Dare to believe

The layout below was created by Renée a lady who goes to the Runways End Scrapbooking retreat in Farnborough. When she started this layout she was unsure about stamping and the composition of the layout. She had fallen in love with the Art Stitches paper from Prima but wasn't sure what to do with it. Between  a few of us and looking at a few layouts for inspiration we came up with this layout idea. Renée was brilliant... when I suggested practising the stamping first she said nah I'll just go for it. I absolutely love this layout and the Prima Art Stitches paper did a lot of the work too. All Renée needed to do was check the date and add it... I wonder if she did!?!

Fathers Day

I hope you all had a great Father's Day on Sunday and spoilt the men in your life. We had a wonderful family day together with a meal out with my husband's side of the family.

Here is the card I made for my father-in-law. I was pleased with how the colours tied together. I also liked the way of folding the ribbon so I've done a close-up shot for you.

We had a bit of excitement at the end of our meal as all of a sudden smoke started billowing across. We thought the kitchen was on fire but soon discovered it wasn't the hotel but something over the back. We later discovered it was a garden shed on fire.

Ribbon

Pauline from the Oxford crop bought a couple of meters of all the new May Arts ribbons. They looked so lovely all together I had to take a photo (my husband doesn't get shots like this!) If you fancy some you can find them here.

Basic Grey Page of the Month May 2010

It was great to see two of the ladies making up their Basic Grey Page if the Month kits at the crops over the weekend. On Saturday Sarah was doing hers in West Sussex and on Sunday Sandie was doing hers in Oxford. Great to see how they turned out and how different photos make them look so different. Sarah made her photos black and white so they went with the lovely bright papers (sometimes easier than trying to find photos that go!). Sandie didn't like the tearing so she used a Martha Stewart border punch on her green paper. If you are interested in the kits we have a waiting list for 2011 so just get in touch!

Crop-tastic

This weekend just gone has been manic with two crops, one on Saturday in West Sussex and one on Sunday in Abingdon near Oxford. Saturdays crop was at Littlegreen which is a special needs school. Money raised on the day goes to the school to help them pay for all those little extras that the kids wouldn't have otherwise. The setting is absolutely stunning and the drive there is always breathtaking. Here is the school...

and this is the main hall where we scrap

and the classroom

If you are interested in finding out more about the crop e-mail Sue at sue@suehr.fsnet.co.uk

Quick and Easy Birthday Card

My middle son is going to a birthday party with his best mate and needed a card. Before school this morning I set too and made this oh so quick and easy card. Ben didn't want any faf or fuss to the card (he didn't really want the three brads added but I couldn't help but embellish it a little!) The sentiment is a rub-on that Ben chose and the paper is just a scrap from my scrap drawer. I think it is a great boy or man card.

Inspiration comes from the strangest places!

I was on a course yesterday on budgeting. This meant that I didn't get back home until late so I popped into our local Coop and grabbed a pizza for tea. It was scrummy but when I was tidying up the packaging caught my eye. I have seen people use mesh to make backgrounds, well the base for the pizza to sit on was made from polystyrene and it had a great texture to it a bit like the mesh and this got me thinking... what if I added a bit of paint and used it to make some backgrounds. I put the packaging to one side and gave my hubby strict instructions not to throw it away (he has a habit of chucking things before I can say stooooooooooooop!) Once the kids were in bed I grabbed a paint dabber some scraps of card and had a play. You can make some great backgrounds and it is oh so easy. I've just used black paint here but I'm going to have another go using white for a more subtle effect and I reckon mixing colours would be cool too.

So here is how to make your background....

Take your pizza box packaging and dab your paint dabber straight onto the raised surface. No need for paint brushes as the dabbers can be used straight from the bottle. Cover an area large enough for the card you want to print onto. I intentionally didn't cover the whole area so I had a more distressed look.

Carefully lay your card face down onto the paint and using your finger gently rub the back to transfer the paint onto the card. You could use a brayer here but you don't need much pressure so fingers are fine! Lift carefully and voila you have your background. Easy peasy.

Here are a couple of cards I made using the backgrounds.

Products used that you can find at Cre8tive...
Black Dabber
Black ribbon with White Dots
Jade Grosgrain Ribbon
Teal flower
Edge Distresser

10% Discount for Making Cards readers

In the next issue of Making Cards we have an advert with a special 10% discount code so if you get the magazine look out for the special offer. I'm not sure exactly when it will be in the shops but I guess in the next couple of weeks so keep your eyes peeled.

New Blog

One of our favourite manufacturers Ranger have just launched their very own blog. Tim Holtz who is their senior educator has had his own blog for a while but it is great to know Ranger are joining in the fun too. They have brilliant products so I am looking forward to some great tips, techniques and insider info. You can find the blog at http://blog.rangerink.com/blog/

If you see some products you like don't forget to check back with us for some great deals including 6 for the price of 5 multibuys on many of their items including alcohol inks, paints, stamp pads. See the complete range of Ranger products on our site here (there are over 500 so you might want to select the category at the top to refine your search!)

Hot Stuff

Phew it is really hot here today! Too hot to be creative really, maybe this evening when it is a bit cooler I will feel inspired. How about you... does the warm weather mean you are outside enjoying the great outdoors or do you like to craft in the warm weather?

I thought I'd give a little sneak peak of the prize that on it's way to Lisa.
Next time the prize winner could be you!

Early Riser

We have had an e-mail from our prize draw winner this morning... I wonder if she was late to bed or an early riser as the e-mail came in at 4.38am! Anyway this is what she said...

Dear Katie,

Wow thank you so very much for picking my name out of the 'hat' i am delighted to be receiving the prize draw and am totally stunned to have won something!

I shall stalk my postman til it arrives!

Thanking you again so much in anticipation

Lisa

aka Stunned of Somerset!

If you are reading this Lisa I'll try and get your prize sent out later today.

And the winner is....

drumroll please.... Lisa Ransom from Somerset. Congratulations Lisa. Lisa is the winner in our most recent prize draw and has won a box of papers and cardstock worth over £50! It's a brilliant prize and so easy to enter the draw. All she did was place an order with us for more than £30 before the deadline and she was automatically entered in the draw. How easy is that? She bought some lovely things she wanted, got free P&P to boot and now is a winner too. Next time it could be you... watch out for the next prize draw coming soon.