Wow... I'm so excited... off to the SECC again

Morning all... and it may be rather dreich outside this morning but inside it's nothing but warm and fuzzy.... oh yeah... I'm full of the joys of spring, even though we're in autumn... WHY?????

I'm off to work at the SECC again.... yippee.... I always get so excited when I'm doing a show... this time around I'll be at the Country Living Christmas Fair on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th November where I will be hosting decopatch workshops at 1pm each day on behalf of Damselfly Crafts.

All workshops are free of charge and all supplies will be provided for you... places are available on a first come, first serve basis each day but spaces are very limited so if you plan on attending the show on any of the days and fancy doing a workshop or two please make sure you book them immediately upon entering the building.

It's gonna be so much fun and I'm looking forward to having a nosey around all the other goodies available for purchase too... so much hand made stuff all under one roof... it's gonna be awesome.

Well... enough of that for the moment.. time to get myself back to work, lots to do, orders to deliver, samples to make and needless to say I have to squeeze some housework into the day too... so I'll catch you all later.

Love 'n' hugs

Lorraine xxx

Amazing Blog Candy

Amazing blog candy giveaway.... 48 Prismacolor art markers worth a staggering £129....

Now how could you not want to be in with a chance of winning these... what a perfect candy to win just before Christmas too...

What do you have to do to be in with a chance of winning them... well it's all very simple really.

Simple being the ultimate word here.... as they are being given away by the wonderful Jacqui over at Simply Create... all you have to do is visit her blog... leave a comment in the candy posting, sign up as a follower and if you give a toot about the candy on your own blog... you get a second entry too... talk about being generous...

What are you waiting for... get over there now and join in the fun... Good luck to all who enter.

As for me... I'm off out to do a little craft shopping just shortly so toodles for now and catch you all laters.

Love 'n' hugs

Lorraine xxx

Anyone interested

Morning all....

A few of us crafty buddies are planning a little meet up at Damselfly Crafts in Glasgow sometime in December.... this is a wonderful shop full of so many inspiring creations and both Anni and Yvonne are always so welcoming and have kindly agreed to let us have a meet in the shop at a pre-arranged time.

If you would be interested in joining us... either leave a message here or on facebook, alternatively drop me an email.... I need to have an approx number so I can let the ladies know how many we are expecting.

Damselfly Crafts can be found at 380 Great Western Road, Glasgow or online.

Love 'n' hugs

Lorraine xxx

NEC - Stand B43 & Product Review

Evening all.... well I was asked last week if I would do a review on a product just new to the market... the all new fabulous Go Kreate card making dies which are exlusive to Samuel Taylors. Well what else was I going to say but YES..... one of the things I love about my job is doing reviews.. you need to get right into the nitty gritty of it all and really push things to their limit and as you can see... my die is still in perfect shape.

I know that at the SECC they were demonstrated by Ann Russell using the Cuttlebug, I'm not sure what they are using at the NEC, and at home for my review I have been using it with my Bigshot and it works just as well on both machines.

What exactly are these dies for... well at the moment they come in 5x5, 6x6 or you can buy a multi pack... my personal choice would be the multi pack. They are designed not to create a mount for an image but to create an actual shaped card like the one below.

Now we all know it can be expensive to buy shaped cards all year round and these dies are the solution to the problem... You simply take a piece of card or a pre-scored card, whichever is your preference... then if you look at your die, you will see that on one end there are two slit areas which indicate where the remaining joins will be on your card... you simply align your card with the slits then pass your sandwich through your machine... once it comes out the other end.. throw your small amount of waste in the bin and you're left with one beautifully shaped card ready to decorate. These dies will even work on mirri board so that just proves the strength behind them. Now the picture above was taken with the flash on but I have taken another identical one below without the flash as I felt that it allowed you to see the depth of the embossing much clearer.

For all you people who use dies on a regular basis you will know that normally you put your die through the machine to cut, then you have to use your rubber mats and put through your machine a second time in order to get your embossed edge.... that is not the case with these dies. The embossing that you see here has been created during the cutting process... there was no need for putting it back through the machine a second time and no rubber mats required which is wonderful news for all the crafters out there who suffer from rubber allergies... and in my own opinion... it's embossing ability is the best on the market at present.

Final verdict.... one of the best 'Value for Money' products currently on the market and a must have in every crafters essential tool kit.

Unless they have sold out already (which is a definate possibility), you will be able to purchase them this weekend at the NEC on stand B43 or alternatively on the website. All I can say is don't delay as I know they were a sell out at the SECC last weekend... so they really are going like hot cakes.

Stamped images show on this card are from the 'Words Like Honey' range

available from Time To Sow (stand C21) at the NEC.

Think I have to go now and cut myself a few more beautiful cards... lol....

Toodles for now and happy crafting

Lorraine xxx

NEC - Stand C21

Now we all have our favourites at the NEC don't we... yes... and we know that many of us go armed with our shopping and must visit list all prepared for the day ahead.. well it does make life a little easier for us, especially if we only have one day at the show to get all the shopping done. What can very easily happen though, is that we end up missing out on some other fab stands in our rush to get to where we are going... I know... I've done it.

At the Stitches trade show this year, I was fortunate enough to discover a whole new range of stamps called 'Words Like Honey' and they are produced by a company called 'Time To Sow' (stand C21). Now there are background stamps, swirls, trees, birds, flowers to name but a few and they produced the most clear image you could imagine. These stamps are manufactured to a very high standard which means they produce a perfect image time after time.

This is just a few examples of what can be produced by simply using the stamps along with some Tim Holtz distress inks and the blue one in the centre has been done with embossing powders.

I am very fussy when it comes to stamps... if they don't stamp clear images time after time, I simply toss them in the bin... can't be bothered with the hassle nor the waste of card through stamping 6 times just to get a good image. My collection of 'Words Like Honey' stamps is growing quickly as I have never encountered a single issue with them.

If you are going to the NEC today or tomorrow may I strongly suggest that you pay them a little visit on stand C21... if you are lucky Emma will be there demonstrating and herself, Mandy or Tim will be more than happy to assist with any queries you may have... Just remember to tell them that Lorraine sent you along.

This card for example was created under 5 minutes... I used one of the new 'Go Kreate' die cuts available only from Samuel Taylors (stands B43 & C01) to create my card... note the depth of the embossed border it creates... then simply used TH scattered straw to distress my card and then inked up my tree image in TH shabby shutters and a small scroll image in the same colour for my corners. Voila done...

Hope you all have a fab day whether you are attending the show or not and I'll be back a little later in the day hopefully with a product review.

Happy crafting with lots of love 'n' hugs

Lorraine xxx

Why oh why

That is my question tonight... Why oh why is it that although there is a large free public firework display in Strathclyde Park... Am I now going to have to clean up both my front and back garden of rockets which have been let off by surrounding residents but have so wonderfully landed in my garden. I so love how others put on a garden display yet I have to clean the crap up. There will be a good car inspection done in the morning too as it looks as though one of them may possibly have been hit. Right enough, at least I didn't get whacked on the head this year, which is exactly what happened 2 years ago... Trust me it's not a very pleasant experience having one of those whack you on the head as it falls from the sky.

Anyway, moan over so off to try and relax a bit now.

Night night
Xxx


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Mr postie... Nos 3

Oh... Sorry about the bad picture, lights crap here and can't be bothered pulling out the big camera... Hopefully pics will be better on my new phone... Anyway... Wee Mr Birdie landed home in his nest today... Mega happy now thanks to my lovely friend Kath for packing him up so well.

Xxxx


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Mr postie nos 2

Woohoo... Train tickets for next Thurs all the way to Dundee and back... Can't wait as it's gonna be a fab day out.

Toodles
Lorraine xxx


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Mr Postie... delivery number 1...

Here are some of the gorgeous goodies I received this morning in the post... all I need to do now is get them opened and prep all my samples ready for next weeks demo at Burns & Harris in Dundee... it's a right old mixture I've got here... rippled, glittered, embossed, padded... oh what more can I say... roll on Thursday 11th... tee hee...

Catch you all laters

Lorraine xxxx

Decopatch delight

Morning folks... after the day I had yesterday, I decided to have a little me time last night, something to just sit back and do whilst relaxing watching the tv... and here is what I made. Apologies for the bad pictures but it's a rather dismal day here and so I've had to use the flash. Think I need to get some good advice from a photographer friend... lol. Anyway, you may or may not remember that I bought myself a little decopatch bowl to play with during my last visit to Damselfly Crafts and here is the finished product, all decopatched up and ready to use... only question is what to do with it.. coming up on christmas do I use it for some yummy spicy pot pourri or do I decorate a display candle or will I just use it for storing sweeties over the festive season... oh the mind boggles. Can you tell this is going to be a real multi function bowl...

I also thought that this would make a lovely reminder gift for someone at christmas and being as it only cost around £5 to make... it sure would help with the budget this year. We are all making cutbacks on our spending and what better way to do it than to give hand made gifts this year. People always appreciate something that you've taken time to do yourself and it makes for a much more personalised gift too.

Here is a picture to give you an idea of what the finished product looks like on the inside. Again, apologies for the flash interference.

And just so you know... it's already found it's first useful purpose within the house... it's currently storing all my lovely handmade jewellery that I had for the show, kindly given to me to wear by the lovely Lynsey at Ashby Designs.

Well... that's all from me for the moment.. time to get the house in order as I've got my step daughter visiting tonight so work will have to cease at an earlier time than normal.. at least if I have the house in order before lunch it will still give me all afternoon to get on with things.

Toodles for now my lovelies

Lorraine xxx

Can you help?

Now I'm sure if you have any kind of a heart that you will be touched by the pictures in this poster just like I was... and sometimes we can easily forget just how fortunate we are.

Charlie has raised over £280,000 in the past 10 years for children in Dundee and the surrounding areas. They are children who are suffering from cancer, leukaemia, disabled or underprivileged.

Here is an article from the Courier verifying his authenticity, and here is another giving an example of the kind of work that he does for Ninewells Hospital.

He puts on a party for 3,000 children and would like to collect enough presents to give each child a gift from Santa. These children range in age from 0-16 years and are of both sexes... this year there are more boys than girls.

If you feel that you could help him makes just one child happy for one day of their life by contributing either a small gift or donation, it would be very helpful. Even if your gift is just a pack of colouring pens or a book it will all be gratefully received.

If you live in the Tayside region and click on the poster you will see a list of all the local companies who are working alongside Charlie and using their stores as collection points... alternatively if you wish to forward anything to me, please feel free to drop me an email, I will give you my address to ship your gift to and I will then forward these on to Burns & Harris Art Shop on your behalf.

I know it is a big thing to ask as we are all watching our pennies this year... but think of it this way... some of the children who have been invited to the party, may not actually live long enough to attend... some may only live another day or two.

My personal thanks to you all for simply taking the time to read this and I hope that you can contribute even just a small thing, as it would make such a difference.

Love 'n' hugs to you all

Lorraine xxx

Oh nooooo.....

What a rarity... Debbi actually managed to get a picture of me... I generally hide from the camera but on this occasion decided to join in the fun... alongside me are Anne, Kath and Margaret... normally it's just 3 wee monkeys all in a row but this time around it had to be 4... shame Debbi had to take the picture or we could have had her in there too.

Actually stole this pic from Debbi's blog... so thank you babe.

Was so lovely meeting up with all my buddies again and boy did we have fun... nothing unusual there right enough... that's just the norm when it's show time.

Well, time to get back to work again, catch you all later.

Happy crafting

Lorraine xxx

WOYWW

Now how the dickens did I forget that it's WOYWW day.... then again... I actually know... it's called fighting my way through stamps, inks, embossing powder etc all to get a pile of samples done... lol... and there's more on the way too!

So this morning I've been playing with some Time To Sow and some Heritage Rubber Stamps images, then later I've got an online product review to do and my Hougie Board booklet to have play with. Now can anyone remind me why I love my work so... lol.

Needless to say the desk is a bit of a shambles at the moment but it will clear away as the day goes on and then I'll have my wee clean workspace again all ready for what tomorrow will bring.

Sorry I didn't get to visit anyone last week, but working long hours at the SECC didn't allow me anytime to even boot up the computer let alone have a nosey or leave comments... Sorry.

Anyway, must dash, so much work and so little time... any chance of getting another day squeezed into my week?

Love 'n' hugs to all

Lorraine xxx

Another SECC show

Just incase anyone isn't aware there's another fabulous show on at the SECC from 18th - 21st November... this time around it the Country Living Christmas Fair... full of wonderful gift ideas for Christmas or perhaps just a treat for yourself.

I would recomment you have a little nosey around the website and it will give you an idea of what all will be on exhibition over the 4 day period.

Toodles for now

Lorraine xxx

HE'S BEEN FOUND......

GOOD afternoon all you lovely peeps out there... I was going to update my last post but decided instead to make a new posting so everyone knew... my little birdie has been found safe and well... he had simply fallen from his nest... lol....

Would you believe this.... Kath didn't bring any demo kit with her this time around as there was no sense in having two lots there when only one of us could demo and as I live local I said I would take my kit to save Kath having to travel with hers... that's why this morning I had no reason to believe that she would have my wee birdie...

Now for the fun part... Kath had taken off her apron and put it down then proceeded to pack all the demo kit away for me... which was very kind of her and one less thing that I had to do... then she lifted her apron, threw it in her bag and off she went to catch the train... well... my wee birdie stowed away in her handbag clinging to her apron... oh yes... she lifted her apron and the punch must have been under it and it went too... lol... perhaps it just fancied seeing another part of the country for a few days.. she obviously had worked it too hard over the four demo days and it was in need of a holiday to recover.

I'm a happy person now and my wee birdie will be flying back home in the near future once it's burned out Kath's hospitality... lol.

Right I think I can now progress with some samples in a much better frame of mind.

Toodles for now and thank you all.

Lorraine xxx

I'm rather disgusted....

I would say GOOD morning all but to be honest with you it's not that good a morning here in my old craft room... you may have read on Kath's blog yesterday all about our little birdie sell out, not one but two days in a row... it was by far the most popular piece of equipment on the stand.

Now all the equipment that was used at the SECC last weekend was my own personal demonstration kit so I am sure you can image how disgusted I was this morning when I was emptying all my bags to store my kit away for the next time it will be used... only to discover... wait for it.... someone has actually had the audacity to steal my squeeze punch!!!!! Oh yes, my little birdie squeeze punch has gone walk about in some thiefs bag.

It is random acts of selfishness such as this that turn the show from being a big happy event where we all share tips and ideas into a not so nice situation where we have to face the reality of the kind of society we live in today.... one which contains thieves and liars. Like everyone else out there I have to work hard for a living and would personally never dream of taking something which was not my own, and all I ask is that I am shown the same respect as I show to others.

So on that note I will bid you farewell for the moment and one final piece of advice... if you are visiting any craft shows over the coming months... beware.... nothing is safe.

Lorraine xxx

Where to start...

Well the show's all over and for the first time in almost a week I've been able to sit down and type on my old keyboard... not for long right enough as work is calling to me already... just need to get it all in order before I start... product review to do... samples to finish for the NEC... more samples for demos... and let's not forget about the catching up on the old housework and washing etc... phew... think I'll defo sleep well tonight... lol....

So, without further delay, I'm off to get the house in order so I can get on with some proper money making work... that afterall is the kind that I like the most... who wouldn't when you get paid to play...

Toodles for now and catch you all again in a few hours.

Love 'n' hugs

Lorraine xxx

Very sad

It's all over, all the stands have gone as have many of my very good friends... And I've just walked through the door so will bid you all goodnight as I'm going to have some dinner and put my feet up for the rest of the night... Will be back with you all tomorrow again.

Love 'n' hugs
Lorraine xxx
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Last day

So unhappy that it's the last day of the show... But at the same time, there's no rest for the wicked... Its back to work as normal tomorrow again as I've got so much to catch up on now... Thank goodness I love my job... Teehee...

Xxx


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Who could this be...

Well I wonder if anyone can recognise who this is... Probably not right enough as she's got her head down getting stuck into a demo... Lol

Here is our very own crafty blogs and facebook buddy Ann Russell who's been demoing her socks off on the Samuel Taylor stand since doors opened on Thursday morning. Doesn't she look fab.

I had to rush home tonight as I had to show face at a wedding reception and have nipped out for a breath of fresh air as its so hot inside... Right enough, think I'll be heading home in about half an hour as I need to rest my wee feet ready for action tomorrow ;-).

Catch you all again tomorrow and hope you too have had a fab day.

Love 'n' hugs
Lorraine xxx


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