Today I'm sharing a couple of cards I made using the first sketch of the year over at Fab Friday:

It's definitely a keeper, and is a sketch with lots of possibilities - I would definitely suggest you check out the DT cards and those in this week's gallery, as there are some great crafty creations. I considered a few options, but ended up going super simple and making a couple of cards to showcase some of my favourite FREE Sale-A-Bration papers - take a look:

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

I just love the colours and bold floral patterns of the Paper Blooms paper, so decided to make a couple of cards with two of the patterns. A simple Night of Navy offset mat, sentiment in a Stitched Rectangle and added a loop of denim ribbon to each:

Here's the second one that I made where I flipped the colours:

And a shot of both cards together:

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your evening and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

PAPER BLOOMS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£0.00)	HYDRANGEA HAVEN PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (£24.00)	RECTANGLE STITCHED DIES (£33.00)	NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	NIGHT OF NAVY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)
PETAL PINK A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	SEASIDE SPRAY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	3/8" (1 CM) DENIM RIBBON (£6.50)

Today I have a couple of cards to share, the first one is this one that I made using Linda's fabulous sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and the Color Throwdown colour palette: 

Linda's sketch is a keeper so I just had to play along and those bright colours were perfect for lifting my spirits as I looked out at yet another grey sky on Saturday morning. I thought I would break out one of my new Sale-A-Bration free sets for some super simple stamping - take a look:

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

Today's card is so easy to recreate: the 'A Touch of Ink' stamp set, yours FREE with a Stampin' Up! purchase of £90 or more during Sale-A-Bration, is a two-step stamp set that contains outlines and infills and lots of great sentiments. I stamped the leaves in Granny Apple Green directly onto my stitched rectangle of basic white cardstock and added some flower heads in Melon Mambo, that I had stamped onto a scrap piece and roughly cut by hand (the outline and infills don't line up directly so are great for beginners or quick cards - no need to be super-accurate!), giving them a bit of a crumple before adding them to my card. I finished the centres of these with a few basic pearls, then added a fussy cut hummingbird, stamped in all three challenge colours (I inked my stamp up using a sponge dauber) and popped this up on dimensionals, adding a liberal brushing of clear Wink of Stella for some subtle sparkle. And that's it - stamps, ink and paper (save the stitched rectangle detail, which you could easily forgo). #SimpleStamping - there's nothing to it! 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

I love this colour combo and used my retired Blueberry Bushel ink and cardstock as my blue as I wanted something vibrant (and hence why it isn't listed below). Did you know today is know as 'Blue Monday', unofficially the most depressing day of the year when we are all suffering our post-Christmas blues? In the current lockdown here in the UK there is certainly lots to make us feel fed up; I am still trying to look on the bright side though and will be sending this card to someone today to let them know I am thinking of them and hopefully brighten their day too!

Enjoy your day; I have lots on but will be back later as I have another card to share. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

A TOUCH OF INK PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£0.00)	RECTANGLE STITCHED DIES (£33.00)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£5.50)	MELON MAMBO A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	MELON MAMBO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)
GRANNY APPLE GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.00)	PEARL BASIC JEWELS (£4.75)	WINK OF STELLA GLITTER BRUSH (£7.50)

Apologies everyone - this post was scheduled to go live yesterday but didn't publish (operator error, I'm afraid!) so here it is today!

We may be in a tier 5 national lockdown here in the UK, but that does mean at least lots of time for crafting! So what better time to announce that the first of this year's Sale-A-Bration 2021 promotions is here! Yes, this year times are a-changing and instead of just one 3 month long Sale-A-Bration at the start of the year, there will instead be two, slightly shorter promotions. The second one will be in July to coincide with the launch of the new annual catalogue, but the first one is happening now and runs from 5th January until 28th February. You can click on the catalogue on the right hand side of my blog page or below to access the Sale-A-Bration leaflet to download a copy or click on the icon above or on the right to go directly to my online shopto place an order - we are LIVE!

So how does Sale-A-Bration work? For anyone who hasn't come across it before, it's Stampin' Up!'s annual promotion that is loaded with offers whether you shop, join or host. You can earn a free Sale-A-Bration product for every £45 you spend between 5 January and 28 February. There is also the opportunity to earn even bigger rewards with a £90 purchase. It's the perfect time to purchase those products you've had on your wish list and earn more products for free! 

It’s also one of the best times of the year to join Stampin’ Up! There is a fabulous joining option during this year's Sale-A-Bration promotion: as usual, you can become a demonstrator for just £99 and choose £130 of FREE products for your Starter Kit. In addition to an extra £31 worth of product in your starter kit, exclusive to Sale-A-Bration, you will also receive a free stack of our Regals, Subtles, Neutrals, Brights, and 2020—2022 In Color Designer Series Paper along with your Starter Kit! There couldn’t be a better time to join the Stampin’ Up! family. Plus, the whole 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. 

Hosting is also even more rewarding during Sale-A-Bration. When you host a party and reach a certain amount in sales (see the Stampin’ Rewards chart in the Sale-A-Bration brochure for more information), you can earn a free stamp set! Even if you reaches the qualifying amount on your own outside of a party, you can earn the same free stamp set too, both in person and when shopping in my online store. 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!

If you would like to host a virtual party, please do get in touch. Equally 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 January-June 2021 mini 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; paper copies have been sent to my regular customers. 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!

If you would like more information on any of the above, please don't hesitate to get in touch! 

Thanks so much for popping by - it's always nice to share good news! Back soon with lots of projects showcasing products from the new catalogue. Until then, happy shopping!

As promised - my second post of the day! I've news of a special sale that is happening from 10.50pm tonight for 24 hours only! During the Merry and Bright Online Extravaganza nearly all 2020–2021 Annual Catalogue items are eligible for the 10% discount! There are a few exceptions which I've detailed for you below:

Otherwise, EVERYTHING ELSE IS 10% OFF for 24 hours only - including bundles and the latest 'Joy To The World' Paper Pumpkin kit! If you are placing your order via my online store, please remember to add this month's Reward Code 469YSGD2 to receive a thank you from me. Alternatively, if you are local get in touch and I will add the orders together to save on postage. 

This is also a good opportunity to remind you of the details of the other out-of-catalogue promotions that are currently running, which include the 'Joy To The World' Paper Pumpkin kit I mentioned above. I held a craft-along session using this kit this morning which is great for some easy Christmas cards (the kit itself has materials to make 8 cards with envelopes) and is also great for creating alternative ideas for both the festive season and beyond with the included stamp set. Here's a reminder of the details: 

And here's a link to the Stampin' Up! video with more details:

We also have the early release of the Quite Curvy bundle, which will debut in the upcoming Spring mini catalogue, along with the co-ordinating Curvy Christmas stamp set and Classic Christmas Designer Series Paper, which are exclusive to the Curvy Celebrations promotion and will not be available when the catalogue goes live on 4th January. More details below:

Right that's all from me - only one thing left to do - get making those lists to Santa ASAP! Back tomorrow with a creative project; until then, happy shopping!

Whilst I've mentioned it over on my Facebook Page earlier this month and will be posting lots more ideas this week, it occurs to me that I didn't write a blog post to share with you the details of this month's designer series paper promotion so with still another week to go before it ends, here are the details in case you've missed them!

We all love gorgeous Designer Series Paper, me especially, and during the month of October you can enjoy a 15% discount on select papers from our current catalogues. Now is a great time to stock up and save on some of our most popular paper designs! The papers included in the promotion are detailed below:

If you would like to see the ways in which I've used some of the papers in the promotion, simply type the name of the paper in to the search bar on the right and you will see lots of project inspiration. I will also be sharing additional samples over on my Facebook page this week so do give me a like and follow to see more great ideas.

There is no limit as to how much paper you are able to purchase, and the discounted price is also applies where paper is purchased in a starter kit or with Stampin' Rewards. So if you need more paper to get cracking on those Christmas projects, now is the perfect time to stock up! The offer ends on 31st October at 10.50pm BST for online orders, so choose your papers and get shopping - just click on the links below to head on over the online store! 

Buy your discounted papers in the online store by clicking on the links below - don't forget to include this month's hostess code:

ARTISTRY BLOOMS DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	'TIS THE SEASON 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	FOREVER GREENERY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	POINSETTIA PLACE DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	TRIMMING THE TOWN DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)
PLAID TIDINGS 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	TOILE TIDINGS DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	PEONY GARDEN DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	WHALE OF A TIME DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	HEARTWARMING HUGS DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)
MAGIC IN THIS NIGHT DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	SNOWFLAKE SPLENDOR DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	IN GOOD TASTE DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£17.00)	PLAYING WITH PATTERNS 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)	PLAYFUL PETS DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£9.14)

Are you ready? The biggest stamp sale of the year is coming up on 23 September - that's tomorrow! It’ll only last for 24 hours, so you will need to act fast to grab the goods. It actually starts at 11pm this evening here in the UK. 

For 24 hours from 22 September at 11:00 p.m. to September 23 10:59 p.m. (UK) online, a select number of cling and photopolymer stamp sets from the 2020–2021 Annual Catalogue will be available for purchase at a 15% discount.

Here's a list of all of the stamp sets included in the sale:

If like me, you're more of a visual person, then you may find the following pictoral summary more useful so that you can see 'at a glance' the stamp sets that are included:

If you see something you like, you can either place an order through me, or you can shop directly through my online store. My shop will have a category entitled “Stamp Sale” that displays every stamp set on sale to ensure a quick and easy shopping experience.

The discount applies to individual stamp sets (not bundles) and can also be used in conjunction with a starter kit. Place your order here through my online store or by clicking on the shopping bag icon in the menu on the right hand side - don't forget to include the current hostess code TSEGA7FU for an extra thank you from me. 

I'll be back with more creative projects later in the week but in the meantime this is a 24 hour event only so you have to act fast to benefit from 15% off these amazing sets, so time to go shopping - don't miss out! 

The wait is over but the day has finally arrived! The new Autumn-Winter Seasonal Catalogue is here - you can download an electronic copy by clicking on the image below:

Physical catalogues have gone out in the post to my existing customers and anyone else who requested a copy; there will of course be a permanent link to the catalogue in the box on the right side of my blog page until 3rd January 2021 when the sales period ends. I've already shared a few sneak peeks and there is so much more to come! For today, put your feet up and browse the new catalogue in all its glory.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or queries. Don't forget to use this month's current hostess code CVAQTGE2 if you are placing an order online to receive an extra thank you from me.

Remember too to add any Bonus Day codes that you earned last month - you have until 31st August to spend your £4.50 coupons. This is where you need to add them to your online order:

Alternatively, if you are placing your order with me by phone, please have them to hand so that I can take the details or forward me the email notification..

Back soon with more creative inspiration for you. Until then, happy browsing and get writing that wish list! 

Good morning everyone! I am playing catch up slightly due to a busy week. I hope you are enjoying your weekends and if you're in the UK are enjoying the return of the sunshine, even if it's windy enough to lose your hat! 

I just wanted to let you know that BONUS DAYS ARE BACK! Do you remember this promotion from last year? It was so successful, Stampin' Up! have decided to repeat it this year. 

For every £45.00 you spend between 1 July and 3 August (before delivery), you’ll get a £4.50 Bonus Days coupon that you can use between 4 and 31 August. Our new annual catalogue has been out for a month now, so I'm sure you will still have long wish lists; this is a great opportunity to shop from it and make savings when you shop again in August with your coupons! 

There are some details in terms of small print that you need to take note of, as follows: 

• Promotion period: 1 July –3 August 2020
• Redemption period: 4–31 August 2020
• An email address is required to participate in this promotion; Bonus Days coupon codes can only be delivered via email.
• If a participant earns multiple codes from a single order, they will receive one e-mail with multiple codes. If they earn multiple codes from multiple orders, they will receive separate e-mails for each code earned.
• It is strongly recommended that you both save emails containing their Bonus Days coupon codes AND write down the coupon codes in a safe place. Codes cannot be resent if the email is lost, and lost codes cannot be recovered.
• Bonus Days coupon codes can be redeemed for any product, excluding Starter Kits.
• There is no limit to the number of coupons you can receive per order or throughout the duration of the promotion.
• There is no limit on the number of coupons you can use on an order during redemption.

With redemption of any coupons earned coinciding with the launch of the new Autumn Winter catalogue too, you will have the perfect excuse to put them to good use! In the meantime, happy shopping!

The wait is over - it's June 3rd and the new 2020-21 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue is here! I will be updating my links on the right hand side of my blog and you will find a permanent link to the new catalogue there, but for today you need look no further than the picture below which will take you straight to the new catalogue:

The new catalogue is fantastic, with so many great new products to choose from. I've sent paper copies to everyone who has shopped with me in the last 12 months; a digital copy of the new catalogue can be accessed via the image above and it will be permanently linked via my blog on the right hand side if you don’t have a paper copy and wish to browse. If you have your paper copy and just want to go straight to the shop to place your order, click here - ordering systems have now fully transitioned from the old stock items to the new so you are good to go! Also, remember to add the current hostess code for June NSKDEXBA if your order is less than £150 and ensure your preferences are set to 'contactable' to receive a thank you in the post from me.

Here's a quick video that Stampin' Up! have produced given a quick catalogue walk through of some of the highlights to wet your appetite:

 There are a number of items that are already on backorder and the main things that feature in the new catalogue that are not available on launch are the new die cutting machines - I will let you know as soon as these are going to be available to purchase. Most items are ready and waiting to be bought though!

As mentioned previously, this year's catalogue launch is online over on my Facebook Page. This is a great opportunity for you to see some of the products, take advantage of my BOGOF sale of retired stamp sets, and have some fun even if you don't live in or around Northampton! Click here to browse the BOGOF list.

There are also a couple of promotions that go live today to coincide with the launch of the new catalogue:

The first is the hostess promotion that I talked about in this post. As a reminder, you can earn an additional £20 of hostess rewards when you have party sales of £200 or more throughout the month of June: 

Just because we are socially distancing, doesn't mean we can't get together. if you would like to organise a virtual party with me, just let me know - numbers are unlimited and it can be a great way to connect with friends far and wide for a session of crafty fun! 

If your wishlist is long, you might also want to consider a cracking good join promotion that is running through the month of June too: 

 I will write more about this another time, but the deal is simple: for £99 receive £130 of products of your choice and in addition any stamp/tool bundle FREE. Yes, any of the stamp/punch bundles on p.168-169 or stamp/die bundles p.173-179 in the new catalogue - so potentially another £55 of free product - what a great deal! As always, you can always find the link to join my team on the right hand side of my blog page; alternatively it's right here if you fancy jumping right in!

I also have a number of classes lined up in coming months featuring products from the new catalogue - the first of which are detailed below:

• 15th June - Blossoms in Bloom
• 6th July - Lovely You Bundle
• 27th July - Arrange A Wreath Bundle

Full details for these classes can be found on my Facebook Events Page  or alternatively under the 'Events/classes' tab on my website.

That's a lot of information for one post; if I were you I would put the kettle on, put your feet up and get comfy and settle down with your new catalogue for a browse and start creating that all-important wish list!

Back tomorrow with a new project; until then, happy shopping!