Friday 31 May 2013

Christening Candle

Have just finished the candle for my friend's grandsons christening.  This was the most ambitious candle I have done so far as it contained a lot of wording.  I decided to do it in baja breeze which is very pale and subtle and suited the occasion.  The candle looks brilliant but unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice.

Candle making, Stampin' Up!Candle making, Stampin' Up!

Each individual letter was first stamped onto fine tissue paper and then with the heat gun melted into the candle.  It is a bit of a labour of love as is quite fiddly but the results are beautiful.  The ink I used being pale does not show well on the photo, but on the candle is quite iridescent so works really well.

Thanks for stopping by and remember my email is allmark.j@sky.com if you want to order any stampin' up! products.

Saturday 25 May 2013

Christening Card

It is my friend's grandson christening so I was asked to make a card and candle for the occasion.

  I used baja breeze which is a soft blue perfect for a little boy on his christening day.  The vintage wheel (my favourite at the moment) is just rolled over each corner and with some glimmer paper for sparkle under Harrison it makes a perfect card.


If you want to order any Stampin' Up! products just email me allmark.j@sky.com  or if you want to order direct on-line check out my link below.  Thanks for looking :))))

.http://amethystarcrafting.stampinup.net






























Friday 24 May 2013

Important Notice - Stampin' Up! online store disabled.

Unfortunately have just received some disappointing news from Stampin' Up! with regard to their new online store.  As with many new ideas initial teething problems have made the online store close for the time being.  At this stage we don't know when it will be back up and running but I will keep you all posted as soon as I know.

On a positive, you can still access my web page which I will continue to be working on so that when the online store re-opens it will be an easy link to be able to order.

As always you can email me allmark.j@sky.com with any orders and of course if you are local to the GU9 and combine your order with mine there will be no postage.

In the meantime a beautiful photo I took from one of my favourite places of the walk through the trees to Wayland Smithy.
Happy weekend and enjoy the bank holiday (even if we do have torrential rain and hail) :)))

Football fan birthday card

I have just been commissioned to make a card for a mad chelsea fan's 30th birthday.  As I am not a sports fan I didn't have any stamp sets with footballs on so I was racking my brain of what to do.  Then I came up with the idea of doing a rosette. So I set to folding lots of paper into corrugated strips (backwards and forwards) took my glue gun, held them tightly together and created the rosette.  With a chelsea logo stuck in the middle a jaunty 30 and a happy birthday it was complete.

Really pleased with it and my customer was delighted.

I now have an online shopping link if you want to buy any Stampin' Up! products http://amethystarcrafting.stampinup.net

or you can just drop me an email allmark.j@sky.com

Happy crafting and have a great weekend :)))




Thursday 23 May 2013

New Stampin' Up! On-line Ordering

How exciting Stampin' Up! have just launched a new on-line ordering service through their demonstrators.  As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I have always been passionate about what I do and hope that all of you that have stopped by and seen my blog have been inspired by what you have seen.

Well now you can not only order by contacting me through my email allmark.j@sky.com but also through Stampin' Up! direct using me as your demonstrator.

All you have to do is click on the link below to go direct to my Stampin' Up! web page and follow the online ordering

                http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/amethystarcrafting/

Please stop by and have a look and I look forward to seeing you there.

Thanks as always for supporting my blog which I will be continuing and happy crafting to everyone :))

Saturday 18 May 2013

Stampin' Up! making vintage candles

Well this is my second attempt at candle making (see yesterdays blog for technique) and I thought I would do a vintage look.






Now to source some more candles as have already got some orders from work and just love the fact that a plain white pillar candle can be turned into something fabulous.

Hope you enjoy and as always allmark.j@sky.com if you want to get in touch.

Happy crafting :)))))

Stampin' Up! stamping on candles

How exciting, I was browsing the tinternet and came across a way to create beautiful candles from plain white pillar candles.  The technique is really simple just needs a bit of care to ensure that the wax doesn't melt too much and the image stays crisp.






This was my first attempt and really pleased with the outcome.So how do you do it?  Well just stamp whatever image you want on the candles onto thin tissue paper, cut round it carefully and lay it on the candle where you want the image to go.  Then get your heat gun first having wrapped the candle securely with some waxed paper/greaseproof paper (this stops wrinkles and creases.  Heat your gun till nice and hot and then move over the image (not too long or the candle will melt) just long enough for the wax to penetrate through the tissue paper thus sealing it onto the candle.  Remove the greaseproof paper and voila!  It takes a little practise but the results are beautiful.  I will be making some personalised candles for birthdays a 30th and 21st for customers and they would be simply gorgeous personalised with someones name, for a wedding table and of course christmas.

Need any help with this technique or want to order any Stampin' Up! products then just drop me an email allmark.j@sky.com

Happy crafting :)))))))

Friday 17 May 2013

Stampin' Up! Pretty flowers

Well thoughts are still with a summer and some sunshine, but unfortunately the weather is not looking good.  This week we have had ground frosts and night time temperatures very cold.  It has rained every day which is great for my allotment but not good for getting down there and planting my next batch of seeds.  Oh well.

So I decided to do a pretty flower card to cheer me up and make me think of summer days with the butterflies sunning themselves on the flowers.

 
 
 
 
The border is the tulip embossing folder sponged with a little colour to bring out the pattern, the fence is done using the label punch stamped with the branch from the Take Care stamp set, the butterfly is from the little butterfly punch folded in half so that it flutters and the flowers and leaves are from two little sizzlets.

All of the items used are Stampin' Up! products and can be purchased through myself as an independent Stampin' Up demonstrator.  So don't hesitate to get in touch via email allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend :))))

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Personalised handmade cards

I have just finished making a commission order for a 21st birthday.  The order was for a personalised birthday card, a card to be given by two sisters, and an envelope to fit some tickets for a london show.





Lots of butterflies, lovely pastel colours, embellishments and glitter.

I make individual personalised cards for any occasion from birthdays to weddings.I live in Farnham the GU9 area but can send cards to anywhere in the world (with appropriate postage costs).

If you have a special event coming up and want something unique and personal then please get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

Monday 13 May 2013

Happy Birthday

A big huge happy birthday to my wonderful son.  It always amazes me how time flies but he will always be my little boy.  This is quite a joke really as he is 6'2 tall and has never been little in any way.

So a special card today for his birthday



I used YourAmazing stamp set for the sentiments (my favourite at th moment) and a retired set for the truck which I watercoloured and then stamped a letter'J' on the door to personalise it.

Stampin' Up! products are so versatile and the background is stamped using a couple of wheel stamps.  It always amazes me how with two pieces of blank paper and a bit of creativity fun cards can be made.

Like what you see? then just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com for a catalogue or to place an order.

Thanks for stopping by ........and for my gorgeous son a very happy birthday xxxxxx

Sunday 12 May 2013

Stampin' Up! Very Vintage jumbo wheel

I am so enjoying using this wheel as it gives a gorgeous vintage background which is great for over stamping.


I used the very vintage jumbo wheel in baja breeze (a lovely soft blue ink pad) and then stamped over with little butterflies in sahara sand.  The card stock is calypso coral and I co-ordinated it with a circle of designer series paper.  The butterfly punches are great as there are two sizes so you can create a beautiful dimensional butterfly. Teamed together with the Your Amazing stamp set and it has made a really stunning card.

If you would like to purchase any of the above items or anything else from the vast stampin' up! range then ust get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

Happy crafting :))))

Saturday 11 May 2013

Good luck in your new job

Yesterday one of my good friends at work left and we had a lovely leaving lunch with everyone at the local pub.  She is going on to ventures new, but will be missed by us all.

Here is the card that I made for her.  Lots of sparkles and glitz and butterflies as she is a real girly girl.

Unfortunately the pictures are a little bright so you can't see the detail but the background is decorated using one of the jumbo wheel stamps.  I watercoloured the word 'amazing' using the blender pen and calypso coral ink to match the card stock.

She adored it and I wish her every success in her new job.

As always get in touch allmark.j@sky.com if you would like to buy any stampin' up! products.

Friday 10 May 2013

Stampin' Up! Your Amazing

My latest delivery arrived this week and one of the stamp sets was 'Your Amazing' so I just had to have a play and create a card

I love the fact that both the sentiments are nice and big so are great for layering.

I used Baja breeze (blue) and Sahara sand (light beige) to decorate the base of the card and then over stamped with the sentiments.  I cut a circle of the gorgeous sparkly card and then cut out the balloon and put it on using dimensionals to give that 3d look.

Will be playing around more with this set as I really like the vintage look.

If you like what you see and would like to order any products from stampin' up! then just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com your friendly local demonstrator.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sunday 5 May 2013

Stampin' Up! embossing folder butterflies

How exciting! I have just stumbled across a great idea completely by accident.  I was try a technique of inking an embossing folder before putting it through the big shot.  This worked really well but my first attempt wasn't quite even in the ink coverage so instead of wasting the paper I decided to punch out some shapes.  The little butterfly punch worked really well and has given an embossed coloured butterfly which when mounted on some basic grey cardstock looks amazing.  I used marina mist ink pad and the two colours are subtle and just lovely.





 


Nothing ever goes to waste with stampin' up! and it is jus great to have discovered a really pretty technique too.

For any stampin' up! products or a copy of their latest catalogue please email me allmark.j@sky.com

Happy crafting :)))))

Saturday 4 May 2013

Stampin' Up trimmer squares

Yesterday I showed you the stampin' up! trimmer and how you can make a picture frame.  Today is all about squares, from 1" moving up in 1/2" increments, decorated without whatever stamp sets and ink pad combinations you like, makes a really stunning look.


I used soft suede and marina mist ink pads and a piece of co-ordinating designer series paper.

The stampin' up! trimmer is really the best tool I have and my old guillotine is completely obsolete now as it is too heavy and awkward.

The stampin' up! trimmer is £25.95 and you can order through myself allmark.j@sky.com

Happy stampin :)))))

Friday 3 May 2013

Stampin' up! trimmer

The stampin' up! trimmer is without doubt the best paper cutter I have come across.  It is light, easy to use and can cut the biggest and the smallest pieces of cardstock and designer series paper.  However I have just discovered something else I can do.......picture frames.  The cutting blade is so small (but extremely sharp & effective) that you can cut perfect picture frames.

Here are all the details about the trimmer : -

The New Stampin’ Trimmer
Introducing the new and improved Stampin’ Trimmer! Although paper trimmers are a common crafting tool, this trimmer was designed exclusively by paper crafters for paper crafters—and because it was made by Stampin’ Up!, you know it’s a cut above the rest!
Please note: the cutting and scoring blade refills will be available early in December.
Features of the All-New Stampin’ Trimmer
  • An extra-wide 15.9 cm cutting base and an extended 39 cm ruler
    • The extra-wide cutting base provides a large work area and is marked in 4 mm increments, allowing for small measurements.
    • The right-side grid helps you measure and cut very thin strips.
    • The extended cutting arm has a stabilizing leg to provide a sturdy and steady cutting surface for longer cuts.
    • When fully extended, the extended cutting arm sits flush with the trimmer base, providing more accurate and consistent measurements across the entire surface.
    • All rulers and measurements on the base are printed under a plastic cover so your measurements won’t wear off.
    • The base has nonskid feet, which keeps the Stampin’ Trimmer securely in place on your work area.
  • A full 30.5 cm cutting and scoring track
    • The extra-long cutting track has space at the top and bottom so you don’t have to take the cutting and scoring blades out when you’re not using them.
    • The track gives you enough space to cut or score a full 30.5 cm without having to remove or switch out handles.
    • The cutting track locks in place for secure storage or transport.
    • The track includes an insertion point for cutting and scoring blade handles so you can easily insert handles into the cutting track.
  • Specially designed handles and cutting track to ensure straight cuts
    • The hook on the scoring and cutting blade handles keeps the handles stable so the cuts are as straight as possible.
    • Handles come in two colors: dark for cutting, light for scoring.
    • The precision tip on the cutting blade allows you to pinpoint precisely where you’re cutting.
    • The point on the side of each handle shows you where the blade will cut, making it easy to see exactly where your cuts and scores will begin.
  • Storage compartment under base
    • The storage compartment holds scoring and cutting tools such as a Bone Folder, Simply Scored Stylus, extra scoring and cutting blades and even business cards.
    • Separate compartments within the storage compartment keep your tools organized, and the clear cover makes it easy to see what you’ve stored.
  • Product details: item 129722; 33,95 €/£25.95

I decorated the frame and put it on a jaunty angle.  One card is mounted on very vanilla and then soft suede cardstock, the other is straight onto soft suede cardstock.

To get your hands on this fantastic trimmer just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

Happy crafting :)))))

Thursday 2 May 2013

Stampin' Up! Brand new This and That offer

This is the brand new This and That scrapbooking journal which is being offered until 31st May 2013 as a bundle with 15% off (see below)

Your life is: Fabulous. Quirky. Exciting. Perfectly messy. And happening really fast. So we’re happy to introduce our newest product line that lets you capture it all on-the-go. This and That will debut in the 2013-2014 annual catalogue, but we’re giving you and everybody else the chance to get it now.
ItemDescriptionPrice
131268Epic Day This and That Journal13.50 €/£9.95
130814Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper13.25 €/£9.95
131463Remember This and That Rotary Stamp6.95 €/£5.50
131271Epic Day This and That Designer Stickers5.95 €/£4.50
131269Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape5.95 €/£4.50
133905Epic Day This and That Bundle
Includes the five This and That products listed above. Only available in a bundle until May 31.
38.76 €/£29.24
15% Off Retail Value!
Read On . . .
  • We’re introducing the line with these five products, but we’ll be adding more This and That products as time goes on.
  • Bundle Dates: 1–31 May (remember the items that come in the bundle will be available in June and in the new catalogue, but we’re only offering the discounted bundle until 31 May).  
  • You and your customers can get as many This and That products or bundles as you want.
  • You can buy the This and That products separately. But why would you do that when you can get all five together and save 15 percent?
As an independent stampin' up! demonstrator you can order any of the above items through myself.  Just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com and take advantage of this offer before the launch of the new catalogue.