Beautiful Butterflies: a Get Well Card

Here's a card I made to wish my Nana a speedy recovery from her recent operation. Sending hugs, Nana!

I used my Colour Coach to find inspiration for a colour combination..

The colours I used were Poppy Parade (one of the In-Colours), So Saffron and Baja Breeze. The butterflies were cut on my lovely Big Shot with the Beautiful Butterflies die - definitely one of my favourites.

Supplies:

Colours: Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Baja Breeze
Die: Beautiful Butterflies
DSP: Baja Breeze from the Subtles DSP stack; Poppy Parade from the In-Colours 6"x6" Hostess stack
Stamps: Sincere Salutations; Notably Ornate
Punch: Decorative Label
Accessories: So Saffron Button; Linen Thread; Baja Breeze Seam Binding

Test Drive the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit!

Would you like a gift that keeps giving in 2011 and beyond?

Do you have a wish list from the Stampin' Up! catalogue of more than £100?

If so, why not take a "Test Drive"?

The Stampin' Up! Starter Kit offers you at least £240 of products for just £119 - that's a 50% discount off the retail price - and you can personalise it to your own tastes!

PLUS you get the benefit of taking the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator discounts and benefits for a "test drive" through to the end of September if you join in May and June - with NO obligation to sell or purchase anything further.

If your motive is simply to get the kit, that's ok!

Did you know..?

• You can choose items from the *new* Mini Catalogue to personalise your kit!

• During May only, you can add a pack of Designer Series Paper (RRP £8.75) to your Starter Kit for FREE!

• When you purchase the Starter Kit, you become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and a member of my Seaside Stampers team. You are NOT obliged to purchase anything further, hold workshops, run classes or sell products.

• You receive Stampin' Up! Demonstrator discounts and benefits through to the end of the next FULL quarter.. so if you join in May or June, the end of the next full quarter is the end of September!

So, what are these discounts and benefits?

• Receive a discount of 20% on all products from the Idea Book & Catalogue and Mini Catalogue!
• See and purchase new products before anyone else!
• Gain access to masses of project ideas and business support on the Demonstrator Website and in the monthly Impressions newsletter.
• Gain access to the Demonstrator side of the In Love With Stamping website, which is an invaluable source of inspiration, support and fun!

Tell me... what's in the Starter Kit!

• 3 wood-mount stamp sets - value: up to £67.85
• 1 clear-mount set with clear block - value: up to £20.95
• 1 Stampin' Around Wheel with ink cartridge and handle - value: £14.25
• 1 ink refill - value: £2.55
• 1 assorted colour smooth cardstock pack (up to 24 sheets of A4) - value: £6.25
• 1 cardstock pack Very Vanilla or Whisper White (40 sheets of A4) - value: £7.50
• 1 Patterns Designer Series Paper stack (40 double-sided sheets) - value: £15.50
• 4 Classic Stampin' Pads - value: £19.80
• 1 VersaMark ink pad - value: £5.95
• 2 Stampin' Write Markers - value: £5.90
• 1 spool of 5/8" Satin Ribbon - value: £6.75
• Stampin' Dimensionals (300 foam pads) - value: £3.25
• Stampin' Scrub - value: £13.50
• Stampin' Mist - value: £3.25
• SNAIL Adhesive - value: £5.50
• Blender Pen - value: £3.98
• Paper Snips - value: £7.95
• 8 Idea Book & Catalogues - value: £21.95
• 8 Mini Catalogues (between April and September) - value: £4.95
• Business supplies, forms and tools - value: approx. £25

 Yes, you really can have all of this for just £119!

And as if that wasn't enough.. 

you could also take advantage of the

 Stampin' Memories Add-On Kit (optional)

This wonderful kit is just £50 for over £80 of products! 

It is only available when you purchase the main Starter Kit and is well worth the investment if you love your scrapbooking.

Here's what's included:

• One stamp set -  value up to £44.95
• 1 textured cardstock pack (12"x12") - value £10.50
• 1 Designer Series Paper pack (12"x12") - value £8.75
• 1 Quick Accents pack (self-adhesive die-cuts) - value £7.50
• 1 Designer Printed 12"x12" post-bound album - value £16.95

TOTAL VALUE: £88.65!

If you'd like to take advantage of these offers, click the link below to reach the Stampin' Up! website where you can download the Starter Kit Order Form, Independent Demonstrator Agreement and Independent Demonstrator Application form.

Click here for the Stampin' Up! website.

Any questions? Please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'll be very happy to help!

Sarah x

Tel: 01323 730296

Mobile: 07970 615390

Email: slpiggott73@gmail.com

Win a Free Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!

 Every Monday in May, Stampin' Up! are offering you the chance to win a FREE stamp set! All you need to do is pop over to the Stampin' Up! website and answer one very quick question, leaving your name and email address.. and that's it!

Questions will be updated weekly, so go back every Monday in May to enter again.

Good Luck!

Scrapbooking with your Big Shot!

After a fabulous long weekend in Wales over Easter, I've been dying to scrapbook some of the (many) photos I took. And what a great excuse to play with my new Big Shot and Stampin' Up! exclusive dies..

A couple of weeks ago I treated myself to a set of Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies from the Mini Catalogue. I really love using die-cut letters for scrapbook titles.. you can cut them in any colour you like, and with the Big Shot you can use a wide range of materials, too!

In the following layouts, I've used these dies for my title letters and have used a mixture of cardstock and 'funky foam' for the lettering.

Here's a closer look at those die-cut letters:

I've used a couple of other dies here - one of the Sizzlits 'Lots of Tags' 4-pack of dies and the 'Top Note' Bigz die:

 The Top Note die is fab for journaling and I just love that ticket die.. so many possibilities!

{The border strips and stickers used in this layout are the lovely Play Date Quick Accents - heavyweight self-adhesive die-cuts which coordinate with the Play Date DSP.}

OK, so here's the other layout..

Again I've used the Timeless Type alphabet dies with cardstock and funky foam - for both the main title and the numbers 1 to 3! I've also used another of the 'Lots of Tags' dies as a label for the date.. here's a close-up:

{The camera was paper-pieced using scraps of cardstock and Designer Series Papers and mounted on Stampin' Dimensionals. Designer Series Papers used on this layout are a mixture of Sweet Stitches DSP and Brights Colour Collection DSP. The journaling boxes were stamped using a stamp from the Sew Lovely set from the Mini Catalogue.}

The Timeless Type set is my idea of the PERFECT alphabet dies... you get upper and lower case letters, numbers and a whole range of punctuation marks and icons, and the font is a classic one which will suit just about ANY layout you might do! Upper case letters and numbers are approximately 2.5 cm high.

Supplies:

Sizzix Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (includes Standard Cutting Pads and Multipurpose Platform)  £87.95
Timeless Type Junior Alphabet (Set of 12 dies in storage box) £65.95
Sizzlits Lots of Tags (Set of 4 dies including 5 tag shapes. Each die measures 5.7 x 6.4 cm)  £18.95
Sizzix Bigz Top Note Die (Measures 14 x 15.2 cm) £18.95

In case you are thinking about investing in the Big Shot and this gorgeous Alphabet die set.. you could buy both of these from me and receive your choice of Lots of Tags or Top Note die... along with your choice of Hostess-exclusive stamp set... absolutely FREE! If you need more details, or would like a copy of the Mini Catalogue, please don't hesitate to ask and I'll be delighted to help.

Or why not check out my Mini Catalogue Special Offers page for another very special deal? :o)

You can get in touch to place an order by email, by phone or in person.. all the details are on the Contact me page!

Happy crafting!

Sarah x

Scrapbook Club Thursday 28th April - a Sneak Peek!

Hello!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter break.. we had a lovely few days with my parents with LOTS of beaches, sand and picnics.. great fun! But now it's back to work and school.. and there's just time to share a sneak preview of the project we'll be making at this coming Thursday's Scrapbook Club. It's called a tri-shutter mini album.. looks fiendishly complicated but it's really not too difficult!

My album uses papers from the Nursery Suite Specialty DSP, along with a few of the matching Quick Accents (self-adhesive die-cuts).

A close-up of the inside of the album..

I think you can see this larger if you click on the photo.. but it shows you how the album looks when it's standing up.

The class is on Thursday 28th April from 9.30am to 12.30pm and costs £15. I have a couple of spaces left if you would like to join in. You'll be able to choose from a wide range of colours and Designer Series Papers to make your album, depending on its theme. You'll also get to use my lovely new Big Shot and dies, including the gorgeous and so-versatile Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies (I used these for my title 'baby charlie').

Please contact me by Wednesday morning if you would like to join in with this class.. and expect some extra yummy cakes on Thursday as it's my birthday.. just promise you won't ask how old I am.. ;o)

How to make a monster!

Had such a lovely day yesterday, reading Cath Kidston's latest catalogue/magazine in the sunshine, boys playing happily together.. ahhh, bliss! Then I spotted a reader's letter that spurred me into immediate action. The idea was (sort of) this: get your little ones to draw a monster, then recreate said monster in fabric.. i.e. make a cuddly version of their drawing!

Charlie and Harry loved the idea and were more than happy to play along. So here's Charlie's drawing:

Basically a sausage-shaped creature with wonky arms, spiky hair and a big smile. After choosing a scrap of fabric, ribbons and buttons (free with a magazine).. and a lot of trial and error.. here's what I managed to produce:

Charlie loves it.. and has named it Mr Flowery Monster. Perfect!

With barely time to catch my breath, I was ordered back upstairs to the craft room to find fabric for Harry's monster. He chose a beautiful Melon Mambo-esque pink (to my surprise.. it's normally blue all the way with Harry). This time I thought I'd capture the process and learn from my many mistakes..

Here's Harry's design:

... and here's what to do!

1. Trace the design onto tracing paper, cut it out and pin it to two layers of fabric, good sides on the inside. Cut out the design, leaving a centimetre all round.

2. Sew eyes, nose and mouth (as dictated by the design) on to the front piece of fabric. Remember to leave enough room around the edge for hemming.

3. Turn the two pieces back-to-back again and tack around the edges, leaving the bottom edge open. If you are including ribbons for hair or limbs, tuck these in as you tack around... remember the long parts should be INSIDE at this stage! (Yes.. I didn't do this the first time..). Sew around edges with sewing machine, reinforcing the parts with ribbons sticking out (or just sew round the whole lot twice).

Sorry - forgot to take picture of this stage!

4. Turn monster inside-out and check everything is in the right place. Correct things if, like me, you messed up ;o)

5. Stuff with toy stuffing and sew up the bottom edge, adding ribbon legs if desired.

Voila!!! Meet Mr Pink Monster! I'm delighted to say, Harry loves him.

All buttons and ribbons on this one were from Stampin' Up!

Hope you like my monsters too!

Sarah x

Fun with Stampin' Around Wheels

I really enjoy making cards with Stampin' Up!'s Stampin' Around Wheels - they make it so easy to produce a quick but effective card. Here are a couple of cards I made recently using the Jumbo Wheels 'Very Vintage' and 'Baby Tees'.

This one (above) uses the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel and Tiny Tags stamp set, along with Love Letter Designer Series Paper and Linen Thread. The colour scheme is Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Riding Hood Red. I also used the Jewellery Tag and Scallop Trim Border punches. To make sure my stamping didn't go wonky, I used the Stampin' Around Wheel Guide - an essential tool for straight stamping with the Wheel!

To see more cards made with the Very Vintage wheel, check out this post.

This card was made using the Baby Tees Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel. I rolled the wheel along a couple of pieces of Whisper White cardstock, then coloured and cut out two of the little vests. I mounted these onto my other stamped piece using Stampin' Dimensionals foam pads. The colour scheme is Marina Mist, So Saffron and Certainly Celery. The card was for twin boys so I typed and printed a personalised greeting on Whisper White cardstock and stuck it in a strip along the base of the card.

Hope you like them!

Sarah x