Spring Mini Catalogue Blog Hop

Hello,

Welcome to The Crafty Bug stop on this Spring Mini Catalogue Blog Hop!!!!!  I hope you have been enjoying your journey, or if this is your first stop, then please just keep following the links and work your way around all 22 stops.  If you've come from Jayne's blog, then I'm sure you will have loved her card using the Marry Me stamp set and Pocketful of Posies DSP - gorgeous............

I am so excited that for the first time ever, the UK has a Spring Mini.  It's packed full of wonderful crafting products that will be available through until 30th April 2012.

Let's get cracking:

First up is a card made with a new a la carte stamp that I got during convention when I won a prize patrol.  It's called Liebe, Love, Amour which is just perfect for Valentines without being too cutesy.  It co-ordinates with the new 2 3/8 " Scallop Circle Punch - I apologise for my dreadful photography skills, the card is straight in real life!

The card base is Basic Gray, layered with the gorgeous new Red Glimmer Paper.  It's so sparkly and shiny, I just love it.  I've rounded the corners, and then stamped the Liebe, Love, Amour stamp several times on Very Vanilla with Basic Gray and Real Red ink.  These have been punched out and layered using Dimensionals, then finished off with a Red Rhinestone Brad in the centre.  

This second card uses the products and colours from the new Spice Cake product suite. 

The card base is Soft Suede, layered with More Mustard which was run through the Big Shot with the Lattice Square Embossing Folder, and Pool Party, one of the In Colors of 2011/2012.

The Pool Party card has been stamped in Soft Suede with the border image from the Spiced Paisley stamp set.  I have created a woven paper mesh with 1cm wide strips of Spice Cake DSP. 

I finished this card off with the floral image from Spiced Paisley stamp set inked in Pool Party.  The sentiment is from the Hostess stamp set, Happiest Birthday Wishes.  I used a Soft Suede marker to ink just the wording of this stamp, then stamped it over the Paisley image using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line it up just right.

Next up is a very cute and simple card made using the Perfect Postage stamp set and co-ordinating Postage Stamp Punch.  

The card base is Crumb Cake, and I have then used each of the five 2011/2012 In Colours with the new Postage Stamp Punch.  These have been layered on top of each other.  The final one is Very Vanilla and I stamped it with the Bunny image in Crumb Cake ink.  I stamped a second time onto Calypso Coral card and then cut out the little balloon and layered it on top.  The sentiment Sweet Friend is from the gorgeous You Are Loved stamp set - that's coming up in a minute :o)

Here's another potential Valentine creation, again using the Perfect Postage stamp set and punch, along with that lovely Red Glimmer Paper.

 

The base is Real Red card, with a layer of Chocolate Chip which has been embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder using the Big Shot.  I stamped the i and u from Just Perfect Alphabet in Real Red ink onto Very Vanilla and punched them out.

The Heart image is stamped in Chocolate Chip ink, then layered onto a piece of Red Glimmer Paper punch with the Curly Label Punch.  A couple of strips of Red Glimmer Paper were also added under the i and u, with each element being stuck on with Dimensionals to give some height.

I've saved my favourite for last - this card is made using the You Are Loved stamp set.  The set includes a sentiment that reads Happy Valentines Day, but with 6 other stamps in the set that can be used all year round I think this stamp set is just beautiful.

I've used the large heart image and inked it with markers before stamping onto Very Vanilla card.  The colours are Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Cherry Cobbler and Pink Pirouette.  I cut the heart shape out free hand, simpler than you might think, then used Sticky Strip to attach Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, which I ruffled even more.  

The card base is Wisteria Wonder and I have stamped the flower image to give a subtle background.  I inked the stamp with Wisteria Wonder ink, stamped off on some scrap paper then stamped onto the card front.  The sentiment wasn't stamped off, so is slightly darker.  I love the tone on tone effect of this card.

I hope that the creations I have made will inspire you - please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Now it's time to head off to see what Fiona has in store for you!

Thanks so much for visiting - Enjoy xxx

If any links are not working, or you find yourself a little lost along the way, here is a full list of all participants in the Spring Mini Catalogue Blog Hop

1. Alison P - www.craftyalisoninlyon.blogspot.com
2. Daisydaye - www.emma-daye.blogspot.com
3. Sarnie - www.kraftybiker.blogspot.com
4. CarolynUK - www.stampaholix.blogspot.com
5. Tracey R - www.derbyshireducks.blogspot.com
6. Kara M - http://karascraftycorner.blogspot.com
7. Hayley (craftydevils) - www.mycrafthaven.blogspot.com
8. Emma_H - www.emma-letsstamp.blogspot.com
9. Kate - http://stampinupwithkate.blogspot.com/
http://my-next-chapter.blogspot.com
11. TinaFaghy - http://littlewhitehousecrafts.blogspot.com
12. Donna M - http://www.head-over-heels-by-dlm.blogspot.com
13. Laura - http://airingcupboardstamping.blogspot.com
14. Charlie - http://craftylittlemoos.blogspot.com/
15. Sara (craftingandstamping.com) - http://craftingandstamping.com
16. Leanie - http://www.beautifulimpressions.co.uk
17. LittleBeckie (Beckie) - http://www.bextiesandstickytape.blogspot.com
18. Jayne (charliemenace) - http://jaynescraftycorner.blogspot.com
19. Julie H (craftybug) - http://www.the-crafty-bug.blogspot.com
20. Fiona W - http://oakfieldcrafts.blogspot.com
21. Natalie - http://www.natalieoshea.co.uk/blog.html
22. Rozelle (LittleMoo6) - http://thepapercraftsessions.blogspot.com

Blog Hop - Let's Say Goodbye Together!

The Month of September brings with it mixed emotions for me.  It is sadly the time when we have to say goodbye to many products in the 2010/2011 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue.  But.......  it also means that the sparkly, shiny new 2011/2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue is just around the corner, released 1st October!

Today's mammoth blog hop celebrates all of those lovely retiring products..........

You have probably arrived here from Donna

I hope you enjoyed the creations she had for you.

I have my monthly card class today, and I based many of my cards on the retiring products, so here is what I've made.......... enjoy!

Joy Fold Card

For this little 4"x4" card I used some of the retiring DSP called Sunny Garden and also the stamp set A Flower For All Seasons.  This is just such a cute stamp set, and works great with the Aqua Painters, or just by colouring in with the Markers.  Colouring with Markers is exactly what I have done here.

I went with the autumn stamp that has sunflowers to compliment the Peach Parfait card I used along with Pear Pizzazz and, one of my favourites, Poppy Parade.

Thankfully the lovely In Colours are sticking around for another year.

The flower stopper that holds the card closed was punched with the Boho Blossom Punch and the centre is from one in the Itty Bitty Punch Pack, all held together with a Designer Brad.

Strength and Hope Card

I love this set and I didn't use it enough.  Buying this set also mean you are making a difference as £1 from each set goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

This set was in the mini and will not be available after 30th September, so get it while you can and help a great cause at the same time!

This time I have used Lap Of Luxury DSP for a background on which I stamped the gorgeous butterfly image.  I used the Rock n Roll technique with this one, inking it in Pretty in Pink and then Concord Crush.  The card base is also Pretty in Pink with the swirly image stamped in Concord Crush down the folded edge using a Stamp-a-ma-jig to line it up.  The centre butterfly is popped up with Dimensionals and has a line of Basic Pearls added for it's body.

The sentiment is from the retiring Level 2 Hostess Set - Something to Celebrate.  I stamped it and then punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch.

Top Note Patchwork Card

Again, such beautiful DSP, this time Springtime Vintage from the mini catalogue.

I've assembled squares of the papers over the top of a Whisper White piece of card, glued them all down and then ran it through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die.  I then ran it through again with the Lattice Square Embossing Folder which gives a great quilted effect.

I've simply mounted it onto Whisper White and used the Corner Rounder Punch before wrapping some Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon around and tieing a bow.  The sentiment is from Oval All stamp set, inked in Rose Red and mounted onto a Scalloped Oval of Rose Red.  I have used the Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack to add a hole to each of the scallops.

Everything was then mounted onto a Baja Breeze card base.

Plane and Simple - I'm going to miss this one so, so much!

This stamp set was just fabulous for those (what I think are harder to make) male cards!

I have grabbed some more DSP - it's all retiring you know - this time Elegant Soiree which is simply lovely.

I have made an Easel Card with Baja Breeze for the base again.  Strips of DSP have been added to the panels, then the plane image was stamped onto another piece of DSP in Early Espresso ink.  This was cut and mounted before being stuck down with Dimensionals.  The Silver Elastic Cord was threaded through the dimensionals behind the image and looped through the sentiment before being tied in a bow.  I'll miss this cord as tying it was a doddle as it was so stretchy and forgiving!  Sadly, it's already sold out, but you can still get the gold.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set, inked in Early Espresso again and stamped onto Very Vanilla.  I cut this out into a banner freehand and mounted it onto DSP and cut again to create a border.

Finally I made the stopper for the card.  The diamonds image was stamped twice onto Very Vanilla in Baja Breeze ink and cut out.  I have added it to the card with Dimensionals (quick tip - when you finish with the Dimensionals, don't throw the sheet away, use all those odd little half bits around the edge by snipping them, they are great for smaller pieces of card you want to pop up!)

Well I hope you have enjoyed looking at the cards I made and you have been inspired to take a look at the retirement list and grab some of these great products before they are gone.......

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please leave me a comment as I love to know what people think of my creations.

From me you can now head on over to Elaine 

If you get stuck, lost or confused along the way, below is a list of all of the lovely crafty ladies taking part in the blog hop today.

1. AlisonP http://craftyalisoninlyon.blogspot.com/
2. Twintrouble (Erika) http://twintroublescreations.blogspot.com/
3. Lauralou http://airingcupboardstamping.blogspot.com/
4. Sarah (IOWhttp://www.stampinsarahiow.blogspot.com/
5. Theresa M http://my-next-chapter.blogspot.com/
6. Rozelle (LittleMoo6) http://thepapercraftsessions.blogspot.com/
7. Valerie (valmoody) http://stampingwithval.wordpress.com/
8. EmmaH http://emma-letsstamp.blogspot.com/
9. Donna (DonnaM) http://www.head-over-heels-by-dlm.blogspot.com/
10. Julie H (The Crafty Bug http://the-crafty-bug.blogspot.com/
11. Elaine (Sassy Stamper) http://www.thesassystampers.blogspot.com/
12. Sandra (Sarnie) http://www.kraftybiker.blogspot.com/
13. Natalie http://www.natalieoshea.co.uk/blog.html
14. Kimf http://kimfeecrafter.blogspot.com/
15. CarolineSkinner http://stampinupandbranchingout.blogspot.com/
16. VickyLou http://www.vickylouscorner.blogspot.com/
17. Michelle (ShellieStamps) http://michellescraftypaper.typepad.com/
18. allyf http://www.serendipitypapercuts.blogspot.com/
19. Maggiemae http://thefineartofstampin.blogspot.com/
20. Evy C http://www.evyscraftycreations.blogspot.com/
21. Niki http://www.mygroovystampinup.blogspot.com/
22. Sarah-Jane www.cardsandacuppa.blogspot.com
23. Tina( Tina Faghy) http://littlewhitehousecrafts.blogspot.com
24. Sally (Pink Sky) http://pinkskysu.blogspot.com