Roses & Clematis

Well I have been pretty crook this week with a nasty bug which ended up giving me a terrible water infection.  Thankfully I think I am through the worst of it and as such can't wait to get back outdoors into my garden or allotment.

I have some great roses in my garden at the moment and a clematis which is just past it's best.  I don't have a particularly flash camera it is just a simple bridge, but it does have a great macro and I think sometimes really close-up pictures give an insight into something that we don't always capture with our naked eye.

Wish I had scent pages as these roses smell absolutely gorgeous.

So this is my smile for Friday as being in my garden and allotment always makes me smile. Just love mother nature in all her glory.

http://dawn-hart.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/smile-its-friday_28.html

Things that make me smile

We may be having the most bizarre of summer weather but my garden is still full of colour and bees.  Bumble bees have to be my favourite and watching them laden down with pollen defy gravity making their way between the flowers always makes me smile.

This cute little guy was taken with my trusty camera bumbling around my garden.  There don't seem to be as many honey bees about which is a shame but the gentle bumble is a plenty.

I have done this post for a blog hop
http://dawn-hart.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/smile-its-friday_21.html

Musical notes

Another musical note card using the stampin' up! wheel

This is using the new In colours from stampin' up! which are available to order from the new catalogue from 2nd July.  The really are scrummy so if you want ro preorder the new catalogue then just give me a shout allmark.j@sky.com

Happy crafting:)

Anchors away!

This is a bit of a psychedelic card using some scraps of designer series paper in a hexagon pattern and a couple of circles in the same paper, topped with an anchor is rich razzleberry again to just to tie the colours in.  This is one of the things I really like about stampin' up! products that they all tie in with their colours as you can buy cardstock, designer series paper and ink pads in the same colour to tone in perfectly.

Hope your all having a good weekend :)

allmark.j@sky.com for any stampin' up! orders

Happy Solstice

Well I can't quite believe that we have arrived at Midsummers day, the longest day and the shortest night.  The weather has been quite bizarre and it really does not feel like summer.

I am celebrating the solstice in one of my favourite places the stone circles at Avebury in Wiltshire.  A lot of people go down to stonehenge to celebrate Summer Solstice, but for me there is nowhere quite like Avebury.

I will be lighting a canlde which I decorated especially for the solstice

So to everyone Happy Midsummer's Day and Solstice Blessings

allmark.j@sky.com for any stampin' up! orders

Stampin' Up! musical notes

This idea was cased from my lovely upline Lauren, but I have added my own twist.

The musical notes wheel is just lovely and I used marina mist ink combined with grey cardstock and a litter butterfly punched from some glimmer paper to give a little sparkle.

All of the above products can be purchased through myself.  Just drop me a line allmark.j@sky.com

Happy crafting :))

Liverpool Football birthday card

Well my orders are coming in thick and fast especially for personalised cards.  This one is for a liverpool football fan

Bit of a struggle with the name Laurence as it really did fill up the bottom of the card, but the customer was delighted.

All the products used are by stampin' up! so if you fancy having a go and want to order some bits just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

If you just want to order a personalised card then again allmark.j@sky.com and I will be happy to design a unique card for your loved one.

Hppy crafting :))

Stampin' Up! Best of 25 years stamps

Best of 25 Years Stamp Sets As part of our 25-year anniversary celebration, we're bringing back some of our favourite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into five sets, which will release-one set per month- until October 2013. Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image! All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at 17.95 € / £13.95. While we are releasing just one Best of stamp set per month (with a new theme each month) until October, all of the Best of sets will be available until March 31, 2014. All Best of stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount The set for June is Best of Flowers For this card I have used 2 of the stamps from this set.  I really like the background silhouette stamp and I have lots of ideas for this one.  The rose in the middle is great as it is perfect for watercolouring. It has such a summery feel I thought I would enter it in http://abcchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/abc33-summer.html Stampin' Up! products are not available in the shopsIf you would like to order this stamp set then just drop me a line allmark.j@sky.com

Happy Birthday Nan

This card was another commission piece for a special Nan for her birthday

I used the baby wipe technique for the background with the vintage wheel to get the lovely multi coloured effect.

Stampin' Up! products can be ordered through myself just email me allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for stopping by :)

Stampin' Up! DSP patterns

This is a bit of fun using some dsp (designer series paper) and making some chevrons.

A great way to use up scraps.  This was done using just one piece of dsp which because it is double sided in it's patterning gave a lovely two toned effect.

I suppose you could glue the corner folds down to make a flatter card, but I liked the way the corners are free as they give a 3d effect.

For any of your stampin' up! need just email me allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for stopping by.

Once Upon a Time

This is my entry for the cute card competition Once Upon a Time and the card goes perfectly with this theme.

Once Upon a Time 8 years ago my wonderful first grandaughter was born.  She has brought a ray of sunshine into my life and I have been blessed with another 4 grandchildren but there is nothing like that special moment when you get that phone call saying, "Mum your a Granny".  My grandchildren don't call me Granny or Nan but, "Nanny Buddy" as I have a black lab by that name.

Life is a wonderful thing and Once Upon a Time I came into the world and now I have two wonderful son's and daughter-in-laws and 5 beautiful grandchildren..........I am trully blessed.

The link for cute cards competition is
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-273-once-upon-time.html


I am an independent stampin' up! demonstrator so if you want to increase your stash of crafting goodies then please get in touch allmark.j@sky.com for great stamps, cardstock and much more.
Thanks for stopping by.

Stampin' Up! Sneak Peak New In Colours

Had a commision to do for a Happy Birthday Mum.  Always love doing this and as I lost my dear Mum a few years ago any chance of making a card for a Mum is special.

 

 

 

 

 

The colours are from the new in colours which will be launched next month but as a stampin' up! demonstrator I get to have a play early.  The cardstock is strawberry slush and is a lovely vibrant pinky solour.  The background is stamped using my favourite wheels in more new in colours, crisp cantaloupe and coastal cabanna.  With a little strip of glimmer paper for a bit of sparkle it makes a pretty birthday card. Ooo the Happy birthday is stamped using another new in colour baked brown sugar.  Know this new in colours are going to be a big hit as they are bang on trend and will make a real statement on any cards used.

If you would like to pre-order the new in colours so you can be one of the first to try them out then just drop me an email allmark.j@sky.com

Happy stamping :))))

Stampin' Up! Using scraps

When doing lots of cards there are always little strips of scrap paper over.  So today I decided to use some of the designer series paper which is double sided so there is a pattern on each side to create a sort of windmill effect as a background for a card.

I used two different designer paper series scrap & just used both sides to give four different coloured strips.

Any stampin' Up! products can be ordered through myself by contacting me allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for stopping by.

Stampin' Up! Happy Birthday

It was my gorgeous grandaughter's 8th birthday on Monday so I just had to make her a special card.

Designer series papers to make the patchwork lettering, You're Amazing stamp set the vinatge jumbo wheel for the background, glimmer paper to mount letters on and punch a little glittery butterfly and a number 8 from memorable moments.  I love making personalised cards as they are totally unique for each person.

My email is allmark.j@sky.com if you wish to order any stampin' up! products.
Thanks for stopping by :))

Stampin' Up! Vintage look

I just love the vintage look especially on cards and layering using a stampin' up! wheel and some stamps can give a beautiful vintage look

Layering has been done using the very vintage and stars wheels in wisteria wonder and pretty in pink ink pads over stamped with two stamps from the You're Amazing stamp set in soft suede. To add a little 3-dimension I cut three flowers from the Fabulous Florets watercoloured just the centre stamens in daffodil delight and then stuck them on using dimensionals.  Cardstock soft suede and whisper white.

As always allmark.j@sky.com if you want to order.

Thanks for stopping by :))))

Stampin' Up! Baby wipe technique

A great way to give multi coloured images

Using the ink refills dropping a few drops onto the baby wipe in a variety of colours (4 works quite well) then using this as a stamp pad.  The heart stamp used is now retired but this technique works well on all stamp but particularly ones that have an intricte pattern as it shows up the colour combinations well.

As  an independent stampin' up! demonstrator you can order through me any of stampin' up! range of products and of course a currrent catalogue full of all the stampin' up! products and packed with ideas.  Just drop me a line allmark.j@sky.com . Look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great weekend :))))

Stampin' Up! multi coloured stamping

This is a fantastic technique and really easy to achieve.  Four refill bottles of different colours (only £2.75 each) a baby wipe and a small container that will fit whatever size stamps you want to use.

Squeeze blobs of ink onto the baby wipe in all four colours (the ink will spread and blend into each colour)  Press your ink pad onto the baby wipe as you would normally do on an ink pad.  Stamp away.

The images will have a lovely multi coloured effect.

Items used : -

• Very Vintage jumbo wheel 117693 £7.95
• Jumbo handle (to hold the wheels) 103661 £5.25
• Ink refills £2.75 each primrose petals, so saffron, marina mist, certain celery (retiring)
• Papillon potpouri stamp set for the butterfly(clear mount) 123759 £13.95 (wood mount) 123757 £16.95
• You're Amazing stamp set for the Happy Birthday (clear mount) £21.95 (wood mount) £27.95
• Floral frames framelits for the flower mount under the butterfly £22.95 (5 layers of differing sized flowers)
• Cardstock calypso coral and early espresso

To order any of the above or anything else from the Stampin' Up! range just get in touch by email allmark.j@sky.com

Happy crafting :)))

Stampin' Up! Tea For Two Designer Series Paper

Stampin' Up! will be launching their new catalogue next month so they are retiring some of the items in the current catalogue.  Check out my link
http://amethystarcrafting.stampinup.net

 to my stampin' up! webpage to see what is retiring as there are quite a few bargains and let me know allmark.j@sky.com for any orders.

This designer series paper is from the Tea for Two Series Paper 129311 for £9.95 for 12 double sided sheets of 6 different designs.

All retiring stock is only available while stocks last so as you can imagine they are flying out.  So if you want to grab something before it's too late just follow the link http://amethystarcrafting.stampinup.net

Happy crafting :))))

Stampin' Up! You're Amazing

I really love this stamp set as it creates a lovely vintage look card

• Items used : -
• You're Amazing stamp set w-£27.95 c-£21.95
• Fist Edition designer series paper - £11.50 (retiring so get in quick to buy)
• Rich razzleberry ink pad £4.95
• Basic grey & whisper white cardstock - £6.25 per pack of 24 sheets
• Glimmer paper £4.50

For all your stampin' up! requirements just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

Happy stampin :))

Stampin' Up! Quick and easy card (3)

The same format as the past two days cards with the oval framelits but this time with a flower from the fabulous florets set in the middle which I watercoloured.

My week of creating has begun and have gone into work armed with all the pieces to make these birthday cards with my lovely elderly clients.  I have made 70 card blanks and hope they will all enjoy making either a flower, bird or butterfly card or for some all three.

If you liked any of the last three days cards and would like to purchase any of the stamps, cardstock or punches then just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting :)))

Stampin' Up! Quick and easy card (2)

Card number 2 of my series of three quick and easy cards.  As I have had to make 30 of each card it is a good card to do this with as each part can be made in bulk quite easily.

Firstly I cut out the ovals using the oval framelits and the big shot.  Three cards can be cut out of one piece of A4 cardstock and the butterflies were stamped and punched out again on a sheet of A4 cardstock and as the tiny butterfly is small every last inch of paper could be used.

The butterflies are stamped using the papillon potpouri £13.95 in clear and the co-ordinating punches are £14.25 each and with a couple of dimensionals they stand out beautifully on the card.

For any stampin' up! products just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

Have a good weekend.

Stampin' Up! Quick and easy card (1)

Next week at my work I have to take a large group of elderly people with various stages of dementia for group work.  This involves a variety of activities to help stimulate their mind and body.  I have been working on a programme of activities and of course crafting had to come into it.  So I decided to make some fairly simple birthday cards where they could do as much or as little of the creating as they were able.

Over the next 3 days I will be showcasing the 3 cards.

 

 

I used the bird builder punch and baja breeze a lovely subtle blue, mounted on some ovals from the framelit set and then rolled the corners with the vintage wheel.

 

Check back tomorrow to see the second card in this series of 3.

 

Drop me an email allmark.j@sky.com if you want to purchase any of stampin' up! products or would like a catalogue to browse through.

Happy crafting and have a good weekend.