Plain Sailing on 'The Open Sea'......

I didn't realise this weekend was a bank holiday, until everyone else had put in there request as to what they wanted to do with me- as either the chief ' Cook, Bottle washer, driver, Banker and dogsbody'!!! In between helping one child name his undies yesterday, well he's going on a school trip on Wednesday and if the list says 6 sets of underwear and that the clothing should be named- he won't be happy until it is done!!! And then driving Heather in the Horsebox, following her on a bike and falling off, trying to get on the bike, in the middle of the rode, by the time I had landed home after a tea with my mum & dad and then a call in at my Grans, posting a blog update had gone out the window.If only everything was plain sailing!!!!

Anyway in the middle of everything else yesterday, I did fit in some time to photograph some projects I had finished off, featuring a new stamp set from the 'Summer Mini' called 'The Open Sea'. This is a very different  style of stamp set to the rest. that is on offer in the mini, and perfect for those that love the altered/ distressed look for their craft projects.

The set contains 5 stamps  and is available as wood mounted (123030 £23.95)

or cling (123032 £18.95).

 For the small card I used the 'Compass' stamp and some punches to make a little embellishment.

 The inside of the card was decorated with a little simple on colour stamping.

 The large card, was created by folding an A4 sheet of 'Basic Grey' in half, and the decorative panel was cut from a 'One Sheet Wonder', that used all the stamps apart from the 'Ship'.

 The stamped the 'Ship' in 'Basic Grey' on to a scrap of 'Very Vanilla' and then cut it out using my 2nd smallest 'Framelit'- I am so in love with these xx

 I decorated another panel of 'Very Vanilla' around the edge, using the stamps and ink to add interest to the inside of the card too!

 With the left over piece of 'One Sheet Wonder' I made a little 'Cheese Box- Gift Box!'

I created a little video, just to show how easy these are to create with the new 'Simply Scored' !!

Heather helped me film this yesterday, and wasn't very pleased I had let you all in on what she calls the boxes, if I had videoed her- you will have seen her go bright red and start muttering that she hadn't called them that for ages!!

Now for the exciting bit........

As I am loving, my 'Simply Scored' so much,

I want to share this love with you & invite you to take part in........

For every person who purchases a- 

'Simply Scored' through me, 

between May 1st 2012 & June 30th, whether as a customer order or as a workshop order, they will receive a 'Ticket' for my 'Sensational 'Simply Scored' Lucky Draw'!!

For every 15 tickets, I will supply-

a totally superb SU branded prize to go into the draw!!

**The first prize, to go in the draw is-**

**a 'brand spanking' new 'Big Shot'**

to be followed by a

** A set of 'Stamp & Write Markers'**

& then a

** 'Colour Caddy' **

I can't wait to share with you many more projects and ideas for the 'Simply Scored' and I look forward to entering your ticket into the draw!xx

Please note: 

• The lucky tickets are only given to those who purchase the Simply Scored scoring tool(item 122334) through myself. 
It does not include Simply Scored accessories, such as:
Metric Plate, Stylus, Place Markers or Bone folder.

• The draw will take place on, Saturday July 1st.

• It is offered in good will and in thanks, by myself, for the continued loyalty of my many customers, if you I have any queries I welcome you to contact me via email: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk 

A drama & a diorama......

I had well and truly abandoned the keyboard and even my scissors, over the past couple of weeks!

My mojo had left me, it had gone on a 'long haul' holiday, not only was my back still niggling me but last Thursday farmer Johnnie had an appointment with the MRI  scanner, after his run in with a wayward wheel barrow over the festive period, and even though he looks like he as tough as anything, he needed some support, as they were sticking needles in him, in a very sensitive area too!

Any way with attendance at SU mum- Julie's training event, on Saturday, I was planning to force myself to sit at my desk, later on the Thursday night and come up with something for a swap, well a headache struck and with Farmer Johnnie feeling sorry for himself too, we only managed a cup of tea and some painkillers, so Friday came and Johnnie even though still hobbling donned his boiler suit and got back on the farm and I had to get my swaps done.... 

Well after a little faffing around and poking at bits of stuff I had started on ages ago, and squashing the massive box of rubbish at feet into a smaller pile, I came up with an idea- a friend and regular hostess, Linda King, had posted on their fb page (click here to see) a lovely diorama card, she had made, featuring the 'Spring Mini' stamp set- 'Marry Me'. Well at the training we had to focus on using some top secret SU stash ;-) and so my swap was created using lots of secrets, but was a diorama too!  

And today in honour of Linda Kings inspiration, and mojo boost, I have done my take on a 'Marry me' diorama, and I have included the discreet use of two new products that 'Stampin' Up!' are launching on the first of May!! I can't name the new products I have used, but everything else used will be given a label, so a little guessing is involved!!!

A colour combination of 'Pink Pirouette', 'Very Vanilla' & 'Basic Grey',

the card base was created from one A4 sheet of  card stock,

It was given a makeover with some simple score lines and and a bit of cutting with the 'Big Shot!' ;-)

 The set contains 6 stamps, one of which is this beautiful quote by William Shakespeare

 The front of the aperture was given a little stamping with the simple flower stems that are included in the 'Marry me' set, and some little punched 'Itty Bitty' flowers and SU gems added a nice touch.

 For the centre piece of the diorama I stamped the main bride & groom stamp, from the 'Marry Me' set and cut it out with a 'new tool' and my SU 'Big Shot'!!! ;-)

 I created some curled paper flowers out of 'Very Vanilla' card stock and dusted their edges with the 'Pink Pirouette' Ink, I also gave them lacy doily petticotes, using the 'triple layer doily punch'.

 I embossed the very back panel of the diorama, with the 'Manhattan Flowers' embossing folder and used my 'two way glue pen' & 'Dazzling Diamonds Glitter' to add a little sparkle, I also added a couple of pins with some 'Pink Pirouette' punched 'Itty bitties' on the end.

Here is a birds eye view of the diorama.

I am glad, I spent time crafting today, it was great to combine something old, with something new....

Also thank you for sticking with me through diorama & dramas XX

Details on the lovely SU stamp set 'Marry Me' that I have used today can be found in the link to the top right of this post, which takes you to an on-line copy of the 'Spring Mini'........

Remember that the UK 'Spring Mini' ends monday 30th of May,

and even us demo's are not told what, if anything out of it, is going to be carried over to future product lists...

So my advice is get it, while you can!

From Friday I will be placing orders every evening, till the close of sales on Monday night,

and what's more is that if you spend £45 or more, you are eligible for a free pack of DSP.

Contact me to find out more:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

Tel. No: 07891605129

A bit of Badgar Breeze with the 'Book-A-Thon'!!!

I don't admit to having any great Computer tech abilities and this last week I have been plagued by a week connection, whether I sat next to the broad band thingy ma jig, with the lappy on my knee or tried to hook up with a lead, I weren't getting far, but this morning I seem to have a connection, it may have something to do with several BT vans outside the house- for once I think it may not be down to me or me missing a cable etc! So I will count my blessings as today is Stampin' Up!s worldwide Book-a-thon day!

Demonstrators across the world have been set a challenge to book almost 9000 parties worldwide, in the next 24 hours - if anyone would like to book a workshop between the 10th December and 31st March to help reach the target - If you would like to get a group of friends together and have a FREE demonstration and try a new hobby with our fantastic exclusive products please get in touch with me today, at my demo's we always manage to have fun!!!

One of the things that makes me giggle, when I demo, is that quite often, people get in a muddle over the colour names.......even I do this, often posting them as mixed up combinations!!

Well a good friend always refers to 'Baja Breeze' as BADGER Breeze, and even though she now knows its true name, she still calls it BADGER Breeze, one of those things that stick!!!

Anyway following on from last Tuesdays post, here are a couple of cards I designed, based on a similar layout and colour scheme........ Yes! you have guessed it.... BADGER Breeze with a touch of 'Basic Grey' too.

As you can see, I still have the 'Parisian' theme going too!!

I did some random stamping on the card base to create a look of decorative paper...... and even though the flowers aren't a crisp impression, it added to the chabby chic-ness!! I even added the delightful flourish from 'Creative Elements' on top..... can you ever have too much stamping??

And the sentiment from 'Notably Ornate' fits perfectly in the 'Modern label' punch....

It would have been tricky to cut that out neatly!!!

The little card has a bit more of a collage style to it, again piling on the stamps!!

Even the insides got some stamping too, I find it is so easier than 'faffing' about with inserts, and still gives a tidy finished look to my cards, If i am sending the cards I usually decorate the envelopes in a similar way too!

Right I am off to log my workshops for the 'Book-A-Thon' please do get in touch if you would like me to host you a free demonstration:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

And I would love to know your funny name colours too, just send me a comment! xxx

Dizzy heights of SU!!!

The last weekweek has flown by, and catching up with day to day, jobs and sorting out the tip, I left my craft room in has eaten up alot of time and put blogging on the back burner....SORRY XX

But anyway here I am back with the first layout, of my Paris trip! I can't wait to take Heather and Matthew, to see the City, it really can't be truly appreciated in a day.....maybe I may even get farmer Johnnie, to come with us for the weekend!!!

Ok.....it's not often you see me on a layout, but it was a great event and that equals a great memory...... so I have braved the lense, and 'Papped' myself at the top of the tower!!

The layout, is quite clean & simple, and features a couple of SU stamp sets that have been lent to me by Yvonne Hunt, a lady who has become a good SU friend, and put up with me sharing with herself and Jeanettes Eames, at Convention........ I do think, they had no idea what they had let themselves in for!!!

One of the sets, has a brilliant stamp of the 'Eiffel Tower' and so stamp fate was decided!! And after seeing a totally gorgeous swap, Yvonne recieved off- Jenni Pauli- it was a real wow-sers of a card, and it had a beautiful trail of pearls and gems strewn across it, I decided to give it a little go on my layout, its just a shame the camera doesnt do it better justice!!!

 The lovely delicate swirl came from a set I recieved for attending convention.

In honour of me being a 'Northern lass- who likes to watch her pennies!' I have just added a few scraps of ribbon as embellishment.....well SU ribbon is too good for the bin!!

Right got to dash, on the school run and have a gather of ladies to check out the swaps and goodies I recieved at convention too! XXXX

Roomies!!!

This time last week, I was discovering the sights and sounds of Paris, with my two convention roomies- Yvonne Hunt & Jeanette Eames. They were fantastic girls to go to Paris with and we laughed and had so much fun!!

Here are some pictures of the roomie gift I made for them, I also made one for my SU mum- Julie Kettlewell.......oo and no prizes for guessing what stamps sets I used!!!

The books were out of my stash, and were calling out for an SU make over!!

The lovely journal tag was created with the label from 'Everything Eleanor' and the gorgeous 'Antique Brads. Grosgrain ribbon & 'Crochet Trim' made lovely embellishments.'

The Heart over the girl, is a technique I have pinched off the ACE Australian demo- Teneale Williams, the Friend sentiment, is from 'Tiny Tags'.

The 'Parlour Prints' background stamp & some 'Baja Breeze' card created a most lovely, antique style backing too!

Striped Grosgrain, more crochet trim and also 'Baja Breeze- Seam Binding' were tied to the spirals, to finish the journal.

I even gave a pencil, an SU make over too, then they had a pretty object to write with too!

I had some brown paper gift bags, in my stash too, and these were perfect for holding my gifts, for my roomies, and of course they got an SU makeover, this time with the lovely friends wheel, and ribbons too!

Right got to dash, off up into the 'Trough Of Bowland' to demonstrate at a workshop, and I have the car to pack yet!! xxx

It's not a card.....

Well as I prepare to sit at my desk and start stamping my swaps for convention.......all 150 of them......and yes convention is only next week!! I remembered this little make I made last week, its not a card, but another piece of jewellery, that whilst browsing the racks by the cash desk, caught my eye. It had a dreadful enamel style image to the middle, That I have now given an SU make over!!

 With a small oval of 'Whisper White' card stock to fit the recess, and a bit of stamping and inking around the edges, I have made a piece of Handmade wearable art.

To stick it in place and give it a lovely glossy enamelled style finish, I used the fantastic SU 'Crystal Effects'. I hope you like my make, I am just wishing that, I had bought a couple more of the necklaces, as they would make lovely gifts for stampin' friends xx

Excited

Apologies for Tuesdays blog posting, as they are a few Julies in our team, I got a little mixed up, with who's who!! So the 'French Foilage' Swap that inspired me was in fact made by Julie Wade, sorry girls xx

Yesterday I made the journey over to my SU mum Julies, to join her and some others for a morning of crafting, we had great fun and Julie gave us some fantastic project ideas, one of which I have pinched for the makes I am showing today....thank you mummy!! 

The journey over was OK, and in the afternoon I found the Krispey Kreme, drive through and Ikea, so spent a bit of time shopping too!! But the journey home.....well it took nearly two hours!!! You have thought that by the time I had landed home and got Heather & Matthew in the bath and done the reading that I would be pooped, and ready to hit the duvet.....well no- I couldn't sleep......I am seriously getting excited about Paris, even after spending an hour or so reading, a very Scientific book for book group, I couldn't sleep, and craft I couldn't bring myself to hold the scissors in case I chopped to much!!

Anyway at some point I drifted off, but all to soon the alarm was buzzing in my ear, and as I groggily came to life inspiration hit me!! I had made a little card for the 'Make & Take' on Tuesdays 'Creative Cafe' even though happy with the college style and colour inspiration, from my 'Colour Coach', I got the Idea to make another card, with a bit more going on and also to borrow Julie Kettlewells lovely Idea of making a little favour/ treat holder.

So without shakey hands or butterflies in my tummy, I put ink to card this morning, here is the finished group.  

 The lovely colours of 'Richrazzleberry' 'Pool Party' & 'Island Indigo' were inspire buy the great SU colour coach I just added a touch of the 'Basic Grey' as a neautral.

 

The lovely treat/ favour, made using the new SU 'Big Shot' die- 'Two Tags'. The main stamp set in use was the delightful 'Elegant Eleanor' and the text.....well can you guess were it came from??
....it is in the SU 'Ideas Book & Catalogue'

This is the card we made at 'Creative Cafe'....I think I have a thing going for white space!!

And this is the card I made this morning, its got even more stamping on and it has been blinged up!

I have made a few more of these, to post out to hostess.

This is just a random shot I took,

of just the finished items grouped together,

but it has given me an idea for a scrapbook page, to match!! 

Also with the start of the month

comes a new offer from-

'Stampin' Up!', for you!

 from now until 15th December, If you host a workshop that generates sales of over £300 you will earn a free

stamp set & matching papers.

The Paisley Petals set and papers could be yours!!!

I do have a few spaces left for this month, and would love to make time to craft with you, but I will be in Paris for a few days, hmm I had better stop mentioning that as the butterflies are back!! xxx



I don't kiss & tell!!

Don't panic....No need to send out the search party.....I'm still here......I just got lost in the tidying and sorting of my craft room!
In preparation for the new catalogue launch in a couple of weeks, I thought I would have a full craft room, tidy up, thinking I would have it all over in an evening, I started last Friday, and it finished Last night.

'AArrrrghhh' you scream....she has been tidying for nearly a week...SIX whole days???? Well no.....I kept getting kind of sidetracked.....phone calls, trips to the post office, mounting stamps, trying out new ink pads, melting stuff.......well embossing powder in a pan, all I can say is that was one distraction that didn't help the tidying!!

Anyway last night, the desks were clear and I had a bit of a play, I have opened a couple of things from my 'Sneak Peak' Order, and teamed them with two of my 'go to...never fails to please...kinda stamps' that are retiring at the end of the month.

Page 61 Friendly Item No:110528

40% off the original price!!) Now £10.17

Page 112 Flower Accent Item No:117686 £7.95

I can't believe that these two items are still in stock, and even though I say it all the time, you do get so much rubber for your money, with the 'Friendly' stamp...

it will easily cover a whole card front!!

To get the text on to the 'Flower accent' SU stamp, I did a bit of kissing........and no, it wasn't with the Cute Mr UPS or even Johnnie!! This is a legitimate stamping technique!!

And the colour combo is something to swoon over too...'Basic Black', 'Whisper White', 'Basic Grey' & 'oooo' well at this moment in time, I can't tell you about the other two....

All I did was ink up the solid flower image in the coloured ink........I then had the huge 'Friendly' SU stamp, waiting on the desk top, ready inked in 'Basic Black'.....I took the flower stamp and 'Kissed' it to the ready inked, rubber text of friendly....and then I stamped the image down....and 'hey presto'....

you get lovely detail and interest on your solid rubber stamps!!

Please don't miss out, if you would like to purchase the stamps I used then get in touch with me: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk
There is free P&P, if you can collect from me in Preston.

Currently the below items have already sold out, from the retirement list:

Page 34 Choo Choo

Page 61 Sanded
Page 63 Sense of Time
Page 68 Tart & Tangy
Page 90 Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper
Page 96 Silver Elastic Cord
Page 98 Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets
Page 98 Pewter Jumbo Eyelets
Page 104 Star Punch
Page 111 Right on Track Standard Stampin' Around Wheel

And at the end of the month all items on the list will be discontinued, so if there is something you like,,,,get it while you can.

Thanks

Sally-Jo

xXx

PS. And the colours of ink I used on the flower stamp.......well lets just say they are a 'Sneak Peak' of what's to come......because I don't kiss and tell!! xXx

Chariot at 7.30pm please!!

Today has been one of those day's were I have been here, there & everywhere- apart from at my craft desk......that is until an hour ago!!

Tonight Johnnie & I, are at a 'Toga' party for a family friends 18Th, so I have been mooching around the shops, trying to put together a Roman-esque outfit, I hit it lucky on the Gold bangles as ASDA were having a sale!!

Anyway I wanted to create a card, that was suitable for a trendy lady, who is now 18 and came up with the colour combination of- 'Melon Mambo' and 'Basic Grey' 'Stampin' Up! Classic Ink pads', 'Whisper white' card stock with a touch of 'Tempting Turquoise' grosgrain ribbon.

The stamp set is 'Just believe'

I cut the numbers using my 'Big Shot' and the numbers from the 'Timeless Type' Alphabet die set, from a few scraps of 'Melon Mambo' card stock. The frame was stamped once in each colour and layered up to create an area, on which to stick the numbers.

A bit of stamping to the insert and the envelope, I felt gave the card a pretty finish.

Right got to dash, my chariot is waiting, it's just a shame Russell Crowe, isn't going to be there!!