And the winner is.....

So going back to last week, I offered the new "In Colour Kit" in a draw for those people who placed an order for £40 before 5th October, and after waiting until I got together with a group of crafting ladies last Thursday morning to carry out the draw with lots of witnesses present, I can now reveal the winner to be Sara Hussey, well done!  There is a consolation for all those of you who were unlucky this time, keep an eye on your letter boxes for a little something from me to say thank you for taking part.

I have been busy preparing for my October home workshops, designing make and takes, demonstrations and Hostess gifts along with other gifts for guests, but I will be able to show you some other creations soon, along with details of some new classes that I have coming up.

Swaps for High Wycombe

This is my swap that I designed for the High Wycombe Training last month.  I created 40 card fronts and half way through wished I had made them a little simpler!  I used the "Kissing Technique" on the "Flower Accent" stamp so had to clean my stamp between every use!  I kissed the "Flower Accent" stamp with the "Fine Flourish" mini background stamp in the lovely new "Pear Pizzazz" ink then hand cut them out using a dauber around the edges to define it.

My colour combo is Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Bashful Blue and Whisper White.

The greeting stamp is from a new set called "Perfect Punches" and I trimmed it down with the Plain Oval Punch, the actual image has a scallop edge like the Bashful Blue layer behind.  The circes were punched from the 1/4" Circle Punch which I am very sad to say has now retired and I added Crystal Effects to these to make them shine!

Awww, what a "Bundle of Love"

My first class since the release of the new catalogue and I couldn't resist using new stamps and colours for both projects!

Our first card was created using the very cute stamp set called "Bundle of Love", which is available in both Wood and Clear Mount.  The colour combo used was Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla, yummy!  Our Technique for the evening was Paper Piecing which we used on the pram, stamping a second image onto the Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper and handcutting the required piece which we layered over the top of the original stamped image using a Dimensional.

We used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to place the baby inside the pram and hang the booties on the handle!  We coloured the booties with Baja Breeze using a blender pen with ink from the stamp pad lid and then attached silver brads to the centres of the wheels.  The "congratulations" greeting is also from this set which contains an amazing 16 stamps.

The pretty Scallop Circle is from "Perfect Punches", covering over the Christmas greeting with a 1" Pear Pizzazz circle to which we added a heart using the Small Heart Punch, covering it with Crystal Effects.  We tied Silver Elastic Cord around the top layers behind the scallop circle. 

If you would like more information about ordering any of the products I have used on the above project, just email me at stampinkerry@aol.com for further details.

Team Challenge Met!

From this

to this

At our previous monthly "Incaholics" meeting Jane set us a challenge to create something with the Party Gift Box in the first picture (which I have to shamefully admit to stealing the picture from Caroline as I dismantled mine before taking a photograph!)

I had just received my pre-order of new products and had to cut into this gorgeous Designer Series Paper "Greenhouse Gala" after stroking it for quite a while!  I just love the colour combo of Early Espresso, Baja Breeze and Pear Pizzazz (Pear Pizzazz is one of the new "In Colours") and the gorgeous patterns that co-ordinate with one of the new stamp sets "Ornate Flowers".

I took the party box apart and used it to re-design templates to make a new box, this time turning it up the other way around and adding handles.  It took me a couple of attempts to get it right but once complete I was really happy with the end result.  My flower was created using the 5 Petal Flower Punch and I added some of the new 1/8" Taffeta Early Espresso Ribbon to the centre, the idea for this was taken from a swap I received at High Wycombe last month.

We really do have fun at our team meetings, it's great getting together, the excitement and energy we share is fab and being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is definitely the best job in the world.  If you would like to find out more about being a Demonstrator and joinging my team just email me at stampinkerry@aol.com for more details on the new lower priced Starter Kit with hugely discounted products.  Work hours to suit you, full or part time having fun as you work meeting so many lovely crafty people, what more could you want!

Ornate Flowers

As a Demonstrator for Stampin' Up! I am able to pre-order products before they are released to the general public and also get sneak peaks of Catalogues etc and this is one of the sets I pre-ordered, "Ornate Flowers" which is just gorgeous.

My colour combination is Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz and Baja Breeze.  "Ornate Flowers" is available in Wood Mount and Clear Mount and I chose the Clear Mount option which I just love.  The Clear Mounts come in a DVD style case, they take up less storage space, they are cheaper than wood mount and the results are just as impressive!  All you need to do is invest in a couple of clear mount blocks and you are well away, they are so easy to mount too!

The Designer Series Paper is from "Greenhouse Gala" and it really is gorgeous, I know I say that about everything Stampin' Up! but it's true!!  I stamped the flower image in Pear Pizzazz and then again in Early Espresso and hand cut the flower head from the Early Espresso one, layering it on top of the Pear Pizzazz one to give a decoupage effect.  I used "Tiny Tags" for the greeting and punched it out with the co-ordinating Jewelery Tag punch and tied to a piece of the 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Early Espresso.  The leaves were punched from the Two-Step Bird Punch and the tiny circles to the right of the card were punched using the 1/8" handheld punch to which I added Crystal Effects.

I will be putting a class together using these "Greenhouse Gala", details to follow shortly.

If you like any of the products I have used above and would like to place an order, just email me at stampinkerry@aol.com for more information on ordering.

Don't forget, for every 6 orders I receive between now and 5th October for £40, your name will go into a draw to win the "In Colour Kit", see yesterday's post for more details.



The new Catalogue is here!

Today's the day, the new 2010/11 Idea Book & Catalogue is launched, yay!

Click on the Catalogue Cover to the right to view the online version, or if you would like to have the real thing dropping through your letter box tomorrow morning for just £5.95 delivered then email me your request.  I can accept cheques or Paypal.

So many lovely new products, too many to tell you about all in one post, so little by little, lots of new colours, clear mount stamps for those with limited storage, lots of fabulous new ribbons and accessories, gorgeous new punches, the list is endless!

So for now I will leave you to browse the catty and will be back later with some creations!

Special Catalogue Launch Offer

Place an order with me for £40 between 1st and 5th October 2010, for every 6 people placing orders your name will be put into a draw to receive the new "In Colour Kit" which consists of 5 new In Colour Stampin' Pads with a pack of 20 Sheets of A4 Smooth Cardstock, 4 each of the new 5 colours.  (Shipping to your door is £3.95 or collect if you are local)

Email me for further details

Don't forget my Catalogue Launch is tomorrow at Whitminster Village Hall, just a two minute drive from J13 of the M5, 10.30am-1.00pm, drop by anytime, £5.00 entry to include your own copy of the new Catalogue and a Make and Take using some of the new products.  Hope to see you there!

This really is the "Last Chance"!

Ok, so this really is the "Last Chance" to be placing your orders from the Last Chance List.  I will be putting my last order through by 1.00pm tomorrow afternoon so if you haven't had chance to look at the list, click on the picture to the right of my blog to view all of those amazing bargains up for grabs, you can view the products through the online version of the catalogue which is also on the right hand side of my blog. 

Elegant Wishes

Our first project at this month's Thornbury Class was this "Elegant" Card, using a colour combination of Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla.

The stamps we used were "Greenhouse Garden", "En Francais" and "Sincere Salutations".

We used Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon on the flower stem which we coloured in using the Always Artichoke Marker Pen with the brush tip.  I also had some Perfect Plum Patterns DSP which blended perfectly with these colours so we added a layer behind the greeting.

For the flower we used the Stamping Off technique where we stamped the base of the flower into Elegant Eggplant ink, then stamped it off onto our grid paper before stamping directly onto Very Vanilla Cardstock.  This gives your image a paler colour to which we added the second part of the flower using the same colour ink direct from the stamp pad with the stamp-a-ma-jig for placement over the top of the first stamped image.  This is of course as you may know, 2 Step Stampin'.  We added a Clear Rhinestone Brad to the centre of the flower and finished off our card with a greeting from "Sincere Salutations".

Just Saying Hello

This is a card I sent to one of the ladies in my team Georgina who I haven't seen for a little while and I have a couple more cards that I need to send but time has been taken up with other things recently so I will get there eventually!

I used the "Kissing Technique" here which I have been using a lot recently with the "Flower Accent" single stamp and "Fine Flourish" mini background stamp.  My colour combo is Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede and So Saffron, yummy don't you think, I even squeezed in some Pale Plum which is soon to be retired along with the 1/4" Circle Punch which I am devestated about.  This card was taken from a sketch challenge which makes the designing of a card much faster and easier than starting from scratch.  George, hope you liked your card and look forward to getting together to craft soon!

Off racing for the weekend so all will be quiet until Monday, have a great weekend and happy stamping guys x

It's not too late!

Morning everyone, just to let you know that it's not too late to place your order for items on the Last Chance list, click on the picture to right of my blog and you will be directed to an up to date version of the list showing all the products that are still available, additional items have now been added so don't miss out on those bargains, many items reduced to 50% off!

I will be placing my last order on Tuesday 28th for last chance items so if there is something that you don't want to miss out on then take a peak and email me your order at your earliest convenience, you can post me a cheque or send payment via Paypal as a gift.  What are you waiting for, there are some fantastic deals that can't be missed, well who doesn't love a bargain!

Email me at stampinkerry@aol.com

A Hearty Thank You

For this Thank You card I used "I Heart Hearts" stamps along with "Tiny Tags" and "Trendy Trees" (for the greeting).

My colour combo is Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive teamed with Whisper White which I love.  I punched a Rich Razzleberry heart using the Large Heart Punch and added a small clear Rhinestone brad and a tag stamped with "thanks so much" from the "Tiny Tags" set which I puched out using the Medium Jewlery Tag punch.  I stamped two hearts, one Old Olive and one Rich Razzleberry and hand cut them, layering them over the large heart.  I added a gorgeous Old Olive button from the Playground Buttons pack and tied with Silver Elastic Cord.

My greeting was stamped and punched out with the Word Window Punch then layered on an Old Olive Scallop Oval punch which has been hand cut to fit around the Word Window punched greeting.  I added a border using the Scallop Border punch and tied some of the Polka Dot Ribbon around my DSP layer.  Quite sweet, don't you think!

Class Project "One of a Kind"

Another card from one of this month's classes, this time using quite soft subtle colours and the lovely set "One of a Kind" which is sadly retiring.

I had a request to make an easel card and came up with this.  My colour combinbation is Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Apricot Appeal teamed with Very Vanilla.  We used the co-ordinating punch "Boho Blossoms" which works with the "One of a Kind" punching out the trio of flowers with ease.

The greeting is also from "One of a Kind" which we punched out with the Oval Punch then layered with a Scallop Oval.  The border was created using the "Eyelet Border Punch" which I am sure everyone will agree with me when I say it is so pretty.  We used the stamp set "Simply Said" to create a Certainly Celery image behind the flowers (well we were supposed to use it except I forgot to take the stamp set with me so we had to compromise, thanks to Tess who dashed home living the nearest, to bring us something suitable as a background, thank you Tess!!)

One for the boys!

I needed to make a card for a young man's birthday and here is what I came up with.

I chose Old Olive and teamed it with Chocolate Chip and Night of Navy.  The patterned papers are from the Designer Series Patterns Pack in Old Olive, these are soon to retire so if you like what you see, place your order before they are gone.  These DSP Patterns packs are available in other colours too, they come as a pack of 12 sheets, all 12x12" and double sided, lovely heavy weight papers, great for making 3D projects too!

The stamps are from "Big Bold Birthday" and the greeting "Make a Wish" is included in this set.  I punched it out using the Word Window Punch then made a label shape by cutting into a Scallop Oval.

Rustic Trendy Trees

Another card created at one of my monthly classes, this time on a more masculine theme.  I CASE'd this from myself, a card we had created at the Whitminster Class a few months ago.

Our colours were Close to Cocoa, Really Rust and Taken with Teal which look quite earthy and rustic together.  I love how Trendy Trees stamps are so versatile, it works equally well for young ones and grown ups, male and female!  The DSP is from the Sweet Pea Stack which is soon to be retiring and the greeting is from "Wow Flowers" which is also going too.  I will be sad to see this set go as I use the "birthday wishes" stamp often.

"Trendy Trees" is a 2-Step Stampin' set which requires the use of the Stamp-a-ma-jig, if you have any questions about 2-Step Stampin' just ask and I will do my best to explain.  Most of my ladies are now well used tho the SAMJ as we use it at most classes and its one of those gadgets that I just wouldn't be without!

Card Making Class

For our second project at this month's Whitminster class I decided to use some of the retiring papers, these are from "Tea Party" and I teamed it with Almost Amythst and Basic Grey cardstock, along with some So Saffron.

We used "Flight of the Butterfly" stamps and a circle frame from "Frames with a Flourish" which is sadly retiring at the end of this month.  Our butterly was stamped with So Saffron and Basic Grey inks then punched out using the co-ordinating Butterfly Punch.  The flowers were cut with ease using the Boho Blossom Punch in Almost Amthyst and So Saffron Cardstock, the Basic Grey centre of the flower is punched with the 1/4" circle punch.

Last Chance List Update

Just a quick update on availability of products on the "Last Chance List",

here is what is no longer available:

Darling Dots (Level 1 Hostess Set)

Old Fashioned Christmas

Close to Cocoa A4 Cardstock

Creamy Caramel A4 Cardstock

Sage Shadow A4 Cardstock

Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper

Back soon with some more stamped projects!

Monthly Card Making Class

Wow, its that time of the month again, where is this year going!

Here is the first card we made at the Whitminster Class this month, very girly colours, just love it!  This stamp set "I {heart} Hearts" is just so gorgeous, lovely heart images, some of which co-ordinate with punches making them a breeze to create a quick and easy card.  Here the only punch we used was the "Heart to Heart" Punch which punched out the small "grid" heart at the top of the card.  The So Saffron flower was cut out using the "Boho Blossom" punch and a brad adhered to the centre.  This lovely striped Pretty in Pink ribbon is retiring so if it is on your wish list, don't delay, order it before it disappears!

The greeting is from "Basic Phrases" punched out with the Word Window Punch and layered on a punched out oval and scallop oval.  The spiral stamp on the So Saffron layer is from Trendy Trees.

Remember, items on the "Last Chance List" are only available while stocks last, already items are appearing as "sold out", so don't be disappointed, give me a call or drop me an email to place your order.

Matching Card

As promised, here is the matching card that we made to co-ordinate with the treat holder.  We used exactly the Flower Accent stamp in the same way adding the Boho Blossoms Punched flowers and leaves from the Two-Step Bird Punch.

The greeting was taken from the "Love You Much" stamp set , punched out with the Word Window Punch and attached to the bottom of the main panel.  To the left of this we punched out 6 1/4" Pretty in Pink circles and stuck 3 onto the Very Vannila layer then stuck the other three on top of the first to give them height, then added Crystal Effects to give a lovely shiny finish.

Making Cards & Gifts Class

At this month's class I decided to use the same stamps and colours so that both projects could be given as a gift together.

Our first make and take was this gorgeous mini treat holder, designed by the very talented Jenny Moors.  It has been designed to hold After Eight Mints but my friend Louise suggested using those "posh" teabags that have the tag and string, will have to try them out for size.

We used the "Kissing Technique" with the "Flower Accent" and "Fine Flourish" stamps in Rose Red and Pretty in Pink inks.  The Boho Blossom Punch helped us to create a lovely centre for our flower to which we added a 1/4" circle covered with Crystal Effects, so pretty.  The Two-Step Bird Punch was used for the leaves.

Well I am sure you all know this, but these are my all time favourite colours, glad they are staying with us.  Looking forward to all those lovely new colours that will be coming in October so maybe I will get attached to some other colour combo!!

Call by tomorrow to see the co-ordinating card we made to go with this gift. 

Last Chance List

Today is the release of the "Last Chance" list, so many products are retiring, some items are reduced up to 50% off their normal selling price.

Click on the link to the right of my blog to view the list

Just remember, these products are only available while stocks last, so if there is something you just have to have, don't delay, get your order placed before they disappear!!