SAB playtime challenge! (Part 1 of 2)

Victoria couldn't join us last night, bad back, much sympathy - I myself had a 2 hour massage yesterday to ease mine and it helps enormously with the Fibro pain.  In fact, if you are local to Chesterfield, I can't recommend Ali at Vivienne's highly enough!

Back to last night then,  Dorothy came and I'd already set the table for our 'challenge'!

Along with the Chocolate & Caramel cookies (Tesco Bakery - delicious!)…  I'd laid out...

• SAB Good as Gold Simply Sent (TM) kit
• SAB Decorative Dots TIEF (forgot I'd got this! - so only 5 more SAB items to get!!)
• SAB Petal Parade Stamp Set
• SAB Banner Punch 
• Cardstock in the co-ordinating colours of…     Tangerine Tango, Bermuda Bay, Sahara Sand, Pistachio Pudding, Basic Black and Whisper White.

• Classic Stampin' Ink Pads in…    Tangerine Tango, Bermuda Bay & Pistachio Pudding
• 1-3/8" Circle Punch (because - a circle will always come in handy!)

AND as a treat, we also played with the 

• NEW Scallop Tag Topper Punch! (133324)

Dorothy split the Good as Gold pack between the 2 of us, in the SAB brochure it claims to make 8 cards… but being the frugal miss that I sometimes am - I wanted to 'stretch' it… 
So by adding the bits mentioned above, we set ourselves a time limit of 2 hours to come up with something/anything, just as 'Many' projects as we could make!  With the usual tools to hand, trimmer, adhesives, Envelope Punch Board,  Simply Scored Scoring Tool etc  - we started the clock!

(Can I just say, I'd never known Dorothy so quiet!! - Bless, I really made her think 'outside the box' (hate that expression - but it sums up the challenge requirements perfectly!)

The Results Were….

D made 6 items in total! 

Starting from top left…

Spotty Thank You Card - she used a full card blank from the kit as her base, then cut another card base in half and trimmed it down, matted it onto Basic Black and mounted in 'on the wonk' Using a die-cut sentiment banner, she matted that onto Basic Black also, fussy cut around it, adhered it to the front of the card and added a Bermuda bay Bakers twine bow with a glue dot - Simple and lovely!

Co-ordinating envelope for the above - (sat underneath the card on the picture) she used another piece of card base and adhere it to the flap of the envelope, trimming off the excess.

Embossed Thank You Card - Making an A6 card Blank from Whisper White, D then cut a panel from Sahara Sand card, embossed it with the Decorative Dots TIEF and adhered to the card front. Using the die cut sentiment and gold banner, she place those against the bottom right edge of the embossed panel.  Finally decorated with 1/2 inch wide strips of the patterned base card, Bermuda bay and cut up a gold envelope liner too! - angle the bottoms with scissors and stuck down with a random gradient, popped the gold star on the bottom of the longest strip - et voila!

Peeking Petals For You Card - A6 card base was made from Whisper White, the petal stamp inked with Tangerine Tango and randomly stamped around the card.  A piece of Spotty base card was cut, the 2 banner strips added, gold thread wrapped around - and again stuck down 'on the wonk' - I'm loving the 'Wonk' it adds interest by being fun!

Thank You Gift Envelope - Strips of the spotty base card were added to the top and bottom of the envelope, then the skinny banners placed vertically down the left side.  A slice of Tangerine Tango was placed beneath the top spotty paper, the thank you sentiment hovers over this with dimensionals and finally the gold star banner was placed down the right hand side - a lovely envelope for placing a voucher or gift card inside!

For You Gift Envelope - She was itching to play with the NEW Scallop Tag Topper punch, so here she used it to make a 3-layer tag with the spotty card and Bermuda Bay, with the addition of the For You banner and some Gold thread it was ready to stick on the envelope, but prior to attaching, she embossed the flap of the envelope to add a little more interest.  Finally popping on one of those lovely little gold stars!

D admitted she'd found it a little difficult, as she mostly see's other creations elsewhere and alters them to her taste - to be told what she could use and to make 'original' items was a little daunting, but once she got into the flow - she flew! and ended up being really proud of her creations - so much so, that she's going to add them to her PINTEREST BOARD - click to follow her!

See Part 2 - for my creations!

Hope you enjoyed!

My SAB Stash...

… to date!!!

I indulged and so far got FREEBIES of…

• Petal Parade Stamp Set (clear) 133602
• Good As Gold Card Kit  133512
• Banner Blast Stamp Set (Wood) 133551
• Banner Punch 133519
• Heartfelt Banner Kit 133514
• See Ya Later Stamp Set 133533
• Hooray For Parties MDS Digital Ensemble 135274 …

…a mere 7 items, i've still 6 more pieces of FREE SAB Stuff to get… - catalogue quick!….what else do I NEED??!!!!

Don't forget, just a £45 spend = 1 FREE SAB item - what are you waiting for!!!!

The most distressing thing for me is that I only got to play with the punch and the MDS kit so far!! - We had a team meeting and had to choose from the SAB offerings to make our swaps… I chose the MDS kit (as had I had to wait for Mr UPS to deliver physical goodies I wouldn't have given myself enough time to create! - you see once your ordered is processed, you can download anything MDS immediately!)

I'd love to show you the swaps I made with the Hooray For Parties MDS kit, but can't find the photos?!? - (Note to self - MUST find & share soon!)

SO, anyway, tomorrow night, after the girls have had their swimming lessons, I'll try to get them in bed for 6:30 (usually 7pm!) with the bribe of a DVD in bed so I can have an evening of 'Mummy Time'… this means, crafty pals Dorothy & Victoria can come over and we'll play about with the latest SU! offerings.. so SAB stash get ready - you'll be unwrapped, fondled, oohed and ahhhed over - we might even stick a few bits of you together!!! ….

Promise to share the results!!.. until then…

It's LAUNCH day!!!...

…go on…. CLICK on 'em…. 

they're LIVE and oh so LOVELY!!!

HAVE FUN!!

Convention 'Card Candy' Swap!

I opted to take part in a 'Card Candy' swap that was organised by my lovely 'Upline' Sara Rayner, on the forum 'In Love With Stamping'.  The deal was that we were to be put into groups of 10, therefore making 10 'packages' of Card Candy - now having the background of a craft retailer MY only recollection of Card Candy was the variety from 'Craftwork Cards'- which, in a pervious life, I sold thousands of!

So, having enquired and investigated further, I discovered that 'Card Candy' actually refers to what can only be described as a packet of pre-made, pre-layered, pre-embellished card toppers!

So, here is what I created :

Unfortunately, the group of 10 turned out to be just 9… so here follow the other 8 packages that I received as 'Swaps'….

I hope these may offer some inspiration for items to put onto some of your cards!

Convention Swaps!

As I mentioned yesterday, Dorothy, Victoria and I decided to combine Dorothy's birthday weekend with the "European Stampin Up! Convention" in late November - during the months running up to this I spend my 'ME TIME' making swaps...

Here as promised were the 'Swaps' that I made…

'BAUBLES'

 

These were made with…    

• Christmas Collectibles Clear Stamp Set - 131775
• Snowflake Soiree Clear Stamp Set - 127925
• A Banner Christmas Clear Stamp Set - 130255
• Christmas Ornament Punch - 132152
• Word Window Punch - 119857
• Decorative Label Punch - 120907
• TIEF Pretty Print - 132175
• Season Of Style DSP Stack - 132181
• Cherry Cobbler A4 Cardstock - 121681
• Old Olive A4 Cardstock - 106576
• Whisper White A4 Cardstock - 106549
• Champagne Glimmer Paper - 127885
• Linen Thread - 104199
• Cherry Cobbler Ink - 126966
• Old Olive Ink - 126953

'TOO KIND'

These were made with…    

• Too Kind Clear Stamp Set - 130450
• Pacific Point A4 Cardstock - 116202
• Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock - 106550
• BIGZ Top Note Die - 113463
• Big Shot ™ Die Cutting Machine - 113439
• Pacific Point Ink - 126951
• Coastal Cabana Ink - 131175
• Pear Pizzazz Ink - 131180
• Coastal Cabana Stretch Ruffle Trim - 130024
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels - 119246

'CUPCAKE FLAGS'

These were made with…    

• Banner Greetings (Hostess) Clear Stamp Set - 129714
• Bermuda Bay A4 Cardstock - 131286
• Melon Mambo A4 Cardstock - 119980
• Whisper White A4 Cardstock - 106549
• Stampin' Trimmer - 129722
• Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Addition - 132986
• Small Scallop Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Cutting Blade - 129410
• Hexagon Punch - 130919
• 1-3/8" Circle Punch - 119860
• Scallop Oval Punch - 119856
• TIEF Perfect Polka Dots - 117335
• TIEF Stripes - 123128
• Bermuda Bay Ink - 131171
• Melon Mambo Ink - 126948
• Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon - 131206
• Melon Mambo Taffeta Ribbon - 131207
• NONE 'SU" - Cocktail Sticks!

All of the above swaps were received well, and I now have a box full of 'received' swaps to give me - and you! some more inspiration!  I will photograph some of my favourites and show you these very soon!

Later in the week I will also share the 'Card Candy' I made for an "Organised Swap" and those packets of 'Card Candy' that I received!

You could win!! ….

BLOG CANDY!….

Simply 'sign up' for my NEWSLETTER by midnight on FRIDAY 31st JANUARY.

(This competition automatically includes my current subscribers, as reward for their loyalty!)

At 10am on the 1st February, I will announce, not 1, but…

2 WINNERS!

Prize No.1

BRAND NEW

MORNING MEADOW Clear Stamp Set

Usually available as a 'Hostess' item

(129678 - £15.95 value)

Prize No.2

BRAND NEW

SIMPLY SKETCHED Clear Stamp Set

Usually available as a 'Hostess' item

(129672 - £14.95 value)

Happy New Year = Happy New Start!

Happy New Year!

To say 2013, was a tough year, is a HUGE understatement! 

The house sold immediately - to the 2nd viewers! - which was marvellous but then preparations and progress for the actual move were chaotic and frustrating. My wish to be very 'hands on' during the move and renovations of our new house were thwarted as I was suffering increasing physical pain, which was later diagnosed as fibromyalgia, coupled with anxiety and depression - I was not a pretty sight!  I have found it very hard to stay positive while learning to live with fibro, but I think the medication is finally helping, along with fabulous massages!  Being ORDERED to take some time out just for me and to do something FOR ME - thankfully lead me back to crafting, and the planning of a girly weekend to Manchester, combining Dorothy's birthday and visiting the "Stampin' Up European Convention" late November.  I used my ME TIME to make swaps… I'll show you these tomorrow!

The Manchester trip was great but I wasn't up to being the party animal I'd hoped, so it was a very sedate Birthday celebration for Dorothy, but Victoria did take a lovely photo of me with my bestest pal - have to share…

The run up to Christmas was hectic (as always) and very exhausting so mum kindly wallpapered the lounge so once trimmed up we were very festive and cosy.  Christmas was lovely, Santa was very generous to the girls which was super, I'm so glad they got special treats, they deserved them! 

Now, firmly into the New Year I'm very happy to say, that despite us still having boxes to unpack and decorating to finish … the girls, Rufus and I, are now settled and happy in our new home.  I did, despite photography issues ,manage to make a handful of Christmas cards - If you didn't get one - please consider this one below JUST for YOU!...

I turned 39 just after Christmas and with the realisation that I only have 1 more year until I'm 40, I took some time to evaluate my life so far, but more importantly, what my future should look like.  So, having given myself a stern talking to I've started 2014 with a morning chant of "Positive Mental Attitude" - not that it always works!!  

I'm determined to try and manage the fibro better, and have en-listed help to get my strength back (pilates this morning nearly killed me!)  I am going to get the house in order and SPEND more time CRAFTING!!

At this moment in time I'm not fit to work, so Workshops and Classes are still on hold I'm afraid, however - whatever I am able to create I will happily share with you on here!