Colour and Sketch challege

Hi there

One of my 2015 goals is to enter sketch challenges, and I (just about!) managed to get one done in January!

The colours and sketch were not my usual style but that's kind of the point for me and guess what? I liked what I made even though I wouldn't have chosen that combo myself.

I took up the challenge from :

CAS Colours and Sketches Challenge 109

  and it included a sketch AND colour, way to go for my first one!

My entry

I had forgotten how much I love the Mosaic Madness stamps and punch, so glad I inked these up again. The sentiment is from the From my heart stamp set.

All the items can be found in the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue.

Esther xx

My Etsy store is open for business!

Hi there

I'm very pleased to announce that my Etsy store is open for business!

Some items I have for sale

Previously I have mainly sold my hand crafted goodies at a few carefully chosen craft fairs. Whenever I attend these events I'm always asked where my items can be purchased throughout the year.

Etsy seemed a natural choice as I love the quality of everything else on there and I hope my items will sit nicely along side them.

You can find me here

I'd love to hear your suggestions of things you'd like to see in my store.

Hope to see you there!

Esther xx

New Lotus Blossom project and Weekly deals

Hello all

Feeling a bit behind this week as my 8 year old was off school on Monday with a cough and cold leaving the routine a bit haywire so I'm pleased that I'm able to get this blog written to tell you all about this weeks deals AND a new project to share on the day I planned to!

I've chosen to feature the beautiful Lotus Blossom stamp set which has proven to be a huge success and is yours for FREE with a £45 spend during Stampin' Up's! Sale-a-Bration. It's a great stamp set for achieving many different looks and really encourages you to play with your inks and techniques.

I created the spots on the background with sponge daubers. It's a 3 step stamp set and I stamped the image in the order given on the packaging but for the final stamp I 'stamped off' meaning I inked the stamp, stamped onto my grid paper then onto my project to give a softer impression.

, 

To create this card you'll need:

Lotus Blossom Stamp Set item 139143 Sale-a-Bration brochure
Whisper White card 106549
Lost Lagoon Card 133686
Lost Lagoon Ink 133644
Lost Lagoon Stitched ribbon 133672
Rhinestones 119246
Sponge Daubers 133773
Stamping Sponges 101610 (to ink edges of punched circle)
Glue Dots 103683 (to adhere ribbon)
1" circle punch 119868

And here are your weekly deals!

See all this and more and shop at your leisure,  24/7 in my online store.

Esther xx

Adventure bound, one for the boys!

I don't know about all of you, but I find boys and men extremely difficult! Strictly in the card making sense of course ;)

Because of this I was so pleased to see the Adventure Bound DSP stack in the Stampin' Up! spring/summer catalogue. Now, because crafters are extremely resourceful I've seen these papers used on many types of projects.

But for today, I thought I'd make a super simple card for the boys.

Product list

Island Indigo Card 124390

Whisper White Card 106549

Bright Candy Dots 130931

Adventure Bound DSP Stack

Crazy About You stamp set Bundle price for stamps and dies £37.25 save 15% 138873

Hello You thinlit dies

Big shot machine 113439

Stapler 139083

Basic Grey ink 126981

FREE  gift with all purchases over £45

Shop here

Esther xx

Stampin’ Up! behind the scenes

Weekly Deals - Our friendship is a very happy thing

Hello all

Hope you've all had a good week since I posted last. I had fun prepping this Saturday's class and can't wait to share all the projects with you after the event.

But for now, lets concentrate on this week's deals!

I love that the skin tone blendabilities are amongst the selection this week, this a fab set with far more uses than just skin tones. 

I've chosen to feature the Chalk Talk dies with a project this week. It also features the gorgeous A happy thing stamp set which you can choose for FREE with a £45 order during the Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration period.

I think this would make a lovely 'just because' for a friend, what do you think?

Here's the recipe for the card:

Big Shot die cutting machine 113439

Chalk Talk Framelits 129983

Whisper white card 106549

Old Olive card 106576

Momento ink pad 132708

Old Olive Blendabilites 130999

Daffodil Delight Blendabilities 130998

Park Lane Designer Series Paper 133694

Whisper White satin ribbon 134549

Candy Dots - Brights 130931

Snail adhesive 104332

Dimensionals 104430

You can order these and see the full range of Stampin' Up! promotions here

Esther xx

Stampin' Up! Weekly deals

Hello all

I'm typing this on a beautiful bright and sunny morning and thankfully the threatened snow has not happened yet!

To brighten the day even more let me share this weeks *totally awesome* weekly deals with you. Especially exciting if you love ribbon and punches, well who doesn't??

Don't forget, every £45 earns you a FREE gift too during Sale-a-Bration

Esther xx

Free Stampin' Up! goodies!

I've just realised, thanks to a hectic first week back to reality, that this is my first post of 2015!
So Happy New Year to you all :)

Last week I had fun launching the brand new Spring/Summer catalogue and Sale-a-Bration. I held an open house to mark the occasion and I gave away a cute little 'grown up' party bag to all my lovely guests.

These were made with the brand new Mini Treat Bags Thinlits dies, let's just say...I'm in love! If you've ever had a Stampin' Up! parcel delivered to your home then I'm sure you'll recognise the brown paper to be the brown paper used as packing in the boxes. Recycle, re-use!

Look at all the other cool dies you get in the set:

Other items used:

Big Shot 113439

Bermuda Bay sequin trim item 137910

Painted Bloom cotton twine item 137873

Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper item 135315

Whisper White card item 106549

Melon Mambo ink pad item 126948

Cheerful Critters stamp set item 137932

1/4" circle handheld punch item 134364

I did promise FREE GOODIES in the title and this is how.

Sale-a-Bration (SAB) - earn a free item from the SAB brochure for EVERY £45 you spend. Offer valid 6 January-31 March 2015 so lots of opportunity to earn free stuff. 

See the SAB brochure here.

There also great joining and hostess offers so be sure to check them all out here.

I love questions and comments so go ahead!

Esther xx