Valentine Trio

Now as I made this year's clean & simple Hey Valentine card (shared here)... I knew some of my ladies would think I had gone completely and barking mad with the gorilla image,. and that they would really would not want to make that one for their "loved one"... so I made a few spares...

First up a simple stamped and die cut heart... I reckon this is the least fussy heart from the gorgeous Meant to Be stamp set with co-ordinating dies... and so is suitable for cards for the men folk...

And then secondly... with just one person in mind.... yes for the Andrea and Andrew duo....and another card with "the main squeeze" expression from the Lemon Zest set ... though we had to go pink grapefruit for the citrus fruit!

And so... everyone was happy!!

Amanda's Quick Links

Just click on the relevant pictures below for catalogues and/or more information... 

If you are ordering today... do remember to add the Host Code shown below to earn yourself a gift and help support The Craft Spa at the same time... 

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Just click on the relevant pictures below for catalogues and/or more information...

High Tide - the light you shine...

The last of my High Tide class creations... again the stormy seas care of Clear Block Stamping (more on that here if you missed it)

But before I start... don't forget that today is the LAST day that you can order items that are not carrying over to the new 2017-18 Catalogue... and many of them are reduced to help you make that purchase! Pop over to the Retiring section in the Online Shop here... ordering closes 10.30pm tonight...

So back to the card... just different wording and lighthouse position from the one previously shared... and a very shiny Smoky Slate light popping over the edges of the stamped panel either side  - shine care of Wink of Stella which works a treat...

So... only 1 more sleep!! Are you ready for the new 2017-18 Annual Catalogue!! Ordering goes live at 8 am UK time 1st June....

Contact me by clicking here if you would like your own hard copy version... more were posted today as I had to get further supplies from Stampin' Up! #niceproblemtohave...

Beautiful You - Dancer on Beach...

A card to celebrate mothers everywhere today.... as it is Mother's Day in the UK....

Simple card with a Shimmery White A7 panel (7.4 x 10.5cm)... so you get 8 from an A4 piece of card to maximise your card useage! Pool Party 7.9x11cm mat.

Beautiful You images & greeting stamped in black Staz On...

Skirt, top of hat and umbrella paper pieced using Pool Party papers in the Subtles paper stack ...

Watercolor pencil & Aqua Painter wash of the sea (in Bermuda Bay) and the sky (in Pacific Point). Click here for more explanation of how to do the wash...

Rest of colouring done with watercolor pencils - T-shirt coloured with Bermuda Bay and skin with a light touch of Calypso Coral

Can't believe this is my first use of Beautiful You!! Love it....

Candy Cane Lane White Gift Box

Love these white gift boxes... 3" cube box plus a clear sleeve... a small gift will feel (and look) very special in one of these... Note that these are quite a bit larger than the 2" cube Tiny Treat boxes...

Simply dressed with the Candy Cane Lane papers and gorgeous Real Red Stitched Ribbon

Topped off with a frame from the hostess stamp set, Holly Jolly Layers. 

Want a hostess stamp set... but don't want to spend £150 in one go... then my Rewards Club could be the way for you...

Then Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas now... bet you are singing the song in your head!!!

Super CAS Thinking of You Floral Phrases Cards

I don't think you can get much simpler than these... but they say what you need to say when you need to say it!!! Using Floral Phrases and hostess Time of Year stamp sets

 Added 3D'd roses on the first one for a bit of extra dimension...

Night of Navy Rose sprays second stampings... so wording more vibrant...

Detailed Floral Phrases Roses - and a few tips....

 

Love the rose image in the Floral Phrases set... Armed with scissors you can have a gorgeous individual rose image in about 30 seconds... or about a minute will result in a couple of leaf sprays which come in handy too...

And I have to admit that the rose & leaves image detracted from my liking of the stamp set at first... In fact I wasn't going to buy the bundle... but then I realised I could get the clear mount bundle for free from Stampin' Up! with some of my earned rewards... and so I did... phew... as I love the greetings... and this image after all....

So back to the card... it started off life as the super CAS panel... but I noticed that there was a mark on my panel so I couldn't stamp a Floral Phrases greeting as intended... so my Hostess Time of Year stamp set was still out... and the banner made for a great cover up job... 

So first tip for you here (of 3) ... the mark was because a piece of die cut scrap was on my Precision Plate when I went to cut the next panel...so when the pressure was applied through the Big Shot... there was a small dent left behind... so make sure you don't have any scraps lying around on your plate!!

Back to the card... I thought it was a bit... plain... so I faffed around with a few ideas and then realised that that rose would make a great add on... these are second stampings ( ie ink ued in Night of Navy, stamped off onto a scrap of paper, and then stamped on Thin Whisper White card) And yes I had to use the leaves too... I do like my fussy cutting!!

And a second tip for you (of 3) ...for the rose... you can cut it out at different sizes... really easy as there are the lines there for you to cut round... so my top left rose is full size...whereas my bottom right rose is smaller....

And a third tip(s) for you... for the die-cutting of the Detailed Floral dies... which I am finding really straightforward!! After a bit of playing around initially... Which is incredible with this amount of detail....

For me the recommended Precision Plate is key... with the multipurpose platform with both tabs... 

I roll the die and card through twice...  I also then flip the die and card over and roll it through again (so for a 3rd time)... so this time the die is cutting through onto the plastic plate... and suddenly some extra magic happens....

Then the bits are just falling off... a tap or two of the die resulting in most of the bits dropping out... if not... a quick brush with the die cut brush and everything is out.... I think I have only had to poke out 2-3 of the tiniest bits on a few cuts...

Detailed Floral Clean & Simple Notecard Set

Did I tell you these Detailed Floral dies are my favourite product...ever!! They work like a dream.... though they do require the recommended Precision Plate in my opinion...

I started to make my customer Thank You cards to go out with orders... and the process just started to change as I carried on with my task!! So I just had to share...

First we have a Night of Navy die cut panel mounted onto a plain Whisper White card blank...

Next we have a Whisper White card blank die cut... then a Night of Navy panel mounted onto the back of the die cut area...

Then we have a Whisper White card blank die cut... then a Night of Navy panel mounted onto the back of the card...

Finishing off with a Night of Navy card blank die cut... then a Whisper White panel mounted onto the back of the card... with the greeting embossed in white on this version...

I love all 4 versions.... but the last 2 look so beautiful as you peep through that filigree detail... and require no fussy "being tight with your Tombow" glue action on narrow filigree sections...! So easy peasy... though less strong when standing up of course...

And a few other details... 

The card blank is a 10.5cm Square card blank (4 1/8" Square). 

I am cutting a 10.2cm (4") wide panel to die cut through (ie as in the first version)

And a 9.9cm (3 15/16") panel to stick on the backs

I have used the co-ordinating Floral Phrases stamps... which I have quickly come to LOVE... but more on that another day...

And I finished off simply with Night of Navy or Whisper White Solid Bakers Twine. Really wish I had bought all the coloured Solid Bakers Twines straightaway... loving them!! Oh well I am ordering again later this week so I can quickly resolve that stock problem....

Now back to using the co-ordinating Floral Boutique papers for next week's classes.... Ooh... think I might just create a box for 4 notecards.... 

And finally... I have to admit... I think you are going to see a lot of makes over the months with these papers!!! I think they are the business....! In my happy corner...

Rich Razzleberry Rose Wonder

Really simple stamped card... roses in Rich Razzleberry... leaves in Blackberry Bliss (going to really miss this colour when it retires on 31st May)

Greeting in a mixture of both... though I have to admit that the greeting moved in the Wisteria & Eggplant re-make of this card!

Blackberry Bliss mat... Rich Razzleberry card

And please don't forget... to re-order your re-inkers and card stock etc now for the soon to be retiring 2014-16 In Colors... more details here...

Circle of Spring Simple Square Easel Card

So here is another version of the Simple Square Easel Card posted previously here and here...

Simple blender pen coloured Circle of Spring wreath on Shimmer card

Crumb Cake paper (from the Neutrals 12x12 paper stack) card & ribbon colours and Mint Macaron leaves and highlights so that any colours could be chosen in class for the flowers... I used Blushing Bride...

And have to laugh as this post was scheduled (incorrectly as it didn't work!) quite a while ago... as you can see from the greeting!! But wait all is not lost after all... isn't Mothers Day in US in May??

And apologies... yet again the Mum sentiment is from the retired For My Family stamp set... Fingers crossed Stampin' Up bring us a new updated variant of this set in the new Annual Catalogue... my toes are crossed too!!!

And finally... fellow UK demos... looking forward to seeing you at Telford... not long now!!! I would love to know if you are going and hope to meet many of you if so...

Balloon Celebration Pop Out Swing Card

So a break from Rose Wonder today... Another Pop Out Swing Card with Balloons for a family member celebrating his 16th...

Want to try one for yourself... 6" Square tutorial here...

Not got any 12" card in yours stash... then try out the smaller 5 1/2" Square one here...

And I have to laugh at myself... as I have searched and searched... I would have sworn that I had posted a 14.8cm version from A4 card... but it is eluding me for now!!

Seems to be a theme this year... I either think I have done things that I haven't - or even funnier I do things that I don't think I have!!! Anyone else have the same problem - or is it just me!!!!?

SU! Products Used

Stamps - Number of Years, Balloon Celebration

Does - Large Numbers

Papers - Birthday Bouquet 

Card - Pool Party, Mossy Meadow, Silver Glimmer

Inks - Mossy Meadow, Pool Party, Mint Macaron

Rose Wonder Wreath

Hope you have enjoyed a fabulous Easter break with friends and family...  and hope you have had lots of chocolate... (or abstained because you are being good!!)

So back to Rose Wonder... a simple little wreath for you today... 5 little die-cuts... all stuck together in a circle!!

Finished off with ... two trios of little flowers care of Blackberry Bliss, Rich Razzleberry and Pink Pirouette cardstock and the flower punch from the Itty Bitty Accents punch trio - plus a few pearls. And a double bow in Rich Razzleberry cotton ribbon...

Pretty Easter Bakers Box

Slightly more space for your Easter Treats today! Care of my Bakers Box die and some Birthday Bouquet papers.... Simple... but oh so so pretty... 

I used the confetti paper design purposefully so that everyone could choose their own box colours from a pick of Pool Party, Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride or Watermelon Wonder...

Flower arrangement just cut out from the 12x12 paper piece in the pack...

And an admittance... the greeting is from the retired Easter Blossoms stamp set... well it was just the perfect size for my 2" Circle Punch and 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch... Wow  - I have just checked - that stamp set retired 4 years ago in 2012... 

And before you go... don't forget to check out this week's NEW Weekly Deals - products at 25% off...

Bloomin Heart in Silver & Blues - by Anne Williams

A beautiful card to share with you today.... This was sent to me by my very talented fellow teamie and SU! demo, Anne Williams. I love your version Anne... I know that you friend will have loved this for her special birthday card....

Anne used the following card of mine as her inspiration... and stepped it up and made it square! Girl after my own heart!!

And I am very happy to say that Anne did not repeat my deliberate error!!!

Look at my card again if you have not already spotted it.... thanks again for pointing it out Sharon...

We had to laugh... either 50 people have been ever so polite upon looking closely at the card at The Craft Spa and at Jems Quarterly Training... or none of us are very observant!!!

And I do wince/laugh a bit every time I see this on Pinterest....