Going... Going…

Stampin’ Up! have released their Last Chance List and items on it are available only while supplies last - and once they’re gone, they may never be available again.
Plus - in a rare promotion - select products are up to 50% off! Don’t miss this last chance to get them!
Check this list to see which sets and accessories you can’t do without and contact me today to place your order.

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

Ribbon Offer For August

This month’s offer from Stampin’ Up! is a ribbon bundle which is only available until the end of August and is not available in the catalogue. This is a one off!

Dates: 1 - 31 August 2009
Promotion Details: During August you can earn a FREE ribbon bundle in two different ways:

1. Purchasing £45 worth of Stampin’ Up! products
or
2. Hosting a £300 workshop

Things To remember: Customer, demonstrator and workshop orders qualify for this promotion.
Limit of one bundle for every qualifying order.
Customers and hostesses will receive one FREE ribbon bundle once they reach the qualifying amount.
Orders over the qualifying amount will not receive multiples.

Ribbon Bundle Includes:
Certainly Celery 5/8” Poly Twill Ribbon (9.144M)
So Saffron 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (9.144M)

If you take advantage of this offer I will give you a FREE copy of the current Idea Book And Catalogue (worth £4.95), if you don’t already have one.

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

Sketch Challenges

As it’s the start of the month I thought I’d bring something new to my blog - a sketch challenge!
Without further ado, here is the first sketch-

As you can see it’s basically very simple and you can keep it that way or dress it up as much as you want to!
Please feel free to join me in my challenges and leave a comment so that I can visit your blog and see how you’ve interpreted my sketch.
Here’s the card that I made from it-

I was inspired by one of Dawn McVey’s cards that I saw in a magazine.
I loved the simplicity of the design, but wanted to make more of the swirls on it so I shadow stamped them. ‘What’s that,’ you ask?
Well, I started off by stamping the swirl in Brocade Blue ink on the same colour card stock. I cleaned the stamp and then inked it up with VersaMark ink and stamped it ever so slightly to the side of the first image.
I sprinkled on some Heat & Stick powder and heated it with my Heat Tool, then sprinkled on some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, shook the excess off and set it with a blast of the Heat Tool once more.
Once the image has cooled down you can brush off the excess glitter that’s still clinging to the card with a paint or makeup brush.
The resulting image looks really sparkly and as if it’s floating on the surface!
As for the ribbon - I secured it to the card with Snail Adhesive, tied a bow separately and stuck it down with a Mini Glue Dot. That way I don’t get a twist in the ribbon and the bow lies nicely on top of it.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs & Seasonal Wishes
Paper: Brocade Blue & Whisper White
Ink: Brocade Blue & VersaMark
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Dimensionals, Heat & Stick Powder, Heat Tool, Paper Folder, Scallop Edge Punch, Silver Embossing Powder & Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

Free Background Stamp Offer Ends Soon

If you like the idea of earning a FREE background stamp for hosting a qualifying party, it's not too late.... but there are only a few days left in July in which to do so.
Book a party with me and I'll show you how best to use your background stamps - I love using mine and I find them to be very useful!

Contact me at Heartfelt.Stamping@hotmail.com to book your party.

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Beautiful Background Stamps - For Free!

The Stampin' Up! promotion for the months of June and July are ideal for those thinking of hosting a workshop.

Between 1 June and 31 July 2009 hostesses who hold a workshop with sales of £250 will receive a FREE background stamp!
Take a look at them on page 56 of the catalogue. There are 7 background stamps from which to choose, so there's sure to be one that takes your fancy. They normally sell for £14.95, but you could have one for FREE!

Plus, for hosting a workshop with sales of £250 you get an Idea Book And Catalogue, a level 1 hostess stamp set and £25 to spend on Stampin' Up! goods for FREE!

However, if you get sales of £300, as one of my recent hostesses did, you'll get an Idea Book And Catalogue, a level 1 or 2 hostess stamp set and £35 to spend on those lovely Stampin' Up! goodies - all for FREE!

I'm taking bookings for workshops in July now, so if you'd like to take advantage of this offer contact me at Heartfelt.Stamping@hotmail.com

You don't have to host a workshop to gain these hostess benefits. You could gather orders from your friends to the same value and get your hands on those freebies.
You could share the hostess benefits with a friend. If you each gather orders, one could have the hostess stamp set, the other could have the background stamp and you can share £25 or £35 worth of goods between you, depending on whether you reach sales of £250 or £300.

Don't forget, I also have my own offer of a FREE Idea Book And Catalogue for first orders of £35 and over, which may help you to get some orders.

Even if you can't host or attend a workshop, send me an individual order and when I get sales of £250, I'll draw a name and that person will be the one who gets to choose a FREE background stamp when I place the order!

Workshops are great fun and I taylor them to your abilities and interests.
I will demonstrate some techniques or projects such as cards, scrapbook pages, gift boxes or altered items and then you and your guests get to make something and take it home.

Workshops are FREE, as a hostess all you need to provide are some refreshments and perhaps some easy snacks. If you have a smaller house you can host a workshop at my home - you just bring the nibbles!

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Scrapbooking Papers Offer!

We seem to be between bouts of nice weather - let's hope the sun starts to shine again soon!

Stampin' Up! is offering 4 packs of doublesided Scrapbooking Paper for the price of 3 until the end of the month. That works out at £23.25 for 4 packs at £7.75 per pack.

The designs are the three new ones that are in the Mini Catalogue and the range that can be seen on page 93 of the Current Idea Book And Catalogue (while stock lasts).
If you don't have a Catalogue you can see the on-line version of the main one plus the Mini one if you click on the pictures of the catalogues on the side bar to the right.

If you like the idea of becoming an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator with me, there is also an offer to make a start with a Scrapbooking Kit as well.

If you're interested in either of these offers you'll need to get your skates on as they both end on Sunday, 31st May.

For more details, please e-mail me at Heartfelt.Stamping@hotmail.com

Thank you for looking!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Sweet Dreams

As promised, here's the layout I did using the same sketch as for yesterday's card. I think the Always Artichoke card stock makes the Pretty In Pink look even more delicate.

As you can see I've turned it on its side. This is a 6" layout, but it could easily be scaled up to a 12" layout if you prefer.

In case you're wondering where I used the White Gel Pen - I used it to draw 'thread' on the buttons!

Stamps: Sanded

Paper: Always Artichoke, Pretty In Pink, Hostess Patterns Pack DSP & Basic Grey

Ink: Always Artichoke

Accessories: Pretty In Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Soft Subtles Buttons, White Gel Pen, Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads, Snail Adhesive, Dimensionals & Boho Blossoms Punch

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~

Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Bloomin' With Beauty

I love this new stamp set from Stampin' Up! - it's called Bloomin' With Beauty and has a lovely bee image. My name, Deborah, actually means bee in Hebrew, so this is why I love the little creatures! You can see the whole set on page 40 of the current Idea Book And Catalogue.


The paper is from the Hostess Patterns Pack DSP and I chalked around the edges to soften them a bit. These papers are only available as a Free Hostess Product for the duration of the current Idea Book And Catalogue and I love the colours that have been used for them. Check them out on page 11.

I used my new Scallop Square Punch to make the mats for the bee images.

Watercolour Wonder Crayons were used to paint the images. Being a watercolourist I found the Crayons and Aqua Painters a bit alien to use at first, but now I'm a convert! They take up little space, are clean and are available in all the Stampin' Up! range of colours.

I designed a sketch to make the card and if you'd like a copy then please e-mail me at Heartfelt.Stamping@hotmail.com

Check back to see the scrapbook layout I did using the same sketch.

Anyway, here's the recipe for the card.

Stamps: Bloomin' With Beauty

Paper: Always Artichoke, More Mustard & Hostess Patterns Pack DSP

Ink: Black StazOn & Always Artichoke

Accessories: Crafter's Tool Kit, White Gel Pen, Stampin' Pastels, Sponge Daubers, More Mustard 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Moss Gingham Ribbon, Scallop Square Punch, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Aqua Painters & Watercolour Wonder Crayons

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~

Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Summer By The Sea

When we have nice weather our thoughts naturally turn to Summer and relaxing days. I'm blessed to live near the sea, so that's where I head to unwind.
There's a saying, 'One Swallow doesn't make a Summer', but I saw four last week, so does that mean Summer is here already?

Here's a card using the stamp set Summer By The Sea, which I just love.

I inked the Sanded background stamp with Bashful Blue ink and stamped it on the Confetti White card base.
I used the same stamp and VersaMark ink to stamp on Sahara Sand card and added White Embossing Powder which I then heated with the Heat Tool.

I used Stampin’ Pastels and Sponge Daubers to soften the edges of all the pieces and then cut two 1” wide strips from the embossed card and added them to the card base.

StazOn ink is best to use when using wet colouring media to ensure the image doesn’t run.

Using Watercolour Wonder Crayons and Aqua Painters colour it loosely and don’t worry about going over the edges a bit.

I cut out a tag shape to mount the coloured image onto and it is attached to the card with dimensionals for some lift.

You can see that I’ve used some Linen Thread to finish the card off so that it has a ‘rustic’ feel to it.

Stamps: Summer By The Sea & Sanded
Paper: Confetti White, Sahara Sand & Not Quite Navy
Ink: Bashful Blue, VersaMark & Black StazOn
Accessories: Snail Adhesive, Dimensionals, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Pastels, Sponge Daubers, Watercolour Wonder Crayons, Aqua Painters, Linen Thread & ¼” Square Punch

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~

Your Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator

Spring Has Sprung!

Today is a wonderfully sunny day and I'm full of the joys of Spring!
Spring brings to mind new beginnings and Stampin' Up! is no exception.


The first Mini Catalogue has just been released and it's full of lovely new things. You can take a peep here, or check out the link on the side bar to the right.

I have to say my favourite stamp set can be seen on page 19. It's called Playful Petals (113728) and is priced at £25.95 for a set of 7 stamps.
There's a matching Designer Series Paper(DSP) called Tea Party (115158) to use with them priced at £7.75 for 12 double sided, 12"x12" sheets of heavy weight paper. That works out at 65p per sheet.
For those who have used it you'll know what good quality it is - heavier than normal paper and ideal for making mini albums and gift boxes, as some of you have done with me in class.

My next must-have is the set of 4 stamps called Oval All (113790) on page 16. Priced at £14.95 they have greetings and flourishes which can be used alone, or interchanged by inking with a marker pen and using a Stamp-a-ma-jig.
There are 2 new punches to use with them - the Large Oval (115156) and the Scallop Oval (115429), which is slightly bigger and ideal for matting onto. These are both £12.50.

What else?
Check out the Fresh Cut Notes - cards with a flower cut-out on the front. You'll find them on page 4.
Page 6 has new Rub-Ons with floral designs called Planter Box.
Fresh Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (that looks good enough to eat!) can be found on page 12.
Designer Buttons can be found on page 16 in lush, Latte colours.

For those of you already working on your Christmas cards, or last year's Christmas layouts (who me?) there are some lovely new stamp sets and DSP.

Don't just take my word for it - have a look for yourself and see what you think. My wish list is getting bigger by the minute!

Next month there will be a special offer for the Scrapbookers amongst you.

If you'd like to host a party, get together an order with some friends (if it adds up to £150 or more, you'll get free stamp sets and goodies), or just order for yourself, then please let me know.
Don't forget my own offer of a free Idea Book And Catalogue if you spend over £35 on your first order.

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Pretty Heart Card

St. Valentine's Day will soon be here, so I've designed a card using a heart shape - my favourite.

I cut an A4 sheet of Always Artichoke card stock in half lengthways and scored it at 5cms and then at 19.5cms.

Next, I covered the front flaps with some paper from the lovely Tea & Crumpets range and then cut a heart shape from another piece of paper from the same range and mounted it on Always Artichoke card stock.

I glued a length of ribbon all around the card and when I got to the right hand flap I made some little pleats, secured with Mini Glue Dots.

I made a hole in the centre of the whole flower on the heart and attached a Green Rhinestone in place.

Finally, the heart was lifted on Dimensionals before being attached to the card.

This is a quick and simple card and the only stamping was done on the envelope. It's an ideal project to use up those odds and ends of patterned paper.

Stamps: One Of A Kind (Envelope)

Paper: Always Artichoke & Tea & Crumpets

Ink: Pretty In Pink (Envelope)

Accessories: Snail Adhesive, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Always Artichoke 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Crafter's Tool Kit & Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~

Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Fun And Fast Card With Fun And Fast Notes

I've made a start on making some Birthday cards as I have quite a few coming up in the next few months.
I designed this as a masculine card, but with a change of colours it will work equally well as a girl's card.



It's an 'S' shaped card base - just fold the front back on itself halfway across and crease well with a bone folder.
I stamped and embossed the image onto watercolour paper because I wanted a nice surface to paint on with the crayons.
Remember when you come to stick the image onto the card to only add adhesive to the right hand side (when you're looking at it face down).
I had planned to have a row of identical eyelets at the bottom, but I made a boo-boo of the centre eyelet and had to get it out with pliers. Thankfully I had a Jumbo Eyelet to cover up the mess I made of the card!

Stamps: Fun And Fast Notes & Polka Dot
Paper: Old Olive, More Mustard & Not Quite Navy
Ink: Old Olive & VersaMark
Accessories: Snail Adhesive, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Earth Elements Watercolour Wonder Crayons, Aquapainters, Crafter's Tool Kit, Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets & Metallic Eyelets

Thanks for looking!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Happy New Year!

Yay! It's a new year and I intend to be as creative as usual and to try and find even more time to devote to my favourite hobbies.
I hope you will continue to stop by for ideas.
Happy New Year!

~Debbie~
Your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator