I know I’ve been MIA recently but it has been a very busy time – I was preparing for my first Stampin’ Up party which took place on Friday night. I had a fab time with a lovely bunch of ladies, and my first few hours away from Grace flew by. (Daddy was on childminding duty, his first evening alone with Grace, and I’m pleased to say I came home and all was ok!)

I designed the party around the Flight of the Butterfly set as this is one of my personal favourites and I know lots of ladies love butterfly images.

I demonstrated a simple thank you card to highlight the 2 step stamping technique and the fab tool that is the Stamp-a-ma-jig which for a bit of a perfectionist like me allows me to line up the images perfectly. I stamped the background of the butterfly in Pretty In Pink and the pattern was stamped over the top in Melon Mambo.

I also showed them how to make this cute Bag in a Box, which got a few ooohs and aaahhs from the ladies. I used Melon Mambo and white as the colour combo, matching up Designer paper from the Brights stack with the Melon Mambo cardstock and finished it with some gorgeous satin ribbon.

It’s such a cute idea and whilst I made a set of 6 cards to go in it and gave it to my fabulous hostess, Stephanie, you could put all sorts of treats in it.

Next was a treat pouch which they all had a go at making. This is a simple nappy fold pouch made from a 6×6 square of Designer Paper. The topper was created with some simple punching and the tag was a genius idea stolen from a top demonstrator Monica, using the word window punch to create a tie and label, finished off with a gorgeous Rhinestone brad.

It was such a fun evening, they all seemed to enjoy getting creative, both crafters and those who had never done it before.

If you want to get your friends together and get creative then let me know, I’ll supply the ideas and all the tools, all you need is a few friends to have fun with (oh and maybe a bottle of wine or two?! – though it’s not a necessity!) and to contact me.

Thanks for looking,