Painted Faces......

....and a Bouncy Castle and a Huge Inflatable Slide and loads of sweet kids dressed as bugs or other weird & wonderful things!!
Today was my eldest Granddaughter's fifth Birthday party and I did manage to snap a couple of pictures during the chaos............................

A pink ladybird!! my son made the cake and unfortunately ran out of red colouring for the icing!


This is our gorgeous Louise who sadly couldn't have a go on the slide or have her face painted! You can see Justine in the background and the queue forming for the face painting......


All these photo's and I did not get one of Danielle as she would not keep still long enough for me to take one!!
And last but not least.............one of me helping out with the face painting! I've never done it before but all the children seemed happy enough and as you can see I was concentrating very hard :-)At the moment I am like a Duck.......calm on the surface but paddling like heck underneath!!! knee deep in swaps, on two lots of medication for my painful knees and blood tests tomorrow! but nevermind, as long as all is o.k. for Thursday when I leave for Convention...........I am so excited I cannot begin to tell you!!!!

Bye for now ;-D
Carol xxx

Yesterday.................

......was brilliant! I had a lovely day with some wonderful ladies who came along to my 'Step into Christmas' all day stamp class.

Now, I did remember to take my camera this time however, I got so engrossed in all that was going on that I only took a couple at the beginning before they all started.......I wanted some of everyone stamping and punching away and I totally forgot............I didn't even get one of my Raffle prize table!

But.....I got these...........We were in the larger of the two halls this time and here are the samples I made for the day......

Firstly.....the Reds & Greens


and the BluesAlthough I was in pain for most of the day I still thoroughly enjoyed myself! All the work is so worthwhile hearing the lovely comments from my stamp girls and I want to thank you all for coming along......................Huge Thanks to........ Wendy, Sue.S, Sue.W, Felicity, Heather, Rosie,
Lynne and Brenda. You are all 'SUPERSTAMPERS!!!!!!
Sorry to the ladies that missed out this time for one reason or another.........sometimes life just get's in the way of our Stamping!!

See some of you on Tuesday and the rest of you very soon I hope :-)

I may not get chance now to show you anything for a couple of days............I have my regular Tuesday workshop and then I'm off to meet some new ladies at a workshop on Wednesday night where I also get to meet Carol...........we've been 'bloggy' pals for a while, but have not actually met!.......I am nervous and getting quite excited too!

Back soon,
Carol xxx

More cards for Saturday ..............

Hi Everyone! Just a quick post from this hectic household!! to show you three more sample cards for my 'Step into Christmas' all day get together :-)

I will be changing colours now as I have made several in this gorgeous combo, think it may be time for some blues and snowflakes! only paper ones mind we don't want any of the real stuff just yet!!!
Maybe I should invest in one of those lightbox thingies for my photo's!! the light here this afternoon was terrible and raining too which never helps!

You have one more day to register for my all day session, so drop me an e-mail if you would like to come :-) then I can give you more details or...... you can check out this page for more info.

Back soon, thanks for popping in! ;-D

supplies
Stamps - Delightful Decorations, Contempo Christmas
Card - Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Jolly Holiday DSP
Punches - Eyelet Border, Ornament, Two Step Bird, 1.1/4" Circle, 1" Circle
Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Gold Elastic Cord

One more card..............

.............from last night's Stamp Class!

Hi Everyone,
A really quick post to show you one more little card using the Hostess Level 2 stamp set 'Cute by the Inch', I also made a couple of boxes with the scraps which I will show you soon too!


I used one of my blender pens and Pumpkin Pie ink to colour in the 'Hi' portion of this stamp, the main section was stamped with Chocolate Chip and punched & layered with several of the circle punches including the scallop which I've 'poked' with the Paper Piercing tool.

I need to get stuck into some more samples for my all day Christmas event Saturday 23rd October 'Step into Christmas'......I have spaces left if any of you would like to join us! If you are a fellow demonstrator and you live close enough to come along you will be most welcome ;-D
Please e-mail me carol@casamiacrafts.co.uk if you would like more information or if you would like to add your name to my list!

bits & bobs
Cute by the Inch stamp set, Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso and Whisper White card, Greenhouse Gala DSP, Certainly Celery 3/8" Taffeta ribbon

Thanks for your visit today - see you soon,
Carol xxx

Delicious New Designer Series Papers.............

Hello All.......
I thought it was about time I shared with you some more of the yummy new patterned papers that we have in the catalogue (pages 88-91), there are so many gorgeous patterns & colours and they smell fab too!!...........I don't have all of them just yet, but I did provide myself with several of the range because of course I NEED them to be able to show the customers and all my lovely ladies that attend my stamp classes! Good excuse for a spending spree.....

Today's projects show how perfectly two of the collections go together as if they were made for each other..................... 'Love Letter' from page 89 & 'Newsprint' from page 91

Both the paper collections have a Very Vanilla base and coupled with the new Riding Hood Red & a little Basic Black...................Mmmmm! Lovely

I found a couple of these unruled blank notepads in my stash.....I've only seen ruled ones in the shops but I guess they would be easy to make from regular copy paper! The pen is from Tesco and I've rolled up a slither of paper and tucked it inside the barrel. A nice little gift set suitable (I think) for a man or lady.
I am really enjoying myself showing you all this gorgeous new stuff! Thanks for popping in today and lookout for some more new cards & projects very soon ;-D

bits & bobs
Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Riding Hood Red card, Newsprint & Love Letter DSP, Riding Hood Red ink & Crumb Cake ink (on the torn edges) Scallop Trim punch, 1/8" Basic Black Taffeta ribbon.

Cute by the Inch!!

Hi Everyone,
I think I must have had Halloween on the brain when I chose these colours today!! however, no pumpkins in site just a cute little flower from the new Level 2 Hostess set 'Cute by the Inch'............
I have used colours from the new 'In Colour' palette and also the brand new Scallop Trim Border & Corner punches. I would suggest having a play with scrap paper first as they work slightly differently to other brand punches of a similar style, but as you can see the effects are gorgeous!

The image is coloured with markers and then layered onto card with another new punch Curly Label Extra Large and accented with some of the new 1/2" Pear Pizzazz stitched poly ribbon.

Bits & Bobs
Peach Parfait, Basic Black & Whisper White card, Pear Pizzazz DSP(In Colour patterns stack) Scallop Trim Border/Corner, 3/16" Corner Small & Curly label punches, Pear Pizzazz 1/2" stitched ribbon, Basic Pearls.

If you would like 'Cute by the Inch' as your FREE gift, or any of the products listed above then contact me to find out how!! ;-D
Thanks for popping in today.........see you soon...

Carol xxx

A Wee Handbag!

Hello Lovelies :)
After the very boring man's card yesterday I have something much better to show you today......
a tiny cute little Handbag!

At about 10.30pm the other evening I decided to try and make a treat holder with my own dimensions.......I had made them before using tutorials from other bloggers who share their work, however I wanted my own, to fit a certain something inside ;-D and here it is..............

At only 2" tall and 3" wide it is, as the title says a wee handbag!!! and................there is something sweet inside but that is a secret for the time being!

Bits & Bobs
Cute by the Inch stamp set(level 2 Hostess) Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette card, Greenhouse Gala DSP, Scallop Square, 3/16" Corner Rounder & 1/16" Circle punches, Early Espresso ink & brad, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta ribbon

Back soon...........
Carol xxx

Thank You Man!!

Hi Everyone,
I missed popping on yesterday as I am busy making 'swaps' for Peterborough on the 17th and I'm elbow deep in card, ribbon & paper! I did however take a tiny break to make this Thank You card which is for a male colleague at the office.............

No pretty or frilly embellishments on this one, just basic and to the point!

Bits & Bobs
Sahara Sand, Early Espresso card, Early Espresso ink, Scallop square punch, paper piercing tool, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta ribbon.

See you soon ;-D
Carol xxx

New Catalogue ~ Day 5

Hi Everyone ;-D
We went out for dinner earlier this evening and have not been back long, so I am rather late again with my update..............................but better to be a bit late than not at all I suppose!

My last card for the time being using the fabulous Contempo Christmas stamp set..........I will return to this set in a while and maybe in a different colour combo!
A bit quirky again today as I have stamped and cut the ornament stamp to make a new pot for my Christmas Tree. I think it is good to see lots of different ways of using your stamps to be able to put them to the best use and therefore to get your monies worth :) .......... maybe next time I work with this set I can come up with some more ideas to share with you!

Bits & Bobs
Contempo Christmas, Tiny Tags, & Serene Snowflakes stamp sets.
Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive inks & card, Whisper White ink & card, Basic Grey for the sentiment, Peach Parfait for the star! Scallop Edge, Word Window punches, Gold elastic cord.

Thanks for popping in...........
Carol xxx

New Catalogue ~ Day 4

Here I am again!! :)

I always used to update my other blog most days and I must say I am quite enjoying it again now, it's just a case of being organised which is something I'm not always good at......but Ill try!

My card today is another Christmas card.......did I hear you groan?....... there is only more in this set after today and then I will move on to something else :)

The wonderful Contempo Christmas stamp set...........and the same colour combination as before. I do love to see Christmas cards in comtemporary colours but I also love the tradition of Red & Green!

Bits & Bobs
Contempo Christmas, Tree Trimmings stamp sets, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler inks & card, Whisper White card, Cherry Cobbler brads, Eyelet Border punch and Small Heart punch

See you tomorrow with the last one in the set! Please let me know if I can help you out with any orders, I will be placing another very soon and could always add your goodies to it if you wish!

Take Care,
Carol xxx

New Catalogue ~ Day 3

Hello.....

Sunday is always a busy day in the Houghton household, family always visit which is lovely of course but inevitably involves extra chores...................... and then I was glued to the TV earlier for the X Factor, so I am a bit later today showing you my card............Same stamp set again today Contempo Christmas and same colourway too although I have tried something a little different...................
Yep! Decoupage!!!! Now I actually loathe the pre printed, buy in bulk type but for some reason I wanted to do it on this particular card.......I guess i just wondered what it would look like so the only way to find out was to try it! What do you think???

Bits & Bobs
Contempo Christmas, Sincere Salutations, Season of Joy stamp sets - Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler inks & card - Whisper White card, Versamark and gold elastic cord - Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Corner Rounder & Scallop edge punches.

Hope you like it! see you tomorrow ;-D
Carol xxx

New Catalogue ~ Day 2

Hello Lovelies :-)
Back today with a card for you made using one of the brand new stamp sets called Contempo Christmas.............this set in Clear Mount(lots of the stamp sets are available in this format now!) was given to each attendee(70+) at Stampin' Up! Regional Training in High Wycombe recently and is also available in Wood Mount for those of you that always prefer wood! There is also a briliant new Ornament Punch which goes along with this set perfectly...............just waiting for mine to arrive now!

Very similar to a card I made last Christmas time but today with the scrummiest of reds for the coming season Cherry Cobbler........such a gorgeous rich red and just perfect for all your Christmas projects! The bauble has been spritzed with Champagne Mist shimmer paint and has a lovely sparkle! and of course the 'tree branches' have been made using the top of the tall tree from our Lovely as a Tree set which I'm chuffed to say has carried over into the new catalogue.

Bits & Bobs
A6 Card.....Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Lovely as a Tree, Gold Elastic Cord, Eyelet Border Punch, Champagne Mist shimmer paint and Basic Grey for the sentiment

If I can help you out with any of the Bits & Bobs just let me know ;-D carol@casamiacrafts.co.uk
Thanks for your visit today, see you soon!

Carol xxx

Day 1 - New catalogue

WhoooooHooo!!!! the day has FINALLY arrived for the brand new Idea Book & Catalogue from Stampin' Up!
To view the catalogue online just click on the picture below, this will take you to a link where you can see all the gorgeous new products........you can zoom in too if there is something you want a closer look at ;-D (use the back button on your browser to return here!)
I have a little project to tempt you today, you can find more of these on page 89......

You can find the tutorial for this cute little bird right here

I have used the lovely new Greenhouse Gala designer paper (page89) for my bird and as suggested by Dawn a fellow Demo on the forum....... would be good to have as Christmas tree decorations!

There are so many new stamp sets, papers, ribbons, punches embellishments and more and of course the total reveal of the colour renovation as well!! The hostess sets are gorgeous this time around so don't delay book your party with me today and you could have one sooner than you think!
It may take you a while to decide what you fancy from the catalogue, or you may know instantly! If you would like to have lots of things and spread the cost over several months, then why not join my new Stampers 10 group which will start in November, be quite speedy though as 7 places are already taken!! To find out how these clubs work then click on the Virtual Hostess tab at the top of this page.

If you would simply like to place a hassle free order delivered direct to your home or work address then please contact me via e-mail - carol@casamiacrafts.co.uk.

MY SPECIAL OFFER FOR OCTOBER

Place a *qualifying order with me during October and receive a £5 Gift Voucher to redeem against the next order you place! Plus.......entry into a Prize Draw, drawn at the end of the month to win a FREE stamp set.

*£45 or more

I am hoping to show you a new item most days over the next couple of weeks.......although October is such a busy time for me, so don't abandon me if I miss a day or two! Thanks for popping in today and enjoy browsing the brand new catalogue ;-D

Take Care and see you soon!
Carol xxx