Bluebanana Crafting: Peace and Joy - Royal stampers Aug

Hello and thank you for joining me here at Bluebanana Springs. You may have reached me by joining in our teams Aug - Dec mini catalogue blog hop, so thank you for joining in if that is the case.

There are so many lovely sets to choose from in the new mini catalogue, you are going to find it hard to pick just a few favourites. However pick a couple I did .... on round one of buying x x

This set was one of the stand out sets for me. The stamp set is great as a stand alone set to create some really bright and fun festive cards, but add the die set and a pack of our adhesive sheets, and really bring those big statements to life. This set is just begging for you to go a little unconventional on your colour choices and just have fun in my opinion. It is also a must have addition to just use with any other set you already own, or plan to buy as the central word die just finishes of any card with elegance.

SO.....what did i manage to come up with in between feeding dogs and children this week. Well I tell you what I didn't come up with........ somewhere to take a better photo !! Must order me one of those little photobooth things.

But we started out by just playing with the stamps to create a wreath. I used 3 different tones of green to create some layers to the design, and then stamped and cut out some of the holly leaves and popped them on using dimensionals. Really easy to cut out, and a brilliant way to cover up any mistakes. I then used the wonderful adhesive sheets on the back of my cardstock before using my dies to cut out JOY and all her layers. Bright, Peace and Joy dies have 3 layers to each word. to create amazing central points to any crafty project. Adhesive sheets now makes sticking the small central die a doddle. This product is an amazing addition to our main annual catalogue. Finished off the berries by applying some crystal shimmery effects, which are a must have for the coming season. You could also use some embossing powders or glitters to add a bit of sparkle. Matt and layerd onto melon mambo and I am one card down, ready for posting in a few months time.

Next, after chatting with some teamies, I was trying to come up with some ideas for childrens kits for Christmas crafting. I wanted everything to be easy to stick , something that could be decorated, and of course simple enough that they could be left to it while the adults were busy and needing 5 minutes away from having to entertain them. Well that's what I need on the run up to christmas ! I love the HYGGE approach at this time of year. Pronounced HOOGA it is a concept the danish have down to a T. long dark nights bring an abundance of fairy lights, candles, warm thick knits, natural textures, long lazy dinners with friends, log fires and most importantly HOT CHOCOLATE. Its the art of simple and cosy.

And this card to me is perfect with that brief in mind. Easy for little hands to put together, some pretty sequins which come with adhesive attached already, a punched out tree ready for decorating and finished off with our delicate but already sticky word die. Anyone would be pleased to receive this card, and it shows how the dies also work as a stand alone set to complement any crafty stash you may already own. I used papers I had left over in my craft room for that natural texture look, but the IN GOOD TASTE designer series paper in the main annual catalogue would give an amazing texture effect as well. The PLAID TIDINGS designer series paper would give you teh lovely background effects for your trees. Its a notecard size design and i cant wait to produce a whole set to show you at a later date.

FINALLY, after discovering a new demonstrator for me on instagram... my favourite time waster place to hide, I wanted to create something just bright and fun and random.....this other demonstrator through so much colour into her designs i was wowed. So i started of simple and created my own background onto an a4 piece of card. I cut this up into 3 pieces that worked for me and this was the result. I love the new snowflake sequins.

I just love the end result, and I know a couple of nieces who will love it too......especially if I replace the tree with a christmas unicorn ...... but that's a whole different set !!

I hope you enjoyed my little selection today. If I have inspired you in any way, please do visit my shop if you feel the urge to buy the products. Don't forget to use my hostess code for August. Click on the link at the top of the page to enter my shop and the code will be added for you automatically. At the end of the month everyone who has used the hostess code will receive a little thank you from me.

If however your order comes to £150 please do not use the hostess code, you can easily remove it from your basket. Once your order reaches £150 you will earn your own hostess rewards. You simply choose your items from the shop and add it for free.

I would also love you to come and follow me on facebook, pintrest or instagram. All links are at the top of the blog.

please carry on along the other blogs to see what our other talented teamies have come up with

take care

Mrs bluebanana

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