Where to Start? Part 2

Yesterday we covered tools, today I will look at what Stampin Up do best, ink, paper and stamps! Yipppeee! There are so many! I would recommend for a new stamper to buy. There are a number of cards which I make regularly, Happy Birthday, Happy anniversary and Thank You.

I love Balloon Builder, it makes the most gorgeous cards and balloon animals and includes a few sentiments that will cover you for Valentines day too!

Stampin up! shows off its potential on of their catalogue pages I love the Bear and the Elephant! That doesn't mean that you cant just use the stamps as balloons, but that you can be as imaginative as you like.

One of my favourite combos for the balloons is the 2015-2017 In Colours. These work amazingly together and give a good indication of the quality of the ink and paper. I would also recommend choosing one of the other collections. I personally use the Subtles more than the others, but have also expanded into the Neutrals. Slightly addicted to Pool Party!

I am off to play with Balloons...

Where to start? Part 1

Tomorrow is the launch of the new Spring/Summer catalogue, it is also the launch of Sale-a-bration! That is when for every £45 (before P&P) you spend you can choose a FREE item, did I mention it is Free!

The Sale-a-bration is the perfect time for new stampers to invest in their kits. In an earlier post I recommended buying one of Stampin Up pre made kits. But sometimes I know people would like to be creative

I would recommend the following to a new stamper:

Bone Folder: this is to fold and crease paper, an essential for cards and 3d crafts

Stampin Pierce Mat: this has a dual use but is amazing to help get clear Photopolymer images.

Dimensionals:  the original shape make it perfect to add Dimension to cards.

Tombow: this is an amazing glue, which dries clear. It can be used for cards and 3d items. 

Grid Paper: I can still get a few items skew wiff, but this helps to make things straight and you can test the straight ness of the stamps.

Whisper White Note Cards and Envelopes: these are amazing card blanks, which can be used to make quick easy cards. This set includes envelopes so there is no need to make your own.

Punches: I would recommend a few punches in the first instance. I love the Big shot and dies, but until you are really sure that card making is for you, I would recommend some punches. I love the circles, you will see lots of cards with the butterflies and for Birthday cards who can resist the Balloon Bouquet? I also recommend the Classic Label Punch (wonky words be gone!)

Guess what, if you buy all my recommendations but choose just one punch you will qualify for a Sale-a-Bration item for free! Time to start your Stampin Up! collection you wont regret it!

Tomorrow I will talk stamp sets, come back soon!

Bitty Butterfly Punch	Balloon Bouquet Punch	Classic Label Punch
Stampin' Pierce Mat	Grid Paper	Bone Folder
Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes	Stampin' Dimensionals

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I know its a bit late, New Year was not quite what I expected. But I love the holidays, spending time with my family. It is the culmination of all the hours work to make a handmade Christmas. I am so pleased that my family liked what I made. So my New Years resolution is to make more things not just at Christmas.

A friend of mine was 60 over the New Year. So I had to break out items from the new Catalogue to make her a card. I love it. I think Dragonfly Dreams is one of my favourites. You will see lots of examples over the next few weeks, it is a timeless set that you could use forever.

I love the new catalogue, if you have bought anything from me in the last year, I will send you a catalogue. If you have not got a demonstrator, please let me know if don't have a demonstrator and need a new catalogue. Click on the email tab on the left or contact me at Claire@handmadeathudsons.co.uk

I can't wait for you to see all the beautiful things in the catalogue!

Big Shot	Stampin' Trimmer (Metric)	Magnetic Platform
Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad	Sahara Sand A4 Cardstock

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Christmas Tags

Sometimes when you enter your craft room inspiration doesn't flow. When you get that block, people suggest lots of ideas. Pintrest, magazines and facebook. Sometimes all it takes is to look at what you have and to play. So I played.

I love Christmas, the ideas, the presents, I love giving presents. In fact I get shouted at for buying them all year round. One of the best part of presents is the wrapping. I bought the tag topper specifically to make tags.

Like lots of people I am also in love with Tin of Tags, it is such a versatile set.

Hope you like it too.

Christmas Cards

A few weeks ago I saw an amazing card on Pintrest and Facebook based on Charlie Browns Christmas tree. It used the Swirly Bird stamp set, Swirly bird is such a versatile stamp set. I wanted to CASE the card, but never got round to it.

Instead I used the idea as a basis for a card along with inspiration from another card I saw on a craft show. I loved the branches therefore I created my own, using Ghoulish Grunge, Swirly Bird and the Christmas decoration from Tin of Tags.

I also went glittery using the Real Red and Emerald Envy embossing powder and extra glitter.

I love this card. I hope you do too.

Ghoulish Grunge Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Swirly Bird Photopolymer Stamp Set	Tin Of Tags Photopolymer Stamp Set	Emerald Envy A4 Cardstock
Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Emerald Envy Glitter Stampin' Emboss Powder	Real Red Glitter Stampin' Emboss Powder	Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter
Fine-Tip Glue Pen	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.