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

All at once..........

Last week has gone in a blink!........ What with 'Creative Cafe', Matthews School Play ( I did end up watching all three shows!!) and helping Heather turn Foxglove into a 'Sport Relief' Red pony, on Friday (they raised just over £50!!)- my blog has been  neglected, sorry!

Thank you to all. who left comments, its been great to have some questions too, so before I go off onto something else, I will get those answered:

Allie my SU sister, left a lovely comment and also asked how I got the wreath shape- well I drew around my red sticky strip and cut out a 'scratch' paper mask, I then stuck it to the centre, with a little making tape folded round on its self, and stamped around the edge of the mask. It does take a little fiddling and I had, had the practise at Christmas, but if I can do it anyone can!

Kate. a fellow SU sister, also asked with her lovely comments, the finished size of card- it was 21 cm's or for those who are more traditional 8 inches, which can be made out of two sheets of A4 card stock.

Here is a picture. of one of my Christmas wreath cards. created in the same way- just with poinsettias, made with SU punches, and the lovely Christmas sentiment- from 'Delightful Dozen' stamped to the middle.

Now I couldn't just leave you with a lone Christmas picture, especially as the sun has been shinning like it thinks it's the middle of summer here!! So I will show you the boxes I decorated for Linda's 21st gifts, she is back home in the Isle of Man now, and she reported back a nice cam ferry crossing!!

My special gift was a 'Simply Adorned' necklace, which got a touch of 'Crochet Trim' & 'Seam Binding' and one of the gorgeous 'Trinket Keys'

I used the same supplies as the card, but with the sentiments from 'Your a Gem' &

'Tiny Tags' to create a custom tag for each box.

 Here shows the insert I made for the large-

'Simply Adorned Charm'.

Here are the boxes all lined up, ready to go in the gift bag. Linda was very excited, opening them all and placing them on the chain, it was great to give a special gift to a special person xx

If you would like to create a special gift like this,

then you can purchase all the goods through me, Sally-Jo! 

Contact me:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

Don't forget....

SALE-A-BRATION ends on Saturday, and it would be a shame if you missed out on a fantastic FREE gift, with every £45 you spend! 

A wreath for all seasons....

I can't remember if I blogged the really gorgeous 'CAS' large wreath cards I made at Christmas, I say gorgeous, because I was really pleased with how they looked and how they came together and also the people who received them were really appreciative, and stuck them in the middle of there mantle pieces- you always know, you have made a nice card, when it takes pride of place on the mantle piece!!!

Anyway I mentioned just over a week ago that my good friend Linda was celebrating her 21st, well Linda has come over to the UK for a little holiday to see her family and her delightful grandson Alex, and we had the chance to meet up yesterday and have a belated birthday lunch, I had saved Linda's card to give her then, as I also had her pressies, but here is the card I made for her, and yes I put a wreath on it, I have loved creating 3D home decor wreaths and I have wanted for ages to create a wreath on a card that wasn't for Christmas, and this came from there!!

Sorry for the blue picture, of the whole card front....maybe need to work on my lighting!!

But i think you get the LO xx

As Linda is the 'Craft Stamper Of the Year' I wanted to make a card that was worthy of her mantle piece!!

I created some spiral curled flowers using the 'Stampin' Up!' 'First Edition DSP' and gave them a frilly outer using the 'Triple Doily Punch'

I got an 'Antique Brad' on it and some of our lovely 'Crochet Trim' as Linda likes these SU products!

I used the 'Beautiful Wings Embossilit' to add a kaleidoscope of butterflies across the card, Linda has just got this in her February 'Stampers 6' order with me!

I added a lovely 'Timeless Type' die cut 21 numerals, which I glittered with the lovely 'Gold- Glass Glitter', I also used this to add specks of sparkle to the stamped wreath, I created a embossed oval using the 'Designer Frames' Embossing folder on to which I stamped the greeting.

Here you can see the inside decoration, I just die cut a 'Scallopped Circle' of 'Very Vanillia' using my SU Big shot and did a little more stamping and glittering of the wreath spray around the edge and finished it with the other half of the 'Petite Pairs' sentiment which I had used on the front, I also gave it a sponging of the 'Gold Shimmer Paint' around the edge of the scalloped circle.

Now that I look back at the card, there are a few more bits that I haven't mentioned what I did or how I got it to do it, but if you have any questions please, do get in touch, I love to share what I learn.

Apart from 3 diamante headed pins, which you can pick up from a florists, everything about the card including the large base, which is made from 2 A4 sheets of 'Crumbcake' is  made using the fantastic Stampin' Up! products, which you can order form me, please do get in touch:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

xXXx

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

Alot to get excited about......

There is so much going on at the moment.....school open evening, High school applications, Getting ready for training & SU Convention,Getting ahead for Christmas.....I know I keep mentioning this, but we only have 73 days to go to the day!!!

Its is hard to fit it all we want to do, and it was the same for so many people I spoke to last night, making calls for the 'Book-A-Thon', and it was great of them, to make time, to let me in to there homes and Craft Clubs to Share my love of Craft & 'Stampin' Up!, by hosting a 'Workshop'. Thank you so much for booking and our fantastic 'Idea Book & Catalogues' are winging there way to you!....Did you know that you get one for FREE for hosting a workshop?? And that they are so glossy and Packed full of more Craft ideas than any UK craft magazine.....well that is my opinion, but book a workshop to find out for yourself!

Well as I have already mentioned that we are firmly on our way to Christmas, so how about a little Christmas Card? It showing one of the new stamp sets from the New 'IB&C'

It's called 'Beautiful Season'

(Wood mounted 122680 £20.95/ Clearmount 122682 £16.95)

And it really does show how beautiful the season can be!

The swirls on the base card were created with 'Baroque Motifs'

(Woodmounted only 113490 £28.95)

The Big Shot & Glimmer paint came out for this too!

And the decorative label punch!!

Right off to make swaps for Saturday........OOOOOoooo so so excited!!!

Sally-Jo xXx

Throw'em at ya!!

Hmmmm my friend Deborah, says I am an 'All or nothing kind of Girl'!....well I am throwing all my takes on what else can be done with the SU 'Bauble' punch, straight at you while they are popping up in my insomniac induced mojo!

So here is today's take, have you spotted the bauble yet??!

I do admit to taking the scissors to it, just a little bit off, to make the bottom!! And the flowers...well I must not be able to sleep due to having Orchids on the brain! They were made using scraps of 'Melon Mambo'.....(yes I do love it & you get soooooo much in a single colour cardstock pack from SU!) & the smallest heart from the 'Heart to Heart' Stampin' Up! punch, to make the centres I just added some of the smallest SU bling (it is so, so sparkly, I may just stick it to my ears at convention and see if anybody notices!!).

My the stems were drawn free hand, with a 'Stamp & Write' marker. in 'Old Olive', the 'Stampin' Up!' People really are clever, to make everything co-ordinate, as the ;eaves were cut from some teeny tiny scraps of 'Old Olive' cardstock....(Hmmm if you know Deborah, at this point she would be saying ..'well she never chucks any scraps away and goes through the bin after mine!')

Here is a close up of the bauble, it was just punched out of 'Early Espresso' SU cardstock.

I have included a side on shot then you can see the dimension, I created and also how the main image goes off the top of the card blank!

To add a greeting, a frame from the 'Mini Catalogues' 'Four Frames' was stamped in 'Early Espresso' Ink, the 'Thank you' greeting is from the 'Just Believe' Stamp set and fits in the frame perfectly with the help of my trusty 'Stamp-a-ma-jig'! I used 'Old Olive' Ink for this and added a another little sparkly orchid bloom, and some ruched grosgrain 'Old Olive' ribbon to finish the card.

Please check out my blog tomorrow, when you will see more evidence of the insomniac induced punching frenzy, off to do School Holiday duties and entertain the children. xXXx

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

What's a milk carton??

Whilst having a little play with my SU goodies over dinner time, Heather asked what I was cutting on the 'Big Shot', it was the milk carton die, now living on a dairy farm, our milk comes in a Jug, so I had to spend a few minutes discussing what can come in cartons!!

But for the sake of our house, I have transformed the 'Milk carton Die' into a jug, just with a little snipping and a scrap of card from what the die was cut from. Don't forget that it's easier to stamp on the die before you stick it together!The top tip of the day is to have a few paper clips to preform the task of the third hand that us crafters wish we had, when attaching the strip for the handle!!
I hope you like, right got to dash.... a mountain of none craft jobs to do before my 'Big Shot Event' tonight xxx