Another Monday and the start of a new week! Lots going on in the coming weeks as far as Stampin' Up! is concerned:

• Only 2 more weeks to purchase items from this year's retiring stamps and accessories lists - lots of items have already sold out, but you can find those items still in stock here:

Retiring stamps & Retiring Accessories

• Join Stampin' Up! for just £50 - there are 2 more weeks left of the current 'sign up and save' recruitment promotion, where you can join Stampin' Up! for just £50 and choose a starter kit valued at £55. Read all about it here, give me a call if you'd like to chat to me about joining my team or if your decision is already made sign up here.

The biggest news of all today though is that I've finalised the details for my launch party for the new Stampin' Up! 2014 Annual Catalogue - here it is:

This is the first time that I've held a 'big bash' to launch the new catalogue and I'm very excited about it! I'm keen to spread the word locally about the benefits of Stampin' Up! and to meet more fellow experienced and would-be crafters and this will be a great opportunity for people to come along and see what Stampin' Up! is all about and learn more about hosting a party, my local card and papercrafting project classes and touch and feel lots of new product, including the new Project Life product set for scrapbookers and memory-keeping on the go.

New catalogues will be available for customers to take away on the day and there will be lots of offers and incentives for orders placed and parties booked on the day, as well as a raffle, a make and take project and lots of great new product and inspirational displays. If you live in or around Northampton, I would love you to join me.

If you're not local to me, but would like a new catalogue please call or email me with your details and I would be happy to pop one in the post to you in advance of the catalogue launch.

I will be providing lots of updates and 'sneak peeks' here and on my Facebook page over the next couple of weeks, so do stay tuned to join in the excitement of the build up to my new Stampin' Up! 2014 catalogue launch party.

Back shortly with today's creative post - until then, get the 30th June 2-6pm marked down in your diaries!

It's Wednesday (already!) 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 June (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right). 

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:

3/16 Inch Corner Punch	Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders	Afternoon Tea Ii Kit - Digital Download	Modern Medley Designer Series Paper	Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper
Silver Glimmer Paper	Vintage Trinkets Accents & Elements

More lovely Designer Series Paper on offer this week and silver glimmer paper - who can resist a bit of sparkle?!

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

It's Wednesday and that can only mean one thing - 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 June (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right). 

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:

3 Inch Circle Originals Die	Card Base Pop' N Cuts	Circles #2 Originals Die	Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies	Pink Pirouette 3/8 Inch Taffeta Ribbon
Take A Ticket Stampin' Around Standard Wheel	Twitterpated Kit - Digital Download

This week there are lots of dies on special, so if you're a Big Shot owner this is a great time to make some savings whilst adding to your collection. Also some lovely pink ribbon and the Twitterpated DSP MDS download - this is such a pretty floral paper!

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

The retiring lists are here! Discover what stamps and accessories, including the 2012-14 In Colours, are retiring at the end 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 - available May 30-June 30 (while stocks last)

Retiring Accessories - available May 30-June 30 (while stocks last)

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.

Back later with today's creative post.

It's Wednesday again where did that week go??! Anyway, we all know what Wednesday 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 (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right). 

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:

Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper	Etcetera Designer Series Paper	Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon	Scallops Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Spring To Life Kit - Digital Download
Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die	Strawberry Slush 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim

More ribbon and designer series paper offers this week, along with an MDS download and an embossing folder and die - lots of interest!

Back shortly with another post - lots going on at Stampin' Up! today, so stay tuned for an even more exciting offer than this week's Wednesday Weekly Deals - I know!!

I seem to be using a lot of my favourite brights this week and today I wanted to share a card that I made using the Colour Q challenge colours this week, one of my favourite colour palettes:

Aren't those trainers so cool?! You wouldn't get lost in the crowd wearing those, for sure! I took the inspiration for my card from their bold, vibrant pattern and this is what I came up with:

I decided to use one of the wave patterns from the Eye Catching Ikat photopolymer set to create a repeat pattern in the challenge colours (I subsitituted Kiwi Kiss with Old Olive as I don't have the former colour in my collection). I went with quite a simple layered layout, because I wanted the stamped pattern to be the focal point. I still can't quite believe just how easy the photopolymer stamps are to align without the need for a stamp-a-ma-jig - this pattern really didn't take long at all to create, so much so that I made two cards in record time, I just couldn't stop stamping! I mounted my patterned layer onto a strip of Tempting Turquoise. I inked my sentiment using my Brights Stampin' Write Markers, picking up the blue and the Melon Mambo of my card base to tie in with the overall design.

Don't forget, if you would like to own the Eye Catching Ikat stamp set, it is available free with a £60 order until the end of May, so you still have a week to get your order placed. Today is a busy day for me - trampolining parties to attend (Rebecca, not me!!) and a swimming gala this evening. Hope you are all enjoying your weekends. I'll be back tomorrow with another card; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Eye-Catching Ikat Photopolymer Stamp Set	Yippee-Skippee!	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock	Tempting Turquoise A4 Card Stock
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad	Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad

Just a quick reminder to let everyone know that the Clearance Rack has been updated and there are now lots of new items available, some with as much as 80% off. There are lots of festive papers and accessories and my most favourite ever Expressions thinlits dies too. So if you want to get a very early headstart on your Christmas projects, check it out now - I don't think some of these things will be around for long.

So, what are you waiting for - click here to go the clearance rack in my online store and grab a bargain whilst stocks last!

It's Wednesday again and they're here: today's 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 (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right). 

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:

Brights Glimmer Brads	Made From Scratch Recipes Designer Template - Digital Download	Naturals Designer Buttons	Note Card Envelopes	Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon
Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon	Silver Glass Glitter

It's Wednesday again and they're here: today's 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 (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right). 

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:

2012-2014 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack	Bbq Blitz Ensemble - Digital Download	Coastal Cabana 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim	Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper	Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape
Pistachio Pudding 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim	Soho Subway Designer Series Paper

More great offers on Designer Series Paper this week - including one of my personal favourites, Gingham Garden, now just £7.46 a stack; a great time to stock up I think! 

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

Good evening everyone! Firstly, can I say a big than you to Helen, Dotty and Granny for your lovely comments on Rebecca's blog post yesterday - it's always nice to get comments and she was very touched by your kind words and asked me to say thank you to you all today.

On to today's post! I wanted to play with my new photopolymer stamps that arrived last week (free with each order of £60 or more - read all about the May offer here) and am just managing to squeeze in my entry to this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge, where this week there is a colour challenge. I also loosely based my card on the sketch over at Fab Friday:

Whilst the PPA design team came up with a great variety of cards suitable for both men and women this week, this colour scheme led me to make a masculine card. As I mentioned, I wanted to use my photopolymer stamps to try out an idea inspired by a printed card I saw recently on Pinterest (you can see that card here) - here is my card:

Clearly without the absolute pinpoint accuracy of the printed medium, yet this alphabet was relatively easy to stamp and align using the Sans and Stripes photopolymer stamps without the need for a stamp-a-ma-jig. I cut the word bubble by hand (another reason to add to my list of 'Why I need an e-cutter'!) and backed this with a contrasting coloured panel that I embossed with the Chevron embossing folder, rounding the corners to echo the shape of the word bubble. Lastly, I punched a contrasting heart and popped it on a dimensional. I liked this card so much, I also made one in the reverse colourway:

I think I like my Cajun Craze base the most, but this alternative version comes a close second. What about you - which one appeals to you most? I made this card with Father's Day in mind - still a good month away, but it pays to be organised! It would equally make a good birthday card for a special Dad.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sans And Stripes Photopolymer Stamp Set	Cajun Craze A4 Card Stock	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Small Heart Punch	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Envelope Punch Board