Bundle Up with Delightful Decorations!

In a change to the advertised programme, I decided to use the gorgeous Delightful Decorations stamp set, along with its coordinating Ornament punch, in my class today. Why? Well for two reasons... first, it's a fun and versatile set - and the punch makes it SO easy to create fabulous cards in minutes... and second, it's part of the Bundle Up for Christmas promotion - on now and until the end of December.

So here are the first three cards we made today:

 

Recipe:
Stamps: Delightful Decorations, So Swirly Wheel, Basic Phrases, Contempo Christmas
Cardstock: Old Olive,Whisper White,Crumb Cake
Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Platinum Shimmer Paint
Punches: Ornament, Word Window
Other: Sponge Daubers, Silver Elastic Thread, Crystal Effects, Diamond Stickles (non-SU!)

And here are the last two cards we made:

 

Recipe:
Stamps: Delightful Decorations, Contempo Christmas (for the greeting)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Designer Series Paper: Jolly Holiday
Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Punches: Ornament, Eyelet Border, Scallop Edge, Boho Blossoms
Other: Linen Thread, Pretty In Pink 3mm Taffeta Ribbon, Old Olive 1.6cm Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

In case you're wondering about the Bundle Up for Christmas promotion.. you can get your hands on an exclusive package of ribbon for FREE when you purchase a Christmas gift-giving bundle. For example, you could buy the Delightful Decorations stamp set and Ornament punch for £37.45 and choose a ribbon package with a value of up to £11.50 for free!

If you're interested, please check out my previous post for further details.. and remember the bundles and ribbons are only available while supplies last. Do let me know if you'd like to take advantage of this deal and I'll be only too happy to help you!

By the way... stay tuned for information on the kit I'm putting together for Scrapbook Club on 27th November.. and a sneak peek at the project we'll be making!

Pre-Convention Stampin' Stars Party

Festivities kicked off on Thursday evening with a Pre-Convention party at the Croydon Hilton Hotel, hosted by two fantastic Demonstrators, Natalie O'Shea (my Stampin' Up! 'great-grandma') and Monica Gale. Here's the goodie bag we received (how exciting!):

The triangular box containined a cute little black rubber watch, the organza bag held a silver key-ring charm.. and we also had a fab set of fluffy star deely-boppers to wear (remember them?!).. sadly, I don't seem to have a photo of me in them ;o)!

We also had two Make & Take projects to do - here are mine, a Christmas card and a 6"x6" scrapbook page:

Stamps: Welcome Christmas (this set is in the current Bundle Up promotion if you're interested!)
Colours: Early Espresso, Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Curly Label Punch

Stamps: Beware Pirates
Colours: Early Espresso, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Other: Gold Brads, Twill Tape

I should add, the photo was added later.. I didn't 'happen' to have this on me at Convention!

And finally.. here are a couple of lovely Christmas card samples I received at the party... first, here's one by Kim Fee (my Stampin' Up! granny):

Stamps: Four the Holidays (the greeting); Punch Potpourri (a level 1 Hostess Set which you can earn when you host a qualifying workshop).
Colours: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive
Punch: Two-Step Bird

This one is by Elizabeth Probst from Germany:

Stamps: Delightful Decorations (in the Bundle Up promotion); So Swirly wheel
Punch: Ornament (also in the Bundle Up promotion!)
Colours: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie

Look out... lots more inspiring card ideas to come!

Sarah x

More Christmas Cards with 'Dasher'

I love the Dasher stamp! And in preparation for my next class on Friday, I've been making a few Dasher-based Christmas cards.

You may recognise the Old Olive one at the back.. I made that one a few weeks ago.. but the two at the front are new! As before, the inspiration for these cards was from Carolyn, a fellow SU! demonstrator - you can see her boxed set of cards here.

Supplies:

Stamps - Dasher, Sincere Salutations
Cardstock - Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Whisper White, Soft Suede
Punches - Oval, Scallop Oval
Ink - Basic Black, Soft Suede
Other - Champage Shimmer Paint, Sponger Daubers, Black & White Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Diamond Stickles (non-SU!)

And finally, a couple more Dasher cards made to a different recipe:

Supplies:

Stamps - Dasher, Punches Three, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel
Cardstock - Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Very Vanilla
Punches - Scallop Edge, Scalloped Oval, Corner Rounder (non-SU)
Ink - Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue
Other - Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, Diamond Stickles (non-SU)

The first of these two was inspired by a card made by Pat, and the second one was inspired by Carol's use of the So Swirly wheel on the In Love With Stamping gallery. Thanks for sharing your cards, ladies!

So, which card do you like the best?

Sarah x

Thank you, teacher!

It's the last day at nursery for my boys tomorrow, so I made a couple of quick Thank You cards for the staff who have been wonderful this year.

The first one was totally inspired by a box of chocs I spotted in the Co-op yesterday.. and just had to buy for Charlie's teacher, mainly because of the matching-card-making potential.

I was instantly thinking colour schemes.. 'Hmm, looks like Choc Chip, Cameo Coral and Very Vanilla'... shortly followed by.. 'Hey, I can use my new So Swirly wheel!'

Here's what I came up with, anyway. I couldn't resist adding a splash of Old Olive and some Sweet Pea felt pieces.

Supplies:

Cardstock - Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Stamps - So Swirly wheel, Sincere Salutations
Inks - Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip
Punches - Scallop Edge, Oval, Scallop Oval
Embellishments - Sweet Pea felt pieces, green rhinestones (non-SU!)

My second card had to be super-quick as I was running out of time this afternoon.

 Supplies:

Cardstock - Old Olive, Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie
Paper - Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack
Stamps - Flight of the Butterfly
Punch - Butterfly
Embellishment - green rhinestones (non-SU!), Diamond Stickles (non-Su!)

You know what? In hindsight I think the second one is a bit plain.. it could do with something else.. more butterflies maybe.. perhaps a scrap of the patterned paper with a bit more 'going on'? Oh well, too late - it's been handed in!