The Joys of Christmas

The 2nd Tuesday evening of the month is the time for capturing those cherished memories and yesterday was no exception.

I have not historically done a lot of scrapbooking, so my memory keeping is an evolving skill. I wanted to create a 12"x 12" page with some of my photographs from Christmas Day and using the, now retired, Merry Little Christmas Memories and More card pack.

A 12"x12" blank canvas can seem quite daunting, but by using a mixture of photographs and different sized cards, I was soon able to bring together a page I was happy with. The colour co-ordination has already been done for you. There is a selection of sentiments and journalling cards as well as cards I can cut up to create accents, like the little banners on this page. The addition of a couple of stickers from the accessories in the pack and a doodled line around the edge and the job is complete.
I love using these memory and more cards in the pockets, but it is good to be able to utilise them on a large page layout as well. This may be a Christmas page, but there is no reason it couldn't equally have been a baby page with the bundles of love collection, pictures of the garden with the petal gardens collection, or a wedding with the petal passion collection.

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

If you are yet to venture into the world of memory keeping, get in touch for more information or come along to one of my workshops on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7.30pm-9.30pm or 3rd Friday of the month, 1.30pm-3.30pm.


Helen
xxx

Fun with friends

I can talk to you about becoming a demonstrator and the discount on your purchases and the additional bonuses, but one of the less obvious benefits is the friendships that you form.
I have spent some great times with my upline, Joanne, (known to many as the Crafty Owl). We have shared many a hotel room over the last few years,and lay awake until the early hours chatting and laughing. We've shared waffles and chips in Belgium and pancakes in Amsterdam. This week we had arranged to meet up for coffee and share our plans and dreams for the coming year. Imagine my excitement when she posted that she had received her stamparatus, the new stamp positioning tool that Stampin' Up! has developed. Joanne was part of the worldwide team of demonstrators who had been involved in the development of this fabulous tool and all that crafting know how is the reason why, in my opinion, it is going to set itself apart from all the others on the market. As a well deserved reward for all their hard work, over many months, this team of demonstrators who had worked on the project, understandably, received theirs first. We still shared our hopes and dreams, but because I'm a lucky girl, Joanne also shared her new toy.

On a whim we decided to create a video on my phone of me using the stamparatus. It was impromptu and is not edited in any way. We quickly came up with a plan for the card we were going to create and then action.....

And here is the card we created using the "Amazing You" stamp set and the "Celebrate You "thinlits.

I was already excited about the prospect of receiving my stamparatus in about a month, but now I really can't wait. I liked the size, the weight, the ease of use and the sheer possibilities it offers. If you haven't already reserved your tool, the next opportunity will be when the annual catalogue launches in June, but that will give you lots of time to soak up all the inspiration that will be coming your way over the next few months. And I mustn't forget the delights of that stamp set and die combo. The "Amazing You" stamp set and "Celebrate You" thinlits are both offerings in the Sale-a-Bration catalogue, so this means you can't buy them, but you can earn them. You can choose the stamp set with a £45 order. The dies are available as a choice with a £90 order. It is worth noting that these dies will be available to purchase in the 2018-2019 catalogue, but why pay for them then, when you could earn them now.

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

If you have been inspired to become part of the Stampin' Up! family, I would love to welcome you.

Check out more details HERE

and don't forget, during Sale-a-Bration you can add 2 extra free stamp sets of your choice to your starter kit.

Helen

xx

Welcoming the New

Happy New Year to you all.

As we welcome in the New Year, the excitement mounts as we look forward to the launch of the 2018 Occasions catalogue and the start of this years Sale-a-Bration.

The occasions catalogue is full of lovely stamps, paper, tools and embellishments to enable us to create an abundance of projects for all those up coming occasions - Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Easter, Father's Day and weddings and birthdays over the spring and early summer.

In the 4 years that I have been a demonstrator, the Sale-a-Bration offering has just got better and better. This year the collection that is available for you to choose from when you  place an order of £45 or more,  is beautiful. Also, for the first time, if you spend £90 there are 2 higher value options to choose from - a double stamp set or a set of dies.

Of course Sale-a-bration isn't just about freebies when you make a purchase. If you host an event and achieve sales of £200, you automatically get £20 extra to spend on products of your choice,

And for those of you who really have an eye for best value, then consider joining up. Not only does your £99 buy you £130 of product of your choice, but you also get to pick 2 stamp sets of your choice. If those choices are from the higher value stamp sets you can easily have twice the value of product for your money.

But what about a sneak peek of some of the new products......

I created this card for a shoe box swap we had at a Christmas team event. The stamp set is called "Lots of Lavender" and is one of the sale-a-bration sets you can earn with a £45 order. The greeting comes from the set called "Picture Perfect Birthday" and that is to be found in your Spring/Summer Occasions catalogue.  The embossing folder is one of 2 folders you get in the Petal Pair embossing folder collection. also in the spring/summer catalogue. The ribbon, also new, is whisper white 1/4 " organza. The stitched ovals and scalloped ovals are of course old favourites, as are the scattering of rhinestones. 

The card base is elegant eggplant cardstock and the embossed layer is wisteria wonder. The sentiment stamp and outline image of the lavender were all stamped in elegant eggplant. The "colouring" was created by the stamps in the set for this purpose. I used wisteria wonder for the flowers, always artichoke for the leaves and rose red for the bow.

I really like this pretty little watercolour effect card and can see this stamp set becoming a favourite.

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Helen

xxx

Love this mini album.

Last Saturday I held a fun class creating these mini albums. Here is a whistle-stop pictorial tour of the process:

A toilet roll, flattened by running through the Big Shot
and trimmed to 4"long.

The card insert cut from thick whisper white card stock
 and shaped with the tag punch.

Put glue the cardboard pocket and cover
with your choice of paper, ensuring the strip of paper overhangs
on each end.

Snip the paper along the length, up to the edge of the pocket.

Put glue on the paper and press down along the edge to neaten.

Use a bone folder or similar tool to ensure
the paper has adhered well. Repeat on other side of the pocket.

Cut strips of paper 1" wide and scored at
1/2" then folded in half.

Use these strips to neaten the top and bottom edge of the pocket.

Repeat to create 4 pockets.

Cut 2 covers from chipboard and cover with paper and or card,
Punch holes, lining up both covers and all the pockets. Add rings.

Ready to decorate with ribbon and trims and wooded hearts

Big alphabet dies, confetti punches and stamps

Photographs, die cuts and bakers twine.

Little envelopes and heat embossed lips for kisses

Heart dies

Craft ink, ribbon and 3D die cuts

Project Life paper clip dies

More envelops, stamps and some fussy cutting

Embossing folders, lace doilies and a button

I loved this project and you could change the theme to suit a variety of different occasions.

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Get gathering those toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes.

Helen
xx