Another Create And Craft Show!

I know this is going to be a bit early for some of you (myself included!) but I am scheduled to do a show on Create and Craft on Sunday morning the 15th at 9am.  Some of you might be thinking that I must have the times mixed up because those are always prerecorded shows at that hour.  But no, they are going to be doing live shows on the weekends early in the morning starting this coming weekend.  So I will be there bright and early Sunday morning (think about me as you are having a nice long lie-in). 
As you probably can guess, I will be demonstrating and showing our two new jungle stamp sets and the monkey stamps plate.  I just think these new designs by Samantha Poole are positively adorable.  While they aren't what I would classify as the type of stamps to show techniques, I do have a few fun techniques up my sleeve to show using them.  These stamps are quite easy to use and all the elements on the three plates work quite well together too.  Here are a couple of more sample cards that you can have a sneek peak at before the show on Sunday.  I will also be demonstrating distress inks, Cosmic Shimmer stackable watercolour paints and crystal lacquer.

I hope you like these sets as much as I do.  Please leave me your comments or questions.

All for now, Sue x

More Jungle Fun!

I've been having more fun with the new jungle animal stamp sets as you can see!  I hadn't made a tri-shutter card in ages so I thought it was about time to whip one up!  These adorable animals just work perfectly for this type of card.  My picture taking skills are somewhat lacking so you can't read the sentiment clearly but it says ''Don't sweat the petty things

and never pet the sweaty things!''

 I thought that was so funny I just had to have fun card to go with it!  This is a view from the top of the card so you can see how it criscrosses.

On another topic, I am taking a day tomorrow and heading to the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC to have a look around.  If you happen to see me there, please stop and say hello.  I would love to be able to meet my blog followers.  Everyone is always leaving such lovely comments, it would be wonderful to put faces (and bodies) to the names I see.  I will be there bright and early (probably at the very front of the queue!) I have been so looking forward to this show, I can hardly wait!

All for now, Sue x

It's The Simple Things...

I have to admit that I look forward to those days when I can just lock myself in my craft room for the day and have a play!  The stairstep card to the right is the result of just that kind of day.  I spent all day Saturday upstairs surrounded by my Distress Inks and Cosmic Shimmers and various other craft supplies and I was in heaven!  Like I said, it's the simple things in life.  I did make one or two other cards (including the one below) on Saturday, but I have to admit, this is the stairstep card that took up most of my day, with all the cutting and colouring!  I'm not sure if you can tell but there are three steps to this card and the monkey in front is swinging by a vine from the palm tree in the back section.  The jungle boy is supposed to have a net in his hand but I cut it out and made it look like he is catching the monkey on his swing to the front.

You'd think I have too much time on my hands from this. NOT!  But I did have too much fun!

Happy crafting, Sue x

Back To Cutesy For Awhile

I've had a blast stamping with my leaves for the past few weeks, but Particraft has just released a few new stamp sets including this jungle themed set and another set with the cutest monkeys.  I just had to have a play with them this week.  I am completely in love with the giraffe, myself, but the hippo is running a close second!  These have been drawn by Samantha Poole, who has done quite a few stamp plates lately including the three Stylish Christmas plates (which, by the way, are featured in a sample on the cover of one of the stamping magazines that comes out this week!) 

There is another plate to be released soon that is also jungle themed to go along with these as part of the same sets so they can mix and match and will work beautifully together.   If you liked the leaves, then these may not be your cup of tea, but you have to admit, they are real darn cute!  Makes you smile, huh?
All for now, Sue x

What A Weekend!

Saturday, I helped Sheena Douglass with her workshop that she held at the Particraft Headquarters in Kettering.  I was the chief baker for the event.  Several of the ladies that attended have asked for the recipe for some of the cookies that I made.  So I told them that I would post it on my blog.  They are called ''Chippy Dippy Bars'' but Sheena has nicknamed them the ''Evil Cookies.''   I have told many people that they are extremely easy to make, but the ingredients are difficult to find as it is a recipe I brought with me from the States.  The only place that I know of that you can find some of the necessary ingredients is the American Foods online or they have a shop in the Milton Keynes shopping centre called ''Let's Eat.''

So here goes:  Melt 1/4 cup butter or margarine and drizzle it in a cookie sheet that has a lip edge to it.  Next crush grahamcrackers into crumbs  (from Let's Eat) and spread over butter until there are no ''wet'' spots left.  About a cup or so is needed.  (I personally want to try this with crushed hob nobs, but I haven't yet!)  Next spread one bag of Nestle butterscotch chips (from Let's Eat) over the crumbs.  Next spread the same amount of milk chocolate chips.  Next chop one cup walnuts and spread over entire sheet of the chips.  Next spread one bag of Baker's brand angel flake coconut (from Let's Eat) over the walnuts. A quick note, American coconut is quite different from English coconut, so do not try to substitute this.   Lastly drizzle one can of sweetened condensed milk over the entire sheet, trying to cover all the coconut as evenly as possible.  Bake at about 150 degrees C for about 25 to 30 minutes.  The edges will brown quicker, so watch, you may have to turn the temp. down a bit.  Cool completely, cut into squares.

Sunday was supposed to be Sheena's show on Create and Craft at 5pm.  She spent the weekend at our house with the workshop on Sat. and then the show.  But, she woke up Sunday morning and wasn't feeling very well.  We decided she might feel a bit better if she had a little nap, but that only gave her a little relief for a short time.  So it was about 1 pm by then and we thought maybe I could go with her to the show and be there in case she became more poorly.  Another 30 minutes, however, and she was very ill  so I had to step in and try to learn her demos for the show.  So for those of you that tuned in expecting Sheena's lovely demos and techniques, I do apologise.  I just feel bad for not only Sheena, but Karen Lines spent so much time making many of the lovely window card samples and due to a very limited counter space issue, most of them weren't even shown!    I did get to meet Joanna Sheen in the green room prior to the show and what a lovely lady she is!  Hopefully, Sheena will be back up and running soon and she can do a proper job showcasing the window and tissue box samples.  Thanks for allowing me to "play'' Sheena for a day.   It was fun!

Happy Crafting, Sue x

Having A Play!

I have been having a good time today preparing for my last minute show tomorrow morning on Create and Craft tv.  I can't quite decide which of the big and Juicy pads that I like best.  The card on the right is the original one that I demoed using the Spice coloured pad and the card on the left is the same card using the new ''Foliage'' coloured pad that is on the show tomorrow morning.  What do you think?

I also had a go at the other card that I brayered and then used the gold mica powder and gold embossing powder on it.  The new pad has been used on the card on the left and the one on the right is from the first show.  The colours are a tad bit warmer in the new one but I think that using either pad for this card works a treat!

I haven't had a great deal of preparation time for this show but I have got four or five demos planned.  I would love if one of my blog followers would send an email.  It's really nice to know that anyone is watching!

Wish me luck!  All for now, Sue x

Surprise, Surprise!

  I want to say a great big thanks to everyone who has emailed me with wonderful comments about my show last week.  Some had asked when I was to on Create and Craft next.  My answer was that I did not have anything scheduled at this time, but keep checking the blog and I would post about any upcoming shows. I had just finished sending out email replies when,  not ten minutes later, Ideal World  contacted us about doing another autumn leaves show on Create and Craft!  Talk about Murphy's law!  I am now scheduled for another show this Wednesday morning the 21st at 8am. (Anyone watching that early?)  This will be a bit on the impromptu in the way of the demos as I usually have several weeks to have a play and decide on them.  Basically one day to get them ready!  No pressure there, huh?!

   I am going to be using a brand new Big and Juicy pad that we just got in stock on Friday called "Foliage".  There are only a limited number of these for the show, however.  Don't worry if they do sell out on the show, we have some that will be available through the Particraft website.  They will need a day or so to go in to the system, but should certainly be there by Wednesday.  And remember, all UK orders through the Particraft website
are now p & p free!

   Thanks again for everyone's support.  All for now, Sue x