3D easter egg card using Stampin Up top note die

Greetings and Happy Easter! 

Just stopping by to wish you a joyful Easter Sunday - this card says it all and has been entered into Open stop Craft #222 Easter & The squirrel and the fox - Easter or Passover challenges.

Be back tomorrow :)

New Stampin Up product kit offer - £162.50 worth of products for just £99!

Exciting news update ... the Stampin Up! starter kit of 
£162.50 worth of products of your choice is now available for 

just £99 until tomorrow (Sunday 31st March). 

In case you think your eyes are deceiving you - that's 

£162.50 of craft products of your choice 

for just £99!!! 

For more information you can ...

• drop me a line at lisa.barton@hotmail.co.uk, 
• click here for more information
• or if you'd like to join and start choosing from the catalogues right away   
• click here and use the Demonstrator Directory to sign up with me and 
• here to browse the catalogue! 

Remember, all demonstrators get a whopping 20% off brochure prices and you can either buy & use the products solely for yourself, friends and family or decide you'd like to start your own business selling the products on. Either way, it's your choice and I promise you there will be no obligation or pressure to do anything you don't want to do!

How to make a Easter treat box using Stampin Up Two Tags die & Storytime paper

Hello readers and welcome back :) 

How is your Easter weekend going so far? We're preparing for the Easter bunny and the arrival of family for a large and quite possibly loud luncheon with all 7 children :)

Here's a last minute little treat box I concocted for a few last minute Easter gifts, it takes approx three minutes to put together, the longest part is cutting the patterned paper :)

I cut four of the larger two tags die in pool party cardstock then overlapped them to create a box. I then made a belly band from the seriously cute Storytime designer series paper and wrapped it around the box shape, fussy cutting to follow the two tags die shape (it later occurred to me it would have been easier to have just cut the patterned paper with the die as well ;) 

A piece of sale-a-bration ribbon tied through the holes in the two tag die to make a handle and finito! These sweeties are my challenge entries on Crafts for Eternity # 117 Cute as you like, Creative Corner Challenges #12 Anything Goes, Hot Shot crafts # 15- anything goes, Stampin for the Weekend # anything but a card, Wags & Whiskers #100 - friendship, Aud Sentiments #77, Crafty Ribbons challenge #42, Southern Girls Challenge #65 - the kids are alright, Baffies Kreativladen challenge #18, The Friday mashup FM 103

I've packed mine with a few choccie treats and will be hanging them onto our Easter tree which makes the centre piece of our dining table. If you'd like a tutorial leave me a comment and I will oblige! 

Now I have to just show you these little peeps ... they were created by my mother for my four daughters - she must have been knitting away for months to make all of these! There's a cute little basket which holds a cream egg, a little bunny and a little chick who sits on top of another chocolate egg :) 

They have been carefully packed into cello bags and ribboned up ready for the annual Easter egg hunt but I couldn't resist "borrowing" them for today's post. 

So all that's left to say is have a wonderful Easter weekend wherever in the world you are, see you soon :)

How to make an exploding flower box using Stampin Up mixed bunch stamps

Hi there! Hope spring has sprung where you are, here in Oxfordshire we have an inkling of sunshine in the forecast but time will tell :)

I have something different for you today - an exploding box card created with spring in mind ...

When the lid is lifted - ta da! Spring has sprung! 

I've used the mixed bunch stamp set ((w) 125535 £24.95, (c)125537 £19.95) and followed an exploding boxes tutorial I found on Pinterest. The card stock is very vanilla, melon mambo & pretty in pink with coordinating ink. 

I've used the leaves from the stippled blossoms set around the top of the box. The flowers are double sided so the display can be admired from all angles and are finished with a basic rhinestone jewel. I cut the blades of grass with my stampin trimmer (129722 £25.95) and then curled them slightly with my bone folder. The flowers were cut using the blossom punch (125603 £15.50).

Here's a closer look ...

I've tied the gumball green grass stems with some tulle ribbon in early expresso, this ribbon sadly retired out of the Autumn/Winter catalogue but am hoping it will make a comeback later this year :)

And here are the flowers packed tightly inside the box looking down from the top, excuse my hand in the photo! Have been thinking about doing a video tutorial on making this - what do you think?

Challenge wise I think the box is perfect for CRAFT-#200 Mothers Day/female, Charisma Cards #12 birthday, DL Art Thankful Thursday #106, DRS Designs #64 Paper Flowers, Forever Friends Monthly March challenge - lots of flowers, Hanna & Friends #168, Happy Campers Challenge #13 Add Dimension, Fab n Funky Boxed in Challenge, Frilly n Funkie Easter/Spring gifts

Want to make this project? Full instructions for creating this card can be purchased either by PDF instructions only via email  cost £1.50 or by PDF instructions & supplies kit for £4 which includes UK p&p charges - please email me at lisa.barton@hotmail.co.uk for purchase information :) Alternatively, if you'd like to order a catalogue to see the full range of Stampin Up! products please get in touch!

Hope you like todays card - I love it when readers leave me a comment and if you leave your blog address I can pop over and say hi too!

See you soon,

Pink bicycle card with Stampin Up summer afternoon stamps

Hi there, thanks for popping by!

Today I am showcasing the last in the summer afternoon stamp set (just £10 with an order of £150+) and I think this is my favourite - it reminds me of my childhood and the wonderful times spent free ranging with friends on bicycles on seemingly endless summer days :)

I've teamed the stamp with some vintage style First Edition Speciality newsprint paper (126917 £11.50) sponged over with Pretty in Pink ink - this reminds me of the endless hours I spent on my bicycle in all weathers earning some pennies on my paper round ;)

 

The background & banner papers are Twitterpated (125406 £9.95), the cardstock Pretty in Pink & the stamping and colouring is in basic black and regal rose and I've finished off with some pearl basic jewels (119247 £4.50). I know when I was younger I would have loved a pale pink bike but had to make do with blue ;)

Here's a closer look at the paper flower - can you see the little pearl nestling inside?

This card is my entry for this weeks Dynamic Duos #45 Monochromatic Pinks featuring two of my favourite Stampin Up shades - pretty in pink & regal rose and follows the sketch at Sweet Stop Sketches SSS203. I've also entered it into these challenges as it fits their criteria .. Stamping Up Only - SUOC #67 Spring is in the Air, Crafting by Designs: Anything goes with a Vintage twist, Crafts & Me #126 Pink, Jens Digis inspired by spring,The Paper Shelter  #105, Rhedd & Rosies - vintage shabby chic, Simon says stamps challenge - anything goes, Stampavie & More - pink, Whimsical designs - photo inspiration, Create with Connie & Mary CCMC245 sketch.

That makes 100 challenges entered in 10 days! I had thought that 300 was going to take me til the end of the 2013 not the end of April ;)

if you'd like to order a catalogue to see the full range of Stampin Up! products please get in touch!

See you again tomorrow!

Lazy days

Hi there and welcome! My chosen card to show you today continues showcasing the Summer Afternoon stamp set, just £10 (clear mount)! 

This image reminds me of lazy days watching the world go by,although the colour challenge I have followed over at CAS Colours & Sketches #17 feels distinctly of autumn or even christmas! This would actually make a nice christmas card I think as well despite the set being named summer afternoon, just shows the versatility of the stamps ;)

I've used real red (108612) & river rock (111852) cardstock including some of the core'dinations cardstock (129320 £6.25 for 12 x 12"x12" sheets)  which is a heavyweight sandable cardstock with a vintage, distressed look when embossed, torn & sanded to create a lighter effect. 

The ribbon is the gorgeous real red stitched grosgrain (126875 £4.50 9.1m) and the paper strips are from the polka dot parade designer series paper (126902 £9.95). 

The stamped image and layer is cut using the labels collection framelits - I find these invaluable to card making. I've used my scallop edge border punch (119882 £14.25) and a sentiment from the For my family set (124403 (w) £31.95, 124405 (c) £25.95) - I haven't decided who this card is going to yet! 

I've followed the layout at Mojo Monday 286 Square, Sketch and Stash challenge 110,  Can you digi it #32 - pick a season, Ladybug Crafts Ink - anything goes,  PPT #1130 party time tuesdays - anything goes,  Through the craftroom door TTCRD #2013-13, Try stamping on Tuesday #111 sketch challenge 

That's all for today, will be back tomorrow with some pink crafting! 

Making cards from paper scraps with Stampin Up Summer Afternoon stamps

Good morning everyone, today I have an adorable little card to show you using Summer Afternoon, one of the stamp sets on offer for discounted price of just £10 (clear mount) / £13 (wood mount) when spending over £150 with any Stampin Up order ....

Isn't that little pup just the cutest? I've teamed him with some so safffron cardstock to give a spring theme and the papers are all from Birds of a Feather which have featured heavily in my spring/easter craftings this year ;) I just love the pastel hues of these papers and think they're perfect for this time of year. 

I've sponged the doilies and edged the oval collection framelit with so saffron ink  for a softer effect and have  hand rolled my flowers in melon mambo, bashful blue and so saffron to echo the flowers in the cart. My colouring is with many marvellous markers & blender pens and the springtime sentiment is from a retired set Easter Blossoms. 

Here's a close up of the flowers ...

They are so easy to make and are the perfect accompaniment to crafting :)

Continuing my quest in entering online challenges I am popping this card into these springtime themed challenges card in envy march 18 theme challenge, Card mania challenges - sketch, craft your passion challenges - cute, Incy  wincy designs - use pastels, love to create challenge #58 pastel colours, make it monday # 133, Melonheadz friends - Easter/Spring, Muse challenge #10 colour inspiration, stamp and create blog- fur or feathers, three scrappy gals - springtastic, Flonzcraft challenge #6 Spring is in the Air, Addicted to CAS #9 spring , just girls challenge - photo inspiration.

Want to make this project? Full instructions for creating this card can be purchased either by PDF instructions only via email  cost £1.50 or by PDF instructions & supplies kit for £4 which includes UK p&p charges - please email me at lisa.barton@hotmail.co.uk for purchase information :) Alternatively, if you'd like to order a catalogue to see the full range of Stampin Up! products please get in touch!

Back tomorrow with more for you, 

How to make an Easter treat basket using Stampin Up supplies

Welcome back! Today I have a super cute Easter treat that I'd like to share with you ... an Everybunny Easter basket :)

I came across this sweet little creation here and knew my 4 darling girls would just love it for their Easter Egg hunt  :) I've changed each one slightly with a different colour and tag - would't possibly do for them to have all the same! 

I've used Pink pirouette cardstock and the new ovals collection framelits dies from the Spring/Summer catalogue (129381 £22.95) running them through the big shot to cut and then back through again with the Fancy Fan embossing folder (127751 £7.50) to pattern the card. The handle was cut using one of the oval framelits placed inside the other - neat idea huh, thanks Connie! A strip of designer series paper from Floral District (126919 £9.95), some stamping using the Everybunny set ((w) 122705 £24.95, (c) 124770 £19.95), a little pretty in pink scallop dot ribbon (124141 £6.95 for 9.1m) and the baskets are good to go :)

I'm popping this cutie into a few Easter online challenges - Fairy tale challenge 63 photo inspiration, Simply Create too challenge 33, Sincerely Yours creations challenge 3, DL Art Thankful Thursday challenge #105 Easter, The crafting cafe favourite colour pink, Pin & Tack - challenge #7 Anything Goes, One Crazy Stamper - march anything goes, Nana Vic - anything goes, Hobbycutz challenge #2 Easter , Platypus creek digitals - easter anything but a card, 2 sisters challenge #136 Easter, Crafty Calendar Challenge - Easter Egg-stravaganza 

Want to make this project? Full instructions for creating this card can be purchased either by PDF instructions only via email  cost £1.50 or by PDF instructions & supplies kit for £4 which includes p&p charges - please email me at lisa.barton@hotmail.co.uk for purchase information :)

Back soon with more Easter and Spring crafting for you!

Making paper letter & name cubes for gifts

Good morning everyone, here's a quick look at a commission I recently took for a customer who wanted a present for her grandmother for her birthday. 

The blocks are free standing and made from various blue shades chosen from a variety of designer series paper series papers - namely Comfort Cafe, Floral District & Twitterpated. 

The letters were die cut using the Big Shot in contrasting Midnight Muse. The lettering is cut using the now retired Timeless Type alphabet dies but happily have which have now been replaced by the Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies which also includes 10 number dies as well. 

Here are the punches and the dies I used...

And the beautiful papers

 Twitterpated

Comfort Cafe

 Floral District

I'm entering these blocks in a few challenges today - Create with Connie & Mary CCMC 244, Colour Q challenge #181, Natalie & Amy challenge #7 diecuts,  Desert Island Crafts - pick 3 patterned papers, Pile it on #11 - squares, 

Here are a couple of older box sets I made a while ago; these are in retired papers though...

but lovely all the same

To make your own box sets you will need:

• Designer series papers of your choice
• Typeset alphabet Bigz (set of 4 letter & number dies) 127553 £80.95
• Blossom punch £125603 £15.50
• Boho blossom punch 119858 £15.50
• Brads and buttons from a selection from Stampin Up! 

I would be happy to order any of the above for you, just drop me a line at lisa.barton@hotmail.co.uk for purchase information.

That's all for today folks, but will be back in couple of days with some more crafty projects for you to see. See you soon!

How to make 3D paper birds

Good morning readers, continuing with my spring theme here is my interpretation of some "dotty in love" birds, gleaned from Pinterest and adapted to suit my own colour schemes of teal blue and pale yellow, which I am pleased to hear (along with silver grey) seem to be the colour trends for 2013! About time I was on trend ;)

The birds were assembled from a paper template together with some intricate folding & crafting but they are really cute and lots of people have remarked upon them when visiting me (and of course I have felt obliged to make plenty of them for gifts then!). 

I have used the subtles designer series paper stack for these cuties and this is the only ingredient apart from some paper snips you will need to make them. Simple eh!

I'm entering my little friends into a few challenges that are "anything but a card" with spring or bird themes - Craft Us crazy, Anything but a card challenge 15 , Shelleys Images TTT anything goes, crafting for all seasons challenge #48, Rhedd & rosie challenge blog - one for the birds, Bearly mine - challenge #78, Cas-ual Fridays - cfc95, Sparkles Forum, Stamp & create - fur or feathers

Subtles designer series paper stack 117152 £19.50 40 double sided sheets in 10 colours 12" x 12" 

Have a great weekend and I'll be back soon with some more creations to share with you - in the meantime, happy crafting!