Reasons and Reminders ...

Reminders

You only have TWO days including today to earn the fantastic Merry Patterns stamp set for free.  If you place a £150 order, then this set is yours.  Why not get together with some friends and place a £150 order, then share the set?  My mum and her pals often 'club together' to buy a selection of products, bundles etc., and share what they buy between them.

This really is on my Top 5 list of all-time favourite Christmas stamp sets.

You have until 9pm tomorrow night to place your orders in order that you don't miss out on this stamp set.

Reasons

There are lots of reasons why you should consider buying the amazing NEW Stampin' Blends.  Firstly, they really really do blend ... Secondly, they are really easy to use.  As I said in my last post, I found that by using the dark colour first, then blend with the lighter colour, you can achieve perfection!

I've done a quick video showing this, and I'll do a facebook live, so keep an eye out for it.  

Stampin Up! have a fabulous video showcasing the Blends HERE

Patty Bennett has done a fantastic video HERE also showcasing the Blends.

You can download the .pdf HERE which tells you everything else you need to know

Anybody who orders a full set of Blends from me (or direct from my online shop) will receive a FREE storage box, together with a Black Memento inkpad.  

Want to spread the cost? Then read below ...

Shares

I need four people in each group for the shares. You will receive:-

1st Month -  3 sets of markers, storage box, colour lifter, memento inkpad,

selection of A5 whisper white and coloured cardstock

2nd Month - 3 sets of markers, 12 sheets of A4 whisper white thick cardstock

3rd Month - 3 sets of markers, 12 sheets of A4 whisper white thick cardstock

4th Month - 3 sets of markers, bronze and ivory blends (plus a surprise)

Each share is £30 (collect) £32.95 (posted)

To secure your place in the share, please contact me by email  at carole.bryson@gmail.com or Facebook messenger  (Carole Bryson) with your paypal address (for monthly invoice) and your home address.

Lots more samples to follow ...

Other News

Unfortunately, I am having to go back into hospital to have my ear operated on again.  My last MRI scan showed that the cholesteatoma has recurred, and although this was expected, I didn't think it would happen this quick.  To say that I'm devastated is an understatement.

I spoke to my Surgeon on Friday, and he's sending me an appointment as soon as he can squeeze me in, so I will keep you all updated.

Due to this, I am not adding any classes other than my usual Tuesday class, and I hope you all understand.  

During my recovery period, I will be offering 'Classes to Go' ... scrapbooking and cardmaking, and will contain enough product to complete the projects - this way, I can keep my hand in, and maintain contact with you all - plus, keep my business running during said recovery.

Well, that's it for now ... remember, two days to earn the Merry Patterns stamp set for free, and two days until the 1st November :o wow! where has this year gone?!?!

Oh, one last thing ... I have our annual Stampin' Up! Convention coming up on the 10th and 11th November, and I have some gorgeous cutie patooty projects to show you that I have made for my team, some SU friends, and for general swaps - you are gonna love them.  I used a stamp set that I never thought that I would buy in a million years, but it just seemed to 'fit' the projects.  I was blasted by the set .... so keep your eyes peeled!

As always, if you wish to place an order, then please either use the Shop Now button on the top right of my blog or email me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or call/text me on 07747 465186.

I really do appreciate your custom, as a small business, your loyalty means a great deal to me.

Take care, and have an amazing week - i'll be back on Wednesday with the 'blends' ...

Lotsa Love - Cal xxx

Beautifully Blended ...Shares!

I told you there was a surprise ahead, and there is ... the amazing NEW Stampin' Blends (alcohol markers).  You can find the .pdf with all the information you need HERE 

From the 1st November, you will be able to order the NEW Stampin' Blends.  There are 12 different colours with a light and dark of each colour and then an Ivory, Bronze and Colour Lifter.

I had to add in this beautiful project made by Clare in the Stampin' Up! Office Sydney - it really is stunning.

Check out this gorgeous piece of Christmas home decor made by Clare in our Sydney office using:-

* new Stampin' Blends (available to order November 1) 

* the gorgeous Christmas in the Making stamp set.

If you want to be able to colour like a pro be sure to talk to your demonstrator about this awesome new product range.
What will you colour first with your new Stampin' blends?

Image from Su-Mohr at aromassandart.com

You can buy the Blends individually at £4 each, or in their Light & Dark set of 2 for £8 or you can buy the whole shabundle including Ivory, Bronze and the Colour Lifter for £108.

As a Demonstrator, I was able to purchase these early in order to use them for samples and to form an opinion of them.  

These are two of my sample pieces that I made as soon as they arrived.

Personal Opinion

Having used them I am really impressed with them.  I compared them to Copics and Promarkers, and can honestly say, that they are on par with Copics.  For me, and yes I am biased, I do prefer the Stampin' Up Blends, and for one reason only - choice!   Because there are only two colours per shade, it makes choosing the colour to use much easier.   With Copics, I spend more time selecting the right colour-blends to use, than actually making a card.  

TIP: To Use

I found that if I used the dark colour first, then blended with the lighter shade, I got a perfect 'blend' ... I then went in with the darker shade again, and then blended with the lighter shade to get different effects.

(I will be making a video showing you how I use them shortly)

I also had great success blending our new white perfect accents - it means you can colour match your embellishments to match your projects - yay!!

TIP:  It is recommended to store the 'blends' on their sides, and I have found that a 1.5l storage box is perfect. (keep reading)

Offer & Shares

Anybody who orders a full set of Blends from me (or direct from my online shop) will receive a FREE storage box, together with a Black Memento inkpad.  

Want to spread the cost? Then read below ...

Shares

I need four people in each group for the shares. You will receive:-

1st Month -  3 sets of markers, storage box, colour lifter, memento inkpad,

selection of A5 whisper white and coloured cardstock

2nd Month - 3 sets of markers, 12 sheets of A4 whisper white thick cardstock

3rd Month - 3 sets of markers, 12 sheets of A4 whisper white thick cardstock

4th Month - 3 sets of markers, bronze and ivory blends (plus a surprise)

Each share is £30 (collect) £32.95 (posted)

To secure your place in the share, please contact me by email  at carole.bryson@gmail.com or Facebook messenger  (Carole Bryson) with your paypal address (for monthly invoice) and your home address.

In Other News ......

Classes - I am now holding regular card and scrapbooking classes on :-

Tuesday (10am-12noon and 1.00pm-3:00pm) and

Friday (10am-12noon and 1:00pm-3:00pm)

Contact me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or call/text me on 07747 465186 for more details!

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who has asked about my Mum.  Four months down the line from having a triple break in her hip, she is doing amazing.  She's frustrated at the things that she still can't do (changing the bed, walking for too long, carrying ironing upstairs etc.), but she really is doing well.  We have really appreciated all your love and support, it's meant a lot to us.  This is a very rare, recent photograph of us together at Mums monthly coffee and cake morning at Church.

I'll bid you farewell with a couple of card samples from an upcoming card class.

Take care everyone - chat soon!  

Happy Crafting!

Cal xxx

Fun News, Two days left and Class Details!

Stampin' Up!® announced last week,  the return of alcohol-based markers!!

Us lucky demonstrators (and anyone who gets the Starter Kit) can purchase these early between October 1st and the 15th! The release to everyone else will be in the near future (before 2017 ends), but the date hasn't been determined yet.

My 'Blends' were delivered on Friday, and I've been having a quick little play with them.  There's a selection of Stampin' Up! colours to choose from, and each colour has a light and a dark marker, which makes it so easy to blend and shade easily.  I've used lots of different alcohol based markers, and these are definitely the easiest for blending/shading.  Don't get me wrong, I love Copics, but I struggle with time when I'm trying to match and blend the right colours ... with the new 'Blends', the time and choice factor has been removed - they're fab!  As soon as I have a release date, I'll let you all know.

ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT!

* There are only TWO days left to take advantage of the World Card Making Day Offers -Tuesday is the cut off day, so please get your orders quickly to avoid being disappointed if you miss it!

There is 15% off Notecards & Envelopes and select stamp sets. 

Also, when you buy Fast Fuse Adhesive, you’ll get two refills for FREE! These items will help you and your customers celebrate the best hobby of all—card-making! (IMPORTANT:  These are currently on back order, so get your order in quickly to avoid disappointment)

See all the products on offer HERE

CURRENT OFFERS

*  Let’s admit it, we all just love gorgeous Designer Series Paper! This is why, by popular demand, SU have brought back the sale on Designer Series Paper. During October, you  can buy three packages of select Designer Series Paper and get one FREE! This sale includes Designer Series Paper from both the annual and autumn/winter catalogues. And even includes select Specialty and Designer Series Paper Stacks! So take advantage of this excellent opportunity to buy lots and lots of pretty paper.

 Oh!  I meant to add, that the stamp sets that are 15% off on the World Card-Making Day flyer coordinate with paper packs that are part of this Buy 3, Get 1 Free special. How cool is that?

You can see the full range of papers that are available for this offer HERE

Lastly, MY offer to you - FREE Postage & Packing on all orders over £45.  As Stampin Up is my only income,  I can't afford huge giveaways and regular freebies, but by offering my loyal customers free postage for orders over £45, it means that everybody gets something from me at some point.

Don't forget to keep checking the Clearance Rack HERE and keep popping back to see all the Specials and Offers here on my blog.

You can see all the Specials and Offers HERE

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY

I had a lovely day with one of my teamies Helen.  I planned two Christmas stamp-a-stack classes and also managed to work on the design packaging for my swaps for convention! 😯  There's a couple of samples below from the classes, and a very-sneaky-peak of my swaps for Convention in November - but you haven't seen this ... sssshhh! (see below)

NEW Classes - Stamp-a-Stack

Venue - Wallasey, Merseyside (CH45)

The first Christmas Stamp-a-Stack card class is 

Friday 13th October - 10am - 12 Noon OR 1pm - 3pm.  

Tuesday 17th October - 10am - 12 Noon OR 1pm - 3pm.

You will be making 16 cards (yes you will I promise), and you will receive the full kit, plus a full pack of the embellishments  that you use during the class.  The cost is £22.50 which includes the full kit (with envelopes) and refreshments.

The second Christmas Stamp-a-Stack card class is

Friday 20th October from 10:00am - 12 Noon OR 1pm - 3pm.  

Tuesday 24th October from 10am - 12 Noon OR 1pm - 3pm

You will be making 16 cards and you will receive the full kit, plus a full pack of the embellishments that you use during the class.  The cost is £22.50 which includes the full kit (with envelopes) and refreshments.

I will be selling the kit on it's own with everything cut and ready for you to assemble - however, as is Stampin' Up! policy,  you will need to stamp your own images.  Die cuts and punched embellishments will be provided.   The cost of the kit will be £20 plus £2 postage.

For more information or to book your place, please call/text me on 07747 465186 or email me on carole.bryson@gmail.com

One of the cards from Class 1

One of the cards from Class 2

Convention swap

Love to you all - Happy Crafting!  Cal xxx

Quick and Easy Xmas Cards Continued ....

I literally made this card using the framelits from Bethlehem Edgelit Dies.  There is a matching stamp set, but I really just wanted the framelits.  

I used a Rich Razzleberry card base, a whisper white cardstock insert, and then cut and adhered the images out of gold foil sheets (more like cardstock weight).  I then stamped the sentiment on the inside using Rich Razzleberry ink, and that was it.  TIP:  I used dimensionals to create depth on the top layer of 'houses'.

The framelits are Item No 144676 and are £29.  The gold foil card is Item No 132622 and is £3.75.

This card will be one of the cards we make in my upcoming Christmas card class - date to be announced shortly. 

Talking of Card Classes, put the 2nd and 3rd of December in your calendars.....

Stampin' Up! has a long history of supporting philanthropic causes. 'Helping others' and 'making a difference' is part of the mission statement. Over the past two decades, almost three decades in fact, demonstrators all over the world embrace these words and make a difference in the lives of others.

Stampin' Up! is celebrating their 10th anniversary in the UK, and to mark this special occasion; Stampin' Up! UK has set a challenge to make a whopping 10,000 cards across two card-making weekends in 2017, to donate to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Earlier this year we held the first of our card-making weekends ‘Birthday Wishes’ from 23 – 25 June. Demonstrators across the country rallied together to hold their own events and produce an astounding 9,493 cards! It was an incredible show of support for the challenge !

Now, we want to make the next challenge even BIGGER and BETTER

Stampin Up! are asking you once again to offer your support, enthusiasm and crafting skills as they welcome back the second half of the 10,000 cards challenge with the Christmas Cheer Challenge! However, due to the incredible success of the Birthday Wishes weekend they are doubling the goal they set for the entire year of 10,000 cards, to a whopping 20,000 cards! This means that Demonstrators are aiming to make over 10,000 cards in just one weekend and we know, with your help, we can do it!

Therefore, I am holding a Christmas Cheer Stamp-a-stack Day on the 2nd December.  Venue details are being finalised, but basically, I am asking you to take part in the challenge by taking the class.  You will make one card for you, and one card for Ronald McDonald House.  I will be holding the class on the 2nd and 3rd December.  

Don't worry if you can't make it in person, as I will be selling a 'Christmas Cheer Class to go' ... so you will receive everything except the stamp sets that are being used, but you can easily use your own Christmas stamps instead.

More details to follow soon.....

DON'T FORGET - 

*   See my post from yesterday regarding the World Card Day offers - some great deals to be had.  I know that some people have commented that the bundles are a cheaper way to buy the stamps (which I agree), but there are 3 stamp sets that are not in the bundles and that are a great offer.  The fast fuse offer has been extremely popular, so to avoid disappointment of back orders, place your Orders as soon as possible.

*   There is also, the Buy 3 get 4th Set of designer series paper offer - again, the list of papers in the offer is in my post from yesterday.  If placing your order online, the last papers that you add will show up as £0, even if they're the most expensive!

*   Have a look at the Clearance Lines, there's lots being added.

As always, you can place all orders via my online shop - link on the side, or you can email me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or call/text me on 07747 465186.

Happy Crafting - Cal xxxx

October Offers that are NOT to be missed!

(Lots of information, so please read to the bottom)

This year the world celebrates World Card Making Day on the 7 October, but one day wasn’t enough for us. For ten days (between 1 and 10 October), you can get 15% off Notecards & Envelopes and select stamp sets. Also, when you buy Fast Fuse Adhesive, you’ll get two refills for FREE! These items will help you to celebrate one of the best hobby's of all—card-making!

These are what is on offer .... or you can find them in a .pdf HERE

PLUS - the fast fuse offer is below - buy one fast fuse and receive TWO FREE refills! 

This offer is only available from the 1st to the 10th October

PLUS - Not only are we offering all the bargains above, but Stampin' Up! thought they would offer a PAPER SALE as well .... from the 1st to the 31st October ONLY.

You choose 3 papers full price below, and then select a 4th set of papers for FREE

Or you can find them on a .pdf HERE - the offer is on until 31st October ONLY - As this is always a popular offer, please order as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment or delays.

EXTRA OFFER - Spend over £45 and receive FREE P&P from me as a thank you for your Order.  

DON'T FORGET - The Merry Patterns offer is also still running until the 31st October - place a £250 Order (or more), and receive this stamp set FOR FREE!

I'm sorry this post is picture heavy, but I didn't want you to miss any of the great deals!  Whilst you're shopping, don't forget to take a look at the Clearance section HERE

If your Order is under £150 and you are shopping online, please use the hostess code BFKBTAUM

At the end of the month, one lucky winner will win ALL of the hostess benefits!  

Last months winner was Linda Jacobs - well done Linda, I have sent you an email xx

To place your orders, please either shop online direct SHOP HERE or Email me on carole.bryson@gmail.com or call/text me on 07747 465186

Happy Crafting - have fun shopping!   Cal xxx