Spot the difference!!

Recently I had the pleasure to receive some handmade cards, for a yearly event in my life which I absolutely detest- I absolutely hate being a year older every year, and the handmade cards I received off my craft & SU friends were rays of sunshine in a stormy time for me! They have given me so much inspiration, that I felt a few 'CASE's' were in order!!

My SU Mummy- Julie Kettlewell, sent me a lovely card featuring the lovely 'Fun Flowers' & 'Top Note' SU Bigz Dies, can you spot the difference??

Julie's card is to the left of this picture,

I wanted to give this 'CASE', to my Gran-

who was celebrating her 97th birthday yesterday!

So I upped the size of the card to a 15cm square base,

as she likes a big card for on her mantle piece!

I used 'Parlour Prints' to create a lovely aged background panel-

It goes so well with the 'Attic Boutique DSP',

out of the 'Summer Mini'......

I have to admit that I have spent along time stroking this, before I cut at it!!!

I just love the vintage, shabby chicness of it, but it's still fresh and vibrant with bursts of colour!

 I split my 'Top Note' die cut of the gorgeous 'Attic boutique DSP' to fit the square, placing a 'Crumb Cake' banner, stamped with the birthday greeting from 'Curly Cute', to cover the gap!

I embellished it with SU pearls, as my gran likes the posh bits!

I added a lovely twirled bow-

using the new 'Pool Party' 'Seam Binding &

 using the 'For My Family' stamp set, I added a little 'Decorative Label' with 'Grandma' on & a few more pearls too!

I layered up the flowers- like Julie, but switched the button,

to one of our lush 'Antique Brads'!

Here you can see, that following Julies inspiration, I too added stamping to one of the flower layers.

 I always like to add some decoration to the inside of my cards, that are going to be received, so I finished this with a light stamping of the 'Parlour Prints' stamp around the edge......

This was the trickiest bit in creating the whole card...

As the card is wider than the stamp, and you also want to take off the ink from the centre. of the stamp, so you have somewhere to write your message- this I forgot to do!

So as Julie say's-

'it's a good job SU card stock is double sided!!!'

Thank you for stopping by, and checking out my crafty makes-

Sally-Jo

xXXx

Back with a punch!!

Apologies for abandoning and deserting my blog for so long, but my mojo took a vacation, and with the lighter nights outdoor life on the farm, took over!!!

Just week ago I had the delightful pleasure of popping down the motorway to meet my newest downline Tammy, now what what was meant to be 20mins on the motorway, turned into 2 1/2 hours, so I an glad my convention friend Yvonne was there before me!!

We had loads of lovely SU chat, over lunch and then cleared the tables and crafted in the cafe!! We made flower balls.....(GIGGLES AT NAME!!)......I had made Tammy a little gift of a twiggy heart, decorated with flowers made using the new blossom punch (check it out in the 'Summer Mini' the link is to the right!)And I had figured out that if I joined two of the flowers together, you can create these lovely flowery balls!! Check out the video to see how easy they are to make.........

I would have included some photos of them dangling from my twigs but they are on the back seat of the car.... and its pouring with rain and didn't want to get them wet dragging them back inside, so as soon as it's dry I will add some, I have to add too, that I didn't photograph the heart I decorated for Tammy either, maybe she will for her blog?? I know she is working on makes for it at the moment, whilst settling into her UK life, look out for a link in my sidebar soon! 

Right! off to get busy......... well I hasten to add that farmer Johnnie probably doesn't think crafting fits that category, but he knows better than to complain! 

xXXx

Spiced Up!

This week on the 'Stampin' Up!- UK' FB page, there has been a focus on the 'Spice Cake' Product suite, from the '2012- Spring Mini', well it made me realise that I hadn't photographed and shared with you my lovely blog followers, many of the lovely makes that I created for an inspiration table, at our team training in January. I have to admit, to going a bit creatively crazy, as I have 3 mega, large boxes packed with an array of  makes, all of which incorporate some of the 'Spice Cake' product suite. What with Papers, stamps, fabric & matching embellishments, it wasn't hard to get creative, with this gorgeously co-ordinated product range!

I have kept dipping into the boxes and taking various samples to the workshops, I attend and also to my 'Creative Cafe' group- it has been lovely, to have inspired them to have a play with the 'Spice Cake' goodies too, so I have a picked out a few of my favourite makes that I created with these fantastic 'Stampin' Up!' goodies!

My favourite 3d item was a cushion with an appliqué design,

and my favourite scrapbook layout, has a decorated frame too!

 My favourite cards...... well I 'lurvee' all the cards I created, but I loved my tall flag card and also the card were I created little pop up 3d hearts!!

Here is a close up of my lovely 'Spice Cake' fabric cushion,

can you guess were I got the shape of my birds from???

 Had you guessed yet???

Now sewing isn't really one of my strenghths.... but I really enjoyed cutting out the birds,

and stictching then on, I used an old hand sewing machine.....

 I left the edges with a 'raw' pinking shear edge, and added lovely buttons, from the neutrals pack for eyes. 

OOOoo and the bird deign came from the totally lovely 'Bird Builder' Punch, I punch it out of scrap card and drew around it, and then enlarged it, I cant wait to do this with the Cupcake builder punch!!

My layout features a pic, of Heather and Matthew at the Christingle Service last year.

I printed the photo in sepia, and love how the trails of light, from the candles blaze across the photo.

I wanted to create a very soft page that enhanced the photo, so I used the 'Spiced Paisley' stamps. to create a soft background, I used a 'Sahara Sand' Classic Ink pad to stamp them & then added splatters of ink in 'More Mustard', 'Pool Party', 'Pear Pizazz' & 'Soft Seude', I also stamped the very small image from the 'Spiced Paisley' stamp set, in some of the gorgeous 'Champagne Gold- Shimmer Paint'.

I added a double bow using the lovely 'Crumb Cake- Seam Binding' and the 'Victoria- Crochet Trim',

twirling the ends and sticking them in place with a dot of the ultra sticky tombow,

A little charm was added using the vintage style 'Mini Metal Tags' and was stamped with a dinky little message,

from the Spring Mini set- 'You're A Gem'

I even stamped the wooden frame the layout is in, with the 'Spiced Paisley' stamp set,

using a 'Early Espresso- classic stampin' pad'

Now for my cards.... gosh this is a mega post with lots of pictures too!! Maybe I should of said to get a cup of tea before you started reading today!!

Here you can see, just how the hearts popped up,

on the 'dangly' heart card!!

For the inspiration table I did a portrait version of this card too, when I make cards for display I tend to make them in groups of 2 or more..... sort of a variation on a theme!!

I used 'Heart to Heart' SU punch and  just by cutting three out, of the trimmings from my 'Spice Cake' Designer series papers, and sticking them back to back, you get this lovely effect! 

I stamped the background of the 'Soft Seude' Card blank with co-ordinating ink, using the 'Spiced Paisley' stamps, adding a tag with a sentiment from 'Your'e a Gem'.

I don't often bother with inserts, but I do like to add a little decoration to the inside...

So a bit of 'Spiced Paisley' stamping to the lower bottom right corner & a little punched heart too, finish this card off.

Now this card was one of those that you don't have any clue what you want it to look like, it just sort of happens....... I had spent a few minutes making a 'One Sheet Wonder' with the 'Spiced Paisley' stamp set, and then started on a completely different make...... this is why my desk is always cluttered!!

When I was tidying up my desk, I came accross the sheet and wondered why I had abanoned it...  I spent a bit 'gawping' at it, and then as pennants and flags are so vogue at the moment, a light bulb went on in my head, and after a bit of  fiddling around I had created this!

I love how the flags stand free of the card blank and can you see the lovely cut edge detail to their tails, it was created with the new 'Postage Stamp' punch from the spring mini & In fact I used hardly any of the 'OSW' and it probably is lying on my desk waiting for inspiration to strike again, but as everyone who knows me knows..... 'A little goes a long way!!'

The 'Spiced Paisley' Stamps once again creapt in to the project to decorate the card blank too, but when I have a stamp set I want to get as much use out of it as possible,

and it helps to pull the look of the make together too!

A banner given the same punched tails as the flags, and stamped with a sentiment from 'Curly Cute',

was added- embellished with a knotted, off cut of 'Linen Thread'.

I added a piece of  'Pool Party' card stock to what would be the inside of the card, but due to the front being so cut away, it provided outside decoration too, the beautiful sentiment came from 'You are loved' in the spring mini and 'Spiced Paisley' crept into the corner again, and my 'light bulb' urge was satisfied!!

Even though I waffled on today, I hope you have enjoyed viewing my makes, and feel inspired to get 'Spiced Up!', If you are in Lancashire and want to see them up close then book a 'Stampin' Up!' workshop with me, and you may even earn free products too!

Contact me today sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk 

or text/ telephone me: 07891605129

I would love to hear from you, and share my love of 'Stampin' Up!' and their fabulous craft products!

Back with a 'Premier'......

Well after such lovely comments about my makes, not only at Julie's Training event- but also on Facebook and here, I thought there was no better way than to share my love of Papercaft and 'Stampin' Up!' than by giving you a 100th blog post Premier........

A lot of people admired my 'Spice Cake' wreath (Thanks to my SU Mum- Julie Kettlewell, for the lovely pictures..xx) and asked how I had made the 3D flowers, well today I created a video clip, to show how easy it is to create these flowers!

What I will say is that Farmer Johnnie, was my camera man, and he won't be rushing to leave the cows for 'Hollywood' yet and I do not claim to have the smooth shot, footage of some Ultra pro- demo, but what you see, is genuine crafting and the spirit to share what I know, so apologies for the wobbly camera, the dodgy coloured picture (I haven't had a spray tan since Saturday!!) and the waffling of me panicking to get the bits to stick, but what I hope to show is that if I can do it, anyone can!! So grab yourself a brew, because it is a little longer than planned....well alot longer!! and check out my how too! xx

Happy Crafting, and thank you, for checking out my blog, and I hope you will keep visiting! XXX

Team Training......

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending our team training, Julie Kettlewell- our upline, hosts this quarterly event for the 'Julies Jems' and any other SU demonstrators who wish to attend, we discussed the fantastic new hostess benefits and were shown how to make some snazzy fabric projects by Gemma Rathbone, check out her blog http://makedoandgem.blogspot.com/ you can see a totally gorgeous Christmas tree she has made with the SU Christmas fabric , Gemma is a very talented sew-er ! We then had a lovely lunch with Cupcakes too!

In the afternoon we made a fabulous selection of cards with the
'Pennant Parade' Stamp set ( Wood mounted 122740- £20.95/ Clear mounted 122742- £16.95) and the 'Petite Pennants' Builder Punch (122361 £15.50), I will post some pictures of these tomorrow. As I did have the camera on my phone, but they are a little shaky, so I will take some better pictures for you to see tomorrow!

Now Julie always has two 'Inspiration Tables' at the event featuring a product suite or technique, hosted by 2 attendees, well the first was hosted by Jane, a good friend of Julies, she had made the most adorable Pink and Purple fabric owls, I have ever seen using the lovely 'Flirtatious' Stampin' Up! Designer fabric (122335-£8.95) and some lovely cards using the matching papers too, they are on my wish list (122360 Flirtatious Specialty, 12Sheets Including 2 ultra beautiful lacey doiley sheets for £11.50!

The other 'Inspiration Table' was hosted by myself, it was such a pleasure to have been asked by Julie, I worked with the 'Timeless Portrait Product Suite' and have made such a wide range of bits & pieces, with this range of products, over the next few weeks, I will be posting some pictures of my makes soon, but for now- hop over to the lovely Julies blog http://juliesjapes.blogspot.com for pictures, including the cupcakes which will make you drool over your screen!!

Ice cream in this weather??!!

This time last week we were baking, in the sun, yesterday we had hailstones and today heavy showers & gusty wind!! We have had it all lately I wonder what else we have to come!!

Anyway last night I was having a play around with my 'Pennant Parade' (Wood mounted- 122740 £20.95/ Clear mounted-122742 £16.95) and the matching 'Petite Pennants Builder' punch (122361 £15.50) From 'Stampin' Up!', I had seen it used, to make Ice cream cones by my SU mum Julie, so thought I would have a go as I had some pictures that I wanted to scrap with an Ice cream theme!!

With a bit of simple stamping and punching, I had soon whipped up 5 tremendous, 'Soft Subtles', 3 Scoop cones!!!! And came up with this clean and simple layout, that as my Heather said' OOooo it's white!!'

The other stunning decorative feature on this page is a lovely delicate, Doiley style border- made with the new 'Stampin' Up!' 'Lace Ribbon Border' punch (122362 £18.25)The letters were cut with my trusty SU 'Big Shot' using the 'Timeless Type' dies, out of textured white card stock, and colour was sponged around the edges to make the letters 'pop'!Here you can see that the letters were stuck flat to the page and that the No.3 was raised up, to do this I just chopped a dimensional to fit!The scoops of ice cream were cut from the 'Subtles- Designer series paper pack' using the scallop circle punch, I then cut at them with the 1"circle punch, to get a scalloped edge.
I have include this photo of the layout, which is taken from above......I always find it tricky to take decent photos of scrapbook layouts, taking a photo of a photo and getting the colours right.....do you have any tips?? I would be glad to hear them x

Don't forget tonight is.....

NEW 'Ideas Book & Catalogue' launch!!!
Friday- 7th October
7pm onwards

At Delicachixs
14 Woodplumpton Rd.
Lanes Ends, Ashton, Preston.

Its free to attend, Everybody is welcome!
It includes a FREE 'Make & Take' and light refreshments....

and there is a fantastic raffle!!

Also I am offering free P&P (in the UK) to anyone who purchases both the stamp set & matching punch, from myself,

until Midnight on Saturday 8th October!

Email me: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

for more information!

I look forward to seeing you tonight

or maybe hearing from you,

if you are further away!!

Sally-Jo xXx

Sharing............

Well with the delicious new catalogue, tucked up in bed, with me and being drooled over, last night!! I was trying to decided which of the new papers to purchase, maybe you're like me - you want ALL of the fantastic new designer papers, but can't afford them all, so which do you choose?

Hmmm.....well I would still be choosing now!

But how about every single design??

well I have decided to host a product share!

For £32 (+£2 p&p)

receive 180 sheets of 6"x6" designer papers from the new collections.

The papers in this selection will include 2 pieces of every paper measuring 6"x6" from the following collections:
Mocha Morning (12 pieces)
Flirtatious (12 pieces)
First Edition (24 pieces)
Holly Berry Bouquet (12 pieces)
Paisley Petals (12 pieces)
Beau Chateau (12 pieces)
Beyond the Garden (12 pieces)
Domestic Goddess (12 pieces)
Frightful Sight (12 pieces)
Timeless Portrait (12 pieces)
Just add Cake (12 pieces)
Nursery Nest (12 pieces)
Big Top Birthday (12 pieces)
Well Worn (12 pieces)

If you wish to purchase 2 shares,

then you will be sent whole 12x12 sheets of each paper!

Please note: this share does NOT include the colour family DSP stacks, but If I get enough requests I will set up a share of these also!!

To order the paper share you can

email me: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

Well we have sorted out how we can get our hands on all the papers...what about all the fantastic ribbons?

In the new catalogue there are 45 new ribbons!

And if like me you wish to have it all....

Well I'm offering a ribbon share of:

1m of EVERY NEW ribbon

For £33 (+£1 p&p - free p&p, if you have the paper share too)

receive 45m of ribbons from the new collections

(you can identify what's new by the 'n' in the catalogue).

The following are included:

5 metres ruffled ribbon

7 metres of 3/8" taffeta

2 metres of denim jean ribbon

4 metres of 1/4" grosgrain

2 metres of 1/8" taffeta

3 metres of seam binding

7 metres 1 1/4" striped grosgrain

1 metre chantilly crochet lace

1 metre Victoria crochet lace

10 metres of scallop dot

3 metres of 5/8" satin

To order the ribbon share you can email me:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

I can wait to be able to play with all the fantastic new papers and ribbons and look forward to sharing this with you too!

Sally-Jo xXx

Face of thunder!!!

A quick post today as the next 24hrs are going to be filled with excitement and 'OOhhh's' and 'ahhh's' for us demo's, but more on that lower down this post!

Today's make is a layout, I was inspired to do by an ultra cute pic of Matt, usually he has the nickname of 'Sunshine boy', but when he saw me photographing it first thing yesterday morning for my blog, his cuddly cute-ness turned into a 'FACE OF THUNDER', So I post this as he angelic has one of last few lie-ins of the school hollies, and he doesn't see that he is wide on the web for all to see!The layout is cased from a previous SU catalogue, do you recognise it?? it has had a few product changes but the colours and actual placement are the same.

I did some computer generated journalling, and printed it onto our 'Whisper White' card and the title was cut in 'Pumpkin Pie' using the 'Timeless Type' dies & the 'Big Shot'. I think this is the big he dislikes the most, as while glaring at me he read it, and then stomped off, but it's from the heart!

The hearts were all stamped from the 'Simply Said' SU stamp set, this one I punched out with the 'Heart to heart punch' it was smaller than the image, but I liked the shape. A small flowery button and a bit of linen thread add texture too.

A little punching of 'Old Olive' card under the photo, using the 'Spiral Border' punch. You can just see another of the strips of the 'Brights- Designer series paper' as well.

The cloud was cut free hand and 'Tempting Turquoise' ink was sponged around the edge, and the hearts were stamped from the same set as earlier and added up the side of the photo.

I hope you like it more than Mr. Face of thunder does, speaking of which, I have heard movement upstairs, so I will move on to the ultra important SU news..................................

Well it is a very exciting time at the moment, not just for me but for you my SU customers!

The LAST CHANCE LIST goes out at Midnight tonight, which means there may be reductions on retiring stock, So don't forget about the 'Retirement Party' I am hosting on Friday night, check out Mondays post or email me: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

Also the other big thing is that Tonight I get to PRE-ORDER lots of lovely new things from the New Catalogue and also to see the new catalogue for the first time! ( I am sooo excited ust to see the new 'IN colours'!!)

If you would like a copy of your own sending direct to you, they are £4.95 delivered direct to your door (RRP £5.95). Please email me at the above address, to arrange payment. Catalogues should be with you mid-September.

Right that is all for now, I will be back in the early hours of the morning, as I will definately be unable to sleep!!xxx

A first, first!

As many of you know, my daughter is pony mad! And last weekend we all went to watch her at a local show, 'Baggins' her pony is a bit of a character and we were absolutely chuffed, when they scooped there first, first rosette and also a small trophy, in there first class of the day- 'Young Handler'.

By the end of the day we were all really exhausted, and even more thrilled because they had got 2 fourths in other classes, but me 'the camera happy, paper stroking mum' found time for some quick pics and here they are in a page for the family scrapbook!

Now I have to admit to being a bit of a colour cheater when it comes to scrapbooking......in that i tend to get the pictures printed in black & white, and then I can go with any colour scheme I fancy, but due to the focus of the pictures being a red rosette, I just couldn't have turned it a shade of grey!

And the rosettes, I made myself, Using the 'Stampin' Up!- Scallop Circle Punch' and a lot of folding, but they have made lovely rosette embellishments.

The paper for the rosettes came from the 'Brights- Designer Series Paper Pack', I got this when i first signed up as a demo in May and still have loads left!

The tails were cut from strips of the same paper, also I inked all the edges with the same colour ink to add a little shading.

The date tab, was made by stamping the solid heart- in 'Crumb Cake' ink & the heart phrase in 'Chocolate Chip', from the 'Simply Said' Stampin' Up! Rubber stamp set. You can also just see my pencil line for lining up!

The title was cut using my SU 'Big Shot' and the 'Timeless Type' Alphabet dies, the bottom edge of the 'Crumb Cake' matte was punched with the 'Scallop Edge Punch.

As the red rosette was the most special and important, I cut the title all in lower case, and in 'Chocolate Chip' the RED bit was then cut in upper case, in 'Real Red' and to add a bit of texture whizzed through the 'Big shot' with the 'Basket weave' embossing folder. At the bottom of the page, I stamped along it using the swirly flower and stalks set from the 'Simply Said' SU stamp set.

As I haven't added any journalling to tell the 'story' behind the photos, I am contemplating a second page, for the minute though heather is very pleased with this! I will be back tomorrow with another page, as to be fair I have done one of Matthew.......xXx

Flowers in a book!!

I am a hoarder, and quite often, spy things- while out shopping, that I have to have because they will come in for something at a later date, well I tell myself that anyway!! Giant pink paperclips were one of these purchases, and today I gave them a little 'Stampin' Up!' make over!

I created some bookmarks!

Now I purchased these along while ago while perusing the things that fasten paper together aisle at a stationary shop, stashing them away till today! I used the fantastic 'Stampin' Up!' 'Colour Coach' to determine what shade of SU pink they were closest to- it was 'Melon Mambo'! I turned over the swatch card and looked at the suggested colour combo's at the top were a selection from same colour group, the brights- 'Daffodil Delight' & 'Tempting Turquoise'.

I decided to through 'caution to the wind' and use a few small pieces from the 'Stampin' Up!' 'Designer Series papers- Brights', I have been amazed by how many projects I have used this pack for and still have loads of full sheets left- providing excellent value for money. Using my the two smaller 'Fantastic Flowers' SU exclusive 'Big Shot' die, the flowers were quickly cut out, and then it was just the job of assembly!!

Each bloom was topped with a Button from the brights collection and fastened in place with linen thread, a circle of co-ordinating card was added to ensure that the thread didn't pull through the paper.The larger flower, was stuck to the back, with some foam pads and the top flower had it's petals curled upwards, and they were finished!!

Something pretty, to adorn my latest read xx

Can't sleep because........

Sorry I haven't been posting over the weekend........I had so much planned, and had got lots of jobs done on the Saturday, then I could have some weekend craft time, but by bed on Saturday night, I was grabbing the tissues....yep I have a dreaded summer cold!!

Sunday was spent either dozing or reading 'The life of bees' book that my good friend, Deborah, bought my for my birthday, I have finished it, but can't say much as she hasn't finished reading her copy and I have also picked it, as my book club read, but anyway, on a caffeine and cold mixture high, I have just spent a few minutes crafting, errr yes, at this late hour!! making a little gift holder to send a little treat to a friends Grandson, when I post her SU goodies tomorrow.

I die-cut a top-folded card, using the lovely 'Top note' SU exclusive big shot die, I then added a couple of score lines to create the base, a couple of holes were punched at the top open edge, so the gift could be tied in place.

The fantastic, trendy spotty frame from the 'Four Frames' stamp set was stamped in real red ink and punched out using the co-ordinating punch, to add a quick and easy place to write the lovely 'little mans' name. And a little of the 'Designer series papers'-Brights, punched with the 'star punch', added a little quick and easy decoration!

This picture is at, a bit of a funny angle, but you can just make out the fairly flat base and also the back that were made with just a few cranks of the 'Big Shot' handle, also you can see my love of also using the fantastic 'designer series papers' as my card shoot backdrops!!

I can't wait to see a picture of the charming Alex with his gift xx

Using the die to cut along the top

-