As you may know, I’ve been really sick, you can ready about it here, and couldn’t get to update my blog for a long time. You can read about it here. But today I feel well enough to hop in and catch up.
Autumn-Winter Catalogue launched on 5th September so it’s in a full swing right now. If you’re one of my regular customers you’ve received your paper copy of a catalogue a month ago.
If you’ve never shopped with me, below you can find a link to a digital copy. You can still request a copy of Winter-Autumn Catalogue – there’s nothing like flicking through the pages of paper copy.
The fabulous Autumn/Winter 2018 Catalogue launched on 5th September but with my health, things have taken a bit of a turn. But I tried since a couple of days to update the links and Autumn-Winter Catalogue page. And I will keep updating my blog gradually.
As many of you know, I’ve got Multiple Sclerosis and like with everything MS, the symptoms can vary from sufferer to sufferer. Some of us have symptoms so seriously affecting their everyday life, they end up in a wheelchair, unable to walk or carrying for themselves, others are blessed enough they can continue with their lives as usual with no symptoms at all.
My MS struggles
Well, I’m somewhere in between. My hands are numb, I suffer from chronic pain. I also have a discopathy (it’s a Polish terminology) or how it’s called here: spinal disc herniation (which is probably caused by inflammation caused by MS) – two bottom discs of my spine have degenerated and are causing me severe sharp pain and difficulty with moving around.
But I’m not giving up. I just listen to my body and do as much as it allows me to.b And if it means fewer and unplanned posts – let it be. I hope you understand.
But I do keep up with all my commitments towards my customers, so you are welcome to shop through my page. All qualified gifts will be sent as per usual.
Exclusive PDF Tutorials
HOST CODE for the month of September is TAXBTP9Q.
Orders of £50+ (excl. p&p) will receive from me:
a pack of Chicken Wire Elements
Exclusive PDF Tutorials for three cards
How it works…
Place a product order of £50 or more (excl. shipping) in my online storein the month of September.
Add Host Code TAXBTP9Q. To claim your reward you must include this code in your ordering process.
This August Special Offer will be applied to all qualifying orders placed through my shop using Host Code TAXBTP9Qbetween 1 September – 30 September.
If your order is £150 or more do not use Host Code. You will earn your own Host Rewards to spend.
IMPORTANT: My FREE Special Host Gift giveaways are mailed separately from any order and will arrive mid-October.
PDF’s will be emailed the same or next day (depends on the time of your purchase). They will include the photos of the finished cards, list of products used and step by step instructions.
One last thing: Stampin’ Up! and papercraft is my passion and I’m not planning to stop doing what I love!
Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,
Don’t forget to check:
Host Promotion Details
Promotion period: 1–30 September
Dashing Along Designer Series Paper is exclusive to the host promotion and will not be available after 30 September.
In order to qualify, the event merchandise total must reach 275 €/£200 (catalogue price before shipping and handling).
One package of Designer Series Paper may be redeemed per qualifying order, with no limit on how many qualifying orders can be placed in September.
Demonstrator, Customer, Workshop, and online orders qualify.
Dashing Along Designer Series Paper may not be redeemed using Stampin’ Rewards. Customers will receive this FREE gift with a qualifying order in addition to any Stampin’ Rewards they may earn.
Dashing Along Designer Series Paper may not be exchanged for other paper.
Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – International Highlights Winners Hop: You Are The Greatest
Hello and welcome to my stampin’ cave today.
First of all, I wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to all my followers and visitors to my blog for VOTING on my project for this month’s International Project Highlights! My little fridge magnet and card took the 5th place. I’m so humbled!
Every month, the ‘top ten’ get to blog hop with Kylie, using the same theme, which was a “Teachers Gifts”.
You Are The Greatest
For today’s project, I decided to go back to one of my favourite products and techniques – watercolour with Brusho® Crystal Colour.
Here’s my card –
Card dimensions:
Whisper White Thick cardstock: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
Tranquil Tide cardstock panel: 3-7/8″ x 4-1/4″ (9.8 cm x 10.6 cm)
Lemon Lime Twist cardstock panel: 3-5/8″ x 5-13/16″ (9.2 cm x 12.2 cm)
Watercolour Paper panel: 3-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ (9 cm x 12 cm)
Whisper White cardstock for sentiment
My thought behind this card was to create one that could be suitable either for a female or male teacher.
I prepared my watercolour panel – it was bit larger than what I needed – with embossing buddy and stamped the ‘heart constellation’ using Versamark ink. I sprinkled it with a White Emboss Powder and heat set it with my Heat Tool.
When heat embossing on Watercolor Paper, because it’s a quite porous surface, you need to make sure all the image has transferred very well. It can take a little bit longer for the embossing powder to melt, so be patient.
Brusho Crystal Colour
They are high quality and highly pigmented paint powders. They are water-based and most of all completely non-toxic. For my card, I chose two colours to work with: Prussian Blue and Moss Green.
I added my water to the embossed heart, sprinkled it with Moss Green and using the aqua painter I moved the water around.
Before adding Prussian Blue I wet the panel under a running water. I wasn’t too concerned and didn’t worry too much that the Mossy Green will run. Once my panel was really wet I sprinkled it richly with Prussian Blue.
I moved the colour tilting the panel in each direction dabbing off any colour that got into the heart – I wanted to keep it green. Once my panel was dry I spritz it with water (very selectively avoiding the heart) and added more Prussian Blue with a few Moss Green areas for the contrast and moved it around with aqua painter again. Once happy with results, and when the panel was still slightly damp, I sprinkled some more of Prussian Blue and let it dry without moving the paper. I love the effect it left on the panel.
Assembling the card
For the final touch, I took a Whisper White Craft Ink Refill and with a help of clear block and aqua painter, I splashed white all over the panel.
Once my panel was dry I cut it to the size but I saved my colourful off cuts to use them later for some accents.
I adhered Tranquil Tide panel to the card base with liquid glue. Next, I mounted watercolour piece onto a Lemon Lime Twist panel and adhered them both to the base.
The sentiment comes from Tropical Chic Stamp Set. I stamped it in Tranquil Tide ink and punched out with Tailored Tag Punch. I have added it to my card with few dimensionals.
Final touches
For some interest, I stamped a cluster of stars inside of my card, in a bottom left corner. Besides that, I also took one of the watercolour strips that left, cut it at an angle and add it to the inside as well. I think it looks pretty cool.
I also decided to decorate the envelope with the same elements as the inside of my card: clusters of stars and another watercolour strip cut at an angle.
And that’s it from me for today. I hope you’ve enjoyed visiting my blog. Do you like the card I created? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Below is the list of all the winners, so be sure to hop along. Your next stop is lovely and very talented Janneke de Jong from the Netherlands – go and see her beautiful project.
As always, if you wish to purchase any of the products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online store.
Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – For The Love of Creating – Frosted Floral Suite
Hello and welcome to For the Love of Creating with Stampin’ Up! Blog Hop run by the amazing Australian demonstrator, Kim Oliver. We are super excited to share with you an array of creations showcasing a sneak peek products from 2018 Holiday (Autumn-Winter in the UK) Catalogue.
We hope you find great inspiration from our projects. If you have arrived here from Sandra Mastello, a big welcome to you. You are currently visiting Anna Krol from the United Kingdom.
Frosted Floral Suite
For my projects today I decided to showcase a beautiful suite of products called Frosted Floral Suite.
I did not order the whole suite yet, but enough to showcase a beautiful stamp set with coordinating dies, and unique Designer Series Paper.
Here’s my card –
Card dimensions:
Gray Granite cardstock: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
Whisper White panel: 3-3/4″ x 5-7/8″ (9.6 cm x 14.8 cm)
Whisper White panel (for inside): 4″ x 5-3/4″ (10.2 cm x 14.5 cm)
Frosted Floral Specialty DSP: 2″ x 5-7/8″
Whisper White cardstock for sentiment
Whisper White and Vellum for die-cutting
First, I created my card base. Next, I run my Whisper White panel through the Big Shot using Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I love this really subtle linen-like texture. I adhered it to the card base.
Frosted Floral Specialty DSP
I’m totally in love with this amazing paper. It’s oh-so-beautiful! Not only because of stunning, handpainted designs. This paper is so yummy and full of shine, like if it was printed on Shimmery White cardstock. What’s more, a girl can wish for?
I picked a neutral Gray Granite design and cut 2″ strip and glued it into the bottom half of my card base.
First Frost Bundle
Just as a breathtaking is designer paper, a First Frost Stamp Set and coordinating Frosted Bouquet Framelits Dies are equally beautiful.
I’ve used Stamparatus to stamp my images onto Whisper White cardstock, and die-cut them with matching dies. I also die-cut a few images from vellum.
I played with arranging my die-cuts to decide how I wanted them to go on the card and I snap a photo for a reference. Using either liquid glue, snail adhesive or dimensionals – I added all my pieces to the card.
I die-cut a circle using second smallest circle from Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies and stamped my sentiment using Gray Granite ink. I also die-cut a slightly bigger vellum circle cut using Layered Circles Framelits Dies (approx 2-1/8″ – 5.4 cm). I adhered them together and mount it onto my card. Few Basic Pearls finish off my card.
I hope you enjoyed coming to my blog today and now, be sure to hop along and see more inspiring projects.
Below is the list of all the participants but you can also use the buttons to keep hopping. Your next stop is lovely Margriet Siekman from the Netherlands – go and see her beautiful projects
As always, if you wish to purchase any of the products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online store.
HOST CODE for the month of AUGUST is U6KK4ACY. Orders of £50+ (excl. p&p) will receive a pack of Stampin’ Up! Pearlised Doilies!
Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Stampin’ Dreams August Blog Hop
Welcome to our monthly blog hop! And today we have a real treat for you: a sneak peek of products from Stampin’ Up!®Autumn Winter Catalogue (also called a Holiday Catalog in other parts of the world). You are currently visiting Anna (me) and my Stampin’ Cave, up here in the UK. I hope you’ll enjoy coming to my blog today.
For today’s blog hop I decided to use products from one of my favourite suites from the catalogue, called Country Lane. Isn’t this bundle amazing!?
And here’s my card.
I’ve used Crushed Curry for the base.
To create this card, first, I run card front through the Big Shot with brand new Tin Tile Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. To bring out the beautiful detail of this folder, I used one of Stamping Sponges and a Crushed Curry ink pad and sponged the surface to add more dimension.
Watercolour Pencils Assortment 2
Next, I stamped my images: the milk can on a scrap of Mint Macaron cardstock, and flowers on a piece of Whisper White.
To colour in the flowers I’ve brand new Watercolour Pencils Assortment 2 and also added some shimmer to them with Clear Wink of Stella.
These pencils are available for purchase this month only as a part of Colour Your Seasons promotion (but we’ve heard they may come back in a future catalogue).
Fussy cutting
For the focal composition, I fussy cut the flowers and milk can. Next, I cut a piece of Country Lane DSP (with Blackberry Bliss polka dot design) and mount it flat on my card base.
I die-cut the biggest of four circles from Stitched Frames Framelits Dies from a Whisper White cardstock, cut off a slice and adhered it to patterned paper with a straight edge to the right.
Galvanized
There was one product or I should rather say a family of products that I was especially happy about – new ‘galvanized line. Galvanized Clips and Galvanized Buttons will soon join our embellishment assortment. But we will also have a new paper in our speciality papers assortment – Galvanised Metallic Paper. It’s just gorgeous in a real life and most importantly it’s double-sided!! Yay! I just had to use it
So I took a 1″ strip of Galvanised Metallic Paper, lay it flat over the card front, marked where the circle begins and using paper snips I cut out the concave shape. I slide in one of the Galvanised Clips to the edge of my strip. A tiny bow created using Linen Thread adds to the rustic theme of the card. I adhered it, to the left from the stitched circle, using dimensionals.
To finish assembling the card, I mounted my fussy-cut elements in the middle of a Whisper White circle. I’ve used liquid glue for the can and dimensionals for the flowers.
I stamped ‘Happy Harvest Blessings’ on a piece of Whisper White cardstock, cut it to the thin strip backed it with a piece of Crushed Curry and adhered it to the card just below the galvanized clip.
The inside
For the inside of the card, I decided to stamp the milk can and part of the bouquet. I stamped them off first with Crushed Curry ink pad. Using aqua painter I slightly washed out my images and once dry I sponged the inside of the card around all edges.
I really hope you enjoyed visiting my blog today and I would love to encourage you to hop along with us and see the rest of beautiful projects designed by amazing artists. Please be sure to continue to hop using the list below. You don’t want to miss any!
Blog Hop List:
As always, if you wish to purchase any of the products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online store.
HOST CODE for the month of AUGUST is U6KK4ACY. Orders of £50+ (excl. p&p) will receive a pack of Stampin’ Up! Pearlised Doilies!