We have moved ....... (again!)

Happy Tuesday evening .....

It was moving day today.  The removal men arrived first thing this morning and it's been non-stop all day.
We've got boxes everywhere ..... can't find a thing ..... I'm tired ..... and I'm hungry!  But hey .... we're in!  It won't take me long to make it home!

Today sees the start of this month's Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Challenge .....

As you can see the theme for February is ...... Butterfly
Here's a little inspiration for you ..... an ATC block

It's the size of an ATC ...... just made from a block of wood.
I simply painted it black and then heat embossed my butterflies in gold, before adding some colour using metallic paints

I added butterflies to the two large surfaces of the block ......

And also splattered on some gold and silver ink

Down the sides,  I added some pretty leaves .... stamped in Verasmark and embossed in clear, and then added more ink splatters.

The sentiment was stamped onto white card and then cut into pieces, before attaching to the front of the block

And to finish off I added feet on the bottom ...... simple wooden beads painted gold, and a decorative metal embellishment on the top

I love how this turned out .... it's going to sit on my craft desk I think .... when I remember which box it's in!!

As with all the HLS challenges there's a $20 Gift Certificate for the winner .... which will be doubled if the winning project has been created using HLS stamps.

What are you waiting for ..... Happy stamping!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time .....

Let's start the week with a challenge ......

Happy Monday ......

And big Hello to all you STAMPlorations fans!
Thank you to all who played along with our January challenges.  Don't forget to check back on Feb 10th to see if you are one of our lucky winners. And get ready, because there's a whole load of brand new products on their way over the next three months.  But ... we also want to let you all know that for the next couple of months we are going to do things a little bit differently here on the Blog.

You've probably heard that there's been a new addition to the STAMP family.  Sherry's gorgeous little girl ... Winter, came into the world back in December.  So in order to give Shery a little time to catch her breath after the birth, and to adjust to daily life with two little ones, as well as running the store, we're going to take a little 'Winter' break.

Instead of all the different monthly STAMPlorations challenges, there will be just one challenge each month.  It will have a theme, and as long as you follow the theme, any type of project is welcome!
We will return to our regular challenge program in May.

The rules are simple ......

• create any type of project .... cards, mixed media, tags etc. as long as you follow the theme
• STAMPlorations products are not a requirement .... but we would love to see them
• Enter as many times as you like as long as each entry has it's own blog post
• You must display the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge page to qualify for the prizes
• You must comment on the entry before yours in the gallery ...... lets spread the love
• And for an extra chance to win, comment on the challenge post AND the Designers Blog posts throughout the month.

Prizes ......
TWO (2) winners of a $25 Gift certificate .... randomly drawn from all the entries
ONE (1) winner of a $25 Gift Certificate ...... randomly drawn from all the comments left on the Designers Blogs throughout the month.

Shery is also offering a generous 10% (no coupon code needed) off all stamps, stencils and dies in the store from February through to April.
Go on .... why not play along.

So .... the theme for February is ..... PAINT IT RED
Create a project with a love theme .... or the colour red in it!

Now normally it would be the CAS Card Challenge for me so I've stuck with that and,  as it's February, it had to have a love theme for Valentine's Day,  and the red bit was easy

I've used the pretty CUTplorations Clustered Hearts Die ....... and cut it from, Pink and Red Glitter card and again from a beautiful matte Red Mirri card

I then cut the hearts from a piece of white cardstock and stamped the words underneath (from the STAMPlorations Pocket Blooms)

I then mixed and matched the various hearts from my coloured die cuts and inlaid them into the cut out in the white card ..... gorgeous!

Now it's your turn to join in the fun.  Create your project and link it to the challenge blog.  Follow the simple challenge rules and you could be one of our winners.

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

I'm off to pack the last of the boxes ready for the move tomorrow.  Removal men arrive first thing and we should be in the new place by late afternoon ..... can't wait!

Cheerio until next time ....

Do you fancy feeling festive .......

Happy Sunday evening ......

I hope you've enjoyed the weekend. 
Today sees the start of the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge

As always the theme is Anything Goes, with this month's optional twist ..... Hearts

I've used this cute little stamp from the ever growing mountain of NBUS in my craft room (Never Before Used Stuff!) 

This cute little guy is from Unity Stamps ..... I'm sorry I can't give you the name of the stamp as it's currently sat somewhere in this mountain of stash, in what is going to be my new craft room ...... I'm not looking forward to sorting all that lot out ........ and that's not all of it!! 

Anyway ...... he's been stamped onto white card, using black versafine ink and then I add a touch of colour with ZIG markers

A touch of fine crystal glitter to add a bit of sparkle

And a sprinkling of Chunky White Embossing Powder to give the look of falling snow

A  simple sentiment to finish off .....

And a little something on the inside ......

Our challenge winner will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to spend in the HLS store  and ....... if the winner has used Happy Little Stampers stamps on their project then the prize will be doubled!!

Happy stamping folks!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and a have a great week.

We've been moving boxes all weekend ....... I'm sick of looking at bubble wrap and packing tape! Never mind, only one more day to go before the removal men arrive on Tuesday.
For now though, I have a date with a  G&T and a  large bag of popcorn ..... I've earned it!
Cheers!

Until next time .....

Hugs and Kisses .......

Happy Friday evening  .......

It's the weekend!!
Let's get February's blog challenges underway shall we, with the Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge. 

This month the theme is Hearts ..... well Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

My hearts have been used as accents to the fabulous large sentiment that is the focal point of my card ..... very Clean and Simple

I stamped the sentiment using VersaMagic chalk ink.  These have been in my stash for ever, hardly used but ..... they're fab!!!  Lots of gorgeous colours and great coverage.  think i'll be adding more of these to my collection.

I used the MISTI to stamp the sentiment in a pretty shade of pink ....... what did we ever do without a MISTI!?   Then I added the hearts in red .....

To finish off I outlined the little hearts using a Stardust Gel pen to add a touch of sparkle.

As with all the HLS challenges there's a $20 Gift Certificate for the winner ..... and, if they've used HLS stamps on their project then the prize will be doubled.
Check out the HLS Blog for full details ..... you'll also find some amazing inspiration from the rest of the Design Team on there too.

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a fabulous weekend.
We're off out for dinner this evening .... I think we've earned a treat this week, and we've got a busy weekend coming up.

Cheerio until next time .....

Sweet Poppy Stencils ...... and dies!

Happy Thursday .....

Pinch and a punch for the first of the month ...... welcome to February!  January didn't hang around did it!!

If you're on Facebook, you may have already seen that there's something exciting going on over at Sweet Poppy Stencils. 
Not only are there some fabulous new stencil designs available now on the website ...... you'll also find the brand new range of Sweet Poppy 'Buddy' dies ..... whoo hoo!!
Not all of the stencils will have a matching die but, sometimes a particular design needs a 'buddy' .... a little help to cut out the design and give it a 3D look. 
There's six available in the first release and I've been lucky enough to have a play with them. See what you think ...... you might want to grab a cuppa, there's a lot of pictures!

First up, the Large Poppy Head ..... a two piece set which cuts both sizes of petals.

First I used the matching stencil to do the leaves with Distress Oxide ink on a piece of white card

On a separate piece of card I used the stencil again this time with the glossy white stencil paste through the flower part of the design, and sprinkled red glitter on the top whilst it was still wet.
I did this twice so that I could cut the different two layers and make the poppy dimensional

Another beautiful flower design ...... the Poinsettia.  A three piece set this time to create really full dimensional blooms

Again I used the paste through the matching stencil, sprinkled the three layers with crystal glitter and let it dry

Look how beautifully the dies cut, even when you've used the paste and glitter on top too.

The idea is you used the stencil as you normally would to create the design whether that be with inks or pastes etc., then you place the dies on top and cut out your design.  They're really easy to place once you get used to them.  If you've used the paste you can feel where it is when you place the die over the top you just need to take you time.

As you can see I've also used the largest die simply on it's own to cut an extra layer to create my leaves

The pretty Mehndi Flower also has a buddy ...... another three piece set great for layering

I've used the Translucent stencil paste mixed with mica powder to create the soft coloured layers, and I've added in an extra layer to the back, done with white paste and the crystal glitter

I had real fun with this one ...... I created the whole flower three times .... one pink, one green and one glitter, then cut the various layers in each and mix them up on the front of the card using foam pads for the bottom layer the inlaying the rest

If you like the look of the coloured pastes but fancy mixing your own ... well, you don't have to, Sweet Poppy now have 50ml pots of coloured stencil pastes in a whole range of colours. Available as single pots or you can get the set.

OK .... next up Boozy Bubbles (one of my favourites!)  A great tow piece die which I just kknow is going to come in for so many occasions.
The bottle .......

Paste, glitter, die cut and attached on to a simple background using a piece of folded acetate to create a sort of spring so that the bottle actually moves

Just think .... special birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, congratulations ..... just about anything really.

And of course the glasses ..... perfect for wedding cards

Use the dies to cut apertures .......

Then place the glasses on the inside ....

The pretty Rocking Horse ..... love this too

Pretty in pink ....... and beautiful in blue ....

And last but not least ..... the Biplane and Banner

A canvas this time ..... painted using the Sweet Poppy Shimmer & Sheen Lustre Paint

Clouds added with white paint sponged along the edge of a template cut from copier paper .....

The Biplane is simply Black paste through the matching stencil and I've highlighted here and there with a Liquid Chrome pen

Again I've used acetate to make a spring so that the plane is raised and moves around

Flying the banner behind ......

Simple die cut letters to create the words ......

Phew! 

I believe some of the dies will be on TV at the beginning of March on Lucy's next HOCHANDA show but, if you can't wait until then, Sweet Poppy will be at the Creative Craft Show at Event City Manchester this weekend, or you can find them all on the Sweet Poppy website along with all the brand new stencil designs ..... there's a gorgeous flamingo, can't wait to play with that one once my new craft room is up and running!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

I'd better get back to the packing we move in 5 days .... eeeek!!!  There's already quite a bit of stuff at the new place.  We've been moving all the small things ourselves ...... kitchen stuff, clothes, pictures etc.  Some of hubby's office is there and most of my craft room, it's just in boxes!  I'll be starting unpacking that at the weekend.

Cheerio until next time ....