Coffee and Friends.....

Since I am a bit of a coffee addict, I couldn't resist this new embossing folder from Tim Holtz - I actually really like the Sissix texture fades, they leave a really crisp impression - anyway, here it is....... 

I die cut a tag with a mug from Gypsy Wanderings cartridge with my Explore - in kraft with a backing of white.......

I made the mug look a bit more interesting by writing the word smile, and dotting some tiny dots of orange, then covered the lot in glossy accents. The seam binding was inked as well. Sentiment is by MFT. The twine is chocolate brown in real life.......

Then of course, I was left with the tiny mug shape from the tag, so this time I inked the inside of the embossing folder with Gathered Twigs distress ink, which left a nice smudgy coffee cup background for the little kraft mug. Sentiment dies are by Clearly Besotted, tiny hearts and stitched tag MFT

To tell you the truth, I don't know where my coffee addiction came from, for years and years I was strictly a cup of tea type of person - I think it was discovering the joys of large iced coffees in the Florida sunshine that did it for me, and now, here I am even making cards about the stuff!

See you tomorrow x

Rescued Tag.....

So I had to do something with that little tag didn't I?

 The disc in the middle of the flower was made by putting a big blob of hot glue onto a craft sheet, then pressing the flower stamp right into the hot glue. We peeled it off and cut around the circle, then dusted it with Perfect Pearls - I feel a video coming on.......

In fact, the tag card turned out quite busy, because I had just taken delivery of the Sissix Thinlits dies 660220 and wanted to use them all at once! I had the back of the 'back to front' card to play with, so cut a tag out of that, and a fancy border for the bottom corner. At the last minute, I found the little red dragonfly that I cut to show how the Explore deals with tiny cuts, so that went on as well.....

But I like it! Now that is all my scraps used up, so back to the drawing board to think of something new for tomorrow, see you then x

 - Oh yes, while I think of it, if anyone asks a question in a comment about how I have done something, or where they can purchase an item etc, I try to answer their question in the comments on that particular post, so check back later in the day to see if I have answered your query

Rescue attempt.....

I seem to remember making a New Year resolution not to buy stuff...oh dear...The Wow embossing powders are samples from the show, so that makes me feel better, and of course the new distress ink Abandoned Coral was a must as well......as for the other stuff, I hold up my hands, they were 'wants' not 'needs'......

Remember that back to front workshop card? I was about to toss it, then thought I might be able to rescue it...... so I cut out the flower panel....

added some texture paste to an A6 card....

and while the paste was still wet, sprinkled with glitter....

and popped the cut out panel on, then added a die cut sentiment (Clearly Besotted). What do you think? Good rescue? Now to work out what to do with that tag.....See you tomorrow x

Random Bits and Pieces

Here's the last random round up of little snippets that caught my eye at the show, first these cakes, don't they look delicious?

Next, for those of you who like doing canvases and wall art, there was a definite trend towards planks of wood, with rope threaded through for hanging. They were quite expensive, I may be getting out the Black and Decker drill and having a little session with a few scraps of wood.......

What am I talking about! We don't OWN any scraps of wood. Mike is definitely not the type of chap who gets out hammer and nails to do running repairs around the house. So I will have to go out and forage for wood scraps, maybe chop a tree down or something.....or on the other hand, I may just stick to paper

These fabric throws were made entirely of fabric rosettes joined together....

and I had to take a photo of this - a mannequin covered from head to toe in beads. Some friends from my Florida craft group have taken up beading in a big way lately........ 

So that's the end of all the Stitches photos. Back to normal tomorrow x

NEC Workshops......

Here are some of the workshops that Kath and I did at the show, the first one was with PaperArtsy.....

 It was quite a hectic workshop - we made three tags and a background sheet to put them on.....

 The stamps had already been stamped for us, but we had to colour them using watercolour paints - all of them in 15 minutes! So although the result is splashy, I rather like it. We cut them out and assembled the tags at home

I did feel that using the yellow on her face made her look a bit bilious - as though she had had a few glasses of wine too many the previous evening, and was now bitterly regretting it!

When I got home and cut all the elements out, I did add some glossy accents and Wink of Stella clear glitter here and there.... 

and here they are, all mounted onto the background sheet we painted, and mounted onto black cardstock.....

Next up was Andy Skinner's class for DecoArt, which was a lot of fun, and again very busy - I can't tell you how many techniques we did on this little wall hanging. My fingers were inky for days!

and a class using Stix products - see the black glitter card? I stamped it on the wrong side, so the fold of the card is on the right!

and this flower is cheating, it was a Make and Take on the Sissix stand, but we didn't actually make them, we lifted them admiringly when we were chatting to Pete Hughes - they were his demo pieces, but he let us keep them. They have a little pin to attach to your sweater/shirt/whatever and I really love those grey felts....

 I have a few random photos to show you tomorrow, then it will be back to business as usual. See you then x

More NEC Show photos......

 First up today is Katy Sue Designs, now you know this company as I am on their design team, but for those of you who don't know, as well as lovely craft CD collections they make high quality moulds which can be used for cake decorating, or if used with lightweight clay, for cardmaking

these gorgeous roses are made from one deep mould - how lovely....

and their latest collection are these gorgeous moulds by Kathryn Sturrock, who was at the show demonstrating. They are just fabulous, either on cakes or decorative elements, as you will see in the following photos....and the good news is that they have a USA website as well, just click on the American flag 

The next thing to catch my eye was these fabulous mixed media products, made with VivaDecor waxes and paints. called Inca Gold and Maya Gold. I was so fascinated by the way bits of chipboard could be turned into these fabulous metallic works of arts, that I am going to buy some of these, then I will be able to share with you how to do it......

I'll be back tomorrow to share some of the workshops we did......see you then x

Flying the flag for the UK

One of the joys of trade shows is finding companies that are new to you,  whose product you love - I was blown away by the lovely ScrapBerry 's product line - they bring out about 40 collections a year which include stamps, papers and a whole range of gorgeous embellishments to match

My favourite collections were Vintage Circus, and the quirky cats - loved them.......

They make fabulous metal embellishments as well (at a fraction of the cost of other brands)

This cat range is so quirky and different, love it. I can imagine children's party invites....birthday cards...wall decor for their room....

and a whole range of beautiful quality double sided 12 x 12 papers to match the collections......

another company, new to me was Lavinia stamps - I know you will love some of the sample cards

and lastly, The Hobby House, another UK company 

More to come tomorrow! x