65 Years Young ..........

So what do you get someone for their 65th ........

especially if like my Mum, you don't really want or need anything.  She is very happy with her jewellery and wouldn't wear anything new, she loves her house as it is and always has a special holiday...........

that doesn't leave much choice really does it ....

We to start with I made her an extra special card ......... in the process of which I ended up covered from head to foot in dazzling diamonds.

I made this using a selection of the lovely things to be found in our ideas Book.  But did use my magnetic platform, and the new Circle Thinlets Dies to create this amazing card.

The sentiments were from Petit Pairs and the numbers are Morning Post numbers.

I decided to make my Mum a decorative wreath for her kitchen 

Here's what it looked like.

I have made a bird box, flowers - some stamped, some glittered and some embossed,

die cut the leaves and birds, added ribbon and jewels and lots and lots of love.

I gave this and the card to my Mum two days ago and she loved it.  I hope you do too.

If you would like to make a wreath for a loved one then get in touch and we can arrange a workshop for you and your friends.

All items can be ordered through my online shop  HERE

Do you remember Baked Brown Sugar and delicious desert.............

that it bought to mind a couple of posts back?    

Well, I needed to make a Birthday card for my amazingly talented brother.  He's a furniture and cabinet maker and a very talented teacher.  Check his blog out here ....

It's really funny.  We both work with Wood, but in different ways.

And what's more we both love Chocolate.

Stampin UP do an amazing range of colours in their Neutrals selection, 

These include mouthwatering colours including

Chocolate Chip

and

Crumb Cake 

Added to this is the gorgeous 

Pear Pizzaz 

And it brings to mind Hot Chocolate and Pear pudding.  This is very similar to a Pineapple upside down cake, but is much much more yummy.  

Anyway before I disappear to get baking I just wanted to share Jason's birthday card with you.

I got out my Lovely as a Tree set - this is a wonderful set, perfect for any time of the year.

I double stamped the wooded area to give depth in gorgeous Pear Pizzaz on the matching card stock. 

Before using the Oak tree and stamping in Chocolate Chip.  

I matted and layered Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake Designer Series Paper and then added the Pear Pizzaz layer.

Finally I made a matching happy birthday tag and added this to the front using dimensionals.

I love this and just know that J, will too.

I hope you do, and if you would love to create this very simple yet effective card, then please don't hesitate to contact me and place your order for the wonderful products.

I of course made Jason the perfect envelope to match using the new Envelope Punch Board.  This is a must for all crafters

Anyway guys if you order online don't forget to use my hostess code.

What did you do this weekend? ...... I had the most amazing

time at the Stampin Up European Convention 2013.

It followed the theme that has been constant throughout the year .........

Be the Difference ..........

Did you know just a smile can make an immense difference to someone's day, just a little word of kindness or a small  gesture can have a huge effect.

We believe very much at Stampin Up! that we should love what we do and share what we love.  And I love sharing this with my customers, friends and also with all the other demonstrators.  I really do believe that we all can make a difference.

Can you see that smile of joy when someone opens your handmade card, unwraps that gorgeous handmade gift, the tears of happiness and the shear delight that you have taken that extra bit of time to think about them.

In just these small things you to can make an enormous difference and it's never to late to start.

With this in mind Stampin Up launched an competition covering the EU countries in which they operate to find the best samples from each country.  

Also they honoured all the demonstrators at a gala awards ceremony.

But the weekend was not all about partying, we had plenty of seminars to attend and lots of learning to do.  But this was also extreme fun and when shared with other people who love what they do as much as i do it was an immense pleasure.

So would you like to see pictures of the weekend?

Yes, ok, here goes

One of my swaps

My other swap - the back and front of a postcard 

the bag tags I made for Traci and I

Some of the gorgeous Pinkies - both English and Dutch

(This is just a fraction of the 84 Pinkies at Convention)

So as you can see we had great fun.  There was lots of laughs, giggles, tears of joy and lots of cheering as one by one the Pinkies were honoured on stage during the awards ceremony.

The lovely Sacha and Baby Rosie

Myself, Sam, Tracey and Lucy

Traci, and Tracey

Can I just say all the Pinkies truly are fantastic.

So apart from all the fun with my fellow Pinkies there was one major surprise in store for me at convention.

What was it ? ............

Well it was this

Yes I did it ......... I won first place in the United Kingdom heat of the Stampin Up design challenge.

You can see the original post here ............

Would you like to be able to make this gorgeous birthday card box and birthday book?

Well check back on the 14th December and the instructions will be here for you to buy.  They will be linked in my sidebar.  

There are lots of fanastic offers and classes coming up over the next few months, so please check back for regular updates.

Don't forget if you wish to order you lovely Stampin UP goodies in time for Christmas you can do so on my online shop.  

HERE

Have you noticed the bird .........

at the top and bottom of every blog post?

That's because for the past 13 years by nickname has been "Bird"

Now some of you may think that it's a bit of a put down, but is has always been a term of endearment.

So when looking for a theme for my new blog the bird came to mind.

Not to mention that whenever I think of Birds I remember the
"They Might Be Giants" 1989 Hit - Birdhouse in your soul ...........

Here's some of the lyrics .....

Im your only friend
Im not your only friend
But Im a little glowing friend
But really Im not actually your friend
But I am

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say Im the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

The song is actually sung as tho the lightbulb is the friend and is watching over the person........

But I just love the lyrics .........

So they inspired me to make some gorgeous birdhouses for my bird.

I have stamped and punched out the birds using the Polka Dot Pieces stamp set and the Bird Builder Punch.  On some of them I have simply coloured the stamp with Stampin Markers to give the multi coloured effect, some I have used our marvellous Metallic Encore Ink pads.  

The houses themselves have used various papers and themes.  One is in the Winter Frost Designer Paper,  one in the Seasons of Style Papers.  

Whilst the green one has been stamped with the wood effect in the Truly Grateful Stamp Set.  The roof has been embossed using the wood effect embossing folder.

All the gorgeous bows and ribbons are from Stampin Up as well.

I just adore these and have a feeling that my usual christmas tree decorations could be staying put and I could be having a bird house theme tree.

They also make fantastic treat boxes as the roof opens.

They were made using the fantastic Big Shot machine.

Everyone at the last workshop loved them.

If you would like to make these or anything similar at a workshop in your home, then please get in touch.

Don't forget everything used is available to order through my online shop.

Have a great day