What's Cooking?

Are you like me and have problems with cards for men?

This is a card I rustled up using one of the stamps from the soon to be finishing Spring Mini catalogue.  I used a fab gingham technique for the background, which I got from Natasha at Two Crafty Girls via Pinterest.  It is really easy to do (albeit a little bit messy cleaning the brayer afterwards), but looks stunning I hope you agree!

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Cherry Cobbler, SU Basic Black, SU Whisper White
Ink: SU Basic Black, SU Cherry Cobbler (pad & marker)
Stamps: SU Now You're Cookin', SU Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools/Accessories: SU Decorative Label Punch, SU Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, SU Stripes Embossing Folder, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, Brayer, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I have inked separately parts of the Now You're Cookin' stamp and used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line the images up.  If you would like to get this stamp before the catalogue ends on Monday, please contact me and I will be happy to place your order.  There is also a fab offer on during April: if you place an order for £45 or more you can choose from one of 4 sets of Designer Series Paper for free!

Unfortunately it wasn't really barbecue weather here in the UK this weekend - macs, wellies & umbrellas were the order of the day in order to survive the weather!  Despite all the rain at the moment, it's still officially a drought where I live!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Happy Mother's Day!

It's Mothering Sunday here in the UK today so just a quick post to show the card I made for my own mother.  The card was inspired by one that I did as a make & take at my last workshop:

Card Recipe
Paper/Cardstock: SU Whisper White, SU Concord Crush, SU Pear Pizzazz
Ink: SU Basic Gray, SU Old Olive marker, SU Perfect Plum marker, SU Wisteria Wonder marker
Stamps: SU Charming, SU Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools/Accessories: SU Textured Impressions Designer Frames, SU Extra Large Oval punch, SU Concord Crush stitched poly ribbon, SU Stampin' Dimensionals

In the original version I had used SU's Pear Pizzazz seam binding, but my hostess used the gorgeous Concord Crush ribbon I had brought as an alternative and I thought this worked even better!  Isn't great how you can get different ideas?

To celebrate this special day I treated my mother to a lovely roast beef lunch at a restaurant near the river.  Most of the day the weather had been quite dismal, but as we left we discovered it had finally stopped raining so we decided to go for a walk along the river.  This is something that I don't do so often as I should - when I was a child this was a regular family event on Sunday afternoons, so the walk today brought back fond memories for us both.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Pretty in Pink Christening Celebration

I went to a friend's daughter's christening on Sunday and needed to make a card and a gift box for the present.  Realising I didn't have a christening stamp or suitable image I had to improvise.  I ending up creating a cross with SU's self-adhesive pearls and printing the greeting on my computer.  This is the result:

 You will see in this close-up that I have used an impression plate to give some subtle extra texture to the card:

I decided to make a triangle box for the small gift as I wanted something a bit different.  They are very easy to make, but very effective (thanks to my upline Michelle Last for the idea on how to make these!).  I made both the card and box in the morning before I left for the christening service so that should tell you how quick & easy the project was - or perhaps how last minute I am?!  I used the fab new punch from the UK Spring Mini Catalogue - the extra large scallop circle punch to decorate the outside.  I also used the gorgeous Hostess set Precious Butterflies - both outside as well as for a little co-ordinated triangular insert that I put inside the box.

Card Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Whisper White, SU Pretty in Pink, SU Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack
Stamps: SU Precious Butterflies (Hostess)
Ink: SU Basic Gray, SU Pretty in Pink
Tools/Accessories: SU 1 3/4" Circle Punch, SU 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Crop-a-dile, PTI Impression Plate, SU self-adhesive pearls, SU Whisper White organza ribbon, SU Stampin Dimensionals

I'd be delighted to order any SU supplies for you and you can have them delivered to your address in the UK - just send me an email.  Click here to see all the free Sale-a-bration sets and don't forget to let me know which ones you'd like - remember, you get one free item for EVERY £45 spent - you'll need to hurray as the offer finishes at the end of March!

It turns out I had chosen my colour scheme perfectly as my friend and her partner had decorated the church hall where the reception was held afterwards with pink balloons, pink plates and napkins!  The service and reception were lovely despite the horrible day outside.  It was very, very wet all day, but the temperature suddenly dropped really quickly about lunchtime and we even had snow! Typical (unpredictable) English weather!!!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Last Minute Valentine's Day Card

Do you need an idea for a quick Valentine's Day cards?  If so, look no further:

Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Whisper White, SU Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: SU Basic Black, SU Real Red marker, SU Basic Black marker
Stamps: SU Delightful Dozen, SU Creative Elements
Tools/Accessories: SU Small Heart Punch, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, SU Crystal Effects

Below is a close-up of the greeting from Delightful Dozen - I have used a Real Red marker to fill in the outline  text of the word "Valentine" to give an added dimension.  And don't you just love that red glimmer paper which is from the latest mini catalogue?  Click the link on the right to look at all the lovely products - but you will need to be quick as the catalogue only runs until the end of April!

If you look back at the first photo I posted of this card you will also notice that I used a black marker to fill in the image from Creative Elements as well - that was probably the most fiddly bit of the whole card actually!

Bonne Saint Valentin! A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Monochrome Fresh Vintage

I'm just loving this SAB Fresh Vintage set and decided to use it for the current Less is More Challenge (week 52), which is a sketch. I haven't entered a challenge for a while, and as this is (was?!) one of my New Year's resolutions I thought I'd better get my skates on and start asap - yes I know we are already in February!!!

Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Naturals Ivory, SU Basic Black; Ink: SU Basic Black; Stamps: SU Thank You Kindly, SU SAB Fresh Vintage; Tools/Accessories: SU Self-adhesive Pearls, SU Embosslits Die Beautiful Wings

The supplies listed above come to: £46.40, which means you would get the SAB stamp set for FREE!  Don't you just love Sale-a-bration?!  Please contact me for more details if you are interested in placing an order.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Bonne Année & SAB!

Wishing you a (very belated) happy new year!  In France it is more popular to send New Year's cards (than Christmas cards) and New Year's wishes can arrive up until the end of January - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!  Even though I have just got in by the skin of my teeth!

Stampin' Up! have a fab promotion at the moment - Sale-a-bration (otherwise known as SAB) has returned!  This year it runs from 24 January until 31 March.  For every £45 you spend in one order you can choose from one of 4 stamp sets or a gorgeous pack of exclusive Designer paper absolutely FREE!

This card is one of the make and takes from a workshop I held last week:

Recipe
Card/Paper: Very Vanilla, Poppy Parade; Stamps: Thank You Kindly, Fresh Vintage (SAB); Ink: Poppy Parade; Tools/Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals, Self-Adhesive Pearls

This is the perfect card for the new crafter - very easy to make but looks great!

I have also made another version which takes the card to the next level and the materials for this card would get you 2 free SAB products:

Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Whisper White, SU Poppy Parade, SU Pool Party; Stamps: SU Thank You Kindly, SU Fresh Vintage (SAB); Ink: Versamark, SU Poppy Parade, SU 2011-13 In Color markers (Lucky Limeade, Pool Party & Calypso Coral used); Tools/Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals, Self-Adhesive Pearls, SU Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Clear embossing powder, Heat gun

Did you notice the paper in the background - that is one of the papers from the SAB promotion - Everyday Enchantment - isn't it sumptuous?  It also co-ordinates with the SAB Fresh Vintage stamp set and it inspired me with the colours in the second card.  In fact if you were to buy all the products needed to make this card - you would get both the stamp set and the papers for free!  How great is that?!

Interested?  Why not contact me to find out more?!  I'd love to hear from you!

A la prochaine!  Amitiés!

Nicole

Convention Swaps

I went to my first SU Convention last month which was held in Eurodisney, Paris.  I had a fabulous time, if somewhat tiring! Congratulations to my SU "Mummy" - Michelle Last - who for the 2nd year running was awarded No 1 UK Demo!  Félicitations Michelle!

Firstly I thought you might like to see my swap:

Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Bashful Blue, SU Whisper White, SU Brushed Silver
Stamps: SU Contempo Christmas, SU Tags ‘til Christmas, SU Serene Snowflakes
Ink: SU Night of Navy, SU Bashful Blue, SU Real Red, SU Basic Black
Tools/Accessories: 1 3/8” circle punch, Word window punch, SU Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin Dimensionals

I think my snowman in his snow globe is rather cute - even after the 100 that I ended up making!  Merci beaucoup to my fellow Pink Lady - Jenny - who loaned me the Serene Snowflakes stamp set.

Hopefully you can see the Dazzling Diamonds which I used as snow better in this close up:

I will come back soon and show you the roomie gifts I made as well as the Pink Ladies swap.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole