Stampin Up Swirls and Pearls for Christmas Club Challenge

It's been a while since I posted as it took some time to come to terms with the loss of our lovely dog Meg.  I am so grateful to you all for the kind thoughtful comments, cards, emails and calls received during our time of sadness. 

Life has got easier in many ways, but last week I developed a neck problem which after several days of trying different painkillers resulted in my attendance at 4am Sunday morning at the out of hours doctors which was a 50 mile round trip to receive even stronger painkillers.  I am now able to sleep, hold a conversation and today have had a visit from my friend Julie who kindly waxes my legs, but is commonly known as the 'fuff' lady in our house thanks to sweet Charlie after he saw her do the wax once!!!! I have to say I don't recommend pain killers, but it was the most pain free de-fuzz I think I have ever experienced!

I am also now able to do a bit at the computer so can share with you my Christmas Card Club post which I had been organised with before I made the card.  Please do visit the other club members who I'm sure will have some gorgeous cards to share with you.  Posting will be limited as I've been told not to compute too much so this is it for now.  Enjoy. Zx

It's Hazel's turn to set the Christmas Card Challenge and she's given us a theme to follow of Swirls and Pearls.  Here's my entry using Stampin' Up! 's Baroque Motives swirly stamp, bauble type drops from the Stampin Up Spring Mini set My Friend which I've added pearls to and what better way to add a sentiment for this theme than Curly Cute!

The gorgeous specialty Christmas papers Holly Berry Bouquet are just perfect for adding a fun backdrop and matting layers to my my swirls and pearls and mixed with garden green and real red cardstock it gives a great effect.

Finally I've added a luxurious bow made from the velvet vanilla ribbon also from the Spring Mini, a red and green button and one final pearl. 

Incidentally if you like the My friend stamp set then don't forget that the Stampin' Up! Spring Mini ends on 30 April and items in it will no longer be available until October at the earliest if at all.  Also remember that you could choose this or any other stamp set as a bonus to your Starter Kit if you join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator by 30 March 2012.  If you'd like to know more please visit my page Stampin' Up! Demonstrator - you can do it too or contact me asap for more information.

Stampin' Up! Distressing Kit

I have a workshop tomorrow and the lovely hostess Marj has invited some artist friends who aren't normally 'carders' as she put it. She asked if I would do something with inks, distressing or markers and so I've been playing and experimenting.  I've wanted to have a go at making one of these suitcases for a while and finally got around to having a go.  I've seen pictures, but decided to have a go at my own size and so I made the dimensions to fit our note cards that come in sets of 20 with envelopes.  I've only used four to put in the suitcase but you could put more with less embellishments on the cards themselves.

I've also finally got up the courage to have a go with our distressing kit.  Vintage style is very in vogue at the moment and the distressing kit is perfect for adding a vintage feel to your crafting.  See one go and I think I'm an expert - not, but it was much easier to use than I thought, so if you'd like to know more about the things you can do with this kit then check out my classes listed here for the distress kit class that won't distress you but relax you at a fun enjoyable session.

Here you can see the note cards and envelopes fit in perfectly and I made it just like an old fashioned case wtih ties to hold them in place.  I've decided to enter this as my 'something new' for Shelli's Creative Challenge for July.

More soon. Keep smiling and make this a great week!

Hugs Zx

supplies

Cardstock - baja breeze, soft suede textured, subtles dsp stack

inks - baja breeze, crumb cake, distress kit inks

accessories - 13/4" circle punch, cropadile, 1/16th" circle punch, five petal flower punch, rhinestones, pearls, rhinestone brads, itty bitty punches, 1" circle punch, baja breeze seam binding

Stamp Sets - Baroque Motifs

Stamping Halloween

Following the excitement of the new catalogue launch, I decided it was time to get a few projects ready for the display that Emma, Ann and myself will have on our stand at the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show on Sunday at the Hinckley Leisure Centre. With Halloween fast approaching this is one of the simple projects I've put together. I've also entered it in the Stamp Something Challenge which needs punchy projects this week. It folds flat to fit in an envelope or storage unit and pops up.......................

to reveal this array of Halloween haunters!!!! The skeleton is very cute from a retired US stamp set Scary Skeleton and the bats, moon and pumpkins are all made with punch art.

Happy Halloween is from occasional greetings with boo! from tiny tags and the embossed design on the rich razzleberry box is from Baroque Motifs. To distress and spook up the pumpkin striped grosgrain ribbon I gently frayed and pulled apart the fibres and then just singed them with a lit match. Be careful here of course!!!

Finally can you find the wing of the bird punch in my design? The idea came from my clever team mate Emma.

So if you're at loose end on Sunday come and see us at the Sincerely Yours Show in Hinckley.

I'm off to play now with my new stash from the new 2010 - 2011 catalogue which arrived yesterday. Don't forget that you too can order now and enjoy all the new lovely goodies.

Hugs Zx