Today I'm an aunty!!

This morning at 4am my sister-in-law gave birth to a beautiful little girl.  As yet she is unamed as her parents want to call her Gemma, but her two big brothers aged 3 and 6 had decided by the time their new sister arrived home this morning at 10am that she should be called Charlotte.  The jury is still out......!

Naturally I've made them a card to celebrate the arrival of 'Gemmalotte'  and couldn't do it without my trusty stamps. 

Pink pirouette and the soon to return pear pizzazz are my colours of choice with whisper white.  I've used the flower fusion sizzlits and one of the itty bitty shapes punch pack to make the flowers and of course the leaves are from the bird punch.  I used my simply scored scoring tool to break up the 'pink' base card by scoring a grid on it on the metric plate.  A dotty embossed apothecary accent framelit made a perfect matting layer and my congratulations sentiment is from the soon to retire Curly Cute stamp set.  Finally another little accent for a sweet new baby is from That's the Ticket and punched out with the  matching punch.  I've used a flower brad which sadly retired last year, but you know what we crafters are like we can't let go of our stash!!

 

As we celebrate the safe arrival of my neice I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.  Zx

Dress Up for a party!

Stampin' Up! Dress Up Framelits

Olivia recently went to a party and I couldn't resist using the Stampin' Up! Dress Up framelits to make a card for her friend Megan.  What girl wouldn't want a silver glimmer party dress!  Match it with the honeycomb embossing folder and some floral district paper and you're ready for a special night!  Cards are just so simple with this set and you can make a dress any colour and be a fashion designer in your own right. 

Last weekend as you may have read in my previous Stampin' Up! training post was full of fun with over 300 other demonstrators.  I was delighted to spend the day with several members of my Tantalizing Stampers, and it was even better when Debbie and Linda won free product  in the famous prize patrol.  Their registration numbers came up on screen and so they both won a bag full of everything silver as Stampin' Up! is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year.  Enjoy the sparkle ladies.

Tantalizing Stampers at Stampin' Up! training event

 

Will be back soon with news of an exciting trip I'm taking. Until then happy crafting!

Zx

Christmas Card Club - Vintage theme

On time today, what I shock, I know.  Lizzie has set this challenge and the theme is Vintage.  I've used a retired set for the carol singers and a set that is in pending at the moment and I'm hoping comes back in our new catalogue;  Watercolour Winter.  My sentiment is from Curly Cute.

 

To give the 'vintage' look I've used neutrals with a splash of cherry cobbler ribbon and using my blender pen and ink in the lid of the pad I've just highlighted the holly berries.  Using daubers you can age your cardstock by gently building up colour 'smudging' around the edges.

 

I'll be back soon to share with you my weekend in The Netherlands with Olivia and my dutch downlines. 

 

Happy day

Zx

I {heart} hearts a wonderful asset to have from Stampin' Up!

I {heart} hearts from Stampin' Up!

At 0800 this morning there wasn't a cloud in the sky above our little part of Lincolnshire, but now it's blue skies and clouds. I'm hoping it stays like this at the very least as the son of friends is getting married today to the daughter of another friend.  We're off the the evening reception this evening and it's making me feel very old when friends' children are getting married so I need the sun to stay to make me forget that fact and of course for the happy couple and everyone else involved.

You can see I've made them a cheerful card with a beautiful stamp set which I suspect may disappear on our retired list in September and yet it is so perfect for wedding, anniversary and Valentine's cards.  Mixed with some punched hearts and some embossed as well it's a great asset to your craft room.  Another fabulous asset is the Curly Cute sentiment set which is great on fun modern cards, but also works well on vintage.

So here's to Jennie and Jon wishing them a lifetime of happiness together!
Zx

Stampin' Up! Paper Daisies

The sunshine has sporadically visited parts of Lincolnshire this past week and reminded me that we do have to Keep Calm and Get on with it!  I've brought the garden inside by making a card using Stampin' Up! paper daisies, which if you blink you can miss in our catalogue.  On arrival they are daisies made from cotton paper, in 4 sizes (10 of each) plain whisper white that can be adhered with tombow or glue dots.  However colour them with Stampin' Up! marker pens or dye them with water and some drops of reninker and they take on a whole new look. 

Stampin' Up! Paper Daisies, Curly Cute and Creative Elements

Dyed with calypso coral, spritzed with calypso coral marker pen and set upon a Creative Elements swirl embossed using versamark, heat gun and wild wasabi embossing powder, they are really pretty and most definitely bring your garden into your home!   They will also submit to and survive being slid into an envelope only to revive on receipt by your recipient.

Everyday Enchantment Promotion from Stampin' Up!

They also look great if you just stamp on them and team them with a free accessory.

Remember that during July every £45 order (excl. P&P) receives a free set of 30 designer brads and two rolls or delicate organza ribbon.  See more details about this Stampin' Up! promotion.

This card has been partially embossed with the stripes Stampin' Up! exclusive embossing folder and stamped with the Artistic Etchings stamp set and Curly Cute for the sentiment. 

I hope the sun finds you too and brightens your day.  May it also shine on Andy Murray for his big match this afternoon. 
Enjoy your weekend!

Zx

Christmas Card Club

Tree Trimmings with Stampin' Up! Labels Framelits

It's time to share another Christmas Card Club Challenge with you. This time it's my challenge and I've set everyone the task of  'using and aperture'.  The reason for this is I wanted to make one of these box cards and use one of the Stampin' Up! new framelits labels collection dies.  These beautiful dies can be used with your big shot or similar die cutting machine.  There are 6 dies with the largest being 13.3 cm wide.  They come in a sturdy envelope for easy and safe storage.  You can layer them or use two to cut frames like the silver one on my lower sentiment.  I've used one also for my aperture. 

Tree trimings has been one of my favourite christmas stamp sets, not only because it's a really good price at £12.95 for 4 stamps, but also because it's really pretty and is easy to use for quick as well as elaborate cards.  I've made spinner ornaments by stamping two and sticking them back to back on some elastic cord.  The background image is from Creative Elements  which I've stamped in night of navy or versamark on the shimmery white or night of navy cardstock.  I wanted to emboss my sentiments so I inked my stamps first in versamark then the navy ink before stamping and then added clear embossing powder before heating.  I love rhinestones and you need a bit of sparkle for Christmas. 

You may be thinking how's she going to post that box card, well it just folds flat and goes in a normal envelope, but looks impressive when opened by the recipient. 

Don't forget to check out the other ladies' blogs in the Christmas Card Club for more inspiration.  You can find them listed in my sidebar, including Hazel's blog and she has a Christmas card challenge each week, which conveniently suits my card also.  She wants to see you use blue, so check out the challenge and have a go!

Happy stampin'

Zx

Challenges
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challage - a touch of blue

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2012 and to thank you all for your support over the past year.  I'm lucky to have such a lovely group of ladies in my team and also so many wonderful customers.  I look forward to sharing, creating and inspiring you all next year and to also learning much from all of you.

Have fun this Christmas.

Hugs Zx

Chic Chick!

So how are you all this Wednesday evening.......? I've been busy with half-term doing slow mornings, trips out, and some crafting while the children entertained themselves baking halloween gingerbread.  I'm now ahead of myself as far as convention goes.  I have my swaps made and am feeling rather smug about it. 

I have a card to share with you that I made for Olivia's friend's birthday.  It's perfect for the rising teens, but does have one cheat on it in that the shoe shape was cut using a die from my stash.  However the gorgeous fresh and bright designer papers are one of the new hostess only purchases.  The pack is called Cheerful Treats and is just lovely.  Sadly the modern label punch I've used for the handbag retired in September, but you can create the same effect with some of our other punches.  Itty bitty buttons are perfect for accessorising dresses like this and with the coordinating punches you can turn them into whatever colour you want them to be.  The punched shapes also work well as a clasp on the handbag.

It was a great party I understand, but I can't believe how awful I now find the loud music and steamy atmosphere at drop off and pick up time.  I also know that unlike the teenagers at the party, I cannot wear, well I could wear but wouldn't be able to move, shoes with killer heels such as these.  I guess middle age is catching up with me!!!! Best go out and party to make the feeling go!

Have a great evening.
Zx

Happy Birthday with Big Bold Birthday

I can't let this post past without saying that I'm thinking about dear friends in Washington DC today.  Having spoken with them on Friday, they explained that the tension in the US and their great city is quite understandably at an all time high.  They lost a good friend who just happened to be at a meeting in the Pentagon.  My thoughts are with them, their friends and everyone else who suffered loss on that tragic day. 

Thinking of you.....................

 Now my card today is for a friend who celebrates her birthday tomorrow.  I know she will be too busy today to check in here so it's safe to share.  She likes cupcakes and so I've used the retiring set from Stampin' Up! Big Bold Birthday.  I've had this set since the beginning of my demonstratorship and it seems really odd to finally see it go into retirement.  Bye bye BIG BOLD BIRTHDAY.  The sentiment is from Curly Cute a popular greetings set and is coloured using the matching markers.

Now the colours are melon mambo, pumpkin pie, rose red seam binding ribbon and a touch of tangerine tango.  You might spot some other items that interest you, but you'll have to contact me to find out about them or be patient for a while.............!

Be safe this anniversary day!

Zx

Stampin Around Wheel Spot On

Happy Saturday and oh my yet another week of the hols has flown by and having only got in with last week's Less is More challenge on Thursday this one seems to have come around awful quick!  However it's a one layer challenge and you have to use 'ink'.  I've done a spotlight technique which means that the ink comes in with my ink pads to stamp images, in my Stampin' Up! Stampin' Around Wheel cartridge which is bashful blue and also the marina mist which I brayered over the top once I'd wheeled, stamped and spotlit some areas by masking them with punched circles.  Not only is it for Less is More, but also for the St Luke's Charity Card Challenge which asks for seaside/summer images and I fondly remember rock pooling as a child and collecting star fish and shells and the odd tiddler! Never had much luck with an octopus mind!

The second card is the same technique, but different colours and stamps.  This one is especially for Chrissie and her love of music and she'll note that I've been less rushed and got it right this time! She'll know what I mean.

The colours here are old olive, always artichoke and so saffron.  The stampin' around wheel is Music Notes and the sentiment is from a retired US set.  I've also used Flight of the Butterfly and the Heart to Heart XL punch.

You'll be glad to know that we survived the teeny meany boys and remarkably they stayed talking and sleeping (yes they did fit in a bit of shut eye) in the tent all night even with the rain!!!!  Of course the real pain kicks in later when the tiredness really catches up with my darling boy!!!

Have fun this weekend.

Hugs Zx

Supplies

Cardstock - Stampin' Up! Glossy white

Inks - pear pizzazz, pacific point, poppy parade, daffodil delight, bashful blue, marina mist, always artichoke, old olive, so saffron, night of navy

Stampin Up Wheels - Music Notes, Spot on

Stamp Sets Summer Splash, Curly Cute

Punches - circles various, heart to heart

technorati , stampin up, demonstrator uk, how to, spotlight technique, card making, supplies, SU, buy , scrapbooking,



Colour Q Challenge

I decided to have a go at a new challenge. It's Colour Q Challenge and the clue is in the name.  You follow a colour scheme set by the challenge team.  I find this quite a difficult one as sometimes you get an idea in your head and then it's not easy to fit the colours into it and so you may have to rethink the whole thing.  However I've done it and here's my entry and I've enjoyed the mental stimulation to come up with an idea.

Now I don't have anymore brilliant blue cardstock so I've substituted it for pacific point to go along with the bashful blue, poppy parade, tempting turquoise and whisper white. My big shot was used to get the polka dot background behind my beach huts and the scallop border punch adds some waves!  I used my white gel pen to add some stripes and the sentiment is from Curly Cute, a great sentiment set.  Living not to far from some historical victorian seaside resorts I couldn't resist the beach hut theme.

Thanks for checking in and all the lovely comments you leave on my blog.

Have a great week.

Hugs Zx

Congratulations with Stampin ' Up ! Curly Cute

 zoe tant independent stampin up demonstrator

 Hi everyone, how's you today?  I'm fine and enjoying chilling after a fabulous holiday which I will share with you very soon when I have put some srapbook pages together.  Today it's taken me a while to get in the mood for crafting as I've not done any for a while and so I'm slow off the mark with this weeks Less is More challenge.  Chrissie and Mandi are challenging you to make a clean and simple card with the theme of either 'thank you' or 'congratulations'.  For the moment I've managed 'congratulations' what with so much love in the air at the mo I've taken on a wedding/anniversary theme with my congrats. 

I've finally been brave enough to open my lovely pack of Springtime Vintage Designer Series Papers and use a small scallop trimmed piece to set off my theme.  For the hearts I first used sponge daubers to add colour (pear pizzazz and baja breeze) to some very vanilla cardstock.  I then used the spritzer tool with the same colour marker pen to add a little bit of texture.  The baja breeze seam binding ribbon is just perfect for twisting and then gathering by fraying the ends slightly before pulling on a single thread in the middle to gather it.  I've tucked the ends away after tying my knot.  Basic pearls highlight my Curly Cute sentiment.  For my pear pizzazz matting layer I also used the cutting tool kit to distress the edges.  I've also finally had the sense to invest in some textured cardstock and my very vanilla base is exactly that.  You can click on either picture for a larger view.  I hope to get around to try the thank you out later in the week.

Back soon with some holiday pics and stories.

Ciao Bella

Zx

Blissful silk

stampin up demonstrator zoe tant uk

Oh the SALE-A-BRATION period is almost over and you've got just over 2 days to get your hands on the gorgeous free stamp sets on offer with qualifying spends from Stampin' Up!

I've put another, yes another, I'm not sorry for showing Bliss off again because it's gorgeous.  This is a simple faux silk card that I demonstrated at a recent workshop to my lovely ladies in Birchwood Lincoln.  The colours have been really popular with pear pizzazz and daffodil delight encouraging spring to arrive.  The sentiment is from Curly Cute which is a super set for congrats, birthdays or simply thinking about others.  A couple of our amazing punches here too with the scallop trim border and the modern label. 

IF you'd like to know how to create this effect then you can join one of my techniques clubs or join one of my classes that will be starting very soon. If you are interested in coming to a monthly class let me know and I can give you the details of your nearest location as I will be running classes in several venues very soon.

Enjoy the weekend.

Hugs Zx



Curly Cute Sentiments

Wow how cold are you?  Here in Lincolnshire it's well below zero and the odd bit of sunshine is failing to melt the ice and frost!  In fact in our old victorian house we have ice on the inside of the windows!!! At least the curtains are doing their job during the night and stopping the warmth from our stoves going out of the windows.  I hope everyone is safe and well in this cold. 

To take your mind off the cold why not do a little crafting. It's a fab pastime for losing your troubles of feeling cold.  I've done exactly that and started on some Christmas cards. Here's a simple but elegant design.  Score your base card at half centimetre intervals on the reverse to get the texture that you can see here.  The brights designer series paper stack is fab for backing papers and not only that it is excellent value with each sheet costing less than 40p per 12x12" sheet.  Curly Cute stamp set is great for sentiments with

Thank you

Congratulations

Happy Birthday

Thinking of you

and

Season's Greetings  that I've used here.  A very usable, all year stamp set.

Contempo Christmas set provides the ornament and of course, the punch makes this an easy option.  You can also cut it out especially as the punch is temporarily unavailable.  Rhinestones and taffeta ribbon just add to the glitz and a little more texturing provided by the spiral punch and paper piercer. 

Look out very soon for my 'GIFTS TO GO!' packages that I will be offering with free gift wrapping and bonus items with each package including one with the paper piercer.

Keep warm and be safe

Hugs Zx

zoë tant independent stampin' up! demonstrator

Little fish, don't you wish.......

independent stampin' up! demonstrator uk

Little fish, don't you wish every kiss didn't swish!!! A silly rhyme I remember from my childhood. Yes I can just about remember that far back.  I wanted to share this card with you as it proves that the ornament punch, like a new puppy, is not just for Christmas.  Lovely Jules showed a version of this card at convention and I'd also seen various other versions a while back, but finally got around to having a go myself.  The body of the fish is made from the ornament punch with the fins and tail coming from the 5 petal flower punch and the twig from the bird punch works well as seaweed.  Kinda cute really and also reminds me of the time I asked my biology teacher as a naive first year in secondary school how you could tell if your goldfish was male or female.  He replied " Well you get up close to it and look for the twinkle in its eye and if you find it, it's a boy!"  I was a blushing girl, but now a yummy mummy who has to deal with that boy of mine and his questions.  Today's special  " Mummy am I cloned?" 
I'll leave you with that.
Hugs Zx