You Can Create It - December Challenge

Well, the schedule didn't really have any let up in December!

I shall only be posting a couple of times in the first 2 weeks of January whilst I compose myself ready for the year ahead - and the new seasonal catalogue!!

This is my entry for the December 'You Can Create It' challenge:

This is the kit we received - there is an A6 white card hiding at the bottom.

You have to use at least a bit of everything supplied.  I wasn't going to make a Christmas card as I was still finishing some Christmas day which was not the plan this year but for one reason and another I ended up with one but I do love the penguins.

The Snow Place stamp set is super and the matching framelits are rather smashing too!

Have a look at Teri's blog here tomorrow to see the other entries.

Happy crafting New Year to everyone.
Jill

Sale!

There are lots of tempting discounts this week.

Firstly, the Weekly Deals has the precision base plate for £16.50 instead of £22.  This is recommended for getting a better cut for intricate dies and a must to go with the sizzix brush coming after Christmas.

Then there is a year end sale which has many temptations, take a look here.

Weekly Deals are available until 11pm on Tuesday night and the year end sale is while stocks last!!

This card features a stamp set and embossing folder that will be still be available in the Spring catalogue - hooray.

The stamp set (and matching framelits, of course) are called Snow Place & Snow Friends.  They can be bought in a bundle too.  I love them.

I made quite a few last week for all the Bloomin' Buds and a couple of other friends, a little time consuming but enjoyable.

Items used:
Real Red & Whisper White card
Snow Place stamp set
Snow Friends Framelits
Softly Falling Embossing Folder
Holly Jolly Greetings
Christmas Greetings Thinlits
Word Window Punch
Ink: Memento black, Old Olive, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise
Tangelo Twist marker pen

You Can Create It!

This is the latest card I made for the You Can Create It challenge.

Because I was so busy playing I nearly forgot this challenge so also forgot to take a picture of the 'before'.  If you visit Teri's blog here though you can see the kit we got, then follow the link to Monica's blog to see the other cards made this month.

I can't believe the Christmas goodies are nearly gone and we are now planning new designs with the Spring catalogue (which I receive on Tuesday!!).

Supplies used on this card are:

Smoky Slate card
Lots of Labels Framelits
Updated Essentials Paper Piercing
Word Window Punch (sorry my watermark is hiding the word 'Christmas' on this!)
Holly Jolly Greetings (also used for the 'snow' background)
Peaceful Pines stamp set
Perfect Pines Framelits
Home for Christmas Designer Series Paper
Home for Christmas Enamel Dots
Smokey Slate Thick Baker's Twine
Mossy Meadow, Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry and Real Red ink

Botanical sneak peak

Happy 'special' Birthday to Anne for yesterday.

I didn't add an age to this card but I did use ALL new goodies that you can buy from the beginning of January in the new seasonal catalogue.

We got to have a play with this set in Brussels and it wouldn't of been so appealing if I hadn't (as is always the way).

The sentiment is from a great new hostess set, I thought it was rather fun and Anne liked it too.

The product suite is called Botanical Gardens and I've used DSP, stamps (which match the paper), framelits and jewels from it on this card - which is A5.

More to come when it officially goes on sale!

Jill

Brussels Swaps - Part 2

And for part 2 of all the great swaps I got in Brussels:

So many nice things.  I'll be taking them along to Crafty Bunch in January if anyone would like a close up!
Jill

OnStage Live Brussels Swaps - Part 1

I confused my computer into submission - good job as the washing machine packed up today!

Very thankful we were in Brussels last week and not currently too!

This is the first instalment of some of my swaps.  I do hope you don't have trouble viewing them - if you want to see anything closer or would like any more details of what was used or the blog of who did it (if it is available) let me know.

There are some really super ideas and some people have taken a lot of time over their swaps.

More goodies

My computer is having a funny 5 so I can't get to the pictures I wanted to add today.

I still haven't got on top of Christmas and there are so many lovely stamp sets
still to use but I got my pre-order of the pre-order yesterday!!

If we went to Brussels we were allowed to order some of the new spring catalogue
items even earlier - so we had to of course.

Can't wait to share what was inside the box.

Treat Yourself!

As reported earlier for Monday to Friday this week there is 20% off a selection of stamps.

Click here to visit the list.

These make a great buy and there are some great stamp sets available - Wild About Flowers is reduced to £15.20 (as featured in the card below) and the ever so useful Gorgeous Grunge is just £14.40.  Do have a look.

The list of products that will retire from the current seasonal catalogue is also available here.

A few bundles are being carried forward but if you have a must-have on your list let me know as these products are only available while stocks last.

20% off selected stamps - one week only

Back later - just a quick link to the list of stamps that have 20% off for this week only!!!

Click HERE.

Let me know if you need a treat.
Jill

OnStage Live in Brussels

I have returned from Brussels and what a great time we had.
Rather a sombre start to yesterday morning and all our thoughts were with the French demos amongst us.  The trouble led to rather a long time spent in the border control queue on the way back too but at least we are back safe and sound.

Soooo - OnStage Live is the new name for Stampin' Up! Convention as it is set up a little differently to previous years but as I had never been I had no expectations.

Cath very kindly drove myself, Alison and Jenny over and we had a great time with lots of laughs.

This is the stash I came away with from Stampin' Up!:

I have 3 brand new stamp sets but I can't show you what they are as we are sworn to secrecy for a little longer.  They are out of the new spring catalogue which I also have a copy of.
There are some more super offerings in this and the Sale-a-bration brochure.

I've also got 2 packs of the 6x6 DSP and some scrummy ribbon.

And these are all my swaps:

I will take pictures of them in smaller groups sometime for better viewing - I got some super things but haven't looked in detail at all of them as I've been a little snoozy today.

I will be back tomorrow as there are going to be some deals available from Monday to Friday - pop back to see what they are (even I don't know yet).
Jill

Brussels Team Swaps

And then there are some team swaps.

I couldn't do anything too bulky as we are all restricted on space - these can be flat packed with removal of the chocs inside.

I have used the Square Pillow Box Die but not cut the top part, instead punching with the large oval punch to make a little bag.

These are all the supplies used for this:

Square Pillow Box Thinlit Dies

A Little Something stamp set

Reason for the Season stamp set

Decorative Dots Embossing Folder

Large Oval Punch

Gold Ribbon

Gold Cording Trim

Gold Metallic Thread

Gold Glimmer Paper

Chocolate Chip Card

Real Red ink

Old Olive ink

Pearl Basic Jewels

I will hopefully have some lovely swaps for these too - I'll keep you posted.

Jill

OnStage Live Swaps

As you read this I will be in Brussels.
I'm travelling with 3 other Bloomin' Buds and meeting up with another 3 out there.

These are my 125 bookmark swaps!

I have weirdly enjoyed making them.

You may of seen I cut out the 2 blackberry bliss flowers and little yellow butterfly to 3D whilst I was sat around at the track cycling recently.

There is rather a large list of supplies to make these which goes as follows:

Perpetual Calendar stamp set
Wild About Flowers stamp set
Kinda Eclectic stamp set
Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set
Banner Triple Punch
Orante Tag Topper Punch
2" Circle Punch
1 3/4" Circle Punch
Washi Label Punch
Elegant Butterfly Punch
Bitty Butterfly Punch
Pear Pizzazz Cotton Ribbon
Silver Mini Brad
Very Vanilla Card
Blackberry Bliss ink & card
Hello Honey ink
Pear Pizzazz ink

Crikey - we won't calculate how much they cost but I am rather pleased with them.
I will share what I swap them for next week.

Road Trip!

Well, some of you may know that I am off to OnStage Live (the new name for Convention) in Brussels!!

Very excited.

These are my swaps - all 125 of them - and I shall reveal more tomorrow.

Glad Tidings

I love this card!  I made it for our last Bloomin' Buds team swap.

I saw the use of the ear-muffs cut from the pompom trim on the internet somewhere and had to use it.

I'll list the other supplies used below - you don't realise how much you use until you list it all!:

Softly Falling Embossing Folder
Scalloped Tag Topper Punch
Snow Place stamp set
Snow Friends Framelit Dies
Antique Tags stamp set
Washi Label punch
Snowflake Elements
Real Red striped ribbon
Card: Real Red, Whisper White, Soft Suede
Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Basic Black, Real Red
Tangelo Twist Stampin' Write Marker

Mini Caravan

This is something I ear-marked a while ago to make for a crafty friend (who has a caravan of course) after I saw it on Pinterest:

This is so great isn't it?

The link for it is here.

I used coastal cabana card for it like the instructions although it is now discontinued.  I still have some and thought it looked really good.

It was pretty easy actually - not as scary as it looks.

I'm pleased to report that it went down very well - I may even make some more sometime.

It uses the Curvy Keepsake die and the pictures don't show up very clearly but it has grooves on each side from the scoreboard which give a nice effect.

Other than that just some circle punches and I used the owl eye for the smallest black dots on the door handle and wheel centres.

Black and White Part 2!

Far too long between posts for various reasons, generally life getting in the way!

There is so much to share I must crack on and return to the other card I made for World Cardmaking Day:

Isn't he cute?

The background is embossed with the Softly Falling embossing folder with some white star sequins added.

I saw the igloo on Pinterest and thought it was a super idea.  I embossed a circle in the Brick Wall embossing folder, cut the bottom off and punched an oval for the door!

Penguin and sentiment are stamped and die cut.

Other items used:
Snow Place stamp set
Snow Friends framelit dies
Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits
Oval Punch

Black Cat

As mentioned in my previous post our first challenge for World Cardmaking day was to make a black and white card - I made two in the end!

This is the first one:

I've used a few different products which I will list below, the black cat on the windowsill looks better in real life, I'm not a cat fan but think this is rather a nice addition to the set.

Items used:

Brick Wall embossing folder

Happy Scenes stamp set

Hearth and Home Thinlit dies

Festive Fireside Framelit dies

Neutrals sequins

Archival Basic Black ink

Window sheets

It was great to see what everyone else made too - best I save my other card for next time!

World Cardmaking Day

Well, it has been World Cardmaking Day today and this has led to me becoming slightly distracted from some of the tasks I was meant to be doing!

Anyway, Jenny challenged us to make a black and white card by lunchtime (I'll share a better picture of this tomorrow) and then a tag or tags by 6pm.

These are the tags I made:

These ones were inspired by Pinterest again.

I've used the Festival of Trees stamp set and stamped 3 of each of the trees I've chosen, punched them, scored them in the middle and stuck them together.

I used the colours of Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo.

I then used the 'to/from' stamp in the same set and cut out using a framelit from the Curvy Keepsake set, with a plain card one to match.

Gold and silver ribbon added through a punched hole and finished with some of the Bright Sequins.

I then made 3 tags using the Snow Friends set which is so cute.

Trying to stay away from the comfort zone of Christmas red and green I used the current set of in colours in various forms of ink and card.

The Scallop Tag Topper punched was used and the images cut out using the matching framelits.

The sentiment is a lovely stamp from a hostess set which matches the Washi Label punch.

These were finished with gold cording trim.

It was fun to see what everyone came up with through the day - even if I still can't see my desk!!

Watercolor Wishes Kit

I had a great day recently when some of the Bloomin' Buds met up for the day to make a kit from the catalogue.

I chose the Watercolor Wishes Card Kit which is £31.50 and really good value.  Unlike some of the other kits this one includes the stamp set to use with it, all you need to do is provide some glue.

This is what the kit contains:

You get pre-watercoloured cards & envelopes to make 20 cards, die-cuts, stickers, washi tape, sequins, wood cutouts, dimensionals, an acrylic block, 2 ink pads and instructions.

It was a great kit to use and so easy.  I just followed their idea sheet but of course you can do your own thing - it was very satisfying and ideal to take away on a holiday or to give as a gift.

These are the cards I made and I still have some bits and pieces left over - and the stamps to continue using of course:

It was great to spend the day crafting with friends and we even had some 'FaceTime' with the girls over in Suffolk who were doing the same which was a great way of catching up.

Watermelon Basket

There are so many things I 'want' to make and I slightly diverted the other day to do just that so that I had a sample of the Berry Basket die.

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was really fun - it came with matching cards too but I've only done this basket.

The colour combo is Cucumber Crush, Melon Mambo and Whisper White - very zingy!

It also uses a paper doilie and the circle framelits.  The 'pips' are from the Tree Punch and the fab Bow Builder punch finishes off the sides.

Poinsettia

Right, the Annual Display of Quilling has been and gone so hopefully I can return to posting more regularly (fingers crossed!).

Today's card was to showcase some more new Christmas products.

There is a super new Flower Builder Punch but as I don't own one yet I have used some of the Season of Cheer DSP and cut out and layered a poinsettia on to a punched circle.

The background is a new embossing folder called Boughs and Berries.

The sentiment is from Festive Fireplace and cut out with Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits and layered on a piece cut with the Triple Banner Punch.

There are some new goodies on the Clearance Rack here if you fancy a look too!

Club project

Sorry again for the lack of posts - JillsQuills has been rather busy, I hope to resume a more regular service next week!

Pop on over to JillsQuills to read about the upcoming Annual Display of Quilling.

This project was one Jenny kindly shared with us at downline last month and she gave me permission to use it for Crafty Bunch where I was asked to demo and do a make and take last week.

It's a super little wallet, something similar to one Jenny received on the recent incentive trip.

I made one in all the current in colours.

I chose the combo of Delightful Dijon and Tip Top Taupe though for everyone to make so there was no arguing!

This is inside all the wallets.  There is an envelope and small 3x3" card.
I have used matching coloured envelope paper on one set but the others have plain envelope paper, some of which I have stamped to match the card.

Gorgeous Grunge is the stamp set used, Teeny Tiny Sentiments and Papillon Potpourri.

Two circles punches are used for the matching coloured ring on a small square which has been embossed with the Lovely Lace embossing folder.  A little butterfly has also been stamped, punched and added with a matching itty bitty flower.

A washi label punch and magnets are used to close the wallet with some of the in colour lace on the spine.

The ladies all seemed to enjoy the project.

Jingle all the way

Another Christmas sample as it's hot off the press!

The base card is actually Early Espresso (the pic doesn't show it very well).

I've then added a white layer embossed with the Softly Falling embossing folder and 3 Crumb Cake layers cut with the Sleigh Ride Edgelit dies.

The sentiment is from the Jingle All The Way stamp set which can be bought with the dies as a bundle.  I love the way the sentiment follows the curve of the die, there are 3 others in the set and 9 other co-ordinating stamps to finish your Christmas projects.

I would say I have a busy week but every week is busy at the moment - I've made a few extra samples to take to Crafty Bunch this week to share with the ladies and am doing a Stampin' Up! project too which I'll share later in the week.

You Can Create It - August

Another month and another challenge.

This was the pack we got for August (which would of looked better photographed on black!):

A Sketched Dot bag, some Whisper White card, organza ribbon and a metal rimmed pearl.

Well!  I considered using a portion of the bag but then it seemed a shame to cut it up so I used it for its full purpose:

I've filled the bag with sweeties and used some new products to decorate it.

I've stuck a piece of embossed card to the bag, punched at the ends with the new Curvy Corner Trio Punch so the ribbon threads through.

The banners are cut using Framelits and I've run the white one through the gorgeous new Softly Falling embossing folder.

The sentiment and penguin are from the cutest new set called Snow Place which comes with matching framelits and you can buy both in a bundle for £39.75.  There are 22 stamps in the set which includes a few sentiments and lots to decorate the penguin and his 2 snowmen friends.

You can see the other entries at Monica's blog here.

It's here!!!

The new seasonal catalogue is now ready to purchase from.

The link to it has been added to the side bar on the right of this page (any problems let me know!).

If you would like a 'real life' catalogue let me know.

There are soooo many great products in it.  I'll be back to share a project tomorrow.

Jill

Butterfly Extravaganza

This card is mainly Stampin' Up! so I hope I can get away with adding it on here!

The card base and white embossed card here are actually Anna Marie card because this is a 7x7" card but the gorgeous images are all Stampin' Up!

I've used the in colours of Delightful Dijon, Mint Macaron, Tip Top Taupe and Old Olive.

All other products used:
Watercolor Wings stamp set
Wild About Flowers stamp set
Awesomely Artistic stamp set
Butterfly Basics stamp set

Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits
Butterflies Thinlits
Bold Butterfly Framelits

Extra-Large Oval Punch
Bitty Butterfly Punch
Brick Wall Embossing Folder
Vellum Cardstock

This is probably one of those cards that you don't want to add up all the products used - but I am really pleased with it for a special card.

I finished the butterflies with some rogue pearls too!

Cottage Greetings kit

I've finally had a play with one of the kits in the current catalogue and I love it.

I've had a go with the Cottage Greetings kit.  There is a matching stamp set too.
Everything in the kit makes 15 cards, 3 of each of the designs below:

It was really easy and quick to use and make up the cards.  Everything is die cut you just need to stamp the sentiments and use glue and dimensionals to stick everything together.
The pale tan layers are actually thin wood veneer.

The lovely images are already coloured.  As you can see you also get an envelope with snazzy silver liner for each card too.

The enamel dots in this kit are absolutely gorgeous!

The kit is £14.50 to buy and the matching stamp set is £14.00 for clear.  You could use sentiments from any set but I do rather like the font on this set.

The kit is great for a present for a crafter or for you to take away on a holiday to assemble without too much fuss and taking half the house!

Christmas window

Time for another Christmas teaser!

This card is one that was shown at the American Convention.

I think it's rather nice and uses 2 new sets that I think will be really popular.

The brick embossing folder is in the main catalogue and I've used it as a backdrop to the new goodies.

The trees behind the window are from Happy Scenes which you can buy in a bundle with the fabulous window thinlit.  I have used the Perpetual Calendar set for the snowflakes but there are some in this set.

The sentiment and all the other stamps come from Festive Fireplace which you may be able to tell features some stamps not used on this card!  And this set has matching framelits - oh dear.

Plenty of things to play with and keep me busy while you all save your pennies!
Jill

More Build a Birthday

Another card with the Build a Birthday set to show different things you can do with it.

I've used the in colours again and started by stamping the cake stand directly to a piece of Whisper White.  All the other cake layers are stamped separately, cut out and added with dimensionals.

The sentiment is stamped on a piece of card and punched both ends with the Banner Triple Punch.

The decoration on top of the cake is also stamped directly on to the white card then this piece is layered on a piece of Tip Top Taupe card.

Card is finished with some flowers in matching colours punched using the flower Itty Bitty Punch.

Ink/card colours used:
Tip Top Taupe
Watermelon Wonder
Mint Macaron
Delightful Dijon

Birthday Candles

Today's card uses another very versatile set called 'Build a Birthday'

I've seen some super examples using it and have just made a quick card for my first go.

On the base card I have used 3 stamps to form the candles using Cucumber Crush, Watermelon Wonder and Mint Macaron with Daffodil Delight for the flames.

I have then added 3D pads to add an extra layer that I die cut a circle in.
The red border is a frame made by using 2 circle framelits.

'Happy' is from the Hello You thinlits and the sentiment is from the Build a Birthday stamp set.

New Weekly Deals have just gone live - don't forget to check them out!

Jill

Christmas is coming ...

Oh dear, I had some of my seasonal catalogue pre-order so I got a little distracted!

This card uses a new pack of edgelits available from 1st September.

I have used the existing Circle Framelits, Decorative Dots embossing folder, a Teeny Tiny sentiment and the Washi Label Punch.

I've also used Versamark Ink and a stamp from the very useful Perpetual Birthday Calendar set for some snowflakes in the sky.

And this card doubles for an entry in the Facebook group 'Sundays with Santa' which I haven't had a chance to play along with for a while - this weeks subject is 'lots of layers'.

Keep watching for more sneaks and get saving for 1st September.

If you aren't on my catalogue list already let me know if you would like the new seasonal brochure.

Jill

You Can Create It - July challenge

These months seems to be flying by.  Now we are in August I can show you another card I made for the You Can Create It! challenge.

This is the kit we got for July:

  

The second picture is the same kit but with the paper strips turned over so you can see the other side - surprising how much more muted the other side is and shows how many options there are with 3 little pieces of paper!

The paper is from the Cherry on Top 6x6" Designer Series Paper Stack.

The card colours are Bermuda Bay and Cucumber Crush and I don't mind saying when I first looked at it I was slightly horrified!  But that is why I joined in so that I could try something different and challenge myself outside of my comfort zone which it is very easy to stay in some times.

So, this is my card:

I'm not quite sure how it came about in the end but I'm rather pleased with it and as someone has mentioned it could make a good alternative for a man card.

I've used strips of all of the paper (both sides) and edged 5 of them with the smallest notch in the Banner Triple Punch.

I've used a strip of the Cucumber Crush and embossed with the Decorative Dots embossing folder and topped that with 'Congrats' from the Tin of Cards stamp set and cut out with the Word Window punch.

The button has a little piece taken from the white jute ribbon tied through it and to finish I punched some Itty Bitty stars and added some white perfect accents to them for that finishing touch!

Some of the entries are on Teri's blog this month if you click HERE - why not join in too?

Jill

More Wild About Flowers

Another thanks to Teri for this idea which again showcases the Wild About Flowers stamp set.

Colours I've used are Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant.

The background stamp is the new Watercolour Wash stamp which is a great space filler.

I've cut the image out using one of the new Lots of Labels framelits and layered it on the largest framelit which I've also pricked with the accompanying template.  The flowers are stamped out again, fussy cut and added with 3D pads for a bit of extra dimension.

The sentiment is from the Cottage Greetings set - it's a lovely font isn't it?

Don't forget I have an order going in next week if you 'need' anything.
Jill