Simply Stamping

I was a very lucky girl this month, getting to go to two craft shows, one weekend after the other

Thankyou Jan xxx

Neil gave me a few spondoolies to spend as a little treat and one of the first things I bought was a stamp with a twig on it - why you may ask was I in dire need of a stamp with a twig on it ?

Because, my lovely readers, I spied a fabulous display of gorgeous samples all using the humble twig

Jan and I got a fabulous demonstration from a very lovely lady on the cardio stall, who made it look like the easiest stamping on the planet

And she didn't lie

Here is my version using the twig I bought along with a couple of stamps I already had in my stash

There was also a very cheeky chappy with an outstanding array of hugely discounted dies who also persuaded me to part with some of my cash ( or should I say Neil's cash), and I also bought a few sheets of some stunning Maja designer patterned papers and vintage images, all to finish of the extra special cards for close friends and family, all of which I should be sharing on my blog soon.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Please note that the opening times for the shop are a little different

As you are all aware Neil is not well at the moment, I have decided to take a little step back from the shop on the days when I don't have classes

I will be closing on thursdays and saturdays unless I have a pre-booked class, all Jan's and Linda's saturday workshops will still go ahead, and so will the die-cutting classes on the third thursday each month, as will all my regular classes and crops - they will remain the same, but I do want to spend a little extra time at home with my loved ones

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause and thankyou so much for your support and understanding

Love and twiggy branches

Tracey 

xxx

Happy birthday Beryl

Good evening

Yesterday was my lovely friend Beryl's birthday

I just had to use my brand new stamps and papers for my very special friend

I used an 8in base for the card

The sentiment is Stampin' Up

I used Craft Creations and Tilda papers

The stamps are by The House of Zandra and were a bargain with four quid off the usual price at last weeks show

I coloured the images in with my copic pens

I hope you had a fantastic birthday Beryl, love you lots xxx

Love and fabulous fashion

Tracey

xxx

Engagement commission

Good evening

I am feeling more than a little blurry tonight

Our new baby is literally a new baby

Bruce was neutered yesterday and boy is he making us feel guilty

I don't think I have ever seen a dog look quite so pathetic, he truly is feeling incredibly sorry for himself

He has the obligatory cone on his head, which he has no comprehension of steering yet

He refuses to walk anywhere and instead does this ridiculous bunny hop type shuffle across the floor on his bottom

He has been an angel up to now and been as good as gold at night going to bed in the kitchen on his own and not waking us up too early in the morning, but, last night, there was no way on earth he was going to be left alone

If I moved more than an inch away from his head he cried and did those huge puppy dog eyes

And so I slept ( that term I use loosely as sleep I did not !) I laid next to him on the lounge carpet all night with my hand on his back soothing him to sleep

I honestly think it would be easier to have another baby !

So I apologise for those of my friends who popped in to the shop today, if I was less than bubbly, it was all Bruce's fault

Anyway - moving on

I was asked by one of my lovely scrapbookers to make her son and his new fiancee a card to celebrate their engagement

I came up with a very romantic and softly hued design on an 8in card base

I am sorry the lighting was a little off, it was dull this morning when I took the photo, the one below shows a more accurate idea of the colours

Love and lost sleep

Tracey

xxx

Happy birthday Glynn

Good evening

Here is a card I made for a lovely friend who celebrated her birthday last week

I used pearlescent card in white and lilac

The flowers are retro daisies by EK success

Butterfly is a die by Cheery Lynn

Scalloped circle die is Nellie Snellen

Flower centres are a punch by Kars

Sentiment and sentiment plate are Stampin' Up

Hope you had a lovely day Glynn, thankyou so much for all the yummy cake you brought in, it was delish !!!

Love and lilac wishes

Tracey 

xxx

Paws for thought

Good evening

My lovely friend Beryl ( everyone should have a friend like Beryl - she warms the heart in every way) brought into the shop a very special gift for the new addition to my family

Beryl gave me a lovely big bed for Bruce and he instantly fell in love with it, we weren't sure if he would settle as he came with the bed he has had since being a teeny tiny puppy but he loved it from the start and gets himself all comfy snuggled up in it

So from Bruce and me and Neil too  - thankyou mum 2 xxx

I paper pieced the doggy, and he does look a lot like Bruce, using punches, they were all Stampin' Up punches and you can probably guess which ones I used from the photo

Love and tail wags

Tracey and Bruce

xxx

Nice day in Newark

Good evening

I have had such a fabulous sunday today

Jan invited me to join her and Margaret to a papercraft show in Newark and I jumped at the chance, I have not been to one for a little while so had a few stalls on my list to visit.

Here is my little crafty haul, not included in the picture are the boring tools, adhesives and envelopes, but here are the fun things I picked up

The little house at the back is a money box which I am going to transform into a beach hut

The MDF squares I bought in three variations which will be transformed into a wall hanging ( I just can't resist hearts in any form !)

I succumbed to the sparkly wonder of glamour dust - well Chrimbo is just around the corner and we all need a little sparkle then !

The magpie in me failed to resist the lovely little sparkly and pearly embellishments for the centres of flowers and poinsettias

I bought a few stamps as they were all on sale, extra special offers which would have been rude to ignore

And as if I don't have enough papers I found some designs that I have never had in the shop so they kind of fell into my basket too

Jan and I were both taken with the 6in paper pads so we bought one each and will be splitting them to share out all the designs

We had a fair few giggles and lots of inspiration, I can't believe how long we stayed there, we enjoyed it so much we didn't want to leave - thank goodness I got all organised and put the slow cooker on before we left, I worked up quite an appetite.

Thankyou so much to Jan and Margaret who made it such a lovely day

Love and crafty goodness

Tracey 

xxx

Pyramid cards

Good evening

We have been making pyramid cards in class this week

This is the one I taught, actually really quick and easy and they fold flat for easy posting, this size fits into a C6 envelope once it has been folded

And just for fun I rummaged through all my punches and cobbled together this cheerful Santa, so he counts for my 'christmas card a week' for this week

Some of the friday girls had a go at making snowman versions of this card - and I don't think I have laughed so hard in a long time

We had a snowman that looked drunk, one that looked a little demented and mine looked vaguely sinister, we decided it was all in the eye placement !! ! And I am not sharing my attempt on here as it might just give you nightmares !

Thanks girls what a lovely afternoon, we definitely did more laughing than crafting this week

Thankyou also to Linda, who taught the Christmas Frame this morning, what a lovely class, great company, fab teacher and a beautiful finished project - and yes !!!  I did actually finish a project - wonders will never cease.

Happy weekend to you all

Love and lopsided snowpeople

Tracey

xxx

Get well soon

Good evening all

I am sharing a card tonight made for a gent, who has been a little under the weather

AS some of you know Mrgaret's hubby Brian has been a little poorly and I wanted to let him ( and Margaret) that Neil and I were thinking of them both

I used a Henry mouse stamped image, coloured with Distress inks

The papers are Nitwits

Ribbon, hessian and twine from my shop

I hope you are feeling much better now Brian

Love and healing hugs

Tracey

xxx

Linda's Stampin Up class

Good evening

I am back tonight to share Linda's new Stampin' Up class

Linda will be making this stunning wall art contained within the glass fronted box frame this coming Saturday - 11th October 10am - 12pm

£12.00 to include all you need to finish this project including the frame

It will make a fab gift, or addition to your own christmas decorations - what an extra special alternative to a christmas card too !

Please contact Linda through her blog here or contact me if you require a place, the class is filling up fast !

Love and stamped delights

Tracey 

xxx

Christmas wishes

Hello

I have another christmas card to share

I am woefully behind on my intended target of one a week but I am much further on than I was last year - slow and steady and all that !

I used a Tim Holtz embossing folder for the background

Sentiment is a Stampin' Up stamp

Window die is by Cheery Lynn

Flower punches are Stampin' Up 

Poinsettia dies are Marianne design

How are you all getting along with your Christmas cards ? I bet there are at least a couple of you that have finished !

Love and mistletoe kisses

Tracey

xxx

Birthday, Branston and Bruce

Hello

Tonight I am sharing a birthday card I made this week for a very special person, who turned 80 on wednesday

Happy birthday Mary, I hope you were well and truly spoiled, you deserve it !

I used a Crafters Companion embossing folder, Tim Holtz die for the numbers - used with Stampin' Up glitter paper,  Marianne dies for the butterfly, flourish and flowers

I have had a really good day to day, it all started with a day spent with my lovely friend Carole

We put the world to rights, we confided and shared, laughed and crafted - and we ate !

Carole had said she would bring in lunch so I was expecting maybe a sarnie and crisps, but oh no, as usual Carole ( who never does anything in half measures) prepared me this gorgeous ploughmans lunch - yum yum

Thankyou so much Carole for bringing a little bit of sunshine in an otherwise dull and rainy day, we must do it more often - my treat next time xxx

And in other news - meet Bruce

I came home from work to be greeted by this little cutie

Bruce is a collie/ german shepherd cross, he is 6 months old and still has a bit of growing to do

He is gorgeous and so loving and has followed me around since I got home, we have played football in the garden, been for a walk and generally got to know each other

His left ear is floppy and his right ear stands to attention, he is very wary of other dogs although he was brought up with cats and a lab and he wants to make friends with EVERYONE he meets on his walks !

I think he loves his daddy already, here he is trying to persuade Neil to put down his newspaper and play ( and yes Bruce won, Neil gave up !)

Love and puppy kisses

Tracey

xxx