Scrapnothings

New Beginnings

2010-02-14T13:02:00.002Z

Sorry for not posting for so long but I have been busy creating my new blog as a Stampin' Up Demonstrator - why not pop over and visit Craft with Style and see for yourself what I have been up to and how you can join me at future events.

Where have I been for so long!!!

2009-08-26T11:56:00.002+01:00

Oh my I can't believe how long it has been since I last updated my blog but it has been such a busy time over the last few months what with our youngest daughter's 21st, our silver wedding anniversary and our holiday in Thailand there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day. But more of that in detail to come.

Blog update

2008-11-21T10:35:00.003Z

I decided I wasn't keen on my current blog layout and until I have time to do something more creative, this will have to do for now. I know I have been neglectful in keeping my blog up to date but hope to do better from now on.

Tracy from Elgin was in KittyKrafts last weekend demoing the Cuttlebug and new Inkadinkadoo stamps - she was brilliant and the ladies who come to shop frequently certainly bombarded her with plenty of questions and kept her busy for her time there. It was lovely to see her again and to catch up on what has been happening.

I have been busy over the last few weeks with a variety of projects including: Christmas cards, designing classes for KittyKrafts, making invitations for my youngest daughter's 21st and trying to finalise the design for the invitations for our own silver wedding in June. I am sure my husband must be one of the most patient and understanding men I have come across to put up with my mess constantly.

With working full time as well, it doesn't leave much time for anything else but I am trying to get organised for Christmas and finish off the present buying for family. I haven't even thought about when I am going to get time to wrap them all !!

Scrapbooking

2008-09-12T15:41:00.004+01:00

It seems ages since I last scrapbooked but this Sunday at the shop we will be running an advanced scrapbooking class as a follow on to our beginners course which we ran a couple of months ago.

This gave the perfect excuse to get out my photos and create a double page layout. I have tried to stretch them a bit more and make it a bit more interactive so that the main photo mount lifts up to reveal photos or journalling underneath. I hope they enjoy it, I know I enjoyed putting it together.

Christmas comes early!

2008-09-10T09:09:00.005+01:00

Well it has been a few weeks since I last updated my blog and so much has been happening! Christmas came early to KittyKrafts, the tree went up, tinsel and lights were hung and our demonstration weekend in August got underway using the new products from Dovecraft's Victorian, Winter Wonderland and Contemporary Christmas collections. We could have sold the products several times over as they flew off the shelves, everyone was impressed by the quality and value for money.

The following weekend saw our third workshop weekend, six willing crafters attended and spent the weekend in the shop making projects suitable for Christmas and/or gifts. It was lovely to see everyone tackling new skills and using products they had not experienced before - the whole point of our workshop weekends is to introduce new crafts, techniques or products and to give people the confidence to recreate the ideas themselves. Everyone left, crafted out, well fed and looking forward to completing their projects.

We are now working on our class list up to Christmas and hope to include projects suitable for beginners and more experienced crafters alike, more information is available from the shop and should also be online soon too when the new shop website goes live!

Holiday time - or so my blog thinks!

2008-08-04T14:19:00.002+01:00

It is ages since I last updated my blog and I am sorry to everyone who has been checking for updates - I just don't seem to get the time these days to do everything I would like to do. There has been lots happening since my last post, I have started a new job which is both petrifying and exciting at the same time. I have been busy creating projects for friends and family and also busy with classes for my local craft shop KittyKrafts in Broughty Ferry.

The shop has been quiet with everyone on holiday but there is still interest in the classes and we have our 3rd workshop weekend coming up at the end of August so it is a bit manic at the moment trying to get all the projects finalised for it.

Bad housekeeping!

2008-03-12T13:37:00.008Z

I have been getting nagged about not updating my blog but it has been so unbelievably busy recently that I just don't seem to get the time.

The last few weeks have seen me travelling down to Birmingham for the Stitches trade show which was an enjoyable experience if somewhat tiring. The vast amount of new products coming out shortly was amazing. I can't wait to get the opportunity to experiment with them over the coming months.

I celebrated another lovely Mother's day with my parents visiting for the weekend and even though I was teaching on the Sunday afternoon, it was lovely to spend time with them. I was very lucky and received some lovely gifts including a bouquet of flowers, chocolates, a book, dvd and some new boots.

I have been very busy in the shop - helping to unpack all the orders after Stitches in Birmingham, demonstrating wedding stationery ideas in the shop, designing classes and getting samples ready for our big workshop weekend at the end of March. We have 7 very eager crafters booked on the course and preparations are well in hand for what promises to be an exciting and busy weekend.

Good friends are worth their weight in gold!

2008-02-11T22:22:00.000Z

The last few weeks have been quite difficult and worrying and without the support of my family and friends I don't know if I would have coped as well as I have.

One particular friend, Dawn, is always there for me when I need to talk and even though we don't see each other very often, she is always at the end of an e-mail, text or phone call. Thank you Dawn for your support and encouragement over the last few weeks.

Others you know are thinking of you even though you might not chat to them very often as life has the unfortunate knack of getting in the way. When you have difficult days, a card will come through the post from one of these special friends and brighten your day instantly.

I have learnt that if you treat your friends well, they will always be there for you when you need them!

Too much to do - not enough hours in the day!

2008-02-07T12:18:00.000Z

Why do the weekends fly by so quickly and the days at work last so long? I seem to have so many demands on my time at the moment and not enough time for them all. With working full-time, a home and family to look after and my crafting commitments, I sometimes wonder how I fit it all in.
This Saturday we have a demo day at KittyKrafts in Dundee, showing examples and how to make easy cards for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter. The event will run between 10.00 am - 4.00 pm, so come along if you are in the area and see for yourself just how easy and enjoyable it can be. (Must get those samples made!!)

That said, I don't seem to have very much time to scrap for me these days and find myself yearning to be creative, even when I am busy at work. I envy those who are home all day and have the time to play. Thankfully, the monthly crops give me the opportunity to meet up with friends, chat with like-minded people and play all day without any other demands on my time.

Louise and I are off to the Trade show in Birmingham next weekend and I am so looking forward to seeing all the new products on display. I really feel that I have landed in heaven sometimes, getting the chance to play with new stash without having to buy it all myself and I have to thank Louise for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to be creative and pass it on to new and seasoned crafters alike.

Classes restart

2008-02-05T09:29:00.000Z

After the Christmas break, we have now restarted the classes at KittyKrafts in Dundee. They are held every Sunday from 11.30 am - 1.30 pm and 2.30 - 4.30 pm. The same class is run twice and there are also Children's classes in an afternoon organised by Sam.

The last two weeks have seen us making mini books - perfect for friends, Grandparents or Mother's Day and also small gift boxes, perfect for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or birthdays - just change the decoration of either to suit your occasion.

We are starting to attract more new crafters which is always good fun especially if they are beginners like we had in last week. They were good fun, willing and quick to learn new skills, and they all left with very accomplished projects.

Happy New Year

2008-01-08T13:49:00.000Z

Well 2008 is here and with it another festive season has passed. We had a very quiet christmas, just the four of us and it was very relaxed and enjoyable. I received quite a few crafting presents but still have to try some of them out when I get a chance.

The New Year was brought in celebrating with friends at home. The theme of the party was Grease - the movie, and most joined in with the spirit of the evening and dressed accordingly.

Since then life has returned to normal, I have managed to complete some projects including a guest design spot for A Trip Down Memory Lane and some samples for a demo day at KittyKrafts in Dundee on 19th January. The new class list is now available in the shop and places seem to be booking up fast.

The last couple of days have been good fun. Our daughters decided that they need a Nintendo Wii and bought one online between them. Since then we have spent many hours bowling, boxing, playing tennis and baseball and DH has tried his hand at a few rounds of golf. All this has led to aching joints but never mind.

So the new year stretches ahead and I hope that it will prove to be a good one for everyone.

Christmas and Birthdays

2007-12-12T09:00:00.000Z

Can't believe it has been over a week since my last entry, the days seem to gallop past at this time of year and it will be Christmas before we know it. I still have so much to do, presents to finish and wrap, cards to make and shopping still to do but I will get there in the end.

It was my eldest daughter Sam's birthday yesterday, she was 22 (where do the years go). She didn't want a big fuss so we had a nice quiet family tea and a big gooey Thornton's chocolate birthday cake.

I was busy crafting last night, finished the tin for my sister which is going to be filled with toiletries and made some more cards.

Small Beginnings

2007-12-04T13:33:00.000Z

Well who would have thought it, looks like I have caught the bug and I now have a blog of my own to share my projects, ideas and inspirations with my friends and family.

My love of crafting began when I was much younger, I loved to create things - whether it be cooking, using fabrics, paper or junk - I usually found something creative to do with it. To me crafting is a way of relaxing after a busy day at work and I love nothing better than creating lovely cards and gifts for family and friends. The look on their faces is worth the time and effort it takes to create something special.

Now my crafting has taken me to a new level - a friend recommended me to Louise who owns my local scrapbook shop - KittyKrafts in Dundee and suggested that I might be interested in teaching classes. A year on we have an increasingly keen group of crafters who are always eager to learn new techniques and desperate to see the new class list as soon as it is published. We run weekly classes, weekend workshops and even 1:1 sessions for special projects. If you are ever in the locality pop into the shop, you wont be disappointed.