Crop classes on sale now

Isn't it always the way, everything happens on one day! I've been waiting for the class kits to arrive ready for our crop on 9th Feb and was getting worried as a parcel had been signed for by someone but not me. I was hoping it was with one of my neighbours but one of them seemed to be away - eek!! Anyway, as I was going out of the door to work I spotted someone visiting next door and so knocked on their car window (and scared the heck out of them!!) and asked about the parcel - they had it!! So in the space of a matter of hours I went from no classes to 2.

I rushed back from work in the afternoon so I could get the classes photographed and on the shop but my camera batteries were dead and the kids had kindly left me an empty box in the drawer. So after trying every battery from every remote control etc I remembered the scanner! The classes went up, the emails went out and I dashed off to parents' evening and Jack's school without so much as a chance to draw breath! Its funny how it goes like that sometimes, I can have days that are nicely chilled out and then one comes and bites me on the bum!!

Anyway, the classes are now available and I've added the pics of the kit contents here - one is from K&Co and the other is from My Mind's Eye. The MME kit has sold out of class places but I have a few extra kits that will be available on the day, if you want one then let me know and I can put your name on it.

I'm off to get my nails done to recover from yesterday................!!!! K :o)

That feeling of 'Deja View'.....

For our club tomorrow I thought it would be nice to use a whole set of co-ordinating products and so I chose the new 'Timeless' line from Deja Views. I fell in love with their gorgeous selection of blue and brown papers and matching brown rub-ons and just had to have them! It was only after I sat down to put this page together that I realised just how much blue and brown there was in my house - its everywhere! I'm sure in years to come I'll be able to precisely date every photo taken inside this house based upon the decor and that just makes me smile.

The theme for the page can be anything you like as the rub-ons included are family/love/home words and so could be used for photos of people/pets/home/relationships. I realised after I'd scanned this page that I had forgotten to actually rub on the word 'home' - thats why it looks a little crooked! All sorted out now though and that baby is well and truly rubbed on there now!

The kit contains 4 different patterned papers, cardstock, a whole pack of rub-ons and a big blue flower (which still hasn't turned up and so I may have to bring the flowers along next time!). The kits will be limited and so to be sure that you get yours please make sure that you let me know whether you can make it or not - I'd hate for anyone to be disappointed!!

See you tomorrow, K :o)

New year, new layout

I feel like I've been really neglectful of my blog! Here we are well into the New Year and this is my first post but my back has really had an impact on what I've been able to do and for how long. The good news is that I'm on the mend - not able to drive yet but it seems every day things are a little better so its good news. My doctor got the shock of his life when he pressed on my back this afternoon - I think I nearly blew his eardrums with my holler of pain but at least it got me a referral to a specialist in a few weeks!

I've added the photo of the layout for club tomorrow - the kit includes 4 sheets of cardstock, 2 patterned papers, 3 lengths of coloured embroidery floss and two Bazzill InStitchez templates (1 flower template and one leaf template). Finding the Bazzill templates in the kit reminded me that I had loads of similar stitching templates in my stash from a few years ago and so I had a rummage around and found them, I used one of these as well on this page - I love it when using a new thing inspires me to also get out something I already have and use that as well!! I'll bring all my stitching templates along to club tomorrow so you can have a play with these as well. I added a few flowers from my stash (and it really is just a few each of a couple of different ones) - I have most of them in the shop if you absolutely HAVE to have them but I'm sure you'll have something similar in your stash already!! If you are joining us tomorrow, remember to email to confirm that you are coming and to get your set of instructions for the page!

Hope to see you tomorrow, K

Wordblooms are blooming lovely!

I've had my eye on these Wordbloom books for ages after I spotted them in the Summer. Shortly after that, I started seeing ads in CK for similar books by another manufacturer and there was a huge interest in them. I felt a bit for 2Daisies as it was their idea and then a bigger company seemed to get all the attention - and so I ordered from 2Daisies. I think its a moral thing and something to do with supporting the underdog, and in any case I had fully intended to order from them in the first place!

We ran a class with these books on Saturday and they were really popular. They are fast to put together and are something very different from the usual sort of mini-book project. I had a blast making up my sample but learnt a few important lessons along the way.....

1. the pages need to be covered with papers that contrast strongly with each other - light/dark or patterned/plain or it becomes impossible to read the word.

2. the space available for photos/journaling/embellishments is only the width of the solid area of the preceeding page - any photos etc that peek out start to mess with the word too!

3. these books are best bound with wire coils or large book rings or they tend to spread apart and make it difficult to see the word.

They are only £4.99 each and with a few bits and bobs from your stash can be a really cheap way to create a gift for someone special. My one is going to Dave's Mum for Christmas as she is cooking this year!

You can find these gorgeous Wordblooms at www.totalpapercrafts.co.uk

Karen :o)

Ready for club tomorrow?

Very unusually for me, I've been super-organised just lately and have had the page for club tomorrow put together for a while! Its a double page design based on a Becky Fleck sketch and the kit is great value for money as it includes a Crafter's Workshop 12x12 template. The papers are 7gypsies but I only used one of them and of the 4 sheets of cardstock in the kit there's still one I haven't touched so I can even knock out a few cards with what I have here - not bad eh?

Saying that though, I did add a few bits including a couple of sheets of black cardstock, black mini-brads and some hydrangeas which I had in my stash as I need to use some stuff up before we move. I have visions of us needing a whole other removal van for the shop stock and my personal stash, I HAVE to use up more of what I have here in my craft room because it doesn't seem to be going down much!!! I can see the local school inheriting a pile of cardstock, paper and stickers from me in the not-too-distant future :o)

If you're joining us tomorrow evening for club, don't panic if you don't have black cardstock and brads as I ordered some in for the shop especially for you!

Karen :o)

Recovering from the crop!!

It has been a long time since I laughed as much and as hard as I did at the crop on Saturday, it was such a fab day! I want to start off by thanking Mandy for teaching three gorgeous classes for us, she is such an amazing instructor and designer that its a real priviledge to have her as part of our team at the crops. I also want to thank my fairy godmother, Pauline. Without her I'd fall to pieces as she not only ran the shop all day for us but before the crop spend many a long hour packing the class kits and pricing the shop stock - thank you so very much for keeping me together!! I'm so blessed to have friends like these who are so amazingly supportive.

I think the highlight of the day had to be Dave appearing in his 'waiter' outfit after lunch - he had me in fits of laughter at home as he appeared wearing it for a giggle while we were getting ready to leave. I explained that the world might not be quite ready for him yet and suggested he try something a bit less revealing but we had a laugh in one of my classes when I told them the story. Later in the afternoon Dave had to pop back home for something and offered to get changed. I laughed that he wouldn't dare - a short while later the class erupted into screams of laughter as he appeared standing at the hatch behind me wearing it!! Thankfully Helen was together enough to grab her phone and take a few pics because I had completely lost it. What was funnier was that a few girls were disappointed that despite appearances, he didn't have the thong on too!

It was such a fun day, it was so fab to see everyone and this time around I actually had the time to get round and chat. We had a lovely mix of regulars and people who joined us for the first time which seemed to work well as the event didn't have a 'cliquey' feel which can sometimes be an issue. Despite being absolutely shattered by the end of the day, I am really looking forward to our next crop on 9th February. I can't promise semi-naked men again but I'm sure we'll have a laugh!!

Enjoy your Christmas pud.

Karen :o)

Sneak Peeks and photo/tool help for tomorrow

Family wordbloom class
You'll need to bring along a small piece of sandpaper, some 3d foam pads and a selection of photos ranging from 1" to 6" wide.


MME Frost class
The class sample uses two 6"x4" landscape photos - you'll also need to bring along 3d foam pads, double sided tape, a soft brown inkpad and a brown journaling pen (I have some in the shop if you need one).


Hearts & Chocolates
This class uses a 7" x 5" landscape photo plus a soft brown inkpad and some 3d foam pads.


7gypsies Hudson Valley
Bring along one 7" x 5" (or larger) portrait photo for this class plus some 3d foam pads, a black journaling pen, black inkpad and a paper pricker (a needle will do the trick just as well!).

Japanese Camelia
You'll need a 7" x 5" portrait photo, a white gel pen, a burgundy or turquoise gel pen and 3d foam pads.

MM St Nick class
Four 7" x 5" photos (portrait, landscape or a mixture)and eight 6" x 4" photos. Don't panic about getting so many photos together as Mandy assures me you'll have plenty to do in the class and may not get to the photo bit!

Calendar book
You will need to bring double-sided tape and some small photos.