Time to start Christmas cards?

I know there's at least a couple of months until Christmas, but now's the time to play with those stamps just to get a feel for what you might be creating later on. With a few hours to spare, I decided to mount a few of my new sets (I love doing this!) and use Perfect Presents for a quick card. This lovely set is just £21.95 and has 11 stamps giving endless possibilities for designs. Using Always Artichoke cardstock, Real Red grosgrain ribbon and silver embossing on white card, this is the result. The new Scallop Border punch is fab and so easy to line up perfectly, and centre perfectly, as well as the faithful, much used and essential Scallop circle punch. And not forgetting the Pricking tool and template from the Crafter's Tool Kit. I know that you could have a set of stamps and more for the price of the CTK but the tools contained in the zip up case are quality. Why not think about holding a demonstration in your own home and you could buy this at nearly half-price with your free goodies? Bargain!!
The next card I made uses Season of Joy stamp set, just £24.95, which contains 8 stamps, which are die-cut for easy mounting. The flowers are embossed with silver and an easy shape to cut, mounted on the same white cardstock as the base card, using the new Scallop Square punch. Also sturdily made and so easy to punch out the shape. Surely another must-have?

Well thanks for dropping by, but the roast needs attending to now and it's my 3rd son's birthday today, so the cake needs icing - oops! sorry I mean taking out of the box, kind thanks to Mr Sainsbury. So, if you had the choice of making CARDS or a CAKE, which would you choose?
Exactly!! Thank you once again, Mr Sainsbury, for letting me do the things I love!

STAMPERS *10* CLUB

STAMPERS *10* CLUB
For those of you who love SU, the Stampers *10* Club is the easy way to start collecting without breaking the bank! I only need 3 more people to subscribe and the first order can be placed. If you're thinking "What's this all about?" , I have put together a FAQ so that you can decide if you'd like to join.

How long do I need to be a member?

The S*10*Club lasts for 10 months

How much does it cost?

Your monthly commitment of placing an order of at least £15 from the new SU catalogue will guarantee that you will receive a FREE level 1 hostess set + £15 of goods from the catalogue in one of the next 10 months. There will be a minimal P&P charge of £2 for all orders up to £40 (1st class recorded delivery) and any orders over £40 will be P&P FREE (1st class recorded).

If you would like your order shipped direct from SU, they will charge minimum £3.95 or 5% whichever is the lower.

Can I spend more than £15?

You can spend as much as you like each month so long as you reach the minimum of £15. If you can commit to at least £30 per month, you can take up 2 slots and then receive the same rewards, but twice. So, 2 x level 1 hostess sets + 2 x £15 of goods.

Can I choose the free gifts?

Yes! It is your choice of hostess set and your choice of free goods.

When do I place my order?

All orders must be placed by the 20th of each month for delivery by the end of each month. Either by email triciaablett@hotmail.com or call 01933 353695.

Where can I see SU products?

There is an online catalogue http://www.stampinup.co.uk/ but as a member of the Club, you will receive your brand new catalogue FREE from me (normal cost £4.95).

How do I pay?

You can pay directly into my Paypal account (email me for details) or by cheque to my home address on the back of the catalogue.



If there are any other questions you may have, please let me know and I will answer them by email or phone call.

If you live in the Bedfordshire/ Northamptonshire area, you may want to arrange a demonstration in your own home with crafting friends; and if sales of £150 or above are reached, you will receive the free goodies (hostess set + £15 goods) for yourself, as the hostess.

If your school or local organisation would like a demonstration, I am more than happy to arrange this for you. Just let me know.

Rainy day = Productive day

Here are the results of my productive day - 4 mini albums, 1 decorated paper bag and 8 jumbo paperclip/bookmarks. All made with the latest download from Funky Hand ,Salt & Pepper - black and white papers - because my SU order is not here yet.
A close up of the bookmarks I made today after demonstrating at the 'Make and Take' yesterday for WCMDay. From the new SU catalogue, the stamp set 'One of a Kind' together with the co-ordinating 'Boho Blossoms' punch are a must-have for anybody! The very useful scallop circle punch formed the base of layered circles of 1 3/8", 1 1/4" and 1" and a stamped image of a flower from 'One of a Kind' on the top. With dimensionals to secure the paperlip, another scallop circle was stuck to the back to cover the dimensionals. So quick and easy to make, and great for fund raising events.
I cant wait for my new SU 'Scallop border' punch to arrive so at this point in time I had to use a substitute 'Threading water' punch for the top edge of the bag. The centre embellishment was made exactly as the bookmarks above and matted on pale plum card, paper pricked at the corners, the remaining flowers from the 'One of a Kind' 3-flower stamp adhered in the corners, whisper white 1/4" grosgrain ribbon tied at the front, and a bow tied at the top to seal the bag.
And the four Bind It All albums made in an hour with beer mats! Who would know! An ideal size of 90cm square, the pages were cut at 85cm square and bound with 5/8" O Wires. The front embellishments were either flora doodles, layered ,or the same SU scallops and circles as the bookmarks above. So useful and a joy to make - so neat and pretty!

Thank you for stopping by - and if you would like to leave a comment, it would make my day!

World Cardmaking Day Coffee Morning

After a hectic week, the Coffee Morning was here and now its over. A lovely time was had by all!

And about £30 was made for one of my favourite charities - Macmillan Nurses.

With much chatting , eating cake and drinking coffee , six lovely ladies took part in the 'Make and Take'. And this is what they made.

An idea which I had seen on another person's blog (thank you!) was stamped and assembled with the new SU set 'One of a Kind' and wonderful co-ordinating 'Boho Blossoms' punch. A must for anybody! This is an ideal item to make quickly and cheaply for those school fundraising events and should sell well.

The Stampers *10* Club is filling up quickly. With only 5 spaces left, please let me know as soon as you can if you would like to take part in this cost effective way of building up your SU collection. And remember that the brand new catalogue is FREE to those taking part, and is a fantastic recource for ideas, at your fingertips. If there's anything you desperately need at any time, just drop me an email or give me a call. I'll be happy to help.

The workshop on 25th October is now fully subscribed. If you were interested in attending but missed this opportunity, please give me a call because I will be repeating the day during the month of November .

ALSO watch this space for details of up and coming Christmas workshops using the wonderful stamp sets from Stampin Up.

Thanks for visiting me today - keep dropping in so that you can see what's happening at Victoria May Cottage over the coming months. And if there's anything you need, just let me know.

Happy crafting

Tricia

STAMPIN UP is here

Well its taken over 3 weeks for me to let out my news - and here it is! I've found

Stampin Up!!

Wow - rubber stamping at its best.
SU in the United States is 20 years old this year but has only been available in the UK for just over a year. As you are probably aware, SU craft items are only available from demonstrators , either through holding a demonstration in your home or direct to your door from a demonstrator. You won't see them sold in shops or online but you will be seeing some of the fantastic goodies advertised in our UK craft magazines in the not too distant future.

SU offers co-ordinating stamp sets that you can't find anywhere else! The images in each set are designed to mix and match, so you handcrafted creations will come together beautifully. The deeply etched deigns and foam-backed rubber on each stamp ensure that your stamped images remain sharp. Some stamp sets are double mounted, with two stamps sharing one block. And a number of stamps come die-cut - no trimming is required!

With the release of our new catalogue on 1st October, its a very exciting time. I have the catalogues ready to go out next Wednesday with fantastic new additions that you will want - that's a sure thing!

***Beautiful new stamp sets***

***Scallop border punch***

***Co-ordinating stamp sets and punches***

***Brand new designer series paper and cardstock***

***Grosgrain ribbons , colour co-ordinated***

and

***Wonderful new Hostess stamp sets***

***And MORE***

The catalogue (full of ideas and techniques) retails at £4.95 but throughout October, you can purchase your copy for just £3.25 with FREE 1st class P&P. And what's more, this will be refunded on any order of £30 or more.

Any orders of £150 or more will receive a FREE hostess stamp set (your choice of level 1 sets in the catalogue) PLUS £15 of goods (your choice) from the catalogue.

With Christmas just around the corner, you could have your Christmas shopping sorted for the family in one easy step, and get FREE crafting goodies for yourself as a bonus!!

OR

if £150 is just a 'step too far', take a look at my STAMPIN *10* CLUB below.

So don't delay, order it today, by contacting me triciaablett@hotmail.com .

If you are desperate to see the new catalogue before yours arrives, take a look at

www.stampinup.co.uk

to view the current catalogue, due to end 30th September. Saying that, many items are continued in the new catalogue as they are so versatile and popular. Some have been retired at a discounted price, so if something interests you, just let me know and I'll give you more information. See the colour families and how the stamp sets work so well together - you will never look back.

STAMPERS *10* CLUB

As the SU range is so collectable, I will be starting a STAMPERS *10* CLUB for those people who are willing to commit to spend £15 a month for the next 10 months. How easy is that?

How it works:

You commit to buy items from the catalogue to the value of £15 or more each month,it and then you receive a FREE hostess stamp set + £15 of goods from the catalogue for ONE of the the 10 months. If you feel that you could commit to £30 or more, you would take up 2 slots and receive 2 FREE hostess stamp sets + £30 of goods from the catalogue.

AN OFFER, TOO GOOD TO MISS!

Just let me know by dropping me an email

triciaablett@hotmail.com

Thank you for dropping by today - please pay me a visit soon as I shall be uploading projects and designs on a regular basis, to hopefully give you new ideas for your own creations.

Happy crafting!

Exciting news.....

Well, I am a really naughty blogger! I haven't posted for a month - not that I didn't want to but just the time wasn't there. With only one daughter left at home now, my new larger craft room is coming together. But when you condense two small rooms into one bigger room, don't you find that nothing is ever in the right place! I can't find anything at the moment and it's so frustrating.

And, I've been making HUGE roman blinds for my son's apartment, 5 down and 4 to go! It's amazing what you say 'Yes' to when you've only made one small bathroom blind before - but they do look a treat.

And with great interest in my new Craft Club, I'm quite busy and have to be very organised finding different projects for each session - Tuesday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm and Wednesday evenings 7pm to 9pm - on a weekly basis. But it's great fun, sharing all the ideas that I have in cardmaking.

Well, you'll have to wait a little longer for the exciting news I have, but as they say:

'All good things are worth waiting for' !!

Bye for now, but watch this space........

Junkitz book Workshop

Well, here it is! The result of the a workshop with Traci. And what a fantastic day! Plenty of tea , coffee and biscuits, friendly people to work alongside, an inspirational tutor, wonderful materials to play with and an impressive end result. I found it hard to believe that I had actually made such a quality item but it was Traci who shared the techniques to give that professional finish. Thank you Traci - it is embedded in my brain forever!
And here's a shot of a few of the inside pages where the photographs will eventually go (at some point in time!!) We made pockets, doodled photo frames, used acrylic daubers, rubber stamped (some fantastic new stamps coming very soon) ,cropped pages vertically and triangular and used tearing techniques to wonderful effect. All in all, a fab day and hopefully one of many more to come .
And to show how much I enjoyed the day, I went home and started to make some more albums with the wonderful Bind it All and some handy papers already printed and of course , my flora doodles. My head is full of ideas for more, so watch this space.