Mixed Up Saturday

Good Saturday Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are having a relaxed start to the weekend, the weather isn't forecast to be that great so I think we will be relaxing inside, I am hoping to do one of my Tracy Evan's workshops.  

What have you all got planned?  I know that some of you could do with putting your feet up and having a totally relaxed weekend.  I want to send warm, gentle hugs to those of you feeling under the weather.

The amazing cards above have been designed and created by our lovely Michele, using an old Cuttlebug Snowflake die that has a matching mini embossing folder. I love all the combinations that you have designed I really love the Kraft/Cream ones that is a lovely combination. All of these designs would work for next weeks challenge. 

Thank you so much Michele for giving us some great inspiration for our next Challenge and for allowing me to share your amazing designs. XXX

Here is this weeks Review: 

Creative Stamping Magazine Review 

(Issue 102)

If you are into Gnomes you will love the free gifts in the latest edition of Creative Stamper, there are other really useful stamps too, those modern style trees are really nice, the pretty star garland, that chubby little robin is adorable. The Gnomes are actually hand drawn by Nicky Hall from Polkadoodles, she is amazing at cute images. 

The little stamps included with the free gift make excellent backgrounds when stamped randomly, you can even use them to create the Scandinavian' style background when stamped repeatedly to create borders. This magazine is one of the best for showing you so many different ways to use your free gifts.

You also got some free papers with this issue and this feature shares some great ideas for using them, combined with the stamps. there are some really lovely ideas that would work with any paper ranges.

Ooh this is a great feature, I really want to use my Gel Plate more, which is one reason I signed up to some Tracy Evans workshops.  This feature shows us how to use stamps with our Gel Plates which is something that I just haven't tried.  The cards show what an effective technique this is to try so I will definitely be having a play.

Nicky Hall is the main feature on this page, she is talking about designing the cute gnome stamps that make up part of the give away, they do look very much like her other cute designs, she does all sorts from lovely animals, in fact I have some CDRoms of hers from years ago featuring Digistamps of characters wearing uniforms for every job imaginable. She is a very talented designer, check out Polkadoodles website for more of her work.

Some Quick Clean & Simple' cards made using the stamps and free papers on this page.

It looks like all magazines have a Julie Hickey feature in this past month, some lovely designs here, I think that they are all using the 'Emboss Resist' technique. I love that colour combination:  Kitsch Flamingo, Shaded Lilac, Faded Jeans & Salvaged Patina Distress Oxides 

Some Fun ideas for 3D decorations and gift boxes using the magazine Freebies.

This feature shares some ideas using the free stamps can be used for more than just Christmas cards.

Lastly we have a feature showing one layer stencilling, using a combination of stencils to give both a modern and traditional look.  She gives hints like creating a hinge so that you can go back and add more shading etc.  I love the one of the World map combined with the Grid stencil and that pretty floral one is really lovely. 

That's all for this review, I haven't included everything thats in the magazine so that you still have some surprises if you buy it. 😊

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My Craft Shopping (Newbury Stamperama)

I saw some inspiration cards for this Stencil and I was hooked and wanted to buy it there and then. Sue and I browsed the Sweet Poppy stand multiple times,  so much choice and inspiration.  I also loved a Fern design but decided that one stencil was enough, which was a goid decision as I found it in my 'to be used' basket on my desk on Monday while looking for something else .

A few bits and bobs I picked up while I was shopping,  some tiny red berries to add to wreath stamps, some good old Pinflaur glue, I stopped using it a few years back after opening a card U had made for Paul a few years back and the awful smell from the glue made me rethink using it,  hopefully they have addressed the issue in the ladt few years, as I think it would be handy to ne able to use it to hold up butterfly wings and attach heavier items, I have seen a few demonstrators using it recently. 

Sue and decided to have a go with Masking Fluid after chatting to Jenny Mayes on the Hobby Art stand. Some Sweet Poppy Glitter 'Crystallina' and a replacement for my Tim Holtz water sprayer.

A girl can never have enough flower stamps,  can she??!!  I saw some incredible cards made with the Hobby Art Poppy stamp set and in fact the same went for the Honey Doo stamp (even though I have 2 others I haven't used yet)  

I saw a card that showcased the tiny Poinsettia in the John Lockwood small Poinsettia dies.  See below..

Then there is a Quickie Glue pen and some peel off sparkles that I thought I might try on cards for posting,  the lady that ran our Groovi class used them and they looked amazing on her projects  I wil let you know what I think. 

I haven't come across tbis company before, I loved the Fonts of yhe sentiments and the little scene stamp really appealed to me, I love the simplicity of the art work.

These items came in the post, I love the Christmas trees to use with the Bauble stencil after seeing Our Lilian's challenge card a couple weeks back. I loved the stencil and the brushes I saw being used to add ink through the metal stencils, so I thought I would give them a try,  again I will let you know! 

That's it for my shopping,  I honestly thought I had bought more at the show with it being the first one in 2 years!! 

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That's all for today Ladies, I hope that you enjoy the rest of your Saturday,

Sending my love and hugs to all of you,

Sandra

xxxxxx