Craft Stamper and painted backgrounds

Hi all

Have you got the March issue of Craft stamper magazine?


If not why not? It is full of inspiring techniques to use in all your crafting plus it has an article by a certain someone on creating your own painted and stamped scrapping paper :) so go grab it while you can before the new issue hits the shelves on the 4th of March .... Run .... Run like the wind LOL

I hope you're well and happy, I'll be back soon with a Banana Frog project of the day funnily enough on the 4th so until then as ever Happy Crafting
Love
M x

PS Are you going to the stitch and craft show at Olympia later in the month? Would you like to join me for a scrapbooking workshop? Book up a class (a unique class with my own, one off scrapping paper) and come see me I'll be there and I will have a stand ... I'll let you know the number soon and may even have that elusive carousel DIY project for sale :) Love M x

That was the show that was!!!

Hi Cyber buddies!! I've finally stolen some time to check in with you all after my return from The Stitch and Craft show at London Olympia. I had a BLAST!!! I met so many lovely and wonderful people and had fabulous workshops, wow! there are some talented people out there and I was inspired by all the different interpretations of my classes!

For this post I thought I would share pictures of my booth with you all ...




Ready for the off ... poor FiFi packed to the hilt!



Here's my naked booth and as you can see I was in good company with the lovely Shimelle as my next door neighbour



The half way point .... I was flagging! We had to get up a flight and a half of stairs after walking across the car park to get everything in!



TaDa! the finished article

And now for some close ups .....





















....And just to prove I was there LOL

I had the most wonderful email from one of my workshoppers, the lovely Yvette made my day with her kind words and I LOVE the finished layout she made from my class



I also got to meet one of my best cyber buddies Amanda, a most talented crafter in her own right!



And that's it 4 very hectic days of my life, and I'd do it all again tomorrow!

Since I got back I have been working on my Scrapping angel retreat classes, a Banana Frog project of the day and some other stuff that I will share soon.
I also had a fabulous workshop at Bee Crafty before I went to London, taught, without being there, at the Crafty Stash crops (clever me LOL) and still have to share the spellbinders projects I did for creative expressions!!! So lots more pretty pictures on my next visit which will be after the weekend of 2 funerals and a 21st birthday hmmmm sounds like a film!!

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to become a follower, leave a comment and be in for a chance at my 'I've got a brand new blog' giveaway full of goodies including Banana Frog goodness and Glitzy gorgeousness!

I hope you're well and happy and until I *see you* next time happy crafting :)

Love
M x

Olympia!!!

Hi cyber buddies .... I have no idea where this week has gone!

There is a lot to catch up on but it may just have to wait until after the Stitch and Craft show at Olympia this week. I am in the throws of preperations for the show which starts on Thursday 18th March, yes this week!!! and runs until Sunday.

So are you going??? I hope to see you there. Come and say Hi at my booth FM01. I have some of my DIY projects for sale at show prices, some of my work on display and if you fancy a class I have 2 workshops a day Arty Memories, a scrapbook class at 11 am on each of the 4 days and Funky greetings, an interactive card class at 2.45pm again on each of the 4 days .... I'd love to see you! Would you like a sneak peak? Ok shhhhhh between you and me OK?!

Arty Memories scrapbook class

(a Girly version)



(a Boy version)



Funky Greetings card class

two interactive cards





and both workshops are FULL of Glitzy goodness!

I will be back ASAP and will of course be taking lots of pictures at the show to share, oh and I am having an 'I've got a brand new blog giveaway' All you have to do to win a package of lovely goodies from the new Glitz paper lines, Purple Cows and Banana Frog is to become a follower and leave a comment at the Art Tart, right here, right now ..... Shimples LOL A winner will be picked at random on April 1st (after midday GMT LOL)

So I'll see you at Olympia, don't be shy, say hello!
I hope you're all well and happy and I'll *see you* soon until then happy crafting

Love
M x

PS There's a blog hop happening over at the ranch giddy up and join in the fun and win a prize aswell as getting lots of inspiration along the way from the cow girls!

A wish to be a better blogger!

Well I don’t know where the time has gone since our last visit!!!! I just seem to be chasing myself coming back at the moment. BUT I will not complain, all’s good and I am happy (if not a little frayed around the edges LOL) So before I go further I will apologise for yet another epic post from me, I do have the good intentions of little and often but don’t seem able to put that into practice!!

Some of you may also notice my colourful background has gone … while it made me smile at the time I decided it was a little bright and distracting so I will remain a plain Jane until just the right thing finds me :)

In my last post I said I was in Yorkshire at my parents retrieving Stanley Dervish, well, we finally made it home through the blizzards, I couldn’t believe there was more white stuff!!! We’re glad to have him home although I know he misses his sister!

When I got back I had to prep my class for the Barncrafters crop, and I had a great time with all the lovely ladies there



We made birdhouses and I loved seeing all the different versions. This one was made by Annie and is just awaiting it’s bling. I love the colours



And this one was made by Julia who was at the Bee Crafty workshop the week before. Thanks for sharing Julia I love it!



It’s great how everyone adds there own creative touches to one of my DIY projects!

I also posted this months offering on the It’s a creative world blog for the Simple things project. This months prompt was Simplicity





And after my trip to Mexico I used it as the inspiration for this little fold out mini book/art journal in which I tried to record the simplicity of life over there



Go and check out all the IACW girls’ projects. I love them all, such a wide and varied take on one word! (Click on the simple things logo on the right to take you right to the project posts) Why not play along too!

I managed to fit in a trip to Stitches last weekend. The trade show at the NEC and met up with some old friends and met new ones too including finally meeting the lovely Jane Dean and the super talented Karen Burniston.

I had another Lilypad lesson over at Banana Frog.



As ever hop on over to the blog for a full step by step of the project. Keep an eye on the Lilypad, lots of exciting things are happening and don’t forget Bev has returned to retail so you can buy ALL the fab Banana Frog stamps right there!

I’ve also had quite a few projects published over at the Purple Cows ranch







This is a wall hanging created with Clear scraps acrylics and lovely Cosmo Cricket papers



A laminated organiser, I made one of these for myself too and I can tell you I couldn’t be without it!



And a laminated fishing game …. Oh such fun! Pop on over to see Sadie Purple cow and you can get full PDF instructions for all the projects for free, and not just mine but all the cow girls projects! There’s lots of things happening at the ranch at the moment and I’m thrilled to be working with Design Objectives in bringing the cow to the UK in a big way. You are going to love the freestyle trimmer (I do) and the UK version of their fabulous laminator …. Watch this space!

I’ve also been getting creative for creative expressions and helping Sheena with some demonstrations for Create and craft this week. I got to play with lots of new spellbinders dies as well as the gorgeous cosmic shimmers watercolour paints … you see I told you I can’t complain about being busy … I’m a lucky crafter and love working with all the great companies that have me along to play!

Oh and in amongst all this I put on my old hat as stage manager and worked hubby’s show at the Bristol Hippodrome last Friday. He had a great time …. And so did the audience! And he has me coming out of retirement AGAIN next week as he is doing an anniversary show in his home town.

At the moment I am getting ready for my workshops at Olympia later in the month. I’m also designing my stand so it looks pretty, please pop by and see me at the show. I’m also getting ready for my full day workshop with the lovely Sue at Crafty Stash … that’s going to be a great day!!!

Ok I’m done waffling and you’re all up to date now …. Phew! So all that remains for me to say is

And finally …… (it’s been a while LOL)



Stanley and his sis Ruby



Stanley is home!!!!



Stanley helping my hubby unwrap his birthday presents!!!

Ok cyber buddies thanks for trawling through this epic, who knows my wish to be a better blogger may come true and I’ll be back soon…. But no promises!!!! I hope you’re all well and happy, thanks for stopping by and until soon happy crafting ;)

Love
M x

Home, jet lag and Creativity Knocks!

Hi Cyber buddies I am back in Blighty!!!! Well I’ve been back since Monday night actually but jet lag and catching up with meetings and deadlines has taken up my time but I thought it was high time I stopped by to say hello and share some ‘stuff’ with you!

So 1st I’ll share a quick whistle stop tour of the rest of my FABULOUS Mexican holiday!



I topped up on creativity in Playa Del Carmen



We did have rain … and I mean rain! Wow those tropical storms are amazing so what else was a girl to do but go downtown to visit the craft and material shops ….. oh! the ribbon and lace :)



We spent a fabulous day topping up on some Mexican culture and spirit at Xcaret



We took another trip to Isla Mujeres and had a great time driving round it on a golf buggy. We went to the art garden and temple Ixchel, then sat and drank cocktails looking at it before this happened ….



Yep another storm coming and believe me when I say we nearly drowned on that golf buggy! …. Hilarious!
And in between all those events we ate good food in the Palapa Belga, and lots of other restaurants. Drank beer on the beach, swam, chilled and laughed …. FABULOUS!!!!!



Then we came home … HOW PIGGIN COLD???????? Not a great pic but it makes me laugh! I haven’t been warm since I got back!!!! That’ll teach me!

And so Adios or should I say Hasta Luego Mexico and Hello Blighty and back to creativity! Oh how I have missed you …. And I have a head fit to burst with creative ideas following all the Mexican influence and CHA to boot! 1st up is …..



My Lily pad lesson (formerly known as Stamp School, Lily pad lesson sounds so much more fun don’t you think?) and it can be found on the Banana Frog blog here with step by step destructions as always! Did you enter the DT call???? If you did good luck, if not if you’re a speedy stamper go for it deadline is tomorrow (14th) New things coming at the lily pad too, all exciting stuff so stay tuned!



Today I taught the first of my monthly workshops for 2010 at Bee Crafty



We did my birdhouse project and had such a great day. All the ladies that attended were lovely and were great with me when the pesky jet lag hit LOL Thanks all for making it a great day and to the lovely girls at Bee Crafty ….. I love coming to see you. There are still places available for next months Putting on the Glitz workshop, book quickly!

I’ve been working on my visit to Olympia for the craft and stitch show. Got your tickets??? If not visit here and get them cheaper than on the door and while you’re there book up for one of my workshops. I am doing one at 11am and one at 2.45pm every day of the show 18th-21st March. If you can’t make a workshop please drop by my booth and say hi, I’ll give you a stand number soon :)

And lastly!!!!



Remember the video I told you I filmed at CHA? Presenting the oh so fabulous Purple Cows freestyle mouse kit (soon to be available in the UK watch out for freebies :)) Well it is now live on the creativity knocks website eek!!!! Please pop over and take a peek here. It will stop and start as you download and then will play straight through and while you’re there PLEASE register on the site, it’s quick and painless and once you’ve done that PLEASE give Purple Cows your vote in the Great Tool Hunt, it really is a SUPERB tool (and besides you’ll earn me brownie points with the bosses :)) Go on you know you want to!!!!

Ok cyber buddies before you fly off to Creativity Knocks I’ll say a quick goodbye, I have a workshop with the awesome Sheena Douglass tomorrow yay me!!!! And as of Tuesday, for all of you that have moved house with me from my website blog to here my ‘and finally’s’ will be back as I am going to fetch our adorable and much missed Stanley Dervish home form his holidays with my parents and Ruby his sister in Yorkshire …. Can’t wait!

Thanks for stopping by ….. I will endeavour to be back more regularly as ‘normal life’ (whatever that is!!) gets under way so my posts won’t be so epic LOL
Hope you’re all well and happy and until soon ‘happy crafting!’

Love
M x