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Thursday 29 December 2011

New year, new look blog, new stamps...

Hello! I'm just popping to wish you a happy new year as I know I'm not going to have a spare minute in the next couple of days. I adore Christmas but am always quite happy to put away the decorations and embrace the new year - it's a time for new beginnings, fresh ideas and a good old clear out!

You may have already noticed my new-look blog and there'll be more new things on the way too as Stampin' Up are publishing a brand new mini catalogue at the beginning of 2012... I've seen it of course, and I can tell you it's bursting with exciting new goodies! I can't wait to show you! I've used one of the new stamp sets to make a little new year card to take to a lovely friend of mine who hosted a party this week, so here's a sneak preview for you:


The misty floral panel is made with three of the flowers from a gorgeous new set called Fruit and Flowers. I love the effect of stamping onto Crumb Cake card stock using Whisper White craft ink and mounted the panel onto vellum to add to the translucent look.


This beautiful brad from the Antique Brads collection makes a lovely focal point on the ornate label from Everything Eleanor that I use so often. Aren't these brads wonderful? They come in several designs and look like elegant designer jewellery to me!

You can start ordering from the mini catalogue on 4th January when you'll be able to see it in my side bar, but do let me know if you'd like me to pop a paper copy in the post for you.

Supplies needed for this card:
Stamps: Fruit and Flowers (available 4th Jan), Everything Eleanor, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Whisper White craft ink
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Vellum
Other: Antique brads, corner, rounder, stamp-a-majig, paper snips
I'd be delighted to order any of these supplies for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I am committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to help and advise. Just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593. 

I hope you had a lovely Christmas. Ours was wonderful - although we were a little surprised to be woken up at 6am - not by an excited 10 year old but by my hulking great 16 year old daughter! It was perhaps a little earlier than I would've liked but the five of us soon got into the Christmas spirit! There's nothing like being snuggled up together in a warm house, enjoying giving one another presents, eating excellent food and spending time doing the things we don't usually have time to do - jigsaw puzzles, watching old films on TV, going for long country walks, playing board games... My youngest son who thrashed us all at Trivial Pursuits stunned us all by going on a roll and getting three 'pies' in succession! "You'd better watch out boys!" he said in his best gangster voice. "I'm the new janitor and it's clean-up time around here!"

Thank you for popping in today. Have a great new year's weekend and I'll see you very soon!

Hugs,

Monday 19 December 2011

Wishing you a merry Christmas!

Christmas is an ideal time of year to say thank you to those that make a difference in our lives and a small handmade card or gift is often very much appreciated. This year I wrapped small pots of Christmassy cyclamen in the pretty vintage-feel Holly Berry Bouquet speciality designer paper, tied them up with a festive satin ribbon and added a punched label.



This is such a quick, easy to put together idea and brilliant for last-minute gifts too. I used the same gorgeous paper to make cards to match too using one of my favourite designs that you may have seen before...


... but I just wanted to show you the sentiment. I combined 'Wishing you a' from Hopeful Thoughts with 'Merry Christmas' from Contempo Christmas and I love the way it turned out!


Well, all my children have broken up from school and are full of excitement (although I'm beginning to suspect my daughter is more excited about the Downton Abbey Christmas Special than the day itself!) We've had a few flakes of snow, the Christmas lights are twinkling, there are some exciting looking parcels under the tree and this year's Christmas puzzle is out for us all to do when we have spare moments. So it's time to curl up by a roaring fire with a cup of tea and a nice slice of Christmas cake! Bliss!

It remains for me to say an enormous thank you to my readers and my customers. It is through your loyalty and support that I am able to run this small business doing something I absolutely love and I cannot thank you enough. I'd like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and I'll look forward to seeing you in the new year - with some very exciting news!

Hugs



Saturday 17 December 2011

A thank you with Musical Notes

"No, I haven't got time to do a challenge," I said grumpily when my husband asked if I'd be crafting this morning. But I couldn't resist a peek at Less is More, just to see what the challenge was this week (cards on a musical theme), and then an idea came into my head... so here's my card:


It was very fast to put together - the card base was swiped twice with my Music Notes wheel, the flowers were stamped over the top and the card finished with a sentiment.


I kept the musical score neutral with Sahara Sand ink and allowed the flowers to pop with Cherry Cobbler petals and Lucky Limeade stalks and stamens. I always like red florals for after-Christmas thank you cards as a nod to the season. These gorgeous blooms are from Everything Eleanor which contains a selection of the most beautiful flowers as well as a really useful flourish, two ornate labels and the cutest little bird!


I always like to show you my sentiments and this one from Thank You Kindly often comes out with my musical notes wheel because I can't resist the pun!

Supplies needed for this card:
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Thank You Kindly, Musical Notes wheel
Ink: Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade
Card stock: Naturals Ivory
Other: Aqua painter, corner rounder, Lucky Limeade marker, stamp-a-majig
I'd be delighted to order any of these supplies for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I am committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to help and advise. Just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593. 

An update on the carpet-fitting - we've now given up and told everyone to go away and leave us alone. It's been the most appalling experience with the fitters lying to us and walking out and generally behaving badly. Thankfully, we bought the carpet from John Lewis who couldn't be more helpful about sorting things out for us, but I just can't stand waiting any longer to get our house sorted for Christmas. We're all happy and healthy and will have a lovely time relaxing together, so what does it matter that two of the rooms still have the old carpet in them?!

Hope you're enjoying your weekend and aren't too busy! I'd better go off and get the rest of our decorations up and organise lunch - and there are still some cards to get done too...

See you on Monday!