Best Bits!

I can't believe another year is over, is it me or did this one whizz past???

It has been an interesting year for us as a family and for me on my SU journey.

It has been lovely to share many of these moments with you from my card classes, makes and takes, punch tutorials and new catalogue highlights to some of the not so successful makes!!

I already know that 2010 will be an challenging for our family as Jonathan and I cover 6 months maturnity leave of the officer at the Salvation Army Church in Holmewood, a very deprived area of Bradford.

There are also likely to be other interesting developments round the corner as we explore the possibility of joining the Salvation Army and planting a church.

No doubt the boys will keep us on our toes too!!

And of course there will be loads of Stampin'Up highlights to look forward too as well.

I'll have more news of the first one tomorrow.

But for now I'll wish you a happy and blessed 2010.

Sarah x

New Year, New Hobby!!

A New Year is just around the corner and so is your chance to take up a new hobby.

So why not sign up now for my card classes and learn a new skill and make new friends too!

Thurs 14th Jan – 2 Step Stampin
Thurs 28th Jan – Simple Watercolours

Thurs 11th Feb – Very Valentines Gift

Thurs 25th Feb – Poppin’ Pastels

Thurs 11th March – Mothers Day Special

Thurs 25th March – Easter Spring Notes

All classes are £5 per person which includes all materials and refreshments

For more information or to book your place

contact me 0771 5824913 or email sarah.pitts@blueyonder.co.uk

I'm looking forward to you joining me.

Sarah x

Twas the night before Christmas!!

After all the preperation and running around the magical day is finally here!!!

I love Christmas Eve, the kids are excited and have gone straight to sleep after a day of tracking Santa, watching Christmas films, seeing friends and playing in the snow.

These gifts round the tree are what has arrived from friends and family even before Santa has arrived!!

The boys have left out their sacks with giant name tags, a treat of homemade biscuit and mince pie for Santa along with a drink of fresh orange juice and of course a carrot for Rudolf.

So all that remains is for the jolly chap to arrive and the house to become a mess of torn paper and boxes (after I have spent all day doing my usual pre Christmas clean!!).

So I hope you have a very Happy Christmas!

Don't forget to pop back during the holidays for some more crafty treats!

Sarah x

Snowy Scene!

I've made a few last minute Christmas cards using the lovely Silent Night stamp set. I've stamped the church in Night of Navy ink and added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to create a snowy scene.

I've used the verse from the Silent Night set and a baby snowflake from the Perfect Presents set to stamp the background of the card with Craft White ink and Bordering Blue ink.

Here is a close up of the church so you can see the glitter!

I thought I would show you the snowy scene from our house.

We have had a fair covering of snow on and off over the last few days which has frozen nicely over night making this hill very slippery!!! Great for sledging if you are brave enough!!

As I type this it is still snowing!!

Looks like I may have to re-think some of the plans I had for the boys over the next few days.

Enjoy the snow and wrap up warm!

Sarah x

More Teachers Gifts

In between Nativities, Christmas sing-a-longs, Christmas parties, meals with friends and normal life, I finally managed to finish the gifts for Ben's nursery teachers.

I bought loads of these memo boards from a local shop and have transformed them using my Stampin'Up stash and some trusty post-it-notes.

I've added in and extra treat of some snowman poo too!!!

I hope they like them!!

Right I have some gifts to finish for Samuel's teachers now and a Christmas food shop list to write,

hopefully I'll be back tomorrow.

Sarah x

Christmas Bucket

Just a quick post today to show you the first of my Christmas gift buckets that I making as gifts for friends.

I have 4 to do and can't decide if I should do them all the same or different!

Anyway, 1 down 3 to go!

I've used some of the Merry Moments papers and the Perfect Present stamp set to decorate.

There are all sorts of lovely goodies inside, but I'm not going to spoil the suprise, you never know who maybe watching!!!

Right I have to dash, I have some stuff to sort out that may take a while!

Sarah x

More Matchboxes!

Hubby's sister in law asked me if I would make some more of these cute After Eight mini matchboxes for her children to give to the classroom assistants at school.

It's taken me awhile to find them as every supermarket had sold out!!! Maybe everyone had seen my blog and decided to make loads as well!! LOL!!

I've used my trusty Christmas punch pals to decorate them as they are the perfect size, and added a tag to them too using the Perfect Present stamp set.

I'm hoping to get some more of my teachers gifts and bits done tonight but I haven't been feeling so well today. Looks like I have finally picked up one of the viruses going round school.

Tomorrow is a busy day too as I am helping the nursery children walk from school to church to see the KS1 nativity, so I'm hoping I may have some pics as of Samuel in his staring role as Shepherd to show you.

Sarah x

Memo No. 1

As I promised I'm back to show you the first of the teachers gifts I am making for the boys to take into school. I have more to make this year as Ben is in nursery and he has 4 staff, 2 teachers and 2 nursery nurses.

After talking to a friend of mine (who happens to be a member of staff at Ben's nursery) about what gifts they get and the fact that many just don't get used, I wanted to make something that was going to be useful.

While I was in a local pound shop I found these memo/clip boards that were being sold as bingo boards, perfect for altering and giving as gifts.

So here is the first one!

I've used the Seeing Spots stamp set, which is a great alround set. The background was stamped using the smaller spots and circles using Chocolate Chip ink on Chocolate Chip card.

I didn't want to clutter it with too much decoration, cos when you have your notes, lists and recipts clipped on you don't really see it.

So I kept it simple, using the flower from the same stamp set and Pretty in Pink ink, some more Choc Chip card with some Rose Red for some more colour and of course I have used my punches!!

Yummy ribbon and of course a pink post it pad add the finishing touches!

Right I have choir practice tonight then I have loads of cards and gifts to finish off.

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow.

PS sorry for the poor pics, I could do with a better camera (that's a hint for you Santa!!)!!

Sarah x

Notice Anything Different??

NO!

Well I'll point you in the right direction. Look at my side bar.

What can you see?

YES, a list of BRAND NEW classes for the NEW YEAR!!!

The new year is a great opportunity to learn something or do something new no matter how big or small.

So why not book your place NOW to join me and learn a new or different technique for making some fab cards.

Just email me at sarah.pitts@blueyonder.co.uk

We have had another busy weekend which meant I haven't had much chance to craft, but I'll be back later today with the first of my teachers gifts to show you!

Sarah x

Perfect Gift

I've been busy preparing for my Punch Perfect class tonight.

I decided that it would make a nice change to make a gift, I think I'm not alone when I say that I have had enough of making Christmas cards for awhile!!

I found these calander tabs in a local shop and decided a mini calander would be a good gift.

I just needed to find a punched friend to decorate it. Most of the ones I have done have been Christmas themed, which is no good for a 12 month calander.

So I decided to have ago at turning my panda into a teddy bear.

Everyone loves teddy bears!!

So here he is!!

I think he is quite sweet.

The only bit of this gift that is stamped is the background, which I used the teddy from the All In The Family Accessories set and stamped him in Pale Plum to match the cardstock I have used.

I hope my ladies enjoy making him tonight!

Well I think I am just about ready for Christmas.

I have gifts to buy for just one person, then they all need wrapping!

All the cards are written and will be posted next week after I have added the obligatory family Christmas letter.

I'm now bracing myself for the next 2 weeks, with Nativities at school and church, Christmas parties, local light switch on, visits to Santa etc!!!

So busy, but I love it.

Sarah x

Birthday Boy!

I really can't believe it's December already!!!

I seem to have been working towards Christmas for rather a long time so I decided it was time to make some birthday cards instead.

I haven't used my All In The Family stamp set for a while, so out it came along with the accessories stamp set too.

I needed a few cards for boys so I've kept to mainly blue and green.

I have to say I think this little chap looks rather cute. So not to distract from him too much I have kept the card simple with some torn Bashful Blue paper and some punched Real Red circles.

I used 3D dimentional foam to raise them up so the card wasn't completly flat!

Right I need to get cracking with some teachers gifts and some bits ready for this weeks card class.

Hopefully I'll  be back with some sneak peaks!!

Sarah x

Scrappin' Again!

I haven't scrapped much in the last few months so I decided that I really needed to start working my way through the mountain of photos I have.

This is one from last summer when we took the boys to Thomas Land.

Now I have NEVER scrapped with my Stampin'Up stash before, don't ask me why as I really don't know, but I am so glad I have started now!!

Scrappin' has never been so easy with all those lovely SU colours that co-ordinated so well.

And of course the yummy papers too.

I have to say it's not my best page, but not bad for someone who is a bit rusty. Hopefully I'll be up to speed soon and some more impressive pages to show you.

Sorry it's such a short post, we have a very busy weekend again (when is a weekend in this house not busy!!)

Today was the day we "spring cleaned" the lounge ready for the Christmas decorations, and then we put up most of the decorations as this is one of the only weekends we are all around and had a few hours to spare to spend time putting up the tree.

Hopefully I'll have some pics to show you tomorrow.

Enjoy your weekend.

Sarah x

Santa Tutorial

A few weeks ago I made a punched Santa, several people asked me for a tutorial for him, so here it is.

There are quite a few pics for this one but I hope it's easy enough to follow.

You need a Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, Scallop Oval, Scallop Border, Small Tag, 1/2" Circle and 1/4" Circle punches.

You also need Stampin' Pastels, scissors, dimentional foam pads, Whisper White, Real Red and Blush Blossom card stock.

Punch a white scallop circle and a blush blossom large circle and stick them together to make his head.

Punch a small tag and cut it as shown above. This makes his hat.

Cut a 1/2" circle from red or pink card for his nose and cut 2 1/4" circles for his eyes. Stick all of these to the santa head as shown. I used a foam pad to stick his nose on.

Punch a scallop oval in white. To turn it into his beard put the oval back in the punch as shown, half of the oval will be in the punch and half out of the punch.

Before you add the beard you can add some colour to his cheeks using the Stampin' Pastels.

Then add the beard.

To make the trim for his hat use the scallop border punch and punch it just once on some white card.

Using the scissors cut the scallop out as shown above.

Stick the trim to his hat then add any detail using a pen.

My appologies for the poor photos but it is a very gloomy and misserable day, so getting enough light is difficult.

As with my other tutorials I am happy for you all to use my design. All I ask in return is that you link back to my blog and tell people where you found the tutorial.

Hope you have fun making lots of jolly Santa's!

Sarah x

Christmas Goodies

I think I have just about recovered from the Christmas fair on Saturday, so I thought I would show you the pictures of my table (sorry there are quite a few!!).

Yummy chocolate After Eight match boxes and Green & Blacks white chocolate bars!

Noel decorations.

Snowman Poop was a hit with the kids.

Yummy candy canes!

There was not alot left by the time we had finished.

I have another busy few days this week but hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with another punch tutorial.

Sarah x

Silent Night

Well the rush is now on to get the last few items ready for the fair tomorrow.

In amongst all the madness I managed to find time for a Christmas card class using the Silent Night, Wonderous Gift and Perfect Presents stamp sets.

My ladies have really enjoyed making these Noel Christmas decorations so I decided that we would make some more but using different colours.

We used Bashful Blue card stock with Night of Navy, Bordering Blue, Bashful Blue and White Craft ink. And of course we had to use some ribbon too, lovely Night of Navy.

I thought I would show you the background for both the card and the decoration.

I used the inks listed above and randomly stamped a greeting and snowflakes over the crad to get this effect.

I think it looks really good.

We used the same background on the card then stamped the church from the Silent Night set in Night of Navy and used the 2 way glue pen to add a touch of Dazzling Diamonds glitter for a frosty feel.

Right I'm off to finish sorting out cards and gifts for tomorrow.

I'll hopefully be back over the weekend with some pictures for you.

Enjoy your weekend.

Sarah x

Robin Tutorial

Here is the long awaited tutorial for the cute robin I made the other day. Sadly the pics aren't the best as it has been very grey and miserable again today, not good when your trying to get enought light to take photos!!

To make your very own Christmas robin you will need the Boho Flower punch, Oval Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch and 1/4" Circle Punch, Close to Cocoa and Real Red ink pads, sponge daubers, glue, Creamy Caramel, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla card stock.

Punch a 1" circle, a 1 3/8" circle and an oval in Creamy Caramel, punch a 1" circle in Real Red, punch the small star flower in Pumpkin Pie and punch 2 1/4" circles from Very Vanilla.

Use the Close to Cocoa ink and a dauber to sponge the edges of the Creamy Caramel shapes.

Do the same using the Real Red ink and red circle.

Cut the oval and star flower as shown above.

You are now ready to start to assemble the robin.

Stick the red circle on the bottom of the large brown circle so there is a slight overhang. Trim the excess red circle off and sponge the bottom of his tummy again with red ink.

Then stick the small brown circle at the top of the large circle to make his head.

Now stick on the half ovals to make his wings. I find it easiest to put the glue on the wing and stick it on from behind so you can adjust it from the front until it looks right.

Then stick down the 2 Very Vanilla circles for his eyes and add the beak section that you cut from the star flower. Add any detail with a pen.

You can leave him like that or if you want to add feet, just punch a star flower from the Boho punch, ink the edges and cut it in half.

Stick them on the same way as you did the wings.

And there he is, your own robin!

Don't forget I'm happy for anyone to use my design, all I ask in return is that you link back to my blog.

Happy punching!

Sarah x