About Me

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Hi, I'm Pam and thank you for visiting my blog. I have been making cards for over 10 years and am an independent demonstrator for Creative Expressions. I am lucky enough to teach on cruise ships and also get the chance to demo at The Big Stamping and Scrapbooking Show at Alexander Palace. I run workshops for a local craft shop and if anyone would like details of the them please e-mail me at stephen.smith870@ntlworld.com I love to scrapbook but my all time favourite thing is to get messy with ink!

Wednesday 25 September 2013

WOYWW

Good morning all and happy WOYWW.

After prepping all the demo's for Ally Pally, doing the show and coming home with bags of stash, I thought I should tidy up a bit to make more room!  It still doesn't look much different but at least I've put all my dies on magnetic sheets now!


So, on my desk today are the new Teresa Collins papers from Creative Expressions, some Studio 490 stamps and an arched wall hanging (also Studio 490).  There's some acrylic paint and the usual Archival inkpads as well.

So what was I up to?  Well, I was sent a set of stamps to make a project for the Creative Expressions Design Team call as I had made it onto the shortlist.  After much searching under the table and in various cupboards, I finally located my mojo and came up with this.



Even if I don't get on the team I had a lot of fun making this.  I've used Summer Meadow Gilding Flakes on it and the stamps are from the "Belle of the Ball" A5 set.  The flowers were made using the stamp in the previous picture.

It's my turn on the Creative Studios Design Team blog today and here's my take on the challenge that was set by Sam.  We had to use the "Wise Friend" set and something from the Halloween stamps.  Great fun to do, I love a challenge!!  All of the step by step pictures and instructions are on the Creative Studios blog.  Just go to the link on the right for Sam Poole.


Lastly, thanks to everyone who came and said "Hi" at the show.  It's lovely to put faces to names. 
I'll try and get round as many desks as possible this week, hopefully more than last week...that was a bit of a disaster!
Many thanks for your visit and comments.

Wednesday 18 September 2013

WOYWW

Good Morning All and happy WOYWW!

It's nearly that time of year again, Ally Pally is this weekend and so I'm busy prepping demo's hence the state of my desk.  It's my excuse and I'll use it if I want to!


After I took this photo I did finish the card and here it is in all it's glory.



I've used one of the new Christmas Bauble stamps from Creative Expressions with the ultra fine glitter.  It doesn't really show up very well in the photo but there's lots of bling on this one!

It's also my DT day on the Creative Studios blog and I'm in Halloween mode again.  I've used one of Sam Poole's new stamp designs and had a ball making this one.  I've put the full step by step on the design team blog.


In other news, the kitten has settled in well, he loves cuddles and playing with all the new toys he's been bought!  I still can't understand how anyone could have dumped him in a sealed cardboard box but I guess it was his lucky day.  He's at the vet's at the moment having another check-up before getting his vaccinations.  I'll miss him when my daughter moves out but I do have full kitten-sitting rights!  News update...kitten back and medically fit!  His age, they now think, is between 8 & 12 weeks....I thought he was small for 15 weeks.

The blog candy is still there, I'm really hoping I can send it to someone soon! 

Thank-you to all the lovely ladies who came to the workshop at the weekend, it was slightly chaotic but, I hope you agree, good fun!  The next one is in November (dates on the sidebar). 

Hope to see some of you at the weekend, come over and say hello.  Many thanks for visiting today and leaving comments.  I'll try my best to visit as many as possible of you over the next couple of days.

Thursday 12 September 2013

Ally Pally

It's nearly that time of year again and I'm busy making samples for the demo's at Ally Pally.  It's such a great show and I do love working with Sue Wilson on her Rubbernecker stand.  I'm very flattered that she lets me loose with the great goodies that I get to demo with.

I thought I'd do some demo's on making your own backgrounds so here's one of them (just in case you can't get there!)


The stamps are from the Shabby Chic range by Sam Poole at Creative Studios.

Other news from Creative Expressions is that I've made it onto the shortlist for their 2013 Design Team so I'm VERY excited!  Even if I don't make it all the way, it's great to have got this far.

Now onto something completely different.  My daughter got out of her car and was walking along when she heard a noise coming from a very wet cardboard box.  She looked inside and found a tiny kitten which had been abandoned.  Sam brought it home (after taking it to the vets for a check-up and checking for a chip) and it's now the most spoilt kitten in the UK!


The vet thinks that he is about 15 weeks old.  He is the sweetest, most trusting little thing and it makes my blood boil that anyone could treat an animal like that.  I hope they have a conscience but I doubt it.  Anyway, he is now a very happy, contented kitten which has been named "Gonzo" and is off to the vets again on Saturday for his vaccinations.  At least this kitten's story has a happy ending.
I feel better now I've got that off my chest!!

That's it for today, I'll be back soon with some more backgrounds.  Many thanks for looking and leaving comments...it's always nice to know someone is reading this!!  Happy crafting.

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Back from the Fjords!

Good Morning All, I'm back from my little jaunt up the Norwegian Fjords and very relaxing it was!  Not so much for the OH as he had to work.  I say work but he was singing and playing the guitar and giving talks on the funny side of Country and Western music.  I, of course, made myself useful by acting as his "roadie".

When I got home yesterday there was a lovely parcel of new goodies to play with sent by the fab Sam Poole of Creative Studios.  So, I put the washing on and got straight to work!
Here's what I came up with.


As usual, I've done a full step by step tutorial on the Creative Studios Design Team Blog so I won't duplicate it here. The skull would be great for a teenage boy birthday card as well as a Halloween card....it would certainly appeal to my grandson!

And so finally for this morning, here's a picture a took on the cruise.


The photo was taken in Jondal, it was stunningly beautiful and so tranquil.  I could have spent a week there just watching the river and the mist rolling up the mountains!

Anyway, I've got another project under way and want to get back down to the studio and finish it today.  Then it's sorting out the tools and inks for the workshop on Saturday (which I've just heard has sold out...thank you all for coming!)
Many thanks for visiting and leaving comments,
Until next time....keep crafting!

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Norwgian Fjords, here we come!

Good Morning Bloggers!

Just a quick one today as we'll be heading to the cruise terminal in an hour for a working cruise to Norway.  It's only a week's cruise and I'm not working this one, just sitting back and watching the OH strut his stuff on the stage!
That's not to say I haven't been working hard!  To be able to go away I've had to prep for 15 workshops for a cruise in November which are now all finished so that's 750 packs put together.  I reckon I deserve a week off!

I've scheduled a post for the Creative Studios blog for tomorrow with my usual step by step pictures and instructions but here's a sneak preview of the card.


I thought I'd give everyone a rest from the Xmas cards while the weather is so glorious.  The camera stamp would be great for scrapbook layouts as well as cards.  The other stamps are from the Vintage Photography A5 stamp set by Sam Poole.

I'm so glad you all enjoyed the ribbon tutorial, hope it was clear enough to follow.

So, until next time, have a fab week and don't forget that Ally Pally is coming up this month.  The blog candy is still there, just need 28 more followers and I'll draw a winner.

Happy crafting!