Murray and Ethel on Create and Craft!

It's Murray and Ethel time again on Create and Craft. Ideal World has requested another show with the lovable OAP's. This time it is scheduled for Thursday September 3rd at 2pm. The show is actually a two hour show with guest Cherry Green and myself. Cherry will be premiering her adorable cat and dog Christmas stamp sets on the show. Her designs will be available through Particraft website very soon. Murray and Ethel are currently available on two A4 stamp sets through the Particraft website. Don't you just love the cheeky sayings that go with this pair! You can't help but smile! Happy stamping, Sue x

My Happy Accident!

I have been busying myself lately playing with some new autumnal foliage stamp plates. These will be available through the Particraft website soon so if you like what you see, keep checking for their arrival. This card to the right was almost not to be. I began playing around with the spice big and juicy stamp pad and a brayer. I thought I had made a complete mess of it and was about to toss it in the rubbish bin when I thought I'd keep playing with it a bit longer. I am so glad that I did! The results were nothing short of a happy (yet quite repeatable) accident.

I have decided after playing with these three A5 stamp sets that it is time to hold another workshop for the Particraft demonstrators! So if you have been thinking about becoming a Particraft demonstrator, now is the time! The future workshop is free to qualified demonstrators and will be packed full of tips and techniques.

I have found that there is not a single technique that doesn't lend itself to these stamps. These stamp designs are such fun and versatile for any occasion. The cosmic shimmer line of products from watercolours to mica pigments can be showcased to their full advantage with these designs.

I would love to know what you think of them. Send me a comment!

Happy stamping! Sue x

Back At Last!

I'm back home from the Summer CHA show now. The show was a bit smaller than last year's show which was held in Chicago, but no less fun and exciting than it always is! We spent quite a bit of time at the Ranger booth and the Spellbinders booth, both of which had new products to showcase. Spellbinders released their new "Pendant" Nestibility dies as well as some cute new die cut shapes. They will be available for purchase very soon. Tim Holtz was demonstrating at the Ranger stand and was mobbed as usual. He has a new product called "rock candy" stickles. I couldn't get a good look at his samples to take any pics but I was given a free sample of the product so I may get a chance to have a play with it soon. I will report back about it then. All for now, Sue x

CHA - Here I Come!

I'm heading to Florida for the annual summer CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) wholesale show. The show is a chance for everyone in the craft industry to get together and see the latest in craft products, designs and ideas. While the CHA show is held twice a year, in January in California and July in Florida, the summer show is a bit smaller than the winter show. Nonetheless, it is a great venue for seeing new demonstrations and samples. I would love to have some comments about what type of products you would like to see added to the Particraft range. That would give me some focus for the trip. There are hundreds of booths there so looking for something specific would be helpful. Of course, I will be keeping my eyes open for new products that have not been seen here too! I am hoping to add some pics of the show to the blog too, so keep checking. All for now, Sue x

Another Sneak Peek

I have had a chance to have a play with the newest Christmas designs on the way from Samantha Poole. These are stylish and elegant silhouette type Christmas designs and they will be available very soon on the Particraft website. If you want a bit more of a sneak peek, Sheena Douglass and Samantha Poole will be on Create and Craft on August 4th premiering them. The time of the show hasn't been set yet so keep checking back and I will let you know as soon as I find out. These designs look great with the new Cosmic Shimmer brand Shimmer mists. I've used the midnight blue to create the background on the card shown. I just love the way it came out!

Happy stamping, Sue x

The ''Jitterbugs'' Premiere

The latest issue of Papercraft Essentials (issue 44) is out on the new stand now and Particraft has another special feature in it! There is a four page spread featuring the Particraft Jitterbug stamp sets. They are the cutest little bugs (if bugs can ever be considered cute, then these definitely qualify as cute!) and they are perfect for all making cards for all reasons. These designs work great with Cosmic Shimmer products too. Take a look at the sample shown and you will see what I mean. The bug's wings are the perfect place to try out the new Cosmic twinkles too. There are two A5 sized stamp sets with the Jitterbug theme and they are available on the Particraft website now. Hope you enjoy them!

All for now, Sue x

Christmas in July!

I know, I know, what's wrong with me! Thinking of Christmas at this time of year! I have to place most of the blame on the lovely Pam Smith. Yes, it was she that got me in the Christmassy mood! Pam posted several brillant cards on the photo gallery on the Particraft website (really, have a look at them, they're lovely!) and that is all I want to have a play with now! This card was made from one of the new Christmas stamp sets that is to be released very soon. Just a sneak peek at it for now. I wanted to be a bit different than the traditional Christmas colours so I've done this in teal and light and dark pink. This poinsettia is lovely for paper piecing techniques too. I've used the pine needles distress ink around the edge on the top and to stamp the pine sprig underneath the poinsettia and worn lipstick around the edges on the bottom of the card. If you can bear to have a look at Christmas cards this early, let me know what you think of it! Although, I can't promise this one will be the last. I'm having too much fun for that!

Happy stamping, Sue x

They're Here!

Ask and ye will receive.... as the saying goes. The two new cupcake plates are up on the Particraft website for sale now! There are several other new stamp plates that have been added as well. The fun and popular create-a-scene stamp sets by Sheena Douglass, our favourite expert crafter, have been added to the website also. Sheena's newest Christmas create-a-scene, (which, incidentally, hasn't even been premiered yet on Create and Craft tv) is for sale now. It is so new, however, that we haven't received the coloured picture of the set from Sheena yet! Samantha Poole, the new designer of the cupcake plates has several new stamp sets on the website as well. If you like the artsy, distressed look, you will love the four new vintage plates and a shabby chic look bird plate by Sam. Why don't you pop over to the Particraft website (http://www.particraft.co.uk/), click on the products tab and check out all the new stamp sets available on the last page of the unmounted stamp set section. Have a look and let me know what you think? All for now, Sue x

Cupcakes!!

Here are a few of the samples that I made today with the new cupcake stamp plates. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have a horrible sweet tooth (sugar should be my middle name!), so these were great fun and complete torture at the same time (remember that diet I spoke of last time!).

I couldn't pick which one was my favorite so I decided to show you several and let you decide. Send me a comment and tell me what you think please!

Unfortuneately, the colour and detail does not show up as well as I would like, but you can probably get an idea at least.

As you can see the crystal lacquer, nestibilities and the cosmic shimmer are all fun products that work well with these designs. They will be up on the Particraft website very soon.

Happy crafting, Sue x

New Stamps from a New Designer

The artwork has just been finished on three fun new plates that are going to be used on the TV in a few weeks (currently scheduled for July 16th). Sheena Douglass will be doing the show with Samantha Poole who is the artist and designer behind these fab new plates. It will be Sam's first tv appearance so I am hoping everyone will tune in and be very supportive of her. The new plates are A5 size and are cupcake and sweet treat themed. I was given the rubber today to have a play with it and they are great fun and so wonderfully drawn! Not the best theme to be playing with whilst trying to shed a few pounds though!!!! I just wanted to gobble them up they look so delicious! The designs lend themselves so well to cosmic shimmers, crystal lacquers and the new nestibilities range from Spellbinders. I'll be sure to post of few of my creations when they are finished. I'll also keep you updated on the show and when it is due to air and let you know when they have been added to the website for sale too. All for now, Sue x

New Show Date!

I said in an earlier post that I was scheduled to do a show on Create and Craft on Monday the 29th. That rumour is totally false! They have changed the date of the show once again! The latest move has my beach themed show now on Wednesday July 1st at 3pm. It is supposed to be shown on Ideal World tv also. I'm hoping that this is the last time it gets moved or I'll have to change from a beach themed show to Christmas show at this rate! Just kidding! But I am eager to show all the fun new samples I've made for the show. No more sneek peaks, you have to watch to see them. All for now, Sue x

Card Making Fun!

I have been having a ton of fun lately making stairstep cards. My latest creation is part of my upcoming beach themed stamp show on Create and Craft on the 29th. (By the way, it is rumoured that the show is at 10am on Monday the 29th, but they haven't actually confirmed this so it may change).

To get started you need to cut a piece of cardstock to 10 1/2 '' x 5'' to begin with. Score that piece at 1 1/4'' , 2 1/2'' , 4 1/4'', 6'', and 8 1/4''. Next you need to accordian fold the cardstock so that there are 3 ''mountain peaks" and 2 ''valleys.''

Now the fun begins... simply stamp your images colour and cut out, then attach them to the front of each section. I used my 3 beach gals as the middle focal point, the sentiment on the signpost and flip flops on the front section and the lighthouse as the background. I stamped the plane and cut it out and attached it to a piece of clear acetate that I secured to the back of the lighthouse. This gives the effect that the plane is in the sky flying. You have to look very carefully to see the acetate. I also attached the kite to a piece of wire and secured it to the beach gal in the middle. It gives the appearance that she is flying the kite as she is seated on the beach.

Stairstep cards are great fun to make and allow you to be very creative. Once made, they fold up flat for mailing and give the recipient a great surprise!

Happy stamping, Sue x