Hampton Art stamps are in the house!

Back in February we attended the Stitches trade show and ordered a load of the utterly gorgeous Hampton Art stamp sets. We have been patiently waiting for the order to arrive (and anyone who knows me, knows I don't do well with patient!!) - in fact the original shipment apparently got lost en route from the US! Our patience paid off and today we have a whole load of fabulous new stamps in stock!

I had the chance to play with these stamps at Memory Trends in Vegas last year and had a blast with them - here's the sample project we made using a couple of sets mixed together. I love the interactive circles and harlequins as you can mix and match the different stamps to make a new stamp every time you use them, adding more stamps as you prefer. Plus the brand new journaling stamps can be used on their own or added to the circles and harlequins to make even more options! I am totally in love with these stamps - you'll probably have to prise them out of my hands!!

We also have some amazing stamps for ATC lovers - check out the ATC alphabet which was designed by Claire Hampton (former owner of Card Fairy and fabbo designer!) specifically to fit onto an ATC. We also have wood mounted ATC signature stamps so you can add your details to your mini works of art.

Happy stamping!

Karen :o)

1st October crop class is up!!

Wow - it seems like only 5 minutes ago we were releasing the classes for the May crop and here we are launching the October ones already! I wanted to get on the ball quickly and find amazing products that would make great classes and guess what - I have done! I'll probably have the second class up sometime this week too (and its totally fab)!! I'm not known for being the most organised person in the world but just lately I've got my act together and I'm well on top of the crops!

So, the first class for October will be a great way to showcase all your holiday snaps in one absolutely stunning album from 7gypsies. The theme is beach/holiday and as we should all have had a Summer break by the time we meet up again, I thought it would be a great project to bring back the sunshine (it will be October and lets face it, it's likely to be cold and wet!!). If you took the 7gypsies class last time, this one is a LOT more straightforward - you won't gain any more grey hairs, I promise!! LOL!

The kit contains 3 sheets of 7gypsies paper, a 7gypsies spiral bound album, a sheet of 97% complete stickers, a sheet of rub-ons, 3d adhesive mount and a metal index tab - you just need to bring along your photos to complete this gorgeous album. The retail value of the class is over £15 - all for only £8.50! The places are limited and we sell out every time.

You can book your crop place and classes at www.totalpapercrafts.co.uk

Karen :o)

New crop dates up!

The crop on Saturday was a blast! We managed to get the hall set up the night before and so only had the shop to deal with in the morning - saying that, there were a few eager beavers who arrived not long after we did and helped with the shop by buying stuff as we were setting it up (you know who you are!! LOL!). It was such a chilled out day, I even had time to chat to people and check out what they were working on - there was some stunning work in the main cropping room!

We had a shop delivery mid-morning which caused a bit of a stir, we had a crowd around as we unpacked the boxes and there were loads of "oooohs" and "aaaaaahs" - such a laugh!! We got the same thing again when we brought out our 'bargain boxes' towards the end of the day - flagging scrapbookers can always be revived with a great bargain!!

So, we've confirmed the dates for the next 2 crops this year - Saturday 6th October and Saturday 24th November. We opened booking at the crop and offered a free gift if you book before this coming Saturday 26th May. I've put the crop on the shop site now and am offering the same deal - book before midnight on the 26th and you'll get a free gift!

BTW - apologies for the Blog silence yesterday, we were at court sorting out a divorce settlement - what fun!! NOT!

Take care, Karen :o)

Directions

I'm just back from the venue for our crop after setting up the tables and bits for tomorrow - just the shop to do in the morning (and thats the biggest job of all!!). The kids found it all a great adventure and were more than happy to lug chairs around to help out with the setting up! You'll have loads of space to put your totes etc and there's a fab kitchen that Dad has already claimed as his domain for the day so if you want a cuppa and a biscuit, he's your guy!!

The full address for the hall is....Meopham Village Hall, Wrotham Rd, Meopham, Kent, DA13 0AT.

To get to it, you need to take the Istead Rise / Meopham (Tollgate) exit from the A2 and follow signs for Meopham. Its just one straight, long road from the A2 (Wrotham Road) although Meopham is a very long village so don't get worried that it seems a long way! Look out for Meopham Secondary school on your right (there's a sports centre, GP surgery and nursery school on the same site) and the hall is about 400 yards on your left opposite a sign for Office Furniture.

There's plenty of parking at the back of the hall and we'll be providing teas, coffees, biscuits and cakes during the day. Just remember to bring yourself some lunch - papercrafting can be hungry work!! LOL!

Beary Patch album class sneak peek!

Here we go with the last sneak peek for the crop on Saturday - the Beary Patch album. Mandy has designed a gorgeous album for this class which includes the Add-a-page punch tool for you to keep!!

If you are taking the Beary Patch class you'll need to bring; a glue stick, hammer,bone folder and double sided tape. Grab a stack of 6" x 4" photos - and you'll have the album completed in no time! (BTW Mandy used B&W photos in her sample).

I've already got the cakes (carrot and chocolate of course!) plus Haribo, Jelly Bellys and Cadburys Buttons for on the tables - absolutely nothing healthy at all!! LOL! I'll post directions here tomorrow for anyone who isn't sure of where they are going. If you have any questions you can leave a comment here or email me and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. :o)

7gypsies 'Travelogue' class - sneak peek!

Tonight we present the third of our crop class 'sneak peeks' - the 7gypsies 'Travelogue' class! This project provides masses of space for photos and journaling on a travel theme. The kit is stuffed full of gaffer tape, rub-ons,papers and more - its sold out of course, like all of the classes!!

If you are taking the class you will need; 6" x 4" travel themed photos - colour or black and white will both work equally well, a bone folder and strong glue (double sided tape will work).

This class is being taught by the fab Mandy Webb so be prepared to have a blast!!

Collage Press class sneak peek!

OK, here we go with the sneak peek at the Collage Press 'Fresh' class for Saturday. I used a B&W baby photo that I cropped down from 7" x 5" to around 4.5" x 5" but 7" x 5" will fit perfectly onto this page and a number of smaller photos would work just as well. There is so much cardstock in this kit you could even make a double page out of this design - just bring lots of photos in the same theme. The design is not specifically 'baby' so it would work just as well with a whole range of different types of photos, just think 'fresh' and you'll be on the right track!

As far as tools and materials go, you'll need a small piece of fine grade sandpaper or a sanding block, small white rub-on lettering or a white gel pen and a paper pricker or needle - thats it!

Daisy Ds sneak peek!

Ok - brace yourself, the teasers for the crop classes will be posted this week together with the list of tools you'll need and photos. The first up is the Daisy Ds class which very definately needs two 6" x 4" landscape 'family' themed photos. I used colour but black & white or sepia would work as well.

You'll need to bring a black or dark grey inkpad, 3d foam pads and a bone folder for the class which includes a huge hidden space for journaling or more photos!! The great thing about daisy ds papers is that they can be used just as easily for modern photos as for heritage styles so practically anything goes!

Keep popping back for peeks at the other classes! :o)

Playing catch-up

So where has the week gone? I'm now suffering from blogger's guilt (as if Catholic guilt wasn't enough! LOL) - I've neglected my blog for the sake of a million other things but now I've finally managed to scrape some time together to sit down and write!

What have I been up to? Well, I've had to get on with stuff for the crop as its now only 9 days away (how did that happen?) and prepare the project for my club next Wednesday - hence the pics. We're making a gorgeous 7gypsies 'Fit to be Tied' album using a load of 7G prodcuts including the album, patterned papers, gaffer tape, ribbon and the page inserts. I decided to make an album of Jack's recent school trip to Rome - it was his first overseas trip without either of us parents and I felt it was a real milestone. He was very nonchalant about it all and absolutely mortified as I kissed him goodbye at the airport!! I packed 2 disposable cameras in his bag in the vain hope that he would remember to take some pics and that the cameras would actually make it home. To be honest, he did me proud - he bought 5 more cameras during the trip and then gave them to me as my gift (his Dad got a crystal paperweight so I definitely got the better deal!!). Not all the photos came out and some needed a bit of help in Photoshop but overall I was chuffed to bits and I had plenty to fill up this album for him.

If you're coming to club remember to email Pauline to reserve your kit and request the instructions as we have a limited number of kits this time. Bring along a glue stick and bone folder plus loads of embellishments, rub-ons and bits and bobs - with this album, more is definitely more!!

Take care, K :o)

Sold out!!

I am chuffed to bits - the crop and all the classes are completely SOLD OUT!! I am in shock - completely stunned that the crop is doing so well and that the classes are as popular as they have been. I'll give you a 'heads-up' that I'm planning to run 2 more crops this year, one in September and another in November, it just depends on the availability of the halls but as soon as I've got confirmed dates I'll get them posted.

I have been deluged with emails from people who live too far away to make it to Kent for the crop but who are desperate for the crop classes. I'd have loved to sell them kits but there weren't enough places in the class for everyone attending, never mind selling them to people who weren't. If I had, there was a distinct possibility that all the kits from at least one class would have been sold to people who weren't there and I'd have an empty classroom! At least it looks like we have the right idea with the sort of classes we are running and the amount of product we are including.

I'll be putting litle peeks of the class projects up on here over the next couple of weeks so you will get an idea of what we'll be doing, together with photo sizes and how many you need for each one. If you need any additional tools I'll make sure to post that onhere as well. If you can think of anything else you need from me, email or post the question here and I'll get back to you asap.

Take care and have a great Bank Holiday weekend if I don't make it back on here before it ends!! Karen :o)

The final class is up today!!

The fourth and final class for our crop on 19th May has arrived today and is now available to book online at www.totalpapercrafts.co.uk

This scrapbook page class uses the stunning Beacon Hill line from Daisy D's and the kit includes 6 sheets of patterned paper,cardstock, die-cut letters/words and 2 complete packs of rub-ons! The retail value of the kit is over £15 and as usual we are offering it at the great value price of £7.50! All of the other class kits have sold out so be sure to grab yours quickly to avoid being disappointed.

Carolyn S - you were first to book this time!! (Now thats keen!!)

The 3rd of our crop classes is up!!

With less than 3 weeks to go until the Total Papercrafts crop, deliveries are arriving thick and fast!! The materials for our 3rd class are here - '7gypsies Travelogue'. This is a fab class, stuffed full with goodies and an amazing album that will make a great place for those photos of a special holiday or journey. The equally fab Mandy will be teaching this class - I think she's addicted to 7gypsies products!

The kits is huge - 6 sheets of patterned paper, a portfolio, an entire sheet of 7g rubbings, drop spirals, 97% complete tags, a clear button, a sheet of 97% complete stickers, arrow photo turns, elastic, brown harlequin gaffer tape, brown measurement gaffer tape, 2 metal index tabs, cardstock and brads! Phew - all that for only £8.50 plus the priceless fun of Mandy's teaching! LOL!!

The places in this class are very limited so if you plan on joining us, grab your place now!

Karen :o)