Sweet Press Cookie Stamps

My nieces each received a Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamp Set for Christmas and today I am going to share some of the fun one of them had using them with a favorite family shortbread recipe.

Here she is mixing the secret recipe

and here are the finished results

Oh and this is what she thought of her efforts

The Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps were fun and easy to use and my Niece is now planning to make her friends biscuits for their birthdays and she thinks she will make the star ones for people she is doing shows and concerts with too.  I was pleased to find how easy they were to wash up too - yep as Aunt I got all the clearing up to do!

The Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps are on page 161 of the Annual Catalogue and cost £15.50 for a set of 3 silicone stamps, each measuring 7cm in diameter.  You also get a handle as well as a recipe and tips sheet.

To order your Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Thank You Kindly Card Set

On Friday I gave you a sneak peek of a set of cards we made at a recent Card Making Class, and today I am going to show you the set, which features the wonderful Thank You Kindly Stamp Set in more detail.

Here is the set all together

And the cards

All of which live together in this custom sized box

If you would like to know more about upcoming card classes check this link

Happy Stampin'

Scrapbook Saturday - These boots

Today I am going to share another Scrapbook Page featuring the wonderful International Bizarre Designer Series Papers. 

The photo on this page was taken when I first went for a walk in my new walking boots - it was taken just as I left the house.  It was to be a short(ish) walk to the post office and back - so a total of about 2 and a half or 3 miles.  These boots, as well as being a cute colour, were really comfortable when I tried them on in the shop and I was looking forward to wearing them.  By the time I got to the post office I had changed my mind.  I could hardly walk, they were so uncomfortable I seriously considered walking back in just my socks!  The blisters took weeks to totally heal.  These boots and I have still, well over a year later, not made our peace.

To find out more about Scrapbooking why not come along to the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club or take an Introduction to Scrapbooking Class - for more details email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Find Out About Friday - Feeling Crafty Classes for the New Year

With 2013 just around the corner, for this week's Find Out About Friday I thought I would tell you about different types of classes and events you will be able to enjoy in the New Year.

If you are looking to try something new for the new year, want to have a lot of fun and spend time with a fantastic group of people while making something beautiful then the Feeling Crafty Classes are for you.  There are several regular classes to choose between as well as some longer events and one off classes for you to enjoy.

Today I am going to tell you about the regular classes

Monthly Card Making Classes

Each month we feature one stamp set and explore some of the different things we can do with it.  Together we will make 4 or 5 cards which showcase the versatility of that month's Stamps and try new techniques.  Everyone who attends gets a stamp set as part of their class fees so they are able to make more things with it and to carry on playing and enjoying it.

This class is suitable for both beginners and experienced card makers.  You will get as much help and support as you need so everyone, no matter how experienced they are, will take something (other than the completed projects and the stamp set) away with them.

Our next class features the lovely Serene Silhouettes Stamp Set (you may have spotted that I am loving this stamp set at the moment - check out yesterday's post, and the day before's!)  You can find the details of the next class here.

Cards from a recent Class - more details of these projects soon

Monthly Scrapbooking Club

Scrapbooking is a fantastic way of telling you and your family's story using your photos to create something beautiful that will be treasured for generations to come.  You can join our club in person each month or take part by post.  Each month we have a kit of coordinating goodies and use it to make at least two pages - one taught and one which you can do your own thing with or take from one of the other inspiration pages which will be shared.

This Club is suitable for scrappers of all levels of experience and the pages you make will always be your own.  The details of January's Club are here.

Stamp - a - Stack of Cards

At these new classes you will make 12 cards - usually 4 each of 3 different designs, all of which will be postage friendly.  These classes are great for beginners and for those who want to make sure they have a stack of cards ready to post out.  

Start Stampin'

These classes are designed to introduce you to the art of Stamping.  You will learn the basic techniques and make 3 cards.  Numbers will always be kept small so you get as much individual tuition as you need. 

Introduction to Scrapbooking

At one of these sessions you will learn the basics and some of the principles of Scrapbooking while you make your own Scrapbook Page.  You will get a kit with everything you need to make your page and have some supplies left to take home and use. 

Big Shot Technique Class

This class is designed to help you get the most from your Big Shot.  During this class you will learn lots of hints and tips to help you unlock your creativity with this amazing tool.  Class numbers are strictly limited to ensure you get the tuition you need and you are encouraged to bring along your Big Shot.  This class is free to those who purchase a Big Shot through me or costs £20 to those who have purchased it elsewhere.

It would be fantastic to see you in class.  You can find out more details of all these classes here.  

Happy Stampin

PS  If you have been to class before and bring a friend who has not stamped with us before, both of you will get a special thank you gift from me - so who would you like to bring to class with you?

Serene Silhouettes Birthday Butterflies - Number 2

I enjoyed making the birthday card I shared with you yesterday so much that I kept many of the same elements and made another one!

This time I added the En Francais Stamp Set in a masked circle which I also inked to give some added definition.  Again I used a butterfly with a glimmer paper butterfly underneath.

Which card do you like better, today's or yesterdays?

Happy Stampin'

Serene Silhouettes Birthday Butterflies

Today I am going to share a birthday card with you.  This card features the wonderful Serene Silhouettes Stamps and some beautiful butterflies from the Papillon Potpourri Stamp Set

let me show you the big butterfly in a bit more detail

If you would like to learn how to make cards, or to purchase any of the wonderful Stampin' Up! Products please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Merry Christmas Everyone

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

Enjoy your Day what ever you are doing

Happy Stampin'

Christmas Gift Boxes

So it's almost Christmas and today I a going to share some decorated Christmas Gift Boxes.  I made 30 of these and here they are lined up waiting to go

And here is a close up of some of the boxes.  They are Kraft Boxes that you can find on page 161 of the Annual Catalogue, and have been decorated with papers from the Be Of Good Cheer Papers.

They are all now with the recipients (and I know several have been opened) so would you like to see what is in them?

Happy Stampin

Last Moment Christmas Gifts!

Every Year I seem to find myself needing a last moment Christmas Gifts - so here is today's offering if you find yourself in the same position!

These Fridge Magnets feature the wonderful Mixed Bunch Stamp Set and coordinating punch

And here is one in close up

Good Luck with the rest of your festive preparations!

Happy Stampin'

Scrapbook Saturday - The White House

As we all get ready for Christmas I thought I would share a scrapbook page featuring a lot of snow for this week'e Scrapbook Saturday.

When I visited The White House a few years ago it had a whole extra layer of white - a very deep dusting of snow.  

The papers I have used to make this page are from the International Bizarre Designer Series Papers, which is a fun and vibrant collection suitable for any occasion.

If you want to start Scrapbooking why not join the Feeling-Crafty Scrapbook Club - just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk for more details

Happy Stampin

PS - Did you see the 5 Tips for taking better Photographs this Christmas that professional photographer Ed Westwood shared with us in yesterdays post?  If not check them out - they are great ...

Find Out About Friday - Five Tips for Better Photographs this Christmas

I am so excited to bring you this week’s Find Out About Friday – Five tips from professional photographer Ed Westwood to help us all get better photos this Christmas.  I was chatting to Ed about how disappointed I always am with my Christmas photos and he shared several really practical tips which I know I can use.  Imagine then how thrilled I was when he agreed to share his top five tips with all of you too – and with the very special offer he is sharing with us all at the end!

Firstly let me tell you a little more about Ed – he is a corporate PR and commercial photographer who delights his clients with event or studio based images. His clients range from multinational companies to sole traders and he has been published in local media.  Ed also has a growing portraiture and private events business through Memories and Moments by Ed Westwood Photography – oh and as those of you who have met him will know, he is a really great person too!

So over to Ed for his Top 5 Tips for taking better Photos this Christmas

Hello everyone – I hear from a lot of people that they often feel the photos they take are not as good as they would like and that they wish they had better photos to help them remember special times such as Christmas.  With this in mind I am pleased to be able to share 5 simple tips to help you get the best possible photos this Christmas, whatever camera you are using, Compact, DSLR or even your mobile phone

Tip 1 - Simple is often better.  

Don’t try to cram too much into your photos as it will all get lost in a very busy picture.  If you want to take a picture of one of your children opening their presents then do just that.  Include your child, their presents and don’t worry about the Christmas tree, cards on the mantel pieces, other guests, fantastic Christmas spread etc, etc... you get the idea.  You can always take another picture of them!

Tip 2 - Move to get the image you want.  

Move around the room to include what you want and take pictures whilst you are doing it.  Grandpa asleep after Christmas lunch might look better from the front instead of the side – and you might get a shot you really like somewhere in between.  Think about height as well as position in the room.   A simple rule of thumb is that subjects generally look better if you take a photo at their eye level.  That could mean kneeling if you’re photographing children or getting even lower if you want that fantastic shot of a pet.

Tip 3 - Look at the whole picture before taking the photo.  

Everyone has seen those funny images where someone has a palm tree growing out of their head but it is surprisingly easy to do.  You will be focusing on your subject and waiting for just the right moment but take a few seconds to look at around the picture.  What’s behind them, next to them and in the foreground.  A simple step to the right or left might make all the different and turn an amusing but unusable photo into an amazing one.

Tip 4 - Vary your lighting.  

Don’t be afraid to open curtains or turn on lights when taking photos this Christmas.  The flashes that come on cameras are getting better but are still  one directional and can lead to unflattering shadows and reflections – not to mention the dreaded red eye.  If you find yourself in a dark situation this Christmas then I would recommend trying non-direct natural light first (opening the curtains), then overhead lighting and use your flash as a final resort.  No two situations are the same so if have a chance, try all three, and see which results you like best.
Also, if you find very dark areas in a well lit photograph then you might have an issue with uneven or direct light.  Try evening the light out by removing very bight sources or adding a bit more to the dark areas.

Special Tip:  If there is not enough light then this will not always show as a dark image on your camera screen.  Sometimes too little light results in slow shutter speed leading to a blurred image.  Add more light and try again.

Tip 5 - Take lots of photos.  

Once you’ve bought a camera and memory cards taking extra photos is virtually free so snap away.  When I’m shooting a simple PR event outside of the studio my client worthy shots may be somewhere between 1 in 5 and 1 in 10.  So if my clients wants 10 good photos then I will be taking at least 100, but usually more.

For important moments keep snapping as you don’t know whether your favourite photo will be the first or the last.

Look at your images on the camera screen after the first shot if this moment to check if there is anything significantly wrong with the images.  In particular that they are not too dark and there is no unwanted items in the frame. Taking lots of photos is especially important when there are multiple people as I am continually amazed at how people manage to blink at just the wrong moment..!

If you are taking photographs at a particularly import event then see if you can arrive early and take a few test shots to find the best vantage point and if you are having Christmas at home you can take some practice shots at different times of day too.

Bonus tip:  Taking better photos doesn’t stop once the images have been captured.  Careful image selection, especially if you have taken multiple photos of a single event is just as important.  A good way to do this is to think of the story you are trying to tell and keep it simple.  A photo really is worth a thousand words so sharing hundreds of photos will overwhelm even the most enthusiastic viewer.

I hope these tips help you get better photos this Christmas and the most important thing is to enjoy the results of your photography.  There are so many ways to share your fantastic images so don’t let them just sit on a computer somewhere. 

However you view them, enjoy them, and Ed Westwood Photography wishes you a very Snappy Christmas and an image filled New Year.

Thanks Ed! I don’t know about the rest of you but I can’t wait to put these tips into action and then to have better Christmas Photo’s to scrap and to enjoy.

Now that special offer I mentioned …

Ed has just stated to offer hands on photography courses.  His day long Digital Photography, Getting Better Results Course is great for those who want to learn about what their DSLR or Bridge camera can really do who want to take their camera off automatic.  You can read all about it here.

The usual price of a place on this fab course is £99 but if you quote Feeling Crafty when you book before the end of March 2013 your place will cost just £50  - now that really is a great Christmas Present from Ed that will keep giving!  Places on each course are carefully limited so book as soon as possible - just email him and don't forget to mention Feeling Crafty to get your discount!

Happy Stampin'

Gift Set for a Friend

Today I am going to show you a gift set that I made for a dear friend of mine.  

The card features several stamp sets, The Open Seas, Affection Collection, French Foliage and En Francais.  I also made a small gift box to match using the Petite Purse Die.

If you would like to purchase any of the items used to make this set, or learn about the techniques used please get in touch - bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Frosty Friends Christmas Card

One of my favourite Christmas TV Ads this year (the John Lewis Snowman advert - such a lovely version of the Power of Love - check the advert out here) got me really wanting to make a card with Snowmen on it so my Frosty Friends Stamp came out to play!

What has inspired your Christmas Cards this year?  If you still have ideas that you have not used you may want to consider writing them down so that when you sit down to make your cards next year they are there ready for you to just get making!

Happy Stampin'

PS - I have a very special guest post for this week's Find Out About Friday - It's something that all of you with cameras and camera phones are going to want to see - I am very excited about it and know you will want to check it out!

Quick Christmas Card Featuring the Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set

Today I have another quick Christmas Card Idea for you - ideal for those last moment cards that many of us seem to need!  This card features the wonderful Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set combined with the Greetings Of the Season Stamp Set.  

The colour combination of Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive on Very Vanilla is a classic and since the card has only one layer it is quick to make.  It is one of the cards we made at this year's Christmas Card Club.  If you want to make sure you get ahead with your Christmas Cards next year make sure you are signed up for my newsletter - that way when they become available the details will be delivered right to your inbox.  The newsletter is free and contains lots of hints, tips and project ideas many of which are not shared anywhere else.  To subscribe just pop your email address in the box at the top right of page.  Oh and did I mention you get a free tutorial just for subscribing?

Happy Stampin'

Hang Up Your Stockings Christmas Card

Tomorrow is the last day for posting things second class in the UK for delivery before Christmas so I thought today I would share another Christmas Card with you.  This one was made using the wonderful Owl Occasions Stamp Set but you will notice something

There is no owl!  As well as loving the owl in this stamp set I also love the hanging stockings so decided to make a card featuring them.  

I hope you are making good progress on your Christmas Crafting List - what have you still wanting to get done? I must go and get on with mine - I have some exciting blog posts for you to finalise plans for too so do keep checking back

Happy Stampin'

Owl Occasions Party Invite

One of the things I love most about Christmas is the chance to get together with friends, so today I thought I would show you an idea for a cute little party invite, made using the Owl Occasions  Stamp Set.

Here is the inside, ready for the details to be popped on the back

And here is a close up of the little dangley stars.

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

Happy Stampin'

Scrapbook Saturday - It's all about Lists

I am a list girl - I may as well admit it - I Make Lists.  List of things to do, things to make, shopping lists, places to go, people to send happy mail to, Christmas lists, books I have read, plays I have seen and well anything else you can think of I probably have a list.  When I was looking through my Scrapbooks I realised that there were not many lists in there, so when I saw the adorable list die cut in the Afternoon Daydream Scrapbooking Kit I knew I wanted to make a page featuring it.

Guess what - now there is a list of photos I am considering using on this page ...

If you would like to find out more about Scrapbooking why not join the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club - we meet once a month and you will get a kit of supplies which will allow you to make at least 4 pages for your album.  You will be shown everything you need to know and there will be at least 4 inspiration pages for you to either copy or use as a start point for your own creations.  To find out more please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'