Baby It's Cold Outside - It Ain't Much Warmer In Here Either!!!

OMG, what fantastic artwork the girls created for our 3rd Ultimate Rubber Stamping Demo Day. On 4th Dec, I was very likely to have 6 of my most brilliantly talented Design Team come and demonstrate for you all. The cold weather didn't keep them away. It was just as cold inside the unit we'd hired for the day but thankfully everyone came well wrapped up.

We were just missing poor 'ole Kim Reygate who was well and truly snowed in down south. You couldn't stop Kim from joining in the fun and games though, as she posted several card samples throughout the day, check out her blog here: Kimx

Copic Louise
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Where this girl finds time to fit in her card making, along with running a hectic household and working instore for me during the week too, who knows - but by jolly, I am glad she does and I know you guys are too.

Here she is, very bubbly and chatty as always, well maybe not so much right at this minute as she's not been well and has a bad back - get well soon Louise.

Louise was demonstrating colouring techniques using Copic pens.

Just check out how vibrant these little Magnolia figures are with their copic colouring:

Here's an array of projects Louise had created for the demo day.

And finally, if you are a magnolia fan and been browsing their magazines, then you may have noticed this project which had been previously featured.

Louise entered Magnolia's challenge to create a project using their range of characters to depict your family. Louise came 2nd - well done. Personally I think she should have come first with this masterpiece but then I am biased.

Here's a close up of her eldest son:

If you want to keep up to date with Louise's artwork, and find out more about some of these cards, then check out her blog here: Just Love to Stamp

If you want to find out more about using Copic markers and getting the most out of them, Louise will be running more all day classes during 2011 both for beginners as an introduction to Copics and also project-based classes for those who've already mastered the basics with Louise previously. These will be held instore at Sir Stampalot Peterborough and dates will be released early January. You really won't be disappointed - guaranteed.
Sign up to our newsletter to be first to get the news and class schedule - Sir Stampalot Newsletter Smudges.


Brenda
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No doubt You'll all be aware of Brenda, she's the inspiration and energy behind our Sir Stampalot Monthly Challenge Blog and also runs her very successful blog: Floral Fantasies.
Brenda has amazing talent for creating beautiful cards and playing with various inking and stamping techniques.

Now she hasn't fallen asleep here, honest! She's concentrating on her brayering and keeping the audience enthralled.

Brenda was also playing with the Melt Pot and creating the most gorgeous glazed roses, in between the fuses blowing due to us overloading the circuit!!

here's a selection of projects Brenda brought along with her on the day:

Chris
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Now I think Chris is showing off how tidy and clear her table was at the start of the demonstration day:

but it didn't take long before she was in-undated with her tools, inks, stamps and projects:

I think we can all relate to that!

Chris just loves the KaiserCraft projects. She made several of the advent calendars:

along with the 9 drawer unit:

and the gorgeous cupcake stand:

Love the way she used the cake stand on the day to display card samples as well as dishes of brads/buttons and also sweeties - yummy!



Here's one of the cards Chris made on the day using the Molly Blooms Bauble design and giving it a wonderful 3D effect:

Find out about Chris's artwork at : Always About Colour

Crafty Lou
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Talking about working space when card making - Lou, do you actually have enough room there to work?

Obviously yes she does, as she was busily demonstrating her very unique style of inking with versacolour cubes. It wouldn't be a Crafty Lou demo without a little cream shrink plastic:

Here's a wonderful spread of cards Lou created for the demo day:

Keep up-to-date with Crafty Lou's creations by visiting her blog : Crafty Lou's Small World.

Gina
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Of course we couldn't have a major demo day without our very own Gina.

Like the way she bribed you all with her tin of sweeties (although I don't think she was alone with this cunning idea - Brenda!):

Gina was working with the Art Impressions range of stamps and demonstrating the wonderful watercolouring technique using Marvy Le Plume II pens:

and of course, it wouldn't be a Gina Christmas Card without a little glitter:

Just a small pot there Gina!!!!??? Don't sneeze!

Lisa
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And finally, Lisa with her festive crown:

Always very helpful, here she is giving Chris a helping hand with something she needed whilst demo'ing :

And very talented, here's a selection of her projects she displayed on the demo day:

including demonstrating how to make a beautiful star decoration out of patterned paper:

and her Magnolia Shrink Plastic Bracelet she taught at one of her all day classes based on inspiration from the Magnolia series of magazines:

as well as showing you how to create quick and easy gifts, namely turning candles from this:

to this:

And finally her beautiful Birdhouse:

watch out for this being featured as one of her classes in 2011.


Thanks to everyone for making it a very enjoyable day, the demonstrators, Clare 'Molly Blooms' Rowlands for running the instore classes throughout the day, catering staff - Eddy and Azaria, runners - Steph and Mandy and photography and camera work by Nick, POS helper my Mum, behind the scenes workers - Jane and my Dad and lastly to all of you who braved the nasty weather to come and support Sir Stampalot and the girls - thank you.

Next instore event: Hero Arts Debut Party - Saturday 18th December - come and see the new 2011 catalogue from Hero Arts, see first-hand new designs before anywhere else, participate in free Make and Takes (10am - 2pm) and join us for Hot Chocolate with all the trimmings :)

- janicex

THE Demo Day

Can't believe it's almost here.
THE big day.
Our 3rd Ultimate Rubber Stamping Demo Day.
This Saturday 4th Dec 10am - 4pm.
This is a fab day full of FREE demos, FREE refreshments, and a FREE prize draw.

All the demonstrators are very excited and have been busily prep'ing wonderful samples and ideas to show you on Saturday. We were due to have 7 demonstrations going on but unfortunately Kim Reygate is snowed in and it's very unlikely that she'll make it :(
check out the snow where she lives
We'll miss you Kim, finger's crossed there's a dramatic change and you can make a surprise appearance!

If you want a taster of what it's all about - check out our blog post about last years Ultimate Rubber Stamping Demo Day.


We are also holding some classes on the too. Clare "Molly Blooms" Rowlands will be running a 2hr class at 10:30am and repeating it at 13:30pm. It's just £15 and in addition, you get a brand new, never seen before, stamp included in that fee. Clare's popped a sneak peak of the project on her blog:





Here's more info about Saturday listing all our talented, creative ladies demo'ing for you on the day (and also some info about our 12 hour Mega Sale day on 23rd Dec)





The unit we are hiring for Saturday is a very short distance from the shop (shop is 76 Papyrus Road and demos will be held at 86 Papyrus Road), you can see the relation of the two locations here:





And here's a link to how to find us if you haven't been to Sir Stampalot, Peterborough before.

We are unsure how warm it will be in the unit where the demos will be held so please wrap warmly. Hot tea and coffee will be available on tap throughout the day - along with lots of lovely munchies!

There's also a chance to win a goodie bag. Entry is free. Just copy and paste this form below into a word document, fill it out, print it out and then pop it in the box in the shop on Saturday (4th Dec). Winner will be drawn at the end of the day and notified by phone if not present:

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FREE PRIZE DRAW
at the 3rd Ultimate Rubber Stamping Demo Day on Saturday 4th Dec.
Copy and Paste to word document, fill it out, print it out and pop it in the special box in the shop for your chance to win the goodie bag on display on the day.


Name: __________________________________________________________________


Phone Number : __________________________________________________________


Email: ___________________________________________________________________

Valid Instore on Saturday 4th Dec Only

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Good Luck everyone and hope to see you Saturday. Safe journey.
- janice
xxxx

Stamp It - Punch It

You've probably forgotten all about this blog it's been so long since I last uploaded anything. Sincere apologies but I just don't know where time goes. I had started this post a couple of weeks back whilst Kim Reygate was visiting and staying with us. I was very inspired seeing her at work and blogging no matter what the time of the day. So I thought I should join in and update the Sir Stampalot blog, so thanks Kim for making me get my finger out!

Kim was helping out with some up and coming PR features and basically just having crafting fun. You can keep up with Kim and her creative talents by visiting her blog : Kimx

Now I just had to share with you creations and info about our latest event at Sir Stampalot. We were very lucky to have the wonderful Paula Pascual come and demonstrate for us. Such a lovely lady and endless talent.

You may have seen Paula on TV, but those of you who are unfamiliar with Paula, she is the artist behind her own range of stamp designs, that are of the finest detail, great quality, endless variations per each set and unbelievable value for money. Paula was demonstrating on Saturday how her stamps co-ordinate brilliantly with various sizes of punches, both circular and square, to give amazing results with minimal effort. Running out of time to make Christmas cards and need to do a fair number in a short period of time? Read on......

Here's a spread of the cards Paula brought along with her:

And some elements she created during the day:

and here she is hard at work - or is that busy having fun (far too much fun)!

Now here's what I mean about endless variations. This card is using just one stamp set - Large Christmas and two inkpads.

Paula prefers to use memento inkpads and versafine. These work extremely well with her fine detail stamps and help give superb results. I believe she used Deep Lagoon versafine and Summer Sky memento here. As the stamps are clear polymer, you can see exactly where you are placing them when stamping out on your card, so it's then easy to create this honeycomb effect. A self adhesive pearl in the centre of each snowflake and Bob's your Uncle.

Just look at this card. It's amazing how it shows off the combinations available from the extremely versatile stamp set - Filled with Flowers.

By adhering foam pads of varying depths to each of the elements, really gives the card a wonderful stepped feel.

That same stamp set - Filled with Flowers, has been used here in gorgeous colours of Crimson Red versafine and Spanish Moss versafine to make the flowers look like poinsettias.

And just in case you aren't convinced, the addition of the Happy Christmas circle design from her Large Christmas stamp set really gets the message across.

I like the colour blue so here's another of my favourites:

This card is using 2 different stamp sets of Paula's - Large Christmas and Essential Christmas. Love the way she's stamped out the dotty circle with the small snowflake on, then cut around the snowflake on the inside of the circle, to then slide a punched circle underneath it with the "happy christmas" message on it. Now, I'm pretty certain I haven't explained that very well. Next time you pop instore, I'll show you if you wish.

A little blob of stickles to enhance the snowflake and you have a perfectly quick and easy Christmas card.

And with a little adaptation, Paula demonstrated how to turn her designs into ribbon buckles:

This uses designs from All Year Round - a definite must have stamp set!

And Paula also had some very clever ideas for the insides of the cards too:

Paula has used here, her very useful dotty stamp from the Christmas Messages set along with a verse from the same set, and additionally the lovely snowflake from the Large Christmas set.


This next design, uses elements from 3 sets - Joyful Bubbles, Essential Christmas and Christmas Messages. Love the way the flourish makes the box look like a gift wrapped present:

Thanks Paula for all your inspiration and sharing your ideas. I certainly had fun catching an odd glimpse of your demo where I could.

Paula has her own website and blog. I urge you to check it out. It contains fabulous ideas, tutorials, punch charts in great detail and generally a great source of info.

I hear on the grapevine some more designs are due out in the New Year so I'm looking forward to seeing what Paula comes up with. Maybe I can persuade Paula to come back in the Spring and do another demo day - please Paula!!???


Anyhow, until next time....
Happy crafting.


- janicex