Helen's Stampin Station

Altered Sweetie jar

2009-09-09T22:33:00.006+01:00

As recently inserted on my regular blog, I had passed my driving test on 24th August. As a wee 'thank you' and token of my appreciation, I jazzed up this Ikea jar I bought a while back but never got round to altering. Using the Sizzix flower die, Old Olive SU! Designer Series Paper and sentiment from "Wonderful Words"; Old Olive ink pad; Grossgrain Ribbon - Old Olive from SU!

3"x3" notelets

2009-08-07T17:06:00.011+01:00

I've been fairly busy last night on and off and then today! These 3x3 notelets are so easy to make and made in no time at all!

A stamped card from Baroque Motifs and matching envelope:

I used: Whisper White SU! c/s; Jet Black Stazon ink pad; Baroque Motifs Background; SU! scallop punch; Oval All sentiment.

Old Olive "Just a Little Note":

I used Old Olive DSP; Old Olive ink pad; Old Olive c/s; SU! Spiral Punch; Sentiment from "Circle of Friendship"; various circle punches from SU!

Aqua inked edges:

I used: Whisper White SU! c/s; Flower stamp from "Friendship Blooms"; Taken with Teal ink pad; edges inked with SU" dauber dabber and Taken with Teal ink pad.

'Cherish' sentiment from "Baroque Motifs" set; 'heart' stamp from "Doodle That" on Whisper White c/s punched with SU! scalloped punch; 'flower and stem' stamp from "Doodle That" with Versamark ink. Brocade Blue and Pretty in Pink SU! markers; c/s - own stock.

More aqua style cards:

Black c/s used - own stock; Whisper White SU! c/s; Taken with Teal & Jet Black Stazon Ink pads; oval and scallop oval punches used; Cuttlebug embossing folder used; medium and small retro flower punches from X-Cut used for flowers; diamontes - own stock; Sentiments from "Best Yet".

Birth Announcement

2009-08-07T16:35:00.004+01:00

Cardstock: Kraft; beige - own supplies Stamps: "Bundle of Joy" & "Nursery Letters" Stampin' Around Wheel Ink pads: Close to Cocoa & Chocolate Chip Ribbon: Old Olive grossgrain - SU! Punch: Corner Notch - own

Stampin' Pastels and Embossing

2009-08-07T16:22:00.006+01:00

Card #1 - Embossed and chalked:

Close up of Card #1:

Card #2:

Ingredients:

Cardstock: Whisper White; Ballet Blue

Ink pad: Versamark

Punch used: SU! Scallop Border

Stamp: Sentiment from "Best Yet"

Chalking on card #1: Stampin' Pastels from SU!

Embellishments: Ribbon trim/diamontes/flower - own supplies

Embossing: Cuttlebug embossing folder

I applied the Stampin' Pastels only with a cotton bud! any errors were removed with the eraser supplied with the Stampin' Pastels.

Bold and different

2009-08-07T16:05:00.003+01:00

This isn't my usual style! It was something I was 'toying' with but not sure where it would be leading! Not an awful lot of work or detail to be honest.

Ingredients Cardstock: Pink; Green and Whisper White all from SU! Stamps: Spot on Stampin' Around Wheel, sentiment from "Polka Dot & Paisley" Ink pads: Pink Passion; Green Galore Punches: corner rounder from SU!; Retro flower medium and small from X-Cut Brad: own supplies

New offer From Stampin' Up! [UK]

2009-08-01T14:32:00.007+01:00

Gift With Purchase Dates: 1– 31 August 2009 Promotion Details: During August, Stampin' Up! customers can earn a FREE ribbon bundle two different ways:

Purchasing £45 worth of Stampin’ Up! products.
Hosting a £300 workshop.

Ribbon bundle (item 114618) includes:- Certainly Celery 5/8” (1.59 cm) poly-twill ribbon (9.144 metres) So Saffron 5/8” (1.59 cm) grosgrain ribbon (9.144 metres)

2009-07-31T10:13:00.003+01:00

Altered bars of chocolate:

DSP: SU! "Junior Varsity"

Cardstock: Own supply

Ink pad: Jet Black Stazon

Tools used: SU! 1⅜" circle punch; SU! 1" circle punch; SU! Oval scalloped punch; SU! Oval punch; Cuttlebug embossing folder - Swiss Dots; Sizzix Butterfly#3 die; Sizzix Scallop Frame die.

Stamps: "Thank you" sentiment from 'Best Yet' stamp set. Oval All stamp set.

Foam adhesive: Own supply

Masculine "Thank You" card

2009-07-26T16:53:00.004+01:00

DSP: SU! Chocolate chip White c/s mat: SU! Whisper White Brown card base: Bazill Stamps: ‘Thank You’ sentiment from “Wonderful Words” stamp set + flourish stamp from “Baroque Motifs” stamp set. Ink pad: SU! Chocolate Chip

Heat embossed with own white embossing powder + eyelets from own supplies.

With thanks to Barb Hammer from the SCS website for the inspiration – many thanks to Barb as her image had just ‘jumped out’ at me! Her design can be seen here.

Thank you notelets

2009-07-13T20:11:00.008+01:00

Ingredients: Stamp[s]: “Pocket Silhouettes” + “Thanks” sentiment from “Heartfelt” stamp set. Cardstock: SU! Whisper White Stampin’ Write markers: Brilliant Blue; Mellow Moss; Always Artichoke Punch: SU! Spiral punch

Ingredients: Stamp[s]: "Paisley" background stamp + “Thanks” sentiment from “Heartfelt” stamp set.

Cardstock: SU! Whisper White and coloured c/s from Bold Brights pack

Ink: Pink Passion ink pad

Punch: SU! Spiral punch

Ingredients: Stamp[s]: “En Francais” background stamp + “Thanks” sentiment from “Heartfelt” stamp set.

Cardstock: SU! Whisper White

DSP: SU! Old Olive DSP

Ink: Old Olive

Punch: 2” Oval Scallop punch from Woodware

SU! Stampin' Write

2009-07-13T20:09:00.001+01:00

My newest SU! purchase - fabby dabby doo!

2009-07-10T11:11:00.002+01:00

I made up this card rather quickly to enable to pop a birthday money gift inside as I had forgotten my youngest neice's birthday way back in May! It's very unlike me to forget - but I did! Sorry Olivia!

Ingredients: Cardstock: SU! Love notes [3”x3”] Ribbon: SU! Whisper White grosgrain ribbon Stamp sets: Butterfly from “Garden Whimsey” & flower stamp from the “Simply Said” for background. Inks/markers used: Pink Passion; Orchid Opulence; Really Rust and Yoyo Yellow

Newborn Baby "Welcome" Gift Basket

2009-06-26T10:32:00.006+01:00

I used ordinary brown wrapping paper [cheap from Asda] and wrapped the bundled birth announcements together to secure, removed cards again. I then trimmed the top of the 'bag' with pinking scissors and stamped image of teddy, then placed cards back in the bag.

Hand stamped images from "Bundle of Joy" set and Nursery Letters Stampin Around wheel I'd made 12 birth announcements in total: A close-up of the raised effect of the handstamped and cut teddy bear:

Ingredients:

Ink pads: Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip Cardstock: my own. Stamp set: "Bundle of Joy" Trims: Dotty brown ribbon from Hobbycrafts Brown wrapping paper from Asda

Some of my decorated end of term 'thank you' gifts/cards

2009-06-26T10:05:00.003+01:00

Some thank you cards using the new oval punches and stamps. Plus the 2-step stamping of the flower from the "Heartfelt" set:

I recycled these paper bags [previously school lunch bags] and hand stamped them with the "Polka Dot Punches" SAB set in Green Garden and Pink Passion:

General Birthday card

2009-06-21T02:00:00.002+01:00

Denise's 40th B'day card

2009-06-21T01:57:00.003+01:00

Sorry I haven't had much chance of late to get some of my work up on my blog recenty - having too many things on the go at the moment including a change of pattern in my working hours!

My chum Denise's 40th B'day was back in May and we all met up for a lovely birthday meal in Edinburgh - had a fabby time - this was her card I made including matching envelope too!

Meryl's 13th Birthday card

2009-05-22T10:13:00.004+01:00

Ingredients: [to follow later]

A 'Thank You' card

2009-05-22T10:11:00.000+01:00

40th Birthday card sampler

2009-05-22T10:10:00.001+01:00

Ingredients: [to follow later]

2009-05-22T10:08:00.001+01:00

Just some mini gift tags I have been making of late:

Ingredients: [to be completed later!]

Stampin' Up May offer!

2009-05-12T10:50:00.004+01:00

Wow - here it is folks!

The Designer Series Paper offer is back! Buy 3 packs of any SU! DSP from the current catalogue and retired list [whilst stocks last] and get a 4th FREE!!!! Say if you bought 4 packs of SU! DSP at £7.75 each, that would normally cost £31.00 - with this offer you only pay £23.25 for 4 packs!

It was Suz's birthday!

2009-04-29T00:33:00.005+01:00

Suz's birthday card & envelope :o)

Ingredients:

Cardstock: SU! Rainbow sherbet; SU! Whisper White c/s; Orange c/s – SU! Bold Brights; Blueish coloured & textured c/s - Bazill

Ink Pads: SU! Taken with Teal; Versamark; Stazon black

Stamp Sets: B’day cake stamp from “Fun and Fast Notes”; Whistle blower from “ Big Bold Birthday”

SU! Large oval punch; SU! Scallop oval punch

At the moment I have only 1 set of SU! markers - some of which I used to colour in the hearts 'flames' of the lit candles, candle itself coloured with the markers. I coloured in the cake and cake board by using the blending pen and an ordinary stamp pad technique.

Stampin' Up! May Promotional Offer

2009-04-27T19:07:00.004+01:00

Wow - I can't wait until May to be topping up my designer paper collection! Valid from the 1st May until 30th May - Stampin' Up!'s offer is - buy 3 packs of designer paper, get 4th FREE! This is for any selection of paper packs in the current main catalogue, from the retired list [depending on availability] and also from the mini catalogue too! There are no limits as to how many packs you can purchase

Kelsey's birthday card

2009-04-25T23:24:00.007+01:00

Just a wee "Happy 10th Birthday" to Kelsey :o) I have absolutely no idea why this image has been rotated round this way by Blogger - it certainly is not of that orientation on my PC files. Ingredients: Ink pads - Pixie Pink & Chocolate Chip ink pads Stamp sets: Birthday sentiment from Cheer & Wishes set; "To you from me" sentiment from Best Yet set; Big Bold Birthday set Cardstock: Pink c/s from SU! bold brights. SU! Whisper white c/s SU! grossgrain ribbon. Tools used: SU! Scallop border punch; Corner notch punch by EK Success [my own]

Little 'Thank You' notelet

2009-04-22T14:17:00.002+01:00

Ingredients:

Stamp sets: Garden Whimsey; Curvy Verses;

Ink Pads: Real Red, Garden Green and Barely Banana

Tools used: Paper trimmer; SU! Stamp-a-ma-jig; SU! Sprial punch

Cardstock: All SU!

New baby gift tags for nappy cakes

2009-04-21T23:00:00.006+01:00

2 little gift tags for a baby girl and baby boy nappy cake commission for a client:

Ingredients:

Stamp set: "Fun and Fast Notes"

Ink pads: Pixie pink and Bashful blue

Tools: SU! scallop border punch; SU! circle punch for 'ticket punched' look

Materials: Textured cardstock all from SU!; Whisper White cardstock from SU!; white grossgrain ribbon from SU!

Book Marks

2009-04-09T12:35:00.002+01:00

Ingredients:

Cardstock - all SU!

Stamp set: Baroque Motifs

Ink pads: Pixie Pink; Green Galore; Brilliant Blue; Pumpkin Pie and Versamark

Grossgrain ribbon: all SU!

Tools used: Crosscuts bookmark die

Although I used the above die, it's fairly easy to cut your own bookmark using a papertrimmer, corner rounder. A hole punch for the ribbon to give a lovely finish!

Wedding Card

2009-04-09T12:12:00.006+01:00

This card was made using inspiration from this blog. My 16 yr old daughter is accompanying her BF to his sister's wedding on Saturday and I thought I would make this for my daughter to give the bride and groom.

Ingredients:

All cardstock from SU!

Stamp sets: Butterfly from Garden Whimsey set; Pocket Silhouettes

Ink pad: Perfect Plum

Tools: Sizzix Scallop Oval Frame; Ellison Thick Cuts Daisies; SU! Dimensionals; Pearlised gemstone [my own]

Library Card and Pocket

2009-04-09T02:40:00.010+01:00

RECIPE:

Patterned paper from SU! “Sweet Always” 12x12 pack.

Orange c/s from SU! Bold Brights Ink pads: Chocolate Chip; Pumpkin Pie; Old Olive; Versamark

Stamps: “Friend” from ‘A Little Bit of Happiness’ set; Pocket Silhouettes; “from the heart” sentiment from Seasonal Wishes

Tools: Scallop border punch; 1⅜” punch; Stamp-a-ma-jig [desirable]; paper trimmer; adhesive; scoring tool[s]

On the actual card with 'friend' sentiment, I used the "selective stamping" technique as described here.

Selective Stamping tutorial

2009-04-08T22:50:00.004+01:00

Ever wondered how to omit a particular part from your stamp for your desired effect?

Mask off the area of the stamp with sellotape or masking tape - needs to be medium tack to be effective. Ink the stamp as usual, carefully remove the sellotape/masking tape making sure your hands won't slip or ink transfer will mark your design and proceed to stamp your image.

If you need to use your Stamp-a-ma-jig for positioning purposes, ink your stamp as normal - including whole image of the stamp on to the Stamp-a-ma-jig plastic sheet. Clean and dry stamp as per normal routine and follow the 'masking' instructions above.

Easter bag-a-lopes

2009-04-02T12:47:00.005+01:00

A few items I made for my 2 younger kids' teachers [my son currently has 2 due to job share].

Oval All card Ingredients:

Whisper white cardstock trimmed to 6x3" then scored and folded; Old Olive grossgrain ribbon; scallop oval punch; large oval punch; - from new mini catalogue

Inks used: Real Red; Pumpkin Pie; More Mustard

Garden Whimsey Bag-a-lope Ingredients:

Inks used: Garden Green; Pumpkin Pie; Real Red; More Mustard; Black Stazon

Manilla DL envelope [my own]; Whisper White cardstock

Easter Wishes stamp from the "Seasonal Wishes" collection

Corner rounder

Large scallop oval punch - Woodware [my own]

Bag-a-lope Tutorial

2009-04-02T11:03:00.009+01:00

A "Bag-a-lope" is basically making your own handcrafted block-base bag from an envelope! Block base bags are the type you get in department stores or even Kraft bags for making paper-bag albums and are available in a variety of sizes!

I've seen quite a few instructions for bag-a-lopes but not seen one for the DL size [standard letter envelope]. A lot of the instructions indicated making a very fine trim at 1 narrow side of the envelope to make the opening. I have actually trimmed off 5½ to 6 cm off at that point to make the bag-a-lope smaller in height.

This bag-a-lope tutorial will have a finished product measuring around 10½ cm high, almost 6cm wide and 5cm wide at deepest part of bagalope. I have found that using Asda/Walmart own brand white envelopes have a weakness with the perforation idea [for when opening the sealed envelope] whilst trying to create this bag-a-lope. I would suggest going for any similar sized and/or colour DL envelope with no perforations and no window.

This is my adaptation:

Follow instructions as per these images until separate instructions are indicated.

Ensure the flap has been sealed and secure in position:

Fig 3. Score 1" from the edge on 2 x longest edges and 1x short edge. At this point you can trim off the suggested 5½ cm from the remaining short edge.

Should you wish to embellish or make your own background using stamps, this is the ideal time to do it prior to folding into shape.

Fig. 3

Once the scores have been made, make firm creases by folding back and forth at scored areas of envelope. This will make it easier to manipulate into the bag-a-lope shape. Open up the adapted envelope so that it resembles a box shape.

All going well, the closed end of the envelope should look something like this:

Add some adhesive to each corner flap as shown here:

Once the adhesive is in place, press both corner flaps firmly to the envelope this will now be the base [double sided tape can be used] and should now look like this:

Now 'pinch' the sides as per this image to bring the bag into shape:

To give more detail to the bag, crop the corners at the open end of the bag with your corner rounder [optional]:

I made a 1cm fold at the top of the bag-a-lope like this:

Many gifts bought from stores have transparent circular seals on them. These may be available in craft sections of shops, however, I have found the repositional ones to be totally *pants* at staying in position or secure!

To make my own seal, I used the remaining 5½ cm part of the envelope I had trimmed to create the opening of the bag-a-lope. I placed a few strips of double-sided tape on this scrap piece as shown in image. I then positioned my 1" circle punch over where the DS tape was and proceeded to punch a circle. Fill up your bag-a-lope, fold over top edge. Remove backing strips from the newly made seal, position and press down to secure.

Mini gift bag or bag-a-lope idea:

Yay my 1st Demo order has arrived!

2009-03-31T19:43:00.002+01:00

Some designer papers and 12x12 textured cardstock:

My new punches including the ovals from the mini catalogue: Sponge daubers:

My new stampin' around wheel:

Some of my new stamp collections:

I am chuffed to bits that my order arrived today! It would have been with me yesterday but I missed the courier unfortunately!

The New Mini Catalogue Launch

2009-03-28T11:39:00.011Z

Click on image to download the PDF on your screen or save to your computer:

Wow! This mini catalogue is full to the brim with gorgeous stamps, punches and accessories!! This catalogue also doubles as a mini idea book to give you some terrific inspiration! I know I can't wait to get started using some of the goodies which I am currently waiting on!

To mark the launch of this catalogue, I would like to invite you take a wee look, perhaps make a pre-order before the 1st April and earn 10% off your order [excl. p+p which is £3.95] - I will also transfer this 10% deduction if you make any purchases from the main catalogue too!! I'll even extend the 10% discount until midnight 10th April, 2009.

Want to place an order? Email: HelensStampin@aol.com [Please put "Stampin' Up order" in the subject box]

OOh - I've placed my 1st SU Demo order

2009-03-26T00:00:00.002Z

Well, I've looked through the catties to see what goodies I could get - there is soooo much choice I was overloaded with my "wish list" LOL!!

I've ordered a few of the designer paper sets, 2 different famiy packs from the 12"x12" textured cardstock, a couple of stamp sets and a stamping wheel, 1 ink pad, sponge daubers and at least 3 punches.

I am chuffed with my choices - so will be looking forward to an order hopefully scheduled to arrive by end of next week!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-03-22T17:07:00.003Z

Happy Mother's Day to all you mums out there! ☺

I managed to buy a lovely address book from Borders Bookstore yesterday. Today I eventually got round to making the card after tidying up my crafting areas [storage etc] as I don't have a dedicated room or space to do arty stuff!

We didn't have suitable wrapping paper in the house so I thought I would make a little sleeve to wrap round the address book to match the card and gift tag. The longest length of the A4 sheet wasn't quite long enough so I had to cut 2 strips and adjusted lengths accoringly. The shortest length covering the end pieces of the main strip in a way that you couldnt really any joins at the back.

This is the 'wrap':

This is the actual Mother's Day card along with tag: The gift tag:

Supplies used:

Garden green ink pad

Rose Passion ink pad

Pixie Pink ink pad

SU! Spiral punch

Stamps used: Polka Dot & Paisley; En Francais [background stamp]

Cardstock: Whisper White, deep pink from the Bold Brights A4 pack

Woodware 'corner notch' punch [not SU!]

Birthday card/Money Gift Wallet

2009-03-21T18:10:00.005Z

Inside birthday card/money gift wallet:

Birthday sentiment:

Sometimes creating cards for males can prove quite difficult sometimes - however I was quite pleased with the simplicity of this card. Blue and orange cardstock from the Bold Brights A4 pack; "Whimsey" large stampin' wheel; Birthday sentiment from "Cheer & Wishes"; PP from Papermania "For Him".

We usually give the nephews and neices money in their cards for birthdays as kids usually like to choose what to be able to spend their money on. I had made this card into a money wallet with the pocket being part of the 'insert' if you like.

If you would like the instruction on the above money wallet, I have uploaded instructions to the bottom of this blog - any problems in accessing it, please email me!

Miss Martin's Farewell

2009-03-20T01:19:00.005Z

A little more detail here in my other blog as the items I've made aren't all SU! products. With the exception of the ribbon and the crystal, items used to make up this card were all SU! products.

Book mark

2009-03-19T18:40:00.003Z

A wee bookmark for a wee pupil at school:

Wrapped up candy bars

2009-03-19T18:31:00.004Z

For Stewart's 2 teachers [job share], I wrapped up these chocolate bars:

I made this paper flower using cardstock out of the SU! Bold Brights selection and using my 2 different sized X-Cut flower punches. Making a slight crease in the petals of the larger flower makes the flower more 3D giving this effect:

A close-up shot of my handcrafted paper flower:

Candy gift boxes

2009-03-19T17:46:00.008Z

My 11 yr old son had recently been to camp with some of his school teachers/staff for 5 days. It was extremely muddy there due to a heavy rainfall.

Wee Stewart had recently gotten over tonsillitis. Unfortunately it returned just in time for him going to camp!! A trip to NHS 24 and some penicillin following the visit, soon had him on the mend. Add that together with homesickness made wee Stewart hard work for his teachers! Things have been pretty hectic this week and I've only just managed to get using some of my SU! starter kit.

Collection of candy boxes:

Candy box with a handle:

I made my own closure for this box:

I printed out the butterfly using Tempting Turquoise ink pad

and Butterfly stamp from Garden Whimsey:

I used a circle punch and punched out the turquoise

A4 cardstock from the Bold Brights collection:

I made this candy box slightly different with a closing lid and used my Creative Memories cutting system to cut out the circle aperture and rear mat:

I cut out a rectangular shaped card and cropped the

corners using my large circle punch and got this effect!:

Stampin' Up challenge blog and blog candy giveaway!

2009-03-17T22:54:00.002Z

Have a wee look at this blog created by our founder UK SU! member, Monica and a couple of her colleagues jointly. They have a fabulous offering of blog candy consisting of SU! goodies [definitely got my attention!]. Leave a comment on the blog and place a link on your own blog in association to the blog. Fantabulous SU! blog candy!

Baby Ruben's welcome!

2009-03-07T12:26:00.001Z

Congratulations to Christian and her family on the arrival of baby Ruben! Stamps and ribbon by SU! Die- cut letters - Sizzix Sizzlet Cherish Alphabet

2009-03-05T09:17:00.000Z

I've only just recently become a fledgling Stampin' Up! Demo!! I am in the process of getting things off the ground [still gotta wait on my starter kit!] at the moment. So much going on in my personal life at the moment - the usual, family, work, parent volunteer at school and am about to start my driving lessons for the 1st time since my last experience driving a car - 15½ years ago!