OWL PUNCH PRE-ORDERS

Apologies that everything has been a bit quiet for me on here as it's been so difficult to keep quiet about the NEW MINI CATALOGUE which releases on 1st April.

Whilst Demonstrators have been able to pre-order some products, we have not been allowed to publicly display on blogs etc until today.

We had a fantastic OWL EXTRAVAGANZA WORKSHOP last Saturday which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. A sequel is already in the pipeline !!!

So my first post today will be the OWL PUNCH PRE-ORDER DRAW as I am processing at midnight to be among the first orders to be despatched from HQ in Germany.

Here are the names of pre-orders, in the order they went onto my list :-

1. Lynn B

2. Sarah (Northwold)

3. Stephanie S

4. Janet W

5. Gina D

6. Grace M

7. Vicky P

8. Louise E

9. Cathi P

10. Mandy S

11. Maggie P

12. Debbie K

13. June D

14. Marilyn B

15. Weeting 1 - Joyce

16. Weeting 2 - Marilyn R

17. Weeting 3 - Eileen G

18. Weeting 4 - Joanne R

19. Judy B

20. Roberta

21. Jane

22. Julie

23. Anj

24. Sarah R

25. Judy H

26. Marion

27. Pat (S)

So to draw the winning line, I have just shouted to my hubby to pick a number between 1 and 27 and the winner is ...............No 17. Eileen from Weeting will be the proud owner of a FREE STAMP SET of her choice from my stock box.

Please keep popping back over the next few days to see lots of new prjects from the New Mini catalogue and also join us here from 10am Saturday for a Demonstrator Blog Hop. Here you will able to hop from links between each site and see many wonderful projects made from the new items.

Catch up again soon.

Sandra

TUESDAY TOP TIP

This weekend it made change to have relatively clear of any commitments. So, before the dreaded 'spring cleaning' started and hubby was still snoring, I started playing with one of my ideas I just hadn't had time to get round too.

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Those of you who have Stampin' Up! stamp sets, will be aware of the waste rubber round the wonderful stamps.

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Today I'm sharing one of my ideas for some more recycling and also showing what excellent value for money Stampin Up! stamp sets are - the enjoyment of the initial stamp set but then the added extra !!

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The photo above shows how I have cut a cut a tree shape from the waste rubber and stuck onto an old acrylic block. The ones Stampin' Up! added to their new catalogue in October are just so nice to use, I don't use the old ones any more.

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Next, I got out my old sturdy craft knife and cut a slither from the centre and then some smaller lines. A bit fiddly but was easier stuck on the acrylic block.

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The card below shows the effect that I achieved.

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The card was finished by stamping onto Early Espresso card with Whisper White ink and matted onto Very Vanilla and Early Espresso base card. The tag is from Tiny Tags stamp set and punched with the Medium Jewelry tag punch.

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Hope you enjoyed todays tip. Pop back next week for another recycling 'Top Tip' together with another free Tutorial.

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Happy craftin'.

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Sandra

JUST BELIEVE IN NEUTRALS !!

Here is a quick share but unfortunately the photo doesn't show the detail of the faux silk technique with tissue paper that my classes did this month. Everyone really enjoyed learning yet another simple but very effective new technique.

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The two small pieces of left over River Rock DSP I had in my remnants from making up samples, were quickly made into this card whilst demonstrating the technique. However, I had to bow down to the rest of the class who all agreed to put the image crooked !! I wanted to put straight to the left hand side with greeting half on and half off, but the class won !!

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Happy caraftin'.

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Sandra

Emboss Resist card

Today I thought I would share with you one of my 'Just Believe in Neutrals' selection that some my classes made in February. I really enjoyed using the whole of the Neutrals card stock and matching Designer Series Paper, my favourite colour being the River Rock.

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Here the large floral image was stamped in Versamark with clear embossing powder. The En Francais script was stamped in Soft Suede ink through a masked window torn from scrap paper. The centre of the image was then sponged with River Rock ink. Here the ink resists the shiny embossed surface and the design 'pops' as you polish off the excess ink with kitchen paper.

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Happy craftin' and be sure to pop back soon.

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Sandra

***THIS POST WILL STAY AT THE TOP DURING SALE-A-BRATION***

***PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWER POSTS***

It's Sale-A-Bration time again at Stampin' Up! and friends, fresh ideas, and FREE PRODUCT is what it's all about !

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Every year Stampin' Up! gives customers, hostesses, and new demonstrators the opporutnity to earn fantastic, limited-edition products they'll enjoy for years to come. Double click on the catalogue at the top left to view the 4 stamp sets available.

Get FREE stamp sets by doing any of the following :

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SPEND

You'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set when you spend £45 on Stampin' Up! merchandise (product sales before handling and shipping). There's no limit - for every £45 you spend, you can select another FREE Sale-A-Bration reward!

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HOST

You'll receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set when you host a workshop of at least £300 (product sales before handling and shipping) - this is in addition to all of the regular hostess benefits!

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JOIN

During Sale-A-Bration, anyone who joins as a demonstrator can choose any stamp set - a value of up to £44.95 - from our current Idea Book and Catalogue.

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The Sale-A-Bration promotion starts today and runs through 28 February 2011, so don't miss your chance to earn free products! Give me a call on 01366 728407 or 07806 616704 to place an order, book a workshop or find out more about joining my team.

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Happy Crafting !!

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Sandra

BEAUTIFUL ROSES

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Here are some of the cards I made with my lovely ladies at Weeting on Saturday. I had been asked to incorporate a couple of Easter cards into our day so decided on a Spring theme. Using the Occasional Greetings #110520, my customers had a choice of greetings for each of the 8 cards which gave them all the variety they needed and incorporated Mothers Day, Easter Wishes, Thank You, For You and Happy Birthday.

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The cards below used the Happiness Shared stamp set #117038 (W) / 120534 (C) which available from Stampin' Up! and can be ordered from me at any time.

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After the initial fear of inking the stamp with the marker pens, the whole group made this technique look effortless and all enjoyed creating these three cards with only one inking !

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Here is the 2nd generation of stamping after a light 'misting'.

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This is the 3rd generation stamped after another 'misting'. While I was demonstrating, we proved that when using Watercolour Paper you could stamp even more images. Why not give it a try !
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Hope you like these samples today.

Happy craftin'
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Sandra

TUESDAY TOP TIP

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Lots of people use their stamps to ink in black or grey and then colour in with their preferred colouring medium eg watercolour pencils, markers etc.

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Here are my supplies for today's TUESDAY TOP TIP.

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As you can see, we have a clear stamp mounted onto an acrylic block. I have Stampin' Write Markers in Rose Rose, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip. The stamp in the photo has already been inked and ready to stamp.

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These are the 4 images I have stamped from that one inked image. For best results you will need to use Watercolour Paper #105019. In between each one, I have held the stamp, face upwards, mid air (away from the table) and spritzed lightly with a very fine water spray. Stamp again and repeat.

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Once you have finished stamping, take your Aqua Painter #103954 and gently pull in the colour already on your image. There is no need to add further ink. Take care to clean your brush on kitchen paper in between sections and when changing colours.

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Pop back later and I will post samples made at Saturdays Workshop using these images.

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Happy craftin'

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Sandra

TUESDAY TOP TIP

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When you are embossing, there are special little Embossing Buddies you can buy via me from Stampin' Up! They are neat little pouch that fits into a corner of your crafting caddy and do just the perfect job for preventing little speckles of embossing powder sticking to your project where you don't want it. They last for a very long time !!

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Simply wipe the little pouch over cardstock and a very fine layer of fine powder will be left on card. Stamp and emboss in the usual way and you will have a perfect image.

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If you haven't got round to getting one yet, as a temporary measure tip some talcum powder into a dish and use a paintbrush to dust powder over card instead. Not an ideal way but will help you get buy under you get the proper item !

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Pop back next week for another Top Tip Tuesday !!

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Happy craftin'

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Sandra

WHAT A SURPRISE !!!!!!

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Well I was chuffed to have had a visit from the lovely Peg who I met through Stampin Up training events. She left me this award at the weekend and I've had fun reading everyones 8 random facts. .

Well here are my random facts :-.

1. 
   
   I think, live and breathe CRAFTING and love every minute of it. When hubby puts TV onto the sport channel or boring documentaries, I am more than happy to go upstairs to my craft room. I enjoy getting inspiration from everyday moments in life. (Yes Grace, I am currently re-creating the decoration on your jumper from Saturday, LOL). Creating and sharing with my lovely class ladies (and gent) is a great way to spend an evening or Saturday.


2. 
   
   I am a GRADE VIII musician . I play Clarinet and Saxophone and whilst I do not play regularly any more (choosing to let craft take up more time), I still enjoy playing for amateur dramatic productions in Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal and will be playing in the pit for 'Crazy For You' from 21st-26th March.


3. 
   
   DAVID & I have both been married before and both used to play in RAF Honington and RAF Wyton Voluntary Band. He claims he only went out with me because Wyton needed another Clarinet player !!!! We kept our wedding secret at Cambridgshire Registry office and as, we got married a week before my birthday, we planned a birthday BBQ at home with 70 of our family and friends. It was lovely to see their faces as the penny gradually dropped !!


4. 
   
   I ride a HONDA GOLDWING 1800 TRIKE - well some of you will have noticed the picture on my Blog, but that is David driving. My first solo trip was last year whilst down in Cornwall for the Goldwing Treffen and I took off on my own to visit fellow demonstrator Abi for a few hours 'crafting fix'. Who would have thought that a motorbike would have a towbar .... yes, we tow a trailer making the outfit much bigger than a car. I also am now a seasoned camper ........ Cornwall in the wet, with broken tent zip, that was fun !!!!! We've bought a new one now.


5. 
   
   Sad I know but I check the Premium Bond website every 3rd working day of the month (or thereabouts) just to see if uncle E.R.N.I.E. has been kind to me this month. I would really like to pay off the mortgage so I can go part time and craft more ......... I keep dreaming !!


6. 
   
   I worked for Barclays Bank PLC for just under 25yrs before being made redundant in 2004. I now work for Priory Group, working in a school for children with challenging behaviours, still doing finance and budgets etc. My work life balance has been totally restored, working just 1 mile from home is simply wonderful.


7. 
   
   I have an adopted MUM ........... well unofficially. Pat worked for me in my team at Barclays Bank PLC and became a very close and dear friend and agony aunt, seeing me through many of lives troubles including divorce, moving house etc. She is also a talented crafter and we love spending time together whenever I have a day off work. I adopted her as my 'Mum' many years ago.


8. 
   
   I have a TWIN .......... well unofficially too. My latest downline Emily is so like me it is uncanny. There are so many things we do, think and share that are the same, I think we must be twins. (In real life I have one sister who is a Detective Sergeant for Norfolk Constabulary).

I would like to pass this lovely award on to the following :-

• Peg - http://pegcraftalot.com


• Abi - http://cornwallcraftystamper.blogspot.com


• Natalie - http://www.natalieoshea.co.uk/blog.html


• Zoe - http://stampingscene.blogspot.com


• Monica - http://monicas-passions.blogspot.com


• Kirsteen - http://www.creatinwithkirsteen.com


• Valita - http://valitasfreshfolds.blogspot.com


• Andrea - http://creatingcardswithandrea.blogspot.com

Sorry but I've added a bonus honary award to Emily at - http://www.stampinmermaid.blogspot.com/. As a new demo she has only just started her blog but, not being a PC whizz, I am proud that she has mastered posting a photo and entry on her own. Keep an eye on more exciting things happening on here in the future.
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Well I've had fun creatin this post and hope you enjoyed reading.

Take care and happy crafting. I'm waiting some more crafting goodies to arrive which I cannot wait to try out.

Sandra

TUESDAY TOP TIP

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Hi crafters !
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Seems there has been a bit of a blip with my Top Tips - the dates have gone silly and one not posted. I had picked up a draft email I'd saved but was empty and typed one and of course, it dated the post on the date it had originally saved ! It wasn't really January's.

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Anyway, I've re-typed last Tuesday 8th February here and also got Tuesday 15th February scheduled for 7am!! Well hope it works OK.

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TOP TIP TUESDAY

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When I began crafting many years ago, I used to 'wipe' the ink pad along the edge of the card. For some time now I have been using a sponging technique which has become one of my favourites. It allows a small 'smoky' effect round the edge of cards.

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When I get home from holding classes, I have a bag of sponges and sponge daubers, sometimes in a variety of colours, which need cleaning ready for the next class.

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Up to now I have squeezed them through in the sink with a bit of washing up liquid. Recently one of my fellow crafters shared with me that they put in a net bag in the washing machine !!! I would just say, make sure it is a dark load and I would also just rinse excess out under the tap first.

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Here is a card that we made yesterday with the lovely ladies in Stamford.

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We have used the sponges to accent round edge of the Very Vanilla mat layer and also round the greeting. Everyone had fun creating the centre image, again sponging over our embossed image and then polishing off with kitchen roll which made our image 'pop'.

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My Bury St Edmunds and Norwich classes will be making a variation on this card as one of their card selection on 26th and 27th February respectively whilst crafting with Just Believe stamp set #116948 (W) and 120453 (C). The colour choice this month is the Neutrals collection and all attendees will receive half a pack of Neutrals cardstock #121699, a stash of wonderful Designer Series Paper in the Neutrals #117157 and a selection of ribbons and accesories in the same colour theme.

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Please contact me to reserve your place on 01366 728407 / 07806 616704.

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Please pop back soon.

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Happy crafting.

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Sandra

BIRTHDAY INSPIRATION

This weekend we have had my sister-in-law and her husband visiting from Shropshire for her birthday. David had asked some female colleagues what to buy a 'woman who has everything' and was suggested some Jo Malone perfume (he also got me some for my Valentine gift).

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As soon as I saw the clean and simple lines of the packaging, I knew I wanted to make her card along the same lines.

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He read all the write-ups about each fragrance and went with one of the most popular ones Pomegranate Noir. Not only did he choose a range she really liked, but also chose her favourite fragrance in the collection. Didn't he do well !!

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Here I have used Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon with the Happy Birthday greeting from Party This Way stamp set on Basic Black and Very Vanilla cardstock. I hope you like my interpretation.

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Hope to see you back soon.

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Sandra

'TOP TIP TUESDAY'

TODAYS TOP TIP : How many times have you stuck cards together upside down or opening the wrong way ?

If this happens, please do not panic ! Providing you have used ordinary double sided tape (not the red sticky tape), simply heat gently from the back with a heat gun. This will warm the glue sufficiently to let you peel off and reapply correctly.

I've used this tip several times this week to help customers so thought it would be a good one to share for this weeks 'top tip'.

If you have used red sticky tape, all is not lost. Trim at the fold and mat and layer onto another card base !

See you again next week.

Sandra

'TOP TIP TUESDAY'

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Hi again, a bit later than usual !!

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Today's tip is using those fantastic MINI GLUE DOTS. There are various brands on the market but I prefer the Stampin' Up! ones - my regular customers know, I never recommend something just because it's SU unless I truely believe in it - this is one of those products. It took me a long while to become addicted to them but, for those of you who know how tacky the red sticky strip is, then these are just the same.

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They are great for attaching embellishments to cards. I especially like them for attaching small bows to projects. Simply push the back of the bow onto the glue dot on the roll and then gently peel off and then glue comes too !!

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If you have smaller embellishments, why not try rolling glue dot between your fingers to make even smaller !

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Hope to see you back again soon.

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Sandra

S-A-B BLOG HOP - Technique

Hi
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I promised to post another colour way of one of my Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop cards from yesterday.

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Here I have used Rich Razzleberry as a base card with Baja Breeze and Whisper White.

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Several people yesterday asked how I had done the colour panels. On these samples I masked off a square or rectangle with Post It notes (however I have now ordered both sizes of square punch so I can just punch out in classes).

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Simply sponge through the hole with the centre colour and then with a contrast either side. The shape can be any size or shape.

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The butterfly from Sale-A-Bration BLISS stamp set has been stamped in Basic Black ink and then stamped again onto scrap of Whisper White, card out by hand (sorry no punch for this one !) and attached just down the centre so that the wings are lose.

The greeting and small butterfly is from Sale-A-Bration SO HAPPY FOR YOU stamp set.

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I hope you enjoyed yesterdays 'blog hop' and have lots of inspiration for your stamp sets.

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Until next time.

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Happy Crafting

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Sandra

Welcome to our

SALE-A-BRATION Blog Hop

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Today, 42 Demonstrators have got together to organise four Blog Hop groups to share with you some inspiration using the 2011 SALE-A-BRATION stamp sets that you can get FREE with every £45 spent in the current Ideas Book & Catalogue, and there are FOUR sets to collect before 28th February 2011.

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Simply follow the links in each blog post, either forwards or backwards and you should start back at where you started. I have included the link to the start of each group at the bottom. So, make yourself a cuppa, forget the housework for a while and sit back and enjoy your tour. I'm sure that that you will soon be thumbing through the catalogue to make your next order and and choosing your FREE stamp sets. (If you don't have a copy there is a link at the top left of this blog).

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Providing all the links have been scheduled correctly for 10am today, you may have just joined me from Emma @ http://emma-daye.blogspot.com and hope you are enjoying all the inspiration your have seen so far on your tour. If you have already been round this loop you may wish to click on the start of one of the other groups listed at the bottom of this post.

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For our contribution today, my downline Emily and I started by designing this cute little set of five 10cm x 10cm cards, going out of our comfort zone and working with colours we wouldn't normally use. Here we used Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight with a Basic Black silhouette on each of the designs. We have used all 5 greetings from SO HAPPY FOR YOU stamp set for this collection, one on each card.

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This owl is from PUNCH BUNCH stamp set. Our cute little owl will also be available from 1st April 2011 as a punch in our Mini Catalogue. With one gentle squeeze, you punch all 9 component pieces to mix and match into some delightful characters. I love this little chap and can guarantee you will be seeing lots more of him !!!!

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This scalloped flower is also from PUNCH BUNCH. Every stamp in this set has a co-ordinating punch.

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This card uses Butterfly from BLISS stamp set. Pop back tomorrow to another version of this card in a different colour way that I am sharing in a demo swop today.

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Here again is a wonderful scroll from the BLISS stamp set. This also makes some wonderful background effects for your card.

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The last one in this little set comes from SWEET SUMMER stamp set and again is very versatile.

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We then continued out of our comfort zone to make this little quarter card with Cajun Craze cardstock and Designer Series Paper from the Regals collection. The centre greeting is from PUNCH BUNCH stamp set and has been punched with the Square Scallop punch.

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.... and finally, we continued with our Cajun Craze cardstock and Designer Series Paper to make an owl spinner card. The owl is from PUNCH BUNCH stamp set and greeting from SO HAPPY FOR YOU stamp set. I will show you how to make this spinner card in my all-day workshop in March. Please contact me for scheduled workshop dates for the whole of 2011 in Thetford, Bury St Edmunds, Norwich and Stamford - Tel. 01366 728407 / 07806 616704 or email sroberts07@btinternet.com.

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I hope you have enjoyed your blog hop tour so far and dont forget, you can have these stamp sets for FREE too. Click on this link to go to Gemma @ http://makedoandgem.blogspot.com/ for your next inspiration.

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Group 1 starts - http://sarastamper.blogspot.com/

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Group 2 starts - http://my-next-chapter.blogspot.com/ (I'm in this group)

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Group 3 starts - http://kerenbaker.wordpress.com/

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Group 4 starts - http://www.creatinwithkirsteen.com/

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Thanks for stopping by.
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Sandra

Sarah & Steph's Shaving Foam cards

Tuesday was my monthly girls get together with Sarah and Steph from here in the village.

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I refrained from the red wine as feeling groggy with cough, thumping head and taking medication etc. They had never tried shaving foam technique and I only like to do the 'messy' cards when in is my month to host.
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They enjoyed playing with the retired cardstock colours and re-inkers in Taken with Teal, Regal Rose and Ballet Blue.

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It's amazing the backgrounds that can be achieved. If you haven't tried .... give it a go !

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Sandra

Here's one of the cards Emily, Pat, Angie and I made yesterday at our team meeting.

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It was taking us all out of our comfort zone, using bright colours that we would not normally put together. It wasn't as painful as we all thought either !!

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Here we used Red Riding Hood, Daffodil Delight and Wild Wasabi. The tulips are from Garden Whimsy and were stamped and cut out free-hand, rasing the tulip head of Stampin' Dimensionals.

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Sandra

WOW .... WHAT A DAY !!

Take 2 crafters, add 13 hours, remove sleep (who needs it anyway), children and cats, retire one husband to bed and leave the other back home with baby and dogs and ...............

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That's the way to spend time with your Stampin' Up! downline, having huge amounts of fun and laughter whilst crafting of course !!

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Yesterday Emily came down to Norfolk for our first Krafty C.A.T.S. team meeting today. Unfortunately (!!!) Emily lives too far away to travel today so was forced to stay overnight. As I worked last Sunday, I took Friday as holiday so hey presto ........ instant Craft Marathon !!! Well perhaps half-marathon as 13 hours.

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After my bleary-eyed husband woke from his slumber to say "are you two staying up all night ?" we finally thought we had better retire to bed at 3am. Four hours kip and here we are again !!

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Haven't taken photos yet, but please pop back tomorrow to see some of our creations. Unfortunately many of them are for classes so will have to keep you in suspense a little longer so as not to spoil the surprise. Of course, if you book your classes, then you will be the first to see :-)

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See you tomorrow.

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ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

'TOP TIP TUESDAY'

Welcome to a regular little slot to pass on hints and tips to you all.

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TODAY's TIP : When punching small pieces, either from scrap or to re-punch perhaps for Punchart, use a Post-It note. Attach your piece of card to the sticky part of the Post It note to punch.

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At the weekend, I showed one of my classes how to cut a thin scrap of card neatly in half to make two long thin strips. Being too small to place in the Guilotine or paper trimmer on it's own, simply line up with the edge of the post it note and place in the guiltotine or paper trimmer. Because you have a larger piece it works a treat and leaves you with two straight pieces.

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I know I wouldn't be without Post It notes in my craft tote ! They have so many uses.

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Hope you find this useful and remember to pop back next Tuesday for another 'Top Tip'.

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Sandra

'TOP TIP' TUESDAY

Welcome to a regular little slot to pass on

hints and tips to you all.

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TODAY's TIP : I find especially helpful when working with small fiddly pieces of card, gems etc and sticking eyes & noses on cute little punchart creations!!

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Trim the pointed tip from a cocktail stick. Apply a large 'blob' of Tombow Multi-Purpose adhesive (available from me @ Stampin' Up!) and allow to dry. I insert the other pointed end of the cocktail stick into the top of my kitchen roll and then the sticky bit will dry without getting glue on everything else !

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Once dry, it will remain slightly tacky and is excellent for picking up the smallest crafting items. I use a Pringles lid to rest it in while using so that other materials do not get attached.

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Hope you find this useful and remember to pop back next Tuesday for another Top Tip!

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Sandra