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

Blue skies after the rain!!!

When I was hitting the disco's in my youth there was a song that referred to the sunshine and blue skies after the rain, well today has been one of those mornings, after a very un-restful nights sleep, complete with weird dreams were I was some kind of secret agent and loads of people were having babies (at this point I would be grateful of any comments from dream experts, as to the relevance of these themes in dreams)!! I woke to hear the rain pelting on the window and the phone ringing, in a sleep dazed wobble i got to the phone to be greeted by the cheerful tones of a my children's friends mum inviting them to play....considering the weather I think she is rather brave to have 2 10yr. old girls and 2 8yr old boys in her home at once! So off they went to play before dinner, leaving to do the washing!! When low and behold a Knight in Shinning armour came to my door.....NO, it wasn't Johnnie whisking me out for lunch, It was my ever reliable Mr UPS!! Bringing me, and my crafting friends our Stampin' Up! goodies! This was definitely a blue skies after the rain moment.....yeahhhh!! an excuse to sort out what people had ordered and also the chance to stamp!

Stamping- because as tonight is creative Cafe, I thought it would be great to give everyone their orders in a little decorated bag. Now the bags are ready made and are available from the good old pound stores, usually near the tin foil and cling film! Yes! you have guessed it, they are just brown paper sandwich bags!

But decorated with our lovely SU stamps, the bags change from dowdy, plain & boring, to specially decorated, thoughtful packaging!!

The stamp sets I have used on today's bags are 'Baroque Motifs' & 'Sense of Time'

The clock face and cogs from the 'Sense of time' set, were repeatedly stamped just using the Stampin' Up! Classic ink pad in 'Early Espresso' & the swirl from 'Baroque Motifs' was stamped in the 'Crumb Cake' classic ink pad, I then added the small flower using the lovely 'Concord Crush' 'In Colour!' ink pad.

A tag was punched for the recipients, name using the decorative frame punch and some scraps of 'Crumb Cake' card stock these we given a little stamp treatment too!I hope you like this quick and easy way to create custom gift bags & if you would like to order the lovely Stampin' Up! goodies, I have used to decorate mine then please do contact me:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

xXXx

Colour Coached!!

Do you ever find you get stuck in a colour rut......you know.....the same ink pad colours always in use, or maybe you are afraid to mix things up a little??? Well the fantastic SU colour coach may be the thing for you, I never thought that I would use it, but I constantly have it on my desk and yes it's on hand, so that I have all the gorgeous 'Stampin' Up!' colours, without having sheets of card or ink pads all over, while I am going through my 'Will I- Won't I' stage of making!!

So I was making cards for some fellow Julies Jem's earlier this week, Happy birthday- Terri & also Catherine xx, and was once again drawn toward my 'Concord Crush' ink pad and I thought, what other colour could I pair with it for more of a monochromatic colour scheme......well yes the colour coach, even has a suggestion for this! It called a 'Dynamic Duo' and for 'Concord crush', It was paired with 'Perfect Plum' from the subtles collection, and 'My-o-my!' i do like this combo!

No prizes for guessing the stamp set, but it was on the desk, and well, I think the finished result looks pretty.....

yep! you guessed it 'Just believe' for the fronds

and this part was stamped in the 'perfect Plum'.

The text stamp in the background is the large friendly stamp.... it's big but don't be put off you can make it small too!!
The ink used for this was 'Concord Crush'.

Linen thread and a sentiment from 'Tiny tags' punched with the co-ordinating 'Jewellery tag' punch, created my own embellishment.

The inside was given the stamp treatment too, this time with just the 'perfect plum' ink.

And again on the envelope.
I do admit that I made the same card for both girls, but i really liked the first one and thought I would go with the flow!

I hope you like it too xx

Top note crush!!!

Yes I have a crush.........well two actually...................One with the lovely SU exclusive 'Top Note' die and the other with the fabulous 'In colour'- 'Concord Crush', you know the one that is so delicious that it can't decide if it blue or purple!!!

They are both in regular use, and feature prominently on my blog, but wants the point in liking something and having it and not using it!!

I teamed them together with the lovely 'Just Believe' Stampin' Up! stamp set, to make a lovely gift for a hostess, a few weeks ago, and gave it away before taking some piccies to post on my blog, so this morning while prepping for today's workshop, I took time out to make one for myself.

The 'Concord Crush' ink was sponged around the edge, and the large frond from the 'Just Believe' stamp set was added over the top using basic black ink.

I added the word 'Notes' cut with the 'Timeless Type' dies.

The pages are cut, from just copier paper, so when I run out, I can just cut some more!Got to dash off to a workshop in the 'Trough of Bowland', that's the great thing about 'Stampin' Up!' we can come to you!!

Just Believe........

There is a 'scrummy' silhouette style, stamp set- from Stampin' Up!, that is called 'Just Believe', and after seeing the set used with a brayer on Becki's blog:

http://beckiscraftycreations.blogspot.com/2011/06/just-believe.html
I was inspired to get it out, and have a play, I have to admit that I didn't use the brayer, but used the sponging technique, and I am going to share this card idea tonight with the lovely Linda Kings Craft group, were I am demonstrating.

it has a lovely sentiment in, can you see it on the the bottom Right of the picture??......

While creating, I got thinking about the title of the stamp set, and thought that it can mean so much, for so many, but today for me it means:

• 
  
  If you believe it is summer, the sun will be out....as I glance out of the window the sun is sort of shinning, through the grey clouds!!


• 
  
  If you believe in yourself you can make things happen..... over the week I have made more, new Stampin' Up! friends xx


• 
  
  If you believe you have something enjoyable, to share........share it and spread the enjoyment.

Yes! they are broad and sweeping statements, but to me they are meaningful,

But what is your 'Just believe....?'

I hope you like the cards, I love having the 'Top note' die to use with my 'Big Shot'. the large fronds image, from the 'Just Believe' stamp set has been stamped in classic black and then the 2nd and 3rd impression used to add depth, I then inked each card panel, with a different in colour ink, the pop effect you get is very striking! to some I added the big sentiment and to others just the shorter sentiments from the same set, using the stamp-a-ma-jig....tools that work are a god send!!

The stunning 'is it blue or maybe purple' of 'Concord Crush' Ink.

'Peach Parfait' Ink....with a tempting warmness!

'Pear Pizzazz' Ink...that is 'ooo soooo' very lush!

'Blushing Bride' Ink.....that is both demure & striking!

And the fiery red of 'Poppy Parade' ink!

I have also included a couple of side views to show, the little cheating version of a easel card, I had created! it's nice to do something that looks a little different, to a square or rectangle card, without lots of hassle, the 'Top Note' die is a must have for this!

Looking forward to tonight, but if you can't host a workshop you can still order, 'Stampin' Up!' goodies from me email for more details: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

Totally Cased!!!

This morning while on a few errands around Longridge, I got a lovely call from my SU mum Julie, even though she was busy getting ready for her SU weekend in Prague, she took the time to answer a few queries I had sent via email at 3am....well I couldn't sleep, and thought it best to use the time effectively, it was great to speak to her and have her support and guidance, in what I do as an Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator, so thanks Julie and have loads of fun!So in honour of Julie, I have cased one of her recent blog cards for the colour and stamp combo......The truly Divine 'Vintage Vogue' Stamp set, teamed with 'Crumb Cake' & 'Concord Crush' Ink and Very vanilla card stock.....and for good measure I have also made it an easel card!The recipient of this card is Johnny's Mum, as it is her birthday today, I hope she likes it. we have given her some Rose scented perfume too, inspired by a friends recent bathing in Jo Malone!!This stamp set is the main focus of my 'Colour Splash Class' and yet used with this colour combo, it looks different yet again, and the flowers are so easy to cut out!The lovely sentiment is from 'heard form the heart' and you can find a sentiment in there to fit any occasion, 'Stampin' Up! are great at providing versatile, but gorgeous stamps sets!

We still have some more grass to mow, but I am hoping for a few treats tomorrow, the Postman has been busy bringing cards, with many from my new 'Stampin' Up!' friends, it so welcoming to be part of such a friendly group, I have made Johnny hide them all, in case I open them before tomorrow!