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Artisan Design Team – A Floral Wreath to pack a Punch

July 5, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 6 Comments

It’s my absolute pleasure to be sharing another Corporate Post, as part of my Artisan Design Team year. The New Annual Catalogue is bursting with blooms, so I felt the need for a floral display piece. With time permitting, I love a project to get my teeth into and felt it had been a while since I’d made a Floral Wreath.

With so many punches that would create an abundance of blooms, it wouldn’t be long before I’d have a display to wow.

I used a mixture of colours, Punches and Dies that would offer a colourful display.

I always said that I’d have loved to have become a florist, well this project takes me as close to that role as I can imagine.

Creating the Wreath

It’s good to start a wreath like this with the larger flowers first. I made these flowers from the new Hot Air Balloon Punch (#149520). I created two from Flirty Flamingo (#141421) with Mango Melody Cardstock (#147013) and one from Petal Pink (#147009)/Basic Black cardstock (#121688). I used images from the Artisan Textures Stamp Set (#151278) with the same colour ink as cardstock to add some detail. A Bone Folder (#102300) will help you curl the balloon shapes into flower petals. Folding a strip of cardstock and snipping a fringe along the length of the fold line before curling, rolling and glueing will create the centre for you to wrap your petals around. A Hot Glue Gun is your best friend at this point. I actually used a sponge dauber for the middle of the Petal Pink flower. I inked it up with Daffodil Delight Dark Blends (#144585).

The Floral Essence Stamp Set and Punch Bundle (#151055) was used with the new Pretty Peacock In Colour Stamp Pad (#150083) to stamp on Pretty Peacock Cardstock (#150886). Two petal shapes stamped and stacked, glued onto similar Die cut shapes (found in the Magnolia Memory Die Pack (#149578)) create a great flower. A Clear Faceted Gem (#144142) coloured with the Pretty Peacock Light Blends Pen (#149538) completes this flower. You get a more natural finish if you crumple the flowers in your hands a little.

I spritzed a few Melon Mango Cardstock Scalloped Circles made from the 1 3/8” Scallop Circle Punch (#146139), stapled them together in the middle, before crumpling in my hand and assembling into little puffs. This helps to add a punch of vibrant colour.

The Daisy Punch (#143713) and the New Medium Daisy Punch (#149517) were used to create the Shimmery White Cardstock (#121717), Daisy Flowers. The fabulous Perennial Essence Floral Centres (#149442) look great in the middle of these flowers. Pool Party Cardstock (#124391) was a great cool choice to create the blue flowers. The Perennial Essence Floral Centres were again used here but were mounted on the spikey flower centres from the Magnolia Memory Die Pack.

Using Hot Glue, glue your flowers to your wreath base, before adding some green foliage. I used three shades of green, Granny Apple Green (#147014), Garden Green (#108605) and Mossy Meadow (#133683). The leaves came from a few different Die packs: Magnolia Memory, Frosted Bouquet Dies (#147895) and Tropical Dies (#146831). It’s just a case of adding where you feel they’re needed.

The whole project was finished off with a simple sentiment panel. I love this Wonderful sentiment from the Bloom & Grow Stamp Set (#149229) and being a rustic project, I felt it would be fitting stamped in Black Memento Ink (#132708) on Kraft Cardstock from the Magnolia Lane Large Specialty Memories & More Cards & Envelopes pack (#149487). A bow was added using the gorgeous 5/8” Organdy Striped Ribbon in Petal Pink (#149441).

I have absolutely loved creating this project to share with you and really hope that I have inspired you to get creative.

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Stampin’ Creative Blog Hop – New In Colours

June 27, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 2 Comments

We are talking In Colours today here at the Stampin’ Creative Blog Hop, so welcome and enjoy!

We have a colourful offering for you today, as we talk about the lovely New In Colours. Each year Stampin’ Up! introduce us to five fabulous new In Colours that join us for a 2 year period. Each year we say goodbye to five colours and welcome five more. There is always a departing colour that we’ve grown to love, but equally a few joiners, that we grow to love also.

For me, I pulled out a new Stamp Set called Wish for it All. There’s an image within it, that immediately sang to me. I cut a piece of cardstock that I stamped up using the Doillie shape with Versamark and heat embossed White. Once fully embossed, I cut into strips, just like one of the images in the set.

So far, my two favourite colours are Seaside Spray and Pretty Peacock. I love them both.

I loved the simplicity of this design and the simplicity of the Sentiment Panel. Clean and streamlined.

I really hope you have enjoyed my sharing with you today and that you’ll hop on over to the next participant of this hop to see more inspiration. The Hop list can be found below. Enjoy!!
The Stampin’ Creative Line up

Stampers Showcase Blog Hop – 3D Projects

June 24, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 6 Comments

Welcome to this month’s Stampers Showcase Blog Hop where this month we are taking things 3D with 3D Projects.

I’m sure if you’ve hopped on over from the blog of Deb Naylor, then you’ll have already been inspired, but I hope to inspire you further. Tomorrow I will be hosting one of my monthly Papercraft Classes in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire in the cafeteria of Dunelm Mill. Popping Up Above the Clouds this week, we’ll be making use of the new Hot Air Balloon Punch and coordination Stamps. 3D Projects and Cards are the variety of things that we create. At every class, All Day Event and Retreat, I leave the ladies a little table gift. I thought I’d share this week’s little creation with you as part of this hop. These gifts are token little gifts, sometimes food items, sometimes product based, but always present.

This week, I’ll be giving out these packets of Sweet and Salty Popcorn. I like the Sweet and Salty, for it’s neither too sweet, nor too salty. Our little gusseted bags are just perfect for treats of this nature.

These cute little Gusseted bags are perfect for parties and gift giving. Taking either a strip of Cardstock or Designer Series Paper, you can simply embellish these bags to the theme of your event.

Measurements to recreate

Take a strip of Cardstock or Designer Series Paper 2 7/8″ x 8 3/4″ scored at 1″, 3″ and 7 3/4″

Slide the cardstock or Designer Series Paper into the bag with a 1″ lip to the front and the other 1″ flap to fold over the top edge of the bag. You can then seal your treat bag in many ways, be it ribbon, a clip or a staple, the choices of embellishment are endless.

I have chosen to embellish the top with a Hot Air Balloon that coordinates with the projects we’ll be making.

Above the Clouds is a stamp set with a coordinating Hot Air Balloon Punch. You can also create the most fabulous paper flowers using this punch. It’s such a versatile punch, that even if this stamp set didn’t take your fancy, the punch might just.

I hope you have liked my simple little creation today and that you’ll be sure to click and see what the talented Annette Ball has in store for us.

Enjoy the rest of your day and the rest of the hop.

Products Used:

Shop Online with me and use my Online Club Code at Checkout to receive a FREE Gift from me the following month: MSCGVNAS

Purchase a Starter Kit: Choose £130 worth of products for just £99 and receive it postage FREE. For more details click HERE or get in contact.

Greek Isles Achievers Blog Hop – June 2019 Freestyle

June 17, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 16 Comments

A warm welcome my crafty friends to the Greek Isles Achievers Blog Hop, where this month we’re going Freestyle.

Freestyle always has me thinking of freestyle line drawing around cards, which I find a real whimsical look. I started to chew the cud over which set to use and immediately turned my hand to cows. Oh yes, Cows, that was it, Over the Moon. Team these characterful images with some whimsical freestyle line drawing and I was sure to create some fun cards.

Such quick and simple little cards that need no explanation, they’re just fun to make.

Two splodges from the Stamp Set, Love What You Do, make for the best cowhide.

Tip for a herd of Cows

If you’re wanting to create a little herd, then you’ll want to mix up the cows heads, otherwise, they’ll all look the same, with the same hairstyle. If you look at the cow with the horns here, you’ll see that I played surgery to stamping and cutting a second head like this and adding it to the body of the udder cow. Tucking him at the back beautifully disguised how it didn’t sit quite so well, but added variety.

If there is one thing I know, it’s that we’ll be partying ’til the cows come home on the Incentive Trip in a few weeks. I’m really looking forward to meeting up with Demonstrators from around the world.

I hope you’ll click through others who are taking part in this hop, to see what they are sharing today. There is bound to be a real variety of inspiration here.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by.

Shop Online with me and use my Online Club Code at Checkout to receive a FREE Gift from me the following month: MSCGVNAS

Purchase a Starter Kit: Choose £130 worth of products for just £99 and receive it postage FREE. For more details click HERE or get in contact.

Let’s Get Hopping #21 – One Sketch, Two Cards

June 17, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 12 Comments

We’re doubling the size of the Let’s Get Hopping Hop today, as we each offer One Sketch, but two cards. It’s going to be exciting to see how everyone interprets their chosen sketch.

I trust if you have joined me having hopped on over from the lovely Shelly that you’ll have been suitably inspired. I always love following her cheerful blog. It reminds me of my youth growing up on the coast. I’m now hoping to inspire you further.

I have chosen to take my Sketch layout from Mojo Monday (designed by Julee Tilman). Immediately I could see how I wanted to interpret this layout in two different ways, so set to work.

Birthday Card

With one sketch, my first card had me using a Stitched Nested Frame to represent the Square seen in the sketch. I decided that the ropes needed to sit behind to not interfere with the focal point. The Boat seemed the most fitting here.

With a sketch to follow, Its surprising just how quickly these cards came together. I do still wonder if the ropes should have been cut from a paler cardstock, like Sahara Sand?

Father’s Day Card

This next card was created entirely from Memories & More Cards. The base Green card came complete with the stitched label in the centre and formed the perfect backdrop. With something as tall as the lighthouse, it was ideal for the vertical element.

Cutting the Memories & More cards up, gives you more flexibility. I added a touch of Yellow highlighting to the lighthouse, to give the illusion of sun catching on one side.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this theme. One Sketch, but two cards and I believe here, two quite different cards that I hope you’ll like.

Hop on over now to see what one sketch Alicia has chosen and what two fabulous projects she is sharing. Enjoy!

Shop Online with me and use my Online Club Code at Checkout to receive a FREE Gift from me the following month: MSCGVNAS

Purchase a Starter Kit: Choose £130 worth of products for just £99 and receive it postage FREE. For more details click HERE or get in contact.

Artisan Design Team Blog Hop – Come Sail Away

June 13, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 11 Comments

Come Sail Away with the Artisan Design Team Blog Hop today as we are Sailing Home with some fabulous projects. Yes, today we are sharing everything that’s nautical.

I just know that my dear friend Manuela has shared a little masterpiece with you that I love. My creation is something quite different in colour and I hope you’ll like it.

I took inspiration from one of the patterned papers within the Designer Series Paper pack. It reminded me of the fashion designer, Ted Baker, which had me thinking.

I had received a box of socks at Christmas with some Ted Baker socks in. The box was a beautiful sliding box with a patterned interior, that I had to try to recreate.

Firstly I was determined to couple up our gorgeous new In Color, Pretty Peacock with Copper, so found my colour palette quite quickly. The outer sleeve of the box was made using the Pretty Peacock and the sliding section of the box, with Copper Foil.

I lined the interior of the box with the Come Sail Away Designer Series Paper. It was this paper that inspired this creation. The little bubbles from the Artisan Textures Stamp Set, worked so well with the die cut leaves here.

An acetate lid was created to help keep the contents of the box in place, whilst it was being slid into place. You could probably fit about 3 pairs of socks in this size of box.

Coordinating Card

A coordinating card would pull this gift set together, so I created a sleeve-like card using the same patterned paper. When you’ve such detail to the front, you really don’t want too much detail on the inside, so the internal card is very simple.

I coupled up the Textured Weave Ribbon in Gray Granite with this paper and added it both to the box slider and the card. It works well with this paper.

The cute Anchor and ships wheel embellishments come in silver. I inked them with Versamark and heat embossed them with Copper Embossing Powder. You need to be careful heating here, as the metal will get very hot. I used long reach tweezers to help me.

I really like the clustering of sentiment and nautical pieces for this card slider front.

Now I hope you have enjoyed my share with you today and I hope you’ll now head over to see what Narelle has to offer. I love her colour palette and choice of products too.

Have a great day!

Blog Hop Links

Stamping Sunday with the New In-Colours

June 9, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 9 Comments

Today we are introducing you to our beautiful new In-Colours. Stampin’ Up! add an additional five new on-trend colours, each year to our offering. These colours stick around for two years and this year’s joiners, are just beautiful.

I will miss Lemon Lime Twist and Fresh Fig, my former favourites, but I’ve already fallen for these five colours.

I will admit, at first I wasn’t too sure about these colours. A vast contrast to our 2018-2020 In-colours, but the more I’ve played with them, the more I love them. These Linen Ribbons for starters are just gorgeous!

I loved these little buttons from the new It Started with Art Stamp Set. I couldn’t resist but use them to create fun little wreaths to show off and celebrate each new in-colour. I used the Subtle Embossing Folder to add some texture to the cardstock here and teamed it up with a flash of Crumb cake. The Linen Ribbon coordinates so well with crumb cake.

We’ll be having these colours around for the next two years, so let me introduce you to each of these fabulous new colours.

Introducing the In-Colours 2019-2021

Purple Posy

A beautiful soft colour that’s ever so pretty and fresh.

Seaside Spray

A gorgeous clean blue that really is perfect for sky and water and those baby boy cards.

Pretty Peacock

A rich and regal colour that is fast becoming one of my favourite colours. A pastel lover who’s slowly being converted to the darker shades.

Rococo Rose

A beautiful vintage rose colour.

Terracotta Tile

I didn’t think I’d like this terracotta colour, but it’s earthy tones are just perfect with our wild animal stamp sets.

Each of these fabulous new in-colours blend so well with our already existing colours. As much as I have a favourite, they are all growing on me and I can’t wait to see how the others have used them.

I hope you like my introduction of these colours to you and that you’ll hop on to see what the others have to share. A full list of those taking part in this hop can be found below. Enjoy!

Free as a Bird – Facebook Live

June 7, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge Leave a Comment

During this week’s Facebook Live, I shared how I made the Swing Card that I posted here last weekend. I decided to team the fancy fold up with another new Stamp Set, Free as a Bird.

The Bird Ballard Suite is all adorable and very adaptable for male and female cards alike. I talked you through how to create the swing fold mechanism of this card, before adding the focal point of the birds.

The card base here is our brand new colour, Pretty Peacock. Oh, how I love this colour. It offers such richness and makes for a beautiful staple base. To balance out the richness, I teamed it with shades of brown – Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.

A few of my class ladies wanted some tips on how to use stamp sets that were random splodges, like Artisan Textures. I took this stamp set and added some interest to the sides of the focal panel. The random shapes and spots make for great ageing around a picture, just like you’d see on an old photo. Instead of using Black ink, I used our darkest brown, Early Espresso, keeping warmth in this colour palette.

After stamping the birds, I took our beautifully soft watercolour pencils to colour them in.

I had, unfortunately, die cut a very narrow frame, which was narrower than the mini Foam pads. Not being happy with this and my attempted resolve, I decided to remove all dimension to this after recording had finished and stick the frame flat. I much prefer it.

The sentiments in this stamp set are all just adorable and I love the mixed fonts they offer. These trinkets are adorable and give a lovely vintage vibe to your projects.

Of course, I had to use the Stitched Rectangle Dies. A firm favourite of mine.

Video Tutorial

The beauty of a Facebook Live is that you can watch Live at the time, or return to watch at a later date. I talk you through making the base mechanism of this card AND you’ll see my silly mistake, which I’ve not put right (we’re all human).

View my Facebook Live Video Tutorial HERE.

I’m now hosting weekly Facebook Lives on a Wednesday evening at 8pm Local UK Time with a different theme, card or technique each week. Occasionally our son Bertie, steps in to offer his ‘Kids crafting for Kids’, which he did last week. He did a sterling job and thoroughly enjoyed it. He is already working on his next project for you.

Pop a note in your diary and come and see what we’re up to next Wednesday.

Last night I uploaded an abundance of retired products to my dedicated Sale Group, where I’m honouring a Buy one, Get one FREE Sale. You place an online order with me and get to choose retired products to the same value, to receive for FREE, along with Free shipping of these items. All you pay is for your New Catalogue products that the postage of these from Stampin’ Up! direct to your door. That’s the same as being less than half price, with a few extra gifts along the way.

If you’d like to take a look and take advance of this fabulous offer, then click on the image above to be taken to my Online Sale Group page. I look forward to welcoming you in. The Sale lasts until Sunday evening, when it will close for me to collate everything.

There’s lots going on this week at The Crafty oINK Pen, but it’s been a great week of catching up. I’ve a whole host of new classes coming your way soon too.

Today the New Annual Catalogue Launches

June 4, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge Leave a Comment

It’s today that the New Annual Catalogue Launches and I am super excited to be sharing it. Back to back pages of fabulous inspiration for a year of crafting.

So I’ve recently been giving you some sneak peeks from this Annual Catalogue, but finally, the time has come, when I can share more. Click the image above to view a full PDF Catalogue. You can also click to view from the image in the sidebar to the right at any time.

Towards the front of the catalogue, you’ll find a new index of 29 fabulous Bundles, all offer a 10% saving when purchased this way. I’ve some firm favourites but I wonder if you’ll guess which they are? Above is the ever so gorgeous Free as a Bird Bundle from the Bird Ballard Suite.

Project Kits and All-Inclusive Kits can now be found at the back of the catalogue on page 200. There are some fabulous new kits here, that are just perfect for crafting whilst travelling.

You’ll also notice that we no longer carry Wood Mount Stamp Sets, but instead, Cling and Photopolymer. Both options use Acrylic Blocks and are compact for storing. Our new Cling stamps are super sticky and really stay put. I love them.

Our fabulous new Storage products can be seen on Page 161, along with our new In Colours on page 164. Every year we introduce 5 new colours that hang around for two years before being replaced. There are some beautiful colours here that combine perfectly with some of our existing colours. Can you guess my favourite yet?

Gift Code and Discounts

Use my Club Code MSCGVNAS, on orders placed through my online Stampin’ Up! Shop. You’ll then receive a gift from me the following month, as well as ongoing treats and benefits.

Of course, the best bundle in the catalogue is our Starter Kit. At just £99, you get to choose £130 worth of products AND receive no less than 20% Discount on ongoing purchases made thereafter (rules apply). If you’d like information about this, then I’d be happy to chat through how this works and the benefits to you … just get in contact. You can also read more information about this over on my Join My Team page. Have a shopping list that exceeds £99 and you’d like to buy your fully customisable Starter kit today, that arrives postage free, then click below.

Buy One, Get One FREE

Want to get a bargain? Then make sure you get yourself onto my Facebook BOGOF Page. What’s a BOGOF? It’s a Buy One, Get One FREE Offering. Having recently hosted my Annual Catalogue Launch Party and BOGOF event, I am now offering this Sale, online to those who couldn’t join me.

On Thursday evening this week, I will be uploading a whole host of pre-loved items that will be priced at their original sale price. Confused? You select items from my Retired offering and total up your goods. You then get to choose items from the new Annual Catalogue to the same value for FREE. This means you’re getting both items half price.

If you’d like to join in this Sale, then click on the image below to be taken to the group. Get yourself there and be ready to see what’s on offer and I’ll look forward to welcoming you in.

Finally, my customer’s catalogues are hitting the post as we speak, my second batch that is, but if you’ve not received a copy and you don’t already have a Demonstrator who supplies you with a copy, then do get in contact. With Creativity Calling, I’d be happy to get a copy out in the post to you.

Creation Station Unique Fancy Folds Blog Hop

June 2, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 3 Comments

We are sharing Unique Fancy Folds here at the Creation Station today and we hope you’ll hop along and enjoy.

My dear friend Kathy Kartak, who’s blog is before mine in this hop has, I’m sure, shared some fabulous inspiration.

The new Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper from the New Annual Catalogue launching this week, has the feel of Monet about it. These papers are just so beautiful that you could imagine them in a frame, painted by the famous French painter himself. With this in mind, I felt I wanted to simply take one of the papers and frame it.

I loved the colours within this sheet – Blackberry Bliss, Blueberry Bushel, Old Olive and So Saffron. The wash of colours together, resembled the new In Colour, Pretty Peacock, which is my new favourite.

I decided to share the Fancy Fold of a Swing Card. Nothing unique about this fold, but I wanted the focal point to swing through the picture frame, which I’ve not seen before. I wanted the papers to look like a piece of framed art.

To heat emboss the entire piece of Designer Series Paper, with clear embossing powder, gives the illusion of an oil painting. Stamp Versamark all over the paper and heat emboss clear repeatedly a few times, to create a lovely glaze.

Sadly the woodgrain papers are about to retire from the current catalogue, they are perfect for frames like this. You’d be wise to get your order in now before it goes.

The Fancy Fold

Firstly you want to create a standard card base and choose the aperture that you’d like to cut, to swing through. Here I chose to use the Stitched Rectangle Dies, which would work with the picture frame look I wanted. Using the various sizes, I then cut a frame for the aperture in So Saffron to help the picture pop, before adding the frame itself.

Inside the card, you want to cut an internal layer that leaves a border around your card and score it at 2″, 4″ and then cut it at either 6″ or 6 1/2″ if UK A4. Folding this as a concertina, you’ll stick the back layer to the back of the card and with the card closed, adhere the focal picture to the visible front fancy fold.

To enable this to swing by itself through the aperture, you’ll want to add a hinge to both top and bottom as shown. You’ll remove the adhesive strips of the hinges and close the card shut and press down for it to take hold in the right place.

Now add your centre focal point through your aperture to the adhesive strips you see through the aperture and embellish as you wish.

This is a very adaptable fancy fold that works well with many a shape of aperture.

Now hop on over to see what the lovely Sara Levin has in store for us with her Fancy Fold. She is bound to have come up with something fun.

Enjoy the rest of the inspiration and the rest of the weekend.

Artisan Design Team – A Floral Wreath to pack a Punch

Creating the Wreath

Stampin’ Creative Blog Hop – New In Colours

Stampers Showcase Blog Hop – 3D Projects

Measurements to recreate

Products Used:

Greek Isles Achievers Blog Hop – June 2019 Freestyle

Tip for a herd of Cows

Let’s Get Hopping #21 – One Sketch, Two Cards

Birthday Card

Father’s Day Card

Artisan Design Team Blog Hop – Come Sail Away

Coordinating Card

Blog Hop Links

Stamping Sunday with the New In-Colours

Introducing the In-Colours 2019-2021

Purple Posy

Seaside Spray

Pretty Peacock

Rococo Rose

Terracotta Tile

Free as a Bird – Facebook Live

Video Tutorial

Today the New Annual Catalogue Launches

Gift Code and Discounts

Buy One, Get One FREE

Creation Station Unique Fancy Folds Blog Hop

The Fancy Fold

Important Links

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Creating the Wreath

Measurements to recreate

Products Used:

Tip for a herd of Cows

Birthday Card

Father’s Day Card

Coordinating Card

Blog Hop Links

Introducing the In-Colours 2019-2021

Purple Posy

Seaside Spray

Pretty Peacock

Rococo Rose

Terracotta Tile

Video Tutorial

Gift Code and Discounts

Buy One, Get One FREE

The Fancy Fold

Instagram

Important Links

Subscribe to Blog via Email