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

Friday 13th !!!!!!!!!!!!!

So OK, I've been lucky so far. In 30yrs of driving, I have been so lucky to escape huge car bills ....... until now ....... on Friday 13th !!!

Last night driving to my class in Bury St Edmunds, I noticed a bit of a rumbling in my car. Worried I might not get home, I phoned hubby to make sure he stayed up till I got home OK. Yesterday our local garage took a look. Unfortunately, I left my iPhone in the car when I left the garage so had to phone to ask them to keep it safe and the kind souls had to take for a test drive to listen for problem so brought it back to me at work, 5miles up the road (bless 'em). Then just before lunch came the horror phone call I was dreading. They diagnosed a 'dual mass fly wheel' which will cost about £2500 for Toyota to repair or £1500 at local garage !!!!!!!!!

On top of this, our en suite shower has been leaking through to the kitchen so we have had to brought forward getting a new shower and revamp for the whole en suite.

Such an expensive time.

Anyway, on a lighter note, here is one of the cards we made Thursday evening.

Happy craftin’

Sandra

Happy Birthday Jane

Unfortunately one of my regular class attendees, Jane, was poorly and missed Thursdays class so her birthday card had to be posted. We all wish her a speedy recovery and hope that the card arrived OK. One of the projects she missed on Thursday I think will be received from another class member for birthday!!

I quickly rustled up another card to post Friday and this year, whenever I create a birthday card, I am doing my best to make a few for my stock box. It’s not an SU design but I know she loved my Stampin’ Up! Owl Extravaganza class, so hope she will like these owls too.

Happy craftin’

Sandra

Paul and Thandi’s Wedding

Brother-in-law Paul re-married on Thursday and here is the card I made for the happy couple.

My card features the heart stamp from the Perfect Postage stamp set #126111 (W) #126113 (C). The images were stamped using Versamark ink pad #102283 and silver embossing powder. These were then punched out with the Postage Stamp punch #122344 and mounted onto a piece of silver hearts holographic card from my stash before being mounted onto a white A5 base card.

The greeting was from Occasional Quotes, a retired Hostess gift.

Happy craftin’

Sandra

IN LOVE WITH STAMPING - BLOG HOP

Hi and welcome to our ILWS Stampin' Up! blog hop.

As Stampin' Up! Demonstrators, we get the opportunity to pre-order products from new catalogues, a month before the general release date. As such, several demonstrators on ILWS have got together to showcase the products they have earned for FREE from recent Stampin' Up! promotions or purchased themselves from the NEW Spring 2012 Mini catalogue that you will be able to order from today.

Do you love to be among the first to receive information or fancy the opportunity to earn even more FREE products ? Then why not ask me about becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and you could be joining us here next time. Just click on the 'contact me' button at the top of the screen to get in touch.

Now grab that cuppa, sit back and enjoy your hop. You may have just joined me from Emma's blog http://www.emma-daye.blogspot.com, she makes such wonderful projects.

One of my favourite things about Stampin' Up! is the co-ordination of stamps and punches together. Either can be used on it's own but teamed up together they are just great. Today I'm featuring two sets in the NEW Mini that do just that.

My first card to showcase is the Build a Cupcake stamp set with matching punch. I had been hoping this set would make in into the European catalogue last October but sadly not. I was so pleased it finally made it for the Mini. Isn't that cherry just so cute. This card also uses the new 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch, it's quite a bit bigger than the existing one and is great for layering the two together for flowers. Like to have a go making some easy but realistic looking flowers, then get in touch to book your space on my next all-day Stampin' Up! class.

Next is the Perfect Postage stamp set with matching punch. An earlier post back in October, featured this small gift box so I have decided these small images would fit perfectly on these small notelets. I just love this years In-Colour Lucky Limeade and matching scallop edged ribbon.
I hope you've enjoyed the creations I've shared with you today and thank you for stopping by.

Now please continue enjoying your 'hop' round and pop over to Caroline's blog http://www.stampaholix.blogspot.com blog for some more lovely creations.

Happy Craftin' till next time.

Sandra

NEW **** SPRING 2012 MINI ****

This year is so special ..... up until now, here in Europe we have only had one Mini catalogue that has run from 1st April to 30th September.

We had some fabulous news at Stampin' Up! European Convention in November. Our ****NEW**** Spring 2012 Mini starts today 4th January 2012 and runs until 30th April. (In addition we also know there will be a Summer Mini too to look forward too later on).
If you haven't already got your hands on a copy, please use the 'contact me' tab at the top of the page to get in touch and I will post you a copy 1st class post or click on the image on the left to view the entire catalogue.

Please pop back at 10am this morning with a cuppa and enjoy hopping round several Stampin' Up! Demonstrators blogs who are show casing products from the NEW SPRING 2012 MINI CATALOGUE.

Bye for now and see you back here soon.

Sandra

12 for 2012 ........

It's the 1st day of 2012 and thanks to my hubby, I have started Christmas cards for 2012 ......

Chatting to a crafting friend in the village pub last night, hubby invited her to come for lunch. She had told me earlier that she had now used up all her bought card supply and she really needed to now start her Christmas cards much earlier this year, I suggested she stay and craft !! Well, who needs an excuse to spend the afternoon in a craft room chatting.

We both have 12 made. Steph chose 6 each of 2 different designs, completed with liners and packed with envelopes ready to pack away in shoebox. Mine are toppers for Convention 2012 swaps in November, providing the stamp set doesn't retire in September. If it does, then it really doesn't matter as I will have ample toppers to put on card bases and voile, Christmas cards ready made.

What a start to the New Year. Keeping design under wraps so it's a surprise for Convention goers :-)

Bye for now crafters, hope you had a good night last night.

Sandra