Good morning everyone! Today I'm sharing a card for this week's sketch over at Pals Paper Arts - I can't resist a good sketch! 

I decided to use the Rose Garden Thinlits for the focal point on my card today, but having used lots of pink on my cards lately I decided to veer away from Valentines and make a card for one of my January birthdays whilst trying something a little different - take a look:

I lightly sponged a piece of the rose-patterned Timeless Elegance designer series paper in So Saffron and Daffodil Delight, then in addition to my panel, I took one rose and ran it through the Big Shot with my Rose Garden Thinlits Die and paper-pieced the negative pieces into an outline die cut in Basic Black, having first adhered this to a piece of cardstock to hold everything in place. I then cut the outline out by hand. I stamped my birthday sentiment from the accompanying Rose Wonder set onto Very Vanilla to complete my card. I had originally intended to make a sympathy card, but decided that the paper made this card a little too 'flowery' for the intended male recipient, so instead switched to birthday at the last minute. I think the paper-pieced rose works quite well - whilst the petals don't line up, I think it adds an interesting depth and illusion of texture to this otherwise post-friendly card. What do you think? One thing is for sure, this framelit set is gorgeous and I can see me using it lots more this season for all kinds of cards!

That's all from me today; I'm off to work through more annual accounts (my least favourite job!) and do more preparation for my open house event later this week. Back tomorrow with Wednesday Weekly Deals and a new project. until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies Used:

Rose Wonder Photopolymer Bundle	Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper	Basic Black A4 Cardstock	Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock	Sponge Daubers
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad	So Saffron A4 Cardstock	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

It's Monday and I'm sharing a card for this week's challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches featuring one of the lovely designer series papers in the 'Wildflower Fields' pack, available for free during Sale-A-Bration with a £45 order. Here's the FMS sketch this week:

This is another of these sketches that is great to showcase designer series paper - here's my rather monochromatic Calypso Coral card:

I love all of the patterns in the Wildflower Fields DSP pack and this one is no exception. I matted my card with Basic Black and Whisper White as these are the only neutrals used with the lovely Calypso Coral on this patterned paper and I love the way the dandelion seeds have been highlighted with the white behind. I decided to add a similar effect to my 'Happy Birthday' sentiment, which I stamped in Memento Black and then went over the stamped shadow loosely with my white gel pen to highlight it. This sentiment is also from one of the Sale-A-Bration sets, 'Perfect Pairings', also available free with a £45 order. 

To finish, I added a little black ribbon bow made from some retired ribbon in my scrap bow; I turned it on its side as it wouldn't fit crossways without interfering with the sentiment. Rather jaunty, but I I think I like it!

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Wildflower Fields Designer Series Paper	Perfect Pairings Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Calypso Coral A4 Cardstock	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	White Signo Uni-Ball Gel Pen
Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Basic Black A4 Cardstock

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! This week it is the turn of my sweet friend Claire to host and she has a great colour palette for you to play along with:

I love this bold and bright colour palette and actually created a couple of cards with it. One is very 'me' so I saved that for another day; today's card uses this week's sketch over at Mojo Monday and has a rather different feel to it - I think it's the marbled paper! - take a look:

I paired a piece of the Tempting Turquoise Perfectly Artistic marbled patterned paper with some retired heart-patterned DSP, as a backdrop for my colourful little caravan from 'You're Sublime', which I coloured with my inks and an aquapainter (the body is paper-pieced with a piece of the marbled paper on the reverse). A punched heart, some ribbon, sequins and another pink heart topped with an epoxy sticker for added dimension finish my card. 

I love the rather subtle colouring that the marbled paper adds; I am looking forward to experimenting with this paper further. It's available free with a £45 spend until £15th February as one of the Sale-A-Bration 'limited time' offers, so if it's on your list it's one to get sooner rather than later. As for that little caravan - how cute! This card is destined for Gail, one of my team, who is often holidaying to interesting destinations in her caravan. She is about to become an official warden for The Caravan Club so this image is so appropriate and the sentiment perfect.

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

I look forward to seeing what you create with this week's colours. We have a day of sport today, with basketball and hockey in store as we fully get back into the new season. I'm hoping to squeeze in a little craft time too.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

You're Sublime Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock	Perfectly Artistic Designer Series Paper	Melon Mambo A4 Cardstock	Real Red A4 Cardstock
Metallics Sequin Assortment	Many Marvelous Markers	Sweetheart Punch	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack	Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers
Aqua Painters

The days have been running away from me this week, with no-where near enough crafting or blogging time! The nice thing about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator though is that as my own boss I can work my hours around my family commitments and flex my diary accordingly - it really is the best job!

So a quick share from me today with the cards I sent out last week to my customers with their new Spring-Summer seasonal catalogues and Sale-A-Bration brochures:

I used the 'Hello' stamp from the stamp set of the same name in the Sale-A-Bration catalogue, stamped in Blackberry Bliss on Whisper White and cut out with my oval framelits, along with a banner and a variety of patterns of Wildflower Fields Designer Series Paper for my card. Here's a view of a few of the others too:

All my customers have now have received their catalogues; if you are reading this and you would like your own copy and you don't already have a demonstrator, then get in touch and I will pop one in the post to you. 

Back tomorrow with a new challenge over at The Paper Players; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Hello Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Wildflower Fields Designer Series Paper	Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad	Hello Honey A4 Cardstock
Lost Lagoon A4 Cardstock	Old Olive A4 Cardstock	Calypso Coral A4 Cardstock	Banner Triple Punch	Ovals Collection Framelits Dies
Big Shot	Whisper White A4 Cardstock

Today it's time for a new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary and this week we have a great colour combination for you:

My card this week is all about flowers - and Sale-A-Bration flowers at that! Take a look:

I used one of the Sale-A-Bration sets, 'What I Love', for my card today. This is a triple-time stamp set featuring this blousy large layered flower that I stamped in Blackberry Bliss, leaves stamped in Pear Pizzazz, a small flower stamped on my card with Bermuda Bay and this wonderful sentiment that I chose to highlight on my split layered panels. I think this adds a nice touch of detail to an otherwise simple one layered card.

This is a set with lots of design possibilities and there is much to love about it; as in my blog post title today though, the thing I love most would have to be the fact that you can get this set for FREE! Yes, it is one of the Sale-A-Bration products that you can choose to receive free with every £45 spend. Free product? Yes please! Just in case you missed my earlier blog post, you can get the full low down on all of the benefits of Sale-A-Bration here.

Do visit the other Design Team members to see what they did with this week's colours; there's lots of inspiration over on their blogs too!

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

I can't quite believe that it's Wednesday already - this week is just zipping by! I've had two days of classes and a great start to Sale-A-Bration. So a quick post from me today sharing another of the cards from my technique card this week using the 'Awesomely Artistic' stamp set:

This time with a Mint Macaron base, a little Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper and a double flagged banner across the centre to draw the eye to the collage panel and trio of dragonflies and add interest to the overall design. More Wink of Stella on the dragonfly wings (clear this time) and a coloured enamel dot to highlight the sentiment completes my card. Oh and a co-ordinated envelope too!

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush	Awesomely Artistic Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Metallics Sequin Assortment	Big Shot	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad	Sahara Sand A4 Cardstock	Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock	Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad	Mint Macaron A4 Cardstock
White Perfect Accents	Banner Triple Punch

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! These offers are valid for one week only. As always, a new collection of deals will be announced next Wednesday.

If you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the new Hostess Code for January W2ZHBH2D if your order is under £150 and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

2015-2017 In Color Blossom Accents

Eclectic Paper-Piercing Pack

Magnetic Platform

Tiny Triangles Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Some goodies in there, especially the magnetic platform if you don't already have one.

Back later with today's creative project; until then, happy shopping!

A two-post day today! This year's Sale-A-Bration promotion and the launch of the Stampin' Up! 2016 Spring-Summer catalogue is today and you can get the full scoop here; for today's creative post I am sharing a card that we are making in my technique class this month. Our class is using the 'Awesomely Artistic' stamp set and looking at collage techniques. This is one of the cards we made and it features one of my favourite new products from the new catalogue for adding a touch of sparkle to your projects - take a look:

The glimmer on the dragonfly's wings is tricky to capture on a photograph, but I can assure you in real life they have a beautiful golden shimmer! The Wink of Stella Glitter brushes are the perfect tool to add sparkle and shine to your projects. There are two different pens on page 24 of the new Spring-Summer catalogue and we used the gold one on this card. We used the clear brush on our other two cards; I'll share these another day. 

My February technique classes will feature the beautiful Bloomin' Hearts Thinlits Die and the co-ordinating Bloomin' Love stamp set. If you live in or around Northampton and you would like to join me for crafting enjoyment with like-minded individuals, please do get in touch for more details. We had a new lady join us today for the first time so if you're reading this, a big hello to you Fran - I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we enjoyed your company and look forward to seeing you again soon.

I have another full day of classes today; I'l be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Gold Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush	Awesomely Artistic Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Metallics Sequin Assortment	Big Shot	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad	Sahara Sand A4 Cardstock	White Stampin' Chalk Marker	Expressions Natural Elements	Sahara Sand 7/8" (2.2 Cm) Lace Trim
Metallic Foil Doilies	Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits Dies	1" Circle Punch

It's time to shake off the January blues, today is THE day - yes, the highlight of the Stampin' Up! calendar, Sale-A-Bration is here! No more sneak peeks - the catalogue is available, the shop is live and from now until 31st March the benefits are yours for the taking. You can click on the icon above or the catalogue on the right hand side of my blog page to access the Sale-A-Bration leaflet to download a copy or go directly to my online shop to place an order - we are LIVE!

So what is Sale-A-Bration? For anyone who hasn't come across it before, it's Stampin' Up!'s annual promotion that is loaded with offers whether you shop, party or join:

Earn a free Sale-A-Bration product for every £45 you spend between 5 January and 31 March. It's the perfect time to purchase those products you've had on your wish list and earn more products for free! 

Pages 4–15 of the Sale-A-Bration brochure show products available throughout the entire Sale-A-Bration sales period (5 January–31 March 2016); Pages 16–19 show limited-time products available only until 15 February, after which another batch of limited-time products will arrive on 16 February!

Earn an additional £20 in hostess credits when you host a party and have party sales of £200 or more (this also applies to individual orders). So for party sales of £200, that makes a whopping £40 of Stampin' Rewards - more freebies! What's more, you can even apply your Stampin' Rewards to a Starter Kit and become a demonstrator yourself - I would love to welcome you to my team!

It’s the best time of year to join Stampin’ Up! During Sale-A-Bration, you can become a demonstrator for just £99 and choose £30 more of FREE products for your Starter Kit. Plus, the kit ships for free! There is plenty of choice and flexibility, whether you want to be a hobby demonstrator and just use your discount to enable you to purchase craft supplies more cheaply, or alternatively would like to build a flourishing direct sales business and sell supplies to others - it's entirely up to you.

If you would like to host a party, real or virtual, please do get in touch; my diary is filling up fast and I would love to share these great benefits with you. If you've ever thought about becoming an SU! demonstrator, now is a great time to do so - I would love to have a no-obligation chat with you about joining my team and the benefits.

As if that wasn't enough, today also sees the launch of the new Spring-Summer catalogue - full of gorgeous new products:

Just click on the image above or in the sidebar on the right to browse the catalogue online, or contact me on 07773 421446 if you would like a paper copy posted out to you and you don't already have a demonstrator. If you are as excited as me and just can't wait, here's the link to my online store - everything is available to purchase from today!

Thanks so much for popping by today - it's always nice to share good news! Check out today's creative post to see a card made featuring a lovely new catalogue product that you are going to be seeing a lot of - click here for more details!

Happy Monday everyone! I've had the first of my classes this year this morning (I'll share one of those cards with you tomorrow) but for today I have my last sneak peek for you, this time featuring some of the gorgeous new Birthday Bouquet designer series paper from the forthcoming Spring-Summer Stampin' Up! catalogue. This set has some beautiful patterns, featuring everything from confetti to ice creams, balloons to spots and stripes; my card today highlights one of the two flower patterns in the set:

I used some simple layers in Old Olive and Soft Sky to co-ordinate with the designer paper and stamped a sentiment from the co-ordinating 'Birthday Blooms' stamp set on a wide cross panel of Blushing Bride. I finished with a small Itty Bitty Accents punched flower and that's my card - done! I did add a little stamping on the inside but this card really was so quick I made two at the same time as it really didn't take twice as long. I love it when the paper does all the hard work for you!

So only one more sleep to go then it's here - the new 2016 Stampin' Up! Spring-Summer catalogue and the start of this year's Sale-A-Bration promotion! The catalogues have all been mailed to my online customers and my local customers will receive theirs either at their classes this week or at my open house next week on Thursday 14th January 10am-2pm. If you live in or around Northampton and would like to attend, please get in touch for details.

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Available 5th January:

140557 Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper

140658 Birthday Blooms Stamp Set (clear mount)

Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack	Soft Sky A4 Cardstock	Blushing Bride A4 Cardstock	Old Olive A4 Cardstock	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad
Neutrals Candy Dots