Brayered Pocket Silhouettes

Brayering is something we all seem to shy away from even though the effect is quite stunning and easily achieved once you take the plunge. I've only recently been introduced to brayering and although I don't do it often, when I do I'm always pleased with the outcome. These little 4"x4" easel cards are so adorable and having made them in monochromatic shades it just goes to show, you don't need lots of different colours when it comes to brayering. The brayer I used is one that Stampin'Up! sells (the best of course) the Speedball roller. If you've ever seen the Queen of brayering, Barbara Gray on the well known craft shopping channel it's the same size and make as she uses and the Stampin'Up! one is a fraction of the price too - £8.95...bargain! I shall be demoing brayering at a workshop in the next few weeks and if you'd like to see how I made these I'm more than happy to come and show you how it's achieved with a home workshop - I don't bite honest. So it's the last day of Sale-a-bration today, I hope you've all managed to get yourself one or all of the fabulous FREE sets that have been on offer over the last 2 months. It's a shame we can't have FREE ones all the time but then again if you host a home workshop you can! If you fancy some freebies and you're debating whether to have a party, please email me at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk and I will happily 'talk' you through what happens and what you can earn. There's no pressure to have one and if you'd prefer to have a little taster, I have classes and Open House events planned that you'd be more than welcome to attend. I'll be back tomorrow with the winner of my Flight of the Butterfly Card Tin Kit which you still have time to enter here. Good luck and see you tomorrow!

Sunny Days

The sun IS shining today for a change...yaaay! It seems like it's been raining for weeks here on the south coast and a bit of sunshine definately makes me feel a whole lot better in myself. So today I have another Tri-Shutter album to show you, and in keeping with the weather this one is made with the Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Kit. These kits are brilliant value for money as it's basically two for the price of one which includes loads of matching self adhesive cardstock die cuts. This album was made last year but I didn't quite have the right ribbon to finish it off. I'd previously used some 1/2"grosgrain ribbon and it really didn't look anything so last night I changed it to the lush 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Pumpkin Pie. I could of used the Old Olive one come to think of it but Pumpkin Pie it is and now I'm happy with it.

Here's the inside... And a few close ups...Don't forget my Flight of the Butterfly Kit Blog Candy in this post here which will be drawn on Monday 1st March. To Enter simply leave a comment on that particular post. Good Luck!

Let's hope the sun stays out for the rest of the weekend - we're going to a local country park tomorrow for a long walk.

Enjoy your weekend and see you soon.

Fresh Cuts Hinged Box

I've a few workshops over the next few weeks and I wanted to refresh my samples ready for my next one on Tues. It's also inspiring for me to have something different to show and I'd seen a lovely hinged box which I wanted to make. Monica designed it for the first round of Stamp With Us and it's really gorgeous. This is mine and I used Sage Shadow, More Mustard and Chocolate Chip.This is the box open.And here are the cards made with the Fresh-Cut Notes. There are actually 5 cards and envelopes inside.You can see Monica's original design here. Clever girl isn't she.

Tonight I'm prepping for a class that I'm holding tomorrow and hopefully I'll get chance to make some more samples for the workshops...... I love my job!

If you love crafting and would like to earn an income through selling Stampin'Up! products, now is the best time to do it. The current offer until 28th February is to receive the starter kit for £139 PLUS an additional FREE stamp set of your choice up to the value of £38.95, PLUS from myself a Sale-a-bration set of your choice. (The starter kit alone is valued at over £240) Whether you'd like to join for the discount and all the demonstrator benefits, as a hobby demo, or as a career you're onto a WIN WIN situation when you join Stampin'Up! With my team of likeminded, friendly sharing and caring demonstrators I will give you all the help, support and encouragement to do as little or as much as you like - no pressure. So if you're debating turning your hobby into a business, I would love to help you on your Stampin' Up! journey, one that will reward you with wonderful friendships, fun and an exciting future of crafting with an income thrown in.

For more info you can email me at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk (The free stamp set offer is only available until the 28th February however the starter kit will remain at £139 after that date.)

Tfl,

All Boxed Up

I really need to put these Tea Party papers away, and the Flight of the Butterfly set but they're so gorgeous together I can't help it! Remember the clear acetate boxes we made at our Extravaganza last month, you can see them here, well I've a few leftover so I made another with my favourite papers and stamps. There's three cards to go in the box but it can easily take another. This first one being the same design as the one I made for Anna here - love this card. And all finished off with a sprinkling of Dazzling Diamonds.

Hope to see you tomorrow with something different.

Tfl,

Just Buggin Blog Hop and some Candy

Nothing to show today but I do have some news from my BFF Karen who is on the DT for 'Just Buggin'. They're having a Blog Hop on the 26th February and in conjunction with this Karen is also very kindly offering some blog candy to one lucky person between now and the 1st March. The prize is £20 to spend with myself from the current Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue! I have to say that's pretty generous and all you have to do to be in with a chance is become a follower of Karen's blog, make a reference on your blog to link back to hers and then pop back on the 1st March to see if you've been picked as the winner from the random draw. For more details on Karen's Blog Candy and the Just Buggin Blog Hop you can visit her here and here. I shall be posting a little giveaway myself on Monday so pop back again soon. Thank you Karen for such a generous blog candy and good luck everyone!

Another Happy Moment

It's less than two weeks to the end of Sale-a-bration and how fabulous has it been this year! I've loved all the free sets but inparticular Happy Moments because of the cute little sentiments and of course a bit of colouring which I love. It's not too late to get yourself a FREE sale-a-bration set though, the offer lasts until 28th February.I whipped this card up in about 10 mins last night. I have to admit the products were already on my desk so I didn't have the dilemna of which colour combo to choose ,and whilst SAB is still on I'm making the most of this adorable set.

I'm planning a little giveaway for one lucky person next week (not SAB related) so pop back again soon.

Tfl,

Butterflies and Swirls

One of my ladies in the Stampers 8 club had a birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Anna! I wasn't sure what colours Anna likes but as she's just bought the Elegant Eggplant inkpad I went with it and teamed it with Old Olive and Rose Red. I used that gorgeous Swirly stamp again from Baroque Motifs and added a few butterflies from Flight of the Butterfly.

I'm off for a fun day of chatting and crafting today but I can't fit everything in my bags. I don't know why it takes me so long to pack as I never use it all! Tell me I'm not the only one that does this?

Tfl,

Bella Bleu Tri-Shutter Album

Before Christmas I was running a class to make a Tri-Shutter Album using the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit, like the one Andrea Walford has done. It was a very popular class and just like the Christmas Card Tin I did, I wanted to revamp it so I made this a few weeks back using the Bella Bleu Designer papers.

I've made quite a few of these albums now in different colour combinations and although they look complicated they're really not. They measure 6" x 8" and use 2 sheets of 12x12 cardstock to make the bare bones of the album.I've incorporated the Baroque Motifs stamp set and the very gorgeous Medallion stamp on the front of this one. There's no photo's in it just yet as it was something I was going to do last night and guess what, the printer ran out of ink. Here's a few shots of the inside though... And some a bit closer...

A greeting from the Whimsical Words, Sale-a-bration set..

These albums make a great gift, I made one for my Mother and Father in law last year for a 50th wedding anniversary which they loved. And something I didn't realise till quite recently, pointed out by one of my customers, they fit perfectly in the A5 silver tins!

Tfl,

Restocking

You'd think that being a cardmaker I'd have an enormous stash of cards ready to send when a birthday looms.... nope not me! lol I recently found I've loads of thank you cards but not general birthday so my mission is to do a batch of cards ready for when I need them. First one......

I love to cut out, I think you can probably tell as most of my cards have something cut out on them. This set is Baroque Motifs. I adore that beautiful swirl! So elegant.

Tfl,

Jo :)

Are you ready for Valentines?

A card and a clear pail to show you today using 'Love you Much' again. These were some of the samples I had for the Extravaganza and with Valentines Day being at the weekend I thought I'd better show you before it's passed us by. My hubs and I are going to Lock Fyne for Valentines, a fantastic fish restaurant. It's our treat to each other and we're going to have one of those huge seafood platters..yum! Are you doing anything nice for Valentines?

Tfl,

Jo :)

Flight of the Butterfly card Tin

Well I'm over the worst of this nasty virus that's been going round and all that remains is a barking cough which is driving me potty, but in myself I feel tons better and thank you to everyone for your well wishes - they really are appreciated. So, this weekend I promised myself some 'me' crafting time and that's exactly what I achieved. Before Christmas I did a class using some A5 silver tins and it went down a treat as they make a beautiful gift - not that any of my customers want to give them away! I've been selling the tins and the class on my sidebar but now we're out of the Christmas time zone I wanted to update it to something that could be done any time of year. Inspired by the hundreds of butterflies that Jen did for the Extravaganza last week I decided to work with Flight of the Butterfly along with the Tea Party papers.

I've made 4 cards to go in the tin but it can easily hold at least 8 depending on the embellishments on each card. Here's the inside of the tin... And a closer look at the outside...I'll be doing this tin as a class for those that weren't able to come to the Christmas one so if you live local to Wimborne and would like to come along, drop me an email at jodumbleton@aol.co.uk for class dates and more info.

I haven't updated the class instructions as I literally only did this one last night but if you would be interested in purchasing them, again email me or leave a comment below and I'll get my finger out. The tins are still for sale and if you live local you're more than welcome to come and collect.

Tfl,

Jo :)

The next best thing

Do you know what the next best thing to making cards is?? Well for me it's receiving a beautiful handmade one in the post and that's exactly what I had turn up this morning. One of my very talented crafting friends, Julie sent me this gorgeous card. Isn't it fabulous and she's used the Greenhouse Garden set - another of my faves. Thank you Julie - it's pride of place on my desk. x Tfl, Jo :)

Following on

It's been a tough week this week. I'd started to come down with something last Friday and wasn't feeling my best but having the Extravaganza got me through till then end of Saturday but then gradually I got worse over the following days. What didn't help was I had to work long hours the early part of this week and it was paperwork that couldn't be put off. Anyway, today is Friday and I'm feeling loads better and looking forward to a relaxing weekend and hopefully a bit of stamping. I've really taken to the On a Pedestal stamp set since we used it at the Extravaganza, so with a bit of 'me' time last night and whilst watching Silent Witness I made a few more cards. The colour combo on this is Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red....fabulous. It's my best friends Karen's birthday today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN! We've known each other over 20 years.....crumbs that scary. Right, I've alot of housework to catch up on today. Tfl, Jo :)

More Sale-a-bration

A very quick post today of some cards I made using the Sale-a-bration set 'Happy Moments'. I amost forgot to show you! Love this set the best out of all of them, it's great for colouring and the sentiments as so diddy and cute - fabulous!

Love that dazzling diamonds too - the best glitter in the world!

Tfl,

Jo :)