Author: Hannah McCurley

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Watercolour Thoughts

Stampin' Up! UK Best Thoughts Watercolour

Over the last few weeks I’ve been playing with Stampin’ Up! inks and using them as watercolours. I love our colour palette, and the effects you can create when you add water. I will be the first to admit I am no expert watercolour artist, but I enjoy creating, I’m a card-maker, I only use stamps (my drawing is generally pretty rubbish), but I love the final result.

Stampin' Up! UK Best Thoughts WatercolourI used the brand new In-Colours to watercolour this lovely floral stamp. Its another one of the Hostess Exclusives for this years Annual Catalogue, and comes with a butterfly stamp and two lovely sentiments; ‘You’re in my thoughts’ and ‘The best is yet to come’.

This time I stamped in Momento Black ink, and added clear embossing powder. I prefer to heat emboss my images for watercolour, the raised edge helps me stay in the lines of the image, although I could have just stamped in Stazon and water-coloured without issue. I have been trying out a few different methods of water colouring, and I think this technique was my favourite, adding clean water to a section, like a singe leaf or petal, then dropping the colour in, and allowing it to move through the water.

Stampin' Up! UK Best Thoughts Hostess Code ClubOnce I had the whole image water-coloured I went back and added darker areas by using less water and more ink. The inks for this card are Watermelon Wonder and Cucumber Crush. I finished the card by added some ink splats, by loading my paintbrush with an ink and water mix and tapping the handle of the brush off of my index finger of my other hand, causing the ink to splatter the page. Lovely.

Don’t forget about my Code Club, add the code shown in the Top right hand corner of my blog to the Hostess Code box at check out to receive one of our brand new Hostess Stamp sets for FREE! This months stamp set is Floral Wings, which I used on a card last week.

Thanks for stopping by today, and I’ll see you again tomorrow!

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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Week in Review – website redesigns, weekly deals and more…

Stampin' Up! Weekly deals

Hi!

I am really enjoying writing these Week in Review posts, I do hope you enjoy reading them too….. let me know if there is anything you particularly want me to feature on my blog, whether its a specific technique or project, a product focus, cardmaking 101 question, or just something about me…. I’d love to hear from you.

Stampin' Up! Weekly deals

I’ll start with this week’s weekly deals

Stampin' Up! UK Weekly deals

What a great collection of deals this week! Weekly deals change each and every Wednesday, and always give you great value. This week our deals feature both Gold and Silver 1.8″ ribbons – cute additions to any project – the eclectic paper-piercing pack – I love adding little details to my cards, and paper-piercing is a great way to add that special something – epoxy stickers, the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate – for creating those all important envelopes! and my favourite the Squares Collection Framelits Dies! all for 25% off! Awesome!

Stampin' Up! UK Free Stamps

Have you seen this month’s great joining offer?! If you join my team of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators this month, not only can you order £130 worth of new catalogue goodies and pay just £99 (and get FREE shipping!), but Stampin’ Up! will also add 2 FREE stamp sets of your choice into your starter kit, AND you will also receive a fabulous welcome pack from me, including my awesome swatch book! How fantastic is that!

I can waffle all day about how awesome it is to be a demonstrator, but I’m trying to keep things short and sweet, so I’ll just say this….. 20% discount, pre-order periods, fabulous events, rewards, friendships, inspiration, gifts, cash……

Get the picture? To join my team, just follow this link!

I had such a busy week since the last time we spoke, I managed to survive a long weekend at work (always a miracle!), complete an order of 75 Orders of Service for a customer, re-design the website (do you like it? I think I’m in love!), as well as the usual mass of blog posts, videos, projects and customer orders.

I have a few exciting things coming in the next few weeks; a wonderful Team Blog Hop on the 27th of June, more Cardmaking 101, and another FREE online workshop, it’s all go here!

See you again next week

x

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

 

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Inlay Die Cutting

Stampin' Up! UK Crazy about you Hello You diecutting

I do love a great technique, and I have been playing with this one for a few weeks (and covering myself and my desk in the process!) but the results are fabulous!

Stampin' Up! UK Inlay die cutting

I have to admit that the picture here looks better than the card does in person, I have the card in front of me and I’m looking at gluey finger prints! but it’s still a cool technique – but keep that baby wipe on hand to keep yours hands free of glue (because you WILL make a gluey mess!)

See what I mean, gluey mess! I don’t edit my videos very often, only if I’ve had an interruption like the doorbell going or my phone ringing, and so you will always get ‘live’ bloppers! I hope you enjoy them!

The original ‘Hello’ card uses our brand new 2015-2017 In-Colours in Watermelon Wonder and Mint Macaron, while the video version is in Marina Mist (I’m still a little obsessed with this colour!). I’m loving the new In-Colours; took me a while to get used to the super bright Watermelon and Cucumber though! what great additions to our colour collection.

Stampin' Up! UK Crazy about you Hello You diecutting

How to Inlay die cut:

Using the Hello You thinlits dies die cut your chosen word in coloured card stock.

Using your Magnetic platform to ensure correct die placement, die cut the same word out of your Whisper White layering piece – remember that this is your card front to carefully place the die where you want the word to be at the end!

Make sure you keep the little pieces from the die cut, keep them safe! you will need them in a moment.

Apply your glue of choice (I use Snail) to the back of your Whisper White layering piece and attach it to your card front.

Using a 2-way Glue Pen apply glue to the back of the coloured die cut, slotting it into the space on the front of your card. I did try this with Tombow glue and made a huge mess!

Using your 2-way glue pen again apply glue into the holes in the die cut, slotting the Whisper White die pieces back into the die cut.

This gives you a completely flat card, great for posting! Awesome!

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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Ronald McDonald House Charities – Sprinkles of Life

Every year Stampin’ Up! creates a special charity stamp set for Ronald McDonald House Charities, donating over $1 million to the charities across the world. This years stamp set is awesome! but I fear you might not have spotted it in the catalogue, its right on the very back cover! page 189!

Stampin' Up! UK Sprinkles of Life

It’s it adorable! and if gets even better, there is a coordinating punch available too! Allowing you to create trees, cupcakes, clouds, ice creams, flower baskets, and much much more!

Stampin' Up! UK Sprinkles of Life Cupcake

This card was so quick and easy to stamp, and punch. The centre cupcake is raised on dimensionals, but only after being curled with a bone folder to create that round effect. The sprinkles on the same cupcake are Designer Series Paper – Cherry on Top – and they are actually tiny little hearts, but look so good as sprinkles!

For each stamp set purchased Stampin’ Up! will donate £2 to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Have I mentioned what they do? I don’t think I have! Ooops! They are an amazing children’s charity providing homes for families of sick children near to the hospital, keeping families together at the most difficult times of their lives, Awesome right!

What are you going to create with this great stamp set?

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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Cardmaking 101 – how to cut a card-base

cardmaking 101

Cardmaking class UK free

Today marks the start of my completely free weekly card-making class here at StampinByHannah. This class has been in the planning for ages and I am so pleased I am finally ready to share it with you.

Each week, on a Sunday, a new tutorial will be released focusing on card making basics; hints and tips, tools, techniques and useful information to help you to make amazing projects. I am so excited! shall we begin?

cardmaking 101 - how to cut a card base

This week I thought we would start at the beginning; how to cut yourself a card base. I know that not everyone will cut there own card bases, but I think its a useful thing to know, particularly as then your not stuck with white or cream cards all the time – lets get some colour in here!

How to:

I use A4 card stock, I know that these measurements will not be useful for everyone, particularly those who use 8.5×11″ however, I live in the UK and A4 is all we have

There are two ways to cut a card base, depending on the style of card you wish to create. I frequently use tent fold cards and so cut my A4 length ways at 10.5 cm to create two long skinny pieces of card stock, I don’t tend to score in the middle for these and find that folding them in half and burnishing with my bone folder is enough

The other common card base is a ‘book style’ card, and for these I cut my A4 width-ways at 14.8 cm, scoring them in half at 10.5 cm and folding to create my card

These two methods create the same size card; 14.8 x 10.5 cm

To create a layer for the front of your card, take an A4 piece of Whisper White and cut at 10 cm, and 14.2 cm to create a slightly smaller piece that will fit beautifully on the front of the card base you have already created.

To create further layers reduce the size of your card stock by 0.5 cm each time, the next layer would therefore be 9.5 x 13.8 cm, the next 9 x 13.2 cm, and the next 8.5 x 12.8

 

I hope this has been useful, if you have any card making questions or queries please let me know and I will endeavour to answer your questions in later editions of Cardmaking 101

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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Swatch Book

Stampin' Up! UK swatch book

If you have been following me for a while you may remember last year, when I shared my Customised Colour Coach. Well, can you imagine my sadness, when the colour coach was retired this week! I know, I don’t really know how I am going to cope! well, better now I have made this;

My Swatch Book!

Stampin' Up! UK swatch book

I just love a good swatch! I use them often when I’m choosing colours for projects (an even more often when I’m creating items for customer orders!) And when I spotted the Layered Letters Alphabet in the latest catalogue, I just knew I had the perfect swatch stamp too!

So, I have created 3 PDF’s for you to download and make your own Stampin’ Up! swatch book. The first file contains swatch cards for all 4 colour families, that’s 36 ink pad colours, while the 2nd is for the current In-Colours (2014-2016 and 2015-2017), and the 3rd download contains the swatch spots for the previous two sets of In-Colours!

Colour Swatches – Colour Families

Colour Swatches – In Colours

Colour Swatches – In Colours – previous

To create my swatch book:

First print the PDF files onto Whisper White card stock

Using the Layered Letters Alphabet stamp set, and the rectangular stamp, swatch each ink colour in the coordinating swatch spot.

Cut the swatches into 2″ squares by cutting along the lines of the template.

Make a hole in the top left hand corner of each swatch using the 1/4″ handheld punch and keep the swatches together with an O ring (I used these ones from Amazon)#

 

As mentioned in the video, Stampin’ Up! are currently running a great joining offer. Sign up between now and the 30th June 2015, and Stampin’ Up! will add an additional two stamp sets of your choosing into your Starter Kit for FREE! Awesome! For each person who joins my team during this promotion I will not only be sending you my usual new demo goodies, but I will also add a completed swatch book!

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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Floral Wings

Stampin' Up! UK Floral wings hostess exclusive code club

Along with the launch of a new Stampin’ Up! catalogue, comes the release of 5 brand new Hostess Exclusive Stamp sets.

Hostess Exclusive stamp sets are only available to those who host a party, or spend over £150. This year there are 5 sets; which coordinate with other items in the rest of the catalogue. The set I have selected for this months Code Club is Floral Wings, which coordinates with the Bold Butterfly Framelits Dies (featured on page 172), Butterfly Basics and Watercolour Wings Stamp sets.

Stampin' Up! UK Floral wings hostess exclusive code club

 

Each month I host a Code Club. When you shop online in my online store and you enter the code available in the top right hand corner of my blog, you are entered into the Code Club for that month. Each month I select everyone who uses the code (and spends over £25) and you will receive a Code Club goody bag; including the stamp set (or other product) I have selected for the month.

So, this set is Floral Wings; a great layering stamp set. Stampin’ Up! have started to provide stamp guides with their complex layering stamps like this one. The butterfly, roses and leaves are all separate stamps, but feature an arrow to show you which way the stamp should be orientated to get correct alignment. Awesome, right?!

I stamped the butterfly first in Crushed Curry, before stamping the Roses in Watermelon Wonder, and the leaves in Cucumber Crush. I also stamped the butterfly onto a sheet of copy paper and created a mask by cutting it out; I can’t wait to get my hands on the dies so I don’t need to both with the fussy cutting! And stamped the vine across the butterfly in Cucumber Crush.

Such a pretty card

Whats you’ve favourite Hostess Exclusive stamp set this year? (check them out on page 197 of the catalogue)

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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Weekly Deals, Joining Offers, Classes and Workshops…..and more!

Stampin' Up! UK Free Stamps

I have a heap of things to tell you about today! Yesterday was the launch of the brand new Stampin’ Up! catalogue! Yay! I am still sending catalogues out for free (provided you are in the UK) just complete this form for a copy, or there is a digital PDF download version available in the sidebar. My monthly newsletter is due to hit your inboxes today (or tomorrow depending on some external factors – like how fast YouTube is feeling today!), you can subscribe at any time by using the link found at the end of all of my blog posts.

Stampin' Up! UK Weekly dealsThis weeks deal selection is great! I always love a good embossing folder – this week we have two! You guys already know what a fan of tag topper punches I am, this ornate one is carrying over from the Spring/Summer catalogue, and is a great addition to your punch collection. The handpicked framelits dies are also a carry over item, and coordinate with two of the brand new stamp sets in the new Annual Catalogue! And who can live without some gold sequins!

Stampin' Up! UK Free Stamps

In addition to the new catalogue, yesterday we also launched a brand new Joining offer!

If you decide to join Stampin’ Up! in June, you will get to choose TWO free stamp sets in your Starter kit – that’t any two stamp sets in the annual catalogue, for FREE! Awesome right! I have waffled and waffled about the joys of being part of Stampin’ Up! I have a heap of information about joining on my Join My Team page. And I am available by email and phone if you have any questions.

I also have my own joining offer this month, and all new team members will receive and extra special goody bag! (but I’m not telling you what’s in it! stay tuned for more information on that one!)

Stampin' Up! UK Teesside Classes and Workshops Cardmaking

I have updated the Classes and Workshops page. You can now see a full list of Classes, Workshops, and events through until the end of the year. If you live locally to me and have ordered a catalogue, this timetable was also included.

I have changed my classes slightly this time, and will be holding a Techniques Class each month, with Kit classes and Stamp-a-Stack events in some months. Unfortunately there will be no classes or events in August as I get married and go on honeymoon, the blog will still be updated regularly during this time.

Check out my classes and workshops using the link at the top of the page.

I think that’s probably enough information to bombard you with today, I’m working this morning, but am looking forward to a girly lunch and shopping afternoon, followed by a gym session with James. I have recently challenged him – he thinks he can get me to run 5K by the time we get married, for all I’m the one doing the training, I’m not sure!

Have a great day, speak to you all again soon

x

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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Kissing Technique….

Stampin' Up! UK I think your great kissing

Before your mind wonders off somewhere else, I’m talking Stamp Kissing today, I am not about to discuss romance or any other life lessons!

Today is the launch of the brand new Stampin’ Up! catalogue – have you got your copy yet? if not, get a physical copy here or a digital version there.

There are heaps of great stamps, tools, and new in-colours in this catalogue. I will be doing a full catalogue tour for newsletter subscribers this month. Not a newsletter subscriber yet, why not! but you can sign up here, or in the link at the bottom of this post.

Stampin' Up! UK I think your great kissing

Ok, so onto the technique for today. How great is this card! and its so simple to create. I love the kissing technique, it allows you to add pattern to solid stamps. Check out the video tutorial below for visual instructions,.

The Kissing Technique:

For this technique you need two stamps, one solid and one patterned. I love that Stampin’ Up! this year has stamp sets specifically for certain techniques and this stamp set, I Think You’re Great, is designed with Stamp Kissing in mind.

Ink up your solid stamp

Kiss the two stamps together, I do this by laying the patterned stamp face up on my desk, and stamping the solid stamp onto it. Don’t wiggle the stamps, use a straight down and straight up movement, otherwise your pattern will blur.

Stamp the solid stamp onto your project.

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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Farewell Painted Petals!

Stampin' Up! Indescribable gift painted petals

Just in case you have been living under a rock, tomorrow is the launch of the brand new Stampin’ Up! catalogue! which also means that tomorrow is the last day of the current annual catalogue, spring/summer catalogue, and the retiring list! so, today I’m saying goodbye to a heap of items, but tomorrow is HELLO! to a brand new set of stamps, in-colours, catalogues, tools, and heaps of those great items!

So, when I was planning out this coming fortnight, I had a great plan to do a blog post saying goodbye to Painted Petals – I have LOVED using this stamp set! and it has totally inspired me to try watercolour properly. However, when I came to making this weeks blog projects inspiration for using Painted Petals completed deserted me! I know, I know, I probably shouldn’t admit to being completely un-inspired, however, as you can see, I did manage to make a card!

Stampin' Up! Indescribable gift painted petals

I returned to my stamp stash, and pulled the other sets that are retiring from the Spring/Summer catalogue, and found Indescribable Gift. I have loved using this floral stamp too! Although I have used the sentiments from this set, the floral image is one of my most used stamps from this past few months. I have used the Painted Petals here, but just for the sentiment in the end.

The card base here is Blackberry Bliss, and I have used Shimmery White card stock for the layer. I adore this card stock, I have to admit it’s one of those things that has been sat in my card stock drawer for a few months completely unused, but I recently discovered that its great for water-colouring on, and seeing as I have run out of Watercolour paper, Shimmery Water card stock is very handy (and cheaper!).

I stamped the Indescribable Gift in Rose Red, stamped off once, before very carefully but loosely water-colouring using Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, and Crumb Cake. When water-colouring an image, you should use a waterproof ink (like Stazon) because Stampin’ Up! ink is water-based, it will move when water is applied to it, so either carefully water-colour (like I did here) or use a Stazon inkpad.

Which stamp set was your favourite from this years Spring/Summer catalogue?

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

Sign up to my newsletter here – http://eepurl.com/2if59

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator