Christmas message!

Although almost all my cards are different from each other, the message is always the same. This is what I have put in each of my Christmas cards this year. It is Penny Black stamp (World Peace) and I think that resumes perfect my wishes for everyone.
Happy Christmas from Spain!

This years Christmas cards

Right, I am enjoying myself making loads of cards. The number of cards that I sent every year seems to grow, but that makes me happy.
None of the cards is too complicated or time consuming, as I am a quick and easy kind of person as you well know by now, but that doesn't mean that I don't think about them on how to make them more pretty. I always tend to choose a few products and they give the colour theme for the cards. I never make more than ten similar, as I want to enjoy the process more than finishing them in time. I might post full pictures of the cards later on or maybe next year, who knows... but not until I have send them.

This last few months have been so busy that I just realized I haven't done any scrapbooking for a long time. So busy that I had to cancel today's scrapbooking session (a very small crop) at my house. It felt bad, but honestly, I couldn't do anything but concentrate on my work.

The Craft Co

Today I demonstrated at The Craft co, Worplesdon, Surrey. It is a lovely shop that is closing down its B&M shop but it is going to be an internet + events shop.
I demosntrated my two favorite machines at the moment the Expressions and the Bind it all. And one of the things I did was this little Christmas tree out of different sized snowflakes. Now, I wish it was my own original idea but is not. It is based on this tree ornament by someone at Better Homes and Gardens (by someone I mean that they don not acknowledge who designed it). as I don't have a Christmas tree this year (we will be soon off to Spain for the festivities) I decided I wanted it to be more of decoration in itself that stands alone, maybe as a centre piece. My original one is actually deep red, poinsettia type of red, just so it's different, but I did this one today and went for slightly more traditional one, at least snowflakes are sort of white!
The card beside it is a diorama card using the Christmas Cheer cartridge. By the way, the tree has a lovely glittery finish, that my mobile camera doesn't quite capture.

Introducing

SIMPLY SAYINGS

My own designs produced by Craftwork Cards, one of the best craft companies in the UK.
they are two sets of die cut shapes (6 in each A5) that right now are printed in black but there are many possible coulours! Also Sue (Craftwork Cards owner) made this clear stamps with the images, so loads more possibilities coming up!
I am going to start using them today while I prepare my next lot of Recipe Cards by Craftwork cards, of course!

Not much time to spare

Saturday 1st of December, I got my first Christmas card, from a very dear and generous friend of mine. That reminds me that I really need to start making mine!
Also I spent the weekend trying different things with Photoshop, I guess I need to practice more but I don't have much extra time, as I had to prepare for tomorrows class at The Art of Craft and do an article for Quick and Crafty.
By the way, this card is from last year, of course. Using some of my favorite dies from Quickutz, available from Crafts U love.

The Glitter Pot

Today I was teaching Quick and Contemporary cards at the Glitter Pot, and everone made 5 cards in the morning and another in the afternoon. The photos are samples of those cards using Basic Grey and Pebbles Inc papers.



Also just let you know that today starts a SALE at Craftwork Cards (one of my top favorite craft shops specialized in shaped card and pre-scored card but they do so much more) with over 500 items in the SALE area, loads of them 75% off! The sale is on till Monday 3rd December at 4pm.

More Christmas cards

A fabulous day in

Yesterday, I had a great time with Julie Hickey, just crafting (very little myself and chatting) all day long with a little break playing with new iMac.

Since the Christmas Cards that I posted recently were quite popular I am posting some more from last year.




Also I wanted to share this Youtube video that Leonie posted in my Facebook page (thanks Leonie). It is just like Wasabi in the morinings with the exception that Wasabi doesn't meow.

Congratulations Leonie on your book! A fantastic insight into ATCs.

Christmas Cards

You know, with Christmas cards I have a love affair, and as such it is a difficult relationship with ups and downs. I have to start designing them long before the hot months of the year are over. Then, soon after, teaching them and finnally it is time for me to make the ones I need to send. the thing is that when I find myself at the end of November, nothing to be sent has been done and I am all Christmas cards tired. So, for now I am just posting some cards I made for articles, clases and that I sent last year.
By the way, I did sent twice as many as I received, although that is not a real complaint, because all the people that matter to me did sent me one.


As you can see, I had a theme about Red and White, and some other with silver and black as well, all of which are my favorite colours to dress, decorate and craft!

Also, yesterday we bought ourselves a big addition to our media family: a 24" iMac which, loaded with my favorite programs, it is just a treat to do design work with. I have never been but a Mac girl!
As a sample of some of the playful and cool stuff that the Photobooth does...

Fun

Lately, I find myself scraping less and less for fun. Still, I love it, and find it really useful, however I seem to have lost my scrap motivation at least for layouts, though cards and mini albums keep coming out of my head and my hands.
This one shows how little journalling -non existing- or relation between photo and the artwork I use lately.
Mix and match of products as usual. Background by Creative Imaginations, Patterned paper by BG, Letters by Heidi Swapp, Stamp by Melissa Frances and flower by Prima.

Quick Cards

This month (I think, maybe it was last month) in Quick Cards Made Easy I have an article on 10 different ways with aperture with punches. In each of them I made a different way of decorating and how to incorporate. For instructions... get the magazine!

Craftwork Cards

I can share good news with you all. I have designed some stuff -shapes and messages- for Craftwork Cards that should be out quite soon. As soon as I get them and they are available to buy I'll let you know.
This is my first time designing stuff for crafting, so as you can imagine I am beyond thrilled!
By the way, the card above was part of the Recipe Cards that I did for that company, using the scalloped chipboard card and flowers and their All Sorts papers which are black and White a favorite of mine!

QVC and Stampin UP

Yep, quite a combo. As I always mentioned how tired I am, I am not going to say it today. But you can imagine the effects of spending over 12 hours at QVC.
If you watched the 20:00 hour, you just might had catch me completely off guard and hiding afterwards under the table. Not that I am shy or anything like that, just really not prepared. Working alongside Dawn and Leonie is such a good experience, I always learn something new from both of them and my admiration towards both of them just keeps growing. It is quite simple, really: they know what they are doing, and trust me working as they do is NOT easy at all. It is just not about making beautiful cards, it is about being able to create cards in a few minutes, changing constantly techniques and/or styles. Plus, Dawn has to arrange so much in the business side that it is just unbelievable. Also, Leonie and I chatted about a great, great idea combining two beautiful things that we would like to do in the near future, but I can't say more now.

In other news, I just sent the application to become a Stampin Up demonstrator. I am hoping to be an active one, but not sure how it will work out. If you would be interested in attending or hosting Stampin Up parties, over the web or in real life, let me know! Email me to the address that appears on the profile section of this blog.

And last but not least, some good news on another front, Craftwork Cards. More on that later on.

Edited to say:

When I said that my collection looked amazing, I meant the ATC's from other people, the ones I have got through swapps and not the ones I made.
I hope you got what I meant!

ATCs

Love them, love the concept, love the swapp. Here you can see some of the ones I made for Portugal. I made 100 ATCs, I have some left, not many, which means that I swapp about 75!!!!! My collection looks amazing there are so many wonderful artpieces, so if any of you would like to trade, send me an email.

Back in the UK

Didn't do much in Paris. But enjoy myself of long siestas and hot chocolate at either Laduree or Angelina, both really good but I prefer the hot chocolate of the alter one. Most British/Americans may get disappointed by the drink: it is thick and bitter, but that is how it should be! After all it is the Spanish way, and who else but the Spanish brought in chocolate from the recently discovered America and made it into a fashionable drink in Europe? Upps, I am no historian, maybe I am not quite right, but I think I am and not in the mood for light research on the matter.
Yesterday I demonstrated ATC's at The Art of Craft. Tuesday, I am back at QVC helping Dawn and company with the TSV. Loads of hard work but really excited to see them all again so soon after Portugal.

Portugal Photos

Back and away, yet again

Last week was a fantastic succession of crafting, fun and exhausting actitvities that have left me seriously tired. And since my dear hubby was away this week on business I decided to join him for a few days here, in Paris. Really, no time to unpack, just to remove certain items and put something else instead.
Weather right now: cold and rainy, very different from the warn and sunny days we have enjoyed at the Algarve.
I have met so many nice crafters and tutors, and heard so many nice stories, I may have to share some with you all.

Cascade Pop up cards

At least that is how I call them.Way too tired to give instructions! Today I taught them at The Glitter Pot. Again, sorry about the quality of the photos, still captured by a camera phone .

I am getting ready for Portugal, where I will be teaching at Dawn's Crafting Holiday. And by getting ready I mean getting loads of ATC's ready. Leonie, it is your fault, another papercraft addiction to my long list!

Recipe Cards

Not much energy or time. So just a photo of my latest contribution to Craftwork Cards Recipe Cards. You can find all the products in here.

One of my favorites

This layout is indeed one of my favorites, not so much for its theme but for how it came out. The Basic Grey paper is the exact shade of blue as was my dress for my sisters wedding and the unusual edge is just funky (at least in my books!).
This week has been really hectic. Monday: designing some cards for an article; Tuesday: down to The Glitter Pot (Scaynes Hill) and Tresure Crafts (Burgess Hill) with my friend Sarah to pick up some stuff I needed for my future classes there (see right for details); Wednesday: QVC, TSV from noon till 1:30 in the morning!; Thursday: Scrap session at my house with a new addition to the club (no, it's not Wasabi); Friday: preparing for today's demo and another article; Saturday (today): demo at The Paper Mill Shop (Ashford).
Right now: really tired but happy.

QVC was a bit tiring but it was lovely to work beside Leonie, Carly and, of course, Dawn. Met Nacy Hill owner of Die Cuts With a View, who had an hour, she got crossed with me because I took one black 12x12" from her stash! But she had loads, so she then soon forgot all about it. If anyone saw the bit when I got in front of the cameras, please understand that comment from Dawn is truly not shared by me! (I know I am NOT the best scrapbooker in Surrey, so hardly I am going to be in the world!) However, it was sweet of her to say that.

Today, I was at the Paper Mill and Lousette Ashton, who really is one of the best scrapbookers in the world pop in. She is such a nice lady! And also very nice was that Richard, the shop's owner (I think) who gave me an A4 fox full of my choice cardstock as a thank you for the demo gift. Really nice and totally unexpected.

I have realized this last few days how lucky I am, I mean I work really hard, but all my big breaks, if one could call them big, have arrived without me looking for them. When I do, I never get them. I guess my lesson for this week is: do my job as better I can, never say no to craft jobs and not have high expectations, good things will come!

Ah, and by the way, the RAK for Charity keeps going on. I have a couple more coffee tins available and thanks to Sarah, Jan and Linda we have already £39 in the tin, which added to the first donations means that we have raised over a hundred pounds!

Wow!

I have just had a conversation with Penny Black owner, Shaida, and now I am a Penny Black Artist. I am so excited! I have loved this company rubber stamps since I started stamping seriously, that is over four years ago. The quality is superb and the designs are to die for, from modern to cute passing by beautiful wording and funky ladies.
So, from now on, you will see loads from this company in this blog.

This card was done using the Snowscape rubber stamp and Giving and receiving acrylic set. Also I used Carftwork Cards card and Ruffles, wich is the lovely scalloped rectangle.

Penny Black stickers

Don't you just love this stickers? They are just beautiful and so easy to make a card with them.This is actually one of my favorites from the new Christmas range. I used two, one as a background and another one decoupaged. The message from the cut out sticker can be used for another card, so no waste at all.

A RAK for Charity Update

Thanks to Jan, Sue, Caz, Kim, Dee, Gaynor and others who donate in total:

You donated :	£52.00
Plus Gift Aid :	£ 14.67

Which means that £66.67 went to Marie Curie Cancer Care, and that you have lovely coffee tins to alter!

By the way, for the card I used one of my favorite stamp sets from Banana Frog called Build-a-bloom and then I used Pharmacy alphabet set to spell thanks.

Alexandra Palace

I am back from a very busy and tiring weekend. I only worked Saturday but I decided to go up on Sunday as well to do some shopping and helping out with coffees and more to my friends.

All was nice, but the really exciting thing was demonstrating for Helena Bonham Carter. She was really sweet! And destiny would have it that, at more or less the same time I was showing her how to use the Bind it all while she was admiring my mini albums (see post before this one), my parents and grandmother were watching "A Room with a View", in which she stars as the main character and one of my favorite romantic movies. And as a true celebrity spotter, I asked for her autograph, which is going to go some day in to a layout or mini album!

Now, back to non celebrity life, Wasabi really wanted to explore the hidden(non-existent) passage in the wall. I think I am in love with my cat!

Bind it all

Love this machine! And I get to demonstrate it next Saturday.
trying to make some nice samples, yesterday I made this mini album about my school experiences. The pages are just the Basic Grey Chipboard tags that fitted the old die cut shapes. Well, lets just say that the new Recess line from Basic Grey set the theme, and then found some nice rub ons (again from Basic Grey, how original of me! NOT)


The idea of incorporating the pencil was from my DH Omar, it is an Ikea one, you know the free ones! Also it has a function, it keeps some of the tags straight. Then I looked for other reasons into Basic Greys gallery and one of the Recess samples had pencils on! Nothing is original anymore, even if we come up with a novel idea, somebody else has or is thinking/doing the same.


Inside I used Journaling stamps, but I haven written anything yet.