Archive for the ‘Utah Divas International’ Category

Good Morning all!

Its another busy day for me but that’s OK because I love what I do! Being a Stampin Up Demonstrator I get to go to people’s houses and share with them my love of card making, stamping and papercraft – and I earn money when I do this so to me there is no better job – well except for being a mum!

How many of us have a job we are passionate about and just love doing? If you are a stamper or crafter and would like more information about becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator then please do not hesitate to contact me – even if it is just to get your stamping products and accessories at a discount.

Its Saturday again (where does the week go?) and therefore that means another Utah Divas International Sketch

Another sketch from the hands of the lovely Carol and again a sketch that has so many opportunities.

Now I have a demonstration this afternoon and the hostess has asked for cards that are girly and funky so I hope she feels this card fits the funky bill.

So here’s my card … what do you think? is it funky?

My 10yo told me its definitely funky as she helped me design the card. I have left the bottom strip off as Miss 10 said that if I put ribbon on the card there it would not be funky any more so what’s a mum to do??

Recipe

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly
Inks: Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White, Orchid Opulence, Cottage Wall DSP
Accessories: Stampamajig, Butterfly Punch, Stampin Dimensionals.

I just love the Cottage Wall Designer Series Papers – they are so fresh and lovely … and maybe funky?? I am also glad we will have them for 5 months instead of the regular 3 months a mini catalogue runs for.

I’ve used the Flight of the Butterfly Stamp set with this card as my hostess wanted to see the butterfly punch in action. Now I did make another card using the butterfly punch but you’ll have to wait till tomorrow for that one!

Again you can see all the lovely creations the ladies have made following the links at the Utah Divas International Blog and if you skip along to the lovely Tiffany’s  blog you can see what she’s made and then just keep following the rest of the links to see them individually.

I do hope the ladies like this card this afternoon .. now I’d best be off and finish packing my trolley.

Welcome to Saturday and another Utah Divas International Sketch.

I love this sketch!

It has so many opportunites!

I’m not sure what it is about sketches but they just get my creatives juices flowing. I’ve sat here during the week (staring at my new ink pad storage unit) trying to think of ideas to create with the new stamps I received – free stamps too!

Some of you may be unaware that while you can earn free stamps during Sale A Bration we too can earn free stamps as Demonstrators. You can earn sets for signing up new demonstrators and for the total amount of Sales you do during the Sale A Bration period. This year I earned 3 free stamp set which arrived on Thursday and I’m really looking forward to putting them together and creating some more this week.

Here is what I created for todays sketch

I’ve created this card using the new Autumn Days stamp set from the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue.

I’ve had quite a few requests for Sympathy or Thinking of You cards of late so I thought this one would fit that category.

I dont have any of the Autumn Traditions Designer Series Papers but loved the colours they used to I just used the swatch in the catalogue to choose the colours of cardstock and inks to use. I also replicated one of the patterns of the papers in the DSP pack using my stamps and inks. This is the leaf strip on my card.

I also received my Soft Suede Cardstock and Ink this week and I must say I loved working with this colour this morning and I can see its going to be a new favourite and whats even better is that it wont be retiring come September! Gotta be happy about that!

I love all the elements of this stamp set with the wheat, grass, leaves, pine cones and of course Phillipe – the very splendid pheasant!

So now that I’ve introduced you to Phillipe its time to skip along to the next blog in the Utah Divas International Sketch Design Team being the very splendid Lori Ames blog to see what she’s created this week.

Well yes its yet another Saturday – they seem to be coming around very quickly lately!

Being its Saturday its time for another Utah Divas Sketch Challenge. The lovely Carol (our sketch master who does all the sketches by hand) has had surgery on her hand in the last week so please say a prayer for her – she does so much for the sketch challenge team.

I looked at this sketch and deliberated for some time on what to do. I realised today that its not until I pick the Designer Series Papers or Stamp Sets that the cards come to me. I had been creating some projects with the Raspberry Tart DSP and here is what I cam up with for today’s sketch ….

I wouldnt normally put the Bloomin with Beauty stamp set with the Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper but I do like how this has turned out.  Now are you sitting down?? I even used my blender pen to colour the flowers! Yes thats right I used the blender pen!

Recipe

Stamps: Best Yet, Bloomin with Beauty
Paper: Whisper White, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pretty in Pink, Raspberry Tart DSP
Inks: Jet Black Stazon, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Old Olive.
Accessories: 1″ circle punch, 1 1/4″ circle punch, 1 3/8″ circle punch, 1/4″ Pretty in Pink Grosgrain ribbon, Blender Pen, Stampin Dimensionals.

I do hope you like this card as much as I did making it. I do love these flowers and do love to water colour them.

If you would like to learn how to watercolour your stamps then please dont hesitate to give me a call – I can tailor a workshop to suite what you want to learn and do!

Now its time to skip along to the next blog in the Diva Sketch Team and this week its off to the lovely Max for her wonderful creation!

Happy Easter Saturday to you!

Its Saturday so that means another Utah Divas Sketch Challenge and boy was this weeks one a challenge!

Well the sketch in itself wasn’t hard to do but the challenge this time was to do Iris Folding. Now I love most things with paper crafting and card making but Iris Folding is not one of them – but I did persevere.

I wanted to stay with the Easter theme so thought a Iris Folded Cross would be good – well until I couldn’t find a template but the lovely Ruthie came to my rescue. I ended up drawing my own cross and used the pattern Ruthie sent me.

So here’s my card …

what do you think??

I’ve used the lovely Bella Bleu Designer Series Papers with Not Quite Navy card stock. I couldn’t help myself but use the Eyelet Border Punch as it is one of my favourites and just adds a touch of elegance.

I’ve used a build-a-brad for the centre focus on the cross and used the small flower from the Bella Blooms stamp set.

I have purposely left off a greeting. This way you could use this card as an Easter card or a Sympathy card.

I do hope you like what I have done – I suppose the Iris Folding looks OK but not sure I’d make too many using this technique.

Now its time for you to skip along to Lori’s lovely blog to see how she interpreted the sketch.

Good Morning!

Its Saturday once again – they seem to roll around very quickly these days!! So being Saturday its time for another Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge and here is the sketch from the lovely Carol.

I had my usual ‘mmmmm’ moment and then thought I could do flowers or trees or something male as its my Father in Law’s 95th birthday this week – talk about a long innings!  Then I remembered I had the Rustic Rooster in my ‘unmounted’ stash and I’ve so loved the cards that Lisa has made so thought I’d pop him together and make a card using him.

So I’d like to introduce you to Reg – my rather Rustic Rooster ….

Is he ‘rustic’ enough? well he’s pretty distressed I tell you!

I often admire Tanya’s cards and all the distressing she does so I went off looking for my handy dandy Cutter Kit and would you believe I couldnt find it??  Well I searched and searched and there it was in the little drawer I put it in last time I used it – so like hubby says “its always in the last place you look!”

I’ve only used the Rustic Rooster set, three coloured cardstocks and two ink pads.  Rustic Rooster is a level 2 Hostess set so you can only earn this by holding a Stampin’ Up! demonstration. I’ve also done my usual sponging as I so love the look – it just softens the edges of the project your working on.

Recipe:
Stamps: Rustic Rooster (Level 2 Hostess Set)
Paper:  Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Parisian Breeze DSP, Whisper White
Inks: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Accesories: sponge daubers, cutter kit, 1″ circle punch, 1 1/4″ circle punch, stampin dimensionals

I do hope you like this card as I did enjoy making it – even with all the little Emily interuptions wanting to know what I was doing! Anything to get out of cleaning your room hey??

Now dont forget to skip on over to Lori’s Live Love Laugh blog to see her wonderful creation for this sketch.

Have a fantastic Saturday and I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.

Yes its Saturday and time for another Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge! So here’s the sketch and Carol has given us an extra challenge and that is to use the Pretties Kit … I do so love my Pretties Kit and I was worried there wouldnt be enough ‘left’ to use on the card!

Now you may also ask … why is it a sneaky sketch?

Wellllllllllllll … I’ve snuck in a sneak peek for the upcoming Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue which starts on 1st April.

I just looooove this set!

I have loved just about everything I’ve seen created with it in USA as they’ve had it for a few months now and when I saw it was in the upcoming Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue I just about had a heart infarction!  I was so so happy – even it was the only set in the mini then I would have been happy!

I am very happy to say that there are many more gorgeous stamps in the new Mini plus some awesome new products so get on the phone or shoot me an email to book your demonstration in during April and be one of the first to see and feel the gorgeous new stuff!

The set I’ve used is the Vintage Vogue stamp set and I’ve also used the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel on the background.  The colours I’ve used are Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Creamy Caramel. I opted to put in the Pretties flowers in place of the vertical strip – hope Carol doesnt mind too much.

I do hope you like this card as I enjoyed making it so very much.

Now you can do the ‘Diva Skip’ and skip onto Lorie’s lovely blog and if you want to check the others out you can start at the Utah Divas International Blog.

Have a great ‘rest of the weekend’!

OOOO did you know that Easter is just 3 weeks away?? yup so you better get your lists to the Easter Bunny so he (or she) can spoil you this Easter. Actually thinking about it the Easter Bunny must be a ‘she’ cos could a he really be organised so well and get so many eggs to so many people at the same time? no I dont think so either!!

Firstly let me thank everyone for their messages and prayers for my husbands cataract surgery last week. He’s had some discomfort yet is amazed at how he can now see many things he just couldn’t see before. He still has to be careful with his eye and there is still lots of healing to be done. So please keep those prayers going.

Its Saturday again so that means another Sketch Challenge from the Utah Divas International group.

This one has many possibilities however as I have a Stamp A Stack on Monday and they’ve asked for ‘kids’ Easter cards I figured I may as well use the sketch for one of the cards.

I have also used my punches to create the ‘bunny’ and I followed the instructions by Amy Celona which you can find here.

As you can see there is minimal stamping on the card – just using the Egg Hunt Stampin’ Round and a Teeny Tiny Sentiment from one of the upcoming stamp sets in the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue which starts 1st April.

I do hope you like this card and I encourage you to ‘hop‘ onto the next Diva with her creation for this sketch which is Lori

Now dont forget to hop around all the blogs for the Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge Team.  You will find links to the next blog at the end of each post like I’ve done here.

Hello!!  Well I knew it had been a while since I’d posted but I had thought it was days rather than weeks! I am so sorry – we’ve had so much happening and I havent been 100% but now with super-charged meds I should be on the road to recovery – well lets hope so cos they cost $70!

Its Saturday so time for another Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge and another lovely sketch from the lovely Carol. I looked and looked at this sketch until I worked out what to do – I know its not a hard sketch but I wanted to do something a little different and this is what I came up with …

It suddenly dawned on me that I could do an Easel Card and I’d done one of these for Christmas but not for a general card and since I am now creating classes for Mother’s Day gifts I thought why not turn this into a Mother’s Day card!

It also happens to be my Mum’s birthday on 1st April so I can easily make this card into a lovely birthday card just by changing the sentiment!  Mum has always loved hydrangeas and has always had at least one plant of them in her garden if not a row of them! I am sure she’s had them at every house she’s lived in.

I love these Easel cards as they are so so so easy to make and when someone receives one they just ooo and aaah over them!

Now so you can see how they stand here is an image of the side view of the card when standing.

These cards flatten out for easy posting too – you might just have to include instructions on how to stand them up and show them off!

Now we are continuing with the Sketch round so now hop over to Lori’s blog to see what wonderful creation she has made this week.

Now my lovely husband has to go in for cataract surgery on Monday so I will be out at the hospital with him all day but will try to be back posting regularly again for you – I actually have some projects I havent posted yet so thats a good thing. If you dont mind please say a prayer for him (and me) on Monday.

It seems we’ve arrived at another Saturday and yes that means another sketch challenge from the lovely Carol. 

Simple enough hey? and look …. a circle!! I just had to use my Circle Scissor Plus for this challenge and I know I’ve done a few circles lately but I love that Circle Scissor Plus so much and it makes circles so so easy!

Here’s my first card ….

Yes you read that right … I did say ‘first’ card.

I love the Inspired by Nature Set and wanted to do a ‘grass’ card for a while and hopefully it has a bit of a manly feel to it.

I originally just had the En Francias stamp on the background layer but thought it looked a bit plain. Well my trusty Baroque Motifs helped fix that!

I do hope you like this card – I’m not totally sure about it.

Now while doing it I thought how nice it would be with the flowers from Inspired by Nature so I had to give it a go.

I’ve missed using my purples of late so grabbed them in the markers to colour the flower direct to the rubber of the stamp.

Its the same as the grass card but just in different colours and using the flower stamp.

I like this second card a lot more than the first however I do feel that some of that can be attributed to the use of eggplant and plum cardstocks and markers.

Now from this week we are doing something a little different with the sketch challenges. Usually I direct you to the Utah Divas blog for the other ladies on the design team however from this week there will be a link at the end of our posts directing you to the next design team member.

So without further a do I am happy to guide you over to Lorie’s blog. I met Lorie through Utah Divas group and since then we’ve become good friends – maybe its the passion we both have for stamping and chocolate – who knows!! Enjoy doing the rounds of the Utah Divas Sketch Challenge Team!

Thanks for stoppin by ….

Well here we are at another Saturday – at least today I’m relaxing after last weekend’s Saleabration Spectacular! Now being Saturday its time for another Divas Sketch Challenge!

Here is this week’s sketch ….

Carol was very nice to let me have last weekend off now wasnt she?? but I’m back into the sketches again and not to let the side down I’ve changed it a little – but what more could you expect from me??

I really struggled with the “least favourite colours” though … I just couldn’t work out what to do as I just love Stampin’ Up!’s colours so I went with some that I don’t use as often and hopefully that will be ok (at least I noticed the ‘extra’ in this week’s challenge this time!)

Here’s my card ….

Now not only did I use colours I don’t use often I also used a stamp set that hasn’t seen much ink!

Recipe:

Stamps: Party Hearty
Paper: Pacific Point, Gable Green, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
Inks: Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Gable Green, Versamark
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Pacific Point Striped grosgrain ribbon.

I do hope you like my card and please be sure to check out the other creations by the Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge Team.

Thanks for stopping by