So Excited for the New Mini Catalogue

Its New Mini Catalogue day. one of my favourite days of the year as you get to see all the gorgeous items in the New Catalogue. From new stamps and dies, to gorgeous hedgehog and ladybird punches, these items are definitely worth a glance to see if they are lovely enough to join your crafty stash.

I personally am in love with the Hedgehogs and can not wait to get into my craft room to play with them.

Happy Hedgehog Stamp and Punch Bundle from Stampin' Up! Examples created by Stampin’ Up! with the Happy Hedgehog stamp and punch bundle from Stampin' Up!

I am also in love with the new Layering Butterflies and Flowers Masks. The video below was created by Stampin’ Up! to showcase the new stencils.

These are some of my favourite new items, which are yours?

Finishing Cards

Free as a Bird on a blended Misty Moonlight Background

I have to admit that I have a bad habit of not completing my cards, I either get distracted with another card idea or run out of craft time or energy.

Every now and again, I collect all my unfinished cards and cut lots of white panels to complete the inside of cards. I know some people also make matching envelopes, I make matching envelopes before I send the cards, rather than keeping a pre-made envelope with the card.

After making white panels, I pull out all the matching stamp sets and also any sets which match or work well with the original stamp set.

Dandelion Garden and blended stencil Background

I personally don’t think that it is necessary for every card to have a sentiment on the front, sometimes I send them without and add a sentiment to the inside of the card. Sometimes I add a sentiment later to match the occasion I need the card for. Sometimes it is easier to find the perfect card, rather than the perfect sentiment.

The video below shows my process and finished cards.

I now have more birthday cards for my collection and also some blank cards for emergencies. I still love the Free as a Bird card, which is your favourite?

Sparkly Perfectly Plaid Trees

I am like most crafters, sometimes I require a bit of inspiration to create a card which I love. Usuallly this inspiration comes from a Video, Facebook post or Pinterest Pin. I can spend hours scrolling, watching and pinning. Sometimes though rather than be inspired by other peoples cards, I look through old cards I have made and try to recreate things with a different twist.

When Perfectly Plaid was released, contained in the same catalogue was a chunkier glitter than Stampin’ Ups! Annual Catalogue glitter. But alas, both are now retired. Around that time (september 2019? maybe along time ago) I made a snow scene card using the pine trees. I used that card as inspiration and created another one.

I used my blender brushes on the stamp to make the mossy meadow softer. Using blender brushes on the sky to create a blended background which I think looks like a dark sky. I ensured that I used the darkest colour at the top and then blended down lightly to the trees (no masking required) and then addded ‘snow’ using the detailed glue and I pulled the glitter out of my stash but lots of places sell glitter and you can choose any you like!

Measurements:

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)

front panel - 10cm x 14.5cm

Inside White Panel – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

front panel - 10cm x 14.8cm

Inside White Panel – 9.5cm x 13.8 cm

Imperial

4." x 5.5" (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)

Front Panel - 3.75” x 5.5”

Inside White Panel – 3.5 x 5”

I forgot to clean my stamps and my second version ended up an interesting purple colour! whoopsee! But a handmade card is appreciated by everyone and it just makes it individual. The video below shows how to make this gorgeous simple card.

So the moral of the story is always clean your stamps! So embarassing! I do love the random colour though, what do you think?

January to June Mini

I am so excited that Stampin’ Up! have release their new mini catalogue. It contains some super gorgeous new items. The video below gives a quick overview of all the super pretty items.

It is a little book of joy, have you got your copy yet?