Simply Stampin' Challenge week 6

Its time for a new challenge at Simply Stampin' and this week we have a theme of "Buttons and Bows".  This is the perfect challenge for me as I really love the new Fun Flowers die exclusive to Stampin' Up! and decided to make it the focal point of my card.

I have chalked the edges of the flower (Pretty in Pink) after I have embossed them using the Vintage Wall Paper and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders (exclusive to Stampin' Up!) showing the depth of the embossing - it is much deeper than other similar embossing folders I have used in the past. The papers are from the Lap of Luxury collection. I punched a scalloped boarder in Very Vanilla card and made a double satin bow with a button from the Subtles collection.

Every week the design team share some wonderful creations, why not take a look at their inspiration here and join us this week at Simply stampin' challenge??

Angela x

Summer Fun Scrapbook Layout

I thought I would share  another layout  made last week.  I have used one of the many photos of Philip in his little fire engine from last summer. It had been a really hot day and we decided it would be fun to let him play with the hose - bath was run, towels at the ready and we let him loose!!

The page is made up of Real Red card and a Celebrations 12x12 page with the matching quick accent sticker strips - perfect for a quick layout!!  I used the spritzer tool with the marker pens to spray the paper in  Old Olive, Real Red and Pacific Point. The title was stamped with my new Varsity Alphabet stamp set in Real Red ink and cut out - a really easy way to make a page title without the worry of it fitting the available space or not being straight.

I must dash as I'm back to school this morning to collect Lucy for her final appiontment at the Orthodontist - she has been so brave and her teeth are straight after only 6 months, so she is really hoping she doesn't have to wear her brace any more, although it is only at bed time now. Fingers crossed I don't have to pick up Philip  at the same time, as he claims he is not well again today, he was up through the night with a dreadful cough again last night!

Angela x

Second Colour Challenge

I really liked the colour combo this week at Simply Stampin' Challenge, so I thought I would make a second card using the same colours.

I decided to make a card suitable for Philip to give to his friend at the weekend as he is going to another party!!!

I have used the Beware Pirates stamp set - perfect for cards for both adults and children. I have used the Rich razzleberry marker pens with the colour spritzer tool to give the card a bit of a distressed look. A jumbo brad was the perfect finishing touch to this quick and easy card!

I have decorated the inside of the card with another stamped image from the set and a strip of Basic grey DSP - a first for me!! 

There is still time for you to join us this week at Simply Stampin' Challenge this week.

Lucy had two parties in one day last wekend so I will share the cards and a lovely little bag soon.

Angela x

A Special Baby Card

There have been a few safe arrivals of baby boys lately!!  This is the special card I made for the teachers at school to give to the teaching assistant in Philip's class who left ot have her baby at Easter.

I made a keepsake box for the card as it is quite large as it had to have enough space at the back of the card for everyone to sign it.  There is seam binding around the lid of the box with a flat bow and a pearl, to echo the same theme on the front of the card, I layered the sentiment with various punches and more pearls, stamping some of the smaller images from Bundle of Love stamp set over the designer paper.

I have used Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake for this card as I needed it to be suitable for a girl or a boy. I have also left spaces for photo's of the new baby to be added, with just a small tag to decorate the edge of the photo.

I have used the All in the Family stamp set for this page, stamped in Chocolate chip ink on to Very Vanilla card.

This is the sentiment from the Baby Bundle stamp set, stamped with Chocolate Chip ink on to Vwery Vanilla card and layered on to Crumb Cake card with a scallop boarder trim edge.  The gorgeous ruffle was made by pulling a thread from the seam binding - it ruffles perfectly every time.

Another image from the Baby Bundle stamp set, with just a simple pearl for decoration.

I need to make a few more baby cards for my box and I will be using the Baby Bundle stamp set - this is a set I got FREE  along with 4 other sets!!! - If you want to find out more about how you can get FREE stamp sets and a discount on all of your Stampin' Up! products then contact me to find out more.  I will share my new baby cards soon.

I am off to finish cutting the kits for my "Hot Shot Big Shot" class this week - I still have a couple of spare places, if you fancy joining me, I will be sharing lots of tips and tricks to help you get the most from this must have craft product, the Stampin' UP! exclusive dies are fabulous too!!

Angela x 

Scrapbook Layout

I have finally got my scrapbook pages up-loaded so I thought I would share the layout I did using photos of Lucy and Philip at school, along with some small wallet sized pictures form previous school year photos.

I have made a "progressive scrapbook page" - you build up a page using a  6x6 - A4 - 12x12.  On each layer you add new elements to build up the layout, I do like my pages to be "neat" and my layouts are very simple.

I have used Early Espresso, Real Red and Night of Navy card along with Play Date 12x12 papers. the flower buttons are also from Stampin' Up! This is my 6x6 layout.

I made a film strip using the spiral border punch and some small school  photos, the A4 base is Night of Navy card.

I have used Sahara Sand textured card for the 12x12 base and some of the Play Date quick accents stickers, I love using these stickers, they make those finishing touches so quick and you can use them on your cards too!!

This is the page I have made for Philip, this is a regular 12x12 layout. I have made a pull out tag with the Stampin' Up! exclusive Top Note die to put my journaling on.

This page also uses the same colored card - Early Espresso. Real Red, Night of Navy and Sahra Sand.

Hope your enjoying a lovely weekend, I'm just waiting for Lucy to come home after her "sleepover" last night with her "best firend" at school, then I can get lunch out of the way and maybe bake a cake before Darran makes us a nice roast later.  Tomorrow we are off to Harewood House for the Children's Fesitval - fingers crossed for some more fine and dry weather, as I would like to take a nice picnic!!!

Angela x

Simply Stampin' Challenge week 5

Saturday again already???

Its been a strange week, with so many bank holidays and school back but only for a few fun days to celebrate the Royal Wedding with the children it would seem.  Philip took part in a Prince and Princesses' day, Key stage 1 held their own Wedding celebration at the local chuch, then returned to school for a celebration lunch including a wedding ckae!!  Then everyone had a "red, white & blue" day with party food and games on Thursday!! 

So on to this weeks challenge at Simply Stampin' - we have a colour challenge this week. I have to admit I didn't think they were colours that would work together for me but I'm pleased with the way it turned out and I have made another card using these colours I will share later in the week.

The Owl punch came to my rescue again and I made a really simple card with the perfect polka dots embossing folder, the sentiment is from the Party This Way stamp set and I layered it using the word window and decorative label punches, of course I added a couple of gems for that little bit of sparkle!!

We would love to see your creations using this colour challenge this week, there are some beautiful cards from the other mamebers of the design team again this week, you can see them here.

Angela x



Baby Blossoms Wedding Card

I have been busy catching up with the many cards I have been commisioned to make recently, they include Weddings and Civil Partnerships, Birth Announcements and Holy Communion cards. This is the card I made for a couple getting married this weekend for my friend.

I used the delicate Baby Blossom stamp set to create the backgtound, then I used the stamp-ma-jig to create the small spray that I have cut out for the oval.  I stamped the frame and cut it out, then I used one of the stamps from the After Thoughts level 1 hostess exclusive stamp set and used the extra Large Oval Punch along with the Scalloped Oval Punch cut in half to layer it up.  The border is made using the Eyelet Border Punch. 

I was asked to make the card co-ordinate with a pink & green colour theme, so I have used Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirrouette, Very Vanilla and Certainly Celery.  I stamped a couple of Tiny tags and fixed them to the satin bow.

I have had a lovely day just making layouts for my scrap book today, I will get the pictures up-loaded in the next day or two to share with you.  My next Scrap book Club is on Friday 20th May 7.30-9.30, so if you fancy coming along contact me so I can prepare your kit and order your choice of album - I will post my layout using this months kit soon, so look out for it!!

Angela x

Simply Stampin' Challenge week 4

What a beautiful week it has been for the school holidays!!! Better weather than we usually have in July!!  I'm afraid my blog has suffered as a result, its been lovely spending time outside - we took a picnic to the park on Wednesday in April????

There have been some fabulous Easter projects this week at Simply Stampin' Challenge,  so thank you to everyone who joined us again this week.  Our new challenge is a sketch this week, you can use the sketch in any way you wish as long as we can still see the original sketch.

I have used the Stampin' Up! Colour Coach for my inspiration for this card, it is certainly a combination I wouldn't have chosen but I  do like it.  The colours are River Rock, Melon Mambo and Elegant Eggplant.

I have used the Big Shot with the gorgeous Square Lattice embossing forlder to add some texture to the Melon Mambo layer, then I decided to use a stamp set I haven't used for a while - Vintage Vogue, this is a lovely set perfect for pretty summery cards!   The flowers have been stamped using the "rock and roll" technique and cut out, with a basic rhinestone for a little bling!!  I have stamped my greeting in River Rock ink, it is from the Just Believe stamp set.

If you would like to see the beautiful projects the other Design team members have created this week

 click here.

Don't for get this is the final week to enter our challenge to be in with a chance of winning some fabulous Stampin' Up! products, one lucky winner will be chosen at random at the end of this weeks challenge. There will aslo be a Top 3 choosen and a banner to display on your blog.

Angela x

Simply Stampin' Challenge week 3

Thank you to everyone who joined us for last weeks colour challenge at Simply Stampin' challenge, the standard of entries was very high and I enjoyed looking at the projects.

This week our new challenge at Simply Stampin' is Easter, so this one should be a little easier as we start to get those last minute cards and gifts made.

I have gone for some bright and zingy colours Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango.  Of course I had to use A Good Egg stamp set too!!

I have stamped and coloured the chicks with the blender pens, then layered them up with the square punches, the background of the card was stamped with the dots from the set in Tangerine Tango ink. A length of Daffodil Delight satin ribbon and a punched greeting made this a fast card to make.  I used some Brights designer paper to make my sour cream holder, filled with mini eggs and then I used the crimper tool to seal the ends.

This basket is really easy to make and will hold 3 cream eggs, I also stamped the tissue paper to match. I will add the eggs just before I give it away as I'm sure those little fingers will be looking for chocolate next week!!

I do hope you can join us at Simply Stampin' this week - there is a top three blinkie to be won and the chance to win some fabulous Stampin' Up! goodies at the end of the month!!  You only need to use one Stampin' Up! product and you can make anything you choose - cards, 3D items, scrapbook pages.  There are some beautiful projects from the design team again this week, you can see them here.

Angela x

Party Owls

I did say how much I loved my new Stampin' Up! Owl punch, so here is another really quick card I made last night using it!!

I used Pacific Point for my card base, then added one of the fabulous Celebration accent stickers. I used the colour spritzer tool to add a messy finish to the background.  I  punched 3 Owls and used more scraps of Celebration papers, I added some crystal effects to give them glossy eyes.  The party hats are just a single point from the strar punch and I stamped and cut out some balloons from the Party this Way stamp set.

I have cancelled this weeks class on Friday night as I have not been well this week and have very little voice left!!

There is still time for you to join in with our colour challenge this week at

Simply Stampin' Challenge (click) there are some wonderful cards from the very talented design team again this week, you can see my card here.

Angela x