Inspired by Sara ..... with a slight amendment

Well, it seems to have taken a while to get around to following thro' with what I said I would do in my last post .......I wanted to use the colour combo of Choc Chip and Bashful Blue but found that I reached for Close to Cocoa cardstock instead - but I think it has turned out okay - although I couldn't make my mind up about ribbon - Very Vanilla or Chocolate Chip Taffeta - so I did one of each - the same design but just with that one variation.

The envelope was decorated both front and back - the flap with the roller and the front with the two smaller stamps using the Choc Chip ink - and for perfect positioning you can't beat the Stamp-a-ma-jig, what a simple yet effective piece of craft equipment.

As this is using a roller I shall put it as my entry for our ww#8 challenge normally set by Sally, my upline, but while Sally is snowed under with packing for her wonderfully exciting but exhausting house move Claire, my SU sister, has picked up the baton and is setting the challenges - thank you Claire.

Bridgette

Isn't She Lovely .........

What a lovely surprise - I received this beautiful card from my very clever, crafty friend Sara - and isn't she lovely? - it was to say thank you for making the party fun and for the Polka Dot Blooms Stamp Set that she won when the door prizes were drawn - it was my pleasure Sara - it was a fun evening all round - the post for it is just below if you haven't already read about it.

I love the colours of Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip that Sara has used and feel inspired to have a go at a card using that colour combination - I'll show you later if I manage to come up with anything.
Bridgette

Crafting, Cake & Coffee ... a winning combination

It was lovely to gather with friends on Friday night for that winning combination of the 3 C's - I was going initially to be a part of the party but following a request from Sally, my upline, I was given the fantastic opportunity to run the event in her place for my friend Louise, what faith they both had in me and I hope I have not let either of them down.

It was also part of our Stampers 10 Club so practically all of the faces were familiar to me and I knew they were a good group of crafters - all accomplished - so I thought four notelets with decorated envelopes would be fun to do - one representing each of the SU colour families - using different stamp sets, wheels and punches - it worked - each basket of goodies moving clockwise round the room as each group completed its card.

I must say we were sustained by the thought of Louise's baking prowess - yummy cakes - and I thought it only fair to show a photograph of one of these beauties kindly given to me by Louise to take home for my little boy John - I had to take a picture before he ate it to prove that I didn't munch it on the way home lol. Believe me he was stood just to the side of me - it's a wonder I didn't capture his hand in the photograph as he made for the chocolate buttons!

So my thanks again to Sally and Louise for the opportunity to share my love of Stampin' Up! with all my friends, old and new, and shamelessly promote what I love to do - you guessed it - it's craft.

Bridgette

Yes, it's that notebook .......... by Lou

Well here it is!! I sought Lou's permission to show the photograph that so inspired me to create my own little note book in the previous post and she very kindly agreed to allow me to reproduce it for you - isn't it a beauty, I just love the colour scheme.

The image used is from a retired stamp set entitled Nature's Wonders which is still available to purchase (p92 - see the sidebar for the Idea Book and Catalogue) and is matted onto More Mustard and Chocolate Chip cardstock - embellished with a chipboard butterfly from Batch of Blooms (p78) - the Daily Notes sentiment is from the versatile Office Accoutrement stamp set (p55) - other smaller elements will be from Lou's own crafty stash.

Thank you to Lou for sharing.

Bridgette

PS I imported the image from my email and believe me I can't do a thing with the layout it has a mind of its own lol - but hey, it's not too bad and the main thing is that we got to see the photo - Bx

Daily Notes ....... inspired by Lou

I am blessed to have so many lovely crafting friends who are all endlessly talented - amongst their number is Lou - this evening she sent me thro' an email with a photo attached of a little project she had made for someone special to her - it so inspired me that I made this little notebook - it truly looks nothing like Lou's, her little beauty is far more intricate than mine - I shall seek her permission to show you.


I have used the Tea Party papers from the mini catalogue - So Saffron cardstock and stamps from the Season of Joy - the swirl stamp is perfect all year round - and Daily Notes from the Office Accoutrements set and a cute little button from the Soft Subtles selection secured with linen thread. Believe it or not the notepad is an inexpensive one from Tesco's, 99p I think.


Happy Easter


Bridgette

Pink Blossom Inspired Easter Wishes ......

I decided that I would set up a little production line for my Easter cards and I have completed some and still have a few more to do - but I thought that I would post this now otherwise I may not have time tomorrow morning to show you what I have been doing.

It is a very simple design because I have quite a few to do - I like the spring colours of Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink together - I pass a blossom tree in full bloom everyday and this just reminds me of those beautiful delicate little flowers.

I have used the Sale-a-bration set Botanical Blooms - although no longer available I'm hoping that lots of you have the set having taken advantage of the fabulous offer that Stampin' Up! ran in February - the Easter Wishes sentiment comes from the wonderful Occasional Greetings set found on p58 of the Idea Book and Catalogue - if you don't have your own copy yet you can find the set by clicking on the front cover shown on the right hand side of the screen.

Bridgette

Identity Crisis .......

Not me, I hasten to add - my card lol. This started out one way and ended up totally opposite to what I thought I was making - so is it a birthday card or a sympathy/thinking of you card - my little boy thinks a sympathy card and my husband voted for birthday.

Needless to say I was attempting to acquaint myself with stronger colour yet again and play with the combination of Real Red, Old Olive and So Saffron as in an earlier post - once again using the Heartfelt Thanks stamp set.

Like Topsy the number of flowers just kept on growing - in my mind I was going to do a nice structured three flower matted look on 6 x 4 landscape cardstock but then I started tearing and inking and before I knew it my structure had disappeared - so I didn't fight it and just decided to let myself go - my friends know that I don't do 'letting go' terribly well - letting go and Bridgette are not normally mentioned in the same sentence - this probably explains the resulting card - it has a kind of structured letting go about it.

So what do I think?

Mmmmmmm ..... Thinking of You ........... I think!! What do you think?

Bridgette

Oh, So Lovely ......

I decided that I would continue leafing thro' last year's Idea Book and Catalogue 2007 - 2008 and recreate a card using a colour scheme that I wouldn't normally feel comfortable with.

So many thanks to the design team from Stampin' Up! - again with just a few subtle variations in ribbon type, ink colour and sentiment I have recreated the card on p16 of the catalogue - and of course, the envelope has not escaped unscathed lol.

Sizewise I work with a 6 x 4 card base as I find it very convenient - I do tend to ink my edges just to soften them - and my Old Olive edge is torn and inked rather than roughened using the super little gadget from Stampin' Up! called the Cutter Kit - it's on my wish list!

I'm pleased with the result and I must bear in mind that imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery and I do need a bit of handholding where colour of the base card is concerned.

Do remember to seek out a copy of the Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue 2008 - 2009 - it is truly a wealth of inspiration - so much more than just a list of products - and don't forget the Mini Catalogue is now available to order from - so do email me should you need to purchase any supplies I would be happy to help you - this little catalogue will run alongside the main one right up until the end of September.

See you again soon hopefully.

Bridgette