Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Natalie O'Shea

Stampin Up! Tea Shoppe stamp set

05/11/2012 20:24:00

Well, I had hoped to be back a little earlier than this, this week, but what do you know? It's been another busy week LOL!!

Above is a card that was inspired by something I saw on the internet. I wasn't sure on the Stampin' Up! Tea Shoppe stamp set to start with, but having seen lots of lovely things done with it, I think it's probably my favourite set from the new Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue. So, it was a no brainer when I was thinking about what sets to use at this month's team training. The papers above are the Attic Boutique papers and again, something else I was a little unsure about when I first saw them! However, I don't need much persuading, do I to change my mind on things LOL! Don't forget those of you who ordered their Summer Mini Catalogue from me, have a 10% discount offered which ends this Sunday, so don't put it off for much longer!

The thing with Stampin' Up!'s patterned papers, it seems, is that whilst one side is really bold, the reverse sides are a little more subtle and it's these sides that I am more drawn towards as you can see above. A great quick card that won't take you long to put together using Soft Suede, Pool Party and Daffodil Delight. I did see a very similar card to this on the internet and have just spent about half an hour on Google Images trying to find who's it was, but can't, so if you know, please shout and I will put that here :)

I'm busy packing tonight for the Second Hand Craft Fair on tomorrow in Horley - 11am - 1pm only at St Francis Church Hall, 84 Balcolme Road, Horley, Surrey, RH6 9AY but it's always busy right at the start, so don't miss out on all the bargains!

I was very excited by something that turned up by courier yesterday:

Our tickets, itinerary and luggage trips for the Incentive Trip next month to Vienna - I am getting really quite excited about this now - only 5 weeks to go!!! These trips have been amazing so far and I don't know how Stampin' Up! make each one even better than the last, but they always do, so I can't wait! I've not been to Austria before, but I've heard lots of great reports and it will be round before I know it. I even get to bring my partner in crime, Zoe, with me this time too - she's even more excited than me, I think! Thank you again so much to my team and customers who helped me achieve the trip.

Right, well I had better get on with my packing for tomorrow and I will be again shortly with some more news for you.

Have a great weekend,

Natalie x

Stampin' Up! training

05/07/2012 16:09:00

Wow, well it's been another busy week in the O'Shea household this past week or so!

Last Saturday, I attended a Stampin' Up! Regional Training event in Reading. I LOVE going to SU events - it's lovely to meet up with friends that you've made all over the UK and sometimes, it's where I get to meet my recruits for the first time too if they aren't local to me!

There were about thirty girls from the team who went and it's always nice to spend time with them even if it is only brief!

We got to see lots of bits from the new Mini Catalogue and generally had a lovely time! I was asked to a display on the Stampin' Up! Incentive trips. I think many Demonstrators think that this trip isn't achievable to most. However, I think I shared enough to show that even though I don't do Stampin' Up! full time, I still manage to achieve the trip. I even achieved it in my first year as a Demonstrator too which also shows that you don't have to have been doing this long to achieve it either. Hopefully, some that thought it was out of their reach were shown otherwise. It was lovely getting to chat to many of the 125 Demonstrators that were in the room.

At every Stampin' Up! Event, we make swaps. These are many of the same item that we then swap with people that are at the event. It's a great way of getting different ideas and different styles of samples for display books etc. Here is what I did this time:

I brought some fizzy sherbet lollies from Tescos. I was hoping to get the "normal" lollies but they didn't have any. Lastminute.com me, didn't have any time to go elsewhere so had to buy these bigger ones. Which would have been fine, had they have not been in bags with writing all over them. So it took almost as long to get them out of their original bags and re-pack them! But they definately seemed to go down well and were a hit with everyone. I thought they may have been a bit simple, but everyone loved them!

It is simply a butterfly punch with a rhinestone in the middle stuck to the top of the lolly. A punch using the new Blossoms punch in Regal Rose and Daffodil Delight for the flowers and two leaves handcut and run through the ribbler to give texture and faux veins. I've seen leaves made using a variety of the punches so perhaps look at your oval punches, bird punch, Pennants punch and Build a blossom punch for a variety of different shapes that work well for leaves.

I must apologise to everyone on my mailing list - I had a nightmare last week. I stayed up late on Monday night to make sure that I sent out an email to everyone with the new Summer Mini on. I was all organised, but then it never sent. The long story short, the email got sent three times two days later!!!! Arrrghhh. So my apologies for clogging up your mailbox, I was going to send another email apologising and explaining but thought you may have heard enough from me then!
So, what else has been going on this last week? Well, I also had team training with my Stampin' Stars team two days ago too. I always enjoy these events too as they are far more intimate and it's easier to chat and discuss ideas between all of us. I've received some lovely swaps from everyone over the last two weekends and I'll be sharing some of those with you over the coming days and weeks.
Here's a teaser of something we made at my training on Saturday:

I have to admit to not being sure about this set when I first saw it in the new Summer Mini Catalogue but it definately grew on me. I love the colours - Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Pool Party - 4 of the new In Colours this year. I can't stop using them, although this years In Colours have just been divulged in the US and I LOVE those too. Completely different to these ones aswell. Anyway, the above card is made using the Mouthwatering Stamp Set together with the Sweet Shoppe papers. There are some new dies called Framelits in the Summer Mini, and whilst you can use them for cutting and layering, this nifty technique recreated a swing card which I thought was really cool.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed your Bank Holiday weekend and the weather hasn't been too harsh for you.

I plan on being back a bit more frequently now that I've got lots of photos of projects that I can share with you at last!

Keep watching and have fun!

Natalie x

Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue and New Stampin' Up! Starter Kit

05/01/2012 20:57:00

Hello, hello, hello :)

So much news to share today with Stampin' Up!, where do I start?

Firstly I guess you want to see the new Summer Mini Catalogue?????

I will be posting out copies of this Mini to everyone who has asked for one today and tomorrow - I've been waiting information before I could send them out, but now May 1st is here, I can finally send them out.

So without further ado, I introduce to you the new Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue - ta da....., just click on the image above and you'll be taken to where you can download or view a copy!I LOVE IT!!! I am so pleased to see that we are coming more and more in line with our US counterparts and hopefully, you will all love that too. So, what is in store for you here.....The Simply Scored Scoreboard - if you are a You Tube fan, you will have seen this on hundreds of videos by now:

And whilst you can't see the Diagonal Scoreboard in the catalogue, it was decided last minute that we needed it now, not in October, so I'm happy to report that we can order that board too for £10.95.

The board itself is in inches, with a metric plate that sits on top, so whether you are an inches or cms kind of a person, Stampin' Up! scoreboard have got it covered in one board AND given you a diagonal plate which is great for making your own envelopes, boxes, bags and more too!

Why not watch this quick video which shows you the board in action:

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Simply Scored Diagonal Plate

The Simply Scored Diagonal Plate is perfect for quickly creating handcrafted envelopes, boxes, and more!

You'll also discover the new Edgelits and Framelits dies too with co-ordinating embossing folders and stamp sets.Gorgeous sewn pleated ribbon, a quintessentially English tea cup stamp set, Scented Embossing powders and the fabulously versatile Mixed Bunch stamp set with co-ordinating Blossom punch too!

What are you waiting for??????I'm taking orders now and you may even have your goodies by the end of the week if you act fast!

Payment is due at the time you order, but I can take bank transfers, Paypal, Visa or Mastercard - whatever works for you!If you can't decide what you'd like, then see my Product Shares below which give you a little bit of everything.

**********

But, how about getting a permanent discount off

of your Stampin' Up! goodies?

The New Stampin' Up! Starter Kit is here!

Now, every new Stampin’ Up! demonstrator can create a customised Starter Kit for just £99.

Stampin’ Up! has listened and they are making the Starter Kit completely customisable. With the new, flexible Starter Kit, you can customise your creativity—your way. Each kit contains a business supplies pack (valued at £45 )—things that every demonstrator needs to start their business.

After that, the choice is yours to put together a kit with any of our high-quality products. You can choose up to £130 worth of any supplies to create a kit valued at over £175 that still ships for free!

So, if you've been thinking about it, why not read some more information here on my website to see what the deal really is.

I'd be more than happy to talk about how I fit Stampin' Up! around my full time job or explain how some people are earning a full time salary doing this - no pressure, no hard sell. Just telling you how it is.

I am going to leave it there for tonight. I have been having major computer issues over the last 24 hours. I've sent all my mailshot customers an email but it seems to not have arrived anywhere yet - fingers crossed it arrives tonight and it's taken me nearly two hours to put together this blog post that I've given up with the second half of it for tonight.

I'll be back shortly though to share some more information on new Product Shares but also with some fabulous inspiration from the new Summer Mini too. I've got team training this Saturday so lots to share after that.

Have fun!

Natalie x

Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogues

04/22/2012 13:58:00

Hello again,

Did you remember that there is only 8 days left of the Stampin' Up! Spring Mini Catalogue?

I can't believe that the Simply Adorned Jewellrey Range, the Spice Cake Range, the Perfect Postage stamps with the matching Postage Stamp punch and let's not forget the cupcake punch with matching Create a Cupcake stamp set too - ALL WILL BE GONE A WEEK TOMORROW!!!!!

Make sure you don't miss out, I won't be able to help you come 1st May!!

However, I will be able to help you with more new toys instead *grin* :)

Here's a sneak peek of what you might be able to find in the new Summer Mini Catalogue!!! My lips are sealed though for another 8 days.

If you want a copy of the new Summer Mini Catalogue, make sure that you email me at natalie@oshea26.freeserve.co.uk and I'll be sure to get you a copy in the post!

Something else that I thought that I'd share with you too. There are alot of football themed cards made in this house, but normally for my boys and their friends. However, here is one that I made for my step-dad. He's a Nottingham Forest fan, hence the red and white but I guess it would work for Arsenal, Manchester United or Stoke City!!!

Good old Real Red and Whisper White are the colours and I've used the Goal stamp set. The greeting is from the Hostess stamp set Happiest Birthday and the his name is cut using the Timeless Type Alphabet Sizzlets.

Well I've got a busy week on this week. I'm at Stampin' Up!'s Regional Training next Saturday. I get to catch up with another 125 Stampin' Up! Demonstrators - some of whom I'm going to spending some time in Vienna with soon. I can't believe how quickly the Incentive Trip is coming round - I am sooooooo looking forward to it. It's the day after my (*whispers*) 40th Birthday - what a way to celebrate hey? About 7 weeks to go!!

The week after that, I've got our own Stampin' Stars Team Training, the week after it's Zoe's 2nd Hand Craft Sale (have you been before? Absolute bargains to be had, join us if you are local, it's in Horley!) and then the weekend after that, we have our All Day Craft Extravaganza. Are you joining us for it? It plans on being a great day with lots of great food and fabulous craft projects :) See here for more info: http://www.natalieoshea.co.uk/Stampin--Up--Events.html.

Right, that's it from me for the weekend, I hope you have a good one and watch out for more information from me at the beginning of May about the Summer Mini.

Have a good week,

Natalie x

Stampin' Up! Events - All Day or a whole weekend

04/09/2012 16:54:00

Well, I hope you've all had a wonderful Easter. I have managed to get caught up on so many things over the last four days - it's been bliss. Except the weather, which has just rained constantly all day especially today.

Nevermind, I have spent quite alot of this weekend crafting. I have scrapped SIX pages - yes, SIX, can you believe that LOL. I'm not sure I can!!! Four of the pages are for next weeks monthly scrap club and two were for a Big Picture Classes class that I am taking this year. So, I'll show you a little sneak of one of the scrap club layouts.

I managed to send an email out last night to everyone on my mailing list, but did manage to miss off some important information, so I'm going to put it here again just in case you missed it.

All Day Craft Event

Saturday 19th May 2012

Join us for three classes during the day where everything is provided for you to make three gorgeous projects.

A light lunch is included as is a lunchtime Make and Take together with a free raffle ticket for the generous raffle!

There will be a few surprises along the way and a whole heap of fun.

The day starts at 10am and finishes at 5pm and you'll be crafting all day long.

Payment can be made by cheque or bank transfer (please email me for details) or by using the Paypal link here:

Or perhaps one day isn't long enough for you....

Why not join us for a whole craft weekend?

I would love you to join myself and Zoe Pierson for a whole

weekend of non- stop crafting, fun and laughter at our intimate and exclusive Retreat in Loughton, Essex!

HALF FULL IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS!!

The excitement starts from 6pm Friday 5th October and continues right the way through till 4pm Sunday 7th October 2012.

What's included?

We have sole use of the venue, so no bumping into anyone who doesn't understand papercrafting!!

Crafting space available to you all weekend, pick your space on Friday night and stay there all weekend.

5 CLASSES INCLUDED - Most weekend retreats charge extra

for classes, but not us, everything is included.

Accomodation in a single room

for the Friday and Saturday nights.

All meals - evening meal on Friday night; breakfast, lunch and evening meal on Saturday; breakfast and lunch on Sunday.

Unlimited tea, coffee, water and nibbles all weekend.

Prizes for Challenges (There will be the option to purchase additional Challenge kits which you can complete over the weekend and enter for a prize at the end of the weekend if you wish.

The cost for the weekend is..

£275 Single Occupancy

Payment Options:

1. Pay a deposit of £55 and then the remainder

by 1st September 2012.

2. Pay a deposit of £55 and then

£55 per month from June - September 2012.

3. Pay in full when you book.

Payment can be made by cheque, Paypal GIFT, or Bank Transfer ONLY.

Cancellation Policy:

In the event that you need to cancel your booking the following conditions apply:

Should I be able to resell your place, you

will receive a full refund minus a £25 admin charge. I will make all reasonable attempts to fill cancelled spaces.

The following charges will apply dependent on date of cancellation ONLY IF THE SPACE REMAINS UNFILLED .

Cancelled before the end of May - 25% of booking value.
Cancelled before the end of July - 50% of booking value.
Cancelled before the end of September - 80% of booking value.

Terms & Conditions :

All bookings need to be secured with a payment.

How to Book:

Booking is on a first come first served basis with limited

spaces available, and can be made via email or

telephone 01293 888816 / 07990534538.

You can also book your space by paying your deposit

by Paypal below:

Okay, that's it from me this weekend, only one more week before the kids are back at school :)

Natalie x

Stampin' Up! April Promotion

04/03/2012 19:19:00

If you just missed out on the fabulous Sale-a-Bration offer that's been on over the last few months, don't panic because Stampin' Up! have come out with another corker of an offer for you!

Spend £45 or more during April and pick a free set of the above double sided patterned papers for FREE!!

There's sure to be one that you love no matter whether you like clean and contemporary or a bit vintage, just let me know what you would like.

Make sure as well that you make the most of the promotion too - the Spring Mini Catalogue finishes this month! Everything in the Spring Mini won't be available next month - it will be gone!!

So don't delay and make sure that you don't miss out on that punch or stamp set that you've been umming and ahhing about or even the jewellrey range which is luscious!

Right, I'm off but I'll be back with some inspiration for you soon,

Natalie x

Only six more days of Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration to go

03/25/2012 16:09:00

That's right - just six more days for you to get your hands on those lovely free stamp sets or patterned papers.

I know that I've been pretty rubbish in updating my blog during SAB, so I'm going to make up for it now and post lots of inspiration to use the four sets and papers to give you some final inspiration! These cards have been either designed by myself or Aly Schilling (a US Demo) - I hope you like them.

The above three cards all use the Outlined Occasions stamp set.

These cards below use the Sprinkled Expressions set:

You've already seen some samples made with the Fresh Vintage and the Elementary Elegance. I hope that you've loved them.

So, not only is Sale-a-Bration over with this week, but there is only one more month before this Spring Mini Catalogue is finished too. That's sad because you won't be able to get your hands on the new products from this again, however, every cloud has a silver lining and it means that we'll be looking at the new Summer Mini Catalogue in a month (and a week)'s time. I've already seen it and there is more fabulousness on it's way.

But here are some ideas using some of the Spring Mini Catalogue for you:

I saw a very similar card to the above on German Demonstrator Jenni Pauli's blog a couple of months ago and it has been a firm favourite at the workshops that I have been doing during Sale-a-Bration. It uses the text and flowers from the Charming stamp set and the heart comes from the Perfect Postage set. Soft Suede, Pool Party and Island Indigo mixed with some punches (small heart and Postage stamp) a spritz from the Colour spritzer and a splattering of rhinestones. Simple, elegant - lovely!

The Simply Adorned Jewellrey range has been a hit and here's what can be done to the charms that hang off the ends of the necklace - again it's using the Charming stamp set:

And how about a set of Mini Cards with the same set?

One of the most popular things in the Mini Catalogue have been the Create a Cupcake stamp set with it's matching punch.

Above is a card that was tweaked and colour changed from one that Julie Kettlewell did. Wisteria Wonder and Calypso Coral are the In Colours used together with the new larger Scallop Circle punch. Cupcakes are everywhere at the moment and very popular but what if you just don't "do" the Cupcake thing - is it worth getting?

Well, how about using the cupcake case of the punch for a basket for a balloon? And the cupcake icing for clouds? See, when you think outside the box what can happen. I've seen the base used as flower pots, upside down as handbags and the icing as ice cream in a cornet made from the Pennant punch!

Well, hopefully that is enough for you to forgive me until next time. I hope that you are all enjoying the glorious weather that we are having at the moment and I believe it's here for a week, so enjoy that!

Until next time, have fun!

Natalie x

Stampin' Up! at the Make It Show, Farnborough

03/05/2012 17:39:00

Yoooo hoooo!

Just swinging past again to give you another update on life in the O'Shea household!

Last weekend, I was joined by some other Stampin' Up! Demonstrators whilst we spent three days at the Make It Show at Farnborough in Hampshire.

This is a show that I have done for the last three years and each year it just keeps getting better and better!

This year, I couldn't have done it without the help of the other ladies on the stand, who did a fabulous job at organising our Make and Take packs, putting together easy bundles, providing inspirational samples and that is before we even started the show!

Julie, Fiona, Nic, Pip, Diane, Bev, Nicky, Maggie, Teresa and Cary, I couldn't have done it without you all! Thank you soooo much!

Our stand was just knock out, even if I say so myself. I had this vision of glass cabinets showing off product like in a shop and lo and behold, Fiona came up trumps with her and her sisters cabinets. Some hard work in negotiating their arrival, but definately worth the effort.

That then leads me onto our displays. I have to thank Cary who spent hours not only prepping all the class kits for me, but also organised by display board too. Look at all of those lovely flowers. How pretty. You'd be forgiven for thinking that she used the Bigz Die Fun Flowers to make the display, but no....Cary wasn't happy with the size of the flowers on the die and so chose to make the display using the Build a Blossom punch. Yep, every single one of those petals has been punched out individually. I think she is mad but I definately think it was worthwhile - it looks gorgeous! Thank you Cary.

So, the show was our most successful to date and if you came to any of the classes or came and did our Make and Take - then thank you very much :) I hope that you enjoyed yourself.

And if you're wondering what happened to Sale-a-Bration, you still have until the end of March to either place your order for £45 or more and claim your free Sale-a-Bration stamp set or papers, or if you become a Demonstrator, then you can add a stamp set from the current catalogue of ANY price to your Starter Kit too (yes, even the £45 ones) - what a bargain!!

It's a great time to buy and a great time to become a Demonstrator too, so what are you waiting for?

Back again soon (ish!),

Natalie x

Stampin' Up! on standby

02/14/2012 22:54:00

Just tip toeing in here very quickly and very quietly to apologise for my absence AGAIN!!

Life is very hectic at the moment, here it is in a nutshell:

1. Went in for my three month review at my new job and got offered a promotion (and a pay rise!!) but it comes with another 3 months of earning yet another job and it's all a bit brain straining at the moment!! So I'm coming home tired most nights.

2. My car failed it's MOT and it took all of last weekend umming and ahhing about whether to get it fixed (with a bill for £1000!) or whether it was time to trade it in! We traded it in and I'm happy to have a lovely zippy black super sexy mid life crisis Vauxhall Corsa VXR - it's a beast and I definately feel like I should be male and about 21 when I'm driving it, but hey, you only live once!

3. Next weekend is the Make It Show at Farnborough and that has been keeping me busy with all the "spare" time that I have prepping workshops and bits for that. This year I am having an entire workshop for Stampin' Up! every day with three classes on Friday and Saturday and two classes on Sunday. I hope you will stop by if you are visiting the show and I'd love to see you in a class!

So I'm really sorry, I do aim to be back to normal (whatever that is!) when the show is over, but in the meantime, here is another Sale-a-Bration goody. Here is the set Outlined Occasions which is the sentiment and the lusciousness that is the Everyday Enchantment papers - which I love. There are only six more weeks to get your hands on these Sale-a-Bration Limited Edition sets by spending £45 on Stampin' Up! goodies and then you can pick one for free.

I promise to be back soon,

Natalie x

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration Day 2

01/29/2012 21:54:00

Well, it's not been too long :)

Today, I'm giving you two more samples made with the

Fresh Vintage stamp set.

This card shows you just how well the stamp set goes with the Sale-a-Bration papers Everyday Enchantment. Mixing the colours of Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade, Pool Party and Very Vanilla, this sentiment is from the Hostess set "Tagtastic". Add a bit of the new Velvet ribbon and you're done!

And then a design which was inspired by Aly Schilling, US Demonstrator. Peach Parfait, Night of Navy and Crumb cake make this card. A bit of twine and a sentiment from the My Friend set in the new Mini Catalogue and a spritz with the Night of Navy Marker pen with the Colour Spritzer and you're finished with this one too!

I've had the last three days off of work. Friday seemed to be a day when everything went wrong but finished up with a workshop at the lovely Helenas. I had lots to show them as I hadn't seen them for a couple of months and they loved all the new bits.

Then yesterday was spent clearing up the house and ten tonne of washing! Some football, haircut, ironing and food shopping and that is another weekend over and done with - how does that happen?

Well, it's back to work tomorrow again, so I'll try and keep you updated with some more Sale-a-Bration news and samples this week.

I hope that you have all had a lovely weekend and aren't dreading work again tomorrow too much!

Natalie x