Todays the Day..

Today is the day the big reveal takes place. The New Stampin' Up! catalogue is revealed to everyone. There are some new yummy things in there and I have already placed my own order. There is a Link on the right hand side of my blog to view the catalogue online, however if you are like me and prefer to have a copy in your hand to browse, then contact me and I will get one to you pronto.

To celebrate the launch the first three people to place an order with me will recieve a suprise gift.

Carole x

The 'C' word

At work this last week we have been pricing up all the Christmas cards, wrapping paper, tree ornaments etc ready to be put on display this next week. I try not to think about Christmas too early on, but I really need to be more organised this year. LOL, I say that every year. Well there is a new christmas stamp set in the new catalogue, that has got me in the mood. Look at this beautiful card I made. (even if I say so myself)



It is a very traditional looking card, using traditional colours of Red, Green and Gold. The baubles are all embossed and really shiny, but it isn't showing up in the photos very well.
Not long now, before the launch of the new catalogue. Mine arrived yesterday, so contact me to order yours, cost £5.00 (which is refunded with your first order)



Supplies:

Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Autumn Days, Occasional Greetings
Card: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Real red
Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Versamark
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Gold Embossing Powder

Ohh My

Ohh My...where have the days gone. So much has been going on in the Claxton household. Some good and some not!
Firstly, my son started back to school after seven weeks of holiday. He started High school and had been so excited about it all. He has loved it so far, although is coming home very tired. It is such a big school compared to his Junior school and he is having to walk from each lesson now instead of all the lessons being in the same room like before. However this week he has been off school ill!! you know what it's like, they all get back together and then all the colds etc start. Like all men he has been dying the last few days, but is feeling better tonight, so I think he can go back to school tomorrow. Hooray...I can do some crafting.

I celebrated my birthday, 21 again and again and some, LOL. Thank you to everyone who sent me lovely cards and birthday wishes. I love you all.

Bad things, well my washing machine decided to give up on me. Why do they always decided to do it with a full load in !! so out shopping for a new one. Then to top it all, I knocked the iron off the ironing board and it landed onto the carpet hot plate down, so I now have a lovely burn mark the shape of an iron there...then, Yes there's still more... I was cleaning the bathroom and the large bathroom mirror came off the wall. Luckily it didn't break, I don't need 7 years of bad luck.

Anyway... the best thing so far is being able to pre-order some of the new stamps out of the new catalogue. Not long to the 1st October, when we can reveal the catalogue in its full glory, but here is a sneak peek at one of the stamp sets that will be in there. This is a Hostess Level 2 stamp and it's beautiful, I love it.



If you would like to get your hands on this stamp set all you need to do is have a qualifying workshop at your home. Contact me for details.

Supplies
Stamps: Whimsical Wings, A Bit of Birthday Cheer
Ink: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip
Card: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Gold Brads, Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon

Last Chance and Bargins

It’s that time of the year when Stampin’ Up! release the items that will be retired from the current catalogue. A big surprise this year are the bargins to be had – there are reductions of 25% and 50% on selected items. You can view the list here.

A bonus from me...anyone placing £30+ (before P&P) order with me, before September 7th, will qualify for free P&P.

Be quick, with prices like this items will be sold out very quickly.

One of those days....

I am having one of those days....you know the ones. Everything you touch goes wrong kind of day !!

Today was going to be my well earnt crafting day, but I have to admit I have struggled to make anything worth showing...I was not happy with anything I had made by lunch time, so gave up and closed the door to the craft room.

I do have a card I can share with you all though. I made this a few days ago for the lovely Bekka, who's birthday it was today. I first met Bekka about a year ago and we have kept in touch since. She is a truly wonderful person and Bekka, I hope you have had a wonderful birthday and have been spoilt rotten today.




Like me Bekka loves this stamp from Bloomin' with Beauty stamp set, so it was a good excuse to use it again..LOL

Supplies

Stamps: Bloomin with Beauty, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery, Rose Red
Card: Rose Red, Regal Rose
Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing Border

Something different

I have moved away from my stamping style with this card. I saw a similar one on an American blog (can't remember where, sorry) a few weeks ago and fell in love with it.



It was quite simple to make... The house is made from Designer Paper layered onto Very Vanilla card and the roof is Creamy Caramel card punched with the scallop border punch, with little dots inked all along the edges with Chocolate Chip marker pen. The owl is from the Forest Friends stamp set is stamped with Chocolate Chip ink onto Very Vanilla, punched out with the 1-1/4" circle punch layered onto Chocolate Chip card punched with the 1-3/8" circle punch. Three buttons from the Designer Buttons from the Mini catalogue placed on the card. The Birthday Wishes sentiment, from the Basic Phrases stamp set is stamped with Chocolate Chip ink, then lines and dots drawn on the card with Chocolate Chip marker. A simple but effective card I am sure you will agree.

Supplies:
Stamps: Forest Friends, Basic Phrases
Card: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel,Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Chocolate Chip,
Accessories: Designer Paper, Designer Buttons, Marker Pen (Chocolate Chip)

Just before I finish, I would like to say a big thank you to my wonderful SU team member Alex for nominating me for three awards
...





do pop over and browse her blog, she has some truly wonderful creations over there. Thank you hun for nominating me.

How Bad am I ?

I am such a bad person! My wonderful down line Karen celebrated her birthday last week and I missed the date. Somehow I had got in a muddle and had it down for August. Anyway, I realised my mistake and quickly created a belated birthday card to send off to her.




Yet again I made a grab for the Bloomin' With Beauty stamp set. This is certainly proving to be my favourite. This time I used Summer Sun and More Mustard Ink to colour the flowers. The card base is a white 5" x 5" card with Old Olive card stock and a panel of So Saffron DP. The coloured flower image was placed onto So Saffron card stock which had been paper pierced in each corner. Very Vanilla Grosgrain ribbon finishes it all off nicely.

Supplies:
Stampset: Bloomin' with Beauty
Card: Whisper White, Old Olive, So Saffron
Ink: Summer Sun, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Crafters Tool Kit, Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon

Awards

For my first award I need to say a big thank you to Maria, who left me this award on her blog. Head on over and give her a visit. Her work is truly inspiring.





My second award, is from Alex. Alex is a member of my Stampin' Up! team. She is such a talented crafter and a truly wonderful person. Pop over to her blog here. You won't be disappointed.



Thank you ladies, I am truly honoured.

Now I am supposed to pass these awards onto others, but I have such difficulty in choosing people. I follow so many talented crafters and their blogs I find it difficult to pick out individuals. So my awards go to all crafters. If you come and visit my blog, please do leave me a message so I can come and visit you and if you wish take an award away with you.

Curtain Call Color Challenge Act 1

Another challenge completed. I really loved the colours in this challenge over at Stacey's Stamping Stage, they jumped right out off the screen at me.

I do have a massive confession to make though!... When I grabbed the Not Quite Navy Ink off the stand, it was still wrapped in its cellophane. I have been a demo for 18 months and I bought all the ink pads with my very first order. It was the same with the card stock! SHAME on me....

Anyway here is my creation. Have to admit I loved these colours together and will be trying them out again soon.

Supplies:

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Thank You Kindly
Ink: Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy
Card: Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Gold Brads

Weekend Sketch Challenge

While looking through the Blogs in my Google reader, this sketch over at Laurie Schmidlin's blog Just Give Me Stamps caught my eye.



I loved this layout and decided to make a card for the challenge.




The first thing you will notice is, It's not Pink LOL..... but I am still using the Bloomin' With Beauty stamp set. I just love this stamp. Love the flowers and all the different colours you can use. This time I used my Blender Pen with Pale Plum ink to colour the flowers. For the flower centres I used Perfect Plum .

Supplies:

Card: Pale Plum, Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke
Stamps: Bloomin' With Beauty, Oval All, Baroque Motifs
Ink: Pale Plum, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Certainly Celery DP, Scallop Oval Punch, Oval Punch

Thanks for stopping by.

Carole x