Time to Say Goodbye

Today marks the release of the retired stamp set and accessories lists.  We're saying goodbye to hundreds of retiring products from the 2013-14 annual catalogue.  Do you still have some on your Wish-List?  If that is the case then I suggest you take a look at the list and put in an order.  You need to get in early to ensure that you get what you want.  Some sets sold out early in the USA and Canada, so take a look now.  It would be awful to find your favourite ink colour or paper no longer available.

You'll need to get your favourite retiring products before they're gone for good!  Not only that, but some of these amazing products even carry discounted prices!

All products are only available while supplies last, so be sure to get your orders in early!

You can order your favourite products while stocks last at my online store.  If you don't already have an account it is easy to set up and the product will be delivered to your door.

If you have any questions or need some help, do not hesitate to contact me.

Retiring Stamps
Retiring Accessories

Don't forget to use the Hostess Code if you are putting in an order. EJAAN9FQ

Can't afford the £99 Starter Kit?

Stampin' Up! has an offer starting today - Join as a Demonstrator for only £50.  This is a great offer.  You get to choose £55 of product!
This offer is valid from today 28th May until 30th June 2014

This is a fantastic time to join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator.  A new catalogue is coming out July 1st.  As a demonstrator you can get a discount on new products like Blendabilities and Project Life, and you'll be able to get in on the preorder for the brand new Autumn/Winter catalogue (starts August 1st).
As from 30 May  you will be able to include preorder items from the New Catalogue in your £55 of product in your Starter Kit.
Just to let you know the regular Starter Kit at £99 is still available.
If you were thinking of joining as a Hobbyist or making it work for you, there has never been a better time.
Call me or email me nickyjohncock@yahoo.co.uk or fb me and we can have a chat about your options and get you the discount you deserve on buying your Stampin' Up! products.

If you have decided to join the fun click here to sign up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator today!!

Scrap DSP

We all have bits of beautiful, colourful scrap paper lying around, that we just might need one day, or is just too pretty to throw away.
Stampin' Up! changes its Designer Series Paper every year.  The new catalogue is just around the corner, so we know there is going to be more beautiful designs that we MUST have.  So, what to do with the old paper?
Ever since this morning when I uploaded the New Weekly Deals, I have been playing in my craft room.  I have a few pieces of Eastern Elegance and some coordinating card stock...

I love the depth of colour that Crushed Curry has.  It is probably my favourite yellow. It is part of the Regals Collection.

Eastern Elegance DSP, Four You

This card was alright, but then added to a Coastal Cabana base card and it took it up another notch.  It is just rolled up pieces of paper, I used 2" long by 11/2" wide and the trusty Tombow to glue them together.

Bring on the Cake, bird punch

The top photo shows how I measured the distances, these scraps of paper were 1cm wide.  Don't you love it when I switch from inches to centimetres! I work in both.  The sentiment is from Four You and the flames are made using the bird punch.  I have added markings with white chalk marker.

Happy Day

Sassy Salutations

Simply Stars, Perfect Pennants

And so its not all Birthday cards, a little Christmas card using Eastern Elegance...

Sassy Salutations, Happy Day

Weekly Deals 28 May - 3 June

EASTERN ELEGANCE DESIGNER SERIES PAPER Price: £9.95 £7.46	ETCETERA DESIGNER SERIES PAPER Price: £9.95 £7.46	GUMBALL GREEN 3/8" STITCHED SATIN RIBBON Price: £7.95 £5.96	SCALLOPS TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDER Price: £7.50 £5.63
SPRING TO LIFE KIT - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: £6.95 £4.17	SQUARE LATTICE TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDER DIE Price: £7.50 £5.63	STRAWBERRY SLUSH 3/8" RUFFLE STRETCH TRIM Price: £8.25 £6.19

Click here to see these deals on my website.

Weekly Deals 20 - 26 May

BRIGHTS GLIMMER BRADS  Price: £4.50 £3.38	MADE FROM SCRATCH RECIPES DESIGNER TEMPLATE - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD  Price: £12.50 £7.50	NATURALS DESIGNER BUTTONS  Price: £4.50 £3.38	NOTE CARD ENVELOPES Price: £4.95 £3.71
PRIMROSE PETALS 3/8" STITCHED SATIN RIBBON Price: £7.95 £5.96	RASPBERRY RIPPLE 3/8" STITCHED SATIN RIBBON Price: £7.95 £5.96	SILVER GLASS GLITTER  Price: £3.25 £2.44	Go to my Website to purchase any of these deals.

Swaps from Regional

I am always blown away by what other stampers can do.  Some ladies put so much effort into swapping.  Some make a 100, one lady made 200; others  like me made 30 or so.  I usually like to make about 50.  If I make any more, I have problems storing them!  The idea is usually to do as many as you would like to receive.  As we have a new catalogue coming out at the end of June and the current seasonal has been around since January, I didn't want to make too many or have too many as I like to see new product being used.
I have tried to match up names to swap, forgive me if I get it wrong.  Generally from the top left hand side clockwise.

Hazel Ford, Tanya Herbert, Rosie Minors, Jane Adams, ?, RS Goodlett, Ruth Trice, Ann Wall

Cathryn Perkins, Amanda Bates, Garance Mistry

Laura Mackie, Nikki Acton, Lucy Tustian, Joanna Fieldsend

Rebecca Willmore, Joy Mitchell, Julie Smith

Linda Kendrick - this was made using the brown paper we get in our parcels. I love the Tempting Turquoise flowers. 

Paula Boardman, Karen Young, Mary Triller, Lavinia Gruizinga, Tania Salender, Elaine Jackson

Joyce Jones - lovely lantern with a beautiful gold bird inside

Kim Fee - I marvel at the effort, lovely Kim

Nicky Langford - bunting for a cake, fabulous

Downline Notepads

During any Stampin' Up! event, as well as Swaps, it is acknowledged that you give your downline a gift.
For my downlines I had covered a notebook, using the Kaleidoscope DSP, and a new photopolymer stamp set called Sans & Stripes, an alphabet set.  I picked up the colours in the paper for my letters.  To pull it together I made a band using ruffle stretch ribbon in strawberry slush.

Sans & Stripes

My upline Natalie gave us all a lovely card and some perforated tags, in a Tag a Bag Gift bag.

Simply Stars, as thats the name of our group Stampin' Stars!

Retro Fresh DSP

Swaps and Bleach technique

I have just attended our Stampin' Up! Regional Training at Telford.
It is a wonderful opportunity to mix with fellow stampers, learn some WOW techniques and business stuff and Swap....

I wanted to do something a little different for my swap this year.  I love the new Photopolymer Stamps,  check here for a Fantastic Deal on these, only available until 30 May.

My swaps involved a little bit of stamping, using the New Ikat set.  I lived on the island of Borneo for a while and I have in my home some lovely cloths featuring Ikat designs.

These are my swaps.  I apologise for the tablecloth, as I hastily photographed them before they went in the shoe box and I went out the door to pick up Paula my driving companion for the weekend!
I used Elegant Eggplant as the card base.  Then put the strip of card through the scallop tag punch, punching both ends.  I made an ink pad of paper towel, and poured some diluted bleach on my makeshift pad.  Using the solid Ikat image, I then stamped in the middle then around in a pattern.  I then left it a while for the colour to be taken out.  Not sure the word for the bleaching effect!

                         

 I put post it notes on the tags so I didn't stamp onto the fold on the bottom.  I used another image, this time the one with the hole in the centre, lined it up and stamped with Black craft ink.  

I stamped on the back of the tag using another of the images from the Ikat set, the zigzag.  I stamped it twice, using the fact that the photopolymer stamps are clear.  To finish the swap off, I placed a little chocolate inside sticking it down with a glue dot.  To tie it up, as I don't have any Elegant Eggplant ribbon, I cut a strip of card stock and fixed it with a staple!  It is important to make a pad when you bleach, especially if you want a crisp image - although not always possible.