Stampin'Up! Training Event

Hello my lovely blog readers, which one of you stole my April? Geez I almost cannot believe it, 4 months form the year already gone, at least is getting warmer LOL.

I promised I would share what we got up to at our latest training event in Peterborough this last Sunday. I love holding my team training Events, they are always tons of fun and it gives us a chance to catch up and spend some time together as a team and is also run to motivate and inspire those wanting to drive their SU businesses forward. We always craft a lot in the day and we usually make about 5 different projects, we have demonstrations from talented team members and lots of really good quality swaps. Here's some of the projects we did

Sweet Fox and Friends simple card. We highlighted masking on here. Kraft( soon to be crumb cake mmm) card stock, Old Olive, Real Red and So Saffron ink for the stamped images and Versamark to stamp some more of those cute guys as a background.

Next we had this lovely affair made with the new I heart Hearts stamp set,

We covered colour gradation a fun and very beautiful technique, this intricate heart worked really well for showcasing this particular technique. I also like the colours used, Old Olive and Tempting Turquoise with a touch of More Mustard for the sentiment, we used the Word Window punch to round off the sentiment.

Main project was this ever so gorgeous flip album.

A very neat and extremely easy to construct album it was a hit with the ladies, I have to say I was rather pleased myself with it. The Nigh and Day papers are just stunning and paired with Rose Red and Old Olive looked even more stunning. We used some of the felt sweet Pea flowers to add some extra touches. Here s a picture of the front cover. We used a Velcro closure to keep the album shut and we stuck the felt onto dotty acetate with glue dots.

Isn't that ribbon FAB?? Everyone got a full reel of it in their kit so it meant we could use it lavishly on all of the projects. ok lunch hour gone now so I will have to share more next time. Till then Big hugs xxx

Birthday Passionette...........

Hello everyone, I am tempted to ask how was your weekend but is nearly Wednesday so a bit pointless really LOL. Mine has gone by in a flash with work on Saturday then our Quarterly Team Training in Peterborough on Sunday and before I knew it Monday was upon me and it was back to reality. Anyway I am excited as is Bank holiday weekend next and it means I can rest a bit, oh hang on I forgot!! this Sunday IS THE START OF STAMP WITH US ONLINE , so this means that we will kick off the party with a fun live chat and a few surprises. Is hard to believe that we are approaching our first birthday, so exciting . And this doesn't mean my peaceful weekend is shattered because I can take part in my jim-jams with a large glass of wine in hand. I cannot wait!! why don't you join us? to do so click on the above link then on the buy now button.

Today is Linda's Happy Birthday, Linda is one of my original Passionettes she has been with me right from the start when I just started building my team and she is the most kind and wonderful human been, very quiet (unlike moi) and every time I am around her she brings this calm upon me for all of a 10 seconds LOL. No honestly she is a sweetheart and I am lucky to have her in my team.

Now Linda's fave colour is black so this was a blessing for me because you can pretty much put anything with black and it will look stunning. Here's the card I made for her

I teamed the Night and Day dotty black paper with Pink Passion ( how am I going to live without this wonderful pink after October?) and Old Olive and chose to use the bird punch in a different way. There are many types of flowers that you can make with the wing of the birdie and I simply layered some petals and made some kind of a futuristic bloom. I really like how it turned out, this punch is so very versatile I just love it. New Old Olive satin ribbon which is lush as it ties so beautifully and Circle of Friendship sentiment. I haven't used this in ages but I still like it.

Here's a close up for you

I added dimensionals to the flowers only which meant the stems where left floating and poking out.
Don't you just love those colours? mmm I do and I hope Linda you do to. I also hope you had a wonderful day with your lovely family .

Right I am off now as I am trying hard to get my craft room sorted and tidied up. Come back soon as I will share what we got up to at our training day.Till next time hugs xxx

Thank God for good friends..

...we went, we shopped and we broke down on our way back. eeek

Hello and apologies for the lack of posts, the plan I made before my weekend away with the girls ended up very much different and I lost a full day which made everything late. We had such a nice day on Saturday trawling the shops on Oxford Street basking in the sunshine as the weather was just gorgeous did a bit more shopping Sunday and set off to come back around 4pm. Nearly a hour onto our journey my dashboard started to look like a fairground ride with many sparkly lights, and so the nightmare that lasted 24 hours began. We ended up spending the night and most of Monday in Milton Keynes while the car got fixed, thank God it was still under warranty. I was also very thankful to have the girls with me, they both stuck with me through the ordeal (and it was an ordeal for me because it was my car that went kaput and they were now stuck because of it).

They are both so lovely and I really treasure their friendship. Thank you girlies for keeping me sane throughout it all.

I made them a card to express my gratitude and bought them a little gift to make sure they will remember our adventure.

I love this colour combo, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery and Perfect Plum with the new satin ribbon in Old Olive. This sentiment stamp is my favourite ever and so very fitting for my sweet friends. I used the Medallion background and the Bella Toile one plus the Boho Blossom punch.

I ruffled the layers a little to provide extra dimension to the bloom. Here's a close up.
Well I have some really good news to share with you.

Stampin'Up! have just announced a fabulous SPECIAL deal if you sign up as a demonstrator between 23April- 7th May. If you are one of those that have been thinking about joining for a while NOW is definitely the right time as you could save 10% of the starter kit, this makes it HALF the price.

You see you get £240 worth of product for only £125, a really FABULOUS DEAL indeed and best of all you can customise the kit to suit you and your taste( change the stamp sets, change the colours of the ink pads and ribbon is up to you really).

And guess what? There are 99 members in our team at the minute. Will you be our 100 Passionette? That would be so cool to join us as number 100 don't you think? And if you are thinking about it here's MY SPECIAL deal, the first person to sign up with me during this promotion will get to choose a stamp set of their choice from the catalogue. This is an offer from myself and not Stampin'Up!!!

READ MORE about the different type of demonstrators out there and get in touch if you would like to find out more and join THE PASSIONETTES, I would love to welcome you to our large and fun team.

Till next time Hugs xxxx

Sweet Baby Boy

Hello are you enjoying your weekend? I am travelling down to London as this post is published with 2 of my best friends. Fiona celebrated a big ish birthday on the 7th of April and we are all off for a spot of shopping in the Capital as a treat, yee haw.

So I am excited and I am also looking forward seeing that lovely Luca, my sister and my brother in law. Speaking of my sister she asked me if I could make her a few baby cards as some of her close friends are expecting and she wanted to have some baby cards in hand. Well guess what? I forgot all about it and last night at around 10 pm after I finally finished painting my nails I realized that I haven't made any. So in major panic I headed for SCS and searched for baby cards idea. I immediately struck gold when I clapped eyes on this cutie and I had a bunch made up in no time at all.

Aren't they cute? The stamp set is the new Fox and Friends and I just had to use those Tiny Tags along with the matching punch , I am in love with them I tell you they are just too sweet. I don't yet have the same background so I used the big Polka Dot and because the result wasn't as bold I added a bashful Blue mat to make things stand out a bit. And can you guess whether I have added some shimmer mist to them? I think I am obsessed LOL.

Have a good weekend I am hoping we will all get to see some sun. Till next time hugs xxx

AND THE WINNERS ARE...........

Here are the winners for my second loop of the new mini catalogue launch. Thank you all for entering and Congratulations those winners.

LOTS of Stampin'Up! inspiration..

... in today's post. Hello I promised you that I would share my lovely selection of birthday cards that I have received this year. Is the nicest thing ever to get birthday cards on your day and I LOVE receiving them. I want to thank each and every one of you that have remembered my day and send me your beautiful cards. You will have to click on the collages to see them bigger.
From top left:

First card made by my lovely friend Jane , the lovely and very talented Jo D next with a stunning creation using Vintage Vogue , a sweet box from my good friend Zoe using Vintage Vogue, the centrepiece a wonderful duo from my great buddy Michelle ( love the bracelet hun very me!!), bottom left a card from the lovely Jules using the good friend stamp set, next is a card from my best friend Clau all the way from Seattle, next is the sweet Chel with a truly gorgeous creation in pink using Vintage Vogue( can you see a pattern here?), then my sweet Vicky made me a fabulous card using dyed large flowers from the pretties kit.

And here we have the second round.

From top left :

A lovely decoupaged 3D frame made by Linda, next a gorgeous hand made beaded charm made by Jo Bee, second row a lovely box made by Alison using the Chic Nouveau papers, centrepiece by the talented Susan using Vintage Vogue and a gorgeous colour combo, next a card made by Alex in lovely shades of yellow, going left we have the card that Jo Bee made to go with that wonderful charm using the Vintage Vogue set, and then a blue vision using one of the Sale a bration sets made by the lovely Nicci, bottom left next and this took my breath away, a gorgeous tote filled with yummy toiletries made by Dawn along with a matching card. Dawn used the new Sweet Pea paper stack just love the combo, and last but by no means least a wonderful card from the lovely and talented Carole.

A feat for the eyes I am sure you will agree, thank you all from the bottom of my heart once again. I feel blessed and very, very lucky to know you all and call you friends.

Now I have a quick video for you the focus is on the new shimmer paints, I had a lot of emails from my customers asking how I achieved the wonderful shimmer on the cards I have sent. So here it is enjoy and thank you for visiting me. Hugs xx

AND THE WINNERS ARE...........

Six very lucky ladies, THANK YOU all so much for taking part I am sure you will love your orders once you receive them.

SEE you tomorrow with another video, thank you for visiting hugs xx

Sweet Pea felt flowers

SWOOOOON !! Have you seen those beauties yet? LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. I am sooo bad I spent a fortune so far on mini goodies but then that's why I joined up so I can make enough money to spend as I wished on what I wished so that I do LOL. I was looking at them the other day and wondered what I could use them on and yes I will be sewing some on a lovely cardi's and I will be making one of those mini books that lovely Dawn has showcased but till then I chose to make a book mark.

I like to read not reading half as much as used to but I do occasionally and while I made plenty bookmarks for others never made one for myself would you believe it. Until now that is. So I set to work and pleased myself with Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise Olive and Chocolate. Yum indeed. The branch is from the infamous and very popular 2 step bird punch and the sweet pea felt floweries beauties.

How bright and cheery? Bring on the Summer LOL

Pink Passion, Summer Sun, Bashful Blue and Choc Chip plus THE BIRD!! this lovely, lovely bird. I have also used the Polka Dot big Background stamp and the elegant flourish from the new Label set to add details to the wing. The branch was layered with Choc Chip and Old Olive. I punched them out in one colours each and trimmed the leaves away for the chocolate one.

I hope you enjoyed my offerings thank you for visiting and till next time Hugs xx

Vintage Vogue

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Hiya, well I have been at it again!! This Vintage style really draws me you know, and is so very easy to achieve with this gorgeous stamp set.

Gosh where do I start. I have torn, crumpled, distressed layered stamps over stamps and splatters let not forget the splatters in fact I am addicted to them LOL.

This is a small love noted tote that I designed for one of our Team Training Events in January. So I have revisited this dinky little box but this time I didn't play clean, oh no I went for it.

The tote is made in very vanilla and the Very Vintage wheel has been wheeled as a background in Pink Passion. Layers of Bravo Burgundy, Kraft, Tempting Turquoise have been manipulated and crumpled within an inch of their life and then the blooms have been stamped in Pink Passion and Tempting Turquoise. I do love I have to say this is one of my favourites colour combos at the minute.

Talking about team training THE PASSIONETTES are meeting on the 25 April for the next Quarterly Team Event. Are you a demonstrator that does not have access to team training sessions are you interested in finding out more about being a demonstrator or would you like to spend a day crafting with like minded people? Then YOU'RE INVITED !!

WHEN: The Event is taking place on Sunday 25th April 2010. Is being organized and run by myself and the lovely Bekka Prideaux. Registration will start 10am-11am Swapping is part of every team event and this is no different. Swapping (NEW MINI theme) will take part in this time, but you will have the opportunity to swap more throughout the day, please note this is OPTIONAL. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THE COOL DEMONSTRATOR FEEDER BOOTHS (everyone love those at our events !!) We estimate that the day will finish at 4pm WHERE: South Grove Community Centre Grove Street Woodston Peterborough Cambs PE2 9AG WHAT? The Business topic will be focused on time management. Improving your time management skills can even help you get better results by doing less work, because you're focusing on the things that really matter rather than all the low-priority busywork that just keeps you busy. If you don't learn how to manage your time well, you'll be far less productive than you could be and you'll get a lot less done. You'll also feel much more stressed and overwhelmed, and you'll struggle to find time to spend with the people you care about and to do the things you enjoy. Additionally you will see and create projects suitable for your workshops and classes( we cover new techniques, 3D items, hostess suitable gifts, fancy folds and treat holder type projects). All the materials you need will be provided but you will need to bring along a basic toolkit including a ruler, pencil, paper folder, cutter, wet and dry adhesives, scissors and a hole punch. HOW MUCH?????? The price for the event is £26 and along with the training this will cover all the materials you will need on the day plus hall hire etc. Lunch is NOT included in the price so please bring your own, alternatively there is a convenience shop over the road plus lots of pubs that offer food. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day and included in the price. WHO IS INVITED? The Event will be opened to all team members and non members, demonstrators and non demonstrators. Everyone will be more than welcome. To book your place please send Paypal payment (as gift preferably) to telemech01@aol.com, payment in full is required by 19 April. Please note that places are limited. If you are having dificulties please send me an email. Hope to see there . I have another card to share and this little beauty has been made by my lovely friend Jane

We spent a lovely Sunday afternoon drooling over the new mini stuff and she made a couple of cards and made one for me as well, she is so lovely although I did have to ask for it LOL.

Jane used Old Olive Pretty in Pink Rose Red and So Saffron all colours picked form the luscious Sweet Pea designer papers. I love this set and I love the sentiments in it. Till next time Hugs xx

ps DON'T FORGET TO PLACE YOUR ORDERS BY THE 11 READ THIS POST HERE.

Stamp With Us Retreat and on line classes

Hello how are you? I am a bit late in telling you all about our next Stamp With Us Retreat. Is all been booked and places are getting filled nicely so grab your diary mark the date and save a bit each month, we would love to spend a fun filled weekend with you and FUn you're guaranteed with the three of us LOL. Here are the details

Stamp With Us are excited to announce their next 2010 Retreat in Haslemere, Surrey.

8.00am Saturday 4th September – 5.00 pm Sunday 5th September 2010 at Branksome Place, Hindhead Road, Haslemere , Surrey, GU27 3PL

PLACES ARE LIMITED TO JUST 35 PEOPLE,

SO YOU NEED TO BE QUICK TO CONFIRM YOUR PLACE.

Classes start at 8.30am on both days and each day will consist of classes taught by

Monica Gale, Natalie O’Shea and Zoe Pierson.

Classes will include a mixture of techniques and projects and will use Stampin’ Up! products. There will be an assortment of papercraft classes and each class will be around two hours long. Previous classes consisted of mini albums, scrapbook pages, boxes, paper handbags and lots of cards. All products are included in the cost – you only need to bring a basic tool kit with you. Full details of what you need to bring will be sent to you a week or two before the event.

Over the experience of the last two events, we have come to the conclusion that most of you would like an all-inclusive price, so we are happy to offer the following:

At Branksome Place, all rooms are for one occupant, therefore, the following prices

apply per person in your own rooms:

To join us all day Saturday and enjoy all of the classes, lunch, dinner, Party Night, overnight accommodation Saturday night, Sunday classes and Sunday breakfast and lunch, the cost per person is £350.00.

If you wish to stay the Friday night to make sure you are refreshed and ready for your early Saturday morning start, then for accommodation in your own single room and breakfast on Saturday morning can be arranged for an additional £70.

Depending upon our numbers, we *may* be able to accommodate a couple Day Delegates, please contact us for more information and prices on this option if you are interested.

At the beginning of your stay, you will have your own table where you will sit for each class and make your “own”. There will be unlimited coffee, tea and snacks available throughout the day. Lunch will be provided each day too with a hot and cold buffet on the Saturday and a Roast lunch on the Sunday.

Please email us for more information and a booking form. Places are not confirmed until deposits are received.

Sounds good? Book your place today, I would love to have you STAMP WITH US!

I also need to let you know about our next round of Online Classes which starts very soon. You can find all the details HERE, please read the new terms as the pricing has changed if you join in late, You have untill the 18April to register for the old £15 price.

Till next time hugs xx

Video time..

Hello and HAPPY EASTER everyone, I hope you're having a great bank holiday weekend !! Is been ages since I did a video but here it is for you in all is glory. The focus this time is on the new treat cups from the Mini catalogue and I just love them, I think they are such a FUN and novel idea for treat giving, my mind is working overtime thinking about all the possibilities and they are extremely affordable, I can see them used as wedding or party favours, little keepsakes, snow globes they work well as water scenes like I said sky s the limit with them . These were actually my make and takes at the Stamp With Us Retreat in Stratford and they went down well. I did bribe them with extra chocolate though. Colours used are Basic Black for base, Old Olive and Real Red.


Isn't it sweet? Those chocolate ladybirds were a great find and they only just fitted inside the cup I had to severly bend his limbs to get him in, hee hee. So I hope you'll relax with a massive amount of chocolate by your side and enjoy the video.





Until next time Hugs xxx

Thank You

Hello, I want to start by saying thank you so much for all your lovely birthday wishes, wonderful cards, emails phone calls, jeez I love birthdays LOL> My best gift was hearing my sweet little nephew Luca sing Happy Birthday to me over the phone, I cried with joy, I love him so much.

I will photograph all the cards and lovely gifts when I get a minute but is all go with this new mini catalogue at the minute. Don't forget you have until the 11 th to place your orders to be in with a chance to win some cool prizes.

So like I promised here's a sweet little ensemble I have made for my buddy Michelle. I love to know that she is celebrating her birthday on the same day as me.

I have used the new and ever so gorgeous set I {Heart} Hearts and I do heart hearts you know, nearly as much as polka dots LOL. I am soo pleased with the colour combo here, I love red and I think Michelle does too and I played with various combos until I go to this one. Real Red, So Saffron and Old Olive. The papers are from that amazing paper stack Sweet Pea and the baroque stamp used for the background is from the Framed with Love stamp set. The sentiment is from the Wonderful Words stamp set and the pattern for the treat holder can be found here . Well thank you for popping by see you again soon. Till then hugs xx

IS HEREEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woohooo finally after weeks and weeks of sitting on the exciting new mini catalogue news, the day has finally arrived. Is here and is live you can fill your boots and I am sure you will LOVE what's on offer. There is soo much lushness you can't possible decide on what you want first and if your list is BIIIIIG then why not join one of my Virtual hostess clubs? We start a new one in April and there's only 5 spaces left you need to be quick, check the top of my blog for more details then get in touch, you will love getting lovely products delivered straight to your door every month.

So would you like to see it? Here you go

Positively Y U M !!
Now as you know I like to do a special Offer for all of those who can't wait to get their hands on the new goodies.
Place an order of £45 or more with me between today and 11 April 2010 by 10pm and be in with a chance to win one of those fabulous prizes. For each 11 orders placed with me the following prizes will be up for grabs.
FIRST PLACE - A FULL SET OF DOUBLE ENDED MARKERS or £100 of spending money
SECOND PLACE - A free level 2 hostess stamp set of your choice
THIRD PLACE - A free level 1 hostess stamp set of your choice
FOURTH PLACE - £25 worth of money to spend as you wish
FIFTH PLACE -£ 25 worth of money to spend as you wish
SIXTH PLACE -£25 worth of money to spend as you wish

You loved my last draw and this time will be no different, join in the odds are FABULOUS, out of 11 people 6 will get an extra prize, a really GREAT DEAL.
What do you think? Tempted? if you are, and lets face it how can you not be all you have to do is send me your order at telemech01@aol.com before 11 April at 10pm. I will choose the winners via a recorded video, you get to see your name going into the draw then one by one the names will be pulled out. The winners will be notified by email and the video will be posted on here. Good luck. And if you only want to buy one item (not that you could ever do that I know)

it HAS TO BE this beautiful birdie punch. I cannot stop using it, I LOVE it so much. These are some Easter cards I made for my Virtual Club members. Kraft base Rose Red bird body, Old Olive branch and the wing and tiny flower was punched out from some tiny polka dot paper from the Sweet pea stack, now BEWARE if you're a paper addict you're in trouble as the papers are to die for ALL of them, the catty pictures don't really do them justice really.

Phew and on top of all this IS MY HAPPY BIRTHDAY today so I am really excited and looking forward to something very special and relaxing shall we say. And I need to mention my fellow demo and lovely friend Michelle who is also celebrating her birthday today, Happy Birthday my darling enjoy it. I will share the card I have sent her next time, till then Hugs xxx