Creating my first MDS Photo book

MDS or My Design Studio is Stampin' Up!'s digital software package, until now I've mainly used it for promotional material for stamp in somerset, but after attending Pinkies Training in Birmingham, I decided I really did need to make more use of it!

Earlier in the year, I took part in #100HappyDays. A challenge to take a photo of something that makes you happy each day, for 100 days. It's actually much harder than it sounds, particluarly when flying through timezones make you confused which day is which, and thats before a day with two year old twins flies by before I even notice! Anyway, with a little bit of artistic liscence, I completed the challenge. I now have 100 photos, with comments of my ordinary everyday life. This got me thinking, how amazing would it be to re-visit it in 10 years, or even for future generations...

100 photo's would be too many to scrap in a traditional way, I just don't have time. But a digital photo book, when all I have to do is drag and drop and add the journaling...now I think I could find the time for that!

I shared on Facebook last night, the cover of my album

but now I can start sharing the pages with you! They may change before the final print, and the order will undoubedly change to mix up the colours, but you get the idea!

Keep checking back for further updates over the coming days :)

FREE INKPAD Easter Eggstravaganzer!

Easter is such a great time, it's fantastic to have a long weekend to catch up with family, friends or even those things you've been meaning to do....like place your Stampin Up! Order! Why not take a nice break, head over to www.stampinup.co.uk check that Katy Freeman is your named demonstrator, and if you spend over £25, before postage, I'll be in contact to ask which colour inkpad you'd like as a free gift! The inkpad will arrive separately, direct from me - so don't add it to your Order!

Selected stamps

Where did March go? A big Thank you to all who purchased the petite petals stamps last month, your card making kit will be on it's way to you in the next few days! This month the stamps I've chosen are slightly different...

...the stamps come as part of a kit!

So not only do you get three great clear mount stamps, you also get a clear block, a stampin spot ink pad in Basic Grey...and...a kit to make at least 20 cards, with envelopes, instructions, stickers, string, paper clips and stampin dimensionals!

The complete kit, item 134998, costs £17.95.

The kit has been designed to enable you to create without having to purchase anything additional, but I would suggest a pair of scissors are handy to cut the string (and stickers if your like me and can't bare to waste so much on layering!!). At WI last night, in between chatting, eating a delicious strawberry roulade, and without scissors I made a good start on the cards. I will show you them once completed!

Since this month, if you purchase the stamps, you'll already have a card kit, I will this month be sending out a kit to make an 8" x 8" scrapbook page! So what are you waiting for, you can order it here. 

A weekend of wreaths

The burlap and blooms wreath is a great kit for a get together of family and friends. This weekend I had the delight of creating with two lovely groups of ladies, who each created a unique and beautiful wreath.

On Friday it was the turn of Gemma and her family! All three generations of the family gathered along with her aunt and sister in law for a night of creative fun. They had loads of fun experimenting to create different flowers!

The family were divided between those who craft regularly and those for whom this was their first experience, but I bet you can't tell who's who from the finished results!

Then on Saturday it was onto Amy's house, she invited the girls from work to have a great girly time! It was definitely different to their day jobs - they are all engineers! There was lots of banter but eventually, fulled by minstrels and domino's...wreaths were completed. What do you think?

Would you like to create a wreath? You can get the kit here for £15.95 or alternatively get in touch and arrange a wreath class. In addition to the kit, you get all the adhesive you require as well as step by step instructions and advice. The wreath class costs £25 per person but anyone who books and pays by March 31st gets a £5 discount! 

Love getting back to simplicity...

On the first Tuesday evening of the month I run Wellington wi craft club. It always sneaks up on me and I've never got a project ready to take that won't require me to take everything! So this month I went back to pure simplicity. 

I grabbed a pile of prefolded white cards, a couple of boxes of stamps, and three stampin' write markers and armed with my stamp bag* off I went.

*My stamp bag contains the tools I always need when I'm stampin, but usually will forget one so now I keep them all together! It's got my stampin scrub - with spray, my stamp-a-ma-jig -with the transfer sheet and finally my clear blocks.

So, in between chatting this is what I came up with...

The colours I chose were smokey slate, pool party and island indigo. The stamps were petite petals, perfect pennants, Betsy's blooms, yippee-skippee and the banner blast. I also found a roll of the washi tape in my handbag, so used that too! I love the combination of arrows with the 'sending good thoughts your way' sentiment! 

Here are some closer up shots...

This is also a great example of how cards doesn't always need to be expensive to be beautiful! 

If you'd like to know more about Wellington WI or our craft club, get in contact! 

New party class

I've had lots of people lately contact me about wanting to 'have a bit more of a go' but not wanting to spend loads, so with this in mind I have launched 

The hip hip hooray party is great for those who don't know many people, particularly many people who craft. It's also a great way to spend some time with friends or family without knowing you have to spend to continue after the party! Although designed with adults in mind it is suitable for those looking for an alternative childrens party, as long as there are adults to help with younger guests. It is just thirty pounds to book your party, with the final numbers and rest of payment (if having more than three people) due 10 days before your party. 

Why not plan an afternoon of craft to hide from those April showers? 

Workshop: Saturday 8th March

I'm really pleased to be announcing that on Saturday 8th March I'll be doing a workshop at For Every Cloud in Langport.

During this workshop we'll be making a name badge, a post-it note holder with matching pencil and a card. All materials and refreshments are provided. The cost is £20 or there is a chance to win a place on my facebook page.

Get in contact to book your place!!