Watercolour Wednesday with Best Thoughts

Hmm.. watercolours... it is definitely something that I would love to be better at.  So please join me on my journey of blog posts dedicated to watercolouring - to start with they will be monthly, but I hope to get better at this and share my efforts more frequently!  I love this medium, but have a lot to learn, so I hope I can make the mistakes, discovers some tips and techniques along the way so that you too can enjoy trying your hand at watercolouring!

So I have to admit that this card is not quite what I had planned for my first Watercolour Wednesday post - but then maybe that is because I am not an experienced watercolourist, and am just trying things out for fun - so please join me and do the same!!

I am adding this to the following:
Through The Craft Room Door -  Anything Goes 03/05/16 - 09/05/16

Stampin' Up! Materials Used:
Stamp set - Best Thoughts (this is a hostess set - you can still get this until the end of May if stocks last)
Ink Pads - Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
Card - Rich Razzleberry, watercolor paper
Other -  Aquapainters 

Best Thoughts Clear-Mount Stamp Set [138700]

Rich Razzlebberry Classic Stampin' Pad [126950]

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [126953]

Rich Razzleberry A4 Card Stock [119981]

Watercolor Paper [122959]

Aqua Painters [103954]

Masculine Monday with Sea Street

Hi, I hope you are enjoying the long Bank Holiday weekend - I have to say the weather has been very changeable here this last week - sunshine, rain, high winds and even some sleet and snow! Come on Spring where are you?!

Today I have a quick man's card to share with you.  Do you struggle with cards for men?  I know I do, so I have set myself a challenge to make one male themed card each week for a weekly blog post called "Masculine Monday" so wish me luck!

I am adding this card to the following:
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes 26/04/16 - 02/05/16
Craft Your Passion Challenges - #310 Anything Goes 

Stampin' Up! Materials Used:
Stamp sets - Sea Street, Something to Say
Ink pads - Night of Navy, Pacific Point, Real Red
Card - Whisper White, Night of Navy
Other - Circle framelits and punch, dimensionals

Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set [133988]	Something To Say Clear-Mount Stamp Set [134180]	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [126970]	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949]	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad [126951]
2-1/2" Circle Punch [120906]	Circles Collection Framelits Die [130911]

Simple Sunday with Everything Eleanor

Happy first of May, and happy Sunday!  Today is the start of one of my new weekly blog posts - Simple Sunday - showcasing a project that is quick and simple to make!

I made a bunch of these pretty cards using two quick stamped images, a small piece of Designer Series Paper (DSP) and some sequins.  I have used the gorgeous Everything Eleanor stamp set which is sadly retiring at the end of May, but you still have chance to add this to your collection.

I am adding this card to the following:
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes 26/04/15 - 02/05/16

Stampin' Up! materials used
Stamp sets - Everything Eleanor, Butterfly Basics
Ink pads - Soft Suede, Mint Macaron, Lost Lagoon
DSP - Botanical Gardens
Other - metallics sequin assortment 

Everything Eleanor Clear Stamp Set [124164]

Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Stamp Set [137154]

Metallics Sequin Assortment [138390]

Botanical Gardens Designer Series Paper [140583]

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978]

Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [138326]

So long, Farewell, Auf Weidersehen, Goodbye...

Yes, it's that time again - time to say goodbye to some crafty goodness that will no longer be available after the 31st May (or while stocks last whichever is the soonest).

Take a look here at all the retiring products so that you can catch them before they are gone! 

You might notice that the bundles of stamp and punch/dies sets offered in the current Annual Catalogue and Spring & Summer catalogue are being retired, but that does not necessarily mean that all items in the bundle are being retired - some are, but not all - I hope you can easily see how that is working, but if you have any questions please leave a comment and I will get back to you.  But even if the items are not gone forever grab them at this bargain price while you can!

Weekly Deals 13/04/16 - 19/04/16

It's the last lot of Weekly Deals, so catch these bargains while you can!  Available until Tuesday 19th April.

1" Square Punch [124094] £14.50 £10.88	Bear Hugs Framelits Dies [140275] £24.00 £18.00	Brights Sequin Assortment [138389] £4.50 £3.38	Calypso Coral Thick Baker’S Twine [138412] £3.25 £2.44	Celebrate Today Photopolymer Stamp Set [137138] £24.00 £18.00	Classy Designer Buttons [138393] £5.50 £4.13
Crazy About You Photopolymer Stamp Set [137137] £23.00 £17.25	Essence De Rose Photopolymer Stamp Set (French) [141105] £24.00 £18.00	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [133645] £6.00 £4.50	Peaceful Pines Photopolymer Stamp Set [139728] £23.00 £17.25	Rose Wonder Photopolymer Stamp Set [140697] £24.00 £18.00	Rosenzauber Photopolymer Stamp Set (German) [141107] £24.00 £18.00
Suite Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [140712] £19.00 £14.25	Watercolor Words Photopolymer Stamp Set [138702] £23.00 £17.25	White Perfect Accents [138416] £4.50 £3.38

Butterfly Basics - vintage/ice cream colours

I had great fun with the Butterfly Basics stamp set and some butterfly dies and other bits n bobs!  I made several cards, some just in a different colour scheme, others with slightly different elements (ribbon, die cuts, jewels, pearls...)  but I love this one as the colours are just so pretty/vintage/ice-creamy!

Yet again I have used one of my favourite pinks - Melon Mambo - only downside of that one (and Blackberry Bliss) is that the inks do make a mess of your fingers! And they also stain your photopolymer stamps, but as long as you clean them properly this does not affect the colours you stamp next.

I am adding this card to the following:
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - #123 Anything Goes with a Twist - Add some pearls
A Bit More Time to Craft - #17 Anything Goes 
Cupcake Inspirations - #353 Photo Inspiration my inspiration was the pretty colours 

Stampin' Up! materials used:
Stamp sets - Butterfly Basics, Gorgeous Grunge
Inks - Melon Mambo, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Old Olive
Dies - Bold Butterfly framelits, Butterflies thinlits
Ribbon - Mint Macaron dotted lace trim
Card - Whisper White A4 thick cardstock, Vellum
Embellishments - pearls   

Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Bundle [138865] Gorgeous Grunge Clear Stamp Set [130517] Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad [126948] Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [126953] Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad [126976] Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974] Bold Butterfly Framelits Dies [138135] Butterflies Thinlits Dies [137360] Mint Macaron 1" Dotted Lace Trim [138424] Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments [119247]