Loving The Yellow!

Hi everyone,  How simple is this card when you just need a quick card for that special friend!  I am in a yellow phase lately as I think it looks great with navy blue or gray or black.  We never seem to give yellow it's due so I am on a mission to bring it to the forefront.  What do you think of yellow?  This card was done using the Parisian dies, both the border and the largest element, as well as the beaded squares from the last shows.  I simply added a bit of ribbon and three of our new organza ribbon roses (I didn't make these as we sell them already finished and they are incredibly affordable!).  I pierced around the edge to finish it off and it frames the card off nicely, I think. 

I was hoping to bring you a few more Christmas cards as well as some of my pics from CHA, but my laptop isn't playing nicely at the moment.  Keep checking back as I am sure that it will come around eventually (must be the Florida humidity!)  All for now, Sue x

Quickie Christmas Cards

 Hi guys!  I thought I would sneak in a few more Christmas cards and this time they are quickie cards!  Both of these samples use the Christmas tag dies from the Spellbinder seasonal die releases.  They are just such cute dies to stamp a sentiment, add a some ribbon and a bow and you are virtually done.  I added some swirly rhinetones and stick pins to the first card, a little ruching of the ribbon too.  I just love music paper, there is just something about it, huh?! 

The second card was made by simply embossing the snowflakes on to the background, adding a tiny bit of distress ink to give it a light tint and bring out the embossing.  Add a bit of white pearl PVA or piercing to give it that finishing touch and you have yourself a quick and easy Christmas card to send out in no time at all!

The summer CHA show in Chicago is next week so I am going to have a look at what is new and exciting in the crafting industry for the rest of the year.  I will try to update the blog with some pics of the fun stuff  I see, so check back.  I am also working on my next shows which will begin on August 26th.  I'm just saying, you may want to  start saving for them now.  I will be premiering the summer release Spellbinder dies on the POTW.  Just wait until you see them! A-maz-ing is all I can say!  I will have some sneak peeks of those closer to the time or possibly sooner if I am persuaded by all of you! (wink, wink)

A Card and Pics of the Workshop

Hi everyone!  It seems that the bauble has proven to be quite popular with the Christmas card loving followers.  I decided to post another sample using it and let you know that they will be back on my next POTW shows in August if you missed it in June!  I requested that they bring that bundle back due to popular demand and it has been accepted.  So look for it to be on along with the new Summer releases from Spellbinders around the 26th of August.  We will have stock of our organza roses back in time for those shows and new colours too!  I am very excited!
   I've also posted a few pictures from the workshops that I taught this past weekend on Saturday and Sunday at the Creative Expressions warehouse in Kettering.  We had a full house both days and a lot of fun, homemade cookies (my other favourite thing to do is bake), laughs and we learned some new techniques (I hope, at least!).  Karen Lines helped me during the weekend and you can see her standing at the sidelines.  I tried to get a few pics while everyone was working away.  I even got a few gals to look up, knoiwing that I was lurking with the camera in hand!  It was a great bunch for both days.  They worked hard and got all the projects finished and still had time to shop in the warehouse.  You can see in some of the pics the aisles and aisles of product just begging to be played with and used on your next project!  It was a fun weekend for all and I hope to do another one soon!  All for now, Sue x

Morning blog followers!  Well it seems that nobody wants to have me shot at dawn or drawn and quartered for posting Christmas samples in July!  Yeah for that, I was sweating bullets!  So here are a  few more of the Christmas cards from the last shows for your perusal.  Since they had the same colour schemes, I decided to post them both together, even though they are using different Spellbinder dies from the Christmas set offering.  I can't really decide which of these I prefer, how about you?  They are both simple in their layouts, nothing too tricky.  I did, however, use the border from the doily set on the first card with the bauble (see they mix and match well, don't they?!)  I do like the soft blue and white colour combo for Christmas.  It gives you the feel of the season, but in a subtle way I think.  Let me know what you think of these and if you are still in the mood for more (because I definitely have more!).  All for now, Sue x

Sorry, But I Have To...

Hi everyone,  Again, I will apologise, but I have to show some of the Christmas cards from the last shows.  I know, I know, it's a dirty word for most of us this early in the year, but sometimes it just takes a few brave souls to post some pics on their blog to get us in the mood to begin our Christmas cards.  I am only doing you a favour by doing this so you won't leave it til the last minute (like last year).  So really this is like a public service that I'm doing, right?  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  The truth is that I have been busy getting the last minute details finished for my workshops this weekend and the Dabble Day next weekend so I haven't had time to do much new stamping.  I figured that any new card (even Christmas) was better to look at the the same old one that has been on the blog for awhile now, right?  Anyways, this is the first Christmas card that I made when I got the new seasonal dies and I think it is my favourite one.  Usually, I have to make a few cards to get the feel of the dies until I make a card I really like, but this set was a blast to use!  It's a shame but my camera didn't pick up the pretty swirls that are stamped on the ornament opposite the poinsettias.  I love this crocheted ribbon too so look out for more of it to come.  It makes beautiful flowers too!  The Cosmic Shimmer white pearl PVA glue makes fab faux pearls, doesn't it!?  If you aren't too upset with me about having Christmas forced upon you, please leave me a comment and let me know you have been by the blog. All for now,Sue x

Black and White Simplicity

Hi everyone!  Thanks for the great support in the blog candy contest.  I love reading all your really fun comments!  How about this card for a simple layered creation for a special friend?  I just love black and white cards, they are so classic, aren't they?  This one uses the new Spellbinders lattice rectangles, elegant posts, grommet tags and label 20 shape dies.  The black corners are part of the elegant posts that I cut the top bit away.  The centre black parts are another elegant post where I have removed the end of the posts and attached it so it hugs around the top and bottom of the label shape.  All the layers have been mounted up with foam pads for dimension.  I added black rhinestones and  some of our frilly edge white organza ribbon and one of the beautiful organza ribbon roses.  I am in love with those roses, they are so elegant, aren't they?  A little FYI too, we are adding new colours to the line and they will be in stock soon!  Just finished the card off with a couple of our white triple pearl pins (cuz I love them!).  If you like your frilly cards like I do, this will be right up your street.  I hope you like it! Let me know what you think?  All for now, Sue x

NEW CANDY!!!!

It's time for new candy, what do you say!  Isn't this a fun lot of goodies to have a play with?!  Wouldn't you just love to get your hands on this batch of crafting fun?!  All you need to do is sign up to become a follower of the blog (if you haven't already) and email me with your postal details in case you win (sue@particraft.co.uk).  If you are a follower, then you just need to leave a comment after each new post and you will get an extra entry into the blog candy contest each time you do.  That way I know that you have been around to look at the blog so it is fun for me too.  It's that simple.  We will draw a winner for this when we reach 1700 followers!

Go ahead, tell me what you think about this lot of candy and what you'll do with it if it lands on your door step!  Or just leave me a comment about anything you like!  All for now, Sue x

WE HAVE WINNERS!!!

Hi everyone!   We have blog candy winners and a card.  My thinking is that even if you aren't one of the winners, then at least you might enjoy the card sample (hopefully).   First I would like to say how much I have enjoyed all of your kind and lovely comments, both left here on the blog and through emails.  You have no idea how much it means to me to hear that you enjoy my demos and cards!  So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now, on to the good stuff here! 

The THIRD place prize goes to................
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...Lisa AKA Myran

The SECOND place prize goes to.............................................................................
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Soo!!!!

The GRAND FIRST PLACE PRIZE goes to...................................................................................
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C. Camp!!!!!!

Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone for playing along.  If your name was drawn, you need to email me to confirm your postal address at sales@particraft.com  to claim your prize.  The blog candy contest will keep on going with the next drawing at 1700 followers.  I will post the new candy selection soon.  All for now, Sue x

Another Show

Hi everyone, I would like to say a great big thank you for all the wonderful comments and support that you have given me throughout these past POTW shows.  The response has been overwhelming to say the least!  I am doing at least one more show Tuesday evening at 7pm and possibly a final show on Wednesday evening, depending on how things go.  There was a massive stock of the Bird Santuary set of dies that they added to the Picks of the week.  I haven't actually done but the odd demo using any of them so far.  They are all that is left of all the Spellbinders that were on the shows to begin.  I believe that all of the new products have sold out also.  I was very excited to show off some of my finds!  You seem to have loved them all so thank you so much for that.  I have been given the go ahead to source new and interesting products to bring you on Create and Craft and in the retail shops and I am really looking forward to some more of the new embellishments coming in very soon.  There are a couple more surprises on the horizon, that is all that I can say for now (I know, it's killing me too!)  I hope you will tune in Tuesday evening but all for now, Sue x

POTW at Noon on Friday

Hi everyone, this is the last chance for a sneaky peek before the POTW shows start Friday at noon.  This card is one of my favourites of the bunch and I thought that I would make it my first demo of the day.  I absolutely love this large butterfly die which is part of the "Fanciful Flight" set in one of the bundles and I don't think it is going to last very long!  The bundle also has two different flower sets and a foliage set which is the one that I have used here.  I have to say, though, that I think you will be hard pressed to make a decision amongst these bundles as they are all outstanding!
  There are 11 POTW shows scheduled at the moment that I am doing.  Tomorrows shows begin at 12 noon, then 3pm and a two hour show beginning at 6pm.  Saturday kicks off at 8am, 1pm and 3pm.  Sundays shows start again at 8am then I have a long break until 4pm and the final weekend show is at 6pm (I hope I'm making sense still by then!).  A day of rest on Monday and I am back Tuesday evening at 7pm for the last scheduled show of the week.  If you are interested in seeing the Spellbinders shows, though, do check the schedule on Ideal to make certain nothing has changed. 
I would love to know what you think of it, please leave me a comment.  All for now, Sue x

How About A Green Sample?

I am very excited as we get closer to Fridays shows.  I have been busily working away on all my demos for the shows too.  I just love this card because it shows how so many of the elements work together for a great look, very simple to put together too.  The colours are stunning when you see it in real life.  I wish I could take a better picture for you.  This label is my absolute favourite, I could not get enough of it.  If you were lucky enough to get Labels 18 from the last POTW shows I did, you need to put it together with this one!  That is the only disappointment of this lot, that I couldn't use my Labels 18 with them.  I probably won't demo this particular one as I have a few others that are similar in the technique and styling (these are so up my alley, aren't they?), but I will show the ribbon ruching on one or two other demos.  We have this really neat new natural cotton hemp ribbon that I will use for it.  This stuff is so much fun, I can't wait for you to see it!  Just another one of the several new products that I have found for you that will be on the show (note the excitement!).

   On another note, I am holding workshops on Sat. July 9th and Sunday July 10th in Kettering.  They were all full, but I have had two cancellations on Sat. and two cancellations on Sunday.  If you are interested in finding out more of the details, please email me directly at sue@particraft.co.uk and I will give you all the info.
 
 Just to remind you that I am still running my blog candy contest and the more comments you leave, the more entries you receive, remember!  I love to hear what you think!  All for now, Sue x

As promised, here is another sneaky peek at one of the sample cards for the upcoming POTW shows beginning next Friday the 17th. I haven't been given the schedule for the shows yet, but they do kick off on Friday at noon I know for sure. Just feast your eyes on that gorgeous Spellbinder die in the centre. Just yummy, isn't it! It is difficult to tell in my pic, but there is a butterfly die that I have cut out of two pieces of decorative paper in the top corner of the die too. The sentiment is part of a new stamp set on the show as well. I used dies from four new sets that will be available on the shows. I am absolutely loving that foliage die too. Spellbinders have truly outdone themselves this time!  What do you think of the new dies, thumbs up?  All for now, Sue x