WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Yesterday was David and my 3rd Wedding Anniversary.

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We spent the evening at the village pub with our special friends Eric & Lorraine, for a meal and the fortnightly pub quiz. It was good to see two of my other crafting friends Lillian and Hilary who won last time and had to set the questions for the evening. They have both been in the wars recently and Lillian has now passed the crutches over to Hilary !! The whole evening was general knowledge questions except the handout round in the middle. Very good quiz ladies............ WE WERE THE WINNERS !!!!!!! This means we now have to set the quiz for 9th June.

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Anyway, here is the card I made for David using a white 15x15cm base card, Simply Said and Curvy Verses stamp sets, Full Heart and Eyelet border punches and the Black & White DSP from the mini catalogue.

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I hope you can see on the 2nd photo how I dangled the 2 hearts over the top of the card using a piece of the lovely polka dot accetate.

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Bye for now.

INSPIRATIONS .........

I have lots of people talk to me amazed at how I appear to live and breath my card-making hobby. There is no shame in the fact I love my hobby and therefore my enthusiasm no doubt shows as workshops are enjoyed by my many customers !!

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When I'm not out crafting somewhere anyway, if the football or motorbike racing goes on the TV, I adjourn upstairs to my craft room. This suits David as he can't stand the soaps so I have Emmerdale & Corrie recorded on series link so I catch up while I am crafting and never miss an episode.

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I do find myself constantly inspired by life around me. My notepad and camera are nearly always in my handbag for me to capture colour themes, styles, ideas that jump into my head whilst driving - and yes, I have even pulled over to jot something down. Even with no notebook, I frantically search for an envelope or something to write on, the front, the back and even the inside when I run out of space !!!!

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I have been known to photograph pictures on a hotel corridor walls for colour inspiration (brother-in-law's 50th birthday), part of bed-spread design in a hotel (staying over after a Christmas 'do'), bathroom tiles in the hotel (whilst at SU Convention in Germany), a tissue box in a hotel room (whilst on a course 2 weeks ago), displays in shop windows..........

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The latest additions were whilst queuing in Tesco Express to pay for milk and biscuits for last Saturdays workshop !!! The queue was down the crisp isle and I was facing the checkout where there 'Bags for Life' were hanging - both of which had ideas buzzing round in my head so just had to buy. They are now photographed into my inspiration folder on computer to work on later (the crisp contents have all gone of course).

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The only trouble is, I have far more sketches and ideas than I have time to make !! I envy my retired friends and customers who can craft 24-hours a day but my Uncle E.R.N.I.E. has not been generous enough to pay off the mortgage yet so I continue to have to work for a number of years (not that I'm wishing my life away, you understand). If only I had been card-making whilst on 6-months gardening leave from Barclays in 2004 ...... ooohhh. At least my recent change in job has restored the work-life balance 100%, enabling me to get a bit more crafting / workshop planning time each day.

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Anyway, here is one of my inspirations.

Keep popping by for other little gems that will appear from time to time.

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:-)

STAMPERS 10 - May 2010

Wow !!!! What another fab evening. Here is the project we made this month - a pouch with 4 cards made in Rose Red and Regal Rose.

... and with a selection of different Rose Red Designer Series Papers, strips of Rose Red and Regal Rose Cardstock, Large Oval, Oval Scallop, Eyelet border and Scallop border punches and Oval All stamp set greetings of their choice, here are the 40 different cominations the group made.
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Many thanks to the whole group for allowing Lynette to photograph to share here on my Blog.

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Another very enjoyable evening. Don't forget 3rd June is an 'extra' card making evening for the SU10 group following on from feedback that a month apart was too long to wait! There will be no commitment to order on this night, just paying for materials and contribution each for the hall. Don't forget it's a 3-hour class, starting at 6:30pm.

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It is essential to let myself or Jo know ASAP as any spaces will be let go to others on a waiting list.

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See you there. Must be my turn to buy the sweets .... and not the hard-boiled ones that make me look like a hamster when I'm trying to talk you through another helpful hint !!!! Thanks ladies.

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Sandra

What .... Us ??????

As you can see the cats are keen to help with the crafting.

Here they are in one of the smaller SU boxes. For those of you who know Barney, you will realise he can only just sit down but had to stop Smudge getting in !!!

FLUTTERBY WORKSHOPs

Saturday was the last of my scheduled Flutterby All-Day Workshops. There may however be spaces available on a condensed evening class version should you be interested, so please do get in touch.

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How wonderful to see yet more new faces and I look forward to seeing you at other workshops soon. Thanks again to Jo for all her help - she is a real star !!

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It is lovely to receive emails from complete strangers telling me how they have heard of my fantastic workshops from friends and want to book without even knowing what the subject is !! I have been busy writing more workshops for other dates already booked and will be back to update the list soon.

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Also, there are people waiting to join my next Stampers 10 group in Thetford. As soon as we have 10 names, my second monthly group will start so, if you know anyone who might be interested, please pass on my details. We will decide which evening is best once we have final list.

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Following a very busy weekend, I am hoping to finally have a chance to 'play' with the New In Colours over the next couple of days so please come back soon and have a look at my samples.

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Bye for now and Happy Crafting.

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:-)

WEDNESDAY'S SCRAPBOOKING CLUB

Hi

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Just a quick thank you to Mandy and all her scrapbooking group for Wednesday evening. It was lovely to see such a large group of you at one party! From the feedback I received everyone had a lovely time and I am looking forward to coming back to host an all day workshop for you later this year. Here is a picture of the Make & Take that we completed (yours was adapted to 10x10cm).

I look forward to seeing you all again soon, but in the meantime, should you wish to join any of my other classes / workshops or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact myself or via Mandy.

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Sandra

STAMPIN' UP! 11 NEW PRODUCTS

Hi fellow crafters

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I hope you are all well and looking forward to the warmer weather. I have some latest news from Stampin' Up! which I simply must share with you.

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Stampin' Up! are changing their colours in the new catalogue which will be launched on 1st October 2010. Lots of new colours to look forward to but sadly some are retiring too.

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The hot news for May is that they have introduced 11 new products with 3 New In Colours. Now not all of the items are guaranteed to be in the new catalogue and some only be while stocks last (remember last years mini catalogue with the oval punches and stamps ..... well they were such a sell out success, they just had to put them in the next main catalogue).

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These are such wonderful colours and the Design Series Paper were some I was trying to get from Stampin' Up! USA.

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One of my lovely Stampin' Up! colleagues from 'up North' is splitting up packs to allow customers to purchase a fantastic sampler kit for £25 which she has allowed me to offer to you too. This will include :-

SIX 6" x 6" PIECES OF COTTAGE GARDEN DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

ONE OF EACH COLOUR INK PAD

Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Soft Suede

SIX SHEETS OF EACH COLOUR CARDSTOCK

Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Soft Suede

ONE PIECE OF 6" X 6" FLOWER FANTASY WINDOW SHEET

..... AND SAVED THE BEST TILL LAST ......

2m OF EACH COLOUR POLKA DOT RIBBON

Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Soft Suede

I know I can't wait to get my hands on this collection. I'm watching out for the delivery man and will then make time to blog some cards for you.

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Please contact me if you wish to place an order for your own sampler kit for just £25.

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Catch up again soon.

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Sandra