Half done Projects.......

Is it just me that has half finished projects, that languish, waiting to be completed??? 

And is it just me that starts a project at the totally wrong time, like the idea jumps into that fuzzy box of space between my ears, just as the rest of me or that fuzziness is meant to be doing something else???

This card I sharing with you today, started life like that, as I was packing for last weeks 'Creative Cafe' the stamps sort of jumped into my hand, and the ink pads into the other!!!

And as I think about it, I was cooking tea, dealing with the my 'Darlings' (clenched teeth there), Showing my brother the problems that I have been having with my PC and wondering why Johnnie was so long at the doctors!!

Anyway in between hearing some great news from an SU sister today and catching up on some bits and pieces, I gave it a greeting and a few embellies, as it was shouting to be finished off.......

Yep! So when it was all going on...

I decided to do a little simple stamping,

with a moonlit, faux brayer-ed background!!

And today I finished it off with a little label

and stamped greeting......

A simple Knotted piece of grosgrain ribbon and 'Antique Brad'

And a trail of gems and pearls to add to the magic....

(I needed one to cover a 'boo boo' in the middle of the panel, but even I thought that just one lone gem looked odd,

so I turned it in to a trail!!)

But one 'boo boo' leads to another.... can you spot it here???

And here you can see the tone on tone-stamping,

to decorate the inside.

Well I hope you like the project, now its complete,

don't forget that SALE-A-BRATION ends on Saturday

so if your after the FREEBIES get in touch and I would love to place an order for you 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! 

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!