Its my 1st Stampaversary with Stampin' Up!®

I cannot believe it has been a year since I joined Stampin' Up! I had been thinking about it for a while just to get the discount but when I saw the fabulous joining offer during Sale-A-Bration I knew I was getting a bargain!

Joining Offer

What does it cost?

It costs £99 (Free P&P on starter kit) 

What do you get?

You get to choose products to the value go £130 from BOTH the annual catalogue and the NEW spring summer catalogue as well as the clearance rack. 

As well as this you also get a business pack that includes everything you need to start your own Stampin' Up business.

Catalogues!

What extra do you get?

On top of this during Sale-A-Bration you get to choose ANY 2 stamp sets ON TOP of the £130 worth of products you have already chosen. This means you could get approximately £200 worth of Stampin' Up goodies for £99.

Why join?

As an Independent Stampin' Up Demo you get to enjoy 20% discount (rising to 25% on promotion) on all your purchases. You get to join a whole community of crafters who offer support and inspiration for your crafting. 

If you are an avid crafter who enjoys quality products and spends £15 - £20 per week on crafting then you may as well get more for your money and join.

What do you need to do?

Nothing or a lot, its up to you. There is no obligation to sell, start a business, write a blog or make YouTube videos. You could be just a hobby demo who enjoys the 20% discount just for yourself.

To remain an Independent Stampin' Up Demo you need to meet the quarterly minimums which is just under £210, the quarters run Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept, Oct-Dec. Whenever you join in a quarter you have until the end of the next quarter to meet that minimum. So if you join now you have until the end of June to meet the £210 - that would be easy right?!

If you do not meet this minimum then you just cease to be a demo, thats it, you keep all the discounted products and you will NOT get any pressure to meet them or pressure to sell, do parties, classes, or YouTube tutorials etc.

So its a no brainer really, if you have a wish list of about £99 then why not get double that for your money?!

What are the perks?

Well as well as the 20% discount Independent Stampin' Up Demos get to see the new catalogues before everyone else and get to order a whole month (sometimes even sooner) before the general public. On top of this there is the chance to earn free products and rewards as recognition for your successes. 

Training

There is a full training programme if you want to start your business and lots of support from the wider team.

The Team

By joining me you get to be part of the wider team, my team is small but growing and we will be part of a larger team group, Simply Stylish Stampers which is Crafty Carolines team and also the Pootlers which is Pootles team. You will benefit from training events run by them as well as the personal touch from me. I have a much visited blog and a successful YouTube channel. 

To join my team click here!

Contact me for more information.

My Journey 

I have had an amazing year. 

• I have met and made lots of new crafty friends.
• I have attended fun training events 
• On stage where I got to see the new catalogue before anyone else and received lots and I mean lots of free products
• Been rewarded numerous times for achieving milestones, recruiting, promoting, competitions and challenges. 
• I have started my own team
• I have built a customer base
• I have joined lots of different groups and participated in lots of challenges and blog hops
• I have become a Design Team Member 
• I have given up my day job to be a full time demo ( I was a teacher) 
• I have established a regular class
• I have done parties and introduced people to crafting for the first time
• I have cards on sale in a local coffee shop
• I have a growing YouTube Channel with daily viewers
• I have a successful blog with daily viewers
• I have followers on my other platforms, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest
• I am much more satisfied in my daily work than I have ever been before.

I do hope you will consider joining me in this wonderful opportunity, this really is the best time to join.

Gez xxx

#stampinforall Card Sketch Challenge

Last weeks challenge over a #stampinforall was a card sketch.  When I completed this challenge I was actually just making a card that showed how well the blends complimented the Petals and More cards. It was not until I finished the card that I realised it was just like the sketch!

I first of all coloured the Memories & More card with the Blends then I added the sentiment and leaf stamp from the Petal Palette stamp set I then decided to mat this I played with different colours and chose Bermuda Bay to pick up the colour used on the rose. I then match this with the card base I put some DSP as a card background. I chose the black one with small white flowers so I could colour some random flowers in the Bermuda Bay blends. As I layered theses together I decided to add a ribbon behind the topper, as I put the ribbon on I realised that this was just like the sketch!

Measurements, Stamp set, colours & DSP

• Bermuda Bay cardstock for card blank and mat
• Petal Passion Memories & More for card topper
• Petal Palette stamp set
• Petal Passion DSP (paper)
• Memento Black ink
• Bermuda Bay Dark and Light Blends
• Old Olive Dark and Light Blends
• Night of Navy Light Blends
• Pool Party Dark Blends
• Bermuda Bay Stitched Satin Ribbon 
• Card bland is the usual standard C6 - half of A4 cut in half - 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• The DSP - 1/4" smaller on each side - 5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• Memories & More card was trimmed to 2 7/8 & 3 7/8
• Bermuda Bay mat 3 x 4

Right I will be back next week with another challenge project :-) 

Gez xxx

My Shop 

My shop is open 24/7 Click here to shop! Remember that during Sale-A-Bration you earn free products for every £45 you spend (not including p&p)

Joining Offer

There is no better time to join Stamping' Up, during Sale-A-Bration you get to chose

• £130 worth of products for your starter kit 
• AND 2 stamp sets of your choice 
• All for £99 (p&p free with starter kits). 
• 20% discount on future orders, rising to 25% when promoted
• There is no obligation to sell you can be a hobby demonstrator and just shop for yourself with the 20% discount. 
• Click here to join my team!

Follow me on Facebook

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One Christmas Card every week!

I have heard of other people doing this and I have decided that I am going to join in! I am going to be making a Christmas card every week so that come December that Will nearly all be done and I can get them in the post at the beginning of December. Thats the plan anyway!

So this week I made 3 to make up for the first 2 weeks when I didn't make one at all.

All cards are made using these measurements

• Base is A4 cut in half and scored in half, this makes a C6 card 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• I cut a mat just 1/4" smaller on each side - 5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• I cut a second mat in some cards 1/4" small on each side again -  5 3/8th x 3 5/8th

Card #1

I used the Swirly Snowflakes dies on this card,

• I cut a mat in Velum 5 3/8th x 3 5/8th
• I then used the the snowflake border and cut it twice leaving a small gap in the middle of the mat
• I used a sponge dauber and Dapper Denim Ink to give it a hint of colour
• I used Dapper denim as the card base 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• I used Whisper White as the mat  5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• I applied adhesive down the middle of the velum snowflake layer and stuck it to the Whisper White Mat
• I cut a length of Dapper Denim ribbon to go across the centre and adhered to the back
• I then adhered the Whisper White Mat to the card base
• I added Dapper Denim enamel dots to the centre of each snow flake 
• I the stamped the sentiment .Merry Wishes' from the Oh What Fun stamp set in Dapper Denim on Whisper White 
• I punched this out with the Classic Label Punch
• I then adhered this onto the ribbon toward the right hand side.

Card #2

I got chance to use the Labels of Love on this card, I had not used it on any of my Christmas cards this year but did make some labels with it. 

• I used an Emerald Envy card base 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• Whisper White mat  5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• Emerald Envy Taffeta Ribbon (available on clearance rack) stuck around the mat like a present
• Merry Christmas Label stamped in Emerald Envy onto Whisper White
• Punch out with the Every Day Label Punch
• Hole punched in it and ribbon added and tied at the crossover point 

Card #3

For this card I used The Oh What Fun stamp set and dies from Swirly Snowflackes, Seasonal Layers and the Stitched Framelits. 

• I used an Emerald Envy card base 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• Whisper White mat  5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• I used the holly stamp to make a Christmas tree shape
• Cut some snowflakes for the top of the tree
• cut some swirls for the corners 
• stamped the sentiment and cut it out with an oval stitched framlit
• Used some more snowflakes to add some interest
• Finished off with Emerald Envy enamel stars

I will be doing a Christmas card every week from now on.  I hope you get some ideas and get ahead like me :-) 

See you soon

Gez xxx

My Shop 

My shop is open 24/7 Click here to shop! Remember that during Sale-A-Bration you earn free products for every £45 you spend (not including p&p)

Joining Offer

There is no better time to join Stamping' Up, during Sale-A-Bration you get to chose

• £130 worth of products for your starter kit 
• AND 2 stamp sets of your choice 
• All for £99 (p&p free with starter kits). 
• 20% discount on future orders, rising to 25% when promoted
• There is no obligation to sell you can be a hobby demonstrator and just shop for yourself with the 20% discount. 
• Click here to join my team!

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Pinterest

Stampin Up SAB Lots of Lavender Card

Hello and as promised in the  Pootles Blog Hop that is showcasing the Sale-A-Bration freebies from Stamping' Up, here is the video tutorial link. Click on the picture below to watch the YouTube tutorial.





Click here to go to the blog hop so you can see the rest of the team :-)

The stamp set that I am using if the Lots of Lavender.  This is a 2 step stamp set that gives a water colour effect to the lavender.

I made 2 cards with this set and added some elements from some other sets.

Measurements card 1

To make this card I cut the layers as below - these are my standard way of cutting layers and they give 1/8th border all round.

• I used some Tranquil Tide as my base - A4 cut in half and scored in half, this makes a C6 card 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• I cut a mat in Very Vanilla cardstock just 1/4" smaller on each side - 5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• I cut a smaller mat in Very Vanilla - 2 1/2 x 4
• Another mat in Fresh Fig  - 2 5/8 x 4 1/8
• Finally another mat in  Tranquil Tide - 2 3/4 x 4 1/4

I love the way the layers really make the image pop.

Other sets used

To stamp the back ground and cut the decorative elements of this card I also used the Leaf stamp from Petal Palette and some dies from Petals and More Thinlits, one for the sentiment and the trellis effect for the back ground. 

I really like how the 2 step stamping on the Lot of Lavender sampler give a water colour look so it doesn't matter if you are not exact with your stamping. 

Measurements card 2

To make this card I cut the layers as below - again these are my standard way of cutting layers and they give 1/8th border all round.

• I used some Fresh Fig  as my base - A4 cut in half and scored in half, this makes a C6 card 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• I cut a mat in Tranquil Tide card stock just 1/4" smaller on each side - 5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• I cut some standard Very Vanilla 1/4" small on each side again -  5 3/8th x 3 5/8th
• I also cut an oval in Very Vanilla using the largest over from the Stitched Framelits after I stamped with the Lots of Lavender stamp.

Other sets used

To give dimension to this card I decided to stamp behind the oval topper rather than add a mat. I used the Amazing You stamp set which is another Sale-A-Bration free set. I chose the semi circle sun rays (thats how I like to think of them) stamped in Tranquil Tide and to tie it all together I stamped the birthday sentiment from Picture Perfect Birthday. 

I hope you enjoyed these cards and like me loving the freebies from Stampin' Up! I will be back with more projects to hopefully inspire you. 

Bye for now

Gez xxx

My Shop 

My shop is open 24/7 Click here to shop! Remember that during Sale-A-Bration you earn free products for every £45 you spend (not including p&p)

Joining Offer

There is no better time to join Stamping' Up, during Sale-A-Bration you get to chose

• £130 worth of products for your starter kit 
• AND 2 stamp sets of your choice 
• All for £99 (p&p free with starter kits). 
• 20% discount on future orders, rising to 25% when promoted
• There is no obligation to sell you can be a hobby demonstrator and just shop for yourself with the 20% discount. 
• Click here to join my team!

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Pinterest

Pootles Blog Hop Sale-A-Bration 2018

Hello and welcome to the Pootles Blog Hop that is showcasing the Sale-A-Bration freebies from Stamping' Up. The stamp set that I am using if the Lots of Lavender.  This is a 2 step stamp set that gives a water colour effect to the lavender.

I made 2 cards with this set and added some elements from some other sets,  ......

Add more photos of the cards



Lots of Lavender Cards

Measurements card 1

To make this card I cut the layers as below - these are my standard way of cutting layers and they give 1/8th border all round.

• I used some Tranquil Tide as my base - A4 cut in half and scored in half, this makes a C6 card 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• I cut a mat in Very Vanilla cardstock just 1/4" smaller on each side - 5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• I cut a smaller mat in Very Vanilla - 2 1/2 x 4
• Another mat in Fresh Fig  - 2 5/8 x 4 1/8
• Finally another mat in  Tranquil Tide - 2 3/4 x 4 1/4

I love the way the layers really make the image pop.

Other sets used

To stamp the back ground and cut the decorative elements of this card I also used the Leaf stamp from Petal Palette and some dies from Petals and More Thinlits, one for the sentiment and the trellis effect for the back ground. 

I really like how the 2 step stamping on the Lot of Lavender sampler give a water colour look so it doesn't matter if you are not exact with your stamping. 

Measurements card 2

To make this card I cut the layers as below - again these are my standard way of cutting layers and they give 1/8th border all round.

• I used some Fresh Fig  as my base - A4 cut in half and scored in half, this makes a C6 card 5 7/8th x 4 1/8th
• I cut a mat in Tranquil Tide card stock just 1/4" smaller on each side - 5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• I cut some standard Very Vanilla 1/4" small on each side again -  5 3/8th x 3 5/8th
• I also cut an oval in Very Vanilla using the largest over from the Stitched Framelits after I stamped with the Lots of Lavender stamp.

Other sets used

To give dimension to this card I decided to stamp behind the oval topper rather than add a mat. I used the Amazing You stamp set which is another Sale-A-Bration free set. I chose the semi circle sun rays (thats how I like to think of them) stamped in Tranquil Tide and to tie it all together I stamped the birthday sentiment from Picture Perfect Birthday. 

I hope you enjoyed these cards, if you call back again tomorrow to my blog I will post a video tutorial showing exactly how I made them. 

Until them please enjoy the blog hop, the team is full of very talented crafters full of inspirational ideas :-) 

Just click on the next name on the list to continue with the hop.

Bye for now

Gez xxx

#stampinforall Design Team Project: Circles

I do love being part of the design team over at #stampinforall. I love being challenged and having an excuse to go and design some completely new and sometimes out of my comfort zone interns of theme, colour technique.

This week the theme was circles. So I got my thinking cap on a redid a design I did last year for a friends leaving card. I just changed the back ground and sentiment to suit the theme.

Original Card

New version

I still water coloured the dancing woman but instead of a script background I changed it to Sheet Music and cur it into circles to fit the theme. I also changed the sentiment. I really love this stamp set I think it always gives stunning results when used. 

Stamp Sets and colours Used

• Sheet Music 
• Beautiful You
• Basic Grey Archival Ink for the girl and sentiment
• Pink Pirouette marker to water colour the dress with
• Melon Mambo water colour pencil to colour the hat with
• Basic Grey water colour pencil to colour the shadow on the ground with
• Smokey Slate ink for the music

Peacock Card

I then accidentally made another card in this theme! I was making some samples to show off the Beautiful Peacock set that is Free with Sae-A-Bration and made this card. Once I looked at it I realised that it too fitted the theme! Must have just had circles on my brain! lol

Stamp set and colours Used 

• Beautiful Peacock 
• Island Indigo
• Emerald Envy
• Fresh Fig

Click here to see blog post where I explain more how I made this card

I hope you are enjoying all the examples that the design team and the rest of the members of #stampinforall are coming up with, they are certainly inspiring me :-)

Until next time,

Gez xxx

My Shop 

My shop is open 24/7 Click here to shop! Remember that during Sale-A-Bration you earn free products for every £45 you spend (not including p&p)

Joining Offer

There is no better time to join Stamping' Up, during Sale-A-Bration you get to chose

• £130 worth of products for your starter kit 
• AND 2 stamp sets of your choice 
• All for £99 (p&p free with starter kits). 
• 20% discount on future orders, rising to 25% when promoted
• There is no obligation to sell you can be a hobby demonstrator and just shop for yourself with the 20% discount. 
• Click here to join my team!

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Pinterest

Chocolate Orange Gift Box for Valentine's Day using Stampin' Up Heart Happiness

For Valentine's Day me and my partner just give a small usually chocolate gift and we have a nice candle lit dinner in the house. We found that over the years going out on February 14th means you pay more and get a set menu tats not as nice as normal. Roses suddenly double in price and we are tight basically! lol!

However, this does not mean that the token present cannot be made to look a little special. So I like to dress up the gift. This year I have a Chocolate orange and decided to make a lidded box for it.

Measurements

Box base in Extra Thick Whisper White: 12 x 6 3/4 

• score @: Long side - 2 7/8 - 5 3/4 - 8 5/8 - 11 1/2 
• score @: Short side - 2 7/8 

Box Lid in Extra Thick Whisper White: 7 7/16 x 7 7/16

• score @ 1 & 2 1/4 on ALL 4 sides rotating the square of cardstock 

Topper in standard Whisper White stamped and cut out with the largest square from the Stitched Framlit dies

Stamp set used

For this project I used the Heart Happiness set which is in the new Spring Summer Catalogue. I was lucky enough to recieve this set FREE for attending On Stage. This is the 6 monthly event that Stampin' Up puts on for Demonstrators to launch the  new catalogues and reward our hard work. I have been overwhelmed by the amount of FREE products I have received since I joined Stamping' Up. I have worked in 2 public sector jobs, I was a nurse for the NHS and a Teacher in Secondary school and I have never received a reward for my work, most times we didn't even get a pay rise!

This stamp set if just lots and lots of hearts - I used the striped heart as the main decoration and the scattered mini hearts as back ground for the lit. 

Sentiment stamp

I stamp the sentiment over the heart on the lid.  I first stamped the heart off and then used the second generation ink for the actual image so that the words in the sentiment would show up because I was using the same colour, Dapper Denim. 

The sentiment was taken form the stamp set Eastern Beauty - I love this stamp set and is probably my favourite in the Annual Catalogue 

Finishing touches

I added a ribbon around the box lit, I used the retired Rushed ribbon and some retired enamel heats. .

The box fits the chocolate range perfectly and I just love how Dapper Denim looks on Whisper White.

So now you know what you need to make this why not gather all the stash and press play on the video and craft along with me :-)

I look forward to seeing you again next time 

Gez xxx

My Shop 

My shop is open 24/7 Click here to shop! Remember that during Sale-A-Bration you earn free products for every £45 you spend (not including p&p)

Joining Offer

There is no better time to join Stamping' Up, during Sale-A-Bration you get to chose

• £130 worth of products for your starter kit 
• AND 2 stamp sets of your choice 
• All for £99 (p&p free with starter kits). 
• 20% discount on future orders, rising to 25% when promoted
• There is no obligation to sell you can be a hobby demonstrator and just shop for yourself with the 20% discount. 
• Click here to join my team!

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Pinterest

Spotlight on Sale-A-Bration: Beautiful Peacock

Today I am showcasing another FREE  Sale-A-Bration stamp set from Stampin' Up. This stamp set is FREE with a £45 purchase (not including P&P). When I first saw this set at OnStage in November I knew that I was going to use the tail swirls to make my own patterned paper.

Half cracker box

This little project shows how the swirls can look really stunning yet the project is relatively quick and simple.

I love the half cracker box, it so easy to resize to fit what ever little treat you want it to hold. I heat embossed the swirls, they just look stunning and really luxurious when teamed with a gold trim. I have not yet filmed a tutorial of this box but  think I will as it really is quick and easy.

Chocolate wrapper

You may remember the covered chocolate bars I made a few weeks ago, well this is what I did on the wrappers. The swirls are just perfect for creating lovely patterns.

Inspiration in the catalogue 

The Sale-A-Bration catalogue gives some inspiration for you to CASE.

I have seen some really amazing projects with this set and have been designing some of my own.

Peacock card

I made this card using some peacock colours, Emerald Envy, Island Indigo and Fresh Fig. I also used circles as there is a Design Team challenge on #stampinforall which is simply circles. I really love the Stitch Framelits, they have to be one of my most used die sets.

I added just a hint of Fresh Fig by stamping the flowers on the sentiment and the dots on the background and some whashi tape. I love how it helps the card pop.

I love add a surround to my sentiment, these flowers are lovely and compliment the peacock swirls really well.

I have loads more ideas for this stamp set, these are just a few I have done so far. I hope you have enjoyed them and are inspired to make some yourself. I would love to see what you do.

Until next take,

Gez xxx

My Shop 

My shop is open 24/7 Click here to shop! Remember that during Sale-A-Bration you earn free products for every £45 you spend (not including p&p)

Joining Offer

There is no better time to join Stamping' Up, during Sale-A-Bration you get to chose

• £130 worth of products for your starter kit 
• AND 2 stamp sets of your choice 
• All for £99 (p&p free with starter kits). 
• 20% discount on future orders, rising to 25% when promoted
• There is no obligation to sell you can be a hobby demonstrator and just shop for yourself with the 20% discount. 
• Click here to join my team!

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Pinterest

Stampin' Up Petal Passion Simple Cards

I love the Stampin' Up Memories & More card sets, they are designed not only for memories keeping but card making as well. The new card set in the Spring Summer Catalogue is absolutely gorgeous. I am planning on using them for memory keeping but just have to use some for cards as they are so stunning.

Here are just 4 I made very quickly and easily without any need to stamp as I used the sentiments in the cards. An ideal set for someone starting their card making journey as you get stunning results from very little equipment.

These cards were made simply by trimming the Petal Passion Memories & More cards and matting and layering, very simply done with a few bits of cardstock but just look t the stunning results.

Love Bird Card 

Measurements for Love Bird Card

• The card set has Basic Black, white and Powder Pink.
• The cards are 6x4 & 3x4
• I left the  3x4 striped card as it was as its perfect on the card blank
• For the bird card I trimmed it down to 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 - remember to trim off both sides so the birds stay in the centre  
• I cut a black mat 3 3/4 x 2 3/4 
• I cut the Powder Pink mat 4x3

Sentiment Card

Measurements for Sentiment Card

• I left the 3x4 floral card again as these cards are perfect for a standard card blank
• I also left the sentiment card 
• I cut a black mat .so its 1/4" wider and taller 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 (although the sentiment was slightly less than 4" so you may need to revise these dimensions to fit the card size) 

Stepped Up Cards

Then I decided to step it up a bit and use some dies to create a different effect.

Measurements for oval card

• I used the Oval from the Stitched Framelits ti cut the flower card, the spotted card and the black cardstock
• I also used the leaf spray from the Petals and More Thinlits 
• I cut a sentiment from another card and flagged the ends

Single Flower Card

Measurements for Single Flower Card

• I trimmed a 6x4 card down to 5 3/8th x 3 5/8th
• I used the Scallop Thinlit die from Seasonal Layers to cut a scalloped edge
• I cut a at of Basic Black cardstock to 5 5/8th x 3 7/8th
• I tied a bow using the Whisper White Sheer Ribbon
• 
  

Watch the tutorial

I have a tutorial on how I put these cards together really quickly and easily.  So sit back and enjoy the tutorial.



I think you will agree these are very stunning cards and so easy and quick to make. Thanks again for joining me today, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow :-)

Gez xxx

My Shop 

My shop is open 24/7 Click here to shop! Remember that during Sale-A-Bration you earn free products for every £45 you spend (not including p&p)

Joining Offer

There is no better time to join Stamping' Up, during Sale-A-Bration you get to chose

• £130 worth of products for your starter kit 
• AND 2 stamp sets of your choice 
• All for £99 (p&p free with starter kits). 
• 20% discount on future orders, rising to 25% when promoted
• There is no obligation to sell you can be a hobby demonstrator and just shop for yourself with the 20% discount. 
• Click here to join my team!

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram

Follow me on Pinterest