For my second post today I have something very exciting to share with you: if you're a Stampin' Up! demonstrator who, like me, enjoys writing a blog and sharing your creative ideas, read on! 

Since having had a DBWS online store earlier in the year, I've been listing the products used in my daily blog posts and linking them to the corresponding product in my online store. There are a few different ways in which you can do this, but if you do it manually 'the long way' it's very time consuming. I investigated other tools in the marketplace that are designed to make this job easier, but found them to be generally quite expensive.

So I set to work with my genius of a husband and created our very own Product Table Builder! The Product Table Builder from The Crafty Owl is designed specifically to build product links to a demonstrator's DBWS online store and feature the Stampin' Up! products you use in the projects you blog. The Stampin' Up! Product Table Builder from The Crafty Owl is highly customisable to provide you with the correct look and feel for your blog. You have complete control over the following aspects of your product table:

• Include a border around the completed table to ensure if stands out in your blog post.
• Include a border around each product so it looks more like a button.
• Control the colour of the borders so that they fit your existing blog themes.
• Change the size of the product images to use more or less space in your post.
• Increase and decrease the number of table columns so your product table fills your blog post.
• Advanced options also allow further customisation including border links, CSS inclusion and other advanced features.

If you look at my earlier blog post, you will see two examples of tables that have been built using the Product Table Builder from The Crafty Owl - here's a screen shot of what it looks like on the screen:

 If you would like to see the Product Table Builder in action, please check out this video that shows exactly how it works, from the easy installation to using it to link the products you use in your blog posts to your DBWS online store:

 The Product Table Builder works in conjunction with your unique Stampin' Up! demonstrator ID and can be used with UK, US, European or South Pacific stores/catalogues. It has also been tested and proven to work with a wide range of the most common blog platforms.

I can honestly say that this little piece of software has totally revolutionised my blog, saving me a considerable amount of time in building product links into my Stampin' Up! blog posts. Today I am pleased to be able to offer The Product Table Builder from The Crafty Owl to you to purchase at an introductory price of £20 during the month of December. This is an introductory offer that is valid for the month of December 2013 only; from 1st January 2014 it will be on sale at the standard retail price of £35.

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Product Table Builder from The Crafty Owl, please click on the link below or the button on the right hand side of my blog to order yours:

The Product Table Builder from The Crafty Owl runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 (not Windows RT). It will not run on iPads, Mac Books or other Apple products. It will not run on Android Tablets or Windows RT devices, e.g. Windows Surface.

If you have any questions, please drop me a line at [email protected] or leave a comment below and I will be happy to answer them. As with all other content in my blog and on my website, this product has been developed by me independently of Stampin' Up! and is not endorsed by Stampin' Up! in any way - just wanted to make that clear!

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin' (or product table building!)

Good morning lovely readers - no blog post yesterday as I had some very important last-minute work to finish, but do not fear - today there will be (at least) two blog posts to make up for it!

So today we're having a short break from Christmas projects as it's the first of December and the launch of Stampin' Up's 'Whole Lot of Love' promotion - stamps and products designed with Valentine's Day in mind, but can be used for lots more besides. You may have noticed that Valentine's-themed projects didn't feature in the current seasonal catalogue, hence this special promotion to enable you to be prepared in good time for the big day. There are some great products in this set, ranging from cute (Monster Hugs - adorable! - available from 9th December) to practical (pre-cut card and envelope sets) and romantic (check out that Eiffel Tower!) to beautiful (the Flowerfull Heart - a keeper that would look just as beautiful on a birthday card for someone special). Here are the images for each set:

Aren't they great? I'll have some samples to share using a selection of these products in the not-too-distant future, but meanwhile in keeping with the theme I thought I would share this card with you that I made using the 'love' Thinlits die: 

If you're a fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator and you attended our recent European Convention in Manchester, you may well have seen this card already. It was one of the projects I entered for the Convention Design Competition and whilst it didn't win, it was on the display boards for everyone to enjoy. My other project was 3D, but I chose this card as my second project as it's very clean and simple and typical of my papercrafting style. I am in love with these thinlits and also like how they can be used not only with the word itself, but you can use the relief too - no need to throw away this piece, a real two for one! I created an ombre background in the relief - I love this technique and think it looks great when done in inks with a brayer or sponged, but also like the clean look it gives with this kind of project. A few extra pieces and a small diamante just finish it off.

One of the funniest things that happened at Convention was that I attended an early Friday evening workshop and left my two downline team members who were attending Convention with me to browse the display boards. When I met up with them later, they both said to me 'You should come and see this card on the board - we love it and think you will too.' And the card? Without them knowing it was mine, they led me to this card! What can I say? Great minds clearly think alike! It did give me a lovely warm feeling inside though - love you, my little Crafty Owls!

Check out the product links below if you would like to have a go at either recreating my card or purchase any of the lovely new Valentine's products.

Back tomorrow with another creative project; check out today's other post though if you're a Stampin' Up! demonstrator - your life is just about to get a whole lot easier ....

Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used (for love card):

Stampin' Up! Whole Lot of Love Products (Monster Hugs available from 9th December):

Love You More Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Love You More Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Follow My Heart Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Follow My Heart Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Flowerfull Heart Wood-Mount Stamp
Sweetheart Treat Bags	Sweet Sayings Cards And Envelopes

Today is Digital Download Tuesday so I'm doing a quick digital-focused post with a link to both this week's and last week's weekly digital downloads (I forgot to post last week's links with all of the Digital Scrapbooking Days offers going on):

If you look at this week's downloads, you will see a new and exciting development for those of us new to MDS - online project classes! Three have been added to the store today, with a new class to be added on every last Tuesday of the month. These classes will vary in price depending on what is included in the accompanying brushsets and they are great as a means to learn both beginner and more advanced techniques. Here's a quick look at the brushsets for the first three classes to be released - click on the images for more information:

Theses video classes are not meant as a replacement for the many technique-based videos available free of charge at MyDigitalStudio.net, rather they will supplement these. Instead of focusing on one technique only they will cover a number of different aspects through the creation of a variety of projects. To access these classes, you simply purchase via my online store then download your file and log into MDS as usual.

Lastly, follow the link from my Facebook page (it would be great if you 'liked' my page first if you haven't already!) or go directly to the My Digital Studio Facebook page here and enter the competition to win the November bonus class absolutely free!

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

I've had a busy day today and have another tomorrow, so a couple of short and sweet posts from me today as I may not be able to squeeze in a post tomorrow before my next class this week. So, firstly, today's digital scrapbooking day 50% offer - today it's the turn of the Be Brave Pocket Cards:

There are a couple of very different layouts using this set over at MyDigitalStudio.net, so if you need some inspiration, pop over and take a look. Remember, the set is only available at half-price for today only, so click on the image and pop over to my online store if you would like to purchase it.

Back shortly with today's creative post!

Today is Day 4 of Digital Scrapbooking Days Offer Week and today it's the turn of the Modern Medleys overlay kit for the 50% offer - here it is:

This is a set of papers that are available as 'traditional' DSP and come in a black/vanilla colourway, but don't forget as a digital download they can be recoloured so that you can create your own custom DSP if you like - check out today's post over at MyDigitalStudio.net to see what the designers have created using this staple set of background overlays.

Remember - 50% off for today only, so don't miss out - if you like the look of this paper set, click on the picture and pop over to my online store to download it today!

Back shortly with today's creative post - and a video for you too!

There will be a creative post today, I promise, but firstly a quick post with today's digital download offer. Today is Day 3 of Digital Scrapbooking Days and for today only you can order the All Time Fave Photobook at 50% off. Here's a picture of some of the things in this great kit - if you'd like to buy it, just click on the image and it will take you directly to my online store. 

Check back tomorrow for the next Digital Scrapbooking deal! Back in a bit with today's creative post.

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'!

Two more posts with business news today  - the first and most important is that at last the envelope punch board is here!

Lots of my customers will have heard me extol it's virtues, since as a demo I've had one for a couple of weeks now and I can honestly say that it is one of the best bits of kit we've had since the magnetic platform (and you all know how much I love that!!)

The board enables you to create customisable envelopes in up to 66 different sizes and with the many different paper options, the possibilities really are endless. The board is small and lightweight, with an integrated punch for both your envelope indents and to round the flap points and it also has a scorer that slots into the back of the board for storage when not in use. You can also use it for more than just envelopes: boxes, envelope liners and other items can be created with the board. Watch this short video from Stampin' Up! to see the board in action: 

At just £17.95, this versatile tool is great value too. If you would like to order one, I recommend you get your order in sooner rather than later, as Stampin' Up! seem to be having a hard time anticipating just how much we will all love these new products, so they end up on backorder in next to no time. I'll be sharing lots of makes, both envelopes and lots of other fun things, hopefully with a few videos too, in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Back shortly with some exciting digital news; until then, happy stampin'!

Order your Envelope Punch Board in my online store now: