Wednesday 12 December 2012

Monthly Team Training

Good Morning

Kerry and I have our joint monthly team training this evening in Quedgeley.  I am looking forward to stamping and eating!  I will show you the projects in a few days but thought I would share today the cards I have made for the top 3 sales demonstrators in my team.

If you check out my blog regularly you will see that these cards all started out with a layout that I used for my Monday cards, I have just made a few subtle changes.

I hope Trevor, Donna and George like their cards.  Well done to you all.


Monday 10 December 2012

My last Monday Card of 2012...

Good Morning I hope you had a great weekend.

Here is our last card from my Monday class.  It is a very simple Christmas card.  I left the Season's Greetings stamp set on the table and everone added there own sentiment to the bottom of the card.  The designer paper square comes from Snow Festival and there are two sheets of 12 x 12 paper in the pack which have 16 squares which you can cut out the layer as I have.




Right I am straight into a busy week......Tomorrow I am Christmas shopping with my mum and sister Wednesday is team training, Thursday I have a class, and Friday I have a class and it's my birthday too.......

I will catch up with you again soon.  Have a great week.

Friday 7 December 2012

Monday Cards

Good Morning  well today it's time for our third card.  Once again its a simple card and plain for a greeting to be added at a later date.





I apologise for the photo quality there was very little light!! a hazard of winter I guess.....

My colour combo is regal rose and whisper white.   I used the Summer Silhoutte stamp set which I received for FREE at convention this year.  The embossing folder is the fancy fan folder.  You will be seeing this lots I think!

A little bow using the taffatta ribbon adds the finishing touch.

Thursday 6 December 2012

Monday Cards

Good Morning

Here is our next card from my Monday card class.  This card is so simple and I left it plain so that a greeting coud be added at a later date.




The butterfly was punched out twice and layered up.  I am loving the brushed silver and silver glimmer paper.  I have used the leaves sizzlit which I am sure you have guessed is a favourite of mine.  The circle is a new 2 1/2" punch.

Join me tomorrow for our third card.  Have a great day.

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Monday Cards

Good Morning

Last Monday I had a lovely class with 11 ladies, we make 4 cards at this class and also learn a new technique.

Over the Christmas break I am going to set up a page so that you came see the technique instructions and have a go yourself, so please do check back for this.

This month we learnt the emboss resist technique.  This technique went down well with everyone and I must say I love the effect.

Here is the card we made




We used the Flowering Flourishes stamp set and the colour combo is bashful blue, night of navy and very vanilla.

The sentiment comes from the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and was cut out using the matching dies and big shot.

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Good Morning all....

Well good morning :)  it's been ages since I posted November was such a busy month for me especially towards the end and although I have lots to show you there just hasn't been time to take pictures and blog.

Thankfully Hannah is now off her crutches etc and has resumed the school run all by herself.  She was gone at 7.30 this morning and I feel as if I have done loads this morning , mind you I am still not dressed but that's next on the list!!!!

Last Thursday was my card and 3D project class, a week later than normal but here is what we created.

First of all we made a lovely sparkly Christmas card, the layout was inspired by Kerry Timms as we made a similar card at last months training session.





This card was made using the Ornament Keepsake stamp set and the matching framlit dies.  As there was an offer last month on this set we used all the components you could purchase.  Thank you to all my wonderful customers who purchased this deal.

The greeting came from Season's Greetings which a lot of my ladies received earlier in the month at my extravaganza.

Although it's difficult to see we spritzed the entire card with the vanilla smooch spray.  (mixed comments from my ladies on this)  so I will have to try something else using this and try to convert them.

Our 3D project was a box which when opened held a gift card.  You could also fit a bar of chocolate inside if you wanted.  Again I incorporated all the items on offer and a few extras of course.





Thank you for looking at my projects, I will be back soon with my cards and technique from my card class last night.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Session 3

Morning

All these cards were made using the Snow Festival Designer Printed Tags and some matching cardstock.  The greetings all come from Greetings of the Season which was one of the stamp sets that everyone received on the day.





 
 
If you would like to purchase any of the products used please contact me and I will be happy to help you.

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Session 1 & 2 Projects Extravaganza

Hi everyone

I am back with some of the projects from Extravaganza last Saturday.  I really apologise the light is awful for taking photo's but I home these projects will inspire you.....

Our first session was the Christmas Ornament, not as fancy as the one on the front of the seasonal catalogue, but I had to simplify a bit due to numbers etc.  Ladies and gents I am so pleased you enjoyed making this.






We used one of the stamps from the Ornament Keepsake set and the matching die, together with the snowflake die, linen thread and a jumbo pearl.  Our colour combo is very vanilla and baja breeze.

The second session included 2 heat embossed cards, a decorate box and DVD case. (all available through Stampin' UP!).  The box would hold some homemade cookies or jewellery and the DVD case perhaps a writing set.





Tomorrow I will bring you the final session which was 5 simple Christmas Cards using the Snow Festival Designer Printed Tags

Saturday 17 November 2012

Christmas Extravaganza has arrived....

Good evening all.  Today is just a short post and a bit of a teaser......

Today was my Christmas Extravaganza and I am just off out for something to eat, but wanted to post a few short picture and then I will give you more tomorrow and next week.

Here is the hall before my lovely gentleman and ladies arrived



A huge thank you goes to my sister George (who managed to get in the photo) and her friend Donna who met me at the hall early this morning to set up.

We had 3 sessions and one of the projects was the Christmas ornament from the front of the Seasonal catalogue, I have to share this photo of Dawn she managed to fashion the ornament as a necklace, earrings and a hair piece!!!!!




Right I must dash or I am going to be late......Thank you ladies for making today such fun I am already planning the next one!!!!details to follow


Saturday 10 November 2012

A lucky Winner......is it you?

At my launch party last month everyone entered into the raffle, so the pot was nice and full and I decided to put half the money towards my next class and then entered everybody into a draw for the remainder.

Here is a copy of the email I sent the lucky winner

Hi Mo
When you attended last months launch party you entered the raffle and I decided to split the amount and used half for the following months Monday class and the other half went into a random number generator so that everyone who attended could take part.
Everyone who attended was given a number and yours was 21. The generator picked you which means that you have won £25 worth of FREE product from any of the current stampin' Up! catalogues.
Please let me know what you would like and I will arrange the order for you.
Well done

I am sure this will come as a lovely surprise to Mo now I wonder what she will order??????

Hannah I are just off to Cheerleading practice!! well Hannah just sits and watches the routine and catches up with her friends whilst she is still on crutches.  I am hoping to pop into Gloucester and have coffee with a friend.  I hope you are having a great weekend and I will be back on Monday  XX

Friday 9 November 2012

When I checked my emails yesterday I had received a lovely email from a lady who came to my workshop on Wednesday.

Here is part of her email

Hi Girls!!!!!

Had another brilliant time this morning - thanx so much for being such a welcoming hub of crafty girlies!!!!!

Please pass on to Sue (don't know her email) and Bev too please Beth!!

Looking forward to our next Stampin Up get together on Wednesday 30th January 2013 at 10.30am!!!!
 
 
I wanted to share this with you as I think this totally sums up what crafting is all about and it made me smile for the rest of the day.
 
 
I am busy today designing cards for a class tonight and I also need to start prepping for my extravaganza which is a week Saturday.....hopefully Paul will stop moaning about falling over my stampin' Up! box's which appear to be everywhere at the minute! once I have done this :)
 
 

Wednesday 7 November 2012

A little bit more from Convention

Well we are half way through the week, and I have managed a class on Monday evening, we had a great night creating 4 lovey cards and learnt the collage technique.

Today I have felt like superwoman!!!! left home at 8am for my physio appointment and then my consultant at 9am, and last night Hannah managed to break her crutches sort of......the feet fell off so we to visit a different hospital to have those replaced....then back to school and I had a workshop at 10.30am in Cheltenham.

Ladies  I had a lovely time with you and it was great to see you use your creativity and change things.

Let me leave you with some more photo's from Mainz





The top photo shows Jane Cutting and Kerry Timms sipping Martini..........all dressed up or our Silver 2 Reception.

The bottom one shows the front screen of the stage the theme this year was "I am"........


Tomorrow I will show you some photo's of the display boards, gosh there was some amazing creations..........

Have a great evening, I am off to have my dinner now X

Monday 5 November 2012

Convention 2012 is over :(

I have just got back from our Stampin' Up! convention 2012 in Mainz Germany.  We all had an amazing time and over the next week I will share some photo's with you.

Today's photo shows Kerry, Jane, George and Bel at Heathrow Airport.....we had just eaten a full english breakfast! but hey we had been travelling since 4.30am!!!! and we were hungry




Don't they all look so excited?

After a good flight we had a slight problem with George's case, it came of the belt pretty wrecked and we had to leave her at Frankfurt airport whilst the airline replaced it and our taxi driver was going to pick her up when he returned back to the airport for his next pick up........so while we were witing for her to arrive at the hotel this photo of Jane shows you what we were up tooooo...





Martini and bitter lemon was the drink.....About 3.45pm everybody decided they needed a little nap, which was great timing for me as I had the honour of being asked to take part on one of of convention classes and had a practice was  scheduled at 4pm with Rhoda Mcpherson who is another demo and Brain Pilling from the home office in Salt Lake City.  I managed to hide this from Jane and Bel until later on in the evening when they received their convention bags and programe of events.

Join me tomorrow for more......Oh and if reading this gets you excited...how about joining me at convention 2013 which will be in Manchester in the UK.  Contact me and I will tell you how you can.


Sunday 28 October 2012

My Forest Ladies

On the last Wednesday of each month I join up with a lovely group of ladies in Coleford which is in the beautiful Forest of Dean.

At the class we learn a technique and then make two cards using what we have learnt. This month was the turn of the faux tear technique. We made one feminine and one masculine card.



 
 
 
 
We used the French Foliage set for the top card together with River Rock, More Mustard and Always Artichoke inks.  Some linen thread tied along the bottom finishes off the card.  Both Greetings come from the stamp set Made For You, which is just perfect.  In the set you get both of the above and also a Thank You.

Some organza ribbon and rhinestone gems were added to the bottom card and we use Primrose Petals ink and the stamp set Papillion Potpourri, together with the matching butterfly punch.

Saturday 27 October 2012

A day late...

Yesterday I promised you a sneak peak of my team swaps for convention next week, but time ran away with me, I had taken the photo but hadn't uploaded the photo to post.

Anyway here is the sneak peak?  I will show a full picture after 4th November.  So if you are the inspiring inkees team one of this will be waiting for you on Friday lunchtime in Mainz Germany :).





Right I am off to either push the hoover around or craft!!!! now what shall I choose?

Back soon.

Thursday 25 October 2012

Here again!

Morning,

I have just got back from a visit to the dentist! so my purse is feeling a little lighter.....Alice has gone off to work after raiding my purse for bus fare and Hannah is quietly playing upstairs (long may this last) and I thought I would make a quick post whilst having a coffee and then I am off to make my team swaps for convention next week.

I also want to cook a meat and potatoes dinner today with a pudding for my hubby.  I sort of promised last night as he is fed up with yoghurt's.

At the beginning of the month I held my launch party and it was an amazing evening....busy but fun and everyone received their own copy of the new catalogue together with a chance to make the card below.





This is one of my favourite sets in the new catalogue, Affection Collection.  I have used inks from the subtles  range of colours, a few pearls and the modern label punch holds the greeting.

Right I am off to craft and hope to be able to show you a sneak peak of what I have made tomorrow.

Wednesday 24 October 2012

A post Shock Horror!!!!

Goodness I have finally managed a post......mind you I am still in my PJs.  I decided to get up with my husband this morning at some obscene time! to try and get some jobs done.

It worked though.  I have finished my general swaps for convention next week and my roomy gifts are almost finished.  Next on my list our my team swaps all 27 of them, so the plane is to finish these by tomorrow.

I have a class later on today in the forest and we are going to be concentrating on the faux tear technique so some photo's to follow later.

I have uploaded some photo's of this months projects and thought I would share the 2 cards we made at my Friday class with you today.

Here is the first one.  I just love all the heat embossing and accessories on this card.  Don't forget you can order all the ingredients from me at any time, or join in the next class which is on the 9th November.





The second card was a stair step card, looks amazing but so easy to make.  Many thanks to Jo who popped back home to get her inks as silly me had forgot to pack any!


 
 
This card used lots of punches and the yummy comfort cafe papers.

And a little update on Hannah.....she is still getting around on crutches and now has a boot to support her foot, but it's like having a young child again, everything takes longer to do, she can't carry anything as she has her crutches and she is moany as she can't do all the things she normally does and NOOOOO cheerleading for 6 weeks.  I had a light bulb moment over the weekend as to how she was going to get to school whilst I am away next week as she normally has a walk to catch her lift and then they walk home from school which of course she can't.  Thank heavens for great friends of mine.  Hannah is going to stay with one on Wednesday and Thursday of next week and she is going to do all the school runs and bring her home to nanny on Friday after school. Phew panic over.....


Tuesday 16 October 2012

Why is life never easy?

I saw my sister yesterday evening for a quick catch up, as she is very busy studying for a university degree as well as working full time and having a family, and she commented that I haven't posted recently!!!!

My answer is life is hectic at the moment....I know it's the same for us all, but yesterday I was planing projects for my class this Thursday and couldn't find my scissors and glue and then realised I had lost the bag they were in!  my camera is also in the bag and I had taken some photo's of projects so thought I could post them.  Thankfully the bag has turned up and I will get it back on Thursday I left it at our quarterly training meet in Hampshire last Saturday.  So no photo's until after then.

Today I planned to craft all day until 5pm, but oh yes Hannah had other plans, she fell at school last Friday and was limping but I just did that mum thing and said "you will be fine" well after a visit to the GP this morning, and then A & E, and Xray she isn't quite fine!   She has broken a bone in her foot and is on crutches and has to go back to the fracture clinic on Friday.

Not sure she is going to let me get away with this one.........

So I am still here, working hard and off to convention in Mainz Germany on the 1st November I have swaps to make, team gifts to make and my roomy gifts tooooooo, getting together with my fellow demo's tomorrow evening to finalise plans.....so if you have any idea how I can fit more hours in the day please let me know.

Please come back soon and I promise I will have something to show you all.

Wednesday 3 October 2012

Christmas Stamp a Stack continued

Good Morning

Here are the final 3 cards from my Stamp a Stack session last month.








I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas Cards, If you leave me a comment telling me which is your favourite card and why I will send you some goodies.

I am very much looking forward to hearing from lots of  you.

Tuesday 2 October 2012

wow two posts in one day..

Yesterday saw the launch of our new annual catalogue......




 If you click on the side bar you can view the catalogue online, but if you were lucky enough to come to my launch party last night you will have received your own copy of the catalogue and hopefully some wonderful bargains on my BOGOF offer.

Last night people arrived from 6.30pm onwards but were unable to enter my room until 7pm!  Ladies I am sorry for those of you who had to wait but I decided the fairest way was for the doors to be opened at 7pm when the event opened.  Next month the normal Monday class will resume and the door will be open as normal :)

We had a busy two hours with people looking through the new catalogue, catching up with friends and there was also a make and take card, which I will show you below.


 
 
This morning I had the lovely task of choosing lots of new products from the catalogue, so that I can
 show you lots of new ideas over the coming months.
 
 
 
 
 

My Christmas Stamp A Stack

On the 22nd September I held my first Stamp a Stack Class.

Here is the bag of goodies that everyone received and they then went on to make 10 christmas cards.

I had 5 designs and everyone made and finished 2 cards of each design.




Everyone received The Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack, 1 12 x 12 sheet of early Espresso core'dinations cardstock, 1/2 a sheet of glimmer paper, a metre of organza ribbon, 1/2 metre of Cherry Cobbler tulle ribbon, 1/2 metre of bakers twine, 2 antique brads, 2 pearls and a pot of mini brads as well as all the cardstock and envelopes to make their cards.

The morning was a great success and I am all ready planning another stamp a stack session for after christmas.

Here are a couple of the cards we made.





Dasher and Serene Snowflakes have now retired and are no longer available but you could use the Christmas Deer page 19 of the new annual catalogue instead of dasher and Snowflake Soiree page 5 in the seasonal catalogue instead of Serene Snowflakes.

Join me tomorrow for the final 3 cards.

Friday 28 September 2012

Pears in a jar

I really like the stamp set Perfectly Preserved and the fact that there are framelets to cut out the stamped images.







This time I have made a square card using More Mustard cardstock for my base and added Island Indigo and whisper white for stamping on.

We used the scallop border punch along the bottom strip of the card and some more paper from the Orchard Harvest stack and tied aroud some bakers twine.  The side panel of Island Indigo cardstock was run through the dots embossing folder.  The birthday greeting is from happiest Birthday Wishes which is a hostess set avaialble until the end of this month is you have a party with sales of £150 or more.

The jar, lid, pear and stork were all stamped and then cut out using the framelets dies, so so simple....

I do hope you have enjoyed this month's projects from my classes.

Join me on Monday 1st October for my new catalogue launch at 7pm at St John's Church, Churchdown.  The cost will be £6 to include your own copy of the catalogue and also a simple card to make and take home with you.  I will have all my retiring stock for sale on a BOGOF offer.

If you would like more details please give me a call.  Everyone on my mailing list should have received an invitation.

Wednesday 26 September 2012

My 6 sided Box


Last Thursday was my Thursday class.  Here we make a 3d project and a card.

Last month we made a milk carton holder and 2 milk cartons and I decided to use the same die this month to show how versatile it is.  At £28.95 it is a fairly big purchase.








To make this box you  need to die cut two milk cartons and then do some cutting etc.  Rather than try to explain if you visit this website and look under big shot projects you will find that Dawn has made a video tutorial that makes it so easy.   www.dostamping.typepad.com.

For the tag we used the mixed medley hostess set in the seasonal catalogue and the new 1 1/4" scallop circle punch.

The papers are from the Orchard Harvest range.

I will be back Friday with the card we made.


Tuesday 25 September 2012

Double Gate Fold Card

Two days on the trot!!! lets hope the trend continues.....

Yesterday I promised to show you the double gate fold card that we made so here it is.



 
 
 
The top photo shows the card open and the bottom one is the closed card.  The papers I used were from the flirtatious stack and I teamed it with wisteria wonder and whisper white cardstock for stamping on.
 
We used the labels collectin framelits to close the card and ran it through the woodgrain embossing folder and lightly daubered over the grain.  Some lace ribbon tied into a bow gives the card a feminine touch.  The greeting is from Perfect Punches and was punched out using the ex large oval punch.



Monday 24 September 2012

Apologies

Hi

I am so sorry I have been away from my blog for so long.........When I am busy the blog is normally the first thing to be sidelined, but I can't believe how long it is since I have posted.

Hannah is very settled into secondary school and we are getting into a regular habit of doing homework when we receive it as evenings very often have activities planned or I am out working and she is very good at not doing homework with her big sister or dad!!  I am hoping this sounds familiar to a lot of you.

I have just downloaded lots of photos and have a few quite moments so I am going to share some with you. 

A few weeks ago I had my Friday class where we make 2 in depth cards.  This is a smallish class of between 6-10 people and one that my sister George is normally able to make so we have lots of fun.

The first card we made is called a squash card



 
 
 
 
We used one of my favourite stamp sets Artistic Etchings, I have a bit of a thing for vintage and just love how this set works.  My colour combination was cherry cobbler and early espresso, with very vanilla for stamping on.  The ribbon is the lovely tulle ribbon in the new seasonal catalogue.
 
If you would like to learn how to make this card why not give me a call and book a party and I would love to come along and show you how.
 
I will be back tomorrow with our second project which was a double gatefold card.
 

 
 

Saturday 8 September 2012

Exciting News Xmas Extravaganza


I have just finalised the details and projects for my Xmas Extravaganza, which will be held on Saturday 17th November 2012 at Chapel Hay Methodist Church, Chapel Hay Lane, Churchdown, Gloucester.

Doors will open at 9.30am for registration, mounting your stamps and tea/coffee, ready for a 10am start,

The cost will be £39 and you will receive over £30 worth of product including Greetings of the Season (in Clear) and a stamp set from our new Annual catalogue.  If you would like your stamp set in wood the cost will be £42.

Light refreshments will be provided throughout the day, but please bring your own lunch.  In addition there will be a raffle and table prizes throughout the day. 

Raffle tickets are £2 each or 3 for £5

We will be aiming to finish by 3.30pm.

Booking will close on the 25th October and places will be limited.  A postdated cheque for the 25th October will secure your place.

Cheques payable to caroonstampin please.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information, or to register your interest in the event.

Thursday 6 September 2012

Pocket Silhoutte

Good Morning

Here is another card from Monday's class.




We have a marina mist base teamed with whisper white cardstock and DSP from the just add cake suite and chocolate chip scallop dots ribbon.

The flowers which are in the Pocket Silhouette stamp set which is retiring this month were inked with our marker pens and then stamped and punched out using the large tag punch (no longer available) and layered onto an extra large tag punched out in marina mist. 

The greeting was from Thank you Kindly which is again retiring at the end of the month and was  inked in perfect plum and stamped onto the dsp.

Gosh can you keep up with all these retiring items.....I sorted out my stamp sets and ribbon yesterday and can't believe how much I have accumulated over the last 2 1/2 years....I had to hide it all before Paul came home!!!!  Thank heavens for a large garden shed..........

Back tomorrow with a card from our new Autumn/Winter catalogue

More cards

Good Morning

Well School was fine...that's all the feedback I got!

So onto work then.  Here are two more card's from last Monday.

The first is a simple Christmas Card..




The base is crumb cake, topped with very vanilla and of course real red.  The edges have been scored at 1/4" and 1/2" using the scoring board and tool ( here's hoping this will be in our new annual catalogue).

The greeting is from Season of Joy which is another retiring stamp set this month and the ribbon is real red 1/4" grosgrain, which is also retiring.

Remember to check the following links for retiring products and give me a call to place your order.  Orders can be placed with Stampin Up immediately if I have a credit card payment and delivered to your door for £4.95 postage.  I am offering FREE postage on all orders over £60 this month.

Wednesday 5 September 2012

Ist day at her new school

Good Morning

Well this morning I am trying to find things to do.....now I have lots to do but I need to keep myself occupied as Hannah started secondary school this morning......I can't believe it's the start of a new phase, no more waiting in the playground, and I have been doing that for the last 14 years.

Hannah looked very smart and I managed to get a photo just.....she hates having her photo taken and I didn't want to make this morning stressful...do you get my drift so I settled with this one.






Now onto some class photo's.  Last Monday was my 4 card class and technique sample.  For this month's technique we did the inked embossing folder.






We used the new holiday frame embossing folder and theme it with rich razzleberry and pear piazza.  Pear Piazza is one of our retiring colours this month together with the Oval All stamp set.  The side strip of rich razzleberry has been punched with the ribbon punch. 

Back tomorrow with an update of how school went and more cards.

Saturday 1 September 2012

RETIRED LIST


Hundreds of stamps and accessories from the 2011–2012 catalogues are retiring, and this is your last chance to get them before they’re gone. All products are only available while supplies last, so be sure to get your orders in early!

To view the up to date list of retiring stamps and accessories please click on the links below.

http://204.228.150.61/docs/lastchance/en-GB/Stamp_Availability-UK.pdf

http://204.228.150.61/docs/lastchance/en-GB/Accessories_Availability-UK.pdf