Just Believe .................

.................. sometimes the most difficult cards to make are those we send to loved ones and friends expressing our sorrow at their pain - Hopeful Thoughts and Just Believe are two beautiful sets that I used to create this card - the colours are Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum - the soft mottled background is achieved by scrunching a tissue and dabbing it first onto the inkpad and then onto the surface of the cardstock - the main image was inked and then still using the tissue some of the ink on the surface of the image was gently removed to give a subtler look before stamping this image on top of the mottled background.

Bridgette

Angel Child

It is hard to be comforted - hard to forgive,

when Death steals a child too perfect to live.

Like a tiny flower that never grows -

like a beautiful rosebud never a rose, that

is plucked from a stem so sensitive that it

dies before it has time to live.

And thoughts always turn, 'til you long

to know how the child would have looked

if allowed to grow. You imagine her

voice 'til it almost seems as if she is calling

to you in her dreams. You think of the

touch of her hand and feel - that recollection

has made it real. The years pass on - and

still there is seen - a child at the age that

she might have been.

Kathleen Partridge

1942

It's definitely alright ............................

....................... with Everything Eleanor as it is a beautiful set of stamps that I have recently added to my collection and hopefully it will go through into Stampin' Up!'s next catalogue in October.

This is a classic combination of Always Artichoke and Not Quite Navy on a crisp white background - the flowers are given more depth by using a blender pen to bleed the ink onto the design and enhanced by the addition of a crystal - a simple sentiment from Perfect Punches offset by a cute diecut label is all that is required to add the finishing touch.

I think the background swirl is equally as nice as the one from Baroque Motifs and the flowers in Everything Eleanor are stunning and so simple to quickly cut around with our wonderful snips - I should think they would work well layered as well.

If you are looking for inspiration for your cardmaking don't forget to Google Stampin'Up! and click on the Images button - oodles to inspire you from our wonderful designers/demonstrators -  providing you with a fab jumping off point  -  change the colourway, embellishment and tweek the layout to make it more your own and a reflection of your particular Stampin' Up! Style.

Inspire - Create - Share

Bridgette

Get your motor running ..........

................... not quite 'heading out on the highway' - I've been to Tesco's does that count?, or come to that 'looking for some action' - I'm just chillin' this weekend - but felt it was quite apt for me following the last post I think!!!

This is just one of the many cards that formed part of a class that was offered to the lovely WI ladies of Tattershall and Coningsby last month - Lynne was my invaluable helper that day, thank you Lynne - we had such a brilliant time and hopefully gathered more into the Stampin' Up! fold.

I used lovely contemporary colours Not Quite Navy and River Rock together with a paper from the Well Worn pack with a cute taffetta ribbon piece and library clip embellishment enhanced by the fab Lattice embossing folder - I did succumb to dipping into my retired box ( those who know me know I don't keep very much from the previous catalogue ) for my Spiral Border punch and a 'lend' from a very dear friend for the Circle of Friendship stamp.

Inside a classic Thanks So Much from our lovely Basic Salutations Stamp set and just a section of the Motorcycle stamp - one of the A La Carte range of stamps Stampin' Up! offers.

Bridgette x

PS - I hope you all recognised the lyrics or you're all going to think that I've lost it slightly - not that I have ever been described as a rocker but some songs are just classic!!

Reflecting on life .....

............ it's never an easy thing to do, to admit that some aspects of your plan for 2012 are not turning out how you would have hoped and that you have failed to keep juggling the balls and they are now hitting you well and truly on the head !!!!

On some fronts it's fab - namely I have had a job since the beginning of the year working for a great company, with lovely work colleagues - so huge tick there!!

On the blog front not so fab - in fact pretty dismal - but this I can begin to rectify - it truly isn't that I no longer craft it's just that for the last few months I haven't put my projects on my blog for all to share.

On the Stampin' Up! crafting front again not so fab - I have scaled down my commitments and cancelled my stamping classes as my time is now not so flexible but I have managed to keep in touch with those crafty friends that I see thro' in-home workshops and my monthly scrapbook class but sadly some I haven't seen for such a long time and that is one huge regret.

So I am taking this Bank Holiday to rethink and reflect and make the necessary adjustments which I shall be working on over the next four months - these will hopefully see me more established in my new job ( yes, I'm studying again which I love) being able to report that I have an up-to-date blog and having reconnected with some dear friends that I have missed seeing very much - achievable aims I feel - and now that I have written them down they have become my on-going resolutions.

On the Stampin' Up! front I have put the lovely new Summer Mini on the sidebar - so do click on the cover and have a peek - I have the Open Sea stamp set and the gorgeous stamp set Apothecary Art that matches the framelits for the Big Shot - not managed to acquire those just yet - I'd like to attempt something with the material although I'm not really sure what just yet I'll have to put my thinking cap on!!

Bridgette x

I will share with you a passage from a little book by Kathleen Partridge, it would have cost one shilling and threepence to buy in 1942 and I love reading it very much for the gentle words of wisdom contained within its pages.

This particular passage is called Staying Power.

When enthusiasm flags, when early zest for work is stale, when inspiration wearies and when resolutions fail, as they are apt to do after the first fine glowing start, this is the hour for steady purpose and philosophy of heart.  All ventures rise with rosy dreams then wear a little thin and when the newness goes, the weakest think of giving in.  The veil has flown, here is the reality with glamour gone, the test of grit and courage proving who dare to carry on.

Kathleen Partridge 1942

Drum rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroll !!!!!! It's that time of the year again !!!!!

Yes, Sale.a.bration has arrived and it's an opportunity for us all to qualify for FREE crafty stash in the shape of stamp sets and Designer Series Paper - I do so love this time in the Stampin' Up! calendar.

Please go over to the sidebar on the right and click on the cover of the Sale.a.bration cover and you will discover the stamp sets on offer together with the gorgeous papers.

Remember - it is just a £45.00 spend, not including P & P, from either the main or mini catalogues and you are able to choose your favourite item for FREE - should you want to spend £90.00 then choose TWO FREE items ie a stamp set and the papers.

And there's more .......................... be a Hostess during the Sale.a.bration Promotion which runs from today, 24 January 2012 right through until 31 March 2012, and you will have the opportunity to claim a FREE set/papers if your party reaches the £300 level.

I am giving out Sale.a.bration brochures to all my customers but if I haven't got to you yet give me a nudge and I will send one to you asap.

As I mentioned earlier this is a fabulous time in the Stampin' Up! calendar of promotions so please don't miss out.

Indulge me if you will as I share a thought with you -

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lit the flame within us.

Albert Schweitzer

Thank you to you all, our crafting community is such a special one - Bridgette

A Happy New Year to you all .................

.................  I would just like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and hope that 2012 will be a year full of promise and for each and everyone of us may just one or two of our dreams come true.

I shall be putting up the monthly scrapbook pages over the next day or two and also some of the projects that we complete at craft class for those that can't make it and never get to see what we get up to !!!

I'm not normally one for New Year resolutions but I have undertaken to put a project on here at least once a week - I see all the other blogs while I am hopping around and feel somewhat ashamed that I don't show more of what we do - so I will be endeavouring to follow their example ...................................

............... once again Happy New Year and many thanks for all your support over the last twelve months and watch the space for news of the new Mini Catalogue from 4th January and remember Saleabration will be with us from 24th January.

Bridgette

December Scrappers ....................

..................the time has come around so quickly and here are two of the layouts that we will be using tomorrow - the first colour way is inspired by the gorgeous Paisley Petals Designer Paper - picking out Always Artichoke, River Rock and a touch of Early Expresso. The photo size is 6.5 cms by 12 cms and I have placed it portrait but I think it might work landscape too.

The second layout is again inspired by the same papers but this time it is lighter in colour, with lots of cream and Bravo Burgundy - we can bling it up a little more on the day the size of the photo required is 8 cms by 12 cms.

We shall also be making a folder using envelopes and the speciality papers Mocha Morning - the photos will be able to be retro-fitted with this project.

See you tomorrow - Bridgette x

Spalding Scrappers ...... Oh Christmas Tree

..... here is the page I mentioned in the previous post - mine is an indoor (artificial !!!) Christmas tree - this is the first time that John decorated his own little tree - I still have it today and all the little wooden shapes, so cute and yes, it still gets decorated nearly ten years later !!  mmm me thinks that this year I'll take another photo and place another page alongside this one.

Looking forward to tomorrow - Bridgette

November Spalding Scrappers Club .............

................ no surprise that a spooky, cute page is needed - using Black and Pumpkin Pie cardstock and an easy peasy decorative edge, a few bats and pumpkins, do you recognise the little fellas? this time with googly eyes and a tag acting as our gravestone.

We need two photographs the largest and could be portrait or landscape is 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 or 9cms x 11.5 cms -

and the smaller photo perhaps works better as landscape and is 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 or 6.5 cms x 11.5 cms

This is a double page layout that we are trying - so photos from the same event would work nicely here.

The second set of double layouts will be featuring snow scenes ie landscapes, ski-ing photos anything with snow - the colour ways will be Night of Navy, Bashful Blue with a hint of a soft purple/soft green perhaps in some of the accents - if we work on similar sizes to the above I'll be back later with my thoughts on layout.

Here are my thoughts ........ remember the same photo size is being used again as above.

and for the second page of the double layout - following the first set of spooky pages for photo sizes

As a standby, if we really work quickly on Saturday!!! not too many biscuits!!! do you have a photo of you or loved one, two or four-legged by a Christmas tree, outside or inside, again a similar size to the larger measurements ie 9 cms x 11.5 cms - and we'll be working with a traditional colourway the reds, greens and golds - intrigued?

I'll be putting this one up tomorrow to give an idea of layout ...............

So looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday - Bridgette

Spalding Scrapbook Club - No 3

......... just to put up the details of the third page for Saturday - I have designed it so that the photo can be placed in later as none of the embellishments restrict it in any way.

The colours are Bashful Blue and Black so it lends itself to an old black and white photograph and my tiny tags say Mr & Mrs and Love so a wedding, anniversary, engagement photo - if that's not possible perhaps an older style portrait  photo of a family member would be perfect and we can just change the tags as appropriate.

And a closer view ....

See you tomorrow - Bridgette

Spalding Scrapbook Club

......... I think my nickname ought to be Bunny - I am the proverbial White Rabbit checking the time and always running late, although I never intentionally start out that way!!

Here are two of the three 6" x  6" pages we will be completing on Saturday. 

The first is one that needs a photo of cakes, cookies, baking with someone special, in fact anything foodie that makes you smile.  The page is Chocolate Chip cardstock and a Real Red designer backing paper with hearts, Real Red satin ribbon and tag using the retired Yummy stamp set ( I know, I don't normally keep stamp sets but this one is special !!) The photo dimensions are 10.5 cms by 7.5 cms, the Top Note diecut tucked behind the photo can be used for journalling or a favourite recipe.

The second page - please forgive the colours, the photograph doesn't do it justice !!!

Using the new Hostess designer papers, Whisper White and Certainly Celery with accent of Wisteria Wonder - four small photos are needed - two of the photographs are able to be lifted and some journalling placed behind - this is then held in position by the central motif.  So yes, this is soft greens and lilacs with a bolder pink accent, once again so sorry for the poor quality photo - it is pretty honestly. 

So perhaps think about a day out or occasion - Spring/Summer - or favourite flowers in the garden - or even family members wearing clothing in the green/purple/pink colourways - or even your pets if they wear pink collars etc.

I will post the remaining page tomorrow and we will also be making a cute keepsake box for the little pieces of memorabilia that we gather - see you at 9.30 am on Saturday - Bridgette x

NEW Stampin' Up! Catalogue for 2011-2012 ...........................

............................. our lovely SU catalogue has arrived and you can view it now by clicking on the image in the righthand margin - it is full of gorgeous new products for you to fall in love with add to your crafting stash and remember, the catalogue is full of fresh new ideas for those SU stamp sets that have made it thro' and you may already own - so a whole new burst of creativity for us all to enjoy!!!

So why not pour yourself a cup of coffee and take a moment to browse thro' its pages and find your new favourites.

Bridgette

Scrapbook Class - October 2011 projects

Hello Fellow Scrapbook Girlies ( you know who you are ( smile ) - I thought this would be the easiest place for you to see the projects and get a feel for the size of the photographs that you will need to find for tomorrow - it is quite wide this month simply because time is against you and that is my fault so for that I am truly sorry.

Project A - Old Olive, Real Red and Whisper White - this could be Christmas or any photo that contains a strong red or green theme.

Project B - Garden Green, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla - an outdoor photo would work well with this, that's what I had in mind when I put this one together.

Project C - Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla with a little Springtime Vintage papers - so think pretty and girlie on this one - there will be some appropriate lettering on the top section of cream in Perfect Plum.

Project D - Expecially for Joyce - and this was a project I was given as a swap by a fellow demo called Sylvia Lawrence so many thanks for the inspiration on that one - Elegant Eggplant and Artichoke for this one.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow - and yes, Henli's sister very, very welcome to join us.

Bridgette 

Love Letter DSP and Top Note Die

A little project that I put together to show how pretty these papers are - it's a fact, until you get these stunning papers in your hand it is hard to appreciate their quality and simply how gorgeous they are - I'm sure all of papers will be changing in the new catalogue and already I am excited to see what will be on offer - I have already promised myself that I will be using them so much more over the coming months and I'll be putting them into your hands as often as I can - and hopefully you'll fall in love with them too.

The colours for the project are Riding Hood Red, Black and Very Vanilla - the amazingly useful swirl from the Season of Joy - buttersoft striped grosgrain ribbon in the black and vanilla colourway - not forgetting the use of one of our jumbo brads - effortlessly put in position using the cropodile.

The embellishment is put together using the Oval All stamp set, Four Frames stamp set - and punching out with the matching oval and frame punches - can't beat Stampin' Up! for that - love the combination of stamp and punch for real mileage from your crafting items.  Cute little metallic brads complete this element with just a touch of Riding Hood Red cardstock peeping from behind - pretty!

The versatile Top Note Die - exclusive to Stampin' Up! - along with the Bigshot, is used to create the project - cut from mountboard, Designer Series Paper and then the inner pages cut from an artist's paperstack - all held together with an 'O' ring - sorry the proper name escapes me - decorated with a little ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by .....................

Bridgette

Fluttering by with a Shadow Box Card ........

........... isn't this cute?

This is a design from Stampin' Up's Impressions Newsletter, I receive this publication each month as a demonstrator, it is just one of many ways that Stampin' Up helps their demonstrators grow their business and enjoy their hobby.

I have used this at my last two workshops and it is just something a little different - it still folds flat and goes thro' the post as a letter - but of course not if it has lots of embellishments on it - so keep it simple!!! unless you are hand delivering and then bling away !!!!

Thank you so much for fluttering by ........................ sorry couldn't resist that - Bridgette

Happy Easter to you all ......

...... I've been meaning to show you this for a little while - cute isn't it?

A lovely mummy hen ( stuffed with a Cadbury's creme egg, thank you Barbara ) sitting on some smaller chocolate eggs, nestled in dried grasses from 'my field' at the side of the house.

John and I were paper weaving and making the boater, inking and distressing it, beribboning it with Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon - distressed of course!! and we were very pleased with the result - and yes, he won first prize at school in the Easter Bonnet category!!

Thank you for dropping by - hoping you are enjoying the lovely weather - see you soon - Bridgette

PS Surprise, surprise Kirsty the creme egg is still intact, but for how much longer? Just to explain, Kirsty makes delicious cakes which I find very difficult to share (smile) - chocolate is also another weakness of mine.

Casing the Mini .....................

.............. that's right !!! but that is what it's there for - to inspire us to create with the stash that we have but use the sample as a springboard and then share the result.

So with that in mind I took the design on page 9 changed the colours a little - the ribbon completely and just inked the background because I love the large background stamps they are so useful to have to hand and added pearls rather than rhinestones.  Please remember I mount some of my cards for craft class so this is a little 4 x 4 Certainly Celery card mounted on black mountboard - ahhhh now it makes sense I hear you say !!!!

See you Thursday - thanks for dropping by - Bridgette

PS Hello Sally if you have managed to find me on here - welcome, lovely to see you today - I overheard Chrissy directing you to this blog so I do hope curiousity got the better of you and you've taken a peek - Bx

Easter Treat Pouch

This little pouch was, I believe, originally shown on Andrea Walford's site for Valentine's Day  - my upline, Zoe, gave me her cute version as a swap at the recent regional training events and now I have bunny hopped it on to my own colourway and selected image.

My pink version has an oval aperture and glazed little Forest Friends bunny on the side - this is very quick and easy to do and requires only a small amount of designer paper, a large punch, a snippet of ribbon and some sweeties in a cellophane wrapper - and you're in business.  Great mini treats for your children's school friends this Easter.

Thank you for dropping by - see you soon - Bridgette

Let's go on a nature walk .................

................ I love all of the stamps within this gorgeous set - Nature's Walk - in the Mini Catalogue - this is an example of a Make and Take project at a recent hostess party.

The card base is Garden Green - along with Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and Sahara Sand accents - the 'faux' button is a really quick way of bringing in an embellishment when you don't have any to match your project - with the addition of a little bit of linen thread it looks just perfect.

I'm in love with our exclusive SU embossing folders - this particular one - Square Lattice - is useful for both masculine and feminine projects ( a great one to start your collection with !!) and forms a perfect base for my image here - I think this image would look great stamped in Basic Black with Night of Navy. Old Olive and Whisper White - now I may just try that and see !!

Thank you for dropping by - I say it every time but I do appreciate it - Bridgette

Just a little something ................

.......... this time for my dear friend Chrissy who was celebrating a birthday today - now Chrissy's favourite colour is pink - and of any hue but it has to be said the brighter the better - but never garish - always with a hint of fun.

So, of course, my little something for my friend had to involve pink, some pretty stripes and polka dots and a flower or two.  My combination was Rose Red, Pretty in Pink and Old Olive and I had a play with the Stampin' Up! chipboard shapes - they are so easy to use, why did I ever hesitate?

My birthday card matches the little notebook and I love this  card design - once you have the template it is a lovely one to adapt to any occasion.

Thanks for dropping by I appreciate it - Bridgette