Getting it together- at the last minute!

You may not be one who believes in star signs. but as a 'Gemini' goes I am fairly true to the star sign attributes... Chatty, Bubbly, Out going- Personality, and as in the 'Old school' 'Cadbury's' egg adverts, I do bite it and lick it! But I also have the awful traits of- never being on time, juggling too much, and being unable to say 'NO!'..... but these could be traits of any mum...... from any star sign!

Gemini's are know to make plans and not act on them...... I do make plans- surprising as that may seem! Quite often, I write them down- the only problem with these ones is that they get hid under the clutter on my desk!

And sometimes no matter how much I plan and try, I can never get it together till the last minute!

Well this card is one of those, what with an eventful morning yesterday- time to craft went out the window till 1pm and it had to be envisaged in my head and created in time for the school run at 3pm!! It had to be a 'special' card too, for Matthew to give his Auntie, I had already made Heathers and one from me & farmer Johnnie......And once you start sending people your handmade cards they do notice when you send them shop bought, so my mojo was whipped into action!

I had been stroking the lovely 'Apothecary Art' stamp set from the 'Summer Mini', for inspiration for a large card, I had made some note-lets with it, but hadn't drummed up the courage for a larger card and this design popped into my head...well minus the ribbon and brad!! 

My colour scheme is- 'Pool Party', 'Wild Wasabi', 'Very Vanilla', 'Soft Suede' & 'Crumb Cake'....

A bit of a wild card- as this Auntie loves pinks and purples!!

 I stamped & layered up the large wreath from the 'Apothecary Art' stamp set, using the coordinating 'Framelits- Decorative label dies' & It was water coloured in, using an 'Aqua painter & some ink off the tops of my ink pads. The sentiment is from the same stamp set, I made another stamp of the wreath and then 'Stamp-A-Ma-Jigged' the greeting on to the banner, then I could cut it out and raise it up. I added some spiral flowers and some layered up punched 'Itty Bitties' & 'Boho Blossoms' in 'Pool Party' and some leaves, using the leaf from the 'Bird Builder' punch in 'Wild Wasabi' & 'Crumb Cake'

After I had made the large focal image, I felt the card looked a little bland, so I added some of the lovely striped grosgrain ribbon and fastened it with one of the antique brads. To add an 'Auntie' sentiment, I stamped and then die cut the small lined stamp from the set & added the  wording with a coordinating SU marker,  finished it with an 'Itty Bitty' bloom and a pearl and popped it under the brad and ribbon.

The inside need some TLC-  so I added a little stamping to the base using the flourish from 'Creative Elements'- I have forgotten to mention that I did this to the base of the front of the card too! I then had a root in my bits box and came across a 'Pool Party' die cut framelit, that was perfect to put under a vanilla one, to give somewhere nice for Matthew to put his own personal greeting.

I hope you like my getting it together at the last minute card, do you ever get yourself into situations like this? I would love to know.

Thanks for stopping by

Sally-Jo

xXx

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

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!

Come' on it's.....SALE-A-BRATION!......

Yes 'Sale-A-Bration' started this week!!
And as in the words of the funky 'Kool and the Gang' song......

'Everyrone Around the world.......

WHHHOOOO HOOO......... 

SALE-A-BRATE GOOD TIMES COME ON!!....

IT'S A SALE-A-BRATION!

 LETS ALL SALE-A-BRATE & HAVE A GOOD TIME!!!'

I have tweaked the words a little, but as I dance around my computer- 

at the excitment of crafting goodies for free,

this song really does spread the 'SALE-A-BRATION' message- 

As this year SU Demo's,

All around the world are...

SALE-BRATING- 'SALE-A-BRATION',

At the same time!!!!......

WHOOO HOOOO!!!!

And what is the best thing about 'SALE-A-BRATION'- Well.......... 

Yes, and there it is direct from SU!!!

You are allowed to claim as many as these freebies as you want!!

So if you spend £90 in any one time,

You get TWO EXCLUSIVE 'SALE-A-BRATION' products,

And it goes on in multiples of £45....

So if you wanted all 6 at once it can be done!!

So 'CLICK' below, and check out the lovely products as.....

SALE-A-BRATION IS HERE!!

You'll find in the above link that the benefits of this spread out...

among the hostesses and those that wish to join 'Stampin' Up! too!, 

So contact me: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk 

to find out more about these exciting opportunties and how you will benefit!!! xxx

As I am in the the 'SALE-A-BRATION' mode, I thought I would share with you a little card and decorated gift bag, I made this week, with the lovely 'Create-A-Cupcake' stamp set & 'Cupcake' punch, that would be a perfect for a 'SALE-A-BRATION'(hmmm- I seem to have gone into 'SALE-A-BRATION' overload, with the use of the word- 'SALE-A-BRATION'!!)

A 'Clean & Simple' look, using the SU colours, 'Wisteria Wonder', 'Pool Party', 'Crumb Cake' and 'Whisper White'.

Making use of the new large size scalloped punch,

from the spring mini.....

We have needed this for such a long time- Thank you SU!!

A 'sweet' sentiment from the same stamp set, given the spotty look with a stamp, that doesn't look much and is also, in the same set!

The bag decoration was created,using

a heart shaped pastry cutter!! It makes a fab adornment,

for an inexpensive paper bag!!

And the little heart is perfect,

with a touch of 'Dazzling Diamonds'

Thank you for stopping by, and just to let you know, that the stamp set, punch and craft products, I have shown today are available to purchase, through me 'An Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator' and I would love to supply you with SU goodies (direct to your door, even if you live a long way from me) and also help you get some fantastic 'SALE-A-BRATION' goodie too!!

So please do get in touch:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

xXXx

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

Excited

Apologies for Tuesdays blog posting, as they are a few Julies in our team, I got a little mixed up, with who's who!! So the 'French Foilage' Swap that inspired me was in fact made by Julie Wade, sorry girls xx

Yesterday I made the journey over to my SU mum Julies, to join her and some others for a morning of crafting, we had great fun and Julie gave us some fantastic project ideas, one of which I have pinched for the makes I am showing today....thank you mummy!! 

The journey over was OK, and in the afternoon I found the Krispey Kreme, drive through and Ikea, so spent a bit of time shopping too!! But the journey home.....well it took nearly two hours!!! You have thought that by the time I had landed home and got Heather & Matthew in the bath and done the reading that I would be pooped, and ready to hit the duvet.....well no- I couldn't sleep......I am seriously getting excited about Paris, even after spending an hour or so reading, a very Scientific book for book group, I couldn't sleep, and craft I couldn't bring myself to hold the scissors in case I chopped to much!!

Anyway at some point I drifted off, but all to soon the alarm was buzzing in my ear, and as I groggily came to life inspiration hit me!! I had made a little card for the 'Make & Take' on Tuesdays 'Creative Cafe' even though happy with the college style and colour inspiration, from my 'Colour Coach', I got the Idea to make another card, with a bit more going on and also to borrow Julie Kettlewells lovely Idea of making a little favour/ treat holder.

So without shakey hands or butterflies in my tummy, I put ink to card this morning, here is the finished group.  

 The lovely colours of 'Richrazzleberry' 'Pool Party' & 'Island Indigo' were inspire buy the great SU colour coach I just added a touch of the 'Basic Grey' as a neautral.

 

The lovely treat/ favour, made using the new SU 'Big Shot' die- 'Two Tags'. The main stamp set in use was the delightful 'Elegant Eleanor' and the text.....well can you guess were it came from??
....it is in the SU 'Ideas Book & Catalogue'

This is the card we made at 'Creative Cafe'....I think I have a thing going for white space!!

And this is the card I made this morning, its got even more stamping on and it has been blinged up!

I have made a few more of these, to post out to hostess.

This is just a random shot I took,

of just the finished items grouped together,

but it has given me an idea for a scrapbook page, to match!! 

Also with the start of the month

comes a new offer from-

'Stampin' Up!', for you!

 from now until 15th December, If you host a workshop that generates sales of over £300 you will earn a free

stamp set & matching papers.

The Paisley Petals set and papers could be yours!!!

I do have a few spaces left for this month, and would love to make time to craft with you, but I will be in Paris for a few days, hmm I had better stop mentioning that as the butterflies are back!! xxx



French Foilage Frenzy!!

November is going to be a month of madness.....well more of a frenzy of activity, action & excitement!

Its 12 days until my good friend- Katies', charity ball, in aid of the 'North West Air Ambulance' and I have a table plan to make, and then it's only 16 days until I set off on my first ever trip to the 'Stampin' Up!' convention, this year it is being held in Paris. It will also be the first time I have flown or been abroad, so I am more than a little excited!!

Whilst waiting for some 'Crystal Effects' to dry on an altered Jewellery piece, I was making this morning, I decided to put to use, a sheet of card I had stamped the other week, after being inspired by a lovely swap by Jules Kirkham, check out her blog: www.ribbonkisses.blogspot.com

Well here is my card, and yes its another big one, it will fit a C5 envelope though!!

This leaves, splats, text & postal frank are all from the lovely 'French Foliage' stamp set, it's quite apt that this is the stamp set I am featuring while gushing about my excitement at the Paris Convention!!The sentiment came from the 'Petite Pairs' Stamp set, I stamped both parts together, and punched out and stamped and inked around the edges.The base layer of 'Sahara Sand' was stamped with matching ink to add depth and a strip of 'Whisper White' card stock, was embossed with the lovely Square lattice embossing folder, and the lovely New 'In Colour ink pad- Pool Party' was sponged along the edge, a few of the lovely SU pearls were added for interest too!Simply decoration was added to the inside of the card base, again stamping colour on colour, makes a nice surprise for the recipient and takes the hassle of sticking in an insert!I hope you like my make and thanks to Jules Kirkham, for the inspiration, this was a stamp set that I had so over looked, but beleive that it will now become one of my favourites! xXx