Tuesday 31 May 2011

Fab news and some silliness!!!!!!!


Hiya Everyone,

I have some really fab news - I have just been asked by Jak Heath to join the La Pashe design team. I said yes straight away although I won't be able to do anything for a few weeks till I finish moving house but still....so exciting!!!

Anyhoo, I promised you some silliness so I thought I'd share a list of complaints made by Thomas Cook customers which a crafty friend recently shared with me. It made me giggle!!!

1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."

2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time - this should be banned

3. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food at all."

4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels."

5. A tourist at a top African game lodge over looking a water hole, who spotted a visibly aroused elephant, complained that the sight of this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel "inadequate".

6. A woman threatened to call police after claiming that she'd been locked in by staff. When in fact, she had mistaken the "do not disturb" sign on the back of the door as a warning to remain in the room..

7. "The beach was too sandy."

8. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white."

9. A guest at a Novotel in Australia complained his soup was too thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the time.

10. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women."

11. "We bought' Ray-Ban' sunglasses for five Euros from a street trader, only to find out they were fake."


12. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled."

13. "There was no egg slicer in the apartment..."

14.”We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish..."

15. "The roads were uneven.”

16. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England it only took the Americans three hours to get home."

17. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our friends' three-bedroom apartment and ours was significantly smaller."

18. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the accommodation’. We’re trainee hairdressers - will we be OK staying there?"

19. "There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad'"

20. "We had to queue outside with no air conditioning."

21. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."

22. "I was bitten by a mosquito - no-one said they could bite."

23. "My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Monday 30 May 2011

Cardmaker of the year competition 2011

Hiya Everyone,

It's almost that time of year when Cardmaking and Papercraft and Quick Cards Made Easy magazines runs their annual Cardmaker of the Year competition. For any of you that don't know, I was the lucky winner for 2010. I was so shocked when I found out that I had won. I very nearly didn't enter as I was pregnant at the time and I didn't have much energy. Once I started making cards I couldn't stop - I only stopped when I ran out of time Lol. I just thought I'd share my winning cards with you all to hopefully inspire some of you out there to enter. There are some fabulous prizes up for grabs - I won over £700 worth of goodies. So much has happened to me since I won last year. I am now on Joanna Sheen and Crafters Companion design teams, I run regular workshops for the Windmill Craft Centre and have featured regularly in Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine ever since. It really has changed my life as I never would have dreamed I would end up crafting on a part time basis. To craft for a living is what I would love to do and I'm definately heading in the right direction.

I came 1st in the Pink Petticoat category - I used one of their freebie kits for this one called "Life's lemons". For more details of this card go to here.





I also came 1st in the La Pashe category. I used one of their Remember when....? decoupage sheets that I made into a faux book that was more of a keepsake card. For more details of this card go to here.




I came 2nd in the Joanna Sheen category. I used a house mouse stamp sheet called icecream. For more detail of this card go to here.




And I also came 2nd in the Cosmo Cricket category. For more details of this card go to here.


The next issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft will be out on 7th June and I think it should be advertised in there. If not in will be the early July one. I will see if I can find out. For anybody who isn't aware of the competition there are loads of different categories and you make cards for the categories using their products ie. use sizzix products for the sizzix category etc. There is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize per category and the winner of the most categories wins the overall Cardmaker of the Year title.

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Sunday 29 May 2011

Crafters Companion DT cards

Hiya everyone,


These are a few cards I made several weeks ago for Crafters Companion using the everyday CD rom and stamps set. They are quite classic images so I decided to do a more traditional type of card. The first is a decoupage sheet that I printed off the CD with some pastel blue centura pearl card and silver mirri card.


The second is a card I made with the matching stamp sheet which I stamped out 3 times and layered onto pastel pink centura pearl cards and then onto embossed silver mirri card. The flowers were coloured in with my promarkers.


The sentiments for both I did on the computer.

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Moving house - Updated!!!


Hiya everyone,

As you may know from my previous posts that I'm in the middle of moving house. We completed on Wednesday so we have been working really hard for the last few days to get my new craft room decorated. It's almost ready but I still need to get my desk and storage moved to the new house so I can't put anything away yet. It is looking amazing - I am so lucky! I can't wait to share piccies of it with you when it meets my high standards Lol!

I haven't got a card to share with you today as I just wanted to let you all know that I'm still in the land of the living and I'll be back blogging soon. The new house doesn't have internet access yet so it's just a quick post as I'm back at the old house tonight. More packing up more stuff in the morning and decorating again when my hubby drops me back off at the new house. We have taken Tayla to her Nannas so that we can spend the next 2 days over the bank holiday weekend getting a lot more done without her. I miss her like mad already but it makes sense as we want to paint the playroom and strip the wallpaper off our bedroom. I'm absolutely knackered but it'll be worth it in the end. We never had a playroom in the old house as we just didn't have the room so it'll be great to have a space just for Tayla.

I have added a gorgeous piccie of my baby girl who is almost 6 months old! - How time flies!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Tonight's the night!!!!


Hiya Everyone,

Tonight is what you've all been waiting for - Humphrey Corner is being launched on Ideal World at 9pm and is the pick of the day. As part of the run-up to the launch all the Crafters Companion DT were asked to make a step-by-step project so I decided to make a pretty gift bag with matching notecards and envelopes.

To complete this project you will need:-

Humphrey's Corner allsorts CD rom
Crafters Companion ultimate pro and boxer boards
Centura pearl card pastels (I used the lilac)
Collall 3D glue gel
Extra strong glue roller or strong wet glue
Silver mirri card
Ribbon
Normal hole punch
Detail scissors

Print off the Humprey with ballons decoupage sheet onto a full sheet of quality white A4 paper.
Cut out all the parts of the decoupage.
Assemble the decoupage with 3D collall glue gel.
Mount onto centura pearl lilac card and then onto silver mirri card.

Make a gift bag by using two sheets of lilac Centura Pearl card.

Cut two rectangles that are each 17cm x 20.5cm. Score lines at 1.5cm and 4.5cm using the Boxer board on the longer length and then 17.5cm along the shorter length. Always score on the pearlescent side first and then repeat on the plain side. This ensures the pearl side will not crack when it is folded.



Cut away the parts marked on the template above and it should look like the photo below. Do this to both parts.


Find the centre of the box at the top and then use a normal hole punch to make two holes in it. Make up gift bag using extra strong glue rollers or wet glue. Add a strip of ribbon round the centre of the bag then attach the Humphrey topper to the centre of the bag. Attach 2 pieces of ribbon through the holes for handles. Secure with knots to the inside of the bag.


Print off 3 sheets of lilac balloon paper and use this to line the inside of 6 lilac envelopes. (Sounds stupid but make sure the balloons will be the right way up in the envelope as I first did this with them upside down! Lol



By using the CD images in paint copy the image of the Humprey not holding the balloons and then paste into a word document. Resize this image to 3cm and the copy this so you have 6 identical images. Cut these out and stick to the outer flap on the envelope.


Print off 6 lilac notecards onto thin white card. 2 per A4 sheet. Cut these out and trim off the white edges so they are all the same size.


You should now have a pretty gift bag, 6 notecards and 6 matching envelopes that fit inside the gift bag so it would make a lovely gift.


Thanks for looking - If you like this tutorial please leave a comment and I may do others in the future!!!

Paula. x

Monday 23 May 2011

Only one more sleep till the Humphrey launch!!!


Hiya Everyone,

Most of my craft stuff is now at the new house piled up in one of the spare bedrooms. I'm hoping to paint my craft room in a few days (once we have competed) and then I can put all my crafty storage back up. I think we're taking another car load of stuff tonight although I think it's just an excuse for the hubby to get a KFC on the way home Lol. I need to get my craft room sorted out asap as I've just been offered another piece in Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine although the deadline isn't until mid-June!

This card is another of the quick and easy DT cards I made for the launch of Humphrey which is going to be the pick of the day tomorrow at 9pm on ideal world.
Humphrey really has been an absolute joy to work with and the quality is second to none so don't forget to tune in tomorrow. All the bits that make it up were taken off 1 printed card companion sheet which included the toppers, readymade paper layout, sentiment and the button embellishments.

Tomorrow I'll share with you the Humphrey gift bag with matching notecards and envelope set that I made with step by step instructions on how to make your own!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Sunday 22 May 2011

***IMPORTANT*** SCAL for cricuts


Hiya Everyone,

I have just found out that the SCAL 2 program is being updated to SCAL 3 which will no longer work on the cricut. SCAL 2 is only available for download till 27th May and then suppliers are no longer allowed to sell it. I bought my cricut just before christmas and was hanging about getting it but I've just bought it as I didn't want to miss out. For anybody interested I just bought mine from here. I was sent the activation code to my e-mail within minutes. If you want it get it now!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

NB - I've deactivated the link as they are no longer selling the download - sorry!!!!

Paula. x

And even more Humphrey!!!


Hiya everyone,

This is a little late being posted but with all the packing etc, I'm up to my eyes in it Lol. Just about to go out and take another car load of my crafty stuff to the new house. It's a good job my craft room is bigger so I can buy loads more to squeeze into it! Lol :D

This is another cute little Humphrey which is again off the CD rom. It is part of the card companions set which is a quick and easy option as it will allow you to print off:- toppers, sentiments, embellishments and a readymade layout for your card that you can just cut out and stick on. This feature is great for quick and easy cards or for anyone who is new to crafting and haven't got much idea where to start. The fab images and papers on these 2 CD rom set are second to none. You also get all the extra features of matching notecards, gift boxes and all the other cool stuff that you normally get on a Crafters Companion CD rom. Sara and her team have really excelled themselved with this one! If this doesn't sell out on Tuesday I'll be amazed. Only 2 more sleeps guys and then you can buy some Humphrey for yourselves!!! 9pm 24th May on Ideal World - Pick of the Day!

If you haven't already gone to the Crafters Companion website there is a free sampler download from off the CD to have a play with early!

Also, a big congratulations to Sara who was presented with an North easts emerging talent award at an award ceremony hosted by the Entrepreneurs Forum annual conference a few days ago.

Now back to the packing :o( - Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Saturday 21 May 2011

Yet more little Humprey!!! :D


Hiya Everyone,

I have spent most of the day packing up my crafty stuff ready to move to the new house over the weekend. I have my workshop tomorrow 10-12 and then we're gonna start shifting stuff.
This card is another one made with the new card companions feature on the cd rom where you can print off a readymade layout as well as toppers, sentiments and embellishments all on the one sheet. They make a great quick and easy card although for me the fun is shuffling through all my pretty papers and finding all the bits and bobs to go with them.

Don't forget to check out Ideal world at 9pm on Tuesday 24th May for the Humphrey's Corner pick of the day!!! Feel free to add the Humphrey button on my sidebar to your blog!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Friday 20 May 2011

Humphrey's Corner - Another sneaky peek!!!


Morning everyone,

Sorry my post is a little late today but I had the most terrible nights sleep so I had an unexpected lie in after Tayla fell back to sleep and so did I! I spent most of yesterday packing up my craft room as we're going to start moving my stuff over at the weekend after my workshop at the Windmill craft centre.

This Humphrey's corner card has been made with a new feature on the CD rom which is called card companions. They are basically a ready made layout which you print out with toppers, sentiments and embellishments. With this card I cut out the square backing sheet and added it to my scalloped card blank, cut round my oval image and attached it to my card with collall 3D glue gel and added one of the 4 sentiments also included on the sheet.


I then added some glamourdust to parts of the image and a couple of paper flowers and diamantes and I ended up with a pretty quick and easy card. These are ideal for unexpected events where you need to throw a card together quickly, anyone new to crafting or to give to people who don't appreciate receiving a handcrafted card as they would never know the difference!

I will enter this into the following challenges:-

ECP - Pastel colours
Little claires - Sparkle
Creative inspirations - Glitzy and bling
OSAAT - Anything
Scrappy frogs - Anything goes
Craft your passion - Cutie patootie
Make it monday - Anything goes
Shabby tearoom - Monochromatic
Flourishes - Inspired by spring
Use it tuesday - Bling
Crafty creations - May flowers
Creative card crew - Cute and girly
Pennys papercraft - Anything goes
Sisterhood of crafters - Let it shine
Crafty purple frog - Monochromatic
Paperplay - Sparkle
Shellys images - Anything goes

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Thursday 19 May 2011

Do you want to win some Humphrey goodies?!?


Hiya Everyone,

The lovely peeps at Crafters Companion have a fabby prize up for grabs for 1 lucky winner. Both CD roms and all 6 rubber stamps. All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is display the above blog button on your sidebar with a link back to the crafters comapnion website (http://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/humphrey.html) then you need to go to the Crafters Companion News and Inspiration blog where you can add your name to Mr Linky - it's that easy!!!

The winner will be picked at random at 9am on the 25th May.

If you really can't wait there is a free sampler download on the Crafters Companion site here.

Good luck!!!

Paula. x

Another little Humphrey!!!! - Sneaky peeks!!!!


Hiya Everyone,

I know you'rel all loving the fab new range of Crafters Companion Humprey rubber stamps and CD roms that are due for release on the 24th May. The show will be on ideal world at 9pm where it will be the pick of the day. They really are just sooooo cute! This is the last of the rubber stamps that I have to show you and isn't she gorgeous?!? I tried to make my cards bright and summery to match the papers on the CD rom but they would look just as lovely in more muted shades.


I coloured my image in with my promarkers and just added a little glamourdust to the edges of her dress and hat. This fab gingham paper is just lovely and is off the CD as is the sentiment. The buttons are from the papermania sunshine capsule collection. I've really enjoyed working with Humphrey and can't wait to get my hands on the other 3 stamps!!!

In other news, our house sale should be completed by next week so I've got a busy day packing up all of my craft room - luckily Tayla's at her Nannas today. We have been given a key early to the new house so the sooner I can set back up at the new house the better!!!


Thanks for looking!!!

I will enter this into the following challenges:-

Little Claires - Sparkle
Creative Inspirations - Glitzy and bling
OSAAT - Anything goes
Scrappy frogs - Anything goes
Craft your passion - Cutie patootie
Incy wincy - Clean and simple
Make it monday - Anything goes
Shabby tea room - Monochromatic
Use it tuesday - Bling
Crafts and me - Anything goes
Creative card crew - Cute and girly
Divas by design - For the girls
I love promarkers - Animals
Pennys paper crafty - Anything goes
Simon says stamp - Sparkle and shine
Sisterhood of crafters - Let it shine
Stampavie and more - Summer
Crafty purple frog - Monochromatic
Shellys images - Anything goes

Paula. x

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Humphrey's Corner - Sneaky peeks :D


Hiya Everyone,

It's day 2 of the lead-up to the launch of Humphrey's Corner - a fab mixture of rubber stamps and CD roms. They are being launch as a pick of the day on Ideal World at 9pm on the 24th May. There will be a 2 CD rom set which has papers, decoupage, toppers etc and 6 rubber stamps. As part of the Crafters Companion DT we had the chance to have a play with Humphrey in order to make samples for you all to see. Forgive the bad piccies but it had gone midnight and the light was dreadful :)


The card I'm sharing with you today is another one of the rubber stamps and is my favourite. I'm still trying to get the hang of colouring the little nellies in with my promarkers as I'm more used to bears which are rough and not smooth like elephants. Also, the original artwork is a lot lighter in colour so I think my colouring is a little dark but nevermind Lol. Again, the fab papers are off the CD rom just mixed with some basic lilac cardstock. I added a few flowers and pins from wild orchid crafts and a few pearls and a little glaze pen on the icecream. The sentiment is off one of the stamps but I can't remember which one as I cut them all up and we haven't got the packaging yet (which is why I don't know what the stamps are called!)

All the Crafters Companion DT are also posting other Humphrey stuff to show you so be sure to check out their blogs too!!!


I will enter this into the following challenges:-

Crafty Anns - Happy Birthday
Prairie fairy fridays - For the girls
Fuzzy wuzzy - Babies (must include an animal)
Inspire me fridays - Anything goes
Sew many challenges - Anything goes
ECP challenges - Pastel colours
One stop craft - Ice cream image or colours
Corrosive challenges - Birthdays
Emerald fairies - Anything goes
Scrappy frogs - Anything goes
Creative stamp friends - My favourite colours (lilac)
Make it monday - Anything goes
Shabby tea room - Monochromatic
Stamping scrapping central - Birthdays
A spoonful of sugar - Anything goes
Claudia and Co - Girls birthday card
Tuesday throwdown - Child or baby
Crafts and me - Anything goes
Creative card crew - Cute and girly
Divas by design - One for the girls
Penny's paper crafty - Anything goes
Stampavie and more - Summer
Stars and stamps - Summer fun
Truly scrumptious - Anything goes
Southern girls - Let's here it for the girls

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my next little cutie!!!

Paula. x

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Introducing Humphrey!!! - Sneaky peeks!!!


Hiya Everyone,

Humphrey's corner is the fab new range of rubber stamps and CD roms that are being launched on the 24th May at 9pm on Ideal World. This is one of the stamps I was sent as part of the Crafters Companion design team. I do not know what it is called I'm afraid but I think the sentiment says it all really. The papers are all of the CD rom and my image has been coloured in with my promarkers.


This is the first Humphrey stamp I have ever coloured in so I don't think I've really done it justice but I suppose I'll get better once I've done a few . I used a mixture of warm greys so I'm not sure whether cool or ice grey may be more suitable. Normally, I'd have a bit of a play but I've been so busy I've just not had chance. I have another Humphrey to show you tomorrow so don't forget to come and take a look. Other members of the Crafters Companion DT are also showing Humphrey sneaky peeks so check out the Crafters Companion monthly challenge blog to check out my fellow DT's awesome samples too!!!


I will enter this into the following challenges:-

Crafty creations - Anything goes
Divas by design - Anything goes
Penny's paper crafty - Anything goes
Stampavie and more - Ribbons
Paperplay - Summer/Anything goes
Floweret - Spring and green
Prairie fairy friday - For the girls
Fairy knoll - Thank you
Inspire me friday - Anything goes
Sew many challenges - Anything goes
Stamp something - Anything goes
Corrosive challenges - Birthdays
Creative cowgirls - Anything goes
Emerald fairies - Anything goes
I did it - Ribbon and lace
OSAAT - Anything goes
Scrappy frogs - Anything goes
Bunny Zoe's crafts - Lace (doily)
Karens doodles - Bold and bright
Make it monday - Anything goes

See you tomorrow!!!

Paula. x

Monday 16 May 2011

Crafters Companion new Launch!!!!!


Hiya everyone,

As part of the Crafters Companion DT I am pleased to share the exciting news that Humphrey's Corner will be launching on May 24th at 9pm. From tomorrow I will have some sneaky peaks to show you so don't forget to pop back to have a looky!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Joanna Sheen samples - fairy silhouettes


Hiya everyone,

Don't die of shock that I'm actually sharing a card with you will all you? Lol!!!
As you all may or may not know I'll be moving house shortly so everything is still a little hectic. In the last few days I've had umpteen Crafters Companion samples to make, a magazine project and my cardmaking workshop on saturday to prepare for as well as entertain my 5 month old. My mum has come round today to look after Tayla to give me chance to try and finish the remainder as I'm seeing my solicitor on wednesday so we'll need to start packing in a few days. It's sooo exciting and I really can't wait to move - we'll have so much more space!!!

Anyhoo, my card today has been made with the new fairy silhouette stamps from Joanna Sheen that were launched recently which you can buy from here. There are 2 main images on the sheet and they are £9.99 with free P+P.
The papers are from an old dovecraft 6x6 paperstack that I had knocking about and the flowers and crochet lace are from wild orchid crafts. I stamped the image with stazon black ink onto lilac paper and mounted it onto purple card. I added some black stickles glitterglue around the image as I cut it out by hand and it tidied up the edges. a little glamourdust glitter to the wings and the image was suitably sparkly Lol! I wanted it to look a little more gothic than normal for a bit of a change. I accented the flower centres on the paper with a few lilac gems and the stamped sentiment is included on the sheet. I just love fairies don't you?

I have some exciting sneaky peaks to share with you from 17th May so be sure to pop back tomorrow!!!

I will enter this into the following challenges:-

Everybody art - Flowers
Flourishes - Anything goes
Tip top tuesday - Flower frenzy
Crafty creations - Anything goes
Creative belli - Something beginning with "S" (Silhouette)
Creative card crew - May flowers
Divas by design - Anything goes
Penny's paper crafty - Anything goes
Delightful challenges - Flowers
Dutch dare - Winged things
Stamping vacation - No embossing
Inspire me fridays - Anything goes
Sew many challenges - Anything goes
Stamp something - Anything goes
Little claires - Sparkle
Creative cowgirls - Anything goes
Creative inspirations - Glitzy and bling
OSAAT - Anything goes
Scrappy frogs - Anything goes
House of Gilli = Black and one other colour
Make it monday - Anything goes

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Saturday 14 May 2011

Promarkers - New fine nib!!!



Hiya Everyone!!!

No card I'm afraid as I've been sorting out my workshop for next week at the Windmill Craft Centre. I've also been making samples and I'm almost about the move house so I'm uber busy at the moment but I just had to share this bit of news. I've just found out that Promarkers are going to be bringing out a new fine tip nib that clicks onto the bullet tip to get more detail. Apparently it can be cleaned and then put on another pen. I'm not too sure when this will be but it's quite exciting news as they can be a little fiddly for very tiny areas.

See the attached video!!!

I'll have some sneaky peaks of brand spanking NEW products to share with you soon so WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Monday 9 May 2011

Tatty Teddy angel policy - UPDATED!!!!


Hiya Everyone,

It seems that Carte Blanche have backed down and agreed that the finished cards can now be sold the under the same angel policy as other Docrafts products. Sales cannot be done through auction sites but this is the same as some other companies angel policy. Thought they'd see sense when the tills stopped ringing!!!

Official Docrafts reply:-

Hi All,

I have now updated the Angel Policy online (www.docrafts.com/angelpolicy) as Carte Blanche have kindly agreed to work within our basic licensor angel policy with the addition that no items are to be sold on auction sites.

If you require any further clarification please let me know!

Thanks for your support

Becks


Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Another cute must see short video!!!



Hiya Everyone,

I've not done much today as we had workmen putting up a face to seal off the back of the house. I know we're moving but it was very open so we thought it best to get it done as it's more secure. Anyhoo, I found this and it's so cute so I thought I'd pop it on here. I'll hopefully get chance to edit my Joanna Sheen cards so I'll upload one later!

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula.x

Friday 6 May 2011

20% off at Oh my crafts!!!


Hiya everyone,

Just a quickie - Use code MDAY20 to get 20% off everything this weekend only!!! Great for cheap cricut cartridges and cheap P+P!!!

Paula.x