Wednesdays Make

Hello everyone, how are you all doing?? 

This weeks Wednesday make is my entry for Creative Colour Challenges #117, you can join in too if you pop over to www.creativecolourchallenges.blogspot.com.  

The colours this week, once again for me, were a bit of a challenge - as I had none of the colours in ink.  Fortunately I did still have, one of my favourite sets from last year; Snowman Magic.

Because of the colour choice I thought I would incorporate a snowman in the card wearing a hat and scarf in these colours.  I decided to use the pool party for the base card.  I used my usual card base of 5 7/8 inches by 8 1/4, scorded and folded on the long side at 4 1/8.

I thought I would use the fancy frame die.  So, using the now retired shimmer white card I die cut the lovely snowflake frame.  I wanted to emboss my sentiment straight onto the card base using white embossing powder - but as you can see this just was not working as well as I hoped.

No matter how many times I tried this is how it turned out.  I have had the embossing powder for quite a while and is not a Stampin' Up! product; so I shall be purchasing some new white in the not to distant future.  Fortunately, I did have some silver and that worked a treat. 

Taking the dies for the snowman I cut his arms and nose from Copper Clay card (161730) and embossed his hat and scarf on azure afternoon (161728).  With the addition of a few basic rhinestones (144220) my project was complete.

 

I hope you like my card using this weeks colours, why don't you see what you can create using these colours.   Just go to www.creativecolourchallenges.blogspot.com to join in.

If you would like to buy any of the current products I have used in making todays card why not pop along to www.stampinup.uk, and search for me by name (Hazel Southam-Feeney).  Don't forget to use my current host code TWNYB4G4 so I can send you some free product.

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x

 

Happy Mail !

Hello everyone,  how are you all doing? 

I bloomin' love getting "Happy mail", and I enjoy sending it even more.  I have over the last couple of years received many cards and Happy Mail packs from a variety of different sources.  Some from other demonstrators, some from friends and some from people I have never met, in different parts of the world, as acts of Random Kindness.

Having joined "Nellies Stampers" (even though I do very little in the way of stamping), I became part of the team, and all members of the team are sent Crafting Classes in the mail.  The first class has arrived:

 

The class consisted of two packs one from Heather Forgan of StampWithNellie.com, which is a Chocolate bar Gift Box and it uses the Shining Christmas DSP.  The second project is from Valerie Broomfield of Valeries handmade gifts, and is a Mug treat holder using Traditions of St. Nick dsp - which is an online exclusive.   I have already followed Valeries instructions and made up this lovely little mug.  

I joined a crafting group called "The Joy of Sets" during May of this year.  This group has a side group that sends lovely random cards as acts of kindness to other crafters all around the world.  So far I have received cards from America, Australia and all around the UK.  All these cards have been made with love and show just how much we all enjoy our crafting.  

The group also enjoys making and sending swaps.  Each month we have a different theme, and make items appropriate to that theme. This month it was to make a Stufffed Christmas Pocket/Envelope.  Here is the pocket, and some of its contents, I sent to my swap partner;

 I hope this shows that Happy Mail can come in all sorts of sizes and shapes and can be practically anything, except a bill !!

Don't forget Stampin' Up! are currently having their last chance sale - so please do pop along to https://www.stampinup.uk and search for me by name (Hazel Southam-Feeney) pop in my current Host code TWNYB4G4, and I could be sending you some Happy Mail next month.

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x


 

Creative Colour Challenge #116

Hello everyone, how are you all doing?  

Todays card is the card I created as my entry for the Creative Colour Challenge #116 over on https://creativecolourchallenges.blogspot.com.  

The colours this week are 

Anyone can join in with this challenge.  You do not need a blog, just some card or ink in the right colours, and then upload a photograph.  It is so easy to take part, why don't you have a try,  CLICK HERE to find out more, and to join in the fun.

I was a little stuck this week, as I do not have any of these colours in ink, so it was down to just using card again.  I seem to be getting quite good at this!   

I saw a card that had been created by another Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and thought maybe I could CASE her idea - unfortunately I am not able to give her the credit as her name has deserted me.  It was also tricky in that I had promised myself that I would be making only Christmas cards from now on, as I am so far behind with those . 

I took my usual card base of 5 7/8 inches by 8 1/4 - I then scored at 4 1/8 inches, folded and burnished.  My card layer of Basic white was embossed with a snowflake embossing folder - Stampin' Up! are currently selling Snowflake Sky 3D folder (162026), which I admit would have been a much better folder to use. 

I then took a variety of circle dies and cut out various sized circles in the three colours.  I heat embossed each of these with snowflakes, in white, from last years Snowflake wishes - but the current set Sparkling Snowflakes - would be ideal.  

 

I popped each of the circles onto my embossed card layer, then heat embossed a sentiment from Snowman Magic (retired) onto a piece of Tahitian tide cardstock and popped it up with dimensionals. The finishing touch was to add a few basic rhinestones.

I was really quite pleased with my finished card - what do you think?

I hope you enjoyed my card today.  Alternatives to the stamp set and embossing folder used are all currently available form my online store at www.Stampinup.co.uk - remember to search for me by name (Hazel Southam-Feeney), and pop in my current host code TWNYB4G4 - which will enable me to send you some free products. 

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x 

Lets Go Fishing

Hello everyone, how are you all doing?  This Sunday I thought I would talk about masculine cards.  

My brother and I, both have sons.  So, I am always in need of a masculine card.  My husband and two of the boys are quite keen fishermen.   When I saw the Stampin' Up! suite "Let's go Fishing", I knew I just had to have it.

The suite comprises designer series paper (161534), Gone Fishing stamps and dies (161542) and a twisted rope embossing folder (161545).  I never got the Embossing folder - but have used dies, stamps and paper on several occasions.  

As with many of the reverse sides of Stampin' Ups dsp, the lester ornate side is not necessarily fishing related, so can be used in a multitude of ways.

The first card I want to share with you is one I made for my husbands birthday.  This is a box card, and all the elements of the card (the fish) are adherred to acetate strips, this makes them appear to be floating above the card.

The next card I want to share with you is one I made earlier today, that clearly shows the designer series paper being used in a totally different way.

I hope you like my projects, and will consider shopping with me at Stampinup.co.uk and search for me by name.  Do not forget to include this months host code, TWNYB4G4 as this allows me to send you free product.

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x

 

Business or Pleasure

Hello everyone, how are you all doing?  I wondered how I would start this blog, but I decided business first then pleasure.

So, for another 24 hours we have our Seasonal Sale!  The sale ends at 10pm on 16th November, until then you can get a fabulous: 

    10% off ribbons & trims

    15% off inks – including pads, refills, markers, Blends. NOTE: bundles are NOT included.

    20% off papers – including cardstock, specialty paper and Designer Series Paper.

 This refers to all products in the 2023 – 2024 Annual Catalogue.

So, why don't you log into www.stampinup.uk and then search for me by name, and be my first customer, a small goody bag awaits.  I will be easy to find, as there can only be one Hazel Southam-Feeney!  

Now for the pleasure!  I have been joining in with the Creative Colour Challenges over on https://creativecolourchallenges.blogspot.com for a while now.  As this week's colours were so much softer than last weeks, I thought I would try a different technique for the background.  I have never had much success with colour washes, but nevertheless I was in for giving it a go.

As you can see it was not the best effect, and actually looked quite muddy.  No amount of overstamping in the two inks I had would make it look better. So I abandoned the first attempt and started again.

This time I used a technique I know and love - Emboss Resist.  This is where you heat emboss your pattern onto white cardstock using white embossing powder, and then brush ink of your choice over the top.  A quick buff with a soft cloth afterwards brings the white pattern to life.  I like how this card turned out.  What do you think?

You can get the card and inks I used for todays project over at www.stampinup.uk, and don't forget to search for me by name - and also if you are quick you will get a big discount.

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x

On Stage at home

Hello and welcome to you all, I do hope you are all well.  Sunday seems to have flown by once again.  What with all the usual Sunday jobs and attempting to get an entry ready for the current Creative Colour Challenges#114, I have only just sat down to discover it's now Monday!!

 

Saturday saw me attending my first ever Stampin' Up! official function.  I was lucky enough to receive an entry pass to the On Stage at home event, as part of my signing up offer.  This is Stampin' Ups Annual Conference and as such a corporate event.  Because of the changes to the timings of their events this year it was on-line - that's where the at home part came into it.

The whole event was splashed with a party feel, lots of disco beat music to wake up to, and game type shows in the middle. 

It was awe inspiring to see and hear just how much the company does for charities around the world. I was pleased to hear of their involvement in The Rose Road Association, in Southampton, who support disabled young people and also the Salvation Army this Christmas. 

The event showcased the New Catalogue due to be released next January, and enabled demonstrators who attended the event chance to make a pre-order from the catalogue - I may have ordered one or two bits and pieces. 

I didn't know what to expect, and wondered if I would actually manage to listen and watch the whole proceedings, but it was quite a different experience for a Saturday morning. 

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x

Birth of a Business

 Hello, hope you are all well today.  Wednesday seems to have come round really quickly this week and I must admit, since Sunday, I've really not done that much crafting, but as I'm full of cold perhaps that's why. 

It does however give me chance to tell you a bit about my Stampin' Up! journey so far.  

I had hoped to record an unboxing video, but my starter kit arrived so much sooner than I expected, and as the box was badly damaged I decided to make sure the contents were ok.  I will at some point "show and tell" exactly what I got in my pack.  

Today has been very much about the birth of my little business on Facebook. 

I have created a page just for my card crafting and Stampin' Up! information.  It certainly was fun, and with guidance I have managed to get my page up and rolling, so to speak.  Please do go and check it out at   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553426247022 .  There's a hearty Welcome waiting for you.  Please comment and say "Hi" to let me know you stopped by.  

Don't forget if you would like a copy of either or both the current catalogues - do please leave me a message on my Facebook page or here under the comments.  

Thanks so much for reading, hopefully I'll have a card for you on Sunday.

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x

Colour Challenges

 This week two of the Challenges I join in with were both colour challenges.

The first being my normal Creative Colour Challenges run by Victoria Littlewood of  https://creativecolourchallenges.blogspot.com.  The colours this week were poppy parade, night of navy and smoky slate - so a nice bright red, dark blue and a pretty pale grey.  

I found these colours quite easy to work with, and because, for once, I had all three of the colours in ink I decided to do some ink blending for the background.  So, I got my brushes and starting at the top with the red I covered a piece of white 6" by 4" card with gentle blended colour.

Next I needed a focus for the card, an old Christmas fir tree stamp was just perfect.  This I stamped in night of navy, in first and second generation ink.  Then using, now retired, shimmery white card I made a snowy foreground - riping the top to make it less formal.

I stamped my sentiment in smoky slate, and added the front scene to a night of navy matt .  Then with just a few added snowflakes and a flick of wink-of-stella it was finished.  

 

The next of the two colour challenges was to use yellow, orange and green.  A very atumnal mix, but after making so many recent Harvest cards I decided to make my card a christmas card, and I really am so behind with my cards this year.   

But what to do that would incorporate those colours?  Then it came to me, a wreath - so I dug out my long retired "Arrange a wreath" set.  So with an assortment of stampin up! colours I quickly got cracking.  Colours I used were garden green, mossy meadow, soft succulent, daffodil delight, pumpkin pie and pale papaya.  

 

The finishing touch was to plaster the flowers liberally with wink-of-stella - you can just about see the shine.

I hope you like my cards - you too can make such cards, all you need is the right products.  

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x

 

Business as usual

I wondered when I joined Stampin Up!, whether I would be a discount hobby card crafter, or try and make a little business from it.  

It seems those around me feel, I have the potential and capabilities to actually make a business card crafting!

I joined Stampin Up! under the influence of the incredible joining offer of 35% off the price of my products - now who wouldn't like such a bargain.  Well, the products I ordered have arrived, along with a business kit!  

The lovely crafty scot, Heather Forgan  (www.stampwithnellie.com), has gone from being the lady I get my supplies from, to my team leader and friend.  This week she has welcomed me to the "Nellies Stampers" with a lovely little package of "Happy Mail"!  

My family also have the belief that mom can do this, with the arrival of this little gift.  

Now I just better get started, before all those catalogues that arrived this morning are out of date.  If you would like a catalogue please do let me know.

Happy crafting!

Hazel Anne x