Last Day today….

Just a quick reminder:

Click the link above to view the special offers available until the end of today.  If you’d like to place an order call me on 07808 471 372.

Another Mother’s Day Card…

Yep…it’s going to be like this for a while…as more people realise that Mother’s Day is Sunday.  


I’ve made this for a friend’s children to give to their mum.  I just hope he likes it as it’s a bit of a deviation from last years style.  I’m sticking with my CAS style for a while but have made this slightly bigger.  It’s an A5 card made using colours from Stampin’ Up! Brights colour collection.  I’ve rounded the outside corners on the card.  Sometimes I think this makes the card look fancier.  What do you reckon?
Here’s a close up of the Pink Petticoat image! 


I’ve adhered it to the front using Stampin’ Up! dimensionals to give it…er….dimension"!
I’m entering this in the “Mum’s the Word” challenge over on My Time To Craft.  Hop over to have a look at the other entries now.
So tomorrow (Thursday) I’m taking a break from blogging to work on something quite special but please come back Friday when (hopefully) I’ll have some exciting news!!  I’ve been dying to tell you…..so I for one can’t wait!

BFN
Linda
x

Don’t forget Mother’s Day…

I’m loving my new Stampin’ Up! stamps and inks.  And I’m so inspired by the ladies over on “Less is More”.  I can’t get enough of CAS (Clean and Simple, not Chocolate Appreciation Society…….although…. *looks longingly towards the fridge*).


I’ve used the same colours in all these cards.  Real Red, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie.  These colours together give a really happy and funky look I think!  I’ve used the I {Heart} Hearts set for these cards and trimmed with just a single gem.


I’ve used the flowers from Simply Said for the rest of the cards, trimming the centres with gems and for the A6 versions below, adding a tab of whisper white ribbon.



I’m entering the flower cards into the Cupcake Craft Challenge this week….Denise has chosen the theme Flowers for Mum.   It has to be a Mother’s Day Card, too.  So get crafting! 
Mother’s Day isn’t far away .

BFN
Linda
x

March Frenzy drawing to an end…

There are only a couple more days left to bag yourself a bargain from Stampin’ Up!   There’s up to 30% off selected items.  Just click on the link opposite and either drop me a mail at craftydistraction@virginmedia.com or call me on 07808 471 372.

I’ve got my list sorted .

BFN
Linda
x

Less is more…take 2!

Yesterday I entered a card on the ‘Less is More’ challenge that didn’t quite fit the bill.  My tall and thin was short and fat!  So not wanting to miss out, I’ve given it another go and stuck to the sketch in all dimensions….I hope!

I’ve used my greeting instead of a ribbon or border and complimented it with love hearts from I {Heart} Hearts.

I love this sketch.  It’s so easy to do clean and simple with it. And the shape does make such a difference as to where you place your elements.  Hope this fits the bill for the challenge. 
I think I might try another one later in the week .
Thanks for looking.
BFN
Linda
x

And the winner is…

Under strict conditions, I’ve put all your names into a box and Annie has selected Helen O’Kane as the winner of the Ideas Book and Catalogue.  Congratulations Helen!  I’ll drop that off to you in the next couple of days .

Still on a high from yesterday, I wanted to share a couple of ‘thank you’ card today.

This card is made using the flowers from the ‘Simply Said’ stamp set and the greeting from the level 1 hostess set ‘Afterthoughts’.

 

 

 

This card is made using the same flower from Simply said and the stamp from the ‘So Many Thanks’ set.  Both cards feature the colours from the Brights colour set.  I’m entering this card in the ‘Less is More’ challenge this week.  I hope it fits the sketch….it’s tall and thin…but laying down.  Hmm…might have to try this one again in the week.

BFN

Linda
x

Happy Anniversary, Mum and Dad

Today I held my first Open House and it was such good fun!  I was really quite nervous beforehand but my lovely friends made this sooo easy for me!!  So thankyou very much to all who attended.  Now if you was wondering who won the prize draw…I’ll…er…..let you all know tomorrow!  In the excitement of the day I forgot to ask you fill out the forms!  LOL!  But so I can do it properly, I’ll put all your names in a hat and get Annie to pick one tomorrow.  So watch this space!


I’ve been that pre-occupied with today’s event that I let my mum and dad’s anniversary sneak up on me! Tsk!
So I made a card for them and took it round with a big bunch of flowers this afternoon.  That’s the beauty of Stampin’ Up!  They make fantastic cards so easily!!
I’ve made this card using the I {Heart} Hearts set.

I also made mum a thank you card for the fantastic job she did making  all the tea and coffee making and handing out the biscuits! Maybe next time we can get her card making!


So thanks again, girls! It was fabulous!! Next time I want pictures of all your cards to display!!
I’ll be making the order in a couple of days so will be in touch soon.

BFN
Linda

Fab day, fab friends, fab people!

I’ve just got back from the NEC HobbyCraft show!  Such a good day!  But then it always is when you’re out with great friends (thanks Jenny and Helen) and you’re mixing with such a great crowd!  Crafters are just sooooo friendly and willing to share, don’t you think!
It was lovely to meet some fellow Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators too.  A big hello to Jo Press and Becca!  The Blue Jelly Stampin’ reputation stood me in good stead to have a quick chat with these ladies about how great it is to be a Stampin’ Up demonstrator!  Their stand looked fantastic and they were eager to share all there samples with us.

I found them to be such an inspiration!  I even discovered there is a Stampin’ Up song!! Can you believe that!!  Although Becca wasn’t willing to sing it to us.  Victoria – I hope you’ll indulge us!!

Having met Victoria, Jo and Becca now reminds me what a fantastic thing it is to be part of the Stampin’ Up family! It is a great opportunity to meet like minded people willing to share their great ideas and the benefits are fantastic!!! 
And it’s just soooo easy to do!  I’d love it if you’d join my team so please drop me a note at craftydistraction@virginmedia.com or call me on 07808 471 372 if you’re interested.

So much to do….!

Feel free to join us on Saturday 26th March for my Stampin’ Up! Open House.
(If you need my address mail me at craftydistraction@virginmedia.com)

Not long now until my first Stampin’ Up! Open House Event!! 

YAY! It’s all very exciting but it means I’m incredibly busy getting ready for Saturday, so no card to share today.  However, I do have a sneaky peek at the samples and make and takes…

I’m currently busy bagging up my make and take kits…..so much to do!!!
Did I tell you there’s a free Prize Draw?  The winner will receive a free Ideas and Catalogue Book (worth £4.95) that is not only jammed full of fantastic stamping products and accessories and but it’s also a fabulous source of inspiration!! And it could be yours to take away with you!

All levels of expertise are welcome…so if you’d like to meet other craft addicts, have a play with some cool stuff…or just come for a coffee and a chat…..this will be the place to be!

Hope to see you Saturday

BFN
Linda
x

Say it with Flowers

Well I’ve reverted to my old stash – I fancied a whirl on the LOTV Challenge this week.  However, it’s not a typical LOTV card because I’m trying to keep it Clean And Simple.

This card is made from Papermania’s Kraft card blanks and the beautiful Bloom and Grow range (oh no!! I'm running out of it!!) from My Mind’s Eye.  The image is, of course, one of the cute dressing up girls from LOTV, coloured in using my pens. 

I’ve kept the colours simple, toning the orange and the green.  It was difficult.....but I’ve resisted the urge to add ribbon, but had to add the flowers….the challenge is, afterall, ‘Say it with Flowers. LOL!

So let me know what you think. I’ve loved reading all your recent comments and really appreciate you taking time out to view my posts.

BFN
Linda
x|

Another Blokey Card

Nooooooo!! Why would they test us this way?  Admit it….we all struggle with blokey cards, don’t we?  The ladies over at Less is More are really testing us with the theme of ‘Masculine’ this week.  Here’s my attempt:

Very simple! I choose to believe this is for a close, male friend who’s slightly in touch with his feminine side and won’t read too much in to the BIG love heart that features oh so obviously . 
I’ve used the friend heart from “I {Heart} Hearts” and the dog and cat from “All in the family”, and the colours Pumpkin Pie and Soft Suede – all from Stampin’ Up! I’ve backed the image on to dotty paper from the Brights range.
They’re very masculine colours at least and not a hint of glitter, bling or ribbon….just string!  That’s manly right?
So….have I got it right?
Let me know what you think.  I’m off to peruse the other entries.  Hopefully, I’ll learn something .
BFN
Linda
X

Last few days of the March Frenzy…

If you haven’t already checked out the fab offers from Stampin’ Up! during March Frenzy click on the image now….QUICK!  You only have until the end of the month to pick up a bargain.   There’s upto 30 % off selected products!!  Just drop me a note at craftydistraction@virginmedia.com if you’d like to order.

 

And don’t forget you can always drop by my house on Saturday 26th March between 10 and 2 for Coffee and Crafts.  It’ll give you a chance to try some of the products out and have a go at a “Make and Take”.  Bring the kids, bring a friend – and (as I’m reliably informed by mine…there is no football to go to) bring your husband.  Drop me a note through Facebook (see side bar) or at craftydistraction@virginmedia.com if you need my address.

Hope to see you there…

Linda
X

Open House at mine!

Anyone up for a coffee?

I'm having an open house event and would like to invite you all round for a coffee and a catch up on Saturday 26th March between 10 and 2....all are welcome, including the children and friends :-)

Click here for details and if you need my address please drop me a mail to craftydistraction@virginmedia.com.

Hope to see you there...
BFN
Linda

Scrapbook Challenge

Ooooh!  I’d forgotten how much fun scrapbooking is!!  Card marking has kinda taken over recently but seeing Victoria’s reminder for the last couple of days of her first Scrapbook Challenge over on Blue Jelly Stampin'  inspired me!

The challenge is the sketch above with two optional extras: use black and white and one other colour and have a family theme.  So here are my pages:

Red Nose Day seems a suitable subject to scrap as the kids always enjoy the day at school.  I’ve used black and white with the red dotty paper from the Brights Designer Series Pattern Stack  from Stampin’ up. I’ve punched circles and added a white highlight to make them look like red noses and punched labels to…er….label the pages .  I’ve used my Sizzix machine to die cut the title in red, using a mixture of upper and lower cases for a funky look.

Here’s a closer look:

I’ve added a quote from each of the children as to their favourite part of the day so they can look back and remember their “brill” days at school.

Hope you like them.

BFN
Linda
X

Up, Up and Away!

Over on Cupcake Challenges this week they have an “Up in the Air – with Optional Green”.  A perfect opportunity to try out a card using  my new “All in the Family” stamps from Stampin’ Up.  This card will fit in with the challenge on The Stamp Fairy too where they are asking us to "Show us your green" :-).



This is a 15cm square card (my preferred card size).  I’ve stamped the little man on to white card and dangled him from some paper-pieced balloons.  The papers are from the Brights collection and the floaty greeting is from “Heard From the Heart”.   I’ve finished the card off with a twist of whisper white ribbon.
Now as to why I have a little man dangling from balloons….who knows! But I’m loving playing with all my new gear, so why not!

BFN
Linda
X

New Stampin’ Up Demonstrator

Now you might have already seen the subtle changes to my blog recently….but I would like to officially announce….

I’m now an Independent Stampin’ Up Demonstrator!!

….and I’m sooo excited *girly hand claps*.   So check out my side bar to peruse the catalogue…but especially to review the March Frenzy offers!! 

(Here’s a sneak peak at my new samples.)

I have been working on some samples and making plans  for the last couple of weeks so I’ll be sharing those over the next few days.
This first card I’m sharing is made using a tutorial found on Lady& the Stamp.  I’ve adapted it to an A5 size so email me for dimensions if you want to recreate it. It’s a Box Arm Card and I think this is quite effective.
I’ve entered this in the ‘Flowers’ challenge over at Little Claires.

It’s a three panel card where the front panels stand out and prop the back panel up.   I’ve used the dainty flower stamp from the ‘Simply Said’ stamp set and the “Just for you” from the Afterthoughts set, both stamped in Pumpkin Pie ink.  The backing paper is from a recent Stampin’ Up win courtesy of Blue Jelly Stampin’ but unfortunately I can’t tell you what it is.  It’s very pretty though and matches the delicate flower image perfectly.  I’ve trimmed it with a punched border (which in hindsight probably should have been Pumpkin Pie in colour) and added matching ribbon.
Here’s a picture from the top of the card to give you an idea of how it all fits together.

Hope you like it…let me know what you think . 
BFN
Linda

WOW!

Just a quick post now....card to follow later...but you might want to check out the blog candy over on Norma's Creations.  She's celebrating her second blogaversary in style .

BFN

Nice and CAS….

Following on from my disaster for last weeks challenge ("Ever get the feeling you missed the point"), I didn’t want to miss the “Less is More” challenge this week!!  I’ve just finished my “Off the Edge” OLC. 

Now, I know there is at least one of you out there that will think my 4-year old daughter coloured this (you know who you are) but I’m going to risk the ridicule . 

I’ve used HobbyArts Town Scene-It stamps and coloured it in using chalks and my Stampin’ Up blender pen (I love it).  I think the chalks really give a good texture to the colouring, and I also think the Balamory look is funky!

But don’t look too closely…you might see all the smudges. 

What do you reckon?

BFN.

When in doubt, get the Pink Petticoat out!

So every now and then, I get a request for a handmade card from one of my husband’s friends.  It’s great that they consider a handmade card as a special thing for their ladies….but to put it bluntly, boys are so rubbish at telling you what they want! 

This time however, I sent hubby armed with printouts of all my cards.  His friend only had to pick on….and he did – a black and red themed Valentine Card. No problem.  Colour scheme?  “Exactly as it is in the picture”.  Great! Seems straight forward.

However, by the time hubby’s got home to point at the required card, requirements had mellowed somewhat into “A card like that, but not that style and could you change the colours so it’s not so dark.  He didn’t want to say anything ‘cos he didn’t want to be a bother”. *sigh* 

So to the trusty Pink Petticoat papers and my interpretation of what is required

I think he’ll like it.  It’s a 8 inch easel card trimmed with ribbon and gems and embellished with flowers.

Let me know what you think

Thanks for reading.

Ever get the feeling you missed the point?

OK….now my new favourite blog at the moment is Less is More.  I favour the simple, clean looking card and indeed, search through my gallery and I think you’d agree…..so did I get it right with this week’s challenge?

The theme this week is ‘Pastels’.  This instantly put me in mind of Spring Wishes collection from Pink Petticoat!  Easy!  I created a lovely heart-shaped card, backed it with one of my favourite spring time papers in all its pastel-y beauty and finished it off with a topper from my lovely new Stampin’ Up stamps.
But as I stood back to view my creation, I’m thinking….card shape, busy background, ribbon and a border…..where’s the white space??
Alas, I am out of time so submit this card for your viewing.  I still like it….it gave me a chance to use my new blender pen and chalks from Stampin’ Up to and the heart-shape is a good one for Mother’s Day, don’t you think?
You do you reckon?

TSK! 
I thought the closing time was midnight!  Missed it!  Oh well….plenty of time to practice for the next one