Another successful event at Tower Ramparts

PURE Innocence

Our little Molly on our wedding day....
I'm so glad that someone was able to capture the look on Molly's face whilst she helped herself to the strawberries on the chocolate fountain!!  A picture tells a thousand words.

I've found myself scrapping more recently.  I'm guessing it's so that I can do something for myself amongst the workshops/classes/teaching I'm doing at the moment. ALSO, It is ALL Stampin' Up!!!  I'm so proud of myself.  After a lot of papers retired in September, I have a ton of cardstock & dsp that I can't demo any longer (naughty naughty - that'll teach me for stroking it too much!)  And from now on I'm vowing to use my SU! papers more frequently.

The Simply Scrappin' pack is Love Stories and is available WHILE STOCKS LAST, it has been carried over from the last catalogue.  The background sheet has been painted using the spray mist (with the marker pens) and is a wonderful way to add colour to boring backgrounds. The next layer is Perfect Plum which is not in the kit, but complements Molly's dress.  The Polka Dot paper is Rose Red and is from the new BRIGHT collection DSP pack, great value - 40 sheets for £15.50, all 10 colours and 4 patterns.

I have another layout in the process of being finished.. it is using the new Nursery Suite Special DSP, Aimee as a baby this time.. you're gonna love it!

See you soon,
Scrappin' Hugs,
Emma xxx

New Catalogue

Most of my customers have their own catalogues now - it's so much nicer to flick through at your leisure!! BUT if you would like your own idea book & catalogue for 2010/2011 just click on the paypal button below to order your copy.

2010/2011 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

So, the new catalogue has launched!!

On Saturday 2nd October, Marisa and I held our Christmas Extravaganza 2010 & along with 32 lovely ladies stamped & created all day long!

Take a look at our Creative Craft Events blog for some fun pictures & a peek at what the ladies created...

I personally want to thank my lovely friends Jo & Georgie who helped me out and supported me with the event. 

Most of all though, my gorgeous daughter Sarah who washed up, made Teas & Coffees & did LOTS of tidying up for us throughout the day.  I have to say that she IS this good at home.. although it would be nice if she spent as much time tidying her room up!! LOL!!

LOVE YOU SARAH XX

BUT.. without this lovely lady..... I would be lost!!

Marisa came to me, first of all as my customer.  I daren't tell you how much she actually spent on her first order.. all I'll say is that she LOVES Stampin' Up!

After a couple of months weeks playing with her goodies and seeing the response she got from her creations.. she decided that she wanted to actually become a Demonstrator.. and the rest, as they say.. is HISTORY!!

Yes, Marisa is my downline, but I've also gained a really great friend through her.  We work together on our craft days, children's fun day in our local shopping centre and have LOTS more planned for the people of Ipswich!  We both get a buzz out of seeing others create, relax & have fun stamping, just as we do!

Oh, and it isn't ALL work!!  We are both going to the European Stampin' Up! Convention being held at Addington Palace this a privilege to all Demonstrators.. and we can't wait to party!!

Becoming a demonstrator has never been better... 

With the new Idea Book & Catalogue launched, alongside that the NEW Started kit is introduced.

The Starter Kit has been reduced to £119 (contents worth £230) The GREAT thing is that you can personalise your kit to your own needs, whether you already have Stampin' Up! Stash or not.

There is NOW the added bonus of the Scrapbooking add on for £50 (contents worth over £80) ONLY available to new demonstrators!

There are many options available to demonstrators, and I'm looking to increase my team, especially in the Suffolk area.  If you are interested in anything to do with Stampin' Up! please feel free to contact me and we can have a chat.

I have some more pictures in the pipeline of Molly's Craftin' Birthday Party (held on the 3rd! - yes I did say i had been busy!) and also of the Creative Stampin' class I held on the 5th October... so watch this space!

Craftin' hugs xx

Emma

xxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It's OFFICIALLY the start of the 2010-2011 Stampin' Up! NEW YEAR!! YAY!!

THE NEW CATALOGUE IS HERE!! 

You know what that means??? NEW PRODUCTS, not only that, but this year there are NEW COLOURS!!

It's SO exciting!!

Our Craft Extravaganza is on Saturday, there will be a special display of the new catalogue & some new products, the lovely new colours and some extra goodies.. so come along and see them for real!!  (I've been stroking them for far too long - it's your turn now!)

My card class is on Tuesday 5th at Shepherd Drive Baptist Church, 7.30pm - 9.30pm and we will be playing with some new stylee stamps and luscious new colours.  Make sure that you have your place booked.

LOTS OF FUN STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED... watch this space xxx

Stampin' Hugs,
Emma x

Hmm... Birthday vs. Christmas

stamp set - Sparkly & Bright
colours - Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry & Daffodil Delight

Another card using some new colour combinations, Pink Pirouette & Wild Wasabi, lovely together.  I attempted to 'stitch' the layers together, but my mini sewer would not work - anyone else got one??

Tonight, will be more creating & preparation for Saturday, but not too much as it's Rob's birthday today, so I'd best not neglect him too much!!

Catch you tomorrow everyone!!

HUGS, Emma xxx

MIA!!! BUT I'M BACK!!

I will add that there has been lots of stamping action going on though..
CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA - Saturday 2nd October looks set for a day of fun stamping & getting ready for Christmas time.  There has been lots of preparation, but we're almost there!!
There is still 2 places left, if you'd like to come along - please let me know before the tickets go!!

Tonight, I've taken a break from Christmas though, and played with some new designs and colours from the up and coming new catalogue (LAUNCHED 1st October! - If you haven't had your copy yet, let me know and I will get you one reserved - they're flying out of my craft room like hot cakes!!)

Introducing Marina Mist & Baja Breeze



stamp set - Basic Phrases

 Do I tease you too much??
Do you REALLY want a catalogue?? How about getting one for FREE?? Book a workshop and receive one free at your hostess coaching or join my Stamper's 10 group and receive one for FREE too!

More creations coming your way tomorrow - I'm trying to get your creative juices flowing!!!

Best Wishes & More

I've been really busy this past week, Marisa & I are organising a Craft Day Extravaganza on Saturday 3rd July.  I think that I took it for granted how much preparation actually goes into it!!!

So, you can understand that I can't really show the items that I have been making, as they're mostly to do with the Extravaganza.  However, you can look forward to lots of photos after the 3rd of all the fun!!

Here is a card I made for my friend, what do you think? It's quite minimal for me.  I loved the way you can create texture using the scoring part of the trimmer.  I added a clear rhinestone to the centre of the flower (from Best Wishes & more), and raised it up for more dimension.

OK, so this was GOING to be one of the cards that I had put together for the Extravaganza, using Seeing Spots along with the Autumn Meadows DSP (found in the MINI CATALOGUE)

HOWEVER, Marisa and I agreed after a couple of weeks trying to create suitable workshops around these 2 items, that we were seeing spots - literally!!!  I'll find the pictures I took of the photo album and post that later. I'm sure that it would have been nice, BUT.. we wanted something a bit brighter - that's all I'm going to say.. OK.. maybe I'll give you a sneak peak at some stage... just to tease you !!

For now, enjoy these cards..

Hugs,

Emma xx

ILWS JUNE Blog Hop !!NEW COLOURS!!

!!NEW COLOURS!!

!!BLOG HOP!!

WOWEE!!! There are certainly some talented people out there!! If you are taking part in the In Love With Stamping BlogHOP, then you have come to my blog from BLUE JELLY... I don't know how I'm going to follow Victoria's lovely creations.. but I'll give it my best shot!

I am so pleased that we were able to purchase 3 of the new colours that are being introduced in October. I've had great fun playing with them, but it's such a shame that the polka dot ribbon OR the design series paper will not be coming back in October.. That's why we're making the most of them now.. and using them before they run out of stock - so if you like what you see and are the kind of person to WANT it NOW!! Let me know!! Because before you know it, it'll all be out of stock!

Here's my first card, using Rich Razzleberry & Soft Suede inks & cardstock. I've been experimenting with a new technique, using the embossing powder and daubers to cover Whisper White cardstock. I'll be highlighting this technique and how I achieved this look later in the week.

The second 6"x6" card is based on some cards that my eldest received for her birthday, I was intrigued how I could achieve this look & after a lot of experimenting (again) I was pleasantly happy with the outcome.

This is a take on my class that I did this month at my church.  I love this sweet album made with envelopes, I used the Carousel Notes envelopes, the Chocolate Chip compliments ALL of the new colours so well. I got this idea from my upline Jenny Moors (who in turn got the tutorial from a US demo Jan Tink)

Main Purse Album

And inside..........

Well, that's all from me, next on the Blog Hop is KEREN her work is so lovely !! You'll be in for a treat!! HAVE FUN!!

Boy's birthday card...EEK!

For those that know me, I have 4 lovely daughters, very pink, purpley and sparkly daughters. 

Aimee was invited to Callum's birthday today.. I almost bought a card!! I CAN'T do boys or men's cards very easily!! So I persevered and used the Right on Track set and Choo Choo wheel to make this 12" x 4" card (folded in 3 sections - to make a 4"x4" card. Nice and cute.

Aimee insisted in being in the picture..

Here's the inside

For the inside greeting I used Cheer & Wishes, and the alphabet set for Callum's name is Just Perfect Alphabet.

For the name, I trimmed the edges with the round tab punch, this has such a lovely effect, I used Whisper White & Not Quite Navy.

Come back tomorrow for a great blog hop - you'll be taken on a journey around 10 different blogs using the new colours, ribbons and design series paper.. something NOT to miss out on.

Night for now,

Hugs,

Emma xx

Humble beginnings

WARNING - LONG POST WITH LOTS OF PICTURES!!

When I started I first moved to Ipswich, I got BIG TIME interested in crafting! 

I had just resigned from a very good job with Ford to become a full time Mum & housewife in a new area. 
As my addiction to making cards, scrapbooking, diecutting & everything crafty grew, so did my stash!! 

This is what I used to store a lot of my tools and papers in, to take to my craft groups.  I also had a lovely craft table built by my fantastic husband for the spare room.  We were able to sit together in the evenings, at least in the same room!  Then Molly came along, so I was moved into the box room, then Aimee came along & I was forced into the dining room (I think most of us have been there) 

After a while Rob had had enough and planned to build me an external room to escape to!!

                                                                 

MAY 2005

 

MARCH 2009

What a great job he made of it too!! It's triangular in shape as we have a corner plot, but it has used up a waste piece of our land and made it into something useful!!  The girls love to use it too, so it could be classed as a family room I suppose!! Rob also escapes there for some piece and quiet and occasionally if he has to work from home, he will go in there!

So here's the bit you all want to see.. It's taken ages to come together, and still needs a damn good tidy up as I've retrieved hidden bags of crafting items from the house over the last year.. but you can get an idea of where I love to hide away from the children and create......

Here is a view as you walk in, you can see the shape of the room now, but having a corner computer desk at the back really makes the most of it!

The original desk that Rob made for me .                                   

Some brilliant storage I got from a DIY shop thats now closed.  They're meant to be shoe cupboards and you can still buy them from ARGOS for about £65.. I bought 2 for £25 each!! BARGAIN!  The great thing is that I used to store my bits and bobs in old shoeboxes/DVD boxes, which now fit perfectly in there!! I was going to put another workbench on top of these 2 units, but I didn't want the desk to dark as I like to do my scrapbooking there.

The great Ikea kitchen cabinets which store (read 'hide') a lot of my stash.  I was going to get the obligitory EXPEDIT unit, but with the room being so exposed to the light, I felt that it was important for everything to be in the cupboards.  I could also store A LOT more this way too. 

This is where I spend the majority of my time!! We were given the worktop which fitted PERFECTLY!!  Rob trimmed down the worktop so that it was more ergonomic.  Now I have loads of space to spread out and stamp!!

Hope that you enjoyed looking, I know it's not as nice as these US craft rooms in the basements, but I love my space and look forward to putting the children to bed so that I can have a play!!

I've been waiting very patiently for this room.  We've always called it the craft shed, I know it's far from it.. but it's stuck!! 

After I've cleared my space up a bit more, I'll show you more of how I organise my space - BELIEVE me.. it keeps changing!!

Bye for now,

Hugs,

Emma xxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!

My Gorgeous first born is 14 years old today!!!

I can't believe how time has flown by...
Last night I entered a challenge on the Stamp With Us Birthday Bash , we had to use

1. 3 coloured papers
2. 2 patterned papers
3. 1 stamp

of our choice..  So here's my take on this challenge

I used Going Gray 12 x 12 cardstock, with Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper and the newly introduced colours Rich Razzleberry & Soft Suede.  The stamped images were from Frames with a Flourish.
And I'm quite proud to say, with working in timed conditions, that Monica's hubby chose my layout as the winner!! I'm looking forward to seeing what arrives in the post!!

HOWEVER.....
I wasn't overly impressed with the layout.. so I had to add some bits to it as I wanted to make it into a gift for Sarah - what do you think of the newer version??

I added some inked up chipboard (On Board Loads of Letters) In Rich Razzleberry OF COURSE!! versamarked them and added heat and stick glue (HEATED) then Dazzling Diamonds.  When that had dried, I added some Crystal Effects.  Added a polka dot ribbon accent and then a journal box with a similar mount to the photo and inked up the level 2 hostess kit Itty Bitty Buds in the NEW colours too..

I made a lovely flower using the 5 petal punch, ran it through a crimper a couple of times, split the cardstock (it does this naturally), inked around the edges and added a lovely pink rhinestone brad.

So.. that just about dried and I left it on the dining table for Sarah to see it this morning when she came downstairs... bless her she cried...

I really enjoyed making this and look forward to putting on the wall for a couple of weeks before it goes into the album.

Hope you like!!
Hugs,
Emma xx

Sparkling Shimmer

I wanted to show you a couple of things today.

I am getting to like the shimmer paints that were introduced in the new Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue (page 21) more and more as I use them.

It is however, really hard to photograph and capture the amazing sparkle that it gives off.. I've had a go anyway... see what you think!

And inside

This card has been made using

• Medallion background stamp
• Special Blessings stamp set
• a border stamp from the new Vintage Vogue stamp set

Other items used

• Kraft cardstock
• Not Quite Navy cardstock
• Bordering Blue cardstock
• Kraft Taffeta ribbon
• Champagne Mist Shimmer paint

Makes for a lovely simple card, of course you can change the greeting on the front and the sentiment on the insert.

I love the Medallion Stamp. Some people are frightened to use it, as it is quite big, but ensure that it is inked up enough and you'll be well on your way!

I've just seen a new technique today using this stamp and embossing over a patterned 'inked' image, it looks amazing, so I'm going to that out whilst Kiera's asleep!

Until next time,

Hugs,
Emma xx

Twit Twoo

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY!!

(For yesterday! I'm still going though!!!)

I've been busy this afternoon doing what I love.. CRAFTING!! I very rarely get time to do things for me - so I'd thought that I'd have some fun.  I've even dusted down my cricut which has not been used since I moved into my craft room.

I've been taking part in a challenge day set by Robyn & her team of PINK STAMPERS!! It's been great fun!

This card is for Challenge 4, "I like you the least", you had to use your least favourite or least used cartridge!! Well I like all my cartridges, but I bought the WILD CARD one before Kiera was born and I've never used it! So here's my effort, let me know what you think!

I had huge problems uploading this picture, but I'll hopefully upload more later today!!

All papers are Stampin' Up!

The card base is 6"x6", the tree cut at 5 1/2", the owl at 2 1/2" and the 'hello' at 2".

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! Now all I have to hope is that now I'm enjoying using my machine again... Stampin' Up! bring out a cricut!! LOL!!

Have a FUN Sunday!! I'm off to prepare to paint!!

Hugs,
Emma x

OH MY GOODNESS!!!  How lucky are we!!??

We have the chance.. YES.. You and me!! Not JUST for Demonstrators.. to purchase 3 of the new FABBY colours that we will be introducing in the new catalogue in October. I'm guessing that we will be introducing a few colours each month in the run up to the next catalogue.

Available are..

   

You can buy the

• ink pads                                               £4.25
• cardstock (24 sheets)                             £4.50
• 1/2" POLKA DOT ribbon (13.7m)               £8.95

Also available in this colour way is the

• Designer Series Paper Cottage Wall (12)    £7.75
• Flower Fantasy Window Sheets (2)            £9.50

Have fun choosing your new products, I will be placing an order in the next week and offering free postage on anyone who orders with me this week.

Keep posted for a creation this afternoon, for now I'm off to buy some paint for my bedroom... & guess which colour my lovely hubby's let me choose... OOOHHHHHHHHH!!!!  RICH RAZZLEBERRY!! (well not far off!! LOL!) how appropriate!

Hugs,
Emma xx

On a ROLL.....

I've been busy getting ready for the card classes that I run, I have one coming up on Tuesday & we're making some MASCULINE cards.. I might even be nice and show you a sneak peak tomorrow..

I also made a great swap last week, but I'm not going to show you as I'm using the design for my MAY workshops, so if you've booked up for a workshop in May you will find out then.

What I will share is how I cut out the birds using the the new XL TWO STEP BIRD PUNCH. This new punch style is so lovely, slimline and still slides through the cardstock with ease.

First of all, here is my first mistake...

I just went and punched out straight away out of the lovely Tea & Crumpets DSP.. and WASTED so much.. I was devastated about my hastiness!!

This is my 2nd attempt when I made the swaps..

Can you see how I trimmed the length of the cardstock down to 'just' fit the size of the bird, and then in turn the wings?

This worked a treat and I worked out that way you 'could' get 24 birds out of 1 sheet of A4.

I just love seeing the piles of bits ready to piece together.  When I do my swaps, I tend to work in a production line, it really helps see when you're near to finishing!!!

And here's a my birdies almost ready to take off!! LOL!! Well I thought it looked cute anyway!

Until tomorrow then... it's NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY, so I'm going to hide myself away in my craft room for an hour or two.

BUT, also, there is a GREAT announcement (for both Customers & Demonstrators) from Stampin' Up! I'm really looking forward to seeing what's happening!! WATCH THIS SPACE (I like using that phrase recently...!)

UNTIL Tomorrow,

Hugs,

Emma xxx

Offer period - between 23 April-7 May 2010

Join my team & become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and get more than £115 of free products!


If you join & become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator during this week you could save yourself 10% on the Starter Kit WOW!!.




That’s over £240 worth of stamping and business supplies for only £125 - 10% off the regular price of £139.

See here for more details

....WATCH THIS SPACE....

I'm coming back!!
I've been busy upgrading my blog so that you can get more information from me..

I am currently running 2 craft classes a month and there is a virtual workshop going on as we speak (over the next 8 months)!!

I've been told that I'm not very good at advertising myself, so I'm sorting myself out and getting organised a bit more!! WAHOO!!!

I will post some pictures later..


Hugs,
Emma xxx