Contemporary Christmas

On Sunday I was at the Pinkies' quarterly training in Bicester. We had a fab day making a gorgeous project.... thank you Michelle Last & Nicky Dexter.

As usual for such an event I made some swaps using some of the gorgeous products from the new annual Stampin' Up! catalogue. I decided to do a Christmas card with a contemporary theme both in terms of colours and style.

Recipe
Cardstock: Whisper White notecards 
Stamps: Chock Full of Cheer 
Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party & Pretty in Pink markers; Versamark
Tools/Accessories: Heat gun, Silver embossing powder, Stampin’ Dimensionals, ½” punch

What do you think? I was quite pleased when I had finished these in reasonably good time on Saturday evening (instead of the usual small hours of Sunday morning...) but then disaster struck at the last moment as I managed to knock a glass over and the last dregs went over some of my swaps.  I quickly managed to move most of them out of the way but some were damaged and I had to redo them, so as usual I was still last minute dot com - typical!

If you would like to order any of the products I have used to create this project please contact me and I will be happy to help.

Do come back on Saturday, when I will have more projects to share with you, featuring more new products from the new catalogue.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Pinkie's Blog Hop - Autumn Winter 2012 Seasonal Catalogue

Welcome to our first ever Pinkies’ Blog Hop.  We’ll be showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin’ Up!® Autumn Winter Seasonal Catalogue.

Our blog hop buttons will help guide you on your way.  We love comments, so please do tell us what you think!

My projects have focused on the gorgeous new Watercolour Winter stamp set which can be found on page 14 of the the Autumn Winter Seasonal Catalogue.

The basic layout for each of my 3 cards is the same - but you will see how different each card is due to the techniques and colours involved!  There is something for everyone - both new and more experienced crafters.

My first card has used the bleached colouring technique.  Firstly, I stamped the image several times using Versamark on Real Red cardstock.  I then heated embossed the images with white embossing powder.  Then carefully using a old paint brush I dabbed thin household bleach inside the embossed images to lighten the cardstock.  I then used marker pens to colour in the leaves and berries. The final touch was to add Crystal Effects to add dimension - hopefully you can see this from the close-up photo on the right.

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Real Red
Stamps: SU Watercolour Winter, SU Delightful Dozen
Ink: SU Cherry Cobbler marker pen, SU Garden Green marker pen, Versamark, Black Stazon
Tools/Accessories: Heat Gun, SU White Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, SU Crystal Effects, thin bleach

Crystal Effects has also been used on the second card, but more dimension has been given to the layout with the use of an embossing folder as well as strategic use of Stampin' Dimensionals!

The Watercolour Winter stamp set is ideal for 2-step stamping, however on this occasion I used a blender pen to add colour onto the holly leaves.  More dimension is added by the use of Crystal Effects - this time on just the berries.


Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Garden Green SU Whisper White, SU Brushed Silver
Stamps: SU Watercolour Winter, SU Delightful Dozen
Ink: SU Garden Green, SU Real Red marker, Black Stazon, SU Blender Pen
Tools/Accessories: SU Blender Pen, SU Crystal Effects, Big Shot, SU Framelits Labels Collection, SU Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, SU Dimensionals

The last card is much more simple and is ideal for producing in bulk - perfect for Christmas cards!

Once more a blender pen has been used to add colour to the holly leaves.  The berries have been coloured in directly with a Real Red marker.  And once more I have used Crystal Effects - don't you just love it?!  I introduced Crystal Effects to a customer at a recent class and she is now totally addicted - I think she will be applying Crystal Effects to everything (even non craft items)!!!

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Notecards
Stamps: SU Watercolour Winter, SU Delightful Dozen
Ink: Black Stazon, SU Garden Green, SU Real Red maker
Tools/Accessories: SU Blender Pen, SU Crystal Effects


If you would like to order any of the products I have used to create these projects please contact me and I will be happy to help. Also as a special offer until the end of September, if you place an order of £45 or more I will send you a copy of the New Annual Catalogue for FREE (this offer is from me - not Stampin' Up!).

I hope these cards have inspired you to make a start on your Christmas cards - after all it is only 14 weeks away now (and that time will quickly fly by)! I will admit I also need to practice what I preach - I am very good at making cards for others, but tend to leave my own cards until the latest posting dates - I am very much "last minute dot com"!

Please use the buttons below to visit more fabulous projects created by my fellow Pinkies - enjoy!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Perfectly Preserved

I had a fabulous day on Saturday when I met up with some of my fellow demonstrators at an SU training event in Reading.  As is usual at such events we all make some swaps to share ideas - after all we are crafters!  This is the swap I made using one of the new bundles from the Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue.  The bundle is called Perfectly Preserved and includes a stamp set of the same name as well as matching framelits dies in the Cannery Set.  Details can be found on page 29 of the catalogue.

Jars seem to be a big theme in crafting right now - and not just in terms of storing food!  I decided to focus on the flowers that accompany the set.

Recipe

Cardstock/Paper: SU Naturals Ivory, SU Vellum Cardstock

Ink: Black Stazon, SU Wild Wasabi, SU Pool Party, SU Marina Mist marker, SU Not Quite Navy marker

Stamps: SU Perfectly Preserved

Tools/Accessories: Big Shot, Cannery Set Framelits, Blender Pen, SU Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

To give the feel of glass, I used vellum cardstock for the jar.  I then used a blender pen and SU Pool Party ink to create a subtle effect of water in the jar.  And I couldn't resist using SU's new Dazzling Details (page 23 of the seasonal catalogue) to add some silver sparkle to the flowers - I do love a bit of bling!  The final touch was to add some linen thread around the neck of the jar.

If you would like any of the items to make this card yourself, please contact me to place your order - I will be happy to help.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Stampin' Up! September News!

I have lots of exciting Stampin' Up! news to share with you today!

Firstly, the new Autumn/Winter seasonal catalogue has just launched and runs until 31 January 2013 - if you have not received your copy please let me know and I will post one out to you.

It is no longer a 'mini', in fact it's bigger and better than ever before - 40 pages and A4 sized! Click on the link above to see all the wonderful new stamp sets and accessories and fantastic ideas for creating your autumn and winter projects.

Have you noticed that amazing ornament on the cover? It's so simple to make with the new Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and coordinating dies - and you'll save yourself money if you buy them together in a 'bundle'.

And you'll find lots more of these money-saving bundles in this catalogue too!  What a great idea from Stampin' Up!

As if that wasn't enough excitement, a new annual catalogue is just around the corner (it launches on 1 October), so that means it's time to grab yourself a bargain from the Retired Lists! So many lovely goodies are retiring from the current catalogue in order to make way for the new ones coming up - and some are a fraction of the original price - but you'll need to be quick, as these will go very quickly (in fact some have already gone).  Stampin' Up! will be updating the lists regularly.

• Click here see a list of retiring STAMP SETS 
• Click here to see a list of retiring ACCESSORIES

It's easy to order your bargains - just email me and I'll be happy to help.

You will notice from the Accessories list that all the ink pads are retiring - don't panic, Stampin' Up! are not changing the colour families, they have just made improvements to an already great product. If you love the ink pads the way they are, this could be a great opportunity for you to expand your range of colours!

And finally I have details of my September class - by popular request this will be on Wednesday 12 September (7pm - 10pm).  We will make some quick & simple Christmas cards using sets & products from the new Autumn/Winter seasonal catalogue.  Cost: £15 or free if you spend £45 on the evening.  As the class is held at my home spaces are limited, so contact me to book your place now!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Everyday Enchantment

Stampin' Up! has a fantastic promotion for the month of July!  When you spend £45 (before p&p) you will receive a gorgeous ribbon and brad pack worth £15.95 absolutely FREE!

You will get two spools of a gorgeous organdy ribbon in Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral.  The ribbon is narrow (1/8") and there is over 9 metres on each roll which gives you loads to use on all your projects.  You also get 30 1cm printed designer brads, 6 each of the 5 designs - aren't they lovely?

Are you thinking that they look familiar?  Well you'd be right because they co-ordinate with the gorgeous Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper which were part of the Sale-a-Bration promotion earlier this year. And guess what?  They have brought the papers back for a limited period!  You can now buy the papers for £9.95 - but only whilst stocks last, so you had better order your pack straight away!

I would love you to make the most of this offer and it couldn't be easier for you to get hold of these products. Just order £45 or more (before p&p) of Stampin' Up! gorgeous products and the brads and ribbons will automatically be added to your order for FREE. If, like me, you need more of the Everyday Enchantment papers, then why not order those as part of your £45?!  To place your order, just contact me and I will be happy to help.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

More Birthday Butterflies

You may have noticed that a lot of my cards feature butterflies and this one is no exception! This card was actually my swap at Michelle Last's quarterly training last weekend. In fact I actually got the inspiration for this card from my own name badge that I had to make when I attended SU's Regional training in Leamington Spa in May.

Not sure you can see this clearly in the photo but I added SU's gorgeous champagne shimmer mist paint to the swirl stamp from the Everything Eleanor set before I stamped it on the card.

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Very Vanilla, SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Brushed Gold
Ink: SU Basic Black, SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint
Stamps: SU Everything Eleanor, SU Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess)
Tools/Accessories: SU Pearls, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, SU Beautiful Wings Embosslits, SU Labels Collection Framelits, SU Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder

If you would like to order any of these items and take advantage of SU's current Everyday Enchantment promotion, please contact me and I will be happy to help.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

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