‘Top Note’ celebrates Memories

Hi All,

today I would like to talk about ‘Top Note’ the Sizzix Bigz Die available from Stampin’UP!… and I got good reason. It is 3 months ago tomorrow that our cat Boris left this earthly plane and to mark the occasion I made a very special Mini Book to celebrate his life.

As you can see, I have gone to town. First I cut all the pages from Pumpkin Pie cardstock, the front and back cover from chipboard and the covers for the cover from Old Olive Designer Series Paper Stack (Bold) using the Top Note Die. I covered the covers with the Old Olive Paper and softened the edges using a file and the Tea Stain Ink from the Distress Kit.

For the photo mats I used Early Espresso cardstock. For the embellishments apart from pumpkin pie and early espresso cardstock I used So Saffron and Old Olive cardstock. To create the embellishments the following punches were used: Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Fancy Flower Extra Large, Boho Blossoms Extra Large, 5-Petal Flower Extra Large, Scallop Oval Extra Large, 1 3/4” x 7/8” Oval Large, 1” Circle Medium, 3/16” Corner Small, Two-Step Owl Punch (very small circles). I also used the Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits Die to go with the flowers. Apart from that I needed some eyelets large and small, the early espresso stampin’ write marker and a flower brad in early espresso from the neutrals collection.

I hope I got everything. I know it might sound a bit daunting having used all of this. What can I say, it just happened and the book started to create itself after I decided which pictures to use and where in the book I wanted them to go. I tried to position the pictures in a way that they would tell me a story, the story of how he loved the outdoors. With that in mind the embellishments almost made themselves. I still had to punch them I guess.

If you are new to Scrapbooking, as it is called, making a mini book is a good way in. They are usually used to capture moments in time a day out or a birthday party for example. Mini books make also good presents.

Be inspired … Start creating!

Enjoy!!!

… oh by the way … you can also use the Top Note die  to make shaped cards – I got a slider card prepared for Saturday’s class – my friend Dianne has even made some handbags with the top note shape and I am sure we have only scratched the surface. It also adds a faux stiched look border as you can see in the front cover picture for added detail. Bigz dies can be used to cut a variety of materials such as card, chipboard, felt, fabric and foil/metal. The possibilities are endless …

Plane & Simple …y fantastic

Last week I promised you a sneak pre-view of next weeks class. Well I will introduce you to it later.
So what have I been up to. Earlier on today I did a demonstration to the local Age Concern Craft Club run by Tracey. Hello Everybody!!!
I demonstrated a stamp set I think is great and really good value – Plane & Simple from Stampin’UP!’s Mini Catalogue (page 14, clear £17.95 and wood mounted £21.95).

We all know how difficult it is to find stamps for men, especially the ones you want to use again and again.
For today’s demo I created a card which captured the spirit from ‘Out of Africa’. Now I am showing my age here. That film was a box office hit when I was in my early twenties. How time flies by. Never mind …
Talking of flying, the set of 7 stamps includes amongst others a beautifully sketched plane and a border stamp. The border stamp has two different border designs which can either be used together for a wider border or independent of each other. For the following design which I used for the demo I did the latter. So here it is – Out of Africa …

…. and because I love this set so much ….

Here it is the sneak pre-view of the brayered card from next week’s class. For this card I used both border stamp images.

Enjoy and have a good week! 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello again!

I know it has been a while since my last blog. Sorry about that.

I have had some turbulent months to say the least during which we found and bought our new home. It all happened very quickly. Our cat Boris seemed to be a bit off colour too, only for it to turn out to be more serious than we thought. Well he is in catty heaven now looking after us.

All over sudden everything fell into place: our mortgage got approved and within weeks we were on the move. I have since given up my office as I am working from home now in Hoylake.

Things are getting into calmer waters now and I shall be posting more often again.

Please have a look at the new classes for June and July. I am really excited, they are going to be a lot of fun. I will tease you with a sneak pre-view next week.

xxx