Happy Valentine's Day...

A Teepee Fold card ( aka 3D Triangle Fold) format and a few variants of heart chocolate shadow-boxes to share this year...

Used Enjoy The Rhythm stamps, retired Everyday Chic papers and a few retired stamps and dies - such as Sweet & Sassy, Playful Alphabet and Word Wishes...

Card open and closed...

Couple of different choclate box lids... fully enclosed in black on top.. and flap style in acetate below... TBH I changed from the acetate as my (none SU!) acetate sheet was too thick for the job... so it would have been difficult for everyone to score in class... as well as being rather destructive to the box frame when opening!

 

Enjoy The (Valentine) Rhythm Twisted Easel Card

Happy Valentine's Day to you... with a quick share today of something I made earlier especially for the occasion...

I bought these Lindor heart chocolates with Valentine's Day in mind... and had plans to feature them on a lovely multi-sized treat box(es) arrangement... along with a separate card... but time was not on my side... so the card and treat were combined... 

And here you go... a simple Twisted Easel Card (aka Diagonal Easel Card) ... very simple... score a square card blank... then score across the diagonal (eg bottom left corner to top right corner) on the top face...

Featuring the lovely new Enjoy The Rhythm stamp set, Perfectly Pencilled papers and the retired A Wish For Everything stamp set and Sweet & Sassy dies

Spot the added features...

- drum kit image cut in half to allow for the Lindor Heart as the main drum...

- Die cut heart added over the cut line before the chocolate... so that the card is still neat after the chocolate is pulled off and wolfed down

- Poppy Parade and Grey Granite Stampin Blends colouring on the drum image and the papers to add a pop of colour...

Fun Fold Friday - Simply Elegant Lock & Pop Card

Had to use my Simply Elegant papers again before they go for good! Along with the Bouquet of Love dies.... and the retired Sweet & Sassy and Large Numbers dies dies (as I needed a larger heart for the numbers)

And it was time to re-size the Lock& Pop card shared here... so this is an A6(ish) version... but more on that another day...

And the view from the back....

Perfect card for our Silver Wedding Anniversary later this year!

The Simple Spinner Valentine Card...

A simpler version of yesterday's card... with no Easel in sight...

And you might be able to see the aperture better in the next shot...

Just a simple little 10.5cm ( US equivalent 4 1/4") square card blank... and using White Bakers Twine for the spinner instead of the Invisible Thread I used yesterday... 

Retiring List - So very sad to see these going!

I have been asked by a few people to highlight products I am very sad to see going from the Stampin' Up! range... so I will attempt this over a few parts...

First up... some products that I know I will struggle to create without in the future ahead!! Call them my Top 10 of Retiring Must Haves! Not including any stamps...

Now most of my ladies already have most of these... but if not... please do think about ordering them now... as they will soon be gone... All still available now... but only while supplies last (or 31st May latest) And for my locals... I will be placing my next orders late tonight Monday, 23rd April and then 2nd May...

Just click on the product photo to go straight to the item in my Online Store...

Stamp A Ma Jig... 

What no stamp positioner to use with our Wood Mount stamps!! 

The new Stamparatus tool is brilliant... but it does not replace the Stamp A Ma Jig for wood mount OR for a one-off greeting... Whilst it will not disappear from use in my classes... life with your stamps at home will not be the same without it!!

And fellow demos... please feel free to add your voice to the Product Sandbox for this tool to continue... I know many of us have already...

Large Numbers dies

Most used dies in classes... and most used by my ladies at home too... what is a special card without shouting out the age or number of years after all!! And the Large Letters will still be available... so if you like to have everything matching... then please get them now...

And fellow demos... Sandbox!? Again many of us have already...

Hearth & Home dies

GULP!!! Personally my most creatively used dies over the years... a round-up post on these would be very long! Though may have to be attempted before they go!! In the meantime I have linked a few in the sentence below!!!

Not just for Windows (of all shapes & sizes) ... but also for Doors... and Fireplaces... and Wardrobes... and Gates... and iPads... and Tardis... and Telephone Box... and Chests of Drawers... and Super Extra Large Letters!! GULP AGAIN!! Very SAD face on here...

Love these ... and used these... so much... that I actually have 2... can't believe I am going to have to create for classes etc without them... Actually I think I may have to Sandbox again!! Though I think this one is a more personal loss!!!

Brick Wall embossing folder

Gulp again! Perfect for so many of my architectural and flowery creations over the years... and for those wonderful Graffiti cards for the men and boys...

Bow Builder Punch

So perfect for doing the bow-creating job it does... it will be so missed...

Glimmer Paper

Now I didn't spot this one straight away... but suddenly I saw a few bulk buys going on!! Yes... the Glimmer Paper as we know it is retiring...

But not all is lost with this one... as there is an alternative coming... described as "thinner"... mmm time will tell... and I will keep you posted as and when I can... but in the meantime... feel free to stock up too... Gold and Clear (Dazzling Diamonds) still available... and the Myths & Magic multi-pack ... but Silver already all gone...

Bloomin Heart dies

Very special... and beautiful... making for easy cards for all occasions... and I know they are still on a few Wish Lists... 

Sweet & Sassy dies

Can't tell you how useful I found these recently... again make for super easy cards for all occasions... and I know they are still on a few Wish Lists...

1 3/8" Circle Punch

One of my very first Stampin Up! buys... and yes I know that there are dies... but they are just not the same as a punch when you just need to quickly punch and go! Mine is still in constant use every week...

Fast Fuse adhesive

Whilst this is not my personal favourite... I know that there are a lot of you that are going to REALLY miss this glue system SO much... so please don't delay in stocking up if you have come to love it... Holder and refills still available for us in Europe... though not elsewhere in the world I believe...

Sweet & Sassy Team Thanks for Joining Us...

Very quick share today... of a trio of Sweet & Sassy heart die cut cards made to welcome some lovely new members to my Craft Therapists Stampin' Up! team last month...

The wording (care of All Things Thanks) says it all... and I can't wait to see where their journeys take them... in the months (& years) ahead!

Papers from Petal Passion... on an Basic Black mat... on a Thick Whisper White small square card blank (10.5cm or US Letter 4 1/4") and finished off with a little sparkle care of a Rhinestone Basics Jewel

If you are still thinking about signing up with Stampin' Up! ... and I would love to welcome you to our little (and part of a big!) team (s)...

Just Click here for more details... and/or contact me with any questions via email here... no obligation whatsoever... I just love talking Stampin Up! & crafting after all...

But do remember that you want to sign up by 31st March... during the best starter kit offer of the year ... £130 product for £99 PLUS 2 FREE STAMP SETS (any value) with free shipping too!

Or if you are ready to order your Starter Kit... then here is the quick link to the on-line sign up form... you just need your credit/debit card and a list of what you want to order!

Team Celebrations Sweet & Sassy Cards...

Couple of cards I made for shiny team celebrations last month... proud SU! mummy moments!!

First up ... my fabulous no 5 "in big team sales" achiever Kate... wow Kate!

And second up... my lovely Silvery celebration card for Betty...

Didn't they do well!? So so proud of both of their achievements... well done girls...

Talking of my lovely team... remember that now is such a wonderful time to join Stampin Up! and my team.... as there are 2 extra stamp sets for free in your Starter Kit during Sale A Bration... yes £130 product plus 2 free stamp sets for £99... Till 31st March...

More information here and/or contact me here to find out more... I always love to talk about Stampin Up! journeys... tailor made... as everyone's is different... No obligation whatsoever... though I would love to welcome you on board...

SU! products used
Sweet & Sassy dies
Celebrate You dies (earn for free during Sale A Bration!)
Labeler Alphabet (SILVER & 5)
Number of Years (NO.) 
Silver Foil, Smoky Slate & Whisper White cardstock
Versamark & Silver Embossing Powder
Memento Black ink

Something Simple for the Weekend...Thank You...

So I had to make some different cards for my Thank Yous for February class customer/orders ... as they had already made this Waterfront/Charming Cafe card in classes ... (which I had then made for my online ordering customers)

And seeing as I know their favourite colours... it just had to be a re-run of this Sweet & Sassy die-cut & Sale A Bration Heartfelt Blooms card... which also meant I could try out a few tweaks as I went along...

First up was to white emboss the greeting... looks so much better but of course sadly the card was going to warp from the heat... so great idea with a panel under a heart die-cut mat on a card blank... but too many heavy books required to straighten out the straightforward embossing on the card blank for me!!! Wouldn't crafty life be simple if all these products/techniques didn't have their individual querks!!

So Berry Burst for Andrea...

And Perfect Plum for Jane...

Second up was to stamp with White Craft ink... which is still the best white ink I have ever tried!!!... and I tried about 10 prior to this one.... Great when viewed on its own.. but when you compare it side by side to the white embossed image... well!

So Elegant Eggplant for Nicky...

And Island Indigo for Zoe... and do not adjust your screen with this one...I had to turn the image after I added the watermark! Oops!!!

Third up was to revert back to Archival Black ink... 

So Wisteria Wonder for Jill...

And Sahara Sand for Sarah... who has only just realised that this maybe one of her actual favourite colours!!

So... apart from those mentioned above...  and thank you again ladies... 

Which would you choose?

Oh... and an added extra for you... as I suddenly needed to make another Sympathy card mid-making-stream... Smoky Slate with black greeting...

So glad I bought the Sweet & Sassy dies after all... should have done it years ago!

Sweet & Sassy & Simple! Thank You

Took me years to purchase the Sweet & Sassy dies... as I am not "into hearts".. and find that I only ever used them for Valentines cards... which I don't usually make a lot of...

But so glad I bought them... my attitude seems to be changing... gosh aren't hearts useful!

So this has to be one of the simplest cards I have ever created... but the recipient absolutely loved it!! As indeed I knew she would...

Though maybe I should have grabbed Perfect Plum as that is her absolute favourite colour... but when there is a Wisteria Wonder small square card blank (10.5cm from A4 or 4 1/4" from US Letter) just sat there... which is her 2nd favourite colour...well!!

So a simple die cut heart aperture... followed by Elegant Eggplant inking and stamping of the lovely Thank You greeting in Heartfelt Blooms...

And a card popped in an envelope and in her bag... in the minutes it took her to walk down to my house to collect her Stampin' Up!order...

Though I think it would look even better with a white embossed greeting!! But that would have taken me too many seconds...

And I have just realised (as I searched for the links for you)... that if you ordered Sweet & Sassy Framelits... plus one pack of card and one inkpad... the total would be £45.25.. and then you would get the Sale A Bration Heartfelt Blooms stamp set for free... Think how many cards you could make in an hour... 48 from the one card pack would be no problem! Bargain...