Once a quarter, my wider upline team get together for a team training day. We craft, we share business tips and ideas and we catch up with friends. It's a fun day devoted to our Stampin' Up! businesses and one of the many benefits of being a part of a wider Stampin' Up! team. One of the important parts of these events is the process of 'swapping'. Everyone prepares a card, scrapbook or 3D sample using current products in line with a chosen theme. Today our theme was the forthcoming Sale-A-Bration campaign; as promised, today I'm sharing the swap I prepared:

This card uses three of the products that you can earn free with a £45 purchase: The Petal Parade stamp set, the Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and one of the Sweet Sorbet Designer Series paper designs. I used a 1 1/4" circle punch and my circle framelits to cut out the flowers and mounted them on dimensionals for extra interest.

If you would like to make this card, you have only nine more days to go until Sale-A-Bration is live and these products will be available online or through the Sale-A-Bration mini catalogue - not much longer to wait now! I am already taking party bookings for the Sale-A-Bration period; if you would like to host a party during Sale-A-Bration, then contact me to book a slot. Sale-A-Bration is a great time to join Stampin' Up! too; if you would like to know more about the benefits of becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, then check out the link on the right hand side of my blog page or get in touch for an informal chat; I would be happy to share with you the benefits that being a demonstrator can offer.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Card Stock A4 Pistachio Pudding	Card Stock A4 Crisp Cantaloupe	Summer Starfruit A4 Card Stock	Pool Party A4 Card Stock	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad
Summer Starfruit Classic Stampin' Pad	Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	1-1/4 Inch Circle Punch

Good evening blog readers! Today I've been busy putting together my swaps for our team training session on Sunday and watching a couple of netball matches at school this afternoon. The theme for our swaps at training this month is 'Sale-A-Bration' and along with my final swap card, which I'll share with you on Sunday, I've made one or two other cards using some of the items you can earn free with a £45 order during the Sale-A-Bration promotion, which starts on 28th January. Here's another card that I made using one of the flower stamps from the Petal Parade set, that also features one of the papers from the Sweet Sorbet DSP pack:

This time I used my Stampin' Write markers to colour the flowers so that I could give them a two-tone look with different coloured centres, and I anchored them to the card with some of the fabby extra-thick baker's twine that is another of the SAB promotional products.

I created a split front to my patterned paper layer and included the 'happy day' sentiment from the stamp set of the same name.

I'm off now to finish my swaps. Back tomorrow with another card; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Happy Day	Card Stock A4 Crisp Cantaloupe	Card Stock A4 Pistachio Pudding	Summer Starfruit A4 Card Stock	Pool Party A4 Card Stock
2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Subtles Stampin' Write Markers	Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad	1-1/4 Inch Circle Punch
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Magnetic Platform

As promised, I've a change of theme today - I've been having a play with my Sale-A-Bration pre-order and thought I would share one of the cards I made that features a  few of the products that will be available free when you spend £45 or more during the Sale-A-Bration 2014 promotion. Here is my card:

This card features three new products: the lovely Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper*, one of the stamps from the 'Petal Parade' stamp set* and the Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock has been embossed with the Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder*. All those layers, teamed with the fresh, pastel colours of the DSP and a simple sentiment, this is a perfect post-Christmas card, 'just because'.

More Sale-A-Bration ideas to come, but for now, start making that wish list! Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

* All Sale-A-Bration items - available from 28 January - 31 March 2014

A Dozen Thoughts	2-3/8 Inch Scallop Circle Punch	1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Magnetic Platform
Standard Cutting Pads	Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Card Stock A4 Pistachio Pudding	Card Stock A4 Crisp Cantaloupe	Summer Starfruit A4 Card Stock
Pool Party A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

So for my second post today, I wanted to share with you one of the quick makes from my January classes, which are being held this week. This month we are featuring the Envelope Punch Board. Lots of my customers either purchased one or received one as a Christmas gift, but weren't really sure what to do with it other than make basic envelopes. They were truly inspired by my Easiest Ever Envelope Punch Board Cracker Video that I posted before Christmas, so I was keen to show them the full extent of their boards and just what they could do.

We started off by making square boxes - here's my version of the one we made:

This is a simple 2" square box, made from a 6" x 6" square piece of paper, probably the easiest type of box to make. My class used the Modern Medley DSP for their boxes (there are some pictures over on my Facebook page if you would like to see them), but for my box here I thought I would give you another 'sneak peek' of product that will be available during this year's Sale-A-Bration promotion, starting 28th January. This is a sheet from the 'Sweet Sorbet' DSP collection - lovely fresh, spring colours with black (an unusual, but very workable colour combination). I finished my box with a small 'thanks' tag and some stretch ruffle trim in Crisp Cantaloupe to hold the box closed.

Back tomorrow with another of my class projects. until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Envelope Punch Board

Card Stock A4 Crisp Cantaloupe

Crisp Cantaloupe 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim

Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad

Lots Of Thanks

Today I'm sharing another card using my current 'stamp of the moment', the Flowerfull Heart, but this time on a non-romantic card that could be used for a birthday or just to send someone 'happy post'. I've also got a sneak peek of some new product that will be available at the end of the month as part of this year's Sale-A-Bration promotion. Excited? Well, let's take a look! Here's my card:

Aren't those Spring colours so fresh, after the darker winter colours that we've been using so much of in recent months? The base of my card is Crisp Cantaloupe, one of the feature colours of the Designer Series Paper that I've used, which is one of the products that will be available during Sale-A-Bration this year. I used Sahara Sand for my flag, which I embellished with an In-Colour Boutique Detail and some Calypso Coral baker's twine, but the star of the show is once again the Flowerfull Heart. Sale-A-Bration is always a great time to earn additional products and benefits, and is one of the best times of the year to host a party. I am already taking booking for parties during the Sale-A-Bration period, which runs from 28th January - 31st march 2014, so if you'd like to get in on the action, call me on 07773 421446 or email me joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk to arrange a party today.

A busy day for me tomorrow, with the first of this month's classes. Likely to be something of a challenge, as I have been completely without voice for the last 2 days, nothing more than a faint whisper. I'll let you know how it goes - I think I might have to take a whistle!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Flowerfull Heart Wood-Mount Stamp	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Magnetic Platform	Hearts Collection Framelits Dies	Card Stock A4 Crisp Cantaloupe
Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	In Color Boutique Details	Calypso Coral Baker's Twine	Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock
Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad	A Dozen Thoughts