeside cost so much money....... My desktop computer has been playing me up for a while, it is very very high spec and although nearly 2 years old is still very very high spec, it is super speedy has an i7 processor and I loved it...... but for about 2 months now my screens keep flickering, scrolls through pages etc. At first we thought it was the wireless keyboard, so we swapped it. Still kept happening, so we swapped the mouse (it acts like there is a button stuck down somewhere but obviously there isn't as we swapped keyboards), guess what it keeps happening, then DH saw it happen several times and doesn't understand why it does it, so we reinstalled Windows 7.... did this fix it? Not a chance, it has in fact been worse since then, so we uninstalled all the drivers and reinstalled them, nope as bad as ever, so DH said you need a new computer, but I always said there is nothing out there better than this so of course I dont. Well yesterday he said it to me 3 times, so I thought about it and checked out the Apple website and I saw this gorgeous mega big iMac.

It has an i7 chip but runs at 2.93GHz, and has a 1TB drive.... woohoo..... so whilst buying the boys clothes for a wedding on Saturday in Lakeside last night we popped into the Apple shop to look at the computer..... wow, how big is it? 27" screen.... And we left the shop with it, cannot believe that 1. they had it in stock, coz when I wanted to buy my ipad in there they didn't have the version I wanted.... and 2. The guy gave us a student discount of over £200..... was obviously meant to be... now all I need to do is learn to use a Mac instead of a normal Windows PC...... So today I am posting from my new PC.....

Another card today from my Church order, I am thinking that they are starting to look a bit samey with the design, so when I start the next lot next week I am going to have to try and change them.... I have some ideas..... I love that Chipboard SMILE. I used Papertrey Ink stamps for this card, not sure who the papers are.....

I used Soft Suede Spotted Grosgrain Ribbon for this card from Stampin Up and Matching Soft Suede Cardstock.... the little card is from a die from Papertrey Ink, as is the stamp image on it. The Sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs.
And here is the inside of it, all nice and matching.

Have a great weekend everyone... take care xx

Getting Behind.... Why are there not 8 days in a week?

I have been super duper busy, there are so many birthdays this month, plus Stampin Up! Training in High Wycombe and I had to make 70 swaps..... the new Stampin Up Catalogue is also out on 1st October so have been busy deciding what to buy and also making some examples using the new sets I do have. I have also just finished a Wedding Album for my sons Godmother who is getting married on Saturday, so it is all coming together very slowly.

So here are a few cards I have made recently, this one was for my Church Order.... I used Stampin Up Soft Suede, Bella Bleu Papers, Melon Mambo Ribbon and the background writing is the Stampin Up En Francais Background Stamp, so glad they are not retiring this one.

The next one was for a birthday, the image is from Whiff of Joy Stamps, the paper is I think, Cosmo Cricket, the cardstock is Stampin Up Real Red and the Ribbon is from Papertrey Ink, a real mixture on this one. The image is coloured in using copic markers.

This next card was for Father's Day, have I already shown this.... not sure, but incase I haven't here it is. Stamp Set is Papertrey Ink, as are the Cloud die cuts, the background stamp is also from Papertrey Ink, the Cardstock is Stampin Up Real Red and the Ribbon is also Stampin Up Real Red Striped Grosgrain which IS retiring at the end of this month. If you would like to see the current Stampin Up retiring list, some items are more than 50% off.... just drop me an email at LindaLloyd@gmx.net.

This card was also for my Church Order, the Patterned Paper is the Sweet Pea Paper Stack, the Ribbon is the Old Olive Satin Ribbon, and the butterfly is a Martha Stewart Punch.

And here is the inside....... made to match the front.

Hope you enjoyed looking at these cards, keep checking back as I hope to post more soon.... take care everyone xx

Holiday, new craft room etc.....

Ha ha, excuses, excuses on why I haven't updated my blog. but really we have been on holiday, and then we had some personal problems when we got back, resulting in my daughter moving out, which meant that I got my own craft room. Wasn't sure about it at first, but now I have moved everything I am really pleased about it, and daughter looked at it this morning and said how good it looks, so dont feel so bad now.

Am off to a Papertrey Ink day on Sunday with some wonderful people from In Love With Stamping forum, some I have met before and some I haven't so really looking forward to meeting them all and spending the day making some wonderful Papertrey Ink Designs. Plus we are all taking our stamp sets so will get to share stamp sets to our hearts content.... How cool!! A BIG THANKS to Val for organising it and being so generous as to let us meet up in her house even if it is 2.5 hours away from where I live.... early morning Sunday then!!

Since swapping my craft room I am unable to get online with my desktop computer until some cable turns up to rewire it up to the router, I know I could have wireless, but cabled speed is about 100 times faster than wireless and I am just impatient with my computer speed.... ha ha So what I am getting at is that I have only one project to share with you today. I cannot show you what I have made for our PTI day as it is a surprise for everyone going so can share next week.

Last week was my nephews birthday and here is the card I made for him....

The Greetings Farm Stamp coloured in with Copics, and the paper is from the Scrapbook Kit I get from America each month. The sentiment is a PTI one, ribbon is Stampin Up, so quite a selection here.

Have a great evening all, will try and get some more cards made and posted in the next couple of days...

My Grandson's Birthday Card

Ha ha, better late than never.... you've guessed it, this was a while ago and I just haven't posted the pics.... in fact his birthday was in May...

The Greetings Farm stamp of a fireman, Stampin' Up! patterned paper, Summer Sun, Night of Navy and Real Red Cardstock, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon and a Computer Generated sentiment. The buttons are Papertrey Ink. The star is Papertrey Ink stamp set with Stampin' Up Punch.

The sentiment is also Papertrey Ink

Thanks for looking, have a great evening xx

Been Absent Haven't I....

Well I dont think I did too badly during the Easter School Holidays, I managed to post most days, but unfortunately despite a nice big influx of stash I was unable to make anything due to tidying out my crafting space, looking after children, extra food shopping etc.... but I am back and here is today's contribution....

I used Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White Cardstock. The Patterned Paper is from the Sweet Pea Paper Stack, the ribbon is Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, all from Stampin' Up!. The sentiment is computer generated and the bling is from my stash. And the brown flower is cut from Papertrey Ink Felt, using a Papertrey Ink Die... woohoo... used at last!!

And the inside is decorated to match, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Cardstock, Papertrey Ink Dies, Martha Stewart and Stampin' Up! punches.... Patterned Paper again from the Sweet Pea Mat Stack.... you just get so much paper for your money...

And guess what, I picked up my newest Papertrey Ink Parcel from Parcel Force today which contains more new dies which go with some of my Stamp Sets, so watch this space for some cards made from Papertrey Ink soon.... off to give blood this evening, hoping they will take it as out of the last 3 times I have been they have only taken it once.... fingers crossed!!

Take care all xx

Still Tidying Out....

So still sorting and tidying here so do not have time for the colour challenge, I really do need to make a card tomorrow so desperately trying to finish up here so I can get on with it.

Your card for today is made using the Stampin' Up! Sweet Pea Paper Stack and the gorgeous lush Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla Grosgrain Stripey Ribbon.... the Cardstock is Chocolate Chip and Whisper white, plus the leaves are punched out using Barely Banana Cardstock with the Martha Stewart Punch. The sentiment is computer generated....

And as usual I have decorated the inside using more Stampin' Up! Sweet Pea Paper Stack papers, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White and Barely Banana Cardstock and the beautiful Martha Stewart Edging Punch... off to finish tidying now (hopefully...)

Take care and have a great day all xx

Happy Easter Monday

Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Another Church order card for today, kinda similar to Friday's Card because I used the Same All A Flutter - Wings and Things Patterned Paper.....

I also used Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White and Rose Red Stampin' Up! Cardstock and Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon. The sentiment is computer generated and is finished off inside of the card. I used the Eyelet Border punch from Stampin' Up! too...

And the inside matches the outside nicely, using the same papers and colours, but using the Scallop Circle Punch, the 1 3/8" punch and the 1 1/4" punch to make the bird embellishment.

Thanks for looking and have a great Bank Holiday Monday... take care xx

Happy Good Friday.....

1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Happy Good Friday and what better type of card to show you today than one I have made for my monthly Church order.

I used All A Flutter Wings and Things from My Little Shoebox plus Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red Cardstock from Stampin' Up! and Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon, I also made the scallop edge using the Stampin' Up! Scallop Border Punch.

The sentiment is computer generated, I used matching cardstock to the front of the card and used the Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" punch and 1 1/4" punch for the little bird embellishment.

Thank you for looking, have a great Good Friday and dont eat too many hot cross buns.

Take Care xx

New Mini Catalogue Blog Hop...

Well if you have started this blog hop here, work your way around all 16 of us otherwise you would have come here from Sara's Blog. We have all published projects using stash from the new Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue. If you would like to get your hands on a copy, just drop me an email.

I made this project for the Demonstrator Choice at Reading last week, which I attended for Stampin' Up! Training... much to my surprise I actually won the Demonstrator Choice Competition.... there were so many stunning entries and many that I thought were much better than mine.

For this project I used Tempting Turquoise and Rose Red Cardstock and the new Sweet Pea Paper Stack.

And can you believe the lushness of these felt flowers and leaves.... how absolutely wonderful are they, you will find these in the Mini Catalogue too...

And here is what was contained inside.... 4 cards, all very different with envelopes to match....

Here are the cards on their own, again using Patterned Paper from the Sweet Pea Stack, all the colours match and co-ordinate and make them so easy to use together.

Here are 2 of the cards and matching envelopes.....

And true to form, I also decorated the insides of the cards. This is the inside of the cards shown in the photograph above this one...

And the other 2 cards with matching envelopes, I am just loving these easel cards at the moment and they are so easy to make...

And again, the insides of the cards.... the colours are just so bright and vibrant...

For this card I used Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red and Old Olive Cardstock. I used the Patterned Paper from the new Sweet Pea Paper Stack and cut some extra flowers out to decoupage on the ones on the front of the card, you can probably see this if you look closely. The ribbon is the Rose Red Stitched Grosgrain and the Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain, and the Old Olive Cardstock has been punched using the Scallop Border Punch....

For this card I used Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Cardstock, the papers from the Sweet Pea Paper Stack, the birds were punched out of a sheet of the Patterned Paper. The Tempting Turquoise Cardstock was punched using the Scallop Border Punch and the Old Olive Cardstock and Patterned Paper were stuck on top, I then punched three 1 3/8" holes down this stack.... this whole stack was then mounted onto dimensionals to hold if off the card blank. The Scallop Circles were punched and then punched again using the 1 3/8" punch to leave just a scallop frame. These were stuck around the holes punched into the stack and the birds were stuck through the holes and onto the Rose Red Card Blank so that they were lower than the rest of the card to add some dimension... I'm not sure if you can see that looking at this picture.

For this card I used Pretty In Pink, Tempting Turquoise and Rose Red Cardstock, again Patterned Paper from the Sweet Pea Paper Stack, Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon.. The bird was again punched out from the Patterned Paper and I punched 7 Tempting Turquoise circles to place underneath the bird punch out to make a flower shape. I pierced the corners to add a bit of interest.

This project used Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Cardstock. Again Sweet Pea Paper Stack for the Patterned Paper, punched out bird and I also cut out a bird for the top image. The ribbon is Chocolate Chip Grosgrain... I also used the Scallop Border Punch and the Scallop Circle Punch.

And that is my project completed. I hope you enjoyed looking, now move on to Debbi's Blog where you will find another great project.

I am also selling off a huge amount of my stamps (not Stampin' Up!) if you are interested, check out my blog post here...

Take care all xx