You can't unscramble eggs...

I'm not really sure where I saw this... and I thought to myself, you know, how true is that!

What I mean is, if you do something wrong, or not to the result you wanted, you can't undo what's done, but you can carry on going forward and try again. Hoping to get it better next time.

This is how I look at my crafting. It's not always perfect.. in fact, to me, it's never perfect, but people seem to like what I do. I often wonder why, but I think like so many crafters out there, I'm never happy with what I make. I have this conversation regularly with other crafters. Now, whether it's just a case of a low self esteem, low confidence, or just genuine good old self doubt, it never ceases to amaze me how many people don't like what they produce.. and that they all feel like I do!

What I have found however, is that driving all over doing demo's can be quite therapeutic. Usually on my travels I listen to Radio 2, quite a few of my favourites on there, but after a while I do just want to sit in the peace and quiet. My drive over to Stockport the other week was no exception.

Nipping up and over the Peaks, I came across this beautiful view... well, I couldn't help but stop and take a quick snap of the scenery. I had set off early to ensure I got to my demo on time, so spending about five minutes looking at this was nice.  Doesn't it look beautiful?

I've also been busy making a few extra samples for the craft area at Ackworth Garden Centre. I do my Docrafts demo's there, but to help out, have made a few samples for other bits that aren't selling too well.... and how can these not sell? I lubs wellyfants and these little couple are no exception.

I've coloured the stamped images with pens and then used the fantastic Boofle papers and Papermania ribbons to finish off. I just love the simplicity of this card.... it was hard to let it go!

Here are a few more samples from this range too... quick details underneath to what I used.

This little guy uses the stamp which I have coloured with pencils, and I thought it would be perfect to team up with Wellington papers... they are so generic for male cards, I felt that they worked perfectly.

A little decoupage card here... simple embossed background on this card and a lovely lime green base to the layers.

Finally... LOVE this little guy... I reckon this little card could rekindle my love of decoupage.. I've kept the background really simple and used the fantastic Capsule spots and stripes collection in pastels (Docrafts).

Hope you like this little selection... more coming soon!

Pretty grunge...

Evening all.. 

A very quick post from me today as I'm a little late getting on the computer. I'm also really tired tonight - the day catching up with me I guess, well, that or the fact it's coming upto my B12 injection time again... 

Anyway, I thought I'd show you this little card. I've played around with some more feminine type of Chronology creations, and this is what I came up with at one of my demo's. 

I have showed how to create the little felt flowers and leaves on a Creativity Club video, so hopefully you are a member of the Creativity Club to see that - it's a fab place to be part of... ! Loads and loads of inspirational videos and some of the most awesome downloads you can dream of!

Anyway.. here's a couple of close ups of the card elements.

And here's the textured, distressed flower. I love making these.

I hope you liked todays post.

Have you used the Chronology range? Do you love felt and fabric? Show me your links and I'll pop around...

There's been some snappin' going on...

I had to giggle to myself today.. I've just returned from a FAB day demoing down in Derby (me loves that shop!) and naughty Cheryl took a photo of me. Cheryl and the rest of the staff are really lovely, so I don't really mind that they snapped me and the customers to put on their Facebook page.. I feel quite honoured really!

So.. here's the photo for you. Not quite sure what I was doing - who knows! But everyone seemed to really enjoy their day with me.

And this one below was taken at Grimsby Crafts last week, and I think I was just about to make a card box to go with a set of 4 inch cards. I saw the pic this evening whilst doing my blog hopping.. what a suprise it is to see yourself on a site! lol.

Next week I'm doing a demo up in County Durham, at the Lambton Garden Centre.. so if you're passing and would like to nip in and say HI.. it would be lovely to meet you.

Wedding bells..

Finally.. I managed to get onto the laptop to upload a project for you. I'm sorry for the lax amount of postings, but as you (probably) know, I've been having a few computer issues of late.. and this laptop just hates me feels like being temperamental most of the time!

But hey ho...

I really needed to get onto the computer tonight too.. more importantly so I could have a trudge through my 2011 blog posts and find one that I'd love to enter into the Top Tip Tuesday DT call.. and it needed to be done for tomorrow! Maybe I'll be lucky and be able to share my tutorials and videos with more lovely crafters. We'll have to just wait and see! I also needed to get on here to upload a project as I haven't managed it since Saturday!

The card today is one that I've created with the lovely John Byers stamps. I've teamed it up with the colours that I love and different textures to add a bit of luxury.

I've used die cut lettering to add the wording. I've cut two layers and stuck them together. You can see them in more detail here..

This was quite a popular card at my demo on Saturday. Oh yes... my demo! I was at the Range in Doncaster. And what a lovely set of folks came to say hello.. I really appreciate all the folks that come along, sit for a while and join in our play times.. it was all great fun, new faces and old, and I'd like to say THANK YOU  to each and every one of you who made it the perfect day! And the emails I received in my inbox were all very appreciated.

Well.. that's it for me.. I hope you check back tomorrow for another project that I've been creating for you.

Right on time...

Hopefully anyway!

I'm scheduling this post, mainly because I don't want to forget to post now that I've got this other laptop up and running.. but more importantly, because I'm working today and wanted this to post before I went.

Hopefully that made sense! Here's the glimpse of the card I showed you yesterday.

As you can see from the picture, I've used the other new range that Docrafts bought out in May.. the Tulip range of paper products by Andrea Jayne.. these are too cute!

I've stamped the image a couple of times, and cut out the sofa (or is it chaise longue?) again and layered them to give a bit of depth.

I kept the colours very soft so that they matched the papers.. finished with a few flowers stuck here and there, and voila!

Right.. must make a move now.. hopefully this publishes on time.. More tomorrow!

Tatty Teddy

I absolutely love this range of papercraft products... the Tatty Teddy range from Docrafts.

I have been out and about demonstrating them for the past few weeks, and they just fly off the shelf. He is obviously one very popular little bear! In fact.. to be honest, my older daughter has lots of these little bears, and his friends! Tomorrow, I'm up at the Range in Doncaster from 10 until 4, so if you're passing, why not come along and have a look at the samples I'm showing?

Today, I've got two cards to show you with some of the Tatty products that are on sale in Docrafts stockists. This one is the female version. 

I have used dusky pinks for matting and layering, and kept the design quite simple. I wanted a nice, clean finish to the card so used a couple of embossing folders for the background.

Here's the teddy in more detail

The teddy itself was just a topper from one of the paper packs and I cut him down into a circle and layered him onto a pink scallop circle.

This one if the male version -

This time, I've used the fab Kraft cardstock (love this stuff!) and matted and layered onto blue card to match teddy's nose. I stamped the image, then used a blender pen to pull out some of the grey. To keep the colours together throughout the card, I've then watercoloured some brown ink around.

There he is in a bit more detail. I think he looks lovely.. All the stamps and images are so clear, they are an absolute joy to use. I hope you're enjoying the products too.

Now, for a sneeky peeky of tomorrows project..

Until then... happy crafting!

A few things to share..

Obviously, if you've read my previous post, you'll know I can't mention who's these are.. or where I was when I demo'd them.. but here are a few of what I was doing - when I was doing what I was doing where I was doing it .. has this confused anyone? lol.

I hope you like them...... normal service will resume shortly! I've got these bl**dy nails on and they're a right sod to type with.. lol.My job tomorrow will be to shorten them a little. They are quite nice, but a little too long for me really.

So this is what I was upto today, and on the other days that I've been missing in action, I've been trying to sort this lot out -

This wasn't half of what was in my storage unit. It was absolutely chocca-blok, but 100 parcels have now been sent and these will go in January/Feb.. or even right through the year. lol. These are the boxes that have been donated for the Support our Soldiers charity I work for, and last week I got a lovely bluey from one of the troops thanking me for the boxes that were recieved.

It isn't just me .. it's everyone in my area and round abouts, Grimsby, Pontefract, Doncaster, Goole, loads of folk who have made this years Christmas appeal so fantastic!

So.. thats me for now. Loads of cards to show when I get chance. Don't forget my Wish List service if you're looking for some Stampin Up goodies.

I have this week, just got my first Downline too - a wonderful lady called Sheila who is just like a complete breath of fresh air!... We clicked straight away and she is now a fully fledged SU demo! We have some fantastical things planned.. so watch this space.

What can you do in two hours??

Alot of things most probably. lol.

Today, I've been down in Derby to the lovely Craft Central, and had an amazing day demoing for a group or two of lovely lovely ladies and the odd gent!

However, there had been an accident on the M1 and had closed it in both directions. Blimey.. I had to readjust the sat nav to bring me around a different way. So I came off at Junction 31 and it took an age to get me to my destination - well, around an hour and half extra than it should have!

On the way back, I thought it would have been back open again, and it wasn't until I was going down the slip road that I saw all the bloomin' traffic... still stood all along the motorway! All day it had been causing havoc.

Anyway, it took me around an hour or so to travel around 300 yards! I am eventually home - tired, thirsty, cold and hungry!!

The memories of a fantastic day were there to cheer me up though - I saw a TV star too! The lovely Tracy Coates of Create and Craft fame dropped by to see me, and we went for a coffee. The customers were amazing, and the staff - well, they are always amazing! Boy I love that shop!

Piccies tomorrow - they're all still on my camera. xx

Beside the seaside... beside the sea...

Well, not exactly, as I'm not sure whereabouts the Range at Southport is away from the seaside.. lol.. but I was nearby. I could hear seagulls, and smell the sea.. does that count?

Anyway, I'm not back to waffle on.. I'm here to eventually manage to upload some pictures. These have to go into my Photobucket account to be able to get uploaded! How Pathetic! Thanks everyone for the info you left after my post about blogger.. it was helpful!



This card was made using products available in the goody bag. I used the flocked papers (lovely to stroke!) and added buttons and blossoms to finish it off.

This next one was made using the new Papermania Decoupage sets. Now, anyone that knows me, knows I hate decoupage with avengeance! But these ones I managed to get cut out and stuck together prior to my demos, so people didn't get too bored watching.. or before I fell asleep!





For this card, I used the Jesse Edwards stamps. I couldn't demo these up at Southport because, as usual, they didn't have the stock. It's a bit disappointing up there really, because they don't tend to get the new stock in for the demo's, they arrive just after.. but hey..



This card was made using the papers from the Goody Bag. They are the lovely Jesse Edwards. I love these colours, they are vintagey and just my cup of tea! I love the navy in particular. The butterfly punch flew out (pardon the pun.. lol) and completely sold out at Doncaster, and nearly sold out at Southport.



Another thing from the new PM items I am loving, is the Glitteration stickers. They are scrumptious! They have gold, black and white/silver and the lovely thing about it them is the fact that the glitter doesn't come off.. I used them around the borders around the card, finished with coredinations card and dimensions stickers (goody bag items again.)



The chair on this card is cut and decoupaged from one sheet of paper. I finished it off with a couple of buttons and a little ribbon bow.

Right... I'm off to upload some more pics on here, and put some Stampin Up cards up onto my other blog (link at top of page!)

See ya later.. Happy Creating everyone.

so... what've I been upto?

Well... I'll tell you... I have just become a Stampin' Up demonstrator  -  YAY!

I have had the phone call and chat with a lovely lovely person - and got my demo number, placed my order for my kit and I'm just waiting for it to arrive so I can have a play!

So, if you'd like to have a workshop and earn some free goodies, just let me know.. have sat nav, will travel! I'm just in the process of sorting out a seperate bloggy or something for it, so my things don't get lost with all my other ramblings on here.. best keep them seperate me thinks!!

What else is new??

Well, LILI OF THE VALLEY have a show today over on Create and Craft at 11am, it's a live show so don't forget to tape it.. and I wish the lovely Lisa and Laila all the best for it - I'm sure Lisa said they were working with Nigel - he's such a doll.. love him to bits!! If you're really lucky - or unlucky! - you may just see a few of my cards on there.... the DT have been beavering away making a few samples for the show this week (hence the lack of posting on here.. lol) and I'll share my kaboodle with you when the show has finished. Can you wait that long? Of course you can.. !

I've also been making my projects as a designer for STAMPTIVITY and they got posted back at the beginning of the week - I'm still sorting them off the camera so I can crop them down a little, so will be able to show them to you too shortly. There will be step by step instructions too for them over on the website, I just need to finish getting them typed up and sent in..

Other than that, (!) I'm prepping for a demo tomorrow over in Norfolk - yikes! a 3 hour drive in the morning - so I'm a pretty busy bunny this week. I got my stuff from Craftime on Tuesday for this demo, so really need to get the samples knocked out and finished today. I will be at Bead This, Craft That in Dereham. What a lovely name for a shop don't you think?!

So, that's me all done.. I'm still blufing around the net, stopping by everyones blog in a hurry, so I've not had much time to post comments - I promise to be a better blogger this next week.. lol..

Till then, toodles.. xxx

Oh how lovely!

Hello everyone...

How are you all? Me, I'm good... I've got over my moan the other day - thanks for all your emails.. lol..

I am just here on a waffle again - I forgot to charge my camera battery, so photos later! - but this time it is a really good waffle..

Have you come across Zoe's blog? Wow... she makes some lovely cards. And she is also a really lovely person!! I have just handed over the Daisy and Dandelion blog to her to run. I really don't have the time at the moment to keep up with everything as it is, and am just about caught up with cards for companies -just another 12 to finish for Tuesday. I have just recieved first design kit for another company too, more on that later. Then I still have a few to make for a couple of digikit companies. Oh it's all go here you know! I would love then to be able to get stuck into doing some challenges for myself.

I am also now well over a hundred cards to send off to Marie Curie, made using lots of bits and pieces from my studio - not that you can tell anything has been used!!

Back to Zoe's blog - this is what she wrote the other day - isn't it lovely?? I am really humbled actually. As a demonstrator, you like to inspire people, but to have it in black and white is so nice.

"...We then had a ride to Donny for the Do Craft demo - these events need a serious health warning. I've been mad at it ever since I got home!

I met the ever so lovely Jo Austin, again, she is such a sweet heart! and a brilliant crafter. She has taught me a lot over the years - I'm normally pretty quiet at the demo's - well the last one I went to I came out of my shell a bit - but normally I just hide in the background.

Jo probally wont remember but at a previous demo she got me to do some stamping as I never liked it - the results were rubbish - but Jo took the time to show me how to stamp and how to blend - and now I love it! Its cost me a fortune but well worth it and I am ever so thankfull - hubby isnt - but hey you cant please everyone!

I've picked up lots of tips today, especially about blending on the edges of the cards - I love this effect but Jo's way is brill, so I will, well I HAVE used it already and will be using it again.But the best thing today was some storage for my clear stamps - I was well impressed and as soon as my feet came in the house I was scouting for bit n bobs to make one for myself - I knew if I didnt do it today then it wouldnt get done.

So I've made TWO!!! I'll take some pics in the morning as its so bad light tonight but I am chuffed to bits with them.So, who is the TV star I met - well it was Jo and she signed me one of cards cos she is going to be on create and craft in the next week or so, she is filming 2 shows on Monday and they will be aired soon after - its for the company that makes the Eazi score boards - so watch out for her!

How nice is that? Thank you so much Zoe.

Well, I'm off to see if my batteries have charged.. so may well see you later.

Oh Happy days!

Well.. I'm more or less recovered now from my 300+ mile driving expedition yesterday. I'm still tired!

I was up at Carlisle doing a demo, which was in fact quite quiet. It had been snowing overnight and although the weather was cold, and I mean like freezing brass knockers!!! - the roads were actually quite good.

Anyway, enough of chatter.. here are a few of the cards I made yesterday.

These cards are quite simple ones, because I had qutie a few young children come over to watch. Still... I did learn all about Sugarcraft - but that's a different story.

Lunch time was great too! Well .. sort of!

I was just about to think about my lunch, when I came to my table and found my Forever Friend teddy.. isn't she just the cutest?

Only kidding - - -

My friend Nikki and her hubby David decided they were coming down on a roadtrip from Scotland, just to see me.. lol.. They had never been to a Range before, so nearly a £100 later, we decided to find somewhere to take a quick lunch.

I asked a member of staff if there was a small restaraunt like in other Ranges, and was told no.. they only had a Burger Bar outside.. so lunch was a coffee, cheeseburgers, chips, and a right old giggle in the mobile dining room - aka their car! Oh the joys.. it was fun though... and it was lovely to catch up and have a giggle.

Here are a couple of other photos from the day. As you can see, Nikki made herself at home..

Quarter of an hour later, I returned to work and Nikki took a journey home.

Enjoy!

A luvverly buncha ladies!

Oh what a lovely day I've had today! I've been over in Hull at the Range, and I have had a very busy day! And what a lovely set of ladies I've had with me today.... including one particular (you know who you are!!) who likes walking around with rubber on her bum!! I really couldn't help but laugh at that one.. so funny!

Here are a few of the cards I took with me today. I still have to upload a few pictures and templates for the ladies, but that will have to wait until I have a little bit more time...

This bright card was made using the Forever Friends stamps. The scallops were cut with fancy scissors and the holes made with the cropodile. The background was stamped with clear pigment ink and chalked over.

This card is quite a simple little card, but uses one of my favourite stamps.. It's a stamp you can use for all sorts of occasions really, so I can see it being quite well used! I used Christmas papers with this one to make him into a Christmas Teddy!

I'll be back soon with some more cards and the templates when I get the chance..

Toodles!

Forever lovely!

The little forever friends are highly addictive you know! I was playing, as you know, with the Christmas and Celebration sets down at Papermill on Friday.

Here are some samples that I took with me. I hope you like them too.

This was using a little christmas stamp, stamped in white and outlined with white gel pen. Shadows were created with a white pencil.

This is a sheet of paper from the Celebration set, just cut and added to the card. The wording was stamped with the new PM clear stamps and then coloured and had Anita's tacky glue put over to add a shine. Dimensional stickers add a finishing touch.

A sticker was used on this card, along with a little bit of paper pleating. Simple!

I decided to give this stamp a sepia look. I coloured with brush markers and then used a blender pen to pull out some of the colour. Papers are Forever Friends by PM.

There's a little suprise in this one .. if you open it up, you get a bar of chocolate! A nice simple little package for that special person!

All girls together..

.. and didn't we have a great time!!

Thanks especially to the adorable Pat Taylor, my fellow Docrafts designer, (and with whom I had a right ol' gossip!) and also to Lyndsy Mason (sp?!) from Personal Impressions,(who makes the most unique cards - and cost me a small fortune in stamps!!) who have made today a right good old laugh!

Also big hugs and thanks to the ladies from Samuel Taylor, who made my day wonderful.

As you may guess, I have been working today in Leeds, doing a combined demo for Samuel Taylor 'Click on Crafts'. The day was really busy all day, and everyone who visited said they were greatly inspired. I was representing Lili of the Valley, and everyone really loved the unique products.. and how can you resist?? They are so cute!

I will upload some photos for everyone who visited me.. but that will be tomorrow..

For now.. goodnight, sleep tight!! I'm off to drink me horlicks!

A few cards from last weekend.

I thought I would just upload a few of my demo samples from last weekend - especially as a reminder for all the ladies who came down to see me.

Take care.. xx

ooooooooohhh I'm soooo tired!!

I'll update my blog sometime over this weekend, but not tonight because I am sooo tired. I just wanted to say that I have really enjoyed my day today down in Birmingham, Great Barr.. I was demoing and had a really lovely, fun set of customers all day.. Thank you all!

I know that some of you may be visiting, so I'll get all the cards uploaded and some step by steps too..

Speak soon everyone.. xxx

A couple more cards....

I am slowly getting ready for my demo on Sunday, and have been making a few more cards. I thought I would share these two.All products are Papermania, the ribbon is a bit of some I had laying about. The stamp is the New Papermania stamp, coloured with brush markers and layered.

I just love this card! With the assistance of my mate Nikki, I managed to make this bow fronted card... Quite liking this idea! I mounted a piece of acetate in the frame and added some of the lovely Forever Friends papers to the inside.

There are also a couple of my projects which have now been uploaded onto the Docrafts website.. they are here, and here.

Especially for the Newark Ladies.. A Tutorial.

Here you are - the step by step to your folded topper! I was going to do a video, but my video's on my phone are MP4, so don't upload to youtube. So.. sorry but pics it is!

Start off with your paper pattern side up.

Fold this piece of paper into a triangle, open up, fold the other way into a triangle to create a cross in the middle of the paper.

these are the folds shown - and the large cross in the centre to mark where the lines cross.

On all four edges of the paper, bring into the middle to create a gatefold. Use the cross in the centre to fold into.

Bring all four corners into the centre of the marked cross, and crease across.

Bring in the top edge to the centre cross. Push out the corner and fold in the next edge.

Repeat with sides two and three.
When you have finished pulling the sides in and corners out, you create a windmill type of thing!

Put your finger in each of the pointy out bits and flatten out onto the top of your square. Repeat in all four corners.

This is what it looks like when all four corners have been flattened out.
Fold each corner section back onto itself to point to the outside.

The last thing you need to do is to fold the four sections which are pointing to the inside, back on themselves to open up the middle.

Now, if you've folded it correctly, this is what you should end up with!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!