Escaping the mists and back to the land of blogging.......

Every intention to blog over the last couple of weeks, went out the window, so I was glad I had a focus to craft  last week, for my 'Techniques & WOWS table' in the 'Share Fair' that I was invited to take part in, at the Leeds 'Stampin' Up!' regional training event on Saturday.


The training event was attended by 75 demonstrators and I was very nervous about sharing a technique with them, I mean they do 'Stampin' Up!' too, so I didn't want to be telling them ;how to suck eggs' if you know what I mean!!! And also I could'nt let on to any of my demo friends who were attending, as the 'Share Fair' was a secret event, and well asking Farmer Johnnie his opinion on whether something is an SU crafty WOW, didn't really get me far! so I decided to have a play about with a few ideas and see what I felt, that I would be the most confident in showing on the day.... something that gave an instant impact look, that showed the versatility of SU stash, so this is what I came up with.....

‘Would you like a squirt?!’

This is a really quick idea that utilises, a re-inker, some 12x12 neutrals card stock, a co-ordinating neutrals inkpad and maybe a matching ‘Stamp & write’ marker, one stamp set, itty bitties punches, a border punch, & some scraps of card that co-ordinate with the colour of re-inker........

To get the most out of these bits, from my handbag I rescued an empty ‘squirty’ hand sanitizer bottle and from the kitchen I found a packet of doilies, which must have been bought for the last ‘Jubilee’!

Step 1

Wash out hand sanitizer bottle, and add 6 drops of re-inker top up with water and ‘sHaKe’! You have now created your own ‘SU’ colour co-ordinated ink spray/ mister! (You can play around making the ink lighter or darker, by adding more or less drops of ink.)

Step 2

Protect your area; I use my brown packing paper that comes in my SU parcels, as the spray can cover an area larger than the ‘Grid Paper’.

Step 3

Place the sheet of neutrals card stock down and place a doily or two, were it takes your fancy, on the card!

Step 4

Pick up your mister, CHECK SQUIRTY NOZZLE IS POINTING TOWARDS THE CARDSTOCK....... (Otherwise you could be giving your face a hint of SU colour!) You can then mist over your doilies on to your card.

Here is a little video, to show just how easy they are to make....

Step 5

Using the ‘Stamp & write marker’ you may wish to ‘doodle’ to accentuate the doily design, and the lines look the best when they are wobbly!!

Step 6

Add Stamped decoration to your liking. You can choose to finish the decorated sheet in a variety of ways, my suggestions are:

·         Keep the page entire and it makes a great scrapbook layout, perfect for those that want the stamps and maybe can’t afford the papers. When I do this I like to use the stamps to frame my photograph. 

·         Maybe decorate the other side too! And fold it creatively, you could use your ‘Simply Scored- scoring tool’ for this, and you could make a brag book/ squash album, or if you kept the stamping to the edges, it makes a great personal journal/ notebook.

Here is Doris, the friend I made to accompany me on my trip to Leeds!!

I have to say she got loads of gorgeous comments about her frock, shame my legs are too skinny for it, otherwise she would have been just in her jewels and head wear!! ;-)

But her skirt was decorated using this fab technique!!

 I added flowers I had made and lots of stamping too....

And due to my lack of sewing skills, I had a happy accident in that I made it wrap around twice and made a lovely petticote layer!!

From the video you will have seen that I have used the sheets for lots of different projects, and my tips to the other demo's on Saturday were......

·If the thought of 12x12” scares you.....Go small and try the technique out on your card blanks!

·Look out for more, stuff to squirt through....... I have found sequin waste, a place mat and a Christmas table decoration.

I will leave you with some pictures of a clock, I decorated using this technique...

I love that you can use the background for such a wide range of paper craft projects, not just cards, I hope I have inspired you to have a go too, I would love to see what you make!

thank you for stopping by

 Sally-Jo xx

Getting in the groove!

Well after last weeks 'dramas and dioramas' I thought I would have had a quieter week and been able to dust off my desk, and get crafting- but what with Matthew doing maypole.... I know I can't believes he has offered to dance, let alone with a girl!!! and Heather wanting to make the most, of the lighter nights and get lots of riding in, I have failed to do as much as what I had planned!

So did you guess the sneaky peakes that were on show, in last weeks 'Dramas & Dioramas' card???.......

I was giving you a peak at the new  'Framelits Dies'.They are a set of 6, thin wafer-like dies. you can layer inside each other to cut frames for stamp images  or cut single labels for accents or layering. They do coordinate with the 'Apothecary Art' Stamp Set ( shown on p. 17 of the Summer Mini).

The other sneaky peak was a little harder to guess, as its a tool- This is something that really will help you get in the groove! Its the new 'Simply Scored Scoring Tool'! I love that it has made scoring such a pleasant task!!

Here is the card, I made for swaps,

at SU mummy- Julies Training event.

For this I also used the 'Summer Mini' stamp set....

'Bordering on Romance'

 Wood Mounted 125480 £24.95 

Clear mounted 125482 £19.95.

I stamped the spray of flowers from the set, to the left of a panel of the SU water colour paper and used my 'Aqua Blenders' to watercolour- using the lids of my stamp pads as a pallet, the versatility of my SU stash! The water colour paper also helped to let the ink blend smoothly too!

Here you can see, the working of the card fold from above, I was able to create two of these card blanks, from an A4 sheet of card- so would be ideal if you wished to create multiples for wedding invitations or a special event, and using the 'Simply Scored- Scoring tool' and having the place markers set up, would make it a doddle! 

I got farmer Johnnie to help me shoot a video yesterday, to show you how I created the card blank, but lets just say after the 20th take, I was about to beat him over the head with my 'Simply Scored board' what with his phone ringing, the kids running up and down the stairs and I haven't managed to refrain from saying 'oakie dokey', but I hope it helps to show you how to create the card xx

To create the sentiments, I used my trusty 'Stamp-ma-jig' and a combination of stamps from 'Petite Pairs' & 'My Family'.I also added some little flowers, punched with the flower from the 'Itty Bitties' punch pack and dots of 'Tombow- liguid glue' and to all the flower centres, and then a dusting of sparkle with some 'Dazzling Diamonds'.

Thank you for looking by, and I will be back tomorrow, to tell you about ........

xXXx