QVC kits

These are just a few images from kits I have been working on recently for QVC (there are a few more on the flickr). I loved the Bo Bunny papers, they are the Tuscany and Paris range and are stunning. I wanted to pop a couple of pieces from the recent Oriental TSV as well, as I was liked the Geisha peel-off, and loved doing the Oriental collage canvas, it really made a change to do something other than cards. I hope you like them.

Hello..

Its been quite a while since I updated my blog, so here I am. We've managed to get through Christmas, it was a sad time for us I'm afraid. When I was pregnant I dreamt of the magic of Christmas returning with the arrival of my little boy (it fades a little when its just a group of adults sat round). For me Christmas is about family, as a child I loved our visits to my two sets of Grandparents, it was so exciting - parties, food and pressies. Auntie Jean wanting us all to be quiet so she could watch Dallas and Dynasty, the giant cracker Grandad used to get for us, John getting drunk, Grandad Pujol arriving really early Christmas morning just to watch me and Marianne open our pressies. It was great. I wanted Jacob to experience the joy as I had, and for us to delight in his wonder at it all. I miss him every day, but this really set off that horrid ache inside. I know alot of my readers will be able to relate with this for the loss of a loved one is always emphasised at Christmas, my heart goes out to you.

Thankfully we did it, another hurdle, and now we are in the process of picking ourselves up again and "getting on". With this in mind my poor ATC club has suffered, and I'm afraid I didn't have the urge to make Christmas cards, its now catch up time again. I am making and posting my cards (more New Year cards than Christmas), and I am in the process of trying to get all the outstanding new packs out for my ATC club. Sorry for the delay.

I would like to thank everyone who sent cards and good wishes to me. It made me giggle, as cards irritate Nicky (imagine that, with my job - that's probably why, I've driven him mad with my crafting necessities taking over the house), and I received loads this year. Poor lad. Anyway they were great, and beautiful work so thank you so much. I am going to get cards sent out to anyone I had an address for - okay it may be June when you receive you Crimbo card but I will do it!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and 2008 brings everyone joy, love and peace.

John Lewis.......

I am doing a book signing "down south", this one will be on the 15th December at John Lewis on Oxford Street (how exciting). It will be the first time I've managed to get into town over the Christmas period so I'm really looking forward to it. We are making a day (and hopefully evening) of it, Carley and Kathryn are coming in with me so we can go out after the signing. I will be in the store from 12pm - 2pm (then probably wandering the streets trying not to spend loads of money!!).

Artist Trading Card club members have a peek at the flickr account as I have just updated the photo's.

Hope to see lots of your happy smiley faces either at Topaz or John Lewis xx

Book Signing!!!

How very exciting! My book is out, I am signing a batch tomorrow for the lovely ladies who all ordered it in Portugal (thank you very much!). For those of you who I was not lucky enough to meet, I am going to do my very first book signing at Topaz on the 8th December, so it would be great to see some of you up there.

I will be in the shop Saturday from 11 - 4, then on the Sunday 11 - 1. I am really looking forward to my visit, and doing some shopping (I feel Christmas pressie shopping is a must - especially now my mums addicted to this card making malarky!!). How funny, doing a book signing!!! Who'd have thought.

Anyway, it will be great to see some familiar faces and catch up on all the gossip.

Portugal ATC's

This card has been made using components from my Sunshine Shades kit. This is a really easy one. Take one of the pre-printed cards, simply add torn flower paper to the top of the card, then edge the card using a matching ink-pad (I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink spiced marmalade). I then added a rub-on to the bottom of the card then glued three buttons along the paper line. I completed the card by adding a little ribbon underneath a jewelled flower. Easy-peasy.

This card has also been created using items from my Sunshine Shades ATC kit. I have covered a blank card with the spotty paper,with a printed car and aeroplane on it. I tore the paper to give a little interest. I trimmed the frame down, so only part of it would fit onto my ATC. Before attaching the frame I stuck another piece of dotty paper (all the papers are different to give variations to the card). This fits under the frame only. I attached the frame with 3D foam then used a "Happy" rub on to the right of the frame. To complete the card, I cut a larger aeroplane card image out and attached it to the frame, adding a jewel star to the centre of the wings.

Back Home

We're back after our successful trip to Portugal. It went brilliantly. It was hard work, with some extremely long days, but I really enjoyed it and met some wonderful people. I hope everyone who went enjoyed themselves and came away feeling inspired. I slept for 12 hours Sunday evening to recover!! Fantastic.



A massive thank you to all the people who went. It was great to catch up with everyone from Topaz, the team back together again, awwww. It was also great to see Joey again, and also to work and have fun with Carley, Paula, Jackie, Alli and Jenny who joined our little team this year. It was also great to be joined by Jules from Xyron, Dave from Fiskars and of course Sara from HOTP, who are all lovely. If you ever see Paula at any crafty do's ask her to give you a demonstration of her Spanish dancing - brilliant, she really cheered us all up when we were a little frazzled.



Anyway, I could babble on for ages about it, but I do want to share a few cards I made for the trip. I will put a couple on here with instructions, then the others on Flickr. Hello to any of the ladies who joined us in Portugal - I hope you all got home safely and have fully recovered!