Just In Case........

OOOoooo my gosh, having realised that my blog posts are getting even more sporadic, I thought I had better share with you- what I was up too at the weekend, and if in case my cosmic star chart is dragging me away from the computer still and you don't get another blog post off me till the New Year, I had better send you my.......

What with all the holiday hullabaloo and my boy Matthew breaking his wrist, I was glad of the excuse, to shoot over the hill and join many of the Julies Jems- for a Shoe Box swap on Saturday! 

I have been tinkering around with this 'Top Note' wall hanging idea in my head for the last couple of weeks and was considering about it as my offering at the 'Shoe box Swap', but after making this late Friday afternoon/ evening I thought that we would be hard pushed, to get the whole thing Big Shotted, punched, stamped, cut and glued in the 30mins we had for each project!

But I risked it for a biscuit!!! And stayed up, till the very early hours, doing die cutting and punching, then my fellow Swap attendees could concentrate on the important bit- the stamping, well we are 'Stampin' Up!' Demonstrators after all!!!! 

I think the trickest bit, I left for the girls was that I was down to my last few peices of 'Very Vanillia Card after die cutting the top notes, so they only had a small peice on to which the had to stamp the letters from the 'Letter It' SU stamp set...... 

 This is going to be my favourite alphabet stamp set, although if Shelli checks this out- It would be awesome if we had a punch, to punch them out and it would double up for the 'Number It' SU Stamp set too!!

 In the little kits I put together for the 'Shoe Box Swap', I even drew on lines so the girls could get on with putting the stamped letters into place, i love how the words winter & warm over hang from the top note!

 In little envelopes I had put the different elements to decorate the wall hanging, in one were the punched leaves and flowers.....

 In another were the branch and the robins........

 And I had even put an envelope together for the embellies, yep! I had snipped the gem stones and the linen thread ready for use!!

As there were so many of us swapping we split into two groups, so her are links to the blogs, of the girls in our group, hopefully they aren't as behind as me and will have blogged about what they created to swap!!

                           Kate Martin 

Lynda Bradley

Allie Jolliffe

Evelyn Calder

Jill Jones

Victoria

Apoplogies to Karen Fagelman & Julie Wade- sorry that I can't link to  your blogs but I have googled you and cant find links, please get in touch, then I can correct xxx

It was a fantastic day, and it was great that we all brought such different ideas to the swapping table, I cant wait for the next one in the new year!!

But now for a little pop quiz!!

What I love the most about what I have designed and created, is the use of the most unusual stamp, to create the Snowflake background on the top notes......

In fact I have renamed it my...

'Hidden Snowflake'!!!!

Can you guess which  Current 'Stampin' Up!' Stamp set, it has come from????

Get your answers in my comment box, and I will put the correct answers in a box, and draw out a winner and will post the winner a kit and instructions to make this little wall hanging, I will do the draw on Saturday evening (25/08/2012) UK time.  

Thanks for stopping by

Sally-Jo

xXx

A drama & a diorama......

I had well and truly abandoned the keyboard and even my scissors, over the past couple of weeks!

My mojo had left me, it had gone on a 'long haul' holiday, not only was my back still niggling me but last Thursday farmer Johnnie had an appointment with the MRI  scanner, after his run in with a wayward wheel barrow over the festive period, and even though he looks like he as tough as anything, he needed some support, as they were sticking needles in him, in a very sensitive area too!

Any way with attendance at SU mum- Julie's training event, on Saturday, I was planning to force myself to sit at my desk, later on the Thursday night and come up with something for a swap, well a headache struck and with Farmer Johnnie feeling sorry for himself too, we only managed a cup of tea and some painkillers, so Friday came and Johnnie even though still hobbling donned his boiler suit and got back on the farm and I had to get my swaps done.... 

Well after a little faffing around and poking at bits of stuff I had started on ages ago, and squashing the massive box of rubbish at feet into a smaller pile, I came up with an idea- a friend and regular hostess, Linda King, had posted on their fb page (click here to see) a lovely diorama card, she had made, featuring the 'Spring Mini' stamp set- 'Marry Me'. Well at the training we had to focus on using some top secret SU stash ;-) and so my swap was created using lots of secrets, but was a diorama too!  

And today in honour of Linda Kings inspiration, and mojo boost, I have done my take on a 'Marry me' diorama, and I have included the discreet use of two new products that 'Stampin' Up!' are launching on the first of May!! I can't name the new products I have used, but everything else used will be given a label, so a little guessing is involved!!!

A colour combination of 'Pink Pirouette', 'Very Vanilla' & 'Basic Grey',

the card base was created from one A4 sheet of  card stock,

It was given a makeover with some simple score lines and and a bit of cutting with the 'Big Shot!' ;-)

 The set contains 6 stamps, one of which is this beautiful quote by William Shakespeare

 The front of the aperture was given a little stamping with the simple flower stems that are included in the 'Marry me' set, and some little punched 'Itty Bitty' flowers and SU gems added a nice touch.

 For the centre piece of the diorama I stamped the main bride & groom stamp, from the 'Marry Me' set and cut it out with a 'new tool' and my SU 'Big Shot'!!! ;-)

 I created some curled paper flowers out of 'Very Vanilla' card stock and dusted their edges with the 'Pink Pirouette' Ink, I also gave them lacy doily petticotes, using the 'triple layer doily punch'.

 I embossed the very back panel of the diorama, with the 'Manhattan Flowers' embossing folder and used my 'two way glue pen' & 'Dazzling Diamonds Glitter' to add a little sparkle, I also added a couple of pins with some 'Pink Pirouette' punched 'Itty bitties' on the end.

Here is a birds eye view of the diorama.

I am glad, I spent time crafting today, it was great to combine something old, with something new....

Also thank you for sticking with me through diorama & dramas XX

Details on the lovely SU stamp set 'Marry Me' that I have used today can be found in the link to the top right of this post, which takes you to an on-line copy of the 'Spring Mini'........

Remember that the UK 'Spring Mini' ends monday 30th of May,

and even us demo's are not told what, if anything out of it, is going to be carried over to future product lists...

So my advice is get it, while you can!

From Friday I will be placing orders every evening, till the close of sales on Monday night,

and what's more is that if you spend £45 or more, you are eligible for a free pack of DSP.

Contact me to find out more:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

Tel. No: 07891605129

Half done Projects.......

Is it just me that has half finished projects, that languish, waiting to be completed??? 

And is it just me that starts a project at the totally wrong time, like the idea jumps into that fuzzy box of space between my ears, just as the rest of me or that fuzziness is meant to be doing something else???

This card I sharing with you today, started life like that, as I was packing for last weeks 'Creative Cafe' the stamps sort of jumped into my hand, and the ink pads into the other!!!

And as I think about it, I was cooking tea, dealing with the my 'Darlings' (clenched teeth there), Showing my brother the problems that I have been having with my PC and wondering why Johnnie was so long at the doctors!!

Anyway in between hearing some great news from an SU sister today and catching up on some bits and pieces, I gave it a greeting and a few embellies, as it was shouting to be finished off.......

Yep! So when it was all going on...

I decided to do a little simple stamping,

with a moonlit, faux brayer-ed background!!

And today I finished it off with a little label

and stamped greeting......

A simple Knotted piece of grosgrain ribbon and 'Antique Brad'

And a trail of gems and pearls to add to the magic....

(I needed one to cover a 'boo boo' in the middle of the panel, but even I thought that just one lone gem looked odd,

so I turned it in to a trail!!)

But one 'boo boo' leads to another.... can you spot it here???

And here you can see the tone on tone-stamping,

to decorate the inside.

Well I hope you like the project, now its complete,

don't forget that SALE-A-BRATION ends on Saturday

so if your after the FREEBIES get in touch and I would love to place an order for you xXx

The Call of the keyboard.....

As I write this from the top secret location of my craft desk, I hastily glance over my shoulder and check that my cover has not been blown...... yep! At this time of night the kids are in bed, and asleep, and use of the netbook should go undetected by them, I am back to blogging just trying to ensure stealth like note book usage..... my brother, the man I turn to with all technological dilemmas would probably tell me that even if the children don't know what I am doing the 'Big Brothers' of the schools technology people, will do..... Hmmmm should I delete this post and wipe my prints from the keyboard???

No the call of the keyboard has struck me and I will endeavour to keep you updated with my crafty happenings, until normal service can resume!! ;-)

This last weekend was not only birthday time, but my Mum and Dad celebrated their 35 year wedding anniversary on the Saturday, as we were going for party tea on the Sunday I took a card I created for them, I gave a sneaky peek via Facebook, as I created it then realised I had no envelopes to fit an A5 card, luckily i had some tissue in which to wrap it.

 The style is nothing new from me, a sort of shabby chic college going on!

 Complete with Crumbcake Seam Binding & Crochet Trim bows....

 A hint of a swirl with 'colour on colour' stamping' for the base card, and the use of the Oval frame from the 'Textured Impressions Designer Frames' Embossing Folder, to create a centre piece for the stamping of 'Mum' '&' 'Dad' from the 'For my Family' stamp set, I had to use my 'Stamp-A-Ma-Jig' for this and I managed it first time, so I think this set may be making an appearance on cards more often, I had got it with Scrapbooking in mind,

 A banner, as a simple way to add a greeting with a different font,

 Some pops of colour, with the lovely flower heads from 'Everything Eleanor' stamped on 'Very Vanilia' in 'Richrazzleberry' Ink with the colour dragged in with a water brush, cut out and then popped to add dimension around the frame. Even the label/ journalling circle from 'Everything Eleanor' was stamped on the base card too!!

 Looking at this side view I took, it's probably a good thing I didn't have an envelope, as I think it would have been to chunky to fit!!

 I followed the style of the front of the card and decorated a 'Very Vanillia' piece of cardstock, to give me a panel on which to write the greeting, to my mum and dad.

 A couple more of the flowers stamped & cut out and I didn't stick them down completely so that the edges had a hint of freedom!!

 And a little bit more stamping and a bit of ink sponging too and my special anniversary card was finished!

I am really pleased with how it came together, and how i managed to make stamps that don't necessarily scream card making such as the journalling label and the family titles work on a card.

Right as my cover has not be blown by a child awaking, I had better not push my luck and log off for now. Don't forget that this is the last month of the Fantastic 'SALE-A-BRATION' were you can get an exclusive free set of stamps or paper for every £45 you spend in either the main IBC, the Spring mini or a bit of both!

If you would like further information please give me a call

Tel: 077891605129,

I look forward to hearing from you xx

It's not every Monday.....

Okay, after Mondays birthday antics, I have had to do quite a bit of explaining- I really don't spend every Monday, getting tipsy and enjoying fine food and the company of a good friend. Yes! I do enjoy the company of my good friends, on a weekly/ monthly, face to face basis, it just doesn't usually involve any Champagne cocktails!! 

And no I don't usually wear my LBD, to ASDA on a Monday morning! As I nipped in, just before going to Deborah's, on Monday- the very mature check out lady, questioned my outfit and said I should consider a jumper... Yes I was wearing a fabulous dress, and a very lovely set of chunky beads, but maybe ASDA isn't use to such style on a monday morning!! 

Anyway, after a get together at 'Creative Cafe' last night, Deborah and I both declared that we have survived- the fizz, and as it was such a fantastic way, to spend a Monday, it's a shame we can't do it more often!! 

Whilst at 'Creative Cafe' we used Deborahs birthday as an excuse to eat more cake, this time 'Nigella's- Blondies' and discuss some SU products that were launched, in the new 'Spring Mini' and also the lovely 'SALE-A-BRATION' stamp set 'Fresh Vintage'. Deborah hadn't thought to bring the pressies, I had got for her, and all the ladies were asking for a look too, but luckily I had a couple of phone snaps to show the ladies and I am posting these, that I took before handing them over on Monday, and they did struggle to leave my hands as I now 'so, so need to get myself some!!'

The presents came in the most gorgeous 'Chocolate Chip' boxes,

that were calling for an SU make over, so armed with a couple of punches, ribbon, crochet trim,

inks and SU stamp sets, I created some stunning packaging!!

 The first main box, contained the most important gift, and its decoration reflects what is on the inside, and also I got to play with an old favourite, stamp set of mine- 'Vintage Vogue' it had the perfect 'friends' wording and a lovely flower that looks stunning cut out, popped up and blinged!!

 Every box, followed the same colour scheme, I just mix up the wording the next 3 sentiments/ words came from the uber lovely NEW 'Spring Mini' Catalogue stamp set 'Your a Gem'

 All the tags were adorned with 'Crochet trim' and snippets of the 'Striped Grosgrain' Ribbon

 And the backgound for all the tags, featyred the gorgeous floral spray from the 'SALE-A-BRATION' stamp set 'Fresh Vintage'-

stamped in the lovely 'Crumb Cake',

this also features in the main gift.......

 TAAA DAARRRRRR!!!!

 I had got Deborah the lovely large 'Simply Adorned- Locket', and had made a lovely insert for it, too!!

The other boxes contained some baubles for her to hang with it, and I am glad to say, she lurvvess it!!

I can wait until I get one, and I can make some little peices of art work to adorn mine, if would like to know more about this lovely new product line then check out the link, to the top right of this page, It will take you direct to an online copy of the mini, complete with photos of makes using the products and product info too! If you live in the UK, I would love to be your demonstartor, so you can get all these lovely goodies, get in touch with me:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

xXXx

I took some Islands with me!!

Well I am back, in blighty.....I survived flying, what was the most daunting aspect of air travel was the checking in and the weighing of luggage, and it was only me, out of our group that set off the airport alarms...any surprises there though!!

On to the more important stuff..... Spending the day site seeing, in Paris, on the Thursday prior to convention, was fantastic, although I do have to say that the 'Tour De Eiffel' was not at all as romantic, as we expected it to be.....until the light faded and night was upon us....then Paris really came alive, and so did my French....words I had never used since my GCSE days sprang from my lips.....During the day I managed to ask for directions, gel shoe inserts and a cork screw....get me and my metropolitan lifestyle!!

Anyway all to soon we were catching the last train back to the Hotel, and getting ready for 2 action packed days of 'Stampin' Up!' Convention (And wow-sers....they were action packed, full of info on new product lines and top tips...there is so much to cover over the next couple of months!!)As I was attending as part of the 'Julies Jems' team, we all made each other little team swaps, I am still pouring over all the lovely makes I received, but here is my make for the team swap.

And yes, it is a play on words, but I took 19 of these little boxes, made from our delightful 'Island Indigo' card stock with me...get it?? Islands with me!!

The boxes are based, on a cheese wedge style I was taught years ago, but I loved bringing an old idea to life again with modern products. The fab sentiment came from the lovely 'Petite Pairs' Stamp set and was then punched with the modern label punch, with the little flourish from 'Tiny Tags' added for some decoration, and to finish the tag, a bit of SU bling!!

The boxes were given a simple bit of stamping, with the swirl from 'Everything Eleanor'.....and a light misting of the champagne.....well we were in Paris.....shimmer paint, that I had watered down.To hold the box closed and fasten the tag in place, I used a 12cm length of the new crochet trim, and as knotting it, slipped in a short piece of the 'Basic Black- Striped Grosgrain'........I have used 3 rolls of this for my convention makes......Its a good job I get a demo discount!! But I couldn't just give my teamies, an empty box, well the make inside, was something to wear......

A beautiful ring!

I am extremely grateful, that my good friend Deborah, is an avid 'Kirsty Allsop' fan, she saw a gorgeous make similar to this on her craft TV show, well the next day whilst I was out and about Deborah phoned me, to ask had I seen it, well I hadn't, but all she said was...' She just stuck the paper roses, you have been making on to ring backs and Voila....she had made a ring'. It was sort of a serendipity moment, as she rung, I happen to be stood outside a Haberdashery shop, which stocked the ring backs!!

And as soon as I got home, I used all my little scraps of 'Timeless Portrait' Designer Papers to create the roses.....to make them more sturdy, I gave them a couple of coats of 'Crystal Effects' and just before the centre set, popped in a large, sparkly bling......well I couldn't afford real diamonds....sorry girls!!

I hope the girls loved my make, as much as I have loved theirs, swapping was such a special part of convention, only 'Stampin' Up! demonstrators, can attend the convention, so if you don't want to miss out on all the HOT SU news, learn new some new craft skills, and even make new friends, then join my team.......OOOoo and the location for convention next year.......

Mainz, Germany

on November 2 and 3, 2012!

Make plans now to attend this wonderful event!

I can't wait for you- to become a

'Stampin' Up! ' Demonstrator with me!!! XXX