Bashful Blue Card Candy

I love giving card candy as gift to my crafty friends. For those of you who don't know what card candy is it's an American term term for card toppers.

In the past I used to pay a fortune for this type of thing until I found the joy of making my own! I used a variety of stamp set for their greetings & my growing collection of punches. I added some brads & pearls from the Pretties Kit to give them a lift & gave a false enamelled look on a couple with the new Crystal Effects.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets - Flight of the Butterfly, Circle Circus, Punches Three, Oval All, Fresh Cuts
Ink - Bashful Blue, Kraft in Whisper White
Card - Bashful Blue & Whisper White
Punches - 1-3/8" Circle,1-1/4" Circle, Scallop Circle, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Butterfly, Scallop Square, Boho Blossoms, 1/16" Circle (handheld)
Accessories - Brads in Bashful Blue, Pearls from Pretties Kit, Crystal Effects, Embossing Powder in White
Tools - Heat Tool, Paper Snips
Adhesives - Snail, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

The Scallop square topper has a chocolate hidden behind it, so it really is card candy!

Thanks for looking,
Kathy.

Stampers 6 Post-it Holders

I made these as another gift for my Stampers 6 ladies. I think I might be spoiling them but they're worth it! It's a little thankyou for a lovely evening & placing an order with me. I've popped them in with their orders, which I sorted last night. I had 28 stamp sets to mount & it only took a couple of hours! Phew1 :)

I got the idea from a Sizzix die (which I can't afford) that is for a standard 75mm x 75mm Post -its pad. I used much smaller ones & included a little calendar too. I loved making these little gifts & I'm going to make a few more lager ones for gift giving throughout the year. I have also made a similar one for the next Stampers 6 project in March.

Supplies:
Stamps - Simply Said
Ink - Basic Grey, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink & So Saffron
Card - Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink & So Saffron
Ribbon - Striped Grosgrain in Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink & So Saffron
Punches - Scallop Edge, Scallop Oval, Large Oval ,1/16" Circle (handheld) & 3 Flower (retired)
Tools - Cropodile, Blender pen
Accessories - White Eyelets, Brads in Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink & So Saffron
Adhesives - Sticky Strip, Snail & Dimensionals
Other items - Post-it notes, Calendars & Sticky Velcro disks

I'm going to be having a play tonight with the goodies I ordered & I'll be posting my creations during the next few days.

Happy Crafting!
Kathy.

Stampers 6 Chocolate

I've decorated some chocolate bars to give to my Stampers 6 ladies as a little thank you gift. If you "dress up" small gifts like these they mean so much more than just a bar of chocolate, & I bet my ladies will be recycling the papers & tags once the chocolate's been eaten! lol

Supplies:
Stamps - Best Yet (retired)
Ink - So Saffron, Bashful Blue & Pretty in Pink
Card - Whisper White, So Saffron, Bashful Blue & Pretty in Pink
DSP - Tea Party, Cutie Pie (retired) & Sweet Always (retired)
Ribbon - Satin in Whisper White
Punches - Tag & Small Tag
Adhesives - Snail

Thanks for looking,
Kathy.

Stampers 6 Notebooks

I made these notebooks for my lovely Stampers 6 ladies, I made 2 of each colour (Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink & So Saffron) & I think the notebooks came from a poundshop (£1 for 10).

I'm going to use mine for my wishlist, I'll also use it to jot down card dimensions & tips for some of the Stampers 6 projects.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets - Baroque Motifs
Ink - Whisper White Kraft & Bashful Blue / Pretty in Pink /So Saffron
Card - Bashful Blue / Pretty in Pink / So Saffron
Punches - Scallop Square
Ribbon - 1/4" Grosgrain in Whisper White
Accessories - Pearls from the Pretties Kit
Adhesives - Sticky Strip, Snail, Dimensionals & Mini Glue Dots

Thanks for looking!
Kathy.

PS
If you like what you've seen, why not join me for some fun evenings of crafting? You'd be taking turns to enjoy Hostess benefits (free exclusive stamp sets & free merchandize), learning new techniques & meeting other like-minded crafters. I'd like to start another Stampers 6 group next month so please ring me for details of how to join.

Stampers 6 Project 2

The inspiration for this project came from a gorgeous box cover made for Pam, who runs a craft club where I live that I've been going to for obout 7 years. I promised a couple of my Stampers 6 ladies I would try to make one for one of our projects, so here it is.

The box I saw must have taken hours to make with lots of detail, cut out little mice characters etc, but I've made a simple one as we only have 2 hours for the 2 projects.

I first measured the top of the tissue box I'd bought, then added 1/2" to each side for the top. When I measured the sides I worked out I could get 2 sides on each piece of card, so I added 1/2" onto one side for each piece. I used an oval die in my Big Shot to get the hole, but you could cut the hole with a craft knife.

Once everything was cut out I started stamping, I used Close to Cocoa ink which I first stamped onto scrap paper, then onto the card to give a softer image. I then scored each piece, snipped away the excess card & used my trusty sticky strip to put it together. I used some Gold elastic cord underneath to secure the tissue box & to make the cover re-usable.

I've promised a project sheet for my ladies so they don't have to remember how it was made & they can make as many of them as they like! One of my ladies works at a guest house so I've got a feeling she'll be running a production line!

Supplies:
Stamps - Medallion & En Francais
Ink - Close to Cocoa
Card - Kraft
Punch - 1 3/8" Circle & 1.8" Circle (handheld) & 1/16" Circle (handheld)
Ribbon - Taffeta in Kraft & Elastic cord in Gold
Accessories - Button in Very Vanilla
Adhesives - Sticky Strip & Dimensionals

I'm going to make a couple of different ones for Mother's day this year as I think my Mum & Mother-In-Law will love them.

Thanks for looking,
Kathy.

Stampers 6 Project 1

As the name suggests, this was the first of my Stampers 6 projects, I've got an addiction to Easel cards at the moment so I came up with this creation.

I love the way Stampin' Up! has loads of products which go together. In this case the Bella's Bloom stamp set & the Bella's Border Stampin' Around roller goes together perfectly with the Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper.

Supplies:
Stamps - Bella's Bloom & Bella's Border
DSP - Bella Bleu
Cardstock - Kraft & Not Quite Navy
Ink - Not Quite Navy
Punches - Scallop Oval & Large Oval
Ribbon - Taffeta in Kraft
Accessories - Brads in Not Quite Navy
Adhesives - Snail & Dimensionals

My ladies loved making this project last night, thanks to them all for such a lovely evening.
Kathy. x

Oops, forgot the tag!

I was going through my photos when I noticed I hadn't shown you the tag I made to go on the gift bag that held all the goodies! I fastened it with some Elastic Cord in Gold.

I'd loose my head if it wasn't screwed on!
Kathy. x

Baroque Motifs Chocolate

This is the other gift I made to go with the Candle in a Tin, I wrapped some small chocolate bars in the Kraft cardstock decorated as before. I kept it simple to show off the decorated card.

I won't bore you with the repeating the technique, you'll find it on my previous 2 posts.

Happy Crafting!
Kathy.

Chocolate Baroque Motifs Notebook

Hi there!

I promised I would show you the matching items I made to go with the decorated candle in a tin, & here's one of them.

I used exactly the same method from the tin to decorate the notebook & I added some home-made dividers. Thse were made using Window Sheets & the Round Tab punch.

I have used some trusty 1/4 Grosgrain ribbon to tie it together as I hate it when my notebook keeps opening in my handbag. This keeps it neat & tidy (not like me!).

Supplies:

Stamp Set - Baroque Motifs
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa & Whisper White Craft
Card - Kraft & Chocolate Chip
Ribbon - 1/4" Grosgrain in Chocolate Chip
Punches - Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle, Round Tab & 1/8" Circle(Handheld)
Accessories - Designer Button (Latte collection) & Window Sheets
Adhesives - Sticky Strip, Snail & Dimensionals
Notebook

I'm really pleased at how this came out, so I'll be making a few more of these in different colour combinations.

Thanks for looking,
Kathy.

Tin Challenge

One of the members of Abi's Stampers 10 group has challenged us all to decorate a tin in anyway we wanted, there is a prize for the best one! I've had this tin for quite a while now & every time I've gone to decorate it I've been stumped. With the deadline looming I finally bit the bullet & did what I could with it!

It won't win any prizes for originality but it does fit the candle I decorated with Rub-ons. I wrapped the candle in some gold tissue paper (left over from Christmas) & popped it into the tin.

I covered the tin with some Kraft cardstock which I inked the edges with a Sponge Dauber & Close to Cocoa ink. I then got out my favourite stamp set, Baroque Motifs, I used Chocolate Chip ink first then the new Whisper White Craft Ink all over. A little Choclate Chip ribbon with a tag finishes it off.

Supplies:

Stamp Sets - Maroque Motifs, Best Yet
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa & Whisper White Craft
Card - Kraft & Chocolate Chip
Punches - Tag & 1/8" Circle (hanf held)
Ribbon - 1/4" Grosgrain in Chocolate Chip
Accessories - Hidden Garden Blossoms Rub-ons
Adhesives - Sticky Strip & Snail
Candle, tin & tissue paper

I've done some other matching gifts as I was so pleased with this project, but you'll have to wait for another post (or two) to see what I came up with.
Kathy x

A Special Day

I made this card to show that though the stamp set has some religious sentiments in it, you don't have to use the "May God bless you..." stamp. On the other hand I do have quite a few religious friends & relatives to I'm sure they're going to appreciate the sentiments. The cross is another gorgeous image & I'm planning to make a few easter cards with that one.

Supplies:
Stamp set - Special Blessings
Ink - Chocolate Chip
Card - Taken with Teal & Chocolate Chip
Punches - Eyelet Border, Scallop Oval & Oval
Ribbon - 5/8" Grosgrain in Chocolate Chip
Adhesives - Snail & Dimensionals
Tools - Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack & Paper Snips, Fiskars Cutter/Scorer

Hope you like it!
Kathy.

Stampers 6 ( Group 2)

Would you like to be able to join a group of like-minded people who love to craft? Would you like to make some lovely projects & learn new techniques? Would you like the opportunity to earn free merchandise & exclusive stamps as "Hostess of the Month"? Then join my Stampers 6 group!

We would meet on the third Thursday of every other month at my home & your only financial commitment would be to place a £25 (before p&p) Stampin Up! order at each meeting. This works out at only £12.50 per month. During each of the meetings you will go away with 2 projects, they could be cards, gifts or gift packaging ideas.

You'll get a free copy of the Stampin Up! Idea book & Catalogue which has loads of inspiration, all materials are supplied & you will even receive a free gift from me with every order!

Each member would take their turn as "Hostess of the Month" to earn at least a Level 1 Stamp Set & £15 of goodies from the current Stampin' Up! catalogue. Members could also benefit from the special offers Stampin' Up run throughout the year.

The first meeting of this group (I have a full group which starts in January) would be on February 18th 7.30pm til 9.30pm. So contact me on 01726 63461 if you would like to join.

More New Year Gifts

As you can see I made quite a few of these photo frames to give with Ben's thankyou cards. It's a nice little way of showing off your loved one's photo & a gift too! I have one of these on my desk at work & several colleagues have made lovely comments about this project.

I even had Children as young as 2 years old making a version of these at our School Christmas Fayre. I volunteered to run the craft stall (no surprize there I hear you say). They loved stamping flowers etc all over them (I like to start them young, gets them hooked quick) ;) I also had them making christmas tree shaped cards where they stuck lots of baubles all over them & the most popular were snowflake tree decorations. All the items were die cut from some very stiff card I got from my local scrap store, so it cost next to nothing to make everything. Only problem now is how do I top that next year?

Thanks for looking,
Kathy.

New Year Gifts

Here are some of the New year Gifts I've been sending with the thankyou's for all the lovely gifts we've received this year.

As you can see I've been busy covering notebooks with Designer Series Paper, using matching ribbon & I got out my trusty punches. Some of my stamp sets made an appearance too.

These are so simple to make & I hope all the recipients find them useful, I always have one in my handbag for shopping lists, taking down phone numbers etc. I also get design ideas all the time so I write them down quickly so I don't forget.

Thanks for looking,
Kathy.

Ben's Thankyou Cards

My son Ben made some of these with me as his Thankyous for all his presents. We used the Snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background & the Cuttlebug Snowman die, Ben used my die-cutting machine, he then stuck the pieces together & drew the faces, didn't he do a great job!

We could have used the different sized Circle punches for the body, the word window punch for the scarf, cut out a hat & then used the arms of a snowflake for twigs, but I already had this die.

Ben loves crafting using the Big Shot & he's an expert stamper, wonder where his love of craft comes from! ;)

Thanks for looking,
Kathy.

Punch Pal Santa

Do you like him? I made half a dozen of them to decorate goody bags for my son's Christmas party.

We had six five year olds & the tree survived, just! Never again, we were counting down the minutes before they were due to be picked up!! They weren't being naughty, just over excited as it was only 2 days before Christmas.

Anyway, I found the instructions for this cute character online ( I think it was Stamp with Heather's blog). If you do a search on Google for punch art loads come up, I'm going to be doing plenty more of this in the future.

I adapted Heather's design as I used the Word Window punch for his arms, the 5 Petal flower for his boots & added a belt (using the 1 3/8" Circle punch) finished off with a 1/4" Square for the buckle.

Punch Pal are great for using all those little scraps of card we have, mine are kept in plastic wallets in their colour families (I've been doing some tidying) so I can find the colour I need easily.

Thanks for looking, & Happy New Year!
Kathy.

PS Back to work for me today....Boo Hoo!!