Always to hand

You can never have too many notebooks, mine are scattered a little, one in the car, one in my handbag, one in my craftroom and one in the kitchen drawer!  You never know when something's going to pop into your head and you need to document it before it slips away!

I made some of these for team members, simply decorated in subtle Crumb Cake and Blushing Bride.  The ovals were die cut using the Framelits then stamped with the Hardwood stamp and daubed around the edge to define.

My trusty Gorgeous Grunge made an appearance on the background and the Bitty Punch Pack that I use so often, here little flowers punched from Vellum.

The framed image is from "Chalk Talk" along with the "For You" greeting.  The frame was stamped with Versamark then heat embossed with Pewter embossing powder.  This stamp set has a co-ordinating Framelit set, buy with the stamps and receive a 15% discount.

I tied Chevron around the top to make it a little prettier.

Hope you like!

Remember you can shop online via my shop here 24 hours, 7 days a week

Petite Petals

I had to make a couple of cards to welcome some lovely ladies to my team of "Inspirationals" and also I needed some team cards and here they are.

I am loving the new "Hardwood" background stamp, it is perfect for masculine themed cards but also works well for a multitude of occasions.

Here I made an aperature in a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock using the Ovals Framelits dies.  I stamped that with the Hardwood Stamp along with the Naturals Ivory layer beneath it.  I daubed the edges to add some depth.

I used the Petite Petals stamps which have a matching punch and when purchased together as a bundle you can save 15%.

The wording on this card is from the "Fabulous Phrases" set, a very useful set to own.  I layered it onto a Wooden Element banner then onto a Soft Suede banner cut using the Banners Framelits Dies.

I wrapped around a piece of Blushing Bride Chevron ribbon.

Flower Bag

I have loved these Chevron "Tag a Bags" since they first landed here in the world of Stampin' Up!  Naked they are just divine, but dress them up and they are stunning!  Fill them with cards, a treat, a gift, the possibilties are endless and the occasion can be any.

Here i wanted to showcase some new products, the Spiral Flower Die, the Starburst Framelits Dies, Fringe Scissors and the lovely new Paper Stack called Fresh Prints.

I love how easy it is to create a 3D flower using the Spiral Flower Die, just cut, roll and glue!  Here I placed some ruffled ribbon and a pearl in the centre.  Love the colour combinations in the new Retro Fresh Paper Stack.

And for the Fringe Scissors, perfect for creating a border, very quick and easy to use

Layout from our Boat Trip "Love U"

Back last summer Jay and I jumped into the motorhome and took a couple of days away to Shrewsbury with some friends.  We visited a Steam Rally, shopped, ate lots of lovely food and also took a boat trip which was great fun.  We exchanged photographs of each of us on the boat and surprisingly there was one with my eye's open!

This layout was completed a little while back and I can see there are a couple of things from the Autumn/Winter Catalogue on here but you can substitute them for something similar.  

I used the amazing "Gorgeous Grunge" on my background layer and also "Tape It", just to lift it a little.

I sealed a Kraft Envelope then cut off the top to create a pocket for a journaling card, tying some Bermuda Bay ribbon through a punched hole.  I stamped onto the envelope with Gorgeous Grunge stamps.

I used the Deco Labels Framelits for the Coastal Cabana Layer then punched an image from the Label Love stamp set and punched it out with the co-ordinating Artisan Punch, then added a Frosted Finishes Embellishment which sadly disappeared when the A/W catalogue finished.

I was really pleased with the finished result and love the whole concept of Scrapbooking, it's nice that a story can be carried down through generations.

Sweet Gift

So why do I always time it wrong for the dog walk, yet again both Alfie and I came back very soaked, luckily he is still small enough to pop in the utility sink for a quick rinse down when we get in, I am hoping Jay will build me an outside shower house for him in the summer!  Not the best picture, his head looks a little out of proportion in this one, bless him.

I love decorating simple things that can be turned into something amazing and given as a sweet gift.  Here this empty bottle was perfect for housing some scrummy Strawberry Bon Bons

I used a piece of the Gold Foil Vellum around the middle, then some co-ordinating washi tape, both can be found in the new Spring/Summer Catalogue.

I cut a gold banner using the Banner Framelits Dies then stamped the "hello" image from the "Perfect Pennants" stamp set in Strawberry Slush and cut out with my scissors rather than it's co-ordinating die, then attached them both to a delicious pink striped straw!

I tied gorgeous Chevron Ribbon at the neck of the bottle and also a tiny bow from the new Gold Bakers Twine.

So I hope you agree, a really sweet treat that took very little time and money to create but would make the perfect little gift for someone.

Happy Watercolour

Hope you are all having a great weekend, it's dry here at the moment which seems a rare occasions, my thoughts go out to all of you who are having to put up with flooding in your areas.  I will be heading off out shortly to walk Alfie as I am sure rain will be coming in later today.

So onto today's card, a lovely card using a new stamp set from the Spring/Summer catalogue called "Happy Watercolour".  The stamps are so pretty and so simple to create a lovely watercoloured effect.

The patterned papers are from the "Fresh Prints" stack which I am so loving, the colours are great together, a combination of Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake and Real Red teamed with Whisper White.  I love the patterns and how all the pages are double sided, it is such a usable pad of papers and at just £6.25 amazing value as usual.

The "Hello" greeting is from another new stamp set called "Perfect Pennants" which also co-ordaintes with the new Banner Framelits dies which I have found so much use for.

Here's what's in the set, a really varied group of stamps with some greetings, borders and shapes.

Perfect Pennants Clear-Mount Bundle	134816
Price: £37.95

Perfect Pennants Clear-Mount Bundle

134816

Price: £37.95

Startburst Sayings

Today's card I am sharing with you uses several new products from the new Spring/Summer Catalogue, I am just loving all of these new tools and stamps!

The stamp is from a set called "Starburst Sayings", I love how it has a set of matching Framelits Dies which I am finding soooo much use for!

Starburst Sayings	133182
Price: £22.95

Starburst Sayings

133182

Price: £22.95

The embossed arrows are a new Embossing Folder called "Arrows", it's so on trend and perfect for masculine cards too.

The edging to the left of the card was created using the new Fringe Scissors, these are awesome and so easy to use and a bargain at £8.95

Fringe Scissors	133325
Price: £8.95 Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder 132187 Price: £7.50

Fringe Scissors

133325

Price: £8.95

Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	132187
Price: £7.50

Arrows Textured Impressions
Embossing Folder

132187

Price: £7.50

The tag was created using the new "Scallop Tag Topper Punch", love, love, love this new punch!  You can also see some new ribbon too, the Chevron ribbon is very rustic with white chevrons printed across it.