The main Tags this year...

Mentioned these earlier when I shared these tags...

But I hadn't shared these copper embossed versions to match my wrapping paper (which I have forgotten to photo!) 

... so here they are... 

Again finished off with the Tinsel Trim for a bit of glitz... and for speed.... in the making...  and in attaching to the gift...

Oh and greeting changed to one from Father Christmas as it fit better in my wreath without going onto the embossed section... and so avoid potential ink smudging!

Hang Your Christmas Stockings Trio

A clean and simple little trio made whilst I had the Hang Your Stockings and Christmas Stocking dies out the other week...  in soft blues and greys by special request... forgotten how good this set is... glad I thought to get it out again...

Christmas Cheer Challenge cards for Ronald McDonald House Charities

Edited to add: Free shipping starting 11pm tonight, Sunday 10 December... for 24 hours only... 

Last weekend Stampin' Up! demonstrators around the UK held Christmas Cheer events in a combined challenge to produce over 10, 507 christmas cards over the weekend... to donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities who provide free 'home away from home' accommodation to families while their child is in hospital... 

These cards are so that the families have access to beautifully crafted cards in the Houses around the UK which they can send to their loved ones back home... creating a bit of normality in what is a very stressful and alien situation for many...

And together we achieved... an amazing 17,778 christmas cards... WOW! Big well done everyone who took part...

Stampin’ Up! UK held a Christmas Cheer kick-off event at Ronald McDonald House, Manchester on Friday 1 December. Stampin’ Up! with six demonstrator volunteers working hard to make lots of cards. 

And then it was over to the rest of us... Some went solo, some with family & friends and some ran large events for all comers... 

I was running a couple of events... but sadly snow stopped play for one... and no-one had booked into the other! 

So I ended up going solo... and for those of you that know me... you know that I don't take well to mass producing cards... but the cause was greater than my personal foibles... so I carried on... 

Though I do have to admit that I stopped and designed this card mid flow... as my original card choices were based upon most of my ladies already having the Lovely as a Tree stamp set so that production could be to the maximum with a group in the room... but I needed something even cleaner and simpler.. 

So the card is using the Hello Friend wreath in Always Artichoke... plus the berry trio & greeting from Hang Your Stockings  in Real Red... finished off with a Real Red stamped and Holly Berry Builder punched bow from Holly Berry Happiness ... as one of my other crafting foibles is not being good at tying bows!!

And I have to also admit... that I love this card design so much that any cards I have left to make to send this year will be to this design too... 

Oh and for your information... these were my originally intended designs... as these have been so so popular amongst my ladies this year... that I couldn't resist...

Background Stampin' Up! has a long history of supporting philanthropic causes. 'Helping others' and 'making a difference' is part of our mission statement. Over the past two decades, almost three decades in fact, they have seen demonstrators all over the world embrace these words and make a difference in the lives of others.

We are also excited to have celebrated our 10th anniversary in the UK during November, and to mark this special occasion; Stampin' Up! UK set a challenge to make a whopping 20,000 cards across two card-making weekends in 2017, to donate to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  
Earlier this year we held the first of our card-making weekends ‘Birthday Wishes’ from 23 – 25 June. Demonstrators across the country rallied together to hold their own events and produce an astounding 9,493 cards! 

Cards made will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities who provide free 'home away from home' accommodation to families while their child is in hospital. There are 14 Ronald McDonald Houses across the UK, all located close to specialist children's hospitals. The Houses are open 365 days a year and are equipped with everything you would find in a family home. Families can get a good night's sleep, prepare their own meals and feel at home, knowing that they're only moments away from their child.  See here for more details... http://www.rmhc.org.uk/what-we-do/

Nicola Savage, Fundraising Manager at Ronald McDonald House charities, has written a few words about the importance of the 20,000 Cards Challenge and how it helps the charity:

“The support Stampin’ Up! are providing through these amazing card-making weekends, means that our families have access to beautifully crafted cards which they can send to their loved ones back home – creating a bit of normality in what is a very stressful and alien situation for many. We are so grateful to Stampin’ Up! and their demonstrators for their support.” 

Hello Friend Christmas Tags...

So these are why the Hello Friend and Hang Your Stockings were out in the first place...

Some very simple tags as my ladies this week have a "Golden Balls" Topiary and a Christmas Lantern to make... but I did promise them some tags this year too!

White embossed on Crumb Cake... plus Hang Your Stockings greeting & berries

Gold embossed on white... plus Hang Your Stockings greeting & berries

And last but not least... Garden Green and Real Red Flowers on white.. flowers wouldn't have worked on the embossed wreath... too much smudging!!

And I have to admit that this will be my tag this year... but with copper embossing on Crumb Cake... as that is an absolute perfect match to the wrapping paper I bought at Morrisons last week!

So which came first... tag or paper... why... tag design of course!!!

Hang your Very Glittery Gold Stocking...

Just as quick to create as yesterdays silver stocking card... but again very striking and effective in the flesh... 

Garden Green stamped pine boughs and greeting from Christmas Pines... 

Gold Glimmer Christmas Stocking die cut stocking popped up using Stampin Dimensionals... 

Finished off with a holly sprig from the Hang Your Stockings stamps (that co-ordinate with the Stockings dies)

Hang Your Silver Foil Stocking...

Something simple and shiny today ... using a couple of my ladies favourite christmas stamps and dies (both featuring in the Annual Catalogue in case you were wondering)

This is one to quickly get christmas cards made if you haven't quite finished...

Die cut aperture in a small square card (10.5cm/US Letter 4 1/4")... with die cut silver foil filigree stocking popped through and stuck down... both care of Christmas Stockings Thinlits dies... (which has co-ordinating Hang Your Stocking stamps)

Silver embossed greeting care of Christmas Pines and a little silver ribbon bow to finish...

Just A Little Note...

 

So this is what I was actually making when I shared this christmas version earlier...  a little note card to send to my online customers last month with their gift to say thank you...

But... first of all... a little apology for my late posting today... but I did need to say these words to you... at the right moment! The second reservation window for the Stamparatus is now open!! 

Nothing to pay now... shipping from mid March 2018. Click here to go straight to my Online Store and reserve yours...

Or click here for the background information on this amazing stamp placement tool and/or click here for all the details on the reservation system (though note there is now no 3rd window to reserve)

So back to my little card... the wreath is from Hello Friend, berries from Hang your Stocking and the greeting and flourish on the envelopes are from Flourishing Phrases...

Though the stamps etc were actually out to make another even quicker project but more on that another day!

And here are the 2 versions together...

Stampin Up Products Used
Stamps - Hello Friend; Hang Your Stocking & Flourishing Phrases
Ribbon - 1/8" Solid Real Red
Inks - Real Red; Versamark
Other - Gold Embossing powder; Very Vanilla notecards & envelopes;

Hello Friend Christmas Wreath Note Card

Well I was busy making something else with my Very Vanilla notecards and Hello Friend stamps... and just had to make this gold embossed christmas version using the greeting and holly berries from Hang Your Stocking...

Simple and sweet... and quick with the use of the Very Vanilla notecards.... back with the other makes and more details another day!

Home Sweet Home Church with Stained Glass Window

Just found the photos of my little church with its stained glass window... I thought I had shared this ages ago... but apparently not!

So without further ado... here it is...

The stained glass window is actually the fancy stocking (from the Hang Your Stocking stamp set) stamped onto a vellum panel and then coloured on the reverse using Sharpie (permanent) markers.

It works so well as there are 2 little window dies in the Home Sweet Home set that cut the holes for both the top arched window and the bottom rectangular window. Then you have 2 more little dies that cut the window frames that are stuck around the holes.

And the spire... less said the better! It worked ... but it was tricky... so a re-think/re-design/template is required before I would run this in classes... and I made it too tall when I created it too!! But I think you get the idea...

And yet again... I have used the Halloween Speciality papers for those lovely stones/bricks...

Wonderful Wreath Santa now fully Stitched!

Quick share of my update to the Santa with Legs Gift Box project... I had a few ladies wanting a class to make them and as I was prepping... my Stitched Frames dies turned up...so it seemed rude not to use them!

So his face and hat are now stitched dies. And his moustache, nose and boot cuffs are now all faux-stitched too...

Now that's better!

The Stitched Shapes Framelits are unfortunately now out of stock and unorderable...but I hear a rumour that some will be back in next week...

Joyful Nativity Trio in Blues...

Just when you thought I had finished with my Joyful Nativity... look again!

3 more simple ideas for you...

Silver embossed angel and greeting...

Plus Christmas Magic bell and greeting...

Plus Pool Party Aqua Blender watercolour in the centre... Hang Your Stocking die-cut snowflake... and Snow Place stamped snowflakes and greeting

More Very Glitzy Stockings!!!

Another simple little duo featuring the Hang Your Stockings stamps and Christmas Stockings dies. 

Both of which are seriously reduced in price this week... but only until 10.30 pm tomorrow, 28th November... please don't miss them!! An amazing collection of stamps and dies... and not just for Christmas!!

Featuring the Emerald Envy and the Real Red Glitter embossing powders too! 

Christmas "Chocolate Ball" Treat Holder Jar

Quick share of one of the christmas treat holders that will be adorning some tables around here...

These were inspired by this swap at the On Stage Telford event... but unfortunately there is no name on it to credit the maker! So please let me know if it was you.... and thank you so much for your clever and gorgeous swap (and the chocolate eclair... my favourite!)

Couple of Jar of Love jars stamped & white embossed and then die cut. Greetings care of the Candy Cane stamp set - perfect for the job...

Stuck front and back to a little box holding the Ferrero Rocher or Lindor ball... finished off with a holly & berry spray (from Hang Your Stocking stamps and Christmas Stockings dies - both really well reduced this month!) and a bit of candy cane ribbon

The box holding the treat is just a 2 3/4" square piece of card scored at 3/4" on all 4 sides...

Quick & simples...

And front and reverse...

But I have to admit... mine is going to have a Lindor Ball in!! So I think it will be red for Lindors... and green for Ferrero Rocher on my table...

Joyful Christmas Pud...

Had to share this card... too cool for words... 

Not made by me at all... but a collaborative effort between Heidi and Louise at one of my classes last week... they were busy making these notecards with the Real Red JOY and hanging stocking

When there was... you know one of those wonderfully creative light bulb moments... followed by a quick consult with yours truly... and a quick scurry for card and dies... and here you have it... so bring us some Figgy Pudding! 

And what did they use.... JOY from Joyful Nativity, currants & greeting from Holly Jolly Greetings, Holly & Berry from Hang Your Stocking, Circle dies for the pudding and topped off with Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.

Great job the pair of you.... and Louise can no longer say that "she can't be creative and is just going to copy mine".... as I hear she is already plotting something else with her Joyful Nativity stamp set!! Watch this space.... 

So what do you all think?? Please feel free to add a comment so I can give the happy duo our SU! world feedback!!!

And ... as time has moved on... here are some updated pictorials of this weeks' Online Extravaganza Sale items... some items gone fast as usual...

And don't forget the Stitched From the Heart 25% off stamps Promotion and the Clearance Rack whilst you are on there

 

Just go to my Online Store here to place your order.... 

Don't forget to enter my Stampin Rewards Host code 3ER9MYQX if your order is under £150. Orders over £25 will receive a gift separately in the mail from me.... If your order is over £150 you should claim your own Stampin Rewards...you will still get a gift from me too!

For those of you local to me and able to collect... I will be placing an order on Monday 28th November so please order and pay by close of Sunday 27th November so I can add products for you...