a little overdue

Hi, due to the silly season and all that goes with it, I have been a little run off my feet lately. So apologies once again for not putting anything up for a while. However, I have made a couple of cards that I can share, so hopefully that will make up for it. My sister is having her birthday on Friday, and I wanted to give her something elegant. I'd found something similar to what I wanted, and I'm sorry I can't find who's blog it was on. But anyway, I've altered it considerably to become what it is now. I love the Established Elegance and Creative Elements sets, and combined they look amazing. The Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake are one of my favourite combinations, and with the use of the pearls to add a bit extra.

Mum has a thing about roosters, and the Beau Chateau paper just seemed to fit the bill. So no stamping on this one, bar the sentiment, but lots of cutting. Dad wanted this to give to Mum for her birthday. Yep, it's a busy time for birthdays in our family at the moment, and with xmas on top...

I'd seen a lot of cards made with the Creative Elements stamp used in this way, but I decided to use my old faithful Tulips Embossing Folder to border it. The Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade work well with this, and finished it off with the Very Vanilla Seam Binding and Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, as well as the designer printed brad in Wisteria Wonder.

Finally, I cased this gorgeous wee reindeer off Kirsty Brown. I unfortunately didn't have any of the red glimmer paper that she used on his nose, but he's just as cute without. The kids thought he was fun, and very easy to make.

So I hope you got some inspiration from these ideas and have fun creating. Cheers, Dee

Hubby's invites

Good morning all, so sorry to have taken so long to get back here and post something. Term time is so hard to keep track of spare time. However, I have been pretty busy getting out invites for my hubby's birthday.

I had an idea of what I wanted to make, as he wanted to, and due to popular demand, have a black tie bash. I'd looked around on the net to see what others had made, and couldn't find anything that was quite right. So out came the Top Note die, and away I went. The shirt pulls out with the information on it. I used the Fancy label punch to make the collar, by cutting in from the sides at the midway point, then folding the corners to the middle, and the back half down, and trimming. The bows were simply folded and sewn in the middle. But when you are doing 50, they seem to go on forever. To make the pocket and kerchief, I used the corner cut-offs from the back of the collar. Trimmed the bottom corner, and placed a black rectangle over top. At one stage, I had a production line going, of Russ taping, the kids making the buttons and gluing. But that only last for a wee while. The feedback has been great, which is really nice. So I hope you get some inspiration from this. Yours in creating, Dee

my challenge

Hi again, I thought that since I'd been a bit slack in posting lately, due to a lot of running around for various things, that I'd give myself a wee challenge. Over the next little while I'd try to start at the beginning of the latest catalogue and work my way through, and make a card from each stamp set that I own. So we'll see how we go. I'm in the midst of getting hubby's 40th invites out, and trying to make 50 of these things is quite time consuming. When I post a picture of these, you'll understand why. I won't do that till I've actually got them posted though. So here is my first attempt at my personal challenge. I've used the hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes. The colours are Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz and Concord Blue. I used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder on the background. When I had initially made it, I thought it was a bit bland, so I decided to colour parts of the embossing to liven things up a bit. I've added the pearls as well. Embellishments are a wonderful thing.

So, I hope it's given you some inspiration for something you might be working on, even given yourself the same challenge. We have these stamp sets sitting there, and sometimes that's all they do. We have good intentions when we get them, so maybe try a challenge for yourself. Good luck. Dee

A small box of wonder

Hi again, off to a slow start today, after having a lovely night out at the Southwell School Centenary dinner last night. A couple of weeks ago, I got together with my up-line Juliette, and her group of ladies. I had to demonstrate a make-and-take. I decided on something 3D, because they are always fun and different to make. I'd been playing around with the Petal Cone die, which I'd got in the mail that week, and used an idea that I had found on line to make a box, by Sharon Field . I think it's cute.

I used the Artistic Etchings set to decorate, with the Patterned Designer Paper in Real Red to decorate. They are so easy and cute, and would be great for a little something for christmas. Have a great weekend. Dee

simple autumn days

Hi, well I'd seen a picture that was shared on Facebook today, that kind of summed it all up.

It's been one of those really busy weeks, that leads into an equally busy weekend. Never mind. I've got a quick and simple card to show you today. The stamp set is Autumn Days, and I've used Island Indigo as the base colour, with Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend, and take some time out for yourselves. Cheers Dee

Playing Around

Hi and sorry it's been so long since I last posted. Not a good start really. It's been one of those weeks, and have spent more time running around like a flea in a fit, than I have sitting down doing this sort of thing.

Anyway, I'm here now and I would like to show you a cute little project I had a chance to make that Juliette Riddell (my upline) showed us. They are quite easy, effective and a great gift.

They are quite cute and are the 19 x 21 cm. Scored from the 1cm in on the 21cm side. Then at 9cm, 10cm and 18 cm. Fold and tape. Decorate as you like. We've used Stitched Stockings. I decided on Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade as the colours. I put a brad in the bottom so the pad won't slip through.

I hope you get some inspiration for a easy gift. Have a great day.
Dee