Convention Card Candy swaps

Well I got so many swaps at Convention that I decided to split them up into the various types rather than  try and fit them all into one post!.

Card Candy was introduced to us UK Demos by the lovely Kirsteen (our US based Tartan Stamper) when she was briefly back in the UK and one of my SU sisters under Dawn. It is basically little card toppers made using SU products and particularly the punches. I originally signed up for one group using the beautiful new Everything Eleanor stamp set (a European exclusive!!) - but later signed up for a second using my favourite Winter Post - then finally ended up doing a smaller group to help that one get some more sets.

Here is a pic of my Everything Eleanor set - I chose to use the gorgeous new 2011-13 In Colours - Pool Party and Island Indigo with Whisper White and Rose Red. You will also spot some pearls and crystals along with the lush organza ribbon.

Recipe:
Stamp sets - Everything Eleanor, Petite Pairs, Tagtastic
Cardstock - Pool party, Island Indigo, Whisper White
Inkpads - Pool Party, Island Indigo, Rose Red
Punches - Scallop Edge Border, Eyelet Border, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Large Oval, Scallop Oval, 1 3/8 Scallop Circle, 2 3/8 Scallop Circle (in Spring mini catty), 3/4" circle, 1 1/4" circle.
Other - Pearls and crystals, Whisper White organza ribbon, Rose Red marker, Cello bag

My second and third groups got this set made using the lovely Winter Post stamp set. I will never know why SU felt the need to discontinue the beautiful label punch which matched this set - I had to cut it out by hand!!!! (not - LOL!)  I used Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Whisper White  with Early Espresso ink and ribbon

Recipe
Stamp sets - Winter Post, Petite Pairs
Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White
Inkpads - Cherrry Cobbler, Old Olive, Early Espresso
Punches - Decorative Label, Large Oval, Large Tag, Extra Large Tag, Scallop Edge Border, Eyelet Border, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, 1 14" circle, 1 3/8 scallop circle
Other - Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, crystals, cello bag

And here are the sets I got in return ..... aren't they lovely??  I have put their In Love with Stamping forum names on here as well so you can find more of their work!

Letter It by Valerie (val moody)

Everything Eleanor by Lindsey (linzi_m)

Its a Wrap by Alison (Alison P) a French demo who is actually Scottish!

Tags 'til Christmas by Jeannie (Jeannie) one of our US colleagues based in Italy.

Button Buddies by Sarah (IOW Sarah)

Easy Events by Sara (sarastamper) the swap organiser

Beautiful Season by Elaine (Sassy Stamper)

Forever Young by Theresa (TheresaM)

A set using Delightful Dozen by Sandra (sarnie)

 A set by Emily (nuttysgirl) using Tagtastic (hostess set)

Vintage Vogue by Nicky (craftynicky)

Another  set by Sara (sarastamper) using Polar Party 

Clearly for You by Joanne (Frenchiejo) 

Un named set using Array of Sunshine ( let me know who you are so I can credit you please!)

Another lovely set by Joanne (Frenchiejo)

Pennant Parade by Sandra (Sarnie)

Under the big top by Emma (daisydaye)

A beatiful punch art set by Monica (passionflower) using the owl punch

Another Everything Eleanor set by Jayne

A stunning set by Hazel using Faith in Nature

A cute set by Abi (stampinabi) using  Every Little Bit

I {Heart} Hearts by Hayley (craftydevils)

a second set by Emily (nuttysgirl) using Simply Soft hostess set.

A gorgeous set using Forever Young by Jan ( JJ66)

I'll be back with the 3D swaps shortly - watch this space!!

Convention Woo! Hoo!

Well I'm back from one of the most fabulous weekends ever!

This weekend just gone was the 2011 Stampin' Up! Convention at Disneyland Paris, and along with over 300 other Demos from the UK, France and Germany we descended on Disney for 2 days of fun and freebies - and a trip up the Eiffel tower!

Convention is a great time to catch up with far flung friends, make some fabulous swaps and find out what is coming up in terms of new products - and this one didn't disappoint.

Registration opened at 8am on Friday morning - and we were given one of the most gorgeous Convention bags we have ever seen - an embrodered one in navy blue with a million pockets for all the bits and pieces needed for a workshop. Inside we had two stamp sets, Creative Elements and Just Because, and instead of a normal catalogue, we had a version presented to us in a lovely sturdy ring binder. All the way through the event we have "Prize Patrols where we can win free products - and this year the prizes were HUGE! I was lucky enough to win one on the last day - and I am now the proud owner of one of the new punches and a new stamp which will be featured in the new Spring Mini Catalogue!

Yes - you heard that right - the new Spring Mini Catalogue!!!!!!!!

As of next year we will be having not one but TWO mini catalogues to tempt you - the Spring Mini which runs from January 1 2012 to March 31 2012 and the Summer Mini which runs from April to September. From the Advance copy we were given at Convention - there are some lovely new stamp sets, new fabrics and accessories like the postage stamp punch, a big scallop circle punch, the CUPCAKE punch (and its matching stamp set - at last!!!) - and  and.... well you will just have to watch this space. Suffice to say - my advice to you when anyone asks you what you want for Christmas - all you need to ask for is lots of money to spend in this little beauty!!!

Watch this space for projects with the new stuff as the pre-order for us Demos starts on the 1st December - Santa is going to have to come early for me this year!!

With the Mini Catalogue coming on 1st Jan - Sale-a-Bration has moved back to the end of January in line with the same promotion running in the other markets. For those who don't know what Sale-a-Bration is - its your chance to pick up free gifts in the two months it runs. For every £45 spent - you can choose one of four free stamp sets - and new this year a pack of designer series paper which is absolutely gorgeous!

That's it - there's no catch - and the more you spend - the more you get!!

Spend £45 - get one free set/ paper pack
Spend £90 - get two free sets
Spend £135 - get three free sets
spend £180 - get four free sets
spend £225 - get all five items.....

AAAAAAANNNDDDD!!! as that Irish comedian says - there's more!!!

If you sign up as demo during the sale-a-bration period - you can choose an extra stamp set (any price - even the most expensive one) from the catalogue - there's another way to spend your Christmas money - well over £300 worth of product for just £119 and that before you add on my incentives!

Anyway - must rush - as reality beckons will be back later with more pics and maybe even some blog candy!

Fabulous Freebies!

How do you fancy getting your hands on not only a free set of stamps - but also a whole pack of co-ordinating designer series paper?

Well from today until 15th December - that is exactly what you CAN do with this fabulous offer from Stampin' Up!

Simply hold a workshop for me within the period - and if the orders get to £300 from yourself and your guests - not only do you get £40 Hostess Pounds to spend on anything you like in the catalogue - you also get  the Paisley Petals stamp set (worth up to £23.95) absolutely free - you also get the co-ordinating Designer Series Paper worth another £9.95 included in your order absolutely FREE.

Get in touch soon as my diary is filling up in the run up to Christmas. All workshops this month feature demonstrations of Christmas cards, decorations, gifts and packaging so why not send out a beatiful hand stamped card this year?

StampaholixUK@aol.com / 07973 969153

Swapping again - scrapbook pages this time!!

One of the things I love about being a Stampin Up Demo is the way other demos around the country - and even in Europe - are happy to help each other create stunning displays. Every time we meet - whether it be for a training session or even the annual Convention - we swap cards fronts and small 3D items, and when there isn't a meet up on the horizon we organise swaps on the In Love with Stamping forum.

I was in a swap for samples made with goodies from the new catalogue last month - and this month - I signed up to another one for 6x6 scrapbook pages! There are 12 of us in the swap, so I will get 11 pages back from the other girls - all guaranteed to be different. Why 12 in the group? Simple - you get four 6x6 page bases out of one sheet of 12x12 cardstock LOL!!

Anyway - here is the page I made for the swap....... a romantic page of cousin Charlotte's wedding in the summer!

I decided to turn the photo sepia as I wanted to create an "antique" page with the lush new Mocha Morning papers. For the base I used Crumb Cake cardstock, and I teamed this with  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, and Early Espresso cardstock (you could do with just one of the dark browns if you wanted to). As you can see - I made good use of the Scallop Edge Border Punch and the Decorative Label punches before embellishing the page with Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon and a couple of basic pearls!

If you would like to purchase any supplies to recreate this page (in both 6x6 and 12x12 versions - this design scales up and down beautifully as you can see on a non SU 12x12 version on my other blog!) please do get in touch on StampaholixUK@aol.com or 07973 969153.

Don't forget the current signing up offer for potential new demonstrators - check out the Join my Team tab at the top of the page for details!

Until next time

Carolyn
xx

New Year - Lots of New Stuff!

Well I am just about getting familiar with the new Stampin' Up! 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalogue and today I'm going to share the gorgeous new papers we have for your delectation and delight. Every year,all of the Designer Series Papers retire to be replaced by new ones and this year's selection is one of the best I have seen since I became a demo!

We have no less than fourteen new sets of papers most of which are double sided (the exceptions are the two flocked papers in the Mocha Morning set, and the die cut doilies in the Flirtatious set which are single sided) and a stack of papers in the new 2011-13 In Colours of Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party and Island Indigo. The designer paper stacks in Regals, Subtles, Brights and Neutrals have stayed the same along with the 5 In Colours from last year.

Here's a sneak peek of all of the new papers in the "sampler" I made this morning. Flip these individual sample booklets and see the papers up close and personal - much better than the tiny pictures in the catalogue!



We also have a fabulous new Hostess only set which can only be bought by hostesses using the "Hostess Pounds" they earn by having a home workshop for their friends where sales reach £150 or more.

Did you notice the "Hostess pounds" phrase in the last paragraph??

That is the name for the new Hostess Rewards scheme which came in with the new catty. In the old days hostesses earned a free stamp set (or 6x6 paper pad) depending on the level of sales at their parties. These were Level 1 gift for parties of £150- £299.99, Level 2 gift for parties of £300 - £499.99 and a Level 3 gift if they got sales of £500 or more. This was a bummer for lots of hostesses who could only dream of having a £500 party - but that has all been changed!!

Now - hostesses (or even single customers) who meet the threshold  sales of £150 get £25 in "Hostess Pounds" to spend ANYWHERE in the catalogue. There are still some "hostess only" sets available, and should you choose these items - your hostess pounds will go further than in the rest of the catalogue as they are offered only to hostesses at a significantly reduced price. Better yet, hostesses get enough to buy even the most expensive hostess set and they will STILL have money left to spend in the rest of the catalogue.

Are you feeling tempted yet? Fancy a spending spree on the new goodies you have been eyeing up?

Well why not get in touch with me to see if we can arrange a party/ workshop for YOU and your friends - I still have dates available in November and December - and my demonstrations and make and takes over the next few weeks will be Christmas cards, gifts and decorations!

Go - on - have a crafty Christmas this year and give me a ring or drop me an email to see what we can create together!

StampaholixUK@aol.com

07973 969153

October's Offer - Now's the time to sign up!!

Well after all the excitement of the launch weekend - today seems a bit of a damp squib in comparison to the fun of the last couple of days. I was running not one but TWO open houses to launch the new Idea Book and Catalogue - as well as dealing with an excited Stampers 6 and my own goodies! Its not until today that I have finally sat down and looked at anything but the ordering pages on the Stampin' Up (UK) website.


With all the new goodies being available - I can't remember the company running any other promotion in October before now so you can imagine how delighted i am to see that this month they are offering all new demo's a free gift on signing up! Yes - you read that right! Not only do you get the fantastic new starter kit when you sign up - and that contains more than £250 worth  of goodies for just £119 (post free) - but if you sign on before the 31st October you get an In Colour pack of the five new inkpads (worth £4.95 each) and a pack of A4 cardstock in the new in colours to match (worth £6.26)- altogether that's worth an extra £31!!


Check out the pic below to see the suggested contents of the new Starter kit - click on the "Join my Team" tab up at the top to get further details of what exactly is in it!!!

ILWS New catalogue Blog Hop

Hello - and a warm welcome to my part of the In Love with Stamping Blog Hop which we are doing to mark the fabulous new 2011-12 Idea Book and Catalogue which launches today.

You may be starting with me - or you may have hopped here from Sally's blog. However you got here - please check out my samples before moving on to Tina for even more ideas.

OK let's cut the cackle and get on with what you have come for

First up is this card made using the new Triple Treat Flower stamp and one of the new Hostess stamp sets called Precious Butterflies (priceless as you can only get this one by having a workshop for me!). I have also used two of the fab new In Colours (Island Indigo and Pool Party) for the card and also check out that brand new spotty ribbon with scalloped edges!

Second up is another card featuring one of the A La Carte stamps - this one is called Elizabeth - and I couldn't wait to get this one - its just beautiful! I added some of the new Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding ribbon to finish off!

This is one of the make and takes for the new catty launch party I am throwing today and tomorrow!

 Here is the second and third M&T we will be doing!

This card and mini milk carton are made with the new Halloween Paper - Frightful Sight, and the new Jack of All Trades stamp set - the black spotty ribbon is gorgeous with this type of project!

If you would like to come along - there are still a few slots available - just give me a ring on 01892 724030 to check when to pop in!

Now as most people know - I am a scrapbooker rather than a cardmaker - so here are a couple of pages I made with one of the new Designer Series Papers! This one is called Paisley Petals - and I can't wait to get my paws on the matching stamp set later today!

I am doing a scrapbbok about my late brother in law for my sister and these are two of the pages from it - this first one is of Nigel the day he became a Dad - on the 23rd September 1978 - that tiny scrap in his arms grew up to become one of his best friends as well as his daughter!

This second page is a rush finish just this morning. As I have been sorting through photos of Nigel - the one thing I have noticed in almost all of them is his wonderful smile - RIP Nige - we all miss you very much!

Anyway - I had better go - I have people arriving shortly to start creating! I hope you have enjoyed your visit - and if I can place an order for you for any of the lovely new products - please get in touch.

Tel 07973 969153 or email on StampaholixUK@aol.com

In the meantime I will hand you on to the lovely Tina for her offerings today!

New Catalogue Open House 1st/ 2nd October 2011

Hello all!!

As mentioned in my last post, the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue (IB&C) for 2011/12 launches on the 1st October, and to mark this - I am holding not one but TWO open houses that weekend.

The doors will be open from 10am - until 2pm both days, and you and your friends are warmly invited to come along to check out the new goodies - and as I picked up an order whilst in the US on holiday - I have a few more sets to play with than have been made available to the UK demos in the pre order!

Entry will cost you £5, and for that you will get

A copy of the brand new IB&C (worth £5.95)
At least TWO make and takes featuring new products
A chance to try out Stampin' Up goodies like punches/ inkpads/ cardstock etc.
Refreshments
A free raffle ticket with some wonderful product prizes.
The opportunity to sign up for a Stamper's 6 group starting in November (also known as the virtual party - you sign up to spend £25/ months for 6 months and for one of those months you will be the hostess getting a guaranteed £25 worth of freebies from the catalogue).

and for those who come along.....

A 10% discount on any orders you make on the day

I will also be offering my retiring stamp sets - some of them brand new and most only lightly used - at 50% (or less) of their original prices - and this includes Level 3 hostess sets which you would normally have to hold a £500 party to get hold of! If you will be paying for your new catalogue order by credit card, these will need to be paid for separately from any order you make by either cash or cheque.

Book a workshop with me on the day - and choose one of the retiring sets(exclding the hostess sets)  for FREE (I will bring it along on the day of your party!)

If you would like to come along, please let me know what date you would like to come and what time you would like to come along at (just so I can avoid the log jam we had last year!) so i have enough goody bags made up for everyone!

See you there!

Stampaholix@aol.com
07973 969153

It's that time again - New Catalogue launches 1st October!

Well, where did this year go - I've just about learnt where each item is featured in the catalogue - and in 2 weeks time I will have to start it all again as the 2011-12 catalogue goes live on October 1st!

I'm not allowed to show you a pic of the new catalogue until then, but if you drop me a line, I will be happy to pop one in the post to you for £5.95, fully refundable with an order of £60 or more. However - i can drop you some hints to tempt you in the meantime....

• Its got a completely different look to last years' Idea Book and Catalogue
• There are 136 pages of lushness to drool over....
• There are 5 new In Colours (Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party and Wisteria Wonder) to add to the collection.
• There are FOUR brand new punches to be had
• There are FOURTEEN new Designer Patterned paper packs - and a stack featuring the new In Colours
• There are new ribbons, new brads and lots of new stamp sets

So - lots to look forward to - I have my wish list written and its so long already!

BUT......... All that new stuff means that some of last years favourites have to go so check out the Last Chance List on the SU website to see if one of your faves is going and grab it quick! When SU retire something it really has gone forever - there is no way of buying it after 30th September - and some items have already sold out - say goodbye forever to

Jolly Holiday DSP
Red Riding Hood and Wild Wasabi 12x12 cardstock
Jumbo Eyelets in both colours
Star Punch
Spiral Border Punch
2010-2012 In Color Classic Stampin' Ink Refills (set)
Silver Elastic Cord
Gold Elastic Cord



Stamps no longer available
Sense of Time
Tart and Tangy
Sanded
Choo Choo
Right on Track Wheel
Afterthoughts [w] hostess set
Cute by the Inch [w] hostess set
 
Let me know if I can place an order for you before the clock stops ticking!
 
Watch this space for details of the Open House Event I am running on the 1st and 2nd October in Horsmonden! All info should be ready by the weekend!

The versatile tri-shutter album!

Now that the lovely bride concerned has received her album, I can share another version of the tri- shutter album that we did at Christmas in July!


We received an invitation to the wedding of one of Roger's team way back in May - and the minute I opened the envelope and saw the beautiful dark purple ribbon on the front - I thought "Concord Crush!" (yes I KNOW I'm sad when I am thinking in SU colours when it comes to anything......) I thought then that one of these little albums would be a lovely little personal gift to Liza for asking us to share her big day on the 3rd July.


The next problem was just getting some decent photos of the happy couple on the day - a difficult task for someone not particularly close to either of them, but thanks to the huge photos my camera takes and editing software - I was able to get enough to make it so here it is.....

The front cover features 3 roses made from Concord Crush cardstock, and Elegant Eggplant DSP from the Regals stack. The main album is made with Concord Crush cardstock, the gorgeous shimmery white cardstock, and on the front cover - Concord Crush DSP from the Level 1 hostess gift paper pad. Add some vines cut from Old Olive cardstock, Concord Crush Ribbon and a couple of rhinestones and there we have it......

Open the front covers and you get.......

Photos of the happy couple just after the wedding, with the journalling blocks embellished with layered 5 petal flowers with rhinestone centres, and small photos of the gorgeous flower arrangements which decorated the Chuppah!


Open the centre out fully - and there are more photos - a large one of the couple cutting their cake, and two small ones of the Chuppah where Liza and Gavin were married, and the prayer shawl (belonging to Liza's late grandfather) which was hanging inside! An interesting fact the rabbi shared with us us was that Lisa and Gavin were the seventh couple to be married under it, as Liza's sister and cousins had also had it at their weddings!



It was a lovely day out for both of us - although we were roundly told off for leaving the reception early (at midnight!!!) - but Roger had to be up at 5:50am the next morning to go to work!!

I am in the process of making another one of these albums for the other wedding we went to last week - for Roger's cousin Charlotte - watch this space (Bashful Blue and Crumb Cake if you are interested!)!

The advantage of this little album is that the basic album is VERY quick and easy to run up so if you have a picture mate, and you know the colour scheme you can have one made up and just print off photos on the day and present it there and then!

Christmas in July projects

Well finally I can share the projects we completed on the Christmas in July  crafting days I ran yesterday and a couple of weeks ago. A total of  nine ladies signed up to a day of getting a head start on their Christmas cards and decorations on a sunny July day when snow, turkey and mince pies are still a very long way away!


The projects on offer were Andrea Walford's Christmas Jingle tri shutter album, 30 Christmas cards (six each of five different designs with decorated envelopes), six table favours, six place cards and an origami Christmas tree. Here is a pic of all the projects we made!

Here is the origami Christmas tree we made using 5 squares of Christmas paper (the ladies kits contained Jolly Holiday papers - mine was made using Christmas Jingle leftovers!). Much as I would love to say this was my own design - its actually by Jon Akashima and a fab video on how to make one can be found HERE. The great thing about this tree is that it folds flat for posting or storage

This versatile little album was designed by Andrea Walford and if you would like the instructions for it, you can get them at her website http://www.andreawalford.com/ for a reasonable fee (please don't ask me for them as the copyright for this particular album belongs to her, and while I can teach it to a live class, I can't rewrite her instructions and sell them to you). It really is one of those projects with the WOW! factor - and I think the ladies now believe me when I say that it really is a LOT easier than it looks to make.


It uses half of a Christmas Jingle kit with an extra sheet of red card and a piece of A4 chocolate chip. The lush red spotty ribbon was a limited edition available to customers last December and it was just perfect for this project! This is the cover.....

Which opens to give this inner page......

 and then pulls out again to give this great accordion effect.....

There are spaces for 3 large photos and several smaller ones - or spaces can be filled with other embellishments instead. I made another version of this album with another kit - and I added stamped baubles to the long inner panels on the first inner page, and had two more dangling fromthe top of the second inner pages. I can guarantee that once you get the measurements and techniques off pat - you can rustle up the basic album in around 20 minutes!!


We also made 5 different cards - each using a different technique. The 3D bauble on the top left is a variation on we made as a make & take at the SU training last September, and the origami tree I found on the internet HERE. Those who were at the SU convention last year may recognise the little dove card - although for this class it had grown from a 4x4 card to a full size A6 card!

Everybody got a set of the Contempo Christmas stamps to take home as well as loads of leftovers in the form of ribbon, brads and gold cord as well as papers and cardstock, so they can make more when they got home!


Our last project was a set of table favour boxes and place cards - again using the Contemp Christmas bauble stamp. Everyone got pre cut boxes to decorate and make up - and getting the twisting technique for the ends of the cracker just right was a great source of laughter for all of us. Its actually made using a contraband SU exclusive die - the candy wrapper, which will hopefully be available in the new 2011/12 catalogue - so watch this space for details of it.

So here is what greeted the ladies as they arrived.... every seat had a big bag full of stash on it. The bags were decorated with a jumbo wheel, and a die cut snowflake as well as a big 3D snowflake and a label.....

And inside the bag were lots of interesting brown paper packages containing all the supplies needed for each project....

And here is what the table looked like before everyone got there....

And here was a seat - with everyone's personal mini milk carton full of sweeties (to keep the energy levels up)

And here are Joan and Sue beqavering away on their  albums.....

We enjoyed a lovely salad lunch with ham home baked in our local village shop (yummy !), pork pie and a selection of salds with a roll and butter. Unfortuantely yesterday it was too cold to eat in the garden - but we did manage it two weeks ago!!

Anyway - I am now off for a well deserved holiday and while I'm away I will be collecting some goodies from the new US catalogue which launched on 1st July. I hope I have guessed right as to what may be coming in our new one in October as I am already planning the next class which will be an all day scrapbooking event featuring new patterned papers and embellishments. There will be two prices - one including an album (at a discounted price) and one without. I can't go firm yet until I see exactly what is in our catalogue, and what the prices will be - but if you would be interested - please let me know so i can plan dates accordingly.