tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21983590398404313402024-03-05T09:25:53.450-08:00Serendipity StampingDemonstrationg the Scrummy Products of Stampin' Up! in the Chelmsford and Essex Area.Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-47346518938275680962011-04-02T02:23:00.000-07:002011-04-02T02:33:10.693-07:00Mini Catalogue Blog Hop!Hello,<br />
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If you've just joined me from <a href="http://stampingwithval.wordpress.com/">Vals page</a>, Hello!! You'll be following the Blog Hop, and I hope you've enjoyed yourself so far.<br />
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Don't you love the mini? (tardy with the linkage, I know) but I'm sure you've been tempted to look through it by some of the gorgeous projects you've already seen. I have to say I was delighted as soon as I spotted the Botanical Gazette Papers and the Nature Walk stamp set (being a back to front reader, I got to them before the Bigshot, at which point I squeaked a lot, much to Dear Fella's amusement).<br />
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If you don't already know, I used to work in several museums and art galleries which I'd known since I was a small child and have many memories of peering into trays full of eggs, butterfly and insect specimens gathered from all four corders of the globe, and so together these inspired my project - My own little wall mountable Specimen Box.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The various componants were gathered from my garden and the local parks, which just put on their years blossom show and in the case of the eggs, pinched from an old easter decoration! The blossoms were squished between several heavy books (protected by a couple of layers of Kitchen paper) and dried.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The box was very simple to make - simply a flat gift box made from chipboard and covered with the beautiful Botanical Gazette Papers. There was so much variety in the pack it was hard to choose! The middle was cut out so that a Window Sheet could be put in and the whole outside was distressed a little more with Crumb Cake and the inks and sanding blocks from the Distressing Kit, just to knock a bit of the shine off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It doesn't show so well, but the small egg were stamped onto CS (Very Vanilla) that had been dampened and scrunched, before being distressed with inks from the Distressing Kit, and generally being treated rather roughly. The flowers and the darling little bees were stamped in Soft Suede straight onto the the backing paper, which again was from the Botanical Gazette Set. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To finish, i used some of the beautiful new Seam Binding Ribbon, which is so light and silky, and creases well to give that 'old' look. I used some of the ribbon braiding and wrapped the ends around the box and tied them in a bow. To finish, I used a couple of buttons (from The IB&C, but only because silly me forgot to include the gorgeous new ones in her order - Do'h!) and popped on a pearl, for they have to be included on everything now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you so much for popping by and off you go now to see what <a href="http://jacquisworldofcraft.blogspot.com/">Jacqui</a> has in store for you - bon voyage!</div><br />
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</div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-40422574298724994262011-03-18T14:49:00.000-07:002011-03-18T14:59:17.901-07:00Spring has sprung and the garden calls.Hello all,<br />
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I've been concentrating mainly on other things this past week or two, and uploading the images of the album slipped my mind. Ack! The main thing I've been doing is weeding, tidying, sowing, mulching, and planting out in the garden. By the time spring proper arrives I should have tomatoes, peppers, potatos, poppies and a whole host of herbs and flowers. They are currently doing well, growing at an almost visible pace in trays on our kitchen counters (alas, my little growing shelves have bust a zip) I'm absolutly over the moon that most of the plants survived, not just my amateur efforts but also the terrible snows and frosts. But they are flourishing!<br />
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Its these lovely spring like happenings that i've been thinking about celebrating when our new mini is launched. Out at the beginning of April, I can't tell you how very exciting it is. As well as a host of beautiful new stamps, papers and accessories, theres one product that I know we've been waiting an awful long time for...<br />
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To celebrate the launch, i'll be taking part in a blog hop at the beginning of April - exact date to be confirmed - which is a wonderful way for you to see work form many of SU's Demos and gather a lot of inspiration on how to use the new products. Do come back and see it! And its this that i'll be using as an excuse to pick blossoms, leave random piles of books about the house and fill the kitchen with seedlings. <br />
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I've been making swaps again too - sweet little ornaments based on easter eggs, using the sweet treat cups. They went down a storm! As i'll be at my mums place around easter i'm thinking a lot of them might be made with my neice and hung on branches as a decoration. <br />
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I also just learned how to braid ribbon - thanks to the lovely Julie at my craft club. I'm intent on discovering all the different ways that this lovely effect can be used and when I do I promise to share.<br />
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So as promised, the tri- shutter album. Still no name though - suggestions on a post card folks. I'm afraid you don't get to see the inside flap or the back though as i've already started recording all my weightloss bits and bobs in there. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See you all when I have some braided ribbons to squeak about, x</div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-77500968751604517392011-02-28T18:26:00.000-08:002011-02-28T18:47:29.340-08:00March Frenzy!<div style="color: #073763; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dqmBqF-yQ0FEHRS6xaZAquqtTP_SwDVWPPKRj6OaPHdMF2PLN0V2fuejlqhGZEA9b3jySAAa_YvYl-TM9AzV5wfa4itQQ-XxtEp4QHYVgevhrjMHBMFMs0vmLRiF25PkAFjzcco1Hb0/s1600/March-Frenzy_UK_Flyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dqmBqF-yQ0FEHRS6xaZAquqtTP_SwDVWPPKRj6OaPHdMF2PLN0V2fuejlqhGZEA9b3jySAAa_YvYl-TM9AzV5wfa4itQQ-XxtEp4QHYVgevhrjMHBMFMs0vmLRiF25PkAFjzcco1Hb0/s640/March-Frenzy_UK_Flyer.jpg" width="452" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stampin' Up! introduce their March Frenzy promotion </span></div><div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">- selected products at up to 30% off! </span></div><div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Reduced products include papers, wheels, accessories, pastels and the gorgeous Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Papers - perfect for all your Easter, Mothers Day and general spring crafting (plus, for all you crafty brides out there, the white shimmer paper would be perfect for adding the subtle hint of glamour to your invites and favours).<br />
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Take a look at the PDF on the March Frenzy page at the top here, or view an easy to read text version via the link in the sidebar, and join me in getting just a bit excited about these lovely items at lovely prices!<br />
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Bye for now,<br />
H xNellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-34808139120771386492011-02-19T12:55:00.000-08:002011-02-19T12:55:12.364-08:00Colds, grrrrrrrrrrrr.....I have had a stonking cold the last few days! That combined with some seemingly endless rain means I haven't managed to get outside to take some decent photo's of the finished Tri-shutter album. I think maybe its time to find the brightest corner in the house and make it into a proper mini photography studio.<br />
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Of course to do that I have to oust the cat from her spot, seeing as she's probably going to be sleeping in the brightest corner. <br />
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I don't know if I would win that tussle. <br />
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Hope you are all well my lovelies, and that you all enjoyed National Chocolate Adoration/Valentines Day.Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-26674202153584326732011-02-10T05:35:00.000-08:002011-02-10T05:35:16.203-08:00Training DaysLast Sunday was the second Passionettes training day i've been too, and it was just as much fun, if not more fun, than last time. Bekka's Business tips were inspirational (as expected, she really has got a gift - and not just for creating lovely things) and all the demonstrations were so wonderful, with practical help on using various SU projects. The make and takes were also brilliant - Monica and her helpers excelled themselves!<br />
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One project I particularly loved wasactually done by my upline Caroline. If you're at all familiar with Tri-Shutter cards then you'll get why I loved it. It was a photo album made from two of the cards joined together and decorated very prettily.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It open out into a long shallow album, with lots of little places to pop photo's and other bits and bobs</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It struck me that it would be the perfect way to document a journey - something like a baby's first year, or a period of travelling, or as a fellow Demo sugested to me, weight loss! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, inspired by that and the idea of journeys, I went home and immediately tryed my hand at making the album. I'm quite pleased with the results (even though its not yet finished!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To the front i'm still thinking what i'm going to do, but i've also added a panel on the back using the lined paper in the Newsprint DSP pack, to record significant events and targets - more pictures when its complete I promise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since then Caroline sent me a copy of the <a href="http://stampinupandbranchingout.blogspot.com/">tutorial</a> she's produced for the projects, complete with a presentation box, making it a perfect gift. So I might just have to make more and send them to friends and family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The colours I used were Pink Pirouette, Crumbcake and Very Vanilla cardstock, Newsprint DSP and Crumbcake ink to the edges of the DSP. The edges of the crumbcake matts were distressed with my finger nail, but believe me thats not good if you have a lot to do (owie!), so i'll be purchasing the distressing tools Stampin' Up! do for just this job! I also used the Small Heart punch to clip the corners into an interesting shape, and finished them with a flat backed pearl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See you soon x</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-51911918814686168722011-02-05T14:27:00.000-08:002011-02-09T14:43:01.050-08:00Bird wing flowers, a bit of a swaps tutorial.<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br />
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Hallo all, I decided to try putting up a tutorial to show how the wing shape from the 2 Step Bird Punch can be used to make what I think are lovely little life-like flowers. Based primarily on the Exochorda, or Pearlbush I have growing in my garden - A gift from my grandmother and mother when I moved south and it produces beautiful five petaled white blossoms in spring. <br />
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I had an awful lot of seed from it last year, and wondered what to do with them. Though i'd love to fill the whole garden with them, there really isn't room! So when the theme of 'New Beginnings' came up for Monica's training day, I couldn't resist going with the idea of new life in the form of plants. Its a particularly suitable plant too, as its variety, macarantha is commonly called 'The Bride' and often given as wedding gifts - two for one!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The swaps </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPZIvHhiU6lIIXW_nMj_am-EkS5x6aFkSIh3-IEMw0KX1QkkOFIc3ocn2DzK8rsO3ppyxchtEnd4kGkhTTYmkOOmZoDrMhaXQLzlcVelcjGBOnoXWEbK33sc8J65YUGxLImQXMim_Llk/s1600/P1020566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPZIvHhiU6lIIXW_nMj_am-EkS5x6aFkSIh3-IEMw0KX1QkkOFIc3ocn2DzK8rsO3ppyxchtEnd4kGkhTTYmkOOmZoDrMhaXQLzlcVelcjGBOnoXWEbK33sc8J65YUGxLImQXMim_Llk/s320/P1020566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An exercise in using up scraps (I had a lot of them!) The boxes themselves were 2x4" Triangle boxes - these boxes a so quick to make and there's not a bit of glue needed - just a hole punch and a tie (in this case the ever useful silver elastic)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiOKoiWhQtFJX1PSe9ck6H1vUw6_w5_eHsFZ2lDJefabcJfYQU2iDRV-o_FLPQqNH-2xozHUz7ZH5iD0DBZ8xGP_emBIxMCjEUY8MQRexPIEPPk6P_EmRkAgm7GtY0HLDp80I6uszh7U/s320/P1020564.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I decided to keep the decoration simple - stamping all over with Versamark for a subtle texture. I used the lovely little butterfly and bee from the Sale-a-Bration set Sweet Summer, to tie in with the idea of garden and blossoms. (Remember the Sweet Summer sets, and three others, are absolutly free if you spend more than £45 before the end of February!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRo8e88Tq1Jspn20ii8_rwnzHO_LkkLHosQwOZbpn5X6mEmTw3WM-sf2rn-unHVeFRtBsQ1Z1TYooG4l7jg3I8g6qZ7RMiBUoNNBxODjrv-hBmAPnRnq4-lwAJ3QCZdtOUTTtr2YdDmGI/s320/P1020567.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once I'd stamped the random pattern (have you noticed how hard it is to be random?) I scored the card peices as you can see in the picture - basically mark the central point on each edge, then score across the middle, then in the diamond pattern to link up the four midpoints. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found the easiest way to punch them was to fold them up until they were closed, then wiggle your fiskers punch into the opening at the top - punch through the two layers on one side, swivel it round and punch through the other side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQG-ljsIGttGA3gO17rk19aSKuARa9t8V__sPCuntAD30OWnKN8x_Y4N7MCtfyvHrZMAz_ViqJupUt7oCRaO2r9q4oJlZWl2Zau-XugphUUJA13o5YzB7Ef3oUygLdWl5WnlpPzyen_g/s1600/P1020579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQG-ljsIGttGA3gO17rk19aSKuARa9t8V__sPCuntAD30OWnKN8x_Y4N7MCtfyvHrZMAz_ViqJupUt7oCRaO2r9q4oJlZWl2Zau-XugphUUJA13o5YzB7Ef3oUygLdWl5WnlpPzyen_g/s320/P1020579.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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Now for the flowers. I'll warn you these aren't the quickest of flowers to make, but I do think they are worth the effort. Using the 2-Step Bird punch, cut out five wings for each flower you need - In my case 250! I used off cuts (using up scraps again, yey!) from when I made last years christmas cards, and having the paper in thin strips meant that none was wasted in punching out the other pieces - a wonderfully handy tip if you only want one part of the punch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jS7GhjsDDow6sCEU86K1MbxMu3skUrM-DkAk1A9EPWEY6UdvNqTDaf_Ozl1Y39yngGL9jRyTRuRRFUpSfDVAQYk-WS-krVIMWlxbmCG54rwnRPc0RnAj0R8jtoYLC_EqLAGFHJK182Y/s1600/P1020575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jS7GhjsDDow6sCEU86K1MbxMu3skUrM-DkAk1A9EPWEY6UdvNqTDaf_Ozl1Y39yngGL9jRyTRuRRFUpSfDVAQYk-WS-krVIMWlxbmCG54rwnRPc0RnAj0R8jtoYLC_EqLAGFHJK182Y/s320/P1020575.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One tool that was absolutly indespensible was a<br />
toothpick - primarily for rolling the petals into shape.<br />
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I started by rolling the thinnest point into a slight cone, I then worked on the outer edge, rolling inwards and outwards as I pleased in an effort to make each petal unique.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However be prepared for a LOT of broken picks! Don't throw them away though. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k_iYxLeOUcqM34F4hP2BLxCk3VIXEsu92ETEA57sNCfe8-b72ClzY90HlzqcnqoPYx0H_OMeEDVzslV1cAUslzQZ_K5S2hZnilO-sQg84IJLIaK9jJJYOEXzOAus_54hrb_r828TW1A/s320/P1020578.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For my swaps I chose to sponge a little green onto the thin end with the daubers, because that was where the colour was if I remember back to last spring rightly. You can also choose to give them streaks of pink or red with the markers, or to colour the round edges if you like - its entirely up to you and however you want it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this illustration though I've left them blank, primarily as i'd only just got all the Wild Wasabi ink off my fingers and my hands are bad enough at the moment (do forgive my apalling nails, I've lots 12lbs recently and all that virtuousness has had its toll on my poor thumbs).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The leaves were also made with bird wing, and again from scraps i'd cut into strips for ease of punching. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLRZxSeY0zg9HANRJUXsZXFtajPSJlWXAGXEvjtdGg-qqOevpX06F-XQaKwSIgGLydPZcNgYn7a4WY4gPaiZPme-ZKOF371NG5MRdathZxH1iJUZT_3bstgw2nZ_F8229NW9cQ28jLAs/s1600/P1020580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLRZxSeY0zg9HANRJUXsZXFtajPSJlWXAGXEvjtdGg-qqOevpX06F-XQaKwSIgGLydPZcNgYn7a4WY4gPaiZPme-ZKOF371NG5MRdathZxH1iJUZT_3bstgw2nZ_F8229NW9cQ28jLAs/s320/P1020580.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnSRlZsqQyARnrKXngUy42WdeJSdDvnEvCTBqwItTMJvCWpphf0s2cKjlC7VNPo1HG6dkZ7ysgoIDKCIfm2K1u2BWfl1zI1rOi1OH89efwgWIPkP6NEWLTGz7oY8xrG7Jthez08LVYsE/s1600/P1020581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnSRlZsqQyARnrKXngUy42WdeJSdDvnEvCTBqwItTMJvCWpphf0s2cKjlC7VNPo1HG6dkZ7ysgoIDKCIfm2K1u2BWfl1zI1rOi1OH89efwgWIPkP6NEWLTGz7oY8xrG7Jthez08LVYsE/s320/P1020581.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I shaped them the way i'd learned many years ago in school - with a scored wavy line. It gives a wonderful shape and with the two tones of green - Wild Wasabi and Certainly Celery - it added a bit of depth. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can use your scoring tool, but as a fine line was needed, I ended up using the toothpick again. Just simply draw a wavy line traveling roughly from the middle of the round end to the point - as you can see i'm not that accurate, but I found it didn't matter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLek2jOqo_Hj0d_APM70UAziX_Il_S9RHjSBsBMNpYQQf9txVSKE6fcdBm_A2ss60MFdYw52kjzVtyDsCeGhQikh2TJ5xkbUn3cEIXYbzDWLeFbVC0SzMOR6N9SKuqpjFc8T_zJuBNFo/s1600/P1020582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLek2jOqo_Hj0d_APM70UAziX_Il_S9RHjSBsBMNpYQQf9txVSKE6fcdBm_A2ss60MFdYw52kjzVtyDsCeGhQikh2TJ5xkbUn3cEIXYbzDWLeFbVC0SzMOR6N9SKuqpjFc8T_zJuBNFo/s320/P1020582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Then I simply pinched them together, if they don't respond properly, you can also get in there and fold them along the line, but most of the time, pinching sufficed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrxKuG-rLdo9J_Z2Dof27QBFqcQ55Ki2kaLW_Om-3TUPSa8EBOLUnNvhd3BTp3b7dhvjOwNyJ_8B6nCDOcpBVzdrODGMy6tj_xHvah3qvt5OEWxTM6cI1xkmW_7D4Ypu2RZU7i03AafE/s1600/P1020583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrxKuG-rLdo9J_Z2Dof27QBFqcQ55Ki2kaLW_Om-3TUPSa8EBOLUnNvhd3BTp3b7dhvjOwNyJ_8B6nCDOcpBVzdrODGMy6tj_xHvah3qvt5OEWxTM6cI1xkmW_7D4Ypu2RZU7i03AafE/s320/P1020583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">To assemble the flower.</div><br />
I used a round base - but you can use anything, or mount them directly onto your project. Using Tombow I put a little bit on the middle and another bit to one side.<br />
On the side I glued the leaves, one in each colour, but experiment and see what you like.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCIVEX0fhtPzURQn3A4ZGacP1NdiL06bxL41Qg_Wx4DN42uOj-1ltxC4m88Xl76ath1VYSL3y_C0XvuNtCy48tt4uORJgQvkPSwy-QV9UqIuvvLtHmAmJ4mWD4-7qRfrCxUQErqf3_fc/s1600/P1020585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCIVEX0fhtPzURQn3A4ZGacP1NdiL06bxL41Qg_Wx4DN42uOj-1ltxC4m88Xl76ath1VYSL3y_C0XvuNtCy48tt4uORJgQvkPSwy-QV9UqIuvvLtHmAmJ4mWD4-7qRfrCxUQErqf3_fc/s320/P1020585.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the petals of the Exochorda were quite distinctly separated, I arranged them so that the points didn't quite meet in the middle. If you were doing an apple or cherry blossom you could bring the petals in to meet or even overlap at the point to suit the flower.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4t5G8lYA5Won_G2Kb4WmCcqE2251P-649IRzvlyYlqe24GEtMaWf9eFt_wBxy0QUY2fcq50aSNS_uG9u5dw1UY0aqN7ZNfA7l59lhFEC3j-gw2BRSvcdSyvC6OA2X_DypdjwgHWLJU8/s1600/P1020586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4t5G8lYA5Won_G2Kb4WmCcqE2251P-649IRzvlyYlqe24GEtMaWf9eFt_wBxy0QUY2fcq50aSNS_uG9u5dw1UY0aqN7ZNfA7l59lhFEC3j-gw2BRSvcdSyvC6OA2X_DypdjwgHWLJU8/s320/P1020586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is where those little bits of broken toothpick come in - they make excellent little tools for pressing the petal points into place and holding them there while the glue takes, meaning you don't get Tombow (which is designed to remain tacky even when dry) on your hands, making the job twice as fiddly. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I finished the flower by punching out the two smallest shapes from the Boho Blossoms punch. I did them in So Saffron as I wanted to inject a little more colour into the flower. I sprayed them with a little water and scrunched them up, then glued them to the centre and, because they are so pretty and make the perfect finishing touch, added a large flat back Pearl to the centre. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I then simply glued the flower onto the boxes, filled the boxes with seed and tied them together. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-901mpvrMGkwHNGRs-R-2wT0HhUGq6V5tSmYyNqXQ3o58oFlFQrSE-d4oo0SHUZEmWmSH8v2hISZAqNRAAcY9yJDKW_bIAkccbePqPMTET7jzuyGKpxIi_RsahBDeBRSvVyxyg19ZfI/s320/P1020588.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I do have to admit though that not everyone got a box of my Pearlbush seeds, as there were fewer than I thought. So instead some got Sweetpea seeds, as I know of noone who doesn't enjoy their bright colours and gorgeous pong. Be careful though if you have a cat who nibbles (as Faran always does, her favorite being roses), as all parts of the plant are poisonous to kitty's - make sure you put the flowers out of their way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting carried away!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The swaps made I felt inspired, so this afternoon I had a go at making two more types of flowers - the first was simply the Exochorda with more petals. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydPml4r9fhYiNWYg8NVNZZ58cEiXtOnqX24CtzhYzs1xh4qY2eoUiDYjGZAJnCx6kUKj89guXS7VRnN4jLmtmpdRevGnIeY2KcGeNqP9I00JR3Bz35fnu8m3_5k7JqgmKbqKJDE8gito/s1600/P1020608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydPml4r9fhYiNWYg8NVNZZ58cEiXtOnqX24CtzhYzs1xh4qY2eoUiDYjGZAJnCx6kUKj89guXS7VRnN4jLmtmpdRevGnIeY2KcGeNqP9I00JR3Bz35fnu8m3_5k7JqgmKbqKJDE8gito/s320/P1020608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With the circle to start with again, I simply placed them closely together and added more layers, finishing again with the Boho blossoms centre. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11njsJxQ2U8Vf92k04fJSJ1EznYwGwqs6hN_JS68facQul3DAB0Urf2FNSof89je8GJi5hjXmgjpKxSrLwYIvFO7lIGdUJmtomXNJ1L39uKhkLomT6p_fevovbrd-svBfP9KVdV1NHYU/s1600/P1020596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11njsJxQ2U8Vf92k04fJSJ1EznYwGwqs6hN_JS68facQul3DAB0Urf2FNSof89je8GJi5hjXmgjpKxSrLwYIvFO7lIGdUJmtomXNJ1L39uKhkLomT6p_fevovbrd-svBfP9KVdV1NHYU/s320/P1020596.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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The third flower was a little more ambitious. I was aiming for something more old rose like - lots and lots of tightly packed petals! I started with the centre this time, tightly rolling the first petal, then the second slightly looser. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I stuck them together with more Tombow, putting it this time on the inside of the next petal to be attached. As I went I pulled the top edges out a little, to make a bud. Once the glue is holding them securely, snip the bottom off (just a few millimeters will do).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mia1iYZUNp9Hw2wAn08xS_0uiNRJLJTNDL9U3YA7SjSO6Bx89gVa7znc7zXlQiRahS2-fzCG_rC9TfeLGjNp2Hj9vJKvJ_8fQ2NeQ0IaC1dt40AMNZgsYFkXJN5-MwrciANvCBrbYCg/s1600/P1020599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mia1iYZUNp9Hw2wAn08xS_0uiNRJLJTNDL9U3YA7SjSO6Bx89gVa7znc7zXlQiRahS2-fzCG_rC9TfeLGjNp2Hj9vJKvJ_8fQ2NeQ0IaC1dt40AMNZgsYFkXJN5-MwrciANvCBrbYCg/s320/P1020599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I had about six or so petals forming the centre, I went back and started the base. This time I started gluing from the outside in, adding as many layers as I could get in. Again the bits of toothpick came in use to press the petal points into place - i didn't escape without some glue on my finger though, it does get a bit tricky! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdxe0IC4BAbH8mKSkzjQkeClU_Bt2S0QUPm9A78AoI4lt1TFXptuDWDzySC4Xtyn8O0_FqSUrVvXxbG1eY-hXPgjHdPDN2ch-iEVrnFNG4rPfmFijjIsTH0iJ4fCyFtCrMgpvlFFRefM/s320/P1020600.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAVyrWko8C3mIkRRRzNMuzukLVmMeuXTMeq3F0VtM97bQAfHEZ8urgsydPBeR7rJWi2n09DiZlcUib7MMgL6vpn4apzSyY6-RQi_EkVc5BCqhyTGD5mqLr0Nm9w9ZrjqKz4bsrRtHA5E/s1600/P1020601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAVyrWko8C3mIkRRRzNMuzukLVmMeuXTMeq3F0VtM97bQAfHEZ8urgsydPBeR7rJWi2n09DiZlcUib7MMgL6vpn4apzSyY6-RQi_EkVc5BCqhyTGD5mqLr0Nm9w9ZrjqKz4bsrRtHA5E/s320/P1020601.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I continued cramming in the petals, getting asmany as I could, before popping a blob of glue on the base of the bud and. Placing it in the centre</div><br />
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To fix it all in place I rested it in the palm of my hand and pressed it into place, making it slightly cup shaped - you don't have to do this, I just wanted the petals more 'squished' together. </div><br />
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On both flowers, I glued the leaves on to the outside edge so the tips could just be seen. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So there we go, three (I think) lovely flowers from one punch shape. If you make some of these do let me see them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-19040939856691901002011-01-09T14:02:00.000-08:002011-01-09T14:06:40.607-08:00Sale-a-Bration!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKreNh7xYAYHTzvZgiINb0rpW-xQUmfiu9zkhjl9QFw4Y6_C0qWNepU_RDnQQQDoJJZKdC3fHHnHTPMhyj3FAIin_vbD2cT9v5cAO0_MIQSYowXFc7KxcIx1ysaEk34jd6j-mK3qcg9hg/s1600/saleabration+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKreNh7xYAYHTzvZgiINb0rpW-xQUmfiu9zkhjl9QFw4Y6_C0qWNepU_RDnQQQDoJJZKdC3fHHnHTPMhyj3FAIin_vbD2cT9v5cAO0_MIQSYowXFc7KxcIx1ysaEk34jd6j-mK3qcg9hg/s320/saleabration+image.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>I have to let you all know about this wonderful promotion. Having heard about it spoken of in glowing terms since I joined, I can now confirm that it is just as cool as everyone says!<br />
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The basic premis is that by spending just £45, you can pick one of these four exclusive sets absolutely free! <br />
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These are the stamp sets available, and having seen Sweet Summer and Bliss 'in the flesh' I can confirm that they are just wonderful, and perfect for light summery projects.<br />
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<u><img height="320" src="http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/images/So-Happy-for-You.jpg" width="320" /></u><b> </b><br />
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<b>So Happy for You</b><br />
wood-mount set 121853<br />
clear-mount set 123220<br />
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<u><img height="320" src="http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/images/Punch-Bunch.jpg" width="320" /></u><br />
<b>Punch Bunch</b><br />
wood-mount set 121847<br />
clear-mount set 123211<br />
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<u><img height="320" src="http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/images/Sweet-Summer.jpg" width="320" /></u><br />
<b>Sweet Summer</b><br />
wood-mount set 121849<br />
clear-mount set 123214<br />
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<u><img height="320" src="http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/images/Bliss.jpg" width="320" /></u><br />
<b>Bliss</b><br />
wood-mount set 121851<br />
clear-mount set 123217<br />
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As you can see you get the option of unmounted or woodmounted with each one, so you can choose exactly to suit your crafting style. If you're not sure whicht to choose, have a read through the guide at the top of the page.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Get FREE stamp sets by doing any of the following:</span></b><br />
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Spend</b><br />
You'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set when you spend £45 on Stampin' Up! merchandise (product sales before shipping and handling). There's no limit—for every £45 you spend, you can select another FREE Sale-A-Bration reward! <br />
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Host</b><br />
You'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set when you host a workshop of at least £300 (product sales before handling and shipping)—this is in addition to all of the regular hostess benefits! <br />
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Join</b><br />
During Sale-A-Bration, anyone who joins as a demonstrator can choose any stamp set—a value of up to £44.95—from our current Idea Book and Catalogue!<br />
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The Sale-A-Bration promotion starts on 30 December 2010 and runs through 28 February 2011, so don't miss your chance to earn free products!<br />
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If you would likeyour own copy of the Sale-a-bration brochure, showing the sets as well as lots of ideas for projects to make, then simply let me know and i'll send you free copy. You can email me on serendipitystamping@hotmail.co.uk - hope to hear from you soon!<br />
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P.S. For those of you who instantly fell in love with the dear little owl in the Punch Bunch set, Stampin' Up! have let it be known that they will be releasing the matching punch in the Mini Catalogue launching in the spring, making your crafting quick, easy and just a little less fiddly!Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-83877121590943537202011-01-05T15:33:00.000-08:002011-01-05T15:33:10.375-08:00Oh so very late!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year to you all!</span></div><br />
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas period. With the snows driving everyone barmy it was a little hard for most people but I hope that in the end you all got to be with the people you loved. <br />
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I have no idea where the time goes. My last post promising the tutorial for the onion objects was on the 15th November! So long ago now, yet it seems just yesterday almost - is it a sign that i'm getting old?<br />
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Well after attempting to photograph the making of the ornaments step by step I realised it wasn't really clarifying anything. What I will do is point you all to my source on the <a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/jewelry_design_gallery.asp?docid=743K&doccat=gallery+and+swarovski+project">Fire Mountain Gems</a> website. I found and printed this idea out what must have been years ago, and i'd had the instructions sitting in my idea folders (doesn't that sound organised?) until Stampin' Up came along.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_loubrVxpCN_28Kfzbgb7MPo734Mr38ULbgaQkwZHmTcSCTACcEpRJZ-2cYBkFx95XhxiRhAW3eXpRhfiUAn9QZ6typdGIWheiq8mS7jSWXq47sXdOFFnv4yNrerqQ-xkc9d-9_UZuQ/s1600/P1010934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_loubrVxpCN_28Kfzbgb7MPo734Mr38ULbgaQkwZHmTcSCTACcEpRJZ-2cYBkFx95XhxiRhAW3eXpRhfiUAn9QZ6typdGIWheiq8mS7jSWXq47sXdOFFnv4yNrerqQ-xkc9d-9_UZuQ/s320/P1010934.JPG" width="320" /></a>I started by doing a whole lot of stamping and glittering! The paper for the strips was stamped in Serene Snowflakes in Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, and Crumb Cake. Using the smallest snowflake I also stamped in Versamark then using the Heat and Stick Powder and the Dazzling Diamonds added some glitz. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qRP_Wr_bWD_KCdFG8mWyhodoBl_jGQ-DHbjQ9K4IuniCDHP7ApT2RT6Ensw5FsomJv0MmWTjHWJpcpwcPBlBp0OqCNIWrYIYxLLuOK_3usK3Umr6SPDUQb440Qsmc943whlSFAhaovg/s1600/P1010935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qRP_Wr_bWD_KCdFG8mWyhodoBl_jGQ-DHbjQ9K4IuniCDHP7ApT2RT6Ensw5FsomJv0MmWTjHWJpcpwcPBlBp0OqCNIWrYIYxLLuOK_3usK3Umr6SPDUQb440Qsmc943whlSFAhaovg/s400/P1010935.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I wasn't too careful at all with placement - I started with the largest and worked down letting the snowflakes overlap and go a bit crazy, as they do naturally!<br />
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I then cut these into strips about 8mm wide, and pierced holes in the middle and at each end. It took 8 strips per ornament, and I managed to get about 3 and a bit ornaments per page. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sdmT3Qc2kskcPhpl0XSAEyap9-PWsBfa6fVT8ClXvr7rLql4RDZ8ioBXoHJU7wEy1bUgS7Mz7idFnejg6fk0tBsRXKBisclqiL_jNUGRc9UoPfrJAQiLgxSlD05mJfV6pfSfgGnglr0/s1600/P1010938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sdmT3Qc2kskcPhpl0XSAEyap9-PWsBfa6fVT8ClXvr7rLql4RDZ8ioBXoHJU7wEy1bUgS7Mz7idFnejg6fk0tBsRXKBisclqiL_jNUGRc9UoPfrJAQiLgxSlD05mJfV6pfSfgGnglr0/s320/P1010938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The centre piece was made with the ornament stamp from the Contempo Christmas Set, stamped in Perfect Plum. This time I covered the whole surface of the stamp with H&S and glitter, before punching it out with the Ornament Punch. <br />
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I used 4 punched shapes, folded in the centre and glued back to back in order to get the 3d effect. Before 'closing' the shape I slotted it onto the ribbon to float just above the base. If you wanted you could first thread a bead onto the ribbon and place the shape directly onto it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-yw3fX0jhJnkeb-W_OW4xqMlivtakShX5WbWpL52c_2XjE-i8jRx4KrVsQeSk3cTGThOChD4RbGmqXIi5x6k67ZT63rFHmncs4JP52jb7V_TTbyBnXZepriYeC9a5NHy1N3gHWCiOC8/s1600/P1020073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-yw3fX0jhJnkeb-W_OW4xqMlivtakShX5WbWpL52c_2XjE-i8jRx4KrVsQeSk3cTGThOChD4RbGmqXIi5x6k67ZT63rFHmncs4JP52jb7V_TTbyBnXZepriYeC9a5NHy1N3gHWCiOC8/s320/P1020073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I finished both the base and the top with a 1" punched circle in Plum and Boho Blossoms punched from various offcuts. Then tied the ribbon in a knot whilst pushing the onion into shape) and trimmed the ends to finish.<br />
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I was pleased with the results, and liked the colour scheme so much I ended up using it for my Christmas cards this year!<br />
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Sadly the Ornament Punch is currently unavailable. Stampin' Up! made the decision to withdraw it from sale whilst they investigated issues that some customers had experienced. With any new product style there are going to be teething issues, and as soon as its available again i'll let you know, as I discovered a technique to make the most beautiful Magnolia-like flowers with it - not just a Christmas punch!<br />
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I also hope that its back soon as these bookmarks were so much fun to make - using the same materials and technique as for the centre of the ornament, I simply used 6 shapes and sandwiched a length of Organza ribbon between the two halves. To glue them I used tombow applied with a sponge or dauber, as it left a fine, even layer of glue right up to the edges, which was just perfect for this purpose, and prevented messy splodges. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtERfhOJB5EdpBf76vl41ner0WKtSvv3lMO0qdRFKrGATGAD8k4Ctqx3tTgMHJif3TqCfC6gpjaa_7smYX6QuJtjCPeWmjtrkBkbABopFPsZ2gNMJkQGfLJNq_TSgh7AevJS0FV5DW4k/s1600/P1020076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtERfhOJB5EdpBf76vl41ner0WKtSvv3lMO0qdRFKrGATGAD8k4Ctqx3tTgMHJif3TqCfC6gpjaa_7smYX6QuJtjCPeWmjtrkBkbABopFPsZ2gNMJkQGfLJNq_TSgh7AevJS0FV5DW4k/s200/P1020076.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSxdkJLhCirhJyMfDIA-lAgbR-IzBGLGnOMlQl38T7LTxBrluLv5L2CKUzRLOhWXQmvzxW8Q7MrG02PsIebvU9ZsQBs9yopM5mHgt5nImk-hydgNlt2yo7aifmlMlrW0sHtbR7uRiwno/s1600/P1020080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSxdkJLhCirhJyMfDIA-lAgbR-IzBGLGnOMlQl38T7LTxBrluLv5L2CKUzRLOhWXQmvzxW8Q7MrG02PsIebvU9ZsQBs9yopM5mHgt5nImk-hydgNlt2yo7aifmlMlrW0sHtbR7uRiwno/s200/P1020080.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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Now that i've made one style I want to make more and more - I had a though of using the Bird punch to make a spring inspired version with the Sale-A-Bration 'Sweet Summer' set, which lends itself beautifully I think.<br />
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A few tips I picked up though would help anyone trying to make these.<br />
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<ul><li>Its easier to arrange the strips of paper flat and glue them into place before gathering them at the top - My strips seemed to want to all hang out together and whenever one was moved all the others followed suit - much frustration! It also seemed to make the beads between each strip behave better - thought why is a mystery!</li>
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<ul><li>Pre pierce the holes at the top whilst the paper is flat - it stops the paper creasing and makes the finish neater.</li>
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<ul><li> Avoid creasing the paper, getting it wet or resting any weight on it - the shape relied on the curve of the paper so try and preserve that. When I make more I'm thinking of using a bit of acetate to support the paper strips. </li>
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Well tomorrow is my day to get cracking with Sale-A-Bration - a fantastic promotion which means you get a FREE set from the exclusive range with any order over £45! I've already managed to get the lovely Bliss set just by ordering essentials. (Ok, so rhinestones weren't essential to anything but my love of sparkle, but hey...) Theres also free sets available for qualifying workshops, so its a great time to get everyone together and get crafting! <br />
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I'm hoping to get them done before sundown so they can be photographed and I can update you all tomorrow - see you then!<br />
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xNellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-12312457967436795422010-11-15T15:11:00.000-08:002010-11-15T15:11:00.091-08:00Hello all!I really have to apologise - i promised all sort and as yet haven't posted any of it. Well I got back from convention thinking I'd have a few quiet days - well it hasn't turned out that way. Instead another weekend has passed in a flurry of activity (plus a brief rest when we went to see Daniel Sloss at the Bloomsbury Theatre - a very funny young man!) and still no sign of a proper post.<br />
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So i'll put up some of the photo's and then hopefully after this weekend (in which we have my Mum visiting, a farewell dinner with my fellas parents before they leave to spend Christmas in Foreign Climes and a stall at a fair all day Sunday) it will calm down a little and i can get to writing out instructions for all of the bits I want to. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlQBogJMtRE8mmcNk33IDgMggy8dZSHUOI02m5O_s1zpoYVuIXE7ZneDMWdT7DviGRhpzNaKOk2tykrk8cRkmSeohiz4syzD7GPUeyDzwNnNmLQlo1SKzKOJxai95MVGzkl6lcGVQkfQ/s1600/P1020078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlQBogJMtRE8mmcNk33IDgMggy8dZSHUOI02m5O_s1zpoYVuIXE7ZneDMWdT7DviGRhpzNaKOk2tykrk8cRkmSeohiz4syzD7GPUeyDzwNnNmLQlo1SKzKOJxai95MVGzkl6lcGVQkfQ/s320/P1020078.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My swaps - made with the Ornament punch and the gorgeously soft Organza Ribbon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuUt0tLqTe6xrMDPYQ6EKJTp2Y7DSARoK24aRwojs1FS5jO2SpGs-08BhgSNUJuhsHBl8GCo7ZkAclAxPOEfuowTu6Z-xYrGnk6W7HH6pVl-y8M4VCrXCWpnGR6KrWXeHmhynbU1-q0c/s1600/P1020043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuUt0tLqTe6xrMDPYQ6EKJTp2Y7DSARoK24aRwojs1FS5jO2SpGs-08BhgSNUJuhsHBl8GCo7ZkAclAxPOEfuowTu6Z-xYrGnk6W7HH6pVl-y8M4VCrXCWpnGR6KrWXeHmhynbU1-q0c/s320/P1020043.JPG" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 3D Swaps - christmas tree ornaments - very delicate!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SwK2tMgbai_Xaecc5WkqQfQEdVCqnEDC-c7V3zdcOy-uE_c14FNp7jRoWa5ZQga92KPSD1Jk6UYaIWsTBVRMIvTLzSFqn-niryPKXpmNvEBE0tvfcPYBuA-Yx8OUIPTDC07VRYaFSos/s1600/P1020382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SwK2tMgbai_Xaecc5WkqQfQEdVCqnEDC-c7V3zdcOy-uE_c14FNp7jRoWa5ZQga92KPSD1Jk6UYaIWsTBVRMIvTLzSFqn-niryPKXpmNvEBE0tvfcPYBuA-Yx8OUIPTDC07VRYaFSos/s320/P1020382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And all the amazing things i bought back with me, including the lovely Greenhouse Gala craft tote - which has hardly been away from my side since I got home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fingers crossed that I make it to next week, and then a bumper crop of posts shall be yours.Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-19698658188237347922010-11-09T16:09:00.000-08:002010-11-09T16:09:07.239-08:00A wee updateI'm home from convention. Sunday was a day off to let my poor brain recover - though it was so busy whirling with ideas I don't think it got any real rest - then straight back into it. Yesterday evening I did a small session with a local Brownie troop, making favour bags decorated with the Contempo Christmas set. All of the girls were wonderful and dare I say it, I think they enjoyed themselves. I picked up some more pointers as well for working with young crafters, so one step closer to being able to deliver top notch activities for childrens parties. I'm still very excited about them - there are so many wonderful bits and bobs in this years catalogue just perfect for amusing both children and their parents.<br />
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And so to Convention. It was so much fun - and so helpful. We got so many brilliant ideas from Shelly and Pam and the other staff members, and the standard of swaps I brought home with me was amazing! I just have to get them all out and photgraph them!<br />
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We also had some wonderful announcements - I promise that you will not want to miss January's promotion!<br />
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So my next post will be a round up of what happened, and as promised the how-to's for my own swaps, and a little peak at the lovely things I bought home with me.I'll also hopefully have some of the items i'm making for my stall later this month to show you, so watch this space!Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-3952622186233153312010-11-01T08:55:00.000-07:002010-11-07T06:49:56.238-08:00White Rabbits... and spotty ribbons and oodles of lovely papers<div style="text-align: center;">Happy 1st of November all of you!</div><br />
Did you enjoy Halloween? I know my niece threw her annual bash with a few friends and though I've yet to hear the report on it, I'm sure she had a great time.<br />
I missed the parties sadly - instead we had a quiet night and watched Cloverfield whilst eating candy floss (not necessarily the most comfortable of bedfellows, but candy floss is not to be passed up).<br />
Next year I am determined to do something fun, Halloween being one of my favorite times of the year.<br />
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On to November though, and SU have brought out some Christmas goodies - and yes, I love them already - they are ribbons after all!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Time to get excited - and maybe think about hosting a party.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8v8XD7RxtHaaw-S_z-SSmdyhlx1pKHgcitB_VBR_afzXQ5ZLlONJHWGVZXN32p9rhqMB1aw6eB6VG582aiblOZUkj_7OZrq5-YwdS7sRM2aY4rkXRCAzSpcp7-jF-tnhZYC83uxfcTw/s1600/BundlingUpChristmas_landingpage_UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8v8XD7RxtHaaw-S_z-SSmdyhlx1pKHgcitB_VBR_afzXQ5ZLlONJHWGVZXN32p9rhqMB1aw6eB6VG582aiblOZUkj_7OZrq5-YwdS7sRM2aY4rkXRCAzSpcp7-jF-tnhZYC83uxfcTw/s400/BundlingUpChristmas_landingpage_UK.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
You can view the PDF <a href="http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/documents/Bundle_Up_Christmas_1010_UK.pdf">here</a> but basically, during the Christmas season, you can get a FREE spool of exclusive Stampin’ Up! ribbon when you purchase a Christmas gift-giving bundle.<br />
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There are 4 bundles to choose from - <b>The Welcome Christmas Bundle</b> features the Welcome Christmas stamp set and the EXCLUSIVE Christmas Cocoa Speciality Designer Series Paper. This gorgeous paper features varied designs, some of them featuring luxurious flocked textures, but it is only available as part of this promotion (and while the stocks last), so don't miss out. The set comes in both wood and clear mount as well.<br />
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<b>The Gifted Bundle</b> includes the Gifted Stamp Set and a pack of our Jolly holiday DSP and also comes in a choice of wood or clear mount.<br />
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<b>The Season of Joy Bundle</b> includes the stamp set in wood mount and one of our Stampin' Around Wheels, which are so quick and fun to use. Similarly <b>The Delightful Decorations Bundle</b> includes the set in wood mount and the fantastic Ornament Punch (mine has had so much use, and I'll be showing the results next week, after convention)<br />
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<b>And don't forget, all of these bundles come with a free reel of the exclusive ribbons</b><b> - but again, these are while stocks last, so don't miss out!</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvvZDC3m6IpXrKR7lU1xJ0TqqQTWBJITO4WeS7dxEkabzcz56Se3lS0CYFwnt6g7jK7SVTGeK9KMXWERRWWVuypcuU24K01AMM3sV3ARtUo4sLOg7SwWu44XliiBhHk6T3hBCncDiKl57/s1600/Ribbon_Originals_Mistletoe_sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvvZDC3m6IpXrKR7lU1xJ0TqqQTWBJITO4WeS7dxEkabzcz56Se3lS0CYFwnt6g7jK7SVTGeK9KMXWERRWWVuypcuU24K01AMM3sV3ARtUo4sLOg7SwWu44XliiBhHk6T3hBCncDiKl57/s1600/Ribbon_Originals_Mistletoe_sm.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAfvWc8R64iDPRIcS_miWpjZ_XsPS1JaifVlPtvPl21HvROfA9oBJPSVipiaQXzU3GlWVFqIhxIFuklv4-MN7yGmoSnDS8KywgKzcz7LfzUw8YUv-OXkzCzNeIa2F4wTxBjw4j3QfRCXq/s1600/Ribbon_Sleigh_Bells_sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAfvWc8R64iDPRIcS_miWpjZ_XsPS1JaifVlPtvPl21HvROfA9oBJPSVipiaQXzU3GlWVFqIhxIFuklv4-MN7yGmoSnDS8KywgKzcz7LfzUw8YUv-OXkzCzNeIa2F4wTxBjw4j3QfRCXq/s1600/Ribbon_Sleigh_Bells_sm.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTyAezwtAd8lJRAEAmplfE9h5WXNd4aS0VDB_MlyVOpZ_qoKgak0DdVDnTDjKLT1_vfheZxw5o9Rf6pPk_dQy6l2_ecg_UBEejP6VVidvJzGxd-n1A6Et5xQyIPg8qX-xR7AkgxVqtXh5/s1600/Grosgrain_polkaDot_realRed_75_sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTyAezwtAd8lJRAEAmplfE9h5WXNd4aS0VDB_MlyVOpZ_qoKgak0DdVDnTDjKLT1_vfheZxw5o9Rf6pPk_dQy6l2_ecg_UBEejP6VVidvJzGxd-n1A6Et5xQyIPg8qX-xR7AkgxVqtXh5/s1600/Grosgrain_polkaDot_realRed_75_sm.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKe6IK9vqBJMfAH-yTegMeBlZYgo31zbYSfWGUpZ_eYJehzD_cN2p9CvBP8rwPM5hA17p1BT1i_5yyv-NyI-TlRT-YD-tUQlNqWiXmQa9dzF_uXQ2CzaNCur-zYoq-D7NJsuxtvoCgZIZ/s1600/Grosgrain_Striped_Ridinghood_1-25_sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKe6IK9vqBJMfAH-yTegMeBlZYgo31zbYSfWGUpZ_eYJehzD_cN2p9CvBP8rwPM5hA17p1BT1i_5yyv-NyI-TlRT-YD-tUQlNqWiXmQa9dzF_uXQ2CzaNCur-zYoq-D7NJsuxtvoCgZIZ/s1600/Grosgrain_Striped_Ridinghood_1-25_sm.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Larger images can be seen on the <a href="http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/eng/7028.asp">Stampin' Up! website</a>, by clicking on the photos there.</div>Contact me to order, or to arrange your party, and remember, all orders over £150 receive the usual free Hostess sets and free products, so it could be a great time to indulge.<br />
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</b></div><div style="color: #660000; text-align: center;"><b>Do have a wonderful Bonfire Night, be safe and I'll see you next week!</b></div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-57634223851387005292010-10-22T15:51:00.000-07:002010-10-22T16:01:40.393-07:00Peterborough<div class="MsoNormal">I really can’t say thank you enough to the lovely ladies Monica and Bekka, who organised this training day. There were insightful talks on various elements of running an SU business, and some wonderful projects.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The things we made were useful, clever and so lovely. And with Linz and Jo demonstrating all the great ways you can use Stampin’ Up!s various punches, I came away full of ideas. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our first make of the day was this fantastic set of cards</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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All made from the ONE stamp set – proving the wonderful versatility of our stamps (not to mention the fantastic imaginations of our organisers).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCeBXysMcXtHovM1aTUZQ6Hvy-sj675ZQbssbPS2kWnibTxrq6dgz6CqtxvaIPts_o0EIYPh2pk6sy9h3qX0c96K3mVd2s2NHBMjMgpnMySk-jP_hFIeOwUUbSdATsCOPwPl11vRuX7I/s1600/P1010944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCeBXysMcXtHovM1aTUZQ6Hvy-sj675ZQbssbPS2kWnibTxrq6dgz6CqtxvaIPts_o0EIYPh2pk6sy9h3qX0c96K3mVd2s2NHBMjMgpnMySk-jP_hFIeOwUUbSdATsCOPwPl11vRuX7I/s320/P1010944.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIFbwW3aNBswcnpgM09e32-6Wq3YrMNSlE43fYzZsN4pAZnA3f587OnX4ST7DbmX73UJsQ38bS-4KaEfnd2MfwoRC9qtttJoNLMyap24IaCQywc5bBpCr2vXTbEqcbKkgbTduux8tNVc/s1600/P1010945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIFbwW3aNBswcnpgM09e32-6Wq3YrMNSlE43fYzZsN4pAZnA3f587OnX4ST7DbmX73UJsQ38bS-4KaEfnd2MfwoRC9qtttJoNLMyap24IaCQywc5bBpCr2vXTbEqcbKkgbTduux8tNVc/s320/P1010945.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHp1z0EBAESbBd3DHnPcW5L5A4sY9MA0Ii9I3LOMJI4DLPMpeNfugc7d3YdW4W9NHX0GVzD8vVbXa56S-cJU2D72ok3SZnIKj_vCTALE2oZsNNM5gZbEFTxfMECOGZxFkGzOCoIxdeEk/s1600/P1010946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHp1z0EBAESbBd3DHnPcW5L5A4sY9MA0Ii9I3LOMJI4DLPMpeNfugc7d3YdW4W9NHX0GVzD8vVbXa56S-cJU2D72ok3SZnIKj_vCTALE2oZsNNM5gZbEFTxfMECOGZxFkGzOCoIxdeEk/s320/P1010946.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMlYKamg4libsd9KRozAXfNONvXRRwyfVrXsIufTYZiHXauBdFjLRpqPqfSYcC0ik3RGEtSpH5PhSXFCZXks0abw4H1B_Cb_fC_-9MsgefnjQVzJGfmpke2ZPMOFrwE-q8xew3CIdNE4/s1600/P1010947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMlYKamg4libsd9KRozAXfNONvXRRwyfVrXsIufTYZiHXauBdFjLRpqPqfSYcC0ik3RGEtSpH5PhSXFCZXks0abw4H1B_Cb_fC_-9MsgefnjQVzJGfmpke2ZPMOFrwE-q8xew3CIdNE4/s320/P1010947.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPJAj34uVslrYDkWiYxoTqm2U-3WNmMmJzTV95bGUoJzV25ocWgklKVzgV1EOYmXlGnUSrCtZ4lmWoV6KyLvadaQDEPWHycGVaTAov037uD4y5yC_dCylB2JBR_h26H9Dbp2kYGXh0aQ/s1600/P1010948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPJAj34uVslrYDkWiYxoTqm2U-3WNmMmJzTV95bGUoJzV25ocWgklKVzgV1EOYmXlGnUSrCtZ4lmWoV6KyLvadaQDEPWHycGVaTAov037uD4y5yC_dCylB2JBR_h26H9Dbp2kYGXh0aQ/s320/P1010948.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"> All five of these cards were made in a few minutes each with the single stamp set, one type of ribbon (the Whisper White Organza, which is so soft and silky and looks beautiful however you use it, and fabulous value at only £5.25 for a 13m roll!) and one type of embellishment, in this case, our Basic Rhinestones, which are lovely sparkly little finishing touches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The cards use a variety of techniques and materials, from using spritzers to making fancy folds – if you want to know how to do any of these techniques or re-create any of these cards or elements from them, contact me and I’d be happy to show you!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> We also made this gorgeous mini album (photo above is Bekkas sample) Suitable for a few photos, it would make the perfect gift to send to friends and family overseas and is so easy to do, as it is based on just one sheet of 12x12” paper! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsylChgjPrZX7G7stRUncHeJhr8EJeo9Sar6FST0evndBiYTWu_23ha6CVnF1Ye4-D6mT0H4FYkelOeWMrqyQhiy9mkO__ow_SC6xDE5j_-p954t5-AlfNOhBs0_Tc5wOTa_1SXmuL75E/s1600/P1010950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsylChgjPrZX7G7stRUncHeJhr8EJeo9Sar6FST0evndBiYTWu_23ha6CVnF1Ye4-D6mT0H4FYkelOeWMrqyQhiy9mkO__ow_SC6xDE5j_-p954t5-AlfNOhBs0_Tc5wOTa_1SXmuL75E/s320/P1010950.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> I love the decoration on the front – the ornament stamp and its coordinating punch are used in such a great way. You simply stamp, punch, fold each punched shape in half vertically and glue each half back to back with its neighbour.<br />
Any glue will do, but a wet glue like Tombow or PVA works best - I tend to apply it with a latex make up sponge to get a fine coating on the back of your peice and avoid splodging glue everywhere. Though a little splodging is always fun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lJLjZogo56ibSvT1hmJ992qnu5QnjOLPTVnB4Q56SQJ-LMCQcOb4hNuxKlmTN-v3ySQnKPfuqPcMCoqE-EoxQvk6ou5DJzgEAh9_iYyn7XEys6-51H7NtoZnDw18wrt6te-l5PbotXE/s1600/P1010952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lJLjZogo56ibSvT1hmJ992qnu5QnjOLPTVnB4Q56SQJ-LMCQcOb4hNuxKlmTN-v3ySQnKPfuqPcMCoqE-EoxQvk6ou5DJzgEAh9_iYyn7XEys6-51H7NtoZnDw18wrt6te-l5PbotXE/s320/P1010952.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The backgrounds were made using stamps from the<br />
Contempo Christmas set on Whisper White Cardstock (no DSp in sight!), and the borders decorated with the Scallop Trim Border Punch (a punch which deserves a workshop of its own). Some ribbon and rhinestones and voila! Mine differed quite a bit from Bekkas original, I managed to confuse myself whilst working from the photo's, as the original was in such demand.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6IeknxVAvQSP-SsMOLxVYQ9SXtLzlcWhLEmIhyphenhyphenGv48lWXQ6ykWyXDhrF5NVN2uTKyA07WfaRlfyA6xcOZuwE69-zYxzbFUzxBl6nVdty0p5ivY07QQY6l1SbdE5M55IkbpKtlohhQk0/s1600/P1010953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6IeknxVAvQSP-SsMOLxVYQ9SXtLzlcWhLEmIhyphenhyphenGv48lWXQ6ykWyXDhrF5NVN2uTKyA07WfaRlfyA6xcOZuwE69-zYxzbFUzxBl6nVdty0p5ivY07QQY6l1SbdE5M55IkbpKtlohhQk0/s320/P1010953.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div>The individual ornaments and trees were cut out (the ornaments using the Ornament Punch taking a matter of seconds, the trees by hand taking a wee bit longer) and popped up on foam dimensionals, being careful to avoid sticking them directly to the photo 'plate' meaning that your photo's could easily be inserted afterwards. <br />
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The colours used were Marina Mist (the background paper, striped grosgrain ribbon and paler blue stamping) Wild Wasabi and The new In Colour Concord Crush.<br />
Have you guessed by now that alliteration is a big thing in the world of Stampin' Up!? Its sweet, and only becomes a problem when you find yourself referring to various colours as 'Pirouette' (pink) 'Celery' (Green) and 'Concord' (the luciousdeep purply blue used in the album)Confusing, but fun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92G5xdTu7RHOBgupXsLgImNkjViEIBk0BHXDfZm6VRuHNVPbDWSTrWBbLiFh43RwYyb_wI5p53O3iVIYmSecABeGQgdY37ra6ABEmf0HpMtCNm_sDSiHsvJu2wrcuR-1_oUoM3YURQD4/s1600/P1010954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92G5xdTu7RHOBgupXsLgImNkjViEIBk0BHXDfZm6VRuHNVPbDWSTrWBbLiFh43RwYyb_wI5p53O3iVIYmSecABeGQgdY37ra6ABEmf0HpMtCNm_sDSiHsvJu2wrcuR-1_oUoM3YURQD4/s320/P1010954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Again, for a demonstration of this and all the other exciting applications, just contact me and book a party. </div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">There was also a lovely little 4x4" card box designed by Monica, which I simply haven't had time to glue together. When I get back from Inverness (for that is where I shall be this weekend, cooing and burbling over our friends wee baby) I shall finish it and post it for you to see, because it is gorgeous, and a whole new colour scheme based on the same Marina Mist paper as used in the album.</div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-51164321001385934632010-10-22T14:37:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:05:20.061-07:00Halllooooo!Ok, it's been a little while, but lots and lots to show.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">I also didn’t report on my first party! Huge thanks to my lovely hostess, she did a great job, and also thanks to my mother who took on heat gun duties for the evening! They’ve since received their orders – including the free exclusive hostess sets and the free products of their choice, which I’m sure they are having fun playing with. It was a small and extremely enjoyable party (which just proves how easy it is to earn the freebies) with some fab people and we made some Christmas cards using the Dasher stamp and lots of glitter – because if you can’t have glitter at Christmas, when can you? ;)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Since then I’ve been busily making swaps for the Peterborough training and I also held a stall at the Willingale fair. I met some wonderful people and had loads of fun crafting with children from the village and talking to their families. They were all positively brilliant, and the children so creative and imaginative.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All that fun (plus that fact that this years catalogue includes some brilliant child friendly designs) means i'm working on a range projects for childrens parties and groups and will let everybody know the details when they are available. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56J_H9qiGdyGimEYims_FtgVEtFo-Yk90pMnrj0RuaTkSyqQInkV1fp1X9g7kMBC7xCU5CI8-gubSjL4xsnpnpfa1kWlRuFCibqVDWJUAQ9eT__C0uZL8wAI5PcnRJnHJxEUwSW9l5Z8/s1600/Childrens+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56J_H9qiGdyGimEYims_FtgVEtFo-Yk90pMnrj0RuaTkSyqQInkV1fp1X9g7kMBC7xCU5CI8-gubSjL4xsnpnpfa1kWlRuFCibqVDWJUAQ9eT__C0uZL8wAI5PcnRJnHJxEUwSW9l5Z8/s320/Childrens+party.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Do watch this space; it’s going to be exciting!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">After that came Peterborough. You know how I mentioned I was doing those swaps? Well they featured these little things – </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">They’re called Tato’s, which are little origami containers that are flat and so can be used in cards and scrapbook pages and and anywhere else where something small and precious needs to be stored. they're opened by pulling the two larger flaps, yet stay securely shut otherwise.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">They were made using the instructions in <i>Paper Fold It</i> by Steve and Megumi Biddle. I’m going to attempt to make a video showing how to make them and post it here, but do find the book if you can for all the other lovely projects. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The Tato’s above are made with a 4x4” square of Greenhouse Gala DSP and a 6x6” square of Blueberry Crisp (which I’m starting to absolutely love the floral patterns are so pretty, yet not overtly girly, and a lot of the other patterns would make wonderful mens projects).</div><div class="MsoNormal">My swaps used the Greenhouse paper and were mounted on a page stamped with my Baroque Border Wheel. Using the Wheels is so amazingly quick and easy – all thirty were done in a matter of minutes. Even With me chaging my mind on positioning halfway through and going back to stamp on the reverse. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0ZkE_1gKgMhQjTm7YsaLW3XpsA_Pi3B3QI7HqddUvi8OiTj_EXT-ALCnFqs6KmacR9HXIi2iCJttpmtAx8upZMhsF7yQfi0sys-yl-hCMjTzqUZByb6bHkoildRrBeHkmOB-endFwY8/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0ZkE_1gKgMhQjTm7YsaLW3XpsA_Pi3B3QI7HqddUvi8OiTj_EXT-ALCnFqs6KmacR9HXIi2iCJttpmtAx8upZMhsF7yQfi0sys-yl-hCMjTzqUZByb6bHkoildRrBeHkmOB-endFwY8/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">The one downfall of these swaps was I didn’t list my materials, so for my fellow Demo’s, I used</div><div class="MsoNormal">Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Early Expresso and Pumpkin Pie Cardstocks. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Greehouse Gala Designer Series Paper.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Baroque Border Stampin’ Around Wheel</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ink Cartridges inked with So Saffron and Certainly Celery and Certainly, Baja, Saffron and Crumbcake inkpads.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Certainly Celery 1/8” Taffeta ribbon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I also have to show this card to show off the Paper Daisies that I recently got for my grandmothers birthday card – Just a little bit of inking to colour and the effect is lovely, especially combined with some pretty Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1ZIrLuAgFy6P2PN5seaJ8f4XIdNCNkaseuRH6BcS6jmId06iHdUv3ezNLZbCD8GODJumpPSR4OMHis6exghMRY2wV51CFMEnHAz0jjiiMcWdoGtnGFelv1bngyKdolboioPkFI1YXZA/s1600/P1010891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1ZIrLuAgFy6P2PN5seaJ8f4XIdNCNkaseuRH6BcS6jmId06iHdUv3ezNLZbCD8GODJumpPSR4OMHis6exghMRY2wV51CFMEnHAz0jjiiMcWdoGtnGFelv1bngyKdolboioPkFI1YXZA/s320/P1010891.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Next post will be all about the fantastic day I had in Peterborough on the 17<sup>th</sup> - it was so much fun, and so tiring – those ladies make you work! – But I loved every minute. :D</div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-68104740630285879252010-10-03T03:06:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:06:02.717-07:00And here It is!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> The Brand New 2010-11 Idea Book & Catalogue - now bigger and better! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEfS02AMBb-VHuwCMYBNZxV0IcY02wdlKAfQ0ZFarVhn2EKZ1NuQs03mqPbV9QLK7rPnz5YOvDptvzBIttl3HJPHH2ArHITFPt94HK0Rqcefy2o0pa-rWh-1C4PWam8iBVt7nRj32Img/s400/NIB&C1011FP.jpg" width="336" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As well as all the new ideas you'll find inside, there is the brand new colour ranges, improved punch styles and increased range of shapes, new (and I have to say lovely) Hostess sets to choose from and a fantastic</div>new starter kit offer for anyone who wants to become a demo themselves (which I'll post more about soon).<br />
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I'll be putting up a link to the PDF version of the catalogue, but with all the changes to the products I can absolutely recommend getting a catalogue of your own to look through - with feet up and a cup of tea on hand. ;).<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Until the end of October I'm making them available at the special price of £4.00, that's over 25% off the recommended price! </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you would like your own copy then contact me - serendipitystamping@hotmail.co.uk. </div>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-46393165965183852492010-09-29T08:09:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:06:26.867-07:00Almost time.October 1st is almost upon us, time for the new catalogue!<br />
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And hopefully, if my technical expertise does not fail me, some little upgrades to this blog.Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-68498332735060493162010-09-05T13:43:00.000-07:002010-11-01T09:07:42.725-07:00I'm afraid I just can't contain myself...<div style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have to say something about the new catalogue!</b></span></div><br />
So while Stu battles monsters whilst clad entirely in black rubber (at least, in his Batman Xbox game) and the kitty grouses at the fly that has dared taken shelter in <i>her</i> house for the night, its probably a good time to tell all.<br />
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Well, not quite all. I'm honour bound to sit on it - figuratively speaking thankfully - until its official launch on the 1st of October. But, perks of the job, us demo's get a month in advance - to pour through, paw literally, coo over the new designs and squee repeatedly over all the amazing pretties. Aaaaaalllll the fabulous, pretty things. Midnight on September 1st I'm sure they could hear the collective squee'ing back in the American headquarters. <br />
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I will let one thing slip - Nicola, BEWARE PIRATES! (yarrrgh, me hearties, and such and such). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Some exciting new introductions with this catalogue are clear stamps. Still the same high quality rubber for crisp stamping, they come instead with 'cling' backing for temporarily adhering to your crystal clear acrylic block. As well as the increased ability to judge your placements, they offer benefits in the form of reduced storage needs - each set will arrive in a box the size of a DVD sleeve, allowing storage on conventional shelves, and one set of acrylic blocks is enough for however many stamps you buy!<br />
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The last benefit, which i'm sure you'll all love, is the price! After an intial investment in your arcrylic blocks, each clear mount set is less than the equivalent wood mounted one! And as your blocks will last years, they keep getting better and better value the more sets you buy.<br />
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Hang on, thats actually girly logic isn't it? Maybe don't use that argument on your SO's.<br />
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I'll put my hands up and admit it took me a little while to wrap my noggin around the ins and outs of the clear stamps, so amongst other things, i'm going to try and get together a handy hints and tips page.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: red;">C</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">o</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">l</span><span style="color: purple;">o</span><span style="color: yellow;">u</span><span style="color: magenta;">r</span><span style="color: #e69138;">s</span>!</b></span></div><br />
Other exciting changes include an increased range of punches, and ribbons and of course the Colour Renovation.<br />
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A lot of people have mixed feelings, but aside from the loss of the lovely Blush Blossom i'm really not worried! Plus, the lovely people at SU this year have bought out the Colour Coach - a handy swatch of all 40 colours, arranged so that you can flip out individual colours and play with combinations to your hearts content. And if you get really really stuck, each card will have handy suggestions on the reverse. I can tell already its going to become an indespensible tool. <br />
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So many things to look forwards to! If you want to get your catalogue as soon as its launched, do drop me a line and request one. They are priced at £5.95, but i'm sure for pre orders, I can do them for somewhat less than that. :D<br />
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Have fun till then.Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-47467057325237426152010-08-25T14:11:00.000-07:002010-08-31T06:02:08.214-07:00And following swiftly on...I can tell this is not going to be a regular as clockwork blog!<br /><br />This particular blog has been partly delayed by our holiday to Cornwall, which was stunningly gorgeous and fun to drive around (very hilly!)<br />On the way there we saw Stonehenge and whilst there we visited Heligan Gardens, the Eden Project, Lands End, Fowey for the Regatta, Tintagel Castle and Poldark Tin mine, where we went on the ghost tour. I can recommend all of it and I got lots of photos including, funnily enough, Dahlias.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRFjlfK92ew7X60biRBAWL7HzjJy-fpWXxqULYkFJXW-DfBV28pJbRg69shTRlYQbyWjkHO5WbFnl9VrX8GnT_0ej_aCW2UpFyjM4pX2V0ApdahAAMSY4LzDUV-g_Tt-vGpTDC4LiMxI/s1600/17082010868.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRFjlfK92ew7X60biRBAWL7HzjJy-fpWXxqULYkFJXW-DfBV28pJbRg69shTRlYQbyWjkHO5WbFnl9VrX8GnT_0ej_aCW2UpFyjM4pX2V0ApdahAAMSY4LzDUV-g_Tt-vGpTDC4LiMxI/s320/17082010868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509460489613177410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdXxOxc0_paPoZaOUbRzba14Df4C6-D0XO0TSqg70NCu9oydCcv67bgEKHnmoNSqzaLT9CUnyU_i6hc4Y0OwiLVONg2jwfoL658ktHXzA5XsWDdlYiS769LYhZuZq1oYaxppD8LzDh5I/s1600/17082010876.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdXxOxc0_paPoZaOUbRzba14Df4C6-D0XO0TSqg70NCu9oydCcv67bgEKHnmoNSqzaLT9CUnyU_i6hc4Y0OwiLVONg2jwfoL658ktHXzA5XsWDdlYiS769LYhZuZq1oYaxppD8LzDh5I/s320/17082010876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509485261103476818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Which seem to be almost the opposit to the ones in the earlier blog...<br /><br />May have to experiment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cake Boxes</span><br /><br /><br />It was mostly delayed however by the desire to get a set of the cake boxes made up and photographed. But I fear I must admit that my inspiration is failing me. I will get them done soon though - perhaps the impending <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">BRAND NEW 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogue</span></span> will inpire me?<br /><br />(can you tell i'm getting *very* excited?)<br /><br /><br />So I made up the templates of the round ended cake boxes, and in the meantime my darling DF got me a gift - a Silhouette craft cutter! I leaped about, promised him a crown for being the worlds best boyfriend and as soon as it arrived started playing!<br /><br />It sounds just a little like you are <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF8JJcPV7tY&feature=related">torturing a Transformer</a> but i'm getting the hang of it and for starters made GSD versions of the boxes. I'm afraid like the cake boxes, I can't take all the credit for the heart topped box - I saw something like it in a shop, ran home and did my best to recreate it, so the template is mine but the idea really isn't.<br /><br />So here they are - please, take them, make them up and show me your wonderful creations, and perhaps your imaginations will spark my own.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/h6uviexv73">Large Cake Box</a><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/n6o28uym2r">Large Cake Box.GSD</a><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/r05to9mvi4">Medium Cake Box</a><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/97pg10as33">Medium Cake Box.GSD</a><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/yskvdnrafn">Small Cake Box</a><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/sdxud45tzm">Small Cake Box.GSD</a><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/70dq50t6bz">Heart Topped Favour Box</a><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/thpbq4zoe1">Heart Topped Favour Box.GSD</a><br /><br /><br />As they are .GSD and .jpeg files not all places will host them - do let me know if you have issues with this site and I can email them direct. The cutting files have no fold lines on them of course, so use the normal template files as a scoring guide.<br /><br />Good luck, and let me see photo's!Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-37562196954566485052010-07-30T14:54:00.000-07:002010-08-31T05:45:45.539-07:00Just a quick one<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rQK5T8b7F7r17rTIPNQIEoc8S9t3qVRqb9jcYmYTwZLBtHWafSNxUfCBxJ-R53RAEfW5cTH5Nh6UX5HCfybWV_FsF9MWd4Axcm6o6KJ_JbX7g7v7P9QSozxGC0hPo2zgjYtmwp4cCYw/s1600/P1010376.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rQK5T8b7F7r17rTIPNQIEoc8S9t3qVRqb9jcYmYTwZLBtHWafSNxUfCBxJ-R53RAEfW5cTH5Nh6UX5HCfybWV_FsF9MWd4Axcm6o6KJ_JbX7g7v7P9QSozxGC0hPo2zgjYtmwp4cCYw/s320/P1010376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511541817785715234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I thought I would very quickly show a couple of the cards that I made over the past few weeks. The first was one made for the daughter of my DF boss, who was described as very girly and into horses.<br /><br />I found some images of horses on the internet (thank you whoever took them!) And of course i'd just ordered the Tea Party DSP which covered the 'girly ' element brilliantly.<br /><br />It turned out that this particular horse was virtually identical to the horse she currently kept, and so i kept it full colour and changed my mind immediately to make an aperture card framing it. Cutting round all the different shapes was quite labour intensive, and if I were making multiple cards I would have thought twice, but as it was a special one off I went full steam ahead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOD_rsIePC8YBfV1_Esabao5YNHFY8vanzHUHqtCt28IazKWuJK8ErTCxgs0Qwqw7PIpHDdO_KH40OvxTDIc6s81V74fo2bupRnE0I7BcS87cjPZkxRDO4FgZ62VpCibXk6e4Wrp80Og/s1600/P1010378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOD_rsIePC8YBfV1_Esabao5YNHFY8vanzHUHqtCt28IazKWuJK8ErTCxgs0Qwqw7PIpHDdO_KH40OvxTDIc6s81V74fo2bupRnE0I7BcS87cjPZkxRDO4FgZ62VpCibXk6e4Wrp80Og/s320/P1010378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511540042536614194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiQnj1KIwlbKGzBr6IWbCDfF9Favm1F74V1Uh5iHWL76CYb8jqf3I0eO9lg_tTGYABuc6vZA8iINzWlWtWoML011Oqr8QIAmMvEg4uWwgEoDjPj2kx7EyLOGZ8uhjd_14ws6KMsm_W0M/s1600/P1010376.JPG"></a><br />I made one boo boo though and so an extra little flower was cut out to hide the smudge of elegant eggplant ink that made it onto the sentiment panel (stamp from the Cheers and Wishes set). Finishes it off though? I also trimmed down the flowers on the front to the edge of the main card, allowing it to stand. They loved it, and I was very glad!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCluqFdvfaLes0_xOEy1DAR-27TJuT2r0IHHM4ONUXGJscKyqYsrVNydTAl89LLBNR6PAAAiK1XRpCdCri0C0tcKoDI0X7vRxZEdslHzX7BSdT_vNqc9idmYUt6iib5Q2wMn21D3U8CM/s1600/P1010808.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCluqFdvfaLes0_xOEy1DAR-27TJuT2r0IHHM4ONUXGJscKyqYsrVNydTAl89LLBNR6PAAAiK1XRpCdCri0C0tcKoDI0X7vRxZEdslHzX7BSdT_vNqc9idmYUt6iib5Q2wMn21D3U8CM/s320/P1010808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511538630828374226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The other card was the happy result of an unexpected flash of early morning creativity - one cup of tea and the Bird on a Branch stampt set later and I was rather pleased with it.<br /><br /><br />I added just a subtle bit of glitter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiQnj1KIwlbKGzBr6IWbCDfF9Favm1F74V1Uh5iHWL76CYb8jqf3I0eO9lg_tTGYABuc6vZA8iINzWlWtWoML011Oqr8QIAmMvEg4uWwgEoDjPj2kx7EyLOGZ8uhjd_14ws6KMsm_W0M/s1600/P1010376.JPG"></a> behind the bird, darkened with elegant egglant inking under the heat and stick powder.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv9yLmR5v7QEYt1iLa9T52zRlerpthr5kVrg0rmbrCgCKpcQwopBd1XepBKnitVUgZxMAXg-xxZwcH8f-KFtj48bMDaiblKeaIJhn3h_iWyXzOL1ornWgib2hm1MzssJ6BSuBeWYgzvM/s1600/P1010801.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuv9yLmR5v7QEYt1iLa9T52zRlerpthr5kVrg0rmbrCgCKpcQwopBd1XepBKnitVUgZxMAXg-xxZwcH8f-KFtj48bMDaiblKeaIJhn3h_iWyXzOL1ornWgib2hm1MzssJ6BSuBeWYgzvM/s320/P1010801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511540060029102642" border="0" /></a><br />And also double inked the sentiment with a light and dark colour (using the faithful Stamp-a-ma-jig) to produce the shadowed effect, which<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjCRhBeg_rXJTWF3y8K2JSuNSRAyWYjv0QoDgGYK4Q4yl4Phqi8-5mm7sHroOda4FDmyCiPsiwkoRn2Ad_iJJ9AvkrlczVPMvtfF4rDRlSvspBQ10Wz025dcys6bKM_ClWlHsls55UOg/s1600/P1010805.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjCRhBeg_rXJTWF3y8K2JSuNSRAyWYjv0QoDgGYK4Q4yl4Phqi8-5mm7sHroOda4FDmyCiPsiwkoRn2Ad_iJJ9AvkrlczVPMvtfF4rDRlSvspBQ10Wz025dcys6bKM_ClWlHsls55UOg/s320/P1010805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511540342056302978" border="0" /></a><br />on the Basic Grey background works beautifully.<br />Finished of with a liberal daubing of Versamark<br />around the edge and a frame of black to make the<br />colours pop out and I was very pleased.<br /><br /><br />And of course, a bit of Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, because i'm obsessed.<br /><br /><br /><br />One day I will have a go at producing a range of items featuring no EE colour at all - as an exercise in restraint!Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-12428435393259069232010-07-27T14:31:00.000-07:002010-07-27T14:42:56.388-07:00Exciting News!For August, Stampin' Up! are promoting the Two Step stamping sets, including the very lovely Bird on a branch, which I shall do my upmost to aquire and show soon, as it has been on my wish list from the start! The 20% off means its a fantastic time to host your party, as you'll get even more from your rewards than usual!<br /><br />See the flyer for more details and if you have any questions do feel free to contact me via my email!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_JT-nfIEkfs1fcuI5RBhAnC7sNhvCBy2Oh10HOavxGcuWsFSnwXMZuEit_P4DfdFOKgK53VPZfVhlntiSYKKVEj2ZYK3KB8wmUJKZGOzTkpBLF3NKbgsyC0njr6BOoao6VuoUqCAXos/s1600/2stepflyer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_JT-nfIEkfs1fcuI5RBhAnC7sNhvCBy2Oh10HOavxGcuWsFSnwXMZuEit_P4DfdFOKgK53VPZfVhlntiSYKKVEj2ZYK3KB8wmUJKZGOzTkpBLF3NKbgsyC0njr6BOoao6VuoUqCAXos/s320/2stepflyer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498703609723368338" border="0" /></a>Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2198359039840431340.post-75712645965775116482010-07-22T13:48:00.000-07:002010-07-25T12:46:14.489-07:00Getting up and running<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnqWO1kos_mvcWw9RqJwqigAdkp05afNjO5ttsesfsfxBJDEguVmh8zjd621UIwmoBz3Uzp9UZXpjI8Bw8Zhlcz5ntWsKfqCRCns4L2RbApbYNVVJfLC6qBJH-sBHRf0PUNkt7z3DfzA/s1600/P1000850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnqWO1kos_mvcWw9RqJwqigAdkp05afNjO5ttsesfsfxBJDEguVmh8zjd621UIwmoBz3Uzp9UZXpjI8Bw8Zhlcz5ntWsKfqCRCns4L2RbApbYNVVJfLC6qBJH-sBHRf0PUNkt7z3DfzA/s320/P1000850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496836125109612690" border="0" /></a>After a far longer than planned gap I've decided to show you a little of what i've been doing since I first discovered Stampin' Up! and the wonderful world of papercrafting.<br /><br />So I shall start with the pretties!<br /><br />These were inspired by <a href="http://takatouscrap.over-blog.fr/article-34939498.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Katou's</span></a> lovely gift boxes, complete with these folded dahlias made from Tea Party designer series paper (which I literally just got and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">I'm</span> completely in love with!)<br /><br />They were printed using the Bella <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Toile</span> background stamp and the large flourish from the Baroque Motifs set. Stamped on vellum in the new season shade Rich <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Razzleberry</span> - which <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">I'm</span> in wonderful danger of overusing - they have a lovely old time look and finished with a Rhinestone Brad they have just a little bit of sparkle to finish them off.<br /><br />I'm not so pleased with the strips of paper in the middles though - apparently if you catch vellum on a bad day you will never get it to curl!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16PztZ6yD9ishhtkSfgXf702dHEvQQs2od8RS8NnITExTnSeWKrPC_LEycVBK20BrmOPhdiQkXHGVXqMhpW6H-L8Yx3DCAuAtp2HbZNnGpuxPTg11tLYzX2UNdkYOBeWUayXRFZMBhtU/s1600/P1000853.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16PztZ6yD9ishhtkSfgXf702dHEvQQs2od8RS8NnITExTnSeWKrPC_LEycVBK20BrmOPhdiQkXHGVXqMhpW6H-L8Yx3DCAuAtp2HbZNnGpuxPTg11tLYzX2UNdkYOBeWUayXRFZMBhtU/s320/P1000853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496842533309453506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But I'm endeavouring to learn the secret and will share when I do.<br /><br />The Dahlias are made from squares of your chosen paper, folded into a cone to form each 'petal', they are then glued to a scalloped circle, to form the shape. More detailed instruction are on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Katous</span> site, with the English translation under the French.<br /><br />The smaller of the two was made to the original sizes (2" and 1.5" squares, with the only difference being that I rounded the outer corners first with a punch and finished by sponging Rich <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Razzleberry</span> onto the outer edges to darken them. The second was made with 3" and 4" squares, again with rounded corners but no sponging - letting the Baroque Motifs speak for itself!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pZjMlcKnUD5hQrKS0EOBC79iTTkgqpme7QZQz_tvPg1Zqh9KONs7fiSGNmNmcLfdMxMXDY4fXZ4fkrK6ypZZsw3CKMTk4hrblC0rvcpqnJ51Il_oJaY7gmLUDbKO5o4C155L5UXB0vY/s1600/P1000854.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pZjMlcKnUD5hQrKS0EOBC79iTTkgqpme7QZQz_tvPg1Zqh9KONs7fiSGNmNmcLfdMxMXDY4fXZ4fkrK6ypZZsw3CKMTk4hrblC0rvcpqnJ51Il_oJaY7gmLUDbKO5o4C155L5UXB0vY/s320/P1000854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496843002686445234" border="0" /></a><br />Incidentally I found that a lovely life-like petal colouring was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">achieved</span> by sponging the (still flat) paper first in 'wiping' gestures off the edge of the paper, then in 'dabbing' gestures afterwards.<br />(holding the petal between your thumb and forefinger with your thumb pointing toward the rounded corner gives it some support so that it doesn't crease) You could also build up a very dense <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">amount</span> of colour, giving a dramatic effect.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The picture below shows this a little, but the flower that shows it best was adopted very quickly by my partners mother - photo's when I get it back, I promise.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIUvuO-27Umkw1VZKEqjJV509y9WRABBc_DJfEgjIWGF9-YFVw2LLzoQDV5EIBEioxefPtSDAk3aNl2W3ye6oZGWzjipedruiyEsODKD7jd4zwjIBexu9FcEAXMGL6uPIjP5at70dXN0/s1600/P1000856.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIUvuO-27Umkw1VZKEqjJV509y9WRABBc_DJfEgjIWGF9-YFVw2LLzoQDV5EIBEioxefPtSDAk3aNl2W3ye6oZGWzjipedruiyEsODKD7jd4zwjIBexu9FcEAXMGL6uPIjP5at70dXN0/s320/P1000856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496843354488125570" border="0" /></a><br />Before I sign off i wanted to show these, which I saw and had to have a go at, again <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">I've</span> given them just a bit of sparkle with a rhinestone brad. They are originally by the amazing paper flower maker Joanne and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">there's</span> a great video showing you how to make them <a href="http://joanne-mainlyflowers.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ0giEt75avjLT8qhUBvVPuFjPCG6uxJYm5Zocas_UtSw-gqr-2Z6sQ4-7fI9At4xw3nu6Ls3yB913Gz3DwXu_uJxfn9jPubKHGW61XsUuv3Pj0iG_uFSOCiogmMuIR3EsyDfGDi1iD4/s1600/P1000866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ0giEt75avjLT8qhUBvVPuFjPCG6uxJYm5Zocas_UtSw-gqr-2Z6sQ4-7fI9At4xw3nu6Ls3yB913Gz3DwXu_uJxfn9jPubKHGW61XsUuv3Pj0iG_uFSOCiogmMuIR3EsyDfGDi1iD4/s320/P1000866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496846001430459906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMNauLAkGLFcVcGzQx2SsgsALHlEP5r9wJWPbl6_8U7SGF9gR3E18GeWK_RC_7eRK1rYiHCO1XxBo0BUWVK-2kxSXe53g98aR7itCq5Bg_ZsuWVw7g2Pi3qUh7wSewc4mF1f5nd1RPHY/s1600/P1000859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMNauLAkGLFcVcGzQx2SsgsALHlEP5r9wJWPbl6_8U7SGF9gR3E18GeWK_RC_7eRK1rYiHCO1XxBo0BUWVK-2kxSXe53g98aR7itCq5Bg_ZsuWVw7g2Pi3qUh7wSewc4mF1f5nd1RPHY/s320/P1000859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496846500477470098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">I'm</span> hoping to post the cake box templates I've made. Why more cake boxes with the plethora available on line already? Well I couldn't find one with a rounded outside edge, and something in me just needed a rounded outside edge. I've also done them in three different sizes, for easy tiering.<br /><br />Some of the other bits <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">I've</span> been doing, including the voucher wallet made for my dear fellas birthday today are conical favour boxes, pop up cards for a friends daughters birthday and hopefully, lots of invitations for a wedding fair stall coming up in September, which i'm doing with <a href="http://stampinupandbranchingout.blogspot.com/">Caroline</a> who is very good at them -so watch out for them.<br /><br /><br />Until then, have fun.Nellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05579915563066169687noreply@blogger.com4