So many goodies .... so little time :)

 Well I spent a wonderful day at the trade show, ..... so here are the pictures I promised .. I warn you now I've gone a little mad with taking so many, so I've tried to show you just the best. I won't waffle on anymore ... just leave you to browse :)

 

Sorry, for the random way the photos are placed, for some reason I couldn't get them to play nicely today .

Trade Show ... Here I come

Just wanted to let you know that I'm off to the trade show tomorrow, and I'll be armed with my camera, so I'm going to try my best to bring you lots of yummy sneaky peeks back :)

New Design Team Member

Hello to you all - my name is Hannah and I am the latest member of the Gotta Craft Design Team. Sandra has asked me to introduce myself today, so I thought I would tell you all a little bit about myself. I am 30 and mum to two very precious little girls, Poppy and Lily Rose. They really are my motivation when it comes to scrapbooking. I am fascinated by every little thing that they do and say. I am terrified that I will forget all of these special moments and so I decided this year to make a real effort to record their funny sayings and relationships through a scrapbook. Here is a little taste of a layout that I completed this week using papers from Gotta Craft. They are all from the Echo Park Little Girl range and I have to say I really love it.

My scrap book style has developed over time and can be minimalist and quite graphic, but equally it can be completely over the top - it just depends on the photo I am scrapping and the mood I am in! I will usually go for quite a lot of dimension which makes it difficult to store my work sometimes. I do quite like putting some of my favourite layouts into Ikea shadow boxes and changing them now and then.
 While I like all things girlie, I have recently been trying my hand at black, white and grey layouts which I now love. I did this layout yesterday using some lovely chipboard alphas from the Gotta Craft sale

Anyway, I am delighted to be working alongside Sandra and the very talented Gotta Craft Design Team and look forward to sharing more of my projects and seeing some of yours too!

Pretty Prima Papers

Prima have some gorgeous papers and I've used two different ranges for my two layouts. The first one uses papers from the 'Indeed' range, my base paper has an image on an ornate gate on it which I cut around with a craft knife so I could slip my photos underneath it. I then used some Prima Flowers to embellish the page, layering them up with punched flowers to give more dimension.

 The second layout uses papers from the 'Animal Bash' range (apologies for the quality of the photo - there was no daylight today to allow a half decent photo!)

The flowers are really simple to make, they start off as simple circles of paper which you distress a little, spray with water, scrunch up and then flatten out before sticking together. I also inked the edges with a little Tim Holtz distress ink.

Thanks for stopping by.
Clare x

Crate Is Great!

I'm Sian and I love a bargain! Have you had a chance to check out all the lovely sale stock yet? I was lucky enough to get my hands on some Crate Paper Lemon Grass and some KI Memories embellishments

and I put them together to make this:

The Lemon Grass really gives a seventies look. When I'm thinking about what to put on a layout I start by deciding the mood I want to create. I don't always go straight for the latest, because it might not be the greatest! Choosing products which support your story and your photo will give your page a lot more impact, so reach back into your stash; or, even better, check out the sale! You might find exactly what you are looking for..

More inspiration...

Welcome to the weekend, I hope everyone has got something nice in store, whether it's chilling on the sofa, a nice walk in the fresh air or some retail therapy! If you haven't already you will want to check out the sale, there are lots of amazing prices there so a good time to stock up. Here are a couple more projects, the first is a layout, using Fancy Pants 'On a Whimsy' These papers are great as some of  them already have a pretty background on them which make a good basis for your layout.

This card uses the same papers (the more muted back of the papers) along with some pretty Flower Stickers from Me and My Big Ideas. I love working with stickers but to make my life easier I like to stick them onto some thin card or paper first which means I can play around with then design and also I can add foam pads for a bit of height which is what I did with some of the flowers on my card. To finish off I used some Liquid Pearls to add some random swirls amongst the flowers, and some pearls to finish off the centres of some of the flowers.

I hope these projects give you some inspiration, I'll be back soon with more!

Clare x

Please bear with me .....

It's been a rather busy day to say the least ... so please bear with me, as dispatch is going to be a little slower over the next few days, getting orders together. 

I'm going to be trying my best to keep the site updated, and remove out of stock items. In the mean time, though, I'm going to be sharing with you some of the amazing work that the talented design team have been doing ... first up is a lovely layout from the talented Sian  ... do check out her blog, FROM HIGH IN THE SKY, it's truely amazing ... what with Pass The Book, and Storytelling Sunday, trust me you'll be hooked.  

This beautiful layout, was created with Daisy Bucket Papers, Co-ordination cardstock and lovely embellies from KI

It's Go ... Go .... Go

It's all systems go here ... the sale has started, and is in almost every department, so go get a bargain ... and also February's kit, has just gone on sale ... and already selling fast.  

This month you'll find papers from two collections, Fancy Pants Love Birds, and Glitz, Love Nest.  But don't worry, you'll not find this kit too lovey dovey LOL.

Do come back tomorow ... I've got an amazing layout to share with you, with papers you'll find in our Sale. 

Sale Time is Nearly Here......

As Sandra says in the post below she is putting the finishing touches to the shop sale that starts tomorrow. She's asked me to give you a sneeky peek of something I have made using some of the fabulous products in the shop. Here is a card to get started with, I've also been busy with some scrapbook layouts which I'll reveal whilst the sale is on. The patterned paper is from Sassafras Lass and the stamps is one of the lovely images from Belles 'n Whistles, coloured with Promarkers.

Make sure you check back tomorrow to grab yourself some goodies!

Some News .....

Ok, I have lots planned for you all and Gotta Craft, which I'll be sharing with you soon.

So like they all say ... In no particular order ....

• Dont' forget our sale is starting tomorrow
• The kit goes on sale tomorrow too .... busy, busy day

and here it comes .....

• A new design team member will be starting :) ... I will tell you no more ... I'll just leave that up to her, to come and introduce herself.  Trust me ... this year, the Design Team are going to blow you away ... I'm the luckiest person to know such talented people.

also, I can't leave you without a picture, can I ... so here is a picture that I took of my desk, to join in the fun at WOYWW ... but if you look closely ... you may just see a little peek at the kit on sale tomorrow!!!

The Boy

Using papers that were in the December kit, Echo Park's Everybody Loves Christmas - I created this layout of my boy, with one of  his christmas presents ... you may just see the toy that he also received left all chewed up in the background, the squeak long gone!

Do take a look at the gorgeous papers here .... you'll find yourself using them not just for Christmas projects.

Sneaky Peek Time

It can't be that time again, already?  Where did January go?

Well here it is ... Feburary's sneaky peek.  To be fair, it's a little bit different this months kit - instead of the papers all coming from one collection, I've mixed it up, just a little bit. 

You will find though, of course, gorgeous papers, cardstock, a sheet of alpha stickers, chipboard, buttons, journaling card ... and the list goes on :)

The kit will be on sale on Thursday 10th.

Not just for Valentines

A Love Bird is forever ... is not just for Valentine LOL.

Today, I uploaded some of the most beautiful papers ... Fancy Pants, Love Bird .. they, are without a doubt gorgeous. Heavy weight cardstock and sticker embellishments, are just what you expect from Fancy Pants, and these don't disappoint.



I've taken this layout from the Fancy Pants website ... it just shows you want can be done with their papers ... but do check out their blog ...oohhh it's wonderful, and the latest post on it, shows you a great project with the square stickers

Kit Creation

I just love blog reading ... really I do - you're all so talented.  So just the other day, the lovely Dee's .. Paper Mischief  came up in my dashboard  :) Now Dee is really good at keeping her blog regulary updated, and trust me you'll love seeing all the amazing things she comes up with ... so do go on over and say hello.  Anyway, what popped up with this gorgeous layout she did using the January kit and it's Jenni Bowlin papers - so I asked sweetly LOL ... and she kindly sent me some images to share with you.

I so, agree with what Dee has said, we're all so often behind the camera - we forget that future generations won't get to see so much of the actual scrapbooker.  It is strange though when you think of it, most scrapbookers don't like to be in front of the camer ... still, lets see if we can change that.

Little Girl, is in the building

The latest papers from Echo Park have arrived and are now available (HERE), oohhh they're so so gorgeous.  The brochure talks about them being "filled with the imagination and excitment of little girls everywhere" ... well, I may be a bit on the short side, but I have to say I think big girls would fall in love with these papers too LOL.

The quality of these double sided papers are as good as the others from Echo Park ... really, they're amazing.  Do take a look at the Echo Park blog .. its such great inspiration.

Crop Kits available

OOpppsss, I was going through stock, getting ready for the big stock take and found crop kits that I hadn't put on the site!  Do take a look, there aren't many of each left - but at £3, it's a good thing to grab when you're on your way out the door to your local crop, or you just fancy sitting down and creating.

Here is Jo's layout, she did using papers from the So Sophie kit

Sorry ... all sold out

I'm sorry if you missed out on January's kit - but I will be opening more subscription places very soon.

If you did get a kit, here is a layout I did at the crop on Saturday with it ... yes, see I do actually scrap at a crop (sometimes) LOL.  Well, what do you expect from me, Starbucks is just across the road!

The layout is of my mum as a young girl, with her older sister.

First kit of 2011

This first kit of 2011, sort of reminds me of the very first kit I did .... and to be honest, I'm not really sure why! It's not by Doodlebug, like my first one was ... I suppose it's more to do with the colours, I feel its more ... what's the word! .... Solid! ... and by that I mean, its easy to use on nearly everything :) ... ok, waffling now, but I'm sure you'll guess when you see the image.

Happy Crafting New Year

Wishing you all the happiest of new years ... may all your crafting dreams come true.

Dabble Time

It's well known that I LOVE Christmas .... it's my favourite time of the year without a doubt.  Which means that when I put the Dabble Kit together this month - I was well and truly in my element. 

As with all the dabble kits, because packs are split, each kit is slightly different, but each has a similar products; this month, the likes of Elle's Studio, Fancy Pants, MME and K&Co are all included ... trust me, you're going to love it.

So here, you are ... a little sneaky peek for you

Customer Creations

Ok, I'm a very lucky lucky girl, that's for sure - I have such talented customers how are willing to share they're amazing creations with me.  So over the next week or so I'm going to show you a few of them ...

First, just take a look at this .... isn't it amazing.

Sent to me by the very talented Mel, ... you really, really must check out her blog "I Speak Melsh", which trust me, you'll become addicted to!!! You've been warned!.

Just in case you're wondering ... the papers are from Octobers, Crate Paper Restoration Kit.



November Kit

The November kit is now available, and I know I'm biased, but I have to say - I love this kit.  The papers are gorgeous, but you'll find many other amazing Glitz products included.

Clare used her magic and created two beautiful layouts ... here's one for you, but do check out the gallery and to see her other one.

New Greeting Farm Stamps

Oh my, are they just so so cute .... have a look at the new release Greeting Farm stamps. Just uploaded today, they're so cool.

Look what you did??

I'd like to share with you a couple of really gorgeous projects that have been made by Denise, using October's kit with it's Restoration Papers.

I love how you've used the 2 of hearts card on this layout ... hope you don't mind if I steal that idea sometime ;)

Oh my, that butterfly is just stunning :) ... perfect withthe papers.

Thank you so much Denise for sharing them with us.  Keep them coming :)

Gorgeous Glitz

Oh my ..... you're going to just LOVE the latest Glitz Design papers and embellishments.  You'll find both Hoopla and Scarlett HERE, which I uploaded onto the shop today - I can also let you into a secret, both Clare and Sian have been sent some bits today, so you just know they're going to come up with some stunning, stunning layouts.

Also, you may want to check out Glitz blog, it's got some great projects on it ... I've seen a couple I'd love to try.

New Goodies

Just to let you all know that a few gorgeous boxes with yummy products have been delivered - and I'll be uploaded over the next few days ... I've still more on the way, and I'll make sure I give you some sneaky peeks at them when they arrive.

For now, here is one to wet your appetite

Also, with the help of Clare I'm trying to sort out a facebook page - I'll let you know as soon as I manage it! .... (may be a while LOL)

A couple of cards and a mini tutorial

American Crafts have come out with some lovely paper designs recently, including their Abode range, which you can find in the shop here.

As the papers feature houses I thought they would be perfect for 'New Home' cards. For the first card I stamped an image onto white card using the Hero Arts Row of Houses Stamp, which I also embossed with some clear embossing powder. After adding the image to my card I added a punched border and some ribbon to finish off.

For the second card I decided to do something a bit more elaborate, so chose a stepper card design. I have shown on the diagram at the end of the post where the cut and fold lines are if you want to make your own. 

To summarise, firstly trim you piece of A4 card to 28cm long (width stays the same). Mark up where you want your folds at 2.5cm, 5cm, 9.5cm,14cm and 21cm (use a pencil so you can rub out afterwards) I have drawn arrows on my diagram to show how far up the card the fold lines need to be (these are not cut lines). There is only one cut line on the whole card - how far across you put this is entirely up to you - this means you can adjust so that you have bigger or smaller steps. Decide on this measurement first so you know how far across your fold lines need to go. It is then a case of folding the card, mountain folds and valley folds alternating as marked on my diagram. I would recommend using a bone folder to make your creases for a neater finish. Once finished the card fits and C5/A5 envelope.

I cut out the little houses from the patterned paper to make rows of houses, I glued them to the steps with a little bit of glue at the base of each house.

Here is the diagram of the card construction (you can click on this to see it bigger) -

The Big Reveal

Well did you guess from the sneaky peek?  If not here it is in all it's glory! Yes, the monthly kit is now available - and a lot more have been made available due to the quick sell out last month. Also, quite a few gorgeous add-ons are avaliable too here.

Both Clare and Sian ... weaved their magic with the kits, and have a look at a couple of projects they both did ... Clare a stunning card, and Sian a beautiful layout.

A few more projects they did are over in the gallery on the site ... do pop on over here, and take a look, you won't be disappointed!