Sizzling Summer Stamp Camp

Details of the first Sizzling Summer Stamp camp are on my SU blog- see link on the top right.

I have a date in July and August - book to secure your place. Includes buffet lunch. Demos, classes, stamping stations and more.... Being held in Merstham in Surrey under a gazebo and in my Crafting Palace...

Placing are filling fast and there are only 6 places each day. Prices are for the whole day and all materials are supplied.

Another Sad day in crafting

Creative Living (formerly Pastimes) is a Mother Daughter business in Limpsfield which I had the pleasure in working in for some time as a tutor and demonstrator as well as a shopper there too. Well today I got a letter, that I am sure many of their customers did to say that they are closing their shop at the end of this month.

Although I hadnt done as much work there recently due, not I hasten to add because of any problems for me there but due to the fact that in the recent re style ect the stamping section was smaller and smaller and I felt unable to offer my love of stamping without the tools! So I cut back my classes and demos but still appeared there maybe once each class term. There will be a massive clear out sale starting this Saturday, every item in store will be 50% off, this includes fixtures, fittings and furniture too and this runs to the end of the month.

Although it seems in one light to be picking the bones when a sale like this is announced I am sure everything sold will be great news for them so please make a effort to say cherrio to the store and staff and thanks for a lovely couple of years.

What bugs you?

REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION


Hmm, photos that dont do the cards the justice they require bug me. take this cute little bug card.. it looks really pritty in real life. The photo doesnt look anything special. Its simple and pritty and I couldnt wait to share with you, but this photo is just boring!

The stamp is an adorable one from Penny Black via the Glitter Pot, I cant remember what it is called but its a cutie isnt it? The embossed frame is a Craftwork Cards frame, designed by the very talented Julie Hickey. I got this from The Glitter Pot too. The flowers are from my stash, the Zoomz are from Kym at Stamp Galaxy.co.uk I LOVE adding these to my cards.

I carefully chalked very lightly some of the embossed flowers with my Stampin Pastels and I coloured the image with my Stampin Up! ink pads... The little face on this bug is sooooooo cute, I mean look at those eyes and little furry eyelashes? or hair?! Whatever it is I coloured it with my Old Olive pad and I love it.

I wish you could see it in real life. Its not "knock your socks off special" but it does look nicer.

I made three cards, yesterday, one was this one, the other two are for my class on Saturday. I needed it. I think the men in white coats are coming! Last night when locking my Palace up I said "I love you shed".... I meant I love the break it gives me, the sanity check and I came out all refreshed. If you hadnt have guessed its school holidays here and so far we have had nits, fits, rash, tempretures, coughs, snot and then yesteday rounded off nicely with Caiden throwing up! Today we are going to the park, this is more or less the first time out, well I tell a lie, we did go a few little places last week. Nothing much to shout about though. Catch you later if the men in coats dont get me first.

"There coming to take me away haha......."

Hanglar Stangler blog candy

I would just about die to win this! I have wanted one of these FOREVER! anyway there is a giveaway for this beauty....

You can win it here http://katharina1704.blogspot.com/ and you need to follow a few instructions to be entered in the drawer.

I have asked before but if ANYONE knows how I can get my hands on these babies I would be forever in your debt! LOL

95 thousand and something....

You lot sure do like something on this blog... perhaps my insane ramblings, hectic and colourful family life or maybe the smattering of cards I pop in here when I have the time? I CAN NOT believe that in just a little over my years anniversary I am fast approaching 100000 hits!! I remember looking back at my counter when my Dad was critical in hospital, it was then approaching a big milestone and I remember thinking I should have celebrated but of course I was in no frame of mind. So maybe the next one, this HUGE one I should do something...?

I wasnt very well yesterday, felt yucky, achy, hot and cold, but seem to be better today, not 100% but certainly better than I was. Typical though that it was the day I was to be going out with some friends for a meal. I mean I NEVER go out and was looking forward in my own funny way (ie not really but knew once I was out I would enjoy it) anyway, felt so ill I couldnt go.

We seem to have busted those pesky nits out of Harveys hair a mixture of the initial treatment we put on with neem oil which apparently they dont like and the further hair washes and combing with tea tree shampoo and conditioner. We or I have decided now this will be our normal shampoo and conditioner anyway and I may well buy some tea tree oil too just for occasional use.

The weather here is beautiful at the moment, no doubt cold, but beautiful blue sky and sunshine shining down on my Crafty Palace. A few people have asked if I have named it, my shed that is. I have sort of said but not in a big annoucement way but yes, it is OFFICIALLY its my "Crafty Palace". Name taken from my Dads lifelong support of "Crystal Palace FC" That was his team and although he hadnt been for a while and was recently going to England Rubgy games he always loved his team. I can sit down there, create and think of him and it will give me somewhere to go to think of him on special days when I miss and think of him the most.

I went to the Glitter Pot yesterday, I had to pick up some goodies to prep with for my classes Saturday. I had briefly thought about going to Ally Pally yesterday but I decided against it as the train, entrance ect would take away any spending money I had. They had a stack of Magnolias but they were selling so quickly.. Did any of you get what you wanted?

Enabler Alert!

Here have LOADS of Magnolia in stock again. They sold out so fast before so you had better get a move on!

Caz

Who's that trip trapping accross my bridge?

OK its not one of those trolls but its a troll from the new Magnolia line.

Shes cute isnt she?

I used Stampin' Up! paper and cardstock. A prima flower and Eternal Maker button.

The funky flower background in my new stick on stuff on my table top! My desk is a rather ugly orange wood stained one, so I thought I would jazz and lighten it up with this sticky stuff. I want to paint the bottom of the desk in white one day too.

Chat later

Cazx

where have i bin?

and no, its not spelt incorrectly, i do mean bin!

caiden is sitting on me so i am typing one handed with no caps, so please excuse.

I got this waste paper bin from a 99p shop at the weekend, thought it would be cute on my desk.. so of course I had to alter it and I wanted to use the cutie pie Magnolia stamp that I got from last weeks stash delivery. I coloured this in with my Stampin' Up! watercolour wonder crayons, they really are lovely to use.

I still havent caved in to buy the copics, its such a lot of money I think I would rather buy myself complete range of Prismacolour Pencils... hmm watch this space.. Also I want one of those nifty "Flip" cameras... so if any of my stamping buddies accross the pond can help me get a good price please let me know... they are very expensive over here.

Catch ya later!

Update on boys, Caiden is fine. Harvey has a viral rash (rosella know its not spelt right) or least that is what the doctor said. He also has had a visit from those pesky little hair creatures! I cant believe I am telling you all that, but I believe that 99% of mums will know that EVERYONE seems to get these as kids, so any hints on successful elimination would be great. I am walking about with frizzy hair from combing my natural curly and thick hair with one of those stupid small combs... oh the joy eh?

Quick update

My pc is broken, I am on my mums, its in the pc place and I hope to be back on Tuesday. Caiden had another febrile convulsion yesterday but hes ok now. Dont know why he had the temp... oh and we have about 3" of snow!

Speak later
Caz

Help! I am trying to trace a stamp company

Small UK company and she has cute elephant and hedgehog stamps. I cant remember the name.

Ta
Caz

Watch out for the trolls!

They are about you know, they heard I had a spanking new shed and they liked the idea of living in the garden... here they are and they brought some friends too.....




Talking of shed, someone sent me a letter or something for my shed!! Just there wasnt enough postage on it so I need to go and collect it from the post office tomorrow. Made me laugh though, someone as mad as me out there!! LOL Its like "the shed, c/o Caroline Counsell........" tee hee

I am hoping to go to my Palace tonight and make something, been rather busy these last few nights and I havent even opened the door to it today.

My poor little mechanic has come home from school 100.2 temp, quiet warm eh? I have dosed him up and I hope it doesnt come to anything. Adam, the little fireman in yesterdays picture was throwing up all night! :( Get well soon Adam and Harvey! Kids eh? share everything.

The frogs about again!

I am sorry, I cant help it. Its my favourite set from SU so it keeps on jumping up the top for me to use whenever I have a party to prep for... thing is I a true believer of being yourself in these things. Your love for the product will shine through and is quiet catching,. people pick up the vibe and if you have happy vibes when demoing something they seem to know.

I used the Stampin' Up! Unfrogettable set, scallop punch, circle punch, Pumpkin Pie designer paper, Pumpkin Pie Cardstock, Old Olive cardstock and Designer paper, mixed SU ribbons, watercolour crayons.

This book was 99p from a stationery shop, with a few little added touches it turned out cute. The card is a Z fold card, again very simple but effective.

Boyz2men

Today Harvey had a "focus day" at school and today they were focusing on working and what they want to be when they grow up. It was fun walking to school as the whole school was involved. Some of the older kids were dressed as office people (IT maybe?) there was one young boy in a fantastic chefs outfit. Ballerinas and footballers aplenty and among all those were Harvey my Little Car Mechanic and his mate Adam who was a fireman. I took this photo this morning as I thought they were so cute. It was fun this morning and the kids were buzzing, these fun days are really worthwhile. It was cute to see some of the younger ones and the ones in his class dressing up as Spiderman or other superheros. They had asked for parents to go in to talk about their jobs. Some of the other mums said I should go in and talk about my job as a craft tutor/magazine work ect but seeing that they left it so late in telling us I really didnt want to just drop everything for it. I would have been really nervous too!

Many thanks to Karen for allowing me to publish her son on my blog! This will be a great one to show the boys when they are old enough to work. I said to Karen imagine years from now, 6ft strapping lads and I wonder what they will really be!