April 2020 – Crafting with Ashee

Animal Outing – Kangaroo Card – Stampin’ Up!

This fun card features the Animal Outing stamp set. I am sad to say that this set and the matching dies are retiring on 2nd June 2020. This is the first time I’ve used this set and I am so glad I have before it retires.

As you may know, my mother’s family are South African. Some of the family though have left SA to go to Australia. This card reminds me of them as well as a dear school friend who is living in Sydney. I’ve coloured the image in using the Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blend alcohol markers as well as the colour lifter. It turned out well I think.

I am trying to use up my stock before it retires. The green here is Call me Clover and the pink is Lovely Lipstick. These are both part of the outgoing 2018 -2020 in colours. If you love these as much as I do them I would urge you to stock up on supplies now.

measurements

Call me Clover A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Whisper White – 14.35cm x 10cm
Call me Clover Designer Series Paper (DSP) – 13.85cm x 9.5cm

other projects

I hope you are all doing well. Unfortunately, I am still struggling a little. I am determined to keep on posting on my blog though every week. What are you doing to keep your spirits up? Crafting is good for me, in particular colouring and painting. I can lose myself in the movement of colours on the paper and they way they mix.

Thank you for visiting. I really do hope you enjoy my projects and that I can give you some ideas for your own personal crafting. As always the supply list and video tutorial are below. Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Up in the Clouds – Stampin’ Up! – Card Tutorial

Sometimes I think, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to fly, to be up in the clouds and free from all the worries down on earth. It is nice thought but not really possible. I made a card with hot air balloon instead to compensate. I hope you like it.

The stamp set here is called Above the Clouds and has the matching hot air balloon punch. Unfortunately, this set is retiring on 2nd June 2020. If you like it then please get it now before it sells out. You can view the full retirement offering on in my shop.

I love all the blues in this card. They are Night of Navy and Seaside Spray. Thankfully we are losing neither this year. I have used the Stampin’ Blends to colour everything in. You may notice the blends are on the retirement list but don’t worry they aren’t going away. Instead of selling them singularly we are only going to sell the duo pack. This means you can get perfect shading everytime.

measurements

Night of Navy A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Seaside Spray – 14.35cm x 10cm

The retirement list went live on 22nd April. As always I am excited to see the new catalogue but sad to see some old favourites retiring. I’ve marked out all my retired items in my catalogue and will be pulling them from my shelves to make space for new goodies.

other projects

I hope you’ve enjoyed this card and thank you for stopping by. The video tutorial and supply list are below. Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Pineapple Punch – Everything Amazing

I have this bright and cheery birthday card using Pineapple Punch. I’ve not used this colour at all. It retires on 2nd June and I wanted to start to use some of it up before it goes into my stash.

This stamp set doesn’t stamp the image in this jet black way. The image is not coloured in so don’t think you have done something wrong when you stamp it and it doesn’t look as above. I used my black Stampin’ Write marker and journaling pens to colour the image in. It took a little time but was worth it I feel.

I’ve stamped on designer series paper (DSP) instead of my normal whisper white. This is the DSP from the 2018 -2020 in-colours that retire in June. I think the black against the pineapple punch is quite striking.

There is added interest in the background from the brick and mortar embossing folder. I am rediscovering my love of embossing folders and will try to use them more in my crafting. I also love enamel dots and so have gone enamel dot mad on this card. They add an extra something to the card.

measurements

Pineapple Punch A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Whisper White – 14.35cm x 10cm

What types of projects are you finding yourself doing? Are you making happy, jolly cards or more classically elegant ones? Let me know in the comments below.

other projects

I hope you enjoyed this project and thank you for dropping by. The supply list and video tutorial are blow. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Flying Balloons – Under Umbrella – Stampin’ Up!

I have this fun card to share with you today. The flying balloons are carrying the wayward umbrella with them. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. It is so bright and full of joy.

I’ve kept to the primary colours here which keep the card simple and bright. This card just uses punches. I love punches as they make for quick and easy crafting.

The umbrella is coloured in using the Seaside Spray Stampin’ Blend alcohol markers. It is so cute!! It matches the blue in the balloons as well. I haven’t blown up balloons in ages. It would be fun to blow them up and decorate the house with them, something fun to cheer us up.

measurements

Night of Navy A6 cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Whisper White – 14.35cm x 10cm

I used the eyelet embossing folder to give some interest in the background. I haven’t used embossing folders in ages and wanted to change that. They are an easy and simple way to add extra interest to a card.

other projects

I hope you enjoyed this project. Thank you visiting. The video tutorial and supply list are below. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!!

Ashee xx

Product List

More and More Thank Yous – Ornate Thanks

I have another thank you card to share with you today. I seem to be making more and more thank yous at the moment. This card uses the Ornate Thanks stamp set. I love the big & bold sentiments.

The designer series paper (DSP) is called Perennial Essence. I loved this paper when it came out and I have only used it ONCE!! Bad me!! I’ve used it again today and I still love it. It is so pretty and floral. I’ve cut a strip into the three smaller strips so that it looks like you are seeing the scene through a window.

The pinks in the DSP are Flirty Flamingo and Petal Pink and I used these again in the cardstock and ink so that the card feels harmonious.

Measurements

Thick Whisper White A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Petal Pink – 4.7cm x 10cm
Petal Pink – 3cm x 11cm
Whisper White – 2.5cm x 10cm
Perennial Essence – 4.2cm x 9.5cm

I am glad that we seemed to be blessed with good weather. It is so much more pleasant to look at a sunny garden that a dreary wet one. In the UK we have now been on “lockdown” 5 weeks and it is becoming, unfortunately, more normal. We are coping ok though I do find it hard not being to drive to the next village for a walk in the fields. I am so grateful that I have crafting to keep me busy and sane in the mean time.

other projects

I hope you enjoyed this project. Are you crafting? I would love to see your projects. You can share these in my FaceBook Group. The video tutorial and supply list are below. Thank you for visiting and until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Ornate Thanks Card – Stampin’ Up!

This card features the Ornate thanks stamp set to make my ornate thanks card. The Ornate Garden suite of products has just been released. It will be in the new catalogue that launches in June but you can buy this suite early which I think is a special treat in the current circumstances.

This card is totally heat embossed using white embossing powder. I can you I made an absolute mess with the powder when I made this. There was powder everywhere. I didn’t manage to get into the pot very well. There was a silver lining as it meant I cleared my whole desk and gave it a good clean for the first time in longer than I care to admit.

I want to try and make some more thank you cards in the next few weeks. I am going to give this to staff in Waitrose and Tesco which are the two supermarkets I use the most. There are a couple of staff I know as they are always at the self-scan area. I use the scan and shop as I don’t want to lift the shopping any more than I have to. I have a repetitive strain injury in one arm and a frozen shoulder on the other. A thank you card would be nice for my postie too.

measurements

Thick Whisper White A6 Card base – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Gorgeous Grape – 14.35cm x 10cm
Whisper White – 12cm x 4cm
Gorgeous Grape – 11cm x 3cm

some other projects using heat embossing

The video tutorial and supply list are below. Thank you for dropping by. I hope you enjoyed the card. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Packaging for Printed Poppy Candle – Stampin’ Up!

Yesterday I showed how I made this gorgeous printed poppy candle. Today I thought I would show you the packaging for the candle. I had created this lovely little candle and I thought it deserved nice packaging to make it a special gift.

In the world of Stampin’ Up! everything coordinates and this making a little gift so easy. I’ve used poppy parade ribbon, paper and ink here. The stamp is Butterfly Wishes and makes this lovely little tag. I’ve used the Poppy elements for the embellishment.

This is an 8″ X 6″ cello bag. It has no gusset but with a little manipulation I created one with some poppy parade card, The weight of the candle keeps everything in place.

As I already said I am in love with this suite or products. I do hope the stamps and dies don’t retire yet as I am not finished having fun as yet. I love the red poppies in the grass verge. They looks so vibrant and full of life. They make me happy which is never a bad thing.

Other Poppy Projects

The video tutorial and supply list are below. Thank you for visiting. Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Printed Poppy Candle – Painted Poppies

I have fallen in love with the Poppy suite of products in the Spring / Summer catalogue. Here I’ve used the Painted Poppies stamp set to create this printed poppy candle. I’ve not printed a candle in years and was so please with the way it turned out.

I’ve shown this candle in the packaging I created, making the packaging will be my next video. I’ve used a very simple white pillar candle that has been sitting in my stash for simply ages. I wanted to create a gift as of course, we can’t go shopping at the moment.

how did i do it?

I used some tissue paper from my stash to make this. If you have bought the shimmer detailed laser cut designer series paper (DSP) you will find tissue paper separating each page. This is a perfect way to upcycle it. I measured the circumference and height of the candle and then cut out a piece of tissue paper to match.

I’ve stamped using an archival quality ink such as stazon so it won’t run when heated. The colouring in did pose a problem to me as I was afraid that it might run when heated or bleed out of the lines. I decided just to use the Stampin’ Write Markers in the aptly named Poppy Parade. This worked perfectly!!! A word of warning though, it doesn’t bleed out of the lines but did go straight through the paper. I coloured in on my grid paper to stop my desk looking like a murder scene!!

other projects using poppies

The supply list and video tutorial are below. I hope you enjoyed this project. Thank you for dropping by. I hope you are all well and I wish you all the best. Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Stamping – An introduction

This is the third in my series of introduction to crafting. This post focuses on the basic tools needed for stamping. Please do check out the first two in this series, focusing on adhesives and tools.

Stamps

TYPES OF STAMPS
- There are two types of stamps that Stampin’ Up! sell:
  1. CLING MOUNT STAMP SETS
    - These are made of red rubber
    - Can be highly detailed and fairly large as needed
    - You can stamp with different mediums including permanent inks and paint.
    - Have adhesive image labels
    - Can be inked using the Stampin’ Write markers.
  2. PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SETS
    - Transparent
    - Can be precisely aligned for repeat stamping, two-step stamping or to create a scene.
    - You can easily mix and match sentiments on a single block.
    - Allows perfect layering of images to create an image with different shadows and depth
INKS
- Dye-based and acid-free
- Can be used for heat embossing
- Come in a range of 50 colours which match the cardstock and markers
- Two Black inks. Stazon which I use for stamping when I’m going to use watercolour. Memento which I use as general black ink and when I use Stampin’ Blend alcohol markers
STAMPING BLOCKS
- Grooved to make them easy to hold
- Come in 9 different sizes
- Can be stored in the storage caddy for easy transporting
- Use to hold your stamps to stamp with
CARDSTOCK
- I mainly use Whisper White or Very Vanilla to stamp on as they are super smooth and perfect for stamping.
- Huge range of 53 colours
- 218gsm weight cardstock
- Colours match inks, markers and embellishments
SIMPLY SHAMMY
- Thick cloth for easy cleaning of stamps.
- Run it under water and squeeze out the excess.
- Makes it easy to clean detailed stamps

These are all the items I use on an everyday basis to stamp with. I find them invaluable and wanted to share them with you. I hope you find this post useful and the accompanying video. Listed below are the other videos in this series. I hope to do some more covering other areas of papercrafting.

Introduction to crafting

I hope you are all keeping well and safe. Remember you can shop with me here at any time. I find crafting a marvelous way to forget about what is going on in the world and just immerse myself in something fun. I would be truly lost without my craft room but even more importantly the wonderful friends I have made through crafting.

Thank you dropping by and until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Monochromatic – Thank you Card – A Little Lace

I have this gorgeous monochromatic thank you card to share with you today. This colour uses one of my favourite colours, Bermuda Bay. I love the rich vibrancy of this colour against the whisper white. It works well. What do you think?

A Little Lace is a gorgeous stamp set. I’ve used it before to stamp my own patterned paper to make a bag. I’ll link the video below. This is a great set as it contains sentiments and this lovely lace stamp. Last time I used Melon Mambo and it looked equally

Everything can do with some bling at times. I’ve used the clear faceted gems in the flower centres for some sparkle. They really lift the card and make it come alive.

I will admit that in the last week I feel as I’ve lost my mojo. I am struggling with words to write this blog. Is anyone else feeling the same, I have all the time in the world to craft but just don’t feel like it. Typical!!

This card uses an old technique. I don’t know what is called. I stamped all three white layers together and then separated them so that pattern continues across all the pieces.

measurements

Whisper White:
- 14.35cm x 10cm
- 11.85cm x 7.5cm
- 9.35cm x 5cm
Bermuda Bay:
- 12.35cm x 8cm
- 9.85cm x 5.5cm
- A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half

The thank you sentiment is from the Label Me Pretty stamp set, an older one but still a great one. I’ve used punches so there is no need for any die cutting here.

other projects

The video tutorial and supply list is below. Thank you for visiting and until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Month: April 2020

More and More Thank Yous – Ornate Thanks

Measurements

other projects

Like this:

Ornate Thanks Card – Stampin’ Up!

measurements

some other projects using heat embossing

Like this:

Packaging for Printed Poppy Candle – Stampin’ Up!

Other Poppy Projects

Like this:

Printed Poppy Candle – Painted Poppies

how did i do it?

other projects using poppies

Like this:

Stamping – An introduction

Stamps

Introduction to crafting

Like this: