Baby love..........

Whilst in the stupor of my cold and colouring the 'Baby Tees' over last week, a little dust ball of a Layout idea, rolled into the fog of my head and has laid there fairly dormant till the free fall of fridays sugar rush!!

I have loads of pictures of my children, lots taken with haste and are hazy, out of focus shots with a thumb or finger peeping into shot, and loads of professional pictures that at the time seemed like a good idea and are now dated, but it doesn't mean they should be stuffed in a box, out of sight and mind, as they do bring back lovely memories...... well the ones that don't involve too much baby sick and sleepless nights!!

So here are my first attempts at bringing my babies, pictures, out of the dark......

This first layout is a picture of Heather that was taken at a Babystore, it's very different to the white backdrop photos that are so popular today, but popped on to a very white Layout and given a splash of colour with the 'Baby Tees' from the 'Stampin' Up!' Jumbo wheel, coloured with the SU markers in 'Regal Rose' and 'Pretty In Pink' and the blender pen.

My baby is 11 years old in March!!!

The journalling labels were stamped from 'Creative Elements',

In 'Crumb Cake'Ink.

I used the light, frond like swirl, from the same set,

to add interest to the bank 12x12 sheet and also....

Under the 'Doily Ribbon Lace' border and 'Baby Tees' images.

The second layout is of Matthew...... this shows him at about a couple of weeks old, and he was a big baby, he weighed in at 11lbs 4oz when he was born!! 

I had missed having his newbie baby shots at the hospital, as I had my baby and was home within 24hrs, and they only did them every other day, so these were taken at home, on our bed, with my old film camera. 

Again the layout has the same idea- a clean and simple background and a splash of colour with the 'Baby Tees', this time coloured in 'Marina Mist' and 'Bashful Blue'. 

I used the 'Doily Lace Ribbon' border punch again, I like how it makes a delicate addition.

And to add interest to the die cut wording, I ran it through the 'Big Shot' with the 'Perfect Polka Dots' Embossing folder. Mini tags were added with 'Tiny tags' and the co-ordinating 'Jewellery Tag' punch, and tied in place with the SU 'Linen Thread'.

I like how that even though the photos are so different, the layouts look similar, and they will make a nice double page spread in my album, but before then they will take pride of place, as samples of what you can create with the fantastic SU products, at the workshops I attend.

If you would like to host a Workshop and maybe earn some FREE goods, or you just want to find out more about 'Stampin' Up!' and the fanatsic craft products they offer, then contact me: 

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

or call 07891605129

xXXx

It's not every Monday.....

Okay, after Mondays birthday antics, I have had to do quite a bit of explaining- I really don't spend every Monday, getting tipsy and enjoying fine food and the company of a good friend. Yes! I do enjoy the company of my good friends, on a weekly/ monthly, face to face basis, it just doesn't usually involve any Champagne cocktails!! 

And no I don't usually wear my LBD, to ASDA on a Monday morning! As I nipped in, just before going to Deborah's, on Monday- the very mature check out lady, questioned my outfit and said I should consider a jumper... Yes I was wearing a fabulous dress, and a very lovely set of chunky beads, but maybe ASDA isn't use to such style on a monday morning!! 

Anyway, after a get together at 'Creative Cafe' last night, Deborah and I both declared that we have survived- the fizz, and as it was such a fantastic way, to spend a Monday, it's a shame we can't do it more often!! 

Whilst at 'Creative Cafe' we used Deborahs birthday as an excuse to eat more cake, this time 'Nigella's- Blondies' and discuss some SU products that were launched, in the new 'Spring Mini' and also the lovely 'SALE-A-BRATION' stamp set 'Fresh Vintage'. Deborah hadn't thought to bring the pressies, I had got for her, and all the ladies were asking for a look too, but luckily I had a couple of phone snaps to show the ladies and I am posting these, that I took before handing them over on Monday, and they did struggle to leave my hands as I now 'so, so need to get myself some!!'

The presents came in the most gorgeous 'Chocolate Chip' boxes,

that were calling for an SU make over, so armed with a couple of punches, ribbon, crochet trim,

inks and SU stamp sets, I created some stunning packaging!!

 The first main box, contained the most important gift, and its decoration reflects what is on the inside, and also I got to play with an old favourite, stamp set of mine- 'Vintage Vogue' it had the perfect 'friends' wording and a lovely flower that looks stunning cut out, popped up and blinged!!

 Every box, followed the same colour scheme, I just mix up the wording the next 3 sentiments/ words came from the uber lovely NEW 'Spring Mini' Catalogue stamp set 'Your a Gem'

 All the tags were adorned with 'Crochet trim' and snippets of the 'Striped Grosgrain' Ribbon

 And the backgound for all the tags, featyred the gorgeous floral spray from the 'SALE-A-BRATION' stamp set 'Fresh Vintage'-

stamped in the lovely 'Crumb Cake',

this also features in the main gift.......

 TAAA DAARRRRRR!!!!

 I had got Deborah the lovely large 'Simply Adorned- Locket', and had made a lovely insert for it, too!!

The other boxes contained some baubles for her to hang with it, and I am glad to say, she lurvvess it!!

I can wait until I get one, and I can make some little peices of art work to adorn mine, if would like to know more about this lovely new product line then check out the link, to the top right of this page, It will take you direct to an online copy of the mini, complete with photos of makes using the products and product info too! If you live in the UK, I would love to be your demonstartor, so you can get all these lovely goodies, get in touch with me:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

xXXx

Stepping it up!!

When ever we attend our SU mum's fabulous training events, Julie always shows us a quick and easy card for workshops and then a stepped up version, well today's card is a really 'Stepped-Up' version of the black and whisper white card I featured yesterday, using the 'SALE-A-BRATION' 'Fresh Vintage' Stamp set.

Its larger in size too!!

Measuring in at 8x8"!!

I made this to give, to Deborah yesterday,

for her 21st Birthday!! ;-)

I gave the numbers, which were die-cut with the 'Big Shot'

and the 'Timeless Type' dies-

a sprinkling of the 'gold antique glass glitter'

I created some paper flowers, using the very vintage looking 

'First Edition Newsprint- Designer Series Papers'

I added a double bow using my last piece of crochet trim and

the lovely 'Crumb Cake- Seam Binding',

with an 'Antique brad' for embellishment.

It doesn't show up to well, but I gave the flowers a squirt,

with some watered down,'Champagne shimmer paint'.

Here you can see that the inside got a little stamp action too, and as the card was a little too big for an envelope,

I decorated a brown lunch sack for it!

I hope you like this 'Stepped Up!' card, I love that you can get so much use out of stamps! I will be back tomorrow with another make that features, the 'Fresh Vintage SALE-A-BRATION' stamp set and the lovely 'Simple Adorned' 'Stampin' Up!' jewellery line. 

xXXx

How to start a **FABULOUS** week!!

Today Herald's the start of a fantastic week, so much so, in that I have been to bed yet- I have been busy, doing things for today, that I should have done on Saturday, but Saturday was taken over by flat pack wardrobe assembly..........That in it's self was entertaining.......7 Houghton's & Lawson's were involved in the shenagians.... and yes we really are a screw short, well 7 to be precise!!! Not only are we still celebrating 'Sale-A-Bration', but this week is jammed packed with fun things, and only one niggle.... that I can foresee at the mo...... 

Today I am off out for a Girly Lunch to celebrate a good, good friends 21st, I am saying 21st as when Deborah checks my blog later on this morning to see what I have been upto, she will be utterly put out, if I have told you all, that she is celebrating her BIG 40 TODAY!!!! oOOoopps- errr, I sort of let that slip!!! I don't suppose she will hate me as much, when I tun up at hers later with some bubbly!! Tuesday I think will be a slow, coffee fuelled start to the day, with the niggle cropping up late afternoon, with a family visit to the Dentist- sorry, I know it's just a check up, but I hate the whole experience, and take the kids, then I have to do it and put on a cheery face about it too. What is nice about Tuesday is that we are continuing Deborah's birthday celebrations for another day, at Tuesdays Creative Cafe, so if you fancy some choccy birthday cake, do pop in!! Wednesday sees a trip to Yorkshire, to see my SU mum Julie, I am so jealous as they have had snow, while we are snow-ess but have sledges....Hmmm maybe should take my sledge with me instead of my crafty tool kit!! Thursday evening, I am attending a workshop, at a lovely friends craft group, and I am looking forward to showing them the fantastic 'Sale-A-Bration' offers!! And well Friday, is the half term Church assembly, at my Children' school and then Yippee!! it's the school holidays and maybe if we are lucky, we can really put our sledges to the test!!!

Anyway back to what what I do best, and that would be playing with my delightful 'Stampin' Up!' stash!!! Last week Mr UPS came to drop off some deliveries, he came with my 'Stampers 6' orders, with spontanous customer orders and also some 'bits and pieces' for me, that are needed for this week...... I can't tell you about that today as someone maybe trying to have a 'Sneeky Peek' so we will save that till tomorrow!! :-) 

Even as a demonstrator, I am still eligible for 'Sale-A-Bration' and it was great for me, to get stamps for FREE, in my order too!! I have had loads of fun making some thank you cards, to go out with my orders this week, with the gorgeous 'Fresh Vintage' 'Sale-A-Bration' stamp set.

Two different cards with the main decoration coming from the stunning bloom, from the 'Fresh Vintage' 'Sale-A-Bration' stamp set. 

A 'Crumb Cake' Card base, with 'Real Red' Ink and

'Doily Lace' decorative border.

A 'Whisper White' base, made shabby chic,

with a 'Crumb Cake' dusting of ink & Some Simple 

'Basic Black' stamping and the 'Doily Lace' decorative border.

They were both given the same finishing embellishments of- Antique Crochet Trim and Antique Brad-

I love how they look so different, yet so similar!!

And the stamp made the perfect decoration for the inside,

of the card too!!

Stamps really are so versatile!! If you live in the UK and would like to know more about the 'Stampin' Up!' product range, I would be happy to tell you more, leave me a comment and I will get back to you!!

I will be back tomorrow, with more lovely makes,

featuring this stamp set & many more wonderful SU products!

See you then xXXx

Its not going to be one of those days!!!

OK we all have bad days, days were we want to crawl under the duvet, days were we are more teary than usual....... I am a girl that wells up with sadness even watching action movies, the most memorable being 'Universal Soldier'.... well I was sad that he was so alone and in this state of not getting old etc, so tears on a down day are not unusual for me, but today even though the heating wasn't working when I went to bed and still wasn't working when I got up this morning, I was happy, but by the time I had done the school run, I was frustrated with sadness and anger at being sad!! Anyway I decided that enough was enough, today was going to be a good day......

So it started with ringing around a few stores to find the Jacket I need for a Christmas pressie, that has just gone half price, at store more convenient to me..... yesterday it was Sheffield, Wellifield and Stockport, today it is available in Wigan!!! Yipee!!!- that is close to a store I will be visiting for another Christmas pressie, so its a success there!

And I have just checked on my SU shipping info, I have a parcel that is just for me, being delivered by Mr. UPS, by the end of the day, and guess what they are free stamps..... yep! I got them free for achieving the second part of my Stampin' Start! OOO and the best part was that I could pick which sets I wished to receive... can you guess what I picked??

All I have to do now is get my Christmas Cards finished.... Yes you heard right, I still have some to do!! Today I feel inspired to make some creations, similar to ones we made at my SU mums- Julie Kettlewells, November training and the main stamp set, is not a Christmas one either!!

 It's the delightful 'Doilies Stamp' set & it looks lovely stamped in 'Bashful Blue' & 'Night of Navy'

 The greeting is from 'Four for the Holidays'.

 A little treat holder made with the 'Big Shot' and the SU exclusive 'Two Tags' Die.

 The lovely snowflake made with the a couple of punched 'triple doilies' & a sprinkling of SU 'Dazzling Diamonds Glitter'

Now this post was meant to have been posted at 11am today, but our Internet connection had gone astray...... so you know what, I just switched it all off and went to collect the coat and the other bits and pieces, sorry but I wasn't going to sit and mope over it!!

So I got the coat for half price and some other Christmas bargains too, And I can say that today hasn't been one of those days, its been 'a Good, Good Day'!!! 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

It's all going on....!!!

I hope you got chance to look at the New 'Ideas book & catalogue' online yesterday?? If you would like one, in the 'Flesh' so to speak, then please do get in touch, they are £3.50, I can post them out (P&P £1) or you can collect from me, either at my launch event next Friday or at 'Creative Cafe' this Tuesday evening.

It's is not just a catalogue but also a fantastically glossy, idea packed book that puts the regular craft mags to shame, that's why we call it our 'Ideas Book & Catalogue'(and a little insider knowledge...to save time we shorten it to 'IB&C'!) There is even a guide available, as to what SU colours and products have been used, on every sample shown in it- fantastic for those days when the ideas and mojo wont kick in as desired! And I will included a hard copy of this to all who purchase a catalogue off me during October!

There are lots of new products......we have it all going on.....and don't worry the new stuff works fantastically with the products that have been carried over from the last 'IB&C' too! Here is a layout of my Heather, on the swing in the garden.........

This is a very simple layout that just uses 1 sheet of 12x12" textured 'Whisper White' card stock, with an old and a new stamp set, and a little bit of 'Basic Black' card stock too!

Any ideas which stamp sets I used???

Well the tiny frames,

perfect for little journalling blocks & .........

The child on the swing, came from the new set...

Forever Young-

W 122570 £23.95
C 122572 £18.95

And the lovely swirly ornate border, was created with a stamp from one of my favourite sets, that has been carried over from the previous 'IB&C'- Baroque Motifs 113490 £28.95......OOOOooo and some new 'In Colour' ink.....'Indigo Pool'.....more lovely than the retired 'Taken with Teal' from a couple of years ago!!! You can see that I blinged it up with our super sparkly SU bling too!And the delicate Lacy trim......well that has got to be the most wanted punch in country- 122362 Lace Ribbon Border £18.25, only available from us lovely SU demonstrators!!! And totally perfect for trimming up so many projects, and because it's a high Quality SU punch, its more than happy to punch our cars stock & papers!

I hope that by this point I have not given you an information overload?? But before I go, I will leave you with details of a fantastic new club, that I will be starting in November.......

A Virtual Hostess Club!

A virtual hostess club is an opportunity for you to build your collection of NEW Stampin' Up! product and spread the cost.

You earn hostess benefits without having to host a party or put in a large order.

The benefits are: £25.00 worth of FREE product to be spent as you wish in the catalogue.

So how does it work?

6 people get together and form a club which runs for 6 months (I'll advertise for those people you don't have to provide them yourself).

Each member agrees to place a minimum order of £25.00/month plus p&p.

This gives us the minimum qualifying order we need every month.

Each month a DIFFERENT member in the club is the hostess and collects all the free benefits associated with that month's total.

I randomly draw the names out of a hat to determine which month is your hostess month.

By the end of the 6 months all the members in the club will have had their turn to be the hostess

Each month a box of goodies will drop on your doorstep.

You'll receive a FREE copy of the catalogue

and any mini catalogues released throughout the club duration.

If you fancy taking part then email me:

sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

NOW to secure your place. 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

Fresh Cuts!

To days blog project is something which out of my sample box. that has never graced these pages, so apologies to those that have seen it at my workshops and events!

It features a retirement set, which is perfect for making note cards:

Fresh Cuts, Item Number: 111634 Price £21.95

It contains 5 stamps: A large focal college, a small flower, a branch of foliage & the sentiments: 'For you' & 'Thank you'

Using just Whisper White & Very Vanilla Card stock, you get a different look with different inks!

Here I used a 'Old Olive' Classic Stamp' Pad.

And for the other two note cards I used the same colours of base card, but stamped the image using a 'Chocolate Chip' Classic Stamp' Pad.

The set was finished with a label made from the stamp images and punched out with the Oval & Scallop Oval punches, the band to fasten them together is just some packaging, I am hoarding!

This is a lovely set for those just beginning to stamp, as the main image fills the front, of a small card and shading to the flowers is easy to add, using a water brush and ink out of the stamp pad lad lid!

I know many of my regular event attendees have already purchased this, and many other retirement products, and i would hate you to miss out too!

Please get in touch with me: sally-johoughton@hotmail.co.uk

or ring me Tel: 07891605129.

Even if the retirement products don't sell out they are not available after September 31st 2011, Also at training yesterday it was confirmed, what is not being carried over from the 'Mini Catalogue' so email me if you would like to know too!

Right off to brave the rain at the 'Westmorland' Agricultural Show, does anyone know if it will be better to travel by boat, up the M6, after all yesterdays showers??!! ;-) xXx