Five Gorgeous Creations, by Four Fabulous Ladies

I want to show you five lovely projects tonight by four lovely ladies.  The first one is by Netty and features CI-077, and CI-278 - thanks for sending it over Netty - loving those bright colours, and the men of course!

The second two are by Zuzu and in fabulous rich colours - very tactile too!  The box incorporates one of my all time favourite stamps CI-056 - what a drama queen!, and the dominoes a very popular stamp CI-197.

The next project is a very imaginative, soft and subtle use of one of our new tags by Helen. Helen has used the houses from CI-274 very effectively, and the image shows a 'before and after' shot.  Thanks Helen!

Finally here is a lovely large card by a special friend of ours - Margaret, who has used an image from People and Places 2 (all books are on special offer right now!), plus another one of the new tags.

So pretty!

That's all for tonight folks.  Our new challenges start on 1st April, so keep checking back for details.

Thanks for all your continuing kind comments, and have a great evening.

Jean x

MORE TAG CARDS, AND A VERY NICE 'SPRING IS IN THE AIR' BOOK

Still playing with our new tags - can't stop at the moment!  I made a folding card with a decorated tag for the front and a 'shabby' tag for the back.  I added some punching - Martha Stewart, a die cut corner, and a gorgeous Tando chipboard birdcage, and birds - soon to be on sale on the CI website, plus stamping with CI-256, and a flower from CI-293.  I mounted the back on some orange card to show off the punched border and added a ribbon to the punched hole.

For the second standing tag 'card' I used a Marianne's die cut bird house and leafy branch, two of our flying birds (with Ranger crackle paint added), a sentiment from CI-256, and a Prima flower.  I mounted the tag up on coloured card, and added a ribbon and a strut back to finish.

And a close up of the crackled bird - which I was pretty pleased with (I love a nice bit of crackle!!). . .

Today I also want to share images of a concertina Spring book by Sue at Paper Paradise - just lovely!  Have a look at her blog for some instructions.  She used our mini canvases to make the front and back - what a good idea!

Ooooo don't you just love lovely crafting!?

Jean x

STANDING TAG 'CARD'

You all seem to be loving the new printed tags we have just brought out, so I thought I would show you one I have just made into a free-standing tag 'card'.  I used one of our chipboard frames as well as a 'portrait' tag and made a little box tray to fit underneath the frame to give a little dimension.  I then stamped the flower from CI-195, coloured it, cut it out and mounted it in the decorated tray.  I painted the chipboard frame with Ranger crackle paint and coloured it in peach and aqua acrylic.  I mounted it on the tag and added a die cut leafy stem and flowers, word, and charms etc., plus a cardboard stand on the back to finish.  Hope you like it?

Jean x

GET READY FOR A CHALLENGE

We are certainly hoping that you are up for a Challenge!  We are going to run monthly challenges (by popular demand) - starting at the beginning of April, for those of you with blogs who can easily display their projects.  So watch this space!  If you haven't already got a blog I can tell you it is easier than you would think to run one, and I am sure you would love it - so come on and join in the fun! (check out www.blogger.com to set up your own).

Also tonight I have three contributor images to show you - which are fabulous as always:
Firstly 'Its Spring!' by Helen Chilton who used CI Rubber Stamps CI-017, CI-237, CI-301 & CI-304. Hopefully it will be a lucky image that will bring some sunshine into our lives too - very much needed I think!

Then a superb little silver box by Ginger which uses stamp CI-305 - just lovely to keep your time pieces in.

And also two little dangly beauties by Zuzu - how gorgeous does that little bird look?

I'm just loving them all.

Jean x

A Lovely Present .....

We recently received a couple of lovely sketch pads/journals/notebooks (one each), from the lovely Lynne, and I am posting a picture of mine below:

The stamp CI-285 has been beautifully stamped onto fabric, and attached to the notebook cover.  I just love it - thanks Lynne - fabric stamping gives stamping a whole new dimension!

And my second image today is of a fabulous printing tray, sent over to us by Judith and you will find instructions as to how she went about making it here.  I haven't had a go at decorating one of these trays as yet, although I would love to, as the results as seen here, are just so pretty.

We are getting some lovely feedback about the items shown on the blog and are delighted you are finding them inspirational.  With many thanks to the contributors too, of course!

Jean x

NEW CI PRINTED ITEMS AVAILABLE VERY SOON, AND MORE

We have just taken delivery of our latest printed items - large and beautiful shabby chic tags.  They are being packed up right now and will be for sale on the website very soon. There will be several choices of packs and the option of a 'tag book', and a Christmas pack too.  We think you will love them!  Sneak preview below featuring a tag made up into a tag pocket type card.  They are also perfect for decorating further.  Sooo exciting!

Also just had to show you what Sue from Paper Paradise has been making with the mini canvases available on this page of the CI website.  In addition to the lovely hearts, she has used CI stamps:  CI-031, CI-116, CI-137, CI-139, CI-161, CI-235, CI-258 and CI-296.  How totally gorgeous is this?!

Wow, thanks Sue

x

Zuzu, Tassy and Janet

Three images to show you tonight.  Firstly a soooo gorgeous shrine frame sent over by Zuzu which incorporates stamp CI-302 - loving it Louise, as always!

Secondly, a very pretty 'New Home' card by the lovely Tassy, who also works with us, using stamp CI-274.  Tassy makes the greatest video tutorials, often using CI products, and has made a video about the making of this card which you can access from her blog.

And lastly for this evening I had to share this fab tag concertina, made by Janet - who hasn't even blogged it herself yet - using an assortment of CI stuff.  Nice one Janet - hope you like the piccy!

Thanks for joining us!
Jean x

LITTLE CHIPBOARD CONCERTINA BOOK

I've had a little play with one of our little concertina books from Australia.  I decorated it on the theme of 'Travel', and the finished result is this:

It was a fiddly but fun project to do.  I used CI People & Places books, background books, and stamps including CI-304, CI-239 and CI-255.  I think it would make a pretty dinky gift for an intrepid friend, hope you agree?

Malc & I had a trip to Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle recently and were delighted to find this little pinny in the gift shop there - do you recognize the design that graces the top? (CI-269) - (Pinny modelled by the lovely 'Kate')

We knew that Ulster Weavers were making up some designs using this stamp plus other drawings by my friend Linda, (who also designs some of our other stamps for us), but hadn't seen them 'in the flesh' - it was a very exciting moment!  I think the woman behind the counter thought I was the 'local lunatic' when I couldn't resist telling her it was one of our designs we were buying! (I am not at all sure she believed me?!).
Soon after Linda gave me the rest of the items - just lovely:

I am now proudly displaying them all in my kitchen, where they look very cheerful - but a bit too good to use - perhaps I'll keep them for display purposes only!  They are so new they are not on the Ulster Weavers website yet, or I would give you the link, but I will be keeping a look out for them.

Finally today I want to share one of Jo Capper-Sandon's always classy creations using chicken stamp CI-289 amongst others - just adore Jo's work - thanks for sharing it Jo:

Back again soon  x

More on Craft Stamper April Issue, and New Images to Show

I have now had a chance to have a really good look through the latest issue of Craft Stamper, which in addition to my bird box offering (see last post), also has lovely projects using CI products by Isabelle and Helen (links to right), plus an inky concertina book by the talented Kate Crane.  Many thanks ladies - wonderful work!  Do get hold of a copy if you haven't already done so.

I have four more projects to display today.  Firstly a beautiful 'floating' card based on Joanne Wardle's project in Craft Stamper, by a great customer of ours Annette, using one of our older stamps CI-108, which you will locate in our online shop here.  Thanks for sharing Annette.

Followed by two wearable projects (using the latest issue stamps) by Ginger AKA Carol - loving these:

Then another fab card by Helen - superb colours!

And lastly a super stunning little box by the lovely Louise:

Thanks all.
More images and links to blog soon.
Jean x