Blog Hop - SU! UK Demos celebrate the new Mini

For those of you already hopping around..... Hello and welcome to Amanda's little blog aka The Craft Spa. You should have come here from Jane's Blog- Cheshire Design House - aren't her projects just wonderful!!

And for those of you starting here...... Hello and welcome to our Blog Hop to showcase the wonderful new products in the Stampin' Up 2011 Mini Catalogue. A number of us have got ourselves organised via the fantastic UK stampin enthusiasts web site - inlovewithstamping- and so here are a feast of projects as you go from one blog to another..... so thanks Erika for getting us organised!!!

So here a  few projects I have made during March using some of the new products...  First up is a card using the new Manhattan Flowers embossing folder perfect for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays - or indeed anything..... not only is this very "classy" but the embossing is so deep...it is just amazing.... I hope that you can get an idea of the effect in this photo.

I have kept this simple... so as not to overshadow the embossing pattern. So just a simple colour palette of Whisper White, Baja Breeze and Basic Black and use of the Ornate Flowers and Heard from the Heart stamp sets.

My second project is a Gift Card Holder Explosion Box showcasing the Fun Flowers die. Oh this die is a LOT of fun as it produces some fabulous flowers.... more of which are to come another day! The thread through the button is actually just a sliver of cardstock threaded through and tied into a knot.... I have seen this done by many in blogland....but it works a lot better than I thought it would!!!

This is a project we made as part of my Nursery Suite papers and Quick Accents classes run during March.  I have designed a number of explosion boxes and mini books during February and March - and got the idea in my head that a resizing and an extra insert would enable me to put a gift card in.... and it worked like a dream......

And that is it from me.... so thank you for visiting and..... next you are going to Sandra's Wonderful Blog  - check out these fantastic projects......

Here it is! Stampin' Up! New Mini Catalogue for 2011

Not only does the 1st April bring April Fool's Day..... but the much more exciting release of the Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue with more new SU! products that will be with us until 30 September........ Just press the picture on the top left of my blog and you will be taken straight to it!!

Over the next few days I will be posting many projects using some of the new products - including a blog hop tomorrow Sat 2nd April at 10 am GMT amongst many of our talented UK Stampin' Up! demonstrators .

And the launch of a new mini just wouldn't be the same without a few Specials for orders during April. These are from me at The Craft Spa - not Stampin' Up.... Please see my new Specials pages at the top for further details - but I have 5 main types of offer for you......

• Fancy a Big Shot for £55 ??? See my Big Shot Starter Pack Special
• get exclusive Stampin Up dies etc for up to 15% off.  See my Big Shot Die Pack Deals
• £25 co-ordinated paper packs with 12x12 papers; buttons, cardstock; ribbons & inkpads -AND you can also add the co-ordinating stamps at 25% off. See my Mini Catty Specials.
• Buy the stamp set and get 30% off the co-ordinating punch. See my Mini Catty Specials.
• Share all the new mini goodies from just £14 (need 8 to share!). See my Mini Catty Specials.

As those of you that know me.... I am in embossing folder, dies and buttons heaven....... And check out those Embosslits too - they are amazing.... wonder what I did before without them ...... I am SO HAPPY that these Big Shot goodies have finally come over the pond... I just need loads of you to buy them now.... and then we can have loads more come October with the new 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalogue...... Yes I am a I WANT IT ALL sort of a girl!!!

So what you should particularly check out...my top faves are.....
1.  All the dies of course!!! But particularly the Top Note, Fun Flowers , Little Leaves, Circles - and of course the Embosslits..... And the Big Shot to use them!!!! LOL!!!
2. Embossing Folders - 2 favourites being Manhattan Flowers and Square Lattice ( very clever techniques using this one!! Watch this space...)
3. Four Frames and the Decorative Label Punch - first it was the SU! circles, then last year the ovals... and now these!!!!  Absolutely wonderful !!
4. Big Designer Buttons - oh WOW!!! These are SO big.  Most being 1". And such wonderful colours too..
5. And ahh!! The Springtime Vintage suite - where were these papers when I was doing a Papercrafting course 4 years ago with Cath Kidston as my Designer inspiration... Think Cath Kidston... Think Laura Ashley.... Be in Vintage Chic heaven..... I may have to get that portfolio out and remake all those wonderful cards using these......

Hope that the mini has something in for you that excites me as much as I am!!! And if so - tell me what by adding a comment below.....

Just press the EMAIL ME link at the top right of my blog to contact me for orders or for further details on any of my specials.