Boutique Blossom - Single Stamp from Stampin' Up!

You might have noticed in my sidebar the information about Single Stamps.  This gorgeous flower stamp is one of that very group. It's called Boutique Blossom and is available as a clear mount stamp until 31 August.  It's a mainly solid stamp and so it's great for trying out the rock and roll technique. 

ROCK AND ROLL TECHNIQUE

• Choose two co-ordinating colours.
• Ink your stamp in the lighter of two colours.
• Roll the edges of the stamp on the darker of your two chosen colours.
• Stamp your image to obtain a two-tone image. 

I used Elegant Eggplant and the soon to arrive C...... C..... for this example and I also added some Elegant Eggplant spots to the centre of the flower with a marker pen.  You'll also notice the embossing folder is new!  But you'll find out more about that in due course!  The border is stamped with the border stamp from Summer Silhouettes and punched with the scallop trim border punch.  A pleated doily, faceted button and whisper white bakers twine along with a spot of dazzling details (no matter how many times I took a picture of this card I just couldn't get the glitter detail or stop the whisper white glare so just believe me....!) add the embellishments and a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments with my new word window punch. Why new? Well those of you who know my craftroom now that it is a work in progress site 24/7 and so the old one........well it will live again one day I'm sure!!!

 Zx

Christmas Card Club

OMG another fortnight and this time for Christmas Card Club I'm only 2 days late so getting better.  This challenge was set by Margaret who visited me at the Sincerely Yours Show in Lincoln which was super to put a face to a name.  She set us the task of using a snowman or snowmen.  Currently I don't have a snoman stamp so I made my own with Stampin' Up! punches and used the accessories from a retired set I had from the early days of Stampin' Up! Europe called Cold Play. 

 

It's also the first time I've used my coordinations cardstock which is textured to begin with but run it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder, use the Stampin' Up! Sanding System and you can create even more texture depending upon the embossing folder used and how much sanding you do!

 

My favourite product at the moment is the glimmer paper and I'm particularly partial to silver, but persuaded myself to use the red here for that bit of Christmas Sparkle. 

 

There are lots of surprises coming your way with Saleabration, our annual big bang promotion in the new year, but as a qualifying hostess you'll receive some silver glimmer paper as a gift in your package  if you host between Jan 22 and Mar 22 2013.  You can email me for dates to book yours.

 

Now we have a new member of our Christmas Card Club and that's Karen. Please do visit her and make her welcome to the club.  You can also think about joining us. There's no pressure to do every challenge, it's just for fun, friendship and the opportunity to get ahead with Christmas each year.  Let me know if you'd like to join in.

 

QUICK TIP TIME

• Use a sharpie pen in whatever colour you want to colour pearls and rhinestones. I used black to make his eyes and buttons.   

Bye for now. Zx

Stampin' Up! Window Sheet Flowers

Here's a really simple technique that I'm sure you'll love.  You can make flowers with Stampin' Up! window sheets, Staz On ink, a flower punch like the Blossom Punch (125603 £15.50) in the Stampin' Up! UK Summer Mini and your heat gun.

1. Stamp a background image in Staz On ink onto your window sheet. A piece big enough for your chosen punch.
2. Punch out your flower.
3. Use a paper piercer to put a hole in the centre of the flower and keep the flower on the paper piercer.
4. Gently heat the flower edges until they start to curl.  Keeping it on your paper piercer makes it easier to hold onto while you heat it.
5. Add your chosen decoration to the centre of the flower with a brad and then use your flower on your chosen project.

I've added my flower to a card base that I've texturised using my crimper and a couple of coordinating matting layers.  You can try different textures if you have a big shot like the one below along with punches like the scallop trim border punch (118402 £14.25 from Stampin' Up!)

Let me know how you like this technique which is simple and effective.  Don't forget to check out the blossom punch in the summer mini by clicking on the catalogue link in my sidebar.

Have a great weekend!

Zx

Supplies

cardstock - whisper white, basic black

ink - black Staz On, basic black

stamps - Thank you kindly, dot dot dot

tools - blossom punch, scallop trim border punch, big shot, perfect polka dots embossing folder, paper piercer, heat gun, 1/2" circle punch, crimper

accessories - window sheets, scallop dots ribbon, brads

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

Thinking of you

stampin up demonstrator zoe tant

Once again the sun has come to Lincolnshire and I hope it's with you too!  I've been working in my craft room to make a card for Terry, Pamela's husband.  I made this card using a selection of punches and an embossing folder from my stash.  I wanted quiet elegance and to pass on the message that we are here for him.  Inside I've used a retired US stamp set where the sentiment reads

The best thing

about the future is

that it comes only

one day at a time.

Abraham Lincoln

I'm sure right now he feels there is no future, but his friends and family will be there for him to try and bring him through his grief.
Supplies
13/4" circle punch
Curly label punch
scallop trim border punch
13/8" xl square punch
Ornate Flowers Stamp Set
Vintage Vogue Stamp Set
Colours crumb cake, chocolate chip, whisper white, real red , old olive
spritzer tool
daubers
Back soon.
Hugs Zx

Pssssst Sale-a-bration is nearly over...........don't miss out!

stampin up demonstrator zoe tant

Here's a card that I cased and added a few bits from the Stampin' Up ! sale-a-bration leaflet.  It includes two of the sets that you can receive as a thank you gift from Stampin ' Up ! with a qualifying order. There's Sweet Summer for the images and So Happy for You for the sentiment. Just look also at the gorgeous designer series paper from our paper stacks that are such great value at 40 double sided high quality sheets for £15.50.  I've fallen in love with daffodil delight too and so I've added some of the lurrrrrrvly taffeta ribbon and the inevitable pearls and rhinestones.  By using my marker pens I've been able to 'split' the words in the sentiment and alternate the colour of the letters.

SALE-A-BRATION ends a week today so if you still wish to gain free gifts and free shipping from me with a qualifying order please contact me now at martin.tant@homecall.co.uk

Having spent the day school shoe shopping and avoiding buying more lego for Charlie I'm now chillin' and hope you are too! Goodnight and back soon.

Hugs Zx

Spring's on its way........hopefully!!!

stampin up demonstrator  uk zoe tant

 Happy Sunday I hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend.  We'd not long finished brunch and an interesting discussion with my son Charlie started.  He began by asking why Mummy and Daddy didn't look like each other but he and his sister did.  We explained that he and Olivia had been made by us, but that we had different parents and therefore different looks.  He then exclaimed  "Gangan and Nanny were very pretty when they were ladies!"  So I foolishly asked "What are they now then if they are not ladies?"  His quick response was "Grandmas!!!"  Best not pass this info on to the grandmas I guess.

Now there's a new challenge on at Less is More this week with the usual theme of clean and simple, but with a theme, and it's Spring! I've done some simple punch art with the Two Step XL Bird punch.  I'll let you work out which bit comes from where in the punch.  I cased the idea from Brenda a lovely us demo and I think it's fun and adds another use to this already versatile punch.  I've also used the Scallop Trim Border punch which is a favourite of mine and along with daffodil delight, pear pizzazz and peach parfait as my colour combo it is definitely advertising spring.  Although Easter is late this year I can't believe it's already half-term and my children have my schedule planned for the week ahead.  I have set aside Tuesday morning though for one of my technique clubs so a little bit of crafting is coming my way. Hope you have a fun half-term.
Finally I'd like to thank everyone for the lovely comments and good wishes that you've sent for my win on Shelli's Creative Challenge. There's a new challenge this month so why not check it out and have a go yourself.  You just need to make a project using Sale-a-bration free gifts.  There's still time, until 28 February to place an order and receive your own free gift with qualifying orders. Check out the details by clicking on the SAB brochure in the right hand side bar. 
Back with more soon.
Hugs Zx