Taking a Huge Step

On Saturday I drove our daughter Sophie to Heathrow for her onward journey to China to trek The Great Wall, all in the name of Charity.  Such a huge step for someone so young to endure, not knowing who she would be travelling with or what obstacles she might face, I'm sure my feelings of anxiety for her are natural.

Leaving her at the airport was heartbreaking, but I know that the adventures that lie ahead through the next 12 days will be ones that she will cherish forever and look back on as another of lifes great experiences.  Proud is an understatement.

My feelings of sadness became greater once I reached home and the WhatsApp messages came through, I long for her to be home and filling us with news of her adventures.

So with my son away on his holidays and Jay car racing it was just me and Alfie today.  Thank goodness for creativity, it took my mind away from my family worries for a while!

I'm spoilt for choice on products to play with.  Having the Annual Catalogue released in July then just recently the Autumn/Winter Catalogue I'm struggling to decide what to play with first!

I have a couple of favourites, in my previous post you will see how much I'm loving the "Merry Cafe" set.

Now as crafters we like to get ahead of ourselves when it comes to Christmas creating, but often I find I burn myself out by November as I've jumped in both feet first so this year I'm trying to be more restrictive on just how much time I spend creating Christmas projects, it's trying to find that balance when there's so many nice festive products arriving on my doorstep!

So today I'm going to share something festive, and although I've created tons of Christmas things already, I've not actually shared them here, so here goes.....

My card uses a set called "Carols of Christmas", love how easy this set is to use, the fact that it has co-ordinating dies makes it easy to be creative.  I love everything about this set, the deer, the trees, the ornaments and the little elements that can add some finishing touches too!

I created a really simple card, of course you could add more layers but this took very little time to create and I love it's simplicity.

A couple of mini sequins and some thread add a little glitz to sparkle things up.

So I hope I've inspired you to make a start on your Christmas Crafting if you haven't done so yet.  If you're planning on giving handmade cards this year then there's no better time to start making them than now!

If you'd like to place an online order with me, don't forget to use my Hostess Code if you're order is over £25 but less than £150

Click on any of the product images below to be directed to my shop

To say Thank You for shopping with me I will send you a hand stamped card and a gift next month in the post

Product List

Carols Of Christmas Clear-Mount Bundle [146037] £40.50	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Cherry Cobbler A4 Card Stock [121681] £7.25	Card Stock A4 Pear Pizzazz [131290] £7.25
Silver Mini Sequin Trim [144230] £5.50	Silver Metallic Thread [138402] £2.75	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672] £7.75	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] £27.00

Life is taking over right now!

Since returning from the Stampin' Up! Incentive trip to Thailand in the middle of July, life has been a whirlwind and sadly my blogging had to take a back seat for a while.  It has been hard to "let things go" but I had to tell myself that I physically can't do everything, even though I thought I could!

I've since moved house and now beginning to settle into our new home nicely and have to say that we are loving it here!  I've not moved far, just a 20 minute drive (without traffic) from our previous home but we are definitely more rural which has meant I've had to let go a couple of my longer distance classes.

I will continue with a couple of my classes that are local to Whitminster but my plan is to convert an office here into my new Craft Studio so that I can run events from home.  Watch this space for news of an upcoming opening event!

I have set up a temporary craft room in our new home so I've managed to run a couple of classes and still be creative amongst the boxes during the move, and in this time we have seen the launch of the new

AUTUMN/WINTER CATALOGUE

You can click HERE to view the online version

There are so many wonderful new products to get you started on the festive season, it's never to early to make a start!

Here's a recent card using a new set called "Merry Cafe", totally love how cute this set is and that it co-ordinates with the "Coffee Cafe" set and dies in the Annual Catalogue. This set is very versatile and has multiple greetings included.

If you don't already have a Demonstrator and would like to receive a copy of your own, please email me at stampinkerry@aol.com and I will arrange that for you.

Remember you can SHOP ONLINE with me, orders over £25 receive a gift in the post the following month to say Thank You for shopping with me

Great Offers during July.......

Two fabulous offers available during July, here's the details:

The Bonus Day's are back!  We had this fabulous offer last year and it's back for July.

For each £45 you spend during July you will get a Bonus Days coupon that you can redeem against your purchases during August, fabulous!

and another great offer for you....

If you join my team during July, not only will you get £130 of products of your choice for just £99 but you will also get this AMAZING bundle of goodies as an extra bonus

Included in the bundle is the new sneak peak stamp set called Carols of Christmas

If you join my team during July, not only will you get £130 of products of your choice for just £99 but you will also get this AMAZING bundle of goodies as an extra bonus

Included in the bundle is the new sneak peak stamp set called Carols of Christmas

There's no better time to join, so please do get in touch, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have or simply sign up online via the Tab at the top of the page.

Today I am leaving for Bangkok and to say I'm excited is an understatement.  The Stampin' Up! Incentive trip begins on Sunday at Phuket in Thailand and I just can't wait!  I still have my case to pack, clothes are organised, just need to get them in that case so I'd best be off for now.  Please stop by my business Facebook Page on updates from the trip, I'd love to hear from you.

Do you love to Plan?

I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw that we were going to be offering a Planner, being a planner girl myself I couldn't wait to get this in my own hands!

It is so sturdy, I love the ring bound system which allows you to add any pages into your planner should you desire but most of all I love how pretty it is.

It comes with lots of accessories too, stickers, post it notes, pocket pages and clear photo pockets too!

Each month is divided with a tab dashboard, each decorated so sweet and I love the monthly spread page too, can you tell I'm excited!!!

Planning for me is a big part of my life.  I've always loved to write and since I can remember have loved paper and stickers.

I can't wait to put pen to paper and get organising with this great new stationery addition and will keep you updated with how I decide to plan with it.

If you'd like to get a little more organised with your life, why not make a purchase and let the planner help you to be more productive, or this would make a perfect gift for an upcoming birthday.

There's still time to use this month's Hostess Code

To visit my online shop just click on the picture of the Planner below and you will automatically be directed, shopping is quick and easy and when your order exceeds £25 I will send you a little gift next month to say thank you for shopping with me!

New 2017/18 Catalogue is LIVE

It's Here!!  

The 2017/18 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue

is LIVE

I know lots of you have been waiting for this, there have been so many sneak peaks that the excitement has really built and today, finally, I can share this amazing beauty with you all!

Those of you attending my Catalogue Launch on 5th June will automatically receive a catalogue from me, but if you don't already have a demonstrator and would like to place an order please get in touch and I will arrange to send you a catalogue.

To view the online version of the catalogue click on the following link

VIEW THE ONLINE CATALOGUE

I have far too many favourites already, but here's a couple that I know are going to get lots of use from me!

The new In Colours are fabulous!

I have two classes scheduled using this amazing Kit on 22nd and 23rd June, an email was sent out separately regarding this, spaces are limited on each date so book early!

Oh My!!  A Planner, how exciting is that for all of us who love to get organised, BUT it's not just for planning your everyday events, I'm hoping to do so much more with this great new product, I hope you will join me at an upcoming event, watch this space!

I fell in love with this set called "Bike Ride" when I was given it at On Stage in Amsterdam in April, I can finally now order the co-ordinating dies to go with it and they are sure to be first on my wish list!

"This Little Piggy", sooooooo cute!!

And announcing.......

MEMORIES AND MORE

Stampin' Up! have designed their own system for preserving your memories by way of storing your photographs, a pocket system like we had previously, but at a much lower price which is brilliant.  Each card set includes stickers and acetate layers and all in our own fabulous colours to co-ordinate with things that you already have.

I will be holding classes and events helping you to keep control of how you store your photographs, maybe you aren't in the habit of printing them off and simply store them on your phones or on discs?  Well I'm going to show you how easy it is to create pages that can be shared with others and passed down through generations, such a rewarding process and something that you don't have to give away like the cards you make!

So that was just a very brief look at some of my favourites so far, I hope you managed to get to the bottom of this post before heading off to view the Online Version!

If you would like to shop online with me, don't forget to use my

Hostess Code if your order is over £25 and under £150

SaveSave

New Catalogue Launch and BOGOF event

Just lately I seem to be waking very early, it could be that I have lots going around in my head as there's lots going on here, but it could also be that we need some blackout linings on our bedroom curtains!!

For me it's not a problem as I'm a definite morning person, being awake with the birds suits me as long as I can get up and get on with things, I'm not a lounge in bed kinda person!  The pitfall of these early mornings is that by 9pm I'm actually pooped!!

So today I wanted to remind you all about my upcoming

ANNUAL CATALOGUE LAUNCH
WITH
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SALE

I would love you to join me on this evening

Monday 5th June 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start
at
Whitminster Village Hall

You will get the opportunity to purchase my retiring products at full price then choose brand new products from the 2017/18 catalogue up to the same value for FREE.

The cost will be £5 which includes your own copy of the catalogue, 2 make and take projects plus light refreshments of tea/coffee and cakes

I will begin with a demonstration and brief catalogue tour then you can shop till your hearts content before sitting to relax making your cards.

YOU WILL NEED TO BOOK A SPACE FOR THIS EVENT

Please email me at stampinkerry@aol.com
or call/message me on 07717 068909 / 01452 740532

Cards for men

Why do we find it so hard to make cards for the men in our lives, I know most of us are in the same boat on this one.

Creating a pretty card is just too easy isn't it, but when we need one for a middle aged man I always struggle.  I find making cards for little ones much less challenging, but older men is tricky, I know I'm not alone!

I recently ran a class using the High Tide stamps that are in the Spring/Summer Catalogue, and I'm happy to say they will be carrying over into the new 2017/18 Annual Catalogue.

 So here's a creation made with the set....

I used one of the scallop squares dies from the Layering Squares set, placing my top plate away from one edge of the die so as not to cut a square, then I replaced it back into my big shot and cut the other end doing the same with my top plate, I think I need to do a tutorial post on how this is done with pictures to explain!

A very simple card to create, the sponging adds a lovely effect

We made 2 other cards at the class and I will be back to share these with you soon, in the meantime, don't forget we still have the retired list available with lots of reduced items so why not check it out

and also the Eastern Palace early release suite of products

You can visit my shop here to view any of these items or simply click on one of the product pictures below to be directed

Product List

High Tide Photopolymer Stamp Set [143006] £23.00	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad [141394] £6.00	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad [126957] £6.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £5.50
Layering Squares Framelits Dies [141708] £32.00	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685] £7.25	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Guy Greetings Clear Stamp Set [138828] £32.00