Hopping Around the World Blog Hop - Flowers

Hi Crafters,

I'm back for another Hopping Around the World Blog Hop.  We are an international group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who share inspiration on the last weekend of every month.  This month our theme is Flowers.  Be prepared to feel the flower power as you hop along with us and if you've come from Rebecca-Jo's blog, you are on the right track!

Just before my niece was born I had an overwhelming feeling that she would be a girl (nobody knew the gender) and her name would be a flower but I didn't know that both of those would come true!  Poppy was born in 2015 and she is the light of my life!  Anyway, the reason for my story is to introduce the Painted Poppies Suite.  I was absolutely delighted when I first saw this suite in the Stampin' Up! January-June 2020 Mini Catalogue.

I started by created the poppies using the Poppy Moments dies and some scraps of watercolour paper that had been used to dab up excess Melon Mambo Pigment Sprinkles.  I then cut the layers in Pumpkin Pie and Night of Navy for a contrasting look.  I added the leaves in Mossy Meadow to complete the bouquet.  The background was created using the Handwritten Background stamp which is stamped in Night of Navy ink.  I used the Stamparatus as this is a large stamp and I wanted a really good impression and stamping the image several times in the same place is really easy with the Stamparatus.  I haven't added a sentiment yet as I'm still undecided on the occasion but I think this would fit for multiple celebrations. 

Okay, how about a bonus card?!  I had some leftover die cuts and I didn't want to add to my ever growing pile so I put this super simple card together using only die cuts - no stamping!

The card blank is made from Basic Black cardstock and then I adhered a Whisper White border die cut from the Delicate Lace dies.  I created the poppy using the Poppy Moments dies in Poppy Parade cardstock.  I added a layer of Wink of Stella glitter to the outline layer of the poppy.  The sentiment was cut three times from Whisper White cardstock and then once from Silver Foil and comes from the Well Written dies.  

I hope you are enjoying your hopping journey featuring our flower makes.  To keep hopping, head to Jennifer's brilliant creation next.  If you get lost there is a full list of the blog hop participants below.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x


Blog Hop List

1.      Claudia Christensen (D)

2.     Rebecca-Jo Unwin (Australia)

3.     Rachel Macleod (UK) ***You are here***

4.     Jennifer Downey (USA)

5.     Mo Rootes (UK)

6.     Sandra Herzog (AT)

7.     Margriet Siekman (NL)

8.     Melanie Igelbrink (D)

9.     Maï Chapelain (France)

10. Susan Simpson (UK)

11.   Maureen Rauchfuss (USA)

12. Sheila Turner (Canada)


Product List for Card 1

Poppy Moments Dies [151594]	Handwritten Cling-Mount Stamp Set [152063]	Pigment Sprinkles [149663]	Stamparatus [148187]
Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612]	Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock [133683]
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577]	Pumpkin Pie A4 Card Stock [108601]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]

Product List for Card 2

Poppy Moments Dies [151594]	Delicate Lace Dies [147053]	Well Written Dies [148534]	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688]	Poppy Parade A4 Cardstock [121694]
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Silver Foil Sheets [132178]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]

Hopping Around The World Blog Hop - Favourite Stamp Set

Hi Crafters,

Welcome to the second blog hop from the Hopping Around the World team.  We are an international group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators and this month we are sharing our favourite stamp sets.  You're on your way to much more inspiration and have hopefully landed here from Rebecca-Jo Unwin's post.  

I had such a hard time choosing a favourite!  Then the Leave A Little Sparkle stamp set just called out to me and I knew it was the winner!  I have created three cards featuring my favourite stamp from the set.  I've also used my favourite patterned paper - See a Silhouette Designer Series Paper.  I can't make a card without my favourite glue from Tombow either!  

I stamped each of the unicorn images in Versamark ink directly onto the See a Silhouette DSP and then heat embossed in white.  I stamped the unicorn again on printer paper and fussy cut so I had a mask to protect my image.  I squeezed some ink from the Craft Stampin' Refill which is almost like a thick white gel.  I added water with a Stampin' Spritzer and then used a paintbrush to splatter each of the pieces of DSP. 

I finished the green version by roughing up the edges of the DSP with the edge of my Paper Snips.  I attached a piece of vellum cardstock which was stamped in Garden Green ink using a sentiment from the Stargazing stamp set as this perfectly co-ordinates with the unicorn image on the galaxy background.  I added three small white stars from the Twinkle Builder punch to hide some liquid adhesive behind the vellum.  I left the top right corner unglued and curled over for added texture.  

The blue version was the easiest and quickest as I simply added some white stars from the Twinkle Builder punch and left the card sentiment free.  I would add an appropriate die-cut sentiment before mailing.  I love the variations in colour in the background on this card.

The final design was a little bit more adventurous!  I embossed the front of the card blank using the Swirls and Curls embossing folder.  I cut the DSP on an angle to create a "tablecloth" style layout.  I added die cut words from the Well Written dies in silver Glimmer Paper using liquid adhesive.  You could definitely add more bling with gems or sparkly stars.  

I've used so many of my favourites in these cards and I can't wait to see what everyone else has chosen.  To keep hopping, head to Jennifer Downey's post to be inspired.  If you get lost, you can continue to hop along using the list below and don't forget to let us know your favourites too.  

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

1.      Claudiasecke (D)

2.     Rebecca-Jo Unwin (Australia)

3.     Rachel Macleod (UK) ***You are here***

4.     Jennifer Downey (USA)

5.     Mo Rootes (UK)

6.     Sandra Herzog (AT)

7.     Margriet Siekman (NL)

8.     Melanie Igelbrink (D)

9.     Maï Chapelain (France)

10. Susan Simpson (UK)

11.   Maureen Rauchfuss (USA)

12. Sheila Turner (Canada) 

Product List

Leave A Little Sparkle Cling Stamp Set [149292]	Stargazing Cling Stamp Set [149295]	Twinkle Builder Punch [146321]	Well Written Dies [148534]
Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder [147923]	See A Silhouette Designer Series Paper [149443]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	White Vellum A4 Card Stock [106584]
Silver Glimmer Paper [146960]	Versamark Pad [102283]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]
Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill [101780]	Stampin' Spritzer [126185]	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755]

Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer Catalogue Launch - Favourite Five

Hi Crafters,

I hope you've all had a fabulous festive and are raring to get into the new year.  It's the most wonderful time of year for Stampin' Up! demonstrators and customers.  It's Sale-A-Bration or SAB for short!  For every £45 you spend between now and 31 March, you can earn a free Level 1 product.  If you spend £90, you qualify for a Level 2 product for free which includes a co-ordinating die set.  To view the SAB catalogue, simply click on the SAB image in the right-hand sidebar.  Here are a few of my favourites but I would love to know your favourites.  Leave a comment on this post or send me a quick email if you have any questions.    

Not only can you earn products for free but Stampin' Up! have also launched their Spring/Summer Occasions 2019 catalogue which is bursting with amazing products for all kinds of projects over the next few months.  An electronic version of the catalogue is available in the right-hand sidebar but if you would like a paper copy, please send me an email with your postal address and I'll pop one in the post to you free of charge.  

Now onto the new products!  I've whittled it down to my Top Five but there are so many more to collect.  These are in no particular order because I couldn't choose between them!

Well Written Thinlits Dies (24 dies)

(Item Number - 148534)

These dies also co-ordinate with a bumper stamp set called Well Said which features 51 cling stamps.  If you purchase any bundle you'll save 10%.

Family and Friends Stamp Set (40 photopolymer stamps)

(Item Number - 148698) 

Beauty Abounds Bundle (13 cling stamps and 20 dies)

(Item Number - 150617)

Needlepoint Nook Designer Series Paper (12 sheets of 12" x 12")

(Item Number - 148807)

Amazing Life Bundle (17 photopolymer stamps and 13 dies)

(Item Number - 150624)

This bundle is a great starter for anyone new to die cutting.  However, the dies and stamps can also be purchased separately.  If you are interested in individual items, I've listed each item and bundle in the supply list below.  

Please let me know your favourites.  I'm sure I'll discover many more in the coming months.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x


Product List

Well Said Cling Bundle [150609]	Well Said Cling Stamp Set [148796]	Well Written Framelits Dies [148534]	Family & Friends Photopolymer Stamp Set [148698]
Needlepoint Nook 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [148807]	Beauty Abounds Cling Bundle [150617]	Beauty Abounds Cling Stamp Set [148726]	Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies [148536]
Amazing Life Photopolymer Bundle [150624]	Amazing Life Photopolymer Stamp Set [148750]	Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies [148551]