New blog site and a chance to win stuff!

You may have noticed that things have been a little quiet on here for a little while, that is because we have been building a new website which as well as hosting the shop, also includes a blog. We've been trying it out over the past few weeks and are now ready to migrate over completely. To get things off to a good start we are offering the chance to win one of the brand new Graphic 45 paper pads direct from CHA Summer!

You can find the new blog and all of the other new features we have to offer at www.totalpapercrafts.co.uk and you may even be lucky enough to win free stuff!!

Ooh more new Tim stuff!

Check out these beauties!! Tim Holtz and Stampers Anonymous have developed a new range of stencils and I'm in love! A lot of the images are recognisable as stamp designs and having them as a stencil opens up so many more opportunities. 

Each stencil is tag shaped with a hole at the top so they can be joined together with a simple book ring or just ribbon. I think I NEED all of these. I'll deffo get pics from the show of these for you!

More Tim Holtz Sizzix!

I think I look forward to Tim's Sizzix releases most of all at show time because I know I'll probably want/need most of what he designs! In this second post featuring his dies I think most of them are on my wish list!

First up is the new storage line, I really like the idea of this tray for the small magnetic movers & shapers dies....

And these boxes look fabulous, there's a different shape for each size of die!

Now for the dies and I love the soldier and lantern - typically they are in separate sets! The bells are a 'must-have'!

I can think of lots of cool ways to use the window, you can't have too many alphas and that star on-the-edge die is fab-u-lous!!

The parcels are fun and I have to have these stars!!

Check out the large bells and I think the silhouettes would make stunning cards!

All in all there's something for everyone in this selection and I can't wait to report back from the show with pics of the samples from the stand!!

Take at peek at these...!

The first peek of Tim Holtz's new dies for Sizzix have just been released - woo hoo! The Summer designs tend to be Halloween and Christmas themed and this year is no exception. I have to admit that I don't tend to get very excited about the Halloween stuff as I know I won't get enough use out of the dies to justify the investment but if you like spooky stuff Tim is the guy to guy to!  

The strip dies include a spooky fence and a very delicate cobweb but I think the new alphabet caught my eye for its versatility. The tattered pennant cuts loads of individual pennants in one go and the alphas fit perfectly too!!

In the large steel rule dies my fav has to be the luminary die. This cuts a 3d shape that you can add a battery tea light inside to create a bespoke decor item. My brain is buzzing with ideas for this one! The other larger dies are also very versatile and I know I'll want those too, these things are addictive! 

Of course that's not all, there are some new Halloween texture fades and also some stamps sized to match some of the new dies. I can't wait to see what the booth looks like with the samples. 

More to come tomorrow!!

Tim Holtz in the UK!

For those who follow Tim's blog you'll know that today was the day that booking opened for his only classes to be held in the UK this year. I was ready bright and early to be sure I was ready to call as soon as the lines opened but I think everyone else had the same idea!! Over 100 engaged lines later I was beginning to think the opportunity was passing me by but suddenly I was through and booking places for myself and two crafty girlfriends to spend the afternoon with his royal Timness!! 

I'm not much for the 'celebrities' of crafting but Tim Holtz is such a talented designer and thoroughly nice guy. I've never known him to be anything but generous with his time and ideas so I'm really pleased to be attending one of his classes next month!  If you were fortunate enough to get tickets too let me know and I'll see you there!

Oooh look!!

I know things have been a bit quiet on here for a little while but the continuing lack of Internet and my crazy schedule has priced more than challenging of late! 

I did come across something this evening that looked very exciting and thought I'd share it, another new venture by Tim Holtz that looks very exciting - fabric! Like many scrapbookers, I have a passion for many crafts and one of my first loves was sewing. This developed into dressmaking and there are more than a few brides who wore my creations on their special day. There have been a few fabric designers who have already crossed over their work into the realm of paper (Amy Butler for K&Co for one) but this is the first time I'm aware of talent crossing back the other way. The idea of Tim's designs being available on fabric has my brain whirring away! How cool would it be to combine the paper and fabric together in a project? Ooh I think I need a lie down!! I for one will be keeping an eye out for this!

Total Papercrafts April kit 2 sample layout

The single page kit for April features 7gypsies papers together with a brown inkpad and a palette knife. Why a palette knife I hear you ask?? Well the reason is we're including a recipe to make your own texture paste!
Just lately it seems like everyone is adding texture pastes, gesso or other art mediums to their layouts. We took the hint and decided to create a layout with a touch of texture. The great thing is you'll never have to buy texture mediums, after you've tried this recipe you'll be set for life! If you're not into messy stuff on your layouts then the design will work just as well without it - you could use the ink pad and a stencil instead!
The kit includes; Cardstock, 4 sheets of double sided patterned paper, ink pad, palette knife and full step by step instructions.
The sample uses a 7" x 5" landscape photo and a 3" x 4" portrait photo. I added a few cream paper flowers and some leaves but you can very easily punch or cut these from the card in the kit.
This is a great kit for every day photos, you could add more smaller pictures or opt for a single larger shot. It's a very adaptable kit in shades of off-white, blue and red.