Happy New Year

Better late than never! It's been a busy few weeks, but after a well deserved (at least I like to think it's well deserved) break, I am ready to get crafting and blogging again.

There are so many new things happening in the Stampin' Up! world that it's hard to know where to begin! But I will start with the fantastic new Spring Mini Catalogue. If you haven't seen it yet you can click on the image at the side and view it online - alternatively, drop me a line and I will be happy to post one out to you.

There's so many lovely new stamp sets (and some have matching punches) that I've hardly known where to start! And not just 1 new DSP - but 3 to choose from!! My personal favourute is Spice Cake - I just love the colour combinations. I've been having great fun with the cupcake set and punch and I've become a huge fan of the new glitter card. No matter how hard I rub at the card the glitter just won't come off!

As if that isn't enough to wet your appetite - starting on 24th January we have the sale-a-bration starting. For every £45 you spend you can choose from 4 specially created sets of stamps - or the most gorgeous pack of paper. In fact I spent yesterday with a bunch of other lovely demonstrators making 4 sets of 4 cards to showcase these lovely sets.

I'll be posting the pictures over the next few weeks.

I have classes starting again on 12th January - making a selection of "store cupboard" cards using the new sets. Future classes will include a selection of cards for children, special occasions and some new techniques (or perhaps old techniques that you haven't used for a while!)

If you want more details of any of my classes just click on the link over the next few days or contact me directly.

The 24 - 26th February sees the Make It Show back in Farnborough and I will be on the Stampin' Up! stand on Friday 24th (Please pop by and say hello!).

Finally there is our Craft Day - provisionally scheduled for 17th March - so lots to do and lots to tell you about over the coming months.

Bye for now - but check back tomorrow for your first pictures of the year!

Lots to come

I've been a little bit quiet recently. I've been very busy with my mum staying. We've been doing lots of crafting and I've been preparing samples ready for the craft retreat on November 12th. i don't want to spoil the surprise for the ladies who are coming - so I will have to hold off on the photos for a few more days. I've also been preparing for a workshop tomorrow night - so I will be posting the samples for this evening very soon!

Have fun crafting.

Special Occasion Album

This lovely project was inspired by Jenny Moors. I'd not made a waterfall card before I tried this project - but I wanted to create a special card for a friend. This wasn't it as I had to give that one away (boohoo!) but I so enjoyed doing this that I had to make a second (and third) version. I used one of my favourite colour combinations - soft suede, crumb cake, baja breeze and very vanilla and some of my favourite stamps - baroque motifs. I was so pleased that this set carried on over into the new catalogue as I love using the scroll.

I'm planning to create another version of this card usingthe lovely beau chateau papers and fabulous new stamp set everything eleanor - another beautiful scroll that will be so useful! I'll post a picture once it's done!

Close as a Memory

In memory of my uncle.

Ribbon Share!

Did you fall in love with the fabulous seam binding ribbons in the mini catalogue? Then you will be delighted to see that not only did they keep them in the new catalogue but they have added more colours! Yep - it now comes in the fabulous cherry cobbler, versatile always artichoke and esscential very vanilla.

I am offering you the opportunity to get your hands on all these fabulous ribbons - 1 metre of every colour of seam binding ribbon - for just £4.95. That's 7 metres of ribbon for just £4.95 - less than the cost of 1 roll of seam binding ribbon.

Interested? Drop me a line to secure your share of the ribbons!

Pennant Parade

Today is my friend Emma's birthday and I waited to make her a card with my new stamp set (it arrived today!) so it was a bit touch and go! I've been wanting to get my hands on this set for a while now - it's just so versatile. You can use it for Christmas as well as for birthday and lots of other occasions. Watch out for lots of examples in the future!

For this card I combined it with the new in colours (aren't they great!) and a simple background made from the perfect polka dots embossing folder. It makes for a really quick and effective card. I used a greeting from the fabulous happiest birthday wishes hostess set and a matching designer printed brad and voila!

If you love this set as much as me and want to get your hands on it - why not join Cate and I at our Craft Retreat Day on Saturday 12th November. You get to spend the whole day crafting on lots of different projects. All your materials for the day, the pennant parade stamp set (worth £16.95) and a light lunch are all included for just £40. Bargain! Contact me if you would like more details.

Forever Young

In September, I attended a stampin up training event and it's usual to make sample cards to swap with the other demonstrators. It's a great idea as you get lots of new ideas and samples to show people. The only problem was that I had 56 to make and only two days as I'd had visitors staying with me! After a bit of a panic I came up with this card which uses the new set Forever Young and a bit of Vintage Vogue. I deliberately made it to fit the new mini envelopes which are available and I think it turned out quite well. Forever Young is a beautiful set - with matching DSP papers and fabric available (Timeless Portrait). I really like this classic image and look forward to playing with it some more.