Upcoming papercraft classes...

 I have three special papercraft classes left this year so if you haven't got your Christmas cards sorted, or want to put the finishing touches to your gift packaging, why not get yourself booked onto one of them?  All my classes are fun, friendly and you will always go away having learnt a new technique and a finished set of projects!

Vintage Leaves meets Mini Treat Bag

One of my favourite dies from our catalogue is the Mini Treat Bag die, it's so versatile as it can be used for gifting as well as cards.  Check our the embossing folder too, it's featured in the Autumn/Winter catalogue and I've just sponged over the trees with Early Expresso.

The card inside the 'bag' is so simple to produce, just ink up an acrylic block and press it onto your card, then ink up one of the Vintage Leaves stamps in memento black and stamp over the block shape.  Thanks for stopping by...see you again soon.

Vintage holly leaves...

I was checking out my stamp sets the other day and got to wondering how many of them I could use to make Christmas cards.  It really got me looking at my stamps in a different way, looking at the individual elements and their possibilities.  The first card I made was using the Vintage Leaves stamp set and taking what I imagine are oak leaves and turning them into holly leaves with the help of some berries simply punched out from real red card and embellished with some dazzling details.

I'll will post some more of my makes later in the week, thanks for checking in...

Jacob's Coat Technique

Fancy learning a new technique? Why not pop along to my next card club at Fine Yarns in Horwich on Thursday 15 October and discover the Jacob's Coat technique.  For more information or to book place please drop me a message or pop into Fine Yarns where you can see the samples of this month's cards.

Stamp-a-Purse

My next months papercraft class is being held at Fine Yarns in Horwich on Saturday 12 September from 10am -12.30.  

Why don't you join me & learn to stamp and sew your own clasp purse? You can choose from either a distressed watercoloured butterfly purse or a purse that is stamped with a spring scene on one side and an autumn scene on the other. The purse is an ideal size for using as an evening bag, a pencil case or a make-up bag and is lined with a vintage style fabric. It makes a beautful handmade Christmas present!

The class costs £23 and all bookings must be made by 12 September 2015, along with a £10 non refundable deposit. 

For more information drop me a message or call in at Fine Yarns in Horwich to check out a sample

Two boxes from one sheet of A4...

One of my most favourite framelits is the Curvy Keepsake box as it is so versitile. I have made many, many boxes for my various craft stalls as Christmas Advent Calendars and gift boxes and I have discovered a way to cut 2 complete Curvy Keepsake boxes out of one sheet of A4. I orginally wrote a post about this in November last year on my facebook page www.facebook.com/liz-inkpsirations and I've had several requests to share it again - so here are the instructions :

1. cut your A4 card stock in half lengthways at 14.9cm

2. make the first cut of one of your now A5 size sheets by placing the pointy bit of the curvy keepsake box frame lit downwards along the longer side of your card

3. make a second cut by turning over your card stock, then placing the frame lit slightly askew this time with the pointy bit going across the foot of your card stock along the shorter side. Don't be afraid the frame lit looks like its going over the edge of the card stock, there is some tolerance as the cutting edge is on the inside of the frame.

4. repeat with your second piece of card stock and voila 4 cuts from one sheet of A4 = 2 complete boxes.

If you havn't got your hands on one of these framelits yet, get in touch and I can place an order for you.

Pick a bunch...

These are some of the flowers I made for my stall at The Craftettes Summer Fair. They proved very popular as you don't have to remember to water them and you can co-ordinate with your colour scheme at home. Fancy a bunch in your house - then why not book onto my class on Saturday 22 August at Fine Yarns in Horwich? I will be showing you how to make 24 of these beauties and we will be decorating a jar to match. Pop in at Fine Yarns to look at the sample and book a place, or drop me a message. All bookings need to be made by 8 August, along with a non-refundable deposit.

Watercolour Wings...

At last week's Card Club at Fine Yarns in Horwich I designed three cards using the most beautiful stamp set called Watercolour Wings.  It's such great fun as you can stamp the butterfly in layers and as the stamps are photopolymer you can see exactly where to place them.  The colour combinations are endless, on this one I used Wisteria Wonder, Rich Razzleberry, Blackberry Bliss and Elegant Eggplant.  I also showed the class how to create the background using stamps and a mask.  If you fancy making this card I am repeating the class on 13th August at The Stables Cafe at Ryders Farm Equestrain Centre in Kearlsey.  It starts at 6pm, but there's no need to rush with your tea as it's included in the £15 class fee.  So why not come along and learn how to make a card or pick up a couple of new techniques.  If you are interested and want to book a place please call in a The Stables Cafe or message me for more info.

Watercolour Wings

My next class is at Fine Yarns in Horwich on Thursday 16th July at 1.30pm.  We will be making three different cards using this amazing Watercolour Wings stamp set.  I've been having so much fun using this set and choosing lots of colours to build up the butterflies.  The stamp set contains 15 photopolymer stamps which makes it dead easy to see exactly where you are stamping.  

The class costs £12 for all the materials to make the three cards or £28 including the stamp set too - after you've  used it you are definately going to want to add it to your collection, so why not treat yourself?

Drop me a mail if you want to book your place, places are limited so it's first come first served!

I think you're great...

It's so hot here in Lancashire that I am hiding in my craft cave keeping out of the heat.  I spent yesterday at Windmill Farm on my son's nursery trip which was fun but exhausting!

I'm really enjoying playing with this new stamp set called 'I Think You're Great'.  It's great for showcasing different techniques, on this card I've created a rainbow or ombre effect with the background stamp using Night of Navy, Lost Lagoon & Soft Sky.  I've used silver embossing powder on one of the clouds and then raised it on dimensional with a bit of silver bakers twine underneath.

Thanks for stopping by...

Happy Birthday Stack...

Fresh back from our holidays I'm fully immersed in preparing for a craft fair in July.  This time my stall is going to look like a florists stall and all with paper!  So out comes my spiral flower die, flower patch stamps, flower shops stamps and punch.......

Today I'm sharing with you a card inspired by the summery colours of my holiday.  I'm in love with the new in colours, in particular Watermelon Wonder!  I've simply masked off my card with post it notes and then stamped each piece of cake on top of each other.  I've stamped the banner image from the stamp set in watermelon wonder onto watermelon wonder card stock, tone on tone adds a subtle detail without distracting from the main image.  To add some texture to the card I have distressed around the edge of the whisper white card stock with scissors and then pierced around the edge of the watermelon wonder card stock.  

Happy New Catalogue Day!

Well, after a much anticipated wait, it's here!  The new annual catalogue from Stampin' Up!  Click on the link over on the right to download a copy or drop me a comment and I'll get one in the post for you.  If you are already on my mailing list or have attended one of my classes in the last year then you should already have yours.  

There are so many beautiful new stamp sets that you will be spoilt for choice.  Top of my wish list is the Watercolour Wings bundle on page 75 and of course don't forget to add the new in-colour inks and card pack to your order - the new colours are awesome.

I'm going to be busy today getting lots of orders in, give me a call or message if you want to place one too.

A stack of parcels...

Well, it's 1st June and there is no sign of Summer here in Lancashire!  It's cold and pouring down so it's a great excuse to huddle in my craft room.

I've been playing with the Build A Birthday stamp set I ordered through the demo pre-order.  These strips are great as they can be used for cake layers, candles or as strips of washi tape.  I've bundled the parcel stack up with some linen thread and a vintage faceted button.

I've created the background layer by inking up the Large Polka Dots embossing folder before I put it through the big shot.

Our new catalogue goes live tomorrow, so not long now before you can get your hands on these goodies too!

Two days & counting...

Two days & counting until the new Stampin' Up! annual catalogue goes live!  As a demonstrator I can pre-order items from the catalogue so I get to play with them so I can show you what the products can do!  I've been playing with the Build a Birthday stamp set, some gorgeous Cherry On Top paper and of course the new in-colours.

I love, love, love the new in-colours and I can't make my mind up which is my most favourite - it's between Mint Macaron and Watermelon Wonder.  I wonder which will be your new favourite colour?

The Adventure Begins...

I've been working on a new proposition behind the scenes for Brides to be which I know they will absolutely love, so my card today has a really apt sentiment!  It's been a busy week writing newspaper articles, preparing a fundraiser for my son's nursery & making things for my stall at the Craftettes Summer Fair.  So it has been lovely to get back to the pleasure of making a card.

I've used the Adventure Awaits stamp set, it retires on 2 June 2015.   I've really enjoyed using it in both my card making and scrapbook layouts so had to get this card onto my blog before it vanishes.  I've used Gold Encore to burnish the camera die cut and the arrow.

Tomorrow I am holding my customer appreciation event and new catalogue launch open house.  I've been busy preparing lots of samples to show my customers with some of the new stamp sets and the 5 fabulous new in colours - I've totally fallen in love with them!

Will be back next week with some snaps of my open house event and the samples I made, thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend.

Dreaming of holidays...

Can you tell I have been dreaming about my holidays?  It's less than a month away and I am very giddy!  So I've been playing about with a watercolour background and using sea salt.  The salt soaks up some of the ink and creates a mottled effect which I absolutely love.   This stamp set, Adventure Awaits, retires on 2 June 2015 so you need to hurray with your order if you want one, I use it all the time on my cards and also my 12x12" scrapbook layouts.  In this case I have used white Staz-on and stamped the image onto some window sheet and mounted it with see-through pop dots.  I free cut the fish from the Adventure Bound paper stack and then just threaded the fish onto the linen thread using a darning needle.  Back later in the week with some more cards made with this stamp set, thanks for stopping by.

So in love...

So in love right now with hot smoked salmon, washi tape, chocolate banana cake and this devine stamp set 'Indescribable Gift'!  It was so absorbing sat in my craft room with my aqua painter and my ink pads colouring in this image, it was like being back at school!

 I've used one of the On Film framelits to frame my image, I love how it also embosses too.

The sentiment is from the Crazy About You stamp set and co-ordinating dies, which I am really pleased has made it into the main catalogue.

Thanks for stopping by, back later in the week

Indescribable Gift

We have sunshine here in Adlington today, a complete contrast to the downpour earlier in the week.  Talking of gifts, I absolutely love this stamp set from Stampin' Up!, it will retire at the end of this month so if you want to get your hands on it, you'll need to be quick.  I've simply stamped the image in memento black and then used a combination of Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake & Early Expresso to create splatters around the flowers using the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.  The Sahara Sand lace trim is to die for and I've wrapped a piece around the bottom of the card along with a piece of wash and the sentiment.  Back soon with another card made using Indescribably Gift, thanks for stopping by. 

Messy stars

It's been pouring down most of the week in Adlington, so plenty of time to craft inside.  I've had so much fun messing about with my craft stash in my craft room, and getting my hands filthy!  On this card I've applied texture paste through one of Stampin' Up!'s decorative masks onto watercolour paper and then let it dry.  I've then sprayed the panel with water and applied colour directly from the re-inker bottle.  The sentiment is from the Pictogram Punches stamp set which I am pleased to say has made it onto the catalogue again this year woo hoo!  The little row of stars is from the Mini Treat Bag framelits dies and I think they are so cute, I've finished the card by added a silver glimmer star and some metallic bakers twine.  Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon

Spraying stamps with water

I have been playing with my stash today and wanted to create a water coloury effect.  It's been a while since I tried this technique and now I wonder why as I love the results.  All you need to do is ink up your stamp as normal and, before you stamp it onto your watercolour paper, give it a quick spray with water.  I've used the Hardwood background stamp to create the frame and added a few splatters with Gorgeous Grunge.

Back later with some more photos of my messing about in the craft room!

Spring has arrived...

Well, spring has finally arrived with a lovely long weekend with sun and showers.  Inspired by the colours in my garden I have created a birthday card using the Butterfly Basics stamp set, which I am really pleased to say has made it into the new annual Stampin' Up! catalogue.  My colour scheme is Soft Sky, So Saffron & Wild Wasabi.  I've coloured the flower with my aqua painter with ink from the lid of the ink pad.  I've raised the flower on dimensional and finished with a label and linen thread.  

Back later with another card...