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! 

It's not every Monday.....

Okay, after Mondays birthday antics, I have had to do quite a bit of explaining- I really don't spend every Monday, getting tipsy and enjoying fine food and the company of a good friend. Yes! I do enjoy the company of my good friends, on a weekly/ monthly, face to face basis, it just doesn't usually involve any Champagne cocktails!! 

And no I don't usually wear my LBD, to ASDA on a Monday morning! As I nipped in, just before going to Deborah's, on Monday- the very mature check out lady, questioned my outfit and said I should consider a jumper... Yes I was wearing a fabulous dress, and a very lovely set of chunky beads, but maybe ASDA isn't use to such style on a monday morning!! 

Anyway, after a get together at 'Creative Cafe' last night, Deborah and I both declared that we have survived- the fizz, and as it was such a fantastic way, to spend a Monday, it's a shame we can't do it more often!! 

Whilst at 'Creative Cafe' we used Deborahs birthday as an excuse to eat more cake, this time 'Nigella's- Blondies' and discuss some SU products that were launched, in the new 'Spring Mini' and also the lovely 'SALE-A-BRATION' stamp set 'Fresh Vintage'. Deborah hadn't thought to bring the pressies, I had got for her, and all the ladies were asking for a look too, but luckily I had a couple of phone snaps to show the ladies and I am posting these, that I took before handing them over on Monday, and they did struggle to leave my hands as I now 'so, so need to get myself some!!'

The presents came in the most gorgeous 'Chocolate Chip' boxes,

that were calling for an SU make over, so armed with a couple of punches, ribbon, crochet trim,

inks and SU stamp sets, I created some stunning packaging!!

 The first main box, contained the most important gift, and its decoration reflects what is on the inside, and also I got to play with an old favourite, stamp set of mine- 'Vintage Vogue' it had the perfect 'friends' wording and a lovely flower that looks stunning cut out, popped up and blinged!!

 Every box, followed the same colour scheme, I just mix up the wording the next 3 sentiments/ words came from the uber lovely NEW 'Spring Mini' Catalogue stamp set 'Your a Gem'

 All the tags were adorned with 'Crochet trim' and snippets of the 'Striped Grosgrain' Ribbon

 And the backgound for all the tags, featyred the gorgeous floral spray from the 'SALE-A-BRATION' stamp set 'Fresh Vintage'-

stamped in the lovely 'Crumb Cake',

this also features in the main gift.......

 TAAA DAARRRRRR!!!!

 I had got Deborah the lovely large 'Simply Adorned- Locket', and had made a lovely insert for it, too!!

The other boxes contained some baubles for her to hang with it, and I am glad to say, she lurvvess it!!

I can wait until I get one, and I can make some little peices of art work to adorn mine, if would like to know more about this lovely new product line then check out the link, to the top right of this page, It will take you direct to an online copy of the mini, complete with photos of makes using the products and product info too! If you live in the UK, I would love to be your demonstartor, so you can get all these lovely goodies, get in touch with me:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

xXXx

Stamping & Scrapbooking

There are a few bits & pieces that I created for my launch party that i have not put on my blog yet, and seeing as here in Lancashire, the sun is shinning and the the grass is mown, I won't be able to craft today!! :-(So here is a 12x12" page that i created a week ago, it's to celebrate the recent marriage of my brother Guy and his fiancee Helen.The wedding had a very vintage style, the groomsmen wore suits that matched the SU 'Chocolate Chip' and the brides dress was 'Very Vanilla'!

The swirly paper was made my me, with just some card and a few stamps. As my heather pointed out it really matches their wedding Stationary! i love making a patterned paper, by using stamps, in this case my trusted set of 'Stampin' Up!' Baroque Motifs' and yep! i even made the flowers too, as a tight bottomed Lancashire lass, I begrudge paying out for expensive paper flowers, when you can easily create your own!!

The same goes about journalling bits and bobs too!.....they usually come as a set and you probably only use one, if like me you just do a page at a time, but this little hidden journalling embellie was created with the fantastic Lg tag punch, the tab punch and a few hearts from the heart to heart punch, and given a Little stamp action too!There are still a few places left on my 'Vintage Vogue- Colour splash class' running on the 26Th of June,if you have never made a card before you are still welcome to attend and yes you will go home with something!

The 'Creative cafe' is up and running now too, on the 1st and third Tuesday evening of every month, if you would like more info, you could email: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk or you could telephone me if you prefer to speak in person- 07891605129

Star Jars!!!

Still having a laundry basket of jam jars in the kitchen, that I can't bear to part with......well you never know when you will need a basket of them!! I have snook a couple for a bit of crafty-ness!!

Following on from the Butterfly jars, this is relatively the same principles, but as promised more manly....though as you can see, I did make one in pacific point, but also one each in melon mambo and richrazzle berry, as we were off to a double twenty first last night, and I wanted a novel way to give the girls a bit of birthday cash....yes I did iron and fold the money up then it sat nicely in the jars!!

The stars were made using the stampin' Up! star punch and then over stamped with matching ink, using the fantastic mega back ground stamp- 'French Filigree'....it's quite easy to forget that just because a stamp is big, it doesn't mean you can't use it on a small item!! A little bit of sparkle was added with the Stampin' Glitter, as all stars sparkle! The jars were easily labelled using the small and large tag punches, with co-ordinating card stock, and the little ditty was hand written, with the stamp and write pen in black.

Punches are often overlooked by many as being boring and just darn right un-trendy, but with the fantastic quality & range from Stampin' Up!, you can't go wrong!

Give them a whirl and with a little imagination, you to could create something as unique!

If you would like to purchase any of the punches, card stock, or the stamp that was used for this project please do contact me,sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

You can also email me, just for a crafty chat too!!

Fantastic Hostess Benefits & Trendy Trees too!!

We are half way through the year already- gosh hasn't it flown so far!! And for the months of June & July, 'Stampin' Up!' have launched extra hostess benefits..........

If you were thinking of hosting a workshop/party, now is a fabulous time & you would be able to make the most of the extras on offer!!

Please call or email me to discuss available dates.

Everyday I have been setting myself the challenge of sitting down, at my desk, and producing a group of cards or a project with my lovely 'Stampin' Up!' goodies, over the past week this has been trying as the children are on half-term break, and want to do holiday things!!!

But today i grabbed an hour and had a 'wheelie' good time!! Yes you've guessed it!! the fantastic 'Stampin' Up! wheels and in particular one of my favourites- 'Funky Forest', used with the '2 step stampin- Trendy trees'. I have made a selection of cards that would not only be quite manly but also suitable for many occasions, such as thank yous or note cards etc.

Also i have found another fantastic use for the designer series paper pack......as a background for photographing my cards & projects....much better than my dusty window sill or boring wallpaper...and yes you can co-ordinate it to your projects!!!!!

Hope you like my projects, if you would like to purchase the craft goodies, to make your own, please get in touch xx

Butterfly wish jar

Hello all, well the weather is all bright and breezy here in Lancashire, so here is a bright, butterfly make.......

It's a play on the 'Jam jar' save the dates I made for my sister last year, but with a few tweaks! I am a 'confessed' jam jar hoarder and this make, is a quick and easy way to make the easy option of giving money for a gift to seem more thoughtful, than slipping it in a card!

Using the 'Flight of the butterfly' Stampin' Up! stamp set, the 'stamp-a-ma-jig' and the butterfly punch, this really is quick & easy to make. The butteflies are two step stamped using either melon mambo or tempting turquoise ink and then black to add detail. They are stuck back to back and dangled from the lid with cotton thread, so as the jam jar moves they flutter!

To help with the shake theme, a little bit of heart confetti was created with the 'Heart to Heart extra Large punch' and a few scraps of 'Melon Mambo' card stock.



And the small and large tag punches are perfect for providing space to write a greeting, and instructions on how to make a butterfly wish!!! I do admit, that it is very girly...but watch this space, I am working on a more boy-ish none butterfly or floral version!!