Baby love..........

Whilst in the stupor of my cold and colouring the 'Baby Tees' over last week, a little dust ball of a Layout idea, rolled into the fog of my head and has laid there fairly dormant till the free fall of fridays sugar rush!!

I have loads of pictures of my children, lots taken with haste and are hazy, out of focus shots with a thumb or finger peeping into shot, and loads of professional pictures that at the time seemed like a good idea and are now dated, but it doesn't mean they should be stuffed in a box, out of sight and mind, as they do bring back lovely memories...... well the ones that don't involve too much baby sick and sleepless nights!!

So here are my first attempts at bringing my babies, pictures, out of the dark......

This first layout is a picture of Heather that was taken at a Babystore, it's very different to the white backdrop photos that are so popular today, but popped on to a very white Layout and given a splash of colour with the 'Baby Tees' from the 'Stampin' Up!' Jumbo wheel, coloured with the SU markers in 'Regal Rose' and 'Pretty In Pink' and the blender pen.

My baby is 11 years old in March!!!

The journalling labels were stamped from 'Creative Elements',

In 'Crumb Cake'Ink.

I used the light, frond like swirl, from the same set,

to add interest to the bank 12x12 sheet and also....

Under the 'Doily Ribbon Lace' border and 'Baby Tees' images.

The second layout is of Matthew...... this shows him at about a couple of weeks old, and he was a big baby, he weighed in at 11lbs 4oz when he was born!! 

I had missed having his newbie baby shots at the hospital, as I had my baby and was home within 24hrs, and they only did them every other day, so these were taken at home, on our bed, with my old film camera. 

Again the layout has the same idea- a clean and simple background and a splash of colour with the 'Baby Tees', this time coloured in 'Marina Mist' and 'Bashful Blue'. 

I used the 'Doily Lace Ribbon' border punch again, I like how it makes a delicate addition.

And to add interest to the die cut wording, I ran it through the 'Big Shot' with the 'Perfect Polka Dots' Embossing folder. Mini tags were added with 'Tiny tags' and the co-ordinating 'Jewellery Tag' punch, and tied in place with the SU 'Linen Thread'.

I like how that even though the photos are so different, the layouts look similar, and they will make a nice double page spread in my album, but before then they will take pride of place, as samples of what you can create with the fantastic SU products, at the workshops I attend.

If you would like to host a Workshop and maybe earn some FREE goods, or you just want to find out more about 'Stampin' Up!' and the fanatsic craft products they offer, then contact me: 

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

or call 07891605129

xXXx

A bit of bunting......

At half seven this morning, the sky looked promising there was a hint of blue sky and sunshine, and when seeing a Heather off to a friends birthday celebration, at 8am (yes! I was up and dressed, this Sunday morning!!!) I thought they may have been blessed with some sun.... now looking out of the window, its dull, grey and damp, so lets hope the card brought some sunshine!!

It's a take on a lovely card we made, at the recent 'Julies Jem's' training event, Julies 'Baggy Book' showcased 5 different card using the new 'Pennant Parade' SU stamp set (wood mounted 122740- £20.95/ clear mounted 122742- £16.95), and all I did for my version is add, 'Ella' & '8', using my SU 'Big Shot' and my 'Timeless Type' dies.

Here you can see the dimension of the little flower embellishments. It was created by simply rubbing the end of the bone folder in the centres of the punched 'Boho Blossoms' flowers, whilst they were on the 'Foam SU Mat'. The colours are all the New 'In Colours' apart from the colour I have renamed as 'Indigo Pool' which is really 'Island Indigo'!! And the offer to get these free, when you sign up as a demo, finishes at the end of the month, email me for details: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk And if you don't want to do workshops the 'Starter Kit' is packed with loads of really usable stuff, and you can pick your own stamps to the cost of there suggestions too, all with a massive saving off the catalogue price!!

The inside was given, a tiny bit of simple decoration, using a nifty punch trick, have you worked out how yet? Email me for details xx

The sentiment is short, sweet & sassy- for a small persons birthday, and a little SU bling, really makes it pop!!

So what are you up to today?? The reason I was up early, is that Heather was choosen to attend a very different kind of party.....she has gone to do some serious outdoor activities....Archery. Absailing & A 30ft Leap of Faith!!! (I cant hold scissors as my hands are shaking......at the thought of my 10yr old doing such amazingly brave stuff with her friend, who is only 8!!)

I know they will be supervised, but mums cant help but worry! xXx

Ladybird, Ladybird.....

Fly away home......,

the desk is a mess, and the children are still home!

Yep! My desk is a mess, but with a week and a half to go of the school holidays I have had little time to craft, let alone clear my desk! Here are a couple of cards I put together this morning, I had played around making the ladybugs, with the 'Pick a petal' SU stamp set, which has been stashed at the back of my stamp drawer and not seen much light of day.

Combined with the 'Stampin' Up!' Scallop Edge Punch and embossing of the 'Whisper White' card base with the 'Perfect Polka Dots' Embossing Folder and the 'Pick a petal' stamped in 'Basic Black' and 'Poppy Parade', you can make some clean and crisp cards, that are still fun!

The sentiment for the vertical card came from the 'Hello Again' Stamp set. and the dotty frame, from 'Four Frames'.

The antenna were added with black pen to the vertical card and topped with some SU bling.

For the horizontal card, little scraps of 'Basic Black' card were snipped and again topped with SU bling, the sentiment for this card came from 'Flight of the butterfly'.

As you can see I also sponged some 'Basic Black' around the ladybug and label.....I do love sponging ink on stuff!!

Hopefully I will post again before the end of the week, I have two more little lady bugs made up, so will have to come up with a project for those, before they are swallowed up by the mess of the desk! xXXx

When is a bauble not a bauble?!

While messing around late yesterday afternoon, I was wondering what else I could make out of the fantastic bauble punch, blog hopping over the weekend I had seen it as a Hot Air Balloon and a vase! I punched a few, out of 'Whisper White' card stock and jiggled them about on my desk and came up with grouping three of them, as an Orchid bloom. I had a go at adding colour by sponging them with 'Melon Mambo'.....My favourite Pink! And centre detail was added using the 'Boho Blossoms' punch, and 'Old Olive' & 'Daffodil Delight' Ink.

This morning I have made another 'Top Note' box for it to sit on and added some SU bling, to the centre, to finish it.

A couple of curls, made from scraps of 'Old Olive' card curled around a pencil, were added to added dimension.

The sentiment came from the 'Just Believe' SU stamp set.

I embossed the top note die using the 'Perfect Polka Dots' SU embossing folder, the front was only half embossed and the back completely.

As the box was made out of 'Whisper white' SU cardstock, colour was added to the box by sponging it with 'Old Olive' Ink.

I hope you like my alternative use for the bauble punch and would love to know what you have made with yours, mine has also been busy making baubles ready for my Christmas party, that I am holding in September, i will be showing you a sneaky peek of those closer to the date!! xxx

Did you get it right??

Well the stamp set used to make the background was.....'Vintage Vogue' and here it is on the project, I had originally make the sheet for!

It's a 'CASE' of a Lay out, that was shown in the SU demo's monthly newsletter, I loved the bright colours, and the design. There are so many different elements to this!........

'Top Note Die'

'Fun Flowers Die' & 'Perfect Polk a dots Embossing folder'

Card ribbon labels & 'Brights Designer Series Buttons'
The Flourish from the 'Strength & Hope' stamp set. The quote from the 'Sense of Time' stamp set &
an engraved heart from 'I [heart] Hearts' Stamp set.

Ink Splatters made with 'Pumpkin Pie Ink'

A decorative edge made with the 'Fancy Frames punch'

I really enjoyed 'CASE'-ing this layout & hope you will do your take on it too. If you would like to purchase any of the 'Stampin' Up!' products that I used for this, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange delivery to your door. XX

Bloomin' Lovely!!

Flowers without the hassle of watering them and dead-heading......ooohhh and also with out the dreaded hay fever causing pollen........'Ha' that can't be done!' you would say!! Well this make, may have to be seen to be believed.....


So yes!! Paper blooms....(ooh and a jam Jar thrown in as as vase....only 236 more to use!!). I was inspired to make these after my recent SU training with my 'SU Mum' Julie Japes, and admiring her bouquet of paper gerbras.

These flowers were very easy to make, Using the New 'Stampin' Up!' exclusive sizzix die- 'Fun Flowers' and just 1 1/2 sheets of Melon Mambo A4 carstock, to add texture to the flowers, I ran the 2 larger petals through the bigshot with the 'Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder-Perfect Polka Dots' because these folders have a positive and negative impression the depth of embossing is far crisper than traditional dry embossing, it's also easier and quicker too!

The centres were made using the small 1" punch and worked from the reverse with an embossing tool to give dimension, they were then covered in liquid accents and sprinkled with a little 'Stampin' Glitter'. The stalks were mad from kebab sticks that were rubbed lightly on the 'Old Olive' ink pad, the leaves were very thin strips of Designer Series Old Olive paper, cut to a point and then stuck to the stem with a little wet glue.

As I had been playing, I had a few blooms extra so made a petal tag, and added the lovely sentiment from the 'Just believe' stamp set...which is quite sweet for paper flowers and paper creating!!

As part of my launch party, I will be demonstrating a project and then hosting a FREE make and take session, these lovely blooms will be on display, along with many other pretty things and fabulous products, so please do come along. email to secure your make & take pack: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk