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’

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’

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’

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’

I really think a few days of Christmas card inspiration is what is needed so I shall post lots of Christmas card ideas over the next few days, most of them will be flat so they will post at standard rate.  The Stampin’ Up! UK shipping times are less than a week at the moment so if you haven’t got all the products you need for your cards place your order with me and you will have time to get them made before the last posting day.

I’m away from Thursday till Monday at Disneyland Paris for the 3rd Stampin’ Up! Europe convention so I will have some swaps and goodies I have made for my team to share too.  This is always an exciting time so I am sure I will have lots of news to share when I get back!  So do expect lots of blog posts from me………!

These first few cards focus on the Wreath from Welcome Christmas.

The background is made using the Delicate Doilies stamp set, and I have coloured the pearls using a red sharpie marker.  It’s a square card!!!!!  I am so pleased we now have square envelopes in the Stampin’ Up! catalogue.

This second card I love, it’s so straightforward to do, but you can change it up too.  We made this at my last card club in November and several of the ladies sponged the edges of the frame, or the panels, you could also use the fabulous woodgrain stamp too.  that is the most amazing thing about crafting you take one idea and it grows into so much more!

The top square panels are punched using the 1 1/4″ square punch and the longer panels are cut.  This time I have used a maker pen to colour the berries on the wreath.

Well I must run, I have to finish packing !

Happy Stampin’

I have 2 cards for you today, both using my favourite stamping style ‘random’ it makes super quick cards that look as though it’s a patterned paper you have cut rather than stamped images.

This card is using Vintage Vogue, nice and bright and cheerful !

Now I mentioned earlier I was with Clare for her launch party yesterday, Clare has just joined my team of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators and now is a wonderful time to join.  I work at my business full time, and within my team I have other demonstrators who also work full-time at their business, but I also have demonstrators who combine their love of stamping with families, full and part-time jobs and even retirement too!  The beauty of this business is YOU decide how to run YOUR business, I’m here to support you on your journey!

Right now you, until the end of October as well as receiving more than £250 of products for your starter kit fee of £119 you also receive 5 in colour ink pads and a pack of matching card stock that’s an additional £27.95 !!!!  You can keep all of the products even if you decide at a later date that you no longer wish to be a demonstrator.  You can find lots of information here and here.

Email me and I will call you for a no obiligation chat, what have you got to lose?

This is a stepper box, it stands 6″ high and holds a lovely surprise.

The inside opens out to reveal 4 stepped sections, perfect for chocolates, jewellery, make-up, or perhaps all of them!

This stepper box is part of the bunting and boxes class and you can choose either a Christmas themed paper or Mocha Morning, which is a lovely neutral collection of browns and creams. I hope to see you at a class soon.

Happy Stampin’

and earlier this year when it wasn’t sunny!

I do have a card for you, well a couple of cards, but first I have an update of retired items no longer available, you only have a week left………….I have orders going in most days so do contact me if you would like to place an order.

• Choo Choo
• Forest Friends
• Sense of Time
• Sanded
• Tart & Tangy
• 2010-2011 In Color Classic Ink Refills
• Tempting Turquoise 12”x12” card stock
• Wild Wasabi 12”x12” card stock
• Red Riding Hood 12”x12” card stock
• Whisper White 12”x12” card stock
• On Board Art Journal
• Jolly Holiday DSP
• Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin’
• Real Red 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon
• Silver Elastic Cord
• Night of Navy 5/8” Satin ribbon
• Antique Brass Jumbo eyelets
• Pewter Jumbo eyelets
• Spiral Punch
• Star Punch
• Right  on Track Standard Wheel

The stamp set Simply Said, is probably one of my most used sets, it’s a ‘go to’ set…….. which means I always go to it whenever I am in need of some creative inspiration, it is not possible to make an ugly card with this stamp set!!!!!

The next card is a moving card, I will be doing a tutorial for this in October once I have held my technique clubs, I can’t show you all of it, I don’t want to spoil the surprise!

That’s all for me today, I have classes in the morning and my Hostess event in the afternoon, so I need to get packing!

Happy Stampin’

Both children are safely on their way to school and college I am back working my Stampin’ Up! business full time in my office (also known as the lounge!).  It’s just me and the dog and it’s soooooo peaceful!

I do have lots to do, you are loving the retired list, so much so that lots of things have gone already.  I will have an order going in this evening so if you want to add something to it, please call or email me, if you can collect from me there will be no postage to pay.

The following items are no longer available

Today’s projects both feature the milk carton die for the big shot.  The die will be found in the new catalogue but the papers I have decorated the projects with are from Botanical Gazette, they are going.  The hexagonal box is made by cutting one of the 4 panels off two mini cartons and then sticking them together.  Quite simple and it makes a really good sized box.

Here is the view from the top, super cute!

Happy Stampin’

page 19 New Years Celebration 116872 £22.95
page 21 Four the Holidays 116921 £13.95
page 39 Little One 116925 £26.95
page 40 Fun and Fast notes 113500 £33.95
page 48 Family accessories too 113760 £20.95
page 53 A Flower for all seasons 115592 £12.95
page 112 So Many thanks 120173 £7.95

and the following items are no longer available

page 63 Sense of Time
page 84 Red Riding Hood 12”x12” card stock
page 98 Antique Brass Jumbo eyelets and Pewter Jumbo eyelets

Let me know if you would like to order anything, I have orders going in most days.

I have a card for you today, using 2 of my favourite stamp sets that are on the retired list, Sanded and Occasional Greetings, Occasional Greetings has 40% off!

The new catalogue is fabulous…….! I’ll be putting some sneak peeks at the end of September onto my website.

It will be online to view from the 1st October, but if you’d like a copy sent to you in the post I am taking orders for them now. The rrp is £5.95 but I am selling them for £4.95 including postage.

2011-2012 Stampin’ Up! UK catalogue

Today however is a fun day, we are off to London, lots of places to go, first stop will be Brick Lane for the vintage shops, then Convent Garden for cupcakes and Macaroons, followed by Harrods and Oxford Street if there is time.  The real treat is going to the theatre this evening to see Wicked!

So whilst I”m off gallivanting I thought I would share a couple of flat Christmas cards with you,these will definitely be a standard rate postage stamp. I know it is still August but it’s never to early to start making your Christmas cards!

I have stamped the background with En Francais, the Wreath and the Joy stamps are from Welcome Christmas and are stamped on a Top Note.  I have used a marker to colour in the berries and a little bit of ribbon finishes the card off.

This second card uses the stamp set Every Little bit, it’s a huge set of tiny stamps that are so useful for every occasion.  The stamped images have been coloured in with markers, a very quick card and again flat for posting.  The sentiment is from Sparkly and Bright.

Happy Stampin’

Today’s card is using the Nature Walk stamp set  I love the tone on tone effect on this card, very classy! But oh so simple!

Very short and sweet from me today, I have lots of ladies coming for Diecut Divas, Scrapbook sisters and Amanda’s Craft Away day so I need to get the car packed and on my way.

Happy Stampin’

The box below is big, 9 inches tall and is made using a combination of 12″x12″ and A4 cardstock.  I must say thank you to Hayley and Elizabeth two of my wonderful team, the box pattern is an adaptation of theirs and they are so lovely to share!

How about this for a neat idea, a double pillow box, for long presents.  In fact I have just perfected a triple one that is just right for Curly Wurlies !

Finally a cello bag that is great for all sorts of different Christmas treats, it uses the Top-Note die and our small cello bags.  Stampin’ Up! is so clever the TopNote die will also top the medium cello bags just score it the other way!

A special tip for you shared by a fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrator Sara, if you use sticky strip to attach the cello bag to the back of the topnote, then use Tombow glue on the inside front and allow it to dry, you end up with an easy lift off opening for your treat bag so the topper isn’t damaged whilst you get the goodies out!

Well that’s all from me today, I hope you have a great weekend.

Happy Stampin’

36 of my team and guests had a wonderful day, of stamping, crafting, chatting, training, sharing business tips and tricks and of course eating cake too!  A big thank you to Kerry, Michele and Elizabeth who did some fantastic demonstrations and projects to wow us!

We made 6 projects, using a goody bag of products, Chipboard alphabets, satin ribbon and yummy Jolly Holiday designer series paper. We always make a technique card too for our 6×6 album, you can see some of them here.

The first 2 projects are quick and easy cards, perfect for mass production.

The 3rd card takes a bit longer as you cover the chipboard with designer paper, to get a nice finish use an emery board to distress the edge of the paper, always sand downwards or you will lift the paper off the chipboard.

We made a cute snowman box, using the topnote die.

A gift card holder again using the Topnote die, you really need this one……….!

I will be demonstrating this at my workshops in the next few weeks.

and finally a NOEL bunting, I love this and it will be part of my Christmas decorations and gift class on the 29th October.

Here are a few close up shots, I tied that bow !!!!!!

We decorated the back too

So if this sounds like fun, I’d love you to join us next time!  My next quarterly meeting is on the 15th October at Locks Heath, Hampshire, email me to find out more!

Happy Stampin’

Now there is a little tale about this page, I have two copies, one in blue as above and another in pink……… you see when I was looking for the baby pictures to put on it I couldn’t find any of Kimberley, all the photos where in Connor’s boxes.  Now I know we took lots of photos when Kimberley was born, so I was a little panicked by this!  It seems that several packs of photos got jumbled up in one of the 5 house moves we have had since the children were babies and we can’t be sure exactly which one of our 2 children this is………!  Ooops !

The rest of the photos have dates on the back so we could sort out into the right piles, so for fairness sake I have made a pink and blue one and they will go into both children’s albums!

This second page is just for fun, I found the cute picture of Kimberley in the boxes and it matched the daisies and paper I had on my desk, a page in about 7 minutes!

Who said scrapbooking is difficult?

Happy Stampin’