Simple Boys Cards!

Aren’t boys tough? in so very many ways!! Tough little cookies, tough to figure out and supremely tough to make for. How many times have you scratched your head trying to make something remotely boy-suitable that looks good too. This was a very quick card for a birthday boy who is a friend of Jamies’. Having two sons means I will make a fair few greetings over the years.

This one though, I like. Only because it was simple and very quick. Using a scrap of wallpaper border (already sticky- oh Joy!)  it was ready in super quick time. Scout around people; there is so much that is free- check out your local DIY store!

Completed with my trusty old Quickutz alphabet as you have to have their name on- it just won’t do otherwise!!

Feels good being simple!!Take that one however you like! I’m trying to drag simplicity into my ever complicated life and that is a mammoth challenge.

Well I need to crack on with preparing for my first Stampin’Up event. It is fun  preparing samples to show the girls and at least I’ll be able to re-use them. I just need to settle on what we’re actually going to make together.. some of them are not die-hard crafters so it needs to be simple but with the’ wow, did I really make that?’ effect! Think I might do some cheat watercolouring! Need to get going though; should be about 15 of us so its going to have to be make and takes in rounds!! At least my dining table will seat 10 .

Take care xx

 

Apologies Blogland!

Very sorry everyone; I’ve been doing a Holiday club at church and have been so busy that I couldn’t find time to craft nevermind blog!! With some Stampin’Up! workshops coming up I have got to get busy  preparing samples and projects for the girls to make. Have just rushed one off- and here it is. I just love the simple uncluttered look that you can get with these stamps and this is using a Christmas flower but not in a Christmassy way and part of a balloon that is doing a good job as a flower stem! That’s what’s great about these stamps- just so incredibly versatile!

Meanwhile I’m meeting myself coming backwards!- school is hurtling towards us, workshops, things to do with my book and I’m feeling quite overwhelmed. I’ve a good friend coming round tonight so that will force me to sit down! The housework is gonna have to wait (like it does most of the time!!!)

Take care,

Keren xx

Card recipe:

All supplies from Stampin’Up!- Season Of Joy and ‘A Bit of Birthday Cheer’

Green Gable , Tempting Turquoise and Close to Cocoa ink (don’t you love those names!!)

Whisper white ribbon

Green Gable, Whisper White  & Tempting Turquoise cardstock

 

Scalloped Business Cards!

Why do most functional items end up looking so dull? I’m on a mission to make my personal world look a little bit more beautiful! Ok, beautiful might be stretching the point but as I’ve been preparing to start as a demonstrator I was thinking about business cards. My brother-in-law is a printer and I was preparing a mockup to send his way and then I decided I could do my own!

So- they are not as professional; I’ve just used my own printer but they are handstamped and they DO have a scalloped bottom! I’ve not seen any business cards with that detail! I rather like them (even if I do say so myself) and I’m hoping they’ll be a good showcase for some of the products. They’ll change from time to time as I’ll probably get bored with the same look after a while.  I think I need to move away from the blue and green combo, but it’s like a comfort blanket; makes me feel good! BTW, the weird stuck on bit in the pic is just preserving my mobile phone’s dignity- it prefers to be kept secret!!!

Later I need to make some more after I’ve finished looking after my friends 2 little boys. 7 kids for a morning should be fun- now where are the muffin cake cases; I feel a batch of cupcakes coming on. 7 kids in a kitchen may just be 1 step too far! See you soonxx

PS- anyone else got any unusual business cards? I’d love to see!!

Card recipe;  Stamp,- Stampin’Up!  Cardstock  -Bazzil swiss dots

Kindness

Some people are just kind! Some are not- but its great to be thankful for others when they are. I don’t think you can ever say Thankyou too much and I’m trying to instil this into my kids. I’m like a stuck-record with my children when they’re little and Will can say ‘pwease‘ even if he can’t quite manage ‘thankyou’! This card was for a couple we’ve just got to know at a church we’re about to start attending. I make no apologies for the swirl stamp; I’d stamped it several times in preparation for something else so I needed to use the images up!

I’m fixing the date for my first workshop- Thursday 3rd September at 8pm. If anyone is in Liverpool and fancies coming- contact me and I’ll give you directions! It’s pretty nerve-racking and I hope I can  manage to get some bookings for parties out of it.

 Todays challenge is to be kind- I’m off to think of a random act of kindness!  How about you? xx

 

Card Recipe;

Paper- MME, Swirl Stamp (Season of Joy)- Stampin’Up. Kind sticker-K & Co. Dotted cardstock- Bazzil

Slide Mailer

I was having a bit of a clear out and found some ‘long lost’ craft gear and started playing again.

These slide mailers are great for unusual mini cards or message sending. The glass slide is easily decorated using any of the Stazon range. I love the Stampin’Up  ‘Season of Joy’ set of stamps because there are several that can be used all year round. This swirl stamp is just gorgeous and is part of a set containin 8 stamps. It’s amazing value at £24.95 .

This stamp is just crying out to be embellished and just with a few beads, crystals and glitter, the image looks so different.

Today we all went to all local hospital to visit some of the staff there. I wanted to take them a little thankyou in the form of a book I’ve just written. There are so many people that I owe so much too and they’ve really helped motivate me writing it. The kids love visiting and always get lots of biscuits!

I’ve finally signed up with Stampin’Up so there’s one huge learning curve but I’m really looking forward to it. Once I’m accepted I’ve just got the  wait for all the goodies to arrive!!

Cakes, cakes, cakes

Today has been a real blast! I organised a cake sale outside our house! It was for the kids, by the kids! They helped bake, do signs, work out the costs, and do the selling. We’ve made an astonishing amount of money and the kids have worked together so well. Here are some mini pics of the fare!

I’ve also been thinking ahead to Christmas (again). I’ve seen lots of people committing themselves to buy handmade and I like to make as much as possible. I love things that look exciting as soon as you see it.. and I thought about making little boxes to give cookies or chocolate fudge in. I found an old box, dismantled it and used it as a template. I  had to put an acetate window in too (don’t you just love that stuff)!!

Recipe: Stamps – Stampin’Up,  Ribbon- Brenda Pinnick, Old Olive card- Stampin’Up and pink card- DCWV

I’m off to help the kids count their money xx

Digital crafting !

 So, today,I’ve been engaged doing something else and had to use this digital scrapbook page ..BUT, you have to admit that it’s a cute face. I won’t be posting many pics of my kiddos but this is Will and he’s 1. I do love scrapbooking and recently its gone on the backburner as I’ve concentrated on papercrafting. I need to do some new layouts; in May, I set myself the challenge of doing a layout every day for the month- I did it as well (much to my complete amazement)., but then it all stopped! Sometimes its good just setting yourself a goal. Today’s goal was to take my kids out even though I just wanted to crawl back into bed. We went to a really cute urban farm and it was good to get some fresh air. I’ll be crafting late into the night to finish..oh sorry.. secret! – so I’ll yawn in advance ! See you tomorrow xx

Get Well Soon Card!

This is a card that could be for any occasion, but I’ve decided I’m sending it to me! I had nearly 1 hours sleep last night and now I know why they call it beauty sleep- boy do I need some!! Even the miracle concealer is not hiding much. Before I slip into a downward spiral of feeling sorry for myself, this morning I’m counting my blessings; I have 5 incredible kids downstairs all trying to be ‘very quiet because mummy is ill’! They’re trying to decide what to bake for me to make me feel better (bless them!). so actually, kids, this card is for you guys; you’re like those flowers, brightening my day and even though I don’t love being jumped on (to check whether I’m awake!-am now!) you’re all a pretty fine bunch. The Baker 5- you rock!!!

 

Handy Measurements Mini-Book

Here goes; bear with me and let me know if its even vaguely ‘work-outable’!

This is a mini tutorial to make a mini book for storing all those ‘sizes’ and measurements that you need to hand and if you’re like me- never have! It was born out of thinking what I could do with all the mini envelopes i had- the sort you get with kids Christmas cards and I have lots left over.

 You’ll need- about 6-8 mini envelopes (any  size),   

Cardstock- I used two different colours. Try Stampin’Up Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant.  2 x A4  sheets will be plenty.

Scraps of paper- the biggest pieces I used were 10cm x 7cm . Whatever fits in with your colour scheme.

Ribbon- 1 piece measuring about 40cm.  Stampin’Up have some beautiful grosgrain ribbon in two different widths that matches the cardstock perfectly. I also used some twill tape that you can purchase from them too.

Stamps /embellishments. Any small alphabet will do. Stampin’Up are about to discontinue a really cute set’ Alphabits at £13.95 for 4 alphabets. 

2 x D-rings.

Place your envelope on a scrap piece of card to create a template. Draw roughly a 1cm border around the envelope and trim to create a symmetrical rectangle (I say symmetrical as many of the envelopes I used weren’t truely rectangular).

Use template to cut out 4 rectangles. I used two of each colour.

      

 

 

  Lay out the two rectangles that you’ll use as the front and back covers.  Cut the ribbon into two strips 20cm long each  and attach them to the covers on the inside (if you’re using double-sided cardstock- not what will end up as the actual ‘front’ and ‘back’ part of the mini book. Try to position them in the same place- i placed mine about 4cm down from the top. 

Now stick the other two pieces of card on top of these pieces so that you create a ‘sandwich’ with the ribbon in the middle.         

 

 

  Using the patterned paper or scraps, cut pieces to fit the back of each envelope where the flap is. I cut pieces a few mm smaller (and remembering not to go past where the flap begins. 

I wanted to create a little notch to help pull out the measurements in each envelope so I positioned a circular punch half way onto the envelope (not flap side) so it cut half a circle and thereby a ‘notch’. 

              

 

Now to stamp the envelopes..

 

  I thought about which measurements I’d need. Obviously my family’s vital statistics but also curtain sizings and other family members. Using individual letter stamps can be difficult when placing so its a good tip to stamp them slightly haphazardly as it looks better in the end.

 

 

 

Now you need to create little cards to put all the details on. Again, I used leftover pieces, wrote out the details and added a few decorative bits!

Now you just need to punch holes in the book covers and the envelopes. Remember to lay the book out with the ribbons at the right hand side, and the envelope flaps at the right hand side. I created a holepunch template (right). Punch holes in the left side of the book covers and the left side of the envelopes. Dont punch the holes in the envelopes with the little cards in or you risk punching through them by mistake!!

Insert your D-rings through the holes, fasten and then decorate and embellish with whatever you have to hand. 

And.. Voila- the finsihed book to tuck away in your bag for whenever you see that ‘bargain’ or are looking for a present!

Hope you enjoyed that.. comments and suggestions for improvements will be gladly accepted- I’m new to this- remember?!!

Papers- Anna Griffin and MME. Transparency- Hambly Studios

Compliments Craft Box

Hello there! At last I’ve returned from a great week away. I returned with a little extra holiday gift; flu! suffice to say I don’t think its of the swine variety but then how does anyone seem to know anymore!

Anyway, I thought I’d show you some of the projects I did whilst I was away. This is a birthday gift for someone and inside is going to be a mini concertina book containing what I think are their best attributes; a kind of ‘pick-me-up’ for bad hair, bad face, bad anything days!! when the concertina book is completed I’ll put a little tutie (tutorial) about how to do it.

I’ll leave you now, to continue coughing!! I’m in the middle of helping my kids complete a craft project of their own- 5 little ‘argument boxes’. They each have a slot in and anytime anyone argues- they get to place a ‘Oops I did it again’ token in the sealed (to stop sabotage!) box and at the end of the week- the one with the most will get something bad and the one with the least will get something good! Come back next week and I’ll tell you if it worked!! Thanks for looking- it means a lot that you have taken the trouble to stop by!

From an argument free (?!!!) house, see you soon xx

Recipe; Papers- My Minds Eye (aren’t they scrummy), stamps- Stampin’Up,  ribbon- Brenda Pinnick and other.