FREE Stamps!!

Yes you read the title right - FREE Stampin' Up! stamps are available now during Sale-A-Bration.

Hop over to my new blog Blue Jelly Stampin for details of this amazing offer and to see this card.

Happy New Year to you all
Hugs
Victoria
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Happy New Year and Messy Desk has returned!

Wow it's the last what's on your workdesk Wednesday of the year! join in the fun over at Stamping Ground.

What a dull desk - all my scrummy craft goodies pushed to one side to give me a clear space to do my accounts - groan, I always leave them to the last minute. Still, nearly finished and then normal crafting service can resume!

Still have a card to show you here's a little peak:

To view the full card you'lll need to hop over to my new blog - Blue Jelly Stampin.

STOP PRESS
if you want to join in my January Stampers 10 group, please be quick as now only 4 spaces left. January classes also getting to limited spaces now too. Details all on Blue Jelly Stampin.

Victoria
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Papertake GDT spot and class and club update

How thrilled am I to be a GDT member for the next four weeks at Papertake? This week there is a fab sketch by Dawny to follow, I made two cards!

This one using pretty pastels and a cute image by Sally-Ann.

And here's a sneaky look at one that I created that you can see in full along with a project recipe on my new Stampin' Up! blog here.

You can also see details on some fabby clubs with special offers for members, although places are filling up fast! And if you live local to Nottingham and fancy coming along to one of my January classes and being able to take advantage of discounted products - take a look, again places are limited even though I've slotted in an extra class!

Thanks

Victoria

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My New Stampin' Up! Blog

Do you want to know more about this card and how to get your mitts on free stamp sets to make a similar one?

Then please take a hop over to my brand new Stampin' Up! blog - Blue Jelly Stampin. It's gone live today and has loads of project ideas, information on clubs, classes and some fabulous special offers as well as details on how to order Stampin' Up! products.

You'll be able to see details of my first Stampers 10 Club so if you want to grab a place on it, please be quick as some of the spaces have already been filled!

Hope to see you over there, it would be great it you could offer me your support and become a follower. I will try to update my new blog on a daily basis as at some point, I will be closing this blog.

Thanks

Victoria

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Christmas Cards and Candy Winner!!!

Righto, today I'm not entering any challenges I'm just showcasing some of the Christmas cards I made at the weekend and then announcing the winner of my charity candy at the end of this post!

All these cards have been made using the Christmas Jingle scrap kit by Stampin' Up. These were some I made for my mum in law to give to her friends:

These are using the red border strips and snowflake medallion sticker

 

Gorgeous papers and more stickers and strips

 

More gorgeous papers, used the scallop circle punch here too

And finally a spot of stamping!



Now for the bit you've carried on reading for! Firstly thank you so much for everyone who sent in their handmade cards and gifts for my charity candy. I received:

• 425 cards
• A gorgeous scrapbook
• Wall Hangers, plaques and door hangers
  
• Decorations
• Treat bags, gift bags and boxes

Thank you too, to the kind people who sent their goodies and declined to enter the candy draw. I also received so many kind words about Flynn and was touched that so many of you felt you could share your precious babies with me too.

I will be contacting SANDs over the festive period to arrange to drop off all these goodies for them to sell - 100% of the proceeds will go towards setting up new SANDs groups to offer support and understanding to parents and families affected by the loss of a baby. You can read more about SANDs here.Thank you so very much for your support.

I went through all the entries on Mr Linky and deleted any names if cards hadn't been donated. I appreciate there may still be some parcels on their way, I will pass these on to SANDs but regret I coudn't put your names forward for the draw. I also added some names for those of you who entered and don't have blogs. All names were allocated numbers on an excel spreadsheet and the winner has been selected using Random Interger Generator.

So without further ado, the winner of all these lovely goodies :

And a voucher for Silly Monkey Crafts is ...............................

That's you Patti - congratulations! Patti please can you email me your full address so I can send your parcel off to you in the States? You'll also get an email from Sally-Ann with details about your voucher for Silly Monkey Crafts too. Enjoy your candy.

Once again thank you - I am blown away by your kind support.

Victoria
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Hidden snowflake

Have you ever made a card you loved so much yourself you didn't want to give it away? Well I hadn't until now! This is my creation for this weeks challenge at Die Cut Dreams which is 'a hidden snowflake'.



I've never used white Stazon on acetate before and was nervous about making this as the medallion stamp is huge! Here's a close up:



I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Stamp with fun - Sketch (flipped on it's side)
• Crafty Angels - Use a technique you've never tried (stamping with Stazon on acetate)
• Tuesday Morning sketches - A tag, lots of glitter and a hidden message (gutted as I'm too late to enter this now)
• Stamp Something - Holiday somethings
• Fun with shapes - White and a little bit of colour
• Totally gorjuss - A tag (my card has a tag on it!)
• Our Creative Corner - Let it snow
• One Stop Crafts - Recycled (my acetate is an old box lid!)
• Sweet Stampin - Use at least 2 punches
• Stamp with us - Christmas
• The Chorrosive Challenge - Blingy
  

You can see above my hidden message and snowflake on the back of the medallion stamp. I made the card base out of an old acetate box lid as I didn't have any myself and had this idea for the card in my head. I've had this medallion Stampin' Up stamp for a while and not inked it up and boy am I pleased with the result. I was so worried I'd slip with the ink and it'd be ruined!

Once it dried I went around the edges of the image with a glue pen and sprinkled with glitter - very time consuming! I punched a hole through the centre and attached a gorgeous SU brad through the centre for decoration and to secure the card on the reverse.

The ribbon is from my stash and looped through a Hodge Podge ribbon slider with a little tag hanging off, I used a snowflake stamp and some circle punched to layer up and hung if with some silver elastic thread.

Can't tell you who I've sent it to as I know you read my blog!

Please scroll down to see my DT creation for Cupcake Crafts this week and if you want to stay in the Christmas mood all year round, visit Susie or Vikki's blog!!

Remember to visit to tomorrow to see if you're the lucky winner of my charity candy!

Victoria
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Stampin' Up Project Recipe:
Medallion stamp, white Stazon, filigree brad, bordering blue card, Season of Joy stamp set & circle punches.

Time to Celebrate

Over at Cupcake Crafts we have a two week challenge for you and the theme is 'Celebration'. You can make any card or project as long as celebration is involved...the choice is yours! The Design Team have created some fabby stuff so take a look and pop by their blogs too over Christmas.

I made a New Year card for my Mum as I didn't post a Christmas card to Spain in time (oops!).



I'm going to join these challenges:

• Sketch and Stash - Sketch (new stamp used)
• Cute Card Thursday - Aperture card
• Colour Create - Pink, burgundy and ivory and roses (I made rose wine!)
• Get Sketchy - Use your favourite colour - mine's pink
• Stampin' B's - Use a beverage
• Daring Cardmakers - New beginnings
• Winter Wonderland - Happy New Year
  

I used card and stamps by Stampin' Up, the stamp is from Cheers to You set and I coloured it using a Pixie Pink ink pad and a water brush! I printed the sentiments on the stars on the PC on the same card. The border was punched using the scallop border punch and I cut the aperture and frame with nesties.

Pop back later as I'll have another yummy card and remember to stop by tomorrow to see if you're the lucky winner of my blog candy.

Victoria
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Snow fun

Usually I love snow but not today as it's stopped us from travelling to a Christening. So I'm crafting instead which is lovely but it's not the same!

I made my first three step card:



And I'm joining these challenges:

• Kaboodle - Winter
• Project Tuesday - 3 step card (woo-hoo I'm featured this week!)
• Sassy Designs by Susie - A touch of gold
• Crafty Catz - Fairytale of New York (the song makes me think of Christmas)
• Hand Full of Stamps - All about red

Not usually a fan of gold but I know someone who is and I hope this hits the mark for them. I used the tree from Season of Joy and a sentiment from Punches Three. A spot of gold heat embossing over Versamark stamping, followed by some cutting out, layering on to real red and more cutting out and almost there. Added some real red ribbon and a button and I'm done.

Brrrr. Charity Candy winner will be announced on Tuesday!! Good Luck.

Victoria
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Circles and Christmas tree

Over at Bee Crafty our challenge this fortnight is 'Circles'. I took a short break from Christmas to make this get well soon card. I don't know of anyone who's ill, but I never have any cards handy when I need one! To join in, simply use circles on your card and a digi element too.



I'm joining a few challenges:

• Mojo Monday - Sketch
• My Grafico - Green and red but not Christmas
• If the shoe fits - Favourite colouring medium
• Lots to do - Free theme

And as I've sat and watched James put the tree up I thought I'd share a pic:



We're a bauble free zone this year as convinced Zac will be so excited he'll want to pull them all of and as we have some very special and sentimental decorations for Flynn we decided against putting them on the tree this year! I'm going to find a high up spot for them tomorrow! So it's lights, tinsel, beads and a star only for us. Oh and the pattern on the wall isn't from the tree - it's from our ceiling lights - psychedelic or what?

I've had a busy day making some Stampin' Up swaps and sorting through all the SANDs blog candy cards and goodies. Can't wait to draw out the winner. So many lovely goodies have been sent! Not long now....

Victoria
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Nativity an award and a candy update!

I made this card for my friends little boy, Isaac. I thought this cute nativity image by Sally-Ann was perfect for a card for a little boy.



I'm joining these challenges:

• The Pink Elephant - Winter or Christmas
• Sophisticat - Christmas
• My Time To Craft - Yuletide wishes
• Simon Says - Merry Christmas
• Unscripted - Sketch
• Winter Wonderland - Nativity
  

I also got this fab award off Sara. Thanks Sara. The award comes with a few rules:

1. Copy this award to your blog

2. Link to the person who gave you this award
3. Identify 7 interesting facts about yourself

4. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass this award on to

5. Link to their blogs

6. Leave them a comment to let them know about this award

So seven things about me.....

1. I'm so cold today I have my little slippers on with a big fluffy pom pom on the toes - another example of me acting my shoe size not my age
   
2. I went to the film premiere and party for Monsters inc and had a very big cuddle with James P Sullivan - he stank of garlic, quite apt for a monster! (see photo below). I sat next to Brian who was well known for being in Big Brother at the time.
3. I can't stand celery - urgh
4. My first ever job was working in a souvenir shop in Buxton when I was probably too young to be working
5. I get down on the carpet and do 'yogo' with Zac every morning whilst we watch Waybuloo on CBEEBIES!
6. I haven't made my Christmas cards yet - eeek!
   
7. I love rainbows - they always make me smile
   

And I'm passing this on to: Lynn, Louise, Katie, Penni, Jo, Chrissie and Steph.




Finally an update on my charity candy. Hopefully I have now received all the cards and gifts to be passed on to SANDs. I will be checking them off against Mr Linky over the weekend and will be announcing the winner early next week - watch this space!

Victoria
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New beginnings

This week at Paperplay our challenge is 'New beginnings' and Sandie is offering up a mystery box as a prize!!! Oooh don't you just lurve a surprise?


Here's my DT creation, a friend of mine had a little bubba in November and I'll see him for the first time on Sunday and this is his card:



I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Cardvaarks - Use a digi image
• Digital Tuesday - Birthday something (hope the actual birth day counts here!)
  
• Charisma Cardz - Anything but Christmas
• C.R.A.F.T - Free for all
• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Create for Fun - Easel card

I used this fab new digi stamp of Cocoa by Sally-Ann, isn't he cute? I added the text using a text box and repeated a couple of times to make the extra hearts. I love the gorgeous sentiment stamp from Stampin' Up, one of my favourites.

We've been into Nottingham city centre today with the boys for a wander around the German market. I was going to have a go on the outdoor ice rink with Zac in a little car, but I figured I'd probably fall over and end up with a face full of ice and car! Plus it was snowing and I decided, too cold to be out. Fab that James has the day off though, I've got the afternoon to spend in my craft room before venturing out to fat club later!

Victoria
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ok to make you all happy

Here's what my desk looks like now - several hours later!!! I've hidden any traces of my swaps!!

Victoria
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Time for a pamper

Pink is back!!!



Feeling in the mood for pink and sparkle today and this lil Anya image seems just right for my mood! Popping in for these challenges:

• Daring Cardmakers - Going dotty
• Kraftin' Kimmie - Sparkle baby
• Anyone for Anya - Bling it on
• Papertake - Sketch
  

Wish I had a lovely roll top bath like that - ah well.

Moving on swiftly to 'Whats on your work desk Wednesday' over at Stamping Ground.



Erm not a lot, I've tidied up ready to make some cards for a swap! So the space is clear AGAIN!! Wait til I finish - it'll be trashed! Promise to be messy next week folks.

Victoria
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Seeking 2 new DT members!

Here's my DT creation for the latest challenge at Creative Card Crew. Our theme is 'Anything goes'. That's right you can submit any project you like and you have until 4th January to do so. We're also sad to say goodbye to Nicola at Creative Card Crew, Nicola makes fab creations so I'm sure you'll be a regular visitor to her blog.

So after saying goodbye we're looking to say hello to two new DT members. To be in with a chance to join our team all you need to do is submit your entry on the Creative Card Crew blog and pop DT next to your name! Good luck.



I'm popping mine in for this weeks challenge at Stamp with fun which is 'little gifts'.

I stamped up these candles to make a cute Christmas gift for a friend. Yes they're made with Stampin' Up products!

I'll be setting up some virtual hostess Stampin' Up groups starting in January where you commit spending £15 a month for 10 months and get to be a virtual hostess on your month by receiving a free stamp set and some £s to spend on SU goodies from the catalogue too. If you're interested, please get in touch sooner rather than later before all the spaces are taken!

Victoria
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No challenges here!

Well there is one challenge and that's to join us at Cupcake Crafts this week and make a '5x5 Birthday card'! Makes a pleasant change to do something that's not Christmas!



So I made this 5x5 card using one of the stamps from Darling Dots hostess gift stamp set from Stampin' Up, it's so cute I'm going to be using it a lot. The sentiment is from Crazy for Cupcakes.



I love Chocolate Chip and Pink Passion together - these are two of the colours we'll be using for my January workshop in Nottingham (still places available!). All punches are Stampin' Up along with Chocolate chip ink.

Come and join us at Cupcake and please scroll down to see my DT creation for Die Cut Dreams Challenge this week too.

Victoria
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An address book gift

This week at Die Cut Dreams Challenge our theme is 'Glitter me silly'. We want to see glitter and sparkle. Susie sent all the DT a kit which and we had to use some of everything in it on our creations. So if you think this looks familiar, there's a chance you've already visited one of the other DT members blogs! If you like what you see you need to enter as Susie has another kit with some extra images in it as a prize!!!



Now I used a sketch from a challenge blog and I can't remember which one so if you recognise the sketch, please tell me so I can go and enter!! Thanks Lisa you were right - it was Fab n Funky - *mwah*!

• Fab n Funky - Sketch
  
• Little Paper Shop - Recipe - stamps, papers and embellishments
• Creative Friday - Recipe which I hope I have understood correctly!
• Kraftin' Kimmie - Sparkle baby
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas gift (this is a gift for someone and I daren't say who!)
  

I made the address book as I haven't made anything like this in ages and felt like getting stuck in! Really enjoyed it too. The sentiment reads ' All the people I love in one book'.



I printed the insert pages and used a Stampin' Up punch to make the tabs at the top of the pages.

Enjoy joining in! I'll be back in a bit with another post

Victoria
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No Christmas here!

I've had a fab day, I've been to a friends graduation party. I couldn't turn up without a little something so I took these:



I'm entering these challanges:

• Quixotic - Seeing stars
• Alphabet Challenge - I is for inking
• Totally Gorjuss - Free and easy open challenge
  

Sorry about the quality of the photos, I was in such a rush to go out and I had forgotten to take the pics!



I used Darling Dots stamps by Stampin' Up, these are a hostess set and I love 'em! I printed the sentiment myself as don't have a congratulations stamp - I looked and couldn't believe I don't have one! I added faux stitching with a white gel pen to match the stars.

Hubby came to pick me up from the party with the boys and all the way home Zac was shrieking with excitement at all the Christmas lights, we're going to sort out our decorations this week before we blink and miss Christmas!

Victoria
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Project Recipe:
Stamps - Darling Dots
Inks and card - Lovely Lilac, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories - Word window punch, oval punch, scalloped oval punch, white gel pen

My first SU Workshop

OK - you might want to grab a cuppa or something stronger before you continue - this is a long one with loads of photos!

I did my first ever Stampin' Up class today and absolutely loved it so had to share most of it with you! Eleven lovely ladies turned up and it was so nice to put faces to names and to meet some of the friends I've met through blogging as well as to find out some of the people I know already are actually really into paper craft! Thanks to everyone who took part- can't wait to see you again in January.

These are the projects we made. We made some smaller cards too but I forgot to take photos of them.



I'm popping these projects in for these challenges:

• The Pink Elephant - Favourite Christmas colour combo
• Double Dutch - All about the wrapping
• My Graphico - Recipes (I made snowman soup in a bag!)
  
• Project Tuesday - Gift bag
• Charisma Cardz - Red, green and white or silver
• Hand Full of Stamps - Something green
• Stamp Something - Winter Wonderland
• Frosted Designs - Happy Holiday
• Our Creative Corner - Christmas

Here's the gift bag we made. I have to credit Carole C for this as I saw her design and asked her if I could case it for my class and she kindly said yes! Thanks loads Carole - the bag was real success and was something everyone could carry their projects home in too!



We made a treat bag of snowman soup:



a 6x6 card



another 6x6 card



Here's me showing how not to do it. Trust me - that's the truth, a few errors, but they were funny!!



Louise, Lynn and Sandra



Ellis, Jeanette, Hayley, Teresa and Zoe



All using the punches, inks and stamps and a spot of mingling too



Table with a few project ideas and sample file



If you'd like to join my next workshop in January , the theme will be 'Cupcakes and love' and we've picked 'pink and chocolate' as the colour theme. The workshop will be in Nottingham and will cost £15 which needs to be paid in advance. Please email me if you're interested for details and to reserve your place.

Thanks
Victoria
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