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Followers - are you still with me - you must really love me as there has been no blogging for some time and several false starts - you are going to have to bear with me whilst I get going again and get my act together on crafting, photos and something to say - that smacks of multitasking!!!

What I love about SU is that it ebbs and flows with your own personal needs - but the flowing is often hard to get going again.  SO I am starting here...

I was let down rather badly by a group of crafters with a new venture - how does that happen hey??  Are we not all lovely people??  Well after 25 plus years of lovliness I met the not so nice side of some crafters.  Devastated, disgusted and very very very let down.  BUT I am picking myself back up and not letting it hold me back - I will not be mentioning it even again.  As usual I have lots of ideas as usual but am going to start back with basics.  Lets get the blog going and sort the customer databases out.  Book up to do some classes again and get Mr Mojo out from hiding.

I have a mini fair on 31st August at Hatton Banana Moon Nursery - hoping to meet lots of locals and sell some cards and find some more crafters.  From small acorns mighty Oaks are grown.

I am planning a Scrap Class for the end of September - 4th week depending on Hall bookings.  Will be 7 till 9 at Shrewley Village Hall - date to be confirmed!!!  Interested - pop me a line.  Cost will be £20 for 4 pages all materials supplied.   

Some pictures for you of a class I ran over the summer, a boxed card set.  The core subject was using elements in card making and the same elements were used to create entirely different cards!!

Can't wait to get back to scrapbooking as I have a tonne of photos waiting for something to happen - must sort out getting some printed.

Sneaky Peaks and New Products

Stampin Up are more and more releasing information about product developments before they are launched.  I am loving the new zippy utube formats with things whizzing around and a quick watch at under a minute

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHa28HcVSJU

Rachelx

Colour my World

 Yes, Stampin' Up! have taken a look at what the on trend colours are and updated their colour range for Summer 2013.  We won't be seeing this change happen until Summer BUT if some of these are your favourites you might want to look at ordering yourself some of the retiring colours before they go.  We will also be retiring the watercolour wonder crayons and the watercolour pencils which are a great set in a lovely tin - I was just using mine to colour some images before smooshing over with some of the aqua pens and some sparkly ink for a great shimmer effect.  I will be keeping mine for definite, but if you want some of your own I should pop an order in right now.  They are going to be popular.

So what are these new colours and which ones are going - here are the new families - some of them have moved around and made room for new ones but the biggest changes are in the Subtles and Regals.  Am loving some of the colours that are staying - Pool Party and also Island Indigo and Blushing Bride (from last years retiring in colours) so I am pleased and actually of those going I will miss Bashful Blue but not for long as we have some great new blues coming in to stand in line.  At the moment all the retiring colours are available to buy and if there are any must haves in there for you - pop an order in - I will be ordering this weekend if you are local to me

 

I am sure there will be lots more hints and tips on what is heading our way over the coming months - and I am already getting excited - journalling, washi tape, new embossing folders and punches (Think Moroccan shapes...)  and of course new stamps.  We also just heart the punch that was part of Sale-a-bration orders is also now available for purchase so if you missed out on that lovely punch you can add it to your order right now.

Rachelx

Free Class - and Market Research :-)

This is aimed at business folks and potential customers! I am looking at putting together a local advertising plan and am interested from a business point of view what is working (please only what you have actually done rather than suggestions - thanks) and from a customer point of view how you connected or became aware of a business offering - in particular for craft classes. I am currently looking for regular class attendees for scrapping, fabric fun and cardmaking and run a range of day and evening.

And if there is anyone in or around Warwick I have a cardmaking class on 6th March at 10.30am which I am running for a donation to the Open Door Cafe I am running it in (its a social enterprise/community cafe). 

It will be two simple cards suitable for beginners or more advanced, I have decided to run it for free this session to test some waters. Booking is essential please so I can have enough supplies to hand.

In return I will be asking a few questions for discussion whilst we are card making and I am sure the Cafe would appreciate a few coffees being indulged in as well :-)

Photos are getting closer - the software is in the hosue and installed - need to sort where my watermark is and then i can share share share :-)

MIA Again

Hello folks I am still here, have been very busy actually crafting for a change!  A new sample board to put together with lots of new goodies from the Summer Catalogue and for Saleabration, I have also been putting together a nursery picture as a new range to offer retailers and getting that right and the pricing when they 2.5 times it for retail is difficult without not being paid to do - so difficult line to draw.  It is half term at Booth Towers so munchkin is away and I am off to deliver a major order and pick her up shortly and I am sat here drinking tea and need to dry my hair so I will have to get a move on shortly if I am to fit it all in!  Still everything is all packed so just need to walk downstairs pop coat on and go so not too bad.

I have some parties booked in early March so have prepped for those and last week I had a big job interview I didn't get so that ate some time preparing, this week I have a little job interview - so that is Friday Evenings pleasure.  And the world continues to turn is my phrase of the week :-)

Enjoy the rest of half term if your kids are off and speak to you soon and I am promising photos next time :-)

Rachel

PS don't forget Saleabration runs to the 22nd MArch and its a free item for every £45 spend.  If you would like to host a party I still have spaces next week and also in March so get in touch and we will sort something out.

A Little bit of Sunshine in your life

Do you now have an ear worm of that song - not even sure what made me think of that other than the new Seasonal Catalogue from Stampin' Up! is in DA HOUSE.  Oh my and is it good as well so many lovely things I didn't know where to start and am already on my list for my second order.  I have also been manically making cards believe it or not - lots of Easter cards and next on the list is St Patrick's Day and Mothers Day so plenty to keep me off here and crafting.

So click on the mini pick on the right and go right along and either download the PDF or flip through the Online version for a taste of what is on offer for the Spring Summer in Stampin' Up!.

If there is anything you want to order please get in touch, I regularly place a monthly order and we share postage costs so it works out alot less expensive especially if you are local.

Rachelx

Scrapbooking Class - 28th Jan 7 till 9pm

Time to book onto this class if you fancy a Monday evening creating 4 fantastic pages from one of SU's fantastic value scrap kits.  Check out the facebook page of The Creative Stamper for a peek at my samples.

A great class if you are just a beginner

Rachelx

New Class List and Facebook

Lots of new classes planned for this year - and you can book direct on facebook and pay through paypal!  Really fast and easy to do it makes booking very quick and easily sorted.

I am offering 3 types of classes

Scrapbooking (£20) - 4 pages sometimes a scrapbook kit from Stampin Up, sometimes one just from me that I pull together from supplies - it is always generous and contains around £10 of actual product. 

Craft Club Workshop (£12) - a range of papercrafts from cardmaking, box making, gift making and anything else that I can think of.  A lovely variety of outcomes to fill your small gift, card or other requirements.  All materials provided again including any items we choose to decorate.

Fabric Fun (£15) - when SU started to do fabric I resurrected a passion I thought I had left behind, this fun class focuses on items that can be sewn by hand or made without sewing a stitch!! Fun projects on a small scale.

Dates are:

Scrapbooking 

All Mondays 7 till 9pm at Leek Wootton Village Hall

28th Jan
25th Feb
25th Mar
22nd April
27th May
24th June

Craft Club Workshop

All Thursdays 7 till 9pm in Warwick, venue to be confirmed

31st Jan
21st Feb
21st Mar
25th April
23rd May
20th June

Fabric Fun Classes

Dates are set and all are Sundays 2.30pm till 4.30pm but I need to confirm venue. 
17th Feb
24th March

More classes will be set once I establish the popularity of the class.

Find The Creative Stamper on facebook and check out the events pages, paypal address is rachel @ creativestamper.co.uk

Time for some Freebies!!

It's that time of year when Stampin' Up! goes freebie bonkers!!  There are 17 products to choose from and each one is available free with an order of £45 and you can earn as many as you like - hostesses that reach £300 even get an extra special hostess bundle as we are nice like that!

Saleabration runs from 22nd January to 22 March so there is plenty of time to get an oder together and choose your freebie.

As part of Saleabration there are a range of extra freebies and deals so pay close attention so you don't miss out.

Sale-A-Bration and Stampin’ Up!’s 25th Anniversary is one of the best time to host a Stampin’ Up! party!

• Get FREE Silver Glimmer Paper when you host a £150 workshop!
• Get a FREE hostess bundle when you host a £300 workshop!*

Hostess Bundle Details:

• Madison Avenue stamp set (wood- or clear-mount)
• Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper
• Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack

   Pick a date and give me a call Rachel Booth on 07932 780939
 
 
Are you a craft items addict - hmmm there are rather alot of us aren't there!  If you love buying your favourite SU goodies - Welcome to Sale-A-Bration!

Customers may choose any one product from the Sale-A-Bration brochure for every £45 they spend. This year’s offering includes  as usual we have exclusive stamp sets and accessories, as well as a selection of catalogue stamp sets, ribbon, buttons, and even an embossing folder! Now, more than ever, there’s something for everyone! 17 different products to choose from!

View the Sale-A-Bration brochure HERE – or click the first SAB logo


Sale-A-Bration and Stampin’ Up!’s 25th anniversary means a further 25% more Starter Kit products for FREE!

You can choose a huge £162.50 worth of products for just £99. On top of that you recieve all the business materials you need to get started - £45 worth of business products.   Remember you don't have to choose to run a business you can just join for the fantastic discount on the kit and enjoy discount for yourself.  If you think this is something that you would like to do and join my team give me, Rachel Booth, a call (07932 780939) and we can set up some time to talk it through and you can also have a closer look at some of the products!

All in all Saleabration is a great time to enjoy a Stampin' Up! Extravaganza and maybe even earn some extra by joining up!  I have been a demonstrator for over 5 years now - I have never looked back and, yes, I just joined for the discount ;-)

I have some samples coming up as well - just need to suss out the watermarking :-)

Rachelx

Hello 2013

I mean really its 2013 - when did that happen.  This May I will have been a free agent for 2 years!!  It has flown by and I have loved every single minute of it but this year must see some changes.  It has been lovely having this little hiatus in working life, but it does carry its own little stresses and strains when the heating goes, the LPG man delivers again (at £600 a tank) and the car goes clunk.  Stampin Up has covered some of those gaps for me but I have never been and don't want to be a bit business demo.  I like it a bit more than a hobby and I love the teaching but I couldn't be going out 2 or 3 nights a week myself.  But that is what I love about SU there isn't the pressure to do more than you want to ever, its always on YOUR terms.

There have been lots of changes in how SU does business over the last few years as well and now we have at least 3 catalogues a year, with monthly deals and offers and the best ever time of Saleabration coming up on 22nd January - free sets of stamps, papers, punches, embossing folders and more.  The widest free product range ever int he UK all for a £45 spend.  And anyone hosting a £300 party gets another one for free as well so what a great incentive to start planning a get together.

I have done so much crafting I don't know where to even start so I have decided to start afresh - I will do some saleabration samples today and get some pictures up.  But I do have some Objectives and goals for 2013 that will keep me motivated and moving!

I am going to share (and at the same time show commitment) those with you today.

In January

- I will complete my Coaching and Mentoring Qualification - I have one assignment to complete.  I have been putting it off for too long!
- I will complete my accounts and tax return to the deadline and ALSO set up a system for recording as I go along for future reference.
- I will decide what I am going to do about my customer database and newletters.  I am trying not to be too ambitious here in just 30 days but I desperately need to sort this out and clear out old names and add some new so overachieving on this one will be sending out the first 2013 newsletter but I will be happy with decisions and the newsletter going out in February!
- I will sort and set up my 2013 class schedule. 
- I will hold one party (already lined up need to set the date that is all!)
- I will sort and clear out my facebook friends - this I have already done - woohoo
- I will blog at least once a week, total of 4 blogs in January

I have some other personal ones and household ones but you don't need to be bothered by chicken house building and weightloss!!  Although you may get some piccies if I am proud!

I think if I manage that lot in one month I will be doing well!!!

What are your January plans?

Rachel

Still only £99 with 6 months of free papers

Here is a super special promotion if you fancied signing up and getting a discount on each and every order you make.  Yes the deal is STILL just £99 for a fully customisable kit - i.e. you choose everything to the value of £130 from the catalogue then on top of that at the momentyou then get a free pack of paper every month for 6 months that is nearly £60 worth of free product.  And I will of course love you forever as I get the same - do we have special deals or what!

This offer is still ongoing and you can sign up directly online here you customised kit could be with you in less than 5 days and you have a whole new world in front of you!

Inky Dinky

What a fantastic offer from SU this month and to the 16th December for ALL Hostesses reaching £325 or more on their party orders.  

They can receive a WHOLE collection of Classic Stampin Pads.  You can choose from Brights, Subtles, or Regals and this is an INK-redible £44.50 value!

This offer is in ADDITION to the standard hostess awards so you get those too - there never has been a better time to book your party with me.  I am busy with fairs this month but there is always room for a Stampin' Up! Party - give me a call and we can see if we can give my superquickie 2 hr party a whirl and get you some fantatic freebies.  I am available daytimes as well as evenings so get in touch and we will find a time to suit you.

Not got time to tidy the house??  How about a catalogue party?  You get a catalgoue and show it to your friends and family, there is honestly something for everyone in our catalogues, from great silver and gold pens for christmas cards, to photo cards to scrap kits for the total beginner - collect the orders and send them in to me with payment and we tot up the freebies you can choose for yourself from the catalogue.  It really couldn't be simpler - get in touch for your catalgoue and order form pack now.

So Much Happening in the little world of SU

I am busy busy planning and planning and whilst I was doing that poor little blog got neglected - althogther now - arghghghg I mean ahhhhhh - lol

So what is happening

We have a lovely lovely Autumn Winter Seasonal Catalogue out with some just gorgeous new sets and yes we are matching the US stamp set for stamp set and die for die - its so exciting!  I just love the ornaments and also suprisingly for me the Scentsational - and the bundles are just fabulous deals.  Even better with Demo Discount!!!

THEN we also have the Big One as I am calling it- yes we have pretty much the whole of the Stampin' Up! Catalogue these days the same as the US - bar MDS - their digital scrapping tools. I don't even yet know where to start with this one!  But of course copies are In Da House so if you want one drop me a line and we will see what we can do :-) (I love being an enabler - no really I do).

What else well - October has a super special promotion if you fancied signing up and getting that special discount I mentioned earlier.  And yes the deal is STILL just £99 for a fully customisable kit - i.e. you choose everything to the value of £130 from the catalogue then on top of that the deal at the moment is you then get a free pack of paper every month for 6 months that is nearly £60 worth of free product.  And I will of course love you forever as I get the same - do we have special deals or what!

Rachelxx

Keep it in the family

I just wanted to let you all know about another member of my family that is a Crafty - and also now in business!!  My cousin Hayley.  She had a baby not too long ago and has joined the realms of crafty businesses to work from home!

https://www.facebook.com/craftedbyflossy

please pop in and give her a like or two and say Hi!

Rachel

Saturday sneak peeks....What are you missing...

This Saturday is our Scrap Extravaganza in Shrewley There will be just 6 of us including Val and Myself and we are spending all day scrapping scrapping scrapping..  We have 4 projects two smaller one page kits and a double layout and then a canvas so we will be coming home with lots of new additions.

To the peeks...

These are my projects.

Will check and see if Val wants to do hers on her blog an we will cross link :-)

Rachelx