Tips and Tricks Tuesday - Choosing Colour

Hello! Today I want to share with you my first ever Tips and Tricks Tuesday! Be patient with me, as this is my first and I am still learning what you all like to read. Please do leave me some feedback, positive or negative, but keep it polite and constructive.

So for the first post I thought it would be a good idea to start at the beginning, before we get to tricks with tools, and new techniques - when creating a project we have to decide on a colour scheme.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know which colours to pair with others, and so here is my tried and tested way of choosing a basic colour scheme:

1. Take a look at the Stampin' Up! colour families and pick one family that you think suits your intended project.
2. Pick 2 or 3 colours from the family you have chosen - try to go for one light and one or two stronger, darker colours, or vice versa. Don't be frightened of picking an unexpected colour either - a flash of something to add a bit of pizzaz!
3. Choose one of your colours to be the 'focal' colour - the colour you will be using the most of on your project.
4. Match up your focal colour with one colour from the Neutral colour family - there is no right or wrong answer here - simply pick one that you think works well. 

These colours form the backbone of your project - I would then take a look and may add Whisper White or Very Vanilla as a stamping surface if the project called for it, and I hadn't already chosen it as my neutral.

Above is an example of a project using colours from the SUBTLES family. My three colours were Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery. I then chose to use Early Espresso as my neutral colour, and added in Whisper White as my stamping surface and to accent the Early Espresso.

As your confidence grows, try swapping one of the initial colours for an 'In-Colour', or one from another family.

TOP TIP: Don't forget to test your colours out before starting -  I always dab a bit of each colour onto scrap paper first, just to make sure I like the combinations!

I hope this gives you some ideas of how to go about choosing your next project colours,

Happy Crafting
Becky

Puppy Takeover!

Something to brighten your Monday morning...

Many of you will know that I am a puppy walker for Guidedogs, and that Odelle has had to leave us (wipes away a tear) on the 8th of January. She went into training with two other dogs who are local; a massive golden boy called Hugo, and Jasmin, who is also a black lab like our Odelle. (See yesterday's post of the scrap book page to see a photo of Odelle)

Because I knew that Odelle leaving would upset me, I asked our puppy walking supervisor if I could have a new puppy fairly soon after Odelle went. The idea being to keep myself so busy I wouldn't have time to dwell on it. At the beginning of December I got an email from my supervisor saying she had a puppy for me, but would I mind accepting her before Christmas! After talking it over with my husband, we said ok, and she arrived on the 21st of December!!!

Isn't she adorable!!! Her name is Sally, and she was born on the 31st of October. Her mum is called Bree, and her dad's name is Jason. She is a pure Labrador and (this bit is quite exciting!) Guidedogs are considering her as a future Guidedog mum! Guidedogs only pick the very best dogs to breed from, so it is a real honour for a puppy walker's dog to be chosen... But we have a long way to go before any of that!

She is a real cuddly pup, but doesn't stay still for very long... here she is having a cuddle with my husband:

Guidedog puppies are taught that they must not get on the furniture or jump up at people, so if you want a cuddle, you have to get down on the floor. She has taken a real shine to my husband, as you can see by this piccy of her gazing up at him:

I think she likes him more because I am the one telling her "No!" all through the day! Whereas my husband is playtime central when he gets home from work...

That is all for now, I am going to try to get some photos of her playing in the snow, but she doesn't show up very well!

More updates soon,
Becky

Daydream Medallions Class

Wow! I have had such a great day today, and have got to know some lovely ladies a little bit better at my Daydream Medallions Class this morning. I can share with you the projects we made now as it won't spoil the surprise for my ladies. The designs are some of those used at Stampin' Up! convention, so I cannot claim the credit!

The first part of the projects were four dinky little note-cards (only 3"x3") and decorated envelopes to match. My favourite bit has to be the little More Mustard 3D flower made from 3 layers of scrunched up card. It is finished off with a gorgeous Vintage faceted Designer Button, and a large Rhinestone gem.

Next step was one of these fabulous Kraft Gift Boxes, which the note cards fit into perfectly. We used the circle waste rubber from the Daydream Medallions stamp set to create the spots with VersaMark ink:

Finally it was very exciting as I had two Scrap Book first timers today! It is such a great feeling when you introduce something new and they take to it like ducks to water! Improvising their own layouts and making the designs their own - their pages looked better than mine that is for sure...

This page in particular I put together to remind me of some of the happiest days I had with Odelle. Don't worry, she is fit and in perfect health! But I had to say farewell as she belongs to Guidedogs and it was time for her to go on to more advanced training. I cried all day when she left! We do have another addition to the family though, so pop back tomorrow to see a picture of her.

If you like what you see why not come to one of my classes? Click HERE for a list of events.

Happy Crafting

Becky

A New Venture...

Hello! I have been crafting for many years, and know many Tips and Tricks! So I have decided to start a regular feature for you all, Top Tip Tuesday! The idea being that once a fortnight, on a Tuesday, I will share one of my tricks of the trade, or a piece of advice that I wish someone had told me back when I started stamping!

Is there something you struggle with when stamping and crafting? You don't get a clear image? Glitter sends you crazy? Leave me a question in the comments and I will do my best to create a post answering it!

I hope you find this new feature helpful!

Happy Crafting,

Becky

Talking Tags!

I think these are so cool and really are the next BIG THING!

Today Stampin' Up! have launched a brand new way to personalise your cards, scrapbook layouts and other handmade creations!  The tag enables you to send a personalised recorded greeting song or message, up to 60 seconds! There are 10 tags in a pack for £7.25

Talking Tags

How to send a voice message:

1. Download the FREE TalkingTag™ App on you smartphone from talkingtag.mobi, iTunes® or Google Play™.
2. Adhere the message tag to your card or gift.
3. Open TalkingTag™ App and scan the code.
4. Record your message (recording starts immediately, so make sure you’re ready!).

You will have the opportunity to listen, re-record, cancel, or confirm your message after you've completed recording it.

A little bit of LOVE...

I have been insanely busy these last few weeks, so sorry for the lack of activity! BUT I do have a very small, cute and furry reason as to my being busy - Photos to follow soon! In the meantime, take a look at today's offering from Stampin' Up!

MY LITTLE VALENTINE PROMOTION

From 3-21 January only, Stampin’ Up!’s got a super special valentine offer sure to set your heart aflutter!

Get the Sealed with Love Simply Sent Kit FREE (10,95 €/£8.25 value) - when you buy the brand-new My Little Valentine Stamp Set!

The stamp set contains 4 darling stamps and cost just £9.95.  Available in clear mount.

Feeling continental? Why not add a bit of Oh-la-la and go for the French or German option?