AN EXTENDED CALL TO WIN FREE STAMP SETS

THERE ARE ONLY 2 PLACES REMAINING ON THE HODGEPODGE SHARE & 2 PLACES ON THE PAPER SHARE. Please email me at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk if you would like to take part and be in with a chance of winning one, two or even three of the four sets up for grabs. This must close by 6pm Saturday 28th February. Sadly the first Sale-a-bration in Europe is coming to an end this Saturday and it's been fantastic! I've loved all the sets for this year and I'm already excited about what the next offer will be from Stampin' Up! The Paper & Ribbon shares I've done this month have been very popular so I've decided to throw in another TWO shares for you as your last chance to get hold of these EXCLUSIVE FREE SETS. You don't have to do both shares you can do one if you like but the more you sign up for the more chances you have of winning. So here's the first one... SHARE #1 PATTERNED DESIGNER PAPER SHARE - £12.50 including p&p* (sorry about the really poor scan - it was late and I didn't have the patience to faff around with it - lol. If you click on the image it will give you a much better idea of these gorgeous papers.)

You will receive 72 sheets of 6x6 patterend Designer Series papers consisting of Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie.

If there are 4 people who sign up for the share there will be one SAB set to win, if there are 8 people there will be two sets.

SHARE #2

SILVER HODGEPODGE HARDWARE SHARE - £5 including p&p*

Now this one I love. If you saw my previous post on Jen's Card Wallet I used quite a bit of this - it's devine! For this share you will receive 20 pieces (two of each design) plus 20 silver brads. Out of all the embellishments I'd have to say this is my fave, so classy - almost too good to use but it really does make your cards look sooooo stylish. I need 10 people to sign up for this one and again there will be an SAB set to win. Now on top of all this, IF I get ALL the places filled (8 for the paper share AND 10 people for the Hodgepodge share) then there will also be a Hostess Level 1 set up for grabs!! Everyone who purchases a share will be entered into the draw and if you have bought both shares, you will be entered twice!! So, if you would like to join in with my final two shares and be in with a chance to win one of these Four Stamp sets, email me at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk It's a quick turnaround on this one - the deadline is Friday 27th so please let me know as soon as possible. *if paying by paypal, charges will apply (63p on £12.50 & 37p on £5)

My version of Jenny's Card Wallet

Have you seen the March addition of Craft Stamper magazine ? Jenny Moors has a gorgeous project in there to make a Card Wallet with three cards using the 'One of a Kind' stamp set. It's a beautiful project and as I'm feeling a little 'stuck in a rut' I thought I'd rustle one up. This first photo is the wallet itself - I forget to take a pic of the inside but it has a little pocket to hold three cards and envelopes. This next pic is of the wallet and the three cards.

(you can click on each image for a clearer picture)

Jen did hers in Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa and Pretty in Pink and looks good enough to eat. For mine I chose Certainly Celery, Regal Rose and So Saffron.

She's a clever cookie that Jen!

There's also a competition in the mag to win £70 worth of Stampin' Up! products. All you have to do is submit a card to include some stamping - doesn't even have to be SU! products. What could be easier - Good Luck!

tfl,

Jo :)

Paper & Ribbon Share #2

One space left for the Paper & Ribbon Share plus the chance to win one of FOUR stamp sets.

My first Paper & Ribbon Share was a great success and consequently I have five more people signed up for #2. There are just 3 places left for this share and this is what you will receive.... 96 6x6 sheets of the full range of patterned papers - Summer Picnic, Rainbow Sherbet, Haiku, Holiday Treasures, Junior Varsity, Sweet Always (my fave), Tea & Crumpets and Spiced Cider. They all co-ordinate with all the Stampin'Up! products PLUS you will receive 9m of the matching 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, over 1.5 metres of Real Red, Regal Rose, Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive. All this for £20 including postage. PLUS!! As it's Sale-a-bration until 28th February everyone who purchases the Share will be entered into a draw to receive one of THREE FREE Sale-a-bration sets PLUS ONE Hostess Level 1 set. (The winners can choose which set they would like.) I will do the draw once the share is full. If you would like to join in with this share and be in with a chance of winning one of the Four Free Stamp sets, please contact me at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk Closing date for this Share will be Thurs 26th February.

Little Thank you's

It's half term this week and I'm occupied doing activities with Jake, so all I have to show you is the 'Thank You' cards I made for the ladies that joined in with the Paper & Ribbon Share. Everyone was really pleased with the beautiful papers and Ribbons plus there were four ladies that were lucky enough to win a FREE stamp sets. Thank You Karen, Lou, Yvonne, Jean, Lisa, Emma & Rachel for taking part, enjoy! It's wonderful to see you're already using your new stash.

I have 3 more people signed up for another Share so I have five spaces left. If you would like 96 sheets of Double Sided 6x6 patterened paper from ALL the current Stampin'Up! Designer Papers PLUS 9 metres of 5/8" Grograin Ribbon (over 1.5m x 6 colours) AND the chance to WIN one of FOUR stamp sets, all for the price of £20, please email me at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk. That's under 16p per sheet and 72p for 1.5 metres of the wider grosgrain!

More details can be found on the left hand side bar or on this post here. The cut off for this share is Tues 24th due to the Free Stamp Set offer with Sale-a-bration. I will try my best to get a photo up of everything you will receive.

Right, off to Moors Valley for some fresh air. Have a great day!

Tfl,

Jo :)

Milk Carton Carrier Tutorial

Now this could be a long post, it's surprising how long it takes to do these tutorials. Fingers crossed it makes sense but if you've any questions please leave a comment or send me an email. (You should be able to click on all the images for a larger and clearer version.)

note: This is not my original idea, I've only adapted this one here from Lauren Meader.

Cut...

2 pieces of cardstock @ 8 1/2" x 2"

and

2 pieces of cardstock @ 5 7/8" x 3 3/4"

(For everyone in Europe the cardstock is A4. You can get all these pieces out of one sheet of A4 by cutting the two 8 1/2" x 2" pieces first and then trimming the remaining piece to 3 3/4" wide and then cutting that piece in half.)

Score the two 8 1/2" x 2" pieces @ 1/2", 2 3/8", 6 1/8" & 8" across the long side, then score 1/2" down the width. (that bit always confuses me on which side is which, but hopefully you can work it out from the picture.)

Then score the two 5 7/8" x 3 3/4" pieces at 1 7/8".

From a Post-it-note punch out a circle with a 1 3/8" circle punch and use this mask to position where you want the hole for the carrier handle on the 5 7/8" x 3 3/4" piece of cardstock. When you're happy on your positioning match the two 5 7/8" x 3 3/4"pieces of cardstock together, place you punch over your mask and punch through. I wasn't sure if the punch would manage double thickness but my Stampin' Up! one did. If your punch can't quite manage it, do one piece at a time using your mask as a guide for where your hole is.

To add the decorative scalloped circle round the hole you have just made, punch a 1 3/8" circle in a co-ordinating piece of cardstock. Position the scallop circle over the top of the hole you have just made and punch out (make 2 - one for each side).

Stick these as shown. (Make sure your two 5 7/8" x 3 3/4" pieces are matched together when you do this. I managed to flip one piece over whilst doing a sample and consequently they holes didn't match up. lol!)

Now to make one half of the carrier, fold on the score line so it comes up to the scallop circle.

Now take your 8 1/2" x 2" piece and use the scallop border punch to decorate the long edge that does not have a score line. Fold on all the score lines, cut out the small corners as shown and make two, 1/2" cuts on the score lines again as shown. Add some strong sticky strip to the inside of each tab.

Now it's time to put the first half of the carrier together... are you still with me??

Take your 5 7/8" x 3 3/4" piece and with the scored bit folded up, turn it over and position it into the corner of the 8 1/2" x 2" piece. Fold over the small flap and stick down. Stick the other little flap down on the opposite side in the same way.

As you lift the carrier up you will see how this comes together - the base will drop down and the tabs you have left are to be stuck to the underside of the base. (This isn't easy to explain but hopefully the pictures will make it clearer)

Do the same to make the other carrier half.

When you have made two of these, put plenty of strong sticky tape on the back of one and stick them together ...and VOILA! A little carrier ready for you to decorate! I rounded the corners on this one, which are hiding under the ribbon, and I added some patterned paper to the centre panel before I started putting the whole thing together. The rest is self explanatory. The pots I filled with Choccy raisins and surprisingly they're quite heavy but the carrier takes the weight no problem.

I hope this tutorial can be of use to someone. Please leave a comment, and a link to let me know if you've had a go - I'd love to see your creations!

tfl,

Jo :)

E.T.A. The containers are plastic shot glasses with lids. I bought mine from a lady that sold them from a bulk buy, so sorry I can't help as to where you can get them from. I did a quick Google and there are suppliers out there though.

Pocket Silhoutte...again!

I have a new member to my Stampin'Up! team... yaay!! Helen has signed up to be a Demonstrator and I'm so excited and pleased for her. She is such a lovely, bubbily and enthusiastic crafter and I know she will do well in her new venture - Congratulations Helen! She already holds craft classes on a weekly basis in the North of Dorset so if anyone lives that way and would like more details please get in touch with me and I will let you have her email. She's in the process of setting up a blog but as I haven't actually asked if I can publicly give out her details, via me is the best bet until I have approval. So my card today is very similar to the one I sent to Helen. I adore the colours on this which are Bashful Blue and Lavender Lace - very spring like with a piece of silver hodgepodge to accentuate the greeting....so delicate. The rectangular mount in lavender lace was made with the scallop border punch and this tutorial I did last year. It's still my most favourite punch - really hope scallops stay in fashion for a looong time. My intention today was to post the tutorial for the Milk Carton Container but it's been one of those days which has just flown by. This morning the washing machine packed up - luckily hubs fixed it, phew! Apparently I'm supposed to clean out the filter every now and then.... not every five years, Oopps! There was water everywhere and anyone who know me will confirm that me and water don't go together very well... apart from when I shower that is. LOL!! At least the machine is running nicely now, although the towels that'd been stuck in there for the last 24 hours looked a bit washed out! ha! Thankfully the sun shone today, such a contrast to the continual rain from yesterday. I wanted to take some photo's of the projects I've made but with the sun being very low in the sky it was a nightmare to get some good shots. I did manage to get a few photo's but before I knew it, it was too dark to do the one's for the tutorial. I'd made a start but with shadows, a yellow hue and a high ISO they looked rubbish so I gave up. I'll start again in the morning - promise! I did take a few pics of another Milk Carton Container that I've made so I will leave you with a little sneak. tfl, Jo :)

Polka Dot Punches

I got sidetracked yesterday as I was going to create something for Kristina's Colour Challenge, but once I get an idea in my head I have to go with it. So I've got these little pots that I bought from Jo which are perfect for altering and filling with sweets, and on my travels through blogland I spotted some milk carton containers which I thought would be just the job to carry the pots in. I've been searching for instructions on how to make them for awhile now and eventually I found a post on Lauren Meader's blog (fab lady by the way -very, very talented). So, I made one. It was actually miles too big for my little pots so I shrunk it to fit, and this is what I came up with....

I didn't have anything to put in the pots apart from one small packet of yoghurt raisins I pinched from Jake, and they only filled one pot! ....don't worry, I will let him eat them later. The choccie raisins look quite good actually..think I'll get some when I'm out tomorrow. Anyway, I was wanting to show you how fabulous the heart from the Sale-a-bration set called Polka Dot Punches looked when I white embossed it onto black cardstock - isn't it striking? And to match my little treat container I made a card. I love Polka Dots, so to tie in with the theme I did a bit more white embossing using the large background Polka Dot stamp from the main catalogue. Hope you like. tfl, Jo :) Supplies: Stamps - Polka Dot Punches (SAB) 113788, Polka Dot 109276, Yummy (SAB) 113782 & Circle of Friendship 107137 Colours - Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black Other Materials - SU! White Embossing Powder, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon

Happy Birthday Karen!

It's my bestest friend Karen's Birthday today. I've known Karen for over 20 years and she has always been there for me through life's ups and downs and I couldn't be without her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!

XXX

This is the card I made for her along with a handmade box which holds a pretty necklace.

I really can't seem to stop using Regal Rose and choc Chip with the Sweet Always papers - I love 'em! lol I will do something different tomorrow though as I see Kristina has a new colour challenge up, so fingers crossed I get time to play later.

ttfn,

Jo :)

Chaz

Sorry for the lack of inspiration but I've been concentrating on a special birthday coming very soon for a certain person (Karen). I will show at the end of the week, after the big day. The snow is still with is, well mainly sludge now, but we went out again yesterday while the sun shone and I got this great shot of my Chaz! He's a Charley really but I call him Chaz - suits him don't you think? Be back soon.. Jo :)

Is that...? No it can't be....yes it is!!!

SNOW!!!!

Living on the south coast means we're very lucky to have a warmer climate but it also means we hardly ever get snow. Jake is 4 1/2 and he has never seen snow, until today and he loved it! And Mum is pretty much a big kid too at the thought of getting it... something to do with a deprived childhood?? lol Anyway, school was closed and although we hadn't had very much, probably about an inch or so, it was enough to cover the ground so Jake could make a snow angel and have a snowball fight. We were going to go sledging on a makeshift sled but by the time we got to the park it was starting to melt and there really wasn't enough on the ground for it to work. We had a snowball fight instead, and kept losing the dog...... he blends really well with the snow..lol You can see him in this photo running frantically around the garden in excitement - bless.

It's snowed again this evening and the garden looks beautiful - shame it will be slush in the morning.