Pssst - You make me smile!

Everyone has to start somewhere and I find that many folk are disuaded from having a go at crafting because they say they don't know how to put colours together, they aren't crafty in the creative sense of the word rather than the midnight burgler sense or they have no idea of where to start.

WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You don't have to be any kind of crafting expert to make this card! All you need is a couple of simple products from Stampin' Up!

Happy Watercolour Stamp Set                              
Brights Marvellous Marker Pens
Whisper white card blanks and envelopes....

and then make your own rainbow by colouring the stamps with the pens and stamping.  I turned the card on it's side and started with the middle 'splodge' and worked outwards on each side. Of course if you're a person who likes things to be evenly spaced then you might like to also have a pack of grid paper so that you can position the card and mark off each 'splodge's' position. 

Now how hard does it need to be! 

Beginners classes are up and running if you'd like to join in just send me a message or leave a comment and I'll be in touch with the details. 

Stampin' Up! Happy Watercolour and more!

At card club recently I shared a type of emboss resist technique with my lovely ladies.  We used the spring catalogue stamp set Happy Watercolour to stamp in versamark on watercolour paper and then heat emboss it with clear powder.  You can then add colour washes with your aqua painters and ink pools created in the lid of your ink pads and a little more stamping using other stamps from the set along with stamps from Summer Silhouettes, Wetlands, Simply Sketched ( hostess set) and Gorgeous Grunge. 

 

You can then mount your finished artwork on basic black card stock and onto naturals ivory card stock for the base card.  A sentiment from the ever useful and popular stamp set Perfectly Penned provides you with a striking card. 

 

Now I'm not a colourer inner or a watercolourist, but this technique allows you to get the satisfaction of looking like you might be one day!!  I've done a similar one in different colours which once mounted and finished I will share. 

 

Enjoy what's left of your weekend!

Hugs Zx

Quatrefancy Box with Mosaic Madness embellishments

 

If you are looking for a simple way to wrap a special gift look no further than the kraft boxes that Stampin' Up! carries.  A pack of 4 standard size boxes costs just £2.25.

 

I've used one here and decorated it with specialty designer series paper Quatrefancy which co-ordinates beautifully with the Mosaic Madness stamp set and the matching mosaic punch.  See this and more punches online at Stampin' Up!

 

Now all you need to do is decide how you will decorate yours!

 

Enjoy playing! Zx

Christmas Card Club–Festive Flurry

Happy Sunday morning!  The sun is shining here in Lincolnshire and I really hope it is for all the people hit by the terrible storms bringing them a tiny bit of brightness.  I just hope the sunshine continues.  Let's hope so.  Thoughts are with you all. 
Our Christmas Card Club challenge this fortnight has been set by Hazel She asked for snowflakes or all white on our cards.  I've gone for the snowflakes and mostly white using my Festive Flurry stamp set and the small snowflake from Snow Day.  I used circle framelits and my 2.5 inch circle punch to make 'holes' in my top layer and then stamped through them to add the large snowflakes which are heat embossed with silver.  The remaining mini snowflake were stamped and heat embossed with whisper white and a rhinestone added as a central feature.  Candy dots are fast becoming one of my favourite embellishments and I've added those to the centre of the large snowflakes.  Mini 'fork' bows, yes I tied them using a plastic fork, just add a little more discreet sparkle.  The whole card is made using Shimmery White card stock which adds an extra shimmer, although difficult to photograph well. 

If you like the Festive Flurry stamp set it's still available along with some of the other Stampin' Up! stamp sets from our winter catalogue on a carryover list. Contact me for details. 

Challenges
CHNC Extra - Anything Goes
Happy Day to all!
Zx

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine from Stampin' Up!

Here's a new tool that you will love.  The video says it all, but all I will add is that you can buy it in my Zoe Tant Stampin' Up! Shop for £26.95.  Add three embossing folders to your order and you'll qualify for the fourth Decorative Dots one free! Yes that's because during Sale-a-bration every £45 you spend (excl. P&P) earns you a free gift.

This is a great on the go tool as it's light and small handbag sized so just perfect to take to your craft class or crop.

Choose from one of these of contact me for your own copy of the Sale-a-bration 2014 brochure.

Happy Valentine’s Day

I just wanted to wish everyone a Very Happy Valentine’s Day!  I hope that everyone has someone to love them and someone to love. 
My card to you is from the Stampin’ Up! Simply Created Card Kit which is perfect for beginners and also for more experienced crafters who are busy and want to be able to make a quick card on the go!  See the kit in my Stampin’ Up! shop.
Have a LOVERLY day!
Zx

Stampin' Up! Flower Shop - pretty as a picture!




Stampin' Up! Flower Shop , My Friend and Pansy Punch

Mother's Day in the UK seems to be earlier than the rest of the world and after Valentine's day it always seems to catch us up really quick.  Gifts like this can be done at any time and make very pleasing Mother's Day gifts.  You can do something similar with a scrapbook page also including pics of pets or grandchildren or just you for your lovely Mum. 

I made this pretty picture using an Ikea frame which is deeper than the usual picture frame and allows for a 3D effect.  I stamped leaves directly onto a piece of whisper white cardstock to create the depth and also some of the flowers.  I then added more by stamping them on whisper white and punching them out with the pansy punch from Stampin' Up!. I put them onto my piercing mat and gently put pressure on the centre of each flower using the stylus from my Simply Scored scoring tool.  You can of course buy the stylus on it's own if you want.   Small circlur movements slowly bring up the petals and give them more depth and texture. By layering them you can create the 3D effect and of course a little bit of bling in the centre in the form of giant pearls or rhinestones brings them to life.  I layered the whole thing onto some garden green cardstock and designer seriew paper from my subtles stack. 

I am therefore for once organised with something!  My mummy will be pleased! 

You can find out about the flower shop stamp set in Zoe's Stampin' Up ! Shop.

Have a great week!
Zx


Christmas Card Club

northern flurry stampin' up! embossing - christmas messages

 

Another Christmas Card Club and I've come to post my card with great excitement that it's only Saturday night and I'll have it posted on time for tomorrow. Ah well that would be fantastic if I hadn't got the date wrong. This should have appeared last Sunday so I'm late, but have nonetheless enjoyed making this card. I'm also pleased that I've done a bit of upcycling by using the leftover die cut remains from this kit.

Can you tell which bit is upcycled?

Our challenge was set by the Mary and she set us the task of using red or featuring a heart.  Well I've used red and featured a heart because this card could be adapted very easily for Valentine's with a different embossing folder and sentiment. 
I love the heat embossed doily framing my heart and embellishments and the glimmer paper die cut left over was too lovely to go to waste.  We crafters just can't throw things away can we...... 
Of course I also loved using the Happenings Simply Created Card kit too making cards for all my clever hostesses who've booked a party during Sale-a-bration. 

I will be back soon.

Have a great week!
Zx