Birthday Gift Set

This week it was my mum's birthday and after several failed attempts I finally settled with this set.

I chose a pretty colour scheme of Pool Party, Pink Pirouette and Basic grey. colouring the flowers with a blender pen. I used the gorgeous Apothecary stamp set with the exclusive matching framelits and edgelits.

I love making envelopes with the Simply Scored diagonal plate - so quick and east to do!!  I used a sheet Attic Boutique paper.

I made a matching gift bag using the largest framelit die, just the right size for a small gift.

"Life" is exceptional busy right now!! I have started taking Philip for some extra physio sessions, this is making a huge dent in my time due to the distance and I'm struggling to fit everything else in as most weeks I spend time in school or at other appointments with him. In August we will be in London for two weeks for Philip to attend the Bobath Centre, so its is going to be a really busy summer and I still have so much to arrange including our accommodation.

I  need to make a start on the gifts I need for the end of term and a few special commissions too, so I should have a few projects to share soon. My mojo had disappeared so if you find it please send it back?!  

I have just finished packing for my class tomorrow, so I will share the projects we make next week.

Angela x

Olympic Torch Weekend

On Saturday the Olympic Torch was going through Durham and staying there overnight at the end of the journey from Newcastle to Durham so we decided to go and join the huge event celebrating the torch's journey.  

The cauldron was lit by BBC 1 presenter Matt Baker.

The weather was typical for our British summer and everyone got a good soaking!! 

The crowds leaving Saturdays event. 

We had a fantastic evening and the atmosphere was amazing, thankfully Sunday morning was dry and we set out to see the torch relay closer to home at Billingham.

There was a huge convoy of out riders and police on motorbikes having fun with the crowds before the torch finally came by.

14 year old Sam Dixon carrying the torch.

                                           

As the crowds cleared I spotted this banner and thought it was really relevant to our exciting weekend, although I'm not sure if Lucy & Philip agree!!

At school on Tuesday a "generation" was inspired by a gentleman called Larry Smith who is 86 years old, he is one of the oldest torch bearers.  He was nominated to carry the torch by his granddaughter and he put on his track suit and brought the Olympic torch he carried in to school with his family to share his experience with the children during assembly. Larry had quite a tale to tell and spent the whole day with the children, while they had group photos with the torch and individual photos too. Larry's kindness left the whole school buzzing with excitement, as he left he told staff he had had a wonderful day.

Angela x

Button Buddies

Today I have held my monthly class using the Button Buddies stamp set, which is designed to compliment the Stampin' Up! pots of buttons - so everyone got their own pot of Subtle buttons and a selection of papers and card to make their own cards. We used Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi,  Perfect Plum and Whisper White.

This pretty card could be used for a birthday or get well card, so I have decided to leave the sentiment until I know what I will use it for. The flower shaped buttons are perfect for adding dimension to the design.

I think this is my favourite card - I had spent time cutting out the flowers, then I realised Stampin' Up! had designed them to fit the scalloped circle punch?!!  It makes layering up this card really quick and easy, buttons added for the flower centres.

A simple way to use the wide ribbon is to add a small folded strip of it to the edge of the stamped image.

This is a really cute card, perfect for a quick Birthday card.

I have really enjoyed using the Button Buddies stamp set, I can't believe I bought it last November and have only just got around to inking it!!

If you would like to join my monthly card class contact me fro more details.

Angela x

Birthday Celebrations

Today I have a card and matching mini milk carton gift carrier I made for another of Philip's friends celebrating their Birthday this week. 

I chose Island Indigo, Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Whisper White to compliment the gorgeous summery Sweet Shop papers. I added ruffled ribbon with a "jelly bean" brad, the sentiments are from the hostess exclusive Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set.

I used the exclusive Mini Milk Carton die to cut the boxes and made a holder for them to sit in.

This is a photo of a beautiful field near to my house - I googled the flowers and I think it is a linseed crop, the contrast to the yellow field is amazing!!

I plan to get out with my new camera again this weekend.

Angela x

Bordering on Romance

I think the Bordering on Romance set is my favourite set form the Summer mini catalogue - the images are so pretty and perfect for colouring  too.

For this card I used the Edgilits die to cut the Whisper White card, then I embossed it with the Adorning Accent folder that matches the curve of the design.  I covered my card base with the lovely green leafy design paper from the Twitterpated papers, then I stuck the white on top. The branches and buds are stamped on to the white edge and the flowers have been stamped and coloured then cut out and layered with dimensionals, I added some small pearls to the flower centres. This card need something to finish it, so I added a ruffle of Pear Pizzaz seam binding.

I made a couple of Pillow Boxes using a Bigz die and wrapped them with some pretty Twitterpatted paper, then I tied them together with some Pear Pizzaz seam binding and a scrap of Victoria crochet trim.

If you would like to order a pack or two (just in case?!) of the gorgeous Twitterpated papers - now is a great time to take advantage of the June "Paper Party" offer from Stampin' Up!.  

Buy three packs of 12 x 12 designer papers and recieve a fourth pack FREE - shipping is £4.95 direct to your door no matter where you live in the UK but if you can collect your order from me postage will be at a special rate of £1 contact me to place your order.

Angela x

Jubilee Weekend

I want to make a bit of a fuss over the Jubilee weekend for Lucy & Philip. I remember when I was 7 we had a street party for the Silver Jubilee.  There were quite a few children in our street & my mum made garden gnome costumes from crepe paper for my sister and a neighbours little boy - I went as "Miss World" & won the competition!!

I made some bunting to hang across the fireplace with the gorgeous Stampin' Up! Tea Shoppe stamp set in Poppy Parade, Night of Navy and Crumb Cake, with satin ribbons in Real Red & Bashful Blue between them and of course I added plenty of "diamonds"!!

Here you can see a close up of the detail.

I managed to get some flags for outside on Saturday but I wasn't expecting them to be quite so long.....

I think I could have decorated next door too!!!  I filled my pots with red, white & blue plants - but as there has not been much sun this week they haven't bloomed as well as I had hoped they would!!

Lucy is two steps behind me & Philip is sat on the door step as usual??!

I took these pictures with my lovely new camera - I plan to learn to use it properly over the summer and produce some "good" pictures, so that means I must remember to take it out of the house!!!!

As usual when I go shopping with Darran I spend more money than I had planned - I bought a kit with two lens' & everything else I needed to get started. I can't wait to try it out properly tomorrow.  I "needed" the larger zoom lens as I want to make sure I have some good pictures of the Olympic Torch in two weeks time?!!  What an exciting time for the UK this year!!!!  Shame we couldn't book some good weather,  yesterday was so wet in London I do hope the weather today is a better for the celebrations.

Angela x

A "Shabby" Card

I have tried some more distressing this week and made a "shabby" card with lots of tearing and distressing, I do love this look but it is time consuming and I don't make many as I'm sure my friends and family would not be sure what to make of it??!!

I used the gorgeous new Apothecary Art stamp set and used the framelits to perfectly cut the design out. The image is coloured with Stampin' Up! marker pens, then I used Tea Stain ink from the Distressing Essentials Kit to give the Very Vanilla card an aged/worn look.  The next layer is Soft Suede, I stamped this with the large Wood background stamp, then I tore the edges of the card, I wrapped some Linen Thread around this layer. The base is textured Crumb Cake card, I used Tea Stain ink again, lightly ribbed over the card and edges, I stamped the text from the French Foliage stamp set in the bottom corner. I added a bow with some Crumb Cake seam binding as this ties so easily and holds the crinkles, perfect for a "shabby" style.

I managed to get some flags to put up outside for the Jubilee Weekend - they are slightly longer than I expected?!!  I will go outside today and take some photos, it was just too windy yesterday?!  

One of my neighbours has kindly loaned me one of her DSLR camera's as I have the feeling I "need" one, so I will be "playing" with it to see how I get along - I'm sure I will make it to Teesside Park before it closes at 4pm today though - LOL.

Hope you have a lovely weekend and enjoy the celebrations.

Angela x

Pin Wheels

Finally I have got round to making a "pin wheel" card!! I have seen so many around but just never found the time to try it??  I used some of the gorgeous Sweet Shop papers - the colours and patterns are perfect for a Summery Birthday!

The colours are Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White. The edge of the white card is cut with the new Edgelits die, then I used one of the Simply Adorned embossing folders to add a border of hearts, I wrapped some Wisteria Wonder bakers twine around this layer and added some small punched hearts to the scallops.

The pin wheel has a punched circle of card in the centre and a gorgeous Jelly Bean brad, I used a cocktail stick  with a scrap of ruffled Wisteria Wonder ribbon made to look like a neat bow with a brad.

I'm looking forward to half term, hopefully the weather will be nice for a few days out??  Today I'm planning to bake lots of cakes and biscuits as I'm planning to have a nice afternoon tea over the Jubilee weekend.

Angela x

We Love Our Hostess

WOW!!!  Stampin' Up have two fantastic offers for all of our customers through out June

Stampin' Up! are offering ALL of our hostesses an extra £30 worth of FREE products on top of the excellent hostess benefits already available with a qualifying workshop throughout June & July!!

Please contact me to book your workshop and find out more - still have a few dates remaining in June and July!!!

Come and Join the Paper Parade!! 1st - 30th June.

Throughout June when you order 3 packs of 12 x 12 paper from Stampin' Up! you can choose another pack FREE from a selection of 12 different papers.

You can read all about it here.

Angela x

Come and Join the Paper Party

I wanted to share with you the latest fabulous offer from Stampin' Up! starting today and continuing throughout June you are invited to Come and Join the Paper Party!!

If you buy 3 packs of 12 x 12 designer paper from a choice of 12 designs you can choose another pack FREE.  

This is a great way to stock up on some beautiful designer papers, there are some gorgeous Summer themed papers in the new Summer mini catalogue.

Maybe you could make an early start on your Christmas cards and gifts or do you have photos left in a drawer, then why not take advantage of this offer and scrapbook them?? 

I will be taking advantage of the offer as I don't do enough scrapbooking!! During the Summer when I take a break from running classes I am going to get on with scrapbooking as many pictures as I can!!  I have a box of photo's printed and ready to scrap - I am planning NEW scrapbooking classes to start soon - dates will be posted on my blog, along with some sneak peaks of the layouts for the classes. 

The details for the Paper Party promotion are here.

Angela x