Downline journals

I've had a lovely evening making these journals for my lovely downline. They are based on a pin I received at Convention last year. The writing on the pin tells us to "inspire, create & share", which is what we try and do as Stampin' Up! Demonstrators.

If you're interested in joining my team, April is the perfect month to sign up. Email me for a free demonstrator information pack. New demos get the Starter kit, personalised to suit your tastes. After joining, I have my own demo starter kit which I give to all my SparklyShinyStampers, full of little goodies to help you get started. You'll also get all the support and advice you could wish for!

Test Post

I think I've set up blogging from my iPhone. If this works, you could see the volume of blog posts shoot up dramatically!

2010 - A Year in Cards

Happy 2010 everyone! I hope you all had a lovely festive season. This time of year is traditionally one for new starts and new plans, and I like many others have been making new years resolutions. And yes, surprise surprise, one of mine is to blog more!

This should be made easier by my planned projects for this year. Each month there will be a new instalment in 2 new 12-part projects: "A Year in Cards", and "My Life in Scrapbooking". Pictures of each project will be posted here as the month goes on.

Here's a sneak-peek of the YiC project. We will be working on a Card Journal, which will have a double-page spread for each month. Every month there will be 2 birthday cards, and 2 other cards, covering topics such as thank you, get well, anniversary, new baby, sympathy, as well as event cards such as Valentines, Mothers day, Fathers Day etc. Each month will also look at a different technique.

Each class will include 4 cards and 2 card-pockets to fit into the journal. The journal itself will be made in a separate class, which will run in January, April, July and October. There is no obligation to attend a journal class, and the card classes will stand alone without the journal. All classes are limited to 8 attendees.

January's technique is spinner cards. Check out the Meetup gallery (under Year in Cards) to see examples. We will be making 2 x birthday cards and 2 x thank you cards.

To sign up for a class please visit the Meetup page

Christmas from the other side of the tracks

What a terrific night I've had. I'm just home from my works Christmas night out, and I've been inspired to blog. Before I start, let me say this is not like me at all. I don't usually pour out my thoughts and feelings like this. But, wine has been drunk, fun has been had, and my thoughts and feelings are bursting to get out.

I've had a great night out. It's been your standard works Christmas party. Dinner. Dancing. Fun had by all. But it's touched me in a way I'm finding hard to describe.

For the last...oh, many many years, I have worked in various clubs and restaurants over Christmas. I've been the anonymous waitress who's served your drinks, handed you your turkey dinner, and cleared the tables after you. I'm the one who has set up the venue with all its glitter and decorations, laid the tables with cutlery and crackers, tended to your every need. I've picked up broken glass from the dancefloor so you didn't cut yourself. I've mopped up your spilled drinks. I've gien you safety pins for your dress that burst. I've gathered up your coats and scarfs at the end of the night. I've called your taxi. I've looked for your girlfriend who was being ill in the toilets. And I might have even shown you the door after you had one too many. I've cleared away your dirty glasses. I've wiped down the tables and swept the floor, and set up all over again for the next night.

But tonight. Tonight I got to be the one who sat at the table and was served. An anonymous waitress gave me my dinner. Someone cleared our plates away. I was handed my coat at the end of the night with a smile. And it felt odd. Good, but odd.

It only really hit me when I was on the dancefloor, and the song "Let me entertain you" by Robbie Williams came on. This song was the intro to the start of the comedy in Jongleurs, one of the clubs I worked in for several years. I cannot hear this song but I remember the exact point the dj Jay would introduce that night's act. Listening to the song tonight, I realised that I didn't have to run to a schedule. I didn't have to look out for the needs of my customers. I didn't have to do anything. I could just relax. Enjoy the music. Dance. Have fun.

Tonight I learnt how everyone else spends these sorts of nights. And it felt good :o)

Merry Christmas

Can you believe it's already December? I think because I've been working on Christmas projects for the last couple of months, it hasn't seemed real, and so now I'm excited it's here!

The latest project is a decorated chocolate box. This uses the 5-petal flower punch, some real red and glorious green cardstock for the flowers, some of the simply gorgeous gold glitter in the centres, and the box finished off with some gold elasticated cord and a stamped tag.

I think these look fun and festive, and they were really easy to make. I can't claim credit for the idea, it was something I saw at Convention in Germany last month. If I find out who was the original creator I'll let you all know.

Wish List!

I can finally show you what's been keeping me so busy recently! I've been setting up a Wish List on my main website, for everyone to keep track of the things they want from the new Idea Book & Catalogue. You can share your wish list with your friends and family - a great way to tell them what you really want for Christmas!

Visit www.sparklyshinystuff.co.uk to create your wish list today!

Work behind the scenes

So, after my post a few months back when I promised faithfully to blog more...I have hardly blogged since! I feel a little guilty, but not too much, as my time has been spent on a new project! It's not ready just yet (although so very nearly), but I hope to be able to share it with you all soon.

There have also been a few Christmas card-making classes recently, with more to come. I promise to take pictures of the projects for the next card-making meetup, plus previews for the mini scrapbook class in November.

So, come back soon, there will be more to see, I promise!