...OOh quick note!

Since I love to stuff as many stamps into each set as is possible occasionally you might find that two are 'joined' together - if that has happened, simply separate them by cutting apart with a wee pair of scissors.

I'll be adding that tip to my packing sheet but - just in case anyone didn't know in the meantime!

...OMG I have a Design team! it is real!!! lol

ED - Lol - NO WAY would ! forget Laurie, but Laurie's not due to start until a little bit later on!!! Well spotted tho!! lol

I'm pinching myself today!! lol, I think yesterday I was in some kind of 'dream' and today it's hitting me that I have a DT - these ladies are fab!!! they are even posting today!! some of them are posting later in the week!! go - check them out!!

Julia, Anya, Bonnie and Belinda have things up today!

I am so tickled!

...Phew!!!!!!

I'm not too proud to admit I was a little tearful at times yesterday and had the odd lump in my throat!!! I received so many well wishes and encouraging comments, not to mention oodles of orders!!

I just want to say thank you all.

I and I want to know how best to thank you all!!! so while I pack and post you can all be dropping me comments about your favourite reward schemes!!! Other folks run them and I'm casting around for a way to reward all my lovely customers!!! I have one or two ideas myself, but I don't think it ever hurts to ask what folks think!!!

Most of those folks who ordered yesterday had their packages shipped this morning (I was literally standing at the computer with envelopes in hand as orders came in!! lol and this time I had prepared my envies in advance with my addy on the back! duh!), but it will be tomorrow before I even get to writing shipping notices!! lol! But I think I hit the ground running and I'm pleased to say the new store is very helpful to me in terms of organisation.

My email did crumble under the strain at one point last night but It's ok now, just please give me a day's grace if you're waiting on an email reply to anything!!

Also - Halloween folks - who had already ordered and were waiting, your envies went out yesterday literally a half hour after the stock arrived!!! Shipping notices will follow!

Thank you all.

...AND FINALLY - The September release! SIX new sets today!!

Can I just say a big fat thank you to anyone who has been following this blog over the last 3 weeks or so while I sneak peeked and sampled the six new sets releasing today - Incredibly, I still ran out of time to do everything I wanted!!!! Happily I have more ideas for you!!!Lol - think you can take it?? lol, later...later..lol

Today is a very special release for me. It marks the Official opening of my little company!!! I have been trading since May on my little 'toy' shop of a blog and today I open my 'big girl' store!!

Here it is, I hope you can take a moment to peep at it, maybe even bookmark it!

www.waltzingmousestamps.com

Today is also a very special release because my little company now has a Design Team!! And what a team! I am so very tickled that each of these ladies are able to be part of my first ever DT and I look forward to sharing stamps and fun with them all. They are all very well known to you I'm sure and I'm so looking forward to the inspiration and eye candy we're all in for over the next while!

So, alphabetically, The first ever

Waltzingmouse Stamps Design Team!!

Julia Aston

Belinda Chang Langner

Laurie Schmidlin

Anya Schrier

Bonnie Sharp

Some of the ladies are posting later today with Waltzingmouse Stamps projects, some of the ladies will post later in the week - I'll keep you posted! I've asked the ladies to use any sets they like that have already released, and hopefully from next month the DT will be able to help me with the releases!!

Also I wanted to say a quick thank you to anyone popping over from the Moxie Fab World blog today -I know Cath Edvalson is taking you folks on a round the world tour! and I hope you enjoy your stay with us here in the UK/Ireland!! lol.

And at last, the stamp sets:

All sets retail at an amazing £13 sterling each - check out how many images and sentiments are in each set!! (approx US $20.65, Canada $22.40, Euro 14.12, Australian $23.65 - all values approximate as of 28th Sept and subject to change - source, XE.com)

And yes - I ship everywhere

The exchange rate is definitely in your favour this month!! lol!

The stamps are top quality, clear photopolymer, self sticking stamps for use on clear acrylic blocks (not supplied). Supplied on clear plastic with matching printed image sheet, all in a polybag.

Above - Peace and Plenty

A bumper set of images great for Thanksgiving, Autumn/Fall, and Thank you occasions. I can even see those apples and pear done up in spring colours. The Oak wreath stamp is easily punched out with a 2 and 1/2 inch circle punch to make a super focal point for your project. the sentiments ‘With Gratitude’ and fall Blessings’ fit neatly within the wreath. Perfect for copics, pencils, watercolouring, paper piecing, you choose! All images and stamp designs are Copyright © 2009 Waltzingmouse Stamps, Claire Brennan.

Above - Blessed by You
This stamp set is really all about ways to say Thank You. It includes all of those things I have wanted to put on a card but have never had the appropriate sentiments for. It seemed to me that the appropriate images for this were those folk art icons the Willow tree and the saltbox house – for me they conjure up a simpler time when folks seemed more appreciative of the people and indeed the world around them. I added a sprinkling of autumnal images, some of which match the images of the ‘Peace and Plenty’ stamp set. The willow tree is one of my all-time favourite stamps. And the wee thing underneath the willow tree? it's an apple, the stalk and leaf are a separate stamp. All images and stamp designs are Copyright © 2009 Waltzingmouse Stamps, Claire Brennan.

Above - Off Beat Backgrounds

A set of stamps designed to help you make interesting backgrounds and/or borders. This set features a special plaid builder border stamp with which you can create many, many different plaids and stripes just by varying the placement of the stamp and inking it up in one or two colours, check out my blog for more information on this.

Also included in this set are a ‘graph paper’ stamp, a ‘chequerboard stamp’ for all those homespun projects, a faux stitching border/background stamp, some funky chevrons and the ever popular polka dots. All images and stamp designs are Copyright © 2009 Waltzingmouse Stamps, Claire Brennan.

Above - Sewing Box Christmas

An applique/quilt-y style set of stamps featuring best loved Christmas motifs rendered in a blanket stitch outline. ‘Sew’ much versatility! lol. Deck out your cards/tags/gifts etc in homespun holiday style, bring back those cozy, comfy Christmas feelings!

Jam packed stampset, perfect for colouring or paper piecing, Have yourself a cozy little homespun Christmas! All images and stamp designs are Copyright © 2009 Waltzingmouse Stamps, Claire Brennan.

Above - Seasons of Love - Tags (Nestie friendly)

Spurred on by the tremendous popularity of the Very Vintage Christmas tag set, I designed this tag set to take you through Christmas and beyond – I see Valentines Day on the horizon!

Styled to recollect the Vintage ephemera of Christmas past, the Star tag is equally at home dangling from a Christmas gift, hanging on the Christmas tree or adorning a card destined for someone special. Super easily cut out given the straight sides this stamp is also Nestability Friendly and co-ordinates with a star die from the Spellbinders nestabilities Star set.

The simple outline of the heart tag is also easily cut out but also co-ordinates with a heart from the Spellbinders nestabilities Heart set. The simple circle tag is easily punched out with a 2 inch circle punch. There are also two little dotted line stamps so you can turn the tags into journaling labels for your scrapbooks! Sentiments included are suitable for Christmas, Valentines and everyday use. All images and stamp designs are Copyright © 2009 Waltzingmouse Stamps, Claire Brennan.

Above - Very Vintage Labels No. 4 (Nestie friendly)

Following on from the popularity of the Very Vintage Christmas Tag set designed to co-ordinate with the Spellbinders label dies, I have dedicated a whole set to the Labels 4 dies. I have used the 3 most popular sizes of die, sizes I felt I could get most use from, as bases for my designs.These are some of my favourite spellbinders dies and I just know these stamps will help me get the best out of my investment (I have..quite a few..spellbinders dies…shhh!). With this set you can make endless tags and decorative die cuts for cards, scrapping and more.

The top left hand image shows 3 concentric dotted shapes, this is one stamp but each border is easily inked up individually or in pairs to give a neat border for your die cut shape. See my blog for more on this. I recommend stamping first and then die cutting, securing your die in the correct position over the stamped image with a little tape to prevent it slipping whilst going through your die cutting machine.

The text frame and journalling lines are actually two separate stamps, they are laid out like this to save room and get the most from the stamp making process. The top right images are the same, two separate stamps. The text frame is designed to provide a very subtle textured background, you will not be able to read the text! lol!. All images and stamp designs are Copyright © 2009 Waltzingmouse Stamps, Claire Brennan.

In the store you will be able to purchase the stampsets and also read all of the other shipping and delivery information. Please take a moment to look at the entire page and then, if you have any queries, please don't hesitate to email me.

I ship everywhere, see the shipping page in the store, thanks!

Hope they tickle!!

...Very Vintage labels No. 4

Scroll down this is a long post! lol

As you can see, this stampset (releasing along with 5 others tomorrow, here on the blog!!! ) is designed to co-ordinate with the labels four dies from Spellbinders, these are such a pretty shape and I just wanted a set that would help me make more of them. I have been making my stamps co-ordinate with Spellbinders for a while now, as they are the dies tat I find most versatile and pretty! but I am open to suggestions for other popular shapes!!

It is entirely possible to use them without the dies as well, hopefully some examples later.

For this post I have used the dies to help make my examples. The card above uses a polka dot border designed to fit just inside the embossed area of the die cut shape. There are two sizes of this particular border in the set.

The stamps in Very Vintage Labels No. 4 work best with the 3 of the middle sized dies in the set, there simply isn't enough room to make stamps for all of the sizes so I spent a while scouting around to see what sizes seemed to be most popularly used.

In the card above you can just see one of the vintage style ornaments included in the set. The sentiment is from Say it with Style, (already available in my store).

In the photo below you can see a very special stamp in this set. As you are aware frame stamps take up a lot of space and a hugely important consideration for me is that my sets are terrific value for money - I am always on the lookout for ways to fit more in!! lol. So with that in mind I designed a 3-in-one stamp.

This means that there are 3 dotted borders in the one stamp. You have five ways of using this stamp:

1. ink it all up and stamp a 3 line pattern/border
2. ink up the outside line only to get a larger border
3. ink up the middle line to get a medium sized border
4. ink up the centre border to get the smaller border
5. ink up any two lines at a time to get a double border.

The easiest way to get one line at a time inked up is to ink up the stamp as usual and then rub the excess ink off the borders you don't need, although it is very easy to ink up one border at a time using those wee dew drop ink pads or the wee inch square ink pads.

In the photo below you can see the stamp with two of the lines inked and the third left clear.


This photo shows 4 of the 5-6 border effects you can achieve with this one stamp!!


In the next photo you can see how it is possible to stamp a border and then stamp a tiny journalling panel (included in this set!) once or twice within the borders to make yourself some neat little journalling panels!


Another dinky wee stamp I want to introduce you to are what I'm calling 'tag shoulders'. These are 3 decorative shapes that fit either the middle or the end points of the die shapes. They have a little empty circle in which you can punch a hole for the tag, adding a little extra vintage style that I just love!!

The example in the pic below show that it's easiest to stamp the 'tag shoulder' first and then line up your cutting die. Hold it in place with a couple of pieces of tape while you run it through your wizard/cuttlebug.

This pic shows the 'tag shoulder' that co-ordinates ith the second largest die in the nestie set, the second 'tag shoulder' matches the centre point of this die and the third 'tag shoulder' matches the next smaller die. It's easy to tell them apart when you hold them up to the dies.


A couple of tags showing the 'tag shoulders' in use, the sentiment is from Say it with Style and the ornaments are included in the Very Vintage Labels No. 4 !!


Hope these tickle!!!! Might be back later with more! do my best!!

...We have a winner!!!!!

I just chose the winner was chosen by random number generator (thank goodness for the random generator - there were loads of fabulous cards!!) and HUGE Congratulations go to Antje who said:

"okay Claire, it took me some days, but I hope I am not late!! ... My favourite company in the moment is PTI, actually it was you, who introduced them to me.... and I can see by now, it was more your style and I feel, it might be soon replaced by your sets....my first one is soon on the way too me!

Hope you like my green agenda... with some green pages, ...now wish me luck, I would love to get one of your sets in my hands!"

Antje - you win one each of the SIX new sets releasing on Tuesday!!!!! - pop me an email with your deets - so's I can get your envelopes ready!!!!!

Thank you all so much for entering!! I loved doing a little 'hop' through all the galleries/blogs and seeing your green!!

The were two ladies on whose cards i couldn't figure out how to leave comments - I do apologise!

...warm winter wishes, nearly there

Just when you think you're busy...it gets even busier!! lol, my schedule for the release was blown out of the water today by little guy - I don't know...is it me, or are boys twice as likely to take up your Sunday afternoon with a trip to the A&E or the ER?

I don't remember having to go as often with the girlies! Anyhow home now and touch wood, all ok.

It's played havoc with my plans tho! lol, so I have one card now and maybe more later, I also want to spend some time checking out all the entries for the competition HERE - there's just time if you're a tornado in the craft room!!!! Six free sets up for grabs!! I'm hoping to draw a winner tonight at midnight!! if I'm still awake!! lol.

Today's card features the snowflake stamp from the Sewing Box Christmas set releasing on Tuesday, see, i told you it would come quick!!!

also used a stitch border stamp from Off Beat Backgrounds (also releasing Tuesday, here on the blog!) to make a little faux stitch line behind the snowflakes, twisted it some on the block to get the curves.

I can't tell you how easy the technique for these snowflakes is, Stamp the image onto a pieces of fabric, Iron a piece of Bondaweb (wonder under in US?) to the back of the fabric, peel off the backing and iron the fabric to the card. It's the only sort of ironing i'm doing lately!!! lol.

Then snip it out with a wee pair of sharp scissors. easy peasy.

Anyhow, might be back later, definitely back tomorrow - still another set to preview!!! can you believe it???

...Housekeeping

ED - there's still time to enter the competition for one each of the SIX new sets releasing Tuesday!! Click here for deets!!

I have a couple of things I need to let folks know and I'm posting them now before I forget!! lol. I might not have time to get samples up today, life kinda got in the way today.

Design Team
So, on to business. You may or may not know that a while back I put out call for interested folks to contact me if the were interested in being on my Design Team. I received a stack of offers - over 200 in fact. My intention was to email every applicant individually to thank them for applying and advise them of whether I was able to fit them in.

I am finding that there's no way I'm gonna be able to get to everyone before Tuesday (Launch Day). So I'm making a general announcement now that I was delighted with each and every application. It means a lot to me that folks took the time out to apply and show me photos, galleries and blogs etc.

Sadly, my company is very small and I was only able to open 5 places on the DT, inevitably I regret the folks who 'got away' and whom I was not able to use at this time. With this in mind, I will not be advertising for DT positions again, I will simply approach folks who have already applied. I am hoping to expand in time and add to the DT.

I do hope that everyone will appreciate that I am a 'leetle' busy at the moment and that there just isn't the time for me to write to everyone. I do apologise if you were waiting on an email regarding the DT.

On a happier note I did eventually manage to get a DT organised and I can't wait to introduce them to you with the launch next week. I am blown away by their collective talent and they are all such very nice people to boot!!

The Store
On Monday I will close the blog/store that I have been selling from. It has served me very well and I appreciate all of the folks who have used it. From Tuesday next you will be able to see all of the stamps sets in my new web store (fingers crossed!!). On Tuesday I will put up a link to the new store together with the http: address.

Folks who have already ordered from the blog/store and who are waiting on Halloween stamps don't need to do anything, your orders are safe and will process as normal.

When the new store opens I expect the process to be similar in that I will still be using Paypal to process orders, I feel it is safest for us all if all credit cards details are processed through them at present. As normal, folks who are not fans of Paypal, drop me an email, there are other ways.

I do hope you all like the new store, I have tried to make it easy to navigate and I am pleased with the result but I'll be 'on eggs' till I hear what you all think of it!! lol!

The Launch
On Tuesday next, 29th September I will launch 6 new clear stamp sets here on the blog!!!!!! I will put up the artwork etc and there will be directions to the new store etc where you can see the stampsets and examples of cards I have made with them! Wish me luck!! lol

...Homespun Christmas anyone? Sept New stamps day 9

Surprize!!! There might just be a couple of folks who spotted that there were 5 sneak peeks, and yet I said I might be releasing six sets!! Yep, I didn't put up the sneak peek for this set 'cos I had not had confirmation of delivery!! Happily it has been confirmed and there will be six sets!!

This set is called Sewing Box Christmas and features a stack of Christmas images drawn to look like they have been stitched. In particular they resemble little fabric appliques that you might find on quilts and other stitcheries.

One of my favourite images from the set is the wee Christmas tree. It is a simple single line stitched tree - I believe they are called 'feather trees' and they are a motif popular in quilts and stitching in general.

My stree comes with separate star, heart and little circles that can be used as baubles, see the pic below. For this sample I stamped a few baubles, coloured them and threw in a few buttons. I added some page pebbles (you can get these at Precious Scraps) to a couple of the baubles and paper pieced the star, tree bucket and heart. All of this was completed on top of a background stamped with the plaid-builder stamp from Off Beat Backgrounds - I made a twill stripe with it. Distress Ink Antique linen.


On this next card I stamped the dinky wee stocking image directly onto 3 different fabrics. The best way to do this is to iron a piece of Bondaweb (think this might be called Wonder Under in the US - if anyone knows for sure please tell me), or fusible web onto the back of your fabric. It makes the fabric nice and stiff for stamping on. Once you have stamped your image, I use palette inks, you can peel off the backing from the Bondaweb and iron the fabric - stamped side up, directly onto some card. You will find this makes the cutting out a snip!! lol

I cut the whole stocking from the tan fabric, then the inner image from the red and then the toe and heel pieces from the green, layered them on top of each other and stuck them together with a suitable glue.

Punched a tiny hole near the top of the cuff, threaded a button onto some twine and pulled it through the hole.

These would make dinky wee tree ornaments too!

Finished the card simply to show off the stocking.



Lastly for tonight I want to show you a couple of things about the images in Sewing Box Christmas. Below you can see the tree simply stamped on the left, while the image on the right is the tree customised with baubles and stars etc. this makes for countless variation and stacks of fun!! lol!


Secondly, most of the large images in this set are styled as a double layer 'applique' image but they have been drawn so that you have the option of discarding the outer outline and using just the inner image, this might be useful depending on the scale of your project. It makes for even more possibilities and also means that you can layer paper pieced images with ease to build up a nice focal point! See the image below, sorry for the furry pic!! it was late...there was no natural light!! lol

On the left - the stamped image, on the right, the complete image coloured and in the middle, the centre image only coloured and trimmed out.




Hope they tickle!

Also don't forget to enter the competition from yesterdays post (scroll down) to have a chance of winning the Grand prize - One each of the SIX sets releasing on Tuesday!!!!!

...Seasons of Love - everyday! Sept new stamps day 8

...and Competition!

ED - the competition is now closed - click here to see who won!!

OOOh, I am so tired this eve!! lol we just finished putting together my daughters new bed (Ikea!) and we're frantically trying to get her room organised!

Anyhow just time to pop on and put up a few examples of how you can use Seasons of love - Tags outside of Christmas!! (this new, clear stamp set is due for release here on the blog on the 29th, next Tuesday!!)

The scrap page above (8x8) uses the heart tag coupled with the little co-ordinating journalling lines so's you can write a little note!! I think this is so sweet - amd many thanks to my big chickie for letting me use her pic!! - It's a couple of years old and she's happy that her school buddies might not recognise her!! - I think it's lovely!! kids!!

The card below shows the heart tag made up for the other major Season of Love - Valentines day!!!!!! there are even a couple of sentiments in the set geared towards Valentines!!! Papers from both projecs are Cosmo Cricket. Everafter I think, but don't quote me...


This little baby card features the star from Seasons of Love - Tags and the sentiment and baby face are from the already released Say it with style available now in the store.

The spotty background is from to up coming Off Beat Backgrounds (releasing next Tue) as is the subtle stitched border - either side of the ribbon. I did stamp the ribbon with polka dots to match the background but the memento ink I used has spread throughout the ribbon, made it a rather nice pale blue...should'a used Palette...lol



Hope they tickle.

I have so much more that I wanted to show you with the Seasons of love tags but tomorrow I really need to move on to another set - there are still two you haven't even seen yet, and I'm running out of time...!!lol!!

Oh Nearly forgot!! Huge competition!!

Right - Up for grabs is the entire release!! One each of the 6 new sets releasing next Tuesday could be yours if you would like to enter this competition!!!

BUT I want you to do something for it!! lol, I want you to make a card, it's a sort of a challenge, lol!! Use your favourite stamp, any stamp, i don't care who made it, but it must be your favourite, obviously, I'll be tickled beyond belief if it happens to be one of mine!! lol

AND - use the colour green!!, lots of green, any shade! lol, of course you can use other colours as well!

Post it on your blog, or SCS, or a gallery somewhere and leave a link here in the comments for this post and tell me why it's your favourite stamp.

I tried to get a Mr Linky up and running but alas, it won't work for me...

Make sure you link to the exact post and not just your general blog url, it will save us all time if we don't have to go hunting for it! lol. OOh and one entry each please, so make it a goodie!! lol !

You have until Sunday night! - I will announce the winner, chosen by random number generator, on Monday.!! Quick!! run!!

...Trimming the tree with Seasons of Love Tags. Sept new stamps day 7

ED - I have closed the competition. Thank you so much for all of your tips - there are loads that I'm going to try out!!!!! and i expect my card making productivity to improve drastically!! lol Thank you, and don't forget to check in tomorrow to see the deets for the GRAND prize!!

True Random Number Generator Result: 84 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

The Random number thingumy threw up number 84 - which was:

Lyndall who said...

I just don't iron. My theory is your clothes straightened out while you wear them :-)

Lyndall, congratulations, you win a free stamp set, drop me an email, letting me know if you have a favourite already or if you want to wait on the new releases!!! lol

I will edit this post later tonight with the winner of the competition !! You just have time to enter - go HERE to see the competition post and leave a comment!!

The upcoming Seasons of love - Tags (Clear stamp set releasing here on this blog on the 29th Sept!) set is turning out to be so versatile, soon as I got my first samples of it I had an idea to make little tree decorations. - I started by making a simple 3D star - I have taken some photos of the process so you can see how easy it is, I have put them at the end of this post.

There are a multitude of possibilities for decorations using this set and i'm just scratching the surface here. I warn you, these are addictive!!lol.

In the pic above you can see the other main tag from the set - it is a heart shape - yep it co-ordinates with a Spellbinders heart die!! nope they're not paying me!!

When you use it to make a decoration as I have, it makes a lovely little hot air balloon shape - I'm gonna try making a wee basket for it when I get a mo!

Try cutting out the centre circle from the star, (- I had a nestie circle that just fit perfectly - a hair under 1.5 inches.) put a few of these together as shown in the photos below and string a little heart or whatever takes your fancy, maybe some beads, in the centre before you close up the decoration.





Above - I find it easiest to secure my die in place with tape before passing it through the cuttlebug/wizard.


After I have stamped some stars and cut them out, I mark a crease in them running straight down the centre, using the scorpal. Given the shape, it is so easy just to line them up on the scorpal using the top point as a guide.



I stick them together back to back using a little tape, one at a time. Below you can see where I put the tape. This pic was taken while I made the decoration wit the heart in the centre but the process is the same for all. Now is a good time to add a little string and a bell or maybe some beads, as long as you do it before you stick the last two backs together.



Above the finished decoration, Hope they tickle!!

I will edit this post later tonight with the winner of the competition !! You just have time to enter - go HERE to see the competition post and leave a comment!!

...Is it Christmas yet? Sept new stamps day 6

Firstly, I am so enjoying all the 'no ironing' tips that folks are leaving in the contest post here! You have just got time to enter before I close the contest on Wednesday night!!

I'm taking a break from Peace and Plenty and Blessed by You to show you a couple of Christmas samples that I made with another new stamp set due for release on the 29th - Seasons of love - Tags.

As the name suggests this set was primarily designed to make tags, but it turned out to be one of the most versatile sets I've ever used!!! I seem to be on the quest for the perfect tag this year but it's the thing I make most of for Christmas, yes, even more than cards. There are folks on my list for whom I sometimes don't get round to making a card but at least their presents don't get sent out 'undressed'!!

I styled this set after the Very Vintage Christmas set, I so loved the detail and design in that set that I carried it forward into two new tag designs and a bundle of matching motifs and sentiments.

Today's samples feature the star tag. While this stamp co-ordinates beautifully with the largest star die from the Spellbinders nestabilities star die set, you certainly don't need the die to use the stamp, the straight sided star is easily cut out with a craft knife and metal ruler or by hand with scissors.

In case you are wondering I have no affiliation with Spellbinders, it just makes sense to me to ensure that my stamps are easily used, and If I can match up with a popular die or punch, so much the better and easier for us all.


To make this first tag, I stamped the star tag image (Memento - Rhubarb stalk) and then cut it out using the die mentioned. I sponged around the edges and coloured in the filigree with a light tan copic marker. I wanted my sentiment to pop up on another layer and so I stamped a small scroll motif (Seasons of love - Tags) twice in Distress ink, Antique linen, and then the sentiment on top in Memento Rich Cocoa. I punched this out with a wee circle punch (just under 1.5" in diameter) and popped it onto the center of the star, perfect fit!


Above the reverse of the tag - you can see the wee scroll image much clearer here under the To/From. The reverse of this tag is another star stamped and cut out, with a little more copic colouring! I then stuck the stars together, back to back before punching the hole for twine.

Do you notice how the stamp has a place built-in for where you need to punch a little hole for the string/ribbon? ( I use a making memories anywhere hole punch, the largest hole punch is 3/16ths of an inch, but anything up to around 1/4 inch is perfect) In my second tag you can see tat this also makes the perfect place for a little button, or other accent, just thread your twine/string through the button and then pop the string through the hole!


I used a similar process to make this tag, but I cut out an extra star from dark red cardstock and stamped it with the chequerboard stamp from Off Beat Backgrounds, before sandwiching it between the two stamped stars. For the reverse of this tag, I cut a star from plain cream cardstock and stamped it with some of the motifs also included in Seasons of love - Tags.



For my third tag, I sandwiched a circle of green card, stamped and gold embossed with the larger scroll design from the set. The main star image is stamped in Encore metallic ink - Honeydew, which has a lovely soft green tone. The snowflake, also from the set is stamped in a pale green ink, and the sentiment, 'Joy' is gold embossed.

Take a peep at the reverse, see the little journalling lines? these are included as a separate stamp in the set so's you can use the star and the other tag shape as little journalling note shapes in scrapbooks/cards etc! more on this tomorrow!!


Hope these tickle!

Pop by tomorrow to see how you can use these stamps to trim the tree, make cards and much, much more!! Also tomorrow night I'll be picking a winner for thecompetition mentioned at the start of this post, and on Thursday I'll be giving details of my next competition to win the MONSTER prize!!!!!!!!!! Lol!

...Old fashioned Thanksgiving? sept new stamps Day 5

I used stamps from the soon to be released Peace and Plenty and Blessed by You stamp sets (clear stamps releasing here, on this blog, on the 29th, and yep, I ship everywhere!) to create a couple of items for Thanksgiving. We don't really celebrate thanksgiving here in Ireland but I have been thinking that it was something we should probably adopt, in as much as it wouldn't do us any harm to celebrate everything we have to be thankful for at least once a year.

So I got to thinking about a nice big family dinner, maybe a few friends, table set with white linen and those blue and white antique plates that used to sit on the dresser at my grandfathers house. I used to love those old delft plates painted in a fairly naive style, they were ancient and sadly I have no idea where they went after the farm was sold.

Also, I wanted to show you that the simple linear stamps from Peace and Plenty fit easily into any style you care to use. Yesterday i made a couple of 'fresh' cards and today I am showing you a linear image of a pumpkin and some fruit, used in a vintage style. I used the cracked glass technique - I see this all over the place but most recently at Heather Nichols blog.

I stamped the image in a dark blue ink (Enchanted Evening, Palette) and watercoloured it in a fairly loose style, using only blue paint, to emulate the style of old dutch plates and tiles.

I was pleased with how the cracked glass effect really suited this colouring. I made a multi layered card to show it off, I don't usually do this sort of card (been dying to do one for ages tho') and I felt it was appropriate here. I coloured a bit of ribbon with a copic pen(Cosmo Cricket Everafter, grey filigree swirl ribbon) to match the ginger card and added a few wee page pebbles, courtesy of Beverly at Precious Scraps.


Inside, you can see the simple linear pumpkin stamp (Peace and Plenty) - there is a single pumpkin stamp and stamp with a pumpkin as part of a harvest group of fruit.



I made up a place card in the same style, I so love these colours together. As you can see I have loads of wee helper hands always wanting in on the act!

A quick tip here for when you want a small tight mat for a shape you have cut out with a nestability die (Spellbinders), emboss the shape on the card of your choice and then cut it out with scissors around the OUTERMOST embossed line. See pic below.


In the top photo you can see a little cutlery pouch I made to co-ordinate with the place cards etc. If I'm having a huge dinner party, I just know I'm not going to have enough cutlery in the same pattern so if I make up a pouch for each person, it means that the table will appear nice and uniform when set, and the difference in cutlery won't be noticeable! Did somebody say OCD...?

I so love that oak leaf and acorn stamp from Blessed by You! I think stamping on the blue with versamark makes it look almost like velvet!!!


Hope this tickles and there's still time to enter the copmpetition from yesterdays post! Scroll down!