Exciting news and new blog!

Hello all! I have some exciting news to share! As of the end of February, I am now an Independant Demonstrator for Stampin' Up! products in the UK!

About Stampin' Up!

Established in 1988, Stampin' Up! delight in offering exclusive products, techniques and designs that help crafters around the world to discover and express their creativity. With a wide range of top quality stamp designs and products in coordinating colours, there really is something for every taste, be it fun, cute, elegant, edgy, classic, vintage, clean and simple or bursting to the brim!

The products are both fantastic quality and fantastic value, and are sold exclusively through demonstrators like myself, who offer workshops and training, and provide inspiration and the opportunity to purchase Stampin' Up! supplies online through our blogs.

I've therefore started a lovely new online blog called Starlight Stampin' - I'd love it so much if you would go and check it out here, and become a follower!

Thanks so much,

Laura xx

Sweet stuff!

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about a fantastic blogger I've found while on my travels looking for inspiration.

Jacque, from Jacque's Joie de Vivre is a Master of all things Magnolia. She is truely an inspiration, not only because she is super talented, but also because she is possibly the nicest person on the net! She's so sweet to her followers, with kind words and tons of candy that we all try to snap up! I'd highly recommend checking out Jacque's stunning designs - her attention to every tiny detail is exceptional, I'm learning a lot about how to do things properly from studying her art! If you're quick, you might even get chance to win some fab candy too - who can resist!

Laura
xxx

Christmas 2010 makes - final!

I love making tags, and had more fun with them than with cards this year.

Christmas 2010 makes, ongoing...

It's time for Christmas cards. I need to learn to take good photo's!

Christmas 2010 makes... continued!

This was a little Christmas planning book that I made for myself, with pockets instead of pages so I will be able to use it again in the future!

Some Christmas 2010 makes...

I haven't posted photo's of my creations for ages, so please forgive me a little indulgence as I pop these up over the next few posts. All of these items were made in the run up to Christmas 2010 - my favourite time of year!

Reallllly sorry for the poor quality photo's - I promise that everything looked a million times better in the flesh ;)


I made Shaun a Tim Holtz inspired advent calandar for christmas, using gorgeous papers (I think My Minds Eye). It was fun to make and the pictures dont do it justice.

Pay it forward

Hello!

I've just seen the fab post from Chris at Sketching Stamper who's running a PIF on her blog, and I decided to have a go too, regardless as to if I made it into her PIF or not!

So here it is (rules borrowed from Chris, thanks!): I promise to send something handmade to the first five people who comment on this post. But if you enter you must post this too, and offer something handmade to another five people that comment on your blog.

The rules are that it must be something handmade or homemade by you and it has to be sent to five other people during 2011, so we all have plenty of time :D!

If you'd like to join in the fun, then be among the first five to post a comment and something handmade or homemade will be coming your way at some point this year.

I promise I'll make it something good!

Hugs,

Laura
xxxx

An extra new year resolution...

I've signed the pledge at Operation Nice - wont you too?

I will hold the door for people behind me. I will say "please" and "thank you." I will smile at strangers. I will compliment people. If I'm not sure whether I should greet someone with a handshake or hug, I will opt for the hug. If I see someone having trouble, I will offer help. I will try to perform at least one Random Act of Kindness a week. I will be grateful. I will not hold grudges. I will always do my best to be humble, empathetic, and honest. I will be mindful and considerate of the people around me. I will be kind to people, animals, and nature. All in all, I promise to be nicer!

New Years Eve, 2010

Truth be told, I'm glad to see the back of 2010. While it's had it's highs, it has most certainly had its shitty points, and plenty of them. Here's my swift round up and resolutions for the wonderful 2011 that I'm anticipating:

Top 10 things for 2010 (in no particular order of awesomeness):

10) My 30th Birthday. Until I just wrote that I had forgotten this had happened this year, and my word did hitting 30 feel sucky, however I had a brilliant celebration with both friends (in the form of a great, bloody brilliant infact, night out) and family (a lovely meal) so the event itself was good.
9) Having a lovely holiday in June with Mum and Dad, and missing Shaun like there was no tomorrow. It's good to know that feeling of needing to be with somebody. It reminds you of what is important.
8) Really seeing an improvement with my crafting skills - especially the Christmas craft, in particular making Shaun's advent calender.
7) Getting more quality family time in - having fun with Karen and the Step Up 3D weekend of joy!, and spending time with Mum, Dad, Shaun and his family in newcastle, and seeing big sis Claire and her family before Christmas (and attending my first Christingle in years!)
6) Visiting Santa Claus with Thomas - that was actually kind of magical.
5) Finishing all my CIPD CTP coursework, and submitting it all before Christmas. WooYeah!
4) Experiencing hypnotherapy, and being able to loose 3 stone as a result, as well as becoming the most chilled out kitten in the world. I've neglected it in the last 2 months due to illness etc, and want to capture that feeling again.
3) Getting a distinction in my first Written Assignment. It was a HUGE confidence boost
2) Going on a date with Shaun, to the wonderful Tonic. One of the most wonderful nights I've ever had.
1) Christmas 2010, which has in all ways been wunderbar! Despite being poorly through most of December, I had a lovely Christmas party with work, a great night with Anna-Marie and Pete, and a wonderful traditional family Christmas where I was spoilt rotten.

Resolutions for 2011:

1) I'm going to get off my Iphone at home, and read more. I spend most of my time online and it's a waste!
2) I will improve even further in my craft - I love spending my time on this but don't always achieve as much as I should.
3) I will give myself 1 hour each week for my hypnotherapy CDs.
4) I will continue to try and eat correctly.
5) I will do at least 1 dance on the Kinect Dance Central Game, and 3 Kinect Adventure games each day. It's not much but it's a bloody good start!
6) I will try and fit more quality 'family' and 'Shaun' time into my schedule.

I don't think 6 is a bad number, and this year I wanted my resolutions to be achievable, so I would actually stick to them for once!

Anyway, to anyone who see's this, I wish you a happy, healthy, wealthy and peaceful 2011!

Lots of love

Laura
xxx

Quick! There's still time...

To win this fabby Tim Holtz stash from the lovely Lin at Yours Artfully!

Beautiful cards and wonderful candy

Hi chaps - just a quick post to recommend a site to you - Jacque is a master talent and worth checking out, and right now there is some candy on offer - bonus!

Some bloggy advice

Evening! I need a bit of advice - if I'm going to carry on having this blog I've decided that I actually need to use it! I've been put off in the past due to the quality of my photography - some of my cards are worth popping on here (I'm getting better every day!) but I just can't take a good photo. Any ideas what kind of kit I should be investing in to make decent records of my work?

Thanks!

Laura

1000 sheets of paper? Wow!

The lovely Amy at A thousand sheets of paper is celebrating an unusual milestone with some fab blog candy - a thousand sheets of paper to represent the 1000 sheets she has cut into during her first blogging year - how crazy is that! Check out the blog and try your luck below!

http://athousandsheetsofpaper.blogspot.com/2010/08/1000-sheets-for-thousand-sheets.html

Exciting!

Nothing better than a new blog, and a chance for some Candy!

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/2010/07/welcome-candy.html

Like birthdays? Love Candy? Check out the lovely Jodie's birthday candy on the link below - what fab prizes!

http://inkedinspirations.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-my-birthday.html

Such a long time!

Update with some recent attempts:

Blog candy joy!

The most fabulous blog candy is being offered at http://jacquesmagnolias.blogspot.com - go and check it out now, you would be so lucky to win this!

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Happy Sunday!

I thought I'd take a moments to share my weekend makes - I've got a major love for blue 'n brown combo's, as you can see! Yummy...

"Out of difficulties grow miracles" - what a lovely sentiment.

Shame you can't see the embossing on here, however I'm getting better I think!

xxx

Is it October yet?

I know we have only just hit the August bank holiday, however my thoughts are already turning to Halloween - I *love* autumn, and Halloween really tops it off! I only wish I lived in America, where Halloween is celebrated properly - we just don't know how to get in to the holiday spirit in the UK!

Here is hopefully the first of a few Halloween cards I'll make - we'll see what time will allow!

Hope you like it!

Hugs

Laura