Thank you bag

A thank you gift bag today I have just made for a commission after making one for my sample selection.

The base of the bag is a little box with 2 Label collection framelits around it.  I have used a Petite Petal stamp in Rich Razzleberry on these pieces of card in the same colour.

Other items used:
Blushing Bride card
Whisper White card
Petite Petals punch
Express Yourself stamp set
Large Oval punch
Organza ribbon

The base project for this is available on a set of instructions over at Jenny's blog.

Retiring Products

The list of products retiring from the current catalogue is now available - click on the links below for a browse:

Retiring Stamps

Retiring Accessories

Let me know asap if there is anything you 'have to have' before it goes - items are only available while stocks last and items can go quickly.

If you 'need' £45 of goods or more I will send it straight to you with no p&p, for smaller orders the standard £4.95 p&p will be applied or you can collect your order from me.

Also remember that the Seasonal Catalogue runs out at the end of June so get all those goodies now before the new catalogue because I promise you that you will have a new long wish list!!

Jill

Join Stampin' Up!

So, two things today.  The first is that for the next month you can join Stampin' Up! for just £50 which will get you £55 worth of goodies of your choice.  The normal £99 starter kit is also still available.

You also get a business pack, but if you just want to be a Stampin' Up addict you can just join to enjoy the discounts - starting with buying goodies from the new catalogue which demos can do from Friday.

A quarterly total is required to keep your status but joining mid-quarter (where we are now) you don't have to meet this until the end of September (far too easily done let me tell you).  If you don't meet the target you just keep your starter purchases and discounted goodies and owe nothing so what is there to lose?

If you are already a regular purchaser or just a fan of the brilliant products it really is worth thinking about.


Weekly Deals - more available today.
This week there are two sets of 12x12 paper for only £7.46 each instead of £9.95.
The lovely square lattice embossing folder is just £5.63.
Strawberry Slush ruffle stretch trim is only £6.19 and Gumball Green stitched satin ribbon is only £5.96 and not around for much longer - stock up now!!
Click on my sidebar to see all the options.


Any questions on the advantage of joining Stampin' Up! and how it all works please contact me using any of the details on my blog header.

Jill

My swaps

Lots going on with Stampin' Up! at the moment -
Don't forget the tempting Weekly Deals.
The Clearance Rack has some very good discounts on some Christmas goodies in particular.
I can order you a new catalogue from this Friday!
The retirement list goes live on Friday - watch this space and get those pennies ready.
Remember that over £60 this month and you can get a free photopolymer set too (although the font set has sold out).

My last post about Telford today (I think).  I finally took a picture of my swaps.

Several posts ago I showed you the card that I made 50 of with the Spiral Spins set.  It was a tad too labour intensive but I got there and in return the following 2 pics show all the goodies I got in return for my swaps.  Rather a good stash and lots of good ideas and new contacts.

More Grunge

The same colour combo today that I used for my recent make and take.

This card was made for a Bloomin' Buds sketch challenge.

Materials used:
Regals Designer Series Paper Stack
Island Indigo card & ink
Smoky Slate card & ink
Silver Glimmer Paper
Gorgeous Grunge stamp set
Itty Bitty Banners stamp set
Bitty Banners Framelits
Banner Framelits
1" circle punch
1 1/4" circle punch

It's amazing how many things can be used on a simple card isn't it?!!

New catalogues coming & more discounts

The Clearance Rack has been updated again with some great deals, especially if you want to get a bargain stash for your Christmas cards!!

The 12x12" Designer Paper stack is now only £3.99 instead of £9.95.

And the fab 6.5x4.5" paper stack is just £2.49 instead of £6.25 - while stocks last!!

Have a look at all the goodies by clicking here.

The new catalogue is also on the horizon - if you are nearby or I will be seeing you in June I will supply the sparkly new 252 page catalogue for £4.50.  If you need it posting let me know as I will have to add a small extra charge for this.

Check back on May 30th too when the retired list will be revealed - don't miss out on anything on your 'bucket' list.

Jill

More Telford swaps

It was great to meet up with my upline Jenny and lots of the Bloomin' Buds in Telford last weekend.

As well as doing a shoebox swap we were tasked with making a 3D gift for the rest of the group - whatever we wanted, however simple or complicated we wanted to make it.

You can tell when I started browsing the internet for inspiration:

I just had to do these!!  The link for you to make them is here.

I chose this because it appealed to me and I thought it was different to making a box.  I also thought it seemed fairly straightforward - which it is - but making 15 took a small amount of time!!!

I stocked up with creme eggs before Easter to make sure I had some - they have been tempting my husband ever since!

Materials used:

Crushed Curry card & ink

Pumpkin Pie card

Elegant Eggplant ink

Whisper White & Black card

Pansy punch

1" square punch

1 1/4" circle punch

1 3/4" circle punch

3/8" circle punch

3/4" circle punch

Extra-large oval punch

Itty Bitty Banners stamp set & Framelits

This is what 15 look like:

Thanks to Amanda at the Craft Spa for the tutorial - I love them!

Jill

Weekly Deals - 21st to 27th May

More Weekly Deals available - visit the link via my side bar.

This weeks deals include Bright Glimmer Brads or Naturals Designer Buttons for just £3.38 and a chance to get stitched satin ribbon in Primrose Petals or Raspberry Ripple for only £5.96 instead of £7.95.

Don't forget these colours are retiring so you need to top up with the ribbon (matching card, inks, etc) before it goes!!

Back tomorrow with more makes.

Jill

Telford Swaps

It was my first Stampin' Up! event at the weekend at the Regional Event in Telford.  I've heard much talk of swaps at these events - it's a way of sharing your creativity and ideas with others.

You don't have to participate and there is no quantity of swaps that you are required to make if you do join in.
The idea being though if you have some swaps you do just that and 'swap' with another demonstrator so you come home with lots more inspiration.

This was my swap:

It was based on some cards I had seen on line but I played with the set - Spiral Spins - to space out the spirals and have a mix of them on the card (luckily it's just a card front, not a complete card).

It wasn't until I was happy with the design that my idea to use something different rather than just punch some flowers seemed a rather bad one!  As I started stamping all the circles I needed to punch out I realised what I had done and nearly went for a plan b but being the nutter I am I persevered.

It was bonkers, yet many people that got a swap had very pleasing comments and responses so it made it all worthwhile.  Also being nuts I was determined to make 50 to come away with a haul of swaps so I do now have a box of 50 new ideas which I will share in the coming days (one lady had 400!!).

Materials used for this swap were:
Spiral Spins stamp set
Label something stamp set
Whisper White card & craft ink
Smoky Slate card & ink
Island Indigo card & ink
Crushed Curry ink
Dazzling Details
Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Lots of circle punches: Itty Bitty Circle, 1/2", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8",  1 3/4" and 7/8" scallop circle punch.

Shoebox card

Friday night I met up with another 13 Bloomin' Bud ladies and we all took a shoebox card - basically a card we had made with a box full of all the necessary for everyone else to recreate it.  The restaurant were very good to use, letting us have the table all evening - between courses!

This was my card:

Colours used are basic black, whisper white and bermuda bay.

I've used the stamp set Spiral Spins as I wanted to do something different.

The card also utilises 3 different circle punches.

Sentiment is from Wetlands stamped in black Stazon and a lovely little bow.
These bows are really simple and I've used paper from the Bright Designer Series Paper pack, click here to watch a YouTube on making the bow.

Jill

Owl badge

Hello - I have returned (and am still rather exhausted).

A quick post today just to share my name badge which I made to take to the Telford Stampin' Up training day yesterday.

The badges had to be no smaller than A7 size (mine is a teensy bit bigger) and have a hole punched for the lanyard we got on registration.

The base card is naturals white and has been overlaid with some baked brown sugar with the hardwood stamp stamped in early espresso.

I've used a circle punch & scallop circle punch to make the 'hole' for the very cute owl to peer out of - so cute!  His chest has a bit of in colour DSP.

I printed my name on the base card and have used the word window and modern label to make a window feature of this too.

Pistachio pudding leaves from the bird punch and some more gorgeous petite petals in crisp cantaloupe & strawberry slush - finished with pearls.

I was quite pleased with it and it's always nice when someone likes it so much they want to take a picture!

Loads more to share another day (what I am allowed to share anyway - I can't show you my lovely free gifts yet, hee hee).

Inspiration

Apologies for a break in service for a couple of days - I'm off to Telford for a Stampin' Up event - v exciting!!

I would love to have scheduled a couple of posts but if anyone has seen me recently you will know there hasn't been time for that.

BUT in a couple of days I can share the goodies I've made to take to Telford and hopefully some new ideas.

Enjoy the sunshine.
Jill

Weekly Deals 14th to 20th May

New Weekly Deals available - these can be viewed by clicking on the link on the right hand side of this blog.

This weeks offers include the 2012-2014 In Colour Designer Series Paper Stack for only £14.63 instead of £19.50 - get it now before it retires!!

Coastal Cabana and Pistachio Pudding Ruffle Trim ribbon is also only £6.19 a roll.

Click the link to view all the offers.
Jill

Flourishes!

A sample today using the very, very popular petite petals punch!

Card uses the current in colours again, base card is Crisp Cantaloupe.

I've used some 'foliage' from the Flowering Flourishes stamp set in Pistachio Pudding and stamped and punched some little Petite Petals and placed them on top - with some pearls to finish.

Sentiment from one of my favourite sets called Sassy Salutations.

Lots of updates to follow in the next week with all the stamping I have been doing this week & don't forget to check in tomorrow for the latest weekly deals.
Jill

Tag topper box

A little box today that I demo'ed at Elsie's party last week.  This is one that I made for a hostess gift.

It is a 2,4,6,8 box - basically an 8" (+ 1/4 inch for a tab) by 6" piece of card, scored at 2" intervals.

Tabs are cut to fold into a box and on 2 of the tabs I've inserted them in to the lovely Tag Topper punch.

Colours used are Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe & Baked Brown Sugar.

I've also used the Secret Garden stamp set and matching framelits that are new to me and I'm rather liking them!

Sentiment from Label Something set.

This is the back of the box.

I could of taken the photos a little better to show the sides but each side features a different flower from the set, finished with some dazzling details in the centre and a pearl for the main flower on the front.

Tag tops are tied together with ruffle stretch ribbon.

Party cards

Last night Elsie kindly hosted a Stampin' Up party which 12 lovely ladies attended.

I did a couple of demos and this was my make and take card.

I've used the Gorgeous Grunge set - hence me having little play recently.  This card uses all 5 stamps in the set.

Colours used were Smoky Slate and Island Indigo to give the card a male 'look'.
Silver would also be a great substitute for the Smoky Slate.

This card was CASEd from a workshop I did a while ago.

Banner Framelits used as decoration, the largest has been embossed with the Chevron embossing folder, the middle one uses paper from the 12x12 Designer Series Paper Stack.

Sentiment from the hostess set Express Yourself.

I also made one in Strawberry Slush and Crisp Cantaloupe to show how the different colours make a very different card, even with the same stamps.

I have used the Bitty Banner Happy Birthday stamp and matching framelit for the sentiment on this one to also show something different.

My original card did use the silver glimmer paper but I realised a bit late SU currently don't have a star punch so I added nothing to the male version but added 3 little sparkly punched circles to the girl version!

Weekly Deals 7th to 13th May

The latest Weekly Deals are now available:

Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder is £5.63 (was £7.50)
Wildflower Meadow Textured Embossing Folder is £5.63 (was £7.50)
Champagne Glass Glitter is £2.44 (was £3.25)
Melon Mambo Stampin' Emboss Powder is £2.96 (was £3.95)
Pewter Stampin' Emboss Powder is £2.96 (was £3.95)
Wild Wasabi Stampin' Emboss Powder is £2.96 (was £3.95)
Heat Tool - Uk Plug is £19.46 (was £25.95)
The Man, The Myth Board Book Template for digital download is £6.30 (was £10.50)

Remember, add these to an order that totals £60 and you can get a photopolymer stamp set for free too!

More grunge

Another great idea today that I had to try, this time using the set Gorgeous Grunge.

This card just uses one of the stamps but with several different ink colours, I've used 6 different 'brights'.

The sentiment is from 'That's the Ticket' and stamped in Staz on in black on whisper white card.

Punched out with matching punch (of course) and layered on a couple of black punched tickets for effect.

Still a great set and more cards to share later in the week.

Don't forget to pop past tomorrow for this weeks deals!
Jill

Flower Power

Another CASE'd card today I had to try!

Colours are Whisper White and Strawberry Slush.

The background paper is from the current In-Color Designer Series Paper Stack.

A Blossom punch has been used to make an aperture and pricked round with a template from the Occasions paper piercing pack.

A stamp from Flower Shop stamped in Strawberry Slush and punched out with matching stamp sits in the middle of the blossom aperture and is finished with an In-Color Boutique Detail in Crisp Cantaloupe.

Sentiment is from a hostess set called Banner Greetings and cut out with Banner Framelits.

What a lovely sunny weekend it has been.  Two days out watching bike races in the sun and a craft day today - can't share it all yet but some fun bits and pieces to come in the next couple of weeks.

Fresh Print Flowers

A cheery card today in real red featuring the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack from the seasonal catalogue.

The lovely paper pack features Whisper White, Real Red, Coastal Cabana & Crumb Cake.  The paper is layered on a strip of crumb cake and the 3 big flowers are stamped from the Flower Shop set in ink to match, as are the flower centres from the Petite Petals set - all before being punched with the matching punch of course!

Sentiment from Four You and cut with the Banners Framelits.

The flower centres are finished with the Candy Dots from the catalogue which fit in brad bases if required or can be used as seen here for accents.

More freebies

Even more news - completely clear stamping comes to Stampin' Up!

Some stamps will be available in the upcoming 2014-15 catalogue as photopolymer which will stick brilliantly to your existing acrylic blocks and are so good for placement of images.

BUT from today until 31st May you can get a free set with an order of over £60.

These are the options:

What are you waiting for???