Oh My Aching Feet!

 But what fun I've had checking out all the latest and greatest in crafting finds! This years CHA show in Los Angeles seems a bit smaller than last years, but is no less full of really great stuff. We have found so much in the way of new papers, tools, embellishments and just plain great ideas for the coming year. Everything will have to stay a bit under wraps for a while longer but I will show you some pics of some really neat things that I've seen for now.

I just loved these dresses made of paper.  There were eight of them in total, but these are the only pics that came out clear enough to post.  It never ceases to amaze me at the creativity I see at CHA!

Here are a couple of pics of projects on the Ranger booth.

This is my good friend Suze Weinberg.  She and I go way back and every year we have our photo taken together. (No there are no wrinkles in any photo over the years because as Suze says, we never age! LOL LOL LOL)  I need to learn how to photoshop for next year!  Suze told me that she has officially retired.  I am hoping that won't stop her from sharing her creativity with us all!  She is amazing!

All for now, Sue x

Candy, Candy, Candy and More Candy For You!

How's this lot for the next blog candy contest?  Does it make everyone smile to think you might be the one! The really, really lucky one to win all this.  There are five stamp sets, a bunch of Ranger and Tim Holtz stuff, Cosmic Shimmer products galore, crafting metal, Eco Green products and more.  I want to know what you would say if this lot ended up at your address?  Let's hear it!  Roll on 1400 followers.  All for now, Sue x

Funny Farm Samples

Hi everyone,  I just wanted to post a couple more cards from todays show while I thinking about it.  There was supposed to be two shows today at 11am and 4pm but they cancelled the 4pm show.  Sorry about that if you were waiting to see it, but their call, not mine.  I had hoped to show you another fun idea with the embossing folders, but I will hold on to it until another show (how's that for suspense!). 

The top card is my "recycled" card where the bow is made from a mesh bag that clementines were in and the hay is from some packing out of a Christmas hamper we received.  The bottom card was one that I was going to demo on the 4pm show so I thought I give it an appearance since it missed it's moment in the sun, so to speak.  The farmer boy is usually holding a pitchfork, but I was going to show how you can change that.  So now he is holding a sunflower for his sweety!

I promise to get a new picture up for the brand new blog candy contest before the week is up.  It has been a bit crazy for the past few weeks so I am running a bit behind schedule at the moment.  Next week, too, I am off to California for the winter CHA wholesale Craft show.  I have made a resolution to take loads of pictures this year so I can post them on my blog. (Let's see how I do with this one! LOL).

All for now, Sue x

Funny Farm/ Pick Of The Patch Stamp Sets

Hi everyone,  I've got some new stamps which were designed by Sam Poole that I will be showing on Create and Craft on Wednesday the 19th at 11am and 4pm.  They are called "Funny Farm" and "Pick of the Patch" and they are just adorable!   I am really excited about this show as we have finally got enough stock of our new embossing folders so that we can put them on the show too.  I haven't been able to show any more of the new designs since last October because we haven't been able to keep up with the stock demand.  Wednesday is a craft day on C & C, though, so who knows.
    These new stamp sets are just perfect for Valentine's Day (right around the corner now) too.  The top card is from the Funny Farm set and the second card is from Pick of the Patch.  If cutesy isn't necessarily your taste, though, I am going to show some fun tricks with the embossing folders so it may be worth the watch for that. 
   As for the new blog candy contest, I am getting some new stuff together and hopefully I will be able to post it in the next day or so.  In the meantime, don't forget to let me know you've been by the blog by leaving a comment (extra chances to pick up the next candy prize everytime you do!)  All for now, Sue x

WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!

Guess What?  Yes we have a winner!  Three of them actually!  We have finally reached the long awaited goal of 1300 followers.  Now for the rewards.  As always, the first name drawn is for third prize, then second prize and then the grand prize winner (you've got to build up a bit of suspense, huh?!)

The winner of the third prize is............................................................................
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Rita!

The winner of the second prize is....................................................
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Sparrow!

And the winner of the Grand Prize is.........................................................
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Valan!

Please email me your address at sales@particraft.co.uk so that I can verify it and post off your winnings!  If you didn't win this time, don't worry, we are doing it again with more candy to be given away at 1400 followers and you are still entered.

Here is a card that I hope you will like.  At least, if you didn't see your name drawn, then hopefully this might help!  The leaves are part of the new leaves, trees and flowers stamp set that is now available on the Particraft website. I will be back soon with a new selection of candy for the contest.  Until then, Sue x

Grand Nestie Samples

 I thought that I would show a few more of the samples from the Grand Nestie show.  These two are a few of my favourites using the floral stamps and the Grand square nesties.  The first sample above shows the large rose in the centre which I paper pieced using the same paper from the middle section.  I know, I just love yellow and gray together!  You can only see a bit of it on the left, but I used the swirl stamp all the way around the rose then dusted it with the pewter gray mica powder.  It does look very nice in person, it just gives it a soft framing and a tiny bit of bling to draw your eye in.  I pierced around the edges and then added the pearly swirly things from my stash to give it some real serious bling!

This second sample I love just for the simplicity of it.  Black and white with the slightest bit of pale pink in the rose, the ribbon and a bit of the edging.  It is difficult to tell in the pic, but the layers have also been paper embossed too.  I added a punched edge to the top and bottom just to give it a texture and it also allowed me to make the back panel larger.  The ribbon is actually a mixture of black organza, pink satin and velvet ric rac, but it is hard to tell in the picture.  I added pearls of varying sizes to the swirls on the rose, the corners and the punched borders to complete the card.  You got to have the pearls!  Hope you like them! 

We are almost to our goal for followers and then the draw for the blog candy.  Just a few more now.  Don't forget that you get extra entries by letting me know that you have by the blog and leaving me a comment. Every little bit helps your chances of winning!  All for now, Sue x

Quickie Post for the New Year

Happy New Year to everyone!  Here is one of the cards from the Grand Nestie show on Monday.  I will try to post several more as I have had a request from one of my followers to see them.  Ask and ye shall receive, right?  Well I do try! 
I cut the grand nestie circle shape using two of the middle sizes to create a frame.  I then wrapped the entire frame with lavender satin ribbon and ties a bow at the side.  The iris have been stamped and coloured with distress inks and then cut out and mounted in the centre with 3D foam pieces.  I stamped the sentiment on the decorative background paper cut to fit just inside the circle.  Mounted everything on to another decorative paper which was backed by a lavender card that I punched all the way around with a MS punch.  Hope you like it (Lelly Jelly!).  All for now, Sue x