Monthly Archives: November 2011

Card candy swaps – group 3 pix

Here are pix of the card candy swaps that I got from Group 3. We didn’t quite manage to fill a group of 10 but with Carolyn Exwood and I providing extra swaps from our previous groups, we did manage to get a group of 8 going (thanks Carolyn). And I was extra glad that I didn’t have to miss out on this great bunch of candy!

From Theresa M, using Forever Young:

card candy 1

From Jayne Owen, using Everything Eleanor:

card candy 2

From Joanne Friend, using Triple Treat Flower:

card candy 3

From Sandra Roberts, using Delightful Dozen:

card candy 4

From Hayley G, using Array of Sunshine:

card candy 5

From Emily, using Simply Soft:

card candy 6

I’m already looking forward to next year’s card candy swap ladies. Thanks to everyone who swapped with me.

Sara xx

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Polar Party Candy Card

polar party candy card close up

Today I thought I’d show just how easy and quick it can be to put together a card using some of the candy I made for the swaps.

I’ve also included in the recipe, details of how I put together these two pieces of candy.

polar party candy card

Recipe
Stamp set: Polar Party (W122675 or C122677)
Cardstock: Pool Party (124391), Regal Rose (108612), Whisper White (106549)
Ink: Regal Rose (105211), Black Stazon (101406), SU Markers (119806), 2011-2013 In Color Markers (123002)
DSP: 2011-2013 In Color Patterns Stack (122384)
Punches: Extra-large Oval (119859), Doily Triple Layer (122465)
Sizzlits Die: Lots of Tags (114508)
Other: Mini Brads (122941), Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Paper Piercing Tool (116631)

The card blank is a large square of Pool Party, matted with Whisper White card and Pool Party DSP. For the top candy, one of the penguins from the Polar Party set was stamped onto Whisper White card with Black Stazon ink, coloured with Markers (Pool Party, Regal Rose and Daffodil Delight and punched out with the Extra-Large Oval. Dazzling Diamonds were added at the penguin’s feet and a Mini Brad was added for the hat’s pompom. A shaped oval tag was die cut from Regal Rose card and the image popped up on dimensionals onto it, then popped up on dimensionals onto the card front. For the lower candy the sentiment was stamped in Regal Rose ink onto a strip of Whisper White card shaped into a banner. This was matted onto a Regal Rose strip shaped in the same manner. The Doily Triple Layer punch was used to punch a solid doily of Pool Party card and a lacy doily of Regal Rose card. These were layered together and over the end of the sentiment and a large Clear Rhinestone Brad used to secure them all together. They were then popped up on dimensionals on the card front.

Sara xx

Card candy swaps – group 2 pix

Another pic rich day as I share the fantastic swaps I got back from the second card candy swap group. If you missed yesterday’s post, I shared the card candy that I made using the Polar Party set and these are the candies I got in return.

From Jan Jones, using Forever Young:

card candy 1

From Jeannie Kupsh, using Tags Til Christmas:

card candy 2

From Hazel Ford, using Faith in Nature:

card candy 3

From Emily, using Tagtastic:

card candy 4

From Hayley, using I {heart} Hearts:

card candy 5

From Sarah Poulton, using Button Buddies:

card candy 6

From Carolyn Exwood, using Winter Post:

card candy 7

From Abi Bundy, using Every Little Bit:

card candy 8

From Monica Gale, using the owl punch:

card candy 9

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Polar Party Card Candy

polar party card candy close up

Here’s the other set of card candy that I made for swapping at convention. I’m a sucker for cutesy images and as soon as I saw the Polar Party set in the new catty I knew that I would want to make a set of card candy with it.

This is such a fun set for colouring in, using whichever medium you prefer. I used a mix of markers and inkpad with blender pen for these candies. The new Mini Brads are the perfect size to be the bobbles on the hats! Though you can’t see it too well in these pix, any “snow” has a sprinkling of Dazzling Diamonds over it.

I made 18 sets of this pack as I was also swapping with a third group that hadn’t quite filled up to the 10 that we were hoping for.

polar party card candy

Recipe
Stamp set: Polar Party (W122675 or C122677), Petite Pairs (W122495 or C122497)
Cardstock: Island Indigo (124390), Pool Party (124391), Regal Rose (108612), Whisper White (106549)
Ink: Black Stazon (101406), Island Indigo (122937), Pool Party (122938), Regal Rose (105211), SU Markers (119806)
Punches: Scallop Oval (119856), Large Oval (119855), Extra-Large Oval (119859), Scallop Trim Border (118402), 1-3/4″ Circle (119850), Scallop Square (119884), Word Window (119857), Doily Triple Layer (122465), 1″ Circle (119868), Boho Blossoms (119858), 3/4″ Circle (1198730)
Ruffled Ribbon: Pool Party (122975)
Sizzlits Die: Lots of Tags (114508)
Other: Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Mini Brads (122941), Basic Rhinestones (119246), 6″ x 8″ Cellophane Bags (102210)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Crop-a-dile (108362), Blender Pens (102845)

Again, I won’t cover how I made every single piece of candy, but if there are any that you’re not sure of, then please leave me a comment and I’ll respond with an explanation.

Tomorrow I’ll share with you the swaps I got from Group 2 in return for this set.

Sara xx

Book now for the December technique class

bookmark card with thumping technique

When:  1:30pm – 3:30pm, Saturday 10 December 2011

Where:  St Saviour’s Church Hall, Mortomley Lane, High Green, Sheffield

What: In December our technique class will cover:

  • the thumping technique (we’ll be making a card similar to the one pictured above); and
  • the faux silk technique (to make an elegant Christmas card)

How much: £12.50 to include full class kit (which includes technique booklet/inserts, card components and an SU product to take home), room hire and refreshments.

Bookings have now closed – but please view the calendar of events for the latest classes.

An elegant array of sunshine

array of sunshine - close up

This was one of the general swap cards that I made and once you’ve made up a batch of home made Shimmer Spray, it’s really quite quick to do, but has a classy elegant look.

To make the Shimmer Spray I filled a small spray bottle (mine was 50ml I think) about halfway with rubbing alcohol, added around 10 drops of Shimmer Paint (adjust up or down for more or less shimmer) and a couple of drops of boiled and cooled water out of the kettle (it’s a pretty close approximation of distilled water and seems to help prevent clumping). Shake to mix before spraying and use in a well ventilated room, especially if making a batch.

array of sunshine card

Recipe
Stamp set: Array of Sunshine (W122485 or C122487) (Hostess set)
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry (119981), Brushed Gold (124917), Very Vanilla (106550)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry (115658), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806)
Punches: 1-3/4″ Circle (119850)
Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (119976)
Bigz L Die: Perfect Pennants (123126)
Non-SU: Rubbing Alcohol, Small Spray Bottle
Tools: Big Shot (113439)

The card base is a 4″ square of Rich Razzleberry. A smaller square (3-3/8″) of the same colour card was spritzed all over with the Shimmer Spray and left to dry (it doesn’t take long). (Don’t worry if the card curls, the embossing takes care of that). A scallop trim medallion was die cut from Brushed Gold with the Perfect Pennants. After stamping the flower bud from the Array of Sunshine set in Rich Razzleberry ink onto Very Vanilla card it was punched out with the 1-3/4″ Circle and popped up on dimensionals onto the Gold medallion. Once the spritzed card was dry (easily done by the time the die cutting, stamping and punching was complete) it was put through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. (For the batch I embossed them layered up, two at a time for speed). The embossed layer was adhered direct to the card front and the medallion popped up on dimensionals in the centre.

It’s a bit difficult to pick the shimmer up well in the photos but hopefully you can see it in this close up;

gold shimmer

For a batch of Christmas cards simply swap out the central image with something more festive.

Sara xx

Card candy swaps – group 1 pix

It’s a pic rich day today as I share the fantastic swaps I got back from the first card candy swap group. If you missed yesterday’s post I shared the card candy that I made using the Easy Events set and these are the candies I got in return.

From Carolyn Exwood, using Everything Eleanor:

candy 1

From Joanne French, using Clearly for You:

card candy 2

From Alison, using It’s a Wrap:

card candy 3

From Sandra Roberts, using Pennant Parade:

card candy 4

From Valerie Moody, using Letter It/Beau Chateau:

card candy 5

From Lindsey Mortimer, using Everything Eleanor:

card candy 6

From Elaine Smith, using Beautiful Season:

card candy 7

From Emma Daye, using Under the Big Top:

card candy 8

From Nicky Dexter, using Vintage Vogue:

card candy 9

I’ll be back with a card tomorrow.

Sara xx

Easy Events card candy

easy events card candy close up

Here’s the first set of card candy that I made for swapping at convention. This stamp set has something for all occasions and I figured the candy is likely to be used on separate cards. So instead of sticking to one colour combo for all the candy, I opted for the full range (well almost) of Brights to create a cheery pack.

For anyone who hasn’t come across it before, card candy is a handmade pack of little toppers, bagged and finished with a bag topper, to look just like the sets you can buy in craft shops. Card candy is a perfect low cost gift for a crafty friend and also great for making to sell at fairs and fetes, especially those attended by existing crafters.

I made 14 sets of this pack – most for swapping, though a couple of packs were gifts for my downline.

easy events card candy

Recipe
Stamp set: Easy Events (W116958 or C123225)
Cardstock: Melon Mambo (119980),  Regal Rose (108612), Pumpkin Pie (108601), Old Olive (106576), Daffodil Delight (121680), Real Red (106578), Concord Crush (121691), Whisper White (106549)
Ink: Black Stazon (101406), Pumpkin Pie (105216), SU Markers (119806)
DSP: 2010-2012 In Color Patterns Stack (117158), Brights Patterns Stack (117155)
Punches: Scallop Oval (119856), Large Oval (119855), Extra-Large Oval (119859), 1-3/4″ Circle (119850), Word Window (119857), Modern Label (119849), Decorative Label (120907), Curly Label (119851)
1/3″ Taffeta Ribbon: Daffodil Delight (119254)
Originals Die: Leaves 2 (113459)
Bigz L Die: Perfect Pennants (123126)
Sizzlits Die: Lots of Tags (114508)
Other: Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Fire Circle Brads (109110), Basic Pearls (119247), 6″ x 8″ Cellophane Bags (102210)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Crystal Effects (101055), Bone Folder (102300)

I won’t cover how I made every single piece of candy, but if there are any that you’re not sure of, then leave me a comment and I’ll respond with an explanation.

Tomorrow I’ll share with you the swaps I got from Group 1, in return for this set.

Sara xx

We’re back – and I’m so excited!

Wow! What a fab time we’ve just had at convention in Disneyland Paris!

Disney

It’s so exciting to get together with such a large group of people who are all nuts about crafting. We all have similar reactions to the papers and ribbons and stamp sets and we understand each other in a way that our other halves are perhaps a little challenged to do. Wink These folks all nod and agree when I admit to my little crafting addictions – such a change from the puzzled look and head tilted to one side. Laughing

We’ve had make and take sessions using our free stamp sets. And a gorgeous craft bag to carry everything around in. A binder with the catty in loose leaf inside it (so handy).

convention craft bag

There’s Memento Mall where we can buy exclusive products that are only available to demos. I got some more pop-up bins, some new bags, some magnet bookmarks, an umbrella, a bag, some snail leads and a card holder …  a cuddly toy (no, not really on the last one).

We have Prize Patrol where people are chosen at random and win a prize – and I won!! My prize included a pack of Beau Chateau fabric (and I picked up some more great ideas for how to use it this weekend) but I can’t show you the other two items yet because they’re some great new products that we’ll be getting in the new year. I am allowed to share sneak peek pix of products I make with them so I’ll do that soon.

We get all the latest SU news ahead of everyone else – and there’s some fabulous things happening in the new year (more on that coming soon).

There are tons of ideas for growing your business and everyone is very generous in sharing what works and doesn’t work so well for them.

dessert at gala dinner

Everyone dresses up for the Gala Dinner where we’re treated with a posh meal and awards are given out to the top achievers. I got one this year! (A big thanks to my wonderful downline Jan, as it was mainly based on her promotion achievements). It was both exciting and a little nerve-wracking to walk across the stage to receive it but I’d love to do it again next year and I’ve set myself a number of goals to help me get there.

leadership award

In between all of this, we also get to swap and I’ve got some absolutely fabulous swaps to share with you over the next week. They’re all so inspirational – whether they’re clean and simple cards that are ideal for batch cardmaking or whether they’re more complex cards and 3d items that give a bit of challenge – they’re all welcome and all wonderful.

Next year’s convention will be in Mainz, Germany on 2nd and 3rd November. How would you like to be part of the fun we’ll have there? Join my team and join us in Germany next year. Better still, with a little effort and hard work (if you can call crafting work), you can cover the cost of the trip from your earnings. Join now to get your sales off to a flying start in the new year. See here for more information on joining my team or contact me at sarastamper123@gmail.com.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the first of my card candy swaps. For now it’s back to the books to study for tomorrow’s exam.

Sara xx