Monday 26 November 2007

CARDMAKERS UNITED CHALLENGE


The challenge over at Cardmakers United this week is to feature a bow. http://cardmakersunited.com/forum/index.php?topic=240.0
Here's a Christmas one I've made - I have to make a start on my Christmas cards as time is marching on. Once December comes, don't you find the time just goes so quickly!


I've been busy sorting out all my stamping up goodies and getting my head wrapped round trying to spread the word. I've just placed my first order and will be interested to know how quickly it gets to us from Germany.

Wednesday 21 November 2007

STAMPIN UP WORKSHOPS

IF YOU LIVE IN THE HAMPSHIRE/WILTSHIRE/BERKSHIRE AREA AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A STAMPIN UP PARTY CONTACT ME. THE PARTIES CAN BE HELD AT YOUR HOME - INVITE SOME FRIENDS ALONG AND I CAN SHOW YOU THE LATEST PRODUCTS, GIVE YOU A DEMO, MAKE SOME CARDS AND HAVE SOME FUN! THE GREAT THING ABOUT DEMONSTRATIONS IS THAT YOUR FRIENDS GET TO TAKE SOMETHING HOME WITH THEM THAT THEY HAVE MADE.

OR PERHAPS YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A SCHOOL OR ARE A FUND-RAISER AND WOULD LIKE TO RAISE A BIT MORE MONEY

AS A HOSTESS YOU EARN POINTS ON YOUR PARTY'S SALES WHICH MEANS YOU GET FREE STAMPS!

IF YOU DON'T LIVE NEAR ME BUT WOULD LIKE A CATALOGUE PLEASE CONTACT ME.

jonandfiona85@btinternet.com

WOOHOO - ITS ARRIVED!!!!


Not a baby or anything like that - well in a sense maybe yes!

My Starter Up Demonstrator Kit from Stampin Up arrived today - it was like Christmas!


After I'd looked at all my goodies I sat down and looked through the catalogue. It is a lot smaller than the US ones - maybe because its the first one, but I already have a list of some of the new stamps and accessories I'd love to have. Hint, Hint, Santa!!!!! I don't think Santa reads blogs yet though! LOL!

This card is especially for Crissi! LOL! It will be suitable for the Arty Girlz challenge too because it has fibres on it!

I thought I'd make a few cards and post them to show some examples of the stamps in the starter kit. I've added some extras from the SU stamps I already own too.


Sunday 18 November 2007

TMTA - HOLLYWOOD CHALLENGE


Phew - only just got this in in time! One of my favourite books and films is Gone With The Wind so this was my first choice for this Hollywood challenge. The background paper of the leaves with no trees is from The English Paper Company.

I'VE MADE A START ON MY CHRISTMAS CARDS







It's been a bit mad in our household this weekend and my hubby has been busy laying a tiled floor in our hall and downstairs cloakroom - there wasn't much I could do to help him so it left me with some time to make a start on my Christmas cards! I've tried all sorts of different styles - I always say that each year I'll just make the one but that would be so boring and I'd get fed up - I think my favourite out of this lot is the Oh Christmas Tree one - which one is yours?

This was made with stamping a SU Xmas tree on background paper, the Oh Christmas Tree was cut out of a sheet of Christmas Paper from The English Paper Company xmas papers - I love their papers - I've used quite a lot of them on this year's cards!





I'm getting so excited at the thought of being a demonstrator with Stampin Up - I just wonder whether it will work over here as well as it does in the States - I know no-one near me who crafts - all my crafty friends are on line! I'm trying to think of a way of holding a cyber hostess party to spread the word about Stampin Up - If I come up with a viable idea - I'll let you know!




This was also background paper from The English Paper Company - the stamped image of the reindeer and the wording is Stampin Up - the tartan ribbon is some from my stock.











Yet again I've used The English Paper Company background papers here - the stamped image though is Cherry Pie Stamps - I just love this Christmas Tree with Merry Christmas in all those languages. The ink used is Stampin Up Spectrum ink which gives you all the different colours. You have to remember though to separate the inks once you've used them - unfortunately my DD didn't know that when she used them once so all my colours have merged a little bit so its not a true representation of how the colours should be - but I still think you get the effect.

Saturday 17 November 2007

STAMPIN UP CATALOGUE - SUMMER BY THE SEA



This has always been one of my favourite Stampin Up sets and I'm so pleased to see it included in our UK catalogue - it makes fabulous cards and everyone always admires them.

It retails in the catalogue for £28.95 and includes 6 stamps!
Here are a few examples

STAMPIN UP - OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS



Old-Fashioned Christmas is one of the fabulous Stampin Up sets which is included in the UK Catalogue. The set comprises 6 rubber stamps and is priced at £28.95 for all 6!!! All SU stamps come in their own plastic cases for ease of storage!




Here are a few examples of what you can do with this set


This set uses Stampin Up Embossing powder in Olive. Stampin Up Watercolour pencils have been used for the detailing on the Father Christmas. The brads are also SU - part of the earth elements set.



This set has used the same colours with the addition of some mulberry paper. The tag includes SU string (hemp) in red- and SU eyelets Stars in Real Red.
A little tip for when you are cutting out your rubber stamps - keep some of the unwanted rubber back - it is handy to use as pop ups as in this instance.

Thursday 15 November 2007

STAMPIN UP IN THE UK

TODAY'S THE DAY STAMPIN UP'S NEW UK CATALOGUE CAN BE VIEWED ON LINE

I'VE JUST HAD CONFIRMATION THAT MY APPLICATION FOR BECOMING A DEMONSTRATOR HAS BEEN APPROVED AND MY GOODIES WILL BE HERE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.

ANYONE WANTING TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR STAMPIN UP CAN DO SO THROUGH ME IF YOU CAN'T FIND A DEMONSTRATOR NEAR YOU. EMAIL ME IF YOU ARE NEEDING SOME SU SUPPLIES OR FANCY HOSTING A PARTY AND YOU ARE IN THE HAMPSHIRE/WILTSHIRE/BERKSHIRE AREA. DON'T FORGET THAT WHEN YOU HOST A PARTY YOU GET HOSTESS POINTS WHICH CAN BE TURNED INTO RUBBER STAMPS.

EMAIL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION ON STAMPIN UP PRODUCTS

Tuesday 13 November 2007

ARTY GIRLZ HEARTS CHALLENGE




Arty Girlz challenge this week is to include hearts on your artwork. This is a card made with Stampin Up stamps

Monday 12 November 2007

CMU's CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE


There is a Christmas Challenge going on over at CMU http://cardmakersunited.com/forum/index.php?topic=209.0 to design a Christmas bauble. Here's my first attempt though I'm not greatly happy with it - I may have to tweak it somewhat! LOL It looks like a hot air balloon rather than a lantern!


Ratty Tatty's Giveaway

Ratty Tatty is doing it again - giving away some fabulous samps from Tanda on her blog and all you need to do is add a comment. You'll find her here www.rattytattysblog.blogspot.com

Sunday 11 November 2007

Sisterhood of Scrap - Texas Hold Em



I'm hoping this will be suitable for the Sisterhood of Scrap Challenge - I used to live in Texas and this was a layout of our pool that we had built when we lived there - can you believe we left there to come back to England! Were we mad or what!!!!!

Friday 9 November 2007

STAMPIN UP - TODAY'S THE DAY



Today's the day we can send in our applications for becoming a Stampin Up Demonstrator and mine has been entrusted to the Royal Mail - gulp!





I'm lucky enough to have last year's catalogue and could change some of the goodies I wanted for my start up kit - but there are some things in there I can't wait to get and have a play with.



This is an example of a SU card I made with a great versatile set called Love Without End.

One of the things I love about Stampin Up is that you buy sets of stamps which all go together really well and offer you thousands of ways of using them. Added to the fact that they all come in handy cases so no loose stamps about the place, they are easy to find and easy to use.

Do you get the idea I'm a fan! LOL!!!!

Thursday 8 November 2007

BLOG CANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHECK OUT MY CHALLENGE SITE FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE AND THE CHANCE TO WIN SOME BLOG CANDY.


HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday 7 November 2007

CARDMAKERS UNITED CHALLENGE

Just in case you don't know

There is a challenge on the Cardmakers United forum that is finishing on November 11th. There is a small prize for the winner, so get your entries in!

Here is the challenge:The title is Mr & Mrs. You can make a card for any occasion, but it must feature a Mr & Mrs in some way. I'm thinking Weddings, Anniversaries, Christmas ..... the crafting world is your oyster!

Come on over and join in the fun. There is also a Monthly Card Competition - all you need to do is send in your card entries to win a fab prize! No themes, no rules, just send in your lovely cards.

Tuesday 6 November 2007

TMTA - BIRDS


Birds are the subject of TMTA this week - someone mentioned the lack of robins on any stamps and it reminded me of the stamp I have with a Red Cardinal on it - I loved these birds when we lived in Texas and used to have one come and visit me in the garden. He looks very Christmassy too, just like our robins, so I've used him on this ATC.

ALPHABET CHALLENGE - R


The alphabet challenge has been running for two weeks, luckily, so I still have time to include my entry. I chose to do Rudolph, some of you know I love my Rudolph don't I Storm? LOL! and he's red too so lots of R's here!


4 x 4 Stamper - Faux Postage


Finally I'm back doing some challenges again - I liked the idea of this one from 4 x 4 Stampers of Faux Postage.

ARTY GIRLZ BLING CHALLENGE


Arty Girlz have challenged us to use some Bling on our art work this week - I hope this is suitable. The cat has a fabulous Bling Collar on her!
Stampin Up stamps!

Wednesday Stamper - Wild West


Wednesday Stampers have the Wild West as their theme.


I lived in Texas for three years so had a small taste of the Wild!


CARDMAKERS UNITED, MONTHLY CHALLENGE


I've just found out one of my cards has been chosen as Cardmakersunited's card of the month.



Anyone can join in with the competition - all you have to do is become a member of the forum. So come on all you card makers, come along and join in the fun.


There is a prize too - which is a great bonus!


Monday 5 November 2007

CHANCE TO WIN A SET OF CHERRY PIE ART STAMPS



THERE IS A COMPETITION RUNNING OVER AT AUNTY'S FORUM http://www.auntysforum.com/ SPONSORED BY ME TO WIN ONE OF THE ABOVE SETS OF CHERRY PIE ART STAMPS.


IT IS A CLOSED AUCTION AND THE HIGHEST BIDDER WINS THE STAMPS. QUITE SIMPLE REALLY.


THE MAIN THING IS THE PROCEEDS ARE GOING TO MY FRIEND'S CHARITY - ROSIE'S BUDDY BUS FUND - A LOT YOU MAY KNOW ROSIE AND VISIT HER BLOG http://alteredartandstuff.blogspot.com/ SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WORTHWHILE CAUSE GET YOURSELF OVER TO AUNTY'S AND BECOME A MEMBER.




A BIG THANK YOU TO TANDA STAMPS


Tanda Stamps held a Halloween competition over on Aunty's forum http://www.blogger.com/www.auntysforum.comand it was a very well deserved win by Rosie for her Mooning card. LOL!


But Tanda Stamps were very generous and gave all of us who entered a chance to choose some of their mini stamps. I received mine today - here they are - can't wait to go and have a play - thanks to Alex and all at Tanda Stamps for their generosity.


GREAT NEWS FOR ME

I'M SO EXCITED - MUST SHARE MY GREAT NEWS WITH YOU ALL -

I'VE BEEN CHOSEN AS A DESIGN TEAM MEMBER OF CARDMAKERS UNITED - I CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED.

COME ON OVER AND CHECK US OUT AND JOIN IN WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.
http://www.cardmakersunited.com/