Sparkly flutterby

Here's a fun little card with some added bling!
I have used Basic Gray here and the DSP is from the Love Letter stack and has been folded and creased a bit and pounched with the Spiral Punch. The flower background and sentiment are from Just Believe - one of my Convention freebies! - and the butterfly is All A Flutter - one of the A La Carte stamps that are sold separately. I gave him some sparkle with a few of the gorgeous Rhinestone Jewels et voila!
I think I'll be doing more of this colour combo, it's quite contemporary and understated. I can picture a kitchen in these tones!
PS Please visit Bodd's blog at http://busyboddcat.blogspot.com/2010/11/bodd-in-bag.html for his take on how to use the SU bags!

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Another bookmark

Last night I had some of the lovely WI ladies round for my monthly card class. We drank tea, chatted lots and made several projects.
This was my favourite - a bookmark. It uses the beautiful Love Letter DSP and I punched out a little heart and added some sparkle with the amazing Rhinestone Jewels. I love little touches like that, it really sets the whole thing off. The monogram is from Broadsheet Alphabet, of course, and once again I wheeled the Music Notes Wheel on to Twill Tape.
Now I need another book and some extra hours in the day to read it!

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Bird Convention swaps

These cards were some of the ones I made for Convention swaps. I love this combination of Crumb Cake with Night Of Navy and Not Quite Navy. I used the Punch Potpourri hostess stamps with the Two-Step Bird and Boho Blossoms punches. The sentiment is from Tiny Tags, which must be one of the most versatile sets, and the DSP is Blueberry Crisp.
In other news, still pretty busy round here. Yesterday I was at Nation of Shopkeepers with the WI for a craft event and this evening I have six lovely friends over for a class. Am all prepped, just need to stock up on tea bags and biccies!

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A quick modification

A final quickie post before I go to bed!
My lovely SU sister Jill got me this collapsible storage box from Ikea. It's an ideal size for swaps (yes, already thinking about next year's Convention!) but didn't have a carry handle. So I added them by stitching on some Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and decorating with some Neutrals Buttons attached with Linen Thread.
Bodd helped by sitting in the box while I stitched it, and we both got poked several times with the needle, but overall, it was a successful project!

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A Newsprint notebook

Here is one of my creations from yesterday - a covered SU art journal.
I have used my favourite Stampin' Up! goodies - Newsprint DSP, the Broadsheet Alphabet stamps and Striped Grosgrain and Taffeta Ribbon.
The colours are Very Vanilla and Basic Black. I added on some flowers made using the Boho blossoms Punch, some Neutrals Brads, a couple of Neutrals Buttons and one of the beautiful Pearls.
I'm so pleased with this, but I have no idea what to use it for!

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A baby card

Hot off the press, here is a card I have literally just finished! This afternoon I've been prepping for my class on Monday and my good friend Hayley came round to do some crafting too.
I made her this card for a friend of her husband who is due to give birth soon. I used the Baby Tees Jumbo Wheel on Whisper White, coloured them in with Blender Pens in Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight and Bashful Blue, cut them out and hung them on to the Linen Thread with an old earring hook. The thread was secured at each end with a Brad and I stuck the tees down with a sticky foam pad. The bottom of the matting was shaped with the Scallop Trim Punch and I added a bow with Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.
Phew! It was a really nice card to make as there are lots of different bits to it. And who doesn't love colouring in?!
Now I have all my stuff out I'm going to spend the rest of the evening crafting.

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Stampin' Up! Greenhouse Gala craft tote

I have a new bag! I bought this at SU Convention last weekend and I'm soooo glad I did! The design is the same as the Greenhouse Gala DSP and although it's not one that has jumped out at me, it works really well for the bag. There are loads of different compartments and pockets so it's perfect for carrying around all my goodies to classes and workshops. I have attached the bag tags I made for Convention.
Speaking of which, I had a lovely class at Chapel Pie WI on Monday evening. I had 19 ladies take part to do some Christmas goodies and thanks to my helpers Hayley and Zoe from Buns & Roses WI it was a huge success.
Last night I was at Julie's for training, which was a good giggle as always, and tonight I am meeting some of the WI girls to plan for our craft fair this weekend.
I have also had confirmed another craft fair in December and FOUR Christmas workshops at Armley's community arts centre.
Wow! Mega busy few weeks ahead.

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Newsprint bookmarks

Now Convention is over I can show you some of the swaps and gifts I made for people. Well, I have actually posted a couple already without saying cos I loved them too much!
I made these bookmarks for an organised 3D swap, and also did one for mummy Julie, my roomie Joy and the lovely Vicky Hayes, whose blog never fails to inspire me. And I sent one to my mum as well!
They were really easy but fun to make as there are several elements but nothing too complicated. The base is a piece of textured River Rock card and Newsprint DSP on a mat of Basic Black Card. The bottom was shaped with the Eyelet Border Punch. At the top, I had wheeled the Music Notes on to a piece of Twill Tape and threaded it through a punched hole several times. Then, stamped the recipient's initial using Broadsheet Alphabet, cut out and layered on. I added a bit of 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and a Neutrals Button with Linen Thread.
I kept one for myself so now I just have to find time to read!

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What a weekend!

Wow. I have had the most amazing few days at the Stampin' Up! European Convention.

So, here's the story, pics will follow ...

Thursday we travelled down to Croydon. Kate drove me, mummy Julie, Jill and Lynda in the bus. Thursday evening we went to Pizza Hut for tea and then partied at the Hilton as Monica had organised a big pre-Convention session for us. We did some projects, swapped and talked a lot. I also got to meet my roomie - a lovely demo from Northern Ireland called Joy. We were staying at the Croydon Park hotel so after the party a French demo called Alison drove us over there.
Friday was a very early start - on the coach before 8am to get to Addington Palace. It is a fantastic venue - very grand with lots of beautiful decor. On arriving we were greeted by Shelli Gardner, the co-founder of Stampin' Up!, and collected our bags, which contained our two free stamp sets and other goodies. We also shopped at Memento Mall and I picked up a great craft tote for all my bits and bobs as well as some cute shopping bags. After lunch we enjoyed some demonstrations and talks then in the evening we had the big awards dinner. I got dressed up and wore one of the fascinators I made and we had lots of giggles.
Saturday started with some Make and Takes and we made some fab projects (although I have yet to finish all of mine cos we were too busy talking!). Then more demos and some brilliant talks and presentations from SU demos and staff.
Finally, we found out where Convention will be held next year ..... Disneyland Paris! I soooooo can't wait!

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Getting ready for Stampin' Up! Convention

Today I've been busy getting ready for the Stampiun' Up! Convention. On Friday and Saturday, around 300 demos from the UK, France and Germany will descend on Addington Palace in Croydon for lots of training and stamping sessions. There's an awards dinner Friday night too, so got my frock all ready! Bodd helped me pack, of course. If he's not careful he'll be zipped in and have to come with me!
I will try to update while I'm away, otherwise, expect something on Sunday.

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Festive spirit

As Christmas is creeping up on us rather more quickly, here are some more festive cards! We did this style at SU training in September using Contempo Christmas and the Ornament punch so I decided to do some more using the pretty Jolly Holiday DSP. The Delightful Decorations stampo set with several bauble designs and the punch are available as one of the Christmas bundles with free ribbon - pefect!
Only two sleeps now until I head off to SU Convention 2010. I'm pretty much all sorted with swaps and clothes and soooo excited to spend two whole days with around 300 fellow demos!

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Stampin' Up! Christmas offer

Stampin' Up! has just announced a great offer for the next two months. There are four christmas bundles available, including selected stamp sets, DSP and tools, and with each one you get a choice of a FREE roll of ribbon. It's a great way to get started with your Christmas cards, decorations and wrapping.
Check out the details on the Stampin' Up! website.
You can also earn this special Christmas ribbon by hosting a workshop with sales over £150.
Get in touch to order or book a party and let's get Christmas started!

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