Top Tip Thursday

Hello again,

For my top tip today, it's a very simple one, but one that I often forget.  I don't know if you do the same thing as I sometimes do? I want to make a card so I tend to get out one stamp set and then only use images from that set.  Recently I was making cards for a charity at a craft group I belong to and I took very limited supplies which forced me to think outside the box, as I was making multiples of cards using a limited choice of stamp sets.

The charity we were making cards for was the RSPCA, so this stamp set Hoppy for You seemed an appropriate choice!  While I love all the images in that set, (even though I wasn't sure about it when I first saw it!) I didn't want all my cards to be the same, I had also taken Amazing Life, so I combined the decorative stamp I've used in the corners and the lollypops from that set with the uni-cycling frog, and I hope you'll agree they go well together.  It isn't rocket science, I did say it was simple, but if you are anything like me and have a large stash of stamps, it can sometimes be easier to stick to the images in one set.  So my challenge for you is to choose 2 stamp sets and combine them and see what you come up with, I will be reminding myself to do this more often!

That's all for now, drop back later in the week to see some more of the new saleabration goodies.

Happy Stamping

Julia x

Technique tuesday

Welcome back!

For today's technique, I thought I would share a couple of cards made with one of  the fabulous new stamp sets from the second wave of Saleabration.  I really love this new set Painted Seasons, as I can see that it will be a set that I will come back to in the different seasons to come.  This one definitely ticks my 5 ways box!

This card was quick to make and the technique I used was an old favorite, masking, I used a post it note to mask over the flower after I had stamped it and then added the leaves.  If you would like a more in depth explanation, please drop me a line and I'll provide it.

For my second card, I used the same technique, but stepped it up a bit, same stamp set, same technique, I just added the sentiment on a hand cut banner this time.  Both these cards were quick and simple to make but I hope you'll agree are very effective. #simplestamping

Thats all from me today, I'll be back later in the week with some more inspiration.
Happy Stamping

Julia x

Saleabration Saturday

We have had some wonderful offerings for this years Saleabration, Stampin Up! do like to spoil us! I've already shared a couple of cards I have made with some of the Saleabration goodies, but the one I was most keen to get my hands on was By The Bay.
As soon as I saw it in the brochure I knew it would be just perfect for the spotlight technique, and water colouring.

Yes I still haven't learned to turn that image!!!

I have made this card a couple of different ways, I have used an aqua painter and ink pads to colour this image, but it works equally well with water colour pencils or blends.  Just remember to choose the correct ink to stamp the image first before you start to colour. As a general rule you need to use the opposite ink to the type of medium you are colouring with to prevent bleeding.
Aside from the main image in this set there are some other sentiments alongside the cutest shell and bird images.  If you haven't seen it before check it out, a £45 spend will earn this set for free for you, well worth another browse through the catalogues in my opinion!

That's it for me today, check back soon to see what I've been doing with the other new releases from Stampin Up! for the second wave of Saleabration, yes that's right, they have spoiled us even more with extra goodies that you can get your hands on for free, and coming soon you will be able to purchase some co-ordinating dies to use with the Saleabration sets, so for those of you who don't enjoy fussy cutting they will be a bonus.

Happy stamping

Julia x

Technique Thursday

I know I'm a bit late in sharing these cards, but although I used my card for a Valentine, I think that they would be useful for lots of other occasions too. My inspiration for these cards came from Pinterest and I decided to case Lori Wilcox with just a few minor alterations.

 For Mr Crafty Yellow Campers Valentine card I used Love You To Pieces and the matching dies, coupled with some sponging and a couple of stamps from High Tide. We love camping by the sea so this was perfect for him.

For the second card I used the same sponging technique and stamps, but instead of cutting the jigsaw, I used the embossing mat and plate together with the jigsaw die to emboss the image, the photograph doesn't show it very well unfortunately.  You can find the embossing mat and plates in the annual catalogue, it's overlooked a lot, but it really does double the use of all the wonderful dies we offer, and you know I like to follow my 5 ways rule where I can!

I hope I've done Lori's card justice, if you get a little stuck for ideas don't forget to check out pinterest, just type in the name of the stamp set you want to use and you will find a multitude of ideas to inspire you, best done, I find, with a large cup of tea as you will loose track of time!!!

That's all from me for today, check back soon for more ideas.

Happy Stamping

Julia x

Incredible like you!

Welcome back,
Among the masses of wonderful things in the Stampin Up! catalogue, are the kits, some of them are all inclusive kits, where you get everything you need to complete the projects.  That's right, ink, a block, a stamp set and all the card etc you will need to make some beautiful and professional looking cards, ideal for a new stamper or for taking away with you on holiday for example.  Some of the kits everything apart from the stamp set is included and you can ask me to come and bring the stamp set and inks to complete your projects or you can add the stamp set to your order to complete at home.
 So today I thought I would show you some cards made using the Incredible Like You stamp set, so that when you've used the kit up it would give you some ideas of how to use the set when the kit is finished.

 This card I designed using some of the elements of the stamp set put together in a slightly different way to create larger images, this set is perfect for making foliage and being photo polymer is easy to see where you need to stamp next.

And for this card I used the Stamparatus to get perfectly placed diagonal images with the stamps, the set also has some 2 step stamping images, making it easy to get depth and dimension with just one ink colour.

In my last class I gave the participants the opportunity to create their own designs using this stamp set, and here are a couple of cards that the ladies came up with, there were some beautiful cards and I didn;t manage to get photos of them all unfortunately, but I think it gives you a few more ideas.

 This card was created by Sarah, she actually started with the main group of foliage at the bottom of her design, then stamped the sentiment upside down, so turned it up the other way and hey presto, beautiful wisteria!!! I think you'll agree that qualifies as a happy accident and a amazing card!

This card was created by Jenny, she did a bit of simple stamping, choosing to use just 2 of the stamps in the set, and it shows how a bit of simple stamping can create a stunning card.

I think you'll agree I have some talented ladies in my classes!!
That's all from me for today, I hope I've inspired you to look at your stamp sets to see how you can use the stamps in different ways, and don't forget to check out the kits in the brochures.
If you're local to me and would like to come along to one of my classes, (the next classes are the 1st and 2nd of March) please drop me a line and I'll be pleased to give you more details.

Happy Stamping

Julia X

I'm Hoppy to be back!

Welcome back, I'm sorry I've haven't posted in a while but I've been under the weather, first flu and then a chest infection!
But although I'm still recovering I'm pleased to report that I'm feeling must better and up to a bit of crafting at last, you can tell I was really feeling bad if I tell you that I had an unopened box of Stampin Up! goodies in my craft room that was lonely and unloved for 2 weeks! I know those of you who are avid crafters will understand how Ill I was!!!
When I finally felt up to a spot of stamping I had a bit of fun with this frog peek a boo card, really simple to make using the Saleabration stamp set So Hoppy Together, and a punch, a little colouring with Blends and it was done, I hope you like it?

Now I'm almost back to full strength I'm itching to get my hands on the other goodies that were in that box and get them inky, so I'll be back soon with some more projects using new things.
Happy stamping

J X