MY NEW iPad

At long last …….. I am the proud owner of an iPad using monies from Christmas presents towards buying one.

I knew Dad and David wouldn’t want to go shopping, let alone in the sales crush, so I asked Stephanie if she would like a trip out on Saturday.  We had a lovely day and had a free pass’ as David told me not to hurry back as there was football on !!!  The morning finished with lunch at the Chinese Buffet … yummy.

Although David has ‘poo-pooed’ it all the time I’ve been saying I wanted one, as soon as the set up was complete, he said he might want to get one !!!!!!!!!

We’ve already had Dad on my laptop at 81yrs old but today we had him looking at more retirement properties on the iPad which I think he found even easier to use.  I can see him having one too when he gets settled.

That’s all for now, pop back soon.

Sandra

LOVELY HANDMADE CHRISTMAS CARDS

I am so lucky to receive some lovely handmade cards from some of my team, customers and other crafters.

Today I would like to share just a few of those I have received, including a couple of gorgeous Punchart which are always among my favourites.

JANE – came home from the Lake District with a pet black sheep.  She is a very talented crafter and made her punchart ‘black sheep’.  Fantastic.

ANJ – another beautiful punchart creation using the wonderful Owl punch.

MICHELLE – a different colour combination for Christmas from my SU upline.

JANET – I love small cards, perfect for Christmas.

LORRAINE – I love the simplicity of this stamp, will have to ask where she got it.

JEAN – I love the Stampin’ Up! stocking stamp and punch set.  So glad I got my hands on one as it never made it to the European market.

 

TANYA – This was such a tiny cute card.  I’ve seen this idea done somewhere on Pinterest and love it.

 

 

JUDY – she has been showing me some wonderful different versions of this card, gorgeous.

 

LAURA – lovely two-tone effect on these ornaments and that embossed frame is another firm favourite.

 

LYNN – all this effort for Christmas, very much appreciated.

Again, these are just a sample of lots and lots of wonderful cards David and I received.  Thank you all for your kind festive wishes.  We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

 

Happy crafting :-)

 

Sandra

 

 

 

TRADITIONAL BOXING DAY WALK

Today, David, his 83yr old Auntie Ellen and I took our traditional annual Boxing Day walk along the North Norfolk beach at Snettisham.  Sadly last year she wasn’t well enough but really missed it.

We always laugh with Auntie saying that we’re going for a cup of tea with the Queen when we pop into the coffee shop at Sandringham for tea and cake.

You can see from the shadows and the darkened glasses that although the wind was blowing, the sun was shining brightly.

 Auntie Ellen (85yrs old) and David

 Auntie Ellen and Sandra

Back home and I set to work stripping down the remainder of the turkey and get the stock bubbling on the cooker ready to make some superb stock for turkey and sweetcorn chowder and turkey risotto tomorrow. 

David wanted to listen to some footie on the radio so whilst Auntie Ellen and I watched some festive films, I took my cue for a quick spot of crafting.

Inspired by an idea I saw earlier in the gift shop at Sandringham, I set about sketching a project to make using the new and exclusive products you can get FREE for every £45 spent during Sale-A-Bration, which runs from 22nd January to 22nd March 2013.

With extra free gifts for hostesses during this promotion, I will be filling my diary quickly so please give me a call on 01366 726407 if you wish to be sure of your choice of party dates.

Hope you’re having a fantastic Christmas break and enjoying all the leftover food that every household seems to have at this time of year.

Pop back soon.

Sandra

MY NEW STASH !!!

It’s arrived !!!    Here is my first box of new stash from the STAMPIN’ UP! NEW ANNUAL CATALOGUE which launched on 1st October.

 

This was quite restrained for me but for 1st ‘hit’ wasn’t bad.  Items were mainly bought around the 300 swaps I will be making for SU European Convention at the beginning of November, cardstock and re-inkers from the New 2012-2014 In-Colours in Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, Primrose Petals and Raspberry Ripple, which I think is my new favourite.
 

My biggest ever order went in for the North Norfolk Retreat Weekend that Alison and I are running in a couple of weeks.  I am so pleased to be running this weekend with one of my downline with slight OCD tendencies ….. she has done a fantastic job of working everything out in spreadsheet format and is now busily preparing our class kits, whilst I am stuck in an office job.
 

Whilst it’s exciting to use all new products, it’s a bit close for comfort timewise when SU unfortunately sent 14 of the wrong stamp set for class freebie.  Fear not, everything is in hand to still arrive in time (although fingers firmly crossed !!).

I have some lovely half-price items too but they went in the shipment to Alison so I have to wait a bit longer until I can collect those :-).
 

Some of the extra bits were the new shaped butterfly which I am loving and have some lovely ideas spinning round in my head already.  The material is for a project I have been working on for a while which was first inspired by a German Demonstrator I met at last years Convention and will be for my roomie/teamie Convention gifts.  If they are a success, the rest of the team will have in time for Christmas.
 

Please feel free to contact me if you wish to place an order or find out more about becoming a demonstrator with the fantastic offer on earlier recent post.
 

Happy craftin’ until next time !
 

Sandra

NEW CATALOGUE BLOG HOP

It’s that time of year again when Demonstrators over on In Love With Stamping get together and showcase an assortment of projects made using NEW and exciting items from the Autumn and Winter supplement and also the NEW Annual catalogues.

Demonstrators will be scheduling blog posts at 10am this morning.  If you have just joined me here then make yourself a cuppa and grab yourself a notepad and pen. I’m sure there will be some wonderful inspirations along the way. 

You may have just joined from Sarah's blog  so a very big warm welcome to you.  I hope you are enjoying your ‘hopping’ so far.

Apologies that I have been absent from blogging for a while but pleased to have joined in today,  easing myself in gently with today’s small contribution from recent class.

With so many lovely new items it’s hard to know what to play with first !!  In the Autumn/Winter supplement, Stampin’ Up! have introduced co-ordinated product bundles at discounted prices.  This means that purchasing a stamp set and dies together, you can make even bigger savings.

My first two cards feature the NEW Scentsational Season and the Holiday Collection Framelit Dies  that I created for my ‘Ink-Illicious’ classes held this Saturday in Bury St Edmunds and Sunday in Norwich. 

 

Here I have inked up brayer with Early Espresso ink and brayered the raised surface on the inside of the NEW Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing folder #127819.  Next I processed through the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine #113439.  This pushed the ink into the crevices to create a lovely effect.  The card is layered with Very Vanilla and Soft Suede onto an Early Espresso card base.

To give a different effect, this card follows the same style but using the Square Lattice Textured Impression Embossing folder #119976 with the Christmas Tree from Scentsational Season.  The cute greeting is from Teeny Tiny Sentiments #129579 (W) #120024 (C).

I’m sure there will be a lot of this stamp set featured on this hop today.  It has been really popular with customers already.

This card features the NEW Ornament Keepsake stamp set, also available as a product bundle at a discounted price #129949 (W) #129950 (C).

The ornament has been centred on the NEW Holiday Frame Textured Embossing folder #127820 on River Rock, Very Vanilla and Early Espresso card layers.

The new 3-1/2” Scalloped Tulle ribbon was too heavy at full width for this card so I trimmed down the centre to make two pieces.  I think for this card it’s more balanced.  NEW Tulle ribbon is available in Cherry Cobbler #127841, Crumb Cake #127840 and Early Espresso #127839.

The edges of the bauble have been finished off with Tombow Multipurpose glue #110755 and Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter #102023.

If you wish to browse the NEW Catalogues, please click on the images at the top of my blog.  If you would like your own copy in the post or wish to place an order, please feel free to contact me on 07806 616704 or by email sroberts07@btinternet.com.

I hope you have enjoyed your stop with me today.  Please continue on your way by popping across to Sharon's blog and enjoy the creations she has in store for you.

 

Happy ‘hopping’ and please make sure to pop back soon.

 

Sandra

 

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER OFFER – FREE PAPERS

Wow !!!!  I’ve just woken up to find this on our Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator website.

That’s right !!! Get FREE Designer Series Paper for SIX MONTHS when you become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator during October or November !!

With the fully customisable Start Kit already a fantastic deal – with up to £175 products and business materials for just £99 – the deal just gets better and worth just under £60 on top.

So if you have a long wish list and fancy a package of products worth £235 for just £99, please get in touch and I will look forward to welcoming you to my team of Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators.

Click link FREE PAPERS LINK to download flyer with more information.

An offer too good to miss.  Catch up soon.

Sandra  Roberts

Tel : 07806 616704

Email : sroberts07@btinternet.com

EXCITING NEW ANNUAL CATALOGUE

At long last …. it’s finally here.  The NEW Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue is finally released tomorrow and it’s a whopper !!!!

All will be revealed tomorrow ………

Sandra

 

POOR LONELY AND NEGLECTED BLOG

Those who know me well know the summer has been a difficult time for me and, whilst my customers and classes come first, sadly my blog is usually is forgotten.

At the end of June, Mum was taken into hospital suddenly, not expected to last the night and then sadly died 10 days later. Dad has been living with us now for 3-months and the summer has meant putting Dad first.  It has been lovely catching up with Dad and spending lots of quality time with him.

Needless to say, my Stampin’ Up! business had to take a back seat for a while and I am so grateful to all my lovely ladies who understood the necessary adjustments and who continued to support me through both family bereavement and also a couple of recent hospital appointments myself.

Here is a photo of Dad enjoying his new mobility scooter on the seafront at Southwold during a day out with my sister and hubby.

Dad recently celebrated his 81st birthday.  Last Saturday he tried his first ever Chinese meal at the Lucky Star all-you-can-eat buffet and, being a farmer and preferring meat and two veg’, he admitted he was ‘pleasantly surprised’. 

Dad has now been living with us for 3-months and now things are settling down a bit and I’m back in the blogging habit, I plan to be blogging more frequently.

Please pop back again soon.

 

Sandra

FUN DAY OF CRAFTING

With hubby away for the weekend with his British Legion Riders Branch friends, yesterday I spent my second ‘Fun Day of Crafting’ with fellow crafters at my home in Northwold.

Crafting for 12-hrs from 9am to 9pm is a girl’s ideal way to spend the day, specially with none of life’s usual interruptions like the telephone, family, children etc.   With bacon butties consumed, decisions had to made as to theme and colour of their first project.  It was lovely being able to hold another class at home and being able to give everyone the versatility and choice to personalise their project as they wished.  I lost count of the number of trips up and down my stairs but the exercise was good, working off the Chinese buffet from the night before.

I’m looking forward to my third ‘Fun Day of Crafting’ on 19th May.  Ironically this was the first date booked, having another event booked whilst hubby at the BMF, that got cancelled.  Not to lose the opportunity of an empty house for the weekend, my 12-hour ‘Fun Days of Crafting’ were born !! 

These projects were first inspired last year by fellow Demonstrator Victoria, sharing one she had made for baby Grace on our In Love With Stamping Demonstrator forum.

 

This is Jo’s frame – it was her birthday on the day (5th May) and her husband had paid for her craft day for her birthday.  It was unfortunate that the friend who should have been joining her had tonsillitis.

 

This is Natalie’s frame – she has recently signed up as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, through a contact she made online.   We only met recently at the Sincerely Yours show in Thetford on 1st April .

  

This was Kathy’s frame – she made this for her daughter.

This is Susan’s frame - made for her home.

Unfortunately I don’t have photos of all the frames that our guests created back in November 2011, at the Mablethorpe Crafting Retreat Weekend with Emily and myself, but here is a selection.

 Julie’s Christmas frame

Jane’s Christmas frame

Mandy’s frame

Andrea’s frame

   

Carol’s frame

….. and a few more from the February 2012 Crafting Retreat Weekend.

This is Tracy’s frame – she is a US Stampin’ Up’ Demonstrator.

This is Debbie’s frame – made with her family name.

I cannot remember who’s these next two belonged to but if you see this and get in touch with me, I will add your names.

 

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these beautiful projects.  I like to ensure that guests have the same surprise element when attending Crafting Retreat Weekends and similar special events, hence not publishing these photos until today.  They have been extremely popular will everyone who has attended.

With a couple of ladies attending my next ‘Fun Day of Crafting’ group on Saturday 19th May having already made projects above at previous Retreat Weekends,  they will be creating an alternative project using lovely NEW products from the Stampin’ Up! Summer 2012 Mini catalogue, hence, I am now able to share this wide selection of individualised projects with you.

The remaining projects will be posted after 19th May so please pop back then to see what else my guests created, together with a tutorial.

That’s all for now, hope these have given you some inspiration for handmade gifts.  I know my customers have enjoyed and are busy making more for Christmas presents already.

Happy craftin’

Sandra

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN & LAUGHTER

One of my Thetford Stampers 10 members, Judy, asked about delivery of her order as she had no forthcoming appointments in my area to be able to collect as usual.  She wondered if I was going to be visiting the Norwich area anytime soon, or perhaps going to the Chinese buffet that my hubby and I like.

Well, what else was I supposed to do, in the interests of maintaining good Customer Service of course, but to oblige and rustle up a car full of fellow crafters to meet her for a Chinese buffet.  After all, hubby was away for the weekend and everything was ready for the following days class !! We had a really enjoyable evening, so many funny tales, I think our squeals of laughter were perhaps a bit too noisy at times for the other diners, so apologies to them, but we did have lots of fun !!

Two of the funniest moments were tales of Judy’s parrot Elvis, that kept us amused for some time, and who, at 16yrs old had escaped out of an open door and after returning a while later had later laid an egg, realising Elvis was in fact a ‘she’.  Elvis is now 23yrs old.

Then there was Alison’s tale of her forthcoming house move, downsizing but having been to auction that day and buying several items of furniture at very good prices, had not thought about how she was getting them home !!  Luckily her friend has a van and he is collecting some time this week, hopefully some being delivered to her craft room at the new house to save moving them twice.

Thank you all for an excellent evening, one I feel must be repeated again.

Sandra

 

 

NEW SUMMER MINI BLOG HOP

Hi fellow crafters and welcome to today’s Blog Hop.  From 10am this morning, around 40 Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators are showcasing products from the Summer 2012 Mini catalogue which you can order from TODAY. 

Grab yourself a cuppa and have some fun ‘hopping’ round for some wonderful inspiration.  You may need a pen and paper to jot down some of your favourite products along the way and start your wish list.  Don’t worry if you have a long list, with TWO great offers from Stampin’ Up! at the moment, it has never been a better time to sign up as a Demonstrator – for just £99 - and earn some of your favourite products for FREE.  Why not contact me on 07806 616704 or email sroberts07@btinternet.com to take advantage of the offers or find out more information.  Details will remain at the top of my blog for the merry month of May.

You may have joined me today from Alison’s blog  HERE, one of my team of Stampin’ Up! downlines.  Didn’t she have some wonderful projects.  

My first project to share with you today is the card I made for a recent swap with my fellow Demonstrators over on In Love With Stamping.  Here I have used the new Blossom Punch #125603 to punch the main flower and used the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder #117335 to add texture to the petals.  The leaves have been punched using the Bird Builder punch #117191.  The Designer Series Paper is from Twitterpated Suite which features DSP, Buttons, ribbons and materials.

Here they are all ready before posting.

One of our dear Demo Support staff, Eileen, has been very poorly lately and I was creating these when I heard the news.  Here is the card I sent to her to wish her a speedy recovery.

Next I wish to share with you projects from my recent all-day class, an ‘Introduction to Scrapbooking’, where attendees received class kits containing a lovely assortment of products from the New Twitterpated Suite to create some pages for their 6” x 6” scrapbook album.  These are one of my favourite DSP collections and have something to suit everyone’s taste.

The front page for my album was inspired by a 12”x12” scrapbook page designed by the lovely Monica at a recent training session in Peterborough.  Using my selection for my class kits, I adapted the design for my 6” x 6” album and used completely different products, incorporating new products from the Summer 2012 Mini.  Monica’s design used the self adhesive die-cut strips from Tickets and Tags Simply Scrappin’ kit #122373 but I have used various strips of co-ordinating cardstock and Eyelet Border punch #119853 and Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch #119275.   The centre mats have been created by using two sizes from the Framelits #125598. Numbers have been cut using Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine #113439 using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Dies #115951. The new Pleated Satin Ribbon in Red Riding Hood Red #125569.

 

My next double page provided my own inspiration for the cards above.  Using the beautiful DSP with Red Riding Hood Red & Whisper White cardstock and textured using Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder detailed above.

   

The next double page features the beautiful floral paper from the Twitterpated Suite.  Here I have used the Island Indigo and Blushing Bride co-ordinating cardstock.  The Red Riding Hood Red also features within the paper and has been used to create this lovely carnation using the Blossom punch #125603 and mounted onto two strips of Island Indigo cardstock that have been cut and embossed using the Adorning Accents Edgelit Dies #125595 and Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing folders #125601.

  

My last share today features another quick and simple double page layout.  Both of these are identical pages, just placed in album with one upside down !!  Here I incorporated the Pleated Satin Ribbon in Blushing Bride #125570 and the Twitterpated Designer Buttons #125579.

   

Some of my class ladies (and gent) have allowed me to take photos of some of their adaptations and I will be posting more over the next few days.   With lots of new products to play with, I am looking forward to finding some time over the Bank holiday Weekend to do some more creating.

I hope you have enjoyed stopping by here, if so, I would love you to leave me a comment.

Please continue your tour by clicking on Pat's blog www.pinkycardsandcreations.blogspot.com
for some more lovely New Summer 2012 Mini inspiration.

Hope to see you soon.

Happy craftin’

Sandra

STAMPIN’ UP! NEW STARTER KIT – Just £99

 

Stampin' Up! have just launched a fantastic BRAND NEW Starter Kit for new Recruits. For just £99 you can fully customise the kit to suit your own requirements. With a total value of £175, you can choose £130 of product from the **NEW** Summer Mini Catalogue or the Main Catalogue, with £45 of business supplies.

During 2012, Stampin’ Up! will be celebrating its fifth year in Europe--and doing it in a big way! As part of that celebration, during May only, new demonstrators who join Stampin’ Up! will receive FREE Convention 2012 registration--a £149 value!

This is a fabulous opportunity to start for just £99. I would love to have you as part of my team so if you would like more information please call me on 01366 728407 or 07806 616704 or email me at sroberts07@btinternet.com.

Sandra

x

THANKS TO MY DISTANT MENTOR

This afternoon I caught up with a dear friend whom I think I first met at the first ever European Convention that was held in Frankfurt, November 2009.  I am lucky to have been able to attend all three European Conventions and am already looking forward to the 4th one this November.

Dawn from Aberdeenshire remembers me sitting the bar and showing her and a few other demos how to make folded Christmas trees with Designer Series Paper.

Although we don’t get to catch up very often, Dawn has been a bit of a distant ‘mentor’ to me down here in Norfolk, giving me support along my Stampin’ Up! journey.  Being part of Stampin’ Up! team of Independent Demonstrators, is extremely rewarding and Demonstrators have the opportunity to earn many rewards along their individual journeys. 

The highlight of the year, is an all expenses paid Grand Holiday.  I would love to be part of one of these Stampin’ Up! trips however I recognise that working full time, I feel it will be a tall order for me to achieve this.  I am not one to be defeated but today Dawn has encouraged me that I am heading towards the half way mark already …. I have another 5-months to achieve this huge goal !!!

Having worked extremely hard during the first few months of this year, particularly during Sale-A-Bration, I earned some wonderful rewards for both sales and recruiting being able to choose many stamp sets free of charge from the new Mini.  I set myself some goals / personal targets for the first three months of the year.   The first is one I have been chasing for some time to get over the £10,000 in annual personal sales.  The 2nd and 3rd were to sign up 3 recruits and to achieve my Silver 2 promotion.  I am pleased to say I achieved all of these !!

Please pop back on Tuesday as there is some exciting new regarding the new starter kit which I’m sure many of you will love. 

To find out more about becoming an Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, please give me a call on 01366 728407 or 07806 616704 and I will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Regards

Sandra

STAMFORD CLASS

It was lovely to see another packed class today at my regular bi-monthly class with my long standing friends at AJ’s in Stamford.  We have been trying to work out how long I have been instructing classes for Alan & Jean.  When they were Manager and Sales Assistant in the craft department at Denny in Bury St Edmunds - it must be over 6yrs now.

Instructing Stampin’ Up! craft classes here bi-monthly, they get to choose which of my monthly classes either side of their month, they wish to do.  

So, with class theme of 'Whiter Than White', it was just as the title suggests, using a wide variety of 'white' materials in the current Stampin' Up! Catalogues.  The inspiration for this class came whilst on holiday in Portugal in October 2011. I passed a shop called ‘White Linen’ and had to have a browse (as women do). Back at the apartment for an afternoon siesta, laptop and Stampin’ Up! catalogue in hand and so the class began to unfold, ready to make up when I got back home.

Today we used many different white card stock, textures and accessories to make our assortment of cards.

Unfortunately I’m only giving you one sneak peak as class also being run at Riversdale Centre THETFORD on Sunday 13th May, Moreton Hall BURY ST EDMUNDS on Saturday 26th May (SOLD OUT)  and St Faiths Centre NORWICH on Sunday 27th May. 

 

Unfortunately, the photo does not really do the project justice – in real life you can see the many different textures we have used.  If you wish to see some of the projects we made, please pop back after the last one on 27th May, as I like to keep surprises for those attending.

Places are going quickly, so please phone me on 01366 728407 or 07806 616704 or email sroberts07@btinternet.com.

Catch up soon 

Sandra

A NEW TEAM MEMBER …... (or two ?)

I am pleased to welcome another new Stampin’ Up! team member, Laura. She is my most local team mate which makes sharing even easier, being only about 5 miles away.

Laura works with textiles, curtain-making etc and is looking forward to creating with our Stampin’ Up! materials. Having a young son, she is also looking forward to running day classes whilst he is at school.

As we sat planning her launch party, Lewis left watching the football with my husband (well Manchester United hadn’t started yet!! ) to join us in my craft room and, seeing my shoe-box for prize door forms, immediately wanted to make one himself when he got home.

“Just like Sandra’s”

Here is the photo Laura sent which she has given permission for me to post here on my blog. Just look at that cheeky grin, he was so well behaved.

Happy craftin’

Sandra

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE

I’m so excited to share my cards with fellow crafters, it can be difficult to keep designs back when planning their birthday cards, remembering who has seen what.

Here is the card I created for Stephanie, who celebrated birthday Sunday.

This little box was made for a little chocolate treat to accompany her gift, using the beautiful Stampin’ Up! Morning Mocha Designer Series Paper which are being featured, together with Everything Eleanor stamp set, at my next All-Day classes on Saturday 28th January in Bury St Edmunds and Sunday 29th January in Norwich. Please get in touch if you would like more information.

We enjoyed helping her celebrate with a drink or two in the local pub.

I was so disappointed that within just a few minutes of arriving at the pub, I had lost one of my large black pearl earrings. They were a gift with the matching white gold and black pearl necklace that David had bought me from the jewellers in Hawaii where my engagement ring came from on holiday for my 40th birthday. The price to replace was going to be shocking (yes David looked up when we got home) !!

Having walked to the pub over grass and gravel on the road, I never expected to see again. What was the chance of finding in the dark ?

However, putting key in the door, David shone his torch just beside the door mat and there it sat. What a miracle, I was so pleased !!! A good ending to a lovely evening.

Happy craftin’

Sandra