Saturday 30 June 2012

Watch Out .... AND DON'T FORGET

WATCH ... for the UK Scrappers Blog Hop on Tuesday 3rd July.

I will be posting a new layout with instructions, a SPECIAL OFFER, and the opportunity to win a prize. What more could you ask for ?  Make a date to pop back over  - Tuesday 3rd July !


OH, and DON'T FORGET - you have until tea time today to place an order for the Simply Scored scoreboard offer from me.

You will receive from me:-

* free P&P valued at £4.95
* 110 page document containing heaps of projects to use with your scoreboard

If you would like to place an order, please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or 07765 847062

Monday 25 June 2012

MASSIVE News .... and Virtual Crafting Groups

MASSIVE NEWS


Stampin up! has just made a HUGE announcement, which I just know will make you all very happy indeed !!  We are aligning our products AND catalogue with the US market !  In future, we will have one Annual Catalogue and two seasonal catalogues : an Autumn/Winter catalogue and a Spring/Summer catalogue.  The really exciting news is that they will be BIGGER, and that the products offered will be 'almost' the same as the USA !!!   The only products missing from our catalogues, will be MDS (My Digital Studio) and country specific products.  Otherwise, our catalogues across the world, will be the same !!!


These are the catalogues and their publications dates:-


Autumn/Winter Catalogue
Dates:   1st September 2012 until 30th January 2013
Size:   About 40 full size pages !
Content:   Lots of lovely Christmas products and much more !


2012 - 2013 Annual Catalogue
Dates:  1st October 2012 - 30th June 2013.  This will run for a shorter period than usual to allow for the transition.  Subsequent Catalogues will run for 12 months starting on the 1st July.
Size:  At least 204 pages
Content:  All core products e.g. cardstock, inks etc., PLUS lots of fabulous stampers, papers, punches, fabrics and even more dies !!!  Whoop whoop !!


Spring/Summer Catalogue
Dates:  1st February 2013- 30th June 2013 
Size:   Approximately the same size as the Autumn/Winter catalogue
Content:   More seasonal products to supplement the core products in the Annual Catalogue


I really hope that you are as excited about this news as I am.  Demonstrators and customers from all over Europe are whooping and cheering, as its something that we have all been pushing for, for a very long time. 


So, what does all this mean ?  Well it means that there has never been a better time to join Stampin Up! either as a demonstrator, or as a Customer.   The Starter Kit to become a Demonstrator has been discounted to £99 and you can select the products that you want in your kit up to the value of £130.  You will also receive a £45 stationery package and free shipping.  The minimum targets have also been reduced, and for past demonstrators, the re-signing up time has been reduced frmo 6 MONTHS to 90 days !  If you sign up and then decide that being a demonstrator is not for you, then you have nothing to lose.  No questions asked.  For more details please email me at carole.bryson@email.com


Virtual Crafting Groups


A virtual stamping group means that you can spread the cost of buying products and stash,  receive FREE catalogues as they are launched AND receive at least £25 (or more) FREE products from ANY of the current catalogues.   You will have access to templates and instructions from my own collection, FREE raffles and more !


STAMPERS (crafters) 6 GROUP


I have a couple of places left for the Stampers 6 virtual group starting in July.  You commit to spending £25 per month (or more) plus postage,  for 6 months, and during the 6 months you will be the virtual hostess and earn AT LEAST £25 worth of products.  You will also receive a copy of any catalogues that are launched during this period.


STAMPERS (crafters) 10 GROUP


I have a new group starting in August.  For this group, you commit to spending £15 per month for 10 months, and receive all the same benefits as the Stampers 6 group.


If you know that you are going to spend more than the amount that you have committed to, then why not take up 2 spaces ?


I look forward to hearing all your views about the new catalogues, and if you have any questions or queries, or if you wish to place an order - then please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com, text me on 07765 847062 or call me on 01706 351299.

Saturday 23 June 2012

I have done a little scrapping ….

Stewart was feeling a lot better today, so I decided that I’d get a little bit of scrapping done ….

23 June 2

The first layout, “My most favourite place in the World”, shows the Chicken Shack on Port Grimaud beach in the South of France – it truly is the most amazing place, that serves amazing food, amazing cocktails and looks directly out at St Tropez Bay.  Its heaven on earth !

Instructions

I’ve used a 12x12 Crumb Cake cardstock base.

1)  The first thing I made were the tags on the top right of the page.  They were made by cutting out 1 -  2”x4” and 1 -  2”x 3” mats from Island Indigo card.  I then cut out two different pieces of designer paper from Twitterpated measuring 1 3/4” x 3 3/4” and 1 3/4” x 2 3/4” which I then layered onto the tags, and cut out the bottom ‘tails’.  I then punched out two circles of designer paper using the 1 3/8” punch.  I then punched out another 2 circles in real red cardstock using the 1 3/4” punch.  I adhered the paper onto the card, and then cut the circles in half.   I adhered the long mats onto the layout first, and then adhered the half circles over the top.

2)  Next I cut out a strip of real red cardstock measuring 2” x 12”, and a strip of designer paper measuring 1 3/4” x 11 3/4” which I adhered onto the red cardstock.  Put this strip aside.

3)  The next thing I made was the large HALF of a circle.   I lay a dinner plate on top of a piece of Indigo Island cardstock and drew around it in pencil.  Remember, you don’t need to draw the whole circle, because you will only be using half of it !   Next, I punched out 7 scalloped circles in real red cardstock using the  1/14”  scallop circle punch.  This isn’t available in the UK catalogue now, so you can either use another brand of punch, or a spellbinder die.   I then cut the scallops into half, and adhered around the edge of the half circle.  I then adhered this to the layout, and adhered the long strip over the bottom edge of the half circle. OR – you can use the ‘regular’ size scallop punch, but just have fewer circles Smile

4)  Next I made three more ‘tailed tags’. Again, I used Island Indigo for the bottom layer – for these, I used different sizes of card and patterned paper, and you can cut yours to any size you like.  One was 1 3/4” x 3”, the middle one was 1 7/8 x 4 1/4” and the last one on the right measures 1 7/8” x 2 5/8.  I cut the patterned paper 1/4” smaller than the cardstock.  As I say, just go with your ‘eye’ and see what size you prefer, or what you think looks best.  I adhered the tags to the top of the strip, and then adhered more half circles of cardstock and patterned paper over the three ‘tailed tags’.

5)  Next, I added the photographs.  As you can see, the photograph on the left has been trimmed down, and then cut into three – I know some people are horror stricken to be asked to cut photographs, but I think it can give a really different effect to your layouts.  I trimmed down the second photograph and then adhered it to the right of the first photograph.  TIP:  I always ink the edges of my photographs with Early Espresso, as it eliminates those awful ‘white’ lines around the edges, particularly if you have trimmed your photos.

6)  To add some elements to the layout,  I stamped the atlas from The Open Sea using Island Indigo ink on white cardstock.  I punched it out, added the words ‘in the world’ and stuck it onto the long strip using dimensionals.   Lastly, I die-cut the word ‘my’ using Lucky Limeade cardstock, and added the remainder of the title.  The little letters I use can be bought – however, I have typed up two sizes of alphabets in Word, and print them onto cardstock.  I ink the edges before placing them where I want them.

Voila !

STEP-UP  - you could step this layout up, by using buttons, pearls, rhinestones etc., I wanted to keep this pretty plain, as I felt that the amazing patterned papers were enough in this instance, and show them off to their full potential.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and I would love to see any projects you make that use mine as your inspiration.  As always, I’d be grateful if you would give me credit if you ‘lift’ this project.

Have fun and don’t forget to come back for more ideas and inspiration.  I am still working on getting a video onto my blog, but its a nightmare !

Come back in the next few days for instructions on the following layouts ….

23 June 1 23 June 3

If you would like to place an order, or if you have any questions, then please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or call me on 01706 351299

Friday 22 June 2012

Last few days ...

My husband Stewart has been in hospital, and still isn't doing too good, but hopefully over the next few days, his meds will kick in, and he'll start picking up.


Its the last few weeks of the school term, and everything is hotting up !  We start our new timetable this coming Monday, and its always fun to watch the Year 10's becoming Year 11's, and the little Year 7's moving up to Year 8's and no longer being the 'newbies' !!  They literally have personality changes overnight !!!!


Thankfully, the exam season is over, and this year, my own son was sitting his GCSE's too, which made the whole of the exam time extremely stressful for me.  I just wish that I could have sat the exams for him ... and most days, I would arrive in school and just cry !  I am so proud of him as he has worked extremely hard revising, and I know that he has put in 100% effort, which is all any parent can ask.  On many occasions, I've had to stop him revising and make him take a break - seriously !  I just hope with all my heart, that he gets the results that he wants to enable him to go to the College of his choice. xxx


********************************
Anyway, back to business .... its the last week of the Simply Scored, scoreboard offer from me.  


Buy the amazing, Simply Scored scoreboard, and receive from me :-


* Free postage (normal postage is £4.95)
* 110 page document (emailed) with heaps and heaps and heaps of projects to inspire you to use your scoreboard (and plates)


The scoreboard is £25.95 and comes with three place markers.  It features two easy to read imperial rulers (one along the side and one along the top), and fits paper or cardstock up to 12x12.  The bottom of the base has non-marking and nonskid feet to secure it on your work surface.


The Metric Plate (£10.95) secures firmly over the scoreboard, and has scoring tracks every 1cm and five speciality tracks to score standard metric card sizes.


Likewise the Diagonal Plate (£10.95) is of the same quality, and again fits snuggly over the main Scoreboard.




What are you waiting for - this offer is only available until 30 June 2012 !!


Paper Party


The other current offer, is the Paper Party - buy 3 sets of designer papers from the list below, and get one pack of designer papers FREE !!!!  So stock up now, and get ready for some serious scrapbooking during the summer months!






As always, if you would like to place an order, then please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or 07765 847062 or 01706 351299 :)


Attic Boutique - get these FREE !

Twitterpated papers - you can earn these FREE !




Monday 18 June 2012

Sharing ... the luuuurv !

Next round of shares are now open - see 'Shares' page (left hand side of blog).

The current round of shares are complete, and will be in the post to everyone tomorrow :)

Now for the luuuuuuuurv bit !


There are a few places left for the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack on Saturday 14th July.  Why not show how much you luuuuuuurv someone by making them handmade cards this Christmas ?

Everything is included in the price - £40 - and you will go away with stack loads of handmade Christmas cards.

While I'm on the subject of Christmas, there are also places left for the Stamp-a-Stack on Saturday 18th August and for the Christmas Gift Day on Sunday 19th August.

A £20 deposit will secure your place.

More luuuuuuuuurv !


This is the Wedding Album that I have recently made for my friend Liz, when she married her gorgeous husband Dave.  The wedding, as you can tell, was not your normal 'fluffy' wedding, and it took me forever to find just the 'right' pages to make the album.  To be honest, I was sitting on all the photographs and bits and pieces for the album for over 3 months !  Anyway, my mum went to a fabby mini album class taught by the amazing Pat Beaumont - see her blog laughincolour.blogspot.com - and Pat had used these papers.  A quick phone call, and I discovered that she had used these amazing Graphic 45 Old Curiosity Shoppe papers - and still had a kit left !  Whoop whoop !  Anyway, this is my take on the mini album class.

Liz has now received the album, and I'm pleased to say is absolutely thrilled with it.











I left a couple of pages blank at the back for them to add photographs from their First Anniversary.  I also made a 'box' to fit on the inside back page, so that they could slip any other mementos in there !

I hope you like the album and that it inspires you to make your own.

Happy Crafting - and don't forget to share the luuuuuuuurv xxxxxxxx

As always, if you have any questions, queries or wish to place an order with me, please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or 07765 847062 :)

Sunday 17 June 2012

Scrapping in the Attic–huh ?

Hi Scrappers !  I’m not scrapping in the attic – well not yet anyway, but I AM using the fantastic Stampin Up! Attic Boutique papers.  Whether you are making male or female themed layouts, these papers are perfect for both, and in my next post, I’ll show you a couple of layouts that I designed for the men in our lives.
To start with though – here are the first two layouts.
Attic boutique1Attic boutique section 1Attic boutique section 3
attic boutique section 4attic boutique section 2
Instructions
I have tried to upload a You Tube video explaining how I did the ‘burnt’ effect around the edges, but I’m doing loads wrong – I WILL work it out – I promise !
1) To achieve the burnt look around the edges, you firstly need to ‘distress’ the edges either with a Stampin Up distress tool, or one of the ‘arms’ on a pair of scissors.  If using scissors, lightly drag the scissors down the page. Don’t worry if the page rips or tears, it really does improve the effect !
2) Next, I took a crumb cake ink pad and dauber, and literally swept around all of the edges in a circular motion.  I took the ink approx 1” into the papers.  I then used Sahara Sand and repeat the procedure, but only took the ink into about half an inch. I then used Early Espresso, and did the same thing again.  Make sure that you blend all the colours together.  Finally, and this is the important bit – run a black ink pad around the edges only of the paper. 
3) As you can see from the above photographs, I have cut out sections of the main background paper.  I used a craft knife and glass place mat to carefully, ‘cut’ out the sections that I wanted.  I then slipped the photograph under the cut outs.
4) I cut out the elements you can see from some of the other papers in this set, and adhered them at varying heights and levels using foam pads.
5) The blue journalling block is cut out using Stampin Up framelets dies, and enhanced using a black journalling pen.
6) Finally, I rolled the top right hand corner over a pencil, inked it, and then added a small cut out square to the back of the rolled section – this gives a sort of ‘peeled’ effect.
2nd Layout
attic boutique 2 layout wholeattic boutique 2 layout section 1attic boutique 2 layout section 2attic boutique 2 layout section 3attic boutique 3 layout section 2
Instructions
As per the above layout, I have distressed the edges using the Stampin Up! distressing tool.  However, rather than heavily distress the edges with inks, I have literally just swiped the ink pad down the edges.
2) Using the designer papers with the ‘pen’ design on, I cut out heaps of the pens, and arranged them over the photograph mat until I was happy with their position.  Again, I used a combination of foam pads to product different heights and layers.
3) Using a different sheet of paper, I could out three of the ‘basques’.  I inked the edges, added Stampin Up pearls, and then layered them onto the page.
4) I cut out a photo corner, inked it, and added an embossed butterfly with pearls forming the body of the butterfly.  I adhered this to the layout.
5) Once again, I cut out the flourish from some of the designer papers in this series, and adhered them onto the page using tombow glue AND more dimensionals (foam pads).
6) Using Daffodil Delight cardstock, Apothecary Art stamp set and the new SU framelits,  I cut out the main Title frame.  I added more journalling by cutting out strips of vanilla cardstock in different sizes.
As always, if you take inspiration from either of these layouts, I would be grateful if you would give me recognition.
If you would like to order any of the supplies used in the above layouts, please email me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or text me on 07765 847062

Saturday 16 June 2012

Salami !

I am very privileged to have some amazing friends, and two of those friends happened to 'pop' in to see me today. It was such a surprise to see them both, and what was meant to be a quick half hour, ended up being a two hour plus visit !

So, where does the Salami come into the equation .... well, for a while now, I've been unsure as to what direction to take with my Stampin Up business.   I am passionate about Stampin Up and also passionate about scrapbooking.  My friends know how I feel about my work, and that often, through my own insecurities, I feel that my work and instructions are not good enough.  One minute I feel that scrapbooking is the direction that I want to take, and yet sales and enquiries from customers, point me in the card making and 3d project direction.  I absolutely love all areas of crafting, I eat, breathe and sleep crafting, but my heart will always belong to scrapbooking. 

My friends were enthusing and encouraging me, but could tell that something was wrong.  After a little more questioning, I confessed that I was scared of failing, and that my customers might not like my work, and that I might lose all my loyal customers.

One of the friends said "How do you eat Salami" ?  To be honest, I thought she'd lost the plot !  "Well" ? she asked.  Huh ? Surely you just eat Salami ??  "The answer ..." she said, "... is that you slice it.  You can't eat a whole Salami, you have to slice it.   Just as, you can't be an overnight success, you have to work at it.  Imagine each step as a slice".  I thought about it.  Maybe rather than be scared of failing, I should take small 'slices' and build up from there.

So, thats what I'm doing.  I'm taking small slices !   If you look on the left hand bar of my blog, you will see a NEW page.  It is my scrapbooking page, and over time, I'm going to add all those layouts that I've been storing for no other reason than I thought my instructions wouldn't be good enough.  I will over time be selling my instructions to match the layouts - but they will be simplified.  They will not have step-by-step photographs, but they will have easy to follow instructions and photographs of different sections.  If there's a special technique that I've used, then I will add a link to either a you tube video or a link to explain the technique. 

I would love to have the time to do the wonderful step-by-step, full of photographs, all saluting, high falooting instructions, but sadly, I have limited time available to me.  I would prefer to spend the time producing layouts !

layouts 002a

So … thanks to the ‘girls’ for a fantastic, unexpected visit today – and I will remember to appreciate and count my ‘slices’ every day !

Ooops – I nearly forgot – watch out for my forthcoming You Tube videos – yup, you will hear my proud Scouse accent … live !!! ha ha ha !

025  029

As always, if you would like to place an order, or if you have any questions – then please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or call me on 01706 351299 or text me on 07765 847062

Cal xxx

Sunday 10 June 2012

Shares Update

SHARES


There are only 2 places left for the paper share, two places left for the button share, and 'odd' places left for some of the ribbon shares. Sharing is a great way of spreading the cost and getting a 'bit of everything'.

ALSO - I have two new Stampers Group starting in July - a 6 month Stampers Group (3 places left) and a 10 month Stampers Group - if you are interested in spreading the cost of purchasing stash goodies, and earning FREE products and prizes, then please contact me ASAP.


SIMPLY SCORED scoreboard offer


I am still offering FREE postage, and a FREE 110 page document full of score board projects, for anyone wanting to purchase the NEW Simply Scored Scoreboard. (£24.95)

There is also the metric plate, and the fantastic diagonal plate that work brilliantly well with the scoreboard (£9.95 each)


UPCOMING EVENTS


JUNE



Saturday 16th June
SCOREBOARD CLASS: 10am - 2pm @Turf Hill Community Centre. You will be making lots of projects and cards using the new SU Simply Scored scoreboard. 5 place left. You will need to contact me immediately if you want a place. £25 OR £45 WITH scoreboard included = a saving of £5

Thursday 21st June
CARD CLASS: 7pm - 9.30pm @ Turf Hill Community Centre. Fortnightly card class. All supplies included except adhesive (please bring basic tool kit). Please contact me if you would like to reserve a place.



JULY

Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July (book whichever day you prefer, or both) !
ALL DAY CHRISTMAS Stamp-a-Stack.  Christmas cards are the order of the day, and you will leave the event feeling smug that you have made a start on your Christmas Cards :)




Don't forget, if you have questions - then I have the answers ! As always, please contact me to place orders, or book places to:- carole.bryson@gmail.com or 01706 351299




Made using Twitterpated papers and Everything Eleanour stamp set

Made using Attic Boutique papers and SU cardstock

Saturday 9 June 2012

Simply Sharing

I have set up a dedicated Share page in order to make it easier to see what shares that I am currently running.  You can see them all, by clicking on the 'Share' page which is on the left hand bar of this page.


What are ‘shares’?

Quite simply they offer you a very affordable and easy way to sample all of the new papers & ribbons.
How much do you get in a ‘share’?
With my Designer Series Paper shares you get a 6″ x 6″ piece of EVERY sheet of paper in the collection OR the option to get more with a 12″ x 6″ share.  Ribbon shares differ depending upon the ribbon you require.  For the button share, you will receive 72 buttons. 
Who can purchase my ‘shares’?
EVERYONE!  My current customers, fellow Demonstrators, new customers, members of my Team…they are open to absolutely everyone!
Demonstrators can order them too?
Absolutely – if you are a Demonstrator it gives you the perfect opportunity to get a sampling of ALL the new papers & ribbons in each collection without having to outlay a huge amount of money – for example, if you purchase a Designer Series Paper share you will have ALL the new papers to demonstrate with and show your customers samples of everything – for a very affordable price – how cool is that?
How do you purchase my ‘shares’?
If you would like to purchase one or more of my shares, then you need to email me ( carole.bryson@gmail.com ) to let me know what shares you are interested and I will send you a Paypal invoice as soon as I get enough people to fill each share.
Do I combine postage costs?
Absolutely YES – if you wish to take more than one share, I will combine postage costs to save you money!

So what are you waiting for ?!!!!    Got Questions? I have the answers – email your questions to me and I will be very happy to help. xx

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Sincere Apologies

I am really sorry, but I have read the details of the Stampin Up! Paper Party wrong.


In order to earn a FREE pack of designer series papers, you need to select THREE papers from the attached picture, and then choose a fourth one FREE.  The offer is ONLY for the following papers.


Nevertheless, this offer is still amazing value !!!




Once again, my sincere apologies.   As always, if you would like to place an order, or if you have any other queries, please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or 01706 351299

Tuesday 5 June 2012

Fancy a Party ?

June - Hostess Offer



WE {HEART} OUR HOSTESSES PROMOTION



Dates: 1 June – 31 July 2012
Details: During June and July, hostesses who hold a minimum £325 workshop will receive
 an additional £30 in hostess FREE merchandise pounds—that’s in addition to the £50 they already receive for a £325 workshop!
Your Hostess’ Party Sales*
Regular Hostess Benefits
Additional Hostess Pounds
Total Hostess Benefits
£325£50 plus 1 item at 50% off
£30
£80 plus 1 item at 50% off
£400£65 plus 2 items at 50% off£30£95 plus 2 items at 50% off
£500£80 plus 3 items at 50% off£30£110 plus 3 items at 50% off
£750+£120 plus 15% of amount over £750 plus 4 items at 50% off£30£150 plus 15% of amount over £750 plus 4 items at 50% off
*Excluding shipping and handling



Now is the time to host a Stampin Up! party in your own home - get your diary out, and contact me to arrange a fun evening, and earn heaps of FREE stash !
OR
How about hosting a Catalogue Party - get all your friends together, and I'll send you the card kits and instructions to host your own party.  If you achieve £325 in sales, then you will receive £80 to spend on anything you like from either the Main Catalogue or the Mini Catalogue !!!

For more details, or to arrange a party, or place an order, please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or 01706 351299

Don't forget - this promotion doesn't last forever !

Sunday 3 June 2012

June Special


This June, Stampin Up! are inviting you to join the Paper Party !!!
What does this mean ?  Well, as always, it means FREE goodies for YOU !  


All this month, when you buy three packs of gorgoeus double-sided 12″x12″ Designer Series Paper, you will receive one pack (value £9.95) of the following papers, absolutely free!


Select your FREE papers from these 
What a fabulous way of increasing your paper supplies !


Why not buy some matching cardstock as well ?  I am offering FREE postage on all orders £50 and over, in Celebration of the Queens Jubilee !!


Talking of cardstock, yesterday I made the following picture frame for a colleague in work whose wife has just had a baby.  Sadly, I can't remember the originator of this design, but you can find it on the net .... if you were the originator of the design, please message me so that I can give you full credit - and many thanks, as I absolutely love it !




So, as I had cut out hundreds of these butterflies from the Butterfly Embosslit (main catalogue), I decided to use them up, and made these cards.





If you would like to place an order, or take up the offer for the FREE designer papers, then please contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or call me on 01706 351299.

Have an amazing Jubilee everyone - Happy Crafting !

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