Recent Workshop Make and Takes.

My last two home workshops had me sharing the Stampin' Up! love with a great bunch of ladies. The  great hostesses Rachel and Faye were just brill and made me most welcome, even providing us all with chocolate, there is really no better way to craft........!

At Rachel's we made another Diorama card this time using the Bird Builder Punch the Itty Bitty Punches and a colour palette of Pear Pizzazz and Perfect Plum.  Everyone did a sterling job and the 3D effect that this card offered was a big hit.

At Faye's we made a card using the 'baby wipe technique', with a detachable bookmark inspired by Mary Fish, using the Simply Scored tool. Bright colours, Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie, nice and zingy.  The ladies made a lovely job of them, well done girls.

Bright Blossoms is one of the new Stamp sets from the Summer Mini and a great little set, very versatile.

Home workshops are always fun and Hostesses can earn great rewards for having a few friends around for a fun time stamping a great little project like the ones you see above.  But it gets even better during June and July Hostesses can earn an extra £30 to spend on top of the other great rewards for a qualifying party! There's never been a better time to book a home workshop, if you would like more info or you would like to book one I'd love to help.

Bel x

Projects Update

It has been a while again...................!  I had my first Team Training Day at the end of May with Amanda Fowler who is the top of our tree so to speak.  It was a beautiful day and I was lucky enough to be a passenger and therefore able to relax on the fairly long journey, as Kerry drove.  We made some really lovely projects on the day using mainly the Sweet Shop Designer Paper, which I had felt I didn't really need until I saw it in real life that was!  Gorgeous and matches really well with my fave In-Colours 2011 - 2013.  All the stamp sets we used were new to me and I love it when that happens as it does make me try stamping with sets I'm not immediately drawn too! 

There were also four ladies that demonstrated some WOW ideas and techniques to the rest of us demos, and I loved seeing what they had put together.  It's just brilliant to share ideas and see someone else's take on a stamp set or tool.

Amanda talked to us for a while with some real sound and helpful business ideas and I really have to say I think her personal experience and style of delivery and honesty was so refreshing I really got a huge amount from this part of the day.

I came home really re-energised and enthused about putting some of the ideas I have into practice.  I really now need to get my classes up and running regularly and this will help me organise things going forward.

We made swaps for the training day and mine was made using The Open Sea which again I didn't think I needed but after seeing samples at Regional Training I took the plunge and now I can't stop myself using it, its so fab........

The card is a Diorama card, these seem to be all around blogland in various styles.  The depth allows for a little more 3D elements through the window, that I made using the new Framelits, but the card flattens down to fit in a standard envelope. Pool Party and Soft Suede feature heavily in this card and it is a bit grungey/vintage style. The embossing was achieved using the new Simply Scored - a must- have tool! 

Bel x

Mum's are best!

Well my mum is!!  She reads this too, so she's loyal as well! My first Stampin'Up class was a Mother's Day theme.  We made a handbag shaped gift package and a matching card.  The Handbag idea came from the very clever Frenchie.  I saw her tutorial on YouTube and scaled up the size to make my version a bit larger. We used a 12 x 12 sheet of Everyday Enchantment Designer series paper cutting it down to 10 1/2 inches square and using the off cuts for the card, (though this one I mocked up, uses DSP that is now retired)  Dressing our bags up with punches and die cuts and a pretty rolled ribbon rose.

We had some lovely results they were all very pretty!  I think there were some happy Mum's receiving their handmade items!

My mother's day weekend was spent in Devon with friends celebrating my friend Tina's 40th Birthday and it was also Neil's Birthday too. Olivia had great fun too, she really liked the chickens and here she is with a friendly one, known as Miya's Chicken - Miya being the Farmhouse Owner (Jo's) 3 year old daughter, who is very fond of the chickens. 

I'm sure this one laid the eggs I brought home, they were yummy and you'd be struggling to get fresher!!

I'm busy making samples with my new purchases currently so expect to see some new ideas here very soon. I am so loving the Doiley Designer Papers and Mocha Morning well those are just exquisite.  I must stop stroking them and make the cut..............!! 

I'm also prepping some make and takes for two parties next week.  I'm looking forward to visiting Vikki's house on Monday and Lynnes's house next Thursday and introducing as many ladies (& gents) to the wonders of Papercrafting with fantastic Stampin'Up products.  Lookout folks and welcome to getting well and truly addicted to making pretty things!!