Feeling Crafty with Bekka Prideaux Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Smile - Its Sale-a-Bration

2012-02-02T10:00:00.006Z

Today I am going to show you a card which features lots of Sale-a-Bration products. There is nothing like Free Products to bring a smile to your face!

The card features images from the Fresh Vintage and Sprinkled Expressions Stamp Sets and papers from the Everyday Enchantment pack.

I know I have not shown you the Sprinkled Expressions Stamps yet but dont worry there are some on the way so be sure to check back soon!

Happy Stampin'

Hello Elementary Elegance

2012-02-01T10:00:00.003Z

Today I am going to introduce you to the lovely FREE Elementary Elegance Stamp Set. This is one of the four stamp sets you could choose for Free when you place a qualifying order during Sale-a-Bration. You can find full details of Sale-a-Bration here.

The Elementary Elegance Stamp Set features a wonderful frame that looks fantastic on cards and which would also make a great journaling spot on a scrapbook page. The stamp set also has two greetings, that I use a lot, Hello and Happy Birthday, as well as four coordinating images. All the stamps in the set also coordinate with the gorgeous Everyday Enchantment Papers which are also only available as part of Sale-a-Bration.

The first thing I made with this stamp set is this batch of hello cards.

I love how all the elements of the stamp set fit together and how you can punch out the centre using the Curly Label Punch!

If you would like to add these stamps to your collection email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin

You are Loved Sympathy Cards

2012-01-31T10:00:00.008Z

The cards I am going to share with you today are my least favourite kind of cards to make - Sympathy Cards. Unfortunately I have needed a few of these recently.

The two cards are basically the same design, but in very different colour ways. This first one is traditional colours.

While this second one is more reflective of the person I was sending it to.

Both cards feature the wonderful flower from the You are Loved Stamp Set, a stamp set which is not just for Valentines Day, but which is also idea for anytime you want to tell someone how special they are. To purchase this stamp set or any of the other items used to make this card please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Hello Monday!

2012-01-30T10:00:00.001Z

Hello Monday - its good to see you and to start another week! Today I am going to share some Hello Cards I made for some very special ladies who have been going through a bit of a tough time recently.

The card features the lovely Spiced Paisley Papers along with a flower from the delicious Blossom Party Die. The wonderful little greeting is from the fantastic Swirls and Curls Verses Stamp Set which is exclusively available to hostesses. You can find it on page 5 of the Mini Catalogue. I think the greetings in this set are really pretty and will work for so many different occasions and cards.

If you would like to earn yourself some Hostess Pounds to spend on this stamp set, or indeed any of the other exclusive Hostess Goodies, or come to that on anything you want email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and lets make it happen! You can earn Hostess Pounds when you host a fun party at your home, when you host a virtual party or when you join a Hostess Club. Don't forget that during Sale-A-Bration you and your guests can also earn extra free exclusive stamp sets and Designer Series Papers.

Happy Stampin'

Happy Birthday Cupcake!

2012-01-29T10:00:00.001Z

Today I am going to share with you a Cupcake Birthday Card I made for a young friend of mine. Can you guess how old she is?

The card features the lovely Cupcake Stamp Set and matching Cupcake Punch as well as the 6cm Scallop Circle Punch. The greeting is from the lovely and FREE Outlines Occasions Stamp Set. If you were to purchase the two punches I have used on this card and the Cupcake Stamp Set, you could also have this stamp set for free! Got to love Sale-a-Bration! Click here for full details.

Happy Stampin'

Scrapbook Saturday - Everyday Enchantment Album

2012-01-28T10:00:00.011Z

Welcome to this week's Scrapbook Saturday - and today I am going to show you an album featuring the wonderful and FREE Everyday Enchantment Papers which are available as part of this year's Sale-a-Bration!

I am totally enchanted by these papers and would love to use them every day - so they are certainly well named.

I have kept the pages really simple so we can really see these scrummy papers. I just need to add the photos and some journalling. Here are the opening and closing pages.

And the rest of the pages

If you were to purchase this album, the ribbon, the brads, the scallop edge punch and the very vanilla card stock you would get a full pack of 12 sheets of this delicious 12 x 12 inch papers FREE! Brilliant.

To place your order email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk.

I have to dash - its time to get ready for the last two performances of our Pirate Pantomime! Oh yes it is!

Happy Stampin'

Find Out About Friday - 3 Reasons you Should Join my Team of Stampin' Superstars Now!

2012-01-27T10:00:00.056Z

Today, for our Find Out About Friday, I am going to share with you the top 3 reasons that you should join my team, the Stampin' Superstars, right now. I can't believe its time for another Find Out About Friday already! This week seems to have rushed by in a blur of rehearsals and then yesterday the opening night of the village panto - we had lots to do this week to be ready but I am a happy director this morning.

So what are the top 3 reasons you should join my Stampin' Up! team now?

Reason Number 1 - This is THE best time of year to join Stampin' Up!

During Sale-a-Bration Stampin' Up! add an extra stamp set of any value to your starter kit. This means for an investment of £119 you get kit worth up to £300
You will be launching your business at a time when your customers and hostesses can benefit from the excellent Sale-a-Bration offers helping you to get off to a flying start and making money sharing what you love quickly.
There are additional rewards available to Demonstrators as part of Sale-a-Bration and you too could benefit from them. These include free stamp sets and products that will not be available to buy until the 2012/13 Idea Book and Catalogue Launches

Reason Number 2 - Great Recognition, Rewards and Support

Stampin' Up! offer great rewards and recognition schemes. As well as the income you can earn you can also qualify for free products, free luxury holidays and even get the cost of your starter kit back. Stampin' Up! give you access to training and support to achieve these things which includes a dedicated demonstrator web site with training materials, newsletters and live training events (the next ones are in April/May)
Additionally my team get one on one coaching, monthly and quarterly team training, monthly hints and tips by email, a team website with hints, tips and project ideas, and twice a year we have team social stamping day. You will be joining one of the most active and successful teams in the UK and you will benefit from the whole team's experience.
When you start you will get a welcome pack from me which includes some tools that will help you grow your business, and be able to benefit from the additional incentives I have put in place for my team.

Reason Number 3 - You can grow your business your way

You will be in control of the hours you work . You can fit your business around your family, another job and your other commitments
You will be in control of the money you make - your rewards will be proportional to your efforts. The more you do the more you will earn
You will be able to benefit from the rewards running a successful business brings

Contact me (bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk or call 07990 837 990) and lets chat and find out if Stampin' Up! is for you.

The sooner you contact me the sooner you could be enjoying all these benefits!

Happy Stampin'

Sale-a-bration Fresh Vintage

2012-01-26T10:00:00.002Z

I could not resist showing you another pair of cards made with the gorgeous and Free Sale-a-Bration Stamp Set Fresh Vintage. I love all of the images in this set and have so many ideas for it. I suspect you will be seeing a lot more of it round here!

The colours on today's cards were inspired by the Everyday Enchantment Papers that you can also earn free during Sale-a-Bration. You can find full details of Sale-a-Bration here, as a customer you get to choose one free Sale-a-Bration item for every £45 you spend. There are four gorgeous stamp sets and a scrummy pack of Designer Series Papers to collect. There are fantastic offers for Hostesses and New Recruits too!

If you would like to get yourself this stamp set or any of the other Sale-a-Bration items please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Sale-a-bration Fresh Vintage Box of Cards

2012-01-25T10:00:00.005Z

As far as I am concerned there is only one thing better than new stamp sets and that is free new stamp sets! I am really enjoying using the new Sale-a-bration Stamp Sets and Papers I shared with you yesterday. In fact the hardest thing for me is deciding which to use - the only solution is going to be to collect them all!!!

Today I am going to share a project with you that features the wonderful Fresh Vintage Stamp Set - a box of cards that would look beautiful sat on any desk. I can see me making lots more of these.

Here is the box

The cards show you all the different stamps in this set -here they are - there is easily room for two of each design with their envelopes in the finished box.

If you purchase the In Color Designer Paper Pack, the Postage Stamp Punch, the Glimmer Brads and the In Color Ribbon that I have used before the end of March, you would earn yourself this gorgeous Fresh Vintage Stamp Set for FREE! What is more if you purchase these items from me I will also email you FREE my tutorial on how to make this project.

To place your order email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

How to Earn FREE Stamps and Free Designer Series Papers.

2012-01-24T10:00:00.002Z

Would you like some Free Stamp Sets and Free Double Sided Designer Series Papers? OK, I know that is a daft question, so let me share with you how you can!

Today is the first day of the most wonderful promotion of the Stampin' Up! year, Sale-a-Bration and I am so excited to be able to finally share the details with you.

Click here to download the brochure. Sale-a-Bration runs until 31 March

For every £45 you spend (before post and packing) you will earn one selection from the Sale-a-Bration Brochure. The four stamp sets you can choose between are stunning and are not available for sale - you can only get them as part of this promotion. This year for the first time there is also a full pack of 12x12 Double Sided Designer Series Papers to choose - and my are they lush! I know I am going to need lots and lots of those papers!

Sounds pretty good so far! But that is just the start. When you host a party during Sale-a-Bration you can also get yourself another selection from the brochure ...

Or if you join my team you can choose any stamp set of any value from either the main Idea Book and Catalogue or the Mini Catalogue to be added to your starter kit absolutely free! The starter kit is fantastic value - it costs just £119 and with this stamp set it could be worth £300 - that really is what I call value! You would also be joining Stampin' Up! at a great time of year to start making money sharing what you love. There are more details here.

Over the next few days I will share projects made with these wonderful products but for now I will leave you with pictures of what you could be choosing for FREE

You see - there really is something for everyone this Sale-a-Bration! Download the brochure here and then just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk or call 07990 837 990 to take advantage of any of these offers

Happy Stampin'

Material Monday - No Sew Fabric Flower Bookmark

2012-01-23T10:00:00.001Z

How did it get to be Monday again already! I had a great weekend but I am excited that this week is here - Sale-A-Bration starts tomorrow! It is simply THE best promotion in the Stampin' Up! year with lots of free stamps and gorgeous papers on offer - I can't wait to share it with you so you can see why I am so excited about these beautiful goodies. Only one more sleep!

One of the fun things I got to do this weekend was spend a some time curled up with a good book, so today I thought I would share a fun and fast fabric project with you - a No Sew Fabric Flower Bookmark.

The flower was cut from the fabby Blossom Party Die using the lovely Spice Cake fabric. The Die Cut layers and the stamped layer are held together using a gorgeous In Color Brad. There is another large flower stuck to the back of the bookmark covering the ends of the brad.

If you were to purchase the die, the fabric, the ribbon and the ink pad I have used tomorrow, you would get the stamp that I used Free! I can't wait for it and I know you are going to love all the stamps and papers on offer, so be sure to check back tomorrow

Happy Stampin'

Birthday Cupcake Card for a Man

2012-01-22T10:00:00.001Z

Today I am going to share a card I made for my OH's recent birthday. This seemed like the perfect excuse - I mean chance - to use the wonderful Create a Cupcake Stamp Set and matching Cupcake Punch that had just arrived on my desk!

Here I have combined it with strips of the wonderful Spice Cake Papers, woven together to make a fun and textured background. The Cupcake is sat on a frame made from the Designer Frames Embossing Folder.

Did you know that from Tuesday until 31 March, as part of the wonderful Sale-A-Bration promotion from Stampin' Up!, if you were to purchase the Cupcake Stamp Set in wood mount, the matching Cupcake Punch and a pack of Spice Cake Papers from me you would earn yourself another stamp set for free? I can't tell you much more about it until Tuesday, but for every £45 you spend during Sale-A-Bration you get to choose either an exclusive Stamp Set or pack of papers that will only ever be available during Sale-A-Bration! Brilliant so be sure to check back on Tuesday and to email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk to place your order.

Happy Stampin'

Scrapbook Saturday - Malta at Christmas

2012-01-21T10:00:00.006Z

This week we had the first meeting of this month's Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club, we had a great time and today I am going to share the page we all made.

This year I was fortunate enough to get a few days away in Malta the week before Christmas - it was wonderful to be in the sunshine and Malta is very beautiful. There are plenty of photos to scrap so I am sure you will find out more about it as they get scrapped! One of the things that was lovely but very different to my expectations of Christmas was looking at the Maltese way of getting ready for Christmas. This photo of a Christmas Tree at the end of the line of Palms sums that up for me.

The papers we are featuring this month are the lovely Holly Berry Specialty Papers. Just delicious! I also played with punches to make this lovely wreath embellishment.

Our theme this month is Remember December and for me that is not all about Christmas and the Holly Berry Specialty Papers are also great for Non Christmas Pages. One of the other December highlights for me was a camera day out in London with my friend and that evening I learnt how to take night photos. Here is a page I made showing one of my favourite pictures of St Paul's Cathedral.

Here is some of the detail - this was a great page for using some of my scraps!

If you would like to know more about the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Find Out About Friday - How to make a Pinked Circle from a Scallop Circle Punch

2012-01-20T10:00:00.001Z

Hello and welcome to this week's Find Out About Friday. Since I showed you the Progressive Scrapbook Page in this post with these Pinked Circles I have received a lot of questions asking how I made them.

So for this week's Find Out About Friday I thought I would share with you how to make a pinked circle with a Scallop Circle Punch, and the good news is that it is very easy!

Firstly punch your scallop circle. Then using a re-positional adhesive, something like the Two Way Glue Pen or your Tombow (let the glue dry before sticking) put this scallop circle on a long thin scrap of card. Holding the scallop circle by this scrap of card, put it back in the punch and line it up so that the inwards facing points on the punch are in the middle of the bumps on the Scallop Circle, like this

The just punch again and when you remove it from the punch you will have a pretty pinked circle!

I hope this answers your questions and that you enjoy making your own pinked circles. If you would like to make sure that you receive regular tips like today's mini tutorial which will help you get the most from your Stampin' Up! Products, please make sure you are signed up for my newsletter - just pop over to the box on the right hand side of this blog.

Happy Stampin'

Simply Adorned Valentines Gift Class

2012-01-19T10:00:00.016Z

I am loving my Simply Adorned Jewelry! I love the fact that I can have a necklace and bracelet that match with any outfit, I love that I can wear something I have made and I love the quality of them and how it makes them feel to wear. That is quite a love of loving!

Today I am going to share some more inserts I have made - and these inserts take full advantage of the locket like feature of the Charms. Each opens out to reveal a picture.

This first one is for my Step Daughter who loves all things pink

Here is the outside of the insert

And inside there is a picture of her daughter

Then I got to thinking I did not want my OH to feel left out so I made myself a picture one too!

And here it is in more detail.

The stamp sets I have used are Charming, You are Loved, Borderlines and Artistic Etchings. There are also scraps of Designer Series Paper from the In Color Stack and Beau Chateaux

These would make lovely Valentine's presents and I will be running a special Valentines Class on the evening of Friday 10 February where you can make a Valentines Card and a necklace with an insert that includes your special message. You will also decorate the box making it a very special gift indeed. The class will cost £35 and includes a 61cm chain and a locket charm the size shown in today's pictures. To book your place just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk The last date to book this class is Friday 3 February.

I am also taking commissions for those who can't make the class (so do let the love of your life know - although they would be most welcome at class too!) The last date for these to be sure of a Valentine's delivery is also Friday 3 February.

I also have a class on Wednesday 15 February featuring these wonderful Simply Adorned Necklaces - details are here, places are starting to fill up so please book soon to avoid disappointment! Email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Spice Cake Thank You Cards

2012-01-18T10:00:00.008Z

I love the Spice Cake Suite in the new Mini Catalogue - as well as the lovely Spiced Paisley Stamps I have been showing you for the last couple of days there are the gorgeous Spice Cake Papers, the big buttons and matching fabric and the lovely Vanilla Velvet Ribbon.

The cards I am going to share today feature the gorgeous Spice Cake Papers.

And here is one of the cards close up. The sentiment is from the Curly Cute Stamp Set

The flowers were made with the new Blossom Party Die - I just love the size of these scrummy flowers.

These thank you cards were made for the lovely ladies who stepped in at the last moment and helped me at our team training when my co-trainer was not able to make it at short notice. I really appreciated everything they did to make the day the success it was. Thank you! If you would like to know more about joining this wonderful group of people and making money sharing what you love email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Spiced Paisley Bandana Card

2012-01-17T10:00:00.003Z

Today I am going to share another card we made at this weekend's card class which featured the lovely Spiced Paisley Stamp Set.

The card is the same basic lay out as the one I showed you yesterday but features a technique called the Bandana Technique.

The colours used are Calypso Coral, Ridinghood Red and Lucky Limeade and I think you will agree that this gives the card a totally different feel to yesterday's offering.

I am running the card class that both these cards were part of again on Thursday 26th January and you are not too late to book a place - just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Spiced Paisley Card Class

2012-01-16T10:00:00.001Z

I want to start today with a big thank you to the ladies who came to Card Class on Saturday - It was our first class this year and it was lovely to welcome some new people to the group. I hope you all had a great time - I know I did. Thank you.

This month our Card Class featured the lovely Spiced Paisley Stamp Set. We made five cards showing some of the versatility of this stamp set. Here is one of them, featuring the stylish paisley patterns.

As I say I had a lot of fun on Saturday and what is even better for me is that I get to do it all again on Thursday 26th January - and I can't wait. If you would like to join us that day to take this card class just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk by Friday 20th (that is this week!) You can find full details of the class here.

Happy Stampin'

Sneak Peak for a Sunday

2012-01-15T10:00:00.009Z

There is only one thing better than new stamps – and that is Free New Stamps! Today I have a treat for you – a sneak peek of a stamp set which you could soon earn for free. This quick card features two stamps that are part of a set.

If you want to know more about how you can earn this stamp set for free make sure you are signed up for my newsletter – there is a sign up box on the right hand side of this blog.

The newsletter is free and brings you the latest Stampin’ Up! News, details of special offers, details of upcoming classes and events as well as regular hints, tips, tutorials and more direct to your inbox.

Happy Stampin’

Scrapbook Saturday - A Progressive Scrapbook Page

2012-01-14T10:00:00.007Z

Today I am going to share the Scrapbook Pages I designed for our team training last weekend. These pages were made following a concept called a Progressive Scrapbook Page – sounds more complex than it is! A Progressive Scrapbook Page is one which starts with a 6x6 page layout and then progresses to something bigger and then to a full 12x12 page. It’s a lot of fun starting with a small page and if you are mostly a card maker it can seem more manageable too!

So here is the 6x6 page

And here it is again as a 12x12

And once more but this time with inky edges!

The stamp set I have used is the lovely My Friend from the New Mini Catalogue.

I really enjoy scrapbooking and one of my highlights for last year was starting to share this love with others. Scrapbooking is a fantastic hobby and I personally get a lot from making my pages, as I know do lots of other Scrappers. This enjoyment has been magnified by sharing my hobby with others. If you would like to know about sharing your love of Scrapbooking (or Cardmaking) with others and making some money at the same time please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and let’s talk about how we can make that happen. I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy Stampin’

Find Out About Friday - Why Start Scrapbooking?

2012-01-13T10:00:00.001Z

I don’t know about you but I think photos are meant to be looked at and our personal stories are meant to be told. I love hearing about the things that have happened to my friends and family and when those stories are illustrated by a photo its even better. As a child I loved listening to my grandparents telling me about their childhoods and sharing the little details that must have seemed so every day to them at the time but which to my mind were extraordinary. I wish I had captured those stories as I would love to experience them all again. There are also lots of things from my childhood I would like to remember more clearly.

Scrapbooking is a wonderful way to capture those stories and tell them in a way that will be fantastic to look through for years and years to come.

Your photos wont languish on a computer somewhere, or if did get printed won’t be just shoved in a box or in a drawer, they will be somewhere for everyone to enjoy whenever they want to. You won’t find yourself scrabbling through your mind trying to remember when and where they were taken or who that person on the left next to your Mum.

Additionally Scrapbooking is a great way to relax and is great for those of us who enjoy making things but find giving away their creations hard – unlike a card when you scrapbook the idea is to keep it! It is also great for those of us who love pretty papers – when you scrapbook with them you use them and can enjoy them forever.

Does that sound good to you? As we go into the new year why not take up scrapbooking? Would you like some help? I have two things that could be just what you are after ...

A Start Scrapping Taster Session – join me and learn the basics of Scrapbooking as you complete your first page. You will be given all the supplies and all the tuition you need. Your kit will even contain some extra goodies so you can continue creating at home. At the session you will complete a page similar to this and you can pick any theme you would like. It could be a special holiday, it could be children, or your every day life.

You can find out more about these sessions here. Email me (bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk) to book your session

Alternatively why not join the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club, get a monthly kit and inspiration layouts with two opportunities a month to join us in person. The details are here. Email me (bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk) to book your place.

Creating your pages is a lot of fun and so is looking through them later – so I hope you will join me for some scrapping soon

Happy Stampin’

Introducing the Feeling Crafty 12 in 12 on the 12th

2012-01-12T10:00:00.004Z

One of my goals for 2012 is to make sure I get lots of crafty play time and I am sure I am not alone in setting out with that intention. While I was looking around for something to help me make more crafting time a reality and to keep me focussed I came across lots of weekly and daily challenges and projects all of which sounded very exciting but just a little bit daunting for me.

I was looking for something I felt I could keep up with and something that is flexible enough to follow my creative muse and my interests wherever they go. It needed to be something that I could responded to with whatever kind of project I wanted to do, be that a card, a scrapbook page, a fabric project, something knitted, a journal page or something I have not even thought of yet!

When I could not find what I was looking for I decided to set my own and the Feeling Crafty 12 in 12 was born! It has already grown as it will also be running on a forum I belong to and I am really excited about sharing it with you and about sharing the things I create in response to the prompts.

Each month on the 12th I will share a new challenge with you. The challenges will aim to give you a starting point to create whatever you want in line with that theme. All you have to do is make a date with your crafting space at some point during the month and have some fun. If you want to email me (bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk) a picture of your creations even better – I will do a gallery of those I am sent for everyone to enjoy.

By the end of the year, if you play along every month you will have completed 12 challenges in 2012.

So today is the 12th of January and its time for our first 12 in 12 Challenge! January is the start of a new year, and this is a new challenge so our first challenge theme is New Beginnings. Your challenge is to create something with this theme and to incorporate an oval into your project somehow.

I have had a go at this challenge already and made a new home card – a new beginning for a friend in a new area, and have made the oval quite a focal point

I would love for you to join the challenge so email me (bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk) a picture of your creation and lets all enjoy our crafty play time

Happy Stampin’

Simply Adorned Bracelet

2012-01-11T10:00:00.002Z

Today I have another project featuring the lovely Simply Adorned Jewellery Range. I have always wanted a charm bracelet and so was very excited to put together one for myself and one which I could customise to go with my outfits!

Sunday was our team training day and this is how I decorated my Simply Adorned Bracelet.

How delicious are those two baubles! Here is a close up of the two small charms and one of the trinket keys. I am looking forward to getting more charms and baubles to add to the bracelet.

If you would like to make your own beautiful collection don’t forget I am offering a class featuring the gorgeous necklaces on Wednesday 15 Feb – the details are here. Also anyone who orders a Simply Adorned Charm from me will get a hand stamped insert for it. To book your place at the class or to order your Simply Adorned goodies just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Team Training

2012-01-10T10:00:00.002Z

Team Training on Sunday was a blast! It was wonderful to see so many people and to spend time with such a fantastic group of people. The day did not go exactly to plan as Monica who I run these days with was struck down by a lurgy and unable to join us, but once again these people proved just how wonderful they are. Thank you everyone.

We had more crafting than ever before as well as more business training than ever before and some wonderful inspiration stations. I received some wonderful swaps and beautiful cards that those of you who book a party with me will get to see in my displays. Booking a party is a great way to discover everything that Stampin' Up! has to offer, just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and we can get your party started and earn you some free products too.

I will show you the projects we made on Sunday in future posts as for today I wanted to share a couple of pictures of everyone on Sunday. Here they are waving hello!

I was not able to get everyone in the shot, so I took one of each side of the room - but unfortunately those on the right hand side of the room were waving so enthusiastically the photo has not come out well at all. So my apologies to those of you who cant spot themselves!

If you would like to join the fun at the next event please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Material Monday - How to get a Sample of all the Stampin' Up! Fabrics

2012-01-09T10:00:00.001Z

I am really enjoying playing with the wonderful Stampin’ Up! Fabrics at the moments – and I have not even done any real sewing yet! There are 6 beautiful collections of three fabrics and actually the thing I am finding hardest is choosing which one as they are all so scrummy.

So I thought I would put together a way for you to have a good sized sample of each of them to try, so you can decide which ones you enjoy using the most. I am excited to be able to bring you a Stampin’ Up! Fabric Share. This share needs four people to run and will be run each time four people join.

Each person will get 18 different pieces of fabric, each measuring approximately 17x45cm. All the fabrics are 100% cotton and all coordinate beautifully with the other stampin’ Up! products. Each participant will also get a mini sewing kit to help them enjoy their fabric to the full.

Additionally one participant, drawn at random in each share will get a free stamp set.

Here are all the fabrics you will get a piece of

The shares cost £14.50 if you collect from me, or £16.00 if you need them posted to you.

So if you have been waiting to try the new Stampin’ Up! Fabrics now is the time! Just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Hello My Friend

2012-01-08T10:00:00.002Z

As you read this I will be in Peterborough for our Quarterly Team Training. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone and am excited about the projects and information I have to share with everyone. I will show you the projects I designed for today when I can, as they contain sneak peeks of things that are not yet available you are going to have to wait a little!

Instead today I am going to share this card featuring the lovely My Friend Stamp Set – it reflects how I feel about today! Now when I sat down to make this card I could not decide where to put the sentiment – so I made it two ways ...

Which do you prefer? I still can’t decide!

I really appreciate being able to spend time with fantastic people such as those I will have spent today with and would love for you to join us. You could make 2012 the year you turn your hobby into a profitable business and have a lot of fun along the way. Email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk to find out how and I look forward to saying hello to you at the next time the team meet.

Happy Stampin’

Scrapbook Saturday - Meru Sunrise with Spice Cake Papers

2012-01-07T10:00:00.007Z

I had so much fun putting together the page for this week’s Scrapbook Saturday! Ever since I first saw the New Mini Catalogue (and that was all the way back in November – one of the perks of being a Demo!) I have been longing to try something I saw on page 10. There is a lovely scrapbook page featuring the scrummy Spice Cake Papers woven together. You can see the Mini Catalogue here if you want to check it out.

Using this as my start point this is what I came up with

Nothing like the original I know but just look at these scrummy woven papers!

The stamps I have used are from the coordinating Spiced Paisley Set and from the My Friend Stamp Set, another one I am sure you will be seeing a lot of!

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to start Scrapbooking or to Scrapbook more why not join the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club? Each month you will get a kit packed full of more than enough goodies to make 4 or more pages (I usually get 5 or 6). You will also have two chances to scrap with us in person and access to a dedicated web site of inspiration pages. You can find full details of the club here.

If you join us for the first time in January you will also get an exclusive goodie bag. If you introduce a friend who comes to a class or joins this club for first time this month both of you will get a goodie bag.

To reserve your space please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Find Out About Friday – Simply Adorned, Simply Beautiful Hand Stamped Jewellery

2012-01-06T10:00:00.002Z

I was so excited when I fist found out that we were going to be carrying the Simply Adorned Range of jewellery and I am still really excited about it now! I love to make things that I can wear and this range is not only stunningly beautiful but it is designed for just that – making beautiful things to wear!

Make sure you read to the end of this post to find out how to get your own Simply Adorned collection and to find out about a special Simply Adorned class.

So what is in the range? This gorgeous range of products includes

Charms :

There are 4 different sized charms, which are a bit like lockets. Each opens out and you can insert a stamped design, photos or anything else you want. The tempered glass is surrounded by a nickel plated frame allowing you to display images on both sides. Each comes with a sturdy foam insert which you can use as a size guide or to stop flat pieces of artwork moving around.

You can easily swap inserts allowing you to create a beautiful piece to coordinate with what ever you are wearing, or to suit your mood.

They attach with a lobster clip which makes them easy to fix to a chain, a handbag, a phone, a key ring or anything else you might want to attach them to!

The images in the stunning Charmed Stamp Set are also designed to fit perfectly into these Charms.

Each charm is presented in a lovely chocolate gift box making it idea as a present (or as a present to yourself!)

Chains:

The Simply Aorned range includes two stunning chains, each with an easy to use toggle clasp and a pretty Stampin’ Up! charm identifier. The chains come in two lengths, 20cm for the bracelet and 61 cm for the necklace. These too are presented in gorgeous Chocolate coloured gift boxes/

Baubles:

These stunning large charm gems are the perfect addition to the Simply Adorned range or to any 3D project. They also look great added to handbags, key rings or even around the home. Imagine some of these catching the light as they hang near a window!

There are four different Baubles to choose between, a black crystal, a clear crystal, a pretty pink crystal and the stunning Vanilla Pearl (which is the one I showed you on the Wednesday’s video tour of the Mini Catalogue).

Making your inserts is a lot of fun and my necklace has received lots of very positive comments! The larger Charms give you room for several layers and you can even fit in Rhinestones or Pearls. Adding a little ribbon adds a whole other dimension too and the Trinket Crowns and Trinket Keys look stunning with the Simply Adorned Range too.

If you would like to purchase anything from the Simply Adorned Range please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk Anyone who orders items from this range from me will get a hand stamped insert for their Charms.

I am also really excited to be able to tell you about a special Simply Adorned Class that I am offering. Join me and make a gorgeous necklace with 10 inserts that you can swap in and out. Included in the price of the class will be a 61cm chain, a 2.5x3.2cm locket and a bauble of your choice. The class costs £35 and includes all the materials you need along with light refreshments. Places will be strictly limited so please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. The class will run at 10am and 7.30pm on Wednesday 15 February – email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk to secure your place.

Happy Stampin’

New Year New Class? A special offer.

2012-01-05T10:00:00.003Z

As we settle into a new year many of us decide to take up a new hobby or to learn something new. I am looking forward to welcoming some new people who have decided to do just that to the classes that I have happening this month. Would you like to join them?

The January Card Class features the wonderful Spiced Paisley Stamp Set.

Join us and discover for yourself just how versatile this lovely stamp set is.

All the cards we are making are suitable for both beginners and the more experienced card makers will discover new things too. Classes are a lot of fun and we would love to have you join us.

There are two chances to take the class, Saturday January 14th at 2pm or during the day on Thursday 26th. The class costs £28 which includes a Spiced Paisley Stamp Set which is yours to take home at the end of the class. The class can also be taken without the stamp set which costs £15

I also have a very special offer for new class attendees this month - come when you come to your first class you will get an exclusive goodie bag. If you have been to one of my classes before and bring along someone who has not then both of you will get a goodie bag.

To book your place please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk as soon as possible.

Happy Stampin’

The UK 2012 Spring Mini Catalogue from Stampin' Up!

2012-01-04T10:00:00.017Z

Well here it is! The first ever UK Spring Mini Catalogue from Stampin’ Up!

I have put together a quick video tour for you - You can see it here

You can download a copy of the Spring Mini by clicking here

If you would like a paper copy please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk with your name, full postal address and phone number and I will pop one in the post for you.

All the products in this Catalogue are available now and will be on sale until 30 April 2012. To place your order email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

For those of you who have been wondering what I look like check out page 3! I was very honoured to be asked to provide a quote for Stampin’ Up! about why I love being a Demonstrator. There are so many reasons and quite honestly I could have filled the whole catalogue with reasons why! You will be pleased to know that I managed to summarise it lots so there was as much room as possible for all the gorgeous new products. If you would like to know more about joining Stampin’ Up! please email me (bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk) and lets talk.

Happy Stampin’

A Tuesday Teaser - Sneak Peek of another new product or two ...

2012-01-03T10:00:00.009Z

I am really excited about the New Stampin’ Up! Spring Mini that launches tomorrow and I cannot wait to be able to share it with you.

For today, I am going to have to be content just to show you this Charming sneak peek!

Those of you who I have seen recently may recognise it as I have been wearing it ... I know such a tease, but I am thrilled we have this range of products and will be telling you all about them on Friday as this week’s Find Out About Friday

Just one more sleep until all will be revealed, so make sure you check back tomorrow

Happy Stampin'

Material Monday – Fun Flowers Hair Slides and a sneak peek

2012-01-02T10:00:00.002Z

Welcome to another Material Monday – I know that is 3 Monday’s in a row now!

Today I am going to share some Hair Slides I made using the wonderful Stampin’ Up! Fabric and the Fun Flowers Die.

I made lots of these as Christmas Presents and there is almost no sewing involved – the only sewing is on the back where I sewed a strip of twill tape to cover where the brads joined the flowers to the clips.

Now if you look very closely you will see that one of the clips features a fabric you won’t find in the Idea Book and catalogue ... Yes it is a sneak peek of a gorgeous fabric you will find in the Spring Mini Catalogue which launches on 4 January – that is just two days time!

If you would like to make sure you get a copy of the New Spring Mini to your inbox as soon as possible please make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter – there is a box on the top right hand side of this page. I will be emailing it out to everyone on the list as soon as it is live! The newsletter is free and is packed with hints, tips and project ideas as well as the latest Stampin' Up! News.

Happy Stampin’

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T10:00:00.001Z

Happy New Year! I am really looking forward to 2012 and hope that for you it is full of love, laughter and of course creativity!

I know that Stampin’ Up! have some wonderful things planned to help us with the fun and the creativity – I am so excited and I can’t wait to share them with you. The first thing that I will be able to share with you is a new Mini Catalogue which launches on January 4^th. Its full of fantastic products I know you are going to love.

Not long now until I can show you them, and for today I am going to share a birthday card made to welcome in the New Year and featuring one of my favourite stamp sets – Everything Eleanor, some beautiful butterflies from the fantastic Beautiful Wings Embosslit, and a greeting from the exclusive Hostess Stamp Set, Happiest Birthday Wishes.

With lots of lovely new products on their way it’s a great time to book a party and earn some hostess pounds that you could use for exclusive hostess stamp sets like Happiest Birthday Wishes or which you could spend on some of the lovely new goodies. To book a party and get your crafting year off to a great start email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Scrapbook Saturday - 2011 Walks

2011-12-31T10:00:00.011Z

Can you believe that 2011 is almost over already! Looking back its been a great year and I am looking forward to 2012. At the start of 2011 I made a list of 11 things I wanted to do during the year – and while I have not done them all I have done most of them. I am still deciding what will be on my list for 2012.

One of the 11 things was to take my camera for a walk every week – and this page will be the title page to an album of some of the photos from those walks.

The papers and the fabric are from the delicious Beau Chateau range and the page was made from items in the December Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Kit. I also made use of the Distressing Essentials Tool Kit and made another No Sew Fabric Flower.

In January the Club will meet in the evening on Thursday 19 January or during the day on Thursday 26 January. To book your place email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

What fun things are you going to put on your list for 2012?

Happy Stampin’

Find Out About Friday - The 2012 Feeling Crafty Class Programme

2011-12-30T10:00:00.003Z

For this week’s Find Out About Friday I thought I would share details of the Feeling Crafty 2012 Class Schedule.

I am very excited about the classes I have planned for 2012 and am looking forward to each and every one of them. Forming the basis of the programme will be two monthly classes each with two chances to take them! Each month there will be a Card Making Class and a Meeting of the Scrapbook Club.

At the Card Making Class we will make a collection of cards with a particular theme and there will be a featured stamp set.

The Monthly Scrapbooking Club includes a class kit and when we meet there will be a taught Scrapbook Page which you can adapt and a collection of pages you can use for your inspiration if you wish.

You will be able to attend each of these on one of two occasions, either at Chews House in Dunstable or in Eaton Bray. I am particularly excited to be introducing the Eaton Bray Class Days as these bring you the flexibility to take classes during the day and at times that work best for you.

You can find a complete list of the dates here

You can find details of the January Classes here

In addition there are classes which will be run at times to suit you – these include Scrapbooking, Basic Stamping and Big Shot Techniques.

I will also be introducing several all day classes through the year, including an indulgent Stampin’ Day in March – I will be able to confirm more details soon.

For those of you who live too far away to attend in person 2012 will also see the introduction of some very special on line classes and events.

To book a place on any of these classes please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk.

If you attend a class for the first time in January or bring along a friend who attends for the first time in January, I have a special gift for you, so please don’t delay and book your places now.

Happy Stampin’

New Adventure for the New Year?

2011-12-29T10:00:00.018Z

With the New Year looming many of us find ourselves thinking about the changes we would like to make going into the next year. For me there are lots of good things that I want to take forward into the new year and a few more things I would like to add too.

How about you?

Would you like to earn additional income?
Would you like all your crafting goodies to be paid for?
Would you like to share you love of crafting with others?

If you answered yes to any of those three questions then joining my Stampin’ Up! Team can make it happen. As well as the additional income and reaching your personal goals I am sure you will have a lot of fun along the way. I love working with my team and I cherish the friendships I have made along the way.

These are the Christmas gifts I made for my lovely Stampin’ Superstars. These small broaches were just a small token of appreciation for everything they do. I made lots and lots of these and here are just a few of them together.

If you would like to join my team, earn an extra income and share your love of crafting with others, just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and let’s make it happen.

Happy Stampin’

PS - Want to know what I used to make these broaches - then keep checking back as I will be able to tell you very very soon.

When is a Flower Petal not a Flower Petal? Christmas Fun with the Stampin' Up! Blossom Builder Punch

2011-12-28T10:00:00.001Z

When it’s a bauble! And following on from that pun that is almost as bad as the ones we had in our Christmas Crackers this year I will admit that I do have a few more Christmas projects to show you.

Today’s features the wonderful Stampin’ Up! Blossom Petal Builder Punch, which punches out a wonderful assortment of petals that you can combine to make a whole bouquet of flowers – and other things. This card shows two of the petals punched from the wonderful Holly Berry Speciality Papers and folded into wonderful 3D baubles.

They have been mounted onto the Scrummy Brushed Silver Card which was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder. Wonderful.

If you would like to discover some new ways to use the Stampin’ Up! Punches why not book a Party with me? You get your friends together (crafters and non crafters) and I will come and show you how to get the most from your punches and everyone can have a go at making something. To book just email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk There are some very special rewards for hostesses and party goers starting part way through January so let’s get your party booked and the fun started!

Happy Stampin’

Tags on a Tuesday

2011-12-27T10:00:00.012Z

As we head off to see more family I have another Christmas related project for you.

These are some the tags that I made for the gifts we gave this Christmas.

And here is the detail. It features the Delightful Decorations Stamp Set and the lovely Triple Layer Doily Punch, some Shimmer Paint, a Rhinestone and something I can't really tell you about yet!

I really enjoy making tags and every time someone orders product for collection from me I always try and make sure it has a pretty tag on it. I often forget to take their photos but here is one I made for some orders that were collected in December. These one's featured the Four Frames Stamp Set and I promise I will be able to tell you about the new things very very soon!

If you would like to place an order please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk – I wonder what your tag will be like!

Happy Stampin’

Material Monday - Fabric Fun Flower Broaches

2011-12-26T10:00:00.004Z

I hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday and are feeling truly spoilt – I know I am and we have another Christmas Day with more family today and then again with yet more of the family tomorrow!

Today I have another Material Monday for you – I know that is two in two weeks! I am going to share some Fabric Fun Flower broaches that I made as Christmas Presents.

These were an almost no Sewing project! I cut the flowers from the lovely Timeless Portrait and Deck the Halls Fabrics using my Stampin’ Up! Fun Flowers Die. I then lightly sprayed them with water and scrunched them up a bit to give them a softer look. Once I had done all the layers I punched a hole with my Cropodile and added a brad from the Antique Brads Collection which I had previously threaded through some Crochet Trim. Then came the sewing! I opened the back of the brad up through the broach back I was using and then stitched over the brad and broach back to ensure they were securely attached to the flower and to make sure that there were no sharp edges showing. They were then displayed on a bookmark from the Two Tags Die stamped with the greeting from Contempo Christmas.

I hope that you have enjoyed today’s Material Monday and if you want any further information on the products used today please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk. Have a great Boxing Day.

Happy Stampin’

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T10:00:00.002Z

I hope whatever you are doing today you have a very wonderful day and that your Christmas Wishes come true.

Merry Christmas everyone

Scrapbook Saturday - Favourite Shoes

2011-12-24T10:00:00.004Z

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! I hope all your preparations are complete and that you are now able to take time to enjoy the festive season.

One of the things I love to do around Christmas is take time to look back over the past year, to remember the highs and lows and to appreciate everything that has happened – I often feel we live at 100 miles an hour and that it’s all too easy to miss the things we enjoy. These can be the big things and are almost always the smaller things which are just as important!

Looking back this year has been easier in some ways as I have been scrapping more, so I have been taking more photos and writing things down so I can create pages later if I want to.

When I was looking through my notes and my photos ahead of last months Scrapbook Club I noticed something that had not occurred to me as we went through the year.

I have bought less shoes this year that almost ever before. Now we will just wait a moment for those who know me well to pick themselves up off the floor and check that they read that right – yep, shocking but true I only purchased two new pairs of shoes this year – and that from a self confessed shoeaholic!

There are many reasons for this – not least my love of a certain pair of Purple Converse! And they were not even new this year! So I figured that should be documented!

Starting in January there will be two chances a month to attend the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club. We will meet on the third Thursday of the month at Chews House in Dunstable from 7.30-9.30pm and there will be a second meeting in Eaton Bray on the last Thursday of the month. If you are interested in joining us please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Find Out About Friday - What is a Feeling Crafty Hostess Club and Why Should I join?

2011-12-23T10:00:00.001Z

Would you like some new Stampin’ Up! Goodies every month?

Would you like to experience a monthly boost to your creativity?

Would you like to maximise the value you get from your crafting spend?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then joining a Feeling Crafty Hostess Club can make it happen.

By joining a Feeling Crafty Hostess Club you will experience all the benefits of hosting a Stampin’ Up! Party without having to leave the comfort of your own home. No need to try and coordinate everyone’s diary and no need to tidy up before your friends come round and join you – although crafting with your friends is a lot of fun and makes those things worth it!

Joining a Feeling Crafty Hostess Club means you will build your Stampin’ Up! Collection a bit at a time while maximising the amount you get for your money.

So how does it work? Well you commit to spending a minimum of £15 a month from the Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalogue or from any Current Mini Catalogues, for 10 months. That works out at less than the cost of a magazine a week. You can spend more if you want to and if you know you want to spend at least £30 then you can take two spaces in the Club. Post and Packing is charged in addition.

What do you get?

As well as the lovely Stampin’ Up! goodies you order you will get

A copy of the current Idea Book and Catalogue (retail value £5.95), plus any Mini Catalogues / new Idea Book and Catalogues that come out during the Club Duration
Occasional Project Ideas and mini kits and prizes
Membership of my Customer Club with the chance to win a monthly prize

And most importantly

Once during the 10 months (or twice if you take two spaces) you will receive at least £25 hostess pounds which you can spend on the exclusive hostess merchandise or on any other items in the Idea Book and Catalogue

So to summarise, you order at least £15 worth of the Stampin’ Up! goodies of your choice each month. You get all the things listed above, including the chance to buy the exclusive Hostess Merchandise! Each month you will have new goodies to play with which are sure to boost your creativity and ensure you have a lot of crafting fun.

Sounds good? Well I have a new club starting in January, so all you have to do to join is email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Christmas Carol Christmas Card

2011-12-22T10:00:00.001Z

Today I am going to share a Christmas Card with you that features the lovely Christmas Carol Stamp Set. This stylish Stamp Set features a gorgeous image of Victorian Carol Singers, so I decided to continue the vintage theme in this card.

I distressed the edges of each of the layers of card using the Stampin’ Up! Distressing Essentials Kit and the Distressing Tool in the Cutter Kit. For this card I added just the slightest hints of colour using a blender pen.

While for some of the others I created a sepia look by just pulling the colour from the edges of the stamped image. I used Soft Suede Ink on Very Vanilla Card.

There is more information on the Stampin’ Up! Distressing Essentials Kit here and if you would like to know more about how I coloured these images please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Quick Christmas Treat Holder

2011-12-21T10:00:00.003Z

Today I have another quick Christmas Idea for you all – this time a quick treat box using the lovely Stampin’ Up! Petal Cone Die.

This little Christmas Tree Shaped Box was cut from the lovely Holly design paper in the Holly Berry Speciality Papers. It was then decorated using the coordinating Pines and Poinsettias Stamp Set. This would make a lovely table decoration with little treats inside it or would be a cute way to give a small gift

This particular box went to a lovely lady who hosted a Stampin’ Up! Party with me. If you would like to arrange a fun post Christmas Party with your friends email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk As well as trying the Stampin’ Up! Products for yourself as hostess you will get a hand made gift from me and be able to purchase Stampin’ Up! goodies that are exclusively available to hostesses. There are also extra goodies available for you and your guests from the middle of January through to the end of March making it an even better time to book a party! I will be telling you more about that soon, so email me today (bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk) and lets get a date in the diary.

Happy Stampin’

Quick Stocking Filler Idea

2011-12-20T10:00:00.007Z

How are you getting on with your Christmas preparations? Despite feeling I started in plenty of time I still have lots and lots left to do on my list! Maybe it’s the same for you. I still need to make a few more stocking filler gifts – those little extra gifts that hopefully will make people smile.

Today I am going to share some of the stocking filler gifts that I have managed to get done so far. These cute little bookmarks were fast to make and each used scraps that were on my desk from other projects!

I have used the long the on the exclusive Stampin’ Up! Two Tags Die – this have to be one of my most used dies – I love it! Here it has been teamed with the Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punches, the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and a couple of embossing folders. The adorable owl in the center of the Early Espresso Book Mark is from the scrummy Aviary Stamp Set.

These two will find their way inside a couple of books we are giving this year.

If you would like to purchase any of the items used to make these bookmarks please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Material Monday - How to make a No Sew Pleated Fabric Flower

2011-12-19T10:00:00.005Z

Today I have another instalment in the occasional series of Material Monday posts for you. On Saturday I showed you a scrapbook page which included these fabric flower embellishments.

Now many of you will know that I am not that handy with a needle and thread and may be pleased to know that there was no sewing involved in making any of these flowers.

Today I am going to share with you how to make the spiral pleated flowers that were included in this arrangement. There are two of them in this little cluster, one at the top and one on the bottom right.

Firstly punch or cut a circle of card just a fraction smaller than you would like your final embellishment to be. You need to cover this with strong adhesive such as the Sticky Strip from Stampin’ Up! or the adhesive sheet.

Next tear a strip of fabric (the grain of the Stampin’ Up! Fabric’s will allow you to do this) approximately half the diameter of your circle. Tie a knot in one end of the fabric, and stick the base of the knot (with the long end of fabric) to the centre of the circle. Then gently fold the fabric in pleats around the knot so that it covers the remaining card.

The torn edge and the soft folds should give you a pretty flower embellishment, which you can use on any project.

If you would like to know how the flower in the centre of the arrangement was made make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter as readers of the Christmas edition will be finding out! You can subscribe using the box at the top right hand side of the blog.

Happy Stampin'

Pine Cones for Christmas

2011-12-18T10:00:00.005Z

Just a quick post from me today - with another Christmas Card.

Today’s card features the lovely Everything Eleanor Stamp Set and the beautiful Pines and Poinsettias Stamp Set.

Thank you for stopping by

Happy Stampin’

Scrapbook Saturday - 2011 was the year that ...

2011-12-17T10:00:00.016Z

As we head towards the end of the year, the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club took the opportunity to review our year’s so far.

Here is my page. It features the beautiful Beau Chateau Papers and Fabrics and I have used the Distress Essentials Kit to give the aged look.

Then there are some fabric flowers

The journaling prompt we all used to help us create these pages was ‘2011 was the year that I ...’

If you were to complete that sentence, what would you say? If you create a page about your year I would love to see it. If you want to join the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Find Out About Friday - Stampin' Up! Distress Essentials Kit

2011-12-16T10:00:00.003Z

It’s easy to create a fashionable distressed finish to your projects when you use the Distressing Essentials Kit from Stampin’ Up!

This versatile kit includes

A flat stamp
A sanding block
An emery board
3 precision files
4 distressing ink spots, one each in Tea Stain, Mahogany, Charcoal and Navy

The ink in the distressing ink spots take longer to dry so are designed to be rubbed over paper, blended with water and used direct, or with the flat stamp. This creates a wonderful aged look.

The sanding block, emery boards and precision files can be used to make your project look even more aged or can be used to smooth the edges of paper adhered to chipboard.

This wonderful kit costs just £14.95 and it will give you hours of fun and hundreds of different effects. Check back tomorrow to see a Scrapbook Page made with this kit.

If you would like to learn how to use this kit email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and we can arrange a lesson

Happy Stampin’

Festive Pillow Box

2011-12-15T10:00:00.007Z

To wrap up this week of Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas I am going to share one more festive idea featuring the wonderful Pillow Box Die.

This time the die has been cut in the Brushed Gold and the box stamped with Early Espresso (with the lovely swirl from the Everything Eleanor Stamp Set). The flower has been made using the five petal flower Punch and some Rhinestones.

If you would like to purchase any of the items used to make this project please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Christmas Candy Wrapper

2011-12-14T10:00:00.006Z

I have another Christmas Gift Wrapping Idea for you today – this time featuring the classic Christmas Colour Combination of Red and Gold.

This candy wrapper / cracker was made from Cherry Cobbler Card Stock using the exclusive Stampin’ Up! Candy Wrapper Die. It has then been decorated with the delicious Brushed Gold Card. I have used the Lace Ribbon Border Punch and the Triple Layer Doily Punch to decorate. If you would like to see this punch in action check out my video here.

Happy Stampin’

Holly Berry Gift Card Holder

2011-12-13T10:00:00.009Z

One of my favourite things about Christmas is wrapping presents and making them look pretty ready for the recipient. Often however people want gift vouchers and just popping them in an envelope or a card does not really make them look all that special, so today I am going to share a gift card holder with you.

This one features the lovely Holly Berry Speciality Papers and some lovely wide striped Wild Wasabi ribbon. Scrummy.

We made this project as part of the Wrap Up Christmas Classes. If you would like to be one of the first people to hear about the 2012 Class Schedule then please make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter – there is a box at the top right hand corner of this blog. I am just putting the finishing touches on the new schedule and hope to be publishing it next week.

Happy Stampin’

Take Out Christmas

2011-12-12T10:00:00.015Z

I have another Christmas gift wrapping idea for you – a cute American Take Out Style Box made from Stampin’ Up!’s Petal Cone Die.

This box is very simple to make using Stampin’ Up!’s Petal Cone Die by scoring and folding part way down the cone.

What Stampin’ Up! Products would you like to take out this Christmas?

Happy Stampin’

Santa Pillow Box

2011-12-11T10:00:00.005Z

How are you getting on with your Christmas Shopping? I am sure some of you have finished but some of you may still have a way to go yet. Today I am going to share an idea to make those small gifts and treats look festive!

There is not long now until the man in the Red Suit comes to visit those who have been good! I hope he will be visiting you since he is the inspiration for this idea using the great Stampin’ Up! Pillow Box Die

If you want Santa to leave this die under your Christmas Tree email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Scrapbook Saturday - London Skies

2011-12-10T10:00:00.005Z

Yesterday I went to London for this week’s Scrapbook Saturday I thought I would show you a page featuring London Skies

The papers are from the Frightful Sight Designer Pack. To purchase these papers email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Find Out About Friday – Last UK Posting Dates and the Final instalment of the Quick Christmas Card Ideas series

2011-12-09T10:00:00.004Z

Welcome to this week’s Find Out About Friday. All week on the blog I have been sharing a few quick Christmas Card Ideas and today is no exception so to see today’s idea make sure you read to the end of the post!

This week’s Find Out About Friday is linked to our theme of Christmas Cards, since once they are made you will need to get them to people. There is still time to get them made and in the post. Here are the last posting dates to give a delivery date before Christmas as published on the Royal Mail’s Web Site.

Last recommended posting date	Service
Wednesday 14 December	Standard Parcels
Saturday 17 December	Second Class and Recorded Signed For^TM
Tuesday 20 December	First Class and Recorded Signed For^TM
Wednesday 21 December	Parcelforce express 48
Thursday 22 December	Parcelforce express 24

If you want to check out other destinations or other services they have a handy reference list here.

So today’s quick Christmas Card card features Contempo Christmas again!

Happy Stampin'

Quick Christmas Card Ideas - Part 4

2011-12-08T10:00:00.007Z

I have another quick Christmas Card Idea to share with you today – this one features the Pines and Poinsettia Stamp Set

The images have been stamped in Soft Suede onto Shimmer White Card for a luxurious feel. If you want to add a bit of dimension stamp a second flower image and cut around just the flowers and mount this on top of the first one – this will still fit through the post on a standard stamp. The papers I have used are the wonderful Mocha Morning Papers

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the final card in this week long series of Quick Christmas Card Ideas, along with some information about UK posting dates

Happy Stampin

Quick Christmas Card Ideas - Part 3

2011-12-07T10:00:00.007Z

Welcome to day 3 of this series of ideas for Quick Christmas Cards. How is your Christmas Card Making going?

Today I am going to show you another card featuring Contempo Christmas – this time is a more traditional Christmas Colour Combination than the one I showed you on Monday, Real Red and Whisper White.

For those of you with cards still to make I hope this cute card inspires you. To order any of the supplies you need email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Quick Christmas Card Ideas - Part 2

2011-12-06T10:00:00.005Z

Welcome to day 2 of this series of Quick Chrismtas Card Ideas. Today I am going to share a card that I have been making with people who I have met at recent Crafty Parties.

It features the lovely Pennant Parade Stamp Set (which is not just for Christmas) and some of the wonderful brushed gold card stock, embossed with the scrummy Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.

If you would like to get together with your friends for an evening of crafting, laughing and shopping please get in touch. I have a very special offer for anyone who contacts me today (Tuesday) and books a party between now and March – email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk with your phone number and I will call you and tell you all about it.

Happy Stampin’

Quick Christmas Card Ideas - Part 1

2011-12-05T10:00:00.001Z

Well I made good progress with my Christmas Cards yesterday – and even got some bonus time for making them! We were scheduled to have a rehearsal for the Village Panto late afternoon and early evening, but when we got there another group were using the hall, we had been double booked. We used the small room at the back of the hall for the hour that they were there. Just as we got onto the stage to continue our rehearsal another group turned up – we had been double booked again! This time with a wedding reception, so we agreed to let them have the hall – I am not sure I would want a rehearsal going on during my wedding reception!

Anyway I digress – Quick Christmas Cards. This week I am going to show you some more quick and easy Christmas Card Designs – all aiming to help those of you who still have a few left to make.

Today’s card features one of my favourite Stamp Sets – Contempo Christmas.

This card’s vintage feel was achieved using River Rock, Baja Breeze and Always Artichoke as the colour combination.

A week today is the last meeting of the Christmas Card Club and if you would like to make 10 cards in a couple of hours I do have a few spaces left, email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk for more details.

Happy Stampin’

Making Christmas Cards

2011-12-04T10:00:00.019Z

Today I will mostly be making Christmas Cards, how are you getting along with yours? I am making good progress but still have lots to do.

Since I am mostly thinking about making Christmas Cards I thought I would show you another of the cards that we made at my luxury Christmas Card Class last month.

The papers are from the lovely Mocha Morning Speciality Pack and the image is from the beautiful Pines and Poinsettia’s set.

This month’s card making class is on Saturday and we will be making a set of Thank You Cards which would make a lovely gift or which hopefully will come in handy after Christmas! If you would like to join us the details are here. You will need to book your place by Thursday.

Happy Stampin’

Scrapbook Saturday - Grow Album

2011-12-03T10:00:00.001Z

Today I am going to share not one Scrapbook Page but a whole album! Well two albums actually, but they were both very similar, and yes there will be quite a lot of pictures in this post ...

I made these albums for a couple of special of people I attended the Stampin’ Up! Convention with, my fabby roomie Karen and the heroic Zoe who drove us all the way there and back! I wanted to give them something that they could remember Convention by so made them each one of these albums. The theme for Convention was Grow, hence the title page

Here are the albums

And then the pages

And even an interactive page

The album was made using Stampin' Up!'s Tea Time Simply Scrapbook Kit. If you would like to create an album like this for yourself please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Find Out About Friday - How to Simplify Your Christmas Shopping

2011-12-02T10:00:00.010Z

Now that December is here, many people’s thoughts turn to Christmas Shopping – a thought that fills some people with dread and others with excitement! With everything else that goes on in December I know a lot of you are looking for way’s to simplify your Christmas Shopping and today I am going to share three ways that Feeling Crafty can help you get the perfect gift for your friends and family, those who craft as well as those who have not yet discovered crafting!

Gift Vouchers

Ideal for your crafting friends – what could be better than a shopping spree in the wonderful Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalogue? There are lots of wonderful products for them to choose from with even more due to be announced in January! Or the chance to attend a class and learn new techniques?
Ideal for not yet crafters, since the vouchers can be used for classes your friends can discover the wonderful worlds of card making or scrapbooking with an experienced tutor

Gift Vouchers come in a hand made card with full instructions on how to redeem them. To guarantee delivery before Christmas orders must be received before 10 December. Gift Vouchers ordered after that time will be delivered electronically to ensure they arrive before 25 December.

To order your gift vouchers email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Wish Lists

Maybe you want an actual gift to give on the big day – well we can make that happen too! Encourage your friends to join in with my Wish List Service – they just tell me what is on their wish list, you let me know how much you want to spend and then I will make the magic happen.

All wish list orders must be received before 10 December to guarantee delivery in time for Christmas. You will also receive a hand made gift tag to go with the present. If you are able to collect the goodies from me I will also wrap them for you.

While you are at it why not set up a Wish List for yourself – that way when people ask what you want for Christmas all you have to do is give them my number and on Christmas morning you will be unwrapping something that you really want! Yep, no more pretending to be thrilled with novelty socks!

I don't know about you but I feel very awkward when someone asks what I want for Christmas - I don't want to ask for things that cost more than they want to spend and I want to ask for things they can get easily. Having a wish list with me will take that awkward feeling away and ensure your friends know how to get just the right thing within their budget.

To join the Wish List Service email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Gift Wrapping Class

OK so this one is not strictly about the shopping but that is only part of getting the perfect gift - it has to be presented right too!

So if you already have some of your gifts – well done! Now is the time to get crafty as you wrap them – why not join one of the Feeling Crafty Wrap Up Christmas Classes and make a selection of bags, boxes and tags to make sure your gift looks wonderful under the tree and the recipient knows just how much you care. Details are here but places are filling fast so please let me know as soon as possible if you want to attend. To book your place email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Shopping this way will help you give the perfect gift without ever having to fight your way through the Christmas Crush – taking advantage of one of these services can really help you simplify your Christmas Shopping

Happy Stampin'

A Christmas Card with a Difference

2011-12-01T10:00:00.006Z

Goodness, the 1^st of December already – the Christmas Countdown really does start here and I don’t know about you, but I still have lots and lots to do!

Today I thought I would share a Christmas Card with a difference with you. This card folds flat to go in the post but then stands up to give an unusual Christmas Tree like effect.

Here it is from the side.

This one is made using the wonderful Mocca Morning Specialilty Papers and the Pines and Poinsettia’s Stamp Set.

This is also one of the cards we made at my last Card Making Class. If you would like to know more about upcoming classes please check this link here. You may also want to make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter (there is a link at the top right hand side of this blog) as subscribers will be some of the first people to find out about the 2012 programme of classes.

Happy Stampin’

Stars for my Convention Superstars

2011-11-30T10:00:00.001Z

I realised today that I have not yet shared with you all the things I made for Stampin' Up!'s European Convention. One of my favourite things about Convention is that I get to spend time with other Demonstrators and in particular with my team. What an inspiring bunch of people they all are.

To thank my team who were there for all their hard work and for the inspiration they give me I gave each of them a little gift.

Each was in a pillow box cut from the beautiful black flocked paper from the Mocca Morning Speciality Pack (can you tell I LOVE this paper!). Since we were in Paris I decorated each with an Eiffel Tower from the Artistic Etchings Stamp Set, and the colours were chosen to reflect our Disney Location too, the black, Red and Yellow that are the traditional Mickey Mouse colours!

Would you like to know what was inside each box? They have not photographed very well, but each contained a star shaped Swarovski Crystal on a little silver chain. Just right for my Stampin' Superstars and nearly as sparkly as they are! It made me so proud to see the team wearing them.

If you would like to know more about joining my team email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk. We would love to have you come and join our fun and join us in making money sharing something that we love.

Happy Stampin’

Vintage Vogue Birthday Card

2011-11-29T10:00:00.001Z

Today I have another Birthday card to share with you. This one features one of my favourite stamp sets Vintage Vogue – I also happen to know that the birthday girl loves it too!

The colours used are Sahara Sand, Wild Wasabi. Perfect Plum and Pretty in Pink. Here they have been teamed with some First Edition Speciality Papers and some wonderful Crochet Trim. The birthday girl is also a lover of all things that sparkle so the Rhinestones were a must!

The sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes – the hostess stamp set I was telling you about yesterday – It is certainly seeing a lot of ink at the moment here! If you would like to earn this stamp set for free don’t forget to email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Mocca Morning Birthday Card

2011-11-28T10:00:00.002Z

I think I may have mentioned that November is a month that I have a lot of Birthday Cards to send – and today I am going to show you a card I made for a lovely lady who celebrated her birthday a couple of weeks ago.

The card features some of the delicious Mocca Morning Speciality Papers, the Fun Flowers Die, on of the Designer Frame Embossing Folders, and of course some butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.

The Sentiment is from the Happiest Birthday Wishes Stamp Set. This stamp set is only available to purchase with Hostess Pounds. These can be earned when

You host a party in your home – your friends come round, we craft, you all shop and have a wonderful time and you earn Hostess Pounds
You host a catalogue party – you collect orders from your friends and earn Hostess Pounds
You place an order for £150 or more and you will earn Hostess Pounds
You join a Hostess Club – you commit to spending at least £15 a month for 10 months and for one of those months you will earn Hostess Pounds.

Between now and 15 December there are even more benefits to hosting a party – when your orders (before post and packing) reach a total of £300 you will also get the beautiful Paisley Petals Stamp Set and matching Paisley Petals Designer Series Papers for FREE! Brilliant!

To book your party please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and lets get a date in the diary.

Happy Stampin’

Triple Layer Doily Punch Snowflakes Picture Frame

2011-11-27T10:00:00.001Z

On Friday I showed you several ways to use the Doliy Triple Layer Punch from Stampin’ Up! One of the things I showed you was how to make snowflakes with it and today I am going to show you one of the ways I have used those snowflakes.

This frame was one that I made for the stand we did at the NEC earlier this month. The photo was taken at the wonderful Foxfield Inn in Charlottesville USA – a place I can highly recommend if you are in the area – the rooms are so comfortable and the breakfasts are out of this world. When I visited we got snowed in not once but twice. Such a wonderful holiday and so much snow!

And here is a close up of the snowflakes on the frame - they were made with two layers of the most detailed punch and have some Rhinestones added for a little bit of sparkle.

If you have not watched it yet check out the video on this post, showing you how to use the very versatile Doily Triple Layer Punch.

Happy Stampin’

Scrapbook Saturday - Camera Days Out

2011-11-26T10:00:00.001Z

Today I have been sharing a cute little handbag scrapbook with some lovely ladies (Waves hello), I will share the photos with you soon but for this Scrapbook Saturday I am going to share a page featuring the wonderful Timeless Portrait Designer Series Papers. The page captures something I have very much enjoying doing this year, and that the trips my friend Ed and I have taken our cameras on. This snap of Ed reviewing one of his shots just makes me smile.

I adore the River Rock Patterned Sheet with the frames on it and this page keeps one of those as its focal point. I have also used several border and other punches to add some details and have used my colour spritzer to splatter the background card with Island Indigo to echo the colour in the papers.

If you would like to learn more about Scrapbooking or would like to find out about the Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Club check this link.

Happy Stampin’

Find Out About Friday - The Doily Triple Layer Punch from Stampin' Up!

2011-11-25T10:00:00.004Z

This week’s Find Out About Friday is all about the wonderful Doily Triple Layer Punch from Stampin’ Up! This punch is not like the other Stampin’ Up! Punches, not only is it bigger but it also can punch three separate ways, giving you a solid shape through to a wonderful intricate doily.

The Triple Layer Doily Punch is one that I have been asked about a lot so I have put together this video to answer those questions and to show you how to use the punch. It also gives you some ideas on how to use the punched shapes.

If you would like to order this amazing Doily Triple Layer Punch please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:00:00.003Z

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers. Thanksgiving grew out of the Harvest Festival tradition and is now a time to stop and notice all the things we are thankful for. A couple of years ago I made a mini album to record the things I was thankful for at that time and thought it was about time I did something similar again.

So to celebrate Thanksgiving here is a scrapbook page I made last night noticing the things I am thankful for right now.

I have used the Tickets and Tags Simply Scrapping Kit – I love everything about this kit! The colours are fantastic and the patterned papers are delicious as are the self adhesive elements – I can’t wait to use it some more!

Why not take a moment today to notice what you are thankful for and then treat yourself to some crafty time to record your thoughts?

To purchase any of the supplies used please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

And then there were more Butterflies!

2011-11-23T10:00:00.003Z

Today I am going to share with you a card I made from scraps that were left on my desk. Sometimes when I am in the middle of making a few cards I challenge myself to make a card from the things that are left over from other projects – after all it is more fun than putting them away to use another time!

The card features several of my current favourite things – a combination of Crumb Cake and Pool Party, the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, the wonderful Everything Eleanor and Pennant Parade Stamp Sets, and of course the very well loved and used Beautiful Wings Embosslit.

What are your current favourite products? I would love to know – leave a message below

Happy Stampin’

Convention

2011-11-22T10:00:00.008Z

Do you remember on Friday I showed you these ...

Would you like to know what these went on to become?

They went on to become the swaps I made to share with my fellow Demonstrators at Stampin' Up! Convention.

We had a brilliant time – here are just a few photos to give you a flavour.

The early morning view as we walked to the main convention area - I even found a Lighthouse!

Some of the main stage presentations and displays

Just a few of my friends on awards night

Convention is just one of the many ways Stampin' Up! support us in sharing what we love with you. We stamped, we laughed and we had a brilliant time learning about just a few of the wonderful things Stampin' Up! have planned for the next year - I know you will be just as excited about them when I am able to share them with you.

If you would like to be able to join us at next year's convention email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk and we can talk about how we can make that happen.

Happy Stampin'

Material Monday - Melon Mambo Fabric Flower

2011-11-21T10:00:00.006Z

When I introduced you to the Material Monday series of posts I warned you it would be an occasional series – I did not however expect it to be as long between posts as it has been!

Today I am going to share a card with you that was made to celebrate the birthday of a young lady with a very individual sense of style – all about different layers and textures and always including black! I have used these three qualities as inspiration for her birthday card.

The fabric flower was cut with the Fun Flowers Die from the Melon Mambo fabric in the Flirtatious Collection, and layered with the flocked papers from the Mocha Morning Speciality Papers Pack, embossed card and some gorgeous crochet trim. The greeting in the embossed from is from Happiest Birthday Wishes.

I am enjoying discovering all the things that the fabric collections can bring for us card makers, even those of us who either can’t sew or are not very good! I have lots more ideas to share with you so hopefully it will not be so long before the next post in this series. If you would like to get hold of some of these wonderful fabrics please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin’

Sweet Sunday

2011-11-20T10:00:00.004Z

Today I will be making my way home from Paris - I say making my way when really it will be very easy as my lovely friend Zoe will be driving us so she will be doing all the work!

Now I don't know about you but for long car journeys I think sweets are a must! So for each of the ladies I a travelling with I put together a little pot of sweets, and had some fun decorating them.

The flowers on each one were different variations using the wonderful Vintage Vogue Stamp Set

I hope you enjoy looking and that the girls enjoyed their sweets!

Happy Stampin'

Scrapbook Saturday - Not Listening

2011-11-19T10:00:00.014Z

Hello everyone - just a quick post for you today sharing a Scrapbook Page made with this month's Feeling Crafty Scrapbook Kit. The page features a photo of another show I directed & features my OH who has a reputation for not listening - this time he had an excuse!

This shows you a panel of patterned paper I stamped for the page using the wonderful French Foliage Stamp Set

Happy Stampin'

Find Out About Friday - Where's Bekka?

2011-11-18T10:00:00.001Z

As you read this I will be in a room with loads and loads of other Stampin' Up! Demonstrators in Disneyland Paris! We will be talking, laughing, stamping, sharing and learning. I can't wait to share more about it with you.

For now I am going to show you a couple of pictures of something I have been getting ready for the event.

You will have to check back later to see what they have become!

If you would like find out how you can join us at next year's Convention email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'

Another Christmas Card

2011-11-17T10:00:00.006Z

Today I am going to share a Christmas Card we made at last weeks Card Making Class. It was inspired by one of the frames I made for the NEC which you can see here.

And here is a close up

The next card class is on Saturday 10 December when we will be making Thank You cards and if you would like details please email bekka@feeling-crafty.co.uk

Happy Stampin'