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November 28, 2014

Thanksgiving Suite #5 Place Card

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. It's an honor to have you here and I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

The project I'm sharing with you today is the last of my Thanksgiving Suite for this year. I loved creating the set and feathers really were flying earlier in the week when I completed everything, except these place cards in a single day! Yep, I'll admit that I forgot about these, but they were really quick and easy to put together :)


All the products I've used to create them are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


Having scheduled posts from Wednesday so I can enjoy the holiday and some much needed down time, I'll be back "live" on Monday with a special card, so I hope you'll join me then. Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one!

Hugs,
Em

November 27, 2014

Thanksgiving Suite #4 And A Message

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. It's an honor to have you here and I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing with you today is the penultimate project in my Thanksgiving Suite for this year and I wish that I was able to create one for each of you!


On this very special holiday, I'd like to share something very special with you. Many of you have followed my blog for quite some time, long before I joined Stampin' Up! in August, but here's a look into my creative journey and one of the things I'm so grateful for today...

I first started card making/ paper crafting almost nine years ago, although I've always been creative. At that time I helped my friend, who was also my bridesmaid, complete my wedding stationery. I then created my own album after the wedding.

Soon after I bought a card making starter kit from a high street store. It included stamps and I was quickly hooked, although at that point if you'd asked me who or what Stampin' Up! were, I wouldn't have had a clue! Friends who saw my creations placed orders with me and I quickly developed my own style. It is now what is known as CAS, but again, if you'd have said that to me then, I would have looked at you funny! LOL.

Around six years ago a friend helped me set up my first website, it was basic with very little functionality and no blog capacity, so most of my interaction was done via the Facebook page I'd set up. Soon after I discovered blogs and started following a few crafty ones. I loved the way it made interaction possible, so I persuaded my friend to add a blog to my site.

I truly can't remember when I first came across Stampin' Up! but it's truly as long ago as I care to remember and I can tell you who it was, France Martin. Through her posts "Frenchie" had me hooked, although because of circumstance, I admired the goodies from a distance.

Card making has kept me going through years of ill health and around 18 months ago I purchased my current website, www.creative-em.com and took total control over the site.

Earlier this year I found Vicky Hayes' blog and the more I read the more I fell in love with the products. Having remained totally independent in regards to my creativity, and with my health considerably improved, I decided to take the next step and join Stampin' Up!

I took a deep breath and called Vicky for the first time in mid June. We hit it off immediately and although I explained I wasn't at that point in a position to order my starter kit, Vicky said that whenever I was ready, she would help. We exchanged regular emails and then the day finally came.

On August 15, 2014 I joined a company who I can wholeheartedly say are the BEST. I'm still a newbie, and although we're "Independent Demonstrators", there's nothing lonely or frightening about it. I know that Vicky is always there for me and indeed so are our wider "Pinkie" group of Demos.

When I joined SU, I had a feeling that it was the right thing to do. But what I didn't know is just how amazing it would be. How supportive everyone is and how nothing is too much trouble, no question is "silly". I can take everything at my pace and I look forward to sharing my creativity and love for our products with clients and inspiring them as I grow my business.

I've not yet met any of the other Pinkies in person (I'm looking forward to that next year), but each and every one of them has a special place in my heart. Pinkies and indeed SU ROCK! I'm so grateful to have the support as I begin a new chapter in my life.

Hugs,
Em

November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving Suite #3 EPB Creations

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. It's an honor to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Today I'm sharing two projects that form part of my Thanksgiving Suite and both have been created using the Envelope Punch Board (EPB) from Stampin' Up!

The first, silverwear pockets, have been created just as you would create an envelope using the board, from Crumb Cake card. I've stamped one of the stamps from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set in the same color ink, then stamped the sentiment from Good Greetings in Cherry Cobbler ink onto the back of the pocket...


For the detail on the front, I cut the Feathers Framelits dies from Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card and popped them up for added dimension...

The second project is one that I first saw on my friend Caroline's blog and in her post she shares measurements for 3 different sizes of crackers. I've created the medium size and they will be filled with a few sweet treats tomorrow.


I decorated them in the same way as the silverwear pockets, keeping the side leaves flat (above) and stamping the sentiment directly onto one of the feathers and popping those up on the top (below)

All the products I've used to create the projects are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with some more of my Thanksgiving Suite and a very special message, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 25, 2014

Thanksgiving Suite #2 Tea light with Wondrous Wreath

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. It's an honor to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Today's project is the second of my Thanksgiving Suite for the holiday on Thursday. You can see yesterday's here.

Regular readers will know that I LOVE the Wondrous Wreath stamp and die bundle from Stampin' Up and I have previously said how versatile it is because it works so well whatever colors are used. For my tea light holders I've cut it from Crumb Cake card and stamped in Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler ink, for an understated look...


I cut and stamped it twice, then carefully snipped into the center leaves of one so that the battery tea light would fit snuggly inside and I attached it to the bottom one with a few Stampin' Dimensionals...


The light can easily be turned on underneath. It will also come out easily when I'm ready to move it into my Christmas version, which I'll share with you when I've created it.

Challenges...
#159 Thanksgiving and Fall at My Craft Spot
AG at Through The Craft Room Door
November Linky at DL.ART

All the products I've used, with the exception of the tea light, are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with more of Thanksgiving Suite, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 24, 2014

Thanksgiving Suite #1 ~ Banner with Tree Punch

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. It's an honor to have you here and I truly appreciate you more than you know.

I LOVE the Tree Punch and Festival of Trees stamp set from Stampin' Up!'s holiday catalog and today's project, part one of this year's Thanksgiving Suite, shows you another way to use the punch, as a banner...




I started by punching 20 trees from Cherry Cobbler card and then cut off the trunks. I then cut the letters from Crumb Cake card using the Little Letters Thinlits dies and also 3 of the smallest stars from the Stars Framelits to act as spaces. I attached them to the pennants with Tombow glue.

To complete the banner I poked holes in each of the pennants and used Whisper White Bakers Twine to string them together.

I'll share another pic of the banner later in the week, once it's hung up.

Challenges...
#99 AG w/ optional at 613 Avenue Create
November Linky at DL.ART
#175 Any Holiday at Hiding In My Craft Room

All the products I've used to create today's project are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with Part 2 of my Thanksgiving Suite, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 21, 2014

"Happy Mail" Bear with Blendabilities

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing with you today is my fifth "Blendie" creation of the week. I'm sure if you didn't already know I love those markers from Stampin' Up! after a full week of creations with them, you do now! You can see this weeks and all my other Blendie creations here.


I received the bear stamp in some "happy mail" from my friend Claire and my new Skin Tone markers arrived the same day (as well as more goodies I'll share with you over the coming weeks). Perfect timing!

I stamped them in Memento ink onto Very Vanilla card and colored him with the Blush, Bronze and Mocha pens from the set, then fussy cut them. I then stamped three of the flowers from the Petite Petals stamp set onto more Very Vanilla, colored them with Melon Mambo blendies and punched them with the matching punch.

To complete the scene I cut a 4 1/2" square card and used two shades of the Old Olive blendies for the grass and flower stem. Then stamped the sentiment from Gifts of Kindness in Melon Mambo ink, before popping the bears and flowers up with Stampin' Dimensionals. The card base is a 5" square of Crumb Cake with a 4 3/4" square layer of Crisp Cantaloupe.

All the products I've used are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I've really enjoyed sharing a week full of blendie creations with you and I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have?

Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one and I'll be back on Monday with another special card, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 20, 2014

Monochrome with Melon Mambo

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing with you today is in the same style as those I shared with you on Monday and Tuesday this week, but this time I've turned it and used Melon Mambo ink and Blendabilities to create it and added a touch of Crisp Cantaloupe card to layer the sentiment panel...


Challenges...
AG at Through The Craft Room Door
#98 AG w/ optional at 613 Avenue Create
#63 Monochomatic at Beyond Grey

All the products used to create the card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with my fifth "Blendie" creation of the week, which is very different to this one, so I really hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 19, 2014

Perfect Peacock Screen Card

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing with you today combines two of my favorite things, Stampin' Up!'s Blendabilities markers and a screen card. It's also my third "Blendie" creation of the week! If you missed the other two, please do take a look here and here.


I began by stamping the Perfect Peacock and one of the flower stamps from the Hostess set I Like You in Memento Black onto Very Vanilla card. I then colored the designs with Rich Razzleberry, Coastal Cabana and Old Olive Blendies.

The screen card base is 6" tall and cut from Pistachio Pudding card and I used the Decorative Label punch to create the feet.

Challenges...
#190 AG at Party Time Tuesdays
#82 Use Your Markers at Crafting When We Can
#56 AG at Creative Fingers

All the products I've used in today's card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to go straight there.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Before I go I wanted to share with you some news I got this morning. The card below was the randomly chosen winner for Challenge 18 over at Butterfly Challenge. I'm feeling very special because I was chosen as Mrs A.'s top pick for Challenge 17 too! Thanks so much Mrs A!


I've shared three Blendie creations with you this week already. I hope you'll pop by tomorrow to see if I can make it four!

Hugs,
Em

November 18, 2014

More monotone

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing is another monotone creation combining the Hostess stamp set Bloom with Hope and Blendabilities markers from Stampin' Up! If you missed yesterday's card in Rich Razzleberry, you can see it here. You can see my other "Blendie" creations here and Bloom with hope here.


For today's card I stamped the largest of the flowers from the set in Lost Lagoon ink on Very Vanilla card, then used the lightest of the Coastal Cabana Blendabilities to color them, before going over the centers with the medium shade.

The sentiment is stamped in Lost Lagoon on more Very Vanilla and then punched with the Scallop Oval Punch and layered with another from Pistachio Pudding card.

The differences between the three colors are so subtle and create a great monotone design. I hope you agree?

Challenges...
AG at Through The Craft Room Door
#98 AG w/ optional at 613 Avenue Create
#63 Monochomatic at Beyond Grey

All the products used are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with another Blendie creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 17, 2014

Monotone birthday with Blendabilities

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

Regular readers will know that I absolutely LOVE Stampin' Up!'s Blendabilities alcohol markers and I turned to them again to create today's quick and easy card. For most of my other "Blendie" creations, which you can see here, I've stamped the image in Memento ink before coloring, but not this time...


I stamped the largest flower from the Hostess set Bloom with Hope in Rich Razzleberry ink randomly on Very Vanilla card. I then colored all the flowers with the lightest shade of Rich Razzleberry Blendie and then used the medium shade to color the centers of the flowers.

I popped the stamped panel up onto another slightly larger one using Stampin' Dimensionals and added that to a folded tent card base. The sentiment from the set is stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink and punched with the Scallop Oval Punch.

I love the look and would love to know what you think of it too.

Challenges...
#31 AG at Scribble and Scrap
#158 AG at Word Art Wednesday
#83 AG at Sister Act

All the products used in today's card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with another Blendie creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 14, 2014

Another screen card

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing with you today is another screen card created with some gorgeous products from Stampin' Up! You can see my other screen card creations here.


I created the 6" tall screen base from Strawberry Slush card and then used the piece left over to cut the butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and the sentiment panel with the Decorative Label punch.

I cut four panels from Crumb Cake card and placed them next to one another, then stamped one of the flowers from the Hostess set Bloom with Hope in Rich Razzleberry ink across the panels to give a continuous look. The sentiment is also from that set and stamped in the same ink.

I layered the stamped panels onto some cut from one of the sheets from All Abloom DSP and attached them to the base, then added the butterflies and sentiment.

I'm really happy with the card and would love to know your thoughts too.

Challenges...
AG at Through The Craft Room Door
#189 AG at Party Time Tuesdays
AG/ 3s at Clear It Out (three of the main butterflies used)

All the products I've used to create today's card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one and I hope to see you back here on Monday, when I'll be sharing another creation.

Hugs,
Em x

November 13, 2014

Beautiful Wings Screen Card

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

If you're a regular visitor here you might be aware that I love entering my creations into challenges. Most often I'll design a card and then see if there are any current challenges it fits. However, this card was designed for a specific challenge over at Butterfly challenge.

I LOVE the Beautiful Wings Embosslit from Stampin' Up! and this is the first time I've used it with some of our DSP, which was included in some happy mail from a friend that I received a few weeks ago.


I created the 6" tall screen card base from Very Vanilla card and the Decorative Label punch, then added Crumb Cake panels stamped in the same ink with our Hardwood background stamp. I cut more butterflies from the left over card and added them to the card using Tombo glue.

Challenges...
#18 at Butterfly Challenge
November AG at Imagination Crafts
#82 AG at Sister Act

All the products I've used are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the links below to go straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with another screen card, so I hope you'll stop back then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 12, 2014

Garland with Wondrous Wreath

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly appreciate each of you more than you know.

The card I'm sharing with you today is the first I've created in what I'm calling my "semi studio", now that my work area is in my living room. It's also the first I've created for some time with the gorgeous Wondrous Wreath stamp and die bundle from Stampin' Up! You can see the others here.


I created a tent card base from Crumb Cake card, then stamped it in the same color ink with the Hardwood background stamp, before adding the additional vertical panels which I'd stamped onto another piece of card.

I stamped the wreath in Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler inks on Very Vanilla card, and then carefully cut it in half. The bows were cut from a snippet of Cherry Cobbler card and both those and the wreath sections are popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals. To complete the design I stamped one of the sentiments from the set in Cherry Cobbler ink on more Crumb Cake card.

I'm really happy with the look and I'd love to know what you think.

Challenges...
November Linky AG at DL.ART
#97 AG w/ a twist at 613 Avenue Create
November ~ Christmas at 3 Girl Jam
#117 AG/ Stars at Artistic Inspirations

All the products I've used for today's card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with another screen card, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 11, 2014

Apartment pix

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

I've not got a card for you today, but instead I'm sharing a few pix of my new apartment. I'm taking lots of pix and will be documenting the new start with Stampin' Up's great Project Life range.

The move went well and I'm hoping to have everything out of boxes within the next couple days. I'll show you around some more when it's all ready :)

This is the gorgeous wallpaper on the feature wall in the living room/ semi studio. I love that the color combo is so like Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake..

The feature wall in the bedroom is lighter, more of a Sahara Sand look...

The first room to be very near completion...

The lamp on the night stand is one I created from card before I joined Stampin' Up! When things settle down and I have time I'll be remaking it with our gorgeous products and will bring you a tutorial then too.

I'll be back tomorrow with the first card created in what I've called my "semi studio', so I hope you'll stop back then.

Hugs,
Em

November 10, 2014

Perfect Blend #2

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

This post is one I've scheduled due to my internet only being connected today in my new apartment, although I'm hoping that by the time it goes live I'll be back online!

Today's card is the second of two created using the Perfect Blend stamp set, the other can be seen here.


Both cards follow a similar recipe...
Colored base card folded tent style ~ Cherry Cobbler here
Very Vanilla panel stamped with 2 of the Gorgeous Grunge stamps
Perfect Blend stamped on Very Vanilla and pieced with base color
Tag Talk sentiment stamp punched with the Bracket Label

For this card I stamped the background in Crumb Cake and the coffee cups and sentiment in Rich Razzleberry

All the products used are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

If everything has gone to plan with the move I'll be back tomorrow with another card and perhaps some pix of the new apartment, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 7, 2014

Perfect Blend #1

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by today and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

I'm moving house this weekend and will be in great need of coffee to sustain me! I absolutely LOVE the Perfect Blend stamp set from Stampin' Up! and it's so appropriate for this weekend. So much so that both this post and Monday's, which I'll schedule for publication due to my internet being reconnected that day, are created using it...


Both cards follow a similar recipe...
Colored base card folded tent style ~ Lost Lagoon here
Very Vanilla panel stamped with 2 of the Gorgeous Grunge stamps ~ Crumb Cake and Lost Lagoon inks used here
Perfect Blend stamped on Very Vanilla and pieced with base color
Tag Talk sentiment stamp punched with the Bracket Label

All the products used are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back on Monday with the scheduled post. Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one!

Hugs,
Em

November 6, 2014

Bloom With Hope birthday

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

Today's card is created using a couple of stamps from the Blended Bloom hostess stamp set from Stampin' Up! and is available FREE with any order over £150.00! Note: the prices in the image tool below are purely to show the value of the sets.

The set is great for use with our Blendabilities markers and Memento ink, but this time I've stamped the flowers in Rich Razzleberry and I LOVE the look...


I created a tent fold base with Cherry Cobbler, laying the fold to the left, then stamped the flowers on Very Vanilla. The variation in color is because I didn't reink the stamp. The sentiment is also stamped in Rich Razzleberry and punched with the Decorative Label punch, layered with another Cherry Cobbler.

All the products used are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to go straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with a refreshing design, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 5, 2014

Award winning inspiration

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know!

While going through my emails this morning I saw the latest posts from Butterfly Challenge, the new one and the winners from the last, which I'd entered. I was surprised and delighted to see my name listed as Valery Anne's top pick, especially because it was the first card I'd entered over there for some time. Click the award winning image below to be taken to my post.


I've been wanting to create screen cards for awhile and so decided to use the card above as the inspiration for the first...


The only differences, apart from being a different style, is that I've not added either butterflies or a sentiment to this one, although both can be added later. I've also added Crystal Effects in place of the rhinestones.

Challenges...
November Linky at DL.ART
#118 AG at Brown Sugar
#126 Cut it out at Crafty Cardmakers and More

All of the products used to create the card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to go straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow, when I'll be sharing a card created with a couple of my favorite stamp sets, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 4, 2014

Birthday with Wetlands

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly do appreciate each of you more than you know.

The card I'm sharing with you today is another I've created with the delightful Wetlands stamp set from Stampin' Up! You can see the others I've created with it here.

I created a tent card base from Lost Lagoon, laying the fold on the left side. I stamped the images onto Very Vanilla, using Lost Lagoon for the grasses and Smoky Slate for the goose and sentiment. I then punched the sentiment out with the Decorative Label punch and layered it onto another Lost Lagoon.


I've also stamped the grasses onto more Very Vanilla and added them inside the card.

Challenges...
Anything Goes at Simon Says Stamp
#30 AG at Scribble and Scrap
November Linky at DL.ART
#96 AG w/ optional at 613 Avenue Create
AG at Through The Craft Room Door

All the products I've used for today's card are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

I'll be back tomorrow with a feminine card, so I hope you'll join me then.

Hugs,
Em x

November 3, 2014

Grungy Wetlands

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

As the title of today's post suggests, the card I'm sharing with you is another one I've created using the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set from Stampin' Up! Although this one is very different to the others that I've created, which can be seen here. It's also the first I've created with the Wetlands stamp set...


The base is Lost Lagoon which I've cut and folded to form a tent card. The birds from the Wetlands set are stamped in Smoky Slate ink on Very Vanilla card. I then stamped the line stamp from Gorgeous Grunge in Lost Lagoon and Tempting Turquoise, alternating the colors. To complete the card I stamped the sentiment from Wetlands in Smoky Slate on a snippet of Very Vanilla and punched it with the Decorative Label punch (another of my favorites) and added another from Lost Lagoon behind it.

Challenges...
Anything Goes at Simon Says Stamp
#30 AG at Scribble and Scrap
November Linky at DL.ART
#96 AG w/ optional at 613 Avenue Create
#18 AG at ArtByMiRan

All the products I've used are available 24/7 in my Online Shop. Click the images below to be taken straight to them.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


I'll be back tomorrow with another Wetlands creation this time without Gorgeous Grunge, so I hope you'll join me then. 

Hugs,
Em x