Hello Fred!

Meet Fred - my new "dog", who my Mum got for me at Christmas!

Ok, so he isn't quite like Kirsty Wiseman's Eddy or my SU Mummy's Pippi who I both absolutely adore, but for a working girl my dachshund is maintenance free!  No walkies are required, nor are there any problems about being left home alone (well I certainly hope not!) and he is practical in that he doubles as a door stopper too (LOL)!

Desolée - just couldn't resist this silly post!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Acceptance Card

My last post showcased an engagement card for my cousin and her fiancé.  This card shows an acceptance card I made for the wedding invitation I received for her sister's wedding that takes place a week from today (yes - my poor aunt has her two daughters' weddings in the space of 2 months - how stressful - which means I HAVE to buy TWO different wedding outfits (which has proved to be equally stressful!) - LOL!)

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Certainly Celery, SU Very Vanilla, SU Pink Pirouette
Stamps: SU SAB Bliss, Acceptance greeting stamp from stash (manufacturer unknown)
Ink: SU Certainly Celery
Tools/Accessories: SU Basic Pearls, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, Gold embossing powder

One thing (actually two things!) I have noticed is that there is a lack of engagement and acceptance stamps for use for weddings/other occasions.  So this is a plea to all stamp manufacturers - can you include these sentiments in your stamp sets please - merci!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Engagement Card

Just a quick post to highlight a recent card I (belatedly) made for one of my close cousins on her engagement earlier this year.

She loves red I (this is in fact going to be her colour theme for the wedding) so I felt I just HAD TO include this on her card.  I used SU's gorgeously named Cherry Cobbler cardstock  (which apparently turns out to be a perfect match to the bridesmaids' dresses!).

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Whisper White, SU Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: PTI Enjoy the Ride
Ink: Encore Silver
Tools/Accessories: SU Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder, SU Basic Pearls, SU Organza Whisper White ribbon

I have been commissioned to do the place cards for the wedding (which is in July) so will show you those at a later date (still in the design phase at the moment).

The main element of the card is the sublime SU exclusive Manhattan Flower embossing folder (which is included in the current UK mini catalogue).

If you would like to order any item from the mini (or main) catalogue, please contact me (see to the right for details).

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Royal Wedding

The UK celebrated the Royal Wedding last Friday and this is a card that I designed in celebration of this event (didn't you just LOVE her dress?).  I made this card as a project for a design competition run by my lovely SU Mummy (aka upline) - Michelle Last - for her team. We had to use at least one item from the UK mini catalogue (which you can browse through on-line by clicking the picture on the right-hand side of this blog).  EDITED TO ADD - I won the competition and my prize is a (money can't buy) SU Tote!! I am SO excited!

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Pear Pizzazz, SU Very Vanilla, SU Baja Breeze, SU Springtime Vintage DSP, 
Stamps: SU Clearly for You
Ink: Versamark
Tools/Accessories: SU Top Note Die, Gold embossing powder, Signo white gel pen


I watched the wedding at home (my Mum came round) and we celebrated with a glass of sparkling (like you do!) and then afterwards went to a street party just round the corner where one of my work colleague lives.   There was so much food that I didn't need to eat dinner!  In the early evening there was a game of street cricket and it got quite competitive between fathers and sons (& daughters in some cases!).


A la prochaine!  Amitiés!


Nicole

Easter Basket

I made some Easter Baskets for my family using the new (and exclusive!) SU scallop envelope die and the SU Springtime Vintage designer paper from the UK SU Mini Catalogue (which you can browse through on-line by clicking the picture on the right-hand side of this blog).

I can't claim any credit for the idea of using scallop envelope die cuts to create a box/basket as I have CASEd the idea from the SU Regional Training Event that I attended in Coventry in March.

Recipe
Paper/Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, SU Springtime Vintage DSP
Accessories/Tools: SU Scallop Envelope Die, SU Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon, crimper, brads from stash

Everyone's basket was slightly different - apart from the mini eggs and Hotel Chocolat eggs inside which I put on a bed of strips of crimped co-ordinating cardstock (sorry no interior shot!).  I didn't make baskets for the boys - instead they received Hotel Chocolat mini slabs with a belly band in green DSP, complete with an Easter greeting from the SU Something to Celebrate Level 2 Hostess stamp set - sorry don't have a photo of these either (what a rubbish blogger I am!)

I made a similar basket for Linda - my colleague and hostess of my latest SU workshop.  If you would like to get a similar basket as a gift for hostessing a workshop, why not contact me to find out more!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

New(ish) Stampin' Up Demonstrator - Moi!

After several months pondering about this I finally decided to become a Stampin' Up demonstrator (the offer at the time I joined in the UK was too good to resist - sorry it's expired now)!  I had my first workshop at my house and had 5 guests turn up (good job it wasn't more as I can't fit more than that round my dining/kitchen table - I really ought to action my ideas for an extension!).  Despite being very nervous for the week or so beforehand, it went alright on the night (well that was what I thought anyway)!  I was on a real buzz by the end and had got some orders.  I phoned my Mum to tell her the good news and the ex-teacher in her came out - she told me to write down what had gone well and not so well!!

Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the card we made, but the one below is very similar (apart from the non-SU greeting and non-SU gems).

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Whisper White, SU Designer Series Paper Patterns Stack (Brights)
Stamps: SU Vintage Vogue, PTI Enjoy the Ride
Ink: SU Old Olive, SU Rich Razzleberry
Tools/Accessories: SU Ornament Punch, SU Stampin Dimensionals, SU Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Self-adhesive purple gems from stash

As you can see the colour combo is Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry (don't you just love that name and the way it trips off the tongue?!)

Enjoy!

A la prochaine! Amitiés.

Nicole

40th Birthday Card

A quick post to showcase a 40th birthday card I have made for a friend.  As I have used embroidery thread (floss) on the card this qualifies for PTI's blog hop for March.

I also made a coordinating bottle tag.

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Certainly Celery, PTI Sweet Blush
Stamps: SU It's Beautiful jumbo wheel (discontinued), SU Just Believe, PTI Big Birthday Wishes
Ink: SU Old Olive, SU White Craft
Tools/Accessories: Self-adhesive Gems from stash, White floss, SU stampin dimensionals, PTI By the Numbers die collection, White filigree embossing powder

Note: the oval used for the greeting has in fact been created using the leftovers from the By the Numbers die!  Aren't crafters a thrifty bunch!?

Amitiés! A la prochaine!

Nicole