New mini catalogue and Sale a bration

 The new mini catalogue for Spring 2023 starts today and also the Sale-a-bration event too! 

Click here to see the new SAB book

https://issuu.com/stampinup/docs/sab23_en_gb

Click kere for the new Spring 2023 Mini catalogue

https://issuu.com/stampinup/docs/jj23_en_gb

there are also really special joining offers too. If you are just a StampinUp enthusiast who would like a really special deal, this offer might  be for you. There is no conract to stay a demo for a special length of time so you can just take the offer and let your membership lapse, if that is what you want to do but you never know until you start.

https://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Promotions/2022/11_SAB_23/DEMO_MKTL_SQR_UK_1122_SAB_JOIN.mp4

Adorable Owls Gatefold Explosion card

Can these little characters get any more adorable?!!!! 

Here they are again with a gatefold explosion card. I remember making this style in a square format many years ago with Craftwork Cards and I just love how we crafters just recycle old ideas and give them a little extra something to refresh and bring them up to date.

I've chosen really zingy Parakeet Party in-coloured card and 6 x 6 papers to really make an impact here. 

Here is how: 

8 1/4 x 5 3/4" Parakeet Party card.    Score 2 1/16 from each side to make a gatefold card and burnish well.

8 x 4" Basic white (thin) card    score at 2 / 4 / 6 - DO NOT FOLD  the 4" score line. Then score from top left card to centre bottom diagonally. Repeat from top centre to bottom left to make a cross over 2" score line. Repeat over 6" score line. Gently fold and score the diagonal folds (as valleys) and the 2" and 6" folds only (as mountains) 

Lay inside the gatefold base and check that it will fit and opens and closes. 

Add basic white layer lining inside 5 1/2 x 3 7/8. you can stamp straight onto this top and bottom but I decided to use the wordy stamps from the set,  stamp on scraps and layer with PP

Cut another Basic white card same size 5 1/2 x 3 7/8. stamp happy birthday and glue fussy cut owl. stick on back to write greeting.

Adhere fancy folded white card inside  as follows: adhere side diamond shapes with wet glue inside the base card, lining up the outside edges exactly. add dab glue in centre to keep it in place.

DSP   2 pieces 1 13/16 x 5 1/2 for front,  
I chose non directional DSP for simplicity to mat the folded insert -4 squares 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 and cut across diagonal,  2 1/2 x 2 1/2 square cut diagonally for sides, 2 5/8 x 2 5/8 square to mat centre behind owl.

As in my previous makes, I created a cloudy background, die cut with stylish shapes die and fussy cut the owls for inside and topper. 

Cut strip PP card 1" wide to create belly band and fold loosely around folded card. Adhere topper to centre.

I used:

Adorable owls Sale-a-bration stamps 160269

Go to Greetings for Happy Birthday stamp 158763

Cardstock -Parakeet party, basic white

In colour 6 x 6 DSP: 159253

stamp pad: Tahitian Tide 159210

Memento Tuxedo black ink pad 132708

Stampin blends - various

Multi purpose liquid glue 154974

stylish shapes die 159183

Paper trimmer152392

Simply shammy to clean stamps 147042

Paper snips scissors -to fussy cut owls 103579

 

Easy squash-fold explosion card

 I have another project with the Adorable Owls available free in the SALE-a-bration event 5/1/23-28/2/23 with a qualifying £45 order. 

I didn't used to be the world's keenest colourist but I love these little guys so much that even I am hooked on stamping and colouring them. The shapes are so easy to fussy cut too - nothing tricky at all. I can't believe what Stampin'Up! has done to me! 😂 

This is a book fold card base with a simple squash fold inside. If you've never tried this fold before, have a go with some scrap paper, especially if you want to use directional paper with an obvious pattern. I just kept it simple! 

You will need:

A4 card (inches)

Base - 4 1/8 x 11 1/2  score and fold at 4 1/8 and 5 3/4
DSP Front - 4 x 4 , 4 x 1 1/2
Inside 5 3/4 x 5 3/4
3 squares basic white  2 3/4 x 2 3/4
length ribbon (optional)

or US Letter card (inches)

4 1/4 x 11    score 4 1/4 and 5 1/2
DSP 4 1/8 x 4 1/8  and 4 1/8 x 1 1 1/8
Squares - cut with largest square die from stylish shapes die set

Instructions:

1. Fold the base in half and place preferred glue from centre crease almost as far as next fold to form the book fold. check that no excess glue has seeped out into card - wipe away quickly if so.
2. Mat the front with DSP.
3. Take the white squares and form cloud background pattern by lightly brushing over freehand cut cloud pattern on scrap card in diagonal orientation. Make sure one of these has pale centre to write on.
4. stamp sentiment onto the palest square
5. stamp and colour owls using memento ink and blends of choice to match DSP
6. make squash fold..... take DSP and fold in half both ways so paper is quartered. Turn paper over then fold  across ONE  diagonal only. Burnish gently. Push the diagonal folds with fingers of both hands towards the centre and press shape to form a squashed diamond. Open and close a few times. Make sure that all folds are exact and edges tidy. 
7. Place centre crease of squash in the inside of card against the centre fold. Make sure the squash is opening the right direction. Add glue to the back and stick to right hand side by closing card. check and adjust. glue top and close again to stick to inside front. 
8. Adhere cloud mats and owl. No dimensionals inside or it might stop card closing.
9. Add ribbon, owl  and bling to front.

Ta - da!!!!   Once you've made one, it is soo easy. 

All the products are available from my SU shop at LesleyKilby.StampinUp.net. 

I used:

Adorable owls Sale-a-bration stamps 160269

Cardstock -Blushing bride, basic white

In colour 6 x 6 DSP: 159253

Stamp pad: Orchid Oasis 159214

Memento Tuxedo black ink pad 132708

Stampin blends - various

Rhinestones 144220

Multi purpose liquid glue 154974

stylish shapes die 159183

Paper trimmer152392

Simply shammy to clean stamps 147042

Paper snips scissors -to fussy cut owls 103579

Note: This is not my original fold design. I would like to credit and thank Tammy Beard for the idea. 
I just love this style as it is quick to make and packs a real punch. 

Beautifully Happy - Sale-a-Bration

 We all love a bargain, especially a Freebie, so I just couldn't resist this stamp set in the latest Sale a Bration event that starts on 5th January and runs until 28th February. This set is free with a £90 purchase and is on Page 13 of the SAB catalogue. At first sight, I wondered why it was that level purchase but after listening to the demos who had been to Vienna, I realised it was because there are 17 stamps including 6 useful sentiments and the stamps are 2-step so there are outline and solid stamps included in that number, meaning  you don't have to use your blends or alcohol markers to colour in!! Woo hoo! Result!

I started with a scrap of basic white, just to try out the stamp set, and stamped in memento. As it resembles a field mallow flower, I reached for the Fresh freesia ink. It was surprisingly easy to line up the flowers and I like the graduated, blended look with one action. For the leaves, I chose Old Olive ink but my pad is rather juicy so I brushed the ink onto the stamps as this was just a trial after all. That worked too! I then just played with the rest of the stamps and added a little bee. These splats are going to be really useful for all sorts of projects.

As it all worked, I decided to make it into a card. Luckily the Fresh Fressia works perfectly with another SAB item - The Dainty Flowers DSP -free with £45 purchase. I ordered these to match the Dainty Delight stamps and dies. In fact I ordered 2 packs of paper as I am sure these will sell out really quickly.

It was just a case of folding a quick A6 card (just cut A4 in half and fold in half again) then adding the spotty mauve mat and the Beautifully Happy mallow on top. Dimensionals would have been better but it was too late, so I stamped the sentiment again on a small scrap, die cut with the stylish shapes banner  and raised this with dimensionals instead. It needed something, so I added a bow with Baker's twine. I'm sure I have a mauve colour somewhere but as I'm just getting over Covid, I didn't want to bend down and search - head still not right for that!

I hope you like my play with this really useful stamp set and have a little sneak peek at the Dainty Flower paper too. If you haven't tried 2 step stamping - this is the perfect set to give it a go. Soo much quicker and easier than colouring, if colouring isn't your favourite. If you love colouring and blending, you can do that, too. The stamp and matching die set will be available in the new mini catalogue (January to April 2023).

If you don't have a Stamping Up demonstrator, I'd love to help you. If you are ordering in January 2023, I have a special Host Code when you place an order over £30; add the code 4CMNRTJP to your online order and I'll send you a little extra something as a gift from me in the post to thank you for your support. You can order online at: LesleyKilby.StampinUp.net (but the new Sale a bration items wont be visible until 5th January)

Thanks for popping by and a Happy New Year to you all. Your support here and on Social Media means so much to me. 

Lesley

xxx

SU Products used:

Beautifully Happy Free Photopolymer stamps 160804
Dainty flower Free  DSP 160834
Basic White card 159228
Fresh Fresia Stampin pad155611
Old Olive Stampin  pad 147090
Stylish shapes dies 159183

Memento Tuxedo black ink pad 132708

Multipurpose Liquid glue 154974

mini  stampin' dimensionals 144108

blending brushes 153611

Baker's Twine essentials pack 155475

5 Different Gift card holders

 I was recently invited to be one of the guest designers for the 5th anniversdary celebrations for the Creative Minds Kind Hearts Facebook group.

I decided to make Gift card Holders because I not only need them at this time of year, but actually any time, and often at short notice! As it was the 5th anniversary, I made 5 different styles and here is the link to the video of all 5. Each part is separate - if I were more techy, I would post each of them to my own YT channel separately - maybe one day, I'll work that out! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPYHk2yO6Q4&t=2s

This is a great resource and I'd love to know if I've inspired you to  make any of these styles. Please tag me on your photos on social media so I can see them

Adorable Owls Triple Floating Diamond card (Inches)

 How absolutely adorable are these little owls! They come as a stamp set of three owls plus some sentiments and best of all, they are FREE with a £45 purchase in the StampinUp! SALE-a-bration. This event runs from 5th January 2023 until 28th February but as a demo I get to preorder; definitely one of the best perks, plus all demos  also receive discount too. If you would like more info on joining my team of demos, please message me and we can chat about it. 

I made this style of card months ago with the Hippest Hippos (metric version) and many people have asked me for a tutorial in inches - so here it is, a little simplified.  Use the original video to help.

You will need:

Base card 2 pieces of 8 x 4, 
3 squares basic white approximately 4 1/2", scraps to stamp, mats for the back to write your greeting
DSP 4 pieces of 1 3/4 x 3 3/4" 
Stampin' blends or watercolour pencils

stylish shapes dies 

cut a cloud shape freehand form waste card to use as a stencil

Tahitian tide stamp pad

memento black ink

ink brush

all purpose wet glue - or adhesive of choice

mini dimensionals

Instructions:

1. Score both pieces of base card at 2, 4, and 6 inches. Turn the card through 90 degrees and lightly mark the short side at the top and bottom halfway  at 2". 
2. Cut from this centre pencil mark to first fold, top and bottom on both edges of each piece of base card. You can use 1 waste triangle to stamp sentiment, rest is scrap.
3. Burnish the fold lines - Mountain, valley, mountain.
4. Using the largest square die from stylish shapes, cut 3 times from basic white pieces
5. From a scrap piece of card, cut a cloud shape to use as a stencil and gently brush across all 3 squares placed as diamonds using tahitian tide ink to form cloudy background.
6. Adhere DSP to 4 rectangles of base card
7. Lay both base sheets side-by-side and the end pieces should form a diamond shape. Adhere one of the squares over the triangles to form a centre diamond shape and keep both base sheets together. Take care to line up all the edges.
8. Adhere the other 2 diamonds to each end using the photo/video to help placement.
9. Stamp 3 owls and colour as desired
10. Stamp and die cut sentiment using stylish shapes 
11. Add to diamond using mini dimensionals
12. Adhere basic white to back of card if wished, for place to write own greeting and sign the card.

I woud love to see your cards, using these directions and/or the Adorable owls. Do send me pics please by Messenger on Facebook or tag me in your posts there and on Instagram. 

All the products are available from my SU shop at LesleyKilby.stampinup.net 

I used:

Adorable Owls 160269

Cardstock - basic white 159228

stamp  pad: Tahitian Tide 159210

Memento ink: 132708

Tea Boutique 6 x 6  DSP 158659

Multipurpose Liquid glue 154974

mini  stampin' dimensionals 144108

blending brushes 153611

Accordion Mini Album

Tomorrow, sees a  brand-new premium collection from Craft Consortium Ltd, designed in partnership with world renowned illustrator, Clare Therese Gray, launching exclusively on:
Create & Craft TV

Join us and the incredible Leonie Pujol, on Friday 9th December at 3pm and 7pm for the exclusive launch
Introducing; 'Little Robin Redbreast'......

'Little Robin Redbreast' - The story of our garden's favourite adorable little robin and it's adventures throughout all the seasons. Starting in Spring, from the walled gardens and the sowing of seeds, through to summer blooms and harvest time, with an incredible bounty of fruits and vegetables. Ending in Winter, with snow covered benches and signs that Spring is once more on its way with pops of snowdrops and floral delights.

Supported by a series of premium patterned card stock, coordinating stamp set and an array of embellishments, from chipboard ephemera, 3D embossing folder, rub-on transfers and washi tape, this collection is truly one not to be missed.
We hope you can join us!
Friday 9th December 3pm & 7pm

As you can imagine, there have been sparks off my crafty fingers, making DT  projects for this launch.

Here is an accordion mini album to hold handmade seed packets from the 6 x6 papers. They also make great storage for small decorations, fussy-cuts,embellishments..and of course, seeds too!  I also used 12 x 12 papers and the co-ordinating papers forthe body of the album and, to decorate, chip-board ephemera, fussy cut seed packets from the larger papers, and made a policy envelope closure. There is no tutorial yet for this project. I was inspired by several I saw on-line but definitley put my own spin on the construction and size of this make. Hope it inspires you to watch the shows and get the collection for yourself. Robins definitely aren't just for Christmas!