Friday 24 August 2012

Stampin' Up is Getting Bigger and Even Better!

Stampin' Up announced some fantastic news, they have a new catalogue strategy designed to increase the alignment of both products and catalogues in UK/Europe with the North American and South Pacific markets. 

So what are the changes?
Moving forward, Stampin’ Up! will release one annual catalogue, comparable to (but larger than) the current Idea Book & Catalogue, and two seasonal catalogues, comparable to (but larger than) the current mini catalogues.  

Here are the details:
Annual Catalogue
  • The 2012-2013 annual catalogue will run from 1 October, 2012 through 30 June, 2013.
  • This catalogue will only be live for nine months. This is to facilitate the alignment with the South Pacific and North American catalogues. The 2013-2014 annual catalogue will go live on 1 July, 2013, at the same time as the South Pacific catalogue, and a month after the North American catalogue, and the alignment will be complete.
  • The annual catalogue will be increased from 133 pages in the current Idea Book & Catalogue to 204 pages. This increase is to accommodate all of the products that were previously only available in North America!
Seasonal Catalogues
Just as exciting as the increased product offering in the new annual catalogue, is the fact that now you will also have two larger seasonal catalogues. Both of these catalogues will be available within a month of the North American seasonal catalogues, and will have an almost identical product offering!
  • The Mini Catalogues will be replaced by two seasonal catalogues called the autumn/winter and the spring/summer catalogues.
  • The first autumn/winter catalogue will run from 1 September, 2012 through 31 January, 2013.
  • The first spring/summer catalogue will run from the beginning of February, 2013 through 30 June, 2013.
  • The seasonal catalogues will be larger in both size (21.6 cm x 27.9 cm) and page count (about 40 pages) than the current mini catalogues.
Isn't this exciting! It is a great time to join the Stampin' Up family (as you get sneak peeks of the catalogues before everybody else!), so why not contact me to find out more about joining my team of Classy Crafters.

Monday 20 August 2012

12" x12" DSP Purse and Diorama Card

Another craft fair item!  I made one of these little DSP purses but used a 12" x 12" instead of a 6" x 6", (so not so little!), just double on the measurements. The DSP is retired, sorry forgot it's name but it's very nice!

I made another Diorama Card to match, I know yet another one but they are so easy to make. The Stamp Sets are Apothecary Art and Oval All. I used the Boho Blossoms Punch.



Sunday 19 August 2012

Polar Party, Aqua Painters and a Challenge!

I have just got some Stampin' Up Aqua Painters, these are fantastic. They are so easy to use, just unscrew the top, fill up with water and away you go!

Stamp your image in Stazon or a waterproof ink such as Stampin Up Basic Black or Grey. There are different ways you can use your aqua brushes, e.g. with re-inkers, water colour crayons/pencils etc. I used mine with Stampin' Up ink pads, just squeeze the ink pad before you open it, this deposits some ink on the lid. Dip your aqua painter in the ink and start painting. I used water colour paper, you can use whisper white but you do need to be careful not to have your aqua painter too wet or the card will buckle, so have some kitchen roll ready. 
I thought I wonder enter the Simply Stampin' Challenge as I haven't entered for ages. This weeks challenge is the Sketch below:
I used the Polar Party stamp set, (get those Christmas Cards started!) which of course I coloured in using my aqua painters. The colour way is baja breeze and riding hood red, I also used daffodil delight and lucky limeade ink pads to colour in. 


Saturday 18 August 2012

3" x 3" Notelet Set


Yet more craft fair things I made using everyday enchantment DSP and the Elementary Elements and Fresh Vintage Stamp Sets from this years Sale-a-Bration.  I made four little notelets and matching envelopes (using the simply scored diagonal plate).


I made a little box to store them in, envelopes, rosettes and boxes are so easy to make using the Simply Scored Board and Diagonal Plate.
If you are in my stampers group or a customer/class member, check out the classy crafters club blog where there is a free class tutorial on how to make these little notelets and box.

Thursday 16 August 2012

Decorated Notebooks and Fridge Magnet Notebooks

Here are some decorated notebooks I made for the craft fair, again I used the gorgeous Everyday Enchantment DSP and matching brads and ribbon.

I love these papers, good job I have lots, although I am going through them at a rate of knots! I also made some little fridge magnet notebooks, just take the front cover off a little jotter pad and make your own, I pun a strip of magnetic tape on the back, sorry forgot to photograph that.

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Sweetheart Heartfelt Thanks Card

This is the sweetheart Heartfelt thanks card that I made for this months customer orders. it uses the cute Sweetheart stamp set that I suspect will be retiring at the end of September, the full heart punch matches perfectly.  It's a little 3 x 3 card.

I made a little envelope to match, this is so quick and easy to do with Simply Scored Board and diagonal plate.
I actually did it as a make and take so you have to put it together, instructions are on the Classy Crafters Club Blog.  This blog is for my customer/club/class members and has tutorials from previous classes available for FREE.
Recipe 
Stamp Set: Heartfelt Thanks
Card Stock: Whisper White and So saffron
Ink: Bashful Blue and So Saffron
Accessories: Full Heart punch, simply scored and diagonal plate.

Monday 13 August 2012

Craft Fair and Everyday Enchantment.

I've been busy making things for a craft stall. I used the gorgeous Everyday Enchantment DSP and the Free brads and Ribbon I got last month. I love promotions! 
I made some diorama cards because they look great especially with the brads and ribbon and are so easy to do, then I made little 6 x 6 DSP purses to put gift cards or small presents in. I made a few sets of these.


Saturday 11 August 2012

Mixed Bunch Mini Accordion Album

We made something a little different in the card club last week. I was inspired by this link that my friend Sue sent me for an envelope card. I thought it would look really cute made out of 6 x 6 DSP, it did so I made another three! I then joined them together using punched decorative labels. I decorated them using the mixed blossom stamp set, this is so easy as you can punch the flowers out. This is one side:


I used a different flower from the set for the other side: 
Then I made a little box/holder - the sloped sides are a happy accident!

All the ladies enjoyed making this and came up with some great variations which I will have to try, e.g. making it into a little recipe book.  If you would like to come to one of my classes just  take a look at my class schedule and send me an e-mail, if you can't make the date I  may be able to offer an alternative.
Recipe:
Stamp Set: Mixed Bunch
Card Stock: Cheerful Treat DSP, Melon Mambo and Whisper White
Punches: Blossom Punch, Decorative Label, 1" & 3/4" Circle
Ink: Melon Mambo & Elegant Eggplant
Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones

Saturday 4 August 2012

Book Card

This is something I made for my simply scored inspiration station which I don't think I have shown you yet, apologies if I have. It is a card that looks like a book, with concertina sides, which is easy with the simply scored, although I got rather sticky gluing them all together.


It uses the Attic Boutique DSP which is gorgeous so you don't need much stamping. Open it up and this is what you get:

 It's very arty farty (a technical term) but I enjoyed making it, although not sure what I'm going to do with it!
Recipe
Card stock/Paper: very Vanilla, Attic Boutique DSP, Daffodil Yellow, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Poppy Red
Stamp Set: Forever Young
Punches: Bird Builder, fun flower, 1" circle, Lace Ribbon, Boho Blossom and extra large Oval
Accessories: Big Shot, Simply Scored Tool, designer frame embossing folder, beautiful wings embosslit.
Victoria Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls, Rhinestone gem

Thursday 2 August 2012

Delicate Doilies #3

For the third delicate doilies card we also used some matching flirtatious DSP. This is another bright card with a colour scheme of pumpkin pie and whisper white.
We made a matching owl using the pillow box die, these little boxes are great for small treats and gifts and are really easy to make when you have the die!  


This is the pair together, we decided our little owl was a boy, what do you think?
Recipe
Stamp Set: Delicate Doilies, happy birthday is from the hostess set, forgot the name!
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Card Stock: pumpkin pie and whisper white
Punches: Lace border, scallop border, oval
Accessories/tools: big shot, pillow box die, basic rhinestones, googly eyes (not SU)

Delicate Doilies #2

 This is the second card we made using the delicate doilies stamp set, ssh, don't tell anyone it's a Christmas Card! I turned the doilies into baubles and added some gems again for a bit of bling.  The colour way is Pool Party and Island Indigo.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Reason to Smile - Stampin' Up! August Offer!

Stampin' Up have yet another fantastic offer. If you spend £60 on Stampin' Up Products this August you will get the beautiful limited edition Reason to Smile stamp set FREE!
The stamp set can also be purchased during August for £18.95 wood mount or £14.95 clear mount without the need to purchase anything else. This is a gorgeous 'two step stamping' set and is sure to give your projects the WOW factor. if you would like to add this limited edition set to your collection just contact me with your order.