Going Going Gone.............

This is just a quick note to tell you that Stampin' Up! has announced it's 2008 retirement list of stamp sets and accessories and they are available for you to buy during September or whilst stocks last at a discounted price. The Hostess sets are retiring too so if there is a particular one you really really want you need to book a workshop with me during September.

We are getting a fantastic new catalogue on the 1st October 2008 and therefore some stamp sets and accessories have to retire to make room for all the lovely new things we are bringing to you.

Attached here you will find a copy of the retiring list of stamps and accessories many of the stamp sets have £2 off. Some of my favourites are retiring, Natures Wonders, Mixed Bouquet, Roses in Winter, Unfrogettable and Bold Butterfly, so don't delay place your order as once they are gone, they are gone!

You can view an on-line version of the catalogue here

A retirement gift from me..................all orders placed with me via email that include retired items during September will be delivered direct to your door for only £2.

Flutterby

It has been a while since I posted a tutorial so here you are, we made this card in my workshop at Newbury.

This uses the Stampin' Pastels and Versamark ink. Now the Stampin' Pastels are artist grade chalks and they come in a palette of our 48 colours along with neutrals as well. You can do lots of wonderful things with them but for this card we will use the Poppin' Pastels Technique.

Now you will see I have said you need to pounce your Pastels onto the versamark ink, think of a cat pouncing on a mouse!........ Do not rub or scrub with them until the colour is pounced into the ink you will just smear the ink and pastels everywhere and it will look messy!

This card fold is an 'M' fold with a smaller section at the front, one of my favourites of the moment.

Have fun!




Bold Butterfly

Taken with Teal card stock 29cm x 15.5cm scored at 9.5cm (mountain), 19cm(valley) and 24cm (Mountain) this give you an M shape.
Basic Black mats of 15cm x 9cm and 15cm x 4.5cm
Whisper White mats of 14.5cm x 8.5cm and 14.5cm x 4cm
Scraps of Taken with Teal, Basic Black and Whisper White for punched flower
Black gingham ribbon
Taken with Teal ink
Scallop punch
1” punch
1 ¼” Punch

1. Stamp the shadow stamp of the small butterfly randomly over the larger piece of Whisper White card with versamark ink and using sponge daubers and Taken with Teal pastels pounce the colour into the card, blow away excess pastels. Over stamp the matching butterfly outline image with Taken with Teal ink.
2. On the smaller piece of Whisper White card repeat using the shadow flower stamp and the flower outline stamp.
3. Mat the Whisper White stamped cards onto the corresponding Basic Black card and attach to the Taken with Teal card.
4. Wrap a piece of black gingham ribbon around the butterfly stamped mat and tie into a knot or bow. Stamp a sentiment onto a piece of Whisper White card and punch out with a 1" punch, Punch a 1 1/4" Basic Black circle and a scallop from Taken with Teal and mat to make a flower, stick this over the top of the ribbon to secure it in place.
5. Stamp the outline of the butterfly onto a scrap piece of Taken with Teal in White Stazon or Taken with Teal ink and glitter using 2 way glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds, cut around the outline and using dimensionals mount onto the front of the card.

3 cards 1 design

These are very simple yet fab cards. It's funny how designs come in and out of fashion even in the paper crafting world..........I've been teaching this design for several years ( usually at Christmas) but it has cropped up on lots of blogs just recently.

So for those of you that haven't discovered this yet here are the instructions

1 piece of Whisper white card stock 4" x 11 1/2" ( this way you get 2 out of an A4 sheet)

Score this at 1 3/4", 3 3/4", 5 3/4", 7 3/4" and 9 3/4"

You then score on a diagonal line, have the card stock horizontally in front of you and score from the top left score line to the bottom of the middle score line. Then from the top of the middle score line to the bottom of the far left score line. You will end up with a cross that meets in the middle of the second score line in. Repeat on the other side.

It may sound complicated but it really isn't, if you need pictures leave me a post and I'll photograph some for you over the weekend.

Now stamp randomly over the card stock, fold and crease along all the score lines. You then fold in the sides to make a diamond shape in the centre and the triangle sections tuck underneath, the 2 end straight sections fold forwards to hold the card upright.

Now decorate the front as desired.

For the Taken with Teal card I have used Seeing spots stamp set and Circle of Friendship.

The Green Galore Card is using the Unfrogettable stamp set, the frogs eyes are half pearls from the pretties kit with a black spot for a permanent marker pen.

The Summer Sun card is using Bold Butterfly Stamp set and the fantastic heat and stick powder, if you are going to The Newbury Show at the end of the month come visit me at the Stampin' Up! stand with some other fantastic demonstrators and I'll demonstrate it for you!