Saturday, 19 July 2014

So sad you're leaving...

As some of you may know, I have a part-time job with a rather quirky national clothing retailer. I really enjoy my time there and there is a lovely team of people who I get to work alongside.One of my colleagues has decided it is time for her to move on as she wants a career working with children, and so I volunteered to create a leaving card for everyone to sign.
My colleague is not a pink and fluffy sort of girl, so I wanted something a bit more fun and light-hearted for her to keep, with positive messages from us all written inside. I knew the perfect stamp set - a hostess set called Life's Adventure, but I was stumped for a layout - come to the rescue Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge!

So I flipped their sketch on it's side and here is the result:


I have paired the stamp with the totally gorgeous Moonlight Designer Series Paper, and based all my colours on those included in the paper designs (Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Whisper White, Sahara Sand and Basic Gray). I love how the triangles in the designer paper echo the shape of the cute little flag on the back of the Bicycle!


I like to base my creations on the BLT formula (No, not Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato - but Background, Layers and Texture!). Initially I had plain white card as the base colour, but it really needed something a little extra, so I used the lovely new Masks from Stampin' Up - applied Versamark ink through the mask and heat embossed using the Iridescent Ice powder. Take a look at that glitter:


Sometimes it's the little details that make a card, here I have used some retired ribbon to create the bow - I would have used the lush new Stitched Satin Ribbon but it didn't arrive in time :(



I have used the oh-so-cute banner punch to create some tiny little flags:


Lastly another close up of that gorgeous bike and positive sentiment - looking forward to an exciting new future. I think this sentiment would be perfect for men, graduations, passing a driving test, or even a wedding card for cycling enthusiasts! A touch of colour using blender pens and water brushes works perfectly with the sketched-style image (Stamped in StazOn to prevent the colour running when I added water).


I hope you have enjoyed this card and blog post - please let me know you have stopped by and leave me a comment!

Happy Crafting,
Becky


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Monday, 14 July 2014

Filming Day!

Good morning! I am ridiculously excited today as I have been keeping a secret and I am now allowed to share it with you all!!!

I have a film out!! Yep, little old me in a film! Here it is in all it's glory:


Here's the back story...

Waaaaaay back in February I had a wonderful day out with Matthew at the Harry Potter Studios, it was a very belated birthday present and we had a fantastic time, even getting to meet some of the animal actors. After a long day we got in and minutes later the phone rang... 
It was Paula Gorry the UK Country Manager for Stampin' Up! calling to invite me to participate in filming a YouTube video! 
I squealed rather loudly and accepted as fast as I could get the words out. I was so happy to be given the opportunity and we arranged that I would be filming an Easter craft 'Stampissimo' in March.

Disaster struck! A week before I was due to film the video I became very ill and completely lost my voice. I was devastated and had to email Paula to let her know that the doctor had given me a strong course of antibiotics and placed me under strict orders to rest and not talk. I ended up being unable to talk for almost 10 days, and could only squeak for 3 weeks!

To the rescue! Paula managed to contact another demo who was scheduled to do a summer filming session. She was willing to take my place at short notice, and very kindly swapped so that I wouldn't miss out - giving me her Summer Scrap-booking slot.

Finally the summer filming day arrived in June and I woke up to glorious sunshine! It was a beautiful day for an adventure. I set off nice and early and arrived at the Stampin' Up! UK office around 9am, to be met by the lovely Kelly. She settled me in and introduced me to Ben and Jerry (brothers!) who were the camera crew (more on them later!)

Then it was time for a briefing from Paula, conducted on the floor as I had started crafting already! Kelly was determined to take lots of photos for behind-the-scenes shots, and somehow managed to avoid being in any of the photographs herself...


 Paula and I took a while to chat through how we wanted the table to be arranged, laying out kit and talking to the crew about various cues and prompts, here we are setting up:


Ssssssssssssshh! Filming time... (Phew, those lights are HOT)


Talking a re-take over with the crew, they were so friendly and made me feel really relaxed - even when things didn't go according to plan! Sometimes we had to do retakes for something as simple as a plane flew by overhead - the sound equipment was that sensitive...


After the majority of the filming was complete we stopped for a delicious jacket potato lunch, filled with laughing and good conversation, talking over topics ranging from ways in which to propose to conspiracy theories! These two really seemed to like the cheesy snacks:


Finishing off last details in the afternoon, the guys were particularly taken with the photograph of Sally (for those of you who are not regular readers Sally was the guide dog puppy we were puppy walking - she is currently in her final advanced training stage), and wanted her in the group shot!


Finally we had a giggle with this one as he seemed to be hinting he might like to feature in a Stampin' Up! Pin Ups calendar... Any takers?!


I had such a wonderful day and cannot thank Paula and Kelly enough for giving me this opportunity. It really pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many different ways (even travelling to and from the offices was an adventure as I had NEVER driven on the motorway before - Eeeeek!) but it was so worth it! I can't wait to see what comes next on this journey with Stampin' Up!

Make sure you pop back as I have blog posts lined up giving more details on some of the creations featured, and please leave me a comment letting me know if you enjoyed the video!

Happy Crafting,
Becky

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Sunday, 13 July 2014

The Two-Step Card (CASE)

Hello Hello!
Today I am sharing a CASE'd card with you (for those not in the know it stands for Copy And Share Everything) from the talented Julia Carmichael of Paper Into Love from the USA. She and her daughter produce some stunning pieces and so I thought I would tweak one of her designs to match the materials I had to hand. You can view the original card HERE.


I have used the same colours as in the original card for the stamping (apologies for the slightly orange cast to the photo above - not sure what is going on there!) but changed up the way in which the splatters were made (I used that essential stamp set 'gorgeous grunge'), the ribbon, and I added one of the oh-so-shiny vintage buttons. Here I have tried to capture the sparkle on the button as it refracts the light - but it doesn't do it justice. Tying through a little linen thread ensures the button isn't too glamorous for the card though!


I didn't have the same ribbon as on the original card, so I swapped it out for some ruffled trim in Pistachio Pudding. I am so gutted that this ribbon was retired as it is so so pretty. The next shot shows you more of the fabulousness that is two-step stamping - one of my go-to techniques for creating depth, drama and that wow-factor! Stampin' Up! do two-step stamping so well, and there are lots of designs to choose from. For those of you not in the know - two-step stamping is essentially a way of layering up co-ordinating images, so you stamp one colour directly over a previously stamped image in a different colour - usually using the Stamp-a-ma-jig tool to help you line them up.


I am off to guide camp in just over a week, there are lots of preparations to be done for that - so forgive me if I am a bit quiet for the next fortnight! Fingers crossed it doesn't rain too much while living under canvas...

Happy Crafting

Becky





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