The Cream Kitchen...

Quick share of Denise's Aga for today... and yes you guessed it she has a cream Aga with newly painted mushroom (aka Tip Top Taupe) walls and her accessories are green and mushroom... as her walls were green up to recently... 

And she has already bought her frame to put it in!!! No folding it flat and putting it an envelope for Denise! Proud kitchen maker....

Click HERE to go and order the tutorial (s)... 

And the other thing I am up to date with... is posting out the NEW 2017-18 Annual Catalogue to those of you that have ordered over £50 through me during the last 12 months. Want a catalogue... have ordered but know that doesn't apply... then click here to email me and request one to get your own "hard" copy on its way....

High Tide... and an Epic Day!

Quickly sharing another Double Z Joy Fold Card that fully opens! Tutorial shared here yesterday...

But not a lot to say about the card today... apart from I used the lovely High Tide stamp set... and the fabulous Serene Scenery papers ( and a bit of brayering, sponging and stamping through a circular aperture.... ) as I want to share something personal for a BIG change!

Epic day today.... last "normal" school run!! Obviously there is all the stress of the A level exams to come throughout June... and the huge priority around getting son in and back for those exams at different hours... as we live in the country so the bus service just doesn't work!

But after 11 years of doing an hour plus round trip at the beginning and end of the day  - for 6 days a week - as a school run... I have felt an enormous sense of relief coming over me for the last week... so feeling quite euphoric today!

So I just had to share!! End of an era!!! Who knows what the next phase will deliver.... I will probably start worrying about that tomorrow!!

So to celebrate ... think I might have a New Catalogue Special coming on this weekend! 

The BBQ card... Part 2 of the series with Nailed It!

Now this is the card my ladies were supposed to be making for their menfolk in my classes this week!! But hey yesterday's AGA option just turned their heads on the day!

And WOW! I think I can safely say it did worldwide too... yesterday's post set a few records for me and one of my makes!! Thank you for each and everyone of your lovely comments... here on the blog or on the Facebook Groups.... I was amazed, humbled and somewhat blown away! And a tad busy trying to keep up & respond!!

Click HERE to go and order the tutorial (s)... 

I will be providing "Class in the Mail kits of the Trio including tutorial " - so please email me here asap but by the end of Tuesday 16th May latest if you are interested in one of these... as the Urban Underground papers are out of stock in the UK so I will only be able to provide from the packs I have ... nice to share! But a complication for me to work through/price up depending on how many people are interested... It may end up as a First Come, First Served... I also don't know if I can supply outside of UK!?

I will be making a tutorial available to purchase for the 3 cards in this series... hopefully by the end of next week...

Though for UK only... the Trio tutorial will be sent automatically to my downline team members and can be obtained for free for May class attendees... OR ... for everyone else...  free with an online order of £20+  ........ click here for my Online Shop. Make sure you can see my name (Amanda Bates) at the top right of the screen... and enter the current Host Code VQTSBUDV where prompted... 

Frustratingly Perfect Mix is not available... but today's main feature Nailed It! is... (though the dies aren't) But hey this card is more about cutting by hand in any case...

Back to today's card... I am glad to say that the barbecue was made by some of my ladies... so some of the menfolk will feel special... as I am sure they will be told more than once by their good wives of the forfeit they made at the class!

As yes this is exactly the same card as the Aga... just different in the details...

And be aware that it is modelled on a £2500 ($3300) Weber barbecue image that I found on the internet.... only the best for you!!

And my favourite details on this one... oh the BBQ grill and the smoke (both care of Playful Backgrounds which was a Stampin' Up! event giveaway that I just could not work out!! Until now... how amazing!!!)

The BBQ tools... mainly care of Nailed It!... with a bit of help from Perfect Mix (not available anymore) and the long retired hostess set, Love Me Sew

And the knobs... punched out 1/4" circles from the silver foiled paper in Urban Underground... plus the Urban Underground embellishments (also gone but again I have a few spare for the kits) for the on/off switch on the right (next to the fish slice!) 

And the wheels! Though I have another great option for the wheel spokes using the Festive Flower Builder Punch!! Which is retiring & reduced down to £12.80.... (and key for the Aga!) But more on that another day...

And yes the card folds flat for posting... though - with those wheels - it wouldn't fit through the thin slot at the Post Office!!

Again sorry for not providing full chapter and verse... but time is not mine today (or whole weekend actually!) ... but I couldn't wait to share... 

Stampin Up! Products Used

Stamps - Nailed It (retiring), Perfect Mix (not available!), Love Me Sew (retired); Big on Birthdays

Punches - 3/4" Circle, 1/2" Circle, 1/4" or Owl Punch (retired)

Papers - Serene Scenery (retiring), Urban Underground(not available)

Card - Thick Whisper White, Basic Grey, Silver Foil, Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Crumb Cake

Inks - Memento Black, Smoky Slate

Marker Pens - Basic Black

Embellishments - Urban Underground (not available)

Really love this make too!!

The AGA Card... Part 1 with Perfect Mix...

Well this card prompted the loudest (and longest) audible reaction in a class ever! I really wished I had thought to tape it... as I did have a hunch that it would go down well!!!

Click HERE to go and order the tutorial (s)... 

Though the 4 funniest things were that...

(1) we were doing our Men's cards in May class... but only 1 lady chose the alternative more manly option!!! More on that another day!

(2) Two ladies are not sending this anywhere... but are buying a frame to display and protect it in their kitchens!

(3) such excitement at my AGA label.... care of Festive Flower Builder Punch (reduced to £12.80 while stocks last) and Labeler Alphabet...

(4)  I wasn't going to buy the Perfect Mix stamp set... SO glad I did!!! It has come in very useful this week... and not just for baking themed cards... more on that another day!!! Though sadly Perfect Mix stocks have just run out... 

So what do you think?? 

I have to admit that this is my favourite card ever (so far) ... and I don't even possess an Aga...

And my favourite bits... actually the combination of the whole thing.... but in the details... oh the covers, knobs (Festive Flower Builder Punch again... though fiddly!) and AGA label of course!! Not forgetting the card fold... and the Irresistibly Floral papers for the tiled splashback!

And yes it does actually fold down flat for posting....

Though I added a bit of ribbon so the recipient has a "prompt" to push/pull that flat top.... and I giggled as ... when I explained the purpose of it... none of my ladies added it for their display version!!!

I will be making a tutorial available to purchase for the 3 cards in this series... hopefully by the end of next week...

Though for UK only... the Trio tutorial will be sent automatically to my downline team members and can be obtained for free for May class attendees... OR ... for everyone else...  free with an online order of £20+  ........ click here for my Online Shop. Make sure you can see my name (Amanda Bates) at the top right of the screen... and enter the current Host Code VQTSBUDV where prompted...

I will be providing "Class in the Mail kits of the Trio including tutorial " - so please email me here asap but by the end of Tuesday 16th May latest if you are interested in one of these...particularly if you and some friends wish to arrange a private class here in North Yorkshire...  As the Urban Underground papers are out of stock in the UK so I will only be able to provide from the packs I have ... nice to share! But a complication for me to work through/price up depending on how many people are interested... It may end up as a First Come, First Served... I also don't know if I can supply outside of UK!?

Stampin Up! Products Used

Stamps - Perfect Mix (not available!), Labeler Alphabet

Punches - Festive Flower Builder (retiring)

Papers - Irresistibly Floral, Serene Scenery, Urban Underground (all retiring!)

Card - Thick Whisper White, Basic Grey, Silver Foil, Basic Black

Inks - Memento Black, Soft Sky, Whisper White Craft

Marker Pens - Smoky Slate, Island Indigo, Soft Sky

Avant Garden Palm Trees Scene & Tutorial

Finally finished off a card project I started a while back!  As soon as I came up with the Avant Garden Palm Trees idea as shared here and here... the "daydream" stamp from Designer Tee and a hammock between palm trees beckoned me... but I had to go and create for my booked classes instead... so it went off to the side...

So today I grabbed my Serene Scenery paper stack and got to work. Love that the sky & clouds paper works so well for sea.... and that the dandelions paper works so well for a sunset sky... don't know why I didn't see these until today! But I am off to purchase some more now... makes cardmaking scenes so simple!

Stamped black sentiments both from Designer Tee (yours for free with a £45 order until Friday!) Have to admit that this is my most used Sale A Bration set...and not a T-shirt in sight (yet!)

Palm Trees stamped and given the Touches of Texture treatment as already shared here...

Hammock just a small piece of folded stripey ribbon with Linen Thread stapled along the back so I could attach to the trees (yes a few sewn hand-stitches would have been better... but I was a woman on a mission...and I can't sew!!)

Interestingly the card format I used changed suddenly from my original plan... as I saw this super Centre Box Card by Liza last night and had to make a version of the fold (without the extra box part as not needed on this occasion)... so thanks to Liza for immediately inspiring me to make this.... a super but simple fancy fold.... And it all folds to fit into a Medium Crumb Cake envelope (or a standard C6 envelope would work too)

My measurements are different as from our A4 card...
So this card is 10.5 x 21cm Thick Whisper White.
Scored when LANDSCAPE (long side at top!) at 3.5; 7; 14 and 17.5cm.

Paper Panels are 3x10cm (x4 for Fronts & Sides) and 6.5x10cm for the Back Panel.
Bottom Panel is Thick Whisper White 2.3 x 14cm & DSP 2 x 13.5cm

Enjoy! I did... and I don't think this is the last you will see of this card fold...

And remember...Sale A bration finishes this Friday 31st March... and that both Avant Garden and Designer Tee are stamps you can earn for free with a £45 order... full set pictures here... 

Watercolor Wings Serene Scenery

Some more makes with the Serene Scenery papers today...

With Baby Wipe ink pad butterflies this time...

Everyone loved making these... and for once no-one got stressed that theirs weren't the same as mine!

I used the large background butterfly stamp and antenna from Watercolor Wings - along with the both the Butterflies dies (for the filigree butterfly) and the Bold Butterflies dies (for the baby wipe pad solid butterfly)

The small butterflies and greeting are from the Butterfly Basics set, punched out with the Bitty Butterfly punch. And I used the Blushing Bride sequin trim for the body...

And a tip for you with the trim... though oops no photos...

I cut off a strip of about 5 sequins - plus one extra that I put on a Glue Dot.  I placed Tear N Tape along the body section, wrapped under the thread at one end of my 5 sequins and stuck them to the body part. I then placed the single one on the Glue Dot to cover the other end. 

But you do need to think about the direction that your sequins will lie in...as you want that last sequin to be in the same orientation!

Wetlands Serene Scenery

Now this was one of the cards that immediately popped into my head when I first saw the brilliant Serene Scenery papers back in April at the UK On Stage event....

It has been a while since I have used Wetlands... and it is just perfect for the job...

So how to make one for yourself...

1. Cut the paper in half (3") and trim off to 11.9cm for an A6 card (guess 3" x 4 1/4" for US Standard card?)
2. Put temporary glue on the back of the paper panel and stick centrally on card front
3. Ink up and stamp the birds. Tip- I used the Tip Top Taupe ink pad and highlighted the bird bodies and legs with an Early Espresso marker pen. Makes it pop more...
4. Ink up and stamp a few foliage images. Tip - again Tip Top Taupe pad plus Early Espresso marker
5. Ink up and stamp Versamark greeting . Add white embossing powder and heat to melt
6. Emboss paper using Seaside embossing folder. Tip - my sky isn't embossed...didn't seem right!
7. Adhere panel to white mat (8 x 12.3cm - or 3 1/4" x 4 1/2" for US card?)
8. Adhere to card front

And here is the simpler version without the Seaside embossing stage... and with just Tip Top Taupe inking up...

I just LOVE this piece of paper.... Lovely little simple but stunning cards... in a flash!

And a perfect card for me to submit to this week's Freshly Made Sketches FMS 243 challenge. First timer challenge entry alert! (actually 2nd ever if I am totally truthful) 

But I have to say that I really love this sketch... most of the cards submitted are fabulous as it is just such a great sketch Amy...

 

Edited to Add: 

Oh my!! I was selected as a a Perfect Princess by Kim of the Freshly Made Sketches Team... what an honour as there were lots and lots of fabulous entries... and I am a complete novice at a challenge entry! And so I have a badge to share with you now!!

Fancy Fold Friday - Double Z Joy Fold Card

You didn't think I would leave a series without having a Fun Fold card to show you did you!!?

So my Butterfly Basics class this week was a re-run of my June Beginners Class. But this time we had some experienced stampers... so I had a great excuse to carrying on making some more cards!! And to start to use my pack of Serene Scenery papers too...

And I had a couple of people who were missing form my last class so I thought I had better show them how to make my new Double Z Joy Fold card before they spotted them all around the room!! Go here if you wish to make one for yourself... and don't fancy the trip to sunny Yorkshire in the UK!!!

Spot the add of the postmark to the circular patterned paper in the middle... and the copper embossed butterfly and wording... oh and the butterfly antenna are just done by hand...

Greetings from a variety of stamp sets!! Congratulations and Wedding Wishes from Floral Phrases. On Your from hostess Time of Year and Happy Day from Perfectly Wrapped

And for tomorrow... something completely different to butterflies!! And the monthly Blog Hop too... See you then...

New Products and New Videos...

I was wondering how to best show you some of the wonderful new products when I haven't received my lovely new catalogue order yet....

Though today... a lovely box was delivered with fabulous new catalogue goodies sent as a thank you for my On Stage Display Stamper work.... so more on those very soon.... can't wait to get them into action - and then share!!

But then I remembered that Stampin Up! have provided us with some great resources to show you in the best way possible... Click on the top product image to go to the product details and/or click on the photo below to go to the Stampin' Up! You Tube video...

So without further ado... here are a few of my favourite things..... I will be back with a proper Top 10 (or so!) round up... but I am still wrestling with myself over the hard decision as what goes on the list!

Floral Boutique/Detailed Floral Thinlits. 
OMG these are divine!!! Just saying....

Foxy Friends. 
Marmite - you will have to have... or not!

Serene Scenery Paper. 
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE these...but there were mixed views on them at Telford. Can't wait to prove them wrong change their minds!!!

Weather Together
Love love love.... can't wait to get them....

Right that is enough from me for today...but there are a lot more videos on the Stampin' Up! You Tube site if you need to see more whilst you are there....