Monday 31 January 2011

My First Scrap Book page







This was my first step into the world of scrapbooking...Do you know what? I loved it so I think there will be more to come...........
Rosie helped me and guided me on my way and provided the photo as I had forgotten to take on along!!
The papers come from Love Letter and help pick out the colours in the photo. We used the Notably Ornate stamp set which lends its self to the journaling side of things. Do you like the Rosette, with a little bit of poppy parade stitched-poly ribbon.

Sunday 30 January 2011

What a Raffle....

This was the raffle table that meet us when we arrived at quarterly training on Saturday. Trevor my downline was very lucky I think his numbers were drawn 3 times. Vicky had one number drawn and so did I. Being such a nice person I gave my prize to my sister as the hostess stamp set I chose, is not one of my favourites....she tells me I will learn to like it once she shows me some of the things she has made.

This was a fun part of the day and took quite a long time as well as the top five sales awards for the team in December. I remember Jane coming 1st and Kerry and I were also in there somewhere as well as another of the inkaholics i think? Sorry I can't remember. I received a real of ribbon for this.

Amanda is so generous to her team and lets be honest who doesn't like to receive presents.... ....

Tomorrow's post will show me with Michelle Last our NO 1 demonstrator of the year. Now you know I do like my picture taken with important people. Michelle even brought my copy of Quick Cards magazine which featured an article on Stampin' Up! convention 2010. Kerry Timms and I are pictured in the article and we had to autograph it for her.......................
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My Team Swap



This is my team swap for our quarterly team meeting last Saturday.

I knew I wanted to use some of the many scallop circles I had left over from a previous project so with that in mind I went for the above design.

The card base is crumb cake and then I have stamped the vine image from sweet summer in the same colour ink to provide a background.
I then used perfect plum ink and the very vintage wheel to stamp on a piece of whisper white cardstock. A layer of pretty in pink was added along the top with a scallop trim border punched out.

The perfect plum scallop is layered with a 11/4" circle of pretty in pink cardstock and then the image from perfect punches was coloured in with marker pens and then punched out with the 1" circle punch.

Hope you like it.
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Saturday 29 January 2011

On our Way


Oh my gosh....the alarm went off at 6am this morning, and then I try to be as quiet as I can so as not to wake the rest of the house..........now I always try to be quiet but Paul will confirm I am like an elephant on the stairs.
My down line Vicky is picking up eveyone from my house at seven ish. Georgina is collecting Trevor and Irene on her way.
We will have a fun packed day I know, and getting together with other SU demonstataors is great fun and very motivating. I will post some photos of the day next week for you to see the fun we have.
The photo above shows a pillow box stamped with sweet summer and shimmer paint. This is the project I will be showing during the day.
If you are thinking about becoming a demonstraaor and wonder what resources are available to help you on your journey, why not come along as a guest to our next meeting on the 9th April.
We also have team meeting at a local level once a month. For a no obligation chat please call me on 01452 855231.

Friday 28 January 2011

Quartely Team Meeting

Tomorrow brings a very early start as we leave for our quarterly team meeting in Hampshire. I have been busy all month preparing items for my inspiration table.

Amanda asked for volunteers to hold 4 inspiration tables. Each table has the theme of a sale-a-bration stamp set. Mine was sweet summer and this is way a lot of my posts this month feature that set.

I have made cards, scrap book pages and 3d projects showcasing this set. These will all be displayed on my table. I will then demo a project to groups of people before they move onto the next table.

I am a bit nervous as our number one demonstrator of the year will be there hosting another table.....

I will show you my project tomorrow as I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Thursday 27 January 2011

Do you remember...


A very colourful card with the colourway of pacific point, melon mambo and so saffron.
The colour coach is such a useful tool, I used this to help decide on the mix.
Tomorrow will see the last card in the set... bye for now

Wednesday 26 January 2011

Do you remember.....


Do you remember me showing this card earlier in the month is a different colour way, and saying that I would re make it to showcase the card using alternative colour combinations
Well here is the first card using crumb cake as the base and then always artichoke and bashful blue.
The stamp set is Sweet Summer another of the free sale-a-bration sets that you can earn for free with any order of £45.
Tomorrow will bring another colour way....bye

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Bag a lope


Yesterday Sharon hosted a workshop and although the card her guests made is the same as an earlier post I demonstrated how to make a bag a lope. This cute little bag is made from an envelope (SU whisper white). You seal the envelope and then score at 1" on three sides and then cut 1" from the other. I have then used the very vintage wheel and perfect plum and rollered each side along the bottom edge.
The greeting was stamped using perfect plum and wild wasabi markers and came from Punch Bunch one of the sale-a-bration sets you can earn for free with any order of £45. This was punched out using the 1 1/4" circle punch and layered onto a 1 3/8" circle of blushing bride and then onto a scallop circle of perfect plum.
Although you can make a handle for the bag I have used the round tab punch, punched out a hole using the crop-o-dile and tied using silver elastic thread. The bag held some SU goodies for Sharon.
I will show you a bag a lope using some more of punch bunch and with a handle later.

Monday 24 January 2011

Love You Much


I met a lovely lady at convention called Rosie. Although she is part of Jane's team we hadn't met. A small group of us now meet at Rosie's once a fortnight and we do what we love, chat, eat chocolate and a little bit of crafting.
This card was designed by Rosie for us to make. We used the love you much stamp set and papers from the Love Letter set. Now these papers are so versatile as Rosie used the same papers to help me with a scarp book layout. I will show you this in a later post.
The large heart has been hand cut and then the small black hearts have been punched out using the 3 heart punch. We even added a rhinestone gem above the love birds.

Saturday 22 January 2011

Thursday Class Project


These are the 4 lovely cards that we made to fit inside yesterday's box. We have carried on with our same colour theme and the same technique was used for the colouring in of the flowers. These make a super gift for a friend or you could use the box as an envelope and just have one extra special card inside.
If you like what you have seen over the last two days and would like to join in one the fun, please contact me.

Friday 21 January 2011

Thursday's Class Project




The first stage of last night's class was to make this box to hold our 4 cards. I cannot take any credit for the template. This tutorial was by Jenny Moors who is a very talented SU demonstrator. I changed the stamp set she used and the colour combo.
We have used certainly Celery and Perfect Plum cardstock and inkpads, together with DSP from the subtles paper stack. These stacks are fab value for money £15.50 for 40 sheets of 12 x 12 DSP. The ribbon is Certainly Celery 3/8" taffeta.
Our images were stamped from Sweet Summer and coloured in using Blender pens and ink from the lids of the pads.

Thursday 20 January 2011

Thursday Class Reminder

Morning ladies Its Thursday Class tonight at 7.30pm. Class is fully booked and we will be making a box and four cards to go inside. Hope I haven't stretched us too much tonight......

Visit tomorrow and I will let you know how we all got on and show you what we made.

Wednesday 19 January 2011

Little Miss Money Bags


This picture was taken a week ago on the rebuilt pier at Weston-Super-Mare. Hannah my youngest loves having pennies to spend on the slot machines. It can become addictive very quickly......We had a lovely day spending family time on the pier, taking a walk along the beach and of course eating out. (one of the best bits as I don't have to cook or wash up!!!!).
Some more pics of the day will follow. (I am saving some of them to use in my new SCRAP BOOKING class that starts in March).
I have decided for 2011 I want to try my hand at scrap booking. I have been inspired by the lovely layouts Kerry Timms has done and also Rosie Radcliffe. Would you like to join me in recording some of your family memories? Contact me in the usual way and I will give you all the details you need.

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Side Step Card (BLISS)


Over the weekend I was saying to my sister that I wanted to have a go at a side step card, especially after seeing a lovely one on Jane's blog http://haveagostampin.blogspot.com .
This is my first attempt its not quite right but I am pretty pleased with the result. I just need a bit more practice.......before I give this to my ladies in February to make at class....
I have used the Bliss stamp set and some left over DSP from Greenhouse Gala. My colour combo was again inspired from the colour coach. Baja Breeze, More Mustard and Cherry cobbler.
The middle panel of butterflies have been stamped in Baja Breeze and then one extra has been hand cut and raised on a dimensional. A tread of very vanilla ribbon is tied along the top and knotted.

Monday 17 January 2011

Sweet Summer Box


This is a picture of the top of a sweet box I made as a hostess gift a week ago for a lovely lady named Becky. I decided to incorporate finishing the box with a technique to show Becky's guests.
I used the vine stamp from Sweet Summer and used platinum frost shimmer paint instead of inkpads. I then used the same shimmer paint and a dauber to colour in some paper daises. These look fab and dry pretty quick. To finish off we have tied a button in the middle with some linen thread.
This box can hold some 3 x 3 cards and envelopes or in Becky's case some SU goodies.

Saturday 15 January 2011

Monday Class (6 cards)


This was the last card of the evening and uses night of navy and more mustard. The two left hand panels of cardstock have torn edges to give a vintage feel. The butterflies and sentiment were stamped in more mustard.
If you have enjoyed the cards I have posted this week......why not join our next class on the 7th February. We are still in sale-a-bration so this class will feature the stamp sets that you can earn for free by placing an order of £45. For more details please contact me or leave a comment.

Friday 14 January 2011

Monday Class (6 cards)


This birthday card is one of my favourites. The colour combo is whisper white and rose red.
We used the retro mix wheel and small handle to create the pattern along the right of the card and then we took a piece of rose red cardstock and ripped along edge and then used the same roller over it to repeat the pattern.
The greeting comes from perfect punches and was stamped and punched out using the oval punch and then layered onto a scallop oval.

Thursday 13 January 2011

Monday Class (6 cards)


This card uses the jumbo handle and classic stars wheel, together with the star and modern label punch. The greeting comes from perfect punches.
My colour combo is baja breeze and so saffron. We attached a brad from the subtles collection.

Wednesday 12 January 2011

Monday Class (6 cards)


Card 3 uses Bliss and party this way stamp sets.
The colour combo is concord crush and daffodil delight. The beauty of this card is the simplicity. You just stamp no need of a samj. The greeting was stamped and then punched out using the word window punch. We then punched out a scallop oval and cut down the sides to layer the greeting onto. We adhered using a dimensional for height to the card.

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Monday Class (6 cards)


Apologies for the out of focus photo here......
The colour combo came from the colour coach and is basic grey, old olive and melon mambo. The card base is whisper white.
We used the square scallop and the hearts punch and just adhered an element to each square.
On a table I put out the sincere salutations stamp set so people could add a greeting of their choice.

Monday 10 January 2011

Monday Class (6 cards)


This is the first card of the evening using sweet summer and sincere salutations stamp sets.
The colour combo is whisper white and poppy parade and wild wasabi.
The flower was placed on top of the stem using the samj for positioning. Blender pens have been used to colour the image in. The greeting was stamped, punched out using the oval punch and then layered onto a scallop oval and adhered with dimensionals.

Sunday 9 January 2011

And more.............


Do you recognise the 2 panel strips?? Originally I was going to have 3 panels on this card but it just didn't look right hence the use of the panel on the previous post.
We have whisper white cardstock teamed with poppy parade, a bit of colouring, ribbon and a button. I am using buttons more and more on my cards and love how it sits on this one tied with a bit of linen thread.

Saturday 8 January 2011

More sweeet summer.......


This card uses night of navy, so saffron and poppy parade. It just looks yummy together.....The card is a simple layout of layers, a bit of punching, colouring in and a touch of bling using the rhinestone gems.
Next week I hope to show some samples using the other two free stamp sets that you can earn, I am hoping to borrow them from my downline Vicky. The new year period brought costly car repairs for me and I am watching my pennies and not purchasing from my wish list. (OMG it is soooooooo hard but I am being sensible :(((
Have a good weekend we are off cheerleading this afternoon. Hannah has really missed it over the christmas break and then on Sunday weather permitting we may visit the seaside for a walk along the beach and fish and chips.............Plan B if its wet is an indoor play area and hot chocolate.

Friday 7 January 2011

A bit of Bliss......


I am going to Rosie radcliffe's house this morning and we decided to have a valentines day feel to the morning's crafting.
I took the idea for my card from a recent one Amanda posted at www.inspiringinkin.com
The card base is whisper white and then the inks used were certainly celery and pretty in pink.
I have used little pearls in the middle of the flowers and raised the BLISS image by punching out using the curly label punch and layering on a scallop circle and adhering with a dimensional.
I am also using this card at a workshop I have this evening as the make and take.

Thursday 6 January 2011

More Sweet Summer


Another creation using sweet summer (yours free if you spend £45 on catalogue products).
I have teamed concord crush, pear pizzazz and a little pretty in pink together for this card. The vase is made from the ornament punch and I have just trimmed the bottom off. The image was stamped in concord crush and then coloured in with ink from the pad lids and blender pens. ( I had forgotten what a lovely look these give).
I used the spiral border punch on the side and a scrap of certainly celery ribbon I found. The vase is adhered using dimensionals to give a bit of depth to the card.
Back tomorrow with more.

Wednesday 5 January 2011

Vintage Bliss


All the children are back at school so I have planned to craft today in complete peace and quiet.
Last night we had a get together at Jane Cutting's house it was lovely thank you Jane. It was nice to meet some new demonstrators and feed off their enthusiasm for Stampin'UP!
I needed to make a card for one of my customers who has a birthday tomorrow and decided to go completely out of my comfort ZONE and try a vintage look. I have used Bliss which is one of the sale-a-bration sets you can earn for yourself during January and February when you spend £45 on catalogue products.
My colour combo is not quite navy, crumb cake and old olive. Lots of tearing and scrunching up of paper was needed and I dabbled with the distressing kit......more practice needed I think but I am happy with the results from my first attempt.
Along the bottom of the card I made little faux buttons using the 3/4" circle punch and the paper piercing tool and a little linen thread.

Monday 3 January 2011

Bliss


This is my first project using the Bliss stamp set. I used the colour coach for my inspiration on the colour theme of soft suede, rose red and so saffron.
I have created a background using the large sanded background stamp and soft suede ink.
The new corner scallop trim punched out the corners of the central panel and then the large image was stamped in rose red.

I used the rock and roll technique on the butterfly and it was then hand cut out and adhered with a dimensional to the greeting. A small rhinestone gem was added for sparkle.
Back tomorrow with more from sweet summer.

Sunday 2 January 2011

Sweet Summer


You may remember this layout from December's card class. I am sure you will agree that it suits the sweet summer stamp set to a tee.......The centre panel of whisper white has been stamped first in pretty in pink ink and then over stamped with rich razzleberry. I just love this effect. Pearls add that pretty touch and although I have used a get well soon greeting you could change that to suit the use of the card.
I am also going to try this same layout with a different colour theme. keep checking in to see how that one looks.........
Tomorrow's card uses the Bliss stamp set so join me then

Saturday 1 January 2011

Christmas Cards





























Happy New Year

Happy new year to all who read my blog, past and current customers and friends. Did you all party and see the new year in? We had a curry and drinks with my sister and her family but were all in bed by 10pm. Soundly sleeping until the fireworks went off around midnight!!!!

I always find new year a bit of an anti-climax after Christmas, but I am raring to go in 2011 and hope for peace, happiness and good health for you all.

I have been busy this morning taking down the xmas decs and catching up on the washing piles!!! and am now enjoying a bit of peace and quiet. Paul is working, Matt is out and Alice has just taken Hannah into town shopping. Bliss..................

I am posting some of the lovely handmade cards we received this year, and then tomorrow will start with some projects made using the new sale-a-bration stamp sets. Remember to check your email box's today I have sent you all a copy of my latest newsletter. If you read my blog but are not on my mailing list just let me know at caroonstampin@googlemail.com and I will forward one to you.

Me with Michelle Last


Good Morning Ladies and Gents I can't believe we are at the 1st February already can you?

Well I am pictured above with Michelle Last she is the NO 1 Stampin' Up! demonstrator of the year. We were very lucky that she joined us last Saturday at Amanda's team training and I couldn't not have my photo taken with her. She was a lovely lady with a genuine passion for her business, team and customers.

I am crafting with a group of ladies this morning at a school in Stonehouse and then its onto Jane's house for some business training....Its a full day today as Hannah also has Pom Dance this evening. I usually sit and design my cards whilst waiting for her, I am sure some of the other parents must wonder what I am doing....with my pad and pencil and catalogue each week. I am looking forward to some crafting tomorrow morning before catching up with some friends at 1pm. I am really trying to follow my working hours this week and make the most of the time that I do have blocked out for crafting.

See you tomorrow when I will show you some of the lovely swaps I received at training. I hope they will inspire you to create...........
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