Quick and Easy cards

Hi. If you read my previous post, you will understand why my cards this week needed to be quick and easy, not only from a design point of view, but preparation and execution too!

As promised, here are some of the finished cards from Monday and Wednesday's coffee and card sessions. They all feature the Hello Friend stamp set.

Monday in Towcester - love the Christmas additions

Monday in Towcester

 

Wednesday in Brackley

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BRAND NEW EVENT - All day crafting !

I am so excited for a new event which takes place this weekend. I am working in conjunction with 2 of my team (Karen and Tara) and running an all day crafting event at Evenley Village Hall, near Brackley, NN13 5RY.

We had all been asked by customers if we would run a longer event than the 2 hour classes we all currently run, so we decided to club together and do just that!.

It's called Let's Get Creative 2017 and runs Saturday 30th September 2017 10-4pm.

I can't give away too much, as the details and projects are top secret, but the day includes:

• 3 classes with different demonstrators
• Each class features a card design and a 3d project
• Refreshments (tea/coffee/cake) all day
• A goodie bag with more than £30 of Stampin' Up! product
• A discount for ordering on the day.
• A HUGE raffle
• Prize patrols throughout the day (free gifts)

Here is a photo of just one of the class packs (deliberately not giving the game away!)

Numbers are strictly limited at this event, and all spaces (by invitation) were filled very quickly. I will be running another event in January - so if you would like to be on my priority list for invitation, please EMAIL ME.

I can't wait to share the projects and photos of the day in due course, but feel free to keep an eye on our activities on my Facebook page during the day.

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Hello friend, and horses !

I had a very hectic weekend, assisting my daughter Jo with her move to University for her first year. This included moving 2 of her horses down too, so it was quite an undertaking!  Here they are settling into their new home:

So after the horses were installed, and Jo was installed, I drove back home, somewhat exhausted. I then had to prep for coffee and card this week. I decided it has to be quick and simple for my benefit as much as anything. So I inked up Hello Friend for the first time... and here are the results.

These cards same together really quickly, as the wreath image is a single stamp and I was pleased with the results. I will share some of the cards made at coffee and card in the next post.

The stamp set is Hello Friend,  144059 £19.00  There is also a matching heat embossing kit that goes with it. Hop to the website for details.

Thanks for popping by today.

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My new best friend - Hand Lettered Alphabet

Sometimes there is a stamp set you look at in the catalogue.... and ignore.... then it ends up on your wish-list.... and eventually it works its way to you in a Stampin' Up! box.

This was the case with Hand Lettered Alphabet. I had looked at it quite a few times and thought it useful, then I finally decided to get it as a free item (ask me how).

Now I love it!! It's SO easy to line up and make 'joined up' words.

 

Use it to turn an ordinary card into a special card with the recipient's name on it!

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Colour charts and welcome cards

You may have seen my posting recently about the welcome packs I send to my own team members when they join me.

I thought I would share the colour samplers with you today. We have an amazing selection of Colours - 50 in total at any one time, and it can be very confusing to work out which one is which. So I created these samplers for my team to help them..  thanks to Michelle Last for her original idea, quite a few years ago!

Here are the samplers in detail, each colour family has it's own sheet, with a separate sheet for our In-Colours which change every 2 years.

 

Here is a sampler together with the welcome card. The sampler is customised with the team members name (hidden from view in photo)

Here is the final parcel ready to be packed and posted.

 Want a colour chart of your own? Simply JOIN MY TEAM

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Final bouquets at coffee and card

Just a quick posting today to show you some more  cards made at Coffee and Card in Brackley this week (20 September 2017).

 This 37 piece  Beautiful Bouquet stamp set is so easy to use and SO versatile, everyone made some stunning cards.

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New team gifts and a competition !

It's always lovely to have new team members join us, as we know they will not only enjoy the discount, but also have access to so much creativity and support within the team and the worldwide Stampin' Up! community.

I send out a welcome gift to all my own direct team members, and these were sent out recently. The gift includes a notebook, colour chart, chocolate and welcome card.

Normally I cover the little notebook I give out, but these two were so cute, and feature colours and designs that are very similar to those in our current catalogue, it seemed a shame to cover them up.

 

So here's a little competition for you..... Comment on this post with the name of two stamp sets in our current catalogues that features similar images to those on the two books. A name will be drawn at random on 28th September and you will receive a gift from me.

Of course you can join my team at any time, and receive a gift of your own. You will find more details in this page on the website.

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You are my sunshine !

It's always lovely to receive a gift or a handmade card in the post - and this week I was lucky enough to receive both together!

My lovely upline Michelle Last runs various challenges and incentives throughout the year, and the one she is running currently has prizes for those that achieve their goals. I was pleased to earn mine a while ago, and I chose a stamp set as my award.

This is my choice -  World's Best Trophy, a fantastic set with an amazing 53 stamps!

 I loved the card that Michelle made to go with it - isn't it gorgeous?

 A big thank you to Michelle - I shall be using this at coffee and card next week - so watch out for some new designs. in the meantime, here are a few ideas:

 Click on any of the photographs for more information or to order.

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Short on space? Try our space saving idea.

I know so many of us struggle to store all our craft supplies, so if this applies to you, have you tried our cute Stampin' Spots?

These consist of our individual 1" square uninked felt ink pads, which are refilled with your ink colour of choice.   You can buy 5 inkpads for £8.25 (£1.65 per pad) and then whichever refill colours you like. The refills are available individually at £3.50.

For the ones I put together below, I added a 1" punched circle of card to each lid and base to make identification easier !

One refill bottle will refill your ink pad plenty of times, and can be used to refill the larger inkpads too. Not only are these a great spacesaver - they are perfect for holiday crafting, if you don't want to take too many large inkpads with you.

To use the little inkpads, its best to leave your stamp faceup, and tap the inkpad onto the stamp until you have the coverage you need. Make sure you keep the lids tightly closed when not in use.

This is also a great way to make your own inkpads with multiple colours! Just add 2 or 3 different inks in the areas on the pad you want.

 

View the complete range of refills here

Order your Stampin' Spots here

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NEW Banbury location - spaces selling fast.

WOW - I have been bowled over with the support for our new classes which start in Shutford (West of Banbury) in October.

I have just 1 space left for the Saturday 21st October. Spaces currently still available to book for Monday 23rd, although these are going fast.

Children under 12 are welcome to attend, but must be accompanied by an adult. The adult/carer can attend for FREE if they are not participating in class (free tea and coffee though!), or can attend class if they wish.

Class prices are £15 per person, but FREE with an order over £25 placed at class. 

You can book your space by email. 

Payment can be made by credit/debit card or Paypal to jenny@jeminicrafts.co.uk 

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You're priceless !

You may already know but my team name is 'Creative Jems' taking the name from my business 'Jemini Crafts'. When I saw the stamp set You're Priceless in the new Annual Catalogue I knew that it would come in handy for team cards and gifts.

 So for my team gifts for August, I used the diamond shapes for the card background.

 

I also needed to send out a few individual cards, and this sentiment was just perfect.

I did use up some retired silver star embellishments, but loved the overall effect.

You can see details of the stamp set by clicking on any photo above.

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Coffee, card and bouquets!

I often use the sentiments from the stamp set Beautiful Bouquet, but this week in coffee and card we are using the whole stamp set.

Here are just 3 of the samples we are starting with, although I have plenty more
as it is such an easy stamp set to use.

I love the way the stem in the card on the tirght can be made to look like a tree in blossom.

Beautiful Bouquet stamp set

This set is available in photopolymer at just £24 for 37 stamps!

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BRAND NEW VENUE, near Banbury, Oxfordshire

I was delighted to be advised by a committee member at the Shutford Village Hall announcing that they were rebuilding their purpose built village hall, and letting me know that it would be perfect for card classes.

Most of my classes are currently based in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, so this was the perfect opportunity to expand my classes into North Oxfordshire. Shutford village is approximately 5 miles west of Banbury.

Taken from their website (c) fotofish, have a look at this stunning building.

We have class dates booked initially for October, November and January.

October (half term) dates - Christmas Card Making: 

Saturday 21st October 10am-12pm 3 spaces left

Monday 23rd October 10am-12pm 9 spaces left

Children are welcome to attend, they must be accompanied by an adult carer if under 12 years of age. Carer is FREE to attend if not taking the class.

To book, email me by return.

You can check the exact location here via Google (c) maps

You can also visit the Shutford Village website

 

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Last of the Painted Harvest postings for the moment

I just wanted to share the final cards that were made at coffee and card this week, featuring the Painted Harvest stamp set.  These were all made in the Brackley session which meets every Wednesday.

These cards are so quick and easy to produce, I went on to stamp a further 20 cards ready to send out this month as thank you cards, with gifts and catalogues. Remember if you order online from me and quote the hostess code that month you will receive a gift from me by way of a thank you.

Our September code is EJG9S9AG

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When is a flower not a flower? When it's a hedgehog of course!

I am always amazed at the ways other demonstrators and artists can see beyond the obvious images in a stamp set. The Painted Harvest is an example of that.

Cornelia Janssen, a demonstrator in Germany completely changed the look of the sunflower in the Painted Harvest stamp set, making it into a cute hedgehog, which she shared. This is her sample, and you can click on the photo to go to her blog post.

So at coffee and card this week I challenged Elaine Gower from my team to have a go and make a hedgehog card from the set. She did an amazing job, and here is her finished card made there and then. How fabulous Elaine, thank you.

 I love the addition of the ribbon, making her into a girl hedgehog.

To see more designs from the set, you can visit an earlier posting.

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Amazing results with Painted Harvest

As expected, the cards made on Monday at Towcester were a great hit - everyone made some stunning cards, with some great colour combinations.

We added a Christmas variation too, makes a great high volume card.

 So, we have the same design tomorrow in Brackley - I wonder what other colours they will choose? Join us every week at #coffeeandcard.

For more information on the Painted Harvest set, bundle or the Leaf punch, you can click on the images or the highlighted words.

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Sunflowers - and Painted Harvest

When I first saw the new Christmas Catalogue, I was most excited by the Painted Harvest stamp set, with its beautiful flower design, nice sentiments and a matching leaf punch.

So, it will put in it's first appearance at coffee and card this forthcoming week. It's one of the sets that seems to work, regardless of what you do with it or what colours you use.  Here are the cards for next week, I hope they go down well. I can't wait to see all the colour combinations everyone comes up with.

 The stamp set is just £19 in photopolymer format, and the leaf punch is £14.50. You can save yourself 10% though, and buy them as a bundle together for just £30.00.

Thanks for popping by, I will share more samples here during the week.

 

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WOW - So many Christmas Jumpers

Coffee and Card this week featured some Christmas Sweaters 

in a wide variety of styles and colours.

I thought I would share just a few of them with you today - aren't they great fun?

These were all taken at the Saracens Head, Towcester, Northamptonshire. We meet there every Monday morning, 9:30-10:30am.

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Fun with Christmas Sweaters - do you own a Christmas themed jumper?

This new stamp set is just such fun, and if you love a little colouring in, 

twice as much fun can be had.

It'a called Christmas Sweaters, and features 6 different jumpers 

and a matching sentiment: "Deck the halls with Christmas Sweaters". 

Here are some of the fun cards I have designed, thanks to one of my downline Tara Fowler who gave me the inspiration at her new catalogue launch this week.

For more information on this stamp set, just click on any of the above images.

This will be features at out Coffee and Card on Monday 4th September. PLEASE NOTE there is no coffee and card session on Wednesday 6th September due to local shop's annual holidays.

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