Instructions for using our Universal Magnetic Mats With The Big Shot

Heres the sandwich you will need to use our aperture mats with your Big Shot machine.

Big Shot Multi-purpose platform with both tabs.

4 A4 sheets of cardstock folded in half.

An A5 or A6 greetings card blank

An A5 or A6 Universal Magnetic Aperture Mat.

Nestabilities die of your choice

Big Shot Cutting Mat

Big Shot Apurture Sandwich from bottom up.

Start with your multi-purpose platform with both tabs over the top of it.

Now stack your four sheets of folded A4 cardstock on top of the multi purpose platform (this will be your shim)

Next place your nestabilitie die (cutting edge up) onto the magnetic aperture mat and slide this in between your greetings card blank and place this on top of your shim.

Finish by placing the Big Shot Cutting Mat on top of your sandwich and it is all now ready to go through your Big Shot Machine.

And Voila you have made your own aperture card.

Instructions for using our Universal Magnetic Mats With The Cuttlebug

Here are the instructions for using our aperture mats in your Cuttlebug.

For the Cuttlebug sandwich you will need.

Cuttlebug A plate.
2 peices of A4 card folded in half (this will act as your shim)
A5 or A6 greeting card blank.
Universal Magnetic Aperture Mat ( A5 or A6)
Nestabilities Die of your choice.
2 Cuttlebug B plates.

Starting at the bottom of the sandwich first place your Cuttlebug A plate.
Now place the two folded peices of A4 card on top of the Cuttlebug A plate.
Place your Magnetic Aperture Mat inside the greeting card blank and then place the nestabilities Die (cutting edge upwards) onto the magnetic Aperture Mat (BLACK SIDE ) where you want the aperture to be. Once you have done this place your card with the aperture mat on top of the two peices of A4 card.
Now place your two Cuttlebug B plates on top of your greeting card blank and your sandwich is complete.
Run your sandwich through your Cuttlebug and you will have the perfect aperture card with hardly any or no mark on the back.

Smiles, Robert Gordon and Harry.

Sorry for the long gap in blogging folks.

Yep im really sorry for not blogging for ages but it has been a hectic time here what with weddings, funerals, stock taking, papercraft show season and going on the telly and all the stuff life chucks at you now and again to keep you on your toes we just havnt had a minute but we love it that way.

I thought i would throw on a couple of pics to let you catch up so here goes.

Here are some of the girls who come and play at the ATC club we hold on the last friday of the month. The club is free and you just bring all your own things with you and learn and share new ideas and techniques from each other and make new friends too.The next club get together is Friday 27th November and starts at 12.00 in the afternoon and finishes around 4.00ish. So if you would like to come along and have some fun and make some great friends you are more than welcome, OH and we also keep you supplied with tea coffee and biscuits throughout the afternoon too.

That same evening we went and called at my brother and sister in laws house to see how married life was treating them and they were having a halloween eve party (or were they haha). As you can see i never needed a costume i always look scarey.

That weekend was spent trying to get as many samples as possible ready for Ideal World on Monday 2nd November and can i just say another thank you to our design team girls who were just fab with getting as much done as they could in such a short time Di,Jean,Pauline,Sandra and Julie you are little stars and we love you Thank You All So Much.

After the TV it was time to get ready for the NEC and Thank you to everyone who came and bought from us we really do appreciate your support and were'nt Julies demonstrations fabulous. Harry and i looked after the shop while Gordon and the girls were at the NEC and we had a stock take and good clean up while we could.

Wednesday saw another one of my 3 dimensional nestabilities frame workshops and i dont think we stopped laughing all day i really enjoyed it girls and i must say you really all did so well and once you had got the first frames done there really was no stopping you all, even though four of you hadnt used wizards and cuttlebugs before and the frames you all made were stunning.

Today i have been experimenting with a new caught in crystal technique ive devised that isnt messy at all and looks fantastic i think better than the original method.

Heres a few pics but im afraid because of the glitzy quality of them the camera doesnt do them justice.

I call this caught in crystal technique the Klimpt Method because you work in triangles and other geometric shapes to build your layers up.

ordinary stamped image on right and Klimpt Method on left. It really does sparkle beautifully in real life.

Ordinary Stamped image on left and Klimpt Method image on the right It almost looks like stained glass.

And finally my newest rubber stamp design watercoloured on the left and Klimpt Method on the right.

Please tell me what you think of them and i will put others up as i make them and keep experimenting.

Smiles Robert Gordon and Harry

Classes For September and October

Here is a list of workshops available for September and October.
We have had to fit them in between shows so there wont be as many as usual.
Every workshop costs £15 which includes everything for you to use to make your items,expert tuition and refreshments.The workshops usually last for three hours and we dont have more than six people on them as that way everyone can learn at their own pace and have plenty of space to work.
OK so here goes.

Wednesday 12th Sept.......11.00am - 2.00pm

NESTABILITIES FRAME WORKSHOP

Tutor ------ Robert

Time ---- 11.00am - 2.00pm

Cost ---- £15.00

Come and learn how to make the most of your nesties
We will be making three dimensional frames using a variety of Nestabilities Shapes.
Robert will show you how to use your not so favorite papers with inks etc and turn them into fabulous base papers for your projects.You will also learn how to make a frame with a window that opens and closes with no glueing or sticking.
This is the third frame workshop Robert has done and will probably fill up quick.

WORKSHOP FULLY BOOKED

Saturday 19th September

ALCOHOL INKS TECHNIQUES & TIPS

Tutor ----- Di

Time ---- 11.00am - 2.00pm

Cost ---- £15.00

Come and have a three hour workshop using Alcohol inks for some amazing techniques with Di.
If you have never used these inks before or just cant seem to get the look you want with them then this is the class for you.
Di will show you the basic steps and then will take you on an amazing artful journey using a myriad of different surfaces.
You will take home some wonderful things that you will make plus Di's knowledge.

WORKSHOP FULLY BOOKED

Saturday 26th September

Mixed Media Pendants

Tutor ----- Jean

Time ----- 11.00am - 2.00pm.

Cost ----- £15.00

This is going to be a fantastic workshop where you wil be making some stunning jewellry peices using inks,papers,embossing powders,friendly plastic,rubber stamps and much more to make wonderful peices of art that you can actually wear.
The pendants come in all shapes and sizes and you will be making at least three. (neck chains not included)

THREE SPACES LEFT

Saturday 3rd October

NESTABILITIES FRAME WORKSHOP

Tutor ----- Robert

Time ---- 11.00am - 2.00pm

Cost ----- £15.00

Come and learn how to make the most of your Nesties.
We will be making three dimensional frames using a variety of Nestabilities shapes.
Robert will show you how to take your not so favorite patterened papers and transform them into fabulous base papers for your projects. You will also learn how to make a frame with a window that opens and closes without glueing or sticking.
These classes are booked very quickly and will be on going.

WORKSHOP FULLY BOOKED

Sunday 11th October

BEADED CHRISTMAS BAUBLE WORKSHOP

Tutor ------ Linda

Time ----- 1o.30am - 1.30pm

Cost £15.00

Another amazing beading class with Linda and this time you will be making a gorgeous Christmas beaded bauble.
Whether you are a beginner and never beaded before or love beading this class is for everybody and you will go home with a finished product ready to make more in time for Christmas.
This workshop is filling fast so please book now as Linda only takes ten pupils a class.

FIVE SPACES LEFT

Saturday 24th October

FOUR FOLD CHRISTMAS CARDS

Tutor ---- Jean

Time ---- 11.00am - 2.00pm

Cost ---- £15.00

When Jean did her first Four Fold class here people were amazed at what they had made and how beautiful their cards were.
These cards are three dimensional and have four openings with a surprise in each one they really do have the WOW factor.
I have seen some of the cards that Jean has made for this workshop and they are all just beautiful.
So if you want to make something totally different for Christmas this year then book this class and be enthralled.

THREE SPACES LEFT.

So thats the schedule for now and if we do have a few spaces left in our diary we will try and fit some more classes in and will let you all know.
Smiles Robert.

Next Beading Class in October

The next Beading class will be on Sunday October 11th as Linda will be cruising around the mediteranean giving bead classes to passengers (how fabulous).

She will be back with a gorgeous tan ready to show you how to make another of her wonderful beaded Christmas baubles.

Everyone enjoyed the last bauble class so much they wanted to learn how to make another so here is a pic of the little stunner you willbe making.

The class costs £15.00 and that includes everything you will need to make this item plus tea coffee and the famous chocky biscuits.

The class will start at 10.30 am and finish around 2.00.

Linda brings a variety of beads and findings with her which you can purchase that day even if you dont do the class.

At the moment there are six places left and it looks like it will be full very quickly so either phone or come to the shop to book your place.

More class dates tomorrow.

And The Winners Are ????

Hello Everyone

Today is the day to find out who has won the competition prizes for our Nestabilities draw.

The first people to come into the shop today was Abbey from Doncaster, with her mom and dad .

We asked Abbey if she would draw the lucky names out of the hat so here we go folks.

Heres Abbey ready to draw the winner of the First Prize from the lucky box.

And the winner of that prize which is all 17 new nestabilities dies and their money returned is

DIANE TAYLOR You won first prize.

The second prize of £100 credit to spend at our on-line shop go's to

VERONICA BETTS you just won second prize

And the third prize of £50 to spend at our on line shop is going to

HANNE BOVE you got third prize.

Well done to our lucky winners and thanks to everyone who joined in.

Gordon will e.mail all three of you on Monday and sort all your prizes out.

Please leave us a message on the blog if you can as it would be great to hear from you and to know how you are feeling about winning.

Smiles from Rob Gordon and Harry.

A Hectic 5 Days but we are enjoying it.

Hello Everyone.

Well what a mad 5 days its been here at the shop.

It took us until Thursday to get all of the
pre ordered nestabilities out and we worked until 9.00 pm each night to make sure you would get them in good time.

We would like to thank you "all of our customers" for your loyalty to us and for telling all of your friends about us too it really makes us feel as though we are doing a good job.

Here is a picture of Harry guarding the last boxes filled with pre orders that were posted out to you on Thursday.If you had seen the ammount of boxes all over the workshop area on Tuesday you would not have believed it, it really was amazing.

Friday was the first day for the UK launch of the JUSTRITE stamping system in the shop and it was a huge sucess as was today and hopefully tomorrow too.

Everyone who comes can see the whole range and we have an area where you can try them out for yourseves before you buy them and people have really enjoyed that.

I will post a picture or two later in the week to show you a few of the things we have made so far.

The stamps are so wonderful to use with your nestabilities and really give a professional look to your cards and scrapbook pages.

Heres a pic of just a few of the stamp sets we have at the shop and we have more sets to come yet too.

Right im off to bed now so i am ready for the last day of the JUSTRITE Launch tomorrow.

If you would like to come along and try the stamps out yourselves tomorrow we are open from 10.00am until 4.00pm and look forward to seeing you.

Smiles Robert Gordon and Harry.

NEW PRE ORDER DIES NOW IN STOCK !

Once again we are proud to announce that we are the first company in the UK to have the latest Spellbinders dies in stock. Take a look at the new Labels dies nos 5-9 or the new Christmas designs. Whatever you choose im sure you will agree these dies just keep getting better all the time. Five years ago ,Once Upon a Stamp brought Spellbinders dies and the Wizard system to the UK , we are now celebrating our unique relationship with Spellbinders and we look forward to the next five years as the UKs leading supplier of all Spellbinders products.

UK LAUNCH OF JUST RITE STAMPS at ONCE UPON A STAMP

Dates for your diary ...FRIDAY / SATURDAY /SUNDAY ...21st - 23rd August
They have arrived at last and we are finally proud to announce the UK launch of the wonderful new JUST RITE STAMP system....The Nestability Stamps !
This stamping system is like nothing you have seen before . The unique design of the click on , click off handles is so simple and versatile to use . They come many different sizes in Circles , Ovals and Rectangles. To go with the handles there are dozens of unique sets of stamps again in different sizes to fit the handles . You can choose from box sets of centres and borders to create wonderful designs. Choose one of the great Alphabet box sets to create your own words and phrases , vertically , horizontally , in crcles , ovals or rectangles. The alphabets are universal and fit all of the handlles.
Come along to our new shop on any of the above dates and try these out for yourself. We will have the full range on display and Robert will be on hand for helpful and friendly advice. These will then be available via our web site during the following week !
Smiles , Gordon.

DEADLINE for Competition is today

Hi everybody.
Just to let everyone know that today is your last chance to enter our fab Nestabilities Prize Draw competition.
Absolutely loads of you have already entered by pre ordering any four of the new dies for £60.
This automatically gets your name put in for the big prize draw on 29th of this month which will be drawn at the shop by one of our customers who just happens to be shopping here at that time which should be fun.
First prize is ...... All 17 sets of the nrw nestabilities dies with your money returned.
Second Prize is ...... £100 cradit to spend on our internet shop.
Third Prize is ........ £50 credit to spend on our internet shop.
The competition will close at 12.00 midnight tonight so if you want to be in with a chance of one of these prizes please place your orders for any four new nestabilities dies for £60 in today.
Good luck to all who enter.
Smiles Rob Gordon and Harry.

Come and make a Beaded Christmas Bauble on Sunday.

Next Sunday Linda has a little something to BLING up your Christmas tree, one of her stunning beaded baubles.

Here are a few pics of what you will be making and im sorry but these were the best photo,s i could take as they are very very shiny because of the glass and crystal beads.

Here are two full size pics of the beaded bauble you will be making and below is a close up.

The Class is this Sunday 16th August and there are still some spaces up for grabs so either pop into the shop or phone us to reserve your space.

The cost is £15 and includes everything you need to make your bauble plus Lindas tuition and tea coffee and chocky buscuits.

It really is fabulous fun and you wont beleive that you could make something so gorgeous in a few hours.

The class starts at 10.30am and finishes at around 1.30 pm.

Dont forget Linda will also be selling beads as well to anyone who comes to the shop on Sunday even if you arent doing the class.

Look forward to seeing you.

Robert Gordon and Harry

Yesterdays Bead Class

Heres some pics of the girls making their coral stitched bracelets at Lindas besd class at the shop yesterday.

Catherine and Katherine almost finished. This was Katherines first time at the class and she was amazed that she had made something so beautiful in three hours.

Karen used matte beads and they looked stunning.

And finally heres Rachel and Bev almost finished with Linda keeping a watchful eye.

The girls all had a great time again and went home with some beautiful bracelets and can now make some more for presents or to sell.

Linda and her husband Ian also bring along lots and lots of beads and instruction sheets for anyone to buy and here are a few pics to give you an idea of what is on offer.

You can buy your beads from Linda any Sunday she is here doing a class and you dont have to do the class to buy them. Linda is here between 10.30am and 2.30pm when doing classes.

This Sunday you Could Be making This Beauty

I know i should have put this up last week but everything went wrong.

The Builders came so i couldnt get to the shop and my internet server was down at home.

We also went on a little break to Norfolk with Harry in the caravan and we couldnt get an internet signal there either so i am doing it n0w.

For Lindas beading class this Sunday you will be making a Coraled stitched Bracelet and heres a picture to get your taste buds going.

You have to admit this looks stunning and we still have some places left for Sundays class so why not come along.

The class starts at 10.30 am and costs £15.00 this includes all you need to make the bracelet, Lindas fantastic tuition, tea, coffee and chocky buscuits and lots of laughs along the way.

Linda also brings along all her beautiful beads and beading accessories for you to buy even if you dont do the class you are welcome to buy them and her prices are really wonderful.

A Birthday card for Di

Heres my card for Di,s Birthday next Friday.

Ive used Nestabilities,borderabilities,K&C0 papers,distress inks,Crackle paint,rubber stamps,Friendly plastic and flat back gems.

I also made her a little envelope frame book using the large and small square sets.

She can put a piccy of each of her cats in it and carry it in her handbag.

Smiles Rob

Todays Bead Class

There were only four of the girls here today as the others were on their holidays.

Today the girls made a necklace and ear rings to go with the bracelet they made last week

A great time was had by all and here are some pics of the class.

Everyone was concentrating and the room was so quiet.

But there was still time to chat laugh and drink loads of tea and coffee and nibble chocky biscuits.

I forgot my camera today so had to use a phone cam and thank Diane for letting me take a photo of the next class project which i will put up tomorrow.

The girls have all signed up for the next class which is on Sunday 9th August at 10.30 am and there are seven spaces left so book early.

Cost is £15 which includes everything you need to create your bracelet, expert tuition, tea coffee and biscuits and an absolutely wonderful time.

Smiles Rob

I will put a photo up tomorrow of the beautiful bracelet that you will be making that day.

Smiles Rob

Last Sundays Beading Class

Thought i would put some pics up to show you what the girls made on Lindas beading class at the shop last Sunday.

Remember none of the girls had ever beaded before and they were stunned at what they acheived so just look at these pics.

The girls half way through their class having a well earned cuppa and chocky biscuits.

After tea break it was back to beading and with Lindas expertise here are some of the bracelets the girls made in 3 hours.

Absolutely fantastic for first time beaders.

Thank you so much Linda for bringing your wonderful beading skills to Once Upon A Stamp we love having you with us.

Linda is going to do another beading workshop this Sunday and there are a few places left if you are interested.

The cost is £15.oo and starts at 10.30 am and that includes all you will need to finish your project tea or coffee and of coarse Chocky Biscuits.

Remember even if you are not on the beading workshop you can still come and buy Lindas Beads and beading Kits while she is here on Sundays.

Final Sneak Preview Die and Competition Rules

And the final Die is.

Nesting Pumpkins.

This die comes with 5 nested shapes for you to use for Autumnal and Halloween papercrafting projects.

So thats it all the dies are up and you can now decide which ones you would like and start pre ordering now for mid August delivery.

Order any four of the new dies for £60 and you will automatically receive one free entry into our competition draw which will take place in the shop on the 29th of August 2009.

First Prize ... All 17 new dies for FREE and your money returned.

Second Prize ... £100 credit to spend at our web shop.

Third Prize ... £50 credit to spend at our web shop.

The DEADLINE for competition entries is Saturday the 15th of August 2009.

All pre orders placed before that datewill be entered into the draw and remember you must purchase four new dies together at thee same time to qualify for the competition draw.

If you order eight new dies you will receive two entries into the draw.

Good luck to everyone who enters .

Smiles Rob Gordon and Harry

Sneak Preview Dies Day 12

Two Christmas dies for you to look at today

The first is called Holiday Cheer

The second is called Holiday Lights Border Grand

These are going to be great for Christmas cards and Seasonal scrapbook layouts and yet another two that i may just need to have.

smiles Rob.

If you would like to see how you can enter our competition to win all 17 dies for FREE just go and look at how to enter on the first sneak preview entry on the blog.

Sneak Preview Dies Day 11

Another Fantastic Die for you today and it is

Poinsettia Frameabilities.

As you can see it comes with a large frame a small frame and two accents.

This is going to be great for Christmas cards scrapbooking lay outs and other Festive paper crafting.

Please go to day one of the new dies to enter our great competition and see how you can win all 17 new dies for FREE. Also a fantastic second and third prize up for grabs too.

Smiles Rob.

Sneak Preivew Dies Day 10

Another gorgeous Labels die today.

Heres Labels 6

I really love the shape of this one too and just have to have it .

Dont forget to go to day one post for the new dies to see how you can win all 17 new dies FREE.

Smiles Rob

Sneak Preview Dies Day 9

Todays die is probably my favorite so far

It is Labels 9

I just love the shape of this little beauty it is very Elizabethan and i can see lots of possibilities for this.

Please dont forget to look at the sneak preview day one post to see how you can enter our competition to win all 17 new dies for Free and a great 2nd and 3rd prize too.

2 places left for Sundays Beading Class

Just to let you know that due to two ladies being ill we now have 2 places left for Lindas Beading class on Sunday morning at the shop.

Myself ,Jean and Di have all been attending Lindas classes in Chesterfield on a Thursdays for 7 weeks now and look what i have acheived in that time,

None of us had ever done anything like this before and we are all amazed that we are making such gorgeous things. Guess what all my girlfriends sisters and neices are getting for Christmas presents this year.

Linda is a fantastic teacher and works on the cruise liners teaching her bead designs for 6 months of the year, so we are really happy to be having her working with us, and she loves to share her knowledge of beading with you. Her style of teaching is laid back and she has so much patience she can even cope with Di haha.

So if you feel that this is the class you were looking for give us a ring at the shop tomorrow to book your place or pop in. But once you start you will be hooked and waiting for the next class.

Linda will be happy to sell her beading wares to you even if you just pop into the shop on Sunday and i must say her prices are very very good.

Class starts at 10.30 am and costs £15. This will include all you will need to complete your project and refreshments including chocky bickies.

Smiles Rob.

Sneak Preview Dies Day Eight

Two Dies for you today and both with a winter and Christmas theme.

First one is the Create A Flake die which comes with 5 different peices and gives you the fun of creating different snowflake designs.
I cant wait to use this and it will work so well with the next die which is

Snowfakes Borderabilities Petite.

Two stunning borders to create wonderful Christmas cards and winter themed projects.

Dont forget to check out our great competition to win all 17 new dies.

Just go to the first days entry for the dies to read the details.

Smiles Rob

Sneak Preview |Dies Day 7

Only one die today but it is a biggy.

Here is the Poinsettia Borderabilities Grand which is 12 inches in lengh.

Great for scrapbooking pages and dont forget you can cut it to the size of your cards as well so a good all rounder.

Dont forget to go to the day one entry to read about our fabbo competition where you can learn how to win all 17 dies for FREE.

Smiles Rob

Sneak Preview Dies Day 7

Two more Items today for you to drool over and they are.

Labels 7

Another lovely Nestabilities Die ideal for making windows and little mini books as well as the usual things we use our nesties for.

This die consists of six nested parts.

The second item is the Impressabilities Circle Cut

This will make some fabulous embossed backgrounds for your papercrafting projects and i love the pattern.

Dont forget to check the first days post for the new dies to see how to enter our great competition where you can win all 17 new dies and other prizes too.

Sneak Preview Dies Day 6

Two more dies for you today and they are fab.

First up is a set of two Harvest Borderabilities featuring ornamental borders,one with leaves and one with pumpkins. These will be great for seasonal and Halloween projects.

The second die is a Nesting Maple Leaf which comes with three different sized nested shapes.

Again these will be great for seasonal; cards and scrapbook lay outs as you can colour them to match the season, also good for woodland and camping trip scrapbook layouts.

Please dont forget that you can win all 17 dies in our fabbo competition which you can read about on the first days entry for the new dies.

Smiles Rob.