Good intentions

As per usual all good intentions to upload this on Wednesday or Thursday, but here we are it's Saturday! Still better late than never i suppose.

For all you fibre addicts out there I've already started to chose yarn for Autumn/Winter, the yarn companies seem to be really concentrating on quality fibres and unusual mixes. We're expecting some over the next fortnight, but the bulk of it won't be here until September as we have only seen a preview of it. An order to replenish basics from Sirdar has gone in, hopefully four-ply white, should be back in soon after the long delay which was entirely their fault because THEY couldn't get their hands on enough of it.

There have been some new additions to our A4 card and paper this week. At last the Adriondack Dabber Acrylic Paints from Ranger have come in.

Obviously this means that we're getting rid of the Americana Acrylic paints which are on a buy 2 get 1 free. All things being considered we hope to get the Dabbers in the lights and earth tones .

A stamp order has gone off as well this week which includes our Stamp of the Month for August. I'm afraid we're on the other side of July now which means...CHRISTMAS, so our S.O.M for August is a Christmas one. I'm in the middle of an order for more new stamps and papers etc but quick before i go, here's a pic of Tuesday's layout.

The background paper is created using peel-0ffs as a mask and the layout's embellished with a ribbon flower and title is made by decorating die-cut letters.

This time I've gone for a bright pink ribbon flower, the picture doesn't show exactly how bright it is though!

That's it for now, must go and get on with this order

xxx

Oh what a beautiful morning!

It has been a really good weekend and if I'm honest, I still need sleep.

We were very busy on Saturday, with lots of customers from far and wide many of whom have the scrapbook bug and will be back.

Great! More sales = More stock

Anyway, Saturday was also the day of our party and boy what a giggle, never mind that the weather wasn't great, it was a blast. I hope everyone who came had a good time too, I'm also hoping that the man (who shall remain anonymous), that banged his head hasn't suffered any long term affects.

My only complaint about the whole thing is that I now know I'm getting older because I couldn't cope with the noisy teenagers that had invaded my house in the morning. If I'd have had a shotgun you'd be reading about me in this mornings newspaper instead.

Tonight it's knit 'n' knatter and I'm hoping to complete the little baby cardigan I'm knitting for the shop. Once sewn up, I'll upload a pic for all to see, it's so dinky, I should have put one up of the last jumper I made, if I get a chance I'll do so next time.



Whilst I get a chance here is last weeks layout. I used the K & Co, Addison papers and Grand Adhesion's, they really compliment the photo of Du. You can't see the title very well in the picture, but it's quite clear in reality as is the glazed highlights on the darker paper on the right. The swirls are cut from a separate piece of the lighter paper and then stuck down with my A4 Xyron.

The card uses the same papers/adhesion's, but I've also used some Bazzil for the tags and some wire fro my naive spiral.

I'm hoping to have a bit of a finish some layouts day today. I managed to complete a few yesterday and would like to try and get a couple more done today.

An order has just arrived with A4 paper and card, I think I might pretend it hasn't and stick with my original plan.

xxx

It's Sunny!

No Really it is

Well considering I had every intention of updating this on Friday last, I'm not doing too bad.

It has been another mad week in the shop again.

There have been a few new items arrive in (just a few, honest). As time is of the essence now (I'm going out straight after closing), below are the two buckets of lovely pens that have arrived.

The Permapaque Fine Liners which are a fantastic scrapbook safe, permanent marker. Great for doodling, journaling and the odd bit of graffiti (lol).

As you can see choosing colours was a problem for me.

Then there are the Stardust Gelly Rolls which are back in in a rainbow of colours and need no introduction. If you haven't ever used one why? They are so cool.

I'm going to have to go but, will try and upload my layout/card from Tuesdays crop. I want to ad a little glaze to the layout first. Tuesday was a little quiet with some of our ladies on their hols and others (Tigger) feeling under the weather. I've just seen the lady herself and she does look a little peaky.

Time to go now or I'll get moaned at by stroppy kids.

xxx

Sun is Shining, Weather is Sweet

It's Tuesday and when asked must now refer to myself as 35, which I know is not old, really...... It's just that my parents are fixed at between 32-36 in my head, which makes it older than I'd like to be.

Enough of this depression, it's another beautiful day, in fact it's so sunny I was tempted to wear a bikini to work. Last nights Knit 'n' Knatter was a giggle. Carmel and Joyce arranged a cake for my birthday, complete with candles, which when I recounted the story to my daughter she replied, how did they fit 35 candles on it. Needless to say it was only three, which she found very amusing, but was apparently only concerned for my health on account of the amount of was that would puddle on the cake, had the correct number of candles been added. (aah, I am going to make a point of remembering her concern).

Actually, looking at this photo, I look about 15, so I'm not that bothered. Isn't it awful, I was caught completely off guard, in scruffy fleece and mad un-Kemp look. Please, tell me I don't look like this really. I wouldn't put it up under normal circumstances.

I didn't spend my whole evening candle blowing and gossiping, I actually managed to complete something and sew it up. Sounds good doesn't it, until you realise it was only a corsage, but I love it.

The picture just doesn't do it justice. I made it from one of the Rowan Learn 2 Knit kits. It was nice and easy and a little different. I think the technique would be great for Christmas tree decs or woolly spider legs for Halloween decorations.

I'm off to complete tonight's layout, it's all in my head so lets hope it comes together.

Oh my god, I'm 35!

Well it's a lovely hot, sunny day today, there isn't a cloud in the sky, everyone is smiling and happy to be alive ......................... not quite, it's actually completely miserable and it's my birthday (off to stomp feet loudly and break things).

Anyway, getting down to the job in hand.

Despite my best intentions, I just haven't got back to post and as usual loads has happened since I first posted. Yesterday was our first Scrapaholic meeting and it was really good (even if I do say so myself). The ribbon kit was received well and I think everyone enjoyed themselves, I know I did. This is my layout, I followed the Scrapaholic sample and added a few of my own touches

The layout below follows the same format but is created using the K&Co. Hannah Scrap Pad to Go, which I love (my customers must do to).

Tonight it's 'Knit 'n' Knatter' at the shop, which is where a group of us meet up to knit, crochet, sew, etc, whilst and this is the important bit, we natter, oh and drink tea, eat copious amounts of biscuit.

Before I forget, I've been asked to mention our 'stamp of the month'. Every month I pick one stamp and use it to make a variety of samples, which are on display in the shop. The stamp is then available with a 15 % discount for the rest of the month, whilst stocks last.

The first picture shows the boxes you can make with the stamp. The four sided one is in red & green for a Christmas feel, the 5 sided one is stamped and embossed in gold on cream card and then coloured using Twinkiling H2O's. The six sided box is stamped and embossed in black and white to give a contemporary effect.

The pink and black card is created by using the very outer ends of the stamp and layering them. The screen card is made from stamping four separate panels and then they are coloured using the Twinkiling H2O's again. Finally the last card was stamped onto vellum and embossed in white, the colour was then applied on the reverse and I mounted the finished panel onto white card before layering with jewel brads, onto lilac pearlescent and a cerise card blank.

This stamp is part of a set of 3, which includes a much smaller box stamp and a mandala, which can be used to make a box topper or independently for cards/decorations. If you buy the set of three you will receive a 20%

discount.

I think that will have to do for now, or else I'll get nothing else done.

xxxxxxxxx

Wednesday 27th May

So this is 'blogging', well hopefully no one will be injured in the making of this production, or be bored to tears.

Last night was 'crop' night in the shop, eight wonderful girlies/ladies came and we giggled away the two hours as per usual.

I was trying (that being the word), to demonstrate using Primary Elements on your layouts and cards. Primary elements are made by the same company that do the Twinkiling H2O's, LuminArte. They are a pure mica pigment in powder form, that you mix with one of three 'Simple Solutions', number 2, being the one for working on paper and plastic.

I spent all day making various fantasy effect background papers and then got completely absorbed in card making, nearly forgetting to complete a layout.

When I eventually did put together the layout, I found myself in the middle of a scrap block. My background paper has turned out so beautiful and the chipboard letters are so vibrant, that I felt it would be too much to add more. The girls seemed to think so too, although a treasure chest in the corner was suggested. I will try get round to taking a photo of it and a couple of the cards to upload tomorrow.

Today has consisted of a whirlwind trip to buy beautiful Irish produced yarn. The smell as you walk into the mill is awesome and evoked memories of my dad who would have been in his element. I went a bit wild and bought the yarn in 10 colours, one of which was out of stock and will arrive in a couple of weeks. I shall upload photos of all the scrummy hanks later, needless to say I have been drooling mentally over the projects I could make. However, no longer as optimistic of my time, I did the grown-up thing and bought a jumper to show how it looks when it's knitted up.

Will have to go now, before irate six year old gets worse, dog walking/quad biking calls.

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