A few snippets of inspiration

So I've been crafting for fun - mainly for gifts to give on occasions. I'm going to try to update the bigger projects here (the ones that people always ask, "How did you make that?!") so that others can have a go, and the smaller snippets I am posting on facebook. Here's a few of the things over on my facebook page if you want to come and say hello...

www.facebook.com/jennynorfordscreations

Follow me on Facebook

 

So crafting has returned!

 

Just for a hobby, so I craft as and when I have the time and inspiration. I've been enjoying papercrafts (never fails!), crafty gifts, cookery/baking and a few random things I find along the way. Come and follow me on Facebook - I will save my blog for longer posts that need explanation or tutorials, and for the small, regular snippets of inspiration - I am updating my page at

 

www.facebook.com/jennynorfordscreations

Update

Well, life has been particularly busy and it has taken me this long to get around to updating my blog to say that I am no longer a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I love their products and I loved all the perks I got, I just simply don't have the time anymore to make it work for me. In fact this last year - apart from making my own wedding stationery I have not had the time at all for any crafting!

Moving house and planning a wedding has taken up all of my time - and I get married next week! So I may come back and post as and when I craft as I will still be doing it as a hobby and I hope once I am settled into my new house and taken over a room as a craft room (!) that I will be back to crafting. And I may share some wedding pics ;o)

In the mean time, you can find inspiration on my facebook page by clicking 'like' - I will be updating that as and when I craft. I hope you are all still enjoying your crafting.

Thanks

Jenny x

*FREE* stamps - Sale-a-brate

Who doesn't love FREE stamps? It's the best time of the year for Stampin' Up! as the Sale-a-bration has just started, and that means free goodies!

Choose from these four lovely stamp sets or this gorgeous pack of patterned paper as your free item when you spend £45 or more on an order from the Stampin' Up catalogues (main or mini). For each £45 you spend, choose a stamp set, if you spend £90 choose TWO FREE sets and so on until you have them all.
This sentiment stamp set is my favourite, though I am desperate to get these patterned papers too.

This is a great universal set - for all occasions.

The Elementary Elegance set is very trendy right now.

All you have to do is email me with your order from the Stampin' Up catalogues (find my email address in the right hand bar) and tell me which FREE stamp set you want to choose today! That simple. We will then arrange payment and your order will be on its way to you. Have fun choosing...

The brand new Stampin' Up mini catalogue is out today!

View the new Mini Catalogue here

You can view both the main catalogue and the new mini catalogue here

So it’s January 4 – and this year Stampin’ Up! have decided to treat us in the new year with the new mini catalogue much earlier than usual! You no longer have to wait until April to choose lots of new goodies, this new mini catalogue is available from today, alongside everything in the main catalogue still.

My favourites and a few of the things you MUST check out are:

•P5 - ‘Swirls and Curls Verses’ is a definite favourite – only available to be earned as a hostess gift – see below how to get this for free!
• P7 - ‘Simply Adorned’ for those of you who fancy trying making some jewellery with your papercrafts!
•P10 - ‘Spice Cake’ new designer series patterned papers – love the colours on these and the matching fabrics are gorgeous!
•P15 – ‘Blossom Party Originals Die’ – flowers can be used on so many different designs!
•P20 – ‘Perfect Postage’ stamps and matching punch are going on my must have list….
•P22 – More beautiful cupcakes and a matching punch this time – wahoo!
• And finally – maybe I’m considering the wedding set on p21 – great for wedding and anniversary cards and as I’m making my own invites this year, maybe I’ll chose that set. Hmmm.

I could go on but there’s lots to browse. If you want to place an order simply email over your list to me and I will confirm the order and then payment with you.

Freebies

Don’t forget - if your order comes to £150 or more (this can be you and a few friends clubbing together to put an order in) – you get the full hostess benefits which starts from £25 worth of free goodies from the catalogue! The more you spend, the more free items you can choose (see the front of the catalogue for details), it works just the same as it does with the main catalogue and your orders can combine between the mini catalogue and the main catalogue. The catalogue says that you are the host of a stampin up party workshop but you can also just club orders together as friends as a 'virtual party' to get the same benefits, without the party!

Blog hop

If you want to see lots of great ideas made using these items there is a blog hop going on – where you visit one blog, then keep following the links to the next ones, each blog will show a different great idea for how to use these items. You can start with my Stampin' Up! team leader, Natalie - here

Let me know if you have any questions and happy browsing,

Jenny x

Absent!

So you might have noticed a serious lack of posts - I am still alive, but I've been so busy with weddings, houses and illnesses that my blog has been seriously neglected. With the new Stampin' Up! mini catalogue and Sale-a-bration fast approaching, I'll be back with some posts on that.

Until then...

Christmas Craft Class - Sat 3rd December

I am teaching a Christmas craft class at Rainham Library on Saturday 3rd December and you are all welcome! It will follow a similar format to my usual classes, we will be making a trio of cards pictured above and the class is two and a half hours long. Come and join us to get in the festive season!

We will be making a trio of Christmas cards using stamping, punches and embellishments (suitable for all levels of crafters). The details are:

Rainham Library
Sat 3rd December 2011
11am - 1.30am
£15 per person

The deadline for bookings is Saturday 19th November.

Please note - this is a class run for Rainham Library therefore the bookings are taken directly through the library, not through me.

To book your place:

Call 01708 434970
or
Email rainham.library@havering.gov.uk

Payment must be made to secure your place - you can pay at any Havering library or discuss with them over the telephone payment options.

There is a limited number of places on this class and it is being advertised through all of the Havering libraries so I would definitely recommend booking early to avoid disappointment!

For details of the library and its location click HERE

Hopefully you can make it, it should be good fun and just in time for the festive month of December!

Jenny x

Baby Girl card

Here's a CASE (copy and share everything) of a new baby girl card - you will have no doubt seen these circulating the internet for a while now so it's hard to credit the original person. I sat and made this lovely detailed card, we wrote in, then I was told, "I did think it was a bit strange you've made us a pink card to give though.". It was a new baby boy!!!! So, next post will be a boy version which I promptly then had to make haha!

I'm running short of time at the moment so I might just try posting my photos of cards even if I can't give you a good description. Made using a stamp set from Stampin' Up of course and all the inks and coordinating ribbons etc too.

Made a long wish list from the new catalogue yet? I'll be doing my Christmas wish list service again this year so if you want to send me your wish lists then get your loved ones to contact me - I can arrange for them to buy you lovely SU products for the festive season, what more could a girl want ;o)

Cards using brand new products!

Forever young

The tree image above is from a brand new stamp set in the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue called Forever Young, which is easy to gloss over on first glance at the idea book but it's a really pretty set. I know certain members of my family are going to love this card. It was one of the cards that we made at the Stampin' Stars Team training on Saturday too inspired by Kimberley Van Diepen on her blog (US Stampin' Up! Demonstrator). The sentiment is from a great set called Petite Pairs. It's a set with lots of greetings that can either be used individually or together as a pair, so it means you can either split the greeting on the front of the card or put one on the outside and one on the inside!

There is also some new patterned paper on there too. This sheet is from the Timeless Portrait Designer Series Paper. These papers, together with this stamp set, form part of the Timeless Portrait Suite of products which also includes the Parlour Prints background stamp used below too!

Christmas Gift Box

This Christmas box is also from our team training. It is on a tutorial offered by the wonderfully talented Linzi Mortimer and the original template came from Lauren Meader. The colours used are Real Red and Soft Suede, the patterned top which looks like patterned paper is actually the Parlour Prints background stamp mentioned above and then the greeting is from the lovely Welcome Christmas set which I'm happy to report carried over to the new catalogue!


Ordering and spreading the cost

So... take a long hard look at the brand new catalogue and send me your orders! You can email me or leave a comment here for me to contact you. You can make your payment to me by internet transfer, paypal, cheque or credit card (over the phone).

If there is alot in the catalogue that you would like, and would prefer to spread the cost of your items over several months but still get the benefit of the hostess freebies then get in contact with me about my Stampers Six club - all I need is six members (I have one already waiting), committed to spending £25 each per month for six months, and you will get the free hostess benefits! At the start of the six months you also get a catalogue for free!

My next craft class is being held at Rainham Library on Saturday 3rd December. Add the date to your diaries!

Don't forget - FREE P&P on all orders direct to your door for the next 7 days until midnight Friday- saving £4.95! Let me know if you have any questions.



Jenny

New catalogue out today! Free P&P for 7 days ONLY - order from 9am Sat

Hoorah - the brand new catalogue for Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 is out today!

Click on the catalogue to view it online...


I have a special offer for my customers for 7 days only - FREE P&P on all orders for the next 7 days only - that's a saving of £4.95! Offer expires midnight Fri 7th October.

I am taking orders from 9am! You can view the catalogue online by clicking the above link, but I would highly recommend ordering your own copy as they are just wonderful to have in your hands.

Do you want to be one of the first people in the UK to get your hands on a copy of the new catalogue and idea book? It's a fantastic idea book which I refer to all the time when I am looking for inspiration. With a RRP of £5.95, I am offering these, posted to you for just £4.95! Just click on the Paypal link to the right to order one and I'll get it straight out to you. As you will already know, these are more than just a catalogue, it is now my favourite replacement for a craft magazine as there are so many wonderful projects in them each year, I've kept all of my old copies!

I am happy to accept Bank Transfers and Cheques too, so if you don't want to use Paypal, it doesn't mean you have to miss out!

Ordering and spreading the cost

So... take a long hard look at the brand new catalogue and send me your orders - I am taking orders from 9am today! You can email me or phone me with your orders and you can make your payment to me by internet transfer, paypal, cheque or credit card (over the phone).

If there is alot in the catalogue that you would like, and would prefer to spread the cost of your items over several months but still get the benefit of the hostess freebies then get in contact with me about my Stampers Six club - all it needs is six members, committed to spending £25 each per month for six months, and you will get the free hostess benefits! At the start of the six months you also get a catalogue for free!

Don't forget - FREE P&P on all orders direct to your door for the next 7 days - saving £4.95! Let me know if you have any questions.

Jenny x

Christmas craft class was lots of fun

My Christmas craft class was lots of fun when I held it a couple of weeks ago, here is the projects that we made...

One large gift box, two small ones, four full sizes cards and two mini cards. Aren't they cute? I love the small square cards so much that I'm thinking of making that size for my own cards this year. Yes it's that time coming soon!

If you mised the class and would like to join us again, I am holding a class for Rainham Library in December - Saturday 3rd - get in touch with me if you would like more details.

Here's some of the group taking a look at my second hand craft sale that I added - I have so much stuff to get rid of at bargain prices as I'm having a clear out! If you are interested, let me know. I especially have a TON of patterned papers!

It's a lovely and comfortable venue that we use - carpeted and warm, the most important things - with nice toilets and kitchen! Plenty of space for us all, and it's always a giggle who had done something wrong or missed the last instructions. The most important thing is that we all go home with finished items at the end and have had a good time.

A mum and daughter hard at work...

Our kit let us loose using patterned papers, ornament stamps and inks, matching punches, border punches, ribbon - the list goes on. Everyone loves getting to experiment with different tools each time.

Some people have their own tools, others share, and it's always a different mix of people each time which is nice.

We even got a husband joining in at the end - to help his wife finish quicker apparently, personally I think the lure of the wonderful Stampin' Up! tools was finally getting to him...

Thanks for coming everyone! Come back tomorrow for the launch of the brand new Stampin' Up! catalogue... are you ready for it?? REALLY ready? There's some fantastic new goodies in it - get your Christmas wish lists ready for your loved ones....

24 hours left to order from 2011 SU catalogue

You have just 24 hours left to order from the 2010 - 2011 Stampin' Up! catalogue before many items are retiring - never to be seen again! Also only a handful of the items from the mini catalogue will be carried over into the new one (released October 1st - wahoo!) so if there are any items you still want, email me (see my email address right) immediately to place your order. Payment can be taken by internet transfer or paypal to be received in time to place your order.

Don't miss out on those things you've been wanting to order! Click on the catalogue above to browse the current catalogue.

I'll be back on October 1st with the brand new catalogue!

Big Bold Birthday is retiring! Just £16.17 now...

This is one of my all time favourite stamp sets from Stampin' Up! I'm very sad to see it retire from the catalogue - but that does mean you can now get it at 40% discount - just
£16.17! This is only available while the stocks last though so if you really want this, contact me to order it today as it will probably sell out quite fast!

See my post click here for full details on the Stampin' Up! retirement list and how to order. It's such a versatile stamp set too. At least that does mean there is plenty of space in the new catalogue coming at the end of the month for new products - I have seen the new catalogue as demonstrators, we get the privilige of seeing it a month before customers, and oh my goodness - there are some lovely new stamp sets, gorgeous papers in there and a range of new ribbons coming too! My favourite.

If you would like to order a copy of the catalogue to be posted to you, I can post them out as soon as they arrive with me - see my link to the right of this blog to order yours today. I will share it online on October 1st - that is the day you can begin placing your orders.

Jenny x

The "Retirement List" is here!

It's an important time of the year in the Stampin' Up! calendar as the "retirement list" is finally here! Which also means - there will be a brand new Stampin' Up! catalogue very soon! So there is lots to share with you...


So... the "Retirement List" is here!

What is this, you might ask? Let me explain!

Every year Stampin' Up! release a new catalogue full of ideas and projects, and of course scrummy new craft goodies to buy. This means.... that some of the products in the current catalogue are retired when the new catalogue is released - but once they are gone, they are gone forever! On September 1st the retirement list is released - and it really is first come first served...

The Retirement List - click here

If there is anything in the current SU catalogue that is your absolute favourite and you don't want to run out, or on your must-have list but you haven't bought it yet, now would be the time to do it! Stock up on your favourites before it's too late.

And better still - some of the products are discounted up to 40%!

Click on the link to see the details. I'm sad to see some of my favourite sets go - but it does mean some of these are discounted by up to 40% and some accessories too! Don't forget most of the items in the Mini Catalogue will no longer be available after 30th September too.

We all love a bargain so if there's anything on the list that you want, contact me ASAP to place your order as some of the items sell out very fast, especially the discounted items. Once these items have gone, you will not be able to get them ever again so grab them while you can - whether it's your favourite stamp set, patterned paper or ribbon! I will place your orders as soon as your payment has cleared with me. Here is the current catalogue online which the list refers to:

Online Stampin' Up Catalogue and Idea Book 2010 - 2011

Final chance to book onto my Christmas Craft Class - Sat 17th September

Bookings close this Saturday! I have a few places left so click the link to the right to book your place if you haven't already - i'll be ordering in the kits for this fun day very soon. See further details here

I also have a new facebook page! Yes I have joined with the new media crew and created a page - this is so easy to update that I can post whenever I am out and about and see something creative or I've just sat down to make something - come on over and 'like' my page to get the regular updates -

My Jenny's Creations facebook page

And finally... The new Catalogue and Idea Book!

As demonstrators and customers alike, we are usually bursting at the seams waiting to see what the new Catalogue and Idea Book holds! The great news is that this year, we are allowed to send them out before October 1st! You can have a few weeks to drool over all the new items and decide what you want on your wish list (don't forget Christmas will be coming so make a list for your loved ones!) and then ready from October 1st, we can place your orders for you!
(This cover is just an example)

Do you want to be one of the first people in the UK to get your hands on a copy? With a RRP of £5.95, I am offering these to you, posted to you First Class Recorded Mail, for just £4.95! Just click on the Paypal link to the right and as soon as they arrive with me, I'll get them straight out to you. As you will already know, these are more than just a catalogue, it is now my favourite replacement for a craft magazine as there are so many wonderful projects in them each year, I've kept all of my old copies!

I am happy to accept Bank Transfers and Cheques too, so if you don't want to use Paypal, it doesn't mean you have to miss out!

If there is alot in the catalogue that you would like, and would prefer to spread the cost of your items over several months but still get the benefit of the hostess freebies then get in contact with me about my Stampers Six club - all it needs is six members, committed to spending £25 each per month for six months, and you will get the free hostess benefits! At the start of the six months you also get a catalogue for free!

I think that's enough for today... let me know what you want to order!

New baby boy card and Retirement List is coming!

Here's a new baby boy card that I made recently for our friends who have just extended their family! I've used the soft subtles patterned paper from the paper stack for the spotted background paper. The main stamp is from the Sale-a-bration set which has now retired, and so is the sentiment.

Talking of retired items - coming soon is this year's retirement list from Stampin' Up! For those of you who don't know what this is, let me explain.

Every year Stampin' Up! release a new catalogue full of ideas and projects, and of course scrummy new craft goodies to buy. This means.... that some of the products in the current catalogue are retired when the new catalogue is released - and they really will be gone forever! On September 1st the retirement list is released - and it really is first come first served! If there is anything in the current SU catalogue that is on your must have list but you haven't bought it, now would be the time to do it.

Also - some of the products are discounted! And we all love a bargain. So when the list comes out, I will email it around to you and also post it here. If there's anything on the list that you want, contact me ASAP to place your order as some of the items sell out very fast, especially the discounted items. Once these items have gone, you will not be able to get them ever again so grab them while you can - whether it's your favourite stamp set, patterned paper or ribbon!

I'll be back soon with that retired list...

More cupcake birthdays

Wow - I didn't realise it had been so long since I've updated! Here's another birthday card I made for my lovely friend who has turned 30 - this was one that Monica Gale made a long time ago and I'd been waiting forever to make it - it only took me a year haha.

I love this beautiful colour scheme - I always seem to enjoy using Chocolate Chip in all of my cards. It's made using the Big Bold Birthday stamp set, with the scalloped edge border punch, using also Certainly Celery and Pretty In Pink colours. So cute! I'd love to make some more of these cards all in different colours.

Don't forget there's not that many weeks left to book onto my Christmas Craft Day - it might be the only one I get to arrange for this year so don't wait until I'm full - that would be sad. Details are here

Christmas Craft Class Sat 17th Sept

Holidays are coming!

**Christmas craft class bookings are now open - just four weeks to book your place**

It might seem too early but the time is here to take bookings for my Christmas class!

Date: Saturday 17 September
Time: 11.00am
Place: Ardleigh Green Family Centre, Gidea Park
or my house, Barking (depending on numbers)
Price: £20.00 per person

In this class you will make a selection of window boxes using the Ornament punch plus a selection of cards using the Contempo Christmas stamp set and patterned papers.

Price includes refreshments and everything you need to create this pretty set to get ahead for Christmas!

Deadline for booking - 3rd September

USE THE BOOKING LINK TO THE RIGHT OF MY BLOG TO SECURE YOUR PLACE

Last year we had such a good time - there were 15 of us all crafting, eating mince pies and listening to Christmas songs - enjoying getting ahead of the Christmas rush. Everyone loved their Christmas creations so much that many comments were "I don't want to give them away!". It takes time to get everyone's bookings in, order the supplies and make up the kits, so now is the time to book your place with me! I also don't know if I will be able to hold another Christmas class as I have a very busy year so this may be the only chance. Don't miss it!

I would love you to join in the fun this year - spaces are limited and filled on a first come, first served basis with your deposit so please let me know as soon as possible if you want to come along. September isn't as far away as it seems being August already!
Why not bring a friend with you to add to the fun? Feel free to forward this email onto anyone you know who might be interested in coming along. We have a raffle too if there is enough people in the class.

This class is suitable for all levels of crafters, including beginners. I guide you every step of the way and if you do not have your own tool kit, I provide tools to share. This class will vary very slightly from the photograph shown.

Payment is required to secure your class bookings. You can book now using the pay now button above, or by internet transfer, cheque, or cash if you see me regularly.

Jenny x

FREE gift - bag, ribbon and embellishments!

Ooh we've just received the details of this month's offer from Stampin' Up and it's a great one! You get a FREE "exclusively-designed cosmetic bag, along with Rich Razzleberry 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, and a 24-piece Clip Assortment" with every order of £75 or more!

This doesn't happen very often and I've been waiting for a week or so before I place my next order to see what this month's offer was - and it was worth it! You can click on the photo for details.

Email me today with what you want to order from either the main Stampin' Up! catalogue or the mini catalogue (you can browse these with the links to the right of my blog and also find my email address there) and I'll place your order so that you can have this gift on its way to you as soon as possible! (You can join with a friend and place a joint order as along as it reaches £75, you will get one free bag and the contents).

I'm putting in my order tonight!

Birthday cupcakes

I saw a version of this card about a year ago on Monica's blog here and I instantly loved it and bookmarked it for a future occasion. I had no idea it would take me a year to make it!

I changed the colour scheme here to use Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink and Bashful blue cardstocks and inks. I stamped the birthday cupcake first and cut those elements out so that I could see how much room I needed, and then I stamped the 'girl' from the alphabet stamps onto white card, leaving enough space for the cake to go in place of the 'i' with the candle.

I used the border punch along the bottom, the gold cord around the Bashful Blue cardstock and some other decorative edge scissors for variation on the blue card. I just love how simple the Stampin' Up! stamps are and how clear they stamp onto white card - it's a lovely design so thanks to Monica for sharing it in the first place!

Baby Sock Cupcakes!

I went to a babyshower last weekend and I was looking for something new to make - we always like to be creative with our gifts and I wanted to do something new.

Another friend of mine gave me the idea of cupcakes made out of baby socks - she had seen these in the shops and made some herself thanks to tutorials on you tube. So I set about doing the same!

The only problem is - it is nearly impossible to find neutral coloured socks other than white! I really needed some colour for this to work, and finally managed to find some green and yellow socks in Debenhams. I luckily had green and yellow spotted cupcakes to match - perfect!

There are a few different ways of doing these, and you can do them with things other than socks too, but here is the video on you tube which I watched to learn how to do it:

Have a go - these are really fun!