Introducing the New Stampin' Trimmer

Introducing the new and improved Stampin’ Trimmer! Although paper trimmers are a common crafting tool, this trimmer was designed exclusively by paper crafters for paper crafters, and because it was made by Stampin’ Up!, you know it’s a cut above the rest!


Shelli loved the prototype of this trimmer so much that she wouldn't give it back, she even called it the Cadillac of trimmers!

It measures in both centimetres and inches for the European market, so that should keep everyone happy. There's no need to swap trimmers during a crafting session, if you flit between imperial and metric measurements like me. You can cut or score a full 12 inches (30.5 cm) because there is an extra long cutting track, with space at the top and bottom where the blades store right out of the way when you're not using them. There are so many fabulous features on this trimmer, I can't wait to get mine.

You can find this trimmer on page 180 of the catalogue, item number 129722 - £25.95

Ink-redible Offer

Stampin' Up! are offering even more freebies. Just hold a qualifying party between 1st November and 16th December and you can get your hands on a whole colour family of our fabulous new ink pads worth £44.50. That is in addition to the Hostess Benefits you would be eligible to receive. To qualify, your party sales must reach £325 or more, excluding shipping. See the table below, which outlines the benefits you could receive.

Christmas Wish List Service

Have you been making your list and checking it twice? (I bet you're singing that song in your head now!) If your wish list is anything like mine, it will be very, very long. So, how about emailing your Stampin' Up! wish list to me and giving my details to all your loved ones who don't know what to buy for you. I can work with them to get you something you really want, wrapped and delivered, without them having to face the crowds and search the shops. Best of all, it will be a surprise and something you want.

If you have a crafty friend and want to get them a perfect gift, one of my gift vouchers could be just the solution.

They will be presented in a handmade gift holder similar to the one shown below. My elves and I look forward to hearing from you.

A Christmas Gift to You

Yet again, Stampin' Up! have launched a fabulous promotion for the month of November. Stampin' Claus is giving you the chance to get your Stampin' paws on a free Festive Paper Piercing Pack.

Purchase the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set or bundle together with the Candlelight Christmas Papers and get the Festive Paper Piercing Pack FREE!

See the table below for all the options.

If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please don't hesitate to contact me alison.langford@btinternet.com

And There's More............

New demonstrators who join during October and November, will get a FREE package of Designer Series paper every month for SIX MONTHS!

So, if you would like to earn a bit of extra money and get your Stampin' Up! goodies at a discount, talk to me about signing up as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator or click here. The Starter Kit has been reduced by £20 to £99. You can customise your kit and can choose £130 worth of products all from the fabulous new (bigger than ever) Annual Catalogue you will also receive a Business Pack worth £45 all for only £99 including delivery. Don't forget, by signing up in October or November, you will also receive a free pack of Designer Series Paper every month for six months.

Back in the news in the Bingham Advertiser

There was another article about the Crafty Natter session, in my local newspaper this week. How fab is that?

A Crafty Natter

I got to work this morning to discover a copy of the Nottingham Evening Post on my desk. My colleague had left it for me. What a lovely surprise, they had published a snippet about my recent event in my local library. Click here to see the online version.

 

The NEW Annual Catalogue 2012 - 2013

The new catalogue has arrived! It's bigger and full of inspiration. It's here if you would like to browse online. WARNING!!!! It contains many pages of loveliness, you may want to set yourself up with refreshments. If you would like to own a catalogue, email me and I can order one for you for £5.00 including postage.

Crafting Chaos!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I like "tidy". It's not always easy to achieve the required level of tidiness and create at the same time. So, from time to time, you have to go for the "it looks worse before it looks better" option! I really needed a good sort out in my craft cupboard, so yesterday was the chosen day. This is my cupboard before. It was really hard to get to things, of course, everything I wanted to use was always at the back.

I now have tidy shelves and a piece of Swedish flat pack furniture to house some of my vast collection of stamps.

 

Not the best photos but you get the idea.

Virtual Hostess Club

Would you like to take part in my next Virtual Hostess Club starting at the end of September? Please click the tab at the top of the page for more information or contact me at alison.langford@btinternet.com. A Virtual Hostess Club is a great way to spread the cost of your purchases and receive great benefits, while building up a collection of fantastic products.

Card Class

I thought I would share the pictures of the cards and gift box that we made at my recent class. It was a nice relaxed afternoon, with time for tea and scones (which is always good in my book!)

Christmas Ornament

My friend Jenny clearly couldn't wait to get her hands on her Ornament Keepsakes Bundle, when I delivered it on Saturday. She got to work straight away and made her version of the ornament on the front of the Autumn/Winter Catalogue.

I think she has done a  fabulous job, what do you think? Would you like to make one of these too?

Stampin' Up! have bundled the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and the Framelits Dies together saving you  15% on the individual prices. Please contact me for details or to place an order.

Changes to Stampin' Up! Ink Pads

With the introduction of the 2012-2013 annual catalogue, we have made a very big change to our Stampin’ Pads.
Introducing firm foam pads! They change your stamping experience for the better.
We know you’re going to love these new Stampin’ Pads--just look at all the exciting benefits listed below:

• Provide better ink coverage for your stamps!
• Light-tap stamping produces flawless images!  

In addition, our new Stampin’ Pads

• Create wonderfully solid images. The Firm Foam releases more ink onto your rubber stamp than the felt pads. When using the Firm Foam pad, your stamp will get an even, solid covering of ink that you may not have been able to achieve with the felt pads. Please note: if you are using the ink pad frequently you may need to re-ink your Firm Foam pad more often. We recommend that you purchase a refill at the time of your ink pad purchase.
• Have a crisply printed, glossy label on the top of the pad that is easier to read and that will not fade or chip off!
• Come with colour name labels in all four languages (English, Spanish, French, and German)—just choose your language, peel it off the back, and add it to the side of the pad for easy identification!
• Use the same patented flip-top case design that stores the inking surface upside down, so the pad surface stays moist!
• Are available in all colours, including our exclusive In Colors!

Let your customers know about these exciting changes to our Stampin’ Pads. Be sure to have at least one on hand so your customers can see and experience for themselves the improved quality of our Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Pads.
Please note: Five ink colours have undergone formula changes to improve functionality and colour stability with the new firm foam pads. These colours are

• Basic Black
• Basic Gray
• Marina Mist
• Perfect Plum
• Tempting Turquoise

All five colours of the reformulated inks have been fully tested and approved. While using the new ink formula in the old Stampin’ Pads is fine, we do not recommend using the old ink formula in these five colours in the new firm foam pads.
We do not recommend using the Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad on Whisper White or Very Vanilla Card Stock. Instead, we recommend you use the StazOn Ink Pad

New Firm Foam Pads FAQs

 

Q: Why did we switch from felt pads to firm foam pads?
A: We have worked very hard to improve the functionality of our Classic Stampin’ Pads. The firm foam allows for better ink coverage; plus it stays juicer and lasts longer.
Q: Do old Classic Stampin’ Ink Refills work with the new firm foam pads?
A: Yes, with the exception of Basic Black, Basic Gray, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, and Tempting Turquoise, which have been reformulated to work with the new foam pad material. We do not recommend using old ink refills in these colours with the new firm foam pads.
Q: Before I use my firm foam pad, do I need to tap it and massage the ink around?
A:  No. The firm foam pads are ready for use immediately. The best stamping technique with the firm foam pad is light tapping.
Q: My pad is too wet. What should I do?
A: The closer to the manufacture date, the juicer the pad will be. As the pad ages, this problem will fade. In the meantime, very light tapping will reduce the extra ink on the stamp. You can also use a paper towel to blot the area of the stamp pad that you will be using.
Q: The firm foam on my lighter colour pads looks blotchy. Is this normal?
A: Yes. The blotchiness is caused by the characteristics of the pad material. It does not affect the stamped image.
Q: When I first stamp with certain colours, my images seem a lot darker. Why is this happening?
A: When stamping with your old pads, you had to work hard to get even ink coverage on your stamp. With the new firm foam pad, the stamp gets a lot more ink on it so when you stamp, your image will appear darker.  Once your stamped image dries, the colour will look normal.
Q: When I compare the firm foam pads to my felt pads, some of the colours don’t seem to match. Why is this?
A: The firm foam and felt will not match exactly. Ink reacts differently to different materials. We have quality checked each ink colour to ensure that the stamped ink colour is true. 
Q: How long will the pad last before I need to re-ink it?
A: The amount you use it will affect how often you need to re-ink. Please keep in mind that these pads release a lot more ink onto your stamp, resulting in a crisp, solid image. Since the pads release more ink, they will need to be refilled more often.
Q: What is the best way to remove the colour labels from the bottom of the ink pad?
A: Start at the right bottom corner (just above the barcode) and slowly peel the corner up by removing both layers.
Q: Which end of the case do you apply the label to?
A: The label goes on the end where you open the case.
Q: If the ink pad becomes saturated with ink or liquid, will it cause the label to fall off?
A: No, the label should not be affected. However, like most labels, if you pick at it or try and remove it, it may start to peel up.
Q: What are some additional features of the new firm foam pads that I can share with my customers?
A: See additional features below:

• The firm foam is nice and flat and will not become wavy.
• The firm foam material does not imprint on the stamp images like the felt pad sometimes did. However, because the firm foam material is a foam base material, the stamp image can momentarily leave an imprint on the pad, which can transfer to a second stamped image. By inking your stamp on different areas of the pad or waiting momentarily for the ink to rise back to the top, you can easily avoid this situation.
• The firm foam material is soft and has a nice bounce to it. It’s not hard like the felt is.
• The ink lay-down (how the ink is absorbed into the card stock) is even, not blotchy, and dries quickly. It has an increased opacity and stamps solid images beautifully.
• Please note: We do not recommend using the Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad on Whisper White or Very Vanilla Card Stock. Instead, we recommend you use the StazOn Ink Pad.

Q: Will Stampin’ Spots use the new firm foam pad?
A: No. Stampin’ Spots will remain the same.
Q: Can I use the reformulated ink with my Stampin’ Spots?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I use the reformulated ink with my Stampin’ Around Wheels?
A: Yes.
Q: My ink pad needs re-inking during a stamp camp. Why?
A: There are several reasons for this:

• The ink level in the firm foam pads is less than it was in the felt pads because of the slight difference in material.
• The firm foam has a variation in thickness and density that requires the manufacturer to adjust the ink level.
• Heavy stamping techniques will use more ink than light stamping techniques.
• Larger stamped images will use more ink that smaller stamped images. 
• Large groups of people using the pad at the same time will result in the ink pads needing to be refilled more often.

Get It While You Can

Going, going…gone!

The list of stamp sets and accessories that are retiring from the 2011 - 2012 Idea Book and Catalogue at the end of September is now up. If you want any of these products, you need act now to avoid disappointment! They are only available while stocks last.

Click the images on the right to see the lists.

NEW! Autumn/Winter Catalogue

The Autumn/Winter catalogue launches today, click the link in the right hand column to have a browse online or contact me for your own copy or to purchase anything. It's full of lovely things for Christmas, Autumn, Halloween and ideas suitable for Valentines Day.

New Seasonal Catalogue

Well, the 1st of September sees the launch of the new Autumn/Winter catalogue. If you want to order anything from this catalogue, you can do so by contacting me, I would be happy to help.

Also, on the 1st of September the list of products retiring from the Current Idea Book and Catalogue will be available, keep an eye out for anything you've been wanting that may be on this list, it will be your last chance to get it while they've got it!.

The new (70 page larger) Annual Catalogue launches on the 1st October, this will only run until the 30th June 2013 when our new launch dates will be the 1st July.

Do You Need a Reason to Smile?

Please scroll down for more recent posts

 
Take a look at the fabulous offer that Stampin' Up! have for you for the whole month of August. Act now, it is exclusive and won't be available after the 31st August. Click the link on the sidebar for more information.

To get your hands on this fabulous stamp set, simply spend a minimum of £60 (not including postage and packaging) from the current catalogue and you will receive this stamp set absolutely FREE. Who doesn't love free stuff? This offer is limited to one per customer per order, although you can also purchase it at the regular retail price of £18.95 for a wood mount set or £14.95 for a clear mount set.

Please contact me if you would like to place an order.

Christmas In July Class

These were the cards that were made at my Christmas in July class.

First is an easel card, using the Apothercary Art stamp set, just to show that you can change the look of a stamp that you might not think about using for Christmas. You can't see in the picture, but the card base was stamped using VersaMark and one of the Confetti stamps to create a watermark effect background.

 

The second card is a CAS of Monica's  that we made at training last month. I changed a few things slightly, embossing the top part of the card and spraying the bottom with Champagne shimmer mist (made by mixing Shimmer Paint with Isopropanol Alcohol) I don't think the shimmer shows here sadly, but it does look pretty (trust me!)

 

The final card is actually a gift card holder, it is a nice way to co-ordinate your card and gift and is quite easy to make. I've scored a lattice effect onto the Crumb Cake card stock with my Simply Scored Scoring Tool, it's really easy to do.

They have all been made with Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake and Old Olive cardstock.

I hope this has given you a taste of what to expect from one of my classes. Please see the tab for future class dates if you'd like to come along, I'd be very happy to see you.

Freshly Made Sketches #48

It's my brother in law's birthday next week, so I thought this weeks Freshly Made Sketch would be the perfect starting place. I hope you like my offering, cards for men can be so difficult.

This is the card I've created. Sorry it's a little bit blurry, I'll never make a photographer!

Freshly Made Sketches

I thought I'd take part in this weeks Freshly Made Sketches Challenge using this sketch.

This is my version of it.

 

I've used a Whisper White card base, Daffodil Delight and Not Quite Navy. I'm not usually a big fan of yellow, however, I really love these two colours together, they somehow look fresh and summery (who doesn't love summer?) I used the square punch to create the fish tail ends to my banners.

A Reason To Smile

I've made a few thank you cards today, using the lovely Reason To Smile stamp set available for this month and this month only. I've used Whisper White, Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade card stock, for a fresh summer look.

Bordering on Romance again.....

I created this card a while ago, and thought I would share it with you. I really like this stamp set, I'm sure there will be more cards using this set appearing on a computer screen near you sometime soon.

I coloured the image with the Watercolor Wonder Crayons and the Blender Pens. I like the effect you can achieve with them, just pulling the colour outwards.

Gift Bag

I thought I’d share a picture of a gift bag I made a while ago. It is just the right size for a tray of 6 scrummy chocolates from Hotel Chocolat.

It’s a nice quick project for those times when you need a quick token gift for someone.

One for the Boys

I made this card and gift card holder for my friend and colleague Neil. Cards for men can be hard to make, but I feel this design worked a treat.

I used Well Worn, First Edition Speciality and Regals Collection Designer Series Paper, Crumb Cake Very Vanilla and Soft Suede cardstock. The stamps are from a hostess set called Happiest Birthday Wishes, which you can purchase with your hostess pounds when you hold a qualifying party.

Contact me to find out more about hostess benefits.

An Enchanting Offer

  

When you spend £45 in July you can earn FREE a limited edition pack of 30 brads and 2 spools of delicate organza ribbon in Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral! 9.1 metres per spool!!! WORTH £15.95  This co-ordinates with the Everyday Enchantment designer series paper that was available during Sale-A-Bration. The good news is, that it is available again for this special offer (while stocks last) So, if you missed out on the paper during Sale-A-Bration, you can get it now.

 

If you wish to take advantage of this fantastic offer, please contact me.

Stampin’ Up! June Promotion

We have two fabulous offers during June (one offer continues until the end of July!)


Firstly, on top of the already brilliant hostess benefits, you can now earn an additional £30 to spend in the catalogue. That’s £80, yes £80 spendilicious hostess pounds just for achieving £325 in sales at your party. This offer runs from 1^st June – 31^st July 2012.

Contact me for more information.


The other great offer for June buy 3 packs of designer paper and choose the 4th pack absolutely FREE.
You can choose selected papers valued at £9.95 from the pages 97-99 of the main catalogue and pages 13 and 18 of the new summer mini catalogue. There are 12 different packs to choose from. Click the catalogue links on the right to browse the gorgeous paper available.

Bordering on Romance

I made this card for my friend Val using the Bordering on Romance stamp set in the Summer Mini Catalogue. I’ve coloured it using the Stampin' Write markers in Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose and Old Olive. Punched it out with the Extra Large Oval punch, which just fits the oval of the Designer Frame embossing folder. The card stock is Old Olive and Regal Rose. I’ve given the Regal Rose a pretty edge using the new Edgelits Dies and embossed it with the new Textrured Impressions Embossing Folders also available in the new Summer Mini. As everyone knows, a girl needs a bit of bling on her birthday, so a couple of pearls have finished the design off.