Hello 'My Friend'.......

Well yesterday I managed to clear my desk, and start on a few projects I been eyeing up to CASE, out of the NEW 'Stampin' Up!' Spring Mini Catalogue, can you guess which Page and thhe products???

Yes! Its the lovely 'Pocketful of Posies' Product suite.... the papers are so, so utterly gorgeous, and have a fresh, modern edge, and the co-ordinating stamp set- 'My Friend', is so leafy and fresh.... yet can be used in many ways! I loved the lovely display at the top of page 18 so much, that I had to do a version for myself- I hope you like my interpretations....

I made the family portrait into a frame layout of Heather & Matthew, I added lots more white and incorporated some stamping with the leafy fronds from the 'My Friend' stamp set.

I used the 'Big Shot' and the lovely 'Fun Flowers' die, to create an embellishment,finished with 'Linen Thread' and button.

I decorated a desk photo, with just some scraps........

Making a simple banner, with stamped title and

punched flower embellishment.

And a lovely little shadow box frame, that utilises  more scraps, the stamp set & the lovely 'Beautiful Wings' 'Embosslits Die' 

Don't forget if you would like to see any of my makes close up, and in your hands,

and you are in the North West......

I am available for free at home,

craft workshops! 

Ring or send me text, Tel. 07891605129

 Book a date that suits you and

your family & friends!

You could get some FREE goods too!! xXx

Take two!!!

Don't panic, I am not bringing you a new video clip just yet!! I will have to go for some' Received Pronunciation' lessons to iron out the 'Oakie Dokies' before then, what I am sharing though is  how one sketch, layout or 'whatever' you call the design of your card, can look different just by swapping colour ways........

One card is in the lovely '2011-2013 In Colour- Pool Party' with a touch of 'Soft Suede' & 'Crumb Cake' and the other is in the warm. spring colours of the 'Spice Cake' product suite, from were the main stamp set used- 'Spiced Paisley', is featured- in the 2012 Spring Mini Catalogue, the colours of which are 'Pear Pizazz', 'More Mustard', 'River Rock', 'Soft Suede' & 'Pool Party'!

Both cards had the same stamped, lovely shaped label/ panel from 'Everything Eleanor'....

Curled flowers made with the lovely SU card stock & delicate 'Soft Suede' leafy foliage.....

A crank of the 'Big Shot' handle and some embossing with the 'Polka Dots Folder',.......

 A soft bow & twirl of 'Seam binding' down the side........

 And a little 'Spiced Paisley' stamped background going on!

 Even the insides of the card got a

bit of the 'Spiced Paisley' stamping.

I love the fact that even by using the same techniques and very similar items to make each card, that just by swapping the colours, you get a different look! 

And it's made even easier to do, because 'Stampin' Up!' manufacture everything to co-ordinate and work together, not only the inks and the card stock but stamp sets and tools too! I lurvveeee 'Stampin' Up!' and hope that you do too!! xxxx

Something different!

I have had a complaint..........can you believe it?? (hmm no pun intended!!) My friend Deborah has asked me to stop using the 'Just Believe' stamp set, she has seen enough of it!!!

So following feedback, here is something I made last night, it's a fold out book, I have made this for Heathers class parents to sign over this week, to say thanks to the class teacher.

It uses the gorgeous butterfly, from the 'Strength & Hope' SU charity set and also the rose frame from 'Four Frames' in the mini catalogue. The colour combination is 'Pear Pizzazz', 'Blushing Bride', 'Basic Black' & 'Whisper White'.

The boards for the front & back of the book were covered with pieces of 'Pear Pizzazz' designer series Papers.To add depth the base layer of the decorated panel was ran through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Vintage wallpaper' embossing folder, I then sponged the 'blushing bride' ink in from the edges to highlight the embossing.

I wanted to create a college style decoration for the top of the book, so I used the rose frame and a little masking to create a base layer, stamped in 'basic black', the roses and leaves were coloured using the 'pear pizzazz' & 'Blushing Bride' ink.

I stamped the butterfly twice and trimmed around them, these were given some shape in the wings using a 'bone folder' and then mounted to the rose frames panel, and some lovely SU jewels were added, to the bodies.

The sentiment banner was created by stamping the 'Thank you' (can you guess which SU stamp set I took it from??!!) and then using the 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' to use the edge of the 'rose frame' stamp to add decoration, the roses and leaves were coloured as before.

Now comes the inside fold out.......now it does look tricky, but if I can do it anyone can! You start with 3 squares of white card and you score them and join, together to make fold out pages. I have taken lots of shots of this so you can see the score lines and were they are 'valleys & mountains'!

The decoration of this was kept really simple and just the butterfly was stamped around the edge, in groups of two, in black ink. I did this before it was stuck to the covers, so the back of the fold out could be decorated in the same way too.

The back board was left plain, as a ribbon from my stash that was used as a closure for the book, looks nice tied across this.

Apologies for the photos, I took them under the day-light lamp in the 'wee hours' of this morning, as I wanted to start getting it signed today, If you would like to know dimensions etc. please email me and I will gladly share what I know.

I will be back tomorrow, with more Christmas in July! I had a very wet drive across to 'Pudsey', on Saturday, to meet many of my SU family and do 'Team Training'. I have come back fired up with lots of Christmas ideas, it was a fantastic day with inspiring people, and brilliant events like that add to the enormous pleasure that SU brings to me. xXXx

Just a note.....

Hello all, this week I have lots of 'Stampin' Up!' events going on.........

• Tonight is 'Creative Cafe'- a social were crafters can get together and craft and have refreshments....the brownies are in the oven! Everyone is welcome, it starts at 6.30pm and is held at 'Delicachixs', Lane Ends, Ashton.


• Wednesday- I am demonstrating at 'Zumo- Cafe bar' (http://zumocafe.com/ for directions), at an open to all workshop, hosted by Karrie


• Saturday- 'Big Shot' event 7pm onwards, at Delicachix's. I will be demonstrating a lovely project with the 'Big Shot' and then there will be a FREE MAKE & TAKE, using the 'Big Shot' and some of the wonderful 'Stampin' Up!' & 'Big shot' products.

In preparation, for Saturday night, I am busy making lots of things with my 'Big Shot' and have enjoyed making a few bits and pieces that are not cards or layouts.

One of my latest makes is a little hanging note pad, perfect to hang at your desk and jot down SU goodies to add to your wish list!!

I had some acrylic scalloped squares in my things to alter stash, I cut a sheet of the 'Pear pizzazz- Designers series paper' to fit within the scallops and glued it to the reverse. I then added four of the 'Jumbo pewter eyelets', the top two to tie some twine for hanging up, and two to hang the note pad from.

The note pad was made using the brilliant 'Top note die', and I have a lovely little tip to share on Saturday night, to show a quicker and easier way to cut these out!

The sheets are held in place with a bit of 'Tempting Turquoise' ribbon, and a piece of elastic was secured under a fifth eyelet, to create a loop, to hold a pencil.I hope you like it, if you have any questions about how to make this or any of my other projects please email me: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk I am happy to help, or if you are in the area, attend one of my events, it would be great to meet you and share our love of craft xx

'oooOOOO' I nearly forgot.....On Saturday, they will be advanced booking and a sample preview of the....

Christmas in July class!!

To be held on Sunday July 24Th.

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

Does it feel like summer??

Today is the first day of summer, but as I look out the window, all I can see is puddles of rain!!

A couple of weeks ago, Heather and Matthew's school, had a float in the village festival, it was all themed around the circus big top and was really bright and cheery, Matthew dressed as a strong man and Heather as the ring Master, I had took a few snaps, but it was so bright it was hard to get a shot, LOL....we are never happy with the weather!!!

Anyway here is the page i created! To make the background,I used the star punch to make a mask, and then inked through it,to create a random star pattern 3/4 of the way down the page.The pictures were stuck, on a 1/4 of the way down, at 'Jaunty' angles and the over hang trimmed off. Next job was to make some kind of title....now when I had first signed up to demo a few weeks ago, Julie- my SU mum and up line mentioned that one of her jem's had used the four labels stamp set and the co-ordinating punch, to make bunting. Now I haven't seen that bunting, but with that idea in mind I went on to create my bunting, using the same ink colours that I had used for the stars-Pacific Point, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo & the in colour 'Pear Pizazz. I made a score line about 3/4 of a centimetre, down from the short edge and used some wet glue to fix the flags to a piece of string.
The black title letters were die cut, using my 'Big Shot' & the 'Timeless type' alphabet dies, a little journalling was added to the bottom and a quick doodle around the photo's and my page was finished.

I hope you like it as much as my children do!

Tonight it is 'Creative Cafe' at

'Delicahix's'

Lane Ends, Ashton, Preston.

Bring your own craft project &

craft alongside fellow grown-ups,

Refreshments provided.

Email me to secure your place: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk