An amazing weekend !!

You soooo need to go to the next Artsy Crafty weekend - it was absolute heaven !!! On second thoughts I shouldn't be saying that as it will be all booked up too quickly next time and I might miss out LOL !!

What a great time was had by all, Leandra and Lin were fab teachers, the classes were brilliant - lots of inking, metal working, painting, spraying - you name it, we did it. It was lovely to meet so many new friends and catch up with some old ones too !! We chatted, laughed and exchanged email addresses and vowed to meet up at the next one. I was so busy having fun that I didn't take that many piccies, but here's a few snaps of the "works in progress" and hey I actually completely finished everything !!!! That's unheard of for me.

Lin doing a demo with the Ten Seconds Studio Metal and tools - fab stuff !!



A "work in progress" - will need to take more piccies of the finished project and upload them later in the week.



The start of the main project - a fab clock, we worked on various parts over the course of the weekend.



Working out where to place everything on the backing canvas



Nearly finished (it's not really crooked, it just hadn't been stuck down yet !


Penny made her clock in beautiful shades of blue (and she'll kill me for uploading this lol !!)



We played with Utee too


The lovely Trish and Suzanne...


Lots of masking and stamping to make a little mini accordian book....


And last but not least, our lovely Dutch friends Louise and Jeanette, we had such a laugh in the bar on the final night. Louise is the very talented lady who designs and makes the fab Art Journey Stamps - check out her fab blog for loads of inspiration here



So back to reality on Tuesday, trying to clear the backlog before the next wave of postal strikes and pack 50 Mystery Kits ready for the UKS Cyber Crop - and no, I can't tell you what's in them cos it's a secret !!!!

I finally took pity on the very lonely boxes from My Minds Eye that have been sitting here unloved and unpacked since the end of last week - check out the gorgeous Life Story 1 & 2 here .... I have to admit the images are not brilliant, but trust me, they are fab in real life.

Right I think it's time to climb the wooden hill before I fall asleep at my computer.

Goodnight all !

Lyn zzz zzzz zzzz zzzz

Bad blogger !!!

I know, I know - it's been a while again !!! Does anyone know where I can get a magic potion so I can have at least another 8 hours in everyday !! Lots more deliveries keep turning up - I think the shopping fairy ordered them whilst I wasn't looking (that's what I keep telling dh anyway - he reckons I have more stock than our local Tesco's and why do I possibly need it all ? - er.......... cos it's a shop !!)



Anyway we have the gorgeous Making Memories "Vintage Findings" which arrived at the beginning of the week...............






Pink Paislee "Mistletoe & Co" arrived the next day but only managed to get it on-line today and there are loads of boxes sitting here waiting to be opened with the fab My Mind's Eye Life Stories 1 & 2 in............. no way can I even allow myself a peek in those boxes as I am off the rock in the morning and haven't even packed yet !!!! 'fraid they will have to wait now until I get back on Monday.



We managed to get as many orders out as possible yesterday before the strike and have lots of lovely emails saying they arrived today, which was brilliant news. I was mostly expecting them to get stuck in sorting offices up and down the country. No orders were posted out today as we just didn't want to take the chance of them getting stuck at the bottom of a huge backlog - after a long discussion with our local delivery manager we have taken his advice and posting of orders will resume on Monday. We are so lucky here on the Island as our posties are not part of Royal Mail and it's business as normal, however they will probably have a very quiet day tomorrow with very little UK mail arriving in the morning.




Yay this weekend I will be mostly getting messy !! It's the fab Artsy Crafty weekend down in Newport Pagnell with the wonderfully talented Lin from LB Crafts and Leandra from PaperArtsy - what a combination ! So off in the morning via the plane to Luton with my pal Penny, can't wait to meet up with loads of my craft buddys from around the UK. We even have time for a little retail therapy too before the event starts on Saturday - result ! Now that I have been reminded to take my camera (thanks Katy lol) I can take loads of pics and post them when I get back.


Right, I suppose I'd better get off this computer and start throwing a few things in a bag - or I'll be packing 10 minutes before we leave as usual - I am trying so hard to be organised with this trip - (think I've already failed miserably)

Will tell you all about it when I get back.




Lyn x

Still buried under Pizza boxes !!

Oh dear, it's been a little while hasn't it.............what can I say, except life and pizza boxes keep getting in the way !! Just as I thought it was calming down a bit, another October Afternoon delivery has arrived, so we are getting a bit manic again lol !!

The fab 8 x 8 OA Report Card and Farm Fresh Paper Pads have now arrived along with the Label Stickers and Die Cut Shapes (which are in sticker form this time and not just pop outs) . Still waiting on the Stamps and Rub Ons and the fab new Christmas range which I am hoping will be here soon.
Talking of new goodies, a couple of yummy deliveries are currently winging their way over the Atlantic and will be here very soon - the new Pink Paislee Christmas range and the much awaited Vintage Findings from Making Memories, so keep checking the latest product section of the website.

I promised a while ago that I would post some piccies of my lovely new racks, you know the ones that wouldn't stay on the walls with just Glue Dots !!!!

Well after several trials and tribulations and a few visits to the builders merchants for 70 thousand different gluey like substances including one called " Sticks like Sh*t" !! - can you believe they actually called it that lol !! - well it doesn't stick at all !..... I had to finally resort to the tried and tested "screw the the blinking things into the wall" method !! So here they are in all their glory - I just love them.

and the new Ink Pad Storage Unit

I am finding it so much easier to use stuff now that it's at arms reach, half my inks and paints were stacked away in boxes and I was just too lazy to get them down from the shelves. No excuses now to create something !!! Just need another 8 hours in the day !

Ok, I need to go and eat some food before I expire !!

Will try not to leave it so long next time.

Lyn xx

Happy Saturday !

I have officially declared today a "no work zone" - I have the house to myself all weekend and after the manic week of all the "October Afternoon" orders - I am shattered and having a nice lazy day, still up at 7am though - that was a lie in lol !


A nice yummy breakfast of granola, strawberries and yoghurt, an even yummier lunch of chocolate, lots of inky stamping of various bits of paper and some sax playing to chill out. (that's the bit where you need to feel sorry for the neighbours !!)

I've been meaning to upload this pic of the Grungepaper Flowers I made last week, so here they are ! Not the best in the world, but I had loads of fun making them, just need to put them on something now !

I've been stamping all afternoon and as usual have very little to show for it lol ! Is it just me, but I have loads and loads of bits ie. stamped images, backgrounds etc, but very little assembled ! I did manage to finish one ATC however, and have used the Rock Candy Crackle on the entire piece, not sure whether it will show up very well as my piccy taking is rubbish !!


I may even have chocolate for supper as well, seeing as the chef is away at the footie, hmmm ....chocolate, a nice glass of red and X Factor - what more could a girl want LOL !!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, I may even finish something else tomorrow , and I am trying not to think of the massive box of Prima flowers that need to go on the website !!!

Lyn

Woo Hoo !!! Look whats just arrived !!

Just a quickie post as I am knee deep in boxes of lovely new stash.................yes it's the delivery you have all been waiting for........ OCTOBER AFTERNOON IS IN THE BUILDING !!

Still lot's of the range to ship from the US and yes, there are Label Stickers and Die Cut Shapes coming sooon along with Stamps, Rub-ons etc. I will sort out the Bazzill match packs as soon as possible - may be a couple of days as new cardstock will need to be ordered.

Enjoy !

Lyn x

And the winner is......................

..lucky for some number 13

So congratulations Bonjen3 - if you would like to email me your addy at lyn@craft-emporium.co.uk I will get your goodies off to you.
Thanks to everyone for taking part and leaving a comment :)

Well the weekend flew by, operation "re-organise craft room" began in earnest on Saturday morning ! My brand new shelves were itching to be filled, but first dh had to take an electric saw to my existing shelves - everything was cleared off, shelves sawn and re-positioned with amazing ease (since when did he become such a whizz with electric tools ???) and then it was time to put everything back, now here comes the law of sodd - it never all goes back does it ? I had twice as much space and still there were boxes of stash sitting on the floor without a home..........how did that happen ? So it is still a work in progress and will post piccies when it is finally all sorted. I just love the little wall racks for my dabbers and inks, but note to self - they will NOT stay up with glue dots lmao, so down to the builders merchants to buy some "no nails" today and then it will all be finally finished.

Had a fab time on Sunday at my pal Penny's house - we played with grungepaper, stamps and inks and made loads of gorgeous flowers - I will post some pics as soon as I get a chance to get the camera out. Oooh finally had a chance for a little play with the Rock Candy Crackle too - brilliant stuff I officially love it !! Restocks are on the way and should be here at the end of the week.

Right, as usual Monday is mega busy day and I need to be finished at a reasonable hour as I will be dashing to my first saxaphone ensemble rehearsal - wish me luck ,or should it be - wish them luck lol !!

Lyn x

Blog Candy !!

Well I promised Blog Candy and here it is.............at last !!

The weeks are flying by at the moment and I have been buried underneath new products galore, so no time to do anything but pack orders and upload new stock lol !!



Anyway, who wants to win some of the new Sassafrass papers ????


Just leave a comment telling me which one of the three new paper collections is your favourite and the lucky winner chosen by the random generator will get them - Simples !


Don't forget to say which collection you would like, you can choose from Amplify, Monstrosity or Sweet Marmalade ! Will leave this running until Sunday night.





Got a fab delivery due in a few days time......... oooh wonder what it can be ?

Let's just say I have just ordered a ton of pizza boxes ready for the scramble !!

Awww....... I have given it away now lol !! Get ready to start stalking the site is all I will say for now !

Have a great day !

Lyn x

Fab weekend !!

Well it's been non stop since we got back from our weekend trip, no time to blog or catch up with anything lol ! We had a brilliant time discovering the Yorkshire area, staying in Knaresborough and visiting York, Harrowgate, and all those gorgeous little villages around the area - it's such a great part of the country ! We stayed in a beautiful georgian place - Newton House, if you are ever in the area I can highly reccommend it, the breakfasts are to die for !!


Had a fab time at the Great Northern Papercraft Show, caught up with Dyan and the crew from Art from The Heart, had a natter and brought back all the fab new Blonde Moments range for the shop. I did treat myself to some great storage units for my own craft room - we all love storage yes ?

It would have been a good idea if I had measured my area first though lol !! I now have to move all my existing shelves to fit them in, which is going to be a massive job !!! Still it will be worth it in the end.

Those friendly delivery men have been visiting me again lol !!! All in all 12 huge boxes turned up yesterday !! So now ploughing through them and trying to get them all on-line, Pink Paislee has arrived and is now on-line, 2 new collections, Twilight and Amber Road - gorgeous !!

Sassafrass Lass is next to be checked off and uploaded - so keep checking the latest product section.

Right better get some more work done !!

Every cloud........

Well we are off the little rock at the weekend to take dd back to Uni, I'm sure gonna miss her, and her organisational skill with the stock rooms.........and the fact that she has got all my accounts bang up to date !!!


Seeing as we are going "across" anyway it seemed like a good idea to have a few days away, so we are off to the Yorkshire area and I thought "what a great time to catch up with my pal Dyan and all the gang at the Art from the Heart Studios" - well, double whammy as it is only the Great Northern Papercraft Show that weekend !!!! Now how did I engineer that lol !!! So I can catch up with all the news with Dyan, have a few hours at the show and.....................bring all the lovely brand new Blonde Moments release " ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS" back for the shop - RESULT !!! I am sure you are all following Dyan's blog so you can see all the sneaky peaks from her new collection on there and wow what a fab stand she will have at the show !!!

I just have to show you this though.........






..........how fab is that ! Colour your own papers with all the lovely Blonde Moments Pearl Pigments - therapuetic or what !

Not sure what dh will do whilst I stroke paper and gossip, but I am sure he will find something in the area to occupy him.

ooohhhh.... Look whats arrived !!

The brand new and fab Tim Holtz Rock Candy is here !!!!!!!!

and 17 (yes 17 !!) new colours of Distress Stickles.

Check out Tim's fab YouTube video on the new Rock Candy Crackle Paint........

ooh more new goodies !!

YAY !! the new Basic Grey is now here.....

Just finished unpacking the last box now !! Wow, Friday night - I do know how to live LOL !!


Well, the end of another crazy week and we are just about getting up to date with the orders, next week will be manic for another reason as I will be trying to find time to help dd get all her stuff packed ready to go back to Uni at the end of the week, so no crafting for me this weekend, just tons of washing and sorting lol.



Don't forget there is still time to hop on over to Tuesday Taggers for a chance to win the Cosmo "Boyfriend Papercrafting Kit" - everyone has the same chance of winning by taking part in this weeks challenge, so if you haven't already entered why not give it a go !

Hope you all have a great weekend !

Oooh almost forgot - OA Farm Fresh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oooooh I love this !!!!!

Normal service is resumed !

Normal Twix service that is lol !! We are now fully twixed for the next couple of weeks. Anyway onto more important things.....................who wants to win a Cosmo Cricket "The Boyfriend" Collection pack ???

The Craft Emporium are once again pleased to sponsor this weeks TUESDAY TAGGERS Challenge, so if you want to win this fab prize, just hop on over to Tuesday Taggers and join in the challenge.

Have fun !

A little bit of "me time" !

Well, I have taken the plunge and booked to go on the fab Artsycraft Weekend in October - this fab altered art weekend is being organised by Leanda from PaperArtsy and Lin from LBCrafts - what a combination of talent !!!! I am now officially counting sleeps LOL !

Not sure whether it is all sold out now, there maybe a couple of places left - the link is here anyway - hey I will actually get a whole weekend to get messy with inky stuff and spend some time with good friends !!

Another delivery of goodies arrived yesterday which I had totally forgotten that I'd ordered !!!

Lots of fab clear stamp sets at a great bargain price of only £4.99 !!! Loads of Christmas sets and lots of all occasion useful type ones too :)

I made this card the other weekend using the My Minds Eye "Colourful Christmas" papers and of course the very popular snag'ems Polar Bear and totally forgot to put it on here lol - so here he is...........

Note to self...............

.............don't upload new products to the website after a 14 hour day and 2 glasses of wine !!!!
It has taken me twice as long and "shock horror" I nearly gave it all away for nothing LOL !! Just a tiny pricing error.....like forgetting to put any prices in at all !!
Anyway the new Making Memories MISTLETOE is now on-line, still a couple of the papers and the embellies to arrive but lots of lovely papers to be going on with.







Well, the Cosmo has really gone down well, it's been flying out all day, some of you even managed to grab the Mini Decks before they sold out ( still a couple of "Boyfriend" left) if you are very quick !


There's good news and bad news today - the bad news is......still no Twix's.......... Noooooo!!

...and the good news is..............well let's just say a *new to us* range is coming to the Craft Emporium very soon.... ok, just a little hint... think lots of colours LOL !! ???


Ohh, and if you see some Christmas trees lurking in the "travel section" you'll know why !

Woo Hoo !!!

Just a quickie post as there are still more boxes to unpack !!
The brand new Cosmo has arrived..... three fab collections - THE BOYFRIEND, EARTH LOVE and JOLLY BY GOLLY, all on-line and ready to order, I am just digging myself out from a pile of Bazzill sorting out the colour matches LOL !!

Mini Decks are flying out so you need to be quick !!

Nut and Meg have arrived !

Oooh.... aren't they fab ! The new Christmas stamps from PaperArtsy have just arrived. 8 new un-mounted plates with loads of fab images, I'm still pondering on which is my favourite, it's between the Fairy( Plate 6) and the Cat (Plate 8) - which ones do you like the best ?

We have also got the 4 new Squiggly Mini's and 12 brand new Ink & The Dog Mini's too. I can't wait to play with these !

Lots more lovely goodies are due to arrive at the end of this week........I'm stalking the delivery men again LOL !!

Arghhh..... we have also ran out of Twix !!! I'm afraid it is going to be a Twix-less few days until I get a chance to climb from under this pile of parcels and go buy some more....but hey look on the bright side - no calories for a few days !

Woo Hoo !!!

YAY !!!! New October Afternoon piccies are up

Check out the fab "REPORT CARD"



Watch this space for the next range FARM FRESH coming soon

Leandra Beads

I've been having great fun at the weekend playing with my Melt Pot and making Leandra Beads........Leandra Beads were developed by Leandra Franich from one of my favourite stamp companies Paper Artsy.
I have teamed my beads with one of the 7 Gypsies Bracelet Kits - they are not perfectly round, but hey that adds to the charm !



Suze Weinberg has a great YouTube video here.. go make some !!

The kidnapped Polar Bear !

Awwww.... I managed to kidnap one of those cute little Polar Bears before they all left me for their new homes LOL:



The papers are the new Imaginisce Polar Expressions with a little sprinkling of Stardust Stickles and the Ranger Inkssentials White Pigment Pen.

Well that's the weekend over, I'm just back from a fab Indonesian supper at our neighbours home - good food, wine and great company !! Hope you all had a great weekend too !