Well, Well, Well.....

Stampin' Up! have really been packing the surprises lately, firstly we get the new mini catalogue packed full of gorgeous, lush new stash, including shimmer paints and satin ribbon along with new stamp sets and patterned paper, but they have just announced that they are changing all the colour families that Stampin' Up! currently have. If you dont know a colour family is a set of 12 colours that will all go together by tone etc so makes it easy to mix and match for your card or scrapbook project... well, they are introducing at least 15 new colours and retiring some of the old ones, so if you love a colour that is retiring, now is the time to stock up on it before they run out.... and here is the colour chart showing you our retiring colours, they will be available until end of September, but once the catalogue comes out on 1st October that will be it!! This will include all inkpads too, so stock up on those too, plus the reinkers. The whole colour families are being shaken up so will not be available as they are now after 30 September 2010.

But dont be too down, they are releasing the most lush new colours and that isn't all, some of you may know about the "in colours" they currently have in US and Australia, well we will be getting those too. Each new colour family will consist of 10 colours in each, plus in October they will give us 5 new "in colours" and these colours will last for 2 years before being retired, the following October we will be given 5 more and they will last for 2 years, after that we will get 5 new colours each year which means not only do we have the 40 colours in the colour family, we will also have 10 "in colours" making a grand total of 50 colours for you to play around with.... how exciting is that... there is a definate lack of purples I must admit, so just make sure you stock up on the current purples that you like before they retire....

So very exciting news for all Stampin' Up! fans.... how will we get through the next 6 months.... lol

Take care xx

New Mini Catalogue Blog Hop...

Well if you have started this blog hop here, work your way around all 16 of us otherwise you would have come here from Sara's Blog. We have all published projects using stash from the new Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue. If you would like to get your hands on a copy, just drop me an email.

I made this project for the Demonstrator Choice at Reading last week, which I attended for Stampin' Up! Training... much to my surprise I actually won the Demonstrator Choice Competition.... there were so many stunning entries and many that I thought were much better than mine.

For this project I used Tempting Turquoise and Rose Red Cardstock and the new Sweet Pea Paper Stack.

And can you believe the lushness of these felt flowers and leaves.... how absolutely wonderful are they, you will find these in the Mini Catalogue too...

And here is what was contained inside.... 4 cards, all very different with envelopes to match....

Here are the cards on their own, again using Patterned Paper from the Sweet Pea Stack, all the colours match and co-ordinate and make them so easy to use together.

Here are 2 of the cards and matching envelopes.....

And true to form, I also decorated the insides of the cards. This is the inside of the cards shown in the photograph above this one...

And the other 2 cards with matching envelopes, I am just loving these easel cards at the moment and they are so easy to make...

And again, the insides of the cards.... the colours are just so bright and vibrant...

For this card I used Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red and Old Olive Cardstock. I used the Patterned Paper from the new Sweet Pea Paper Stack and cut some extra flowers out to decoupage on the ones on the front of the card, you can probably see this if you look closely. The ribbon is the Rose Red Stitched Grosgrain and the Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain, and the Old Olive Cardstock has been punched using the Scallop Border Punch....

For this card I used Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Cardstock, the papers from the Sweet Pea Paper Stack, the birds were punched out of a sheet of the Patterned Paper. The Tempting Turquoise Cardstock was punched using the Scallop Border Punch and the Old Olive Cardstock and Patterned Paper were stuck on top, I then punched three 1 3/8" holes down this stack.... this whole stack was then mounted onto dimensionals to hold if off the card blank. The Scallop Circles were punched and then punched again using the 1 3/8" punch to leave just a scallop frame. These were stuck around the holes punched into the stack and the birds were stuck through the holes and onto the Rose Red Card Blank so that they were lower than the rest of the card to add some dimension... I'm not sure if you can see that looking at this picture.

For this card I used Pretty In Pink, Tempting Turquoise and Rose Red Cardstock, again Patterned Paper from the Sweet Pea Paper Stack, Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon.. The bird was again punched out from the Patterned Paper and I punched 7 Tempting Turquoise circles to place underneath the bird punch out to make a flower shape. I pierced the corners to add a bit of interest.

This project used Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip Cardstock. Again Sweet Pea Paper Stack for the Patterned Paper, punched out bird and I also cut out a bird for the top image. The ribbon is Chocolate Chip Grosgrain... I also used the Scallop Border Punch and the Scallop Circle Punch.

And that is my project completed. I hope you enjoyed looking, now move on to Debbi's Blog where you will find another great project.

I am also selling off a huge amount of my stamps (not Stampin' Up!) if you are interested, check out my blog post here...

Take care all xx

More Sneak Peeks.....

I attended a Stampin' Up! Training Day at Reading last Saturday and my wonderful downline Teri had made me this little box using new stash from the mini catalogue.....

and inside was two bottles of Sanctuary lushiousness which I have had my eye on for a while now and despite hinting didn't get any for Mother's Day or Valentines Day, so was doubly gorgeousness for me..

I just want to say thank you so much to Teri, it was a lovely surprise and it was absolutely brilliant to finally meet you at last...

 For this set Teri used the new Vintage Vogue Stamp Set and the new Very Vintage Wheel which I haven't actually bought yet.... I wasn't sure I wanted it until I saw this gorgeous box, now it is definitely on my wish list. But I do have the Vintage Vogue Stamp Set..... watch this space...

We all took swaps along too, and here is the swap I made...

I used the new Sweet Pea Paper Stack for the Patterned Paper and the little owl is from the Fox and Friends Stamp Set, all from the new catalogue. I used Whisper White, Taken With Teal and Rose Red Cardstock and grosgrain ribbon in More Mustard and Chocolate Chip... the sentiment is from the Trendy Trees stamp set....

Am sorting out some storage in my craft area this weekend, yet again, I really need to organise my stamps better and my nestabilities.... I also have a load of stamps to sell so keep your eye on here if you love Magnolia, KatzelKraft, Sugar Nellie, Autumn Leaves and a few other stamps.... I am also selling a hardly used Scor Pal which I bought but wasn't sure I liked.

Have a great weekend all xx

Sneak Peak

Stampin' Up! have a new mini catalogue coming out on 1st April and I thought I would show you a sneak peak of what is in there.....

The Patterned Paper I have used is the new Sweet Pea Paper Stack, you get 48 double sided sheets of thick paper, and they will all co-ordinate.... but most of all I love the Bird Punch.... don't you think this is just wonderful.... you get to punch out the branch, the bird and the wing... here I have made a card...

and here is the inside... I have used Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron and Pale Plum Cardstock...

and I made some little co-ordinating bags which I am giving away to my customers who have recently placed an order with me... they are filled with lengths of ribbon....

And here is the whole set, so each customer gets a little thank you card and thank you gift..... If you would like to get your hands on a new Mini Catalogue just ask, and if you place an order who knows what lush little gift you may get enclosed with your order..... there will be another Mini Catalogue Sneak Peak tomorrow and on Sunday there will be a Mini Catalogue Blog Hop for you to go browse all the lush new stash.

Have a great afternoon all xxx and thanks to you all who left such kind comments yesterday or who emailed me, they are really appreciated.

Rather Pleased With Myself.....

So after dieting for over 3 months, first on Weightwatchers and then on a low carb diet, I decided to try the Cambridge Diet, the weight was coming off far too slow and was taking forever, so last Friday by Counsellor came to see me and dropped off 21 sachets of powder which was to be my "food" for the next week. Because she only normally works Wednesday and Thursday and was visiting Friday as a favour I had my weigh in today and woohoo, I have lost 4lbs in 5 days, how good is that, so on that basis I think I will be carrying on for at least another week, and in just over a weeks time I can add chocolate bars to my diet too... sounds good to me, I hope I remember how to chew then....

Have placed 3 orders for Stampin' Up! over the last 2 days, 1 yesterday and 2 today, and the mini catalogue seems to be going down a storm.... my 2 10 month Clubs finish in May, and some people have expressed an interest in continuing, so now is the time if you would like to join one of my clubs from June to let me know if you are interested. I may be doing a 6 month club where you spend £25 a month for six months which will take you into the new catalogue period, and also a 10 month club in which you need to spend £15 a month for 10 months. I know all the hostesses were really pleased with all the freebies they got... Check out the tab at the top of the post that says 10 Month Club, the 6 month one runs the same as the 10 month one but with 6 people over 6 months, or e-mail me at LindaLloyd@gmx.net for more information.

And finally, here is my card for today...

I used Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant and Lavender Lace Cardstock. The Image is from the New Mini Catalogue (click on the image on the left hand sidebar to view) and the Stamp Set is called Fresh Cuts. This was stamped with Elegant Eggplant Ink. The ribbon is also Elegant Eggplant, I absolutely love this colour. The sentiment is Verve Stamps... the flower is from my stash..

Have a great day everyone, and watch this spot for some blog candy within the next few weeks... just waiting for it to arrive...

The School Play

We went to see my 8 year olds school play last night. He was a rockstar but was a bit unhappy as at the beginning he was set to be a guitarist and then his teacher said he had to be a singer, so he and my next door neighbours little boy hid at the back of the stage so I couldn't get any photographs of them singing. Nevertheless the children all looked like they were having fun... final night is tonight and I expect they will be tired out as they have put on 2 shows yesterday and 2 today, I bet he sleeps well tonight.

Well this card started a while back, but then I broke my cuttlebug and needed to find my big shot in the loft cupboard so that I could carry on cutting out the squares and circles. This card then got thrown into a box, but it is now finished. The colours are Whisper White and Always Artichoke Cardstock, with Always Artichoke ink used on the sentiment, which is from Verve Stamps. The Patterned Paper is Brocade Background which is retired, but still available to buy whilst stocks last. I used the Scallop Edge Punch for the white scalloped edge. And voila finished at last. Tomorrow I need to wrap a book and make a matching card, so watch this space as I have no idea what I am going to do yet, but do intend to use items from the new mini catalogue out on the 1st April.

Paper Share and New Demonstrator Offer

This will stay at the top until filled, please scroll down for newer blog posts.

Stampin Up are bringing out a Mini Catalogue which will start on !st April until 30th September, click on the mini catalogue picture on the left hand column. I will be doing a Paper Share once the Catalogue comes out, you will get 1 6 x 6 sheet of all the Designer Patterned Papers in the current catalogue, plus 1 6 x 6 sheet from the 3 new packs in the mini catalogue, you will also get 1m of each of the 3 new Striped Grosgrain ribbons in So Saffron, Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue. So in summary
102 6x6 sheets of Patterned Paper, from current catalogue, plus the new PP from the Mini Catalogue
1.2" Grosgrain Striped Ribbon in Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and So Saffron. 1m of each of these = 3m
The total cost will be £20 including postage. I will also have a Level 1 Hostess Set to Raffle off, so one of the 8 lucky people will receive a Level 1 Hostess Set of their choice.
I need 8 people for one of these groups and this will be dispatched to you in April once the Mini Catalogue comes out. If you are interested please let me know at LindaLloyd@gmx.net

Seven people have signed up so far, only 1 space left!!

If you would like to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Stampin' Up! are doing a special offer starting 12th March until the end of March. You can purchase the Starter Kit for only £125 with goods to the value of £240 in it and you can also personalise a lot of this kit so that you get the stamp sets and colours that YOU want. So what do you have to lose, you can sign up as a hobby demo and just buy stash for yourself and get the demonstrator discount on all the stash you want. If after a couple of months you think it is not for you, then you can resign and keep everything that you have already bought including the Starter Kit, how can you lose. If you sign up through me I will also give you 4 FREE stamp sets, one of each of the Saleabration Sets which are no longer available and that you cannot purchase. So this is what you get...

1. 4 Free Stamp Sets

2. £240 worth of SU Stash personalised to your choice for only £125.

3. Both are yours to keep forever even if you decide Stampin Up is not for you.

4. A friendly team I currently have a team of 10 people, plus a forum which is only available to my team and Stampers 10 Club, plus I am always at the end of the phone or an e-mail if you need help or advice.

For more information, contact me on LindaLloyd@gmx.net

Take Care

Not so nice Monday....

The weather here has been apalling this afternoon, it has winded, it has rained and all at once too and just at the time the children come out of school, funny enough now it is evening, the sun has come out at last. My daughter drove down to Cornwall yesterday and she says the weather is lovely there, infact I saw for myself as she sent me photos, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, but they also have the wind, which was just as well as she was going surfing today.

I had a lovely Mother's Day (well actually I did more work than ever and even cooked my dinner for everyone) and got some lovely presents, 2 CDs that I wanted, the new Tim Hughes, Happy Day and the new Delirious Album which is possibly their last ever. I also got a gorgeous blue toiletry bag full of Dove toiletries, some chocolates and wine, 3 books, 1 of which I asked for and the other 2 were surprises, my 12 year old son bought me a rose and then weeded all the overgrown garden and planted it for me, and my 6 year old made daddy go out and buy me some flowers..... from my son of course... lol I also got some gorgeous flower candles, but they are truly too beautiful to burn, so am going to have to think on that one.... lol because what is the point in having candles if you dont use them...

Today I have been making a bag and card for my Sister's birthday tomorrow, they are totally matching, and I have no idea how she is going to open the bag. It started off as a brown lunch bag, I folded the top over and then put panels on the front and back and joined them at the top, so I am thinking she is going to have to cut it open... lol not my problem. So here they are...

I have been using new stash from the New Mini Catalogue which comes out on 1st April, and the new items are truly scrummy... I used So Saffron and Certainly Celery Cardstock, the new Playful Petals Stamp Set plus the Ovals All Stamp Set along with the Oval Scallop Punch and the Oval Punch, these are proving to be really popular, I have sold 3 sets of these already. The Patterned Paper is called Tea Party and the ribbon is Certainly Celery Grosgrain. On the bag I actually used the stamp from Ovals All, but on the card I used the stamp from Ovals All but only coloured in the flower part with my Stampin Up Marker in So Saffron, then using my Stamp a ma jig I stamped Happy Birthday from the Very Versatile Stamp Set and punched it out using the Oval Punch. How versatile are these sets when you can just mix and match.

I have one place left in my Paper and Ribbon Share, this will be sent to you at the beginning of April sometime as some of the paper and ribbon is from the new Mini Catalogue and I cannot order this until 1st April, but I promise you, the items will be ordered on 1st April, so you dont have long to wait now.

Dont forget the fantastic offer on the Starter Kit, just £125, and if you add just the stash up it comes to £217, so one really big bargain here, and all you have to do after signing up as a demonstrator and receiving this kit is to meet a target every quarter (and guess what, the first quarter doesn't count, you dont have to reach your targets until your second quarter, but you do need to sign up this evening, or tomorrow to get the Starter Kit at this price).

Off to Beavers now, sewn on the badge I need to and I will be staying to help, so need to get dinner ready so that they can just put it in the oven and cook it... have a great evening all xx

Mother's Day...

So its nearly time for Mother's Day, the day we can put our feet up and rest.... ha ha, not likely at least not in my house, although everyone does make an effort to do something nice for me, so cant be bad... lol And today I have made my Mum a Mother's Day Card, haven't tackled the problem of what I am going to buy her yet, maybe I will take a photo of all the children left here and buy a frame for it as she is definately lacking in photographs of my children. But then again she is not their Mother... hmm, will have to think that one through.
Anyway, here is todays card...

For this card I used the New Ski Slope Patterned Papers which are in the new Mini Catalogue which you can order from, from 1st April. The cardstock is Old Olive, and the image is also from the new Mini Catalogue and is a set called Soft Summer. The sentiment is from the Occasional Greetings Stamp Set and the flowers are Accents and Elements, oh yes, the ribbon is again from the New Mini Catalogue and is Pink Striped Grosgrain (it also comes in So Saffron and Bashful Blue). And Bashful Blue brads for the flower centres.

I have actually been productive, woohoo!!!

I have actually been productive today, which will make a change, I seem to get on the computer and never leave it, so have made an effort to make some cards today. There is actually quite a lot of stuff on my to do list, just need to get the motivation.

I have 4 orders submitted now to Stampin' Up! and am waiting for them to ship, I am so excited about the new mini catalogue, so I am hoping that stuff will turn up soon, unfortunately the other 3 orders are for customers, but I still get excited when they arrive and I package them up.... lol

I have 2 new downline who joined my Team in February, a great big welcome to Teri Pocock and Sarah Howells, I wish you well with your Stampin' Up! and hope you achieve your goals...

I still have places for more people, so if you want to make Stampin' Up! your business, or you just want to become a hobby demo, then contact me on LindaLloyd@gmx.net for more information. You cannot go wrong, you can sign up, buy your Starter Kit for £139 (the goods in the kit are worth £250), the kit can be customised so you get the Stamp Sets that you want, and the colours that you want too. If after the first quarter you find it is not for you, then you can just leave and keep all this scrummy SU stuff, no obligation. I am also offering until 9th March a FREE stamp set of your choice from the current catalogue plus the 4 Saleabration Stamp Sets also FREE, plus if you sign up now, you get to pre-order all the new goodies in the new mini catalogue at a humungous discount... contact me for more details. After the 9th of March I will still be offering the 4 Saleabration Sets, but unfortunately no freebie Stamp Sets from the Catalogue.

So you want to see what I have made today?? Here goes....

For this card I used Rose Red Cardstock, the retired Petal and Paisley Designer Patterned Paper, and the Bloomin' With Beauty Stamp Set, I also used the Scallop Edge Punch and I pierced the corners of the image...

Off to take my little boy to cubs now.... have a good evening all xx