I'm learning to sew!

Look at this for concentration!!!!

I'm so excited. Today I went to a sewing class and made a pin cushion. Now to anyone who sews regularly that may not seem very exciting, but I'm thrilled. I learned sewing to a limited level at school (many years ago!!!) from a very old fashioned teacher. I've always wanted to make a few simple things and so when my friend Lizzie told me about Heartfelt and Homely , where Sarah takes you through the basics to build your confidence, I couldn't wait to book a place.

My first session today took us through using the sewing machine and making a very simple pincushion and also the prep work for a tote bag that we will finish next week.

One of the reasons I'm excited about it is because some time ago I bought lots of fabric from the Stampin' Up! UK clearance rack and I will now be able to put it to good use.

You can see more of Heartfelt and Homely at many fairs throughout the year and not least at this years Lincoln Christmas Market in December.

Back with more paper craft next time.

Zx

Curvy Keepsake box Robin!

Have you seen some of the wonderful creations that have been made with the Stampin' Up! Curvy Keepsake Box framelits?  They are so cute and range from prettily decorated table favour boxes to characters and creatures.

Today I've made this cute Robin which is so synonymous with our UK Christmas festivities.  I love to see them in my garden and this one is no exception.  If you like stamping robins, you might remember I carved my own robin stamp also using the Stampin' Up! Undefined Stamp Carving Kit and you can see cards I made in my Christmas Card Club post or my Happy Birthday Dad post showing how I used the stamp for Christmas and a birthday card.

If you'd like to see a tutorial of how you can get your base box to be different colours using the Stampin' Up! Curvy Keepsake Box please visit my friend Mikaela's blog for her fab, easy to follow tutorial.

Have fun!
Zx

Stampin' Up! UK Bordering Blooms

Stampin' Up! UK Bordering Blooms Card 

Unusual or on trend embellishments for crafting are often expensive and if you are anything like me once you've bought them you worry about using them incase you spoil them or stick them in the wrong place or if you send to someone you just know won't appreciate the extra mile you've gone to to make a special card.  Having said all of that these new Autumn Wooden Elements from Stampin' Up! are  just delish and are not at all expensive! There are 6 designs in a pot and you get 6 of each. They are just the right embellishment for male or female cards. Here you just need to stamp your chosen border from Bordering Blooms onto your new kraft card stock in craft whisper white ink and use your Blendabilities to colour the flowers along with a white gel pen.  Add some matting layers and decorate one with the Hearts border punch and finish with a white stamped sentiment and an oak leave from the very, very lovely Autumn Wooden Elements.  Remember they are only expensive if they never get used, so if you are struggling with the use of embellishments buy 2 yes 2 and you'll have one to use and one to stroke and admire!!!

Get out there and use these they are yummy!

Zx

Unique Blog Hop

I was honoured to be nominated by my lovely customer Jane to take part in the Unique Blog Hop.   If you've arrived here from Jane's blog welcome and if not you are still very welcome, but I encourage you to visit Jane's blog and to visit her other link on the Unique Blog Hop.  Jane's work is beautiful so do click backwards on the blog hop to check out her work too!

Part of the unique blog hop is to answer questions when it reaches you and they are
1. What am I working on?
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
3. Why do I write/create what I do?
4. How does your writing/creative process work?

Well the first question is easy.  I've been working on using all my goodies from the relatively new Stampin' Up! UK Annual Catalogue and the very new Stampin' Up! UK Autumn/Winter catalogue.  Here is a stepper card that we made at my monthly card club class using the Flower Patch stamp set and matching Flower Fair frame lits.

I've also been busy with dare I say Christmas cards, but then as crafters we always try to be ready early!!!!  I did say try!

This is using a paper piecing technique. You stamp the main image onto your card base and then stamp it again onto firstly very vanilla card stock and then onto brushed gold card stock. Cut out pieces that you can then match onto the whole image on your card base.  It creates different dimensions and depth to the image.  It also doesn't require more than one ink pad!   You can also colour in the odd element on the trees to 'lift' the image further.   I've also made several with the gorgeous stamp set Festival of Trees. There's a simple example here and you can see a more detailed version on my post Stampin' Up! UK Winter Wonderland Christmas card club with Festival of Trees.

Clean and Simple Festival of Trees and Chalk Lines 

I'm also learning how to use my new computer so that I can use the Stampin' Up! digital package - My Digital Studio - to create scrap book pages of some of my favourite pictures and memories of great days out. Here's my family at Blenheim Palace this summer. Sadly my dad is missing as he didn't feel well that day and so didn't join us.

Finally I'm working on encouraging others to tell their stories via memory books with all the wonderful Project Life products now included in the Stampin' Up! range or by building their own story in a locket from my new direct sales role as a South Hill Designs Artist.  It's easy to do either shopping online www.southhilldesigns.com/zoetant for yourself or by sharing the fun of building yours and your friends stories at a party! The choice is yours, but if you'd like more information about Stampin' Up! or South Hill Designs please do email me at zoetant@live.co.uk 

The remaining questions or should I say answers.  My work differs from others as I don't think I have a particular style, although like Jayne, I'm erring more on the side of less is more or  clean and simple rules!  There is a myriad of products around and the beauty for me of being an Independent Stampin' Up! UK demonstrator is that I can resist other products in favour of Stampin' Up! which saves me time and money. I know what I have available to me to buy and don't crave others even though they are tempting sometimes!  Stampin' Up! allows me to be simplistic in my design, but also if I'm feeling a little more inclined to be flamboyant I have the products available to me for both styles.  Arguably the first card I've shared today isn't simple and is busy with flowers, but the nativity scene is very simple and of course perfect for posting purposes!

I create and do what I do because I love seeing others creativity evolve. Many say 'I'm not crafty or creative' but with simple tuition and encouragement anyone can create cards and with social media like Pinterest the inspiration is there all the time. However I often find my inspiration from fabric patterns, colours of nature and the world around me in general.  

All of this has brought me some fabulous friendships, self confidence to deliver classes and presentations including some to large rooms full of people, a little extra income and job satisfaction.  This is why I do what I do and I love to share it with others.  

The same can be said of story building in lockets.  

This lovely lady was given her locket from her fiancé in honour of their first anniversary of dating. He added hers and his christian name initial and the first letter of their joint surname to be along with a coin saying 'love'. He ordered it via his sister in law as a surprise.  He won so many brownie points! 

My creative process works because I enjoy what I do and I love sharing what I enjoy with others so that they can enjoy it too! Simples!!!

All I have to do now is introduce you to my 2 nominees.  They will be joining the Unique Blog Hop on Monday 29th September. 

Please visit Dawn who is a member of my Stampin' Up! UK team. She's a talented crafter and busy Mum,  who runs classes and parties and likes to help others enjoy craft.  

Also Victoria is a mum of two young cheeky boys. She is multitalented when it comes to crafting as she is a keen scrapbooker, card maker and more recently a successful sewing bee making the most gorgeous hand sewn animals and cushions.  

Enjoy your journey along the Unique Blog Hop.

Zx

Christmas Card Club Winter Wonderland

Stampin' Up! UK Festival of Trees

At last I'm back with Christmas Card Club and hope to keep on top of the challenges.  This time the theme from Christine is Winter Wonderland. I thought these lovely trees on whisper white were just right and the back ground paper (Trim the Tree Paper Stack) is very scandanavian in its design and so lends itself well to the thought of winter and a wonderland of snow!  I love these trees from Stampin' Up! UK's winter catalogue stamp set Festival of Trees.  They have a coordinating punch so it makes it easy to stamp them and punch them with no fuss.  It's also a two-step stamp set and in photopolymer so you can see straight through it and then add the red trimming again with no fuss which has to be a bonus when you are making Christmas cards.  Some rhinestones for the sparkle of the snow and a simple but well meant sentiment for the finishing touches.  This is also a great way to use up those odd strips of patterned paper as of course it doesn't need to go right across your card, but just from the sides once the white layer is added you'd never know.

Do pop back tomorrow as I've been nominated by my lovely friend and customer Jayne, to take part in the unique blog hop! Come back to find out more about it!

Also don't forget to visit all the other lovely ladies in The Christmas Card Club for inspiration.

Zx

Stampin' Up! UK Traveler

This was a card I made back in June for my wonderful Dad!  He's a bit vintage and so loves these vintage images from the Stampin' Up! UK set Traveler.  It's great in the monotone scheme and each image really 'pops' with all its detail.  The chevron embossing folder a good accompaniment  to this set and adds texture.  The smaller partial images are punched out with the  1" square punch and then layered onto Postage Stamp punch backgrounds.

This is an excellent stamp set for the men in your life!!!

Back with more soon.
Zx

Stampin' Up! UK Wedding Ideas

 It's been rather too long since I blogged, but I've been suffering with my health for a long time and like most Mums I've soldiered on and put it down to motherhood, but recently discovered it was a little more than that and so slowly I'm on the mend. Nothing serious, but it's left me unable to keep up with life.  

That said Martin and I recently went to a friend's wedding. I knew the colour scheme as I was involved with the design and supply of materials.  I made her and her new hubby a card to match and wrapped the Project Life Album I made for them in similar colours, but used Stampin' Up! 's new Festive Designer Kraft paper rolls to wrap it in.  The flowers are made using the Spiral Flower Originals die on page 233 of the annual catalogue and the leaves are the retired Little Leaves sizzlit. 

Colours on the day were basic grey, smoky slate, blushing bride (how appropriate!!) and whisper white.  My card also features Teeny Tiny Sentiments and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets along with a stencil made using the Hexagon Hive frame lit and Beautiful Wings embosslit for the butterflies.  

Please bare with me as I get more organised and back in control but do keep popping by to see my posts.  Thanks for your patience. 

Hugs Zx