More Show Samples

Since I've been bad and haven't had a chance to update the blog candy for the next contest, I thought I'd better post something.  So here are a few more of the samples from the show on Monday.  There were several that didn't get shown so I  thought I'd stick them up here in case anyone who purchased the stamp sets might want to see them.  The first one is the only real Christmassy sample that I did.  It used the more traditional colours from the paperpack on the show.  I cut the snowflakes from a Spellbinders die that I had and I used white gloss card for them to give them a real shiny look.    The second card I had a bit of fun with too.  I cut the paper from the paperpack into a few long strips and folded it accordian style to create a ruffle look around my nestibility.  Do you recall the faux suede technique from my wine stamp show?  Well the two black flowers on the card were made using card that I turned into faux suede.  The picture doesn't do them justice, they are so soft to touch though. 

The third card is one of my favs.  I just love this paper with it's little circles, so much fun!  It just goes with everything too.  I had a little play with these two guys below, added a  flower made from the new paper, some ribbon, nestibilities,  pearl embellishments and punches to complete the card.

This last card is the sample from the shaving cream technique demo I did.  What fun it is to do!  If you have never had a go at this technique and don't know where to start, let me know.  I would be willing to work up a step by step tutorial if enough people haven't seen this before.  We will have men everywhere across England hiding their shave cream from us crafters!  Be afraid, be very afraid men!

Well I am hoping that this will buy me a few more days so I can get a proper blog candy contest prize together that is suitable for the next contest that will be drawn when we reach the magical number of 1000 followers!  Remember, you still get an extra entry into the contest when you leave me a comment so that I know you have stopped by the blog.  Happy crafting, Sue x

Penguins and Polar Bears for Monday

  If you think that it is just too soon to even think about Christmas, then look away now!  If, on the other hand, you are one of the brave souls out there willing to tackle the task of Christmas cards well ahead of time so that you can relax and enjoy the holidays, then this post is for you.  Christmas in June is the theme on Create and Craft / Ideal World and my show is on Monday the 28th at 6pm on Ideal World.  I am showing these two adorable stamp sets filled with penguins, polar bears and even a darling skater gal.  I think they are the perfect stamp sets  for those of you that like the idea of getting everything done early but can't actually face the traditional Christmas themed stamps yet.  If you do fit into this category, I give you Winter Fun and North Pole Friends.  I so love the cute stamps and these are right up my alley. 

Here are a few of the samples for the show.  I just love these dancing polar bears and the seal having a liitle peek at them!  One of my favourite new techniques is ribbon ruffling like I've done on this card.  I am hoping to have all of England's crafters doing it soon!  Tall task, but I'm up for it!

The second card is a fav also as I just love these cute little penguins!  There is a great paperpack on the show and I've used some of it on both of these cards.  Add a few nestibilities, some ribbon and flowers and you have yourself an adorable card!  Not traditional Christmas, but I love them.  Let me know what you think?  All for now, Sue x

It's Winner Time Again!

I can't believe that it's time to draw another blog candy winner already!  It seems to have come around quite quickly this time.  Actually it's three winners.  As usual I will start with the third prize winner, then second and finally the grand prize winner.  If your name isn't drawn this time, don't despair, remember we will start a new candy contest and you are still entered to win each time.

Without further delay, the winner of the third prize candy is......................
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......................Christine B.

The winner of the second prize candy is........................................
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......................Sam21ski

And finally, the winner of the first place grand prize candy is................................................................
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Mustavcoffee!!!!!

I need all the winners to email me to confirm their  addresses so I may send their prizes off to them please.  The candy is rolling on and we will be drawing again when we reach 1000 (there may even be a special prize for that candy draw so keep watching this space).  All for now, Sue x

Saturday At The Workshop

            What fun we had Saturday at the workshop I taught using Sam Poole's Vintage Wine stamps.  We had a full house for my first workshop in Kettering.  I think everyone involved really had a great time getting inky and generally up to their elbows in crafting fun.  I know I had a blast and I am already planning the next one!  We finished four cards all with different techniques.  Everyone there got to take home the stamp set we used so I am sure that their creative juices will be flowing after having an all day play with them.  Here are just a few of the pics that were taken during the day.  All for now, Sue x

Exciting News!

I have some exciting news to tell everyone.  We are carrying a brand new line of ink and paint products called Eco-green which are environmentally friendly.  The woman responsible for this incredible new line is Julia Andrus and she is coming here next week to premiere the line on Create and Craft TV.  Julia has quite an extensive background in the crafting industry as she developed the clear perfect medium pads that we carry from Ranger as well as the perfect pearls line of products.  Julia has been published widely in magazines and books, of which my favourite is her book called Paper Transformed because it covers so many techniques that I use everyday!  Julia will be in the C & C studio on Thursday the 17th for two shows at 9am and 11am and then again on Friday for one show at 11am.  If you get a chance to watch her demo, she is amazing.  I sat mesmerized for over an hour watching her at the CHA wholesale show earlier this year.

I have more news too.  I have just been given another show to do on Create and Craft myself.  This one is scheduled for June 28th at 6pm.  I've been hard at work making samples for this show, but I don't think I can show any of them yet.  The reason is that the show is for their Christmas in June upcoming theme!  I know, I know!  I can hear everyone saying UGH!  We have just barely gotten the memory of all the snow out of our minds from earlier in the year!  I'm hoping you will watch the show anyways, but I think I will just post a few more of my wine samples in the meantime and hopefully work up to the ones for the show next week!  Hope you enjoy! 

The first card was made using a technique called ghosting which is one of the techniques that I am teaching in my upcoming workshop.  The topper was made using the mosaic technique.  For the second card, I had a bit of fun with the Cosmic Shimmer aurora embossing powders in an assortment of colours.  I've also used some of our new paper line on this card, but I've covered it with the wine stain stamp so it is difficult to get a good look at it.  I'd love to hear your comments.  All for now, Sue x

The New Blog Candy Prize!

Here it is ladies and gentlemen!  A great big new load of crafting goodies and so much fun for one of you lucky followers to win!  All you have to do to enter the contest to win this is to become a follower and add yourself to the list to the right.  Then send me an email with your contact details.  If you have a blog and put a link on it to the Particraft blog, then you will get an extra entry in to the contest.  If you show me that you have been following the blog by leaving comments after each post I make, you will also win extra entries.  You can make the odds tilt in your favor with a little extra work on your part.  There is also a second and third prize winner that will receive stamps sets too.

This blog candy includes six A5 stamp sets, a non stick craft mat, a large 200ml container of clear Ultra Thick embossing powder, a Tim Holtz grungeboard set, crystal lacquer five colour set, distress ink, black archival ink pad, a large bottle of clear crystal lacquer, a distress crackle paint, an Adirondack ink pad, Cosmic Shimmer embossing powder set, Cosmic Shimmer watercolour set, a mounted stamp, cosmic shimmer glue, and fancy pants buttons.  All in all, a whole lotta loot!!

We will draw the winners when we reach 900 followers so tell your friends, families, coworkers  and crafting buddies all about it.  The more people you bring, the faster we get there.  Let me know what you think.  All for now, Sue x

A Few More Wine Samples

Here are a couple more wine card samples but this time they have been made using the images from the second plate of stamps called Wine Labels.  This set will be part of the the multi buy and it will be shown on Monday's show for the first time.  These stamps are lovely and have been designed by Sam Poole to go together nicely with her Vintage Wine set. 

Just a little teaser about the show on Monday, not only is it a premiere for this new stamp set, but they are also going to be offered as scrolled stamp sets.  That means that the rubber has already been mounted to U mount and the images have been cut out so all you need to do is peel away the backing paper and put them on your acrylic block to stamp them!  How easy is that!  All the work has been done for you so you can get right in there and have a play once you receive them!

I have really enjoyed having a play with these as they lend themselves to so many styles and techniques.  These two samples lean more towards a softer less grungey look, but I love that you can get both distinct looks from the same stamp sets.  More value for your money!  Let me know what you think of the different styles. Favor the grungey or do you lean towards the more elegant look in a card?  Love to know!

As I have been frantically getting everything ready for the show, I haven't had a chance yet to put together the new blog candy prize.  Don't worry, the contest marches on and hopefully I will be able to show the pic of the new prize in a few days.  Remember, you get extra entries for leaving comments so that I know you have been here.  All for now, Sue x

Winners and A Wine Sample!

I am about the draw the names of the blog candy winners for this contest.  So if your name isn't drawn, then maybe you will enjoy seeing another vintage wine sample so it won't be a complete loss, right? I have really enjoyed creating with this stamp set so I may have to bore you with more samples of them in the coming week or so (no complaining now!)

Anyways, without further ado, I will announce the winners of the blog candy contest, starting with the third place winner.  The name of the person winning third prize is............................................................................................................
Karen T.

Second place goes to............................................................................
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Wellington

The first place grand prize winner goes to.........................................
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Amanda (dog avatar)

Thanks for everyone who has become a follower and played along.  There will be a new blog candy starting soon.  To the winners, please email me your contact info to confirm your shipping addresses (I won't be in the office until Monday, though, just to let you know).  All for now, Sue x

Create and Craft Wine Show Coming up!

Since my computer is playing nice with me this morning and allowing me to upload a few pictures, I thought I'd show you a few of the cards that I have made from the vintage wine stamp set.  This is the set that I will be using in my June workshop.  By the way, there are only a few spaces left for the workshop so if you are interested, please book quickly.
The first card features a crackle background technique that uses product from a new Eco Green line that we are carrying now.  It is simply fab and really adds to the vintage look of this card I think.  The grapes were stamped on a piece of  broken press wood board in case you are trying to figure out what it is.

These stamps are incredibly easy to use and they really lend themselves to virtually every stamping technique out there.  These two cards have a rather arty, grunge style, but I have made several other that are quite elegant and they are quite effective too. 

I am scheduled to do a show on Create and Craft with them on Monday May 31st at 11am so if you like what you see, please tune in and you can see the rest of the samples that I've made with them.  Just a few sneak peeks for now, though.  Please let me know what you think.  Happy stamping, Sue x

Workshop Date and Details!

I am having an all day workshop on Saturday June 19th from 9:00 to 5:00 open to all.   The workshop will be based on the wine plate shown here and each person that attends will receive their own set of scrolled stamps to use that day and take home with them (as well as their lovely creations from the day of course!)  We will be doing four cards with an additional one planned depending on the time. (If we don't get that far, the card packet and instructions will be there to take home).  Each card will be technique based and you will learn different and varied ideas that can be used with other stamps in your collection.  The workshop will be held at our premises on Kettering and the warehouse will be open for shopping before the class begins, during the lunch break and after the class is over.  The warehouse is seldom open to the public so this is an incredible chance to come and see and play!  The cost of the workshop is 50 pounds for the day and as stated, the scrolled stamp set is yours as part of the cost of the workshop.  If you would like to attend, but already own this set, then bring it on the day and you will be given a voucher for another stamp set of your choice.  Tea, coffee and water will be available throughout the day as well as home baked cookies and treats, but there are no food services available on the weekends so you will need to bring a sack lunch with you. The warehouse is located at Vernon Court, Henson Way, Telford Industrial Estates, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8PX.  The Kettering train station is only minutes away and we can arrange for you to be picked up at the station  (and dropped off after the class) if you like also.  Space is limited so you will need to book by emailing me at sales@particraft.co.uk  or calling me at 07825 380422 or 01536 514770.  If you would like to attend but cannot for scheduling conflicts, drop me an email and let me know as we will add another workshop on Sunday the 20th if there is enough interest.  If you have any questions, please email me or leave a comment and I will get back to you. All for now, Sue x

Coming Soon! An All Day Workshop

Just a little teaser to let you know

 that I am going to be holding an all day workshop soon. 

Keep watching the blog as the details will be released 

 in the next day or so!

As promised for now, a few more pics from the under

water life samples.  I just love that diver, he has such personality, doesn't he?!   On the first card he is suspended from a piece of acetate from the top of the card

so he moves when you hold the card.

On the dolphin card, I used a piece of acetate to overlay the card, but I ran it through my wizard in an embossing folder to get the texture that you see.  I really liked the effect.  It does obscure the background a bit though, where I tore pieces of different coloured card to create an ocean type scene.  I used the new ''glints'' both on the four corners of the diver card below and I used the large clear glint to magnify the ''Oceans of love"' text on the dolphin card.  They are very versatile embellishments as they both magnify and they accept alcohol ink to colour them to make your project.  I hope these have given you some inspiration!

All for now, Sue x

A Few Pics

Here are a few pics of the underwater life cards that I made for last weeks show.  I was hoping to put a few more up but my computer is having other ideas lately.  So the best that I can hope for is a few today and maybe a few more in the next day or so.  I'll have to see what my computer says about it all.  It certainly has a mind of its own lately!  The first pic is another "water card" made with hair gel.  Too bad you can't smell it through the computer as it has quite a light and lovely scent to it. 

The second card has an embossed background on decorative striped paper. 

The third card has an acetate cover wrapped around the card with half of the turtles on the inside and half attached to the acetate layer on the outside.  I had a lot of fun making these but I am looking forward to working with some of the other new stamp sets soon too.  All for now, Sue x