Scrapbooking

While my sister was away with her family for her 70th Birthday, hubby and I gatecrashed their Sunday Lunch on the way back from a Wedding in Rye. These are a couple of pages I made of the event.

Pretty certain the papers are My Mind's Eye and you see the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Daisies and their Forget Knot flower leaves dies. The other pieces are all scrapbooking stash that are probably years old like the papers.

I think here most of sentiments were in the paper pack, the American Foam Stickers which had lost theirs stickiness proves how old they are. There as to be dies somewhere that would the  Border waves from Simon says Stamp cut to picture size and their Holiday Shapes hearts cut in matching colours which were scraps anyway.

Gosh it feel so long ago that I actually scrap, that should be remedied on the 18th off to an All Day Crop at the Bracknell Hilton, it doesn't matter if you are not a scrapbooker there are several Card Making Ladies if you are interested you can get in touch with Lorraine on FB.

To Bin or not to Bin

I will have to stamp this image again to redeem myself but I cut the wrong part of the image and the angle of the camera is making it worst than it looks Also I really should have stepped away from the card after a couple blobs of the Nuvo Crystal drops instead of seeing how many can fit on the card.

I couldn't waste it, I spent quite a while colouring the flower from Simon says Stamp Mandy Flowers and working out layers even if I did get it wrong.

So the papers came from the August kit but they are Bo Bunny Early Bird  and so did the Nuvo Crystal drops Bubblegum Burst. The one in the kit was a tiny tester bottle which is great if you've never used them before but I did find my hands found it hard another reason to stop using it, did I! The normal size is much easier to manage probably why I've got quite a few now.

The only thing left is the sentiment, the large part is from the Mandy's Flowers Set but the tiny one is from Simon says Stamp Messages for Everyday.

Off to do a bit of distressing before I get too distress from the heat, yes the heatwave is back, I shall be hiding out in the coldest room in the house and with the fan aiming straight at me this afternoon.

We are Siamese, if you please

I love images that include other crafts I love doing, although my hands and shoulders don't like knitting now, I can use a crochet hook and providing I don't make heavy things so I can still manage to play with wool but I haven't seen a crochet hook die!

While colouring this stubborn cat from Mo Manning called Jasmine all I could think of was the song in Walt Disney's Lady of the Tramp. I love how easy the cat coloured and layered up.

The papers are some old My Mind's Eye, the knitting needles are Memory box die which I cut a line into the ball of wall before layering. I used the Simon say Stamp Stitched Squares for image and the sentiment that came with the image. Flowers are again Memory Box and the Birthday sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp. My flower centres is from a couple of the dies that come with the Tim Holtz Gearhead dies, its actually the waste from them.

Lastly I used the sketch on Sketch Saturday, I believe it could be still current.

Make your own Background!

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Anything Goes Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is to

Make Your Own Background 

There are so many awesome techniques to create your own backgrounds, from textured embossing and simple splattering of inks to multi layered stencilling and gelli plate printing. Whatever techniques you used we will be looking forward to seeing your makes!
We are showcasing some fabulous Concord&9th Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used!

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your crafty makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

I always panic when we get a challenge that really does challenge my crafty brain, there's a reason I love pattern paper.

I decided on using Concord&9th Just Because stamps I thought it would work well for a background. I had some blue distress Oxides already made up the only onepad I can remember is the Faded Jeans one.

I stamped the leaves using Peeled Paint and the leaf without the pattern I used the pad to paint in the leaves. I sort of decided to use Mandy's flowers and knew I had a pink flower so I wanted to add a bit of pink on my background thats why I used the dotty stamp from the Just Because set with Pickle Raspberry.

To make my card more interesting I used the Simon says Stamp Wavy Border die but I've just discovered it's out of stock but Simon says Stamp Dot Scallop border will do the same job and is now in my shopping basket having decided I can stitch a bit of thread through those dots.

The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Birthday Messages and I carefully cut a white border round my flower and vase from Mandy's Flowers, another die set in my shopping basket although not in the shop till the 4th August.

I had paper pieced the vase so I added a little strip across my border to bring the card together the papers were from the kit which is sold out.

August Butterflies

I'm sorry but I absolutely love Simon Says Stamp Modern Rose Background and I'm sure it will be in stock soon. I made two more cards with the stamp, the first card I stamped the background twice and used one of them to make my modern rose butterflies using Simon says Stamp Adeline Butterfly die.  To finish I used the Simon says Stamp Birthday Messages and the hearts are from the other stamp set from the August kit called Mandy's Flowers.

I cut out a banner die out of a piece of card that was already measured up for a card front by mistake. Rather than using it for scraps I kept it, trimmed it down a touch and used the background stamp over it. Stamped the same sentiment as the card above on a plain white card and stuck the rose one on top.

This time I used the Simon says Stamp Stitching Butterflies but I prefer the Adeline butterfly's body so I used that one rather the ones with the stitching butterflies.

Updated Version

There is a card of mine that seems to be always popping up on Pinterest, after a bit of checking this card comes from 2012 in March. I discovered I had actually cased this card.

When I saw the stamp in the Simon Says Stamp August kit which unfortunately has now sold out and even the individual Modern Rose stamp is now out of stock but I would use the notify when back in stock key that's how I brought their bicycle die which is now winging its way over the Atlantic as we speak. There is no reason why another large background stamp could work the same way.
I used a stamp positioner and stamp the 6inch stamp.

Instead of making my own strips by measuring and cutting, I used the Simon says Stamp Stitched Banners. I cut with the one up from the smallest and cut five full banners, then using the die again but cutting the straight end of the die and now with what would be the waste. I lined the straight ends across my card. This allows for the proper length banner cut down to the size I want.

I made the flower banner using Simon Says Stamp Stitched borders and added a bit of green card, you can use ribbon. My large flower is Simon says Stamp Stitched Daisies and it's leaves are Forget me Knot flowers.

Using the banner across the card trim the small ends to fit underneath it. Then add the full length  banners trimming the ends so they too are hidden under the flower banner. Leave enough room for a sentiment I've used the Simon says Stamp Thoughtful Messages  and the hearts are from the other stamp set in the kit called Mandy's Flowers and at this moment still available to order and look out for the dies they are coming soon.

We had rain yesterday can't believe how excited everyone was, thankfully the temperature as dropped a bit, maybe I'll get more time in my craft room and PC.

Friendly Folic

Simon says Stamp have a new release called Friendly Frolic and I was lucky to received a stamp set from them called School Bus Messages.

Over here we don't have school buses they are usually coach companies so I decided to colour my bus not in the obvious yellow and since its a good size I paper pieced it and coloured the lights and chrome etc with copics.

I used the Doodlebug Sweet Summer and I stamped my bus twice, its no obvious here but the bonnet is raised from the back of the bus, I also added a bit of acetate for a windscreen. I had to have somebody inside my bus and I decided to used the Picture Book Monkey, Zebra and Giraffe.

I very carefully covered the words school before stamping an extra bus on white card and I cut the sign out and stamped Simon Says Stamp Everyday Messages and stuck over the school bus sign.

Once my bus was made with its passengers it needed a road and this wonderful bit of patterned paper was in Doodlebug pack. I used the Simon Says Stamp Slopes and Hills twice and placed it on the road coloured card either side making sure it was wide enough for the wheels. I added the little Simon Says Stamp Stitched Banner with an Everyday message to introduce a bit more blue.


Check out the Simon Says Stamp Blog, there is loads on inspiration in the galleries not just the latest release.

The South East of UK heatwave is suppose to cool down after today fingers crossed, I want it sunny but with a nice 24c with a light breeze. Meanwhile off to cool off this morning with the Friday Swimmers Disabled Club.

Beary Merry Christmas

I can confirm making Christmas cards in hot weather doesn't make you cooler even though Mo's Beary Merry Christmas image is soooo cute. I decided on a white and red card for some reason I thought it would speed me up. It was when I also decided to used Splitcoast Stampers Card sketch 705 that things started to get tricky.

I only had one piece of dotty red, there was just a bit left to used Simon says Stamp Stitched Banners to make my straps. I had to make used of some white card which I embossed with the Taylored Expression Snow Falling. My frame is MFT but cut from a different bit of white to help to show up the white layers that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

The sentiment is LOTV stamp not sure is available anymore and I framed it with MFT circle scallop frame. To finish some Simon Says Stamps Maryanne Snowflake and Lawn Fawn Mini Snowflakes, all cut from fun foam.

Anything Goes

CLICK HERE if you would like to go directly to the Kids Vacation Challenge You have until this Sunday 6pm EST to join in!

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Use a Die/Punch Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
This week the challenge is

Anything Goes

We are showcasing Art Impressions Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would sure love to see them used!

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your creative makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

The problem with Art Impressions is knowing which image to use, when its for a challenge you need to buy a new one and again I couldn't choose. In the end I brought the Office Party but the Pack Your Bags also fell into my basket.

As you can see I used Office Party but a couple of images from the other set is coloured up and waiting for me. I went for this image because I love paper piecing and add some Doodlebug 6inch papers this time I've used Hello. 

To make the card I used the Simon Says Stamp Wonky Rectangles and since I'm retired the sentiment didn't really work for me so I went to my favourite sentiments of the moment my Simon Says Stamp Thoughtful Messages.

I noticed that a bit of my stamping from paper piecing was in the corner of my pattern paper, I quickly remedied this by die cutting the Simon Says Stamp Hydrangea Petals. To finish the flowers I used the small snowflakes from the Simon says Stamp Stitched Snowflakes and the waste from one of the Tim Holtz Gearhead dies for the white centres. 

Finally I decided I wasn't keen on all the white space so out came my Simon Says Stamps Holiday Shapes an essential bit of kit. You can see how tiny they are ideal for making shaker cards with. To complete the set you would also need the next size up Large Holiday Shapes.

July Kit

I had a quick play with the Simon Says Stamps July Kit its now sold out but you can still buy the One Cool Pineapple Stamp Set and Flamingo die. 

My first card is an easy peasy one, stamped the perfect sentiment for the stamped and fussy cut fish.

Ok my second card is just as easy. I stamped the flamingo from the stamp set with Versamark on the pink card, once dried I cut out with the die. Added a bit of white and black to his beak. I used the another perfect sentiment and die cut it with the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares.

The patterned paper and sequins were in the kit.

Last week the weather had cooled slightly but I had a rubbish week health wise so a Doctors Appointment as been made since they played with my pain meds I've had more off days than good. Its having a huge effect on my card making I have some lovely new stuff to play with. Now the weather as turned really hot again.

Using a Die

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Fun In The Sun Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
This week the challenge is

Use A Die and/or Punch 

We are showcasing Birch Press Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would sure love to see them used!

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your creative makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

I love these flowers from Simon Says Stamp called Bouquet of Thanks, it took a while for me to get my hands on them since they would sell out quickly. They are safely arrived in my craftroom along with the matching die which I also used for my base image.

I fussy cut all the individual petals and edged them with a Pumice Stone Distress Marker this hides all my rubbish cutting. I embossed the back of each petal using a large embossing ball tool, like this set.

The picture below shows have I added 3d fixers to add dimension to the petals. These are do-crafts 3d foam squares that have been cut in half and into quarters.

The picture below show why I have a base image. When I fussy cut the petals there is a little bit of the next petal, this helps to line the finished Petal in place with all the others. I add a little bit of glue at the ends that doesn't have foam squares

I added the fussy cut petals on each flower working out which one is in front.

The flower buds were made the same way but the green stem were glued on. You have to work out whether the stems need placing before the make the flower.

The actual card is fairly simple I cut the oval using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Ovals which I used some large 3d foam tape on the coloured card. My sentiment is using the Birch Press Big Hugs, I love have the background for the word makes it much easier to glue or layer onto a card.

I didn't really need the Simon Says Stamp Flickering Butterflies but tried not to use all of them just three tiny ones.

Believe

I wanted to post this card today because its the latest Freshly Made Sketch 345 and I will be in time to enter the challenge. My problem is it too hot in the dining room to download photos and edit them in the afternoon.

As soon as I saw the sketch this idea took place, mainly because there is a baggie hanging in front of me of left over die cuts from last Christmas.

The Believe die is from Simon Says Stamp and the stamped sentiment is from the matching stamp set.  I also used the MFT Stitched Fishtail Sentiments. To make my poinsettia I used Simon Says Stamp Poinsettia Parade with some Nuvo Crystal Drops Autumn Pearl. I wanted to add a bit more interest in the flower so I cut out the Pine Needle Wreath and added a couple underneath.

I knew I wanted a strip of red and white the tricky bit was finding which paper pack would I find it in. Surprising I had one piece left in the Doodlebug Milk and Cookies and since I cut a strip I will put the rest somewhere safe, I think I will repeat this card till the all the paper is gone.

Awesome Me

This as to be the quickest layout I've made, the awesome banner was already on the patterned paper which I carefully cut the banner with a craft knife so I could slip the photo in.

The circle stars were on another piece of patterned paper that I fussy cut out. I had a sheet of stripy paper had already been used so I cut a small strip. Words were from a Sticker sheet from Kaiser I think. Job done.

Skater Dude

Now and again while I'm in blogger dashboard I click on drafts to make sure I've posted everything. This time I discovered Skater Dude from Dr Digi hiding in them.

The papers are Doodlebug, I think possibly Dragon's Tail but don't hold me to that. The large sentiment stamp is from Simon says Stamps Big Birthday Wishes and the image mat is using their Wonky Frame.

The stars are mixture of Simon Says Stamp Bundle of Stitched Shapes and MFT dies. I have several number dies so not sure which ones I used here and the today die is from a random die manufacture that I brought at a craft show can't remember who.

Crochet Update

Another Rainbow Ripple Blanket with a matching comforter. I do love this colour combo for a baby whose gender is not known. The yarn is Stylecraft Special, I think the grey is called Silver and the yellow is Buttermilk.

Opps sorry about the toes I thought I had cropped them out! Another Rainbow Ripple, not keen on the colour combo but eventually I'm hoping it will look like this. I'm using both patterns since I can automatically make the Rainbow Ripple I've made so many times. Again Stylecraft Special, the red is Lipstick and the blue is Aster since I've got loads of them already.

Fred

Meet Fred do love Mo's doggie images, especially ones that I find easy to colour and layer.

I used a MFT frame and placed it on the image so it left enough room at the bottom for Fred to stand on the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Banner.

The papers are some old Doodlebug and the paw-prints are Paper Smooches die. Nearly forgot the scallop border which is a very old MFT which I think could be retired now.

I think I could be stung from the first wasp of summer, which is still itching after a couple of days, lucky its not so hot and we've even forecasted showers!

Its a Parade

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Red White and Blue Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.

This week the challenge is

Fun In The Sun 

We are showcasing  Mama Elephant Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would sure love to see them used!

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $50 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz at the bottom of this post! You can join 5 times so you could have 5 chances to win! How AWESOME is that!! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance to win! Woo Hoo!! Good Luck to everyone! The Design Team is looking forward to seeing your fun in the sun makes and will pop around to visit you ASAP!

I wish now I had stamped and fussy cut the whole parade, my little bear on his own looks so lonely. He is from Mama Elephant Animal Parade. It's while you fussy cut a white border round your image is when you wish you had brought the dies to match.

Hadn't a clue what to do next just know I wanted to use the little bear. I used the Echo Park Birthday Boy and the number sheet patterned paper, I used the Simon Says Bundle of Shapes, the large rectangle and the stitched strip, then when I was happy with the size of my strip I cut out a stitched square using Simon says Stamp Stitched Square dies. The stars were the Bundle of Shapes ones, this set is a really good essential piece of kit.

Goodness that all I've used, I did layer my bear, by cutting out two. One for a foot, ear, tail and paw which I stuck down on top of my main image.The second piece with the head, body, ear, paw, and leg. I embossed on the back, two foam squares one under the head and one under the body both in their centres. I glued down the ear, foot and nose which helped to give a rounded look.

It's time for our annual Simon Says Stamp Summer Vacation Kid's Challenge where we host a special challenge dedicated to our young designers! CLICK HERE or on the logo below for more info