by Joanne James1. November 2013 20:38Tomorrow 2nd November is Digital Scrapbooking Day over at Mydigitalstudio.net, but Stampin' Up! is celebrating not just tomorrow but for eight days, starting today!

Every day from today until the 8th November, Stampin' Up! is offering a digital download at 50% off - here's the full list if you would like to check them out:
- 11/1 Amped Up Ampersands Kit
- 11/2 Hello There Kit + FREE Moments Ago Stamp Brush Set
- 11/3 All Time Fave Photobook Template
- 11/4 Modern Medley Overlays Kit
- 11/5 Be Brave Pocket Cards
- 11/6 Nobody’s Business Photobook Template
- 11/7 Autumn Traditions Kit
- 11/8 Afternoon Daydream Kit
I'll feature a link to each of the discounted sets via my blog every day, but remember - they are valid for one day only; don't delay in visiting my online store to purchase yours!
Here's the link to today's kit set, the 'Amped Up Ampersands' kit - so useful for both cards and scrapbooking:
If you'd like to see some great projects made using this set, hop on over to mydigitalstudio.net to see what the designers there have been creating. Pop back tomorrow when there will be a FREE download to celebrate Digital Scrapbooking Day, in addition to another 50% off deal.
Until then, happy stampin!
by Joanne James1. November 2013 19:57Two 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:
by Joanne James30. October 2013 21:14My second post today with the second new offer of the week:

Stampin' Up! are offering a fantastic 30% off selected holiday digital downloads from now until 30th November. There's a wide variety of downloads that are reduced, everything from cards to tags, from pictures to frameables.
With downloads starting at as little as £1.05, it's never been a better time to embrace the digital festivities!
Lastly, here's the link for this week's new digital downloads:

If digital is your thing, keep watching my blog for more news later this week to coincide with Digital Scrapbooking Day!
That's me caught up with all the news! If you need any more information on either of this week's new offers, do get in touch. Back tomorrow with a creative project. Until then, happy stampin'!
by Joanne James30. October 2013 20:36Good evening to you blog readers! I'm having a catch up this evening, since in addition to it being MDS Weekly Download Day I have another two fantastic offers to share with you this week. The first of this week's new offers is perfect for personalised packaging with minimum fuss and maximum convenience and impact:

There are 2 separate bundles available:
Bundle 1 - Holiday Tag It Extra Large Box Bundle at £16.95, comprising:
- a Stamp A Tag Kit
- 3 Extra Large Gift Boxes
- a 9.1m roll of Cherry Cobbler 1" (2.5cm) Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Bundle 2 - Holiday Tag It Decorative Box Bundle at £17.95, comprising:
- a Stamp A Tag Kit
- 6 Decorative Window Gift Boxes
- a 9.1m roll of Cherry Cobbler 1" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Both of these bundles represent a 20% saving on the individual prices, so now there's no excuse for every parcel to be packaged with the hand-finished touch. This offer is valid until 30th November, so if you would like to order either click on either of the above pictures to go straight to my online store or contact me to add to a local order today!
Back shortly with an MDS Offers post; until then, happy stampin!
by Joanne James22. October 2013 20:58For my second post today, I am delighted to announce that the new Thinlit Card Dies are here and available in my online store NOW! If you've ever made a 'flip' card the long way, you will love these new framelit dies - they make making cards like this a breeze!
Here's one made by one of Stampin' Up!'s designers:

This is how it opens ...

The whole thing can be created in minutes by running your chosen cardstock through the Big Shot with the Thinlit layout of your choice - there is both a circle and label layout to choose from. Both sets come with a variety of additional pieces to add to your creativity, either on your flip cards or can be used separately with other cards and projects - this is what they look like:

Stampin' Up have produced a great video showing the Thinlits in action; take a look:
Aren't they great? I'm looking forward to sharing some of my creations with you in the coming days and weeks; if you can't wait and need to order either of the framelit sets now, then pop along to my online store or give me a call today - at only £29.95 they are great value and offer endless possibilities!
I'll be back tomorrow with a card to share; until then, happy stampin'!
by Joanne James7. October 2013 22:11Another busy day today with the first of this week's card classes. I will share some 'makes' tomorrow - meanwhile, I have a fantastic offer to share with you today. As part of Stampin' Up's 25th anniversary celebrations, there is an amazing sign up offer: for 2 weeks only, you can become a Stampin' Up demonstrator for only £25!

Key facts about this deal are as follows:
- The starter kit will be £25 and includes products of your choice up to the value of £26.95 (kit value must be more than £25 but less than £26.95)
- You will also receive a business supplies pack including annual and seasonal catalogues, with free p&p
- You will receive a 20% discount on every order you place
- You will also receive a 30% discount on the first order you place over £150 within the first 30 days of sign up and a free stamp set of your choice from the 2013-14 Annual Catalogue
- You will receive 2 free months of Demonstrator Web Services
- If you reach £225 sales within the first quarter (ending 31st March 2014), you will maintain your demonstrator status until 30th June. If you don't, your demonstrator status will lapse, but without penalty; you have no obligation to purchase anything other than your starter kit if you don't want to.
- If you join my growing team, you will get to benefit from my knowledge, help and support in addition to that of one of the UK's most successful teams of demonstrators and the considerable resources provided by Stampin' Up itself.
Whether you want to feed your own crafting habit by having access to discounted craft supplies, or would like to earn a little (or a lot!) extra income and run your own business, I am here to support you in any way I can.
Remember, this offer is valid for 2 weeks only (the £99 starter kit will not be available during this time) until 21st October; contact me on 07773 421446 if you would like to know more or alternatively sign up here today!
Back tomorrow with a project; meanwhile, I look forward to hearing from you!
by Joanne James1. October 2013 12:06
Great news party go-ers: as Stampin' Up! continues to celebrate its 25th birthday, there is a great hostess benefit offer this month: for anyone who hosts a party during the month of October and has qualifying sales of £250, you will earn an extra £25 worth of hostess credits to spend on any items in the current catalogue - so £65 of free products, instead of the usual £40.
In addition to hostess benefits, you and your guests have fun and get to make a lovely 'make and take' card each and the hostess receives a gift for hosting - suitably festive themed!
So if you live in or around Northampton, text your friends and give me a call on 07773 421446 to book your party today!
Online orders this month will also qualify for the additional hostess credits, so if you don't have time for a party, but would like to place an order, make sure you use this month's hostess code 4DS9WR2Q when placing an order in my online store to ensure you benefit.
by Joanne James1. October 2013 11:09So not only is it the first of the month, but it's Tuesday, which is also Digital Download Day for the latest My Digital Studio (MDS) Releases. Here is the linky button to the new downloads in my online store:

I've also included the pictures below of this week's downloads just to whet your appetite for what's available - lots of Christmas-themed items to choose from:






These pictures are not clickable - for full details, click on the date icon above which will take you directly to the online store.
For those of you who have taken advantage of the 30 day free trial of the MDS software, I hope you are enjoying exploring the opportunities that MDS has to offer. For those of you that haven't, what are you waiting for?! I have a few projects on the go which I will share with you in future posts, but today I thought I would share a simple postcard I made in MDS just to show you how easy it is. At the recent Stampin' Up! creative tour event I attended in Loughborough, we were challenged to create a postcard in MDS and complete the sentence "I love Stampin' Up! because..."
I used the basic stamps, punches and papers that come with the full £13.95 version of MDS - there are lots and lots to choose from! - and took my inspiration from my answer to the sentence. So here's the front of my postcard:

I incorporated a number of tricks and techniques that I have picked up following the many learning video tutorials that are available online and just generally having a play. This was the reverse of my postcard:

So what do you think? I don't profess to be an expert, but honestly I really don't think you have to be to create great things. I have been using it to create scrapbook and photo book pages and this appeals to me much more than traditional scrapbooking. It's also a good way to display the many thousands of family photographs I have that just sit on my hard drive and never get seen by anyone but me!
If you would like to explore MDS, go to my online store and download either the 30 day free trial or the full version for just £13.95. For everyone that purchases MDS through my online store, I am happy to provide an 'Introduction to MDS' either in person, by phone or online, to enable you to get started. I will be sharing more of my creations as I complete them and would love to see your makes as you explore MDS too.
Back shortly with yet another post; until then, happy stampin'!
by Joanne James1. October 2013 10:31Well readers, it's the first of the month and there is lots of news, so there will be a few posts from me today, but you're going to want to read them all as there is lots of great product and promotional information, so bear with me and stay tuned! I promise I will also do a creative post too, as I have a fabulous autumnal card to share with you today. So first up - there is a new 'Best of' anniversary set this month; this time it's the turn of 'Best of Sale-A-Bration', featuring some beautiful flower images:

If you would like to order this stamp set, then either give me a call in the conventional way and I would be happy to place an order for you or hop over to my online store and place your order today. Don't forget, the other 'Best of' sets are also still available - you can see these by searching under the 'Promotions' category in the box to the right of my blog page.
From today, I will be issuing a mystery hostess code at the start of each month for my online store; if you add this code to your online orders, you will be entered into a draw at the end of the month to win the total hostess credits for all orders placed online during that month. So make a note - this month's hostess code is as follows (valid until 30th October):
4DS9WR2Q
So tell all your friends, as the more orders placed, the more hostess credits that will be accumulated - it's like hosting a party, without having to invite your friends round!
Please check the 'Party More, Get More' blog post today to see another special 25th anniversary offer for hosting a party this month. The additional hostess credits will also apply to online orders, so October is a great month to start accumulating some great benefits.
Back soon with a creative project; until then, happy stampin'!
by Joanne James24. September 2013 11:17My second post of the day today, so a quick creative one this time! I just wanted to share some thank you cards I made recently for some customers to pop into the bags with their orders. I made quite a few, so needed something that was quick to execute. I decided to use a selection of the butterflies in the Papillion Potpourri stamp set to create this simple one layer card:

I used the lovely pre-cut and scored Stampin' Up! notelets and the colour scheme was inspired by the Birthday Basics DSP that I also had out on my desk to make the card I'm going to share with you tomorrow. A simple sentiment and a co-ordinating stamped envelope and voila - a pretty card set in no time at all!
Don't forget, the Papillion Potpourri stamp set and co-ordinating Bitty Butterfly punch bundle is available to order at a 15% discount during the month of September, so you have just under a week to take advantage of this offer. If you live local to me, I will be placing an order later this week so if you would like to save on p&p contact me to add you order to it. Otherwise just go to my online store to place your order by clicking on the supplies links below or for the bundle on the right hand side of my blog page.
Also, if you haven't yet checked out the Clearance Rack in my online store, go take a look! There are some great bargains to be had, with some items as much as 80% off.
Back tomorrow with another card; until then, happy stampin'!
Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:







