It's time to get festive - the new Stampin' Up! mini catalogue is here! Paper copies of the catalogue are on their way to those customers who have shopped with me in the last 6 months (slightly later than usual due to my vacation). If you don't have one, never fear - the catalogue is available right now for you to download by clicking here or on the image below:

It will be available until it ends on 6 January 2025 by clicking on the image on the right hand sand of my blog page. So many great stamp sets, papers and more for your Halloween, Autumn and Christmas projects.

Also launching today is the new Digital Scrapbooking Catalogue. Further to the purchase of Close To My Heart, Stampin' Up! is expanding it's 12x12" scrapbooking line. There are new packs of 12x12" coloured cardstock, new two-tone cardstock and some fabulous scrapbooking kits too. The scrapbooking catalogue is only available in digital format and the full product line will be available online and through me as your Stampin' up! demonstrator whilst supplies last. New products will be added to this line on an ongoing basis.  The catalogue is available right now for you to download by clicking here or on the image below:

Here are some useful links that show some of the new scrapbooking product in more detail - the first shows the new two-tone cardstock (this is an addition to our current solid core cardstock, not a replacement):

The second gives a closer look at the new scrapbooking kits in more detail:

I also want to bring to your attention two new kits that will be available later this month. The release date has not yet been confirmed, but as with other recent kits they are likely to be popular (the Haunted House Kit sold out in days!) so if either of these kits appeals to you, please let me know and send through your order now so that I can order for you as soon as they release to avoid any disappointment. The first of the kits is a Card Keeper Kit:

Both kits will retail at £24 each and make great gifts too. The ornaments would also be great to make with children  -a half-term project perhaps?

I'll let you know when they are available to purchase, but if you're interested you should get in touch now so that your order is ready to go. Back soon with a new project and some samples from new mini catalogue makes.

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's my turn to host this week and I have a timely theme challenge for you to work with:

Whilst lots of us are already starting to work on Christmas projects, it is still very much summer time and I chose this week's theme with that in mind. As the rhyme goes, 'Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, oh I do like to be beside the sea' - sand between your toes, fish and chips, buckets and spades and more - the seaside is one of my favourite places to be. I decided to break from my usual card and make a scrapbook page to share with you for a change this week.

I live in Northampton which is very close to the very centre of England, so is about as far from the coast as you can get. I recently took the James Juniors to visit their grandparents, my parents, in Wales for the first time since the start of the Covid pandemic and the first place they always ask to visit is the beach. This left me with lots of great photos ready to scrapbook. I am mostly a Memories and More pocket scrapbooker, but occasionally I do make full 12" x 12" layouts and with the gorgeous 'Friends are Like Seashells' bundle in the annual catalogue I couldn't resist. Take a look at today's layout:

Here's the low-down on today's project:

I captured a great photo of Rebecca jumping the waves as I followed her down to the shoreline, so thought it would be perfect for my layout. Here's a close-up of my photo and the surrounding decoration in more detail: 

 I backed my photo with a piece of 'Expressions In Ink' designer paper and added a strip of the gorgeous Night of Navy ombre glimmer paper down the left side, to pick up on the bright blues of the sky in the photo. I embossed and diecut the seaside shells from pearlescent paper, then used the corner to decorate my photo whilst snipping the the other shells and seaweed apart to add as decoration elsewhere. I did a little background stamping beneath my layering and my main sentiment is fussy cut from one of the 'What A Year' Memories and More cards; you can see that more closely below:

I love that sentiment and it totally sums up the mood of the day and Rebecca in particular in that moment. Both of the James Juniors were so thrilled to be at the beach that day, jumping the waves, fishing in rock pools and generally enjoying the sea air.

In addition to a sprinkling of sequins and gems, I also added a sentiment tag to the corner of my page, decorated with a fussy ribbon bow:

My layout is actually quite simple, and very much like my card making style - although if you could see the pile of patterned papers that covered my desk as I made this page you would think that it must have been anything but and I did procrastinate for quite some time before deciding on my final papers and design!

So what do you think? Did you enjoy my scrapbook layout today for a change? Should I share more of this kind of thing on my blog? Feel free to leave me a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

I can't wait to see how my theme inspires you this week!

Since I did something other than a card today, I am going to link up over at Just Us Girls where that happens to be their theme this week.

Enjoy your day; I have a family day at home today, with nothing special planned. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

FRIENDS ARE LIKE SEASHELLS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (£50.25)	SEASHELLS 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER (£8.25)	PEARLESCENT SPECIALTY PAPER (£3.75)	OMBRE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY PAPER (£9.25)	EXPRESSIONS IN INK 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£14.00)
WHAT A YEAR MEMORIES & MORE CARD PACK (£9.25)	BASIC WHITE 12X12 (30.5 X 30.5 CM) CARDSTOCK (£7.25)	PALE PAPAYA 3/8" (1 CM) OPEN WEAVE RIBBON (£6.50)	SIMPLY ELEGANT TRIM (£7.00)	2021–2023 IN COLOR JEWELS (£6.50)
ARTISTRY BLOOMS ADHESIVE-BACKED SEQUINS (£6.50)	PALE PAPAYA A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	BALMY BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	TASTEFUL LABELS DIES (£29.00)

 

I have had a busier than usual schedule this week which has necessitated a few blog-free days - I hope you will all bear with me, whilst I like to think I'm organised clearly I'm not organised enough! So much to share and so little time really is my motto at the moment.

Anyway, today I am back with it and I have something a little different for you - this week the team over at Global Design Project have a family theme and CAS-ual Fridays are challenging us to make anything but a card - so I thought I would share one of my recent scrapbooking layouts:

Here is my layout featuring the Color Theory Memories and More card pack:

Here's the low-down on today's project:

A Traditional Layout - Whilst I don't often share my layouts with you here on my blog, I'm a real fan of the pocket-style memory keeping that we introduced with the Project Life range and subsequently with Memories and More. The pocket cards make it so easy to put pages together quickly and I love that I can organise my pages with minimal supplies and 'pretty' them up as I go or add extra detail later. Here I've used the Memories and More cards in a traditional 12" x 12" scrapbook layout as I wanted to show how these cards can be used in a variety of different ways. The pre-printed sentiment cards mean that whatever type of layout you use, Memories and More cards make it easy to create a colourful layout with no stamping required.

Color Theory For All Seasons - This layout is one of four that I created using the Color Theory Memories and More card pack, as I created one for each season. I will share the other layouts in a future blog post; as you can see this page is my Winter layout featuring the rest of the James family on our annual ice skating trip. This is something we love to do every year and make a point of doing together, just the four of us - it has become a tradition and is generally accompanied by different novelty hats each year - in the photo above Rebecca is sporting a Christmas tree whilst Ben's has elf ears! In addition to the Memories and More cards, I used some coloured embossing paste with my Pattern Party Decorative Masks to add some texture and interest to my background, along with some diecut snowflakes courtesy of the Seasonal Layers Thinlits, a little glimmer paper and some glitter enamel dots to add some festive sparkle. I added stickers from the Color theory card pack for additional sentiments and accents.

Hidden Thoughts - My layout features space for journaling on the card above my photograph, but it also features a 'hidden journaling' card concealed beneath the photograph and revealed by pulling the tab on the left hand side attached to the card that says 'Details'. The circle tab punch is great for adding tabs to your journaling cards in this way.

I'll be back tomorrow with another project for this week's challenge over at The Paper Players; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Color Theory Card Pack	Whisper White 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock	Embossing Paste	Pattern Party Decorative Masks	Palette Knives
Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Ink Refill	Circle Tab Punch	Dapper Denim A4 Cardstock	Glitter Enamel Dots	Marina Mist A4 Cardstock
Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper	Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies	Silver 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Ribbon

At last - the much-anticipated launch of Project Life by Stampin' Up! is here! You may remember me telling you a while ago that Stampin' Up! had entered into partnership with Becky Higgins, creator of Project Life, to offer an exclusive range of Project Life scrapbooking and journaling products - you can refresh yourself on the content of my previous post here. I'm very excited about this new venture, as it totally suits me and my way of life - I take hundreds of photographs each year and really want to capture my thoughts along with them, but don't have the time to create beautiful and detailed 12" x 12" scrapbook layouts each time. Project Life was made for me - a busy mum of two - and you too!

This pocket-based system of scrapbooking with lots of pre-printed pocket cards and fun embellishments mean that it is really easy to put a page together in super quick time and the Project Life range is definitely leading the way as far as memory-keeping is concerned. As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I have been able to order these items in advance and whilst I haven't had the opportunity to put a page together yet, I have opened the box of cards and accessory kit already and take it from me, they are gorgeous - I can see lots of cardmaking possibilities with them too!

The new Stampin' Up! 2014 Annual Catalogue available here on 1st July will offer a complete Project Life product line with additional journaling card and accessory sets for every possible theme and life event you can imagine (weddings, babies, children, travel), but the range that has been pre-released today is as follows:

To get started

• Photo pocket pages - a pack of 12" x 12" pocket pages in a variety of layouts, but each with standard pocket sizes to enable easy construction. No cutting, scissors or glue required!
• Pre-printed designer journaling cards - can be used portrait or landscape and are double-sided; you can create 2 pages at the same time if you want to! They also come in a handy, rather sturdy box that can be used to keep your cards, journaling pens and accessories together and to hand - talk about scrapbooking 'to go'!Corner punch - you can leave your cards and photos square, or round them using the punch - it's entirely up to you
• Journalling pens - a pair of pens to capture your thoughts, notes and memories as you go - and lots more besides!

To really make your pages unique to you

• Accessory Pack - lots of stickers and co-ordinating embellishments to enable you to add a little something to your basic journaling layouts.
• Corner Punch - straight edges or rounded corners for your photos and journalling cards, or mix and match - it's up to you!
• Stamps - sets of photopolymer stamps that include days and dates and lots of useful shapes and icons to bring your pages to life.
• Framelits - a set of framelits to enable you to quickly and easily crop both photos, cards and labels in super-quick time.

The Project Life system works so well for young and old, novice or experienced scrapbooker and you can devote as much or as little time to it as you want and still be sure of great results: you can create quick and simple layouts or spend more time embellishing to your hearts content with the accessory packs or any other items from the Stampin' Up! range - because these ranges have been created exclusively for Stampin' Up!, you know they will fully co-ordinate with all your other Stampin' Up! crafting products - LOVE that!

I'm really looking forward to sharing my Project Life projects with you; if you can't wait to get started on your own, then click on the links below to purchase any of the pre-released items from my online store today. I've also included the links for a number of themed Project Life downloads that are available already in My Digital Studio. Watch this space for more details on my 'Introduction to Project Life' Classes that I will be running later in the year - you are not going to want to miss them!

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Project Life by Stampin' Up! Products Now Available to Purchase - just click on the photo to go to my online store:

Variety Pack 12" X 12" Project Life Photo Pocket Pages	Everyday Adventure Project Life Card Collection	Project Life Journaling Pens	Everyday Adventure Project Life Accessory Pack
Project Life Corner Punch	Project Life Point & Click Photopolymer Stamp Set	Project Life Day To Day Photopolymer Stamp Set	Cards & Labels Project Life Framelits Dies
Everyday Adventure Digital Project Life Cards - Digital Download	Happiness Is Project Life Cards - Digital Download	Little Moments Project Life Cards - Digital Download	Playground Project Life Cards - Digital Download
Project Life Day To Day Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download	Project Life Point & Click Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download	Project Life Remember This Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download

Good evening everyone! I hope you are all making the most of the long Easter weekend. I've been busy decorating and making new wall art for Ben's Lego-themed bedroom today. I also got to spend a couple of hours in my craft room, but unfortunately tidying and re-organising rather than creating today. So a quick post from me this evening to share a scrapbook page I made at our team training event last week.

The page was designed by the lovely Bekka Prideaux and is in the style of a Project Life page - i.e. divided into regular sized sections with space for journaling and photos, just like those designed by Becky Higgins, the creator of the hugely successful modern day scrapbooking phenomenon that is Project Life. Here is my page, finished with photos from the Dads, Lads & Lasses camping trip that was held at school last September:

This style of scrapbooking appeals to busy mums like me; I take lots of photographs and need a quick and easy method of presenting them and recording my memories, so I'm thrilled that Stampin' Up! has joined forces with Becky Higgins to produce our very own line of Project Life-themed accessories in the new Annual Catalogue, out in July - read all about it in my earlier post here. As a demonstrator, one of my perks is that I'll be able to get my hands on this and other new and exciting offerings ahead of customers and I can assure you I'll be first in line for this one!

If you'd like to be one of the first to get your hands on Stampin' Up's new range of Project Life accessories, now is a great time to join my team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators. If you're interested, please do get in touch - I would love to share with you the benefits that being a part of my Stampin' Up! team of demonstrators brings.

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Around The World	Hardwood	Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack	Perfect Pennants Clear-Mount Bundle	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad	Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin' Pad	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	3/4 Inch Circle Punch	Bitty Butterfly Punch
Hexagon Punch	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Magnetic Platform

We've had a lovely family day out today at one of our favourite places locally, Twycross Zoo - a lovely little zoo for monkeys (of the Junior and primate variety!) and whilst I haven't had time to take any photos in my studio today - I might share two creative projects tomorrow to make up for it, so watch this space - I do have some very exciting Stampin' Up! news to share with you today: Stampin' Up! are partnering with Becky Higgins, the creator of Project Life, to bring Project Life products in a range of exclusive and co-ordinating Stampin' Up! colours and designs.

If you're not familiar with Project Life, it's a really simple, affordable way to get your photographs into albums; it's a pocket-based scrapbooking system, that allows you to file your photos and journaling cards easily so that you spend more time making making memories and less time scrapbooking them - sounds good to me!

There will be a complete Project Life product line on offer in the new annual catalogue that launches here in the UK on 1st July, but in the meantime, here's a short introduction from Shelli Gardner, Stampin' Up! CEO and Becky Higgins herself to tell you more:

As a mother of young children who takes hundreds of photographs each year, most of which never go beyond my computer's hard drive, this is a system that really appeals to me and I'm excited that Stampin' Up! are getting involved with Project Life. 

 I'll be sure to bring you more news as it emerges; I'm sure this is just one of the new things that Stampin' Up! will be introducing with the new annual catalogue - exciting times!

One last thing - today is the last day for this week's weekly deals, so if there's anything on the list that you fancy, then get in quick and place your online order in my shop now. Full details of this week's offers can be found here. A new collection of weekly deals will be announced tomorrow!

Back tomorrow with a project (or two!) and details of the new weekly deals; until then, happy stampin'!

I hope you've all been enjoying Digital Scrapbooking Days this past week Daydream scrapbook kit:

Once again, check out today's post at MyDigitalStudio.net to see what the MDS designers have created using this kit. Lastly, if you missed any of this week's daily deals, you are in luck: for today only, each of the offers of the last 8 days is available again today! Just click on the images below to go to my online store to download your copies.

It's nearly the end of the Digital Downloads Offers week - we are at Day 7 already! Today's 50% off kit is the Autumn Traditions Kit:

Check out today's blog post at MyDigitalStudio.net to see how the designers have used this set to create Thanksgiving dinner invitations and a lovely autumnal scrapbook page. If this leaves you inspired enough to want to create your own items using this kit, just click on the image above and hop over to my online shop to download your copy today whilst there is 50% off.

Back later with today's creative post. Until then, happy (digital!) stampin'!

Today is officially Digital Scrapbooking Day and today there are two ways to celebrate! Today's 50% off set is the Hello There Kit:

This is a really versatile set. If you would like to see some great projects made with this set, then go to today's post at MyDigitalStudio.net to see what some of the designers have created with this kit - and just for today you can purchase it by clicking on the image above for just £3.48. And if that wasn't enough, there is a TOTALLY FREE digital download kit available to everyone for one day only! Here it is - the Moments Ago stamp brush set:

This set of handwritten phrases would be great for cards and scrapbook projects alike and I can think of lots of uses for them. If you haven't already, go and download your copy - only a couple more hours to go! Don't forget to check back tomorrow for another set with 50% off - tomorrow it's the turn of the All Time Favourite Photobook template.

That's my digital post for today; back soon with another fun project, but until then, happy stampin'!

Tomorrow 2nd November is Digital Scrapbooking Day over at Mydigitalstudio.net, but Stampin' Up! is celebrating not just tomorrow but for eight days, starting today!

Every day from today until the 8th November, Stampin' Up! is offering a digital download at 50% off - here's the full list if you would like to check them out:

• 11/1 Amped Up Ampersands Kit
• 11/2 Hello There Kit + FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set
• 11/3 All Time Fave Photobook Template
• 11/4 Modern Medley Overlays Kit
• 11/5 Be Brave Pocket Cards
• 11/6 Nobody’s Business Photobook Template
• 11/7 Autumn Traditions Kit
• 11/8 Afternoon Daydream Kit

I'll feature a link to each of the discounted sets via my blog every day, but remember - they are valid for one day only; don't delay in visiting my online store to purchase yours!

Here's the link to today's kit set, the 'Amped Up Ampersands' kit - so useful for both cards and scrapbooking: 

If you'd like to see some great projects made using this set, hop on over to mydigitalstudio.net to see what the designers there have been creating. Pop back tomorrow when there will be a FREE download to celebrate Digital Scrapbooking Day, in addition to another 50% off deal.

Until then, happy stampin!