Silhouette Card & Being Predictable!

Silhouettes of faces are very ‘on-trend’ right now and I don’t actually have any of those images- so can’t be accused of being trendy. Instead I continue my theme of simple cards- but to be honest if I make them any more simple, I’ll simply be showing you a piece of card in the next blog post!!

Sometimes you kinda see the inner workings of people’s minds when you’re chatting. Reading their cerebral  sub–text it can go something like this;

Me; ‘this really is a simple card’

You;’ (thinking ) Are you kidding I wouldn’t know where to start’.

Me; ‘it doesn’t need much to create this look- using whatever craft gear you have to make something similar’

You; (thinking) ‘all the craft gear I own could be fitted into a shoe box with room to spare. There is no way I could create that at home’

All the while, you are smiling and nodding sweetly whilst I try and to convince you to have a go and you are secretly thinking’ no way’!!! Well- here’s something that you only need 4 products (plus a bit of any colour card- you’ll defintely have that- won’t you!!) for plus a heat gun (or paint stripper gun which is what I used for a very long time!!- or failing that,  holding above a toaster, which is how I started out!- please operate the paint stripper and toaster with much caution!- I have been there; trust me!! Better still, just purchase a heat gun!!)

Here’s the products- Stamp set (this one’s a freebie you could earn  if you host  a party)

                                          Versamark ink pad

                                           White embossing powder

                                           Pearls

you just ink the stamps with the Versamark, next sprinkle over the embossing powder (the ink is slightly sticky which helps the powder stick ), heat it up until the powder ‘melts’ and becomes shiny and slightly raised and then add your pearls. See- no ribbon (I know, it did nearly kill me being quite that minimal)- and you don’t have to have lots of supplies to make a card. Give it a go- go and hunt out that dusty box containing all that craft stuff that you promised yourself you’d use one day, and make something simple. I’d love to see what you come up with!

 

I’m sadly fairly readable.. Will arrived to greet me this morning with these words “Mum, you’re so predictable.” Aside from the fact that he absolutely no idea of what that phrase means- he is not far off the mark with that comment. I did pause and reflect on what made me so obvious. I came up with the following list;

1. Slightly vacant look- due to late nights and not enough thinking time.

2. High heels. My friends daughter asked me this weekend ‘Do you ever wear flat shoes?”- erm not if I can help it.

3. Most likely to be caught eating something sweet– yep- seriously sweet tooth.

4. Slight twitchiness if I haven’t created something in a day or two? Absolutely- being creative is one of my main outlets for survival. Forget alcohol, movies, clothes- I just love to make things!!!

5. Submerged silliness. I’m less predictable here, as this part of me remains ‘sat on’ for most of the time. There are a few people (you know who you are) who tap into this side of me and are known for encouraging my more loopy side. I do have comic sparring partners and others who send me into fits of giggles. I nearly lost it completely giggling during something on Friday night. My older kids were unimpressed. You could see them wondering who the adult was in that situation!!! Please encourage this in me- I do spend much of my life wondering quite how I became this dull!!

I could go on- but then I’d be predictably using superfluous words when being more economical would suffice completely (yep, managed to get my love of longer words in there too!!!)

What are you predictable for?

See you soon- or maybe not- maybe I should surprise you all and never return!!!xx

Workshop Freebies & Tidying up (again!)

Here’s a combination of sets to make a card that shows you what you could get for holding a workshop- or call ’em parties; they’re fun either way! The ‘Lucky You’ sentiment is part of one of the hostess sets (Afterthoughts)  you can earn for free, and you could quite possibly choose the Baby Blossoms set (the roses) as part of the free spends too. Lots of people are too worried they don’t know enough crafters to hold a party. Well, let me say, they don’t have be enormous events nor do they have to be crammed full of crafters. It helps if people don’t actually hate the sight of patterned paper and are happy to give something a go. I never do anything that a complete beginner couldn’t cope with and have converted several die-hard ‘non-crafters’ to make and actually enjoy doing something creative. With money a little tight for lots but people still wanting to get together and have a cheap night in- go find some friends and neighbours and I’ll gladly come to your house (or your mates!) and show you just what everyone loves about Stampin’Up! parties! Book an evening with me before the lure of mindless banal TV takes you over!!

This week is busy with Stampin’Up! events so I was trying to get myself a little more organised so that the process of finding the simplest thing doesn’t take forever. I decided to get a ribbon dispenser which was crazily good value and sort the ribbons out from the tangled web that they had become. I don’t have a cream and lovely vintage room to match but we’re slowly starting to make progress. We? Who am I trying to kid- it’s all me doing the tidying and I’m still not done. I can only show you one corner as the rest is entirely too shameful! Being tidy just makes me happy. Unfortunately I’m rarely happy on that particular account but I live in hope! Maybe I might get to show you the rest- but tis’ unlikely any time soon!

Before I leave I’ll tell you of the latest stuff that’s been going on. I don’t pride myself on being a fantastic driver- but I guess I try to be a careful one. Last week an almost amusing situation occurred; here’s the synopsis;

Driving home… see a cyclist in middle lane.. middle lane?..I hang back a little. Cyclist appears very close to articulated lorry… on closer inspection- cylist is HOLDING onto the back of the lorry… lorry and nutter on the back both travelling at 40mph…approaching traffic lights…lorry brakes…cyclist does not… rider and bike fly (yes, fly) across the front of my car… cyclist somersaults onto embankment.. rider and cycle part company… cycle and cyclist thud at high speed into a large oak tree… I brake to check he’s ok..(thinking ambulance may just be needed).. cylcist staggers to feet…bike is mashed…I drive away incredibly thankful that I was no closer to crazy cyclist..

Cyclists- please wear a hat and refrain from hitching a ride with one hand on the back of large lorry..Please!

See you soon….. xx

PS- Will saw an advert for Pirates of The Carribean- the kids had been talking about it. Look Mum, he pipes up ‘It’s Pirates of the CarrotsBeans’!!!!

Card recipe- Baby Blossoms, Hostess set, sweet Stitches designer paper. Swirl Sizzlits die. Peach Parfait ribbon. Corner rounder. Peach Parfait, Melon Mambo, and Wild Wasabi cardstock

Free Hostess Stamp set card & New People

Have I ever said that I love my job?! Life does get a bit manic with juggling family and committments and job, but there aren’t many folks who can say they genuinely enjoy what they do. Thanks, Stampin’Up!, you’re a cool company to work with. This week has ranked as truly full on. I’ve never worked so hard in one week, but then, I’ve never met so many new people in the space of 7 days. This mini- notebook holder is one that I’ve been demonstrating the past couple of events. It is showing off an entirely FREE stamp set. You have to love free- it makes you feel better about the world, knowing you’ve got it for zilch. This is just one of the many (and I’m not exaggerating) choices you get the chance to choose from when you hold a party. Parties are not onerous, difficult or stressful- just a lot of fun and you get freebies to boot. I have 2 spaces left in November and a couple at the beginning of December. Do book one- you wont regret it!!

From last Friday to this Friday I have done 1 home party (hey Su!), 1 craft workshop- hello Wellington Avenue gang (and there are still a couple of free Wednesday night places left). A craft club in Tarleton (Hi Sarah et al!!) and finally a craft club at All Saints Childwall (hiya Hilary and everyone). Working out roughly the people I’ve seen, it amounts to about 66 crafters and most of them new. We’ve done Christmas cards, name tags, matching cards, birthday cards, acetate cards and I hope they’ve all enjoyed themselves as much as I did. Today, I’m resting and looking forward to a little less hectic week this week. If you have a craft club or a bunch of friends who like to craft- book me for a visit!

This week, I’ve seen some small hours and done some new tasks. I didnt know how to remove butterfly stitches before today, but now I have that badge! Thankfully, my daughters head is healed and she now has an excellent story to tell, although she’s a little tired of having to repeat the tale to the myriad of strangers who ask her what she did! I also managed to get myself a wedding outfit in superquick time for peanuts. I picked a dress up for the princely sum of £4.99 and once I’d found a top and boots, I still had forked out less than £34 for the whole outfit. I’ve gone purple and black. Apparently I’ve committed a wedding etiquette faux pas. Did you know you’re not supposed to really wear black and definately not a floor length dress unless it’s an evening wedding. Ooops and oops again. Hoping the bride won’t shoot me on sight. It’s fairly simple and not an outfit to stick out in a crowd, but dearie me, who’d have thought you could commit so many fashion crimes with one outfit! I did nearly buy a stunning outfit from an outlet place. The dress was red (an all time fave colour) and was stunning, with a price tag to match. Someone had obviously emailed over my precise measurements because it was a perfect fit and I felt nearly like a princess wearing it. Common sense prevailed. I would not have got much mileage from it as it was just too glamorous. I placed it back, sighing inside, but my bank balance was uber happy and my conscience was too. Shame though. One day…..!

See the little pearl on one of the flowers- its the new set of pearls from the catalogue. There are also the tiniest self adhesive pearls I’ve ever seen and will look so amazing decorating up different stamped images. They’re £4.50 and just beautiful.

Righto- I need to go and put the heating on— man, it’s chilly!!

Project recipe;

Cardstock, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White and Poppy Parade. Ribbon- Daffodil Delight, Markers in colours of Cardstock. Designer Series Paper in Greenhouse Gala. Pearls. Versamark ink. Stamp sets- Silhouette Sentiments (FREE) and Ornate Flowers.