Stampin' Up! Christmas Monday

I cannot believe how busy I am... and it's nearly October! Not long until Stampin' Up! On-Stage Live... the very first time ever! So if you want to come along you may want to join my team now as you only have 17 days before registration closes!

My classes are super busy - which is amazing as I have lots of lovely new lades! I went to my very first crop at the weekend with the Wycombe Scrappers - a lovely group of ladies - I just have to find time to go again! I did make a good start on my convention swaps!

So today it's just a quicky... and to let you know the Pinkies are doing another Blog Hop at the weekend so don't miss that!

This was something I tried out when I was designing for this months' classes.

Kinda cute - but what's so great I hear you ask!

These cuties - that's what!!!!!!!!! Can you see what it is yet?

 Yup - it's a Pop-Up card! If you would like a tutorial - leave a comment below and I'll try and record one to post next week!

It's the Snow Place stamp set and Snow Friends framelits!

It's getting late and I've been out all evening - so back soon and have a fabulous week!

Paula xxx

Convention 2014

Well here is my convention update!

It really was an amazing few days in Brussels!

Here are my room mate Lizy and I with the amazing Michelle Last - founder of the Pinkies and our esteemed leader!

I was totally in awe of this lady - the co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! Shelli Gardner

Here I am on the steps of the Mont Des Arts where the convention centre was - what an amazing view over the city!

These are some of the swaps I received from my fellow demonstrators - they are all so talented. Can you see yours?

Here are just SOME of the gifts Stampin' Up! gave us - we all got a set of Project Life cards and the Four Feathers stamps and Framelits too.

Had such an amazing time with an amazing group of people and cannot wait until next year!

If you would like to join just get in touch and be part of this amazing company and experience the excitement and fun!

Pillow Gift

By the time you read this I will be in Brussels, Belgium. I am bursting with excitement and wanted to spend the next 3 days sharing some items I prepared for convention.

It is a Stampin' Up! tradition to make a 'Pillow Gift' for your room mate. Now the lady I share with is super talented so it is really hard to think of things for her. This year these are my gifts...

I made the two little boxes and decorated them with Designer Series Paper, little flowers from Something to Say and Pearls coloured with my Blendabilities.

The first box contains 4 packs of mini Tic Tacs and the other a candle I decorated with the same DSP

It's a little hard to see but this box is double sided with the other 2 packs of Tic Tacs on the other side.

The patterned paper is Speciality Designer Series Paper - Gold Soiree and I just love this pattern!

Back tomorrow with one of my swaps!

Hope you'll stop by!

Thank You Gift

My poor dog was injured earlier in the year and has been having Hydrotherapy from the most lovely compassionate, gentle lady. So I wanted to say Thank You.

I made her a little gift and matching card.

It is a little box (that I made) containing some scented Tealights, I used Chalk Talk for the label and the Itty Bitty Accents flower punch. The leaves were from the Bird Punch. I love the Organza ribbon too - it's such a useful size!

The card was made using the Swallowtail butterfly, sentiment from Sassy Salutations, Apothecary Accents dies and flowers punched from Something to Say, Petite Petals and Flower Shop using the coordinating punches.

As well as a couple of Rhinestones I also added Dazzling Diamonds to one of the flowers... I do love that stuff!

Well tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn I am heading to the airport for this years Stampin' Up! Convention in Brussels. There will be 700 of us all mingling, swapping, crafting and seeing new products and techniques. It's so exciting!

Tomorrow here I'll be sharing the Pillow Gift I have made for my room mate, this is a Stampin' Up! tradition, Friday I'll be sharing my swaps that are just for other members of the Pinkies (Over 70 of us will be there!) and on Saturday I'll be sharing the 'General' swaps I made.

The idea of swapping is to give and receive small items made with current products that you can use as inspiration or to share as samples with your customers. I'm sure I'll be sharing some of those next week! xxx

Make and Take...

At all our Stampin' Up! events we all get to Make and Take a project or more... and Convention was no different. In fact there were quite a few.

Here is the card we all got to make using Gorgeous Grunge and Hello Lovely stamp sets.

Don't you just love the fact we have decorated the envelope to match the card inside?

The Very Vintage designer buttons are so sweet, there is just a hint of sparkle with the Silver Glimmer Paper... and have you spotted the Washi Tape?

You and your guests could all make a gorgeous card like this if you have a Stampin' Up! Party! It doesn't cost you a penny!

If you would like to order for Christmas, the last day I will be placing orders for guaranteed delivery, via me, before Christmas is the 12th of December! So please get your orders in now! I can place orders for direct delivery to you any time... I just can't guarantee when they will arrive.

Don't despair if you wanted to get someone a Stampin' Up! gift though - I will be dispatching vouchers up until the 20th of December - but please remember, unless you collect, I cannot guarantee the services of Royal Mail will be reliable during this period.

I can't believe it is nearly the end of the year!

Paula xxx

Stampin' Up! European Convention Manchester - Sneak Peeks

Well guys, it's Thursday and I expect you have probably heard enough about Convention - but I am still buzzing and STILL haven't had a chance to play with MDS (My Digital Studio) - we had an awesome session on it at Convention and I am dying to have a play!

In addition I have some NEW products that I must get on and create some sneak peeks for you with.

Oh - and some of the freebies I forgot to show you were the Make and Takes - which I still have to create!

AND - "c'mere there's more!" (you may 'get' this depending on your generation) There was an awesome Christmas Card from one of the Dutch Pinkies that she demoed and I am determined to CASE.

Anyhow... here are a couple of sneak peeks... These stamps and the watercolour card blanks will be coming to a catalogue near you soon! LOVING that Poppy!

And there are a couple of new stamps used here - but they are very subtle... I am CASEing this too!

Blimey - just remembered I need to add the Hearts Collection Framelits to my next order!

Well that's it from me for today... tune in for more posts - though maybe it's time for a few of my own projects... D'ya reckon?

Laters!

Hugs,

Paula xxx

Stampin' Up! European Convention - Part 3

So here are the swaps I received at convention... Aren't they just stunning!

So many fabulous ideas and samples I can share in my business.

Love this cute little calendar!

If you can see your swap in here - please leave a comment to say 'Hi' - and feel free to include a link to your blog!

Back tomorrow with a couple of sneak peeks!

Paula xxx

Stampin' Up! Convention, Manchester, 2013 - Part 2

Part 2 of my manchester experience at convention is the most amazing swap - don't get me wrong - there were absolutely tons of gorgeous swaps I received, but this one tickled me and shows a great use of the Bigz Bows Die.

It was swapped by a young lady called Claire Dean - unfortunately I can't find a blog but Claire - it is stunning so if you (or anyone who know you) reads this... a big thank you!

So here are some piccies...

How cute is that? Just read the poem too!

Just adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back soon with some more photo's.... my zillions of swaps!

Stampin' Up! Convention Manchester 2013 - Part 1

Hi Folks,

As I expected I was far too exhausted and busy yesterday sorting out my haul from convention and getting the house back in order - I still haven't had time to play with my new Stampin' Up! Goodies!!!!

This was my first convention and exceeded all my expectations - imagine nearly 1000 excited people, loads of freebies, fantastic company, amazing and inspirational talks and demonstrations. Not to mention a whole raft of sneak peeks! You are going to love all the goodies coming up in the next few months - just scrummy!

AND whilst we were at convention Stampin' Up! released their 'Carve your own' stamp kit - Undefined - in the UK.

So just to share a few piccies - I have so many!

Me and my convention 'Roomie' Lizy - fellow Pinkie and a fabulous companion! You can check out her Blog here. 

The CEO of Stampin' Up! Shelli Gardner was seriously injured in an accident recently , so her equally amazing daughter Sara Douglass took the helm for convention - she was amazing and did her Mum Proud!

The head of the Pinkies team, Michelle Last, not only did a business talk for everyone, she also won all the available accolades at awards night, making her the top performing demo in Europe! Respect! And a lovely lady to boot - I am so lucky to be part of her team! There were 85 Pinkies at convention. Here are just a few!

We were the largest team and the noisiest crowd - and the Pinkies are a fabulous, warm, welcoming and supportive group!

I spent most of convention with the 2 lovely ladies with me here, Lizy and Caroline (her blog is here) 

Last of all, here is my haul of freebies from Stampin' Up! I can't show you some as they are new products - but as you can see we were spoiled rotten!

Tomorrow I'll be sharing my favourite swap that I received. I would do a double post today... but don't want to spoil you!

Paula (Still on cloud 9 and brimming with inspiration) xxx

Stampin' Up! Convention Swaps Part 2!

Hi - Me again!

Well - Convention is well and truly under way and I can't wait to share with you!

I made 120 general swaps - swapping is a way for demonstrators to share ideas and get to know one another. I will swap with 120 other demonstrators and come home with 120 brand new ideas! How cool is that?

So this is my 'general' convention swap, it is a really simple card front - I have done it in 3 different colourways but just photographed this one.

The stamp set is Blooming with Kindness.

Back soon with some convention pictures. Though I may be needing to recover tomorrow!

Paula xxx

Pinkie Swaps for Convention

By the time you read this I will be waiting for my train to Manchester!

Yup the day has finally arrived and I am so excited! Nearly 1000 Stampin' Up! Demonstrators from across Europe will be coming together for this amazing event. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share next week!

Tonight at about 9pm after the early registration and Silver Reception, the Pinkies are meeting up. We're going to do some swapping and just really say Hi to each other.

I wanted to make exclusive Pinkie swaps but couldn't really think of what to make until a friend bought me a bag of 'Lifesavers' back from the US - for those of you who don't know they are fruit flavoured and about the same size as Polo's.

Well I figured, what could be more appropriate for Convention Goers than some Lifesavers? If nothing else it's something to suck whilst watching presentations.

I used the Labels Collection Framelits to make toppers for the bags and added Butterflies from Papillon PotPourri - punched with the Elegant Butterfly, and Flowers from Flower Shop, punched out with the Pansy Punch.

I hope my fellow Pinkies enjoy them!

Back soon with my other Convention Swap!

xxx

Convention Design Challenge

You may remember I showed you a couple of Christmas cards I made based on my entry for the Convention Design Challenge.

Now we are nearly at Convention I thought I would share my entry with you.

I have used the Expressions Thinlits and trimmed the 'Thankful' to make Thank U. I used the Boho Blossoms and Itty Bitty Punches with leaves from the Bird Builder for the flowers and leaves, I used the Adorning Accents Framelits and Embossing Folders, the background is the In-Colour DSP (designer series paper). I have embellished with some Pearl Basic Jewels.

I hope you like it and I'll be posting my swaps later this week.

Can you believe I am packed already?!

Paula xxx

Not good! The excitement is building!

Sorry - I always seem to be apologising but I just haven't had time to post much this week. Mainly because I am getting everything ready for Convention and just haven't had five minutes to spare!

Convention is a HUGE event that Stampin' Up! put on each year for their demonstrators. There is absolutely loads to see and do, hundreds of fellow demo's to meet, freebies galore, an awards night and dinner... I am so excited I could burst! And I leave on Thursday morning.

I have made all my swaps and will post them later in the week. If you think you might like to attend Convention next year, get in touch and I can talk to you about becoming a demonstrator - there is absolutely no pressure on you to sell if you just want to take advantage of the discounts yourself...

Anyhow, one of my fellow Pink Ladies, Suzette designed these and I have been copying them loads as they are super cute and were very popular at the Craft Fair, The jars are from Ikea, I have stamped them in white Stazon using the Secret Garden stamp set.

Then added the tags made using Chalk Talk and the matching framelits, tied on with matching Taffeta ribbon and the flower is punched using one of the Itty Bitty Shapes and the leaves from the Owl Builder punch.

I hope you like it and hope to post again soon!!!!!!!!!

Paula xxx

Pinkies Training

The great thing about joining Stampin' Up! as a Demonstrator is the social aspect.

22 Pinkies have just returned from the Annual European Stampin' Up! Convention in Mainz in Germany. 850 demonstrators from France, Germany and the UK got together to craft and share business ideas as well as some of the highest achievers being recognised during the awards ceremony.

Next year I will be attending too as it will be held in Manchester! Hopefully all the new Dutch and Austrian Demo's will come along too!

Well a few of us Pinkies also got together for our monthly training with the lovely Michelle Last and I thought I would share the creations we made.

The first is a really simple card that was demoed in Germany...

This is a great way of using up little scraps of Designer Series Paper and uses the Pennant Punch, Tiny Tag Punch, Small Oval and the star from the Merry Minis set in the Autumn Winter Catalogue.

Isn't it effective?

 

 



 The second project was this lovely little box - Ideal for small christmas gifts like Jewellery - And it took 10 minutes to make!

 



  Perhaps you would like to make something? If you haven't crafted before then Stampin' Up! products make it easy to co-ordinate. I can come to your house and do a demo for you and your friends and you will all get to make the project to keep.

Paula xxx

Stampin' Up! Ornament Keepsakes

A quick post today to show you how a simple card can be really effective and to tantalise you with some news I just heard from Stampin' Up!

There is something special happening on the first of November to do with this Stamp Set! So remember to check back in tomorrow.

Many of our Pink Ladies and Pink Lads are off in the early hours of the morning to the European Stampin' Up! Convention. I am a little jealous as I know they will get lots of sneak previews and freebies. But Germany was a little far to go for a weekend and so I am staying home... in the wet!

 

 

This simple little card was made using one of the Ornament Keepsakes Stamps, Embossed with Irridescent Ice, the sentiment is from Greetings of The Season and the zig zag stripy paper is from Festival of Prints. Quick, Simple and Simply gorgeous!

 

 

Here is a close up of the Ornament...

 

I hope you'll pop in tomorrow for the exciting November offer. I can't wait for the details!

Pxx