Time Ladies Please....

or last orders which ever is the phrase used by the pubs in your area...

Tonight is the last chance you have to order any of the gorgeous things you wanted from the Spring Mini!!!

While some things may make it to the new catalogue in October nothing is guaranteed so you need to make the most of the last couple of hours to email me if you would like anything. Also this is the last chance to grab yourself a pack of Designer Series Papers for free (with all orders over £45). there are 4 designs to choose from and these can be seen lower down on my blog.

Pop back tomorrow for some hopping around blogland to look at the gorgeous things we have all been making with our pre-order stash and a new deal for anyone wishing to sign up as a demo.

Oh how I wish we could have a lock in too lol

Till next time... Happy Crafting

Better late than never....

It's a late post from me today. It's been so hectic here today. My youngest had his first morning at nursery today! He looked so cute with his 'special school bag'. Here he is trying it on for size.

 We're off..... Closely followed by my Dad. Caiden was so happy to be going to school like his sisters at last.

 It wasn't all about the kids though. We celebrated my Mums 60th (belatedly, as the actual event was last weekend) and this is the card I made for her. It uses Stampin Up's treat cups which I decided to fill with paper roses. Mum loves flowers and I knew she would like this better than flowers as she will be able to keep this forever.

 Arty angle of the flowers ....

 This picture shows the roses in close up. I had this idea floating around in my head for a while and was pleased with how it turned out.

Mum was pleased with the card too and had to ask if I had bought the centre piece from a store.... As if Mother!!!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. we are off out to dinner tomorrow so the celebrations continue.

Till next time.... Happy Crafting

Re-inkers with a difference...

Have you ever wondered what else you could do with those little bottles of colour gold? Last months class was all about techniques with re-inkers and I have to say it was the messiest class I have done in a long while but also the funniest.
We explored several different techniques...
This card uses the 'shaving foam' tecnique and is like the old 'marbling' we used to do in school with a tray of water. Using the shaving foam means your card doesn't get too wet. Each piece of card will have an individual pattern.

 Here is a close up of the background so you can see the pattern better. The fish were made using punch art.

  This card uses re-inkers to create a Polished Stone background. It uses rubbing alcohol which means you can keep working the ink until you are happy with the result. It's hard to show just how pretty it looks on camera but it's well worth trying.

 This final card uses a technique called 'smooshed inks' and has to be the hardest to master but one of the best results. Again it's hard to see the full effect in a pic but you end up with a fabulous finish and again each piece will be unique.

 Arty angle close up of the background... See how it shines!

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the lovely things you can do with those rather inocuous looking bottles. If you would like to know more about these techniques or any others then please don't hesitate to get in touch. Any demos out there who would like to teach these techniques get in touch and I will point you in the direction of instructions.


Till next time.... Happy crafting

Take one bunny....

and an overactive imagination and you end up with this....

I saw the mummy bunny over on Monica's Blog and knew that I had to make one for myself.
 The main body of the mummy bunny uses the oh so popular Top Note Die which closely resembles the Decorative label punch.... Eh Voila! Baby bunny was born.
Both Mummy and baby were popular at a recent Bigshot class and mini retreat weekend.

If you would like to make your own bunny or learn more about making 3d items please contact me for a list of upcoming classes.

Ribbon Sampler

I admit it I'm a ribbon fanatic and even more so since I discovered the wonderfull ribbons in our Stampin Up catty. Not only are they gorgeous ribbons they colour co-ordinate perfectly.

Unfortunately as good as the pictures are in our catty, nothing is the same as 'stroking' ribbon. You need to feel the texture and the quality, see how they lie or tie into bows...
 I had a fun morning yesterday making a ribbon sampler so that my customers can see each and every one of the ribbons we have in the catty. 

 This picture shows all the ribbons we have in the main catty just now and I will add new ribbon samples as they come in.

Each type of ribbon is on its own clip so it can be removed from the main ring for closer inspection. The picture above shows the 1/4" grosgrain.
Apologies for the picture quality but someone forgot to tell the weather we are in the middle of a drought and the rain is just pouring down here, which doesn't make for good lighting.

If you would like any of the ribbons featured in our catty or would like to know how to create wonderful bows for all occasions then please contact me for upcoming class details.

Bloggy Hugs

Busy. Busy....

While I've not been blogging as much as I would like I've still been a busy bunny and now I have 5 mins to myself I thought I should show you some of the deliciousness that has been coming from my room of craft recently...

This card is from my recent all day class at Stamford...

This card is a version of one I saw on Pintrest. Unfortunately it had been repinned with no connection to the original creator so if this card resembles something you did then Thank-you. 

A close up shows how the circles are embedded into the Very Vanilla by running the whole piece through the Bigshot using the Lattice Embossing Folder. This is a great technique and really adds something special to your cards.

If you would like to know more about this technique or just how much more you can do with your Bigshot then get in touch about upcoming classes.

Join me tomorrow for more scrummyness.

Bloggy Hugs

New Promotion.....

It's the end of SAB for another year but not an end to the lovely FREE goodies you can get from Stampin Up.

For the month of April you can earn a FREE set of selected Designer Series Paper with all orders over £45. You have the following papers to choose from....

                                                               Berry Blossoms(mini)

                                                              Beyond the Garden (main)

                                                                  Nursery Nest(main)

                                                               Pocketful of Posies(mini)

These papers are just gorgeous and even better when they come for FREE. The papers from the mini will be going at the end of this month while the papers from the main will stay untill 1 Oct this year. However the chance to get them for FREE ends on 30th April so don't delay.

To place an order just email me stampinmermaid@hotmail.co.uk.

Bloggy Hugs