Sale-A-Bration 2011 Is Here

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Home from Make It Farnborough

I'm just back from a day out with my Mum at the Make It show in Farnborough. Like I need encouragement to spend money on crafting stash (especially with the Mini only a month away now!). There were so many lovely stalls and ideas and I've not got finger lift tape coming out my ears (I stocked up while it was on offer!).

While we were there Mum and I decided to take one of the workshop sessions with the lovely Natalie O'Shea. We took the Stampin' Up! stamping scrapbooking workshop where we all made the following 12 x 12 LO using Growing Green (colours Cajun Craze & Old Olive). This has really inspired me to start thinking creatively about how to use stamping in my scrapbooking. I am fine making stamped embellishments for my pages, but I've never really used my stamping for backgrounds like this. I am also super impressed with how beautifully this stamp set stamps. Another one to add to the neverending (and always growing) wish list. Now I just have to find a perfect photo to fit the space and add a bit of journalling.

 Also, thank you again to Julie over at Julie's Japes for the inspiration for this Elegant Eggplant Bliss card. When I saw her Concord Crush design I thought I would give it a go in EE. I used this as part of a workshop yesterday and the ladies all really enjoyed making it ;0)

 Remember, we only have 3 more days of Sale-A-Bration left now. So if you would like to take advantage get in touch asap to place your SAB order on 609249 or poulton_sarah@yahoo.co.uk.

Happy Crafting ;0)
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Wow, three posts in one day!

My final post for today. But I've saved the best for last. This is my favourite LO of my weekend and I themed it around the idea of a Rainbow (Paige hinted this might be the subject of an upcoming challenge LO). I had seen a similar idea with buttons in a scrapbooking catalogue. So I attempted my own version- a Christmas Rainbow. And I am over the moon with how it turned out. This now joins this LO as my two all time favourite pages. And this page also confirms for me that all the time and money I have invested into improving my scrapbooking has been well worth it. Equipped with the simplest of papers, but using the best tools and embellishments you truly can create something effective and capturing the moment beautifully. I guess having the right tools around me inspires me and gives me confidence.

For this LO I used my Brights and Regals Stampin' Up! buttons (the best quality crafting buttons I have come across- not that I am biased or anything!) along with a base of Old Olive, Real Red and Certainly Celery C/S (12x12 textured). All the added ribbon and embellishments were taken from a big stash box some lovely ladies had brought along to the retreat. They bring it along for us all to go through and use if we want. I was so grateful as I managed to create some stunning details using their stash ;0)

This final final LO was also created under the theme of rainbows (this is the first time I've created two completely different LOs in response to a challenge prompt). This one is themed around Joseph and His Technicolour Dreamcoat and the photos are from the WCC day out to Southampton last month.

Thanks for stopping by and reading. I realise three posts in one day is a little excessive. I just wanted to get everything blogged and shared following such a successful weekend of crafting.

Happy Crafting to all ;0)

More Retreat Makes

Here are a few more of my Retreat LOs. Many of them are part of the Wight Craft Circle weekly scrap challenge.

Week 49- 'Did You Know'

I reinterpreted the prompt to read 'Don't You Know How Much I Love You'.

 Week 47- 'Whats Your Colour'

Lime of course ;0) I loved this 8.5x11 LO and how I tied it in with what I was wearing that day in Icelandic snow.

 Week 45- 'Blast From The Past'

I chose my childhood dog Tigger as the subject of this layout. 

 And the final two LOs are just ones I did for fun. With the first photo I wanted to do the photo justice as it was my absolute favourite photo that Sam and I took on our Icelandic trip. I wanted the photo to be the focus and to tell its own story. Although I couldnt resist a bit of bling in the form of some Stampin' Up! rhinestones.

 And my final LO was completed using my favourite Sweet & Sour DSP from Stampin' Up! and Rich Razzleberry C/S. I accessorised the LO with some hand made crocheted flowers my Mum made for me using leftover embroidery floss. I found a whole stash of rather embarrassing childhood photos of me in various different outfits. I tied the colours of the LO in with the colours I was wearing in one of the pictures. I also chose the butterfly accents to compliment the butterfly motif of my top in the middle photo.

If you'd like any further info on Stampin' Up! products, please do not hesitate to get in touch on poulton_sarah@yahoo.co.uk or 07830 343830.

Happy Crafting ;0)

Shimelle's Scrapbooking Sketch of the Week

Just back from the Wight Craft Circle Retreat over in Totland. I was super productive completing 8 - 12x12 LOs, 1 - 8.5x11 LO and a whole load of swaps for my upcoming training next weekend ;0)

Here is my first LO of the weekend. I used Shimelle's latest Scrapbook Sketch of the Week as the inspiration for my design. I hadn't realised the buttons/circles were wonky till I photographed it. Still its all part of the character of the LO. This page captures our old cat and dog in their younger days. These sketches are so inspirational. I love using them to design a LO completely unexpected, or different from my usual style. And it was lovely to unearth some old photos and capture a moment long forgotten.

Happy Crafting ;0)
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Packing for the Retreat

Right, I've finally got 5 mins to sit down with The Hairy Bikers (LOVE their cooking!), a cuppa and my blog. I've had one seriously hectic night trying to pack for the WCC Retreat this weekend as well as sorting and delivering all my latest Sale-A-Bration customer orders. Since finishing work I've spent time with my lovely downline Sandy, my fab customer Chris and my great new friend Hayley also popped round to pick up some SU bits she ordered. I have that satisfied feeling of getting a lot done in a short space of rime (I even managed a Somerfield run to pick up some Heroes as I was having a serious chocolate craving). Although my packing isnt going quite as well as I had hoped. The pic below shows the stash I've sorted so far. Quite restrained for me. But i'm not finished yet (what you can see is an order for my crafty pal Paige, a tote of punches, my 12 x 12 paper carrier and my 'bits and bobs' tote, oh and my phone charger too). I havent even started with embellishments and stampsets...... Hope my Mum has packed light as I'll need most of the car to fit it all in...

The cards above are my customer thank yous for SAB orders. I borrowed the thank you stamp from my Mum's starter kit order. I stamped it in Peach Parfait centrally on a small 3 x 3 notecard. I then embellished with flowers punched with the Boho Blossoms punch (In Colour DSP) and a rhinestone to finish. A quick and simple (yet striking) card to show my appreciation for all my customers who have ordered this month so far ;0)

Right, I'm off to finish the embellishment sorting..... I'll be back Sunday to show off all my Retreat makes. I have a whole stack of photos awaiting some creativity ;0)

Happy Crafting ;0)

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Less is More Week 2

This weeks Less Is More challenge was a one layer card to include a flower or a tree. This card did not turn out anything like what I had in mind when I started my design (it originally has a small square aperture for the tree image which was printed on the inside). Upon a bit of experimenting I was happy to keep the image plain and simple on the outside of the card. I love this retired Stampin' Up! set so was only too happy to bring it out of retirement for the evening.

This was stamped on a 10cm x 10cm card base of Very Vanilla. The greeting is from the free Sale-A-Bration set 'So Happy For You'. Off to write this and send it to my friend to wish her a very hopeful Spring filled good luck (hence the image of the blossom covered tree).

Happy crafting ;0)

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