Happy Christmas to you all

Hi all

Well it's Christmas Eve, everything is pretty much done and it's time to enjoy the festivities!

This is the perfect time to thank you all for supporting Stamp with Esther this year, I appreciate you all.

I hope you all have a very happy and blessed Christmas. I'll leave you with my favourite class project from Christmas 2015.

Esther xx

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Weekly deals

Snowman Retro Milk Bottle using Stampin' Up! products

Hi all

Yesterday I had a super fun day at the Christmas party for the wider Stampin' Up! team that I'm part of. We're called the Stampin' Stars :) It sounds a bit cliched but we really are like one big family. But like most modern, spread out families, we don't have the opportunity to see each other as much as we'd like to so that's what made yesterday extra special.

We celebrated success with a little awards ceremony, we also had a raffle, party games and of course party food! A LOT of party food!

The lovely Pip and Kim receiving their awards from Natalie. Kim won two which is why she features in more pics.

Now, being a creative bunch there obviously has to be something crafty involved so we were asked to bring a WOW swap (something that makes you go WOW when you see it) or a show and tell.

I have a slight obsession with the little vintage milk bottles and the Snow Place bundle so I combined the two!

I used black and white Stazon ink and I must admit it took a few attempts to get the stamping right but if you're quick enough you can wipe it off with a baby wipe and start again! The 'snowballs' were stamped with a sponge dauber, really easy and effective.

To create the slots to feed the straws through I used the Curvy Corner Trio punch and opened it up a little more with scissors.

I've listed the products used below but please do ask if there is anything more you need to know or just leave a comment to let me know what you think :)

Esther xx

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Stampin' Up! year-end sale save up to 60%!

Hi all

It's a great time to finish off your Christmas shopping or buy yourself a little treat because the Stampin Up! year end sale is here! With savings of up to 60% these goodies will not hang around for long.

I thought I'd share a small selection of projects I've made and swaps received using some of the items on sale.

To you and yours shaker card kit

(stamp set required to complete the kit)

Fiona Whitten

A little something stamp set

Gold & White 1cm glitter ribbon

Cozy Christmas stamps set

Home for Christmas enamel dots

Season of cheer designer washi tape

Maggie Polland

All Ye Faithful stamp set

Kerry Timms

Cozy Christmas stamp set

Gold & White 1cm glitter ribbon

Cozy Christmas stamp set

Season of cheer designer series paper

Happy bargain hunting!

Esther xx

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Know what I like best? Cute Stampin' Up! birthday card

Hi all

I took a little break from Christmas projects to make a birthday card for a little lady I know who turned 11 this week. I absolutely love the Hey Girl stamp set and this isn't the first time I've shared a project using it!

One of the things I love about it is the various elements that make this set so versatile.

Esther xx

Here's what you need to make yours

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Stampin' Up! OnStage Live - Brussels

Hi all

I know it's taken me too long but I have (finally) got some pictures to share with you from Brussels.

As I look back at the photo's and a wonderful weekend in a beautiful city I am so sad by the images on the news where  the streets instead of vibrant and buzzing are currently deserted. I pray for their safety and for normality to be restored very soon.

Helen & I, ready for the fun to start

Me and Chris, one of our amazing Demo Support staff. 

Fiona and I with Shannon West

Frites! 

Wet and windy Grand Place - still stunning 

Gifts I made for team members

The gift bag was bought (shock!) but made cute with some Stampin' Up! goodies! The black box was made using the envelope punch board and had a little box of chocolates inside. 

Here's what I used and if you'd like instructions or measurements let me know! 

Esther xx

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Back from Brussels and I have a limited time offer for you!

Hi all

I had a blast at the first Stampin' Up!  OnStage live event  in Brussels.

We had a chance to play with BRAND NEW goodies from the Spring/Summer catalogue and I'm sure you'll all love it as much as I do when it launches in January.

I won't post any pics of the Brussels fun today because I have important news to share with you today!

Yep 20% off selected stamps from 16-20 November!

Offer ends Friday, don't miss this opportunity to tick some stamps off your wishlist :)

You can order online here and you will receive a little something from me if you use the Stampin' Reward code NC4ZSA7E

Esther xx

Sketch and Colour challenge using Stampin' Up! products

Hi all

I am pleased to be giving you my weekly challenge entry from The CAS Colours and Sketches blog!
It was half term last week and I've also been busy with classes so I'm posting this with hours to spare. The school run and swimming lessons are calling now so time is short again!

This week a colour and sketch challenge was given.

I was happy to see one of my all time favourite colours, Rose Red, was among the selection.

Here's what I made

Punches are definitely the star of the show this time and I've added some embossing for some added interest.

Esther xx

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Weekly Deals

Thinking of you with a grateful heart

Hi all

As October draws to a close I wanted to say thank you to all that have supported Stamp With Esther this month. Whether you have come to a class, visited my blog or social media sites, or shopped on line. Thank you, I really appreciate you all.

What better way to say than a card? :)

Be blessed,
Esther xx

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Sketch challenge using Stampin' Up! products - A Merry Little Wish

Hi all

I have a new Sketch challenge to show you from the CAS Colours & Sketches blog

Challenge #147 - Sketch

It was easy to achieve using the Festival of Trees stamp set and matching punch. I added Crystal Effects to the tree pot, star and bird to add some interest without ruining the clean finish. Sadly the Crystal Effects doesn't show up too well on the photo so you'll have to trust me on that one!

Esther xx

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Weekly deals from Stampin' Up! Washi Tape, sizzix dies and Paper- Piercing!

Hi all

Wednesday has come around again which means new Weekly Deals!

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The Chalk Talk dies are a favourite of mine and you may recall I used them in a challenge just a couple of weeks ago.

I'll leave you with some inspiration.

Esther xx

 Chalk talk dies were used on both these projects. Click on the picture for the original blog post and list of ingredients.

Colour Challenge using Stampin' Up! products - Hello Autumn

Hi all

There's no denying that Autumn is definitely here. The days are more chilly, the trees are displaying beautiful colours and my flip flops have been swapped for boots!

To confirm all this the colour challenge from CAS Colours & Sketches is most certainly autumnal.
Challenge #146: Colours

I kept my card simple with direct to paper stamping and because I stamped onto Crumbcake card stock, it slightly muted the colours which is what I wanted. The dots image was inked with Pumpkin Pie and stamped off onto scrap before stamping onto the card base.

I sponged the punched flowers with Tangerine Tango which softens the edges. As you can see, I couldn't quite resist adding some bling with rhinestones. :)

Esther xx

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Sketch Challenge using Stampin' Up! products.

Hi all

It's time to show my entry for this week's challenge from CAS Colours & Sketches

It's a sketch challenge and it had me a little afraid! I really wasn't sure what I was going to make but it's amazing how the ideas start flowing once you start pulling out some individual elements.

I cut and scored an A4 piece of Real Red card stock to make a 5x5"card base using my Stampin' Trimmer.

The Mossy Meadow was cut at 4" and Very Vanilla at 3 3/4".

The gold cording actually stays quite 'coiled' when you cut it so it was relatively easy to create that element of the sketch, I just held it in place with a couple of glue dots then the patterned tag was adhered to it with dimensionals.

Below is everything else I used to create this card and please do ask if there's anything I can help with.

Esther xx

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Gift Bag Punch Board by Stampin’ Up! - New Christmas Project

Hi all


I don't know about you but I fall in love ALL the time. With new Stampin' Up! goodies of course! There's always something they bring out and I wonder how I ever managed without it!

The Gift Bag Punch Board is a case in point.

As with all the Punch Boards in the range, it's super easy to use.

Here's my first of many projects made with it.

I went for a more traditional look using the Home for Christmas DSP and a velcro dot closure as I wanted to feature the gold bow made with the Bow Builder Punch. My Paper was cut at 10"x 7"

Adhesive tips:

• Stick the bow pieces and adhere to the bag with glue dots
• Stick the bag together with fast fuse (if you haven't used fast fuse before make sure you do a 'tick' or 'check' action at the end of each application.)
• Adhere circle to banner with dimensionals.

I can imagine so many cute treats being packaged in these bags, from chocolates and candles to jewellery. 

Enjoy!

Esther xx

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More FREE stuff! Yep, from October 9 - November 9 you can earn an extra 3% in Stampin' Rewards when you host a party with £200+ in sales, a great way to tick items off your wishlist and all whilst partying! 
Contact me to book your party, in your home or mine or you can collect orders by passing a catalogue around friends & family, let me know if you need a catalogue. Of course you can also get the same benefits by placing an order of £200 or more in my online store xx

Projects from Stampin' Up! Watercolor Wings class

Hi all

I teased you with a sneak peek of my Watercolor Wings class with the promise that I'd be back to share the projects with you!

It's not difficult to fall in love with this stamp set, I know I have.

The butterfly in all three projects was stamped in Mint Macaron and I stamped off onto scrap paper for the first image and stamped direct for the 3 body stamps. This is a great set for playing and experimenting so see what you can come up with!

I also stamped off for the dot border on the card but the crushed curry stamps were stamped direct. I recommend die cutting the butterfly shape first  then do your stamping and you'll find it much easier to line everything up.

For the jelly bean project use waxed paper in your die cutting 'sandwich' or the new fantastic Precision Base Plate to ensure the intricate shape of the butterfly pops out beautifully, even on the gold glimmer paper.

Below are the ingredients for all three projects in the order you see them listed.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Oopsy! I forgot to add Gold Glimmer Paper item 133719, Big Shot item 113439 and the Precision Base plate item 139684 to the second project ingredients.

Mini Treat Bags - If you didn't think it could get any cuter....

Hi all

Stampin' Up! shared the above video on getting even more out of the already fabulous Mini Treat Bag die and I just had to have a play with it!

Here's everything you get in the Treat Bag Set:

So much to play with! Matching stamps are available too.

Parents among you will know that we need a kit to keep little ones amused at the dinner table and I thought this mini version of the treat bag was perfect to hold some crayons! Add a some paper and it might just buy you some extra time to enjoy your family Christmas meal. My kids are not tiny any more and not so easily engrossed in the colouring packs given out by restaurants but they use the crayons to play noughts and crosses or tic-tac-toe if you're on the other side of the pond! 

As you can see my treat bag was scored and folded down as Brandy showed in the video and I rounded my corners off too with the Project Life corner rounder punch.

The Mini Treat Bag die set is already amazing value but it's also on this weeks deals meaning if you order by 10pm tonight you will only pay £27 - a saving of £9!

Esther xx

Here's what you need to create your own:

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Weekly Deals ending tonight - 6 October at 10pm

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Celebration Card Using Stampin' Up! products for a Colour Challenge

Hi all

Well, get me...I've managed to take part in another challenge for the second week running!  It is World Card Making Day so it had to be done :)

The colour challenge is from the CAS Colours & Sketches Blog

Challenge #144-colours

The gold embossing makes the Build a Birthday stamp set perfect for any celebration including a wedding.

I stamped the 'cake' in soft sky onto whisper white, cut it out and layered it with dimensionals. That served two purposes 1) to add interest and dimension 2) to ensure no gold embossing powder stuck to the soft sky elements.

If you have any questions regarding this project let me know! 

Esther xx

The sentiment is from Sweet Essential which is now retired. 

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Watercolor Wings - Stampin' Up! class - Sneak Peek!

Hi all

I'm very excited about this Saturday's class because 1) It's World Card making Day 2) My Ladies will be using the Watercolor Wings bundle.

If you haven't seen it yet, here it is.

It's SO much fun to play with! 

I've got a little sneak peek for you :)

Be sure to check back to see full pictures of the projects next week and don't forgot to craft on Saturday for World Card Making day!

Esther xx

Every Cloud - Sketch challenge Using Stampin' Up! products

Hi all

I'm too embarrassed to even think about how long it's been since my last sketch challenge! Lets just say that it's been months not weeks and leave it at that!

Anyway, I've rectified that now and hope I manage to not to leave it so long next time.

CAS Colours & Sketches Blog sketch #143

If you've never taken part in a sketch challenge I'd encourage you to give it a go. Especially if you're suffering from a bit of crafter's block. The sketch is just an idea of where to place your elements and sentiment on this occasion. Generally speaking you can also flip the design so don't feel that you're restricted. 

Here's what I did with the sketch:

Sometimes we all need to look for the silver lining don't we?  This stamp set uses the Stampin' Up! Ronald McDonald House charity Stamp Set. £2 for every stamp set sold will go the charity.

The coordinating tree builder punch will give you lots of options for fab looking projects.

Esther xx

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Stampin' Up! Updated Clearance Rack - That = Up to 60% Off original prices!

Hi all

Who's checked out the clearance rack lately? If you haven't then I really encourage you to do so! There's a great selection of DSP, stamps, dies, ribbon and more with savings of up to 60% off!

I used Birthday Bash DSP on these projects 

Now only £4.59

This one uses Adventure Bound DSP stack

Now only £2.49

The dies used on this card are now only £11.99

Happy bargain hunting and don't forget the Weekly Deals! 

Esther xx

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog