Final layout show and tell.......

This was my last single page layout for the Scrappers Paradise weekend. It may look super simple (well it is really) but all the flowers and bird were hand cut from a different sheet and added to the scalloped patterned paper. So although simple it was a little time consuming! The papers are from the Sweetpea paper pad again, teamed with felt flowers and a few gems. I hope you have enjoyed my Scrappers Paradise show and tell, I will be adding some cards over the next few days so don't worry I am only a part time scrapper. Scrappers Paradise will be running again next April in Guildford, if you would like some more information please contact Natalie via www.natalieoshea.co.uk. See you soon x

Sweet Pea single page Paradise layout.

This was the first of two single page layouts that made up my final class for Scrappers Paradise. This class was the last of the weekend and was a nice quick and simple layout so that the ladies could have another couple of layouts to add to their weekends work and a few spare minutes after the class to finish off their challenges and start the big pack up! I have used paper from the Sweetpea paper stack, stitched flowers and brown stitched ribbon. I have also added a few of the stitched circles amongst the flowers! I'll see you in the morning with my last layout for the show and tell! See you then xxx

Bella Bleu double page Paradise layout!

This was my second class for the paradise weekend .It was a double page layout using the Bella Bleu paper range and the Vintage Vogue stamp set. I designed it so that it could be flipped round and viewed from all different angles. It is quite feminine but you would only need to change the flowers to stars to make it masculine. I have the morning off this morning so had better scoot off and get some bits done before I go in. I will pop back in the morning with another Paradise layout using the Sweetpea paper pack. See you then! x

Paradise class Sunny Days mini book.

This was my first class that I taught first thing on Saturday morning, it is a triple double slider album designed by Andrea Walford.My word it was a complicated one!

It certainly frazzled a few brains, mine included, it is VERY complicated but we all managed to get it completed. This is how it looks when decorated. This is the back of the album, and this is the inside of the album with the three sections that flip up and down.

Sorry I didn't take a pic with the flaps out!!!! DOH It is made using the "Sunny Days" Simply Scrappin kit which is so bright & funky, I love it! I will be doing this class again at our July scrapclub in Crawley so get in touch if you would like to get more details or would like to come along! I'll be back tomorrow with my double page layout from Saturday afternoon. See you soon xxx

A weekend in Paradise..........

I have just had a wonderful weekend away teaching at Scrappers Paradise. I started off 6 years ago going as a delegate and after 3 times away I was asked along as a classroom assistant. After a while I was crowned the most useless teaching assistant in the world as I spent more time chatting, laughing and getting up to mishchief than assisting.........opps! I then kinda became part of the furniture and at the last couple I have been promoted to teaching, did I say promoted or arm twisted LOL! I love every minute of the weekends and have made wonderful friends in the process! I thought you would like to see a few pics........ This is the lovely Carol and Sally not sure what they are giggling about? Probably something rude;) here are the superstar scrap sisters, here's Kim concentrating hard! Sue, Kelly & Kirsty hardcore scrappin.........

& finally the Lovely Lorna who adds a little touch of sunshine where ever she goes.......... I have loads of pics but blogger is really playing up so apologies to those I have missed off! I have a lovely day planned today with hubby, including lunch with Mum & Dad and a lovely country walk! Hope the rain stays away!!!! I will be back over the next few days showing you the layouts that I created for the weekend. See ya soon xxx

Go Go Hampster fun!

I thought you would like to see a pic of Olive trying to catch herself a Go Go hampster. Arthur had already taken one half way down the garden......opps! I have sugested that my Nephew brings something else to play with next time he comes for the day!

Black & White!!!

I thought you may all like a peep at Helen's cards that she made for our craft day on Saturday, she is famous in the craft world for her stunning intricate designs and her clever use of peel offs! They are stunning aren't they! I will be back soon XXX

A little bit of Vintage Vouge...............

This was Helen's little gift wallet that she made for one of Saturdays create & takes. I wasn't too sure of this set as I'm not a very distressed vintagey kinda gal! I love this set though and it is so versatile. I am so sorry I have been AWOL this week, I have started my new job and although I am loving every second of it I am exhausted! So my posts may be a little sporadic for a while! See you soon xxx

Anyone for a Jelly Bean??????

This little tag was one of our make & takes at Helen's on Saturday. This is using the new SU treat cups! I was converted by Monica's ladybug make and take that we made at the SWU retreat so I thought I would have a go. It was quite fiddly getting the jelly beans in but worth it as I think they are really effective! The ladies really liked this project but I think there were more beans in mouths than treat cup!

Craft day at Helens

Well here are a couple of pics from my day yesterday with Helen. We all had a wonderful time, the sun was shining and everyone crafted to their hearts content! We were missing two as one was stuck in France due to the lack of flights and we had another lady with a poorly throat, they were both missed! Here is everyone at the end of the day making the make & takes; Is that Helen yawning? Bless her, she was really poorly with a sore throat, but she just about made it through the day!

I see that Janice escaped this picture.............

& finally, this is our super trooper tea lady! Thanks Sarah, we did let her craft for a little while but she had to sit on the naughty table! LOL

I will pop back tomorrow with a peek at a couple of the bits we made!

WOW LOOK AT THIS.........................

This is an Easter present that I received from the lovely Kelly & crew, have you ever seen anything so fantastic in your life! I'm not quite sure what I will put in it yet but it does have pride of place on my dining room table! I'm not sure if Julie reads my blog but if she does I will have to keep an eye on this giant beauty as it may be kidnapped for her cupcake class room........... I had better dash as I have my craft day with Helen Meighan today and I am running late!!!! I will pop back and show you some pics if I get a chance tomorrow! Toodlepip xxxx

My New Tattoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought you would like to see my new tattoo, it was drawn by my nephew! It is a dragon kissing me! Aren't I lucky! I start my new job on Monday, here's hoping it is off before then! Can't stay long as apparently I am off to play Go Go hamsters?!?!?!?

Chocolate & Vanilla Cupcake Tower!

As promised here is the cupcake tower that I made for Sue Marys 21+21+8 birthday party. Sorry that the pic isn't great, it was getting dark! They are vanilla cakes with pink vanilla frosting and chocolate cakes with chocolate frosting, all topped off with star, heart, butterfly and oval greeting toppers. You can't really see it from this pic but they are also sprinkled with edible glitter! Hope no one has samples to give this week! I guess the glitter has to come out some time! LOL She loved the cakes and I must admit I may have indulged in a chocolate one.................or two!!!! See you soon xxx

Forever Friends Happy Birthday Card

It was one of my friends special birthdays on Saturday (21+21+8 sounds better than 50 LOL) and she loves Forever Friends so this is the card that I made for her. I have used a FF embellishment and pink parfait papers. I haven't used FF products for ages and really enjoyed making this. She had a surprise party with all her friends and family and I made her a pink and brown cupcake tower! I'll be back to show you it tomorrow.

Last nights scrap club!

I thought you would like to have a peep at the layout that we made at last nights scrap club. A bit of a girly one for me, I have to use pics of my best mates beautiful daughter as I only have cats and my nephew to scrap! We have used Bella Bleu paper with Kraft, Bordering Blue & Very Vanilla card and Not Quite Navy & Bordering Blue ink. The stamp set is "Flight of the Butterfly" and has been used to death recently! I am also using this at a workshop on Saturday and am seeing butterflies in my sleep! We had such a lovely time last night, we have such a lovely bunch of ladies at our scrapclub, new members are always welcome, just email me for more details if you would like to come and join in with the fun. See you soon xxx

Lemon Meringue Pies............Yummy!!!!

I did promise you a little show and tell with my lemon meringue pies that I made yesterday! When making desserts I love doing them individually so that it feels like we have a whole one each LOL They really were yum yum pigs bum and everyone enjoyed them! Apart from Mr Wonka who doesn't like lemon meringue pies apparently which he announced at the dinner table whilst eating it, shame he didn't mentioned it earlier............I wouldn't have wasted one on him! LOL Be back tomorrow with the layout we are making at tonight's scrapclub.xxx

Stamp With Us Sketch Challenge

Wow these fortnights really go by fast!!! We are already at Stamp With Us challenge time. This week it is a sketch challenge and here is my card: I have used Bella Bleu with the Flight Of The Butterflies stamp set, I have been using this so much the last few weeks and still have another 4 classes to teach with it, I will be dreaming blue butterflies by the end of May!!!! Don't forget to pop over to the Stamp With Us blog and have a peep at the other DT's cards they are all fandabbiedozie! I have got to pop off, we have good friends coming to lunch today and have lots of jobs to do! I am making mini lemon meringue pies, I may give you a peep tomorrow!

Stamp With Us Retreat Make & Take

I thought you would like to have a little peep at my make and take for the Stamp With Us retreat.It is a 12"x12" kraft album with loads and loads of kraft pages inside. I am forever surfing the Internet, looking at magazines or fellow blogs and see things that I love and would aether like to recreate or to use for inspiration. This is the book where they all going to go! I am already filling it up nicely. The ladies really enjoyed decorating it and were looking forward to using it. I am off shopping this morning as we have a busy busy busy weekend! Same as usual then!!!!

Papertake Weekly Challenge

It has been a while since I have entered a challenge, I always used to enter the Papertake Weekly challenges so it has been lovely following Dawnys sketch! I have used a Penny Black stamp (boy do I miss these, I really must play with them more!) and a couple of retired Stampin' Up! papers. The little fishes are from the "Something Sweet" stamp set that has just been launched in the mini catalogue & the "5" is from my new "Schoolbook Serif" number stamps (thanks Nat! x). I have of course finished it off with the obligatory doodle! I must shoot as I am holding a craft day with my friend Helen next Saturday and we are sorting out all the finer details today! We are fully booked with a wait list for next time!!! HOW EXCITING! I will show you some pics the week after next! Have a lovely day & enjoy the sunshine! x

Ohhhhhh how exciting!

There is major excitement in the Stampin' Up! world with the announcement today of a shake up of the Standard Stampin' UP! colour families and individual colours.

This is great news for the UK as it means that we get 15 new colours AND we get the In-Colours that the US currently get - that will be 20 new colours to play with.

Now this isn't going to happen from today, but with the arrival of our main catalogue in October. So, I am just letting you know this now for a couple of reasons.

If you are building up your colour collections, you may want to take a look at the list above and only buy colours that are staying.

OR

If there is a colour that you love which will be retiring at the end of September, you've got six months notice to fill up on your inkpads, refills, cardstock colours before you won't be able to get it again.

Here is a better look at the colours that we will be saying farewell to in September:

This is all that we know at the moment but I will be able to share more information with you over the coming months once we know more. However, in the meantime, we've got six months left of the current catalogue and a BRAND NEW Mini Catalogue to get excited about.

Run Run as fast as you can! One Table Left!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG I can't believe the amazing response I have had for the second hand craft sale, I have ONE table left. All the details are HERE if you want to dash to grab it!

I will be reminding you all about the sale nearer the time as there are bound to be bargains galore!

See you soon x

Easter Egg Hunt!

Phew back to normality, I have had super Easter but a very tiring one, Good Friday we had tea with Mum, Dad & Gramps, Saturday we were on an Easter Egg hunt, Sunday we had one of my bestest friends and her family and Mum & Dad for the day then yesterday was my anniversary, lunch out with Mr Wonka and another set of my bestest friends, so busy but blissful!

Here are some of the Easter egg hunt with my nephew!

No stone was left unturned, Nanna did help him him on a couple of occasions as did his Mum and Dad! Larry Lamb was an excellent find, maybe at this years nativity he could take that instead of the dog he had under his arm last year! This was only a fraction of his haul, he did share it all out though even after that he has enough to last him until next Easter! Right I'm off to catch up on the washing, nip to the bank then Sainsburys! Oh what joy! xxx

Hot Cross Bun Cake & Happy Anniversary to me!

Mmmmmm I thought I would show you the delicious hot cross bun cake that I made for the Easter celebrations.

This is the first time I have attempted one and I am quite pleased with the result! It was YUM YUM PIGS BUM!

Only a quick post as it is my wedding anniversary today & I am off to lunch with the lovely Mr Wonka! I'm afraid I don't have an anniversary card to show you as I brought it from M&S (naughty wife icon inserted here!)

Have a lovely bank holiday & I'll be back soon xxx

Happy Easter!

I hope that you are all having a lovely Easter weekend and that you have had chocolate for breakfast which is an Easter Sunday tradition in our house. I thought this would be a great day to show you my Easter class that I made for the last retreat. It is using the "Good Egg" stamp set, and proved very popular with all the lovely ladies who attended, I think the chocolate egg that was provided may have swung them! LOL I hope that you enjoy the rest of your bank holiday and I will be back soon! x

Roll Up, Roll Up! Second Hand Craft Sale!

Whilst chatting to my friends we have established that we all have far toooooo much craft stuff, rather than spend hours and hours putting it all on ebay I have decided to hold a second hand craft sale (although knowing us crafters most things will be new and unused!).

WHERE: St Francis Church Hall, Horley, Surrey

WHEN: Saturday 8th May

TIMES: 10-3pm

We would love to see you all there. I still have a few tables left if people would like to come and try and sell their bits and bobs, the table for the day would be £10 , please email me if you are interested and would like any further information.

There will be the famous Mrs Wonkas cupcakes available in the refreshment area so all in all a fun day to be had!

I hope to see you all there, if you can't make it, please spread the word to your crafty friends! I will remind you again nearer the time.

Stamp With Us Birthday Bash online classes!

Can you believe that we are approaching our first birthday! To celebrate we are pleased to announce that Stamp With Us BIRTHDAY BASH online classes will start on Sunday May 2nd & booking is now officially open! We are so excited about this round, it will be full of fantastic projects and a great opportunity to catch up with all our crafty friends! Please read below as the costs have now changed for last minute sign ups! How do you join in? Well all you need to do is click on the Paypal button in the top right hand corner of this blog before the 18th April and pay the early bird fee of just £15, after the 18th April the cost of the online classes will rise to £20. What happens next? You will receive confirmation of your payment from us within 48 hours. Before the launch of the classes, you will receive an invite from us to join us on a secured website. Once you are approved as a paying member, you are given access to the site. You should immediately see a welcome message from us and more information showing your way around the site. Don't panic - it really isn't that difficult! What will you be getting? Starting on the 2nd May for just over two weeks, every day something new will be added to the site. That could be one of 10 PDF "How to" classes to download, a technique video to watch or we even have online chats and challenges which is where all the members get together on the site at the same (agreed / publicised) time and we all get chatting. We have so much fun and it is great to spend time with and interact with other people who really understand the "passion for paper and card". There may well be a few surprises and prizes along the way too. Why should you join in? Stamp With Us online is all about sharing our passion for Stampin' Up! products, so if you love stamping or Stampin' Up!, then what are you waiting for? They are great for fellow demonstrators as we are happy for our classes to be reproduced for your classes (obviously with credit to ourselves). If you haven't got many SU products then you can still join in as all the projects can be adapted so that you can use all of your existing products. SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? COME AND STAMP WITH US :)