Stampin' Up! European Convention 2012...

I can't believe that 2 weeks ago today I had just arrived in beautiful Mainz by the River Rhine to take part in my 2nd Stampin' Up! convention (although it is the 4th European convention). I had a fabulous time with my fellow demonstrators from the Pink Ladies (& Lads!) and also got to meet other amazing SU demonstrators from across Europe.

As SU demonstrators it goes without saying that we love to craft, so whenever we get together we make swaps. These can be in the form of 3-D projects or card fronts, so if we make 10 we get 10 different swaps back using all current product. We can then share these with our customers and fellow demonstrators.  Here are the swaps I did for my fellow Pinkies:

You might think there was not any SU product used for these bracelets but you'd be wrong as the oblong beads are actually made out of SU's gorgeous Floral District DSP - yes really! So how did I make these paper beads you ask? They are actually quite simple. I cut some of the sheets of DSP into long thin triangles (6" by 3/4"). Then using a cocktail stick I rolled the triangle onto itself, fixing it in place with glue (taking particular care with the tip). Each bead was then sealed using clear nail varnish. The bracelet was then made by threading the dried paper beads onto elastic thread and accenting with some beads from my stash. Hopefully you can get the idea from these photos!

Of course I had to package the bracelets up so I made these sweet little co-ordinating boxes using the Big Shot and the Candy Wrapper Bigz L die.

I made a total of 20 of the bracelets for the Pink Ladies whilst the Lads got some keyrings (unfortunately I don't have any photos of these).

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: Floral District DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade
Tools/Accessories: Candy Wrapper Bigz L die, Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Pearls, Stampin Dimensionals, Clear Nail Varnish, Elastic Thread, Assortment of beads from stash

Please come back soon when I will share more about Convention and how you could join me there next year!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Pinkies Blog Hop - New Annual Catalogue

We’re so glad you could join us on our Blog Hop. We’ll be showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin’ Up!® 2012/13 Annual Catalogue. Simply use the buttons at the end of each post to keep on hopping. We love comments, so please do tell us what you think!

Welcome to those who have joined me from Gina Wiseman's blog - weren't her projects gorgeous?  I just love the ribbon technique she has used.

My projects are focusing on the new versatile Word Play stamp set.  My first project is a get well card, with a bunch of flowers ready to give to someone feeling a bit under par.  Only mine are paper flowers using scraps left over from other projects.  I am so pleased the Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embossing Folders have carried over from the Summer mini as they give such a clean line.  Besides the new Word Play stamp set I have used the gorgeous new cardstock - Naturals White.  I already love the Naturals Ivory cardstock and I think this is going to be another favourite!

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Naturals White, Subtles DSP stack
Stamps: Word Play
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Tools/Accessories: Big shot, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Adorning Accents Embossing Folders, Little Leaves Sizzlits, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin’ Dimensionals, glue dots, Wisteria Wonder baker's twine, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, pearls

Here is a close up of  the bunch of flowers, so you can get a better idea of the depth to this project...

Next up is a totally different card - this time a wedding card.  I have gone for a white on white effect except for a couple of silver accents.  Don't you just love the new Fancy Fan embossing folder?!  The card is 6" x 6" and as the embossing folder are not that big, the embossing front of the card is actually two pieces joined together (cleverly hidden by the organza ribbon!).  If you zoom in on the card you will see that I added a bit of bling for the ring in the greeting!

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Brushed Silver
Stamps: Word Play
Ink: Versamark
Tools/Accessories: Heat gun, Silver embossing powder, Big Shot, Fancy Fan embossing folders, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Labels Collection Framelits, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Whisper White organza ribbon, rhinestone jewels

The final card is a quick CAS (clean and simple) Christmas card using the masking technique, as well as heat embossing and a blender pen.  I have used one of the new in-colours - Gumball Green to colour in the baubles along with Cherry Cobbler one of my favourite SU colours - which in a way is odd as generally I don't like red (to wear or in my garden)!  Isn't funny how we have our own little foibles?

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White
Stamps: Word Play
Ink: Versamark, Gumball Green & Cherry Cobbler markers
Tools/Accessories: Heat gun, Gold embossing powder, blender pen, Crystal Effects, Stamp-a-ma-jig

If you would like to order any of the products I have used to create these projects please contact me and I will be happy to help.

Have a great weekend and make you sure you stop by Sandie Brain's blog as I know she has some fab projects to share with you using the Creative Elements stamp set.  Click on the next button below to take a look....

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Contemporary Christmas

On Sunday I was at the Pinkies' quarterly training in Bicester. We had a fab day making a gorgeous project.... thank you Michelle Last & Nicky Dexter.

As usual for such an event I made some swaps using some of the gorgeous products from the new annual Stampin' Up! catalogue. I decided to do a Christmas card with a contemporary theme both in terms of colours and style.

Recipe
Cardstock: Whisper White notecards 
Stamps: Chock Full of Cheer 
Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party & Pretty in Pink markers; Versamark
Tools/Accessories: Heat gun, Silver embossing powder, Stampin’ Dimensionals, ½” punch

What do you think? I was quite pleased when I had finished these in reasonably good time on Saturday evening (instead of the usual small hours of Sunday morning...) but then disaster struck at the last moment as I managed to knock a glass over and the last dregs went over some of my swaps.  I quickly managed to move most of them out of the way but some were damaged and I had to redo them, so as usual I was still last minute dot com - typical!

If you would like to order any of the products I have used to create this project please contact me and I will be happy to help.

Do come back on Saturday, when I will have more projects to share with you, featuring more new products from the new catalogue.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Pinkie's Blog Hop - Autumn Winter 2012 Seasonal Catalogue

Welcome to our first ever Pinkies’ Blog Hop.  We’ll be showcasing lots of gorgeous projects using products from the new Stampin’ Up!® Autumn Winter Seasonal Catalogue.

Our blog hop buttons will help guide you on your way.  We love comments, so please do tell us what you think!

My projects have focused on the gorgeous new Watercolour Winter stamp set which can be found on page 14 of the the Autumn Winter Seasonal Catalogue.

The basic layout for each of my 3 cards is the same - but you will see how different each card is due to the techniques and colours involved!  There is something for everyone - both new and more experienced crafters.

My first card has used the bleached colouring technique.  Firstly, I stamped the image several times using Versamark on Real Red cardstock.  I then heated embossed the images with white embossing powder.  Then carefully using a old paint brush I dabbed thin household bleach inside the embossed images to lighten the cardstock.  I then used marker pens to colour in the leaves and berries. The final touch was to add Crystal Effects to add dimension - hopefully you can see this from the close-up photo on the right.

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Real Red
Stamps: SU Watercolour Winter, SU Delightful Dozen
Ink: SU Cherry Cobbler marker pen, SU Garden Green marker pen, Versamark, Black Stazon
Tools/Accessories: Heat Gun, SU White Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, SU Crystal Effects, thin bleach

Crystal Effects has also been used on the second card, but more dimension has been given to the layout with the use of an embossing folder as well as strategic use of Stampin' Dimensionals!

The Watercolour Winter stamp set is ideal for 2-step stamping, however on this occasion I used a blender pen to add colour onto the holly leaves.  More dimension is added by the use of Crystal Effects - this time on just the berries.


Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Garden Green SU Whisper White, SU Brushed Silver
Stamps: SU Watercolour Winter, SU Delightful Dozen
Ink: SU Garden Green, SU Real Red marker, Black Stazon, SU Blender Pen
Tools/Accessories: SU Blender Pen, SU Crystal Effects, Big Shot, SU Framelits Labels Collection, SU Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, SU Dimensionals

The last card is much more simple and is ideal for producing in bulk - perfect for Christmas cards!

Once more a blender pen has been used to add colour to the holly leaves.  The berries have been coloured in directly with a Real Red marker.  And once more I have used Crystal Effects - don't you just love it?!  I introduced Crystal Effects to a customer at a recent class and she is now totally addicted - I think she will be applying Crystal Effects to everything (even non craft items)!!!

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Notecards
Stamps: SU Watercolour Winter, SU Delightful Dozen
Ink: Black Stazon, SU Garden Green, SU Real Red maker
Tools/Accessories: SU Blender Pen, SU Crystal Effects


If you would like to order any of the products I have used to create these projects please contact me and I will be happy to help. Also as a special offer until the end of September, if you place an order of £45 or more I will send you a copy of the New Annual Catalogue for FREE (this offer is from me - not Stampin' Up!).

I hope these cards have inspired you to make a start on your Christmas cards - after all it is only 14 weeks away now (and that time will quickly fly by)! I will admit I also need to practice what I preach - I am very good at making cards for others, but tend to leave my own cards until the latest posting dates - I am very much "last minute dot com"!

Please use the buttons below to visit more fabulous projects created by my fellow Pinkies - enjoy!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Perfectly Preserved

I had a fabulous day on Saturday when I met up with some of my fellow demonstrators at an SU training event in Reading.  As is usual at such events we all make some swaps to share ideas - after all we are crafters!  This is the swap I made using one of the new bundles from the Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue.  The bundle is called Perfectly Preserved and includes a stamp set of the same name as well as matching framelits dies in the Cannery Set.  Details can be found on page 29 of the catalogue.

Jars seem to be a big theme in crafting right now - and not just in terms of storing food!  I decided to focus on the flowers that accompany the set.

Recipe

Cardstock/Paper: SU Naturals Ivory, SU Vellum Cardstock

Ink: Black Stazon, SU Wild Wasabi, SU Pool Party, SU Marina Mist marker, SU Not Quite Navy marker

Stamps: SU Perfectly Preserved

Tools/Accessories: Big Shot, Cannery Set Framelits, Blender Pen, SU Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

To give the feel of glass, I used vellum cardstock for the jar.  I then used a blender pen and SU Pool Party ink to create a subtle effect of water in the jar.  And I couldn't resist using SU's new Dazzling Details (page 23 of the seasonal catalogue) to add some silver sparkle to the flowers - I do love a bit of bling!  The final touch was to add some linen thread around the neck of the jar.

If you would like any of the items to make this card yourself, please contact me to place your order - I will be happy to help.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Stampin' Up! September News!

I have lots of exciting Stampin' Up! news to share with you today!

Firstly, the new Autumn/Winter seasonal catalogue has just launched and runs until 31 January 2013 - if you have not received your copy please let me know and I will post one out to you.

It is no longer a 'mini', in fact it's bigger and better than ever before - 40 pages and A4 sized! Click on the link above to see all the wonderful new stamp sets and accessories and fantastic ideas for creating your autumn and winter projects.

Have you noticed that amazing ornament on the cover? It's so simple to make with the new Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and coordinating dies - and you'll save yourself money if you buy them together in a 'bundle'.

And you'll find lots more of these money-saving bundles in this catalogue too!  What a great idea from Stampin' Up!

As if that wasn't enough excitement, a new annual catalogue is just around the corner (it launches on 1 October), so that means it's time to grab yourself a bargain from the Retired Lists! So many lovely goodies are retiring from the current catalogue in order to make way for the new ones coming up - and some are a fraction of the original price - but you'll need to be quick, as these will go very quickly (in fact some have already gone).  Stampin' Up! will be updating the lists regularly.

• Click here see a list of retiring STAMP SETS 
• Click here to see a list of retiring ACCESSORIES

It's easy to order your bargains - just email me and I'll be happy to help.

You will notice from the Accessories list that all the ink pads are retiring - don't panic, Stampin' Up! are not changing the colour families, they have just made improvements to an already great product. If you love the ink pads the way they are, this could be a great opportunity for you to expand your range of colours!

And finally I have details of my September class - by popular request this will be on Wednesday 12 September (7pm - 10pm).  We will make some quick & simple Christmas cards using sets & products from the new Autumn/Winter seasonal catalogue.  Cost: £15 or free if you spend £45 on the evening.  As the class is held at my home spaces are limited, so contact me to book your place now!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Everyday Enchantment

Stampin' Up! has a fantastic promotion for the month of July!  When you spend £45 (before p&p) you will receive a gorgeous ribbon and brad pack worth £15.95 absolutely FREE!

You will get two spools of a gorgeous organdy ribbon in Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral.  The ribbon is narrow (1/8") and there is over 9 metres on each roll which gives you loads to use on all your projects.  You also get 30 1cm printed designer brads, 6 each of the 5 designs - aren't they lovely?

Are you thinking that they look familiar?  Well you'd be right because they co-ordinate with the gorgeous Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper which were part of the Sale-a-Bration promotion earlier this year. And guess what?  They have brought the papers back for a limited period!  You can now buy the papers for £9.95 - but only whilst stocks last, so you had better order your pack straight away!

I would love you to make the most of this offer and it couldn't be easier for you to get hold of these products. Just order £45 or more (before p&p) of Stampin' Up! gorgeous products and the brads and ribbons will automatically be added to your order for FREE. If, like me, you need more of the Everyday Enchantment papers, then why not order those as part of your £45?!  To place your order, just contact me and I will be happy to help.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

More Birthday Butterflies

You may have noticed that a lot of my cards feature butterflies and this one is no exception! This card was actually my swap at Michelle Last's quarterly training last weekend. In fact I actually got the inspiration for this card from my own name badge that I had to make when I attended SU's Regional training in Leamington Spa in May.

Not sure you can see this clearly in the photo but I added SU's gorgeous champagne shimmer mist paint to the swirl stamp from the Everything Eleanor set before I stamped it on the card.

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Very Vanilla, SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Brushed Gold
Ink: SU Basic Black, SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint
Stamps: SU Everything Eleanor, SU Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess)
Tools/Accessories: SU Pearls, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, SU Beautiful Wings Embosslits, SU Labels Collection Framelits, SU Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder

If you would like to order any of these items and take advantage of SU's current Everyday Enchantment promotion, please contact me and I will be happy to help.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

What's Cooking?

Are you like me and have problems with cards for men?

This is a card I rustled up using one of the stamps from the soon to be finishing Spring Mini catalogue.  I used a fab gingham technique for the background, which I got from Natasha at Two Crafty Girls via Pinterest.  It is really easy to do (albeit a little bit messy cleaning the brayer afterwards), but looks stunning I hope you agree!

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Cherry Cobbler, SU Basic Black, SU Whisper White
Ink: SU Basic Black, SU Cherry Cobbler (pad & marker)
Stamps: SU Now You're Cookin', SU Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools/Accessories: SU Decorative Label Punch, SU Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, SU Stripes Embossing Folder, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, Brayer, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I have inked separately parts of the Now You're Cookin' stamp and used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line the images up.  If you would like to get this stamp before the catalogue ends on Monday, please contact me and I will be happy to place your order.  There is also a fab offer on during April: if you place an order for £45 or more you can choose from one of 4 sets of Designer Series Paper for free!

Unfortunately it wasn't really barbecue weather here in the UK this weekend - macs, wellies & umbrellas were the order of the day in order to survive the weather!  Despite all the rain at the moment, it's still officially a drought where I live!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Happy Mother's Day!

It's Mothering Sunday here in the UK today so just a quick post to show the card I made for my own mother.  The card was inspired by one that I did as a make & take at my last workshop:

Card Recipe
Paper/Cardstock: SU Whisper White, SU Concord Crush, SU Pear Pizzazz
Ink: SU Basic Gray, SU Old Olive marker, SU Perfect Plum marker, SU Wisteria Wonder marker
Stamps: SU Charming, SU Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools/Accessories: SU Textured Impressions Designer Frames, SU Extra Large Oval punch, SU Concord Crush stitched poly ribbon, SU Stampin' Dimensionals

In the original version I had used SU's Pear Pizzazz seam binding, but my hostess used the gorgeous Concord Crush ribbon I had brought as an alternative and I thought this worked even better!  Isn't great how you can get different ideas?

To celebrate this special day I treated my mother to a lovely roast beef lunch at a restaurant near the river.  Most of the day the weather had been quite dismal, but as we left we discovered it had finally stopped raining so we decided to go for a walk along the river.  This is something that I don't do so often as I should - when I was a child this was a regular family event on Sunday afternoons, so the walk today brought back fond memories for us both.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Pretty in Pink Christening Celebration

I went to a friend's daughter's christening on Sunday and needed to make a card and a gift box for the present.  Realising I didn't have a christening stamp or suitable image I had to improvise.  I ending up creating a cross with SU's self-adhesive pearls and printing the greeting on my computer.  This is the result:

 You will see in this close-up that I have used an impression plate to give some subtle extra texture to the card:

I decided to make a triangle box for the small gift as I wanted something a bit different.  They are very easy to make, but very effective (thanks to my upline Michelle Last for the idea on how to make these!).  I made both the card and box in the morning before I left for the christening service so that should tell you how quick & easy the project was - or perhaps how last minute I am?!  I used the fab new punch from the UK Spring Mini Catalogue - the extra large scallop circle punch to decorate the outside.  I also used the gorgeous Hostess set Precious Butterflies - both outside as well as for a little co-ordinated triangular insert that I put inside the box.

Card Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Whisper White, SU Pretty in Pink, SU Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack
Stamps: SU Precious Butterflies (Hostess)
Ink: SU Basic Gray, SU Pretty in Pink
Tools/Accessories: SU 1 3/4" Circle Punch, SU 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Crop-a-dile, PTI Impression Plate, SU self-adhesive pearls, SU Whisper White organza ribbon, SU Stampin Dimensionals

I'd be delighted to order any SU supplies for you and you can have them delivered to your address in the UK - just send me an email.  Click here to see all the free Sale-a-bration sets and don't forget to let me know which ones you'd like - remember, you get one free item for EVERY £45 spent - you'll need to hurray as the offer finishes at the end of March!

It turns out I had chosen my colour scheme perfectly as my friend and her partner had decorated the church hall where the reception was held afterwards with pink balloons, pink plates and napkins!  The service and reception were lovely despite the horrible day outside.  It was very, very wet all day, but the temperature suddenly dropped really quickly about lunchtime and we even had snow! Typical (unpredictable) English weather!!!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Last Minute Valentine's Day Card

Do you need an idea for a quick Valentine's Day cards?  If so, look no further:

Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Whisper White, SU Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: SU Basic Black, SU Real Red marker, SU Basic Black marker
Stamps: SU Delightful Dozen, SU Creative Elements
Tools/Accessories: SU Small Heart Punch, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, SU Crystal Effects

Below is a close-up of the greeting from Delightful Dozen - I have used a Real Red marker to fill in the outline  text of the word "Valentine" to give an added dimension.  And don't you just love that red glimmer paper which is from the latest mini catalogue?  Click the link on the right to look at all the lovely products - but you will need to be quick as the catalogue only runs until the end of April!

If you look back at the first photo I posted of this card you will also notice that I used a black marker to fill in the image from Creative Elements as well - that was probably the most fiddly bit of the whole card actually!

Bonne Saint Valentin! A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Monochrome Fresh Vintage

I'm just loving this SAB Fresh Vintage set and decided to use it for the current Less is More Challenge (week 52), which is a sketch. I haven't entered a challenge for a while, and as this is (was?!) one of my New Year's resolutions I thought I'd better get my skates on and start asap - yes I know we are already in February!!!

Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Naturals Ivory, SU Basic Black; Ink: SU Basic Black; Stamps: SU Thank You Kindly, SU SAB Fresh Vintage; Tools/Accessories: SU Self-adhesive Pearls, SU Embosslits Die Beautiful Wings

The supplies listed above come to: £46.40, which means you would get the SAB stamp set for FREE!  Don't you just love Sale-a-bration?!  Please contact me for more details if you are interested in placing an order.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Bonne Année & SAB!

Wishing you a (very belated) happy new year!  In France it is more popular to send New Year's cards (than Christmas cards) and New Year's wishes can arrive up until the end of January - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!  Even though I have just got in by the skin of my teeth!

Stampin' Up! have a fab promotion at the moment - Sale-a-bration (otherwise known as SAB) has returned!  This year it runs from 24 January until 31 March.  For every £45 you spend in one order you can choose from one of 4 stamp sets or a gorgeous pack of exclusive Designer paper absolutely FREE!

This card is one of the make and takes from a workshop I held last week:

Recipe
Card/Paper: Very Vanilla, Poppy Parade; Stamps: Thank You Kindly, Fresh Vintage (SAB); Ink: Poppy Parade; Tools/Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals, Self-Adhesive Pearls

This is the perfect card for the new crafter - very easy to make but looks great!

I have also made another version which takes the card to the next level and the materials for this card would get you 2 free SAB products:

Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Whisper White, SU Poppy Parade, SU Pool Party; Stamps: SU Thank You Kindly, SU Fresh Vintage (SAB); Ink: Versamark, SU Poppy Parade, SU 2011-13 In Color markers (Lucky Limeade, Pool Party & Calypso Coral used); Tools/Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals, Self-Adhesive Pearls, SU Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Clear embossing powder, Heat gun

Did you notice the paper in the background - that is one of the papers from the SAB promotion - Everyday Enchantment - isn't it sumptuous?  It also co-ordinates with the SAB Fresh Vintage stamp set and it inspired me with the colours in the second card.  In fact if you were to buy all the products needed to make this card - you would get both the stamp set and the papers for free!  How great is that?!

Interested?  Why not contact me to find out more?!  I'd love to hear from you!

A la prochaine!  Amitiés!

Nicole