Telford here we came!

hi all

Happy Sunday - well what's left of it!

Just catching my breath after yesterday's trip to Telford for Stampin' Up's regional meeting.

As always at these events - they are a delightful mix of fun meets business and you have the chance to try out new products, meet up with the very large and extended  happy family that is 'Stampin' Up, swap cards/gifts and ideas with other demonstrators, as well as engage in a 'make and take' session should you so wish.

My swaps - remember these ?

















well this is what they looked like face up! - two different designs just for a choice..

and of course I got some fabulous ones in return..

Thank you so much everyone - you really are the best!

There were some great on-stage presentations from some of the UK's top demonstrators as well as lots of product displays showcasing some new items and innovative ways to use them

In short a brilliant day all round but in summing up I think one of the huge hits  though just had to be the 'Pete and Paul' show - Stampin' Up is not just for the girls, right!  They did an awesome job and got a standing ovation. Smiles all round!  especially with references to 'Whispering White' and 'Lost in the Lagoon' colours  - absolutely hilarious!

A picture of them both here centre stage with Paula perhaps wondering  just what were they going to be doing next!

and last but certainly not least - we were all given a copy of the soon to be released new Annual catalogue to go home with - a right high on which to finish the day!

in fact am off to have a little relax and good read right now!

Til next time - have a lovely week

Jan x

well I have been busy...

Hello all and Happy Sunday

and hope it's a nice one wherever you are.

just time for a quick reminder , as to Stampin'  Up!'s Retirement sale still  on-going - but only whilst stocks last..! Not forgetting of course the Weekly Wednesday deals as well..

Well  my little foray into my crafting corner today was to put the finishing touches to my card swaps in readiness for next Saturday.

May 16th will see see in excess of 350+ Stampin' Up! demonstrators descend en masse on Telford for a regional meeting and one of the social aspects encouraged at such meetings  is the delightful frenzy that is swapping!

Attendees make a number of cards, the aim being to swap yours for someone else's, so everyone comes away with different ideas and mingles and chats as part of the process. A really enjoyable and fun way to  meet and mix with everyone else.

This is my batch of cards ready for stamping/assembly and spread out the way they are- with the ink pads at the ready just highlights to my mind - how you can so easily co-ordinate everything.

Well with less than a week til the big day - I need to be finishing these off so need to get my skates on as the saying goes.

Couple that,  with the making of my name badge and a card for the Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) that Stampin' Up! support so tirelessly - hopefully I will have cards to share by the time I write next.!

Stampin' Up! Supplies for this card so far:

I opted to use retiring colours for some of my card bases so whereas these are no longer available in either cardstock or ink, the other items are,  so just click on the images below to easily access them in my on line store  . 

Pay just  £4:95 whatever the size of your order, and have them shipped straight to your address.. Or if  you prefer, contact me to place an order for you
.
And please do get in touch if you have any questions.

Hello Honey A4 Cardstock

Stampin' Trimmer

Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive

Butterfly Basics Clear Stamp Set

Elegant Butterfly Punch

Mini Glue Dots

Today we are off to the Living Crafts exhibition at Hatfield House, here in Hertfordshire,  and the weather for once,  seems to behaving itself. It's a few years since we have been so am looking forward to it.

Happy Sunday everyone, whatever you are into - and best wishes til next time

Jan
x

Stampin' Up European Convention - 2013 - Manchester

Oh my..  where to begin..!

Last weekend found me (and a whole host of other demonstrators from the UK, France, The Netherlands Austria and Germany) in Manchester at the Central Convention Centre, for the  Stampin' Up European Convention 2013.

My first ever convention and a week on,  am still in a whirl thinking about it all.

From the thrill of initial registration and THAT convention bag,

with all its goodies, stamp sets, program of events, commemorative pen, name badge, SU coloured wrist band for that all important 'prize patrol'  to name a few!.

this is me not pausing for breath!!!

Information sessions aimed at helping you grow your business, special technique classes, make and take sessions, the service project cards, inspiring demonstrator presentations,  the convention memento mall, the demonstrator resource Centre, the various display boards and galleries, as well as the General sessions - the famous prize patrols, the all attendee give-aways, the pre-convention mix and mingle, the absolute mad mad frenzy that is swapping - 

and not forgetting the absolutely inspiring award ceremony and 25th anniversary party night - these all made for one very packed but so so enjoyable weekend.

Although meeting up with old friends as many seemed to be, me as a first timer had absolutely no need to worry.

Before convention started., I finally got to meet my lovely upline Vicky - heartfelt congratulations to her on promotion to Silver 2! and  also met a number of her lovely  downline - the 'Inkcredibles':  Helen, Jacqueline  Lizy and Victoria.

Thank you so much ladies for the lovely welcome and the pre-event swapping you all  so kindly included me in!

Additionally, after registration on the Thursday evening was absolutely delighted to meet up with a very large contingent of attendees at  Michelle Last's pre-convention reception that she had arranged for all us  'Pinkies' -  what a lovely lovely evening and thanks to everyone for all the delightful swapping there as well!

Here's a little tiny sample batch of my swaps in readiness - I made over a 100, using the lovely Winter Frost paper stack, and the Festive Flurry stamp set and co-ordinating framelits.

I mounted a layer of Whisper white card stock, scored all the way round for interest, on a card base of Whisper White.

I stamped 2 sizes of the festive flurry set in the Bermuda Bay and Smoky Slate colours, die-cut them out  - made so easy with the matching framelits.

These I mounted  with some Stampin' up dimensionsals for depth,  all finished with a tiny rhinestone in the midde. 

To  complete the card I cut little banner strips in co-ordinating papers,  finished with a bow and finally my sentiment which I created in Stampin' Up's MDS  (My Digital Studio) design program, sized to enable me to punch it out with the Modern label punch. These I also afinished with a couple of the basic rhinestones.

Now the eagle eyed amongst you will notice the 2 sorts of bows I used to decorate them.

Yes you guessed it, I ran out of the silver taffeta ribbon and Stampin' Up had it on back order when I came to request another roll of it - but panic not.. or at least I didn't once I had calmed down and thought about it.!

With the aid of  Stampin' Up's MDS  design program I was able to fashion my own 'silver bow' - printed of a sheet of them and with my super sharp paper snips - cut out a load  to apply to the rest of  my cards - what do you think!

Things I used to make this card:

Stamp sets and Framelits: Festive Flurry
Inks: Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate
Cardstock  and papers:  Whisper White and Winter Frost paper pack
Other essentials:Score board, Glue dots, dimensionals, Silver ribbon, 
MDS - for sentiment and alternate 'ribbon bows'

So finally,  from someone who has never been to a Stampin' Up Convention before - Can only say I could not have been made to feel more welcome. People just happy to chat,  give advice,  share their experiences, assist if you were at all unsure about anything.

It truly was a fabulous thing to be part of and impossible to capture in a few lines of a post.. or even really do it justice in a photograph.

but here for me to finish with,  for today - just a very very tiny collection of some of the absolutely amazing samples and display boards .

stop back later in the week and will try to do justice to some of the fabulous swaps I received in return.

Am so appreciative of them all and the thought, inspiration, and creativity that just goes hand in hand with everything that is 'Stampin' Up!  Thanks so much, again, everyone!

til next time

Jan
x

I can order Stampin' Up products for you, shipped straight to your address and am
happy to answer any questions you have  - if you would like to find out more or would like to place an order you can email me or phone me on 01438 820829

or why not visit my on-line store

My first ever Stampin up Event .

hi all 

Happy Saturday - well am not too sure how you write 'whooo hooo'' ie  that well known phrase of enjoyment but imagine along with me!

This week saw me at my first ever Stampin Up event - one of their UK Creative Tours. The venue was lovely - well the 'little' bit  I saw of it - our meeting room - so can only think the rest of the place must be stunning.

 I felt at a bit of a loss really to start with, as only managed to sidle in a couple of minutes after it had all started - which was a real shame as missed out on all the pre-meeting get-togetherings, introductions, swapping frenzies that would have taken place am sure. . but the table I joined made me ever so welcome and answered my questions as we went along. 

I can honestly say I was absolutely amazed at the huge mount of enthusiasm, inspiration, the display tables and boards of samples, demonstrations, presentations .  (A very very tiny sample snapshot of the main display board below)

 and not forgetting the very famous Stampin Up 'prize patrol' ( I cannot believe it,  I actually won a prize -  as  historically am one of those people who never win anything!)

 and my prize  - a lovely goodie bag of Christmas/Winter themed goodies containing a pack of the Winter Frost DSP paper stack, silver ribbon and buttons.

... mind you, winners had to then stand up and enter into a rendition of 'That's Amoré ' in honour of of Paula's (one of the lovely Stampin Up hosts) Italian heritage.    

Am not quite sure what Dean Martin would have made of it all - but it certainly gave the rest of the audience a few laughs!          

 I had made a very very modest number of swaps of my own - one of the batches below.

 













and at a suitable break went and sought out the lovely Michelle Last to introduce myself as a very new member of her group, the 'pinkies' - and she very kindly not only took me under her wing - but presented me with a  lovely welcome treat chocolate bar! Thanks Michelle. After all, a girl can never ever have enough chocolate!! 

..and then introduced me to some of the others in both hers and her down line's teams. Thank you Lynne,   Lucy,  and everyone else!

There were a few ladies who were not yet 'swapped out' so did finally pluck up courage to do some swapping of my own and got some really nice ones ones back - thanks so much everyone... 

All in all it was a fantastic evening.. and a really nice introduction to what goes on at a Stampin Up event.. and with November's Convention in Manchester approaching at an alarming rate - a really brilliant taster am sure of what will be something quite special.


Things I used to make my Creative Tour swaps:

Stamp set:  Sassy Salutations
Inks :Island Indigo
Cardstock  and paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Quatrefancy DSP
Punches: Scallop circle and circle punches
Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka dots
Other essentials: Stampin up Dimensionals, Bakers twine, sponge daubers

I can order Stampin Up products for you, shipped straight to your address and am
happy to answer any questions you have  - if you would like to find out more or would like to place an order you can email me or phone me on 01438 820829

Well did not intend for this to be such a long post - so hope you are having a great 
weekend and 'See you' all soon

Jan
x