Today I've been at a Stampin' Up! UK regional training event in Telford. These events are both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time! It's a great opportunity to get together with team members, other SU! demos and the Stampin' Up! UK and European Home Office teams, to see lots of new and exciting product and swap work with others as a means of creative inspiration. I love creating swaps for this type of event although they can be time-consuming and always seem to create something rather too elaborate for mass production, hence no post yesterday and a late one today. I made a card for this week's challenges over at The Paper Craft Crew and Colour Me! and then based my swap on this as it features a stamp that is new to us here in the UK so is an annual catalogue 'sneak peek', although if you are a USA reader this set will be familiar to you as it has been available as a photopolymer set for some time: Endless Birthday Wishes.

So here is my original challenge card:  

I stamped the sprinkles stamp on my base of Melon Mambo and used the challenge colours to create my own custom happy birthday DSP which I used for the right hand panel - thank heavens for photopolymer stamps, they made lining up a doddle! I then stamped the cake in Memento Black on Whisper White and coloured with my retired Blendabilities, before mounting on a starburst cut with the retiring Starburst framelits - still available and a bargain at only £11.48 for the set! I added a few sequins for sparkle and to tie in my gold button, and then added a strip with a few DSP banners and the second part of my sentiment (the stamp has these words side by side, so I stamped it in two separate goes, so that the words sat on top of each other and fitted my banner better). 

I liked this card so much I created a (only slightly!) simpler version as my swap for the Stampin' Up! regional event. Here it is in the same colours:

The background and DSP panel was the same, however to save on colouring I stamped the cake in a single colour and mounted on a combination of a 2" circle, 2 3/8" scallped circle and 2 1/2" circle instead and I left off the button and twine. I also created it in three other colour combinations, but totally forgot to take photos of the whole pile when finished! I do however have this 'work in progress' shot of the chaos on my office desk last week:

Well, organised chaos! Here are the other colour combinations: Tangerine Tango and Tempting Turquoise (top left), Calypso Coral and Bermuda Bay (bottom left) and Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant (bottom right).

Thanks to everyone who swapped with me - I have some lovely samples that I'm looking forward to sharing with my customers. Also, before I go here's another quick photo of some of my downline and team members who I was lucky enough to spend the day with:

Even the camera-shy Samantha doesn't look to cross to have been snapped in this one :-) Love you ladies!

I'm looking forward to sharing lots more of the new and fun things that we got to see and create with at our training in the coming weeks; only a couple more weeks until the new 2015 Stampin' Up! annual catalogue launches!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used (challenge card):

Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad	Card Stock A4 Pear Pizzazz	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Starburst Framelits Dies	Old Olive Baker's Twine
Gold Sequin Trim	Gold Basic Metal Buttons	Banner Punch

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used (swap card):

Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad	Card Stock A4 Pear Pizzazz	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Banner Punch	2-3/8 Inch Scallop Circle Punch	2" Circle Punch	2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced. 

As always, 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 Hostess Code for May FZZMG3JY 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:

1" Square Punch	2014-2016 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch	Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Cards & Labels Project Life Framelits Dies	Fun Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Gold Basic Metal Buttons	Vanilla Coaster Board

Lots of great bargains again this week: the 2 1/2" circle punch is one of my most used punches, along with some buttons and embossing folders and even something for the Project Life fans amongst us with the Cards and Labels Framelits - very useful.

Back shortly with today's creative post; until then, happy shopping!

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced. 

As always, 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 Hostess Code for May FZZMG3JY 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:

Cherry Cobbler 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon	Deco Labels Collection Framelits Dies	Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Fuse Fast Adhesive
Gift Card Envelope & Trims Thinlits Dies	Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Cotton Ribbon	Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies	Zig Zag Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Lots more great products on offer this week, especially the framelits - I'm especially fond of the Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies, which can be used all year round and not just for Christmas. There is some new co-ordinating product for these in the new annual catalogue, so this would be a great time to snap these up at the offer price of £15.71.

Back shortly with today's creative post; until then, happy shopping!

Finally, they are here! There were a few problems with the Stampin' Up! website earlier today, but now we have a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced. 

As always, 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 Hostess Code for April DBJFM4DG or next week's one for May (check the 'shop online' box on the right) 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:

Gold 5/8" Satin Ribbon	Gold Baker's Twine	Regals Designer Buttons	Silver 1/8" Ribbon
Silver Baker's Twine	Tiny Triangles Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Very Vintage Designer Buttons	Whisper White 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon

Lots of accessories on offer this week - buttons and ribbons galore! 

Back tomorrow with another card for this week's new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary; until then, happy shopping!

It's Wednesday (still just!) so that means a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced. 

As always, 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 Hostess Code for April DBJFM4DG 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:

Build A Bouquet Photopolymer Stamp Set	Flower Medallion Punch	Handpicked Framelits Dies	Ornate Tag Topper Punch
Stylish Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Sweet Dreams Designer Buttons	Sweet Dreams Designer Series Paper	Vine Street Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

The retiring lists are here! Discover what stamps and accessories, including the 2013-15 In Colours, are retiring at the beginning of June this year. Retiring products are only available WHILE STOCKS LAST, so if you've still items on your wish list from this year's annual or spring-summer seasonal catalogues, you need to check the retiring lists and if they're on it put an order in pronto!

Please click on the links below to see the complete lists:

Retiring Stamps & Accessories - available April 21-June 2 (while stocks last)

My Digital Studio - 30 % off available April 21-June 2

Don't forget - as mentioned previously, the annual catalogue transition takes place on the earlier date of 2nd June, not 30th June as previously communicated. This means that you have just over 5 weeks left to shop from the current catalogue. Some of the items on these lists will sell out quickly and once they're gone, they're gone. So what are you waiting for? Don't delay, shop today! Click here to go straight to my online store - remember to include this month's hostess code DBJFM4DG to receive a special thank you from me. if you live in or around Northampton, I will be putting in an order this evening so if you would like to save on postage and collect your order on delivery, please email me on [email protected] or phone me with your order by 6pm today.

I have a class this morning so will be back later with today's creative post; until then, happy shopping!

It's Wednesday so that means a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced. 

As always, 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 Hostess Code for April DBJFM4DG 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:

Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Artisan Embellishment Kit	Backgrounds Rule Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Basic Metal Buttons	Be The Star Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Birthday Bash Designer Washi Sheets	Bright & Beautiful Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Cannery Set Framelits Dies	Early Espresso 1/4" Cotton Ribbon	From The Garden Photopolymer Stamp Set
Gold Basic Metal Buttons	Silver 5/8" Satin Ribbon	Something Borrowed Embellishments	Zig Zag Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Another bumper week of offers this week, with lots to tempt you and some great bargains to be had.

Right, back soon with a creative post - until then, happy shopping!

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players and this week we have a colour challenge for you and I am the hostess! Stampin' Up!'s 2013-15 In Colours will soon retire on the 2nd June, to make way for five new In-Colours in the new annual catalogue. Whilst we still have them though, I thought this week we would showcase three of my personal favourites:

I'd like to take this opportunity to give a big shout-out to the fabulous Nance Leedy, who makes all of our challenge badges and does so much to ensure our weekly challenges run smoothly - Nance, you rock! - didn't she do a great job on my challenge badge this week? I used the sketch layout over at The Challenge for the layout of my card this week, and decided to go floral with my chosen colours - here's my card:

I have had the 'Hey There Buds' stamp set for edges and been dying to ink it up, so decided that today was the day! I used Coastal Cabana for my card base, then created a split mat panel of Strawberry Slush and Coastal Cabana, which I embossed with the large polka dot embossing folder. I matted my central panel of Whisper White on Coastal Cabana too (having rounded the corners of both pieces with my Project Life corner rounder), then on my piece of white I stamped the whole image in Pistachio Pudding, with the exception of the sentiment which I inked up separately with my Coastal Cabana Stampin' Write marker. I then stamped the whole image again on scrap cardstock in Strawberry Slush and fussy cut each of the blooms and stuck these onto the focal panel. I also stamped the central section of the open flower on a scrap of white in Coastal Cabana, and fussy cut around the spiky white section before adhering to the main image. I then added a blob of Crystal Effects to the blue flower centre for some extra dimension. I added a piece of Coastal Cabana ribbon (from the Sale-A-Bration Best Year Ever accessory set) and a white button tied with some split Strawberry Slush thick baker's twine to finish, before popping this panel onto the base using dimensionals.

So a little fussy cutting required, but it enabled me to get a more solid image than selectively colouring the image using markers and I think it was worth it. So before you reach for your paper and inks, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

I hope you like today's project - I'm so looking forward to see what you create with my chosen colour palette - I look forward to seeing your cards and projects in our gallery this week.

I'm off on an all day team training day today, which promises to be fun. I then have two days of classes to look forward to. The James juniors are back to school on Tuesday after the Easter holiday and whilst I will be sorry to see them go, it should at least mean that normal blogging will resume shortly thereafter. This week the call of the warmer weather here in the UK was simply too much and we spent our week outdoors; with the exception of making the samples for next week's classes, my ink pads have remained firmly shut!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Hey There Buds Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Project Life Corner Punch	Strawberry Slush Thick Baker's Twine
Neutrals Designer Buttons	2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Pistachio Pudding Classic Stampin' Pad	Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad	Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana
Card Stock A4 Pistachio Pudding	Card Stock A4 Strawberry Slush	Whisper White A4 Card Stock

It's Wednesday so that means a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced. 

As always, 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 Hostess Code for April DBJFM4DG 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:

1" Square Punch	1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon	Banner Punch	Banners Framelits Dies
Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Brights Designer Buttons	Circle card Thinlits Die	Hexagon Hive Thinlits Die
Hexagon Punch	Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Series Paper	Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons

So much to choose from - handy punches, framelits and the magnetic platform again. I think the Sunshine & Sprinkles designer series paper should actual be on the clearance rack rather than weekly deals as it is already retired, but for £2.99 a pack who cares where it's posted, right? :-)  

Right, first one to the shop gets the bargains! Happy shopping!

What a great start to a Wednesday - the Clearance Rack has been updated and there are now lots of new items available, some with as much as 80% off. As is always the case, popular items will sell out quickly, so don't spend too long deliberating - get in there quick! There are some great paper bargains, including the lovely kraft wrapping paper (I'll definitely be stocking up on that for next Christmas!) as well as DSP and the Trim The Tree DSP stack. My favourite Autumn Wooden elements embellishments are in there too - I could go on, but the best thing you can do is hop on over and take a look.

Click here to go the clearance rack in my online store and grab a bargain whilst stocks last! You might also want to check out this week's round of new weekly deals too and pop one or two of those in your basket - you can find them here. Don't forget to include the current hostess code DBJFM4DG make sure that 'allow your demonstrator to contact you' is ticked in order that you receive your special 'thank you' in the post from me. 

Race you to the shop - first one there gets the bargains! Happy shopping!