Pretty Peony Garden DSP for Customer Thank You Cards

October 20, 2020October 18, 2020 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

It’s time for me to say thank you to the wonderful people who purchased products from me in September.

Not only do they receive a handmade card, with a little note from me. Those who use the Hostess Code have a little gift arrive with their card too.

This month, I used the pretty Peony Garden DSP. This DSP is one of the packs on Special Offer during October. Make sure you check out the others too.

Using some of the colours of the DSP, Petal Pink, Gray Granite and Whisper White, I had my colour combination.

Strips of the DSP are stuck to the Whisper White layer in alternate colours, with the overhang cut off.

Next a sentiment from the Ornate Thanks Stamp Set in Gray Granite is cut out using the Story Label Punch.

This is then popped over a looped length of the co-ordinating Gray Granite Ribbon.

You may have noticed that I like a bit of looped ribbon behind sentiments on my projects!

Finally, using the Petal Pink Stampin’ Blends to colour some Pearls, these are dotted around the project for an extra delicate touch.

You can order products online at my 24/7 store. Don’t forget to take advantage of using the Hostess Code too.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

…and Cauldron Bubble

October 17, 2020October 16, 2020 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

I hope you’ve been enjoying the Halloween projects I’ve been sharing this week.

My final one is this cauldron, filled with lots of interesting items. ‘Double, Double, Toil and Trouble…’

I’ve used LOTS of products in this one to make the cauldron bubble! Make yourself comfortable as this is a long post…

Starting with the Granny Apple Green Basecard, Basic Black Layer and Smoky Slate foreground, these combine to create a spooky witches lair.

I’ve then stamped tone on tone using the Textured Essentials Stamp Set to add some texture to the background. With some Granny Apple Green bubbles from the Pattern Play Stamp Set.

The layers have all been rounded on two corners with the Detailed Trio Punch.

Next, the cauldron. This is a shape from the Tasteful Labels Dies and I think it makes a perfect cauldron.

The contents of the cauldron are Poppy Parade eyeballs, made using the Waterfront Stamp Set and the same image as the bubbles, this time in Tuxedo Black.

There’s also a bat wing from the Umbrella Builder Punch and spider’s legs. I’ll explain a bit more about the legs in a moment.

Then, there are two frogs cut from the Dockside Dies, hopping away from their potential fate.

I’m not a fan of spiders, but I think you will agree that this one is quite cute!

The body is from the head of the Snowman Builder Punch and the legs and strand are from Hippo & Friends Dies. Offcuts of the legs were then popped into the cauldron.

For the eyes, this is the circle from the centre of the Delightful Tag Topper Punch, and the eye from the Whale Builder Punch.

If you haven’t already guessed. I like using my punches and dies in lots of different ways!

A piece of Metallic Mesh Ribbon across the corner makes it look like a spider’s web.

Here are all of the projects I’ve shared this week. Do you have a favourite?

There’s still time to get your hands on products to make your own Halloween projects. Make sure you take a look at the current Special Offers too.

If you want to attend one of my remaining classes for 2020, head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Going Batty

October 14, 2020October 13, 2020 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

I must be going batty! Well, this Halloween project certainly is.

It’s my version of a project on Page 45 of the August-December Mini Catalogue.

The project uses Purple Posy, Highland Heather and Basic Black.

Firstly, the Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder creates a pretty background. Using a Sponge Dauber, I have darkened areas using Highland Heather Ink.

An image from the Textured Essentials Stamp Set is stamped onto a piece of Purple Posy in Highland Heather. This is then cut into strips, the ends shaped and then attached to the tag piece.

Lots of punches are in use here, the Fancy Tag Topper Punch, Lovely Labels Pick a Punch and the Detailed Trio Punch. The bat is made using the Umbrella Builder Punch, with the large umbrella for the wings and a section of the smaller closed shape for the body.

A few extra umbrella pieces are added to the background piece to give my bat some friends.

Metallic Mesh is threaded through the hole in the tag. This then has a bow to secure it using the Whisper White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon. To change the colour to co-ordinate with the rest of the project, I used Stampin’ Blends..

Finally, the tag was stuck to the project using Dimensionals and two Pearl eyes.

I hope you like this project and think it was worth going batty for!

Why not join me at one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Make sure you take a look at the current Special Offers from Stampin’ Up! too.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Countdown to Christmas #2

October 9, 2020October 2, 2020 ~ Karen Young ~ Leave a comment

It’s Friday again, which means it’s time for my next Countdown to Christmas project.

So, here’s Countdown to Christmas #2.

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that I like simple, non-fussy projects, with a particular like of monochrome projects.

Countdown to Christmas #2 uses Mossy Meadow and Whisper White. It’s just one stamp set, one ink pad and one punch.

There’s obviously a few extras such as the co-ordinating ribbon, a Blender Pen and Wink of Stella. But, you don’t have to use these.

For this project, I stamped one of the baubles from the Christmas Gleaming Stamp Set multiple times in Mossy Meadow. This Stamp Set is a returning favourite from last year, and I’m pleased to see it back!

A top tip is to stamp where you want your focal image one to go, and then stamp the others round it a various angles.

These were coloured using a Blender Pen.

Then, after stamping another onto a separate sheet, the bauble is coloured and given some sparkle using Wink of Stella. You can’t see it very well in the picture, so you’ll have to take my word for it that is is rather sparkly!

This is then cut out using the co-ordinating punch from the Gleaming Ornaments Punch Pack.

A length of the new Diagonal Stripe Ribbon from the August-December Mini Catalogue is looped and stuck to the back of the bauble.

The Merry Christmas sentiment from the Stamp Set is cut out by hand and stuck to the bauble.

Finally, the whole bauble piece is stuck over the original image using Dimensionals to make it the focus.

Using this technique, you can create a number of cards really quickly, and in lots of different colours.

Pop back next week for Countdown to Christmas #3.

Why not join me for one of my Christmas Classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Petal Pink, Misty Moonlight and Some Sparkle

September 28, 2020September 25, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project combined Petal Pink, Misty Moonlight and some sparkle to create this pretty card.

If you’re a regular visitor, you’ll know I’m not a fan of pink, and certainly not the paler pink shades. However, this colour combination works really well!

As I can’t send pre-stamped items out in my class kits due to Stampin’ Up! rules, my kits tend to contain shapes and embellishments.

This card is a version of this previous project, just without stamping.

On these projects without stamping, I like to use texture instead. This begins with the Metallic Mesh Ribbon as a background strip.

Using two Label Me Lovely Punch shapes, one is cut in half and stuck behind to create the look of a layer.

On this, a Whisper White punched circle shape is attached to help the large butterflies stand out.

Scrunching the butterflies adds more texture, along with the Baker’s Twine antennae from the Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo Pack.

The twine co-ordinates with the silver in the ribbon and the Misty Moonlight cardstock.

Wink of Stella on the smaller butterflies adds even more sparkle, before finally adding some Rhinestones to complete the project.

Why not join me at a future class. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Customer Thank You cards using Comfort & Hope

September 23, 2020September 22, 2020 ~ Karen Young

It’s my favourite time of the month again. It’s when I make and send Thank You cards to the fabulous customers who have supported my business during the previous month.

August’s customers will have hopefully now received these cards I made using the fabulous Comfort & Hope Stamp Set.

I was sad when some of the texture and grunge-type Stamp Sets retired, but this Comfort & Hope Stamp Set is helping to fill that gap for me.

I haven’t used it very often, but I expect it will get a few more outings.

My colour combination is Blushing Bride, Pool Party, So Saffron and Soft Sea Foam from the Subtles Collection.

Each image is stamped across the page to create an abstract pattern.

The loop of thread image has a sentiment from the Many Mates Stamp Set stamped in the centre. This is then cut out with the 2″ Circle Punch.

I love that there are even rhinestone images in this Stamp Set.

A swoosh of the Sheer Ribbon in co-ordinating Pool Party is stuck behind the sentiment.

Finally, some ‘real’ Rhinestones dot around the project to add some sparkle.

Will you receive a thank you card from me for placing an order in September? Take a look at the Current Products and the Special Offers. Don’t forget to use the Hostess Code when you are placing an order.

You can also join me at a class. Find out full details at my Class Timetable.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Essential Tag Punch: Take Two

September 14, 2020September 12, 2020 ~ Karen Young

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project, it was take two for the Essential Tag Punch.

I previously made this project at one of my recent Papercrafting Classes. The Card & (Your) Cuppa attendees liked it and wanted to make one, hence the reason for Essential Tag Punch: Take Two.

For this version, I’ve chosen Just Jade as my main colour.

Once again, it uses the Forever Greenery DSP, cut out with the Essential Tag Punch from the Mini Catalogue. I chose three pieces of DSP and cut two from each, in different orientations. This is so they could be used for either the top or bottom row.

It’s easier to start with the middle two shapes and work out, as you can decide your distances between the shapes. The shapes overhung the edges on mine, so I trimmed them down.

A sentiment from the Lovely You Stamp Set is stamped in co-ordinating Just Jade onto a punched circle.

This is layered onto a length of Just Jade Ribbon and a die cut from the Forever Flourishing Dies.

By make some small changes, using different sheets of DSP, using Just Jade and adding a sentiment, you can see the differences.

The previous one is below (right). Which do you prefer?

Don’t forget to take a look the latest offers from Stampin’ Up!, plus the Cut & Emboss Machine (Standard) is now available to order.

To join me at one of my classes, head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Sending you a Paper Hug

September 8, 2020September 7, 2020 ~ Karen Young

A card is a great way to say I’m sending you a paper hug. This one, quite literally says it!

It uses the Ornate Garden DSP and is really quick and easy to make.

By using the colours of the DSP, part of the hard work has been done for me. Bumblebee and Terracotta Tile are teamed with a Thick Whisper White base card.

A piece of the DSP is cut to size, then the bottom section is cut and turned around to show the other side.

A strip of In Color Ribbon is placed across the join. This then has a sentiment placed over the top of it.

The fabulous sentiment is from the Comfort & Hope Stamp Set, with the ends cut using the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch. A co-ordinating layer is added to the sentiment.

Finally, two In Color Enamel Dots are added to each side of the sentiment.

As this design is perfect for any occasion. You could easily make a batch of these in advance and then add a relevant sentiment when they are ready to send.

If you would like to find out more about making cards, then why not join me at one of my classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

All About the Blooms

September 5, 2020September 4, 2020 ~ Karen Young

This project is all about the blooms. It uses the Basket of Blooms Stamp Set and the co-ordinating Small Bloom Punch.

Recently, I shared this project with you. This is another version using the pot from the set, instead of the vase.

The colour combination is again Bumblebee, Terracotta Tile and Old Olive. Two of these are from the In Color collections.

In the stamp set, there are various flower and leaf stamps. This project uses one of the bloom images that co-ordinates with the Small Bloom Punch. Each bloom uses two images stuck together offset from each other.

Using a Blender Pen, I gently pulled the ink from the stamping to colour both the leaves and the flowers. A sentiment from the Well Said Stamp Set provides the sentiment, suitable for a number of occasions.

For a slightly different look, some lengths of ribbon from the Ornate Garden Combo Pack are stuck behind the white piece. The whole white piece is then attached with Dimensionals to raise it off the ribbons.

Finally, some tiny Gold Glitter Enamel Dots are added to the centre of each flower.

If you want to join my Fabulous Florals Online Class on 23rd September. Make sure you’ve booked your place by Wednesday 9th September.

Head to my Class Timetable for full details of all of my classes.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Jar of Flowers Bundle

September 1, 2020August 31, 2020 ~ Karen Young

Here is another of the floral projects I’ve been making recently. This card uses the Jar of Flowers Bundle.

In the Bundle, there is a stamp set that is perfect for colouring, with reversible stamps too. This is teamed with the co-ordinating Jar Punch. As bundles are discounted, they are great items to purchase.

The flowers for this project are first stamped in Smoky Slate. Then, they are given some colour with Stampin’ Blends. My combos are So Saffron, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather and Petal Pink. Once I had cut them out, I used Pool Party Blends to highlight around the edge.

My jar is in So Saffron to co-ordinate with the layer and some of the flowers.

A bow from the Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon is wrapped around the jar before it is stuck to the card.

The flowers are then attached to the project using Dimensionals.

Finally, some Metallic Pearls are placed around the design and Wink of Stella is added to the centre of the flowers for a touch of sparkle.

I like the white space on this project as it allows the flowers to shine. Be sure to add this Jar of Flowers Bundle to your shopping list!

If you’d like to make projects like this, I’m running a Fabulous Florals Online Class on 23rd September. Head to my Class Timetable for full details of this and the other classes I’m running.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class