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.  

 

 

 

 

 

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR - Summer Stampin' Retreat in Birmingham

Good morning.  The weekend is just about here, phew.  I am certainly looking forward to this weekend as there absolutely nothing on the calendar,  No plans, no "to-do" list nothing.  Just a weekend for my body to catch up with my soul. 

It has been non stop ever since our break away came to an end and I can not believe how shattered I am.  I will recover bit by bit slowly, starting today.

So what have I been up to?  Shall we start with last weekend, its a good a place as any.  My friend Jayne and I hopped on a train and headed to Birmingham for the very first Summer Stampin' Retreat, organised by Helen, our European Success Field Manager. What a wonderful couple of days it turned out to be.

Before heading to the venue, we decided to find somewhere for a bite to eat. It turned out to be a great decision because we had no idea what time the day would finish.  We stumbled across a lovely little Greek taverna/cafe and shared a few delicious dishes between us before setting off to find the venue that would be home for the next couple of days.

From the moment we arrived, everyone was so happy and smiley and the room was buzzing with creativity and inspiration. There was a little hunt for seats, as some places had been saved for friends who were still making their way there. We found ourselves a table in the end and before long we were swapping our handmade projects with fellow demonstrators. It's one of my favourite parts of these events. Seeing everyone's creativity up close is always so inspiring.

This is the card I made to swap, I used lots of different Designer Series Papers (DSP) from the Floral Charm pack, the Fern and Flora embossing folder and the Banner Sayings and co-ordinating punch.  Rhinestones were used to embellish.

 

Here are the beautiful creations I was lucky enough to receive in return.

Then it was time to get down to business. We enjoyed introductions, presentations, plenty of crafting and lots of laughs along the way, all wonderfully hosted by a fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator who kept us entertained from start to finish.

Once the day came to an end, we jumped in a taxi and headed to our accommodation for the night, which was absolutely perfect.  After we'd had something to eat, I said goodnight to Jayne, convinced it must have been around 10.30 or 11.00 pm. Imagine my surprise when I realised it was only 8.30 pm. Oops! I certainly wasn't complaining though, as it meant I managed an early night before another early start the following morning.

After enjoying breakfast and checking out, we made our way back to the venue, where the excitement was already building. The room was buzzing once again and the day was filled with more crafting, presentations, chatting and, of course, plenty of laughter. It really was the perfect balance, and before we knew it, it was time to head home.

Well... that's what we thought.

For some reason, we'd convinced ourselves the event finished at 5.00 pm, so we'd booked our train home for 6.00 pm. As it turned out, the retreat actually finished at 3.00 pm. Oops again.  Never mind. We found ourselves a comfy spot at the station, grabbed a coffee and happily chatted the hours away. Time actually passed surprisingly quickly.

Eventually, we boarded our train and settled in for the journey home. About 15 minutes later... oops... we came to a complete standstill in the middle of a field.

After a while, we slowly set off again, but it soon became clear that all was not well. The train manager announced that the train had developed a fault and we'd be making an unscheduled stop, where the journey would end and everyone would need to change trains.

By this point, our poor husbands were already waiting at the station to collect us. Still, these things happen.

When we arrived at our unscheduled stop, everyone piled off the train and headed straight up the stairs, over the bridge and down the other side to the next platform. Jayne and I stayed put because I needed the ramp to get off the train safely (knees, hips... you know the drill).

Once I was off, a lovely member of staff took our bags and cheerfully said, "You just need to go up the two flights of stairs, over the bridge and down the other side."

"Oops... I can't do stairs," I replied, asking if there was a lift instead.

She'd seen me leave the train using the ramp but hadn't realised it was because I couldn't manage the steps. The look of horror on her face when she told us the lift was out of order was priceless. Yikes.  She quickly sat us down on a bench while she disappeared to see what she could do. A few minutes later, she returned with a smile and almost at the same moment an announcement came over the tannoy:

"Would all passengers who have just crossed to Platform 2 please return over the bridge, as there has been a platform change."

Oh my goodness... I was mortified.  I couldn't even look at Jayne because I knew I'd burst out laughing. There must have been well over a hundred people who had just hauled themselves up the stairs, over the bridge and back down again... all because of little old me.

Thankfully, we both got home safely in the end and it certainly gave us another story to tell.

The group photo of the majority of us

 

I guess I will have a little more catching up tomorrow.  Thanks so much for having a read.  Tracey x

 

 

 

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE

 

 

 

I have 101 things on my mind so I think that may be the reason I am up early.  Not a complaint, I shall just feel happier once everything is complete.

On a personal note, after a couple of weeks of a very strange sleeping pattern, I finally seem to be getting back into a routine again, which is such a relief.  I still haven't managed to find much time to craft purely for myself but I am hoping that this will change over the next week or two. 

The biggest positive is that my health is slowly heading in the right direction.  The weight is continuing to come off, one pound at a time and although walking is still a bit of a struggle, I am already noticing little improvements.  Its all about taking one step at a time and I am hopeful that as the weight comes off, things will continue to get easier. 

I have also started taking a supplement of collagen for the last week.  It is said to support joint health, improved skin, stronger nails and thickness of hair, helping bone health, supporting muscle maintenance etc.  It wont do me any harm so I am hoping that this will give me a little boost. I am under no illusion that I'll see miracles overnight but I am hoping that over the next few months there will be some gentle improvements.  Along with my new found love of Templespa products, my healthier eating and the weight slowly coming off, I'm hoping all these little changes will add up to one big difference.  After all, it's often the small consistent steps that have the greatest impact in the long run.  I'll be sure to let you know how I get on over the coming months.  Who knows... perhaps in six months' time I'll have stronger nails, softer skin, happier joints and a little extra spring in my step. 

Can you believe that it is already the end of June.  Its a lot cooler today although the hot weather is due to return next week, fingers crossed we can cope. 

I have had a little play with the extremely pretty Extraordinary Flora Washi Tape from Stampin' Up!  Do you have some?  Have you used it.  It is £14 and you get tons and tons of pretty images.  The way I used it is that I stuck it down to a piece of Basic White card and ran it through the die cutting machine.  I then used a few of these pretty die cut elements on this card.

 

The panel was created us some designer series paper from the Beautiful Bokeh 6" x 6" papers, now why didnt I see these before?  They pack of papers can be found in the Last Chance section.  The sentiment was created using the Banner Sayings and cut out using the co-ordinating punch.  Of course the ink of the sentiment had to be the same colour as the card base, the colour co-ordination is what makes Stampin' Up! stand out.  

Now the pretty little gems are from a ribbon shop that I discovered.  I do hope to stock up on these in a few weeks time.   

Thank you for having a read.  I am off to start my day.  Tracey x 

 
 

 

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY - Pretty card and sweet peas

 

Well... oops! It would seem I've blinked and a couple of weeks have disappeared without me writing a blog post. Life has been wonderfully busy, filled with crafting, classes, family time, and plenty of exciting Stampin' Up! happenings, so something had to give for a little while.

The good news is that I'm back with lots to share over the coming weeks. Whether you've been crafting along with me, joining me in The Craft Room, or simply popping by for a little inspiration, thank you for continuing to visit. I always love sharing my creative journey with you, and I hope you'll enjoy catching up on everything that's been happening. 

As you can imagine, the garden was a bit of a jungle when we returned and of course, we arrived back just as the latest heatwave arrived.  Not too much gardening has been done but we have been getting up a little earlier, just so that we can start to tidy things up. 

   

The sweet peas were certainly very windswept but after half an hour of untangling and straightening, they are looking a lot better.  Still a little more work needed but you can smell their wonderful scent when you walk past or when the breeze starts to blow, it's wonderful. 

Lovely to see mum and dad after our holidays and they are both looking quite well.  Its obvious that mum is declining as she is struggling to put a sentence together at times but, thankfully, she still knows who we are and dad is doing an amazing job of looking after her. 

When I first unlocked the Craft Room after being away, I discovered it had gained quite a few new inhabitants, all with 8 legs.  As many of you know, spiders and I are definitely not friends but thankfully, hubby came to the rescue and helped me safely re-home every single one of them.

With the unwanted residents now gone, the Craft Room is beginning to feel like mine again. Its having a long-overdue shuffle around, cupboard by cupboard and I've realised just how much crafting stash I've collected over the years.  The cupboards are quite literally bursting at the seams, which means it is the perfect time to begin The New Chapter.   As part of that journey, I have started a new Facebook group where I'll be giving many of my much loved crafting treasures the chance to find new homes.  It's a bittersweet but I'd much rather see these beautiful products being used, loved and enjoyed than sitting on my shelves waiting for "one day".  Keep an eye on the group as I will be adding new items regularly over the coming weeks.
 

With just a couple of days left in June, you can still get your hands on one of the best Products of the Month from Stampin' Up!  There are 14 stamps in this set and you can get this for £14 when you make a purchase of £70.

This is limited to just one set per person and the is only available whilst supplies last.  

 

Here is a card that was passed on for a friends birthday recently.  I loved making this and another lovely friend showed me how to create it.  Using stencils, pretty colours and the most wonderful stencil brushes, it didnt take too long to create this wonderful masterpiece.  This was one of those cards that I wasnt sure I wanted to give it away.  I cant wait to be taught other new ways of creating cards.  

Well I think I have rattled on enough for one day, dont you?  Thank you so much for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful start to your day.  Tracey x

 

Stampin' Up! Promotions

Here 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. 

There are 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.

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 June 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 - ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO - A bit of gardening and how to keep letters straight

 

 

 

 

Good morning. So much happening at the moment, I am unsure where to start.  Let's start with the amazing painting above. We discovered this on one of our recent wanders to one place, going slightly off track as we thought it may be a shortcut and we were amazed about all the street art, I have more to share on another day.  We have no idea who painted it but it's stunning.

I can also mention the gardens on the complex which are in need of a little attention, particularly one area that has become rather neglected. To get a better idea of what we were dealing with, we asked a local handyman/gardener to pull out the dead plants and weeds so that we could lay a water pipe.

To be fair, he did most of the clearing, although he left us with quite a bit of tidying up to do afterwards. Once everything was cleared, we made a surprising discovery,  there was already a water pipe installed beneath the soil.

Curious to see if it still worked, we carefully unearthed it and laid it on top of the ground so we could inspect it properly. The main supply pipe was still intact, but the smaller irrigation pipe that was meant to water the plants had completely perished. A little gentle investigation soon turned into gushing water everywhere as the old connectors gave way!  The handyman assured us he would sort everything out. New connectors, new irrigation pipe, a standpipe and a timer were all promised, so we left him to it.

A few days later, everything appeared to be in place, apart from the timer, which hadn't quite been set up correctly. That was quickly sorted, and feeling optimistic, we headed off to buy some new plants.

Armed with plants and enthusiasm, we began digging holes, only to discover that one of the new connections was leaking. Not just a little drip either,  enough that the newly prepared planting area was sitting in water.  So, for now, the remaining plants are waiting patiently while we wait for the leak to be repaired. It seems that every time one problem is solved, another one appears. Still, we're getting there... eventually.  The purchasing of the plants is another story.

How do you line up names and sentiments on your cards and projects?  I have been doing mine this way for many years and as I was asked to show someone how to do it, I thought I would share it on here.  Using my alphabet set I die cut out the name Alex 5 times.  The reason I do this is that I want the name to stand out and I get all 5 layers, stick them together and leave them to dry.  I then line them up on my grid paper so that they are straight, most of the time..  

 

I grab a post it note and with the sticky side on the name I make sure it is still straight and give it a little press down.

 

 I turn the post it note over as can be seen below, so now I can move the whole name at the same time.  Add glue to each of the letters.

 

I place a ruler across the card, making sure that it lines up with the grid paper underneath and you get a straight light, as can be seen.

 

Pick up the post it note with the letters on and place them directly above the ruler, which should mean that they are in a straight line.  As there is glue on them also, they should stick down, straight.

This worked out perfectly for me, it doesnt always but it does for the majority of the time and I find it easier that sticking one letter at a time or having a pencil mark that doesnt get quite rubbed out. 

I can reveal the whole card tomorrow, as the little chap will be two years old, where did that time fly off to?

Did you know that there is FREE SHIPPING for the next couple of days?

If there has been something on your wish list, or you simply need to top up your crafty essentials this is a lovely opportunity to save on postage. And what about the Last Chance section? Have you had a look in there lately?

Don't worry if your order is only small. I am very happy to combine lots of little orders together to help everyone reach the qualifying amount. Whether you need a single ink pad, a packet of glue dots, a stamp set, a bundle or a few items from the Last Chance section, they can all be added together.
And there's an extra little bonus too. If your personal order comes to £70 or more, you'll qualify for the Product of the Month for just £5 and its such a wonderful cute stamp this month.
There is absolutely no pressure, if you'd like me to add anything to a combined order, just drop me a message and I'll be happy to help. 

So today we are off out for the morning and have folk popping in this afternoon,.  Dinner with the family tonight so thats something to look forward to.  Thank you so much for having a read and I hope you have a lovely day x

Stampin' Up! Promotions

Here 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. 

There are 5 brand new design (magnetic close) 2026-2028 In Colors.  

JUNE PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Here’s a little sprinkle of crafty magic.  When you place your own qualifying order of £70, you’ll unlock the chance to grab the Product of the Month for just £5, how lovely is that? A special option will magically appear, inviting you to pop it straight into your basket. Do note that this treat is only available whilst supplies last and can  only be added once per person, so dont dawdle too long. 

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.

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 June 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.