A new challenge blog

Come on over and join us at Aly's crafty challenges, a new facebook group, putting your crafty mojo to the test each month. pop over to me, myself & the world for more details.

This months challenge is Back to school, and i used this fab template from splitcoaststampers to create this cute lil backpack as my DT project.

I've used Gumball green cardstock, one of the brand new in colours for the new annual catalogue,  you can purchase these new colours now, as they coordinate with many of the items in the new Autumn/Winter catalogue, please contact me for items available & costs. I used the festival of prints DSP stack (126904 £6.25), which is great for little accents on projects and the perfect size for mounting photos for scrapbooking. Its all finished off with so saffron 3/8" taffeta ribbon (122982 £6.25)

I hope you'll come and join us for our monthly challenges, we will have some lovely prizes up for grabs & lots of inspiration for you.

This is an especially exciting time at Stampin’ Up! as we say goodbye to some of our 2011-2012 products and say hello to new products for 2012-2013! Of course, this also means there is a lot of information I need to share with you.

There are two retiring product lists:

• Stamps
• Accessories

The retiring stamps list comes in two formats: a PDF sorted by page number and a sortable Excel sheet that allows you to sort by name, item number, or page number. Retiring stamps are only available while supplies last.
The retiring accessories list is really for your information only. Products on this list are also only while supplies last, and some may sell out quickly. We will update the stamps and accessories lists on the demonstrator website Monday through Friday at 5:00 PM (GMT). If you take retiring products orders at a party, be sure to get a couple different options from your customers in case their first choice has sold out.
When you look at the retired accessories list, you’ll note that all of our Stampin’ Pads are listed. This is for two reasons: (1) Craft Stampin’ Pads will now only be available in black and white; and (2) we are introducing a new Firm Foam pad in our Classic Stampin’ Pads with the 2012-2013 annual catalogue.

The Firm Foam pads offer better ink coverage and, in turn, better stamped images. They are available for preorder; you can also learn more about this change here. As a demonstrator, you are not required to replace all of your old stamp pads with the new firm foam pads. However, we do recommend you have at least one on hand to demonstrate for your customers.

In addition, please note the following about the new catalogue:

• Only select Stampin’ Write Markers will be available individually (Stampin’ Write Markers in colour collections will continue to be offered).
• 12" x 12" Textured Cardstock will no longer be offered.
• 12" x 12" Smooth Cardstock will only be available in select individual colours and colour collections.

Some of these items are available at a discounted price, so may sell out quickly. So don't delay if something you love is on the list!

Today also sees the launch of the new Autumn/Winter seasonal catalogue, full of gorgeous products to help you create some halloween treats, christmas gifts & whatever else your imagination can dream up! The catalogue runs until the 31st of January, and can be viewed via the link in my side bar. If you would like a hard copy of the catalogue, get in touch with you name and address and i will pop one in the post for you.

Pop back tomorrow evening for my first Design team post, using Gumball green, one of the new in colours (available now to coordinate with the new products). Why not hop over and join the group now https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/335678713185312/ the first challenge goes live on Monday, there will be a new challnge, and lovely prize up for grabs, every month. Its going to be lots of fun & we'd love to have you.

Gift Card holder

Another quick project to share this evening, i should be getting organised for our week away in skegvegas! This lil gift card/certificate holder was actually a favour for the hubby so i will let myself off :)
I kept it quite simple, using the tickets & tags simply scrappin' kit as my starting point. I am really going to miss this kit when it retires in october :( i used the delightful dozen stamp set for the sentiment(which i embossed in gold), this really is a brilliant set to have in your collection, it covers pretty much all events & some of the sentiments actually make great focal points themselves. I've tied the whole thing togethet (literally!) with basic black striped grosgrain ribbon.

I have mostly been pottering about thinking about different things i could do with ribbon. I totally adore the striped grosgrain ribbon, the only problem is i never want to use it! Its great for making bow embellishments, so this evening i stuck with the bow theme, and put this bracelet together using the basic grey and daffodil delight ribbons.

Need a reason to smile?

We all need a reason to smile every now and then, and Stampin' up! are here to help! This month, you have the opportunity to purcase, or earn FREE! an exclusive stamp set...

Images may not be to scale.

Get the Reason to Smile Set FREE when you spend £60 on any Stampin’ Up! products. Or purchase it at the regular retail price.

I must confess to not having even opened my set of these lovely stamps, due to spending a lot of time working on some my hush hush projects!! That will soon be rectified, I promise, and I'll be back to share some inspiration with you =)

Before i shoot off, i just want to share with you that signing up to be a Stampin' up! demonstrator is now even easier! There is now a link in my sidebar which will take you to the new online sign up forms. Now is a great time to sign up, with so many exiting new catalogues on there way, to help kick start you business, and if you sign up now you can preorder from our upcoming autumn winter seasonal (using your sign up discount), and next month you will be able to preorder from the new annual catalogue. the best bit is your minimums will not need to be met until the end of december. If you would like to discuss becoming a demonstrator, i'm more than happy to talk things through with you, so get in touch =)

I've been a terribly rubbish blogger recently, but i sort of have an excuse! I have taken a little step back from things and am currently working on some new offerings for you :) i havent been as neglectful of my facebook page so if you haven't already, please do check it out I'll be giving my facebook and blog a makeover soon (it could also mean a new blog!) so watch this space...

I have now received my copy of the new autumn/winter seasonal catalogue, & i can honestly say its amazing! There are some brilliant bundles and great kits for beginners so keep your eyes peeled for its launch on the 1st of september, if your lucky i might share some sneak peeks with you before then :)

While many of the things i have been working on are a bit hush hush & crafting has slowed now the kids are off school i will not just post and run without sharing something crafty with you.
This has already been shared on my facebook page (told you i've been less neglectful over there!) i was asked very last minute to make a wedding card post box, my brief was ivory, fancy & to fit possibly 90 cards, & i had 2 days to do it! This is what i came up with...

The paper party is over, but hot on its tail is a brand new, exclusive promotion. This month, when you spend £45 (before shipping and handling) you will receive an exclusive ribbon and brad pack worth £15.95.  If you earned the everyday enchantment paper pack during sale-a-bration, this is the perfect opportunity to earn some coordinating products. If you missed out on this gorgeous paper pack (or you just love it!),you will have the opportunity to purchase it for a limited time only.

Contact me today to place your order...