Create & Take: Sew Much Fun

Hi bloggers, we have a lovely Create & Take card to share with you today featuring the new Sew Much Fun stamp set from Penny Black, a perfect card for those that love to sew!

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Sew Much Fun Cling Stamp Set

FabScraps Lavender Breeze 12x12 Paper - Love Dream

FabScraps Lavender Breeze 12x12 Paper - Simplicity

FabScraps Lavender Breeze 12x12 Paper - Family Love

Bazzill Basics 12x12 Paper - Coconut Swirl

Bazzill Basics 12x12 Paper - Heidi

Crealies Bits & Pieces No. 60 Stitch B Stamp Set

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Wilted Violet

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Seedless Preserves

Watercolour Pencils

Marianne Cross Stitch Embossing Folder

Wink of Stella Brush Glitter Marker - Gold

Instructions:

1. Stamp the main image on white card and colour with watercolour pencils. Add gold detail to the machine using gold Wink of Stella.

2. Emboss stitches onto purple card and cut into triangle shape. Rub over the embossed design with Wilted Violet ink pad.

3. Cut three strips of paper 1-3/4" x 5-3/4" and stick onto the front of the card.

4. Stamp wording onto the card with black ink and stamp the various stitches around the card in the Seedless Preserve ink.

5. Assemble the card as shown above.

Create & Take: I Love You

We have an adorable card to share with you this week and in good time for Valentine's Day as well. Featuring Penny Black stamps, this card design is perfect for Spring birthdays and occasions.

Let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Sweetheart Cling Stamp

Penny Black Hearts Aplenty Clear Stamp Set

Photoplay Roxie & Friends 12x12 Paper - Catnip

Bazzill Basics 12x12 Paper - Kraft

Watercolour Card

Bazzill Basics 12x12 Paper - French Vanilla

Watercolour Pencils

Instructions:

1. Stamp flower wreath onto kraft card with black ink and colour with pencils.

2. Stamp owls onto white watercolour card. Stamp the image twice so that you are able to cut around the owls more easily. Colour the owls with watercolour pencils.

3. Position the owls onto the card.

4. Stamp wording onto some French vanilla card and cut around with scissors to create a slightly angular shape.

5. Cut thin strips of patterned paper and stick to the top and bottom of the card.

6. Stick the whole piece onto the front of a square white card blank.

Create & Take: Birthday Hug

Hi bloggers, it's time to upload last week's Create & Take which was a very cute card if I say so myself. As well as birthdays, this card would be adorable for Valentine's Day which isn't too far away!

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Furry Hugs Clear Stamp Set

Yvonne Creations Spring-tastic Frame Die

Woodware Happy Birthday Stamp Set

Bazzill Basics Red Cardstock

Bazzill Basic Coconut Swirl Cardstock

Photoplay Roxie & Friends 12 x12 Cardstock - Catnip

Marianne Craftables Flowers Punch Die

White Tulle

Versamagic Ink Pad - Cloud White

Versafine Ink Pad - Onyx Black 

Kaisercraft Rhinestones - Red

Watercolour Pencils

Wink of Stella Brush Glitter Marker - Clear

Instructions:

1. Stamp the Penny Black image onto white card and die cut with an oval die. Colour with watercolour pencils.

2. Die cut the Spring-tastic frame from red cardstock. Adhere the stamped image onto the red frame.

3. Add some Wink of Stella onto the edges of the frame to add some soft glittery shimmer.

4. Cut a strip of paper and stick to the centre of the card base.

5. Stick the floral frame onto the card base.

6. Stamp wording onto kraft card with black ink and then ink the edge of the kraft card with white ink using a dauber.

7. Die cut two small flowers from white card and add some red gems to the centers of the flowers.

Add some tulle around the top of the card and tie in a bow.

Create & Take: Season's Greetings Robin

Hi bloggers, it's time for another Create & Take card and we have a beautiful Christmas card today featuring the Overjoyed Penny Black stamp which has been so popular we have now sold out in the shop but other similar robin stamps you may have will certainly do the trick!

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Overjoyed Cling Stamp

Amy Design Christmas Greetings Die

Simple Stories Classic Christmas Tis the Season 12x12 Paper

Woodware watercolour cardstock

Bazzill Basics Bark 12x12 Paper

Core'dinations King's Crown Glitter Cardstock

Stickles Icicle Glitter Glue

Versafine Vintage Sepia Inkpad

Distress Ink Pads - Broken China and Festive Berries

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Bark cardstock slightly smaller than the card blank and stick down.

2. Cut a piece of Tis the Season paper slightly smaller than the Bark cardstock and stick down.

3. Die cut one smaller frame from Bark cardstock and one smaller from watercolour card.

4. Die cut one Holly and Berry from red and green cardstock.

5. Stamp up the sentiment and robin image onto watercolour cardstock using Vintage Sepia ink pad.

6. Cut a strip of King's Crown glitter card and stick across the centre of the card.

7. Layer the watercolour cardstock on top of the other frame and stick onto the card.

8. Add the holly and berries to the side of the card.

9. Add Stickles to the snow on the image and leave to dry.

Create & Take: Snowy Wreath

Hi bloggers, it's that time of the week again to share last week's Create & Take. Today's card was designed by Caz using the adorable Penny Black Little Snowy stamp alongside the Marianne wreath die set.

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Little Snowy Woodblock Stamp

Marianne Design Craftables Wreath Die Set

Marianne Design Creatables Mix & Match Bows Die Set

Bazzill Basics cardstock in Green, White, Red and Brown

Watercolour Pencils

Glitter Glue

My Mind's Eye Sugarplum Glittered Merry Cardstock

Core'dinations King's Crown Glitter Cardstock

Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink Pad

Instructions:

1. Stamp Little Snowy onto a die cut circle and colour with watercolour pencils. Edge the circle with Vintage Photo distress ink.

2. Die cut the wreath from white card and gold glitter card. Snip one of the wreaths and intertwine it with the other.

3. Die cut greenery and cones from green and brown card.

4. Cut a strip of Glittered Merry cardstock to fit the width of the card blank.

5. Stick down Snowy and the wreath and then add the greenery and cones around it.

6. Die cut the bow from red cardstock, snip the tails to put into position and add this to the bottom of the wreath.

7. Edge the rest of the card with Vintage Photo distress ink.

8. Add a bit of glitter glue to finish.

The Penny Black Snowy character has been so popular at Crafts U Love with Little Snowy being the only one left so make sure you buy yours today so you don't miss out!

NEW Product Spotlight - Marianne Pillow Box

Hi Crafters

Its Caz back again with this Wednesdays NEW Product Spotlight and I hope you enjoyed last weeks look at the Mini Alphabet Punch Boards.

This week I am taking a look at the Marianne Pillow Box set.  I must say I am rather partial to making 3d items, and boxes are my favourite and this time of year I can see  many uses for them.  From decorating the tree, place settings and gift gifting ideas.  These boxes are perfect for small gifts like jewelry, and also a novel way of gift giving someone money or a gift card.

Here is a look at the die set itself, so as well as the wonderful Pillow Box you also get 9 other dies that you can use to decorate your Pillow Boxes or other projects.  The assembled Pillow Box measures from the longest point to longest point 11cm.  If you measure midway (where to box curves inwards) it is 8.5cm.  It is 7.2cm wide and approx 3cm deep on the deepest part.

Decoration ideas are limitless and here are a few that I have made in the last

couple of days.  I will list underneath the items I used to decorate.

First up is this cutie with a Penny Black stamp set called Santas Helpers

Also decorated with a snipped off piece from the Marianne set called Wreath

which I cut from a piece of the Bazzill Gold Glitter Card Kings Crown

This glitter card is gorgeous to use, does not shed and die cuts like a dream.

(comes in 17 colours HERE)

Coloured with watercolour pencils and added Gold Glitter Glue.

How cute would this look on your Christmas Table with a tag with your

guests name on and filled with some delicious Christmas Treat?

Second up for my samples is a Pillow box that I decorated with an

Autumnal theme using some dies from Tonic.

Autumnal Oak Collection

I swiped the Embossed leaves with  Tonic Nuvo  Embellishment Mousse in Indian Gold

and once again I used the Bazzill Gold Glitter Card Kings Crown  for the acorn.

Owls are very popular and I love them!  Here was my simple decorated

Pillow Box made to look like an Owl.  

The wings were created by die cutting just the end parts of the pillow

box and cutting so it just left long pointed ovals.  The whole box was edged with

Distress ink and I used a old striped stamp for the owls tummy.

A scalloped Circle and Plain circle were used to create the eyes and

 some bling added to the centres.

This one was sort of my first "Failed" attempt at an owl. 

 But it turned out very funny, more chicken like and a bit wacky, 

too cute to not share!

  Someone will love him right?

For my "Chicken" I used some other dies from the Pillow Box set to decorate.

The Face and Wings are both cut from the heart that comes with the die set.

The eyelashes are from the flower, his feet are the snipped off ends of the Bow and the bow was what was left over once I cut down the ends for the feet.  How very resourceful of me :)

 My last Pillow Box and on this one I used the heart from the 

Pillow Box Die set to create a Acetate Window.

I then die cut the Marianne Wreath from the  Bazzill Gold Glitter Card Kings Crown

Cut it apart added glue to it and then stuck it down around the edge of the heart.

The Brown, Green and Bird is from the same Wreath set.  

Once again I used the Embellishment Mousse in Indian Gold 

to add some interest to the die cut pieces.

I really enjoyed using this die set, there are so many other things I could have done

if I didn't have to sleep!.  I am looking forward to creating with this for Christmas Time and I 

am planning to make one for the table for each of my family.

There are a few more examples of this Pillow Box that Marianne have used so click HERE to see those.

Until my next post next week!

Happy Crafting

Caz x

Create & Take: Christmas Cat

Hi bloggers, we have another Christmas Create & Take card to share with you this week, featuring the new Mini Envelope Die and Little Presents stamp set from CUT-IES.

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Santa's Helper Stamp Set

CUT-IES Mini Envelope Die

CUT-IES Little Presents Stamp Set

Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo

Distress Ink Pad - Fired Brick

Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad

Bazzill Basics Walnut Cream Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Kraft Cardstock

Karen Burniston Labels & Circles Die Set

Instructions:

1. Die cut a label (from the Labels & Circles die set) from Walnut Cream cardstock and stamp an image onto the shape using black ink. Colour the image with watercolour pencils and add some Vintage Photo distress ink around the edges.

2. Die cut a mini envelope from Kraft card and stamp brown snowflakes onto it.

3. Stamp wording onto a strip of cream card using black ink, stamp the heart with red ink and distress the edges with Vintage Photo distress ink.

4. Stamp border on the top of the card with Red Brick ink.

5. Stamp 2nd generation* image of snowflakes onto Walnut Cream card.

* 2nd generation stamping is a great way to get more out of your inks. To create a 2nd generation image, ink up your stamp and then stamp onto a piece of scrap paper before stamping on your project.

6. Cut a small strip of Walnut Cream card to create a little tag for the inside of the envelope and stamp with Santa wording. Add a glittered star either side to create something to grab hold of to remove the tag.

7. Start to assemble the card by following the image above. When sticking the bottom piece of striped cardstock make sure to leave an area clear of adhesive to create a pocket for the envelope to sit in.

This card is a great Christmas card and the mini envelope lets you include a little special message for the recipient to find and read.

Create & Take: Oriental Patchwork

Hi bloggers, it's time for another Create & Take and this week Heidi has designed us an oriental themed card using a Crealies Modern Patchwork die set with the Penny Black Oriental stamp set.

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Oriental Clear Stamp Set

Crealies No. 1 Modern Patchwork Die Set

Studio Light Beautiful Flowers Butterfly Die

Bazzill Basics in Rock Candy and Coral Cream

White Stamping Cardstock

Bo Bunny Butterfly Kisses Sunlit Cardstock

Cream Ribbon

Mother of Pearl Nuvo embellishment mousse

Tim Holtz Distress markers in Tattered Rose, Antique Linen and Shabby Shutters.

Cream Pearls

Instructions:

1. Using Bazzill and Bo Bunny papers, die cut your patchwork pieces as follows:

1 x large circle from Rock Candy card.

2 x larger triangles (left of card) using Bo Bunny paper.

2 x smaller triangles and central oblong (right of card) using Bo Bunny paper.

2 x small triangles (on left) using white stamping card

2 x smaller triangles and one smaller oblong (on right) using white stamping card.

2. From your Oriental stamp set, stamp up chosen sentiment and small flower into white oblong (on right).

3. Stamp up floral spray over two larger white triangles (on left) of your card. Colour in using pens.

4. Onto smaller triangles (on right) stamp small flower all over each piece, add colour using pens.

5. Stick elements onto right side of card, using 3D foam pads and stick elements onto left side of card with glue.

6. Onto spare white card, stamp up two fan images and one small flower, colour with pens and cut out.

7. Stick fans and flower onto panels of card using 3D foam pads as shown.

8. Die cut one small butterfly from Coral Cream cardstock.

9. Tie ribbon around card, tying a strong bow.

10. Stick butterfly to centre of ribbon bow, hold down until stuck well.

11. Add a cream pearl to centre of butterfly and two to the right side corners of the card.

12. Lastly, add Nuvo mousse lightly to butterfly, fans and small flower.

Create & Take: Vintage

Good morning bloggers! We've got another fabulous Create & Take for you this week, perfect to use for a man's birthday card. Caz designed this card last week using the new Great Outdoors collection by Carta Bella and the new Kool Kats stamp set by Penny Black.

So let's get started.....

Products Used:

Penny Black Kool Kats Clear Stamp Set

DF3407 Marianne Tire Track Folder & Die Set

CR1355 Marianne Grass Die Set

Minc Foil in Gunmetal

Minc Machine

Bazzill Basics Cardstock in Grey, Green, Black and White

Carta Bella The Great Outdoors - On the Road Paper

Black Versafine Ink

Watercolour Pencils

White Pen

Instructions:

1. Stamp the image onto white card and colour with watercolour pencils. Fussy cut around the image and stick 3D foam on the back.

2. Cut square of On the Road paper to fit the size of the card base.

3. Cut a piece of Grey Bazzill Basics to create a road. Cut the cardstock at a slant to give a more realistic look. Use a white pen to create lines on the middle of the card.

4. Die cut grass from green card and stick behind the road.

5. Die cut the tire tracks die from Black cardstock.

6. The phrase has been computer generated and printed from a laser printer so that foil can be added using the Minc Machine. Add the gunmetal foil on top of the wording and put through the Minc machine.

7. Assemble the card as per the picture above.

Create & Take: Cheery Chirps

Hi bloggers, we've got another Create & Take card to share with you today featuring one of the new stamps from Penny Black and and some Marianne and Sweet Dixie dies. 

So let's get started...

Products Used:

Penny Black Cheery Chirps Cling Stamp

Marianne Design Flower Punch Out Die

Marianne Labels XL Die Set

Sweet Dixie Happy Birthday Die

Black Versafine Ink Pad

Watercolour Pencils

Liquid Pearls

Tulle

Echo Park Easter Words 12 x 12 Cardstock

Bazzill Basics White 12 x 12 Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Kraft 12 x 12 Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Seawater 12 x 12 Cardstock

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of white cardstock to measure 12cm x 9cm. Stamp the image onto the card with black ink. Colour with pencils.

2. Cut a piece of Echo Park cardstock 14.5cm x 10cm and adhere to front of card.

3. Adhere stamped image to the front of the card by placing narrow double sided tape along both sides and the bottom of the card. This way you will create a pocket for the tag to go in.

4. Die cut a tag from a piece of kraft cardstock and trim to 9.5cm in length to fit in the pocket.

5. Die cut Happy Birthday words from blue cardstock and stick onto the tag. Tie some tulle on the top of the tag.

6. Die cut flowers, shape the petals and stick onto the card.

7. Finish by adding liquid pearls or glitter glue to the center of the flowers.

This design of card is great for occasions such as birthdays and could even have a gift card attached to the tag which the recipient can pull out and receive.

Create & Take: Tag Love

Hi bloggers, we are sharing another Create & Take card with you today, this time using some of Marianne's latest releases. So let's get started....

Products Used:

LR0412 Marianne Labels: Cotton Lace Die

LR0413 Marianne Hearts and Cotton Lace Border Die Set

DF3425 Marianne Anja's Circle Embossing Folder

Penny Black All Abloom Stamp Set

Kaisercraft Seabreeze12 x 12 Paper - Refresh

Bazzill Basics in Kachina, White Smoothie and Brown

Scor-bug

White Pen

Instructions:

1. Cut a tag from white card and stamp the design on the cardstock with black ink. Die cut the tag topper from Kachina and stick to the top of the tag. Colour the stamped design with pencils.

2. Cut a piece of white cardstock 12cm x 6.5cm to cover half of the base of the card. Emboss with Anja's Circle embossing folder.

3. Cut a piece of patterned paper 12cm x 6.5cm to cover the bottom half of the card base.

4. Cut a strip of brown card 12cm x 4cm and die cut the heart border from it.

5. Cut a piece of Kachina card 4.5cm x 2.5cm and stamp wording onto it. Use a scor-bug to add embossed dots and join using a white pen.

6. Use a blue pen to add detail to the embossed dots on the white card.

7. Stamp a butterfly onto white cardstock, colour with pencils and cut around.

8. Assemble the card as shown and add some glitter glue and a piece of twine to the top of the tag to finish.

To check out the rest of Marianne's latest release, click here.

Create & Take: Under the Weather

Hi bloggers, we are sharing with you another Create & Take today which is a response to how some of us have been feeling at Crafts U Love HQ. We have all seemed to have suffered from a cold/flu bug over the pass few weeks so we felt a 'Get Well Soon' card fitted the current situation.

So let's get started.....

Products Used:

Penny Black Feel Well Stamp Set

Marianne Stitched Waves & Clouds Border Die Set

Black Versafine Ink Pad

Watercolour Pencils

Echo Park Happy Easter Collection - Easter Plaid 12 x 12 Paper

Echo Park Happy Easter Collection - Journalling Cards 12 x 12 Paper

Bazzill Basics 12 x 12 Paper - Blue

Instructions:

1. Stamp wording, umbrella and bird onto a white card blank.

2. Stamp umbrella onto the Echo Park patterned papers and cut around and stick onto the umbrella design on the card.

3. Colour the bird with watercolour pencils.

4. Die cut two of the Stitched Clouds, one from patterned paper and another from a plain paper. Stick the two together and trim the edges to fit on the card. Adhere to the bottom of the card.

5. Add glitter glue to finish if desired.

So there you have it, a simple yet effective Get Well Soon card, which is quick and easy to put together, perfect to give to someone who is feeling a bit under the weather.

To check out the rest of the latest Penny Black release, click here.

Christmas Demo Day Inspiration

Happy Tuesday bloggers! Today we want to share with you some inspiration from our Christmas Demo Event from our three fantastic demonstrators. For anyone who was able to get to the event, we hope you had been inspired by what you saw and that it got you excited for crafting for Christmas.

Caz was demoing the new Hero Arts Ombre Ink Pad Colours (Red & Green) with some of the new Hero Arts woodblock stamps and clear stamp sets. Caz also used some of the new Poppystamps stamps and their matching die sets.

We love this little treat bag made using the Lori Whitlock Sizzix Treat Bag Topper die set.

Charry was demoing the Penny Black stamps and die sets and had some beautiful examples to show you how you can make the most out of using them.

Charry shared her ideas on how you could use the same stamp for Christmas and non-Christmas by simply changing the colour combination and added some beautiful artistic effects using some Archival inks and Distress Ink Pads.

Jo demonstrated the We R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 Punch Board and created some wonderful examples to show you that the board can make so much more than just your average box, envelope or bow. Take a look at some of these inspiring creations...

Create some fabulous bows!

Treat Bags

and boxes

Jo also created some cards with the board as well...

A file folder card (instructions to make this come with the board)

As you can see from the photos there was an abundance of inspiration to get you in the Christmas mood with the added help of our festive Christmas music and mince pies.

All in all it was a fantastic day and we want to thank everyone for coming who watched, shopped and got inspired!

Also to those that bought raffle tickets and helped us raise £63 for St. Catherine's Hospice. The winners have been contacted and they are as follows:-

Winner of  Signed Tim Holtz Configuration Book - Christine Tagg

Winner of Collection of Dies - Tanya

Winner of Basket of Crafting Goodies - Fern

We will be sharing the winners of the Card Competition in our Card Competition post later this week. The winners have already been contacted and we want to thank everyone who sent us their cards and took part. 

If you requested for your card to be returned to you we will be sending them out this week.

If you have any questions about any of the products that were used in the demo event please do not hesitate to contact us. We hope you all had an enjoyable day and look forward to seeing you in the shop again soon.