Thursday 31 March 2011

Thursday Tease!

One of the best things about being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator is that I get to see and play with all the lovely new products before they are generally available. One of the hardest things is not sharing them with you!

That all changes tomorrow with the release of our new Mini Catalogue – Its brilliant so be sure to check back here for a guided tour.

In the mean time today I have been packing up party for one bags for the members of my Customer Club who can’t come to our launch celebration on Saturday. Now I would love to show you what is in the bags but that would spoil the surprise, but how about a little peek ...

As well as their copy of the new Mini Catalogue there is a crafting project (you can see one of the elements in this picture) and of course some supplies – they are going to be needed!

See you tomorrow for the big reveal

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Wednesday 30 March 2011

Egg-cited About Easter?

There are lots and lots of things coming up that I am really excited about! One is the new Mini Catalogue which is out on Friday and I can’t wait to share that with you all – no prizes for guessing what this week’s find out about Friday will be about!

Another thing that I am looking forward to is Easter – all those pretty flowers and a great excuse fro Chocolate.

Today I am going to share a little Easter Basket with you. These baskets are a lot of fun to make and hold just the right amount of mini eggs!

Easter Basket
If you would like to know how to make these little baskets book a Stampin’ Up! Party with me and I will show you and your guests how. You get your friends together I will bring the fun and the crafting – and don’t worry if none of your friends have crafted before – my favourite parties are those with people who have not yet discovered their love of stampin’. Email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and lets get you and your friends stampin’

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Tuesday 29 March 2011

March Frenzy - Last Few Days!

I just wanted to remind you about the March Frenzy - up to 30% off selected products but only until the end of the month.


To place your order email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Bekka Pin It

Monday 28 March 2011

Home From Home!

Do you want to see where I spent the last 4 days?

We had a brilliant time, it was fantastic to meet so many crafters, and to stamp and talk about stamping for four whole days!

That said its good to be home too!

Happy Stampin'

Bekka Pin It

Sunday 27 March 2011

Something for a Sunday

Now I know it is spring at the moment but today’s card recalls a different time of year – Autumn!

Stampin' Up! Autumn Splendor
The leaves from Autumn Spendor have been stamped around the edges of the invitation to give the impression of falling leaves.

I hope you like this unseasonal offering

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Saturday 26 March 2011

Sending Hugs

There is one sort of card I don’t like to make – not because I don’t enjoy the crafting but because the reason I make them is sad. However I do think they are very important card to make as when you need to send them the recipient really needs the virtual hug a card can deliver. I am of course talking about sympathy cards.

Stampin' Up! Hopeful Thoughts
This card uses the beautiful Hopeful Thoughts Stamp Set and combines Marina Mist and Chocolate Chip for a sophisticated look.

Stampin' Up! Hopeful Thoughts
Thanks for stopping by

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Friday 25 March 2011

Find Out About Friday

It’s Friday so it’s time to find out about something and today I am going to share a non paper crafting obsession of mine with you!

Now it’s not a very well kept secret that I love lighthouses. If every you visit my home you will find them all over the place, some decorative and some functional.

I decided a while ago I wanted to make a lighthouse card and since we don’t have a Stampin’ Up! Lighthouse stamp I had to get inventive. What do you think of what I came up with?

Lighthouse with Stampin' Up! Artistic Etchings
This is a repurposed Eiffel Tower! The background is Shimmer Cardstock (which is on special offer this month) and after masking off the beams of light I have brayered with Marina Mist and then added a grassy cliff face with a dauber and Wild Wasabi ink.

This card still makes me smile!

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Thursday 24 March 2011

Scrapping and Stampin'

I have really been enjoying Scrapping recently! It’s strange to think that it’s not all that long ago I was scared of 12x12 pages as they seemed so big!

Today’s page uses some of the scraps I had left from the last scrapbook club kit, along with some Stampin’. I have used the stamps which coordinate with the Designer Series Papers to pull the colours and the patterns together – you have to love the coordination you can get with Stampin’ Up!

Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking
The papers are from the Love Stories Designer Series Paper Pack and the Stamps are from Artistic Etchings and Notably Ornate. The colours are Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla and Basic Black (from the papers) and Perfect Plum. To purchase these or any other Stampin’ Up! goodies please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Wednesday 23 March 2011

Happiness Shared on a Wednesday

Today I am going up to the NEC to set up for the Hobbycraft show there. If you are visiting the show please be sure to stop by stand D35 and say hello – it would be lovely to meet you. We will have lots of projects on display, free make and takes and even a couple of special offers for the show.

Today I am going to share a card made using the pretty Happiness Shared Stamp Set and featuring the scrummy Glossy Card Stock. I love how it adds a different texture and shiny dimension to a card. It is also available at 20% off this month so if you have not tried it before now is a really good time.

This gatefold card was made using Pear Pizzaz and Blushing Bride for a lovely spring like feel.

I hope to see you at the NEC

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Tuesday 22 March 2011

Tuesday Thoughts

Sometimes we want to send cards just to let people know that they are in our thoughts. Just at the moment it seems like a lot of my friends have needed virtual hugs and I hope the cards I have sent have let them know that I care.

Hopeful Thoughts
This card was made using the beautiful Hopeful Thoughts Stamp Set and the Curly Cute Sentiment Set. I hope this pretty combination of Marina Mist and Old Olive makes the recipients smile. A change of sentiment and this card would be suitable for any occasion.

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Monday 21 March 2011

Hello Monday

Today I am going to share another page we made a this month’s Scrapbook Club.

Scrapbook Club
Our theme was mothers and I wanted this page to have a celebratory feeling, so it included some Bunting!

Scrapbook Club
There is still time to book a place at April’s Scrapbook Club – just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk to reserve your place.

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Sunday 20 March 2011

Sunday Sunday!

Hmmm I’m not quite sure what happened to the posts I had planned for you yesterday and today – they seem to have disappeared into cyber space! I hope where every they are someone is enjoying looking at them!

Anyway I wanted to remind you that I will donate 25% of the value of any orders placed with me today to Comic Relief so please get your orders so I have to make a huge huge donation!

I am going to share another card with you today – again featuring the lovely Cottage Garden Stamp Set – I really enjoyed using this stamp set – it is so versatile and the results are so pretty. Today’s card uses some of the beautiful Stampin’ Up! Shimmer Card (currently available at a reduced price as part of the March Frenzy).

Cottage Garden Flowers
The flowers have been stamped, cut out and then the edges coloured using ink on a dauber. I love how the shimmer of the cardstock shows through the colour.

Cottage Garden Flowers
I hope you like today’s offering

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Friday 18 March 2011

Do Something Funny for Money

Here is the UK today is Red Nose Day – Comic Relief encourages us all to do something funny for money and help change people’s lives. Oh and they put on a great night of TV for us too. You can read all about Comic Relief and the charity work they do here.

So today’s find out about Friday is going to be a little different – I would encourage you to Find Out about Comic Relief, find out about what is happening in your area, have some fun and get involved.

As part of my contribution to Comic Relief this year I need your help – I am going to donate 25% of the value of all orders placed with me between now and Sunday to Comic Relief. All you have to do is to email your orders to mailto:bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Please place your orders and I look forward to making a huge donation to Comic Relief

Thank you and Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Thursday 17 March 2011

Happy St Patrick's Day

Today is St Patrick's Day and I thought it was a good excuse for us to have some fun! I have started a Limerick for you and here is your challenge – complete the last line!

There was a young lady who lived in a shoe
Surrounded by paper, stamps, ink and glue
When not Feeling Crafty
Said don’t be so dafty

I have also made a card to mark the occasion. It features the lovely Greenhouse Gala Papers which are on special offer this month.
Greenhouse Garden Papers

I look forward to hearing your endings for my Limerick

Happy Stampin’ (and rhymin’)

Bekka




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Wednesday 16 March 2011

Cottage Garden Flowers

Today I have another of the cards we made at last Saturday’s card making class. Our featured Stamp Set was the gorgeous Cottage Garden Stamp Set. Each of the individual stamps look delicious but what you may not have realised is that the two flowers can be used together to create a beautiful two step stamp effect.

Stampin' Up! Cottage Garden Flowers 2 Step Stamped
If you would like to come to a class you can find details of my upcoming classes here and dates for the rest of the year here. All you have to do to book your place is email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk It would be lovely to have you come along and create with us.

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Tuesday 15 March 2011

Spring Card Wallet

It certainly feels as if Spring may be in the air here – I am loving the fresh warmer days we have at the moment and I think they definitely set the mood for the projects we created at this month’s Card Making Class.

Today I am going to share one of the projects we made – a pretty little wallet which holds between 3 & 5 of the Stampin’ Up! Note Cards, depending on how you decorate them. These Note Cards are brilliant and come with a matching envelope. You can find them on page 87 of the Idea Book and Catalogue.

The holder was made from a sheet of Whisper White Cardstock and was decorated using stamps from the adorable Cottage Garden Stamp Set. So pretty.

Inside we put three cards


The full instructions on how to make this project have been made available to all my newsletter readers. If you are not one of them then be sure to sign up soon so you too can have access to the tutorials and more that I make available exclusively to my lovely newsletter readers.

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Monday 14 March 2011

Multi Coloured Monday

What a beautiful sunny Monday it is here – I hope your week is starting in a bright and cheery way too.

Today I am going to share some thank you cards I made recently. These cards were made using a technique for making multi coloured ink pads that I shared with readers of my newsletter at the start of the month. Newsletter readers get exclusive hints, tips and tutorials as well as information on special offers, upcoming classes and events and even some exclusive reader offers. It comes to you via email and is totally free. To sign up just go to the box on the top right hand side of this box and enter your email address and you will even get a special tutorial as a thank you for joining the list.

The Mid Month newsletter goes out tomorrow so you won’t have long to wait for your first instalment!

Stampin' Up! Multi Coloured Ink Pad Technique
Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Sunday 13 March 2011

Thinking about that moment.

Today I am going to share one of the inspiration pages that I made for this month’s Scrapbook Club.

This page is going to feature a picture of my stepdaughter and is all about the moment she became a Mum herself.
Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking Club


The papers are from the Love Stories Designer Series Pack and there they have been paired with Perfect Plum Card.


I have backed the patterned paper with another black and vanilla sheet in the corners so when it is distressed and folded you still see black and vanilla patterns.
Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking Club


I have also added a flower stamped and cut from the frame that matches the one on these papers which is in the Notably Ornate Stamp Set.

Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking Club
I enjoyed making this page (even with all that cutting out!) and hope you like it

Thanks for stopping by

Happy Stampin’


Bekka









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Saturday 12 March 2011

March Scrapbook Club

On Thursday we had this month’s meeting of the Scrapbooking Club. I really enjoy these meetings and love sharing a technique along with our monthly theme. This month our theme was mothers and our technique was distressing, so both featured on the page taught page! Well almost ... having teased one club member about not actually putting pictures on her pages I had a major printer malfunction and could not print my photos ...


Either way here is the page!
Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking Club


And some of the details. We used papers from the Love Letters Designer Series Paper Pack and coordinating stamps from Artistic Etchings.


Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking Club
The flower is made from three of the paper daisies which have been stamped and distressed.
Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking Club

After we completed the above page the club members work on their own pages either doing what they want to do or basing it on the pages I provide for inspiration – I will share those with you soon.

Oh and for those who prefer clean lines here is the same paget without the distressing (and still without the photos)
Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking Club

I will be sending out the postal club memberships early next week - as soon as my printer is fixed!  If you want to join the club either in person or by post email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Bekka







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Friday 11 March 2011

Find Out About Friday - Stampin' Around

Thank you for all the lovely feedback about the Find Out About Blender Pens Post I did last weekend. Based on your emails and comments I have decided to make this into a weekly series of posts which I am going to call Find Out About Friday.

Stampin' Around Neighborhood Wheel
So welcome to this week’s Find Out About Friday. Today we are going to find out about the Stampin’ Around Wheels and Handles.

Why would I want one?

Have you ever wanted to get a large area covered with beautiful images really quickly or wanted to make lots of similar patterned strips? The Stampin’ Around Wheels and Handles allow you to do just that and much much more.

What are they?

Stampin' Around Wheel
The Stampin’ Around Wheels feature patterns which are designed to coordinate with the Stampin’ Up! Stamp Sets, and since the pattern is continuous you are able to make a border or a background to the size you want. The Wheels come in two widths, Standard and Jumbo and there is a handle in each size. Since the wheels are interchangeable you only need one handle for each size although some people like to have more than one for when they are using multiple wheels to create a pattern.

How do I use them?

You gently push the Stampin’ Around Wheel you want to use into the appropriate sized Stampin’ Around Handle. You can ink the wheels using the Stampin’ Up! Ink Pads – the jumbo wheel is the same width as the ink pads, or for maximum speed and convenience you can use one of specially designed ink cartridges. These are available with black ink or unlinked for you to add the ink colour of your choice, making fast and colourful images really easily. The cartridges are slotted into the handle before the Wheel and then engaged by gently releasing them and removing the protective cover.

Once you have finished Wheeling you simply disengage the ink cartridge if you have been using one (by pushing it back towards the handle) and then wheel over your Stampin’ Scrub.

What can I make with it?

The Stampin’ Around system is really versatile. You can make patterned backgrounds, you can decorate bags, boxes and other flat containers and surfaces. You can make your own patterned paper and the wheels are of course ideal for card making and scrapbooking.

Here are a couple of quick samples for you, featuring the Neighbourhood Wheel which is currently on special offer (30% off during March - check here). Firstly a Scrapbook page just waiting for some photos of my road.

Stampin' Around Neighborhood Wheel
There is a Wheel Guide available to help you wheel straight (I probably should have used it for this page, my excuse is that my road is on a slight incline too!)
Stampin' Around Wheel Guide


And secondly a quick card. The colouring was done with Blender Pens (again on special offer this month)


Stampin' Around Neighborhood Wheel


Where can I get them?

There are 17 Jumbo Wheel and 19 Standard Wheel Designs to choose between, they can be seen in action throughout the Idea Book and Catalogue and there is an index of them on pages 110 and 111.  The Jumbo Wheels cost £8.50 each and the Standard Wheels are £6.50 The Neighbourhood Wheel is not the only Wheel that has 30% off this month so be sure to check the specials here.


You will also need a handle for each size
The Jumbo Handle is item number 103661 and costs £4.95. The Standard Handle is item number 102971 and costs £3.25

The cartridges are available in Black or Uninked and cost £6.75 for a Jumbo size and £4.50 for the Standard Size.

The Wheel Guide is item number 104834 and costs £7.95

All these items can be ordered by emailing bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Thursday 10 March 2011

Take the Shine Off!

Glossy Card stock always gives a beautiful shiny finish to a project – right? Well actually no! It is also an amazing card stock to get a distressed look on as I hope today’s card will show you.

Stampin' Up! Happiness Shared
The main image from Happiness Shared was stamped in Early Espresso Ink and then coloured with blender pens using Riding Hood Red and Always Artichoke. The surface of the glossy card was then lightly sanded using the block from the Stampin’ Up! Distressing Essentials Kit. Tea stain ink was then applied using the flat stamp and a little Mahogany was added to the outer edges. This picked up the scratches made by the sanding block giving a lovely textured matt finish around the flower which still shines subtly though the colours.

Stampin' Up! Happiness Shared width=

Has this tempted you to buy this wonderful cardstock yet?  If so email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk to place your order.

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Wednesday 9 March 2011

Sharing More Happiness!

I have decided this week is all about Happiness Shared! Yes, I have another card for you today using this beautiful Stamp Set.

Today’s card is very similar to Monday’s. Instead of colouring the image in I have used my Stampin’ Write Markers directly on the stamp and stamped it straight onto a piece of Glossy Card Stock (check out the March Frenzy to find out how you can get this amazing cardstock at a very special price).

Stampin' Up! Happiness Shared

Stamping onto the glossy card stock gives a lovely vibrant effect. The Stampin’ Up! inks dry pretty quickly on it too – not quite as instantly as onto Whisper White, but not that far behind which is an added bonus when you can be as clumsy as I can be! The card has a photo like finish to it.

I will be back tomorrow with yet another look you can achieve with this stamp set, some glossy card and some blender pens!

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Tuesday 8 March 2011

More Happiness Shared with Blender Pens

Today I am going to show you another card made using Blender Pens and Glossy Cardstock. As part of the March Frenzy you can get 20% off both these products when you order them from me before the end of March.

So you can compare the effects you can get with these items easily I have used the lovely Happiness Shared Stamp Set again too!
Happiness Shared

For today’s card I have used the Blender Pens with my Stampin’ Pastels (the kit with all the new colour pastels is also available for just £7.88 this month as part of the March Frenzy) The colours I have used are Perfect Plum and Always Artichoke. Colouring this way with Stampin’ Pastels gives a beautiful soft subtle colour, and you can still see the shine from the glossy card through the colour.

I wanted some ribbon to go with this card, so used my Stampin’ Write Marker in Perfect Plum to colour the central portion of the White Organza ribbon.

To order any of the items used on this card, or any of the other items available at up to 30% off as part of the March Frenzy please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Monday 7 March 2011

Happiness Shared with Blender Pens!

Having introduced you to the Blender Pens yesterday, I thought I would show you some more cards using them along with some of the other products that are available at up to 30% off as part of the Stampin’ Up! March Frenzy.

Today’s card features the fabulous Happiness Shared Stamp Set – I have wanted this stamp set since the Idea Book and Catalogue came out and I treated myself to it for Christmas. Now Sale-A-Bration is finished I have finally got round to getting it inked up!

Happiness Shared
The image has been stamped with Old Olive onto Glossy Card Stock (you can get 20% off the glossy card stock this month) and then coloured with a mix of Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and More Mustard. Using the blender pens on glossy card allows you to get a lovely smooth finish and you have a little longer to work with the colour before they dry totally. The colours dry a little paler than they do on Whisper White Card giving a beautiful soft finish.

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Sunday 6 March 2011

Find out about Blender Pens

One of my favourite tools are part of the March Frenzy – if you order them before 31 March you can get at pack of three for just £6.36 a whopping 20% off. These pens really are go to items for me so I thought I would take a moment to tell you a little more about them.

What are Blender Pens?

Stampin’ Up!’s blender pens are a dual tip, flexible brush pens which combine the flexibility of water colours with the convenience of markers. With these wonderful pens its easy to achieve a beautiful water colour effect with just about any colour source. You can use them with your Stampin’ Write Markers, with the Water Colour Wonder Crayons, with the Stampin’ Pastels and even with your ink pads.

I love that the tip cleans off with a couple of quick scribbles on scrap paper and its ready immediately for the next colour – its great not having to have a different one for each colour!

Using the lit of the ink pad or one of your clear stamp boxes you can also mix your own colours with the blender pen.

Quick Trick with your Blender Pens

The blender pens can be used to create a watercolour effect by colouring or outlining the stamped image with Stampin’ Write markers or Watercolor Wonder Crayons. Using the blender pen, pull and blend the colours as desired. Pulling the colour along the lines of the image will help you create the best effects.

Stampin' Up! Blender Pens

To order your blender pens email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Saturday 5 March 2011

Birthday Branches

Is it just me or do you find that at some times of year you need a lot of birthday cards? I mentioned a couple of days ago that I have lots of birthday cards to send at this time of year so today I am going to share the card I sent my Mum who was celebrating her birthday earlier this week.

Stampin' Up! Hopeful Thoughts
This card features the lovely Hopeful Thoughts Stamp Set and the Greeting is from the Curly Cute Stamp Set – rapidly becoming my go to sentiment set!

Stampin' Up! Hopeful Thoughts
The image was coloured using my Stampin’ Write Markers and the super sparkly Rhinestones just finish off the Concord Crush Flowers beautifully.

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Friday 4 March 2011

Could You be a Stampin' Superstar?

Yesterday I had a lot of fun packaging up some parcels for some of the newest members of my team. I am thrilled these wonderful and talented people have decided to become part of my Stampin’ Superstars team and I am looking forward to sharing this wonderful creative adventure with them.

To welcome them into the team I have sent each of them a gift. Some of the gifts were all packaged up before I thought to take a photo! As well as the covered notebooks and the special gifts in the treat purse each has had several tools from me to help them as they grow their business.

Stampin' Superstar's Welcome Gift
Joining Stampin’ Up! has been wonderful for me – I have learnt so much, met some amazing people, gained so much inspiration and made friendships which I know will last forever, laughed till it hurt more times than I can remember – all on top of making money doing something I love. When I started I could never have imagined an ordinary crafter like me could have their own successful crafting business! I really do think I have the best job in the world and being able to share this with others and help them achieve their Stampin’ Dreams is just the icing on the cake. I am confident that all the new Stampin’ Superstars will do really well and have a lot of fun.

Want to know what was in the little treat purses? Well you will have to join my team to find out! It’s a little something I send everyone who joins and which can grow as they grow in their Stampin’ Up! Career.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Stampin’ Superstar and joining Stampin’ Up! email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and we can arrange a no obligation chat about making your Stampin’ Dreams come true.

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Thursday 3 March 2011

Birthday Candles

I seem to know a lot of people who have Birthday’s at this time of year, so I am really glad that thanks to the last Card Class I ran I have lots of birthday cards!

Today I have an easle card for you, featuring some of the lovely candles from the Party this Way Stamp Set.
Stampin' Up! Party This Way

I have also used some of the Self Adhesive Die Cut Borders from the Celebrations quick accents pack. These accents are fantastic for adding a splash to your project and are so quick and easy to use. They also seem to go on and on and on! I still have not finished the half sheet I used for this class.

Our next card class in on 12 March and we will be making a beautiful collection of spring themed cards. Full details are here and you can book your place by emailing bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Bekka
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Wednesday 2 March 2011

Party Time

At last month’s card making class we had a lot of fun playing with the fantastic Party This Way Stamp Set. I really enjoy the stamps in this set, they are bold and fun and versatile. Today I am going to share one on the cards we made with it.

Stampin' Up! Party this Way
This card also features the quick accents – these are wonderful for adding a quick splash of colour and some really interesting elements to either a card or a scrapbook page, the hardest thing is deciding which ones to use!

You can find out about upcoming classes here.

Thank you for stopping by today

Happy Stampin’

Bekka

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