Stampin' Fun & Lolly Frocks

Throughout the year Stampin' Up! holds regional training events in various parts of the country but this weekend saw Stampin' Up! 's first ever all UK Regional event  which was held in Telford. Similar events are taking place across the European market countries and European demonstrators had the choice to go to any or all events in Europe.

                                                                             

It was amazing...hundreds of demos from all corners of the land gathered at The International Centre in Telford for a fun filled day of networking and sharing. It was great to catch up with old friends and to meet new people ...including the fabulous Chris from European demo support who helps us with all our queries online and on the phone.  Chris was a star, patiently standing before hundreds of cameras as we clamoured to meet and have our photo taken with our helpful hero.

As part of the day we were given some sneak peeks at some exciting things coming soon from Stampin' Up! but for now our lips must remain sealed...  but its all good and I promise its all well worth waiting for....

No big Stampin' Up! event is complete without prize patrol and I was lucky enough to be one of the winners of the first round prize patrol... Watch this space for some sneaky peeks of my fabulous prize...

As always swaps are an important part of any gathering of Stampin' Up! demos and this was no different - although the practicalities of making 350 swaps was a bit beyond many of us, we still did our best and I brought home some beautiful swapped projects.

For my swaps  I made some little treat holders
 that I named Lolly Frocks . 
They are little boxes hidden behind the dress skirts made using the dress up framelits.
 A little lollipop sits into the box and the lolly stick
 comes up through the neckline. A stamped layered
 label forms the dolly face on the lolly frocks.

If you would like to know more about what you need and how to make these little treats holders or you would like to join the fun and become part of the Stampin' Up! team then please contact me today.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

This and That

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 I am totally delighted to be able to introduce                                                                                              THIS & THAT  ...                                                        a new and exciting product line from Stampin' Up!

So what is it exactly?

 Well it is whatever you want it to be....

 This what Stampin' Up! says about the new product line...

Your life is: Fabulous. Quirky. Exciting. Perfectly messy. And happening really fast. So we’re happy to introduce our newest product line that lets you capture it all on-the-go. This and That will debut in the 2013-2014 annual catalogue, but we’re giving you and everybody else the chance to get it now! 

From 1–31 May you can get our five This and That products in a bundle for 15 percent off! Or, you can buy them separately through June and into the new catalogue (but why would you do that when you can get them all for at a discount?). Watch for more This and That products added to our line in the coming months!

So what exactly is in the bundle?
                                                                                                     

• Epic Day This&That journal - it is gorgeous with a thick chipboard cover with an embossed hexagon pattern on the front ready for you to decorate as you wish
• Epic Day This & That Designer Series Paper - a apck of 12 x12 double sided designer papers to match and compliment the pages of the journal
• Remember This & That Rotary Stamp - this handy tool has the dates you'd expect but also has a selection of 12 useful phrases 
• Epic Day This & That Stickers - there are four sheets of fabulous stickers with phrases and shapes in designs to co-ordinate and compliment your journal pages.
• Epic day This & That Washi Tape - Three rolls - so three different designs of washi tape to co-ordinate with the range.

There is just loads of product in this bundle and so many ways to use it all....the papers, stickers, tape and stamps can be used on other projects too.

If you like the idea of a This & That journal for the things that are important to you and want to take advantage of the 15% off bundle or you like the idea, but are not sure you would do with yours, then then just contact me today  and let me help you get started.

Until next time

Take care

Christa   xx

Stippled Blossoms

I really don't know why I waited so long to get the Stippled Blossoms stamp set...It was one of the first to catch my eye when the catalogue came out back in October and it had my secret little gottta have this one mark beside it from day one...and yet somehow  it still did not arrive in my collection until this week.

But now that it is here I know it is going to join the ranks of my special favourites because it is so versatile and when I got a call asking if I could make a birthday card, I immediately grabbed this set to try it out.

This was a basic card using masks and layers but believe me there is lots more to come.  I'm not a fan of decorating but this is one form of stippling I am going to love using.

If you'd like to get your hands on this set  you know what to do...contact me today and you too could be having fun stippling.

Until next time, take care


Christa   xx

Extra, extra....

Have you ever wished you could get more Stampin' Up! Products for your money?  Well between now and Thursday 30th May you can!  And there is more than one way ...

Host a Party between now and 30 May with sales of over £250 (before p&p) and you will get an additional £25 worth of free products. This means that you will have at least £65 extra to spend on anything you want in any of the current catalogues! What would you spend your £65 on?  Contact me TODAY to book a party ...

If you can't or don't want to hold an actual party right now,  you can hold a virtual party and collect orders from your family and friends using the catalogue... and as long as the total order (excluding p&p) is £250 (or more) you still get the extra £65 to spend on anything you like in the current catalogues.

JOIN my team... If you join my team between now and 30th May you will get to choose £155 worth of products for just £99. This price includes postage and packing and you also get the business kit (£45 value) for free too. Becoming a demonstrator is a wonderful opportunity to share what you love and earn money or products from sharing your passion for crafting. Whether you want to earn discounts just for yourself (including a whopping 30% off your first demonstrator order) , be a hobby demo selling to friends and family or you want to make money from running your Stampin up! Business, the choice is yours. The options and reasons for becoming a demonstrator are as individual as each of us. The benefits of being an active demonstrator are the same no matter what your long term goals. This new demonstrator offer is too good to miss…Contact me today to discuss your options or join via the online sign up. In just a few minutes you could be a part of my team.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Stampin' Fun with the Superstars

Tomorrow is our team training  event.,..a chance for all of  us to gather together and swap  information, ideas and sample projects. It is usually a fun filled day with lots of laughter, inkiness and cake.

Swapping project samples is always a big part of any
 of our get-togethers and this time the theme for our
swaps is "Masculine".

The first sets of cards are all based around The Need for Speed stamp set.
I know a lot of people say they struggle making cards
for men,   but I love it and find it makes a great change from pretty cards  filled with flowers , butterflies or assorted cuteness.










 What I do struggle with however, is making forty cards all the same... unless its part of a wedding or party invites package where continuity is the purpose of the project, I just can't do it!








I'm not sure if its because I have too many ideas... or because I have the attention span of an ooh look shiny...  but even though I start out with one design, I just can help but morph each one a little...  I may start out with a similar design but in different colour ways like the card to the right and the one below...





 But then I will decide I want to try something else ...perhaps not as colourful and so might do a few in neutral tones like these below...which were made using a home made glimmer mist and some sentiment stamps








And then I might decide the neutrals are too sombre and I need to inject a little fun into my swaps...
and out comes the make a monster stamp set and some punches and some glitter card to end on a fun note









Some might say I may more work for myself by making so many different designs, but for me this was fun...the time flew by and I hardly noticed that I had made forty samples. I hope that my team mates will like my swap samples... I know on previous events they have said I make it hard for them because they have to choose...whatever happens, I know tomorrow will be a lot of fun and I will come home with lots of great ideas and some fabulous swapped samples.

If you would like to get the products needed to make cards like these, would like to attend a craft class, hold a workshop or want to be a part of all the fun and would like to know more about joining my team, please do drop me a line.


Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

How refreshing

Well I certainly had fun saleabrating... and when that ended, I  went on a short trip to the USA, hence the total lack of updates....but now I am back and raring to go...

News from Stampin' Up! .... In 2010 when we did our big colour renovation we shared our plans for smaller colour refreshes every three to five years to keep our colours on trend. Well it has been three years and we are excited to announce that the upcoming 2013–2014 annual catalogue will include 10 new colours (most of which are returning In Colors® from previous years)!                                   

The chart below shows which colours will be retiring at the end of June and if any of your favourites are among them you might want to order now before stocks run out. Of the new colours six are returning shades from previous in-colours and four are brand new shades...these new shades are Bermuda Bay, Soft Sky, Crushed Curry and Smoky Slate

Of course when the new catalogue is launched in July there will also be a whole new set of in-colours to look forward to...but for now those are still under wraps... we have to have something to look forward to after all.

This weekend I shall be joining other members of the Stampin' Up! team for a fun filled training day. As part of our team get-togethers we share inspiration and ideas and swap samples of our work. The theme this time is masculine - Father's day is coming up in June so its a great time to gather ideas for that...so the next couple of days I shall be busy making my swap projects. Hopefully I will have something to share with you soon.

Until next time, Take care

Christa   xx

Come Sale-a-Brate a great deal

If you love Stampin’ Up! products and have a long wish-list, why not check out the fantastic Sale-a-Bration offer for new demonstrators?  The starter kit normally costs £99 and for that you get £130 worth of products of your choice ,plus the £45 value business starter kit ...which is a great bargain whichever way you look at it....BUT join my team before  22 March 2013 and you can choose £162.50 worth of products from any current Stampin’ Up! Catalogue and still pay just £99. ... and of course you also get your business starter kit (£45 value) for free too. 

Becoming a demonstrator is a wonderful opportunity to share what you love and earn money or products from sharing your passion for crafting. Once you sign up you are in control, it is up to you how, or even if, you run your Stampin' Up! business  Maybe  you simply want to take advantage of this great offer and get some fabulous products at a bargain price? Whether  you'd like to get this fabulous deal and then earn yourself some discounts (including a whopping 30% off your first demonstrator order) , or  be a hobby demo selling to friends and family or you want to make money from running your own Stampin Up! Business, the choice is yours. There is no pressure and you can do as much or as little as you like.

The options and reasons for becoming a demonstrator are as individual as each of us. The benefits of being an active demonstrator are the same no matter what your long term goals. This new demonstrator offer is too good to miss,  but the deadline for sign up is 22 March.  If you have any questions please do Contact me today to discuss your options or join the team via the online sign up. All you have to do is choose the products (up to £162.50 value) you would like in your starter kit from any of the current catalogues, then when you have your list, grab your credit or debit card details and go to the sign up page and follow the on screen instructions. In just a few minutes you could be a part of my team and on the start of your very own Stampin' Up! Adventures.

So what are you waiting for? Come Sale-a-Brate with me...

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Still time to Sale-a-Brate

This year I am totally in love with a couple of the Sale-a-bration stamp sets that I got for FREE!!! (my absolute favourite price!)

One of my new favourites is the gorgeous Bloomin' Marvellous  stamp set. I used it for this friend birthday card which I teamed with a couple of sentiments stamps, some basic pearls and some of the beautiful striped organdy ribbon from page 30 of the new spring summer catalogue (this one is melon mambo item 129293 and it also comes in equally lovely Marina Mist  and Old Olive )

The Sale-a -bration promotion offer runs until 22 March 2013 so there is still time to place an order and get this or other free exclusive Stampin Up! products...there are 17 options to choose from and you get to pick one free product for every £45 you spend. If you would like to know more or are ready to Sale-a-Brate right now please contact me today and your fabulous Sale-a-Bration freebies could be with you sooner than you think.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Boutique Boxes and bags

So yesterday I posted a card made with a stamp set I have had for a while (even though I didn't really use it until this week) and promised I would be sharing old favourites and highlighting some new products too...so today I thought I would quickly share with you something I made using the new Boutique Boxes Designer Printed Kit  (item no 129306) which is on page 25 of the 2013 Spring & Summer Seasonal Catlaogue.

This kit comes with everything you need to make some really cute gift boxes. In the pack there are 8 die cut boxes which are pre scored and printed on one side with a cute mini polka dot design, 8 printed mini note cards,a sheet of die cut decorations which includes leaves, paper
 buttons, gorgeous doilies and some borders, 16 buttons, 4.6m crumb cake & very vanilla bakers twine and some stampin' dimensionals....all you need  to add is a little adhesive and some imagination.

The catalogue picture shows a sample of a decorated box so I thought  I would share with you this quick and simple project I made. Instead of  closing the box I took the longest flap and turned it over  and adhered it to the outside to leave one end of the box open and  I added a handle which I secured with mini brads.  I  decorated the turned down flap with some co-ordinating cardstock and designer series paper and added the doily, button, bakers twine and leaf  decorations from the kit. The just for you is from the A Little Greeting stamp set which I bought with the boxes as part of the money saving bundle (bundle item 131104  at £11.95)

All that was left to do was to pop the gift inside the bag and it was ready to go.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Do you ever find....

Do you ever find yourself drawn to the same stamp set over and over again?  It seems I am really making the most of the Clockworks stamp set...which is a little strange when I realised that I actually got this set last year -  but never used it until this past week...and now I have started, I just can't stop!

I used it again on this card that I made for my Dad whose birthday is at the end of this week. This time
 I used black card as the base and used whisper white card  stamped  with basic grey and midnight muse ink for the background...and of course because the base card was black I repeated the stamped background for the inside of the card too.

The sentiments used were from the fabulous Perfectly Penned stamp set (another huge favourite of mine)  and the DAD was stamped using Morning Post Alphabet set...which also includes the pointy fingers.  I originally resisted this stamp set because I didn't think I would ever use the pointy fingers...and again I have used them three times in the past two days...so it just goes to show how wrong first impressions can be.

I promised a friend who is a bit of a secret stamper (you know who you are), that I would re-visit some old favourites this week and also highlight some of my newer products too...so this is a revisit day...the next post will feature at least one of my favourite new products...

Until then, take care

Christa   xx

Just for fun

I have seen several cards for men using clothing as the basic design  and  decided to give it a try for the card for my nephew's birthday. I didn't have a template or guide so it took me a little while to figure out the exact dimensions for each layer but I was quite pleased with the end result...and hope that when Jonathan opens his card today it will make him smile.

For this project I used  the following cardstock: sahara sand ( for the base card) whisper white ( for the tee shirt - the detail was made using the 2" circle punch), basic grey (for the jacket...which I edged with basic grey ink and gave it the distressed treatment using the distressing tool in the spring & summer seasonal catalogue) The shirt and collar I made using designer series paper (retired and no longer available but suited my project perfectly). The badge was created using the Blue Ribbon stamp set with not quite navy ink.

With a little imagination, some card and designer paper, almost any card can be made to reflect the style of the recipient... I have a few other ideas along similar lines that I plan to try in the near future... but for today I wanted to share this one and to wish my lovely nephew Jonathan a very Happy Birthday!

Until next time, take care,

Christa   xx

Grungy Birthday

While the whole world goes hearts and roses crazy, I have been enjoying some inky fun of the more grungy kind using sets I own that I have not used as often I as should.

I have seen a  few designs lately using basic grey and various shades of yellow and I really liked the idea of combining the traditional drab and the bright and summery...

So for these two cards I opted for basic grey and summer starfruit and I choose to use the Clockworks and Blue Ribbon stamp sets.

For the card above I used the small background stamp from clockworks set , greeting from Blue Ribbon set, basic grey and summer starfruit ink, sponges, bakers twine, mini silver brads, dimensionals and the paper piercing kit and piercing tool.


For the card on the right I used the large and small background stamps from the clock works set, the blue ribbon stamp set, basic grey and summer starfruit ink, sponges, scallop and plain circle punches and dimensionals.








I carried on the same design for the inside of the cards too.




So that is what I have been up to while the world went romance crazy... now that the madness is over I plan to take a look at some of the newer products this week...and also take a look back at some old favourites too.

Until next time, take care


Christa   xx

Ta- Dah!

It is HERE the fabulous new Spring Summer Seasonal Catalogue. Forty pages filled with gorgeous new products that really do include something for everyone...


I will be back later with some of my own personal favourites but in the meantime you can download your copy right here . If you would prefer a paper copy please contact me today and I will pop one in the post for you.


Until later,

Christa   xx

Feeling Sentimental

Here I am with a  more of the fabulous free
Sale-a-bration products...this time I have used  the Feeling Sentimental stamp set. This has  four stamps in the set, three images and one sentiment and has a definite vintage feel.

The card on the right was made using two of the images  - the wheel and the penny farthing bicycle -  and the Celebrate sentiment. The Happy Birthday is stamped direct to the backing  and is from the Blue Ribbon stamp set (p33 main catalogue), circle and label punches and the essentials paper piercing pack (p181 main catalogue)

The simple card on the left uses the third image from the set along with the Celebrate wording. Oh Happy Day is from the Bloomin' marvellous stamp set, another  SAB free set.  I think I may have unintentially been influenced by or drawn inspiration from the driving rain outside when I decided to use the colour spritzer tool (p179 main cat) on this one.





As we begin the slow count down to the release of the new Spring & Summer seasonal catalogue I will be posting sneaky peeks of some of the fabulous new products every day next week.

If you would like to know how you can get any of the fabulous Stampin' Up! products, including the fabulous free products on offer during sale-a-bration or  you would like to join my team and take advantage of the fabulous S-A-B offer to new demonstrators then please contact me

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Bloomin' Marvelous

Sale-a-bration is here and one of the many  fabulous
 free products available during this promotion is
 the rather  gorgeous  and aptly named  Bloomin' Marvellous stamp set.


It has 8 stamps in the set with a mix of  images which include a flower, leaves, a butterfly and humming bird &  four sentiments in pretty fonts. It is a really versatile set  and already becoming  a firm favourite of mine. I can see so many uses for this stamp set.                                                                              


This is just one of the cards I made last night using the Bloomin' Marvellous stamp set that I got for free!

Until next time, take care,

Christa   xx

Its time to Sale-a-Brate!

Sale-a-Bration is here..come join in the fun!

Sale-a Bration is one of the highlights of the Stampin' Up! Calendar and this year, the  25th Anniversary Year,  is extra special with something for everyone.

For Customers... - For every £45 spent (exc p&p), choose a fantastic Sale-A-Bration FREE gift from a fantastic range of 17 items, including stamp sets, designer papers, embellishments and tools. There are 11 exclusive Sale-a-Bration products and six popular products from the main annual catalogue for you to choose from.

For Hostesses Invite friends and family for a fun evening crafting. Host a party or workshop, collect orders of £150 or more and you will earn a FREE pack of Silver Glimmer paper in addition to the usual hostess benefits….and of course for every £45 you spend you earn the free products as well.

For New Demonstrators – If you love Stampin’ Up! products and have a long wish-list, why not sign up during Sale-a-Bration?  Join my team between 22 January and 22 March 2013 and you can choose £162.50 worth of products from any current Stampin’ Up! Catalogue and pay just £99.  You also get your business starter kit (£45 value) for free too. Becoming a demonstrator is a wonderful opportunity to share what you love and earn money or products from sharing your passion for crafting. Whether you want to earn discounts just for yourself (including a whopping 30% off your first demonstrator order) , be a hobby demo selling to friends and family or you want to make money from running your Stampin up! Business, the choice is yours. The options and reasons for becoming a demonstrator are as individual as each of us. The benefits of being an active demonstrator are the same no matter what your long term goals. This new demonstrator offer is too good to miss… Contact me today to discuss your options or join via the online sign up. In just a few minutes you could be a part of my team.

What do you have to lose? Join in the Sale-a-Bration fun today!

Click on the picture at the top of this post to go to the online Sale-a-Bration brochure where you will find all the fabulous products you can earn for free. Please note it is a pull out publication and you may need to adjust the size on your screen. If you would prefer a paper copy please contact me and I will pop one in the post to you.

I will be back later to share some samples made with some of the fabulous free SAB products.

Until then, take care

Christa   xx

Sweet....

We are just in the first week of January and already I can tell you about a great promotional offer from Stampin' Up!....but it is time limited and so you'll have to be quick...

MY LITTLE VALENTINE PROMOTION

From 3rd - 21st of January only , Stampin' Up! has got a super sweet and exclusive special offer.

For a limited time only buy this adorable My Little Valentine stamp set for £9.95 and Stampin' Up! will send you the Sealed With Love Simply Sent Kit  absolutely FREE!

The Sealed with Love Simply Sent Kit on its own  is worth £8.25 and can be found on page 35 of the Autumn Winter Catalogue.  In each kit you get the following:

•  10 beautiful Notecards and double sided envelopes

•  20 printed paper buttons

•  10 pieces of Real Red/Whisper White Bakers Twine (this colour twine is only currently available in this kit) 

• 24 Stampin' Dimensionals

If you want to get this super offer contact me today. Remember this is only available between 3rd -21st January 2013 so dont miss out!

Until next time, Take care

Christa   xx

Reflections...

With all the festive feasting done and as another year draws to a close I thought it might be fun to take a quick look back at my personal favourite projects... So with one per month here are my perosnal favourites in 2012

January...  and this progressive scrapbook page was clear favourite. This was so much fun and the picture here shows it at A4 stage...










February... I made bookmarks for team swaps and this is the one I kept for myself. It is still on my night stand and has been in every book I have read this year... and it still looks as good today as when it was first made.

 March...and my clear favourite was this EASTER banner I made when I got together with some crafting buddies on a trip to the USA I have made lots of these since with names and other greetings but my first will always be my favourite.

April's ...choice is easily this framed layout for 2012 ...a year of celebration with the Royal Jubilee and the London Olympics all to look forward to...

May.... and an 80th Birthday card for a very special Mum using  framelits and the lovely  Bordering on Romance stamp set

June... and it has to be this Tea Shoppe card  made for my special Mum on her 75th birthday...the day we went for Tea at The Ritz!





   



                                                                                                                 

And July was just a MONSTER month for kid's birthdays...





                                                 



August brought The Elements of Style stamp set into my life and it remains one of my all time favourites
















September saw this cute little fellow appear as part of a Halloween set...but used here for a caught a bug? get well card.

For October I have chosen as my fvaourite a card that I never featured here on the blog, but it was part of a techniques class. It was a pretty and fun card to make and included stamping. embossing, punches and a faux pinwheel effect.

November's favourites were these cute little mini treat bags made using the fabulous petite purses die

And finally December.... elf legs... these were a huge hit at the local craft fairs and were such fun to make...



Looking back, 2012 was a year of celebrations and fun....and one in which we were lucky enough to experience the inspirational  London 2012 Paralympics.

So as 2012 draws to a close I would like to say Thank You ... and wish you all good things for the coming New Year 2013.

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx

Its Frosty...

Well the weather outside is frightful....  and so I have been staying indoors in the warm, making lots of Frosty inspired projects.

On the left is a card for posting so the layers are simply ink edged and matted on the other to keep postage costs and in transit damage potential to a minimum. I took the picture before I added the personal message to the front of the card. This was a really fun card to make using punches, dies and embossing folders.

To the right is this really cute little decorated Frosty tea light. I have seen a few these pop up on blogs today as pendants and brooches and it is really simple to add the fixings of your choice to the back of the tea light unit, but this one is intended as a table decoration. The tea lights are battery operated and the ones I bought have a flickering flame effect.  This one was made using punched shapes and some gems and ribbon and was really fun to do.



I have some more frosty themed items in progress and once they are all finished I will share them here. They are destined for the Festive Feast at Stoke Newington Town Hall this weekend. If you are in the area please do pop in and say hello.

Until next time, take care


Christa   xx

Dear Santa...

I just LOVE this new poster from Stampin' Up!  It' s just perfect ...

and if you are still looking for those last minute Christmas present ideas for the crafters in your life...and the would be crafters and even the non crafters who don't know what they are missing, there is still time to get some fabulous Stampin' Up! goodies ...

but did you know you can also get gift vouchers for products or even for vouchers for classes. You can choose how much to spend and the recipient can choose how and when to spend them. Gift vouchers come in a beautiful hand made presentation holder with a hand made card to match.

Time is running out and Christmas will soon be here. If you would like to surprise someone or even treat yourself, just contact me today

Until next time, take care

Christa   xx