Blog - Page 3 of 58 - The Crafty oINK Pen

Sharing some Christmas Cheer

September 5, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge Leave a Comment

The School holidays have now come to an end and my time freed up to updating you better. I am sharing some Christmas cheer with you as the Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue has launched. A few suggestions below on what I think you might be interested in and a few offers of my own.

To thank you for helping my family experience Alaska this summer. Our trip was totally amazing and we’ve returned with some wonderful memories. To thank you and to help us earn the next trip, which I’m getting ever closer to, I’m offering some specials.

If you shop with me in person or online throughout the month of September, you’ll receive a gift from me. Gifts are based on a single transaction and can not be combined. Gifts will arrive separately at the start of October.

There is lots to choose from, which you’ll see by clicking on this catalogue image …. but be warned … it’s addictive and you’ll need a cuppa in your hand.

Here are just a few suggestions that you might find useful.

Santa’s Workshop for Card Making and Memory Keeping

Santa’s Workshop Memories & More Card Kit is a fun Memory Keeping kit that’s so versatile that you’ll find it hard to choose what to do first with it. Scrapbook and keep those treasured memories throughout the month of December or create some fun cards to send.

Are these not just the most fun cards?!

You can shop directly through my online store, 24/7. Click SHOP / SHOP ONLINE above and don’t forget to use my Club Code at checkout and use up any Bonus Day Vouchers.

Enjoy the festive fun and look out for the direct links to the Christmas Catalogue tomorrow.

Home Decor SU Blog Hop August 2018

September 3, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge 10 Comments

Welcome to the Home Decor SU Style Blog Hop, where each month we share a creation that’s a Home Decor piece. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this August hop is a little later than normal, but sit back and enjoy what we all have to share.

I’ve been having a play with some new products from the Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue and combined them with the Pop on By Bundle. We’re still in summer here in the UK, but it won’t long before the darker nights will draw in. This had me thinking … and this Home Decor project emerged.

Think of moving into a new home through the festive season and this would be the perfect gift. I created the main Pop up House and just like designing a home, I added Grey Cladding, a tiled roof and painted the front door Cherry Cobbler. Oh I had fun. The Corrugated Embossing Folder from the new catalogue was perfect for the cladding.

This house either sits just down a snowy hill, or there were snow drifts to cause massive dunes at either side.

It’s a rustic house with all the imperfections that a regular house would have, but I liked it. It was a fun project and hanging on a wall, this would give a great little impact and a great big smile.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed what I’ve shared with you today. Don’t forget to take a look at what the others have in store for you.

Creation Station and the Power of the Punch

September 2, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge 6 Comments

The Creation Station Blog Hop design Team are bringing you the Power of the Punch this month. Lots of inspiration using Punches – Boy you’re in for a treat.

School Holidays are drawing to an end and on Wednesday, our son starts back. It’s been a fabulous summer having had lots of fun. His Bicycle has played a big part of his enjoyment this summer, zooming around the garden at great speeds.

Returning to school after so many weeks, can bring about anxieties yet children often forget the things that they have mastered. Independence comes from riding a bike and is a massive achievement and I had this as my focus for an encouragement card for him.

The Triple Banner Punch, which can also be used to banner the end of sentiments, makes awesome chevrons. Angular shapes often work well for boys cards and the images within the Stamp Set, En Route are perfect for boys too.

Banner Punch Chevron Tip

Insert your chosen width of cardstock (I’ve used 1.5″) and punch. Without removing the strip of cardstock, push it in to the end and punch again, repeating as many times as you like. Beneath, resembles the chevron pieces that you see used here.

This simple note card was inspired by the Orla Kiely pattern often found on pottery and fabrics. Repeatedly stamped images and some punched shapes can produce simple and effective cards. It’s often good to look at the random shapes that are generated as part of a Builder Punch. The eye mask from the Fox Builder Punch reminded me of leaves.

The power of the Punch can bring about fast results and can be taken away for holiday crafting. Take a look at what Kerstin Kreuzer has to share with us, I’m sure she’ll offer yet more tips, tricks and inspiration.

Enjoy the rest of the hop and if you’re in the UK, the last few days of the summer holidays. Thanks for stopping by.

Stampin’ Creative Blog Hop of Sneak Peeks – Halloween

August 25, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge 6 Comments

Welcome to this month’s Stampin’ Creative Blog Hop, where this month we’re sharing a whole host of Sneak Peeks from the Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue. With the new Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue to launch early next month, it only seemed right to share a few sneak peeks with you. This catalogue offers products for Thanks Giving, Halloween and Christmas.

Halloween isn’t a big thing in our house, although I do tend to offer out decorated Treats at the door each year. Having a boy, I have a feeling that the Bat Punch will come in handy, so I had to purchase the Spooky Sweets Stamp Set and Punch Bundle.

It somehow feels too soon to be moving away from summertime colours, but I have to say, I really quite enjoyed playing with these colours. Gray Granite is currently my favourite new go to colour, which I’ve used here as the base for the sky.

The misty image within the set, makes for a great effect of whispy clouds, that I stamped both in Whisper White and Gray Granite. A Wink of Stella adds a great little shimmer to the moon and another layer to this otherwise simple little card.

Darling Label Punch Tip

I used the Darling Label Punch for the sentiment, punching it once and then reinserting it to reduce down the size with a second punch. This effect can be achieved with a few different punches. To help you re-insert a small piece of cardstock, it’s helpful to attach it to a post it note, which acts as a handle.

Halloween equals treats in this house … so I couldn’t not create a little little treat box using the new Take out Thinlits to coordinate.

I do love a sweet treat box and these are super easy to cut and assemble.

Well, I hope I’ve given you a sweet taster of a few new products soon to be available. Make sure you now head over to the blogs of the other girls to see what they have in store for you.

Enjoy the weekend

Stamping Sunday Blog Hop – Darling Label

August 12, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge 6 Comments

A warm Sunday welcome to the Stamping Sunday Blog Hop where this week we are showcasing the Darling Label. This set comes complete in a gorgeous tin with Inks and a versatile Stamp Set. The designers here at Stamping Sunday are going to share some ideas for creating with this gorgeous set.

With so many pretty stamp sets, Masculine cards can often be found quite difficult to create. You’ll find that keeping it simple will help create clean simple lines that give that air of masculinity. Stripes are also a sure winner for this, which was why I chose this Designer Series Paper from the Tropical Escape set.

Is this Shaded Spruce colour not just a gorgeously rich Green colour? … I love the pop of Granny Apple Green to lift it … If you know me well, you’ll know that Green is my favourite colour, so I’m probably bias.

Double layer Tip

Stamp the image from the Darling Stamp Set twice on different coloured card stock and punch out. Trim one label down and you can layer alternative colours over certain words you’d like to highlight. I’ve even added banner ends to make mine stand out more so. A simple little trick and a great way to use up scraps. The white on the gorgeous Mango Melody, has been heat embossed to bring strength to the white.

In this second card, I’ve added a wash of Mango Melody using an Aqua Painter before stamping the sentiment. You must let it dry first, or the colours will bleed though. When I first saw Mango Melody, I honestly couldn’t see me using it, but as a pop of colour, I love it.

A quick treat pouch using a single 6″ x 6″ sheet of Designer Series Paper and another way of using the Darling Label set. Stamp the one image for a background and another on a banner to add with Dimensionals.

I hope you’ve enjoyed what I’ve shared with you today and that you’ll consider buying the Darling Label set now you’ve seen a good few ways of making the most out of it. Don’t forget to hop around the others to gather together some more inspiration. Have a great weekend and enjoy hopping.

List of Hop participants

Earn Bonus Days Vouchers on every purchase of £45 made during August (before P&P) and spend your vouchers during September.

Creation Station Blog Hop – Abstract Impressions Gift Card / Box

August 5, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge 20 Comments

Welcome to this month’s Creation Station Blog Hop where we are sharing a whole variety of stamp sets. Our theme is Artistic Expressions and I couldn’t think of a nicer set to share than Abstract Impressions.

If you’ve joined the hop here then welcome and if you’ve hopped on over from the lovely Sara Nell Langland then I’m sure you’ve already been spoilt so some great inspiration already.

I am about to share some inspiration using Abstract Impressions and two cards from a recent class of mine using this set. It’s a gorgeous set that anyone can use. From the new comer to the avid crafter and you’ll equally create some beautiful work.

Don’t you just love this sentiment? I can think of so many who I’d sent this card to to cheer up right now. I adore these randomly stamped flowers. Petal Pink and Calypso Coral, either stamped with first generation ink, or second, having stamped off first to lighted the colour.

This set offers 3 Step stamping. I love how you can rather randomly stamp the layers and still create a beautiful looking flower. You really don’t need to be an artist or even the best stamper for this set.

See how the sentiment is two tone in colour? This is so easy to achieve.

TIP

I inked up the sentiment in Garden Green, before stamping off once and re-inking just the bottom line. This gave a two tone effect, using the same colour. Such a simple little touch, but one that I think adds a real sense of flair.

The opening for this box is really quite interesting and offers something a little differently. A great little box for those trinket gifts that come wrapped in tissue paper.

Add some DSP to the outside of the box and a ribbon and you’re well on the way to a beautifully embellished gift box.

Well I hope I’ve inspired you to get two and three step stamping and creating some beautiful flowers with this effective stamping technique. Before you head off to put the kettle on, hop on forwards to see what the lovely Kerstin Kreuzer has to share with us today.

Happy hopping and thanks for hopping by today. Do leave us a comment if you like what you’ve seen. It always helps.

Bonus Day Vouchers – Get your 10% discount vouchers

August 1, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge Leave a Comment

This month Stampin’ Up! are offering us all Bonus Day Vouchers. Vouchers that offer you a 10% discount voucher to spend in September.

For the whole of August, you can earn yourself Bonus Day Vouchers. For every £45 you spend on products (before postage and packaging), you’ll earn yourself a £4.50 Bonus Days voucher. Collect as many 10% discount vouchers as you like in August and redeem them at anytime throughout September, when the new Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue will have launched.

Your voucher codes are emailed to you and should be kept safe for use in September. It’s a great way of saving on your festive purchases or on going staples. Do you need to stock up on Cardstock or Adhesives, need to change those blades on your paper trimmer? Then add these items to your basket today.

Earn More!

Shop online with me and use my Club Code at check out and you’ll also receive a bonus gift from me next month too.

You’ll also receive a FREE copy of the Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue, posted direct to your door.

Colour Your Season for a Limited Time

August 1, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge Leave a Comment

New Limited Time Products from Stampin’ Up! Colour Your Season is a fabulous new bundle thats available from Stampin’ Up! for the month of August 2018 only.

From 1st to 31st August 2018 and while stocks last, Stampin’ Up! are offering you a Limited Time offering of some fabulous new products. Colour Your Season is a beautiful new produce suite that offers versatility. Creatives can use this set throughout the seasons and it includes images for Christmas too.

Save 10% when buying this Bundle

You can buy the Blended Seasons Stamp Set alone, or these fabulous stitched framelits but better still, there’s a 10% discount when purchased as a bundle.

Blended Seasons offers beautiful lined imagery that is great for colouring. Whether you choose to use your Stampin’ Blends, Inks and Aqua painters or Water Colour Pencils, you’ll create a masterpiece every time.

Add to your Water colour collection with this fabulous pack of 10 gorgeous new colours. Team these up with a blender pen and you’ll really have yourself a beautiful blending experience.

Now I love my watercolour Pencils and I love colour, so for me, these are a must have purchase! … These pencils MAY be available in a future publication, but there is no guarantee, so avoid disappointment and add them to your shopping cart today.

If you’re ready to place your purchase, then head over to my shop and place your order today. Remember to add this month’s club code at check out and I’ll send you a little thank you in the post the following month.

What’s Better?

Place your order and earn Bonus Day Vouchers to spend in September. For every £45 you spend (before P&P) you earn a £4.50 Bonus Day Voucher to spend with me in September.

I can’t wait to get my hands on these gorgeous new Watercolour Pencils alone. Will you add these to your collection?

Stamping Creative Blog Hop – Animal Outing Masculine Card

July 28, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge 4 Comments

Welcome to this months Stampin’ Creative Blog Hop, where we are sharing a real selection of inspiration with you. This month I decided to use the Animal Outing Stamp Set that we were given at OnStage back in April. I set to creating this Masculine Birthday card for you.

Sometimes we can look at our pattern papers and consider them only feminine, with no masculine options. The Tropical Escape papers are very floral or offer leaves and such like, but this bold black and white paper within, is a welcome escape from florals. This pattern looked perfect for this masculine Birthday Card and to team with this cute Rhino.

I so wanted to use a bold colour for this card and decided upon Bermuda Bay for the card base. This allowed the bold Black and white to stand out. The Rhino himself, was coloured using Stampin’ Blends, which are great for creating depth and shading.

Delighted with the Leaf punch, when it was introduced, I just find it useful for easy embellishment and tucked a few behind the simple sentiment, which I’ve heat embossed with Whisper White Embossing Powder.

Hey, look at this cute little tree frog inside. Who said that the inside had to have a sentiment? A picture is just as perfect to raise a smile.

Not too slushy, not girlie with it’s embellishment or colour, but still fun to make, bold and ideal for any age.

Well, finally my Animal Outing has had it’s outing and been inked up and I’m loving it and plan on using it more, so watch this space.

I hope you’ll hop around the rest of the girls blogs for yet more inspiration. There will be a real selection this month of products used.

Thanks for hopping by.

A New Christmas Catalogue and Giveaways

July 22, 2018 by Mikaela Titheridge Leave a Comment

… as we set Sail for Alaska

I couldn’t have achieved this amazing trip to Alaska, without the continued support and encouragement of my customers, followers and Team. My Thanks go out to you all for this. We’re only two days in and we’ve already received an abundance of giveaways, but yesterday was the big one! Yes, yesterday we were given our own copy of the New Christmas Catalogue.

Who’d have thought it? Christmas in July? Well, these are just some of the perks of being a Demonstrator. We get to see the up coming catalogues ahead of their launch date and for us Alaskan Incentive Trip Achievers, it was yesterday.

A spot of bedtime reading or on deck dreaming was just perfect for a day at Sea. Oh that and taking a look at all the fabulous and super generous Giveaways. General Session started yesterday with an immediate All Attendee Giveaway of this gorgeous Textured Impressions Corrugated Embossing Folder. How useful is that? Turn whatever colour cardstock into corrugated shapes and matting layers. Genius!

Check out the mad frizzy hair achieved by sticking your head out on deck in the wind. Hey … I really didn’t mind yesterday, when I knew that we were going to see some of the fabulous new products from the soon to launch Autumn/Winter Catalogue 2018.

On 1st September the Seasonal Christmas Catalogue launches to customers, but from 1st August, Demonstrators get the opportunity to pre order and get playing. We Alaskan achievers were fortunate enough to have been presented with an abundance of goodies yesterday from this catalogue. I won a gorgeous new Stamp Set and even hubby was presented with a drinks bottle to acknowledge his support of me. Stampin’ Up! really do know how to recognise us.

Do you see anything here that takes your fancy? Perhaps the fabulous multi tool at the bottom? … or the gorgeous Speciality Designer Series paper? I earned the punch for simply spinning a wheel at Stamper’s Base Camp, which we visit daily for gifts and treats.

Pillow Gifts keep coming and I’ll share those later, but needless to say, we’ve had a mix of products and other branded goodies to wear, use and enjoy!

If you’d like to get playing early with some of these fabulous Seasonal Products, then you’ll want to sign up as a Demonstrator right now. There is an amazing offer on until the end of July, that you’ll not want to miss out on.

Choose an entire colour family of inks for FREE when you buy your Starter Kit this month. Spend £99, choose £130 worth of products, plus your favourite colour family of inks and have delivery FREE to your door! What more could you ask for for £99? …. Advanced ordering from the Autumn/Winter Christmas Catalogue and 20% off of all products ordered between now and the end of December, which means you’ll also have advanced viewing of the Spring/Summer Catalogue and the Sale-a-Bration offering. SERIOUSLY it couldn’t be a better offer and with no forfeits if you didn’t reach your £270 sales target by then.

Thank no more, choose that ink family and get signing up today. I’d love for you to join my friendly crafting community.

I’d look forward to welcoming you and having an amazing crafty time together.

Sharing some Christmas Cheer

Santa’s Workshop for Card Making and Memory Keeping

Home Decor SU Blog Hop August 2018