Blog - Page 3 of 62 - The Crafty oINK Pen

Happiness Blooms with Stampin’ Up! Classes

February 13, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 2 Comments

Happiness Blooms in my Stampin’ Up! Classes, as the ladies all get creative and inky. This past week I have been hosting my monthly paper craft classes where this month we were using the Happiness Blooms suite for a spot of Retro prints. Bold, Bright and bubbling with happiness, these prints were sure to raise a smile.

Something quite different and away from the softer palettes, which made a change.

A spot of fussy cutting of these flowers and leaves and a little flower arranging. Many of the ladies went off piste and changed up their paper and the layout of their cards. I encourage this, as it shows the confidence that the ladies have gained in attending my classes, to create something unique to them.

This Gatefold Card uses the same amount of Cardstock and is the same size as the former card, but opens quite differently. A pretty little card, held together with a tied ribbon.

Finally a little Gift Box and the ladies were given the choice of papers for their box lid. Bold and bright, you were sure not to miss this gift. I love that dotty stamp image at the base of the Gift Tag.

If you’d like to join in a class of mine, then I’d love to welcome you. I host my classes both in Spaldwick, Cambridgeshire, a little village just outside of Huntingdon itself and within Dunelm Mill, Huntingdon. At different times of the day and week, there’s sure to be something that’s likely to suit. You can always check out my Events tab, but be sure to check back, as I’m always updating it.

Hoping you’ll join us one day.

Sale-a-Bration Coordination – FREE Painted Seasons

February 12, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge Leave a Comment

The Artisan Design Team recently shared with you a full blog hop of Sale-a-Bration coordination products. Today I share some more of the Painted Seasons with you and a few samples CASED from the Concept Artists at Stampin’ Up!.

From 15th February, we receive yet more items to the Sale-a-Bration offering. The Painted Season’s Stamp Set and Papers will be available as a Level 2 Freebie and are just gorgeous.

During Sale-a-Bration, which lasts until the end of March, you can earn FREE Stampin’ Up! products with a qualifying spend. Spend £45 and you can choose one Level 1 item, spend £90 and you get to choose either 2 level 1 or one level 2. Painted Seasons Stamp Set and Papers are available as a Level 2 FREEBIE and will be available in the offering from the end of this week.

These cards have been CASED from the Stampin’ Up! Concept Artists, who designed the cards for our flyers. To CASE is to Copy and Share Everything. In the crafting world there is no shame to CASE, but to give credit is of course, expected … and only right. Our Concept Artists design some fabulous pieces and here they are showcasing the beautiful papers within this suite.

This suite takes you through all seasons, from Spring, to Summer, Autumn, to Winter. Fabulous papers that you’re sure going to fall in love with.

Don’t you just love these mushrooms and toadstools? I adore this paper.

Just look at this gorgeous wintery paper, isn’t it gorgeous!

Come 1st March and you’ll be able to purchase the Dies to coordinate with this suite, but all items will be available for a limited time only, so be sure to get yours before you miss out. You’ll kick yourself.

Get these Products NOW

Sign up for a Starter kit right now and you can add all of these items to your Starter Kit. Ask me how and I’ll happily explain.

Don’t forget that a Starter Kit right now is worth £170 and sells for just £99. Spend another £26 pounds and you can have a fabulous Tote bag included. We’re half way through Sale-a-Bration, so you’ll not want to miss out. Get that starter kit before it’s too late.

Be prepared for these gorgeous new items, available from 15th February.

Le’s Get Hopping #17 Simple Stamping

February 7, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 13 Comments

I’m sharing some Simple Stamping with the Let’s Get Hopping team today. The Incredible like You stamp set is a fabulous set for Simple Stamping and I shared some other cards with you recently. You really don’t have to think too hard to create something quite incredible.

Linda Handford has just shared some fabulous inspiration and if you’ve hopped on over from her, you’ll have seen that. I hope to give you yet more inspiration.

I took this set and saw something in the simple little leaf. Turn it upside down and sit two together and you have yourself a heart. I absolutely adore the images in this set and how you can create some great abstract cards for it. Teamed with some Lovely Lipstick ink and a solid black base and you have yourself some simple stamping for sure. A really quick little Valentines card, but one that packs a loving punch.

These bold stripes frame the sentiment and hearts beautifully. You really couldn’t get much simpler than this card that I feel I’m being slightly insulting sharing it. However, I share a perfect little Valentines card and share some love with you.

Adding a little something to the inside of a card, helps pull everything together.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little share with you today and that you’ll look at your images in a different light.

Now hop on over to see what the lovely Shelly Wadge has to share with us.

If you’ve been considering starting this fabulous creative hobby, then I hope this card has inspired you to get started.

Creation Station Blog Hop – Share What You Love

February 3, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 9 Comments

A warm welcome to the Creation Station Blog hop this February, where it’s all about Love. Share what you love was the guideline for this month, so I turned to the stars.

Firstly if you’ve hopped on over from the lovely Linda van Wely, then you’ll have already fallen in love with her inspiration. The Twinkle Twinkle suite seemed the most fitting suite to use for todays hop.

I’ve been meaning to get this stamp set inky and this seemed the most fitting occasion. Two different cards, one similar vibe. This first card I created using Watercolour paper with a swish of colour, before heat embossing Silver. I love how banners can look so different depending up on how pointed you make the points.

Subtle Sentiments

A vellum banner allows you to add a sentiment, without hiding what’s going on beneath. It’s a very subtle way of adding a sentiment, without the banner taking over. Don’t you just love these little Twinkle Adhesive Backed sequins?!

To share what you love for me, would mean sharing my love of anything stitched. These Rectangle Stitched Die Frames are just gorgeous and you’ll be sure to get a lot of use out of them. A matting layer that’s been embossed and a layer of the Petal Pink Designer Series Paper and I was ready to add the sentiment.

Do you see how I’ve added a shooting star? The silver baker’s twine comes in two colour ways, the Petal Pink or Pool Party. Both are gorgeous. I wanted the stars to shine, but I didn’t want a bright foil star. The gentle shimmer of glimmer paper was just perfect. The little treat holder was just something that I made with some left over patterned paper and the envelope punch board. Something to take a couple of special chocolates or a token gift perhaps.

I hope you have liked the inspiration that I’ve shared with you today. Do continue with the hop to see what Tanya has in store.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sale-a-Bration 2019 - Mikaela Titheridge, Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, The Crafty oINK Pen. FREE Products with a qualifying order.

Stampin’ Up! Artisan Design Team – Sale-a-Bration Coordination

February 1, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 25 Comments

Welcome to yet more inspiration by the Artisan Design Team as we share some new Sale-a-Bration Coordination products.

A whole host of new products are about to be added to the Sale-a-Bration offering, which is in full swing. We not only have items you can obtain for FREE, but also new Sale-a-Bration Coordination items to buy. These items will be available during February, for Demonstrators to pre-order and available on 1st March otherwise. You can always add them to a Starter Kit in February if you wanted.

These items will be available for a limited time only, so you won’t want to miss out. You are absolutely going to love the new additions but I know that others will too. This really is the best time to stock up on your cardstock, ink refills or other essentials to earn the FREE products.

I’m sharing a gorgeous new Stamp Set and Die combo with matching Papers, Painted Seasons. This bundle is fabulous and compliments so many stamp sets that you may already own. It teams particularly well with Christmas and Autumnal sets. Taking you through the seasons, there is something to use all year long.

The papers have caused quite a stir amongst my fellow Artisan’s who can’t wait to get their hands on them, so I know they’re going to be a popular Sale-a-Bration choice. Two sided with geometric designs on one side and floral/foliage prints on the other, there’s sure to be something you’ll like.

My mind was bouncing around with so many ideas for these beautiful papers, but I decided to use the soft hues to show how to tone down some of the bold prints.

Inking up and adding variation in colour using a sponge dauber was where I started. The Die set comes complete with duplicates of the leaves, making it so much easier to die cut two and three leaves at a time. The Stamp Set will be another FREE Sale-a-Bration choice starting 15th February and the Dies, a purchasable item from 1st March. Of course Demonstrators, will be able to pre order these from 1st February though.

A heap of leaves on the desk turned to this simple little wreath, before adding a vellum banner that’s a gentle addition. Hard to cover up the papers, but the subtle edge seen, is so very delicate, that I love it.

This paper seemed a little bolder, but I loved how the Grapefruit Grove and vellum layer, again toned it down. A customer had recently told me of her up coming Retirement, which had me thinking. New beginnings and regeneration are often thought of when you think of a Pine Cone. This card would be suitable for both a male or female retirement and offers something quite different. A beginner crafter could easily create something beautiful with these and also an avid crafter alike.

I’m not normally one for fussy cutting, but these beautiful flowers were screaming out to be cut. Trimmed down and staggered in heights, I added some die cut leaves to create a corsage. Such a delicate feminine card, I felt that it needed this scolloped trim to expose more of the paper. If you were new to crafting, you could create some stunning cards with these papers with just a sentiment.

The Products Used

Painted Seasons Stamp Set and Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper Bundle – available for FREE with a qualifying order from the Sale-a-Bration offering.

Four Seasons Dies, available to purchase from 1st March (1st February on pre-order for Demonstrators)

I absolutely love how not only the stamp set, but the papers take you through the seasons. Year long use, you’ll be wanting to stock up on the papers which will be FREE with a qualifying order.

I really hope you like my offering today and that you can see the beauty in these gorgeous products like I and the other Artisan’s can. Take a look at what Narelle has to share with us today.

Stampin’ Creative Blog Hop – Simple Stamping

January 31, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 6 Comments

It’s the first hop of the year for the Stampin’ Creative Team and we’re doing a spot of Simple Stamping. This year we’ve made a little change to our schedule and will now be hopping on the last Thursday of the month. We hope you’ll still hop with us, as we continue to share in the same manner that we have done previously.

Today we are taking things back to basics and thinking Beginners Stamping with a spot of Simple Stamping.

There’s nothing more satisfying than when you’re able to create a fabulous card with just Ink, Stamps and paper. No fancy tools, just a clever eye to see something different perhaps, or a fabulous stamp that’s the focal point and needs no more.

Here I’ve used Incredible Like You a stamp set that coordinates with one of our Project Kits. This set is perfect for simple stamping, with both sentiments and images and a few random shapes too.

I’ve taken the colour combination of Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie and Granny Apple Green to create this set.

I started with the randomly stamping the leaf shape down the left hand side of the card front, adding a few flower heads to add a pop of colour. A quick sentiment and a few strategically placed sequins and it was done, other than a little extra stamping to the inside.

It’s amazing how less is more here and I love the white space. I love the abstract feel of this card.

Adding additional interest

You can still keep stamping simple with an additional layer. Here I split the front layer of whisper white and repeatedly stamped the stripes to form a bold edge. Lifting up the remainder of this panel gave depth.

Dressing up the inside of a card, pulls the eye in and adds that finishing touch. With a straight edge to the front, I decided on a ragged edge to the lines on the inside.

A dauber and some ink would create a very similar vibe, but the set has a dot which I used. Keep it simple and allow the colours to do the singing.

Well I am so glad that I am friends with the other girls within the Stampin’ Creative Team. They are all fabulously talented and I’m sure will continue to inspire you. I hope I’ve managed to inspire you to look at your sets differently or perhaps give stamping a try. These really have been created with just Stamps, Ink and Paper and a few minor embellishments (sequins and twine).

If you’re working your way down the list, then you’ll be hopping over to the lovely Kim Fee next, she has a wonderful style.

Thanks for hopping today and be sure to check out this stamp set and it’s coordinating Project Kit. Kits are a fabulous way for a beginner to get started.

A Butterfly Duet with Emma Goddard, UK Artisan

January 29, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 7 Comments

You know when something has been popular when it’s close to being unorderable. This evening I bring to you a hop with a difference as I duet with Emma Goddard, the other UK Artisan, to showcase the amazing Butterfly Duet Punch.

The Butterfly Duet Punch has been so popular that we’ve way exceeded predictions. It thankfully is still available in the UK, but stock levels are at a minimum. Many other markets have already sold out. Emma and I have decided to showcase a few projects for you this evening, in the hope you’ll see what others have.

Just take a look at this beautiful butterfly image. You can create the most stunning and life like butterflies with no end of colours to suit your project. Here I chose a rather bold colour palette and teamed it with an emboss resist technique.

The butterfly stamp comes with both butterflies linked together, so that you can punch the duet out together. It’s fabulously time saving.

Emboss Resist

For my emboss resist card, I did take a pair of scissors to my set and separate the duet. I hear gasps, but they are so easy to reunite. I stamped the image using Versamark and heat embossed white, before sponging over with Coastal Cabana Ink. I loved the pop of Mango Melody in the sentiment. A variety of fonts, adds interest which I love.

The Butterfly Botanical papers from the Sale-a-Bration flyer are just beautiful and FREE with a qualifying order. I particularly love the black and white images, which allow the butterfly duet embellishments to sing. I’ve used an Alcohol Blends Pen in Bermuda Bay to colour thin strands of the Whisper White Flax Ribbon. I’ve then used these for a tassel style card pull.

Pull on the tassel to write your sentiment. The little wooden elements are another FREE Sale-a-Bration choice. Again ink up using the Alcohol Blends and you can make them the colour of your choice to coordinate with your project.

The tag was something that I made using some off cuts and a left over butterfly on my desk. Such a beautiful suite and a fabulously versatile stamp set and punch. You can always rely on a butterfly to disguise any happy mistake.

Now fly on over to see what the fabulously talented Emmas has in store for you this evening. I just know you won’t be disappointed.

Don’t forget, if you want to order this punch, you can save yourself 10% by ordering as a Stamp Set and Punch Bundle. Don’t delay though .. order today as estimated arrival of new stock is mid March.

Stampin’ Up! Butterfly Gala Papercraft Class

January 26, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge Leave a Comment

This past week saw my first batch of paper craft classes back for 2019. We started the year with a new set, Butterfly Gala, which offers a coordinating Stamp Set and punch. I hosted this class four times this last week – three times in Spaldwick here, just outside of Huntingdon and once at Dunelm Mill, Huntingdon. It was great to be back crafting with the ladies.

I wanted a fresh class to start the year with and turned immediately to the new Gingham Gala suite. This suite is so fresh and delicate, that it had to be used. A butterfly punch can cover a multitude of things and embellish many more.

Generally speaking we make two cards and a 3D item in my classes. One card is always a little more stepped up, so there is something for all abilities. Experience is not necessary, as I guide you through the projects and also leave my ladies to work through various elements.

The ladies arrive to a specially prepared kit pack and a little table gift, which this time was this little chocolate favour.

The first card we made was this tent card, trimmed with the gorgeous Grapefruit Grove Gingham Gala Designer Series Paper. I then had the ladies use the Baby Wipe Technique to stamp the butterflies, giving them a gentle mottled effect.

It makes a change to stamp the sentiments using Night of Navy, rather than Black Ink. I think the Navy added an element of warmth and was less harsh.

A card I made a long while back, gave me inspiration for this next card and a stepped up fancy fold. The clever bit is on the inside, with a pop up panel for a butterfly in flight.

I love the different design details of the four different butterflies in the Butterfly Gala set. I’ve used a different image for the Table Favours.

Such a simple little table favour, made with just a 6″ x 2″ strip of Designer Series Paper. It’s a lovely way to show off another colour or pattern from a pack of papers.

Get the Butterfly Duet Punch before it sells out

This Bundle is just gorgeous and ever so versatile. In fact it’s been so popular that you’ll want to buy this punch before we runs out of stock. This punch and the Cake Builder Punch have been so popular since launching. Due to manufacture delays and shipping constraints, both of these items will not be back in stock until the end of March/beginning of April once they do sell out.

Would you like £170 worth of products for just £99?

I’ve listed below all of the products used to create these projects. If your wish list is close to £99, then you’ll be wise to check out the current Starter Kit offer. Choose £170 worth of products and still pay just £99!! Its an amazing joining offer and I’ll happily chat with you about it. There are no catches, just plenty of discount and opportunities.

Supplies used:

Stampin’ UP! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop – Forever Lovely

January 17, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 25 Comments

Hello crafty friends and welcome to the first Blog Hop for the 2019 Artisan Design Team. Excitement has been brewing behind the scenes as we all nervously get ready to share our creations with you. I share this journey with 15 other fabulously talented ladies who I know will inspire us all with their creativity. I am beyond excited at the year ahead I have with these girls and I hope you’ll join me on this fabulous journey.

Today’s Artisan Hop is featuring romance and flowers and boy is there some wonderful variety amongst the Team.

Co ordination is something that Stampin’ Up! pride themselves on and the two bundles in this suite go head in hand with each other. The All my Love suite of products are just gorgeous and I can honestly say there isn’t an element that I dislike.

A detailed heart like this beauty from the Be Mine Stitched Framelits, just had to be used. Peeping out from behind the sentiment panel the heart anchors this card. This sentiment fits beautiful in the Everyday Label punch that I’ve added.

Single Flowers using the Lovely Flower Edgelit Die

Die cut single flowers can be achieved by cutting the various floral die shapes and carefully snipping out the size/shape of flower of your choice. I introduced colour with the flower and leaves from the Lovely Flowers Edgelit Die set. Knowing that I love our stitched products, it probably comes as no surprise that I love the little stitched scalloped edgelit that I’ve used here.

I loved the Forever Lovely Stamp set the moment I read this sentiment. My husband and I always say that we’ll love each other “Forever and a day”. It makes me smile.

Soft Sea Foam, coupled with Lovely Lipstick and Crumb Cake give a harmonious balance. Take look at this adorable little striped heart and gorgeous scalloped, stitched heart framelit to match. I loved the simplicity of this particular card achieved using the Meant to Be Bundle.

Special gifts need special embellishments achieved by cutting a belly band and repeatedly die cutting the edgelit on both sides. These little Kraft Pillow Boxes are the perfect size for little trinkets or chocolates for the love in your life.

I hope you’ll share the love this coming February and I hope you’ve enjoyed what I’ve shared with you today. I look forward to sharing more with you throughout the year. The rest of the Artisan Design Team Blog Hop now awaits you.

It gives me the greatest of pleasure to direct you over to the blog of Narelle Farrugia, an extremely talented lady based in Melbourne, Australia. She is sure to inspire us all.

If you like what you’ve seen today, be sure to say hello in the comments, we’d love to hear from you.

Blog Roll Artisan Design Team 2019

Angela Meiritz-Reid Ashley Van Camp

Stampin’ Up! Artisan Design Team 2019 get started

January 16, 2019 by Mikaela Titheridge 6 Comments

“You’ve been selected to be on the Artisan Design Team for 2019” were the words I heard down the phone. It was an unexpected phone call that had me squeal with excitement and shed tears of happiness. Pinch me somebody … Was this really happening?

In a matter of hours this dream really becomes reality. The first Artisan Design Team Blog Hop for 2019 goes live tomorrow and I’m filled with nervous excitement. I don’t know why, but I guess it’s because I care and I want to inspire.

Following the formal announcement at Onstage, there has been a lot of behind the scenes preparations for our January start. Stampin’ Up! introduce the new Artisan Design Team Members on the Stampin’ Up! website at the start of each year with a little write up and photo. Thick with cold, fresh home from Orlando, Jet lagged and still giddy with excitement it was my only time to capture it.

Oh my … I never realised just how camera shy I can be when the focus is on me and me alone. Yes, that may come as a surprise to some, but I’m fine in a group, but become incredibly nervous when not. You only had to see my body language when I walked out on stage in Orlando, to see just how nervous I was there, but that was in front of 7,000 other Demonstrators.

Yes, giddiness took over. I’d not seen hubby for a good week and here we were thrown into taking photos before he jetted off on a business trip of his own. Back to back business trips, but I know mine was way more enjoyable … whoop whoop!

The Final Photo …

The question is … Did we ever manage to capture something remotely suitable for the Stampin’ Up! website? Quite different from the others, but hopefully capturing my personality … yes we did. This is the incredible line up of talented Designers that I have the pleasure to be with. Already I am getting to know these wonderful ladies and so hope that one day we’d be able to all meet in the person. I was fortunate enough to meet 6 of the ladies in Orlando and already know Emma, the other UK Artisan. I’d still love to meet the remaining girls and congratulate them in person on their achievement.

So who am I? …

I’m Mikaela Titheridge and I live in Spaldwick, a village just outside of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, UK. My greatest cheerleaders are my husband, Graham and our 8 year old son called Bertie.

I was first introduced to Stampin’ Up! by someone I got talking to in an online chat room, whom I’m still in contact with. Using the Demonstrator Finder on the Stampin’ Up! website, had me find a local Demonstrator when I first moved to this area. This gave me a crafting outlet with other like-minded people who would soon become friends.

A former Air Hostess for British Airways, I decided to take voluntary redundancy following the birth of our son, born some 10 weeks prematurely. It was this redundancy money that paid for the log cabin that is now my Craft Studio.

I’ve been a Demonstrator now for 7 years, but have loved everything crafty since being a little girl. I started papercrafting greetings cards when I was flying, seeking out every craft store I could find around the globe. Craft workshops I attended had me hooked. I’ve hosted Classes and Retreats locally in Huntingdon and at home for as many years as I’ve been a demonstrator. I share my passion to inspire others teach them how to get the most out of their products.

I’ve shared my passion with others, many of whom have chosen to join my team and earn discount from their purchases. Seeing the enjoyment that Stampin’ Up! brings, gives me great satisfaction. I’d urge you to do the same if this remotely interests you. Stampin’ Up! is a fabulous company to work with and it’s opened up so many opportunities for me. I’ve earned three Incentive Trips (Mediterranean Cruise, Alaskan Cruise and the Greek Isles) and travelled to Brussels, Amsterdam and Orlando. This multi millions dollar company, has broadened my friendship circles massively and I take what life has to offer me by sharing this. The rewards stretch further than just papercrafting products.

Tomorrow’s first Artisan Blog Hop together has me living a dream that I only ever thought would be a dream. It’s my greatest achievement within my Stampin’ Up! journey and an incredible honour that I’ll cherish. We teach our children to do their best and strive for their dreams, so why shouldn’t we? No one is popping this bubble … but join me you may.

The 2018 Artisan Design Team Members will of course be a hard act to follow. Their inspiration over the past year has been incredible and the bar has be set high. I hope you have enjoyed getting to know me a little and that you’ll pop back tomorrow afternoon to see what we have in store for you.

You can read more about the amazing Starter Kit offer that there currently is HERE. If you’d like more information then be sure to get in contact and if you’re ready to sign up now, then click on the Join my Team link above. I’d love to share my passion with you.