Whoops!!!

Didn't realise that it was so long since I last posted! Think that's mainly cos I've been running round like a mad thing trying to get caught up on stuff! It doesn't work... you see just as you think you're nearly up to date a huge pile of work just appears from nowhere.. oh and its all urgent!!!

So since last post... magazine articles x2 finished and posted off to editor. CJ mountain has been conquered and all up to date. Shop blog challenges up to date. New kits.. flying out the doors! Chrsitmas cards= none!!! Nope not a christmas card has been made..... so this weekend will be spent frantically making cards! Am thinking that this years design will be pretty simple but stylish of course!!!

This is the layout that I did for Samm's challenge last weekend.... we had to use material on our los! I used the Bliss kit and added some bits and pieces from my stash. The centre of the flower is material... a very old junkitz swatch! And took my tag maker out the bag again!

This weeks challenge has been set by Vanessa and she challenges us to rip up our stash!!! In the nicest possible way of course! I used the Out & About kit for this lo and added some stitching to create the circle.

Tonight I'm off to Karens where we will be heading off into the cold night air with a group of friends for our christmas get together night! Still haven't decided what to wear! Would thermals be uncool?!!!!

Ok off to make crimbo cards! Have a fab weekend all and don't forget to join in with the new challenge!

Maria x

Challenge Saturday!

Yup its saturday and that means another challenge on the shop blog! This week it was Karens turn and she challenges us to do some colouring in on our creations!! Don't know about you but I just love colouring in! Very therapeutic!!!



This is my effort for the challenge! I used Mindy's Flowers stamps and the Doodlebug Memories stamps and coloured them using watercolour pencils! Added a Roxy ribbon some black brads and voila!!!

Have had a very rubbish day today :-( So I am now off to console myself with an evening of scrapping! For as they say... when the going gets tough, the tough get scrapping!!!!

Maria x

Cover Girl!

Well its probably the only time I'll be on the cover of a glossy anyway!!! My card made the cover of this months Quick & Crafty magazine so I am one happy lady!

I used the gorgeous range of Christmas papers from American crafts for these cards and loved every minute of working with them!

Today has been spent finishing off another article for the magazine and finalising the new kits for the shop. I'm really pleased with these kits.... they are going to be really special! Following requests from many customers we are now doing 2 sizes of kits... they will cost £24.99 and then a smaller kit that will cost £14.99. This should cater for all budgets! The kits will go on sale next week so keep an eye out for them!

Right I'm off to finish my circle journal mountain!!!!

Maria x

In the pink!!!

Today it was Samm's turn to set the challenge on the shop blog and she challenged us to create using one colour only! This wasn't as easy as I though it was going to be as I discovered that I am a bit of a contrasting colours girl!!!! When I look back at all my work it is crammed with colour...and lots of them!

So I opted for shades of pink (no surprise there!!) and scrapped another of the fabby pics by Anita! Ok I know that there is a red heart in there....but you have no idea how hard it was not to add some turquoise into the mix!!!

This morning I am nursing a bit of a hangover following a fab night out... so this morning I am pottering and catching up on some much needed housework! I have a couple of CJs to finish and get in the post and then a lazy afternoon is planned!

Have a great sunday all!

Maria x

I am in love......

with the scrummy papers from My Mind Eye that we are using in our next 2 kits!!!!!

Supplies: PP MME Bohemia Bliss, Maya Road chipboard swirls, heidi swap blossom, thickers chip alpha, heidi swap ghost heart, MM tag, oh and I played the bazzill in stitchez for the sewing along the bottom! These templates are so easy to use and give great results! The swirl along the top is made from elastic bands stapled onto the lo! Photos by Anita Mundt :)

The ones I used for the latest shop blog challenge are from the Bohemia Bliss range and are sooo easy to work with! The other range? Ah well that would be telling!! You'll have to keep popping back for some more sneaky peeks!

Have had a busy old week and am now enjoying a weekend off with only housework :( and scrapping :) to keep me occupied! Oh and a couple of nights out thrown in to liven things up!

Right off to scrap!

Maria x

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE!!!!

It's my nephew, Jamie's 16th birthday today! I just can't believe how quickly the years have flown....it doesn't seem 2 minutes since he was a baby!!!

This is a photo from last year when he taking part in the Remembrance Sunday march. Doesn't he look fab in his RAF cadets uniform?!!!! No doubt he'll kill me for posting this pic...but isn't that what Aunties are for?!

This morning there is another challenge up on the shop blog! This time it's Theresa's turn and she has challenged us all to doodle!

This is my effort! Another of the fab pics taken by Anita Mundt! Love how she brought the colour out in my shoes!!! I used a doodling template for the swirly bits! I've used a mixture of supplies from our kits and the shop.

Today I have my friend Gillian coming over for Sunday lunch so need to have a tidy before she arrives! Then off to visit the birthday boy!

Have a great sunday everyone

Maria x

Sketch Challenge!!!!

Yes its saturday morning and that means another challenge is up on the shop blog with a chance to win an e-voucher to the tune of £10!!!!

This time its Angie's turn to set the challenge and she came up with this fabby sketch!!!

Now you can make a card or a layout using the sketch.....the choice is yours!

Here's what I came up with! I used our Mellow kit which worked a treat with the photo! It's a pic of Karen and Tilly getting to know each other!

Tomorrow we have another fab challenge in store for you all so keep popping back!

Maria x

What a weekend!!!

Well I have been sooo busy over the past few days that I literally have not had time to blog!

So I have heaps to share with you tonight :)

Well saturday morning saw the third Scrummy Blog challenge go live. This time it was Theresa's turn to set the challenge and she came up with a great one! To use felt and real sewing on a layout or card! Here's my effort!

I love this photo of me taken by Anita!! I am well known for my fits of the giggles and she caught me in giggling action! I used some of the Princess papers, angel kiss, Queen & Co felt, some ribbon from the scrapbook shop, for the record journaling stamp and some other bits and pieces from my stash mountain!!!!

Saturday afternoon was our local crop at Morpeth! As usual the class kit went down a treat (chalk garden.....scrummy!!!) If you're from up here....why not join us? We meet the second saturday in each month...email me for more info!

On the way home from the crop I saw the most amazing sunset.....it was one of those that literally take your breath away. And I actually had my camera with me! So I pulled over, wound down the window and started snapping!

Sooo pleased it didn't miss this amazing sight!

Then it was home to announce the winner of the first challenge :) Congratulations Anita!!!!

A quick shower and off for a well deserved night out with Kim!

Sunday it was Vanessa's turn for the challenge and pockets was the order of the day! Vanessa's example is stunning (nearly stole it at the crop!!!) and we're really looking forward to seeing what you all create!

I made a card for this challenge using our Mellow kit!

Sunday was a long awaited day off....and boy did I need it! Did absolutely nothing and thoroughly enjoyed it! We had another winner to announce on Sunday evening..... Tracie was the lucky winner! Congratulations!!!!

Yesterday I took delivery of 4 boxes of delicious new goodies for the shop! Have managed to get them uploaded so you can go have a peek here! I can't wait to start playing with them and making some samples for the gallery!

Today I have been out and about with Theresa this morning. We were finishing our shopping for the advent swap on UKS....its a tough life!!!

Right I'm off to update the shop gallery!

Catch up soon

Maria x

Happy Birthday Gillian!!!!

This is one of my favourite photos of Gillian and I together....Ok we don't look great...but we were having a ball! And that's what counts....not how we look...but how we feel! Note the empty cocktail glass in the foreground, the wet hair and I'll leave the rest up to your imagination!!

Met up with Gillian and her gorgeous Mum at lunchtime for a cuppa and a yummy cheese scone in Tynemouth. The weather was glorious and it was one of those days when you just smell the sea air, count your blessings and be thankful :)

I have a pile of work to get through this week and not enough hours in the day. Hey ho...think that my day off tomorrow has been cancelled! Tomorrow morning Theresa and I are off to The Scrapbook Shop in Durham for some retail therapy all under the disguise of Advent Swap shopping ;) Since starting the shop I have very time or opportunity to go stash shopping so I am really looking forward to it! Then I'll be heading home to get some work out of the way....

Hope your days have been as happy as mine was

Maria x

Scallop Crazy!

Samm was in charge of setting yesterday's challenge on the shop blog and she decided that scallops were the order of the day!!! Which suited me right down to the ground as I am sooo in love with them at the moment!


I made this card using our Periphery kit. The scallops were hand cut and I used my cropodile to make the holes!

This card was made using the Flowerful kit and I added a black bling blossom!!!

We have some fab challenges in store for next weekend set by Theresa and Vanessa so please do join us!

I've spent today having business meetings and placing more orders with suppliers! Our Season of Joy limited edition card kits should be ready by the weekend (fingers crossed!!) and we also have Love Elsie Noel coming very soon too!

Hope you are all having a great bonfire night!

Maria x

One challenge down....seven to go!!!

Well the first challenge on the shop blog went live this morning and seemed to be well received!


The challenge was to create a card or layout using acetate in some shape or form....acetate is so popular at the moment....especially the nice extra thick stuff so I thought it would be good to see how people use it. Actually I'm just really nosey!!!!!

Here are the two example that I made. The card was made using Cherry Arte Princess papers. I cut out an aperture to hold the acetate and then very carefully stamped the butterfly onto the acetate using stazon. The stamps are the Doodlebug Memories from the shop. When it was dry i flipped it over and painted on the reverse using acrylic paints.

The layout was made using the our Flowerful kit...this is by far my favourite kit...I just love the colour combos! Again I stamped the title onto acetate and painted on the reverse.

Tomorrow it is Samm's turn for setting the challenge and she has a really good one up her sleeve so please drop by to play!!!

Maria x

Busy, busy, busy....

getting the shop blog all ready to go in the morning! Pop over and take a look....here! We are launching with a fab challenge at 9am-ish in the morning. Each challenge will have a winner picked at random so please, please, please do have a go....we are really looking forward to seeing what you all create!

Today see's the current issue of Quick & Crafty! hitting the stands...I have a project in there using some delicious papers by Scrapworks called Season of Joy. These papers will be uploaded to the shop over weekend when I get a spare second or two to spare!!! We will also be putting together a limited edition christmas kit using these gorgeous papers...hoping that will be ready by next weekend!

Here's sneaky peeky of the papers and a card that's in the magazine!

Update on Tilly....well Tilly has been settling in well so far...she's met all her new doggy friends and has been on 3 walks through the woods!!! Unfortunately she has also broken a very expensive crystal candlestick whilst bounding around the house!!! Ah well........

Right i'm off to bed now as I have a busy day ahead again! Will update in the morning with the very first Scrummy Stash Cafe blog challenge!

Nighty night

Maria x

Such a bad blogger!!!

I truly am! I promise myself that I will blog regularly and life just seems to get in the way. However I'm not going to dwell in the reasons why I haven't blogged for so long....they are just sooo boring! So lets just pretend that I haven't missed out a whole month and carry on as normal ;)

Today has been great! I travelled down to South Yorkshire with my friend Karen to pick up her new dog from the labrador rescue place there. She is called Tilly, is a whole year old and absolutely adorable. Do you believe in love at first sight? Well I certainly do after today!!! When they first brought Tilly out to meet us she was very nervous but overcame that in about....oh....30 seconds and then was all over us! She has the sweetest nature and has obviously come from a very loving home.

So here she is! Gorgeous or what? Just check out those amazing big brown eyes....oh and she has fab ginger eyelashes to match her silky ears and the tip of her tail!

Karen and Tilly getting to know each other!

We took her for a good walk in some nearby woods before setting off for the journey north. There she met loads of other dogs and a couple of horses and wasn't bothered in the slightest....pretty amazing considering that she basically was with 2 strangers! On our walk through the woods we spotted these amazing fungi!

The journey home was pretty uneventful with Tilly snoozing happily....so a good day all round!

On the shop and work front things are going great! We are having a good old clear out to make way for new goodies so go grab yourself a bargain here! Our Chalk Garden card kit is flying out with only a handful left! I did an article for Quick & Crafty magazine using these papers and they popped in on their website which was a bit of a shock to say the least.....must change that photo!!!

I have plenty more deadline to keep me busy for the magazine and am thoroughly enjoying creating for them once again!

Saturday sees the launch of our shop blog (will post a link tomorrow ;)) We are celebrating the launch of the blog (and our shops' 6 month birthday!) with a whole months worth of challenges. Right on that note...I had better get back to working my way through my infamous list!!!

Bye for Now

Maria x

Just a quicky!!!

Thought I would update this afternoon as am going out tonight and won't get a chance later on!

Not having a very productive day....in fact not managing to get much done at all! Starting stuff but not finishing....I do sometimes have days like this and they are usually followed by really productive ones so heres hoping!!!!

Managed to get music on my blog last night and had great fun compiling my playlist!

No scrapping or crafty pics today so thought I would share this pic of my neighbours cat.....so meet Mitch! Very lovable and needs to be cuddled lots....oh and talks non stop LOL!!

Right thats me for today....will hopefully be back tomorrow with some scrapping to share.

Have fun!

Maria x

Life Begins at 40!!!!

Yup and I hit the big 40 last thursday!!! A huge, huge thank you to everyone who sent cards, e-cards (love em!!!), pressies etc... they really did make my day ever so special :) I had the best time and the partying went on all weekend so its taking me a while to recover LOL!!!

Life has been really hectic with shop stuff to sort and new ventures in the planning so haven't had a great deal of time to scrap unfortunately :( We are in the process of setting up our shop blog! We are planning loads of activities and challenges for you all plus updates on products etc. Samm is chief blog builder as I am a bit rubbish at doing stuff like that! So a huge big thank you to her!

This is a layout I did a week or so ago using some of the "Thelma and Louise" type pics that Anita Mundt took of us! We laughed so much when they were being taken as we were in a car park in Wigan and getting loads of strange looks from passing folks! I have used Love Elsie Roxie papers from our kit.

I have spent today drawing up a things that I must do list!!! First on the list is update my blog regularly LOL!!! Next comes scrap at least 3 layouts a week....now I know that this doesn't seem much but when I'm busy I just can't find the time which is very frustrating...which leads me to item three....structure my day more efficiently!!! While I can dream can't I?

Did this lo for a weekly challenge on UKS. I adore this photograph of Kim taken by Anita and I think it works so well with the gorgoeus Scenic Route Laurel papers!

And finally I'll leave you with another weekly challenge LO on UKS.....

My sister will no doubt kill me for this....but hey! She did steal my lolly!! (and I've never let her forget it!)

New kits are up in the shop..... Mellow and Pheripery and I am in love with them both...can't wait to start playing!!!!

Well thats all for tonight....except to say huge healing hugs to Gillian who is poorly at the moment :(

Maria x

Long time no blog....again!

Well i have had one heck of a busy week and therefore no time to blog....again! Think I'm getting over my post holiday blues! Although having said that the weather today up here has been just awful....really cold (jumper and heating on!!) and rain...lots of it with wind added in for good measure!

Have managed to get another magazine article out the way and 2 in progress! And I have been scrapping!!!! Have done a couple of layouts for UKS weekly challenges and some shop samples with our gorgeous Princess card kit....

I just love this layout of my fabby friend Gillian!! She really is a water babe.....you can see by the smile on her face how happy she is (Oh and I should add that this pic was taken around 2 in the morning after a whole load of cocktails and an impromptu dip in the hotel pool!!!!)

Well Thursday see me turning 40!!!! That can't be right....can it? How come I only feel about 25? Have a whole heap of birthday celebrations planned from meals with friends to party nights that I am sure will last til the early hours!

Will post more layouts the next time I post....am not promising when that will be though!!!!

Take Care all

Hugs Maria x

Oh and well done Anna on your run.....the girl did good!!!!!

Oh Dear....

Got a bad case of the post holiday blues today!! However have managed to keep myself pretty busy and the day has passed quickly. Today is my dearest, dearest friend Karen's birthday.... so have spent this evening making her a card and wrapping her pressies! I am going round there tomorrow night for pizza and girly chat :) Having said that....I really shouldn't be eating pizza as I have put on quite a bit of weight....ah well....the diet can start on Monday (that way i get a good day on Sunday too!!!)

Here's another photo taken by the very talented Anita Mundt...

Love this one...how dreamy do I look?!

Have been sorting out bits and pieces for our crop today....I am teaching a layout class which I hope the ladies will enjoy. Just got the shop to pack up in the morning and I'm good to go! Our crop is just a short one, 1pm-4pm and the time just flies by!

Here's a sneak peek of the layout we'll be making....

I have scrapped another Anita photo!!!

Ok well that's about it for tonight....not very chatty! Will pop tomorrow with more layouts and cards. Have a great weekend all.

Hugs Maria x

I'm back!!!

Ok I know that I haven't blogged for yonks but life just has a habit of getting in the way of things! And I don't want to bore you all with my ups and downs so thought I had better wait a bit before blogging again...

Lots have happened since my last post... got my pics back from Anita and they are just gorgeous :)

This is one of my favs....will bore you all with some of the others over the next couple of days!

Been asked to start contributing to Quick & Crafty! magazine again! I used to write for them pretty regularly but what with setting up the shop etc I just kind of ran out of time.So I am now armed with a list of deadlines and my first article is in the November issue.

Last week saw me sunning myself and partying on the gorgeous island of Kefalonia with my bud Kim. We had a ball and were heartbroken when it all had to end :( I managed to catch up with old friends and made a few new friends into the bargain too!


Kefalonia has a large English population and one of our old neighbours now lives out there...so no doubt we will be knocking on his door during the cold winter months!

Will leave you with a photo of the beach in Skala at night....

Will be back tomorrow with more news!

Hugs Maria x

Oh Dear....

I've been a bad bad blogger already!!!! Can't believe that it's been almost a week since my last post...where has the time gone?

Have been busy with the shop and manages to bag myself a full 3 days off :o This is almost unheard of but I was just so tired that I knew if I didn't take some time to myself I would start getting ill!!!! So what did I do on my 3 glorious days off? Well on friday I met up with my friend Angie for a good old chin wag, coffee and a cheese scone :) Was great!

Friday afternoon I got the proofs through from Anita! Wow is all I can say....that lady sure does know how to take a good photo or 2!! Am absolutely delighted with the results and can't wait to get my mitts on them and start scrapping!



Saturday and sunday were taken up with housework...yuk...but it had to be done! I am not a tidy person by nature but I can't stand the house messy....work that one out! My bedroom was blitzed, washing and ironing was done and I now feel a whole lot happier!



This week saw our new card kit, Princess, go up for sale in the shop. Can't believe how quickly its selling! Just got to find the time to make some samples now!

Here's a little peek of the mini books that I am making with the kit ;) Am teaching this little beauty at the crop this weekend so best get a move on and get it finished!!

Right, that's me for now....will not leave it so long before I post again!!

Hugs Maria x

A good days play!!!

I have spent the whole day playing with some of the new kits from the shop!!!
And I have thoroughly enjoyed myself!



It is very rare that I get to sit and play for a whole day so I really made the most it and I'm not finished yet! Am planning a layout for later! Having said that, I have a rather large glass of wine in my hand at the moment so we'll see how things go LOL!!!

The greeting on all of the cards are from Hampton Art Studio G stamps....aren't they gorgeous?
I have a real thing about stamps at the moment and am building up my collection very quickly! All of these cards are made from our Junkitz Flowerful Kit. If you haven't got yours yet I would hurry as they are flying!!!

Now I know that I said I'd been tagged by Samm a couple of days ago....I have to confess that I still haven't sussed out people to tag who haven't been tagged already....so if you would like to be tagged....leave a comment and I'll tag you!!!! It'll be a great way to meet other bloggers as I'm very new to all this!!

And changing the subject completely!!! Yesterday I took my Craft Robo out of the box for the very first time! I've ony had it 8 months!!! I think I was a bit scared of how complicated it would be to use....well I shouldn't have been....it's easy peasy!!! It is well and truly christened now! Will show you some of the results tomorrow ;)

I'll leave you with the final card of today that I can share (the others are for a forthcoming kit ;))

Catch up soon

Hugs Maria x

Where does the time go?

Honestly, I do not know! This year is flying by! It's 25 days til I head off to Kefalonia again and I cannot wait!! It will be lovely just to relax in the sun with a glass of something nice in my hand and to feel the sun on my face!!!

Today has been busy as usual! Met up with Theresa (one the design team girls) to hand over some stash to play with and then it was an emergency trip to see my sister who had been clamped by the DVLA (that'll teach her not to get her licence on time!) and bail her out....so £200 lighter (yes...I know!!) I came home with a headache (I wonder why?) to pack and post today's orders.

The flowerful kit is proving really popular and well it should as those papers are gorgeous! Last night I did something that I haven't done for months.....I did a UKS weekly challenge!!!

I used the flowerful kit and added a few extra brads and some felt! Have to confess that I did this whilst under the influence of a few glasses of wine but hey!!! it turned out ok!!

Other news..... I have been tagged! By samm....I will get her back...don't you worry!

Now all I have to do is find 5 poor people to tag too.....cruel isn't it?!!!

Will post in the morning who the unlucky people are!!!

Right off to scrap (without the help of wine tonight!)

Hugs

Maria x

New kits and CJ finished!!!

Well I have one busy weekend! Karen, my friend came over yesterday and we sat and made up the new kits for the shop....the flowerful kit has gone live but I'm still waiting for one piece to complete the Cherry Arte kit!

As promised here's a peek....

This is Junkitz Flowerful....now I know that its not a new paper range but it is gorgeous and it's selling really well already!!!

Now for a sneak peek at the new card kit.....

Ok so that's enough kit talk!!!! Today has been spent finishing off my Scrapping Angels CJ :) Now for all of you who haven't heard of Scrapping Angels.....why not?!!!! Only joking!!! It's fab kit company that do monthly page kits and lots more! Anna also organises the best retreats and thats what the Cj is for! The aim is that we all hand over the completed cjs at the retreat next April!

Here's a few pics of the completed article....

I'm pretty pleased with the finished result! I have used the Flowerful kit and the new card kit but shhh don't tell anyone LOL!!!!

Also had a play with the ranger paint dabbers.....i am just in love with these babies! and the odd rub-on and angel kiss!

Right enough chatter....I'm off to watch BB :-)

Hugs Maria x