DAY - TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE - My first foiling card with the Stampin' Up! Foiling Machine

It’s supposed to be a rainy day in my neck of the woods today and it certainly looks as though we’ve had a little rain overnight. The garden could definitely do with some more though, as everything is so incredibly dry. I’m hoping we get enough to give the plants a much-needed boost.

I’ve already made an early start this morning, I have sorted out some much loved crafting gooding  to pass on to a local church craft group. There are lots of things in the collection that I haven’t used for many years. I think that’s something most crafters can relate to,  as we grow and develop in our crafting, our tastes and techniques change, and things that were once firm favourites can end up sitting untouched.  Hopefully, the church craft group will get a few more years of enjoyment and good use out of these crafty bits and pieces. It’s lovely to know they are going to a new home rather than simply gathering dust.

I came across an image yesterday that really struck a chord with me. I’ve shared it above, and I wonder how many of you will be able to relate to it too.

 

I mentioned recently that I gave in and purchased the new Foiling Machine from Stampin’ Up! The instructions are really easy to follow and, as everyone seems to be talking about it at the moment, I’ve picked up lots of new tips and ideas.  Unfortunately, it wouldn’t go through the embossing machine I already owned, so I’ve purchased another one which should arrive tomorrow. Thankfully, a good friend has lent me hers in the meantime, and this is my first attempt at using it.

 

 

To say I love it would be an understatement! I’m already looking forward to having another play, and hopefully I’ll get the chance to create a few more projects later today.

Mum had another very sleepy day yesterday. Dad said she slept for around three-quarters of the day and wouldn’t wake when the carers arrived again. I’m going to pop up and see her this morning after I’ve done a little shopping.  I did manage to delete a few photos that i have yesterday and put an awful lot more in the applicable folders.  This evening I shall be spending another hour on it, working my way to getting that photograph app emptied.  

And finally, a little Stampin’ Up! news…

Stampin’ Up! have announced a FLASH DOUBLE REWARDS promotion for three days, starting tomorrow, Wednesday 19th August, and running until Friday 21st August.

With a minimum spend of £20, you’ll receive DOUBLE Rewards, that is 20% rather than the usual 10% on qualifying purchases, which you can then use towards a future order.

And with the current 15% sale on Designer Series Paper and selected cardstock, this could be a great opportunity to pick up a bargain or two while earning those extra Rewards!

If you need any help making sure you’re signed up to the Rewards programme, choosing what to order or placing your order, please get in touch. I’m always happy to help.

Now, I think it’s time I got myself organised and headed off to the shops. Have a lovely Tuesday,  whatever you’re up to x

 

STAMPIN' UP PROMOTIONS

Stampin' Up! currently have a sale with 15% off selected Designer Series Papers and card stock, for the whole month and whilst supplies last.  

 

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH 

I'm delighted to introduce the Stampin' Up!  August Product of the Month.

Throughout August, when you place a Stampin' Up! order of £70 or more (before postage), you'll have the opportunity to purchase this month's featured product for just £5.  The Product of the Month is exclusively available with a qualifying order and is limited to one per person. As with all Stampin' Up! promotions, it is available whilst supplies last, so once it's gone, it's gone!

If you're planning to place an order during August, this is a great opportunity to add an extra product to your collection at a fantastic price.

This is the May - August 2026 Catalogue that you can click on and have a browse but better still, why not pop into the Craft Room, Derby and grab a copy of your own.  This catalogue will no longer be available after 31st August as it will be replaced with a new one.  

The Last Chance List has lots of beautifully colour co-ordinated favourites, all with that signature Stampin' Up! quality we know and love, but only whilst stock lasts.  If you click on the image below, a new page will open up and you can have a browse in this section.  

Please do get in touch if you have any queries or if I can help in any way. 

Paper Pumpkin is now available in the UK, I did write a whole post on all I know about this and we can subscribe in the UK.  Subcriptions are now for the September kit.   To find out a little more, click on the image below and a new window will open.  But please, do get in touch if I can help in anyway, I am always happy to help.

 

 

 The new foiling system from Stampin' Up! has its own brochure, which can be seen below.  Just click on the image and a new page will open up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Scrapbooking and Memory Keeping products please click on the image below and a new page will open up for the Memory Keeping section of the online store

 

 

You can click on the image below and a new window will open up where you can have a browse through the WHOLE shop. Please do get in touch with me if you would like any help.  My contact details are at the end of the post and I really am happy to help as much as I can.

If you would like to receive my newsletter and be added to my email list of friends do let me know.  I would hate you to miss out on all our get togethers and socials.  Always lots of new friends waiting to be met. 

If you would like to get in touch with me, here is where I can be found.  

 

DAY - TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT - A variety of Stampin' Up! Kit cards

 

Another start to another week and fingers crossed this week is going to be a little cooler than it has been.  I don’t mind warm weather but I do struggle when it gets too hot, as I’m sure most of us do.

The houses seem to hold on to the heat too, so when I get up in the morning there can be as much as a 10° difference between inside the house and outside.  It means opening all the windows and doors first thing, letting the fresh air in and hopefully getting the house feeling a little cooler and fresher.

I’m up and out bright and early this morning for a coffee with a friend, and we’re going to try a new garden centre that I don’t think I’ve ever been to before. I’m looking forward to a little catch-up and a wander around before heading home for a few chores and then, of course, some more time in the craft room.

A quick update on Mum, for those who may not know, Mum has Alzheimer’s as well as vascular dementia and she is sleeping more and more these days. Yesterday she didn’t really want to talk at all. I sometimes wonder whether she realises that what she is saying doesn’t always make sense and that she is getting confused, so perhaps she chooses not to speak.  Dad said that yesterday he had been out of the room for just a few minutes and came back to find Mum sitting on the sofa. As Mum can’t walk, he was surprised to see that she had somehow moved from where she normally sits to the sofa. It is lovely in a way to see her doing something we didn’t think she could, but it also worries us as we are so afraid she will fall again.

On a happier note, I’ve spent much of the weekend going through boxes of cards that were never quite finished. The job is well underway, although it’s definitely going to be an ongoing project for this week too.  I’ve actually had great fun putting them all together. Some of them must have been sitting in boxes for several years, just waiting for that final little bit of attention. Lots are now completely finished, packaged up and ready to be used and I’m also creating lots of much needed space in my cupboards, which is always a good thing.

Here are a few of the kit cards that I started some time ago and have now finally finished. It feels rather good seeing those boxes getting smaller

 

 

 

 

I wonder if you have made any of these kits up or if you are waiting to get creative with them?

Thank you for taking the time to have a little read today. I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse into my world.  Have a wonderful start to your week.  Tracey x

 

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN - Kit cards

 

Good Morning, being Sunday it means that we’re going to have a Sunday roast with all the trimmings today, but only a small one. I am lucky enough that hobby will cook this to enable me to get on with other things that need to be done in the house. 

Whilst we’ve had very hot weather over the last few days, today is supposed to be a lot cooler keeping my fingers crossed. Unfortunately, the hot weather really affects my legs and stops me dead in my tracks. 

Having done the craft fair last weekend it made me realise that a lot of my cards are not completely finished, so yesterday I spent the day finishing a few more off. My aim is to do a few each day so that by the end of this week they are all done and dusted. 

We had a lovely night on Friday night at the kit night in The Craft Room, Derby. There is something rather lovely about a cozy evening with just a few of us, crafting, chatting and put the world to rights.   We had a real mixture of projects going on, new kits, old kits, Christmas tag kits and some knitting. Of course no crafting evening would be complete without a little refreshment so it was refreshing fruit squash and chocolate cake. What more could you ask to end the week. 

Here are a couple of cards I managed to make from a card kit called Maritime Moments that has been hanging around for quite some time. I managed to get these completely finished yesterday all ready to be given out.

 

 

Thank you for having a read today.  I need to go and get the ironing done, there isnt too much but it needs putting away.  Have a smashing Sunday, whatever you may be up to. x

 

 

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE - Happy Birthday card

Good morning, yes, it is normally a morning when I sit and write this.  It is the quietest part of my day and, I use a revitive machine most days to help with the Lymphodema on my legs and feet.  A perfect excuse to have half an hour to myself. 

The picture above is a baby blackbird that kept us amused for a few hours yesterday.  It was wonderful to watch it dancing around, exploring and its parent kept coming down to feed it and check up on it.  Hopefully, it will be back today. 

After a wonderful 7 hours of deep sleep I was up rather early but as its forecast is to be a rather warm again this afternoon, I thought I would get some of the chores out of the way before its too hot. I hope to sit with a good book relaxing later this afternoon which may turn into a nanny nap.

I participated in a craft fair on Saturday and still have lots of things to put away from it.   So the craft fair was a lovely day out even though there werent so many folk visiting.  Hubby and I got to spend lots of time sat talking to each other, it isnt very often that we have time to sit together unless we are eating a meal so, that did us a lot of good.  Wonderful conversation and plenty of laughs.  Once my table was all set up, we enjoyed a pot of tea and a sausage cob to start our day before the fair actually opened.  But boy it was hot.  We were inside a teepee, wigwam type of structure and it was 27 degrees outside so it was rather stifling but, all in all we had a nice day.  Unfortunately I returned home with the majority of items I took with me but we enjoyed it, it was more memories made and we met lots of lovely folk.

A friend celebrated her birthday last week and this is what I passed on to her.

I made this card with a lovely bunch of ladies recently and the 'teach' showed us how to create it.  It is so out of my comfort zone but I adored making it. I will certainly be making a few more in a similar style, I just need to find the hours. 

My first job is to share a weeks worth of wonderful In Color projects on a facebook group.  I schedule these ahead of time and all being well, when the internet plays ball, which it isnt doing lately, these posts arrive in the group each morning for everyone to see.   

If you are free on Friday evening and fancy a kit night, or just some crafting time, why not join us. 

Do get in touch if you hope to come along as it would be wonderful to see you.  If you are not sure where to find us please, do let me know and I can give you the full details.

Thank you so much for having a read, I do hope you have a wonderful day today.  Tracey x 

 

 

 

DAY - TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN - New arrivals, Notes & Totes and Fern and Flora bags

 

 

Good morning, well I thought the days were flying by a few months ago but I seem to be cramming so much more into my day with my new found energy that they are now whizzing by so, its time to slow things down.  I just have to find out how.

Its another big day in the Stampin' Up! world, they do seem to be having quite a few.  With it being a new month, lots of new things.  First of all

Stampin' Up! have a sale with 15% off selected Designer Series Papers and card stock, for the whole month and whilst supplies last.   If you click on the image, it will open a new page and you can see for yourself what is included in the sale.

 

The last chance section has had new products added and some of the items that were on there have had a further discount.  Again, if you click on the image below, you can see what I mean.  A new page will open up.  

 

 Of course, there are a couple of new kits added to the collection.  Here is an image with a link to all the kits that Stampin' Up! have currently.  If you wanted to purchase one you are most welcome to pop into the Craft Room to have a go at making it up with like minded folk a week on Friday.  

I have been spending my morning with the folks, dad had a doctors appointment so hubby took him.  I sat with mum as we knew he would be about an hour and we didnt want to leave her on her own.  It was nice sitting chatting to her and being a part of her world for a while.  She does tell me some very strange stories and her mind wanders so very much, finding difficulty in continuing a sentance but, once she gets going, she does have a wonderful spin on things.  

My afternoon has been in the craft room finishing off a few cards.  I still have thousands of photos to sort out, some household chores and some ironing but I cant do it all.  If anyone has discovered the right balance, do let me know.

 

After seeing a stunning card created by Kim McGillis, last week we had fun recreating it with the Notes & Totes Dies, paired with the beautiful Beautiful Ordinary Life Designer Series Paper. We used a lovely combination of Crumb Cake, Pretty Peacock and Strawberry Slush, which worked so well together.

The little bags were surprisingly quick and easy to assemble, leaving plenty of time to decorate them using the gorgeous Fern & Flora Dies. They really do create the most beautiful foliage and add so much interest to a project.

To colour the foliage, we tried two different techniques. One way was to die cut the leaves first and then blended ink over them to match our bags, while the other way was to blend ink onto larger pieces of card stock before die cutting the shapes. Both methods produced stunning results and it was lovely to see how each project turned out slightly differently.

To finish, we stamped the label using the panel from the Fern & Flora Stamp Set before choosing our own sentiments. It just so happened that every one of mine said "Happy Birthday", but everyone was able to personalise their project with the wording they preferred.  I love the way they all turned out. 

Well I guess I had best get ready and start my day, thank you so much for having a read. Tracey x 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND ELEVEN - A card for Charleigh

 

I am having a little time out for me today in the craft room.  Of course this will be in between household chores, as you do, as the laundry wont do itself.

It was my nieces daughters birthday yesterday and this is the card that I gave to her.  I also got a hug and a kiss and although she is just 12 years old, she is taller than me, my goodness.

I have been making a few of this style card as I think they are so cute.  The die is from my stash and as I still have it out on my table, I may use it again today.

 

So... I had one of those "light bulb" moments. You know the kind... they seem like a brilliant idea at the time.  I decided to treat myself to the new Stampin' Up! Foiling Machine. I'd heard mixed reports about whether it would fit inside my trusty old Big Shot. Some people said, "Absolutely" Others said, "Not a chance" Being the eternal optimist, I thought I'd give it a go.

My plan was foolproof. If it fitted, fantastic.  If it didn't, I'd take my faithful old Big Shot over to Cyprus and treat myself to the new Stampin' Up! Stamp & Die Cutting Machine.

The foiling machine arrived... I held my breath... and... nope. Not even close. It definitely doesn't fit. Ah well, Plan B it was.

Off I went to order the new Stampin' Up! machine...

Out of stock.

Not just "we're expecting more next week" out of stock.

Oh no...

"We'll see you in two months" out of stock. Two months.

So, it seems my foiling adventures have been put on hold for a little while. The good news is that it gives me plenty of time to decide exactly what I'm going to foil first when the new machine finally arrives. Every cloud has a silver lining... or perhaps, in this case, a gold foiled one.

 

Thank you for having a read today, Tracey x 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Promotions

This is the May - August 2026 Catalogue that you can click on and have a browse but better still, why not pop into the Craft Room, Derby and grab a copy of your own.  I am in there most of the week coming up and it would be lovely to see you. 

In May Stampin' Up! released 5 brand new design (magnetic close) 2026-2028 In Colors.  

The Last Chance List has lots of beautifully colour co-ordinated favourites, all with that signature Stampin' Up! quality we know and love, but only whilst stock lasts.  If you click on the image below, a new page will open up and your can have a browse. This is updated every two months.  Please do get in touch if you have any queries. 

Paper Pumpkin is now available in the UK, I did write a whole post on all I know about this and we can subscribe in the UK.  Subcriptions are now for the August kit.   To find out a little more, click on the image below and a new window will open.  But please, do get in touch if I can help in anyway, I am always happy to help.

 

For Scrapbooking and Memory Keeping products please click on the image below and a new page will open up for the Memory Keeping section of the online store

 

 

You can click on the image below and a new window will open up where you can have a browse through the WHOLE shop. Please do get in touch with me if you would like any help.  My contact details are at the end of the post and I really am happy to help as much as I can.

If you would like to receive my newsletter and be added to my email list of friends do let me know.  I would hate you to miss out on all our get togethers and socials.  Always lots of new friends waiting to be met. 

If you would like to get in touch with me, here is where I can be found.  

 

 

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FIVE - Anniversary card, Bridgenorth and Coalbrookdale Iron Bridge

 

Good morning.  On my no plan Saturday we have decided to go and visit our local allotments.  They have an open day, we can have a sit, a wander, a cuppa and a sandwich so it will be nice to see what's on our doorstep.  Hubby is also looking for a couple of plants so hopefully he will find something. 

A couple of weekends ago we went to a weekend in Bridgenorth where we got to experience some wonderful train rides in a steam train or two.  Hubby was over the moon as he was invited to start up the first train of the day, it was diesel rather than steam but he was still overjoyed.  We got on 5 trains all in all and visited stations along the route from Bridgenorth to Kidderminster, we saw an extensive vintage vehicles displayed, Live performances, 1940's home interiors, Holidays at Home displayes,  a vintage marketplace, an enginehouse at Highley Station and so much more.  There were so many folk dressed up in period outfits, the lovely ladies (some quite elderly) with perfect seemed stocking and gents in suites and top hats.  What an atmosphere, it really was smashing. 

 

We stayed over night and went off to visit the first iron bridge that was ever built in a village called Coalbrookdale.  It was completed is 1779 and opened to traffic in 1781.  It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and I actually walked across it.  Can you image the stories it could tell.  We then took a leisurely drive home but what a weekend.

 

Of course, lots more has been happening but I can tell you more about that tomorrow. 

I can let you know that hubby and I celebrated 15 years of marriage earlier this week, although we have been together an awful lot longer than 15 years and I can tell you, there has been nothing awful about it at all.  We were just saying earlier today, we have never had cross words or an argument and we dont intend to.  I am so lucky to have him in my life.  To celebrate our day, we decided to go out for a meal and a wander and here is the card I made for him.

It is a rather old stamp from my stash, the sentiment has been generated on the computer.  It has been coloured in with alcohol markers.  I am very pleased to say.... he loved it. 

Thank you so much for having a read, I do appreciate it.  Below you will find details about what is happening in my Stampin' Up! world today.  Tracey x

 

Stampin' Up! Promotions

This is the May - August 2026 Catalogue that you can click on and have a browse but better still, why not pop into the Craft Room, Derby and grab a copy of your own.  I am in there most of the week coming up and it would be lovely to see you. 

In May Stampin' Up! released 5 brand new design (magnetic close) 2026-2028 In Colors.  

The Last Chance List has lots of beautifully colour co-ordinated favourites, all with that signature Stampin' Up! quality we know and love, but only whilst stock lasts.  If you click on the image below, a new page will open up and your can have a browse. This is updated every two months.  Please do get in touch if you have any queries. 

Paper Pumpkin is now available in the UK, I did write a whole post on all I know about this and we can subscribe in the UK.  Subcriptions are now for the August kit.   To find out a little more, click on the image below and a new window will open.  But please, do get in touch if I can help in anyway, I am always happy to help.

 

For Scrapbooking and Memory Keeping products please click on the image below and a new page will open up for the Memory Keeping section of the online store

 

 

You can click on the image below and a new window will open up where you can have a browse through the WHOLE shop. Please do get in touch with me if you would like any help.  My contact details are at the end of the post and I really am happy to help as much as I can.

If you would like to receive my newsletter and be added to my email list of friends do let me know.  I would hate you to miss out on all our get togethers and socials.  Always lots of new friends waiting to be met. 

If you would like to get in touch with me, here is where I can be found.