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....

How long is a piece of string? And a Crafty Storage idea...

Dunno... but we had some fun making "string in a tin" from some (hoarded) empty coffee tins...

All thanks to Andrea... who came up with an idea for a "nice string in a tin" project when I asked what they would like to make for their menfolk other than cards... a titter went round the room... I pulled a face... and we all thought nothing more of it...

But later that day... a grin appeared on my face... as I realised what all those coffee tins I had been collecting for years could be used for!!! All it took was a spare piece of 12x12 (the now sold-out Urban Underground in this case, a bit of washi (again Urban Underground) and a piercing tool  to make the hole (s) in the lid(still got my long reach Crop A Dile - so easy for us on the day) ....

And there were no "titters" when presented at class!!! They all made them... proudly shared them... or even gave as presents (and weeks till Fathers Day yet!!!)... and now I have been asked to save more coffee tins!! Luckily Heidi - I have just found a new collection in a new place... so your wish is my command!!!

And for us crafters... punch/pierce multiple holes and pop 3 (maybe 4?) Bakers Twine on a reel in there... another crafty storage solution solved... so I for one will be making a few as an easier - and much prettier- way to store my Bakers Twines... with a new set of papers of course! So watch this space....

And as a final point... there are so many "string" expressions in our world... I chose "World on a String" as my excuse to use the retiring Places You'll Go set for one last time (oh now sold out!) as well as Urban District (retiring but still available in both clear mount and wood)... Along with the carrying over Labeler Alphabet for the wording....

Oh and thank you to Lavazza, Kenco and Nescafe for the tins!

Cheers DAD!

Another twist on the Dad U Fold Card shared here (tutorial linked there too!)

Proved very popular in classes....

And just another picture of it folded flat in a standard C6 envelope.... perfect fit...

Cheers Dad!

The Tool Bench card... Part 3 with Nailed It & Perfect Mix...

And the third in the trio... a bit simpler than the other two shared over the last 2 days to create... but definitely one to wow the men in your life...

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

And funnily enough... this is the one that now inspires the most new creative ideas in my head!! So I think you will be seeing another series (or 10) sometime in the future... but a break from creating these is required to schedule a few new private classes, sort out the ordered kits & write up the tutorial!! So bear with me...

But fear not... I have plenty of other Men's makes to share with you in the meantime!!! So please keep coming back...

And my favourite details!! Oh the drill of course.... care of the out-of-stock Perfect Mix again... who knew how much I would end up using this set.... and the simply die cut bench ruler... though unfortunately the dies are now out of stock in Europe/probably Rest of World...

Though the Nailed It tools do do the main job for the tools you need most... and stamps still available... in clear mount... and wood mount...

And yes... the card does fold flat for mailing...

So I hope you have liked my series this weekend... though I do already feel that a lot of you have....!

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 have to end up as a First Come, First Served... Edited to Add: I have checked and unfortunately I will not be able to provide the Class Kits in the Mail outside of the 5 European territories...

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

Though for UK only... the Trio of tutorials 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... 

Stampin Up! Products Used

Stamps - Hardwood, Nailed It (retiring), Perfect Mix (not available!),  Big on Birthdays

Papers - Urban Underground (not available)

Card - Crumb Cake, Silver Foil, Island Indigo, Basic Grey

Inks - Memento Black, Crumb Cake

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

Urban Underground Nailed It #3

Last of the Team Training Trio... great set of cards Julie...

A notecard and pocket to put in..

See the first of the trio here for more details on the products used - and how... 

Urban Underground & Nailed It #2

Second in the series of Team Training Urban Underground & Nailed It makes... this was definitely my favourite Julie!! No surprises there hey!

Lovely little "pull out pop up slider easel type" card of which I first saw samples made by my lovely teammate Chris Guile at a training session last year (and yes I was excited wasn't I Chris!) Sorry but I forget the name... Pop Up Slider Card maybe!? But more on that another day as I already have an adjustment to make it easier to make ... 

Folds flat to put in the envelope and post... 

Love it!

More details on the stamps and dies and what else was used on the first post of the series here...

And a great cardmaking day today! 3 new cards made... with a couple of new designs I have come up with... but I forgot to photo! Oops... Back with them someday soon....

Nailed It Build It #1

Nailed It! is one of my favourite bundles in the Spring Summer catalogue... great to have some tools to play with to make cards for the men in my life... and be warned I have a very long list of project ideas inspired by this set.... though it will be a few weeks before I get to use them properly...

Had my first go at using them at our Quarterly Team Training the other week... so here is one Julie made earlier! Nice one Julie...

Great simple little card using the Hardwood background stamp (stamped in Basic Grey on Crumb Cake), Stitched Shapes Framelits (as they are now back in stock), Urban Underground Washi Tape and strongly featuring some Nailed It! paper pieced tools....

And here are the product images... remember that the stamp set/bundle is available in both wood and clear mount...