Love You Lots birthday card with Birthday Bright sneak peek

For all those of you who have birthdays at the “wrong” time of year... you know, the time of year when birthday cards are shoved to one corner in the shop, when everyone “forgets” it’s your birthday because they’re too busy with Christmas or, worse, gives you a “joint Christmas and birthday present”.

This is for my big brother who, inexplicably, really likes ladybirds. It’s a bit of a mish-mash of past, present and future... with some retired washi tape I bought from the Clearance Rack, a current hostess set and a future greeting set which we were all given at OnStage and which I know you’re going to love.

Love You Lots Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141801] £8.00	Dapper Denim A4 Cardstock [141419] £7.25	Watercolor Paper [122959] £4.50	Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad [101406] £8.25
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] £6.00	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad [141394] £6.00	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad [131181] £6.00	Season Of Cheer Designer Washi Tape [139611] £7.25

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Crafty Friday – registration now open

To register, please email me. Places are limited, so book early!

Mix It Up Monday: Sneak peek with Lift Me Up

I have a sneak peek for you on this Mix It Up Monday… a project made with a brand new stamp set which will be available from 4th January. It’s perfect for this cheery colour combination from my latest set of In Color charts. 

The stamp set – from which I’ve only used the greeting on this project – is called Lift Me Up and featured hot air balloons and clouds. The co-ordinating Up & Away Thinlits allow you to die-cut the stamped balloons, as well as create different coloured balloons by layering different shades behind the main image. 

I’ve kept it simple here, by hand-cutting the background piece in Flirty Flamingo and layering it behind the Rich Razzleberry balloon. 

The background was painted initially using Soft Sky, then, while the ink was still wet, brushed gently with some Bermuda Bay ink to create the cloudy effect. 

There’s lots of fun to be had from hot air balloons – which I’m sure is why the set features on the cover of the catalogue, and they were a key theme of the recent OnStage events for demonstrators. 

Finally, don’t forget it’s the last day of the Online Extravaganza! Click the image below to order through my website and, if you use the code BBB4XSCA when spending over £25, I’ll send you a thank you gift!

Caturday: Stamper's little helper

Mr Winky: “Unpacking your trolley after a Stampin’ Up!® party, are you? I’ll help.”
Me: “No, that’s really not helping actually.”
Mr W: “I’m stopping the trolley from blowing away.”
Me: “But...”
Mr W: “Is the trolley blowing away?”
Me: “No, but...”
Mr W: “Well then.”
Me: “Thanks, Mr Winky, I hadn’t thought of that. Your assistance is invaluable. I’ll finish unpacking later.”

Hang Your Stockings gift box - many items still reduced

The Hanging Your Stockings stamp set and matching Framelits dies are proving to be some of the most popular products from this year’s Autumn/Winter catalogue. I’ve never seen so many people choose the same stamp set as at Friday’s party, where I demoed this gift box.

Happily, the stamp set, dies, and the beautiful Pine Bough embossing folder are all currently on offer in the sale, which ends on Monday. The dies are currently available at 30% off, and are now £18.90. The stamps are 25% off and now £14.25 – be sure to purchase these separately while the sale is on, as it works out cheaper than the bundle! The embossing folder is 30% at £4.90, although this item is retiring so is only available while supplies last.

Want to place an order? Please use the hostess code BBB4XSCA and, when you spend £25 or more, I’ll send you a thank you gift!

Hang Your Stocking Photopolymer Stamp Set [142114] £19.00	Christmas Stockings Thinlits Dies [141841] £27.00	Gift Box Punch Board [135863] £18.00	Pine Bough Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [141831] £7.00
Warmth & Cheer 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock Pack [141992] £10.00	Dapper Denim A4 Cardstock [141419] £7.25	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] £27.00
Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad [141394] £6.00	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] £6.00	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [126973] £6.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Mix It Up Monday with Pop of Paradise and Gift Bag Punch Board

What a horrible, rainy day it is here! What we need is some bright colours, a Pop of Paradise if you will. This colour combination from my latest set of In Color charts is perfect to brighten up this extremely wet Mix It Up Monday.

I made it for one of my Virtual Hostess Club members for her birthday. And then somehow things went a bit wrong as it turns out her birthday isn’t until April. I have no idea why I got so mixed up as it’s all written down on a spreadsheet. Anyway, I’ve told her she’ll have to wait, and I just hope her tastes haven’t changed by then.

The Gift Bag Punch board is an absolute boon for projects like this and it’s on offer for today only, at a mega bargain £12.60. Please click the image to order… and don’t forget to use hostess code BBB4XSCA. If you use the code and your order is £25 or more, I will send you a little thank you gift. 

Huge sale - up to 40% off some fabulous products

What’s better than fabulous Stampin’ Up!® products? Fabulous SU products at a discount! There’s an exciting sale from tomorrow (Monday) until Monday, 28th November, and you could get a fantastic bargain!

• The sale list is in the four-page flyer posted below but I strongly recommend you visit my online store once the sale has begun to see what bargains you can grab (the items won’t show a discount until 11pm)!
• Some items are available at a discount tomorrow only, in a 24-hour flash sale from 11pm today until 10.50pm on Monday, 21st November.
• Items marked with an asterisk are retiring so will only be available while stocks last.
• There will be a second 24-hour flash sale from 11pm on Sunday 27th November until 10.50pm on Monday 28th.

• If you spend between £25 and £150 and use the hostess code BBB4XSCA, I will send you a free gift. If you spend over £150, please don’t use the code as you will forfeit your Stampin’ Rewards.
• This sale is in addition to the selected stamp sets offered at 25% off!

Caturday: Popeye

When daughter and I popped over to the cat shelter to deliver the calendars we were delighted to bump into many of shelter owner Jane’s cats. As daughter put it, “we saw all the main characters”. Popeye is definitely a main character, in fact he’s the leading male. As you can see, he’s a big fella, which means there are often scuffles between him and the other male cats. They’re all neutered, of course, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to rule the roost.

Merry Mice gift tags

Due to lack of time, I don’t really do commissions... but when a friend asked me to make her some boxes and tags, I felt that as I was only working two days a week, I could easily take it on.

What I hadn’t banked on was having my hours suddenly upped to four days a week, which was great... but meant that time was short for the box project.

I haven’t shown the full extent of the project here, partly because I used some retired products and partly because I forgot to photograph them. The challenge was to make four large boxes, and eight smaller ones. Naturally, I used the Gift Box Punch Board... my measuring skills aren’t up to making identical projects without it.

Painting the mice was the best bit for me as I do love watercolouring. These are the tags for the larger boxes; my Stitched Shape Framelits arrived in the nick of time, although not soon enough for me to die-cut the watercoloured layer.

Merry Mice are currently on offer at just £11.75 for the clear-mount set, or £15.75 for wood-mount. Click here to see all the products on offer throughout November

Stitched Shape Framelits are a brand new product, released early ahead of next summer’s Annual Catalogue. You can buy them now but don’t worry, they will be available after the end of the month, too. They’re perfect for Christmas tags, though, so you probably won’t want to wait.

Merry Mice Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142145] £15.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] £27.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] £32.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Gold Glimmer Paper [133719] £4.50
Watercolor Paper [122959] £4.50	Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad [101406] £8.25	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [121029] £3.00	Real Red Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [103287] £3.00	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [141399] £3.00
Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [131161] £3.00	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [131158] £3.00	Dapper Denim 3/8" (1 Cm) Ruched Ribbon [141424] £7.25	Mini Jingle Bells [142002] £4.25	Gold Metallic Thread [138401] £2.75

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com