Stampin' Up for Father's Day

Last minute.com strikes again! 

It's been a bit of a hectic end to the week. Worked all day Thursday, Staff Training all day Friday, Amelia's School Fair Saturday followed by a mad dash around in an attempt at some housework. After that I settle down to report writing! What a way to spend my Saturday night.

So after giving Chris his card and pressies this morning and then having a rather scrummy cooked breakfast, on the top of my to do list was to make my dad his card for Father's Day.

My card meets the criteria over at;

A Card a Day- 10th June
Here come the boys - Let's Go Dotty

See you soon.

Adele

xXx

Men's Stampin'Up Tri Shutter Card

I am loving my new toys and stamps, it's really helping me to attempt a few new things. With my new 

Simply Scored board, I thought I'd try a tri-shutter card. How easy was it to make the base- 

I was a bit daunted at first but it was really simple.

I followed the instructions HERE

It;s still a bit bare, I need to personalise it with a name and age.

I used my "old faithful" SU Clockworks with a combination of blue and green Stampin' Write Markers to build up a background, then overstamped the gorgeous SU Postage Due image over the top. I also used SU Meauring Stick and Travel Journal stamps.

Same background technique, and a few little ticket embellies from SU That's the Ticket set.

Now I decided to add the flourish from SU Everything Eleanor after I had already stuck on the tickets so at first I was a bit unsure about lining it up...then I thought I'd use my Stamp-a-ma-jig....super cool. It made it so easy to position the flourish exactly where I wanted it!

I am no stamper, even the most basic of techniques put me out of my comfort zone but here I also had a little go at masking, to create a gap around the phone box image. Oh, such fun. 

This took me most of the afternoon, but I had fun playing.

This card meets the criteria over at;

A Card a Day - 10th June

Crafts by Carolyn - TTC Tutorials

Craft Mojo - Anything Goes

Crafting Musketeers - Use a stamped image

Here Come the Boys - Use Ribbon

Ok, what shall I try next?

Adele.

xXx

Another fab crafty tip......

...over on A Bit of Crafty Genius!

How to repair those "well used" dies!

Pop over and see what else is going on.

See you soon.

Adele

xXX

Another attempt at the Faux Embossing technique

I thought I'd have another quick go at the Faux Embossing Technique that never really worked on the previous card. This was a really quick card for me, I am trying a few different sized cards as I now have more options using my scoreboard! 

Flowers were just die cuts from scraps of old patterned papers, backed with a few rough cut "circles" of tulle.

The gorgeous flourish from Everything Eleanor has been stamped twice and "lined-up" using my
Stamp-a-ma-jig. I chose more contrasting colours this time to hopefully give it a more raised effect. I still don't think that it really worked but I quite like the shadowy look I did achieve.

Loving my new stash, here are both cards I made today together. I think I like the second one more. Perhaps it's the contrast of the black rather than the "subtle-ness" of the brown...hmmm, not sure.

 I have already started another card using a different tutorial, but only the basics so far. I am really enjoying trying out a few new things- thank you for all the inspiration out there.

Don't forget to pop over and visit some of the fabulous inspiration over on

A BIT OF CRAFTY GENIUS.

Adele

xXx

My first attempt at a rosette card

I have told myself that I am going to start trying out a few new techniques, nothing special, just things I have never got around to trying out. Now, considering a Stamp-a-ma-jig and a Simply Scored Scoring Tool jumped into my latest Stampin'Up basket I have no excuses not to try them out.

I followed THIS TUTORIAL to make up the rosette and I tried out THIS ONE using my Stamp-a-ma-jig.
The faux embossing technique didn't really work, I used a pale green (retiring Certainly Celery) first with a brown over the top but either I lined it up to closely or the green wasn't bold enough to show. Still, more than happy with technique and my new toy, just need to try out a few different colour options.

The lovely swirl stamp is from SU-Everything Eleanor and the tickets are from SU- That's the ticket.

My next challenge was going to be to try out my Simply Scored Diagonal Plate to make an envelope but I fear I will need something deeper to accommodate the rosette!! EEK

This card meets criteria for challenges over at;
A card a day - 10th June
Crafts by Carolyn - TTC13- Use a tutorial
Craft Mojo - Anything Goes

Bye for now

Adele

xXx

Last one for a while - Exploding Box no.9

Well, the other boxes have been posted, I did nearly all my work records yesterday, my intention was to try something new today BUT I had box number 9 still sitting on my desk partly done. It was madness not getting it out of the way so I held fire on some new things I want to try and finished it off.

Same papers but look closely and you will spot that I have got use out of some of my new 

Stampin' Up  stamps too!

Ferris wheel and penny farthing are from - Feeling Sentimental

Tape measure stamps - Measuring Stick Wheel

The Postage Stamps from - Postage Due

The script - Travel Journal Wheel

I also used SU Clockworks for some background here.

This box meets criteria over at;

A Card a day - 3rd June

Simon Says Stamp - Masculine

Right, feel quite pleased with myself that I never pushed it to one side.

 Now I can play with a clear conscience....hmmm....what to do next?

Hopefully I'll "see you soon!"

Adele

xXx

Oh happy dance, Stampin' Up Stash alert!

Oh dear, I have only done 1 report, just about to start my second when Mr UPS knocked at my door! The temptation was just tooooo much for me to resist and I ran into the dining room with my box and opened it immediately! I am sure you can understand my lack of will power!

How will I chose which set to try out first? 

 Well actually I chose pretty quickly but it not a proper try out...only a snippet sample 

BUT I love this set already. I made these up in next to no time.

Sorry, like a kid in a candy shop. Cannot wait to have a proper play...and a good look at the new catty. 

I think I will need to get a new pack of post-it notes out!

Bye for now.

Adele.

xXx

And yet another box! Box no. 8!!!!

Not  another box I hear you cry, in fact this is the 8th box in just under 2 weeks. I do have one more half completed on my "temporary desk" and then I am back to cards for a while methinks..or perhaps I should make a start on teacher's gifts as well! 

Box no 8 is VERY similar to no.7. I like the papers combo so I just added a little SU birdie and a few different words. I also made up some little removable "Dad tags" shown in picture below- I do like to personalise my work but didn't want to limit buyers. 

I have such a  lot to do today on my "day off!" I have already blizted the kitchen, bleached the toilets and handbaisns, got one load of washing on the line and another in the tumble dryer. I have now made myself a nice mug of tea and some marmite toast before I start on my key-children's report. I have 3 to do today and I know I must get them done quickly as I am expecting my Stampin'Up order to arrive today, and once it is here......my mind will just not be on the job! LOL

This box meets the criteria over at;

A Card a day - 3rd June
Craft Mojo - Anything goes
Cards for men -Dad
ABC Challenges - O for Open

Right, best get a wiggle on with those reports. I may be back later to share some pics of new stash.

Bye for now.

Adele

xXx

An exploding box....for a man!!!

Now, I struggle with cards for men so I did feel a bit daunted about trying to make an exploding box. but I desperately needed a change from all those girlie boxes. I dug deep into my stamp collection, found some old but scrummy papers and got to work. 

I have used this box as my first "share" over on 

A Bit of Crafty Genius 

so pop over and take a closer look.

I have almost made another, very similar box which I can hopefully share with you soon, and I have enjoyed making a few little removable "DAD tags" with them too.

I am all excited, as any Stampin' Up lover will know, the new catalogue is out soon and my copies along with some fab goodies are due to be delivered tomorrow! (Happy dance) I CANNOT WAIT!

This box meets the criteria for challenges over at;
A Card a day - 3rd June

Bye for now.
xXx

Fab Storage idea over on A Bit of Crafty Genius!

How fantastic is this?????

Hop over to A Bit of Crafty Genius and take a closer look!

Now, I do have an issue with this fabby storage idea.....and my issue is....

I NEED MORE STICKLES!

Nothing crafty to share today....

.....Although I did complete my first exploding box for a man!!!! I really enjoyed the slight change, after all it was box no.7 and those girlie boxes were becoming a bit tedious. I will share with you soon! A sneak peek for now!

I am a bit like a kid in a candy shop at the moment as I placed another order with Stampin' Up yesterday and now I am eagerly awaiting Mr UPS. I was a good girl (well I could have been a lot worse!) and I only ordered a few stamp sets, a Stamp-a-ma-jig, a few punches.........THE NEW CATALOGUES and then somehow I managed to get a freebie too!

I am off of work tomorrow but I MUST get some reports written, that way I can craft away with a clear conscience when my new stash arrives! At long last, on day 20 of my head cold, I am starting to feel slightly more human again. I had better have a Lemsip and an early night if I am going to be on peak form to play with my new goodies. I have also told myself that I am going to restart Couch to 5K again as soon as I feel fit. Yawn......I feel tired just thinking about it!

Bye for now

xXx

A Father's day Card....NOT A BOX!!!!

Yes, IT'S NOT ANOTHER BOX!!!! LOL

Mother and Father In-Law are visiting today so I had to make a rushed card ready for Father's Day as they are going away on holiday. It's a bit of a mish mash card, thrown together as once again I have no forward thinking or organisations skills. (Especially when your head has been full of cold for 19 days!)

I used some old Basic Grey Paper, Stampin' Up Vine Street embossing folder-which I also used as a stamp for the background of the main image. I over stamped in black the lovely phone box from the SU Feeling Sentimental set. I then made up a "manly flower" by layering a small round sentiment stamp.

Lots of destressing, inking and a bit of  metallic rub ons to enhance the textures.

I took inspirations from a few challenges today;

Cards for Men -Dad

Sketch N Stash - No 114. 

Daring Cardmakers - Make it Yourself 

A Card a Day - week 27th may

It's been a loooong time since I used a sketch challenge and I really found it helped me speed up my dithering this morning! Thank you for all the inspiration......tomorrow I will be back to boxes! 

A Bit of Crafty Genius!

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Really looking forward to being part of it all!

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Bye for now.

xXx