Ink & Sparkle

papercraft obsessions

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I made a YouTube video!

I made a YouTube video!

I have wanted to do this for years. I can’t quite believe I’ve finally done it. The endless hours of watching all those How to videos like Think Media, and all the other channels I watch have encouraged me to jump in at the deep end. It was a huge challenge, but I have to say I’ve had so much fun doing this. Now I have a whole new set of challenges ahead and need to figure out how to address…

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It's been a bit quiet here.....

It’s been a bit quiet here…..

I have been away quite a while. Lockdown and Corona really had a huge impact as did my decision to stop being a Stampin UP! hobby demonstrator. There was no reason other than financial for this. I had been on long term sick leave from my job at the bank, which eventually resulted in my leaving for health reasons permanently. As a hobby demonstrator with no income I simply couldn’t afford the…

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What is the weight of Stampin Up! Cardstock?

What is the weight of Stampin Up! Cardstock?

Good question and with a little bit of hunting around the net I’ve found the answers or a general guideline at least.

Stampin’ Up! ProductBasis WeightUsesLightweight Designer Series Paper100-110 gmsEnvelopes, lightweight paper layers and embellishmentsDesigner Series Paper145-160 gsmMats and layers, envelopes, bags and embellishmentsColoured Card Stock200-240 gsmCard bases, mats and layers,…

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Free as a Bird

Free as a Bird

I make a lot of card sets to give as gifts for Birthdays, Christmas and those in between just because I thought you’d like this gifts. I also get very itchy fingers if they have not touched paper, card and ink within a matter of days and sometimes hours if I have had a recently delivery of goodies.

This project is relatively simple but, characteristically made a little more time consuming…

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Not the easiest bundle I have every used, possibly not the most fiddly but very close to it.  This is a fabulous bundle that is returning as separate items in the new catalogue from June, as ever if it’s one on your wish list grab it now to save 13%.  That is the 10% bundle discount plus the across the board 3% increase in Stampin’ Up! prices in June.

from the side

Inside

Front

There is quite a bit of fiddling involved in making this card close properly.  The key thing to remember is that the score line on the die for the rollercoaster needs to be 1/8th inch above the score line for the card blank.

The finished card looks fabulous and I’ll be posting a step by step tutorial or video as soon as I get the photography finished, or when I can persuade someone to finish it for me 🙂

Oh what a thrill! Not the easiest bundle I have every used, possibly not the most fiddly but very close to it. 

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Shoot for the Stars

Shoot for the Stars

While I was creating my little bit of organisational heaven, I was hunting through pinterest for images of stamps to use in my inventory.  Once the stamp is retired it’s not so easy to locate these.  Keeping focused and on track while I was looking for the plain image and not cards to CASE was so not easy but on the whole I managed it.  With a couple of exceptions.

We have all bought stamps on…

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If you don’t know what you have you can’t use it, that is so true when it comes to the contents of your craft stash.  I also spend far too much time trying to figure out which stamp set that particular image comes from so I can use it to finish a card or project.  In an effort to reduce my stress and frustration I decided to put together a file of all my stamps, framelits, thinlets and punches so hunting is easier and more comfortable that pawing my way through a bookcase or two.

The whole idea began with me wanting to have a colour chart of my inkpads, cardstock, Stampin’ Write markers and Stampin’ Blends.  Initially I was looking on pinterest at some gorgeous scrap book binders put together by other craft fanatics but when it came to laying out some serious cash for the binders and page protectors, well I balked quite a bit.  Thats a lot of my stamps, cardstock and dies budget about to wing it out of the door.

Then came a visit to Amazon and some A5 binders and page protectors.  Lightbulb moment, for £12.50 I bought a binder and 200 page protectors.  I’m going to need another binder and more page protectors (my plans have extended to include a DSP section).  Well hello organisation and I have another order from Stampin Up! arriving in a few days for more stamps and stash.  If I really want a pretty binder, I can always cover this one, but to be honest, apart from making a prettier label, I’m quite happy with the black.

If you’d like to create a similar system please find below a series of pdf documents you can customise to create your own little piece of bindery happiness.

blank inventory

Colour Charts

Subtles

Brights

Regals

Neutrals

Incolours

Retired

Retired 1

Retired 2

Retired 3

Retired 4 Basics

Mini Duster

SubtlesBrights Mini Blenders

Regals Neutrals Mini Blenders

Retired4 + basics Mini Blenders

Retired2 + 3 Mini Blenders

Retired1 Incolours Mini Blenders

Bindery Happiness If you don't know what you have you can't use it, that is so true when it comes to the contents of your craft stash. 

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This set of stamps and dies first appeared in the 2017-2018 catalogue as a bundled set.  Returning again in the 2018-2019 catalogue as separates, it is a versatile addition to your craft stash for cute baby and toddler themed projects.  As each character has a front and back it’s possible to use these in spinner cards, acetate cards and tule cards too.  The accompanying images (bee hive, bees and a simple flower) also have framelits and there is also vine stem included with the framelits.

I cheated a little with the sentiments and used a retired set Made with Love (138662) but if you really want this set it can still be found on Ebay from time to time.

Colours Used

Crumb Cake

Calypso Coral

Daffodil Delight

Pear Pizzazz

Pool Party

Pumpkin Pie

Smoky Slate

Products Used

A Little Wild Clear-Mount Stamp Set – 144344

Price: £19.00

Little Loves Framelits Dies – 143743

Price: £24.00

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies – 145372

Price: £27.00

Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder – 143537

Price: £9.00

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad – 126975

Price: £6.00

Crumb Cake A4 Cardstock – 121685

Price: £7.25

Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad – 126982

Price: £6.00

Pool Party A4 Cardstock – 124391

Price: £7.25

Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin’ Pad – 126956

Price: £6.00

Pink Pirouette A4 Cardstock – 116203

Price: £7.25

Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin’ Pad – 131180

Price: £6.00

Pear Pizzazz A4 Cardstock – 131290

Price: £7.25

Whisper White A4 Cardstock – 106549

Price: £8.25

Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock – 140490

Price: £6.50

Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock – 106550

Price: £8.25

Very Vanilla A4 Thick Cardstock – 144238

Price: £6.50

Calypso Coral Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack – 144045

Price: £8.00

Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack – 144601

Price: £8.00

Pink Pirouette Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack – 144604

Price: £8.00

Pool Party Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack – 144605

Price: £8.00

Ivory Stampin’ Blends Marker – 144606

Price: £4.00

Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack – 145058

Price: £8.00

Supply List

  A Walk on the Wild Side This set of stamps and dies first appeared in the 2017-2018 catalogue as a bundled set.  Returning again in the 2018-2019 catalogue as separates, it is a versatile addition to your craft stash for cute baby and toddler themed projects. 

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Stamperatus Tips and Tricks

Stamperatus Tips and Tricks

Oh how I love my new stamperatus, multiple plates, reversible, neat tidy and how strong are those magnets!

You don’t generally need both to hold your cardstock or paper in place on the base.  They are incredibly strong.

Wrap those magnets in masking tape to make them easy to hold.

Don’t let the magnets connect, it’s possible that they will shatter and buying replacements means less cash for stash.

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I don’t know what it is about paper packs, I buy them, love them and then find it incredibly difficult to use even just one sheet of them.  What is that all about?  It’s a bit of an expensive waste of time to my mind, but I still do it.  Well to break the duck, no more.  I finally got my rear kicked into gear and out came the cupcake and carousels paper pack and I’ve played with it.  The cards I made look quite reasonable too.

If you would like to make these cards I have two sets of paper remaining from the card pack, it’s a single 6″ x 6″ sheet of 12 of the papers in the pack.

Colours used in this set:

Bermuda Bay

Calypso Coral

Early Espresso

Peekaboo Peach

So Saffron

Very Vanilla

Current and soon to be retiring items used:

Happy Birthday Thinlits Die – 143700

Price: £18.00

Bow Builder Punch – 137414

Price: £16.00

Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder – 109130

Price: £4.50

Versamark Pad – 102283

Price: £7.75

Bermuda Bay A4 Cardstock – 131286

Price: £7.25

Calypso Coral A4 Cardstock – 124392

Price: £7.25

Early Espresso A4 Cardstock – 121686

Price: £7.25

Peekaboo Peach A4 Cardstock – 141422

Price: £7.25

So Saffron A4 Cardstock – 108611

Price: £7.25

Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock – 106550

Price: £8.25

Very Vanilla A4 Thick Cardstock – 144238

Price: £6.50

Very Vanilla C6 Envelopes – 106589

Price: £6.00

Supply List

  Retired Stash I don't know what it is about paper packs, I buy them, love them and then find it incredibly difficult to use even just one sheet of them.