Mistletoe and .......snowflakes

Morning all.

Just a quick one today as I have some lovely class ladies waiting. Another card using the foil snowflakes , available from the new catalogue on Friday. These are proving very popular and I have a list of people wanting to order some on the 1st. They are only £5.50 for 24 snowflakes and are a real wow embellishment .....

What do you think of my mistletoe lol ?

Julie x

Bank Holiday Bliss

Morning all, did you have a good Bank Holiday ?

I had a lovely time and can't remember a time when it was so hot on an actual Bank Holiday. Hubby and I had a nice picnic for lunch and visited a local marina and garden centre.

Had to laugh when he hopefully enquired why I'd bought a sprig of miseltoe from the Christmas clearance section and I explained it would make a good photo prop for my Christmas cards lol !! Well, it was only 30p - a real bargain !

It's definitely not sunbathing weather today so I will be back in my craft room. Pop back tomorrow and I will show you a Christmas card - with the new mistletoe !

Julie x

Merry Music

Morning, Friday again and a Bank Holiday weekend too ! 

When I worked in a bank I didn't like Bank Holidays because it always meant the following day was horrendous, but now I can enjoy them and it's actually forecast nice weather here too !

But if you do happen to be standing in a long queue in a bank on Tuesday morning, spare a thought for the poor staff , it's not their fault they have to do two days work in one !

Today's card uses the Merry Music designer paper which is slightly thinner than our normal paper but you get 24 sheets in a pack , half black, half white . 

And that's new ribbon too ! And a new stamp and punch, all available from 1st September so please get in touch if you would like to order anything.

I'm going to get all my jobs done today so I can enjoy the weekend sunshine, just in case it's the last chance we get for a while.

Have a lovely long weekend

Julie x

Foil snowflakes

Morning all, and what a dark, gloomy one it is ! Perfect crafting weather !

Today it has been a year since I left my old job - how time flies when you're having fun lol ! Apart from spending more time on Stampin' Up my only other plan on the day I left was to indulge myself with a reading hour every day. Has that happened ? Twice , I think ! And maybe I don't have time for a full hour every day but I'm certainly going to make it a new resolution and try and fit half an hour in. What do you like to do to relax? Apart from stamping, of course.....

Today's card uses the new foil snowflakes and I already love them. Maximum impact with minimum effort and very popular at my class on Monday. They are only £5.50 for 24 ( 12 silver, 12 gold) and are available from 1st September, which sounds ages away but is only Friday, next week ! I already have a list of people wanting some so just let me know if you would like to be added to it

Look at that sparkle....

So pretty aren't they ? They will definitely feature heavily on my Christmas makes this year

Julie x

Beautiful Bouquet

Morning, sorry afternoon all ! I'm a little bit later today as I've been out at my Card and a Cuppa event this morning - and we did our first Christmas card ! I might post that on my Facebook page later so click on the link on the right if you'd like a look at that.

Today's card uses the Beautiful Bouquet stamp set and was stamped on the gorgeous shimmery card so it could then be spritzed and allow the ink to run. A few of my class ladies were unsure about this technique but they gave it a go and were pleasantly surprised at the results.

This obviously produces a slightly different result each time and can depend on how much water you spritz on but great fun for a little play

I'd better go and unpack my class bags and put everything away now- the only bit I don't enjoy !

Julie x

Floral Statements

Friday again !

And back with another card in the same colour combination as yesterday ....Berry Burst, Sahara Sand, Pool Party and Old Olive. This is the first inking for a beautiful stamp set called Floral Statements, which also has a floral hello as well as this thank you. 

I've also used the Sheet Music background stamp and top tip - if you stamp it in a pale colour there is no need to create a fiddly mask , just stamp the flowers over the top and colour.

Really like the crinkled seam binding ribbon too and that reminds me I want to get some in Night of Navy on my next order.

Hope you have a lovely weekend

Julie x

Card Front Builder dies

Morning all, and firstly well done to everyone who has got their A level results this morning. Can't believe it has been a year since we were celebrating with my eldest . How time flies .....

Today's card uses the fab new Card Front Builder dies and a new snowflake but more about that another time .....

I'm really enjoying using these dies and can see lots of non Christmas options too.

My niece is staying today and I believe a girly trip to a local dessert shop is planned- when they've finished getting ready !

Julie x

High Tide

Happy Monday !

Today's card uses the same colour combo and is CASED from one I saw by Lynn Starzl of starzlstamps.com

I really like the High Tide stamp set and like the calm , peaceful feel of this card......

I purposefully haven't added a sentiment yet as I feel it could suit a range of occasions, so I will add before I send.

Also, do you like those cute tiny stars ? They were the ' waste' from my Peace on Earth card - always like to use up the scraps lol !

I have a few admin jobs I need to get done then I'm hoping to do some Christmas crafting this afternoon with my new preorder goodies.

Have a nice day

Julie x

Happiest of Days

Yay, it's Friday ! Are you doing anything nice for the weekend ? I have a couple of plans if the weather is nice but if not I will be happy enough making some Christmas samples with my new toys.

Today's card is using Happiest of Days. I really like cute images in this one and it has sentiments too,  so a very useful set

For those that like to follow the colour combinations it's Pool Party, Smokey Slate, Night of Navy and Real Red. Nice and fresh although my class ladies did all end up with very red fingers !

Have a good weekend

Julie x

Carols for Christmas

At last ! The sun is shining and I'm sitting out in the garden writing this. I'd like to say topping up my tan but I don't tan - just grow more freckles lol !

The weather has been horrible since I've been back , wet and cold , so it's lovely to feel the warmth of the sun again. It seems a lot longer than last week ago that I was moaning it was too hot !!!

I've got a Christmas card to show you today .....a little play with Carols for Christmas......

This set is in the new Autumn /Winter catalogue but has been released early - so you can get it now !!

Having a big sentiment is so useful and the dies are fab too - and not just for Christmas !

And I also had my box of preorder goodies arrive yesterday too so there will be lots more Christmas makes coming soon.

While the sun is shining I'm going to carry on and schedule a post for you for tomorrow, same colour combination but a different stamp set, for a birthday this time

Julie x

Wanna build a snowman ?

Oops late posting today, but better late than never !

After a marathon ironing session yesterday I decided I deserved a little crafting time at my desk. I was supposed to be designing my projects for this weeks classes and was going to use my new Colourful Seasons set........

I was thinking of making something using the branch and flower images  but then I suddenly got the idea that maybe I could make a snowman from these stamps. I know, strange, but sometimes I go off on a tangent lol !

Anyway after looking at the stamps carefully this is what I came up with .......

Cute isn't he ? Wanna build a snowman lol ? Hope the picture below helps explain which bit is which....

Can't wait to see what else I can make with these stamps - but I suppose I'd better finish what I was supposed to be doing !

Julie x

Dolphin delight

Hi all,

As promised I'm back to show you a few pictures from a boat trip we went on while away. As well as seeing some beautiful (read expensive!) luxury homes overlooking the bay we were fortunate enough to see some dolphins.....

It was so amazing to see them in the wild and they came right close to the boat...

Almost within touching distance....

Although taking pictures was quite tricky as all of a sudden they would leap out of the water and dive back in again. A fantastic experience and lots of magical memories !

I've been 'back to work' today with an all day class so I will be back with some  creative makes on Monday but tomorrow some of my team mates are taking part in the Jems Monthly Blog Hop and the theme is ' Anything but a Card' . I wasn't able to take part this month due to my holiday but check out what the girls have been up to, you can start at The Craft Spa www.thecraftspa.blogspot.co.uk

Have a good weekend

Julie x

Holiday pics

Morning all - although to be honest I'm not too sure what day/time it is lol ! I've been on holiday for the last 2 weeks and have a little jet lag today.

I haven't got any projects made yet to show you but I have missed stamping SO much so give me a few days to sort the mountain of washing/ ironing and then normal service will be resumed.

For now I thought I would show you a few of my holiday piccies - don't worry not all of them lol !

This was my view from my sun bed. I tended to be up quite early and enjoy the peace and quiet round the pool before it got too hot later

We stayed on a large resort and all the grounds were beautiful with lots of lakes.

Pop back tomorrow and I will show you some pictures from an amazing boat trip I went on.

Think I might need to put the heating on - I'm freezing !

Julie x