Tuesday 13 November 2012

A new chapter… A new home & a new Craft Room!


Back at the beginning of June my family and I said our goodbyes to our family home in Harrow as we embarked on a new chapter of our life.  After both my hubby Steve and I had grown up in and around the areas of Harrow, we felt that it was time for a change.  Somewhere a little less grey, and a lot more green.  It had been something that we had discussed on and off for a few years and eventually we took the plunge put our house on the market and eventually it sold.

Our old home:

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Our old house held a lot of very special memories for us both.  It was our family home, our eldest went through her teens there until she left home to live over in Essex,  just a couple of weeks before we moved.  We brought two new babies home to that house, we’d had parties for Naming Ceremonies for the babies, New Year parties, birthdays, fireworks…you name it and we may well have had a party for it!
 

On the lead up to the move we had to pack up many of our lovely belongings (luckily we had a spare bedroom to store these boxes in for the last couple of weeks! )  And I had to pack up my craft room!
 

My old craft room which was a converted kitchen from the annex flat in the house:



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See the old cooker hood?  No my stamp sets weren’t holding it up Winking smile



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Oh my, did I find a lot of craft stash or what!!??  There was stuff I hadn’t seen in years.  Well I had a good clear out of goodies I can tell you and both my youngest daughter’s nursery and son’s previous school both benefitted from that clear out.
 

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And so the day finally came, Friday June 1st.  We sent the children of to school and nursery and the vans came and packed all of our worldly goods (well except for some clothes, toys and craft items) and took them away ready to be deliver the following week. I wanted to get in the new house and clean!

Our new home near Wokingham, Berkshire:

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I fell in love with it the day we pulled onto the drive when we came to see it.  It’s my Christmas house!  I need to get fairy lights for the front.  What you can’t see is to the right of the picture in our garden is a huge pine tree!  Oh how I wish I could put lights on that too!

Look what was waiting for us in our back garden!!  The little ones saw it out there, Jaden said it was a Donkey, and Cameron said it was a Camel!  Time to get the animal books out I think.  Isn’t it gorgeous?  Don’t worry we managed to coax him out and he must have gone back to his family as we haven’t seen him again.

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And my new craft room…Eeek!  I need to get that decorated quick!  Look at the hand made shelving.  Bless,  I think they made them out of old cupboards they no longer wanted as they were all different types of wood in there!

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Fast forward a few months and in that time the children have new bedrooms all painted, carpeted and decorated. 

My two girls,  eldest Chelsi, and youngest Cameron lent a hand.  Love them!


And I have my brand new Craft Room!  And I must say huge thanks to my in-laws for helping to get it done in record time! And my friend Dan who helped me get all the desks done.  And of course Steve, my patient hubby, who just lets me get on with these mad projects and is there to lend muscle when it’s needed!

Apologies as I took the photo on my iPhone.  This is prior to boxes being unpacked!

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Don’t you just think the Marilyn Monroe wallpaper is just fab?  And I really love the vinyl floor covering!  No worries now if  drop the black ink pad!

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I replaced the shelving with white bookcases from Ikea!  Actually all the furniture was from Ike, the wallpaper and paint from B&Q and the vinyl flooring from Hooper's Carpets in North Harrow.  Yes I know that’s where I used to live but they have done our carpets in all our old homes, plus Steve’s parents and hi grandma’s house when she was alive!  When a company’s good, you just keep going back!

Oh the rest of the house is getting done too, but I have my craft room!  As a crafter you know just how exciting that is don’t you?

Ok next time, i promise you’ll get more paper projects than wallpaper projects!

Happy Crafting!

ElaineSmithSignature_byAngieWhalley12

Thursday 25 October 2012

Christmas Card Buffet Workshop - Berkshire



  Hi All,
 
How would you love a diet friendly buffet?

  Well I am running a Christmas Card Buffet session.
No calories, just fabulous Christmas Cards

  The session is on

Monday 12 November - From 7:45pm
(Howard Palmer Room, St Sebastians Hall,
Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, Berkshire,RG40 3BA)

...
You’ll get to make 16 Christmas cards in total, that’s 4 each of 4 designs.
Price is £15and includes everything you need to make them as well as their envelopes, plus Tea & Coffee and maybe even cake!

All abilities are welcome.

If you are interested please either email me (sassystampers@gmail.com) and I will send you details of how to book and pay. Please do pass this on to anyone else that you know who might like to come.

Look forward to seeing you soon

Happy Crafting,
Elaine

ww.thesassystampers.com
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Candy Canes

 

Aren’t these just gorgeous?  I first got the idea when blog hopping around the internet.  Now the project stuck there in the back of my mind but the blog where I saw it hasn’t.  So apologies to whoever you are that first had it on your blog – please get in touch so I can credit the idea back to you.

I took a strip of Real Red Cardstock that was 12 cm longer than the candy cane and wider than the hook at the top.  You can get the candy canes in different sizes so you’ll need to cut it to size depending on the ones you have.  I know there are some very cute little ones around.

On mine I scored the Real Red cardstock at around 6cm to provide the flap.  The background was made using Whisper White cardstock cut approximately 0.5cm smaller than the Real Red width and the length to under the score line.  The tiny background was made using the little stamps from the Polar Party stamp set in Real Red, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.

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Using my Crop-a-dile, I punched 2 holes to go either side of the candy cane and threaded some gorgeous dotty ribbon through that I had left over from an old project.  It really just lent itself to this project.  However, if I had had any left I would have used the Old Olive Scallop Dots Ribbon from the catalogue.

I stamped the Christmas Greeting in Real red using the stamp from the Tags til Christmas stamp set and punched it out using the Scallop Square punch.

If you are worried that the candy cane might move just add a couple of Mini Glue dots to the back of it before popping it onto the card and tying the ribbon.

That it for now.

Back Soon

TheSassyStampersElaineSig_byAngieWhalley11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 15 October 2012

New Class Date and a Thank You.

Hello All,


I just wanted to write to say thank you to you all for your patience and loyalty while I have been absent. As most of you know, our family moved home in June and it has been a major change for us all. New house, new area, new schools etc. Oh and new craft room too! There'll be some photo's going up on my blog soon.


However, as I promised to you before I moved, I will still be holding classes and workshops in and around the North West London area with classes still being held regularly at the old venue in Hatch End, Harrow. I knew that I would miss all my old customers, many of whom have become very good friends and so I knew that I did not want to leave them completely. I have missed seeing you all and would like to thank you for keeping in touch while I have settled in.



Class Information

Harrow Arts Centre:-



Harrow Arts Centre, 171 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Middlesex HA5 4EA
Sunday 21st October - 11:45 - 2:15 (Turner Room - Art Block)








Card Buffet £15 - This session will give you the opportunity to make 10 cards, plus extra to take home.  Please advise when booking if you would prefer Christmas, Hanukkah or Birthday .

To book your place you may either pay via PayPal, cheque or by bank transfer upon request. Please book in advance to avoid disappointment.


Click Here to Pay
      
I am also in the process of securing a new venue in the Berkshire area where we now live. So if you have been following my emails or blogs posts and not been able to get to a class then I do hope that maybe you'll be able to come along to my new classes in Berkshire. I should have dates in the next few days.


I can't wait to see you all soon.

ElaineSmithSignature_byAngieWhalley12
 


Sunday 14 October 2012

New Annual Catalogue!


Woo Hoo, it’s here, and it’s bigger and better.  The all New, All Fabulous Annual Catalogue.

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We asked (well begged really) and Stampin’ up! listened!  We asked for more Stamp Sets, we got it.  We asked for more Sizzix Dies, we got it!  We asked for a catalogue just like the one in the USA, and Oh Boy did we get it! OK there are a few tiny little things that aren’t the same but, we sure did get 98% of it.  And I can tell you IT IS FAB!!!
There are so many new, fabulous items, I just don’t know where to start!  So instead of making a list, I'll just post up some fab projects for you to see using lots of the new goodies from this Annual Catalogue over the next few days.
What’s that I hear you say?  “I’d love a free copy of this catalogue!”  Really?  Well, get in touch and I'll be happy to post one off to you*.  But don’t delay, this offer of a free Annual Catalogue will run out on Halloween (31st October 2012)
Want to get your hands on more Freebies…Join my team today and get a pack of Designer Series Paper Free for 6 months!
Happy Crafting

*Please note that you can only receive a free catalogue if you reside in one of the European countries covered by Stampin’ Up!  (UK, France, Germany, Austria and Netherlands)
 

Monday 1 October 2012

Welcome to the Blog Hop.

 

Hello there,

Thanks for stopping by.  Today’s post is part of a large Blog Hop, so I hope you have a large cup or glass of something, and you're sitting comfortably so we can begin…

Now hopefully, if you are following the Blog Hop, you’ll have come from Erika’s blog, where I am sure you have seen truly inspiring creations.  If you have only just joined us, welcome.  I have included the full list of blog participants at the end of this post if you want to start at the beginning, plus you’ll be able to hop to next person from me toward the end of my post.

So without further ado, here is my New Catalogue Creation for you…

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The basis for my card and the mini drawers was the fabulous new Patio Party Designer Series Papers.

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Colour Combo - Baja Breeze, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White.

I just love the striking mix of colours.  I teamed it up with the co-ordinating Make a Cake stamp set.  The greeting is from the very wonderful Itty Bitty Banners stamp set that has co-ordinating Sizzix Framelits.

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The cake was stamped in our very new in-colour Midnight Muse.  Not only is the colour new, but so is the ink pad – all our inkpads will be moving over to this new, juicer ink pad with a firm foam rather than felt pad.  It allows for much better stamping, especially on the more solid images.  The little flowers were punched out using the flower punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.  I used the Modern Label Pinch to give the embellishment an interesting shape.

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The banner message is as I said before, from the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set that has been cut using it’s co-ordinating Sizzix Framelits, and a couple of Basic pearls added. 

Onto the little gift drawers,

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Aren’t they just so sweet?  I love them.  I was trying to think what i would put in the as a gift.  Maybe earrings? Money? Chocolate?  I am sure there are plenty of little goodies that can go in there.

The drawers are actually 3 little handmade matchboxes, stacked on top of each other and bound together using the same Patio Party DSP  and Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon that is on the card.

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Well, I hope that you have enjoyed my little project today.  Please feel free to leave a comment – I love hearing what you think.

Don’t forget if there is anything that you have seen today that you would love to order, please do get in touch.  You can give me a call on 07825 655 044 or email me at sassystampers@gmail.com.

If you would like to receive up to date information from my blog add you email address  on the ‘follow my posts by email’ link found on the right hand side of my blog or use the Subscribe now Icon at the bottom.  You can also join my site using Google friends or follow me on Twitter or Facebook using the links at the bottom of the blog.

Please pop over to Nicky’s blog for more fabulous projects.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Crafting.

 

 

 

 

Blog Hop List:-

1 - CreativeIdeas_Laura http://laura-creativeideas.blogspot.com
2 - Margaretk21 -
http://makingpapercrafts.blogspot.com
3 - Angela
www.sparklycards.blogspot.co.uk
4 - Leanie -
www.beautifulimpressions.co.uk
5 - Alison -
www.craftingalison.blogspot.com
6 - Beckie -
www.bextiesandstickytape.blogspot.com
7 - Gill -
http://lilybygilly.wordpress.com
8 - Diane -
http://craftwithstyle.blogspot.com
9 - Dawn -
www.tartanstamper.blogspot.com
10- Zoë
http://www.stampingscene.blogspot.com
11- Fiona W -
http://oakfieldcrafts.blogspot.com
12- Elaina -
http://moulinrougestamps.blogspot.co.uk
13- Anne-Marie - http://classycrafters.blogspot.co.uk
14- Sarah -
http://esellek.blogspot.co.uk
15- Vronnie -
http://vronstampin.blogspot.co.uk
16- Christa - http://serendipity-stamping.blogspot.co.uk
17- RuthE -
http://pearsonifiedcrafting.blogspot.co.uk
18- CarolynUK -
http://stampaholix.blogspot.co.uk/
19- Amanda - http://thecraftspa.blogspot.com
20- Patricia - http://stampinbeckscraft.blogspot.com
21- Tara - http://ihaventgotacleverblogname.blogspot.co.uk
22- Emma (Citaborca) - http://cocktailofcard.blogspot.co.uk/
23- Emma H - http://www.emma-letsstamp.blogspot.co.u
24- Sarah Scribbles - http://card-delights.blogspot.com
25- Sarnie - http://www.kraftybiker.blogspot.com/
26- Sharon - http://all-inked-up-sharon.blogspot.co.uk
27- Lynn - http://www.heavenlycrafts.com/stampinheaven/
28- Emma - http://www.emma-daye.blogspot.com
29- Erika - http://twintroublescreations.blogspot.co.uk/
30- Elaine - http://thesassystampers.blogspot.co.uk/
31- Nicky - http://nickyjohncock.blogspot.com
32- Jane - http://cheshiredesignhouse.blogspot.com/
33- Kara - http://karascraftycorner.blogspot.com/
34- Ally - http://www.serendipitypapercuts.blogspot.com
35- Clare (Sparkle) - http://www.sparklecrafts.blogspot.com
36- Julie H (craftybug) - http://www.the-crafty-bug.blogspot.com
37- Jane (browniow) - http://www.janeiowcraftycreations.blogspot.com/

Free Paper Promotion when you join!

 

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That’s right! Get FREE Designer Series Paper for SIX MONTHS when you join my team become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator during October or November.

As a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, you’ll enjoy exclusive benefits such as

  • A 20 percent product discount!
  • A free subscription to Stampin’ Up!’s demonstrator magazine!
  • Access to a thriving online community of stampers and paper crafters from around the world!
  • An open invitation to fabulous Stampin’ Up! events!

That’s one FREE pack each month for 6 months, just for joining!

Want to sign up straight away?  No problem, Well click here to get started.

Don’t forget to have you starter kit items wish list ready.  You can see the new Annual Catalogue here and our Seasonal Catalogue here

Don’t wait to get started—contact me today!  What Designer Series Papers will you choose first?

Thursday 27 September 2012

Blog Hop is coming...

 
 
Check out the next Blog Hop....
 
 
 


See you on the 1st!
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Big Top Scrapping

 

The Big Top Birthday Designer Series papers are just fabulous for children's party scrapping.  They are such fun bright papers and have fabulous Quick Accents to match beautifully for a quick fun layout.

Here’s 3 that I made while staying with my friend and fellow demo Rachel Booth and are based on her designs.

 

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Hey look, I used buttons……..

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And more buttons……..

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Unfortunately this set of papers is retiring soon so if you would like to get your hands on some before they’re gone get in touch today.

Happy Scrapping!

ElaineSmithSignature_byAngieWhalley12

Friday 14 September 2012

Leadership Swaps - Part1

Remember a previous post I talked about my recent training with Stampin’ Up! called Leadership?  And as part of the training we get to swap ideas with other demonstrators from around the UK. 

Today is part 1 of 2 showcasing some of those swaps…..

First up is this one made by Sharon Gronow.  I love the idea of it being a postcard – who wouldn’t want to receive a handmade post card like that?  The jar from perfectly preserved is fab!

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Next up is from Nicole Foinette .  I love the cards base that Nicole used called Naturals Ivory which wasn’t in my stash…But will be soon as it is totally gorgeous and I just had to have it!  I love the Vellum that Nicole used for her jar.  Can I buy the set just to have the jar??? Winking smile

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So how about this for a Halloween treat?  It was made by Joanne Penney It’s a fab little Cauldron treat bag made from the Window Frames Framelits in the Autumn/Winter Seasonal Catalogue.

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And how about this for a fun Halloween or even a little boy’s card.  This was made Karen Young

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I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of the lovely swaps that I received.  I’ll bring you more soon.

ElaineSmithSignature_byAngieWhalley12

Thursday 6 September 2012

Leadership Training and Swaps!

 

Part of being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator means that we get to go to some very cool and fun training events such as Convention, Leadership and regional training. One of the things that all Demonstrators love about being at any of the training events is seeing tons of new product on display and taking part in “Swaps”.

Many demonstrators will make a whole stack of card fronts of the same design (or not as some do not like the repetition ;-) ) and then will swap with other demonstrators for their creations. Its a great way to get ideas and see product that you may not have bought yourself.

This time I managed to get around 30 swaps done myself and so brought some fabulous ones home with me. I am going to show case a few of them over the next few posts and where possible credit them to the person who made them. Unfortunately some do not have the person’s details on, so if it is your creation please let me know so I may credit it back to you.

Here is my swap –

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This time I went without making an actual card but instead chose to make Christmas Tags. The base is Lucky Limeade cut using the tag from the two tags die. Notice the Shimmery White snowflake? That’s from the new Autumn Winter catalogue. It’s the mid size Snowflake from the gorgeous Snow Flurry Bigz Die.

Now have you spotted the Bling?? Oh my gosh, I love love love it! In case you hadn’t noticed I do like my bling. Sorry got distracted by shiny stuff! The Champagne Glimmer paper is gorgeous. Full of sparkle and no mess when cutting or punching it out. So no loss of glitter and no glittery mess! The small 1 ¼” Scallop Circle punch is just so delicate.

The little Christmas Tree comes from the Merry Minis punch pack which includes the tree, a star and a mini Christmas bauble. And they match the Merry Mini’s stamp Set in the AW catalogue.

I used Whisper White Craft ink and the sentiment from the Delightful Dozen Stamp Set to finish off the project.

I’ll post up some of the swaps I got in return from my fellow demonstrators in my next few posts.

Happy Stamping!

ElaineSmithSignature_byAngieWhalley12

Wednesday 5 September 2012

We’re so excited.. New Autumn & Winter Catalogue!

 

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Oh my goodness, we are being so spoilt by Stampin’ Up!  Have you seen the fabulous new Autumn & Winter Seasonal Catalogue yet?

You can see a copy of it here or contact me a sassystampers@gmail.com for a free copy posted to you.

It’s jam packed full of fabulous, scrummy and just downright gorgeous stamps, cutting dies and accessories.  Not only that there are bundles of goodies at a discount…yep that's right at a discount!

You can see the names of the bundles on Page 2 of the catalogue which will also tell you where in the catalogue they appear.  My favourite, like most is the Ornament bundle which can be used, along with other items, to make the stunning decoration on the from of the catalogue.

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So if you just love a Halloween treats, or want to send a Hanukkah card or gift then this catalogue has it all.

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Get in touch today and place your order. You can email me at sassystampers@gmail.com or call on 07825 655 044

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

ElaineSmithSignature_byAngieWhalley12