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

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.

The gorgeous "Bike Ride" set is coming

Stampin' Up! hold 2 events each year called On Stage, these are events that are filled with Inspiration, Excitement, Fun, Friendship and Laughter.  I come away feeling energised and re-fuelled for what lies ahead.

There are several reasons why I love these events so much...

I get to meet up with Demonstrators that I don't see that often
I get to see sneak peaks of products that are upcoming
I get to play with new upcoming products and make samples to take away
I receive a copy of the new upcoming Stampin' Up! catalogue
I get to swap cards with fellow Demonstrators
I receive an On Stage bag filled with goodies
We have Prize Patrols and giveaways
I get to spend valuable time with Team Members
I learn great business tips and come away feeling energised

Of course a favourite part is receiving FREE new product, and this all attendee giveaway was no exception.

It's called "Bike Ride" and I am totally in love with it.

A fabulous set of stamps that contains a huge number of images that all work together but could be used alone with other images.  I love the little basket that could be filled with a multisite of different items.

Here's a card I made using the set....

I just love how cute this set is, there are lots of images that go with this bike, a dog, books, fruit, the possibilities will go on and on with this set.  I'm looking forward to getting the co-ordinating dies next month, I do love a bit of fussy cutting but time is always against me and you know how speedy it is to cut out with the Big Shot machine.

So whilst we have new products coming, we are still saying goodbye to lots of our favourites so don't forget to check out the Retired List, follow this link to view the full list

or simply stop by my

ONLINE SHOP

Don't forget to use this month's Hostess Code if your order is over £25 and below £150, I can then send you a little gift in the post at the beginning of June to say thank you for shopping with me.

Retiring Products going fast.....

So we are a couple of weeks into the Retired List and although things have sold out, some very very quickly, there's still plenty of discounted items left for you to choose from.

Here's the link if you'd like to take a look

HERE


Last week my classes focussed around the "Jar of Love" bundle.  This is such a gorgeous set of jam jars, flowers and other images, including some greetings too.

Now although the stamps and dies will be carrying over into the new Annual Catalogue in June, they won't be available as a bundle, so if your'e thinking of making a purchase, do it sooner rather than later.

Here's one of my cards, I used the lovely "Hardwood" background stamp {{love this}}, so happy it's staying with us for another year!

My colour combo is Sweet Sugarplum, Bermuda Bay and Whisper White.

Don't forget to check out the Retired List

and the updated Clearance Rack

and if you're placing an online order over £25 but less than £150 use my latest Hostess Code

Product List

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171] £6.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £8.25	Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin' Pad [141395] £6.00	Jar Of Love Photopolymer Bundle [142342] £48.50
Hardwood Wood-Mount Stamp Set [133032] £18.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £5.50	Sweet Sugarplum A4 Cardstock [141423] £7.25

On Stage Amsterdam

Over the past couple of months I have been finding it hard to keep up to date with my blog, I have managed to find a better life/work balance over the past year, making time to do the things that make me happy.

My aim is to get back to posting more regularly as I am still creating oodles of projects, just not finding the time to share them here, with platforms such as Instagram, it's just so much easier and faster sharing my creations and that's kind of where I have been focussing on of late.

So today I thought I would catch up with details from the recent On Stage Event I attended in Amsterdam earlier this month.

I had the most amazing time, spent with 4 of my team.

Following from my previous post, here is the first of my swaps.  At Stampin' Up! events we do something called "swapping".  We create a card front design, make several, then swap them with others meaning you come home with a whole load of different ideas!  It's great and a part of these events that I really love as you get to mix and mingle with people you've never met before.  

For my second swap I used the "Carousel Birthday" stamps which I adore, sadly these are now on the retired list but still available to purchase at present so don't miss out, get it before it's gone!

My colour combo here is Mint Macaron and Peekaboo Peach

I like to make gifts for my team, here they are all packaged with their names on, I was excited to give these to them, will have to get a photo of the contents for you!

I attended Centre Stage, an evening and a lunch specifically for leaders.  The evening was lovely, the opportunity to chat and engage with other Demonstrators, a fabulous meal, live group, dancing, gifts and great company!

Look at the gorgeous notebook we received in our bags, and those Post It Notes, well, what can I say!!!

Such an exciting couple of days, to come away carrying the new 2017/18 is the greatest feeling, so many exciting and gorgeous new products to share with you all soon.

The next On Stage event is in Birmingham on 11th November, I would love for you to join me on this adventure, if you'd like to find out more about the benefits of being a Demonstrator, how you too can get sneak peaks of upcoming products, earn a permanent discount on your products and become part of an amazing community of crafters then just get in touch with me at

stampinkerry@aol.com

for a very informal chat

Balloons away handmade Box Card

I love making Box Cards, these are great for any occasion and I love how they fold flat for posting!

Today's little piece of inspiration uses the Lift Me Up Bundle, which you have seen me use a lot for sure as I just love how versatile it is, wedding, baby, young, mature, masculine, feminine, it just works for it all!

This card was part of a set of three we made at a class, it looks complex but really it is quite straight forward, I am considering selling some kits with pre-cut pieces for you to put together at home, but of course you would have to add your own stamped images as I am not permitted to include those.  Watch this space!

I love Blushing Bride and Smoky Slate together, I'm such a plain Jane, adore the subtle colours and struggle with the Brights!

I've also used the Birthday Bright stamp set from the Spring/Summer catalogue, another great selection of greetings to aid your cardmaking.

If you would like to place an online order with me, don't forget to use this month's Hostess Code if you order is over £25.

If you are local you can contact me direct via phone or email to place your order, shipping will be just £1 regardless of the size of your order.

Product List

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [131172] £6.00	Card Stock A4 Blushing Bride [131287] £7.25	Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad [140932] £6.50	Basic Gray A4 Card Stock [121689] £7.25
Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [131179] £6.00	Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack [138435] £20.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] £32.00	Birthday Bright Photopolymer Stamp Set [142835] £19.00
Simply Scored [122334] £27.00