Following on from the popularity of my Wonderful Wondrous Wreath Santa blog post as shown below…. this Curvy Keepsakes Santa just had to be made !!
Wasn’t room for the wreath as well though… though I have just had an idea!!! One for next year maybe! Now could that be a hint to a carryover product!!! Yes…my lovely wreaths will continue on into 2015…… phew!
Now I have been having great fun with my Curvy Keepsakes die! I officially LOVE it!!
It was one of my first purchases from the Autumn Winter Catalogue back in August when we demos could pre-order. And it was the first product that I picked up and wrote a long list of projects that I could make.
But time leapt away from me as it does – and so it was a few weeks before I went back to that list and started to create something… and then life leapt away again & lots of blog posts showing cards and stamp sets etc…and now it is months later…and I am finally beginning to share what I made!!
So first - here is my little robin redbreast…. I tried to get a photo of this with the real robin redbreast that sits on this bush… but he wasn’t playing ball!!
Now some of you will realise that he seems a bit familiar… yes I used the basic format (aka Angry Birds Chick!) that I shared earlier in the year for the Tag Topper Punch Easter Chick Treat Holder and previously for the Fancy Favour Box version. Both of those projects were so popular – it just had to be done! So punch art tutorials linked there….
And yes Angry Birds were on my Curvy Keepsakes list too!!
And now for something different… I suppose you could call this a blooper… or a disaster if you had been standing where I was… but I learnt 2 new things from it...so I thought I should share….
First of all I read a blog post in the morning by Bryan King, one of our talented Stampin Up! demonstrators in the US - where he shared his dislike of glitter and mess – and a picture of a bottle of Dazzling Details that said a 1000 words about glitter and mess!!… I even hear myself utter the word “oops – how did that happen!”….. so not that I am blaming Bryan…but…
Later that evening… picture the scene… my table about to be cleared & set up for my class the following night
And a final tweak to my BIG 8” Square Flap card… just the addition of silver glitter to the roofline of the house using my bottle of Dazzling Details ….. when the un-thinkable happened… I pressed so hard….that a glitter shooting star shot 7 foot across the table as the plug shot out & across the table….
First of all, here is the glitter mountain on my finished card….
Then, here is the glitter iceberg for the polar bear on the second version of the card panel I had made for demo purposes … that card is half way up the table – about 4 foot away…. just in front of the Simply Scored board…
With the final eruption landing on my guillotine… and the plug finally coming to rest behind the bone folder!! At least 7 feet away from me….
Now I cannot possibly repeat the words I uttered when this happened….. But as I said… I learnt 2 very important things about Dazzling Details….
Firstly… there is SO much in that little bottle…. as you can see a huge amount landed in each of the 3 positions…. but that little bottle is still mainly full!!! And the plug just went back in – and it is back in use ( but I won’t be squeezing it hard like that again!!)
Secondly… that it just wipes away!!! I acted fast and there isn’t a speck of silver glitter remaining on my cards etc. And so my class was saved…. phew….
Any of your crafting bloopers you would like to share with me…. I am sure you would make me feel much better!!
Just when I thought I had finished with White Christmas I found a card that I haven’t yet shared. Apologies for the bad photos recently – but I broke one of my special light-box lights last week…. and I hope that Santa has a new set for me in that sleigh!!! Edited to add… Oops I had actually shared this before… so why couldn’t I find the photo I took before!!
This is a simple DL card that I made as a practice card for the BIG card shown below! Now when I posted the big card I was later asked how I had stamped the snow banks…and I promised some more details when I re-ran the class …. so here is a little step by step with pictures for you….
There are other ways of doing this… but I decided to do it this way as I had completely new crafters making the cards so other methods were more likely to go wrong – or need the Stamp A Ma Jig/equipment that they don’t have and don’t need with their photopolymer stamp set…. and also as the same method could be used for another part of the card….
1. Stick the paper onto the white card mat leaving about 2” loose at the bottom ( ie no glue at the bottom !!!) You could also use temporary adhesive – but I didn’t want to introduce another type of glue for my new crafters…
2 Ink up & stamp image to bottom of paper.
3. Lift up the un-glued bottom part of the paper & cut just below/on the black sky line. Oops a gap in the tree trunk!!!
4. Draw in the tree trunk (s) using the thin end of a Basic Black marker pen… Yay…no gap!
5. Now you can stick the bottom of the paper down….
6. Same method to extend the skyline between the 2 lots of tree images on the larger panel. Just draw a line in to join the images together using the thin end of your black marker pen…. and cut as necessary….
And as I know some of you are wondering…. yes my new crafters all achieved the big card!!! And they were all fabulous….. Even my completely new crafter who came last minute to the last session of my trio of Beginner workshops. Didn’t HE do well!!! We did laugh at this being his first card…… in at the deep end or what!!
And … come back later for something awful that happened to the big card…. less than 24 hours before my class!!! I dread to think what words I uttered before I cried….. You would not credit it…… and I have some fellow demo’s blog post on that day that I have to blame!!! All will be revealed….
And rounding off my series of all things White Christmas. Here are some simple tags…
These were inspired by a simple but stunning tag created by Julie Day 3 years ago that I saw care of PInterest – and that had never left my head - and I knew that White Christmas was the perfect stamp set to create some of my own….
I think you can see the progression of my little tag series….! Great fun!
Sorry for the Stars interruption to the series….. but almost finished my White Christmas series now….
This card I love…. both visually and technically…. but I can’t take much of the credit for it….. this was a swap card made by the lovely and uber-talented Sam Wilson from our last Team Training. It caused rather a stir… there were lots of audible gasps as it was handed over! Here is Sam’s card below….a complete stunner!
So why did I change such a beautiful card…. mainly because I needed it to take less time in the class…as you can see from this series I had lots of cards for my ladies to make!
So I had to remove some of the steps…. for example – using the All is Calm papers instead of embossing … and then I made a sample with the foil dots and the room lit up!! Literally… you should see these glisten when they hit the light….. I couldn’t really catch that in a photo…. but I am sure you get the idea….
Hope you are not upset with me Sam! Thank you for sharing this card with me….. It really is a very clever centre step card format…. that remains standing up nice & proud… one that will be repeated another day….
Thought I had better quickly share my other Star makes from the fabulous Many Merry Stars Kit. Fancy your own kit to make the NOEL and stars…. please read on to the end of the post….
Yesterday I shared this version … using a smaller star for the O…
And then I got to thinking…. these Noel ones are perfect as a gift for my postman (who is called Noel!)
But then there is my friend Len…
And of course the lovely Nell… ( thanks for your L Karen!! Couldn’t have done this without it!!)
Right silliness over and done with….. oh but there is Neil too!!!!
Bad photo but here is the kit as intended…. though lots of my other stars are still on the mantelpiece with NOEL or used in my other ideas! And I can’t wait to get the greenery down from the loft and display them properly on the mantelpiece…
And here is a cute little tree….. this part of my display has really caught the eye of everyone... though he does look a bit wonky in this photo!!!
And a Christmas tree decoration… the thick Bakers Twine even comes in the Many Merry Stars Kit
And finally a tag….
And I have to admit…. I loved this kit so much that I have ordered another. I will be making the NOEL small star arrangement for a few friends & family - and reckon I will have enough stars left over for my tags too!
Here are the 3 essential items I used to create these projects – the boxes and the papers just being used for NOEL…
Stampin᾿ Up! Supplies
A Class To Go kit for these can be yours for £41.70 plus £4.95 postage as follows…
Order these 3 items through my Online Store quoting hostess code DJBN2STF where prompted (BUT PLEASE do not check out as a guest or I cannot contact you!!) They will be shipped straight to you from Stampin’ Up! within 4-6 days (subject to stock availability). The step by step instructions to make the letters will come from me separately – as well as a close up of all of my stars!!
Or email me & I can place the order for you...
I also used these stamps & basic items to dress a few up a little bit …. So add anything to your order that you feel essential!
Stampin᾿ Up! Supplies
How exciting! I was nominated by fellow demo Rachel Chamberlain of Great Minds Ink Alike last week to participate in the Creative Monday Blog Hop. This is a blog hop about creativity and our love for creativity. Each Monday, a few bloggers post on their blogs sharing a little bit about their creativity and will also invite two other bloggers to join and post on the following Monday.
So first I will share my latest creative project… grab a Many Merry Stars kit, a bag of Tiny Treat Boxes and some co-ordinating Under The Tree speciality designer series paper . And you have a great mantelpiece decoration to brighten up any room….. More Merry Stars to follow tomorrow… and details of my Many Merry NOEL Stars Class Kit to Go too….
And here are my 4 questions & answers!
1. What are you working on?
Quite a lot over the next week! (though it is a very quiet week compared to usual!)
Prepping for my last class of the Year. Making some more of these NOELS for Christmas presents. Finalising some Class Kits to Go. Finishing off my Christmas cards to send…Writing up some blog posts & tutorials to share. Oh and hopefully a WWWU Team Challenge card too…
And then my big box will arrive from Stampin Up!… with new stamps & products from the Spring Summer Catalogue & Sale A Bration promotion that launch in January …. So I will finish off the week blissfully creating something new….. well quite a few things probably….
2. How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I like to keep my creative work Clean & Simple. Or as others have told me DOUBLE CAS…. Clean & Stylish and Classy & Simple….
But I love a Fancy Fold card to give immediate WOW too…. whether it is one I make up myself or one that I stumble upon on the web….
And then… as others keep telling me… I have “unusual” ideas…now I don’t really know if that is code for weird …or wonderful!!!
And I don’t just do cards – though a lot of my class attendees want just cards! I get such a buzz from creating a mini book, a box, a bag, a treat holder,a home decor project or an altered item…. especially those that I create from scratch…
3. Why do you create what you do?
Simply - I create to share… I share to inspire… The SU! mantra of Create Inspire Share sums it all up for me….
It started off with just sending friends & family something handmade & special ( I used to find it amazing to get Thank You cards or telephone calls for my Christmas cards!!!)
Then I realised friends were interested and that I could show them how to craft for themselves!
Then I started a blog – and lovely people gave me lovely comments about my work inspiring them when I shared a project.
And now… I create & share projects for the various classes I run, for customer purchases so they can see how to get more use out of their products, for Team Meetings & the Team Forum & occasionally just ‘cos! All of which get shared on my blog & Pinterest too….
4. How does your creative process work?
Ah… lots of ways! I completely bombard myself actually…..
I have an “unusual” idea – and work out how to make it …OR more often…
I look at a Stampin’ Up! product – be it a die, punch or stamp set – and my brain goes into overdrive. I usually write a list of 12-20+ different ideas for that one item…. but I probably only get the time to create 4 or 5….! I then look at another product….and a new list forms….
I follow lots of blogs, I am very active on Pinterest, I am part of a great & sharing team… so I am constantly inspired by others too!!!! So my list of 20 ideas expands to about 30 or so….. often more!
I am also a great researcher – so when it is time to pick up a stamp set or punch….I will still get onto Google and get even more inspiration for that item…. yup list now approaching 50…
But it is probably a good job I am not into the videos on You Tube as well ( or my list would go up to 75!!)
And then I select a few ideas off my list – and I start to actually create something!! I make loads of mess… I agonise over colours and placement & which other products to use! … but I get there in the end….
But I have a new years resolution….. pick one product, use my own list and focus!!! LOL….
And as I love this sum up of my work as it appears to others…. I will also share what Rachel said about me as she nominated me last week ….
I first found Amanda through a Pinterest pin, and I am so glad I did. She will take one stamp set and show so many different ways to use the same set or she will design one "wow" project and make several using different stamps. She makes it easy to imagine a project and to see the possibilities in a particular stamp set or project.
Such lovely words Rachel. You highlighted what I try to do so perfectly….Thank YOU!!
And finally… my invites for continuing this blog hop next Monday 15th December ..… go to fellow team members Julie's Japes by Julie Kettlewell (aka my SU! mummy) and Krafts by Kate Martin (aka SU! sister).
Both are such talented, charismatic and lovely ladies. We are all part of a Mutual Appreciation Society though …which means if you like my work… you will like theirs too… in fact they CASE me… I CASE them… lovely creative Stampin’ Up! circle….
So please don’t hesitate… pop over to their blogs straightaway for further inspiration…. I can’t wait to see what they share about their creative processes next Monday…
More cards from the White Christmas classes over the last fortnight. I decided that this little stamp set (coupled with the wonderful Holiday Home stamp set) was a great excuse for everyone to have their own creative play….. I had great fun producing samples! And so did everyone ….. everyone a little masterpiece….
The first 3 have the trees embossed in white, then a 1 “ circle mask added and sponged with Lost Lagoon to make the image come to life!! Rest of the scene then stamped & coloured. Then a greeting banner stapled on with the handheld stapler….
These two are just stamped in Memento Black, masked & sponged. The scene stamped & coloured. (spot Rudolph’s red nose!) Then snow added using the white Signo gel pen.
Right quickly on to Part 5 of this series…..
Apologies for the 10 day delay in posting more on this series…. but life got rather over-busy… lots of classes being run… extra taxi services with son, Joe’s life-stuff … and then last Monday… just as I got back under control… a road traffic accident . No fault of mine - rear end shunt! Just when I was least expecting it!!! ….. and nothing I could have done to prevent it either….. hey ho…
Now don’t panic… I am fine (apart from “aches” when sitting at the PC and prepping!! Mmmm!! ) Car OK to drive … just the rear bumper damaged so it will have to visit the garage etc…. but lots and lots of calls from the insurers etc…. so pretty time consuming all this week! Though I have to admit they are being very efficient!!
So finally here is the continuation of my class series focusing on the White Christmas stamp set. Many of my fellow Jems will recognise these as we made this gorgeous collection at our Quarterly Team Training back in September. Thanks again Rebecca & Julie for your inspiring projects….
So in the class we made the front CAS crumb cake notecard as already shown in my last post…. but also this fabulous Mini Diorama card, Great little card. 2 from a sheet of A4… love it!
And there’s still more!! I still can’t believe how many more cards everyone made as they all had the stamp set & ink…. what value for money…. a class format to be repeated…sometime soon….
Though I now have to laugh at myself… I have now just realised that I hadn’t taken photos of the 2 next parts of this series… and I gave most of one part of them out for Christmas cards on Wednesday!!! Hope I have at least 1 sample left…or I will be asking fellow demo friends for photos of their Christmas cards!!!Oops…. what a week….
Back tomorrow….. but before I go…. don’t forget to check out the new Year End Close Out Sale with some items at 80% off - and the Weekly Deals too….. look at the Texture Boutique for just £20.21 and all those embossing folders for just £5.63 on the Weekly Deals! See below….
Lucky Stars Textured Impressions Embossing Folders
Price: £7.50 now £5.63
Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
Price: £7.50 now £5.63
Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
Price: £7.50 now £5.63
Texture Boutique Embossing Machine
Price: £26.95 now £20.21
Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Price: £7.50 now £5.63
Tiny Triangles Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Price: £7.50 now £5.63
Zig Zag Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Price: £7.50 now £5.63
12 Days Of Christmas Swatchbook Template - Digital Download
Price: £8.95 £5.37
