Archive for ‘Gifts’

September 30, 2016

Birthday cards, sweet treats and September sun …

Hello and welcome to my blog. 

It’s a beautiful September morning. The sun is shining. The breeze has a slight chill, and a smell. A smell that instantly transports me back to my childhood. A smell that provokes vivid memories of school, of playing with friends in the school playground, of carefree days long ago.

I remember playing French skipping on sunny days, and oh how I loved to play. A game that didn’t cost a lot, well, as long as you didn’t mind playing with ordinary, brown elastic bands that is. That was my French skipping rope – a line of tied together, brown elastic bands, squirreled from my mother’s stationery supply. They were all different lengths, some long, some short and some fatter than others. I longed to have a multi-coloured, rainbow rope like some of my friends had. A pack of coloured elastic bands only cost a few pennies more, so I could easily have used my pocket money to buy the pretty colours, but those precious pennies, tuppences and threepenny bits (yes, I am old enough to remember threepenny bits), those pennies were reserved for buying sweeties such as fruit salads, black jacks, yellow bananas and pink shrimps. There were lots more to choose from of course, but these were my favourites, with the occasional sherbet fountain too. I didn’t quite understand why anyone bought gob stoppers. I know my friends liked them, and they lasted ages, but they weren’t my thing. Now bazooka bubble gum on the other hand, that would keep my jaw chewing for hours…

swizzels-sweets

I remember my dad telling me that my school days were the best days of my life. At the time, I thought what did he know? He didn’t have to do “hard work” like my sums and reading tasks that teacher set. How I wish I’d listened to him. Now I realise that every word my dad ever uttered to me was true.

birthday-lolly-ice-cards

These ice lolly birthday cards, or if you’re from Liverpool like I am, they are lolly ices … whatever you call them, they are fun to make and fun to receive too.  Cardstock, stamps, ink and punches all from Stampin’ Up!

Sweets in the photo above courtesy of the very generous goody bags I got at my first BlogOn event – more about that coming soon #BlogOnMSI.

Thanks for dropping by today

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June 16, 2014

Pretty bookmarks using stippled blossoms by Stampin’ Up …

I was inspired by the colour challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments (HSSCC187) this week – such a pretty colour combination…

187

I got out my inks and made this pretty bookmark using the stippled blossoms stamp set by Stampin’ Up, in strawberry slush, pistachio pudding and blushing bride inks … 

stippled blossoms two step stamping by Stampin Up pink

Don’t you just love getting a new stamp set?  I love all my stamp sets (they are stroked and used often) but getting a new one to play with is always such fun! So this is my latest favourite thanks to my lovely friend, Vicky, from Crafting Clare’s Paper Moments (thank you Vicky –  I love you for this!) And oh my word!  What a lovely stamp set it is!  The pretty, floral images in this two-step stamp set are just gorgeous…  

  stippled blossoms two step stamping by Stampin Up bookmark

I stamped a variety of verses from the Trust God stamp set in early espresso ink, it’s a little less harsh than using black and tones more easily with the soft pastel colours of the flowers.  The fonts in the sentiments are so pretty – love all that gorgeous calligraphy …

Stippled blossoms two step stamping by Stampin Up verses

These bookmarks would make a great little thank you gift, or maybe a get well wish for a friend. 

I love how they turned out, so stamped some more in soft sky and smoky slate too … 

stippled blossoms two step stamping by Stampin Up blues

I’m not sure which is my favourite, but I think maybe the pink … or the blue … or the pink … What about you?

stippled blossoms two step stamping by Stampin Up pink and blue

Want to make this blog colours

cardstock: whisper white;

stamp sets: stippled blossoms, trust God;

inks: early espresso, strawberry slush, pistachio pudding, blushing bride, soft sky, smoky slate;

punches & dies: tag topper, corner rounder;

accessories: stamp-a-majig, ribbon from my stash.

All supplies from Stampin’ Up unless otherwise stated.

I love receiving your messages and read every one, so if you have any questions, or you just want to say hi, do please leave me a comment.

Thanks for dropping by today

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