Scrap Club

Every month, Zoe and I run a Scrap Club evening.  I started it over six years ago and whilst it's changed it's format over the years, we still have a group of about 10 ladies join us every month.

We make a variety of single page layouts, double page layouts and mini books.  Attendees are normally asked what they would like to make and they put their ideas forward of what colours or what techniques they would like to use.  This month they wanted to do a Christmas double page spread whilst learning how to make the 3D flowers / medallions.

So, you can see above the pages that we completed.  Now those of you familiar with the Stampin' Up! catalogue will recognise the layout on the left hand side.  Inspired by a beautiful single page layout, I adapted it and made it the left hand page of our double layout.

Using Stampin' Up!'s Jolly Holiday papers, the Ornament Punch, the Scallop Circle punch, the Scallop Trim punch, Filigree brads and a bit of stamping using my favourite Curly and Cute stamp set!

Here's a closer look at the right hand page:

The ladies did a great job and finished most of it during the 2 hours that we have.  There were plenty of supplies left in their kits to make more or maybe even start their Christmas Cards!!!

If you fancy joining us, December is our Christmas party but in January we will be back Monday 17th January 2011 from 7.30 - 9.30pm.

If you live locally to me, Crawley Library has a Crafts for Christmas show on tomorrow and I will be there between 10am and 3pm, so stop by for a quick make and take, a chat or a chance to look at some fabulous ideas that I got from Stampin' Up! Convention.

Have fun!

Natalie x

Another make and take

If you are part of my Stampers Groups, then each month you get two Make and Take projects with your order.

This month they got to do the lovely 6 x 6" scrapbook page shown above and the other card was one that was made at Stampin' Up's Regional Training earlier this year.

Here it is:

I have to admit that the new Early Expresso brown colour and the Cherry Cobbler red colour have stolen my heart - I LOVE these colours together.

And what about that bauble - I love Stampin' Up!'s Contempo Christmas stamp set and together with the Ornament Punch, it means that making these 3D baubles are really easy and quick too!

On December 4th, I've got a group of ladies that are going to be making 24 Christmas Cards in 6 hours - that should get them started with what they need to make this year!  If you fancy joining us, then give me a quick shout now - bookings are officially closing today but I may just be able to squeeze you in if you let me know quickly :)

Still so much to show you, so back soon!

Natalie x 

Stampin' Stars Goody Bags

Well, I said that I would be back to show you what I gave the lovely ladies in the Stampin' Stars team got in their Pre-Convention Party Goody Bags. 

Remember the bags?

Well, in the bags was firstly a little card to thank them for all of their hard work and for being part of the team :)

Then I made them a little notebook so that they could all make notes during convention :)

When my team reach a certain level, I give them a Pandora style bracelet or keychain and whenever they get a new person in their own teams or maybe reach a certain sales level or something, then they get given a bead to add to the keychain or bracelet.  With this in mind and the fact that the tagline from convention was "Share what you love", I bought them all a heart bead and wrapped it up like this:

Now convention was a big place and with around 300 people, I wanted something that would make us easily identifiable.  I haven't met all the ladies in my team and I wanted those who had come alone to be able to find other team members easily too, so what's a team leader to do.

Well, embarass the team members of course :)

Here is what I made them wear:

Now, notice that I didn't pick the tacky silver and gold glittery ones - I did go for the very feminine fluffy versions LOL!

There were also some refreshments and chocolate in those bags but also two Make & Take packets for them to complete at the Party.  Here is my Make & Take for the party (also given this month to my Stampers Group ladies too!):

Now I was asked during the evening why people only got one Johnny (Depp) but they got eight brads.  I didn't get it to start with and then it clicked - Brad Pitt!  Well, I'd have one Brad instead of 8 Johnny's any day of the week but I'm guessing we are all different :).

If any of the above has interested you in becoming a Demonstrator, so that you can join in with all the fun of convention next year, then get in touch and I'm more than happy to talk to you about how you can get a discount on your Stampin' Up! supplies or even start your own part-time business.

Have fun!

Natalie x

Wow Wow Wow

Well, what can I say?

Last week I spent alot of time playing with paper and spending time with friends.

It was the 2nd Stampin' Up! Convention in Addington Palace and I had a ball!

There is so much to share, but I could be here all day, so as usual, I will put down some bullet points as you may have seen alot of things on other blogs by now too :)

So, the Thursday night before Convention, Monica & I held a party for our Downlines and a few friends - that will be 120 people then *shock*.  It did get a little bigger than expected but we were suckers for not wanting anyone to miss out :)

Here are the Goody Bags that I put together for my downline:

I do like to spoil my ladies.  We are called the Stampin' Star Team and so everything was Star themed including the fluffy head boppers that I mad them wear :)  I'll share photos of what was in their bags another day soon, too much to share today!

So the party seemed a success in the seconds that I had to breathe and take it all in, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and enjoyed a place where alot of us could gather before convention.

It wasn't too much of a late night, but I just couldn't get to sleep, so with three hours sleep finally under my belt, we finally arrived at Addington Palace.  After last years experience of letting everyone else queue to check in etc before we did, we used that to our advantage and did the same this year.  The main stage wasn't opening until 11.45am so we got there at about 10am.  We collected our Convention bags with our goodies in (the fabulous Just Believe and Party This Way stamp sets, a programme, a pen, a catalogue and some pins / badges for my achievements).

We had a variety of sessions during the day, a mixture of business talks together with some creative presentations which made be laugh so much by the lovely Michelle Last and Julie Kettlewell - two ladies that I had the pleasure of spending some time with in Monaco and they both make me laugh so much!

The afternoon session over ran a bit so we didn't have quite the time to nip back to the hotel and get ready that I was expecting, but it was time for a quick bath, make up and hair and then we were off again.

I had a fantastic time during the evening.  Thanks to both my team and my customers, I was lucky enough to be able to walk across the stage several times this year.  You get to go up for achieving next year's Incentive Trip to Prague, for achieving over £10k of sales, for Recruiting, for Leadership of a team and overall for being in the Top 25 Demonstrators.  In all categories, I did better this last year (my second year) than I did in my first year so I was ecstatic to get into the TOP 3 of the company for Recruiting.  This means that not only do you need to grow your team, they all need to achieve a level of sales too and I thank every single one of you lovely ladies that chose me as their Upline to help with their Stampin' Up! journey!  I received a rose and a Cole Haan Designer handbag which is just beautiful and smells divine (photo courtesy of Julie as she got one too!).  I also received another four stamp sets to the two that I already aswell - thoroughly spoilt!

I was very proud to retain my rank as 5th Demonstrator of the Year - so again, thank you if you are one of my wonderful customers or one of my Stampin' Stars - couldn't have done any of this without you *gush!*

Here are my wonderful ladies, there were 28 Stampin' Stars that came to Convention!

Day continued with a morning of Make and Takes - again I will share those with you another day, some more business demonstrations, some exciting news that I can't share yet and more free stamps!

It was a great few days and I have many great memories from there - I laughed ALOT and there was huge excitement when they announced that next year's convention is going to be in DISNEYLAND, PARIS!!!!!To say that some of the team were a little excited by this is an understatement!

Would you like to be part of this amazing journey?  Would you like to come to Disneyland next year as a Stampin' Star?  Our group of wonderful ladies is forever growing and we welcome anyone who would like to start their own Stampin' Up! journey, whether as a hobby Demo who buys product for themselves at a discount or those who want a full time career.

I don't believe in hard sell or pressure, so if you would like to know more, then please feel free to either email me at natalie@oshea26.freeserve.co.uk or phone me on 01293 888816.

I look forward to starting your own journey with you - Good Luck and thanks once again everyone!

Natalie x

Bundle Up For Christmas!

Well, it's all busy, busy, busy here as usual!

Can you believe that it's this week that I go to Stampin' Up's annual convention.  Remember that last year, I trekked off to Germany?  Well, this year, it's ultra glamourous - CROYDON!  Well, New Addington to be precise and Addington Palance no less :)

It's two days of workshops, comraderie and really just having some great fun, I will let you know all about it when I come back.

Anyway, Stampin' Up! have launched an offer for November and December - buy a Christmas Bundle and get a roll of ribbon FREE!  Here is more information on the bundles and ribbons:

LOOK, FLOCKED SPECIALITY PAPER ONLY AVAILABLE WITH THE WELCOME CHRISTMAS BUNDLE - YUM, YUM, YUM!

My favourite is the Sleigh Bells Ribbon and I can't wait to get hold of my one of those - you're sure to see some things from me with this ribbon soon - love it!

Anyway, I will be back soon with all the information on Convention AND the Pre-Convention Party that Monica & I are throwing on Thursday night - it's going to be a riot.

Enjoy your weekends too and have a great Fireworks night if you are out and about doing things.

Be safe and have fun!

Natalie x