Bloomin Marvelous

Sometimes technology defines logic. I have been able to post pictures here for the past month with no problem. Now all of a sudden I can't add pictures in the same way & have had to use my mobile phone & a really round a bout way but eureka! I now have a picture Bloomin Marvelous!

This is one of the pretty butterfly stamps in the Bloomin Marvelous stamp set which is part of the Sale-A-Bration set which launches along with a whole load more at the end of January.

I really like butterflies as they have always symbolised freedom to me.  The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly soaring away, pretty profound to me.

The sentiment is 'Oh happy days' and I definitely am looking forward to lots of happy days in the coming year.

As always all the products I use are from Stampin' Up! and if you would like to know more then please get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for looking :)

Oh dear

Really sorry guys but I cannot seem to upload any pictures at the moment, blogger is playing silly wotsits with me, so until I can find out why, this week's blogs are sitting waiting but without pictures not really worth putting them up.

Hopefully I will find the solution, in the meantime happy crafting.

Sneak peak Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration

How lucky am I being a demonstrator for Stampin' Up! as I get to buy stamp sets and have a play before they are officially launched.

Sale-A-Bration starts towards the end of January and there are some really exciting offers. Sale-A-Bration is an annual party with loads of free products.  This year's party is better then ever - as it is their 25th anniversary.

There really has never been a better time to start using Stampin' Up products and I'd love to help you choose, whether it is just products for your own craft collection, want to host a party, want a catalogue or are interested in becoming a demonstrator? Please just email me allmark.j@sky.com

Bloomin Marvelous a sneak peak of this really pretty stamp set with leaves & flowers, butterfly, humming bird & great sentiments.

Four Seasons - Stampin' Up!

Well with all this wet drizzly weather and constant rain & floods my thoughts are turned to Spring & Summertime.  This little card was inspired with warm sunny colours and the bright freshness of the lengthening days of Spring and Summer.

The stamp set I used is the hostess set Four Seasons.  It is a great set that you can purchase or even get for free if you hold a hostess party.  There are 8 stamps in the set depicting all four seasons with butterfly, leaf, snowflake & flower embellishment stamps.  I love this little robin with the spiral on his tummy.  I cut the robin out using a little circle punch and then popped him out using dimensionals.  I really like the little butterfly so stamped the envelope & inside of the card.  A simple little card with a sunny feel.

If you would like to host a party then please get in touch via email allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for looking :)

Stampin' Up! trimmer

This is by far my favourite tool. It has only recently been launched by Stampin' Up! and it is a cutting and scoring tool with crafters in mind.

• Cutting & Scoring -Cut anywhere in any direction. Full 305cm cut or score. Keep scoring & cutting blades on the track at the same time (1 cutting & 1 scoring blade)
• Measuring -Extended 15.9cm base. Extended metric ruler to 36.5cm
• Storing -Compartment under base to store blades, scoring stylus & more!.

It is the easiest cutter I have ever used as I find  lot of cutters very stiff to use and they take a lot of muscle power in your hand to use.  This I can use with two fingers and the fact I can cut tiny little pieces as well as larger ones is fantastic.  I wanted something that would cut and score and wasn't too expensive and this is perfect.

It is really neat and lightweight too.

It costs £25.95 and replacement blades are £4.50 for two and scorers are £3.50 for two.  The blade seems to last a long time and stay sharp & crisp so I haven't bought any replacement blades yet.

So impressed with this cutter so if you are thinking of buying one then I would highly recommend this one by Stampin' Up!  Get in touch at allmark.j@sky.com if you would like to purchase one.

Thanks for looking :)

Hare totem Native American Flute

I am truly blessed in knowing and being in a relationship with a wonderful man who oozes talent from his every pore. Yes I might be a little biased but he has an affinity with wood and magically creates some beautiful things.

For Yule this year he made me a native american flute.  I love playing the flute & although a beginner there is something deeply moving sitting and letting the notes transport you to a different plain. The flute is made from cedar so as you play it fills body, soul & surrounding space with aromatic cedar.  I have had a connection with hares for as long as I can remember and have a hare tattoo on my wrist. The flute has a hare totem hand carved which is simply WOW.

This is the first flute to be made & several more will be made during the coming year if time allows.  Should you wish to have one of your own then please get in touch allmark.j@sky.com as commission pieces can be made.

A Jar Full of Happiness

Well the New Year has begun in earnest & am starting to get back into my daily routine.  I work at a wonderful day centre for the elderly which is a drop in centre so get to spend my time talking and learning from the wise (hardly work as it is so rewarding) My aromatherapy massages are going well and I have a good client base of lovely people ageing from 20's to 80's  I do a couple of cleaning jobs (which are quite boring) but bring in the pennies to allow me to indulge in my Stampin' Up! obsession and buy lots of crafting bits and best of all the cards I make I sell at the centre & get to make one-off bespoke cards for people who are looking for something special (my recent baby naming ceremony card was a huge success & was the talking point which was very humbling).

So it is time for me to get back to doing my daily blog and sharing with you all what I am up to in my crafty world.

The first thing I want to share is a jar idea which was posted up on facebook several months ago.  Take any jar (I used an old coffee jar) decorate it (I used flowers & ribbon in bright summery colours) and then during the year fill with happiness & all the special little things that happen during the year.  Then during the festive season, or New Year next year, or even during the year when sometimes your feeling a little down or want to be reminded how great life is, open the jar & read.

I used the Stampin'Up! New In Pursuit of Happiness stamp set which is 5 stamps with the most lovely wording & I find that I use it all the time.

• Now and then it is good to pause in out pursuit of happiness & just be happy.
• Do you little bit of good where you are. It's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.
• A grateful heart is the mainspring of happiness.
• Everything will be ok in the end. If it isn't ok it isn't the end.
• Live in the sunshine

The stamp set comes in wood or clear to mount onto your own acrylic block £15.95/£12.95

Well I began filling my jar at Winter Solstice this year 21/12/12 I went to Avebury with my besties and saw a beautiful dawn & then went & had breakfast in Marlborough at The Polly Tearoom. My gorgeous partner bought a huge homemade Yule Log, very chocolaty & indulgent, which we scoffed over the next week.  The Yule log was tied with a cute ribbon which has gone into the jar.  I am intending to open my jar at Winter solstice this year to see all the things I have collected during the year and my mantra is definitely going to be,

" Now and then it is good to pause in out pursuit of happiness & just be happy" and I intend to spend most of this year being happy.

If your interested in any stampin' up! products or would like a catalogue then please don't hesitate to get in touch on my email allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks as always for looking :)