Phoenix Inspirations

One of the lovely things about being a Stampin' Up demonstrator is making friends with other demos and sharing tips and ideas. Today I have three cards to share with you that I have received recently from fellow demonstrators. First up is a card from my upline  Michelle Last I really love this and think it would make a lovely Valentine's card. It's from the set Message in a Bottle. Next is from a german demo Angelika Preiss I love this - so lovely and fun. It's from the set This Little Piggy. Last but by no means least is this one from  Nikki Joyce This is from the Soft Sayings card kit and includes everything you need to create a load of cards. You can make 20 cards with the stamps that are included in the kit along with a clear stamping block, Basic Gray Stampin' Spot ink pad, bakers twine, washi tape. die cuts, Dimensionals and matching envelopes. These cards are suitable for almost any occasion and are available to buy in m

Today's card is for the challenge over at Color Throwdown Here it is I am really enjoying working with this set - it's so easy and versatile. This card was so easy to create it literally took minutes and could be used for almost any occasion. I've added a sentiment from the Climbing Orchid set as there aren't any in the Tranquil Tulips set but you could add any. The colours I've used are Berry Burst, Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil Delight. It's my last day of work today before my holiday. I'm really looking forward spending a week with my daughter and possibly seeing my son too. It's been so long since I've seen him I think I'll have forgotten what he looks like!!! Thanks for stopping by today - please come back soon - J xx

Good morning everyone - it's nearly the weekend - are you excited???? I am - I'm working today and tomorrow and then I have a whole week off - yay!!!! I'm spending the week with my daughter in Hereford and I can't wait. It's going to mean no crafting though and I've been working hard trying to get some posts scheduled so I can still blog while I'm away. I'm mostly looking forward to the rest - I'm going through a Fibro flare up at the moment and even just typing this is hurting my fingers. Anyway - lets get on with today's post - here is my card I've used the gorgeously foiled Bundle of Love DSP again - I just love it - and teamed it up with Real Red and the Artistically Asian stamp set. I also made this as a top fold card - take a look I am entering this card into the challenge over at  CAS - Colours & Sketches Thanks for looking - see you soon - J xx

Hooray - I still have internet - better hurry before it disappears again!!! Today's card is one that missed a challenge - take a look For this card I used the Bundle of Love DSP. On one side of the 12" x 12" paper there is a pink or blue pattern and on the reverse it's gorgeous gold foiling - it really is beautiful. I've used Graceful Garden and coloured the rose with Rich Razzleberry ink. I then cut out some leaves to frame it. They were inked with Old Olive. Today was a strange sort of a day.I was all set to craft as it was my day off but someone phoned in sick and I was called in for cover. All behind on my crafting now but a few pounds better off - all the more to spend on stamps!!! Thanks for stopping by today - see you soon - J xx

I haven't blogged for a couple of days - internet problems again - grrrrr! And I missed the deadline for a challenge - grrrrrrr again! Anyhoo - on with the show - today's card is for the challenge over at The Paper Players I used my beautiful flamingo set again but this time I didn't stamp her in pretty pinks but used her as a silhouette - take a look I masked off my sections using post it notes and brayered my colours on the card base - totally flat, this is a one layer card - perfect for posting! Short and sweet today it's late and I have a full day of ironing planned for tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be as hot as it was today - I hate ironing at the best of times - but when it's hot it's awful!! Thanks for stopping by today - don't forget to check out the offers in the side bar - see you soon - J xx

I got out my Graceful Garden stamp set again - I fell in love with this set when I first saw it in the catalogue and today I have a one layer card to share with you. The card I have to share with you today uses this set and I had a very clear idea of what I wanted my card to look like but the finished result is nothing like I imagined - how does that happen????? Does this happen to anyone else? Here it is I tried a different way of colouring today. As my paintbrush was still out after my card making yesterday I thought I'd use it again. The rose was stamped in Versamark ink and heat embossed with gold embossing powder. The petals were coloured with So Saffron ink and the leaves with Pear Pizzazz. I pressed an acrylic block on my stamp pad and then used a paint brush that had been dipped in water to pick up the ink. It was then just painted on. The foliage around the edge of the card was stamped in Pear Pizzazz and Always Artichoke ink. The outside edges of the card

I have another CAS(E)d card to share with you today. I recently purchases some watercolour paper from Stampin' Up but it's only today that I opened it and had a play. I found a tutorial by Independent Demonstrator Kim Jolley - her blog is  HERE  and the tutorial for her card is  HERE . it uses a different kind of shaving foam technique which is very interesting. However, anyone who knows me knows I hate messy crafting! So instead of shaving foam I just applied ink to my watercolour paper and spritzed it with water to blend it - not quite as messy! Here is my card So after substituting my background I followed Kim's tutorial to create my flowers which I think turned out quite well. I particularly enjoyed adding the splats - again that's as messy as I get. It's so sad that Gorgeous Grunge has retired as it had ready made splats!!!! Tranquil Tulips is a Hostess stamp set which requires an order of at least £150 - let me know if you'd like to place an

This is one of the swap groups I belong to on Facebook. Everybody makes a few cards and then sends them other swappers on the list. It's very random but huge fun! This month I have decided to use the style of card I made for my recent make and take but using different colours - take a look Let's see if I can remember all the names!! We have Peekaboo Peach, Powder Pink, Flirty Flamingo, Fresh Fig and Berry Burst. The stamp set used is Blooms and Wishes. Here's a couple of close ups Thanks for stopping by to take a look today. If you like what you see please drop me a comment and click the followers button in the side bar - thanks, see you soon xx

I love my post it notes. I use them for masking whole images to create depth and perspective and then I rip and tear them to create skies and mountains. I would be lost without them! The other thing about post it notes is that they make cute little thank you gifts. I made a batch for all those who took part in my fundraising event last Friday - all decorated with the divine Petal Garden DSP - take a look They were covered with the coloured sheets and then individual flowers were cut out of the floral sheets and attached with glue. Here's a picture of my table before the crafting started Don't forget the lovely Petal Garden DSP is available to buy in my shop - details in the top tabs. Thanks for stopping by - see you soon xx

My blog has changed considerably over the last few days so I thought I'd give you a few directions on how to find what you are looking for here. My new Facebook page can be found at the top of the right hand side bar, I'm also on Instagram too so do pop over and find me there - under stampin' jacq. Next down are the current monthly offers from Stampin' Up, very soon will appear the monthly Hostess Code - more on that later. Next we have the catalogue Click on the pic in the side bar and you can view an on line version. If you would like a nice new shiny copy to have to hold - drop me an email jacquelinenm68@gmail.com Now come my tutorials - only two at the moment - I'm working on some new ones! In the labels list you will find all my recent Stampin' Up posts. Click on the stamp name and find all the creations relating to that stamp set. My followers button is nearly at the bottom - please follow I'd love to have you here.

I love my new flamingo stamp set and I managed a few moments in my craft room to have another play with it! Here it is The flamingo was stamped with Flirty Flamingo and Powder Pink ink, the detail was stamped with Basic Black. Other colours are Lemon Lime Twist, Tranquil Tide and Emerald Envy. Crumb Cake card stock was used in the background and Crumb Cake ink was sponged around the edges. The layout for this card was taken from this week's sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch! Please don't forget the joining offer available throughout the month of July. Join my team for £99 and not only do you get the normal offer of  products to the value of £130 but you get the Carols of Christmas stamp set and an essentials kit too - for free!!! Don't forget too that all through this month - spend £45 and receive £4.50 to spend in August. Two fantastic offers too good to miss. Contact me now for more details  jacquelinenm68@gmail.com See you s

Good morning - did everyone have a good weekend? I spent mine at work, it's the first full weekend in ages so I can't complain and I have today off to catch up so it's not all bad! I organised a fundraising event for last Friday (14th) to raise money for the Make a Wish charity. It was like a make and take with a raffle and I staged it at a local cafe here in Bridgnorth. Bec's Cafe is the place and the coffee and cake (coffee and walnut) are divine! The card we made was a nice simple one CASEd from the Stampin' Up catalogue. It's at the bottom of of page 139 and uses the gorgeous Blooms and Wishes set And here is my version My colours were Powder Pink, Smoky Slate and Basic Black. The catalogue is a great resource for tips and ideas on card making and scrapbooking. There's link in the side bar for you to take a look at one or if you would like your own to stroke and hug drop me an email at jacquelinenm68@gmail.com. This card

There are so many talented crafters about who are producing lovely work and sometimes you see a card that really grabs your attention. The card I have made for you today is inspired by fellow demonstrator. I have 'CASE'd' one of her cards that I fell in love with  HERE Here is my card I have used Fresh Fig card stock along with some Crumb Cake that has been stamped with the Hardwood background stamp. A piece of Petal Garden DSP was added along with a sentiment which is from Blooms and Wishes. Fresh Fig and Old Olive ink were used for the stamped roses - they were then coloured with an aqua painter, cut out and mounted using 3D foam pads. They are from the Graceful Garden set. The demonstrator's name is  Julie Kettlewell  and her blog is well worth a visit. I'm quite excited tonight - tomorrow I am running a fundraising event. It's a make and take and the charity is Make A Wish. Hopefully lots of people will turn up and help raise lots of m

I love getting involved in crafty swaps and recently I took part in a tag swap. The theme was monochrome - I chose blue and my High Tide stamp set. I stamped and inked my scene before cutting the tag shapes . To make the tag shape I used the Scallop Top Tag Punch and added bakers twine. This is winging it's way to my swap partener but before I packed it up take a look at who looked it over  I think she gave it her seal of approval!! All products used above are available in my shop - details in the top tab. Thank you for stopping by today - see you soon xx

I've another new set to show off today - Graceful Garden. It has really beautiful rose images and matches the Petal Garden DSP perfectly. Today I have used the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch Here is my card These decorative papers are exquisite, fabulous rose patterns and double sided. They are 6" x 6" and perfect for card making and isn't that rose stunning? Don't forget all the above products and more are available from my shop - details in the top tabs. See you soon xx

Flamingos have to be one of my favouritist things - I adore them. Well they're pink for a start and fluffy and so pretty. So when I saw the Fabulous Flamingo set in the new Stampin' Up catalogue I just had to have it. Take a look at the card I made with it I have used some of my new In Colours too: Powder Pink, Flirty Flamingo, Tranquil Tide, Lemon Lime Twist and Emerald Envy. This card is being entered into the challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches All the above products and more can be ordered from my shop - please see the above tabs. See you soon xx

All through the month of July Stampin' Up is offering a coupon for £4.50 for every £45 spent. The coupons will be emailed to you when you place your order for you to spend in August. So what are you waiting for? Get ordering!!!! Don't forget the joining offer at the moment See more details in my post  HERE See you soon xx

I've been having a pay with my new stamp sets which is good but sometimes it takes me a while to get used to them. I have to use them a few times to break them in or get a feel of their potential. Sometimes my first efforts are not very good because of this. This is my first go with the Blooms and Wishes set and I have used the colours from this week's  Color Throwdown My colours are Real Red, Dapper Denim and Daffodil Delight. Here is my card The background fiddly bits are stamped from the Graceful Garden set and I have added a few rhinestone gems as a finishing touch. These fabulous stamps and more are available in my shop - details in the top tabs. Thanks for stopping by today - see you soon xx