Monday, November 30

Join me in my PRIVATE PROMOTION

This post will remain at the top until Nov 30th. Please scroll down for new posts.

* * * Anyone who orders this stamp FROM ME between now and November 30th will receive an ink pad of their choice for *free (worth £4.25)! * * *

See here for more details.

Monday, November 9

I'm baaaaaaa-ck!

Oh my lord! I'm back from convention and I had THE best time!!! I have sooo much to tell you but I'm gonna have to keep you on your tippy toes that wee bit longer as I have a workshop to finalise for tomorrow evening, so unfortunately for my blog readers that will take priority. By the way, this morning I've had the total shakes, I believe it is post convention adrenalin lol! Seriously! I'll try and get back on as soon as poss. Love ya! L x

Tuesday, October 20

Mounted differently... oo-er missus!

Same 'wee' card just mounted onto a larger square base card stamped with the 'Baroque Motifs' flourish in the corner. L x

...working on swaps, clothes shopping

It's been non-stop here since I last posted. I've been working on swaps for convention, clothes shopping, catching up with old friends, an open day, more clothes shopping and yet more swaps lol! My diary is fairly filling up with appointments & things to do before the big trip. I'm actually also going to visit my brother in London for a few days, just before Germany... got a day at home before I set off again!
Attached is a wee card I made using the 'Best Wishes & More' stamp set. I made it quite a few months back now, but never got round to uploading it. I'm thinking of making some similar tree-type toppers using the leaf stamp for convention swaps.

Friday, October 16

If you're wondering how...

Well, the workshop was last night and a swell time was had by all. We made a Christmas card and accompanying gift tag. I don't want to reveal the photos of the M&T's as I have been asked to attend another 'earlier' workshop at Mauchline's own craft club... they're going to make the same card. So, to keep you inspired is a card I made a few months ago using the 'Scene In a Garden' stamp set that was available from the April-September 'mini' catalogue. It was a complete copy-cat of the card featured in the catalogue - I just tweaked a few bits here and there. If you're wondering how I coloured in the images, I used ink from the stamp pads applied with Stampin' Up! blender pens... a brilliant way to build up colour I think. If you are a rubber stamp fan and like to colour in, then you should definitely invest in a pack of the blender pens - three in a pack for £6.95, Item No. 110019. I hope you like it. Night night then.

It's amazing what you find when you tidy up

This is the treat bag I was telling you about the other day. It was hiding in between some magazines I hadn't got round to putting away... that'll teach me.

My wee overnight stay in Glasgow was good. It's always a chance for me to completely chill out when I'm up there - the worries just fade away, for a bit that is!

Wednesday, October 14

A Rose Is a Rose... in Autumn

So, I had my first ever 'home' party in July of this year. Agnes in Saltcoats was the host, who I first met when I did a demonstration at the Stevenston gig back in May. I bumped into her and Sheena (best pals) again when Mum and I did a bout of craft stalls during the Summer months. They were very keen to find out more about Stampin' Up!'s products, therefore decided to have a party. The theme was Autumn, so I chose 'More Mustard', 'Bravo Burgundy' and 'Old Olive'. The card pictured is what I based my demo on, to show off the 2 step stampin' technique with the 'A Rose Is a Rose' stamp set, some faux stitching and distressed edges. I had pre-spattered the tag, an effect I absoluetly LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! But DOH, DOH, DOH! I just realised I've already shown you their M&T card in last nights post... it was the one in the bottom left with colours to suit. Another doh! of mine is that we made a really cute treat bag, but I failed to photograph it and somehow cannot put my hand on it now take another pic!!! I'll make one up tomorrow and take a photo, then I can show it off to the Tarbolton ladies too. Anyhoo, I digress, the party was brilliant, great company, what a laugh and everyone placed orders too :-))) Many thanks to Agnes and friends... and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year at the craft class.

Well, I best be off. I'm going to Glasgow tonight to stay over at my sisters, I haven't seen her in while. Little does she know however, that I'm going to rake through her wardrobe to see if I can find an outfit for Mum to wear at convention for the gala dinner, as Mum has lost some weight too :-) Dad's getting concerned that we are going to bring back some hot men from Germany, seeing as we're getting thinner lol!!!

Have a good night folks and I'll be back on Friday to tell you how it went at Tarbolton. Take care. Love Louise X

Tuesday, October 13

...desperate to get back to my craft room

Grabbed my Dad to go a 7 mile walk this morning, but got about a fifth of the way there when I wanted to go home... desperate to get back to my craft room. Lots of prep work for a workshop this week that's happening at Tarbolton. No sneaky peeks of the Make & Take projects though... just incase any of my ladies log on, wouldn't want to spoil the surprise :-D

Uploaded is a set of cards I made to showcase (at my last workshop) using the 'Pocket Silhouettes' stamp set. The card at the top left was actually inspired from one of the M&T cards we made at SU! training back in June. I used the same stamp layout for the other 3 cards, but changed colours and embellishments to suit, as I was going for a card for each season through the year. I had fun making these cards, as they were quick & easy.

Was hoping to have posted more by now, but with me preparing for this workshop and fitting my walks in, I haven't had the time unfortunately. Tomorrow I will show you the M&T projects from my first ever 'home' workshop :-) Must go to bed now. Later!

Monday, October 12

Update on the Cambridge Diet

Today was weigh in day... I lost 3lbs. My experience so far on the diet has been a bit bumpy, lots of ups and downs. I started at the beginning of July, which means I've been trying to stick to my shakes, soups & bars for the last 3 months or so. I haven't lost weight at the rate I could have, however, what I have lost has made an incredible difference to me - overall, 2 stone and 8 pounds. I have dropped 2/3 dress sizes, which I didn't even really realise until I went 'convention' clothes shopping last week!!! The trip to Germany is getting closer now, which of course was the impetus for me losing some weight. Last week my counsellor set me the challenge of losing a stone before my holidays and if I succeeded she would give me 10 CD Cranberry Crunch bars free of charge!!! Nothing like a bit of candy to give you a dash of willpower eh?! The countdown begins! L x

Sunday, October 11

Say it with subtlety

Originally meant to be a Christmas card, however, with the subtle colouring I thought it lent itself perfectly to a sympathy card. Sentiment from the 'Close As a Memory' stamp set and the main image is of course the new Medallion background stamp!!!


I bought the 'Close As a Memory' stamp set because I know some people can struggle when it comes to making an appropriate sympathy card. I hope to make some more cards with this set sometime in the near future. Louise x

Experimenting with the Medallion Stamp

What do you think?! I was fiddling about with my Medallion stamp this afternoon, trying to copy this card, but ended up cutting my matt short, so had to change the orientation and adding different elements till I was happy with it. The pheasant & pine cone images are from 'Autumn Days'... another stamp set I am keen to explore more. L x

LOVING the new medallion stamp

My FAVOURITE stamp from the new catalogue (at the moment!) is the Medallion background stamp. I love its huge-ness & its ability to look modern or traditional. It's up to you which way you take it, the possibilities are endless.


*** Now, because I am LOVING the new medallion stamp so much & I'm sure you will too, anyone who orders this stamp from me between now and November 30th will receive an ink pad of their choice for *free (worth £4.25)! ***

Take advantage of this offer NOW and get busy making cards for Christmas with this stunning stamp!

*Excluding postage. Please note P&P charges will be charged as normal - £3.95 or 5% of order total... whichever is greater.

Here it is!

It's the brand new 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue! Guaranteed, as soon as you have the catalogue in your hands & glance at the front cover, you won't be able to resist treating yourself to some new SU! stash!!!
Yet again, the catalogue is brimming with unique, eye-catching and inspiring ideas. Load of new stamps & accessories waiting to be discovered... as well as some old favourites :-)

I've been awol again

Hallo there. Please accept my apologies... I really am sorry to have neglected my blog. So as not to bore you, I'll begin to explain what's been happening this end over the next few days if that's alright? Besides, I've got more exciting stuff to talk about just now - like the release of the new Idea Book & Catalogue!!!

Sunday, June 28

The Cambridge Diet... CD for short

This will be the first time I have ever tackled a diet as drastic as this, any previous weight loss has been achieved through Weight Watchers, calorie counting and once the Atkins.  I remember feeling fantastic on the Atkins, no hunger and lots of energy, which is why I thought I could give the CD a go.  I am gonna give it 100%.  I am fed up with my weight controlling everything I do, or don't do more to the point.  For a start, maybe I could bag myself a first boyfriend lol!  Yikes, I've just tried to picture that... how scary!  Also, I don't want to bog my blog down with diet talk, so hope I can limit the amount of times I mention it... especially if 'things' go pear shaped lol!  Deffo no before & after pics gettin' posted on here LOL!

Flights, hotels, passports!

A couple days after training more details of convention were posted on the demo' website.  A few of the Scottish girls had booked their flights already and advised me to book up while the prices were still reasonable.  Panic set in however, as I haven't been on a plane since 2003 and that was the last year my passport was valid!  I HATE phoning people I don't know, so booking the flights, hotel etc was nerve racking.  My hearing is duff and it felt like I was on the phone for days!!!  Believe it or not, I put off renewing my passport because I didn't want to get my picture taken when I was so big looking... I always said I'd lose weight first.  What a sad situation to be in.  Anyway! I hadn't left myself with much choice to get it renewed after booking my flights first, so I set up a wee studio in the house and got Mum to take a few pics of me... there was no way on earth I was gonna go to a photo booth - the pictures they take are soooooo unflattering!  Mum needed a new passport too, so we both dolled ourselves up for the shoot!  Attached is a pic of us when we broke a few smiles!!!  Isn't Mum lovely looking?  She is booked up for Germany too, let's hope we can organise for her to join in on the convention experience too.

Stampin' Up! training & convention!

The first week of June, I attended my first Stampin' Up! training in Glasgow.  Had a great time, met some really lovely folk, made some groovy make & takes, plus got excited about the potential of attending 'convention' in November!

What is convention I hear you ask?  Well, not that I've actually experienced it myself yet, but this is what I've gathered from looking on some US demonstrator websites...  An annual event to experience great times with stamping friends, swap ideas and gain fresh, imaginative ideas for projects and workshops.  This is the first ever European Stampin' Up! convention, which will be held in November of this year in Bad Homburg, Germany.  Demonstrators from the UK, Germany and France will gather for two days of celebration, education and motivation.

This is the special event that I want to lose weight for, as there will be a group of Scottish demonstrators going and we are called the 'Tartan Stampers'!  We're gonna all dress up with the same Scottish/Tartan gear and have a right riot of a time!  I cannot wait!

5 weeks on...

Hello!  So it's been a few weeks since I last posted, sorry I left you in the lurch.  It's been rather hectic with one thing and another, plus, I chose to spend a bit of time doing not a lot - recharge my batteries.

  
I certainly needed to chill out after a weekend away in Edinburgh/Kirkcaldy.  Why does driving knacker you out so much?!  On the way up to Edinburgh, I stopped off to see Euan, an old college friend from my horticulture days at Auchincruive.  It was sooo good to see him! We spent a couple hours wandering round the nursery and catching up before heading off to the Travelodge.  The travelodge was booked back in January as we were supposed to be doing the MoonWalk again this year, but we haven't been in the garden to get our fitness levels up and hadn't been getting any training in, so decided to make use of the room and enjoy a weekend away.  On the Sunday we headed over the Forth Road bridge to Kirkcaldy to see our good crafting friend Christina.  She put on a lovely lunch for us, we enjoyed her and her cats Theo and Cassie's company very much :-)  Actually Christina, if you're reading this, we headed even further up the coast after we left you to Anstruther to get a fish supper, seeing as it was such a nice evening and to make the most of our time in the Fife countryside!

Mum and I have also been busy thinking and trying to organise decorations for a barn we've been asked to decorate.  My uncle is organising a family/friend get together to celebrate the life of my Gran, who died a few years ago.  We want the decorations to evoke memories of time spent with my Gran, so we're going to create some unique bunting made with handkerchiefs, hats, scarves, and bags.  I hope it turns out as nice we're imagining!

You know, I am supposed to be doing lots of mini posts rather than one big long one, but I obviously just can't do mini... literally!  Although saying that, I hope to go somewhat 'mini' shortly as I've signed myself up for the Cambridge diet.  I've got a very special event coming up that I would like to be significantly smaller for!

Okay, that'll do for now, I'll try and post more throughout the rest of the evening.  Hope you've all had a good weekend and the sun has been shining on you.  Take care, Louise X

Wednesday, May 27

The Mauchline Holy Fair 2009

Hiya! I've managed to grab the chance to sit down and put a post up. Had the Stampin' Up! stall at Mauchline Holy Fair on Saturday there. A good day, but at a slight disadvantage with the weather, as it was windy and my fingers were struggling to work with the cold :-( Again some interest was sparked in the product and the craft classes I advertised, so all in all another successful event. However, as I said, being outdoors was a bit rubbish, so only indoor events from now on lol! If you came along to the stand at the Holy Fair, please say hello and let me know you made it to my blog! That's all for now, will try and get on later to blog some more... let you know what's what lol! Take care. Love Louise X


PS Sorry to not have been in touch with friends recently, as you can imagine it's been a busy time with me preparing for the stalls. I don't mean to ignore you :-( I hope to be in touch shortly!

Tuesday, May 19

Stevenston stall update


The stall at Stevenston went well.  Gathered quite a crowd for my demonstration and there was a lot of interest in the products.  Got a couple leads out of it and a few business cards given away... so fingers crossed!


I completely forgot to take photographs on the day, something I ALWAYS forget to do.    However, I do take before pics of my table, which is what you can see.  My Mum managed to take a couple... one out of focus and the other she chopped the top off my head lol!


I'm off to bed now, tried to catch up with people as much as possible today, back to stall preparations again tomorrow lol!  Night night folks.

P.S. Meant to mention that the blog candy winner was chosen at random using that random integer generator thingy!  Just in case anybody was wondering!!!