The 2012 Summer Mini has arrived!

Hi folks,

Well I hope the brand new 2012 Summer Mini will more than make up for the horrendous weather we seem to be having at the moment!  Please click on the cover picture over on the right for an online version of the Mini, alternatively if you would like a hard copy then please contact me at craftyhelen@btinternet.com.

When I saw this Mini I was blown away.  For a start I had been wanting a scorer for ages, so the Simply Scored scoring tool is right up my street ...

Also from today, the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate is available for making your own unique envelopes, boxes, creating funky background patterns, and more.  It fits directly on top of the Simply Scored scoring tool ...

Other highlights for me in the new Mini are the gorgeous Framelits and Edgelits dies with matching stamp sets and embossing folders, and the beautifully soft Bakers Twine in the 2012/13 In Colours.  I think I can safely say that this is my favourite Mini yet!

It has never been a better time to join Stampin' Up! as an independent demonstrator.  The new flexible and completely customisable demonstrator starter kit worth £175 has arrived!  The kit includes a business supplies pack valued at £45 and then you get to choose £130 of any supplies and all you pay is £99!  Even the p&p is free ...

Stampin' Up! are celebrating their fifth year in Europe, and they are offering a fantastic deal for new demonstrators who join during May only; FREE registration to the 2012 convention being held this year in Mainz, Germany, worth £149!!  

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a demonstrator, or if you have any questions at all about Stampin' Up! products, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I'll be back soon with some projects I've made using the new tools from the Mini!  Until then, take care and happy stampin!

More Sale-a-Bration goodness and Hobbycrafts, SECC

I am very excited to tell you that I'll be on the Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator stand at the Hobbycrafts show at the SECC in Glasgow on Friday, 9th March!! I'm also super excited that I'm finally going to meet my lovely online friend Sarah who is coming to the show with her daughter :). I'm busy prepping some samples for display, so here is a sneak peek of my first completed project, using the FREE stamps and stunning DSP collection from the current Sale-a-Bration promotion.

I've made a little pizza box, measuring 3.5" square, using Soft Suede cardstock, and decorated using FREE Everyday Enchantment DSP, Very Vanilla cardstock, Scallop Circle punch, Doily Triple Layer punch, a stamp from the FREE Fresh Vintage set, Soft Suede inkpad, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border and a pearl ...

I've made six little cards with a Very Vanilla cardstock base to fill the box, decorated with a mixture of both FREE Fresh Vintage and Elementary Elegance stamp sets; Everyday Enchantment DSP; Antique brad; Eyelet Border punch; Rhinestones; Pool Party cardstock; Peach Parfait cardstock; Poppy Parade cardstock; Lucky Limeade cardstock; Pearls; Stampin' Write markers in Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade; and Curly Label punch ...

Did I mention FREE stamps and DSP? Okay, maybe I did just a few times! I can honestly say that the FREE (sorry) goodies from this Sale-a-Bration are truly stunning. The stamps are very detailed and the papers are to die for! So, if you would like to get your hands on some, you need to spend £45 on Stampin' Up! goods between now and 31st March 2012, then you can choose the stamp set you want, or the DSP. Please contact me at craftyhelen@btinternet.com if you would like to participate in this promotion, or if you are interested in holding a workshop in your home, or attending a demonstration. Maybe you are interested in becoming a demonstrator yourself? The rewards are brilliant, and there are many different types of demonstrators at Stampin' Up! from those who just want to get discount on their own goods and don't wish to do workshops, to those who are making a full time job out of demonstrating. Only you can decide, but if you think the opportunity may be for you, please contact me to discuss further.

If you're planning to attend the SECC, please stop by the Stampin' Up! stand and say hi! Meanwhile, happy crafting!

My Sale-a-Bration freebies have arrived!

Everyone loves getting something for free, and from now until the end of March, when you spend £45 on Stampin' Up! products you can choose a stamp set or Designer Series Paper absolutely free! Here are some cards that I have made using the Elementary Elegance stamp set with Everyday Enchantment DSP. These are on their way to my lovely customers, along with their orders.

I'll be making some cards using one of the other free stamp sets I got today, Fresh Vintage, so pop back later in the week to see more.

If you would like more information about Sale-a-Bration, or Stampin' Up! in general, please contact me on craftyhelen@btinternet.com. I'd love to hear from you!

Sale-A-Bration has begun!

Well the eagerly anticipated annual Sale-A-Bration has begun today! With a choice of four very different and exclusive stamp sets (wood-mounted or clear) and a gorgeous pack of Designer Series Papers, there is something for everyone. For every £45 you spend on Stampin' Up! products between today and 31st March 2012, you can choose one of these items absolutely FREE!!

Please contact me at craftyhelen@btinternet.com if you would like to order products, host a workshop, or learn more about joining my team and becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

Aberdeen swap and an award!

Good morning folks!

I hope you are all keeping well, and avoiding the horrible bugs that seem to be flying around at the moment. I guess that's what goes hand in hand with the weather at this time of year. Roll on Spring, that's all I can say!

I am thrilled to have been awarded the Liebster Blog award in the New Year by the lovely Nicky, otherwise known as NJ. Thank you so much NJ!

The idea of the Liebster Blog Award is to spread the love from one small blog (under 200 followers) to other small blogs. This helps to spread knowledge and readership.

"Liebster" in German means "dearest", so as part of the Liebster award tradition, I am going to pass this award to 5 blogs that I value, and that have both inspired and motivated me.

To accept the award, you must:

1) Link back to the person who gave it and thank them for thinking of you.
2) Post the award to your blog.
3) Give the award to 5 bloggers (with less than 200 followers) that you appreciate and value.
4) Leave a comment on the blogs of the five people you have chosen to let them know.

So, firstly I would like to thank NJ for giving me the award, it really means a lot to me! NJ puts her heart and soul into everything she does, and this is reflected in her wonderful blog. Please go and show some love over at Pink Delight Craft.

And here are the 5 blogs that I have chosen for the award:

1) Faye over at Faye's Crafty Corner. Faye and I have been tweeting for a while now, and she is one of the kindest, sweetest people that I know. She is always thinking about others, and she is also an amazing crafter (though I don't think she realises just how good she is). We both have a border collie, and often compare notes of their antics! I had the pleasure of meeting Faye at the NEC last November, and I hope that we will be friends for a very long time!

2) Susan over at Mix's Meanderings. Susan and I have quite a lot in common, we are fellow SU demonstrators, we hate pink, we live in Scotland, and we belong to the Tartan Stampers! Susan's blog is a delight to browse around, and her creations are beautiful and inspiring. Go, check her out!

3) Emma over at Pink Sparkle Days. Again, I met Emma through Twitter, and also had the pleasure of meeting her in person at the NEC. Emma is a really lovely lady, very tall and loves pink! She is a giver, always there for her friends in their time of need, offering support and really good advice, even when she has enough troubles of her own. She is a wonderful mixed media crafter and her work is absolutely fabulous, so please make sure you pay her a visit soon!

4) Cazz over at Poppy Crafts. Cazz is a big-hearted lady who does an amazing job in supporting our troops and other very worthy causes. She makes the most beautiful bags, jewellery and greetings cards. Please pop over and say Hi!

5) Zo over at CraftygasheadZo. Zo is another lovely crafter that I have met through Twitter. As well as being a fabulous crafter, her other great love is Bristol Rovers - in fact she is their No. 1 fan, hence the reference to her being a Gashead (in case you were wondering)!! Go and check out her blog today, and join her on her creative journey.

I should have been going to Aberdeen today for some Stampin' Up! training with my fellow Tartan Stampers, but unfortunately due to a big problem with my car (long story, won't bore you with the details), and the ridiculous price of the train, I have had to decline. However, I am looking forward to receiving my pack of goodies so that I can make up the projects that the ladies are working on as we speak. Thought you may like to see the swaps I have made and sent up to the rest of the team, using items from the Spring Mini Catalogue ...

Just one last word, well a few to be precise, the annual Sale-a-Bration starts next Tuesday, 24th January and lasts until 31st March. This means that for every £45 you spend on Stampin' Up! goodies between those dates you will qualify for either a free stamp set or some gorgeous papers, so please call back again on Tuesday when all will be revealed :).

Meanwhile, keep warm & cosy and mind those bugs!

Introducing the brand new Spring Mini!

Hi there and a very Happy New Year to you!

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas, and that you are now looking forward to a brand new crafty year. Christmas in our house was crazy busy as normal, with the added excitement of my youngest daughter's 17th birthday and my eldest daughter's 21st birthday. We don't do things by halves in our house!!

Well, today sees the launch of the first UK Spring Mini catalogue. There are some very exciting new products including new punches and beautiful jewellery pieces. Please take a look at the new mini by clicking on the image over on the right hand side, and if there is anything you would like to order, then please contact me. Also, don't forget that for every £10 you spend with me, I will credit you with one Bees Knee point. Once you have collected fifteen points, I will give you a £15 voucher to spend on Stampin' Up! products!

Please call back again soon to see some fabulous projects made with products from the new mini.

Thanks for popping by and take care.

And the winner is ...

Thank you all so much for commenting on my Blog Candy post and for following this blog!

I used Research Randomizer to pick the winner, and here is the result ...

1 Set of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 22 -- Unsorted
Set #1: = 6


Congratulations Hazel (Didos)!!! I hope you enjoy your prize xxx