Hold onto Hope

Hi There

Well I ordered this Hold onto Hope bundle in order to use it at the fundraiser I did on Saturday, but guess what?  it arrived 2 days later, ha ha!  oh well......  at least it wasn't an integral part of the fundraiser cards!

So today I had the chance to play with the stamps and dies, and oh my goodness I wish I'd got them earlier lol, always the way!  I've made up 3 cards to show you them, I've used all of the dies except the large straightforward cross, and I haven't used the saying "Celebrating one of God's most Remarkable Creations"  "You".  But I'm pretty sure I will use it at some point!  I'd love to hear what you think of the set (and my cards)

 Here is the first card I made up, this was the die I originally fell in love with, such a pretty filigree cross! I've used one of the Sale-a-Bration stamps in the background - "Amazing You", and lightly daubed round the edge of the card with Crushed Curry.  Bear in mind that Amazing You is only available for a few more days till the end of March, place a qualifying order of $90 and you can choose to have that Stamp set for free!

Next card I made was this one:

I love the way the flowers cut out with the dies, and have holes that you can thread the cross through!
I took a closer photo for you, and the cross was cut and embossed to get the raised bits on it.  The stamps coloured in with the Brights Stampin' Write Markers to get the different colours (always enjoyed this technique)

 then lastly is this card:

a little plainer (which of course is the one my husband liked the most) I was thinking obviously of Easter! The saying "Hold onto Hope" made me think of the 2 criminals that were crucified next to Jesus, as they were hanging there they had no hope, and yet one of them refused to ridicule Jesus, and asked Jesus to remember him, Jesus then gave him hope (you can read it in Luke chapter 23 Verses 32 to 43).  And I know that even through my imperfections, and the stresses of life Jesus is my hope that I can hold fast to.

I hope this post inspires you to create, and to dig in and find out more about our Creator!

God Bless love
Heather xox

getting back into the Video scene!

Hi there,
I have another video for you again today, and some instructions to go with it :)

I have been making up some cute little cards recently with 1/4 size A4 cardstock, but as you can see from the photo, they really don't work with a normal size envelope!

 So..... it got me thinking, that I needed to work out an appropriately sized envelope for them!, several scrap pieces of paper later, and finally got it!

I was so excited that I created a video for you, however in the video I do say that I'll give you the measurements.
Therefore to create the card,
Start with A4 sized cardstock, cut it in 1/2 at 14.8cm, this will give you A5, (which when scored in 1/2 at 10.5cm will give you a standard card), however for this you'll cut it at 10.5cm, which will give you an A6 piece.  This when scored in 1/2 at 7.4cm creates your mini card.
To create the envelope I have used the Envelope Punch Board, which you can use to create so many different sizes of envelopes! but it does use a square piece of paper, as my aim is to use A4 with as little wastage as possible, I've gone with 1/2 a piece of A4 (14.8cm) and made it square (you do end up with a section cut off the end, but it's a decent sized piece that can be used for stamping on for other projects)  Then using the punch board, line it up to the 8.6cm mark and score and punch, and that's the measurements!

let me know if you're going to give it a go! and if you don't have the envelope punch board, then I can either order it for you, or you can click on the link above, and it'll take you to my online store
I hope this inspires you to create cute little cards!

God Bless love
Heather xox

Fundraiser for Collective 61 (and a video!)

Hi There,
Yesterday was the fundraiser I was doing for Collective 61, we all had a great day, and it was perfect for staying in and creating, being a rainy day!  I captured a picture of the sky before we started, it was amazing!

Having said that I managed to forget to take any photos of the creating!  (yay go me - lol), however I did take photos of the kits I created for the day, and photos of the cards/ project I created for it, and also a little video to show how to create the long "handbags" that the kits were in, so first up....

The Kit "handbags":

then what we made.....

As I had all my watercolour pencils with me, the ladies were able to choose the colour they liked for the cards, or to pick the ones from the pack "Lot's of Happy Card Kit"  gee the cards turned out beautifully! (very therapeutic colouring in!)
We also made a little framed piece with a quote from Isaiah 61 (it's in the Rose Wonder Stamp set) and matching card.  The designer series paper we used is the Tutti Frutti, and the little "Hello Friend" stamps came from the Fruit Basket Stamp set

And last but not least a little video for you, on how to create the handbags that I had the kits in, they're made from 12x12 cardstock, scored 1" in on opposite sides, then turn the card, and score at 5.5" and 6.5"  (just so you have the dimensions)

I hope you enjoy the video, and this post has inspired you to create, the kits really are fabulous, and so relaxing to create, (you don't really have to think too hard with them lol)

Don't forget only 6 days left of Sale-a-Bration,  3 options,

1. get a free SAB item for every $90 spent
2. host a party and when orders total over $400 you get an extra $40 to spend (or place an order for $400 and get 4 SAB items and get $80 free to spend!
3. Join Stampin' Up! for $169 and choose over $300 of products!

I know I'd pick #3. Oh wait..... I already did lol!  Ah well, come and join me on the Stampin' Up! journey :)

God Bless love
Heather xox

Made it Monday on Tuesday!

Hi there

Over on the Eureka Stampers Facebook Page, which I'm part of we have something called "Made it Monday".  However as yesterday was a public holiday, the kids were home, and I was unpacking the car back into my craft room/class room, so nothing was made :(

So today in my list of things to do were to organise my "tag card" and the card that my Craft@Home ladies will be receiving to create, I thought I'd share them with you today.

The Tag Card for those of you who don't know, is a way of making the tag that comes on your bag (when your purchase from me), into a card, so here it is:

it uses the gorgeous Eastern Medallions Thinlits to create the beautiful cut out in the card, then the tag itself uses the Ribbon of Courage Stamp set, and Support Ribbon Framelits, along with the Tailored Tag Punch, and the Sale-a-Bration Shimmer ribbon pack (the ribbon may vary from card to card) You can choose to have these ribbons for free when you place an order of  $90 before the end of March.  I 've coloured my heart in using the Stampin' Blends, but I have left them uncoloured for you to decide on your own colours :)

And the other card I wanted to share with you today is the one my Craft@Home group will be getting to create, I do have a space in the group if anyone is interested!

This card uses the new Sale-a-Bration Basket Weave Embossing Folder (the embossing folder will be available in the next Annual Catalogue, but currently you can choose to have it and the coordinating stamp set when you purchase $180 of products available till the end of March)  This also uses the Ribbon of Courage Stamp set, and Support Ribbon Framelits.(although I can't stamp it for them, so my Craft@Home'rs will be using their own stamps for the saying)  Oh and the Duet Banner Punch!

Well I hope these cards inspire you to create, and if you'd like to find out more about my Craft@Home group let me know!

God Bless love
Heather xox

Have you seen the Blossoming Basket Bundle?

Hi there,
Well - have you seen it yet?  It's in the 2nd wave of Sale-a-Bration items, and it's a second level item, so you can choose to have this bundle for FREE with an order of $180!  And gee it's beautiful! I wasn't convinced till I played with Jenny's stamp set and embossing folder the other day.........

I'm going to add a video to show it in it's proper glory!

having said that of course I now have it, it arrived a day or two ago, and sadly with preparations for the Picture to Page show this weekend I haven't had a chance to play much with it :(

I'll work on that next week ......lol

Ok well if you're in the area, don't forget to pop into the Picture to Page show in Kangaroo Flat this weekend, it's open Satuday 9 till 4 and Sunday 10 till 4

Hope this inspires you to create!
God Bless love
Heather xox

And now for something different!

Hi There,

I saw a couple of videos done by Jennifer McGuire, where she's used dies to create borders on her cards, partial cutting using the bigshot, so I was inspired to give it a go.....  thought I'd share with you!

This was my initial go, have to admit it was a little tricky to cut out the excess bits, I've used the beautiful dies from Flourish thinlits, which considering you get 10 beautiful dies is remarkably good value at $49!
then I tried out the flowers in the same Flourish thinlits, and made it into a card;

Couldn't resist adding the Glitter Enamel Dots in the centre of the flowers (they're so pretty!)

then moving on...... (I had some Old Olive cardstock cut to the right size, hence all the green lol)

I've gone back to the big die in the set to create the top border, and the scalloped line at the top was the pink cut out on the previous card (good to use up the proverbial scraps)  considered the fact that I've not used the pink's washi tape for some time, so Basics pack 1 was brought into action, managed to use all bar 1 of them! (go me!!)  Oh and of course the Celebrate is from the Celebrate You thinlit dies (currently a Sale-a-Bration item, purchase $180 and you can choose them for FREE! Yay)

Ok well the last card (save the best for last) is the first piece actually made up into a card, drum roll........

Da, Da..... lol, I think it turned out really well, again I've incorporated the Celebrate You thinlits, but then I had to find something for the side, and I found it in the Seasonal Layers thinlit dies, there's a nice scallop, which I've cut 3 times to get the layers.   (can't say layers with out hearing Shrek and Donkey, Oh the joys of children lol)  Just looking at the value of the set again, you get 17 dies in the Seasonal Layers Thinlits and it's only $56! that's only $3.30 per die!, and there's really only one die that you'd probably want to have the stamp to (let me know if you work out which die it is!)  Oh my goodness I'm feeling inspired to go and play with it now lol......

Ok well I hope these inspire you to dig out your dies and have a play (perhaps purchase something from me....... 😀)
Better go while ideas are still floating around in my head lol

God Bless love
Heather xox