Numbers Numbers Numbers!

My new stamps and matching dies set arrived on Friday \o/ I ordered the photopolimer stamps "Number of Years" #140653 with the "Large Numbers Framelits" set #140622 to match. Now I can make cards featuring any number. I am not just constrained to the usual milestone 18 21 30 40 50 60 birthdays or Anniversary's! At first sight I wondered if I actually needed the stamp set at all? because I could just cut the numbers with the dies! but then I realised two things...

Firstly that the number stamps give a slightly faded look in some areas of each number. A soft watercoloured effect can easily be achieved. Secondly, there are a total of 29 stamps in the set! There's so many little stamps alongside the numbers to use! theres the sprig of leaves with tiny flowers and dots, then the "Look Who's Turning" arched stamp, the sentiment which says "the number of years the world has been a better place because you're in it" Then the other stamps are HAPPY, BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY, AGAIN, GRADE, NO. with the little ND TH ST RD a kinda brush stroke stamp and finally a banner and a teeny tiny banner too.

The framelits set have the numbers, the banner, and the teeny tiny little banner for the RD etc. Number 6 is also the number 9 

When I consider a stamp set to buy for myself or to recommend to customers I try to find products that are versatile and will be well used. the last thing anyone wants to do is waste money on something that will just sit on the shelf without much use!

 

Well this set will get a lot of use. the possiblilites are almost endless! It's such a handy set to have for anyone who makes cards or is interested in Scrapbooking. The matching alphabet stamps and dies are available in the catalogue too! but theres too much on my wishlist to get them yet!

So for the first use of this set I made a card for myself... YES ME! I was 53 on my last birthday and I was born at number 53 too! so what better number to start with? it's just a sample card really but why not have a bit of fun creating it?

iare you nterested in rubber stamping or papercrafting? want to know more about Stampin' Up products? then just contact me and I will answer any questions you may have.

if you click the picture of the catalogue in my sidebar you can view it online or use my shop now button to go to my Srtampin Up Store. I would value your custom!

Happy Crafting

Sunburst Die brings in the sun

I have been feeling a bit "under the weather" so today I decided that it was time to experiment with the Sunburst Thinlits die to bring a little sunshine in! so....gloves at the ready.....

Stampin' Up Sunburst Thinlits Die #140617

I wanted to use watercolour paper and some bright inks to achieve a real wow and yes this is bright!

Here's what I did.....

I used a piece of watercolour paper 13cm x 17cm approx I just roughly cut it to be a little bigger than the die.
Using sponges I added the Stampin' Up inks from Crisp Cantaloupe, and Calypso Coral ink pads.
I re-inked an old almost bone dry ink pad (Opalite Gold Mist) with a Daffodil Delight Re-inker, Wow that was a good move! I had planned to throw that old pad away but now I have a gold yellow opulent colour which I love ;o)

I created a rough watercolour ombre effect with the three ink colours generating from the centre of the sunburst. Then spritzed with water to blend the colour a bit better. Using a paper towel to lift some blotches of colour. Three stamps from the Timeless Textures stamp set were used to randomly add inky colour blotches and dots of colour with the gold shimmer effect 

(I guess dotting with gold Wink of Stella pen will give a similar effect) 

When it came to die cutting with the starburst die from Stampin' Up I realised I had viewed the die upside down so had to cut from the back of the watercolour paper instead of on top to get the pinky peach centre in the top left corner! It was no great disaster, but I know now for next time! the other thing I learnt for next time is to trim the paper more precisely so that I can use the negative of the inked watercolour paper too....

I have viewed a few cards being made on you tube using this die but most folk had little triangles left over and threw them away!

why waste the ink? I will find a use for it even though I prefer the top sunburst, it will still make a background!

I have ordered the Sunburst Sayings stamp set to use with this die so I think I may wait till it comes to finish the card unless I think of something else in the meantime. if you follow my blog you will be able to find an update to see what Crafteresa UK did next!

I hope I have inspired you today to get the inks out and be creative with them. it really has cheered me up working with such smiley happy colours

if you would like to know more about Stampin' up products please contact me by email crafteresauk@gmail.com 

watch this space!!!

bye for now, come back soon

GUY GREETINGS DOUBLE Z CARD

I have made my first Double Z Card today after viewing the video tutorial from Jan B  ***HERE***, it's such a clear video and very easy to follow step by step along with Jan.

I needed to change this card up a bit as it was for our male friend from church so I used my new Guy Greeting Stampin' Up set for the first time!

My version used a 5.5 x 5.5 inches square card base.
 Unfortunately I do not yet have any Stampin Up DSP suitable for this card and I really need to start using up my stash mountain of scrapbook papers and card.. these green and brown colours are perfect for our friend who is a classy gentleman!

heres what I used...
The base was cream hammer card 11 x 5.5 folded in half to create a 5.5 x 5.5 inch card base
The brown is very similar to Chocolate Chip Stampin Up colour, the ink pad used here is Momento Rich Cocoa. I used some smooth cream card to stamp onto. then once cut out I inked the edges to give a real vintage look!

I cut the corners of the scrapbook paper and stuck it all down then realised its for a man! cant really put pearls or gems onto those corners so what should I do? and brads or eyelets will now need to go right through both layers of card! I dont like doing that, I would rather put a brad through 1 layersso that it cannot be seen on the back

 A friend suggested stars then I remembered more of my stash hoarding should be used LOL they are plastic gem like stars that had been in my drawer for ages n ages. I felt it would have been too much to use 6 so left the 2 inner corners blank
(I feel like I have been a good girl using up a bit of stash LOL)

I really enjoyed making this card. I am very happy with the Guy Greetings stamp set which I am gonna get a lot of use from, especaily now I know it still looks great if I dont wanna colour the images in! I will however buy the Chocolate Chip inkpad and card stock to use next time I make a similar vintage card.

I plan to personalise that inside cream panel but will not do that untill I have finshed the photographs as its a personal greeting.

Unfortunately the brads I used look a totally different colour in the photo they actually are brown and dark grey!
so what do you think? honsetly? I know the recipient will like it ! and so do I ;o)

see you again soon
happy crafting x

sharing this publication just in case you missed this fabulous bundle in the new catalogue! you can buy either the stamps or dies seperatly but it's well worth getting the bundle and saving 10% too

Banners for You Bundle—You Need It Now! We all know that Stampin’ Up! leads the crafting industry in product coordination—and we can’t say it enough about our Banners for You Bundle. Not to mention, photopolymer banners are super trendy right now, and the banner shapes in the Banners for You Stamp Set and Bunch of Banners Framelits™ Dies give them a new and unique twist! Here are a few other advantages to this bundle... • When you buy the set and Framelits as a bundle, they’ll save 10 percent! • Tons of our other stamp set sentiments work with the Framelits banners. • It’s an all-occasion stamp set that can be used the entire year. • The set’s builder words and imagery lets you customise their sentiment. • The stamp set and banner styles offer a variety of looks—no fussy cutting required!

I knew that this would be a versatile set the moment I spotted it.

I have it high up near the very top of my wishlist lol

Busy Busy Busy

I have been a busy lady, honestly! but I don't have much to show you for it! I have been busy thinking a lot! firstly I have been thinking of the many opportunities I have in front of me in this Stampin' Up journey. Which way should I go first? I feel like I am on a beautiful island, I really want to explore every inch....but which way first?

Well the first stage so far has meant that I have been doing a lot of setting up. I have signed up and recieved my starter kit LOVELY STUFF;o) I have done a lot work on the computer creating my Stampin' Up store and a facebook page especially for my Stampin' Up store news! creating links etc and now a lot more thinking! Now I need to make a couple of decisions on which way to go next on this lovely journey and hope I take the right route.

But I also need to make cards to show my lovely stuff off! and inspire others to get creative too! so I am hoping to have something to show you before the end of tomorrow or sooner!

I am signing up someone today I think she only wants to take advantage of the great deal and enjoy her craft as a hobby and thats totally ok, but because she is signing up before the end of June she can choose 2 free stamp sets as a special bonus deal YAY how good is that? hopefully she is just the first team member of many?
if you want to take advantage of this great Stampin Up deal then please get in touch with me and I will let you know how to get your 2 free stamp sets BUT please remember you need to do it before the end of June!

I'll be back soon with my latest make!

Thank You Stampin' Up

It's Arrived! My Stampin' Up starter kit arrived this afternoon via UPS. I am so pleased with it. I didnt know that the Guy Greetings stamp set I mentioned in an earlier post is a 2 of 2 thick box set! I'm gonna show all the details in a later post as all I wanna do is get on and use my new stash.

I look at the items spread out on my settee and think WOW this is the very beginning of something so good and what a great deal I had too

Just realized that the flower builder stamp set is upside down! that's what excitement does to me \o/

I ordered 2 stamp and punch bundles so got an extra 15% off what I would have paid if I bought them separately so I really am in a win win situation even if for some reason I don't go ahead and be a demonstrator I have had a fabulous deal and I love saving money!

The next step is for my shop and website to go live on Saturday. I will tweek it to my liking. I have been doing a lot of planning and computer work this week, I wanna get it right straight away so that I can spend more time creating! .... Exciting Times!

Remember if you would like to get in on this fabulous June 2016 deal I can help you. if you already buy Stampin' Up products anyway it can be a win win situation for you too!myou don't need to start a demonstrating business you can just buy for your own hobby! start off as a hobbyist and if it doesn't work for you then you have still got a great deal and saved money! but if it does work you can do exactly what I am doing and make plans to demonstrate and grow a customer base and team! you just go at your own pace as long as you meet a certain sales/order levels per quarter and its not a massive amount to achieve!

If you just want to order from the Stampin' Up website in smaller amounts and don't already have a demonstrator then I would love your business! and would really value you as one of my first customers.
contact me for more detail  crafteresauk@gmail.com or comment below and I will contact you!

Have fun seriously have lots of fun
see ya later

Guy Greetings

Remember I told you I had signed up to become a Stampin' Up Demonstrator? well I am hoping to receive my starter kit parcel of Stampin' Up products today. I am particularly excited because two of the stamp sets were free and boy I saved myself some serious money £90! That's because I signed up in June while the special offer was still on. There's still time to grab yourself a bargain and sign up, and you don't have to start a business you can do it as a hobby. So if you want to know more or take up the offer get in contact with me and we can discuss whether its a good move for you!

I also signed up today for my DBWS which is basically my own Stampin' Up website. I have been working on it getting it ready to go live on Saturday! That's also the day my virtual shop doors are open and anyone can order through me YAY I will post links so that you can find the store on my sidebar. if you don't already have a demonstrator and live in the UK or Europe I would be honoured if you would choose me as your demonstrator. You can order direct with the Stampin' Up website and have your goodies directly sent to you by UPS! so not living nearby is not a problem!

One of the free stamp sets I have chosen is "Guy Greetings" I am so pleased to be getting this set as I will have more images and sentiments to use for those masculine cards which to be honest I find cards for men quite difficult. I enjoy pretty or cute cards so much more! Maybe now that will change? here's a preview of the Guy Greetings set...

I have a couple of good card ideas for my first "play" with this set, It's very good set when used with a brown ink pad to give an old fashioned sepia effect. Therefore, I will have to decide which of the brown ink pads to put on my next order to use in that way. 

I cant wait to create a card for my hubby Kev, just because I can!

I'm a Stampin' Up Demonstrator YAY

Yesterday I signed up to become an 

Independent Stampin Up Demonstrator 

I have been a Stampin Up customer for at least 18 months already. Its the stamps that started my Stampin Up Journey!
It all started with viewing some handmade cards on Pinterest where someone  had used the "Lovely As A Tree" stamp....
I was in love LOL I had to have that stamp 

I didn't know it belonged to a full set of 6 beautiful stamps. I had only seen the line of 5 trees on one stamp! I believed it was a retired set so tried to find it on eBay with no luck. One day my search led me to find a Stampin Up Demonstrator who informed me that the stamp was still in the current catalogue and my stamp was ordered!.
I got the Stampin Up catalogue with my stamp and loved so many lovely stamp sets so I joined a "stamp 10" club to receive products every month and my Stampin' Up collection began!
this is the first card I made with it...

This was the first card I made using my new stamp set. It's a centre step card. I made it with the card folded so that it was kinda DL! wide but not tall. A "Thank You" card was needed for The Woodlands Team! ( they are a CMHT and have helped me a lot ) what better image to use for The Woodlands?

Looking back now, I wish I had not used so much black especially around the "Thank You" sentiment but they really loved the card.

I have used this stamp set a lot, it was used for my own Handmade cards to give out for Christmas 2015. Here's a pic of the full set of stamps which are all wood block mounted now 

Pinterest provided me with a vast array of samples on how versatile this stamp set really is. So I made a board to save the ones I especially liked 

 *Link Lovely As A Tree * 

its from here that I learned the fabulous reflection technique 

but that's another post! This set is still available in the current catalogue. Please contact me if you would like the set yourself! 

I would value your custom

So here I am,   Crafteresa UK 

an Independant Stampin' Up Demonstrator!

I have lots to learn or should I say grasp?! but the main thing for me is having FUN FUN FUN stamping, die cutting, inking and delving into even more craftiness than before and sharing it with other people I haven't even met yet! how fab is that!

So before the end of June I should have my own website set up with Stampin' Up solely to show samples tutorials videos of all that I am creating with the S U products and a place where anyone can get in touch with me to find out more about Stampin' Up, their products and maybe even join the team! they will be able to see  link to buy  Stampin' Up products from the current catalogue and the weekly clearance bargains too and be able to choose me Crafteresa UK as their demonstrator 

***for which I would be both grateful and honoured!***

I will also be looking for a good place to run a Stampin' Up informal craft group where we can have a cuppa perhaps some cake!! and lots of fun card making and crafting together \o/ I have to find my feet first and get all the details sorted out but as soon as I do I will let you know on this blog and on my facebook page.

I will be keeping this blog going as I have tons of dies, equipment and craft stash from other companies I will carry on card making and paper crafting with them and selling cards on Etsy including cards made Using my Stampin' Up products.  Of course I will here some of share the other things that make my heart sing too!

So that's it from me this morning. both Kev and I have bad coughs my poor Hubby Kev has not had much sleep all week so its what we call a slobbing day, taking a rest doing what we have to (like walkies for Lulu and food) and perhaps catching up on some sleep, I really don't know how my Hubby Kev has managed to work this week at all with such little sleep and such a poorly cough 

God Bless Him

Oh how I love my man xx

My New Blog Makeover!

Well here it is the new look for my blog, Facebook and Etsy shop. I bought the digital package of headers and avatars for my Etsy shop and Facebook page so I thought I might make it fit my blog too. The digital package was blank and I used picmonkey to edit them all adding my name and details. This new black and white theme with the wooden shabby panels took my fancy LOL and I like the flowers too it reminded me of my Stampin Up stamp of a wooden block! I admit it looks a little stark but I am still playing around with other elements of the blog page to add a little bit of a blush colour. I really wish the header I have made would go all across the page but try as I might I just cant get it to do so even though its on a cross page section of the layout, oh well I will get it right eventually but I have to say that I am quite pleased with how it looks already! what do you think? I am even more pleased with the Facebook and Etsy revamp, looks quite professional!
I'm having more laser eye surgery later on today, I have stayed awake far too long but I have to get things done while I am so inspired! so its good night or should I say good morning....have a good day, I can hear the birds singing outside now! a good start to any day!!!

Cute Baby Bear Centre Step Card

I have started to post my work onto Etsy again, I tried this before but didn't get much response but. So this time I am just concentrating on high end baby cards which can be personalized with baby names etc. I make them for baby birth Christiening adoption dedication baptism etc.
So here are a few of my cards. The colours and sentiment and personalization can be changed...

This is a Centre Step Card.  When the card is opened to display on a shelf the sides step to the back making it quite an attractive 3d card.  I absolutely LOVE bears so maybe you can imagine my delight making this bear die cut and giving it tiny half bead eyes and a shiny nose! its so cute I can't help but smile!  

The pink colours of the baby items, the banner behind the personalized details and the embossed baby blanket behind the bear can be changed to blue or lemon, also if especially requested I have mint green and pale lilac colours too! if you are buying this in advance of the birth and dont know the details then I can put a diecut "congratulations" on the pink banner instead

I think £4.99 is a good price, I am not gonna get rich on that but I am really only trying to cover my costs as this whole idea of selling cards is because I love cardmaking and papercrafting but have spent soooo much on dies and equipment it's become an expensive hobby so I need some cash back!