Convention swaps 1

Getting very excited now because tomorrow I’m off to Paris for the annual Stampin’ Up!® European Convention! I’ll be travelling with five other excited demonstrators to Disneyland, where the Convention will be held on Friday and Saturday. I don’t expect I’ll be able to update my blog while I’m away but have scheduled a couple of posts to keep you going – and will have lots of news when I return!

Swapping is a big part of Convention but I have to admit that making the same project over and over again really doesn’t float my boat. So I may not have made as many swaps as some ladies but I have made an effort and there are some little cards made to fit the small square envelopes in our new catalogue.   They’re all bagged up and ready to go, with the recipe printed on a piece of paper in the back. As you can see, they’re not all the same – that’s partly because I didn’t have enough of the same sheets of Designer Paper for 30 cards and partly to keep the job interesting for me!

I’ve used the hostess stamp set, Happiest Birthday Wishes, which I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot more of. This is the most expensive hostess set in the catalogue – one of the benefits of the new Hostess Scheme is that even a £150 workshop can earn you the biggest hostess set, with some free spends to spare!

I’ve stamped the image three times – once in Melon Mambo on Whisper White; twice in Concord Crush – on Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette. I’ve punched them out using the 1” circle punch, 1 3/8” circle punch and the scallop circle punch. In fact, you’ll notice that there’s very little cutting on these cards – the punches did all the hard work!

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess)

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Paper: Cheerful Treat (hostess)

Ink: Melon Mambo, Concord Crush

Accessories: ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon - Certainly Celery, 1” circle punch, 1 3/8” circle punch, scallop circle punch

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

I'm back! (Not that I ever really went away)

Ooh, sorry for my terrible blogging lately – have never been so lax! It’s partly because I’ve been so busy doing workshops, preparing for Convention (it’s this week!), having visitors and generally getting on with life, partly because I haven’t had time to make anything new recently (apart from my Convention swaps) and partly because it’s always so blooming dark that I rarely get an opportunity to take photos of my projects anyway! Managed to snap some this morning though and here’s one of them... which uses the oh so lovely Aviary stamp set, which I totally love.

I’ve stamped the bird cage in Basic Black, then stamped the little bird in Rose Red and topped the cage with a Basic Pearl. It’s a very simple card, but I really like it – especially the dotty background, which I have been forced to stop using because it’s rightful owner demanded its return. Doh!

Stamps: Aviary

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Whisper White, Rose Red

Ink: Basic Black, Rose Red

Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot embossing folder, taffeta ribbon - Basic Black, Basic Pearls

All products by Stampin’ Up!®

Little thank yous

A set of little thank you cards made using Easy Events. I made them all different colours because I get bored doing things all the same – and because I’m trying to wade through my Subtles scraps box! (I’m finally beginning to make an impact – it was VERY full!)

I coloured the flowers with Watercolour Wonder™ crayons and blender pens, then – quelle horreur! – I even added a little glitter in the centres of each flower. Don’t know what came over me.

The little scalloped tab feature is made using the Pennant Punch.

Stamps: Easy Events

Cardstock: Various Subtles, plus Whisper White and Basic Black

Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: Watercolour Wonder™ crayons – Subtles, Pennant Punch, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, blender pen

All products by Stampin’ Up!®            

Beau Chateau gift set class

This beautiful gift bag is made with Beau Chateau Designer Series Papers. I love these papers and I love this bag – although next time I think I’ll make the cardstock trim in Soft Suede.

Fill the bag with a set of beautiful handmade cards and you have a fantastic gift for Christmas – something the recipient will know you’ve made with care.

So, why not join me at my class on Saturday, 10^th December to make the bag and four cards to go inside? Yes it will be intense as we don’t usually make so many projects but we’ll keep the cards simple and I’m sure we’ll have fun! We’ll be using brand new products from the new Idea Book & Catalogue so this is a great opportunity to get your hands on something new and exciting and have a play!

The cost of the class is £15, which will include a fab goodie bag to make your projects with. Among your goodie bag items will be: 

• Half a pack of Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper (one full sheet of each design)
• A quarter pack of Antique Brads (one of each design)
• 1m Soft Suede taffeta ribbon
• 1m Marina Mist Scallop Dots ribbon
• 1 sheet of Stampin’ Dimensionals 

Plus all the pre-cut cardstock and envelopes required to complete the projects. Any leftovers will be yours to take home.

The class is on Saturday, 10^th December, 2pm-4.30pm (doors open 1.45pm) in our usual venue in Horsley Woodhouse. Booking is essential, with payment by 20^th November, so I can buy the supplies.  The cost is £15. If you would like to make two of each card, please add £4 to cover supplies. You can either work quickly at the event or complete them at home.

I do hope you can come! Please email me for more details.

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Soft Suede

Paper: Beau Chateau

Accessories: Stampin’ Pastels, Sponge Daubers, Neutrals Brads, Antique Brads, Big Shot, Fun Flowers Bigz L Die, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

All products by Stampin’ Up!®            

Fab offer for hostesses!

Ooh, how exciting! Extra freebies for hostesses who hold a party between now and 15th December!

In this fabulous new offer, anyone who holds a workshop totalling £300 or more will earn a Paisley Petals Bundle FREE! The bundle consists of a pack of Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper and the Paisley Petals stamp set (wood or clear-mount), worth up to £33.90.

This is in addition to the usual hostess benefits. A £300 party earns you £50 to spend anywhere in the catalogue, including on the exclusive hostess products. It also earns you the opportunity to purchase ANY item at 50% off! So yes, you could get your hands on a half-price Big Shot!

My calendar is pretty tight but I do have some slots at the end of November and during December, so please get in touch if you want to take advantage of this fab offer!

Circus birthday scrapbook page

And yes, yet more mileage from the Pennant Punch and Polka Dots embossing folder! This is one of the projects we were given to make at a Stampin’ Up!® training session last month. I’ve changed it slightly from their design because I really wanted to use the new Pennant Punch.

It’s a 6x6 scrapbook page and quite simple to make. You cut a piece of the striped paper from Big Top Birthday to the same width as your photo. The sentiment panel is created using the Curly Label punch – you punch it again from Real Red, then cut it in half and layer behind the white.

The clown is stamped and coloured in using Watercolour Wonder™ crayons. And the linen thread is secured behind the white layer and the end hidden by the flags. The bunting on this occasion is created with the circle punch – just cut them in half and stick them down.

Stamps: Under The Big Top

Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Big Top Bithday

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray, Lucky Limeade

Accessories: Pennant Punch, Big Shot, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Curly Label Punch, circle punch (I forget which one – but it doesn’t really matter), ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon – Daffodil Delight, Linen Thread

All products by Stampin’ Up!®            

Polka dot Christmas

Another simple Christmas card... and another way of getting mileage out of Pennant Parade and the Polka Dots embossing folder!

Here I’ve even used the scalloped bunting created with the punch to make a little tab for the greeting.

Stamps: Pennant Parade

Cardstock: Real Red, Old Olive, Early Espresso

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Pennant Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punches, scallop edge punch, Big Shot, Polka Dots embossing folder, Basic Rhinestones

All products by Stampin’ Up!®            

Going dotty over these products

Yet more bunting and polka dots – I think I’m going to wear these products out!

The challenge here was to get the whole piece of Whisper White embossed, when it’s actually larger than the Polka Dot embossing folder. So I embossed one half and then carefully positioned it back in the folder, ensuring the raised dots went back into the indentations in exactly the right place. It worked!

This is a square card measuring about 12.5cm (can't remember exactly). Anyway, the point is that we now sell square envelopes to fit this card. Yay!

Stamps: Pennant Parade, Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

Ink: Pool Party, Wisteria wonder, Lucky Limeade

Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge Punch, Pennant Punch

All products by Stampin’ Up!®            

Bring out the bunting (again)

Another simple bunting card for you – this punch is such a hit with those who are enjoying the bunting trend as it eliminates lots of cutting out.

Here I’ve used some of the new In Colors and the Pennant Parade stamp set. I’ve stamped the bunting onto cardstock of the same colour as the ink, then punched out the simple triangle with the punch. A strip of cardstock was scalloped and then run through the Big Shot with the Polka Dot embossing folder. I’d saved a piece of Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon from a recent SU training session (was still waiting for my order when I made this card) and tied it round with linen thread. Very easy card to make.

Stamps: Pennant Parade

Cardstock: Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

Ink: Pool Party, Wisteria wonder, Lucky Limeade

Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge Punch, Pennant Punch, Ruffled Ribbon – Lucky Limeade, Linen Thread

All products by Stampin’ Up!®            

Oh what a circus!

OMG! As the young people say.

But seriously, how totally fabulous is this? Regular readers will be able to tell at a glance that I didn’t make this – I just don’t have the patience for all that cutting out.

Very regular readers will probably have worked out that this is the work of Kelly, a friend and former downline. She’s super-talented and spent quite a while at my kitchen table squirreling away at this card, refusing to tell me what she was doing until it became obvious. Look at all the paper piecing! She’s stamped and cut out the ball (in two pieces), the clown’s hair, his trousers, the seal’s podium... she has the patience of a saint!

Stamps: Under the Big Top, Party This Way

Cardstock: Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

Paper: Cheerful Treat

Ink: Basic Grey, Concord Crush

Accessories: Curly Label Punch, ½” circle punch, linen thread, blender pens

All products by Stampin’ Up!®