Gift bag made with Stampin' Up designer paper and washi tape edging

When demonstrators attend the annual Convention they are showered with gifts from Stampin' Up! Of course we all get very excited about that but it's not all about receiving - it's always lovely to give gifts too. Come and see:

This little gift bag was made to house a little stamp set for the lovely Lizy Bartaby, one of my downline - do pop over to her blog and have a browse as she makes the most gorgeous things! I made the bag out of a sheet of the wonderful Backgrounds designer series paper stacks. Real Red and white with Crushed Curry accents would make anyone feel happy!

The tag was made quickly with the Angled Tag Topper punch and I decorated it with a scrap of the reverse of the DSP and some of the Beach House washi tape. The little badge is a fabulous stamp from the Amazing Birthday stamp set. I stamped it twice, cut the images out with circle punches and layered it up.

The top of the bag was edged with more washi tape and I tied it up with the lovely, white-edged Real Red taffeta ribbon. I like that you can see the contrasting dotty inside of the bag!

BUY THE SUPPLIES TO MAKE THIS GIFT BAG NOW!
(Click on any item to be transported to my online shop!) 

Brights Designer Series Paper Stack £19.50	Beach House Designer Washi Tape £4.50	Real Red 1/8 Inch Taffeta Ribbon £5.25	Angled Tag Topper Punch £20.95
Amazing Birthday Wood-Mount Stamp Set £25.95	1-3/8 Inch Circle Punch £14.25	1 Inch Circle Punch £11.50	Brights Candy Dots £5.50

My shop is open 24/7 so you can buy Stampin' Up products from me any time, day or night.

If you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

When my daughter and I met at Kings Cross Eurostar at the beginning of our journey to Brussels we stood in the middle of the concourse, hugging and chattering and laughing until we were disturbed by a beeping noise. We turned and discovered that we were blocking the way of a man on a ride-on with a string of bins behind him. "Oh look! It's our train!" said my daughter. "All aboard!"

It's Artisan Blog Hop day tomorrow so do make sure you come back here then - there'll be loads of inspiration from Stampin' Up Artisans from around the world!

Russian Doll card with Stampin' Up's Curvy Keepsake Box

I'm still buzzing after the Stampin' Up Convention last weekend! As well as learning lots and being inspired creatively, my favourite thing is catching up with all my Stampin' Up friends and making new ones. One of the things I love about this company is that you really feel a sense of belonging and everyone is so friendly and supportive.

When we all get together, we like to share ideas so we make things to swap with each other. I've been so excited about the Curvy Keepsake Box thinlits die so I decided to show another use for it that I dreamt up! Come and see:

Chop off the rounded section and you have the perfect shape for a Russian doll! I used the negative as a mask to sponge and stamp into. The stamp set I've used is Endless Wishes, a clear photopolymer stamp set with snowflakes and gorgeous sentiments for you to mix and match.

Doesn't she look serene? (I wish I knew her secret!) Her face is a circle coloured with skin tone blendabilities and markers and I added a bakers twine bow underneath her chin to draw her cloak tightly closed and keep those winter draughts out!

Do you like this frosty little detail? I love sponging Whisper White craft ink onto Crumb Cake card stock and here I went over the sponging with my Stampin' Chalk marker and a ruler. Snowflakes were stamped over the top to add extra layering without bulk.

This is such a fun project and so easy to make - and the best thing is that you can create heaps and heaps of other fab projects with that wonderful die! Need inspiration? Click here to see what I've been making with it!

BUY THE SUPPLIES TO MAKE THIS CARD NOW!
(Click on any item to be transported to my online shop!) 

Endless Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set ...	Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Dies £29.95	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock £6.25	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad £6.95
White Stampin Chalk Marker £3.25	Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Skin Tone Assortment £20.95	Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95

My shop is open 24/7 so you can buy Stampin' Up products from me any time, day or night.

If you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

I imagine my Russian doll hadn't just returned from Brussels to find the house looking like a hurricane had passed through it! "Why is the house in such a mess?" I asked. "It isn't!" said my youngest son and "It looks fine to me!" said my eldest. My husband gathered up the newspapers that were spread out all over the coffee table, wandered about with them for a bit, then put them down on the dresser before disappearing with the air of someone who has discharged his duties!

See you tomorrow,

Back from Stampin' Up convention!

Oh my goodness, have I been having fun! I've just returned from the annual Stampin' Up convention where I have been enjoying fun, excitement, the company of my Stampin' Up friends and a whole bunch of inspiration!

My husband had decided to accompany me but had to pull out at the last moment because of work commitments. That was disappointing but guess who took his ticket?

One of my favourite people in the world - my daughter! She's doing French and English at uni so naturally she needs to take every opportunity possible to practice her French!

We had an smooth journey on the Eurostar and enjoyed meeting other Stampin' Up demonstrators on their way to Convention (we could spot them a mile off because their excitement levels were off the scale!)

This was the place we called home for a few days. The lovely people at the Hotel Dixseptieme couldn't have been more welcoming and we were perfectly placed, both for me to get to Convention and for my daughter to explore beautiful Brussels.

On the first evening, I scooted up the hill to attend a special reception for demonstrators who have achieved the Silver 2 title and above.

The wonderful Stampin' Up staff had worked hard to make the room look stunning and we were spoilt with gorgeous gifts, delicious food and brilliant entertainment. The evening was rounded off by a chocolate fountain complete with marshmallows and fruit to dip into it. I couldn't work out how to eat these elegantly but luckily for you I managed to avoid a photo of me with chocolate all over my head! 

Every year we are given a Convention bag especially designed for Stampin' Up. This year's is stunning in Real Red lined with Soft Sky and I adore it! There are plenty of pockets to organise your belongings and of course the all-important Stampin' Up badge! I added a hand stamped tag to mine so that I wouldn't lose it...

... and made a matching tag to hang round my neck in case I got lost too! 

YOU CAN BUY THE SUPPLIES TO MAKE THIS TAG NOW!
(Click on each item to find it quickly in my online shop) 

Kinda Eclectic Wood-Mount Stamp Set £24.95	Hardwood [clear] £12.95	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95
Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad £4.95	Little Letters Thinlits Die £25.95

My shop is open 24/7 so you can buy Stampin' Up products from me any time, day or night.

If you have any queries, or prefer to speak to me, I'm happy to help.

You can contact me by email or phone on 01280 820593.

I have got so much to share with you but the thing I most want to say is just come and join me in Brussels next year 13th-14th November 2015! If you love Stampin' Up, going to Convention and sharing the excitement with friends who share your passion is an experience you will never forget. Click here to find out all the info about joining Stampin' Up - and don't miss the fab freebies you'll get if you sign up this month!

Do you remember the other day when I told you that my youngest son had asked how I'd got on in Manchester after I'd returned from a trip to Cambridge? I'm afraid his geography (or his hearing!) is not improving. I gave him a big hug before he trotted off to school on the Thursday I left for Convention. When he'd crossed the road he turned and waved cheerily. "Have a great time in Berlin!" he yelled.

See you tomorrow,