It's countdown time!

Tomorrow is the first day of our brand new catalogue! Pop back just after midnight for your first peek of new catalogue goodies!

Pity us poor demonstrators - we can't order until 11am, while Stampin' Up!® rejigs the website. Aaaaagh. And then we'll just crash the system. We never learn.

Farm party scrapbooking page

Eeek, time is running out to post my projects using retiring supplies – and time is running out for you to place an order from the Last Chance list! Remember you have until the end of Thursday – but remember Stampin' Up! operates on European time (an hour ahead of us) and I’ll be switching off the computer at about 9.30pm!

Here’s the last scrapbook page I will show you from my recent scrapbooking class – again, a very simple page made fabulous with elements from the Sunny Day Simply Scrappin’® kit.

Stamps: Big Deal alphabet (retiring), Just Perfect Alphabet

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Sunny Day Simply Scrappin’® kit (retiring), Stampin’ Write Journalling pen

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Pyramid card

Remember this fellow? The punched skull that my downline Kelly and I “invented”? I don’t think I ever showed you this card, which started it all. If I did, I apologise.

It started when I was brayering some of this fab Night & Day paper. It’s all black and white and very gorgeous. Like all the Designer Series Papers in the current catalogues, it is retiring at the end of September but as far as I know there is still some available if you want to place an order.

Anyway, I brayered it in So Saffron I think, then did another piece in Rich Razzleberry, which set us off on the “goth chic” route... hence the skull.

And then Kelly showed me how to make a pyramid card. They’re really easy, despite looking complicated. It is just a set of three squares, scored on the diagonal and assembled. Try it – you’ll be surprised at how easy it is. And take a look at Kelly's version, here. 

For instructions on making the punched skull, please click here.

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, So Saffron

Paper: Night & Day (retiring)

Ink: So Saffron

Accessories: 1 ¾” circle punch, large oval punch, boho blossoms punch, word window punch, rhinestone brads, Stampin’ Write journaling pen, Stampin’ Pastels

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Another scrapbook page!

Continued apologies for the lack of blog posts. There’s just sooooo much to do at the moment! The transition to the new catalogue is a big one this year because of the colour renovation, so I’ve been sorting, sorting, sorting, because I’m getting rid of almost all of my retiring stamps, cardstock, ink pads and accessories.

I also have two events to plan Make and Takes/demos for – my hostess appreciation event on 2^nd October and my catalogue launch on the 9^th. I have, at least, managed to make some samples at last – a grand total of 10. Not very impressive, huh? But it’s a start... and I will start posting them on this blog on the 1^st October.

Meanwhile, here’s another scrapbook page from my Sunny Day scrapbooking class.

I planned this one to have the pictures on straight but somehow they ended up at a jaunty angle – that’s the way with crafting, it rarely turns out exactly as you plan! It’s called “Crikey” because it’s about a little girl who woke up on her third birthday and announced: “Crikey! I’m three!”

All consumables come from the Sunny Day scrapbooking kit apart from the 6”x4” Basic Black mats and the white cardstock used to stamp the title – the letters are punched out using the 1 ¾” circle punch. I think.

Stamps: Big Deal alphabet (retiring)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion (retiring)

Accessories: Sunny Day Simply Scrappin’® kit (retiring), Stampin’ Write journaling pen

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

It's in the bag

Time is running out to order your retiring products - and, as you'll see from the list on the right, products are running out, too! If there's anything you must have, please get your orders to me asap. There's no predicting what will run out next!

Now to today's product. Last minute as usual, I needed a gift bag. All I could find in my stash of gift bags was a plain white one. Not very exciting for a nine-year-old girl but aha! A stamping opportunity of course!

Taking my colour inspiration from the gift inside (some funky stationery), I stamped stars from the retiring In The Stars stamp set in Real Red, Pink Passion and Pretty in Pink. I had no Pink Passion cardstock left (although I’ve since found some – doh!) so layered it on Pixie Pink. I like the Real Red satin ribbon butted up against the pink gingham  to bring the colours together.

Next I stamped the large star from the set in Pink Passion and the floral star in Pretty in Pink and cut them both out. I used the Large Star punch to punch out a third star from Pixie Pink. Pretty quick!

Stamps: In The Stars (retiring)

Cardstock: Pixie Pink (retiring), Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion (retiring), Real Red, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Pink gingham ribbon (retiring), Real Red satin ribbon, Large Star punch

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

A sunny day for scrapbooking

Saturday was my Sunny Day scrapbooking class, where 10 ladies each made six – yes, SIX – 12x12 scrapbook pages in an afternoon. That’s a record by my standards, if not yours!

Everyone had half of a kit to play with – you get so much in one of these kits that half was plenty for six pages – and took the leftovers home to embellish future scrapbook pages or cards.

I had designed six pages (four single pages and a double page spread) for people to copy, or they could go their own way if they wished. Most people did a mixture.

Here’s one of the pages we made – a very simple page with one picture, a title and a little bit of journaling. The funky bird and flower come from the kit – they are self-adhesive die-cuts (ie, very thick stickers) and, best of all, they are repositionable, so you can play around until you are happy.

The kit and one of its colours, Pink Passion, are on the retiring list this month so, after September 30^th, you won’t be able to buy them any more. In fact, they’re only available while stocks last so, if you fancy having a go at creating pages like this one, please get in touch fast!

Stamps: Just Perfect Alphabet

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion (retiring), Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Accessories: Sunny Day Simply Scrappin’® kit (retiring), 5/8” satin ribbon – Old Olive, Stampin’ Write Journalling Pen

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

It's clearout time!

Snap up a bargain!

More retiring product news - in an unprecedented move, Stampin' Up!® has discounted yet more items!

Please take a look at the list, here, with the updated discounts.

Remember, once they've gone, they've gone - never to be seen again, so don't miss this opportunity to stock up on your favourite retiring colours... and maybe pick up a mega-bargain in the process!

If you wish to place an order, please email me asap! Don't forget that new items are added to the sold-out list every day - see right for the latest information.

Retired items selling fast

I seem to be adding to the list of sold out items (see right) every day now, so if you want to place an order for retiring items, please do so asap. Some of the items on the retiring list are not going forever, just being "reconfigured" - ie new packaging, new amounts, different selection etc, such as the cardstock. I think you can work out why all the punches are on the list, too! So don't despair that, for example, Very Vanilla 12x12 is on the list, as it will still be available, albeit in a different format.

Retiring colour items will, of course, be gone forever, so if there's something you want, get in quick!

Oh, and Level 1 hostess sets are going like hot cakes but if you're placing a qualifying order, please do ask if there's a L1 set you really wanted as I may have one I can swap with you (no promises though!).

And finally... I now have the real-life brand new catalogue in my sticky mitts. It's gorgeous! But I've been trying to hold off from devouring it because I have so many things to do before Saturday, which is my team meeting AND my scrapbooking class. So I've made a few samples with my new SU goodies (LOVE them - want more!) and can't wait to start showing them to you on 1st October.

So once again, sorry for lack of samples - I do have a couple of things in the pipeline, just need to take pictures.

An apology

Sorry for not updating my blog with projects. What with family birthdays and back to school/work, I just haven't had a minute to craft since I got back from holiday - and I'd used up all my "spare" projects to keep the blog going while I was away.

But yesterday I did have a play with Kelly's catalogue pre-order, which was fun! I'm not allowed to post sneak peek projects on my blog until 1st October but after that, it will be new catty stuff all the way!

Something else I've been doing since getting back from France is trying to catch up on all the Stampin' Up! news - as you can imagine, with a retiring list and new catalogue sneak peeks, there has been a lot going on.

One of exciting announcements was that, if you sign up during September, you can choose brand new catalogue stamp sets from the sneak peek list! You will also get your new catalogue with your kit, so get to see everything early! And you'll have the option of purchasing one Level 2 and one Level 3 stamp set from the new catalogue - this is the only time of the year that anybody can buy these exclusive sets. What's more, you won't have to meet your first sales target until the end of December, so plenty of time.

If you've ever thought about signing up as a demonstrator, please get in touch and I will answer any questions you may have. It's really not as daunting a prospect as many people think - and it's great fun!

Sneak Peek

Sorry, not for you just yet but I have just returned from holiday to the excitement of the new catalogue sneak peeks! It has taken me two days to decide but I have finally placed my order! Can't wait for it to arrive and, when it does, I'll get crafting and make some sneak peek projects to show you!

Meanwhile, don't forget to check out the retiring list here and let me know what you want to order as soon as possible please. Some items have already sold out! I will start a list at the side of the blog and try to keep it updated daily.

Double slider card

These are really fun cards to make – a bit tricky to start with, but you soon get the hang of them. They are double-sliders but I’ll have to sort out instructions for you another time I’m afraid.

The card on the left is the closed view – you pull the tab at the top to reveal the elephant and the greeting.

We made these at my Word Window Punch class in the dim and distant past and they were so popular that I know that several of the ladies have made lots of these cards since then!

Stamps: Animal Stories, Sincere Salutations, A Bit of Birthday Cheer, Circle Circus

Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Basic Gray, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black

Paper: Kaleidoscope

Ink: Basic Gray, Real Red, Cameo Coral

Accessories: Word Window Punch, silver/black eyelets, Boho Blossoms punch, ¾” circle punch, ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon –Real Red, Stampin’ Dimensionals

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

A special invitation

I was enjoying the colours of Kelly’s birthday card so made some invitations using the same stamp set and same combination. What’s more, I used up all those little bits of Elegant Eggplant ribbon that were left over from the wedding invitations. No piece of ribbon is too small to save!

What’s the occasion? Well, if you’re one of my hostesses, you should have received one of these. It’s an invitation to my Hostess Appreciation Event where you’ll get first pick of my retired products, complete  a make and take and maybe even win a prize! If you have hosted a workshop for me in the last 12 months and haven’t received one of these, please let me know as I assure you it’s just an oversight and not a deliberate slight.  

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Brocade Blue

Accessories: Scallop Square Punch, ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon - Elegant Eggplant

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Today's the day!

It's all happening today in the world of Stampin' Up!®

As you probably know, every year SU brings out a new Idea Book & Catalogue on 1st October. It will be packed with brand new stamps and accessories so, to make room for them, some will have to go.

The great news is that we get a whole month to stock up on anything we absolutely can't manage without. At some point today, the retirement list will be published on the SU website - click here to take a look.

There's something else you need to know: Mini Catalogue items are not guaranteed to go forward to the new catalogue... BUT they won't appear on the retirement list. So you need to assume that everything in the Mini will only be available until the end of September. If they turn up in the new catalogue, well, that's a bonus.

Here are some items we know for sure will NOT be in the new catalogue:

• All the polka dot ribbons in the new colours
• Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper and the matching window sheets
• Night & Day Designer Series Paper
• Anything in a retiring colour, including all buttons, brads, ribbons etc

So if there's anything on the retiring list - or in the Mini catalogue - that you really really want, please get in touch with me asap to place your order because, after 30th September it will be gone forever.