Today it’s the turn of the Sale-a-bration 2012 set Elementary Elegance.  This is a perfect set for card-makers and scrap-bookers alike, the main image makes a great journaling box, which we will be using at my scrap-booking class tomorrow.  To find out more about my classes held in Locks Heath, Hampshire please click here.

So onto today’s cards using Elementary Elegance, I have stuck with a really classical colour combination for this first card, it uses Pool Party, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.  I’m not sure quite how well the spots show up but the spots have been sponged with both Soft Suede ink and Champagne Mist shimmer paint, it’s really sparkly in real life! The centre of the main image fits perfectly with the curly label punch leaving the elegant border around the edge. I love the way Stampin’ Up! co-ordinates stamp sets with punches it makes things look so finished.

The second card is one I will be demonstrating over the next few weeks at my workshops in lots of different colours and styles.  It uses the spritzer alongside the Elementary Elegance stamp set and really makes a feature of the seam binding ribbon.

I hope you like the cards today, I shall be back tomorrow with the final Sale-a-bration 2012 set Sprinkled Expressions, it will be after my classes though!

A quick update on the building works, we have windows, doors, a roof and the plasterers are working hard right now.  The floor should be in early next week followed by the heating and the final electrics, so next week will be a bit noisy and disruptive but then it should be finished.  After a few weeks of drying out we will then be able to move into our lounge and then the real fun begins……..our old lounge will be ripped apart and turned into a dining room and my craft room, Hurrah!  I will put up some more pictures early next week.

I hope you enjoyed today’s Elementary Elegance cards, see you tomorrow.

Happy Stampin’ with Elementary Elegance

The first card is really quick and uses the hearts from the confetti stamp set as a background.

Now this second card is almost an exact copy of one demonstrated to us by the wonderfully talented Shannon West at our convention last November.  I have added just a little bit more bling……..everything needs more bling !!!! It does take a bit of time to punch out all the hearts, but getting them lined up is easy using your grid paper.

I know it’s short and sweet today, but I have had no power for over 6 hours today and I have a million things to do before I leave for a workshop tonight.  Do pop back tomorrow it’s the turn of Everyday Elegance !

Happy Stampin’

Yesterday I told you all about the benefits of joining my team and Stampin’ Up! during Sale-a-bration, you can see that post here. It’s is such a wonderful job and you get over £290 of  products for £119, Over £171 of free products…… I can’t believe why you wouldn’t want to join!!!!

So today I’m going to explain how wonderful Sale-a-bration is if you are a customer or a hostess.

As Sale-a-bration is for EVERY £45 you spend you can get multiple Sale-a-bration stamp sets and Designer series papers too! If you have a wishlist that is huge, or you still have some Christmas money to spend, treat yourself and when you spend £90 you get 2 items absolutely FREE! If your order goes above £150 you would get 3 Sale-a-bration items and £25 hostess pounds to spend on anything in the catalogue as well.

If you are a Hostess, during Sale-a-bration you get extra benefits too when your party total goes over £300, you can choose an extra Sale-a-bration set for free in addition to the amazing Stampin’ Up! hostess benefits of £50 hostess pounds to spend on anything in the main or mini catalogue AND you can choose any item for half price too ! I know that a party total of £300 seems a lot but if you and 6 guests all order £45 to get your free Sale-a-bration sets you will easily hit the magic £300.

You can see the Sale-a-bration catalogue here.

I thought you would like to see some cards made using the exclusive stamp sets and paper pack, so every day for the rest of the week I am going to showcase a different set.

First up my favourite, now okay I know I shouldn’t have favourites but I do !!!  This is Fresh Vintage and the Sale-a-bration Designer series paper pack called Everyday Enchantment matches it, remember there is no limit to the number of sale-a-bration sets you can earn!!!!

This first card focuses on the new 2012-2013 in Colours.

I have used the markers to colour in the large image, using the markers is very quick to do and gives you lots of variations of images from just one stamp.  Because I have used a dark card base, Island Indigo I have put an insert inside.

My second card today is a monotone card, Island Indigo again, sorry can you tell it’s my current favourite colour……..! I love the simple elegance of this, it has quite a lot of dimension to it with the diecut flowers and bling and how can you not love that ruffled ribbon?  The diecut flowers are from a new die in the mini catalogue called Blossom party and in the top right can you see the new postage punch?

I’ll be back tomorrow with Outlined Occasions !

 Happy Sale-a-bration Stampin’

So why is now a good time to join Stampin’ Up! ? Tomorrow sees the launch of the best promotion of the year, Sale-a-bration, it starts on the 24th January 2012 and runs until the 31st March 2012.

If you are new to Sale-a-bration and wondering what it is, and why it is such a great promotion you are in for a fabulous surprise. During Sale-a-bration everyone placing an order of £45 or more will receive a FREE Sale-a-bration item of their choice. There are 4 stamp sets and a beautiful set of Designer Papers to choose from which are totally exlusive to Sale-a-bration.You can’t buy them, you can only earn them with a £45 order. But that is not all, if you host a £300 party or join Stampin’ Up! during Sale-a-bration you get additional benefits too!

When you join Stampin’ Up! and my team of Inspiring Inkees during Sale-a-bration you get to choose an additional Stamp set for free, that is a stamp set from the main or mini catalogue of any value !  Potentially that gives you over £290 of products for only £119, that is over £171 of free products…….what AMAZING value !!!  The starter kit is fully customisable so you can design it to suit you and your needs.

When you join Stampin’ Up! and sign up with me you will become part of my team Inspiring Inkin’, and I’ll provide you with all the help and support you need — but I will never push or pressure you to do more than you wish to. Whether your goals are to just support your paper-crafting or stamping habit or you want to build a successful business, I am here to help. I will be here for you at all times – all you have to do is call or email me!

I run monthly evening and quarterly all day meetings for my team, they always have stamping at it’s core but will also be focused on business topics and skills, so whether you are a demonstrator who has joined to just get your discount or intending on building a business there will be something to interest you at these meetings. Inspiring Inkin’ is a fabulously active team of people who love what they do and share what they love with others!

This is a picture of our quarterly team training which I held last Saturday, it was an amazing day, filled with Stamping, laughter and business information.  We where inspired by demonstrations and shared hints and tips all day.

There are lots of amazing reasons why you should join Stampin’ Up! and my team today, I have more information here and a FAQs here too.

I run a new demonstrator training for all my new recruits and support them by running their first party alongside them too, it gets you off to a great start.  Did you know that if you place an order for £150+ within 45 days of signing you can earn a MASSIVE 30% discount on the net sales? And if you reach sales and recruiting goals in the first 6 months of being a demonstrator you can also earn free stamp sets and even the opportunity to get the cost of your starter kit back in cash !!!!!! That is all before the specials and promotions that run on selected months.

This is absolutely the very best job I have ever had, sharing and teaching paper-crafting and rubber-stamping isn’t really work is it? I can even do my design work at home in my PJ’s!

I would love you to join Stampin’ Up! and my team for the friendship, support, inspiration and fun we share.

So why not call me on 07890 426945 for a no obligation chat and find out about all the benefits of deciding to

Join Stampin’ Up!

Starting on the 7th December, first they laid sand, then the shiny silver is insulation that will keep the concrete floor nice and toasty under our feet.  Do pay attention to the small wall with the 3 flowery bricks in the centre, it becomes a major player later.

The concrete sub floor was poured and the brick and block laying began, Brian and I kept alternating between our new lounge is going to be too small, no it’s going to be too big…….You just really can’t tell the scale of it from these pictures.

We then had lots of rain and not much building work took place, this was how it looked before work stopped for Christmas.

The day before the builders where due back on site in the new year, this happened……. remember that wall from the first picture, it fell down and landed on top of one of the new walls, Graham our builder was blown of the scaffolding, thankfully he was fine! We also lost 3 fence panels, but compared to many we where lucky.

So after a bit of time removing and repairing the smashed block work, building started again.

The the roof work began, things are moving so fast at the moment, but it is soooooooo noisy !  The angle grinder has been running lots to cut out bricks and of course with all the woodwork at the moment there is a lot of hammering and sawing.  But it is all going to be worth it in the end!

The felt is going on tomorrow and the windows are coming later this week!

So I am actually believing that not only is it going to be finished soon but then I will get my craft room.  Once the family has moved out of our current lounge it will be split into a dining room and my craft room.  So I would love to hear all of your organisational stories, see picture of craft rooms, storage so that I can start designing !  Please leave me some comments and links, thank you.

Happy Stampin’

I hope your start to the new year has been good.  Mine has been busy, so no change there, but mainly with preparation and designing, less so with events.  However last week I held my monthly Titchfield card making class.  I hold 2 classes each month they take place on the first Thursday evening and the following morning, Friday of every month.

So what do we do at Titchfield Card making class?  We make 6 adorable cards, suitable for a variety of occasions each month. It is a chance for you to stamp, relax, unwind, enjoy chatting with other Stampers, drink tea and eat biscuits. All materials except glue are provided. You can find more details here including dates and prices.

I have to say that there is lots of chatter and laughter that takes place, it’s a great social event and an opportunity for crafters to get together and use new products, techniques, stamps, punches, the Big shot and all sorts of embellishments.

So would you like to see some of the cards we made this month?

First up is a card using the set Charming, now this set is design to co-ordinate with the Simply Adorned Jewellery line, but it is also perfect for making cards too.  I love the text stamp, that is going to see a lot of ink!

Now I think I went a little punch crazy in this months class!  The card below uses 6 punches! but it takes seconds to make.

The card has 2 new products on it the amazing Red Glimmer Paper, soooooooo sparkly! and the wonderful Postage  Stamp punch.  The stamps on the right would all be suitable greetings for this card and they are all from the same set Teeny Tiny Wishes and as you can see they fit perfectly with another punch, the Word Window.

I would be very happy to order any of these products for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK or you can collect them from me. Just send me an email or give me a call on 01329 846909

Titchfield Card Making Class

…or why not come to the Titchfield Card Making Class next month, the class is FREE if you place an order of £22.

Happy Stampin’

It is full of new products including the wonderful Simply Adorned jewellery line, you will be seeing me wearing this at all my events!  I love jewellery and to have the opportunity to co-ordinate and personalise my jewellery to what I am wearing by stamping is so exciting.  The range also includes bling…….crowns, keys and sparkly baubles too.

I have to say Stampin’ Up! UK have really spoilt us with this mini catalogue. The product co-ordination is always wonderful and I adore the product suite Spice Cake, the combination of colours and products is perfect for me. I have already shared some sneak peeks of the products here.

Now you can view the Spring 2012 Stampin’ Up! UK mini catalogue online by clicking on the picture below.

Or if you would like to download your very own copy of the 2012 Spring Stampin’ Up! UK mini catalogue please click on the link here. It will show you a pdf copy for you to save.

If you would like a copy sent to you in the post please let me have your full address details by email.

Enjoy browsing this new mini catalogue, I will be back soon with some samples.

Happy Stampin’ with the new UK mini !

I hope you are enjoying the festive season.

Happy Stampin’

Thank you so much for all your kind wishes about my injured collarbone and shoulder, I am improving day by day and hopefully will be back at full speed by the New Year.  I have managed to do a little stamping using my new goodies to share with my team at team training last week.

All the projects are made using the Spice Cake suite, Designer series paper, stamps and fabric, it is wonderful and such a beautiful colour combination.  One of the very best things about being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is that you can order new products a month earlier than customers, this gives us time to prepare projects and samples for when the new catalogues go live.

New catalogue, who said new catalogue? ………………Yes that’s right we will be having not one but two mini catalogues during 2012.  The first starts on the 4th January and runs until the end of April, the second from the 1st May to the end of August.

The card below uses a really lovely new stamp set called Proud Peacock, I love this stamp set so much I have designed a class around it, and included in the price of the class is your own stamp set. You can check out all of  my classes by clicking here, I have just completed a new list that takes us through till the end of April.  I love using the fabric to make matching patterned ribbons.

The inside is decorated too.

Now this second card is a super speedy card using the Spice Cake designer series paper with just a tiny bit of sponge daubing around the edges.  The flower is made with a brand new Big shot die called Blossom Party, it’s really versatile.

A little piece of patterned paper just finishes off the inside.

I found these fun shaker frames at my local Asda on special offer.  They are designed to have photos inside them but I have decorated it very simply with a small piece of designer series paper, some lovely new Velvet ribbon and just cut out one of the flowers from the same designer series paper.

The team love the projects and we had a really fun evening too!

Well that is all for me, I am finishing typing this on Christmas eve so have a wonderful Christmas and I will be back soon.

Happy Stampin’

However I am not, last week I hurt my collar bone……..a minor insignificant thing really, not sure when or how it happened, one minute I was fine, the next I had a lump and plenty of pain! A trip to the doctors so far hasn’t answered any questions and although the anti-inflammatories are helping I have been unable to do most of the things I want and need to do for over a week!

Stamping hurts, typing hurts, wrapping presents hurts, I think you are getting the message, everything I try and do hurts and it has made me more than a little cranky! Ask Brian and the kids…….!

So I’m making this a quick post using cards I made a few weeks ago and I will be back as soon as I can with some NEW things to share with you, I think that has been the hardest thing, I have new stamps and products that are still in the box because I can’t do anything with them, and they arrived last week!

So 2 quick cards today, both birthday cards, I love being able to use things in different ways, on the first card I have used the ornament punch and made it into a vase, simple, speedy and fabulous!

The second card uses the same sentiment from Curly Cute.  This time I have used an acrylic block to make a shadow background, looks like a stormy sky!

Now you have until Wednesday to place your orders with me to ensure you get them in time for the big day, I can of course send out gift vouchers for another week after that.

Advance warning, you need to make sure you are on my email – mailing list to hear first all of the information about the new products, catalogues and Sale-a-bration and perhaps a Boxing day surprise !!!!!!!  There is a link on the right hand side or email me and I will add you to the list.

That’s all for me for now, I’ll be back as soon as I can.

Happy Stampin’

Today’s card is the last one from my vintage class, it was so big it needed a box!

I have used both Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler seam binding which has a lovely vintagy sheen and style.  Don’t the vintage tags look great, they are slightly rusty !

The card is a square easel, very straightforward to make but looks impressive.

We used Everything Eleanor and scrumpled, stamped, embossed, heat embossed and used Champagne Shimmer paint all over.  The flowers are make layering up the doily punch onto the scallop circle punch, scrumpling, stamping and topping off with a pearl.  The ribbon bow is attached using glue dots it keeps the swags looking lovely.

I am currently working on my class list for next year, do sign up for my email newsletter (link is on the right) and you will get to see the list as soon as it is finished.

Happy Stampin’

The building work on our extension has started, I may have mentioned before that I run my business and craft at one end of our lounge, which although means I am with the family all the time, my mess does tend to drive everyone crazy! I have had a dream for as long as I can remember to have a craft room and it’s now about to happen.

We are building a single storey extension to the side of the house which will be the new lounge and then the current lounge will be split to make a dining room and an office and craft work room for me !!

I am so excited and will be sharing a bit of a picture diary with you all, so this is how my side garden looked about 3 weeks ago.

Then Brian and my Dad set to work to clear the area ready for the builders to start this week.

And so they did, they have already moved an amazing amount of soil from the garden and today have started digging the footings.  It’s all very exciting!

Happy Stampin’

So what exactly is an extreme card?  These cards are not difficult, but time consuming, lots of layers, stamping techniques, embossing, cutting out, ribbons, crochet trim and the finished cards certainly needed an extra large stamp to post them, or even a box!

This is one of the cards, inspired by my recent trip to Paris !  There are so many components to the card and lots of embossing and distressing too.

The inside is decorated too, it’s really important to make sure you have enough weight at the back of the card so it doesn’t fall over!  Stampin’ Up! doesn’t sell C5 evelopes but these manilla ones are perfect and the stamping looks great on them too!

The second card I will share with you was inspired by one of my favourite bloggers Teneale Williams, she is a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator in Australia.  You can find her website here, I have put direct links to the cards under each picture.  Her cards are amazing, such attention to detail, I warn you now you will spend a long time looking at her site !!!!

The front of the card was based on this one here.

The inside of the card was based on this one here.

 Happy Stampin’

Kimberley was 15 on Sunday. We had a great day of ice skating and a family dinner out at her favourite restaurant.  The birthday girl requested a Red Velvet cake, I’m quite pleased with how it turned out having never made one before!

The stars of the show where her boots, Doc Martins with sheepskin lining and a frog……..

Thankfully the frog just clips onto her ear and isn’t a permanent addition!

More crafting from me tomorrow.

Happy Stampin’

This first beauty is VERY practical, it was the bag we received at check in and it contained a ring bound catalogue, our make and take stamp sets, lanyard, pen, pins and awards letter.  It is fabulous, a real business bag, it’s the perfect size for catalogues and order forms has a mountain of pockets, I love it !!!!

During the awards dinner I walked the stage several times for sales, leadership and recruiting awards, Stampin’ Up! knows how to reward us, look at all these lovely stamps !!

Buried at the bottom is a stamp set that is yet to be released……..very exciting!

Thanks to my amazing customers who love the Stampin’ Up! products as much as me, I ranked 1st in sales across the UK again this year, and I received a very posh bag….

There was a little something on the ribbon that tied up the box, perhaps it could be a sneak peak…….would you like a closer look………?

I am so excited about this but you will have to wait just a little longer till I am able to share.

Another sneak peak is this bag made out of an amazing new fabric called Spice cake, again watch this space !

And then to the shoes, these are the little beauties that carried me across the stage, I had perhaps taken the Disney princess to an extreme with a bright red petticoat to match my shoes!

That’s all for me today, I hope to have some more pictures later on in the week of the team and awards from the official photographer as mine where really blurry !

Happy Stampin’

There is so much to tell, so I’ll break it down over a couple of days.  We travelled on Thursday leaving Southampton very early, a quick flight, coach ride check into the Sequoia Hotel and Elizabeth, Elaine, Nikki, Rhoda and I where in Disneyland Studios park.  Maximum rides and giggles, we watched shows, animations and even looped the loop !

Thursday evening we stayed in the hotel and 12 of the team had dinner, we swappped, held our own Inspiring Inkin’ team awards and where all tucked up by 10pm ready for Stampin’ Up! European convention to start……….

And start with a bang it did !  I’ve stolen this picture from Elizabeth, as mine didn’t come out very well.

Lots of very exciting news, and business talks, we where also wow’d by demonstrators presenting on stage.  I will be able to share the exciting news, but you will just have to wait a little longer……….

I was such a proud Stampin’ Up! mum, 2 of my fabulous team where on stage this year presenting, first up was Elizabeth, with an amazing Scallop Square Origami Christmas ornament, my hostesses will be receiving one of these at my workshops this month and during December.

And on Saturday Hayley shared some amazing workshop hints and tips, lovely projects and business tools too!

They where both a little nervous, but their professionalism on stage was inspiring, they did an amazing job !  During the rest of the day, we stamped and laughed, heard amazing stories, lots of prizes where won too!

We had a quick shower and change and it was off to the awards dinner, don’t the team look fabulous !!!

After a delicious dinner it was time to recognise demonstrators achievements, so many of the team where on stage this year, many for the first time, I am so very proud of them.  This year is the last year demonstrators will be ranked in the top 25 for the UK and we found out at check in that 5 of us where in the top 25.

Rhoda 22nd, Kerry 13th, Jane 11th, Hayley 8th and I ranked 2nd for the second year in a row !  Thank you so much to all of my team and customers I am so blessed to be able to do what I love for a career and that wouldn’t be possible without all of you !

I’ll be back with more pictures tomorrow.

Happy Stampin’

This first card is the lovely dasher, his antlers are scattered with pearls and I’ve even coloured a tiny pearl to make his nose red, so really he is Rudolph!!!  The woodgrain background stamp is certainly becoming a firm favourite too!

No series of Christmas cards would be complete without a snowflake card, I have partnered the new Pool Party with Night of Navy, it looks fabulous together.  A few pearls and the stamp from Perfect Punches and another quick card.

Happy Stampin’

Traditional Christmas cards today, one bright and one vintage looking.

This first vintage style card uses the Skaters from Winter post and teams them up with the Medallion background stamp, it would look great in lots of colours and it would also be easy to make lots!  The brad goes either side of the ribbon to make a flat embellishment, with just enough sparkle!

Now this card is using Real Red and Old Olive ink, a perfect match for Christmas. I have just used one stamp set for this card, Season of Joy.

Happy Stampin’

Today is a full day, doors open at 8am  with a jam packed program until 5pm and then it’s off for a quick shower and change for the awards dinner.  I am so excited about the awards, last year 5 of us from the Inspiring Inkin’ team where in the top 25, Stampin’ Up! have changed the ranking system this year and I am hoping for more of my team to be recognised for their amazing achievements !  I will give you a full report when I am home.

So when ever we get together we always swap cards and 3D items, this is my general swap card I have made about 85 of these. I have used the Take a Sip Wheel, Everything Eleanor, Sprizter and Posy Punch too.  The designer series paper is called Well Worn and that along with Cajun Craze and River Rock are the themed colours running throughout the projects.

There are 14 of us from the team attending so these are the goodies I have made for them.

Bag Charm, everyone needs these there are 300+ demo’s at convention and we will all have the same bag so you need something to  show that the bag is yours, their name is on the back.

Each person has a notebook, very important, the inspiration and information we receive at convention is amazing, and so much that you have to write it down because you will never remember it all!

I have up scaled the swap card a little just for my team, by adding a different colour mug and some Crystal effects.

and finally this 3D item was inspired by one of my lovely new team members Clair.  I ran her launch workshop for her last week, and this was the project she demonstrated, it’s a fab paper purse and the perfect size to gift wrap an Inspiring Inkin’ convention tradition, a dragonfly.  This year they are brooches, and in the back of the purse are some after eight mints !

 Happy Stampin’

Today it takes centre stage on Christmas cards.  The first card is completely flat, so no postage worries, it uses the new colour Pool Party a soft aqua, perfect for Christmas cards, the sentiment is from Petite pairs.

The next card also uses Winter Post but adds in the fir tree from Lovely as a Tree.  Everyone NEEDS Lovely as a Tree it is a fabulous set! You can cut off the Top note if you wish, but I just wrap it over the top score line and glue it down.

This final card takes the Top Note die and cuts it a second time to give this stylish square mat.  A stamp and punch from Contempo Christmas and a small bow and the card is finished.

Happy Stampin’