taylor-made cards

pink and blue...

2012-02-19T07:30:00.000Z

I love these colours together - so here is a card that I have made with the combination where I have again used my pro markers... This was an image that I coloured last week at craft group and having not picked up pro markers for over a year I was kind of pleased with the results - one thing I know I was using incorrectly was the blender pen, so I picked up tips on how to use it more effectively and also the shadow line in grey around the whole image I had seen this before but never done it I was surprised aat how different it made the image! I have mounted the image on rose red card and marina blue card. I have added a strip of white satin ribbon to the left hand side of the card and also used a stampin up sentiment.
I hope you like my card and thanks for looking x
Debbi x

Monochromatic...

2012-02-17T23:35:00.000Z

I have been having a great time over the last few days colouring! One of my favourite things to do when making cards and the more 'types' of colouring and techniques that I can use the better. I decided that I would try a challenge that Debbi had set herself for using her pro markers - Please take a look at her blog so you can see the result that she had! Using just one colour and a blender pen - something that I have never tried before so I gave it a go... I don't think that my attempt is as striking as Debbi's but I think you will agree it looks pretty good and I love the fact that you can create so many shades by just using the one colour... I have used the colour cool grey 2 and the blender pen and an image that I got from craft group last Saturday (sorry I don't have the name)
I decided to take the image and create a card that I could enter in a monochromatic challenge and I am really pleased with the result - I have kept the card very simple and not chosen to add another colour just enhance the grey using Stampin Up's shimmer paint inking the edge of the card blank and stamping the sentiment which I, have taken from Just Believe. I have used basic black card and basic grey. The panel that I have put down the left hand side of the card I have made using scraps off DSP left over from when I covered the mirror (a few posts ago!)

I hope you like my card and thanks for looking I will be entering the card in the challenge on Crafty Cardmakers

Quick Crafting...

2012-02-16T22:12:00.000Z

So today I have spent far too many hours looking at crafty stuff whether it be on the internet or in my room! and not done any of the crafty projects that I have been thinking of! So I thought that I would take a quick 1/2 hour and make a very simple photo frame and card to match... I have been looking at all the gifts that are out there to buy and very few have cards that match the same design, being a crafter I am sure that you will agree this always makes a gift better when everything co-ordinates and matches! and for those of us with OCD tendancies when it comes to crafting it makes you feel a lot better :-)
So I have have a taken a photo frame and randomly stamped two of the flowers from green house garden using the colours pumpkin pie and daffodil delight, two colours that look great together and two colours that I very rarely use! I stamped the middle of the flower in basic black. I used the same colours for the card that I have created and I have mounted the layers in the same colour card stock, inking the edges of the card also. I hope you like my project and thanks for looking Debbi x

all you need is LOVE...

2012-02-15T13:13:00.001Z

I can now post hubby's card as he did eventually get it yesterday - although it wasn't in the morning as I wanted because he couldn't wake me up! one of the downsides to all the medication I am taking I sleep like the dead when I finally drop off!

For the card I decided to use some stamps I had used at craft group on Saturday that one of the ladies who runs the group had brought with her - a great idea that many of them bring stamps that we can all share. As we will all have different ideas and tastes. So thank you Gwen!

These are the flowers that hubby bought me and the are beautiful I cannot believe how big the flower heads are they are huge!

I coloured the images using my promarkers that I haven't used for months and have sold some in recent weeks as I didn't think I would go back to them hhhmmm maybe changing my mind here!

I then cut the images out and decoupaged the middle one by just highlighting the heart I used a square card blank and decided to make this into a gate fold card and I mounted red and black card onto this. I am entering this card in the challenge on crafty bloggers network - the theme is all you need is love! A very simple card but I think that it is very effective and hubby seemed to like it! Thank you for taking the time to look - Debbi x

POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012!

2012-02-15T12:47:00.000Z

The card this week was from Belgium and I will be hinest I struggled again! but the idea I came up with I am really pleased with the end result! I couldn't find an image for inspiration that I was happy with so took to google and decide that I would search artists first of all and then look for one that I like - this is where I came across the artist Pol Ledent. As you will see his work is beautiful and the images that I have found are all beautiful - some of his work reminds me of Monet and the image that I have used for inspiration i think will show you why.
This image stood out to me straight away and I love the depth of colour that is used and look at the sky in the background - love it.
This is the first attempt of my card and you will see that it is much too dark for what I wanted to create - although I do like the brayered sky being that dark. Once I have done that I inked the edges and then babywiped the card as well.
This is my finished card and I am sure you will agree the sky is much better for what I was looking to create. I have brayered the backdround in night of navy and then again from the bottom in bashful blue. I then dabbed a babywipe in ink and all over the surface of the card.
I chose to use the stamps from pocket silhouettes and I love the effect that these created and I finished the card with the tall tree from lovely as a tree. I also stamped some of the images off to create a softer effect.
I am really pleased with how this turned out.
Now to the story - this weeks card is to Annie and Teddy is apologising for a mistake that he made and wanting forgiveness!

BLOG CANDY... THE WINNER!

2012-02-15T10:33:00.010Z

First of all may I say thank you to all my new followers, today I have brought my blog candy to an end and I have used a random number generator to pick a winner - as I would never be able to pick one! I would like to thank you all for my lovely comments and I welcome all the new followers to my blog - I hope you will stay and continue to support my little old blog! Your comments are much appreciated and I look forward to visiting your blogs in return to see what you have been up to! There are some very talented people out there! x
For the random number generator I have just counted the number of comments and then counted down the number it listed.... So the winner is Linda! I have linked to her blog...
Linda if you could contact me to give me your address I will get your package posted x
Thanks for taking part - Debbi x

BLOG CANDY...

2012-02-14T23:05:00.000Z

To celebrate the fantastic number of hits that I have had to my lovely blog since I began I am going to put up a blog candy for one of my lovely followers to win - there are two parts to this... Firstly you will all know that my first love for any crafting at the moment is Stampin Up there are 3 unmounted stamp sets, a reel of ribbon, a tub of buttons and a tub of brads and my second is any stamping there are some Penny Black stamps there is a set of 4 stamps they are used but all stamp perfectly! a magnolia and a gorguss girl! x
If you would like to be in with a chance of winning this blog candy then please add a comment to the end of this post and if you are not already a follower - please add yourself! so good luck and a massive thank you for all your support in the last couple of years - I hope you continue to support me and the what I mange to create when I get inky!
Thank you once again - Debbi x

notebook

2012-02-14T09:23:00.000Z

Here is a notebook that I recently covered for my friends birthday I have just covered the front cover of the pad to make it a little more interesting than the cover that was originally on there. I have used Stampin Up card, DSP and accessories as usual! I used textured card that just adds a little more depth to your work than the smooth card - especially when there is more of it to see. I then added a panel of DSP to the cover to the right hand side leaving this slightly offset to the left. I then added several ribbons tied to the wire binding of the notebook.
The sentiment that I have added is lovely and one that I have had for years - it is a penny black and I think that the words are beautiful - it reads 'Friends are angels who lift to our feet when our spirit has trouble remembering who to fly' so lovely and so very true! I have then mounted the words on daffodil yellow card to match the birthday card that I made her.
I have added a row of pearls to the panel of DSP on the cover to add a little 'bling'...
I hope you like the notebook and thanks for looking - Debbi x

something different..

2012-02-13T10:23:00.000Z

Sorry I have been quiet - I have had a busy weekend and am struggling with my back and the amount of pain I am in, getting comfy is proving difficult at the minute even with the pain killers I am taking! I have been doing some crafting so may do a couple of posts today!
Here is a mirror that I altered at the end of last week - I decided that I would use a sheet of stampin up designer paper in black and white and tear it up into various sized pieces I then painted PVA glue all over the surface of the mirror and the began to add the pieces using all the straight edge pieces at the edges of the frames first - I then just layered them up around the mirror frame and covered the whole mirror in PVA once I had finished it I am really pleased with the overall effect... I am not able the take credit for the little heart though my 6yr old son punched that out and and wanted it gluing to the actual mirror! craftiness must be running in the family now...
I hope you like the mirror and thanks for looking - Debbi xxx

As an after thought I have added a close up of the mirror - so you can see how I have layered up the paper x

Birthday Bee...

2012-02-08T21:45:00.000Z

Well this week my friend FINALLY got her birthday card which means I can now post a picture of it... It should have been posted on Saturday and then the estate where I live got snowed in just as the post office was shutting. I live on a very steep hill and if the snow comes down quickly we just cannot manoeuvre safely until the gritter has been and Saturday saw something I have not seen for a very long time - A SNOW PLOUGH I was very excited! and yes that is very sad!
So the card I made her is using one of my favourite stamps and the rabbits are dressed as bees... A pretty image in itself but as we are both called Deborah it has a double meaning - Deborah is the hebrew meaning of bee. I have coloured the image using my NEW polychromos and have mounted the image on daffodil yellow and basic black card. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up hostess sets and mounted on the same colour card. I added three pearls for detail in the bottom left of the card and inked the edges of my card blank. I kept the layout of the card very simple as I wanted to concentrate on the meaning and colour of the image and the words to the sentiment.

I hope that you like my card and thank you for looking - Debbi x

creations by Gill

2012-02-07T10:58:00.000Z

Whilst looking at the many brilliant blogs I have found recently I came across Gill M through Linda's blog... The challenge this month is a colour challenge using the combination turquoise and brown - two colours that I love together. For this card I decided to use on of my Penny Black images and I stamped this on to whisper white card. I stamped two images and decoupaged the second onto the first layer. I painted the images using my ink pads and an aqua brush. Once I had completed this I inked the edges of the image in crumb cake ink. To a whisper white card blank I inked the edges of the card in turquoise and then added a panel of crumb shiny card from my stash. I also inked the edges of this, To this layer I added a ribbon detail to the left hand side of the card. I stamped happy birthday on whisper white card and inked the edges of this in crumb.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking (make sure you enter my blog candy!) Debbi x

Inspiration...

2012-02-04T10:31:00.000Z

When I was having a look through the blogs on CBN one night this week I came across Elaine's blog and she had posted a great canvas (I have linked to her blog to show you!) It gave me a great idea for a little card. As we know Valentine's Day is fast approaching and this card is perfect!
I took a small square card in whisper white and punched a large heart through the front. I inked the edges of the card in real red and then I punched out a number of little hearts - I used the sentiment from hope and strength and double mounted this on red and black. I then put the little hearts around the edge of the punched out heart. I love the effect that this creates! I also added two little hearts to the inside of the card.
I hope you like it and thank you to Elaine for the inspiration! Debbi x

POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012!

2012-02-03T12:44:00.000Z

I will start todays post with the back of China's postcard that I forgot to post last week - as the contuing stort wont make sense without it! and apologies that I did not post this last week! lol I have remembered the photograph this week!
Today we find ourselves in France and as soon as I read this I know that I would be using one of my favourite stamp sets from SU Artistic Ethchings - I love it and have made many cards with it!
I decided that I would again use my new best friend - my brayer and try something slightly different this time I wanted to have a seemless background but with three colours that you could see rather than a graduation - I hope I making sense here!
So I firstly used orange on the postcard blank, followed by red and then basic grey I am really pleased with the effect that this gives and love that you can see all three colours - I have tried to take a close up of this I hope you see it too! I then randomly stamped the word stamp from the set all over the card in basic grey. Once I completed this a made a small panel and stamped the Eiffel Tower on it and I then mounted this on pumpkin pie and then again in real red and basic black. Around the edge of the card I added a basic black border and I feel that this just frames the Eiffel Tower stamp nicely.

This weeks card reads
Thanks for taking the time to look at my card it is much appreciated and so are all yous comments and support!
Debbi x

so blue...

2012-02-02T14:38:00.001Z

The challenge over on Emma's blog is this week is shade's of blue... The card that I have created today uses three different shades. I have used a blue card blank, and inked the edges of this using my blue ink pad, I then added a panel of blue DSP and inked the edges of this in blue ink. On top of this I added a piece of very vanilla card and again inked the edges. stamping on this the main image from notably ornate and then the sentiment for you. To the left hand side of the card I added a piece of blue ribbon and on top of this I attached three buttons - also in blue! Blue is one of my favourite colours and I love how different shades compliment eachother and make the card stand out.
I hope you like my card and thanks for looking - Debbi x

Flutterbies...

2012-02-01T09:27:00.000Z

The first challenge I have completed as a design team member of cards galore is Butterflies and although there are many stampsets to chose from I did find this quite difficult - I love butterflies but often find it difficult to create something I am pleased with - I am sure that many of us feel the same! with many of the things that we are creating! The card that I have created today is using a whisper white card blank with the colours basic black and rich razzleberry. I added a black panel to the card blank and then on top of this added a rich razzleberry one. On this I then added a very vanilla panel to add a little contrast and this was also textured card.

At the top of this panel I stamped the crest stamp from hope and strength and and also chose the words from this set - they are beautiful... At either side of this I stamped a butterfly and then I inked the edges of the panel. I also created a bookmark in the same colours using the same butterfly and I have just added a piece of linen to add a little detail to the bottom.
I am very excited for the journey I am undertaking with the challenges from cards galore and cannot wait to see where my crafting takes me this year! I hope you like my card and this inspires you to take part in our monthly challenge! Have a look at the design team members creations they are great. Thanks for looking - Debbi x

VISITOR HITS...

2012-01-31T18:53:00.000Z

I have been waiting this week for my visitor hits to go over 23, 000 and I am finally there to mark the occasion I will be posting a blog candy at the end of the evening that will run for a week - check back later x
and thanks for keeping visiting! Debbix

exciting news...

2012-01-29T21:38:00.001Z

The new design team for cards galore was announced today and I am so excited to be one of them - cannot wait for the challenges and to get inky! I hope you will join us in the challenges and get inky too! x
My fellow DT members are:

Debbi
Marlene
Eileen
Lexi
Michelle
Angela
Isobelle
Rachael

Denyse APOLOGIES for missing you x

The first challenge I will complete will be in March... However you can still join in at the moment black and red is the theme two colours I love together x
thanks for looking - Debbi (very excited!)

distressing - challenge 10

2012-01-29T14:58:00.000Z

I love distressing and nearly always add some for of it on my cards whether it be by ripping, filing or using colour! So I found this challenge right up my street...
I decided to use my new hostess set which I can tell will be a firm favourite with me so simple to use buut very effective and even if it is not perfect the effect is very striking! for me that works well ;-)

I used a whisper white card blank for this card and added strips of certainly celery and rose red card stock to the card the card and the panels all had distressed edges. I then stamped the image in basic black and the the two step stamping bit of the image was done in certainly celery, rose red and pretty in pink. To add the colour to the stamp I used markers as the image to be stamped was quite small. I then daubed the edges of the panel and distressed them with my cutting tool. I off set the image on the card blank and stamped the sentiment into the right hand side of the card. I added three pearls to the left hand side of the card I think that they look very effective. I have included a close up picture of the distressed edges to the card.
I hope you like my card and thanks for looking! Debbi x

red and black

2012-01-29T14:44:00.000Z

The challenge this week was to create a card that was red and black - I love these colours together and have created a card for my friend that loves Betty Boo and this one! I have used a black card blank something that I don't do very often I tend to always stick to white...

So for this card I have mounted the image on real red card and then decoupaged the image in the middle to add a little depth I have attached this using dimensionals. I have then coloured the little love heart on Betty's leg to add a little colour to the image. I stamped the sentiment for you into the top left hand corner of the image and added a strip of real red card to the right hand side of the image. I have also inked the edges of the main image of the card in read red using a dauber. Even though this card is very simple I think it turned out well...
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi

POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012 - CHINA

2012-01-27T12:38:00.001Z

This week I failed to come up with an idea until yesterday, at first I was thinking dragons abs new year and then it hit me... I love bonsai trees and in the past have owned a couple!
I decided that I would draw the tree on water colour paper and paint the image I created.
I must mention that I have not drawn anything in a very long time, art was something I really enjoyed but I didn't pick it as an option.
So once I had drawn the image I painted it in garden green and chocolate chip using an aqua marker and then mounted the image on card. I added the word China to the bottom left hand side.
On the back if the card I have written -
"
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking!
Debbi

Two Step

2012-01-26T13:57:00.000Z

Here is a card that I created this morning when the house was very quiet and both my boys were safely at school and nursery... Feels weird having such a quiet house I can tell you!
I haven't done much crafting this week as I am suffering with my back, I am in a lot of pain and to sit and craft for a couple of hours is something I am struggling with at the minute... However I managed to use one of my new stampsets this morning and have created this card - Simply Soft, this is one of the hostess benefits from the current catalogue - want to learn more on how to earn this set send me an email!

For this card I used the colours rose red, so saffron and certainly celery - I have used a whisper white card blank.
I layered rose red and certainly celery card and added to this a whisper white panel on which I stamped the outline of the flowers for the petal colour I used my markers to shade the petals and the stamped them slightly off centre to where they should be placed - I think that this adds depth to the flowers. I have just used a marker to colour the leaves and stamped the sentiment in rose red also. On the close up of the flowers you will see that they are not placed exactly another thing I love about two step stamping there is no need to be exact!
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking!

SAB 2012

2012-01-26T13:32:00.000Z

Hello Everyone!
Well it is that time again in the SU calender that we await every year - Sale-A-Bration... So what is on offer this year?? There are 4 great exclusive stampsets to chose from and also for the first time a beautiful set of designer papers...

For every £45.00 that you spend you will earn a free stampset for the sale-a-bration promotion
Each hostess that earns £300 from their event will earn an extra sale-a-bration set
Every new demonstrator that signs up in the sale-a-bration promotion will earn another stampset of any value from the mini or the main catalogue FREE

Take a look here:

If you would like more information on signing up as a demonstrator email me - debbitaylor76@googlemail.com. For £119 the starter kit is great value as you receive products worth £250 and don't forget that sign during sale-a-bration you can chose another stampset of any value to add to your kit...

POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012! the postcard...

2012-01-22T19:57:00.000Z

So I had posted the card front on Friday but had not written the the back with the continuation of the story on so apologies after a busy weekend here is the next bit...
It reads...
ANNIE,
HERE I AM IN BRAZIL! YOU WOULD LOVE IT HERE, THE COLOURS ARE SO VIBRANT.
IT SEEMS LIKE A ANOTHER LIFETIME THAT WE WERE TOGETHER.
DO YOU THINK THAT WE COULD MEET AGAIN??
YOURS TEDDY XXX
I don't really know where my story will take the characters of Annie and Teddy and will be honest I don't know what I am going to write on the cards until I sit down with the card in front of me! So lets see where this story will lead together!
I cannot wait until we find out tomorrow where the next country will be!
Thanks for looking Debbi x

POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012!

2012-01-20T15:46:00.000Z

For week 3 of this great challenge we were given the country Brazil... I have to be honest right from the start I was stumped! I had no idea what I would include on my card and how it would turn out. I kept looking at Brazil and researching fact pages about the country and its traditions - one thing that did keep coming up was carnivals and there were a couple of people that commented on a post I had put on our group with the same theme.
Carnival it is then!

I had already created the background for this weeks card earlier in the week hoping that would in some way inspire me... For this I took the colours pumpkin pie, rose red and daffodil yellow and sponged a piece of whisper white card, I then inked the edges of this with black. Once I had finished this I then screwed up a card bag and randomly stamped shimmer paint in silver onto this and then inked the edges in black
The main image of my card was a mask which I borrowed the stamp off my friend Sam and stamped one in black on whisper white and one on black card that was white embossed. I sponged the one on white card in the same colours and then added glitter to the image - once this was dry I cut the image in half and glued it to the edge of the card the right eye to the left and left to the right handside. Over the top of this using dimensionals I attached the black mask also decorated using glitter.
I hope you like the postcard I have in the end loved making! Debbi xxx

notebook!

2012-01-18T21:48:00.000Z

I have covered very few notebooks even though they are something that I use all the time and always have one knocking about the house as one as one in my handbag! They are something I usually do as gifts for people and do a matching card to go with them - but recently I haven't even done this... So today I decided that I would cover a book to go with my postcard challenge stuff as I am writing notes for both the story and the cards that I am creating...
I took one of the cheap notebooks and created a front cover for it. First of all covering it with whisper white card I then added a piece of spotted DSP to this, on top of the DSP I added another piece of whisper white that I have wheeled with very vintage in real red and then stamped with the retired background stamp (which I still love) in basic grey and inked all the edges in real red. I then made a panel for the left handside of real red card trimmed with basic black - this is textured card - you cannot tell from the picture and made a little label with the stamp from notably ornate. I have added some ribbon strips to the wire binding for the notepad.

I hope you like my card and thanks for looking! Debbi

Brayering...

2012-01-16T22:18:00.000Z

For those of you that know me you will know that I feared my brayer for many months and the fact that it lay in a drawer unopened for many months is not an exaggeration! However I have overcome my fear in the last couple of weeks and begun to practice and have some fun with my new crafty friend... The background of the postcard I created was just the beginning... Last night I decided to play with my brayer once again and create a sunset background to use with a lovely as a tree and to create a one layer card (something that i very rarely do as I always layer everything but I didn't think that this card needed it.. I hope you agree!
The colours that I have chosen to use are old olive, daffodil delight, pumpkin pie and real red. I have graduated that brayering in sections up the card and then staped the tress over the top of this in black staz on. I have stamped the sentiment from a hostess set in the top right hand corner and inked the edges of the card. I have mounted this panel on a card blank.
I hope you like my card and thanks for looking - Debbi xxx

POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012!

2012-01-13T09:17:00.002Z

So today's country is Spain and I have created a card that shows the famous Spanish dance flemenco... For my card I have brayered the background in real red, pumpkin and daffodil yellow. I used to be so scared of picking up a brayer and now with a practiced hand I find it a lot easier - less is more! The graduation of the colour on the card is very subtle. I then mounted this on a piece of basic black card and then again on the white blank postcard...
For the main image of the card I used a black and white flemenco dancer as I feel this is more stiking than a coloured image. In the folds of the skirt I added some very tiny pearls to add detail to the dress and I like that effect that this creates.
So where is our penpal story taking us today??
I have decided not to structure the story too much in my head and let their relationship develop along with their friendship as we travel through the countries! So Annie is writing from Spain and it was a chance meeting that saw the couple meet and once again become penpals after many years...

I hope you like my card and thanks for looking! Debbi x

POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012!

2012-01-12T22:45:00.000Z

So I have been working on this weeks postcard from Spain that will be posted to my blog tomorrow morning and will continue the story of Teddy and Annie... I also wanted to have somewhere to keep the postcards once I had made them that was seperate from the rest of my card making things... I have been looking at envelope books as somewhere to keep them and although I have made one before it was many years ago and not on the scale of what I need now - being a home to 52 cards!
I started with a base of basic grey card and this was consertined to house 26 envelopes that I would keep the cards in...

Once I had consertined the card I began to stick envelopes to it using tombow glue - this is VERY sticky and by the end you guessed it I was covered!

Once I had completed this I added a spine to the consertina and bone folded each of the seams where the envelopes were placed as you can imagine again I was covered in glue!

I created two covers for the book and I wheeled them with the very vintage wheel in real red and then randomly stamped the postcard stamp over the top of this in black... I love the effect that this gives and am pleased with the outcome - I was hoping to find an atlas in the local charity shop but was out of luck (I think that this works well though)

Here is the finished book... I cannot wait to make some more postcards to put in it... Spain's is already completed! I hope you like it and thanks for looking! Debbi x

A Tribute to a very Special Friend...

2012-01-11T16:10:00.002Z

Over the past few months you will have seen several posts on my blog that relate to my friend that was suffering a very rare type of cancer that was basically kicking her arse and causing her to meet each day with a battle - which she did so bravely and with such strength that I will forever remember and admire her grit and determination.
Her husband Mat was the guy that was growing his beard for the whole of 2012 - again I posted the link to his beardathon which was targeted to help raise £10,000 for the amazing hospice in our local area Willow Wood which Joanie used on a regular basis for respite and to also continue her love of card making!
Sadly Joanie lost her fight in the early hours of 11th December and although heaven gained a very special angel that day the world became slightly darker - another fabulous person taken from us whilst suffering so much pain from Cancer.
So whilst my creative juices have not really been flowing as they normally would over the last few weeks I have taken some time to create these cards that I have dedicated to a very special friend... I was also going to take some up to Willow Wood to donate them so that they could sell them if they thought they could and I am also going to donate some of the bits and pieces that I no longer use to the weekly classes that they do up there to help the people that get so much joy from them!

Joan's surname was swift so each of the cards that I have created is swift themed... The set that I have used is Notably Ornate - I hope you like my cards an thanks for looking! Debbi xxx

POSTCARD CHALLENGE 2012!

2012-01-08T23:49:00.003Z

So I took the decision LATE last night to join in this challenge even though I have had an extremely busy weekend and was working today so could not craft! I have developed my characters properly yet, they just have names and were penpals that many years ago lost touch and they have once again found each other... The back of the postcard needs some work, but the stamp I have used to create the card is from the stamp set winter post... What a great way to get some use of a Christmasy set!

Needless to say after my tea was finished I got inky
The first country in this challenge was Austria and I decided to create a postcard using the Austrian flag as the background of my card and decoupaged a hand drawn and watercolored Edelweiss...
I used marina mist water colour pen and an aqua brush to create the flower petals and I also used daffodil delight for the centre of the card with some screwed up tissue paper in the centre!
I hope you like the postcard and thanks for looking! Happy Crafting...
Debbi x
I apologise for the dark picture I will exchange it in the morning!

Yippee some crafting finished!

2012-01-06T14:46:00.001Z

So over the last couple of days I have managed to get inky and finished the birthday cards that I had started for my eldest on Saturday!
For both these cards I decided to use a stamp set that I hadn't even mounted and just use a couple of different stamps for each of the cards that I was creating...
For the first card I chose to use the colour pacific point with the balloon from party this way! I have also stamped Josh's name on the card I have added sine buttons to the left hand side of the card to add a little colour!
For the second card I used the candle stamp and the colours tempting turquoise and cherry cobbler...
I hope you like them and thanks for looking!
Back later with some more crafting! x

ABSENCE...

2012-01-04T09:21:00.000Z

So after making a good start at beginning to post regularly life once again got in the way and I was unable to spend much time crafting or much time posting, one of the reasons I will explain in a later post today. I am determined today to take the time to craft and complete two projects that I have already started and also start a third... It is surprising that however much I love crafting it always seems to slip down the priority list when life gets a bit hectic and although it may seem a little selfish one of my goals for this year is to intend that that doesn't happen... Of course to maintain this I have to make sure that the rest of our lives are organised - it remains to be seen if I can pull this off LOL!

To give you something to read in the meantime here is a link to the new MINI CATALOGUE! Filled with some new spectacular products - I hope you enjoy! x

please donate if you can...

2011-12-08T18:33:00.001Z

As many of you will be aware a dear friend of mine has been fighting cancer for the last 4 years - the fight is nearing the end...
Her husband is trying to raise £10,000 for the hospice that has provided her with great care and respite in the last few months - and she was transferred there today from hospital. Mat has been growing his beard for nearly a year to raise funds and the last time that he shaved was on New Years Day... He today has reached an impressive 92% of his target and I am hoping that we can get him to 100% before Christmas - if you could spare a few £'s I would be extremely grateful as will Mat, Joan and the rest of the people who are helped daily by the wonderful staff of Willow Wood.

Here is what Mat looks like today - the beard was dyed white for the festive season

http://www.justgiving.com/Mathew-Swift-Beardathon

there is also a facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/groups/beardathon2011/?ref=ts

Thank you for taking the time to read their story

Thanks
Debbi
Crafting will resume in the next few days

more candle designs...

2011-11-30T13:44:00.000Z

Here are a couple more of the designs that I have been working on... A couple of people have commented to me about how good the finished effect of the candles that I make is so in the next week I will make a tutorial talking you through how to create the perfect image! For me this is very scary - but I will give it a go!
One of the designs that I am sharing today is an image sealed onto a black candle last year I found this technique very difficult to master so this year I decided to try something different - I embossed the image onto tissue paper first and I think you will agree it looks great - far more striking than anything I have managed before!
If you would like more details of the candles designs that I have please get in touch!

The second design is using an angel image coloured and then this sealed onto the candle in the usual way on the coloured candle I think this looks really effective and this candle is scented - so now the room smells lovely!
I hope you like todays post and thanks for looking - Debbi
Tomorrow I will post the cards that I have made to match these candles!

The Holidays are Coming again...

2011-11-29T18:21:00.000Z

Over the last couple of days I have been making candles and the cards to match them, last year these proved very popular as gifts for people and I also included cards and photo frames as well. I have a lot of enquiries already this year... If you would like more details please email me and I will answer your questions.
The candles I have used today are olive in colour and off white - the two together look very striking...
I have used two stampin' up! stamp sets one retired but I cannot help using it as it screams Christmas to me! I have used Old Fashioned Christmas and Lovely as a Tree. The sentiment that I have used is from Contempo Christmas and I like the type script that is used for it.
I have stamped the image in black staz on and then added some glitter glue from my stash to create baubles on the tree.
I have painted the tree from Old Fashioned Christmas using my markers and then added a little glitter over the top too.
I hope you like the effect of the candles I think that they turned out really well!
Thanks for looking - more in the next couple of days
Debbi x

Wedding!

2011-11-28T10:10:00.001Z

A friend of mine was invited to a wedding in India and she asked me to create a wedding card for her using the invitation for inspiration... The colour theme of the wedding invitation was red and the invitation she received was beautiful. I made my card using real red and gold, I kept the design of the card very simple and used the very vintage wheel.
I used the retired confetti papers to add a little depth to the White panels and the sentiment is stamped in red also.
This is my first post from my phone! And I don't think that you are able to position the pictures!
I hope you like the card I created I was very pleased with the end result!
Thanks for looking
Debbi

Triple Treat...

2011-11-23T10:04:00.001Z

Here is a card for you using one of the new stamps that I purchased with my starter kit... I decided that I would stick to the triple treat flower as I had seen some fantastic cards made with this set on splitcoast...

I had made a very simple card using the stamp and decided to use two colours that I have never used together before - rose red and marine blue, I think that they compliment each other really well - what do you think?? I have stamped three of the flowers and layered them using dimensionals and added pearls to the centre of the card. I inked the edges of the card and I have used the sentiment from cottage garden.

I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - happy stampin' Debbi xxx

The Holidays are Coming...

2011-11-13T17:38:00.000Z

I have spent the last couple of days working on an advent calender for my boys... A couple of years ago (YES YEARS!) I purchased one of the ready made boxes that you just have to decorate to be used as an advent calender and decided this week was the year that it would be used! I decided to use on of the Stampin Up scrap book kits - this particular one has retired but they have replaced it with one just as good - these kits are great as you receive so many products in them you are able to scrap book and make cards to co-ordinate. In the kits you get DSP, card stock and stickers to decorate your projects with...

I first covered the outside of the box, I then removed all the boxes and added strips of DSP to the shelves that they sit on. Once I had completed this I then covered the front of the boxes - I cut the pieces to size and then stamped them in green and red with the three snowflake stamp from Serene Snowflakes. Once I had completed this I then decorated the back of the box with some of the accents found in the kit including a couple of borders and on with the date... I have to say I am very proud of myself - 3 years to make an advent calender! and I finally finished it lol (on to the next one now!)
I hope you like my finished project and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

Training...

2011-11-11T07:42:00.001Z

In mid October I joined the Julie's Jems for the day on their training and we had a great day... I really went to see if signing back up to SU was something I was merely thinking of doing or really had the passion to make it work for me - and did I have the time and the energy to commit to making it work!
I think I knew deep down which one it was and I had a great day with lots of lovely people - even making the swaps was great fun and really got my creative juices flowing again I will show you some of what I received later and the card that I made for people as well.
One of the things that normally happens at these events is a raffle and I never win on them - but it must have been my lucky day as I won! I had the pick of some great prizes but decided I would chose the hostess gift DSP that was up for grabs - these papers are amazing and I love the bright colours, they are also 12x12 which is great for scrap booking...
The project that I am sharing today I have made using these papers and I cannot wait to make a couple more as gifts for my family for Christmas - with some of the great pictures I have managed to take this year!
I hope you like what I have made and thanks for looking - check me out both crafting and posting to my blog in the same week...
Now I am again signed up as an SU demo if you would like to book a home workshop please get in touch!
Debbi x

HOORAH!

2011-11-09T10:43:00.000Z

Yesterday was a very exciting day for me - after most of the year spent not crafting as you know I have taken the decision to sign back up to Stampin' Up! and use the skills that I have developed over the last couple of years to begin enjoying crafting again and also sharing the ideas of what I create...
So yesterday my SU! starter kit arrived and here is what it looks like - over the next couple of weeks I will be showing you samples that I create using my kit and the stamps and inks that I received in it. You are able to chose your own stamps, card, ink and DSP, this means that the kit is so versatile it suits any crafter it just takes ages to pick it all as there is so much choice!
So over the next few days I will be busily making samples to show at my launch party next week - this will be to celebrate that I am once again a crafter and to also inrtoduce the new catalogue to my local crafty friends!
I am so excited to be doing this again and cannot wait to get my hands inky again - Although I have already started and I will show you what I made later...
Thanks for looking
Debbi x

quick post...

2011-10-10T18:37:00.002+01:00

After promising to update my blog - the motherboard on my laptop decided to die last week! However I now have a lovely new laptop that I am getting to grips with and I will post some of the things I have been making recently in the next few days - technology seems to be failing me at the moment!
Back soon
Debbi xxx

Flower Frame...

2011-09-30T16:21:00.000+01:00

Morning so continuing with the theme I started over the weekend I bought some frames to decorate with the same stamp set used to make the card I made. I decided to keep the colour way simple and use the colours from the card that I created at the weekend and think that they turned out really well... Let me know what you think??
As the frames are wood I coated them with PVA glue and water and left this to dry before I stamped on the. I used the vine from Vintage Vogue and the flowers are from Cottage Garden I randomly stamped the flowers first and then in the gaps in between then stamped the vine, some in full colour and some stamped off.
To add that little extra bling to the frames I added a little gem to the centre of each flower and think that this looks really good!
I did another frame in slightly different colours - can you tell what they are??
Thanks for looking - Debbi
Two posts in one week are you impressed??

HHEEEELLLLLOOOOOO! Blogland...

2011-09-27T20:32:00.000+01:00

OK so I know that it has been several months since I did any type of crafting and posted it to my blog - however that is all to change... My craft stuff is back out and I have had a good sort out and I have found some inspiration (that has been severely lacking over the last several months)
I decided to use one of the newest purchases that I had from Stampin' Up! and even though I am no longer a demonstrator I still have stamp sets that remain unused in my stash! So I decided that I would just keep my card very simple and just use card stock to create layers. I chose the colours poppy parade and peach parfait with olive green for the vine detail on the right of the card. I love these colours together and wanted something very bright in celebration of me getting inky fingers again!
I have stamped a flower on whisper white and then with the stamped off image added this to the whisper white panel on the card. I have added the greeting from Cottage Garden to the bottom right of the card, I cut the flower out and added this to the card with a dimensional.
I distressed all the edges to the card and love the effect that this gives to each layer even though there are no dimensionals used here it does add height.
I have used an old shaving brush to add the colour to the card blank and have used all three colours very lightly around the edge of the card.

I know that I have been away for a long time and I hope you like my card - now that I am back to crafting I intend to share what I am making with you - so watch this space. I hope you like the card that I have made and thanks for looking - happy stampin Debbi xxx

ILWS MINI BLOG HOP!

2011-04-02T10:09:00.000+01:00

Good morning everyone and welcome to the 2011 Mini Blog Hop in celebration of Stampin Up!'s new Mini... And what a treat you are in store for this morning with over 50 very talented demonstrators sharing projects with you and showcasing their talent.
I am very excited to be a part of this and I hope that you have enjoyed your journey this morning! We are now on group 3 of 4 and if you have joined me from the lovely Victoria's blog welcome and aren't her projects fantastic! (as always!)
I have decided to share with you 2 cards this morning that use the new embossing folders for the big shot! Each of the projects that I am sharing today will use the Big Shot! (£87.95). It would be rude not too! The embossing folders are very simple to use and I am sure that you will agree they effect is amazing.
I have made the first card use basic black and whisper white and my new favourite tool the spritzer and great value too! (£9.95) - it is great very simple to use and the effect is really good - you can have large spots or a fine spray of ink depending where you position the pen!
The first using the Manhattan Flower folder (£6.95) and I am sure you will agree the effect is lovely very elegant and simple to make a beautiful image on the card. I have inked the edges and then stamped happy Mother's Day on the panel from Occasional Greetings (£30.95)in the bottom left hand corner in perfect plum. I have mounted this on perfect plum card spritzing the edges and also inking them and then mounted this onto a whisper white card blank again inking the edges and spritzing too. Very simple yet very effective,

The second card that I will share with you is using another of the embossing folders Elegant Bouquet (6.95). For this card I used the folder in a landscape position and coloured the centre of the flowers in black. I have stamped the sentiment in the top right of the card and spritzed the edge of the panel. I have mounted the panel on basic black and the again on whisper white that is spritzed and has the edges inked. The card blank is basic black.To finish the card I have added pearls to the right hand side main panel and then to the bottom left on the card blank (£4.50)

The final project that I am sharing today is using the Top Note die (£18.95) and I have made a very quick mini book using the top note cut in crumb cake as the cover of the book. I have added a panel to the front in whisper white and black and spritzed the white in black. I have used the stamp set tiny tags with this project (£21.95) and the tag punch as well (£8.95) as the size really lends itself to a smaller project. I have again spritzed the front of the book and throughout the pages and added small stamps to each page. I added whisper white pages to the book and have spritzed and stamped these also. Very simple but again very effective... The top note is so versatile and has to be my favourite purchase from this catalogue.

I hope you have liked my projects and will enjoy the mini catalogue to place your order please email or phone me... You will now continue on to Carol's blog who again has some lovely projects to share with you today! Thanks for stopping by Debbi xxx

HOORAH! it's here...

2011-04-01T10:11:00.001+01:00

Well the 2011 Mini Catalogue is finally here and what a treat you have in store... The products are amazing and there are so many great stamp sets to chose from! Oh yes and I nearly forgot Stampin' Up! have finally introduced the BIG SHOT! to the European market and they have of course done this with some great EXCLUSIVE dies... Click the picture to be taken straight to the link for the catalogue!

I am not going to post you a card today I am completing the ILWS Blog Hop tomorrow and will be along bright and early with a couple of creations for you - but make sure you have a large brew as there are 4 groups to the hop and there will be some amazing projects I am sure!

So thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy looking through the mini! If you would like to place an order or attend my mini launch and use some of the products please email me for further details - thanks for looking and I will be back tomorrow with some mini creations and will be back later today with a couple of Mother's Day cards that I have been asked to create - Debbi xxx

simple card...

2011-03-12T14:26:00.001Z

My dad's birthday was a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to make a plain and simple card that was still quite striking... I decided to use the colours pacific point and soft suede and keep the design very simple with just a couple of layers and some punched hearts...
I used a soft suede card blank and on to this I stamped the sanded background stamp, I then layered a piece of pacific point card stock on to this and again stamped the sanded background stamp on to this piece also - stamped in white staz on. Even though this is not an extra layer it gives depth to the card.
I then added 4 punched hearts to the bottom left of the card and stamped happy birthday in to the top right of the card.A simple card that took only minutes to make and I think it looks quite effective. What do you think??
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking! Debbi

Stampin Up! training...

2011-03-10T12:48:00.000Z

Last Saturday I met with 70 other SU demo's and we had our regional training - the day was amazing and after not really crafting for so long it was just what I needed to get back into the swing of things and get my fingers inky again!
As you will probably know one of THE most exciting things to happen whenever we all meet are the swaps that we make eachother! and yes I did make 70! I decided that I would make some bookmarks for my fellow demos using one of my favourite sets Just Believe and I have done made them in a range of colours so that people could pick their own!

I used whisper white card and have added the sanded background stamp to this and then inked the edges. I have then stamped the Just Believe image on to this card in black. I added a piece of basic black ribbon to this and then mounted it on to coloured card and again on to basic black card. As I love reading and am normally reading more than 1 book I like to have a few bookmarks around the place.
I hope you like what I have created! I had some lovely comments on the day from my SU! sisters. Thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

MARCH FRENZY...

2011-03-10T11:43:00.000Z

Well Stampin Up! have a great offer for you this month and here are the details...
There are a number of products available this month that have up to 30% of the price... So if you want to grab yourself a bargain have a look at what is on offer... If you would like to place an order please email me with the details or you could hold a March frenzy workshop to get your creative juices flowing again - now that Spring is in the air, although with how windy we are here this morning this may be hard to believe! Details of the products that are available are below I have included a link to the PDF and also details are on the side bar
Take advantage of this great offer and grab a bargain - thanks for looking Debbi x x x
March Frenzy

Hello....

2011-03-04T20:08:00.000Z

Ok so I have not posted for a number of weeks and there have been a number of reasons for this, crafting inspiration left me, stress of family stuff and time being the major factors but I have found my lacking inspiration and have given myself a stern talking to and will be back posting to normal in the next couple of weeks!
I have even started to get my fingers inky and will share what I have created in the next few days...
I have to say that I have missed crafting but it amazes me when life gets on top of you that sometimes you just cannot muster the enthusiasm to get inky and create! So here is to getting back to normal and sharing with you what I am making from here on in!
and yes things are getting back to normal on the family front to... Having two young boys is very stressful at times!
So here is to getting inky again and having some fun with bits of paper and card!
Debbi x x x

Sweet Summer...

2011-01-17T12:25:00.000Z

Morning today's card is made with the SAB set available until the end of February I have used the colours pear pizazz and cherry cobbler I think that they look great together and this is a combination that I have not used together before... For this card I have used the pear as the card blank and inked the edges of the I have then added a panel of cherry cobbler to this again inking the edges. I have used a panel of whisper white card I have stamped the vine in the pear on the left hand side of the card and then added the block of flowers to the edge of this in the cherry. I added the flwer stamp cut out and added on with dimensional to the centre of the vine, using three of the flowers cust out. I then stamped the sentiment from just believe in cherry and mounted this on the same card stock.
To the corner of the card I have added three pearls (still loving the effect that these give!)
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

Just Believe...

2011-01-09T07:30:00.000Z

This is a beautiful set (and the one that we received at Convention this year!) and I haven't used it as much as I should have... I decided to join one of the swaps on ILWS this is one that I was involved in last year and it was great - the idea being that you pick a stamp set and then recreate the card shown in the catalogue using that set.
I have shown the page in the catalogue with the stamp set on and the card that I have made.
I have chosen to use the colours crumb cake and chocolate chip with whisper white ribbon. I have used a 9x9 card blank in crum cake and inked the edges in crumb cake ink I have stamped the image in the bottom left hand corner of the card blank. To this I have then added a strip of whisper white ribbon and underneath this I have added a smaller strip of chocolate chip ribbon and added to this the detail of two of the tiny pearls. I have stamped the sentiment above the ribbon in chocolate chip. This is a subtle change to the colours used in the catalogue and I like them together I think that the white ribbon really stands out well.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

SALE-A-BRATION...

2011-01-04T13:52:00.001Z

Well sale-a-bration is upon us and this years exclusive sets do not disappoint we see 4 sets that are great and available to you with every order that is placed that is over £45.00 until the end of February...So for example if you spend £90.00 you get to chose 2 of these great sets as well as your goodies! If you would like to place an order please phone me or send me an email (details on the side banner)

If you host a workshop during sale-a-bration you and your sales reach £300 you get to chose a sale-a-bration set along with the normal hostess benefits that you will receive... Want to book a workshop and in the Tameside or Manchester area - please contact me!

Thinking of signing up as a demonstrator?? If you sign up during sale-a-bration you get to chose a stamp set from the 2010/2011 catalogue as well as your starter kit up to the value of £44.95... If you have any questions or would like further information please get in touch!

So more on the sets that are available...

Bliss

wood-mount item 121851

clear-mount item 123217

So Happy for You

wood-mount item 121853

clear-mount item 123220

Punch Bunch

wood-mount item 121847

clear-mount item 123211

Sweet Summer

wood-mount item 121849

clear-mount item 123214

So the card that I have to share with you today - yes a card! I have made using one of the sale-a-bration sets. This set I have had to keep quiet for a couple of months as we were given it at the recent Convention and as per usual with me I have only just mounted it!

I chose to use the in colours for the card so I have used concord crush and pear pizazz I have co-ordinated this with craft card and whisper white. I stamped the vine in pear and then decoupaged three flowers that I cut by hand. I stamped these in concord crush I then used my aqua brush to add some coloue to the flowers vary roughly and leaving some white to create a little shading, using dimensionals to create the height. I then layered this on craft and then white. inking the edges of each layer.

I hope you like my card and thanks for looking - it is nice to be crafting again and have the time to play with ink and card! I have missed it! Debbi x x x

2011-01-02T22:59:00.000Z

Please check out this link for my friend Joan...
http://www.justgiving.com/Mathew-Swift-Beardathon
She is suffering from terminal cancer and a very brave lady, her husband has decided to grow his beard all year to raise money for the local hospice Willow Wood and will be raising money through sponsorship for his efforts... On the first he had a shave and this will be his last until the beginning of next year!
I have to admit that I was shocked at how young Matt looked and the difference is amazing him being clean shaven all the years that I have known him I have never seen this - if you are able please give generously to this great cause. Two very special people are raising money for a very worthwhile cause and their story is on the just giving page link I have included!
Thanks for taking the time to look
Debbi x

secret santa...

2010-12-31T09:29:00.000Z

I still haven't managed but put ink to card yet - the holidays seem to pass in a blur of seeing goods friends and catching up! So I thought I would share with you the beautiful gift and card that I received from my secret santa from ILWS...
We had to put up a wish list of things that we would like to receive and these pictures show what Sue has sent for me. I listed the distress kit as one of my signatures to the cards that I make is inking every layer that I add to the card - and I had not yet purchased this for myself but was dying to have a go. I was also sent a lovely button bracelet, some scrap book tags and then there were some charms as well. I was so pleased everything was beautifully packaged and hand stamped.
I even saved the gift for Christmas morning and put it in my stocking under the tree! I was very impressed with myself. I will definately have to take the time to have a play in the next few days, before I forget how to craft altogether! (I wonder if that is possible!)
So I hope you all have a wonderful new year - what ever you chose to do and I will see you next year - and I promise there will be a card that I have made!

Thank you for all your lovely comments this year and for continuing to visit my little old blog! Your support is very much appreciated - Debbi x x x

Hello...

2010-12-30T09:21:00.002Z

Well I have been MIA for the last few weeks and there are a number of reasons for this but mainly due to my boys who have been poorly on and off for the last month with various ailments and this has stopped all manner of preparations for Christmas... We have lots of high temperatures, poorly tummies, runny noses and coughs! Fingers crossed though they seem to be on the mend. They are a lot less grumpy which is a bonus and means I can once again move independently!
Today is the first day of the most exciting Stampin' Up! promotion of their calender HOORAH! I hear you all shout! It is Sale-a-Bration. There are some great stampsets that are available and they are so versatile...
Here is the leaflet with further details on for you...
I will be back later with some samples for you! Normal service should now be resumed! I have missed my crafting but with the boys as they were I have little more than wipe noses, hand out medicine and watch televison!
I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and that you have had lots of fun and managed to do some crafting as well...

Another Forever Friends...

2010-12-01T23:10:00.000Z

This card is a card that I have created for one of the candle orders that I have have completed - Very simple and in traditional colours using Stamping Up! DSP and a Forever Friends image that is coloured with SU colours, I have kept the colours simple and I have added depth to the colour. I have done this by adding a layer of colour letting the image dry and the adding another layer of colour. I have inked the edges of the panel and then mounted this on cherry cobbler and garden green card - inking the edges of each layer.
I have then added the sentiment to the bottom left of the card and stamped this in cherry cobbler on a white card blank, where the edges are inked (surprise surprise!)
The DSP is a couple inch panel that is added to the top of the card and there is a small gap to the top.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi
The snow is still falling so probably not much crafting tomorrow as my boys are at home with me! x

Welcome Christmas...

2010-11-30T07:38:00.000Z

Here is a card that I created using this beautiful set Helen came to play a few days ago and this is one of the images that I stamped whilst she was here. I decided to do the card monochromatic as the shadow image lends itself to this really well and I love this scene. To me this is what Christmas is all about.
I inked the edges of the image and then mounted this on black and then white. Putting the layers on to a black card blank. The sentiment is from old fashioned Christmas and is stamped to the top of the image panel, even though the top of the sentiment is missing I don't think that this takes away from the overall effect.
I hope you like this simple card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

A navity...

2010-11-29T10:42:00.000Z

The card that I posted yesterday was one created using a penny black nativity image and I thought that this would create the most lovely candle! For the next Christmas fair that I think that they will make a great set... I have stamped the image on tissue paper and coloured in chocolate chip and some blue and then sealed this onto the candle using my heat gun. Each time I do this technique I am surprised how easy it is to get perfect results. Over this week I will be showing some of the other cards and gifts I have created for the fair!
Many people have asked about this technique and all I use is cheap tissue paper and very cheap greaseproof paper! When packaged up they look great and these have been the most popular of the orders that I have taken.
I love the effect... I hope you like the candle and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

penny black challenge...

2010-11-28T07:25:00.000Z

Morning! Today's card was inspired by the challenge that is on the Penny Black Challenge Blog this week the theme was to make your card monochromatic - I love this idea for creating a card it is so simple and makes your stamped images stand out so effectively. The stamp that I have used is the nativity scene and I have yet to make a card using this stamp - each of the images that I have coloured I haven't been happy with, they didn't seem to look good in many different colours and then I found this challenge. I have coloured the image using only my chocolate chip ink pad and an aqua marker. I love the depth of colour that you can create using this method and the may different shades that can also be made just by adding a little water.

I have then inked the edges of the very vanilla panel. I have used a plain white card and inked the edges in chocolate chip and added a piece of chocolate chip Christmas DSP to this with ribbon detail above this with a bow tied to the right hand side.

I have added no sentiment to the front of the card but stamped Christmas Wishes on the inside in the middle, and inked the edges to this also.

I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

CHRISTMAS IS COMING...

2010-11-27T08:09:00.000Z

Well it seems to be coming very very fast this year - but is this because Joshua is very excited and for the first time in years we are very much on the last minute! So I am making lots and lots of candles at the moment and am loving doing them - they are so quick to do once you get used to the technique you can create perfect results that will last for years (as long as you don't light the candle!)
Here are some pictures for you!
I love how the effect can be altered by how you colour the image and each time I complete a candle am amazed by how good the results look!
I hope you like them and thanks for looking! Debbi x x x

our support for SU??

2010-11-21T21:49:00.000Z

One of the other swaps that I did manage to complete - very late I might add at the recent convention was a 6x6 scrapbook page for demo support. Chris and Eileen are the lovely people that we get to phone when we need advice or to speak to them with an order. They are always there when we need them and always take the time to speak to us about the everyday things going on with our lives! So one of the lovely ladies on ILWS organised to make them a scrapbook with pages from all the demos that wanted to contribute. I didn't originally sign up for this but contacted Helen to say that I had enough time to give her a page... This is what I created using a black mat with tempting turquoise and the stamp set vintage vogue. I have used a whisper white panel and written a message to Chris and Eileen thanking them for all they do for me and how much the work that they do means! I have stamped the vine from the set on the right hand side and have added flowers to this making them 3D with dimensionals. I have stamped one of the sentiments from the set in the top right hand corner of the page and love the bright colours!
I hope you like the page I made and thanks for looking! Debbi x x x

recent workshop...

2010-11-18T20:48:00.000Z

Sorry been absent for a few days - where does the time go??
So at a recent workshop I was asked to do Christmas cards which I love doing any time of the year and also for me to demo embossing... For the card I decided that I would use serene snowflakes which is a set that I have had for ages and rarely used - but it is one of those that you come too and once you begin your project the ideas keep on coming.
The colour combination I used for the card was night of navy and soft suede colours that I have not used together before but when looking at colours I think they go really well together. I love the depth of the blue and the shade of brown is not as deep as chocolate chip and lends itself really well as a contrast to the depth of the blue.
I layered a blue card blank with suede and then very vanilla inking the edges of each layer and random stamped the snowflakes over each layer, adding a ribbon to the top of the card and stamping the sentiment from heard from the heart.

The panel that I demoed embossing on used the shimmer paint and also lovely as a tree again on night of navy card stock. I used a dauber and the shimmer paint to colour the stamp and then add this to the card panel I then added clear embossing powder to the top of this and sealed it with a heat gun. To finish the panel off I inked the edges of the night of navy panel.
The gift that I made for my lovely hostess Bev was a stamped photo frame using the stamp set we used for the make and take and what I had demoed. I have just randomly stamped the frame and stamped some of the images off and I added the beautiful twinkly rhinestones - that I love...
I hope you like the card, demo and frame from the workshop I am sure that Bev and ours friends enjoyed themselves on the night! Want to book your own party?? email me for dertails!
Thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

more pictures...

2010-11-13T11:55:00.000Z

One of the greatest things that we get to see at Convention is all the card samples that the European demos hand in for the display boards, there are so many talented people that are demos and it is great to see the different tke that they have on a stamp set and the different colours that are available. So much inspiration on these boards they are great to examine!
The display boards were positioned in one of the main halls set to the side so that we had lots of space in between to roomily continue with our swapping whenever we had a break, I will post pictures of the rest of my swaps over the weekend and some of the great swaps that I received in return, some are truly beautiful and have a lot of work in them!
This picture I am sharing of Shelli and I is of her giving me a cuddle after she heard me talk (with the very husky voice that is still not doing so well!) and hearing that I had missed the gala awards dinner due to being unwell and spending the evening in my hotel room instead of at the party! Bekka very kindly just snapped a couple of pictures as we were talking and I love this shot! (thanks)
Thanks for looking and I hope you are enjoying sharing some of my pictures! Even though I was poorly it was a great time and I cannot wait for next year - Debbi x x x

Some Convention Pictures...

2010-11-12T11:39:00.000Z

Well the Convention last weekend was brilliant! I was ill which was not but it was great to spend some time with some lovely and talented people... I have taken loads of pictures some of which I will share with you over the next few days, it was really inspirational and has given me loads of ideas of what to do in relation to crafting in my local area in the coming months! Watch this space...
This series of marquees was where the main classes were held for the British demos as there were so many of us! They were really spacious and surprisingly warm.

Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of the gala dinner as that was the day that I was ill - I spent that evening in my bed... Wasted was my new dress and shoes - gutted. So here is a picture of where I was when the other lovely dressed up ladies were eating beautiful food.

Here is a picture of all the Convention bags before we had picked them up, I love it and will be using it regularly from now on I love the patent material and all the bright colours - the bag tag that I made to hang from the bag is a perfect match, if you would like to join me next year for crafting fun and classes - email me for further details of how you can x

Here is Shelli on the first day of our get together... I have said this before the greatest thing for me about our Convention is getting to chat to Shelli and the rest of the staff that makes Stampin' Up! the great company it is... There were several occasions that we could sit down and chat with Shelli and the rest of the staff and posing for pictures come second nature to Shelli! Always smiling and looking great - my excuse is the germs that I was carrying around with me!

Here is a picture of us all with Shelli!
More pictures tomorrow!

Thanks for looking Debbi x x x

roomie gift...

2010-11-10T21:13:00.000Z

So what I am showing you today is the gift that I made for the lovely Sarah who I had the pleasure of sharing a room with. As well as the candle and the card I also made her a bag tag to match the convention bag - which was the same as the ones that I made for my SU sisters and mummy!
The candle I have decorated using the traditional method of tissue paper and a heat gun. As the candle was a coloured one I chose darker colours to stamp in and was more careful when trimming the image before sealing to the candle. I have used the stamp set vintage vogue and stamped the vine in old olive and then the flowers in basic black. I have also added a gem to the centre of the flower for some extra bling! I have made the card to match and have used the colours pumpkin pie, basic black and whisper white. I have stamped the vine in old olive also. The flowers that I have added to the panel are in both pumpkin and black and i have decoupaged these using a dimensional, again I have added a jewel to the centre. This was onto whisper white and then I have inked the edges and this is then mounted onto pumpkin pie and then onto a basic black card blank. On the right hand side of the white panel I have added a tab of basic black ribbon. I put the candle into a clear bag and added some linen thread to tie the top.
I hope you like the card and candle and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

3D swap...

2010-11-08T22:20:00.000Z

For this swap I decided that I would make a Christmas organiser with a twist... I used a Christmas stamp set however the colours that I chose to stamp the set in were not that traditional - some of them were but not all I used the brights collection from the new catalogue a must buy for its fantastic value... The set that I used was Sparkly and Bright.
This swap I pinched the idea from a new crafting friend Anne who made the organiser for me on a recent crafting afternoon - I had to alter the size slightly as Anne had used a folder for the base and I used a 12x12 for mine. I used a shopper jotter pad for one side and the print outs are from a website where there are loads of useful ones available for crafting projects.
So the card I used was craft and whisper white for the base textured for the base, and I stamped on whisper white and mounted the panels on card stock that matched the bright i was using at the time! I have stamped the images in the same colour and have inked the edges of each panel. on the front I stamped the sentiment from occasional greetings 'for you'
I loved doing this swap and making them really tested me when under pressure for a project and having to have them completed in time! phew I managed it! and the swaps that I received in return were some of the best that I have ever received - I will post photos of these tomorrow!
I hope you like my project and thanks for looking - I will start to post the pictures of the Convention in the next couple of days - it was great!
Thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

Convention Projects...

2010-11-08T12:12:00.000Z

So the first project that I completed was the card candy and I cannot tell you how long I agonised over this for... I knew the stamp set that I was using - artistic etchings and I had decided that the colours I was going to use were cherry cobbler, black and confetti white.
I made three of the pieces very quickly but the three larger pieces I really struggles with - this is the first time that I had done the card candy and I wanted to make sure that I did all the other talented demos justice. I think that I managed this and was very pleased with the results. I love the colour combination that I have chosen.
I have not used a sentiment in the examples other than the armour that come with the stamp set. I didn't think that it was needed. I have layered up every piece and I think that gives them more depth and the embellishments that I have added reflect the bling needed to add a little sparkle to the pieces and I love the effect of the ribbon - such a simple idea to fold a piece in half and staple it to the project...
I hope you like the examples my group got and thanks for looking
If you would like to purchase this stamp set - please email me for further details! Debbi x

off to convention...

2010-11-04T08:34:00.000Z

Morning blogland for today's post I thought I would show you something that I have made for some of the ladies I will be meeting up with later today... One of the swaps that I joined was a business ideas swap - this is to showcase various ideas that will help us show the stampin' up! products to their best! I decided to make the ladies in my group a cardstock sampler. This having a sample of every colour of cardstock from the catalogue in each of the the colour families.
It means that when we are at a workshop we can have them to hand highlighting how the card co-ordinates and the quality. The one thing that I have been using mine for though is to see if various colour work together - it is really handy and I have attached mine to my tote.
The packing is done and the swaps are all prepared - this has been a very stressful week trying to organise various crafty items, cards and gifts as well as clean a house and get the boys and pooch ready for me leaving. On top of all this we have all been poorly and hubby has now started with a cold and Aidan is still teething! Be back with many photos on Sunday and some of the crafty swaps I have been involved with - To all my SU buddies - see you later!
Thanks for looking and have a great week - London Baby!
Debbi x

scraps...

2010-11-03T15:05:00.001Z

Todays post is one that both myself and my friend Steph loved doing at the end of a card class last week we were left with a card blank each and some scraps so we decided to each make a gate fold card. We had a little competition to see who could make the best of the contempo christmas set - still using the same colours as were used in the class and best use of the punch too. I was trying to explain to Steph how I wanted my card to look but this was not coming across - hence the examples of the cards we produced
We used the colours cherry cobbler and night of navy and whisper white.
Step has added two baubles one top and one bottom and stamped the sentiment beside each one of these and a panel of card stock to creaate a mat.
I have stamped and punched 3 baubles and they are added in a diagonal line across the card and added a panel of card stock to each side of the card blank. On the inside of the card I have stamped the sentiment and the bauble from the set.
I hope you like our cards and thanks for looking - I am away now at Convention and if I have time this evening will try and schedule some posts for the end of the week - however previous attempts on this have failed for me!
have a great week - Debbi x x x
not sure why the top pic is the wrong way around sorry!

2010-11-01T10:12:00.001Z

Here is this month's offer to get you in the mood for making all your Christmas cards and finishing them with something special! If you have any questions please email me... Your qualifying order will have to placed by the 29th November! For the month of November I will be offering free postage and packaging on all orders!

At the end of November I will be doing a stamper stack Christmas class using Contempo Christmas and the co-ordinating punch, this will include 10 cards and co-ordinating gift tags for £12.00 - email me for further details!

Have a good week x

Choose from these bundles:

Description	Wood-Mount Item	Wood-Mount Price	Clear-Mount Item	Clear-Mount Price
Gifted Bundle Gifted Set and Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper	124051	£35.70	124052	£30.70
Welcome Christmas Bundle Welcome Christmas Set and Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper	124063	£36.90	124064	£31.90
Season of Joy Bundle Season of Joy Set and So Swirly Stampin’ Around Wheel	124055	£36.45	---	---
Delightful Decorations Bundle Delightful Decorations Set and Ornament Punch	124058	£37.45	---	---

*Bundles and ribbons available while supplies last
Choose from these ribbons:

Description	Item	Retail Value
Mistletoe Ribbon Originals	116792	£11.50
Sleigh Bells Ribbon	116795	£8.50
Riding Hood Red 1-1/4” Striped Grosgrain Ribbon	113099	£10.25
Real Red 3/4” Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon	115608	£10.25

thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

Contempo Christmas...

2010-10-29T22:26:00.000+01:00

Well this week saw my latest class and here are the cards that we made - I have chosen to use cherry cobbler, night of navy and whisper white for a traditional Christmas theme I loved preparing this class and I think that these cards are just the right thing to get you into the Christmas mood... After the European Stampin' Up! Convention that is next week I will be making many a Christmas card and gift for the orders that I am taking and also a craft fair or two!
So for these cards I have created three different designs the first very simple but I think very effective, I have used a night of navy blank and inked the edges, matting this with whisper white and then again with cherry cobbler. In the centre of this I then added a piece of whisper white where I have inked the edges in night of navy. I have stamped the sentiment from the Contempo Christmas set in night of navy to the centre of this panel and added a bauble on dimensionals to the centre also. To finish off the bauble I have added night of navy ribbon as the string.

The second card I used a rich cobbler blank and inked the edges and to this I have added a night of navy panel and inked the edges and then a piece of whisper white. I have stamped three baubles two night of navy and one rich cobbler, the middle one popped up on dimensionals. I have stamped the sentiment from the stamp set in night of navy to the bottom centre of the card.

The final card in the set is using the technique that we were shown at the recent regional training I attended where we had to stamp three of the baubles and fold them in half sticking them together to make a 3D bauble on the card. For this card I have used again a night of navy again with a cherry cobbler mat with a whisper white on top of this one. I have added the 3D bauble to the centre of the card and added gold elastic thread to the top of the bauble for the string. The sentiment added to the bottom centre of the card to complete it.

I hope you like these cards and if you would like to purchase this stamp set please get in touch. Thanks for looking and your comments are appreciated - Debbi x x x

I will try and schedule some posts for next week of the swaps that I have been completing but don't want to share too much too soon - until I know many people will be free of blogland! x

Mad Cat...

2010-10-26T09:16:00.000+01:00

This is one of my favourite penny black images and I love the expression on the cat's face. As a crafter it doesn't how long you have had your stamps - you just keep adding to them! buying more and more... but ssshhhh don't tell anyone!
I have coloured the image using my SU! colours and an aqua painter and am pleased with the results I have used my inkpads rather than pens, water colours pastels or the pencils (all of which I have!) I have used the black watered down to be more subtle and I have used pixie pink for the ears of the cat, again watered down for the subtle colour. I have then inked the edges of the image in black and double mounted it on basic black and pixie pink. The sentiment is stamped in black and mounted on black then pink.
I have added three card candy to the top right of the card in black and pink and I think that they match really well. I have used a white card blank and have inked the edges in both the pink and the black colours rthat I have used. I then added a black panel to the middle of the card and have added the image to the top left and the sentiment to the bottom right.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

WINNERS...

2010-10-25T08:10:00.000+01:00

LAUNCH RAFFLE....

This is for all people that placed an order this month with my workshops and openhouse... The prize DASHER, NIGHT OF NAVY, CHOCOLATE CHIP and CHOCOLATE CHIP RIBBON -

1) Joan
2) Sam
3) Sue
4) Tracey
5) Nicola
6) Anne
7) Bev
8) Steph

I have used random number generator for the winner which was...

So Tracey has won the raffle prize well done - when you pick up your order you can pick up your goodies too! and thank you everyone for attending my launch, workshops and placing an order...

So now to the Blog Candy I have had some lovely comments and thank you to the new followers - I hope you like my blog and find some inspiration from what I share with you! The back is on the mend but I am still getting twinges and after most of the weekend in bed I am feeling much better today, but will have to take things easy and it is half term too!

Well done Lorraine - please email me your address and I will package and post your blog candy to you in the next couple of days! I hope you enjoy it!

I will be back later with a card - See you soon! and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

Quick Post!

2010-10-24T09:41:00.000+01:00

Morning! I will be back later with the winners of my blog candy and also the winner of my launch raffle that I have been running since the beginning of the month! These are a little late as I have been in bed all weekend with a tummy bug and have not been feeling the best to say the least - I feel a little more alive this morning so will make sure the draws are completed and the winners displayed here!
Have a great day people x x x Debbi!

BIRTHDAY BLOG CANDY...

2010-10-22T19:56:00.000+01:00

Well hello blogland! Today is my birthday and I am offering some Stampin' Up! blog candy...
The rules will be that you have to follow my blog (if you don't already) and link the candy post to the side bar of your blog (if you have one!) and leave a comment at the end of this post... I will leave the blog candy draw open for a week and draw the winner next Friday...
So what am I offering - I am offering a stamp set - one of the level one hostess sets from last year out of the box, a reel of ribbon still wrapped whisper white 1/4' grosgrain, an unopened pack of neutrals buttons and a selection of retired card stock from last years catalogue...
In the last couple of weeks I have had a number of new followers and this seems the perfect time to say welcome to those too!
So what do I have planned for my birthday?? Not a lot is the answer! ;-) yesterday morning I managed to put my back out just before the school run and that has rendered me pretty much useless since then - although what better excuse do you need not to do any housework than a bad back and your birthday!
I will hopefully manage to do a bit of crafting today - the SU Convention draws ever closer as does the number of swaps that I should be completing!
So good luck with the blog candy and thanks for looking! Have a great day - Debbi x x x
I will post a photo of the blog candy later tonight or tomorrow x x x

hand stamped images... challenge 38

2010-10-21T17:38:00.000+01:00

This week the challenge over on hand stamped i ages is a great one to get you in the festive spirit, they were asking you to create a card, tag and box in preparation for your wrapping when the holidays hit! I have managed to do a card and a tag but time ran out for me to cerate the box to go with it!
For this challenge I decided to use my Forever Friends stamps again and create something was was Christmasy and traditional with the colours that I used...
I coloursed the bear with my copics again just using gentle shading on the edges of the bear, and for the present and the bow and the Santa's hat I used cherry cobbler and wild wasabi from stampin up - using the ink pads and an aqua pen. adding a layer of colour and then waiting for this to dry and adding another. I added glitter to the hat for some Christmas sparkle and dabbed colour onto the tag in the image with a gold pen outline. I mounted the image on bazzil card stock and then again on stampin' up card to match the ink that I used. The ribbon detail is from my stash and I bet I have had that for 4 years - but the colour was a great match I think you will agree. The DSP across the top of the card is Forever Friends and I have inked the edges of this. The sentiment that I have used is also from Forever Friends. Using the same image for the tag and same method to colour it.
I hope you like my card and tag and thanks for looking - Again I have loved this challenge and it has relieved some of the convention stress I am feeling! Debbi x x x

JUGS challenge 55

2010-10-21T11:13:00.000+01:00

The challenge over on Just us Girls this week was to create something that was using the colours Black, Cream and Craft - I love these colours so knew that I would have to have a go I thought that I would do something different using the stamp set Artistic Etchings as everything that I have crated so far have been bright and colourful - so this was more subtle and I loved it. I started with a black card blank and then to this added a piece of craft that I have stamped off images randomly - the circle and the crown stamps - again loving the effect that you get from these stams to create backgrounds.

I then added a panel of craft to the top of the card and added some black ribbon to add extra detail to it I stamped the sentiment in the bottom right hand corner in basic black. The Eiffel Tower image is stamped in black onto very vanilla card and I have added some taffeta ribbon for extra detail to the edge of this. I inked the edges of the image and then mounted it on basic black card.

and time for a challenge...

2010-10-21T10:00:00.000+01:00

I have spent so much time creating things for Convention in the last week last night I decided that I was going to create just for me... Looking through my favourites blogs I knew that I had to do the challenge over on the Forever Friends blog - you had to use 3 flowers, 2 papers and 1 button. I though I would drag out my Christmas stamps and have a play...
I used a stamp that I bought last year and it has never seen ink. I teamed this with 2 of the papers from the Forever Friends Christmas stack also bought last year, the flowers I have had years as they are not really my thing! I have inked them with cherry cobbler ink SU! to match the inking I have used on the image. and a square card blank.
I have coloured the bear on my image with copics and gently shaded the belly of the bear and I coloured the robin body as well. and used SU! ink pads and an aqua marker for the tree and the present! I like the effect of the two together and am pleased with the result. I have mounted the image on cherry cobbler card and added some glitter for extra sparkle. I have inked the edges of the DSP that I have used I have added ribbon button detail to the top right of the card and the required flowers to the bottom right of the card.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - I have to admit I liked completing this challenge and it took me out of my comfort zone! there is another day to enter my birthday blog candy as well - Debbi x x x

Goals...

2010-10-20T15:44:00.000+01:00

I have set myself the goal of being a better blogger and the main reason for this is I need to remain focused on my crafting as I am very busy in the next couple of months with the SU European Convention, my first craft fair, classes, workshops and Christmas! So I determined to use all this activity to my advantage and blog about it at the same time...
For Convention that is becoming scarily close and I am no where near prepared enough in relation to the swaps that I should have completed - I need to have completed...

team cards, scrapbook pages, gifts - non are done! 3D swap 10 - have designed it not made any though, Business Tools swap - 10 completed hoorah!, Card Candy - finished today and approximately 300 general swaps in various designs that I have designed and not really started! I feel lots of late nights coming on and a bit of stressing as the countdown begins in ernest!
I don't want to show the finished products, until the ladies that are receiving them will be on their way to collect there goodies, but here is an idea of the mess that I have been making today whilst completing the card candy - you can see the colour - I think they look great together...
Thanks for looking Debbi x x x

Two monkey's

2010-10-19T22:46:00.000+01:00

Hello... Today's card is the card that I created with the help of Joshua for Aidan's birthday - it needed Joshua's input for the card as it was from him! he chose the colours and he also chose the characters from the stamp set that he wanted. Although when he was looking at the colours he just went for the same ones that I had been using to create Aidan's other card - easily pleased...
So for this card I stamped 2 monkeys in the centre of the card and at either side of these I stamped two tortoises, I used the sentiment from all in the stars as this was to hand and I used the colours soft suede and brocade blue.
I inked the edges of the panel and then distressed the edges of the panel, once completed I mounted this on a piece of brocade blue card that I have also inked the edges. I inked the edges of the brocade panel and have added this to a white card blank where I have inked the edges in both brocade and soft suede.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

stars...

2010-10-18T21:57:00.000+01:00

The card that I am sharing today is one of the cards that i made for my Son's birthday he was two last week and we had his birthday party yesterday... He loves stars and this is one of his new words that he repeats at random times during the day - and no I don't think he sees them all the time! As soon as he opened it though he did keep saying stars! stars!
I have used the all in the stars set and lots of random stamping to create the image and as he was two I have used two stars as the focal poing in the centre of the card cut out and added with dimensionals. I have used the colours brocade blue and soft suede to create this card and also a piece of whisper white. I have mounted this onto brocade blue and then this is mounted on to the card blank which I have also randomly stamped.
Some of the stars on the main panel I have stamped off to add a more subtle effect and I have only used the tiny star stamp in soft suede. I have stamped the sentiment in soft suede to the top left of the card .
I have inked the edges of the panels - I always do this as I think it gives a better finish to an image or panel... I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

an old favourite...

2010-10-16T14:11:00.000+01:00

I cannot bear to part with all my retired Stampin' Up! sets and this is one of them... I love this set and this will be one of the sets that I use for my personal Christmas cards this year. I have made this card as a thank you for one of my customers and I did not make it a Christams theme I used my ink pad lids and an aqua painter to add the colour to the image and before adding each layer I waited for the image to dry...
Once I had finished the painting image I inked the edges in black and mounted it on craft and mellow moss and then I mounted this to the card blank which was soft suede. I added the image at an angle and have also inked the edges of the card. I have added a thanks so much sentiment to the bottom right of the card.
A very simple card to make but very effective proving that not all Christmas sets have to be used just for that purpose.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking x x x

JOIN MY TEAM...

2010-10-14T20:16:00.000+01:00

Check out the new price for the Stampin Up! Starter Kit! This means that you can earn discount on your Stampin Up! stash and join the wonderful community of Stampin' Up! demonstrators... You will be joining at just the right time as we have just launched the new catalogue for 2010/2011 and with a reduction in the price for the starter kit... What do you have to lose??
For £50.00 extra you can add on the scrapping kit which is also a great price, so if you would like to join my team email me at debbitaylor76@googlemail.com or call me on 01613384183...
Debbi x x x

Another family birthday...

2010-10-13T10:29:00.000+01:00

My auntie's birthday was on Monday and I have made her card using one of the newly introduced colours and an old favourite... delightful daffodil and tempting turquoise. I have also used one of the new level one hostess sets, which I can see being a firm favourite with me this year!
I have used a tempting turquoise card blank and matted this with delightful daffodil inking the edges with basic black to make them really stand out. I have then on a panel of whisper white confetti card inked the edges with the turquoise and randomly stamped the images from the set across the main panel of the card in tempting turquoise and delightful daffodil, some were stamped off first. I have added some white ribbon to the top of the card and best wishes from the same set to the top left.
The was a very quick and easy card to complete but I love the effect that is created, especially as the colours are so bright! x
Thanks for looking and I hope you like the card - Debbi...
If you would like details on how to earn this set for free email me for further details - hold a workshop and have a great evening crafting with friends! x x x

crafting with Kate and Aimes... A great day!

2010-10-12T07:58:00.000+01:00

Sunday was a great day spent crafting with some lovely people and we had a great time making some lovely projects that were designed by Kate and Aimes - we were lucky enough to be given some lovely paper, buttons and ribbon as well!

The first card was made using the enjoy the ride set and matching die - they go really well together and I love the colours.
The second was using on my couch set and teamed with simply chartreuse ribbon.
The third was a 3D item using Star Prints and I love the colours that were chosen to make this... What a great day... The projects are gorgeous aren't they! thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

Stars...

2010-10-10T22:39:00.000+01:00

The card that I am sharing today is a card that I made for one of Joshua's friends at school and we were attending a party for him (Joshua has a much better social life than I do!) I asked Joshua what stamp set he wanted me to use and also the colours that he wanted and this is what he picked - the stamp set is the retired stars stamp set but do not fear there is a new one in this years catty! We chose the colours craft, chocolate chip and tempting turquoise I think you will agree they look great together and are perfect for a boy! I used the small star for the back ground on the chocolate chip and the craft - and have stamped off the tempting turquoise on to the craft panel.
I punched and cut out the stars and added them to the right hand side of the card and added the sentiment above these. I mounted the chocolate chip panel on to turquoise and inked the edges of this - the colours together I love! Joshua will make a great card maker in the future I am sure!
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking! Debbi x x x
Tomorrow I will share some cards that I received today at a crafty event with the lovely Kate and Aimes! Until tomorrow! night

Hello... a family birthday...

2010-10-08T12:53:00.000+01:00

Well today the card i am sharing is one that I have made for my cousin who is exactly one week older than me and it is her birthday today - Happy Birthday Emma! I don't see her very often but we chat a lot on the internet... So this is the first of the week of family birthdays! Monday is my son Aidan's he will be two and also it is my Auntie Alma's (Emma's mum) and then next friday it will be mine! What a lot of cake I will have to eat! ;-)
The card that I have made for Emma is using an old favourite stamp set pocket silhouettes I have used the babywipe technique for the back ground and have then stamped the images across the panel.

I have then mounted this on a piece of rich razzleberry card and then again on soft suede. I have then mounted this on a white card blank and I have inked the edges of each piece. I have added the friend to friend sentiment as even though we do not see eachother often we are still very close (even if she doesn't like football as much as me!) For the main image I have stamped off one of the images all the way across the card and then added a few that were not stamped off. I have then added the flower detail stamped in rich razzleberry at regular intervals across the card. The sentiment is in the top left hand side of the card and this is fro the same stamp set.
Thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

Launch Night...

2010-10-04T10:38:00.001+01:00

Saturday night saw my launch party and we had a great evening with some new products and old favourites. I decided to do things a little bit different for my launch as the pictures will show - there were a couple of games, a make and take and a raffle. As I had recently attended training my display board was full thanks to many of my fellow demonstrators and I had a great time looking at all the beautiful swaps that I received on the evening.
I had created everyone a goody bag to tale away with them and I had tried to co-ordinate this with both retired card stock and also new colours with accessories as well.
For the make and take we made the card that was recently shown at training although as I didn't have much of the cherry cobbler used here I changed the main colour for real red and used real red ribbon... Both colours look great with this stamp set.
The second part of the evening was pin the tail on the donkey - although using stamping. Guests had to be blindfolded and spun around and then stamp on to the target Stampin Up! as close to the middle as they could. This is something that I have not tried before and we had a real giggle doing it - there was a prize for the winner.

I then turned the reins over to my guests... I gave them the same supplies and gave them 20 minutes to create a card using the circle circus set and some punches, they had a great time doing it and I think that you will agree they did really. Nicola's card was the winner and she received a prize on the evening also.

This is the card that WON! Nicola did a great job - as did all the ladies!

Joan
Sue's below

Tracey above
and Sam's

My raffle prize will be drawn when the last order is received in just over two weeks, this is for the ladies that attended the launch and for every order received over £45.00 that is placed before then. Email me if you want to order - the prize - DASHER, CHOCOLATE CHIP INK, NOT QUITE NAVY INK and CHOCOLATE CHIP RIBBON... I hope you like the pictures! and thanks for looking Debbi x x x

having trouble loading piccies - will try again later x

NEW CATALOGUE...

2010-10-01T07:25:00.000+01:00

Well it is here and you are now able to freely view the catalogue on line... I have created a link for you on the side bar of my blog. I hope you enjoy it and there are some great new stamp sets and products email me if you would like to place an order... I will be back later with a couple of samples for you ENJOY... thanks for looking Debbi x x x

Stampin Up! training...

2010-09-27T23:28:00.000+01:00

On Friday night I spent a lovely evening in the company of some very talented ladies at the regional training for Stampin' Up! We had a great time learning some new techniques and having a couple of talks from some very talented demonstrators with a lot of information and some great tips! We even had time for a couple of make and takes...
One of the greatest things about any event that Stampin' Up! that is put on is the swapping! We all make something whether that be a card front or something 3D and we will make one for every person that is there! It is a fantastic part of the evening and it always gives us lots of ideas for things to make in the future or different colour combinations to use...
This is the card I made using the vintage vogue set and the wheel with the distressing tool. I used the colours night of navy, craft and soft suede. I used crystal effects on the small flower on the left hand side of the card. I have wheeled a craft panel and attached this to the top of the card and distressed the edges.
The vine is used on the top and bottom of the card and I have used both night of navy and soft suede stamped off.

I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x Later this week I will post piccies of the other cards that I received - they are all great! and thanks again ladies for a great evening! x

A Penny Black...

2010-09-26T09:17:00.000+01:00

Here is a card I made this week with one of my Penny Black stamps how cute it this?? I have coloured the image with my SU markers and an aqua brush and I have slowly built up the colour waiting for the image to dry before adding some more colour. I am pleased with the finished effect and even though it takes a little longer I think that it is worth it. I have coloured the flowers in red, yellow and orange again building the colour up slowly.
I have used whisper white card to stamp the image and have mounted this on craft card and then again on mellow moss. The card blank id close to cocoa and I have inked all the edges of the panels. On the card blank I have added some shimmer to the card edges to bring out the crispness of the whisper white.
I have added a happy birthday sentiment to the bottom of the card. This card I sent to my cousin to show her what you can achieve when you make your own cards, I also sent her some bits and pieces to have a go at making her own - I will keep you posted!

I have entered this card in the penny black challenge this week as the theme was indian summer and I think the colouring I have used suits this. I hope you like the card and thanks for looking! Debbi x x x

more thanks...

2010-09-22T07:38:00.000+01:00

Here is another thank you card that I created for some lovely customers. I have used the colours soft suede, rich razzleberry and melon mambo. I have again used the stamp set pocket silhouettes, I have brayered the panel in the middle of the card with soft suede and then I have then stamped off one of the images in soft suede and another I have stamped in rich razzleberry. I inked the edges of the of the panel and then mounted this on rich razzlebery card, I then mounted this on craft and then again on a soft suede card blank. I inked the edges of the panel and the card blank in soft suede.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

the end of a great year!

2010-09-18T22:58:00.000+01:00

So as we near the end of the Stampin' Up! year and many of us are gearing up for the new catalogue - I have been making thank you cards for all my customers to either give to them when I see them or when they collect or receive their latest order - So over the next few days I will be showing you some of these cards...
This card I have made using melon mambo, rich razzleberry, craft and confetti white. I have brayered the confetti panel in melon mambo and soft suede and then I have stamped off one of the images from pocket silhouettes and added this in soft suede and then added another in rich razzleberry. have inked the edges of the panel and mounted this on craft card. I then mounted this on rich razzleberry and the card blank that I used was melon mambo! Pocket silhouettes is a lovely set and I love the effect that you can create from it... I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - more in a couple of days - Debbi x x x

LAST CHANCE LIST... further discounts!

2010-09-17T09:53:00.000+01:00

Here is the link to the last chance list there have been further discounts added today so if there is anything that you need send me an email as these items are likely to sell out fast now!

Last chance list

Thanks for looking Debbi x x x

Retiring card...

2010-09-16T12:22:00.000+01:00

Here is an example of a card using the blooming with joy set that is retiring at the end of the month... I love this set and it is so versatile I love colouring the images in this set they look so striking when water coloured. I have used the colour orchid opulence for the flowers and added more depth to the colour by using the pen itself rather than an aqua painter. I decided to use black with orchid opulence as the two colours go really well together. I have used the text from the set on the base of the image - similar to that in the IBC for 2010 and I have mounted this. I have inked the edges of the image and mounted it on black card and again on orchid opulence. I have then cut an orchid opulence card blank and inked the edges in black - to this I added a panel of card stock and added three brads to decorate - I than stamped the sentiment 'bloom' from the set on the right hand side and the image to the left.
I hope you like the card and thanks for looking - Debbi x x x

CHRISTMAS IS COMING... the cards

2010-09-13T23:29:00.000+01:00

So here are the cards that I promised you from the Christmas Class that I did a couple of weeks ago using the Stampin Up set Holly Jolly Christmas stamp set - which is retiring but I love it! and will miss it! We used the colours mellow moss, ruby red and close to cocoa (which we are also losing)
The first card uses a mellow moss base and I have used a panel of ski slope paper as a top border I have stamped three trees from the stamp set and added two of them to the card. I added the third tree on dimensionals and had covered this in dazzling diamonds. I stamped the sentiment in close to cocoa on the right hand side.

The second card is using a ruby red card blank i have added a panel of DSP from the ski slope set to the middle of the card and then a piece of very vanilla card stock to this I have inked the edges in mellow moss. I have then stamped five trees to the panel and the sentiment to the top right of the card. I then stamped Santa from the set to the centre of the card and then stamped another out and added this to the card on dimensionals.

The third card is using the reindeer, tree and Santa stamps and they are stamped on very vanilla and then punched out. I have then mounted them on the larger scallop punch and again on the largest circle punch. They are then mounted on a piece of mellow moss card and I have inked the edges of this and then again mounted on DSP from ski slope and this is then added to a close to cocoa card blank.
I hope you like the cards - thanks for looking if you would like more details of my classes please contact me. Debbi x x x

CHRISTMAS IS COMING...

2010-09-11T17:59:00.000+01:00

Here is the bag that we made at my Christmas class last week - we used the Holly Jolly Christmas set and we also used colours that are retiring - we decorated the bag using the holly week and this was using the colour mellow moss, the wheel was used diagonally and once completed we made a panel for the front. On the panel we stamped three Christmas stockings and added the sentiment to the middle. We then added this panel to a piece of mellow moss after inking the edges and double mounting it on ruby red card.
There are two pieces of ribbon added to decorate the handle.
I hope you like the bag, thanks for looking! Debbi x x x

The New Catalogue 2010/2011...

2010-09-08T07:52:00.002+01:00

As you will know if you are a Stampin' Up! addict the new catalogue is due for release on the 1st of October, we are seeing a huge retirement list at the moment where there are items selling out fast but there is still a lot available. If you would like to pre-order your catalogue here and have it delivered to your door please email me. I am offering the catalogue for £3.99 including postage if you would like one please let me know - there are lots of new stamp sets and lovely new accessories. Thanks for looking Debbi x x x

Good Morning

2010-09-04T18:16:00.002+01:00

This morning we are having a blog hop to showcase some of the retiring colours and stamp sets from this year idea book and catalogue for Stampin' Up! So if you are returning from Sarah's blog welcome back! or if you are starting here welcome and I hope you like what you see! These products are only available until the end of the month and already there are some colours of card stock that have sold out (close to cocoa and sage shadow) So this morning I am using too stamp sets Live your Dream and Bird on a Branch. I have chosen to use the colours ruby red, mellow moss, close to cocoa (so upset this is sold out) and taken with teal.

The first card that I have made is using the retiring set Live your Dream and the colours taken with teal and mellow moss. I have stamped the image using the pens to colours the stamp and then spritzed the stamp with water to soften the colour. I have then mounted this on taken with teal card I inked the edges of this, after inking the edges of the panel with mellow moss. I stamped the sentiment in taken with teal and have inked the edges and then this is mounted on mellow moss and then taken with teal. I have made the card blank from mellow moss and inked the edges with taken with teal. I have used the eyelet border to edge the card which I think adds a great effect to the edge of the card.

The second card that I have made is using the same colours and bird on a branch I have stamped the tree in close to cocoa as well as the bird and then coloured the flowers in handsome hunter and also taken with teal to add some depth to the card. I have inked the edges to this in teal and then mounted this on close to cocoa I have then added a piece of teal card at an angle where I have stamped the sentiment into the bottom right corner and then used the wheel to add detail at the top of the card. I have then inked the edges. I added this to a panel of close to cocoa and then to the card blank of taken with teal. Inking the edges of each layer as I went.

The third card that I made I have again used Live your Dream and I have used pens for this also. I coloured the stamp and then spritzed it with water. I then stamped along a panel of whisper white card three times so that each time the stamp met the paper the stamped image was less defined. Once I had done this I let the panel dry. I then inked the edges of the panel in ruby red. This is mounted in mellow moss and then again in ruby red. I have stamped the sentiment in close to cocoa and inked the edges and then mounted this in ruby red and mellow moss. The card blank is close to cocoa and I have inked the edges of this and I have added two buttons to the card blank for detail.

The fourth card that I have made I again used the pens to coloured the image and then spritzed it with water, I then added definition to the leaves with the thin end of the stampin up marker. I stamped the butterfly in between the flowers and have not spritzed this before I stamped to get a clearer definition. I have inked the edge of the panel and then mounted this on ruby red card and then again on mellow mess and inked the edges. I stamped the sentiment in close to cocoa and inked the edges and then mounted on mellow moss and ruby red. The card is close to cocoa and I have inked the edges and there is button detail in the top right hand corner. I overlapped the image panel and the sentiment panel to add some definition to the card and put the image at an angle.
I hope you like the cards that I am sharing with you today and if you want to order something then BE QUICK! items from the retired list are already selling out and once they are gone - that is it! Now you will be off on your journey around the hop there are some great stops along the way and everyone has shown some great projects this morning! So next you go to the lovely Kirsteen who has even had her post schedule whilst she is sleeping for us this morning!
Thanks for looking and I hope you like my cards - Debbi x x x
Have a lovely Sunday!

blog hop

2010-09-04T09:14:00.000+01:00

Good Morning! Tomorrow there will be a blog hop taking place to showcase some of the retiring stamp sets and colours that will only be available until the end of the month (or until stocks last) we are doing the hop to show you what is going to be leaving us - so check back tomorrow morning to have a nosy at some of the projects that we have completed!
Posts will be loaded at 10.00 starting with me - See you then x Debbi