Childhood memories ............ such lovely toys

Hi everyone from a very wet Somerset.  

In todays post

• Boys will be Boys - Childhood memories
• Big Shot Video and Offer
• American Convention Highlights - would you like to go to the European convention?

Boys will be Boys

The dogs and I have been out and got very very wet, but it was quite refreshing and the fields around us really needed it.  But hey, can we please have the sunshine back.  It makes everything seem brighter.

Thanks to those of you who visited my post yesterday.  I am sorry it was so somber, but I felt it important to remember the occasion.  

When I got my annual catalogue, there were a few stamp sets that jumped up and said Buy me, buy me ......... for many different reasons.  Some business and some personal.  This set screamed at me because it bought back lots and lots of happy memories.  Not only from my childhood, but also from my kids little days.  

Why, well all the lovely toys featured are so darling, but above all many of them were what I had or my kids had.

There are five toy stamps in the box and two sentiments, but its the toys I loved 

All five 3 x 3" cards coloured with blend abilities and them mounted

Who didn't have building blocks.  I used to build them and my brother would race his trucks into them to knock them down.

Lego, I can still hear the sound of it being moved around in our lego box, trying to find that elusive bit at the bottom of the box, and remember the feel of it when you trod on it.

Do you remember these army men complete with parachute.  You wrapped the chute around them, and chucked them up in the air, and they floated down.  Happy days.

Yoyo, hmm, I could only do the basics, but my little boy Tom, can make bag shapes, walk the dog and do many more tricks.

And this little guy, well whats not to love.  He reminded me of Metal Mickey, a tv programme I watched as kid.

So many happy memories with this set, and I know that it will also inspire these memories in the people the cards etc are sent to.  What a lovely set to inspire so many lovely feelings.

Each of the images was coloured with Blendabilities.  Then mounted onto Daffodil delight and then Coastal Cabana card bases.  

I loved making these and had a smile on my face the whole time.  Id love to know which sets have made you smile and why.  Please share in the comments below.  If you link to your blog, I will pop over and have a look.

BIG SHOT OFFER

I now every other demonstrator is shouting about this.  I know that you're all probably thinking oh please shut up about the offer, so I thought I would show you today, why you need the big shot and these amazing bundles.

This lovely clip shows you all the uses for the big shot and tells you all the different things you can cut with it.

Weekly Deals. 

These lovely little guys change tonight at 11.30 so if any of these are making their way into your heart and you want a bargain grab it now.

Don't forget you can get everything used today in my shop.  Just click below

Blooming with Hope ....... a hundred years on

Morning everyone.  I hope that today finds you all well and safe.

In today's post:

• Bloom with hope meets Blendabilities

Its lovely here today in Somerset.  The sun is shining and life is quite tranquil, yes the kids are still in bed, so its quiet and peaceful.  The dogs have been walked and I've done some washing. 

You know all those little jobs and things that make our lives what they are.  Many of us don't stop to think that that's exactly how it was over 100 years ago.  Life was just life, and you did the things you did on a day to day basis.  It wasn't all good, as history has taught us, but never did people envision the horrors that would await them, or the losses their families would endure, as war was declared at 11pm bst on 4th August 1814.  Its very sobering to watch the TV coverage of the remembrance services for those who fell, both British and world wide.  So sad, and yet even today there are conflicts happening all over the world.  Its really made me stop and think about how lucky I am.

One of the exclusive Hostess Sets from Stampin UP!  is called Blooming with Hope, its title sums up how we all are as youngsters, blooming and alive and full of hope.  I chose these lovely flowers from the set because they are so pretty, but to be honest it was the stamp set name that drew me in....... 

I wanted to make the card cheerful so chose the lovely Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil delight cardstock and matching Blendabilities.

Each flower was stamped in Momento ink

And then coloured and blended to create shadows and shading

giving depth and movement to these gorgeous flowers

Finally the centre panel was mounted on the coloured card stock.

Gorgeous.

To finish I of course stamped inside the card as well.

Please don't forget to click on the Special Offers to find the wonderful 

Big Shot Bundle Offer

or this weeks Weekly Deals.

Thanks again for stopping by.  

A bit of Zen and Stampin up makes a great day .......

Hi everyone.  

Firstly can I sincerely thank each and every one of you who regularly pop by my blog.  Your continued support means so much.  

In today's post

•      A bit of Zentangle
•      Weekly Deals
•      Big hopes for the big shot .....

I love Bloglovin ......  It's great and everyday it just pops up on my emails .... I get to see what everyone is doing, get to read about my favourite crafters and see their amazing creations.  

I noticed not long after the American convention that several cards were done with what has been termed the Zentangle effect ........  I was intrigued, it looked just like the doodling I used to do on my study books.  I mean if it had paper and I had a colouring or graphite pencil, or a pen then it was fair game.  It was gonna get doodled on. 

So this Zentangle intrigued me.  I learnt that Patty Bennett had done a class on it.  (Sucks to be this side of the pond sometimes!). I wasn't there so have studied the effects others have created.  My interpretation is that you stamp your image and then doodle on it.  I have done the lines top and bottom of the petals and leaves, but you can do whatever takes your fancy.  

So fully inspired, armed with my stamp, two stamp'n'write markers, ink pads and card stock I got to work. My chosen colours, strawberry slush, pink pirouette and very vanilla.  

The stamp sets used are Tape It and Blended Bloom

I had to fussy cut both layers of this gorgeous flower.  The leaves were punched using the bird builder punch, and we're finished off with the itty bitty punch pack flowers.  A candy dot in the middle makes each one pop.  

Matted and layered onto co-ordinations card stock and then stamped inside tone on tone to finish,

Gorgeous.  What do you think...... I've already got dome other stamps in mind to try this with.

WEEKLY DEALS

These are still amazing value for money and the products change each week.  This week there is the oh so cute cupcake builder punch. Some great framelits and lots more

BIG HOPES FOR THE BIGSHOT

Just a gentle reminder, not to miss out on the 15% discount on each bundle in the special 5 bundles.  The offer ends at the end of August.  It would be a shame not to add these 5 stamp and die bundles to your collection, especially at that price.

Talking of price, how about the opportunity to save up to £47.50.  Yep if you buy the BIGSHOT this month you can choose one of these bundles free.  What are you waiting for ..... This is too good to miss.  

I am entering my card into the following challenges. 

Sunday Stamps - Its Pink ssc81

Retro Sketches - Challenge 126