Happy Christmas to you all .............

................. and I hope that you have enjoyed your perfect Christmas Day whether surrounded by friends, family or just that special someone, as long as it was the sort of day you were hoping for with no undue pressure to strive for perfection - our day was relaxed, just the three of us - we are with friends tomorrow and then I go back to work on Sunday.

Speaking of work, I ordered bags of energy from Santa so I'm hoping for great things from here on in - no seriously, it is definitely getting better - I know my stamina levels are increasing. Although I have so missed catching up regularly with friends, blogging on here and crafting in general but I will be making realistic New Year resolutions which I shall do my utmost to keep - SU is still so much a part of any free time I have - I love it - and thank you for your support during the last year and particularly for the last couple of months while I have been finding my feet - you all make my crafting an absolute joy which never fails to make me smile and lift my spirits.

So I am wishing you all good health, prosperity and happiness thro'out 2010 and may nothing befall you that is beyond your capabilities and if you feel it is may you have the strength to rise to the challenge, succeed and note with pride your ability to cope with all that life throws your way - Bridgette xxx

Working Nine 'til Five .............................

If you love Dolly Parton you'll be humming that for the rest of the evening ...... sorry.

Now I have been busy with in-home demos but just not blogging - although I have been blog-hopping keeping up with what all my favourites in my sidebar have been doing - please take a peek, they are all so inspiring.

I have now become an 'outside the home' full time working girl, as we know every women is a working girl whether inside or outside the home - I am hoping that once I find my feet I shall be posting more regularly - I have a Hostess Party this Friday for Louise which I am looking forward to very much and have already started prepping for - I know, unheard of, but I have to become much more organised if the juggling balls are not to come crashing down on my head lol.

Thank you so much if you have kept visiting in the hope of an update and just like Arnie - I will be back - Bridgette

Trio of Party Makes

I thought I would show you a little trio of party makes for a little girl - before I get truly caught up in the new catalogue.

Leo the Lion bookmark is made using a selection of punches and some flowers cut for the children by Crafty Lou - and the large teddy face is the large scallop circle sizzix die and then the flowerpot.
This card was made by the adults and the children and I think it was enjoyed - some of the non-crafters thoroughly enjoyed themselves - so I hope to see them again before too long.

Thanks for stopping by - I will bring you news of the launch and details of the Make & Takes on offer over the weekend.

Bridgette

Going, going, gone .......................

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LASTEST POST - THIS WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER

Over on Stampin' Up!'s site at http://www.stampinup.co.uk/ you will find the Retiring List of stamp sets - these sets are not being featured in the new catalogue - some of my own favourites are going, and I shall miss them - so if you have a set on your wish list - pop across and check because you never know it may be up to 50% off - yes, 50% off - this type of reduction is unprecedented with a Retiring List so it definitely is worth checking - and SU have stated that it is an offer that may not be repeated next year when they reveal their Retiring List again.

If you find anything that you would like either find your nearest demo and they will be delighted to take your order or contact me on my email address in the sidebar and I will do my best to help.

Bridgette

Another project to share .......

Just a quick post to show you the inside of the Criss-Cross card we made at the Tuesday Craft Group - I think it would make a really lovely invitation card - wedding, birth announcment, birthday - lots of occasions really.

Thank you for stopping by - just to share with you that my birthday cards were beautiful and they will be appearing over the next few days - simply stunning - lots and lots of talented crafters amongst my lovely friends.

Bridgette

Tuesday Craft Group Project ........

I thought I would show you the inside of the little fold out project that we completed - I feel sure I would have found this little guy on Splitcoast Stampers in the demo side but I honestly can't remember I search all over for project ideas - we only made it as a template for our sample boxes whilst in the group but it would be so easy to recreate it using papers more appropriate for the occasion ie Christmas ( yes, I have mentioned the word as many a crafter's mind is making plans for the festive season - mine included lol ).

I think this project would be perfect filled with photos to send to a loved one that you don't get to see as often as you would like, particularly if there are growing grandchildren involved - they could sign at the side of the photo - and I'm sure it would be treasured and looked at often.

The papers are Haiku and the stamp set used Carte Postale - sadly both retiring to make way for gorgeous new products - I shall be sorry to see the stamp set go, it's one of my favourites - but I am sure I shall be falling in love with the new ones - I am sooooooo fickle ( no only teasing, I'm not really ).

Thanking for stopping by - I'll have some party makes to show you next time.

Bridgette

Updates and our Crafty Tuesday M & T's .....

Well, it seems that whilst Debbie's first workshop may have been small it was beautifully formed - well, I wouldn't expect any less having seen the beautiful sample board she prepared - also keep up to date with her other offerings on Pink Poppy Craft in the sidebar.

Our own monthly meeting was really welcome, our first since the children had returned to school - we had met in the August but it was with our children to encourage them to craft too - all the projects are shown at the top and over the next few days I will put the other close up photos on as for some reason, known only to my blog, you can only see the first photo enlarged - I'm clearly doing something wrong but I'm not sure what just yet !!!!

For the projects I decided to showcase a few of the retiring items - do check out the post at the top just in case one of your favourites is being retired - remember these items will not be available after the 30th September - contact your local demo who will be happy to place an order for you or failing that contact myself and I will always do my best to help.


I've got lots of other projects to show you at the moment - so I shall be posting every couple of days with something different - please pop back if you can and thank you for stopping by on this occasion.


See you soon - Bridgette

Nearly a Birthday Girl ...........

In anticipation of the event my lovely crafting friends who I 'scrap' with gave me a surprise party - with balloons, presents and cake - I say it often, and mean it, I have some wonderful friends and I count myself very blessed.

Now they also know that anything they craft for me ends up being viewed by all on here - I love to share these beautiful items because as crafters we know how long it takes to make them and the thought and care that goes into such a gift.

So, this gorgeous book was made by Amanda ( there she is in the top left hand corner ) - and serves to remind me of all my friends - and I'm sorry if I look like the 'cat that's got the cream' on the front of the book but I'm wearing my SU apron and doing something I love doing: helping others fall in love with Stampin' Up! products. Today the village hall, tomorrow the world lol.

I'll photograph the projects we did for the Tuesday Craft Group on the 13th and show you those tomorrow - I'm just putting the finishing touches to projects for a Hostess Party tomorrow evening - and this evening sees the first home workshop for Debbie - Pink Poppy Craft in the sidebar - I shall be sending positives vibes to her although she has worked hard with her sample board and projects - I know it will be a success for her.

Bridgette

Crafty Lou's Workshop Sample Board

As I mentioned a couple of days ago - my sample board for the workshop was inspired by Lou - such a talented crafter and if you are in the Peterboro' area this Sunday drop into Sir Stampalot in the Werrington area and you will find her in person, demonstrating, and she will have the equally talented Chris with her - so a double treat.

As you will see I CASED the top right hand card completely but just used a different colourway - I like to do this as it often looks a completely different card - I'd like to try it in the bolder colourway too perhaps a Tempting Turquoise and Pixie Pink combination might be nice.


Still wading thro' my Sizzix dies and putting them on my ebay site - google Cherry Hill Crafts and I should come up as UK Ebay Shop, about the third entry ( don't quite know how I accomplished that !!) - you may find a bargain - or that illusive die you've been searching for - a lot of my collection is being listed.


Thank you for dropping by and keeping me on my toes.


Bridgette

Sample Board from the Workshop

Hello there - I've been busy going thro' all my Sizzix dies and popping them on my ebay site - I have kept a few basic shapes and one or two Sizzlits and now I just wait until it all appears in the SU catalogue - I know, I know, it's not going to be this year but never mind at least I'm 'lean and mean' lol for when we do finally get it - also it may give me more pennies to spend in the new catalogue - you see, method in my madness!!

If you remember I mentioned a sample board that I had prepared for the Fresh Cuts Workshop but, as yet I haven't got round to showing you what I did, these projects were inspired by Crafty Lou, I'll show you her board tomorrow and you will see what I mean - it's beautiful.

Here is my offering in So Saffron, Close to Cocoa and Always Artichoke and using the Fresh Cuts stamp set and the SU punches, petal and tag.

Thanks for looking I appreciate you dropping by.

Bridgette

New Ribbon .......

Well, I finally managed to get my hands on some of the new ribbon from the promotion this month and delivered lots out to my fellow crafters who placed an order following the workshop on Saturday 8 August - but as yet I have not managed to create anything - so I will be working on that - my favourite of the two has to be the So Saffron colourway, I think.

As you know when I send out my orders I always like to include a little Thank You card and this time I decided to go a little brighter than I would normally - using a Pretty in Pink, Ballet Blue with a touch of Summer Sun colourway and the Office Accoutrements stamp set - the punches I used were the Spiral one as it worked nicely with the Memo stamp from the set together with the Round Tab, perfect for an extra little embellishment - as always my starting point looks nothing like the end product but I suppose that's why it's called a creative process.

Thank you for stopping by - I really must photograph and show you the sample boards from the workshop - I'll make a note for tomorrow - see you soon.

Bridgette

Sara's card as promised ..........

Hello there - this is the gorgeous card that I mentioned to you yesterday that Sara sent thro' - it uses a stamp set that is still on my Wish List - Lovely as a Tree - and one of the stamps from the Hostess Level One set - Happiness Always.


I really love the detail of the subtle stamping using one of the leaf motifs as a background just to give interest to the cardstock - and you can just see this same detail repeated on the insert too - I hope Sara doesn't mind me sharing this with you but it has some lovely details that could be CASED for your own projects.


Sara's card takes the Stampin' Up motto to heart - Create, Inspire and Share - I love to show you cards that I receive from my friends particularly when no amount of arm twisting will get them to have their own blog lol and they are soooooooooooooooo talented.


More tomorrow - thank you for dropping by.


Bridgette

The missing card from the Workshop .....

In my last post I mentioned another card that was completed at the workshop - success, I have found the photo - sorry, I did have one, I just don't think I was thinking properly at the time - we won't go into that lol.

It was one from Crafty Lou's sample board, all the lovely autumnal shades again, but more detailed than the notelet cards - I, along with many others, admire Lou's work immensely - and while I am chatting about her I will mention that she is demonstrating at the end of the month at Sir Stampalot in Peterboro' along with fellow crafter, Chris - again I am surrounded by talented crafters, check out her blog in my sidebar - Always about Colour - so really a double treat for us as they sit side by side on Sunday 30 August - I definitely will be there - so please make a date in your diary, and I will do a reminder nearer the time on here.

I'll be posting tomorrow teatime as I have received a lovely card from my friend Sara - using the stamp set Lovely As A Tree - and I hope she won't mind me sharing it with you all but it is gorgeous - drop by tomorrow evening if you can and see what I mean.

Bridgette

Playing Catch-up .......

If you've been dropping by, thank you - and apologies that no new post - so I shall play catch-up and let you know what's been happening.

The first 3 hour workshop was on Saturday 8 August 2009 and as with all craft events it's about the people as well as the craft - and I have to say I have a lovely group of crafting friends - and on this occasion we welcomed some new crafters - so thank you to all those who attended - I am already looking forward to the 3 hour Christmas Workshop on Saturday 7 November 2009 - please watch the sidebar for further information - as, all being well- we will be using a gorgeous new Christmas stamp set from the new catalogue due out in October.

The top photo is of the individual place setting - the stamp set was Fresh Cuts from the mini - and the small selection of useful little gifts for everyone taking part: a cute book mark, some 'card candy' and a useful colour swatch chart ( this was first seen on Stampin' Pretty - check My Favourite Blogs - for further information ).

During the afternoon we made a small pizza-style box and four matching cards to fit inside, and also a further card which I will be able to show you tomorrow because for some strange reason I don't have a photo of it for may records - I will rectify that and let you see it.

The monthly Tuesday Craft Class today saw some super little crafters taking their places and producing some lovely examples - it was amazing how many times I heard - My Mummy's got that - Yes, my Mummy shows me - Yes, I like to craft with Mummy, etc - I am therefore delighted to report that the future of crafting is definitely in safe hands with Mummy lol.

See you soon

Bridgette

Just playing with the Fresh Cuts .......

Hello there - just a super quick post to show you one of the cards I've been making with Fresh Cuts stamp set for my sample board - although my fellow crafters won't be making this one on Saturday it's always nice to see other examples.

Still busy prepping for Saturday but will show you more tomorrow - thank you for dropping by - it's much appreciated - have you noticed how near to 10,000 we are?


Bridgette

That photograph I was hoping for has arrived ......

Thank you to Kirsty and Sue for sending thro' the gorgeous photo of their girls and their completed Owl Notelets.

What a talented little group they are - they are all coming to 'Craft with Mummy' on Tuesday 11 August - it will be a fun morning.


This little owl notelet has proved a real 'hoot' - sorry, I promise that's the last time I will make that silly joke!!!


Owl be seein' you.


Bridgette

Can you hear that sound? .........

No? I'll tell you - it's me laughing!!!!

This little card has ended up looking absolutely nothing like it was meant to - has that ever happened to you? Well, I thought I would let you see it anyway - you can share my 'pain' lol

If it is sending your eyes 'wappy' then I apologise - the background stamp went wonky and I'd already tried it on the other side in Rose Red - so it had to be used 'on the slosh' so to speak. Just don't like wasting cardstock.

I kinda like the little 'card candy' - it's cute, but hey - where was it taking me? You see, I had tried to break out of my simple 'offerings' to you for something a little more adventurous but look what you've ended up looking at!! That's right, my simple offering.

I'm still laughing, honestly, if only you could see my desk and the remnents of the cards that might have been.

Hope your not too disappointed and I've managed to make you smile at my efforts.

Bridgette

Owl Notelet Board

This is to help a very special group of little girls have a 'hoot' while crafting with their mummies - they know who they are and hopefully I will be able to show you the results very soon.

Have now decided on my card for today so will post a little later when I have had the chance to get into my 'happy space' and make it lol.



Don't forget to check out the promotion for August - remember you can always order together to get you to the qualifying spend and then divide the ribbon - shares are so much fun, a little for everyone!!



Bridgette

Just a little Thank You card .....

Although it's late I thought I had better post this now because I shall be busy in the morning getting ready for a Scrapbook Get Together that I attend each month - if you love scrapbooking and live near Spalding please contact me and I will send you the details.

In my previous post I said that I would use A Rose is a Rose - and I have, although only in a small way - this is one of the smaller blooms to be found in the set - but I just wanted a small flower to peep thro' the window created with the 1 3/8"circle punch.

This aperture is then bordered with the scallop circle punch for added definition - it's really cute being able to see into the inside of the card - it must be a Play School moment - "What can we see thro' the round window, children?" - if you're old enough to remember lol.

I used my new background stamp En Francais to stamp in Bashful Blue, matching taffeta ribbon and cardstock - inked edges, using one of the sponge daubers, softens the overall effect.

The smaller rosebud is stamped in, not surprisingly, Rose Red, the background layer being achieved by making it the second image produced ie stamping off once onto waste paper and the overlay is the deeper first image - so a little tone on tone.

There is the little flower on the inside but also Thank You - from the fabulous Fresh Cuts stamp set - the script although not matching does compliment the large background stamp beautifully.

These cards will now be used to thank the ladies that ordered at Joyce's party and made it such a success for her.

Have a lovely weekend, whatever you're doing and thank you for stopping by.

Bridgette

PS Now that is spooky - bear in mind the time difference, and the fact that I posted at about 2.00am this morning and I am now adding this postscript at 8.00am - take a look at Chic n' Scratch, in my sidebar - and the layout of her card!! not a million miles away from the one I've just done last night - what a coincidence - although I have to say that the thought of polka dot ribbon is very appealing, fingers crossed for October and the new catalogue - and obviously great minds think alike lol - bye B xx

A New Addition to my Favourite Blog Roll ........ and Organic Grace

I have added a gorgeous new blog to the sidebar - A Passion for Craft - it's put together by Fleur, a very talented scrapbooker and cardmaker - if you have the time today please take a look and leave a comment to let her know you've passed by and put her on your own Favourite Blog list.

When I send out any Stampin' Up! items I always like to enclose a little card, this is my way of showing my appreciation for all the support I have received but it's also a nice way of introducing a stamp set to everyone - today's stamp set is Organic Grace - a Level One Hostess set.

The cards I make for these occasions are generally smaller, this one is just under 4" x 4" and the perfect size for a Thank You card.

The palette of colours used - Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke and Close to Cocoa - with Very Vanilla and Close to Cocoa cardstock together with a little Kraft taffeta ribbon.

The very versatile sentiment comes from another Level One Hostess set - Best Yet.

To find out more details click on the front cover of the main Idea Book and Catalogue in the righhand sidebar and have a look at pages 8 - 13 - it details the benefits of having a Hostess Party for yourself and your friends.

I'm busy working on projects for our first Saturday Workshop on August 8 but will have something to show you tomorrow - a two-step stamping item using A Rose is a Rose on p44 of the catalogue.

Bridgette

PS Don't forget Fleur's blog ........ and Louise's, oh, and Chris' and not to forget Debbie's, and of course, Sally's and my good friend Anne's - well, actually, every single one of them - they are all gorgeous and will inspire you - see you tomorrow.