A Retreat Treat!

Hello friends,

I'm blogging remotely today from a mix of my phone, iPad and 

glasses that could do with being a lot stronger!

So here goes...fingers crossed.

This weekend I'm in St Ives, Cambridgeshire for a retreat,

I booked this some time ago through Craft Box and I admit to being a little scared!

This is not my sort of clean crafting but I decided I needed to step out of 

my little comfy box of  clean and neat.

I'm about to embark on day 2 and I couldn't be happier,

I am totally absorbed in this 'messy craft' and so far only got through 

one pack of baby wipes!

If you scroll down you,ll see the canvas I made yesterday,

I'm going to post step step photos hopefully tomorrow (if this post works!)

In between here's photos of St Ives taken this morning 7.30am

when I went for a walk, all unedited, it is a gorgeous place.

And it appears I can still incorporate butterflies and flowers!

My mind is racing now how this will work with dies and foiling, watch this space!

Take care friends, wishing you a perfect Sunday.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

It's Friday and that means Friday Die Day and keeping with all things

Becca this is Charming Christmas Boughs from the

Charming Christmas Collection.

I really like this die set and thought it doesn't necessarily have

to be Christmas.

It's a 5 piece die set and the approximate measurements are:

Ornament Topper: 0.35 x 0.50 in 0.90 x 1.30 cm
Snowflake: 0.60 x 0.60 in 1.50 x 1.50 cm
Ornament Charm: 1.20 x 1.70 in 3.00 x 4.30 cm
Bough Frame: 4.50 x 4.50 in 11.40 x 11.40 cm

I started by matting silver foil card and patterned paper onto 

a square card front.

The patterned paper is Anna Griffin and available in one of our

paper packs on the website here.

Using the largest die element, the frame - I cut this from silver foil card.

Using a piece of the same patterned paper (this is the reverse design)

die cut a square. 

Inserting the square from the back and tucking it through the various loops.

Affixed into place on my card front.

With the patterned paper creating a Cinch and Go Poinsettia.

I lightly inked the edges with distress ink and inserted stamens to the middle.

Held in place with a 3D Foam Square.

The finished card with little stamped tag sentiment.

Items used today with clickable links:

Charming Christmas Boughs

Cinch and Go Poinsettia 

Anna Griffin Paper Pack

3D Foam Squares

E-Z Runner Permanent Strips

I'm back for a little bit and then heading back to Hochanda 

for Becca's next lot of shows, she will be back on air

Wednesday and Thursday.

I'm taking my laptop so I will be blogging but possibly

somewhat erratically! 

Take care friends and wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Wednesday - It's Hump Day Giveaway!

Hello friends

It's Giveaway Day and this week I've got some 
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L goodies for you,
scroll down to find out more but before you do let's
check last week's giveaway..

Special Labels 51, all new in its packaging.
Designed by Stacey Caron, consisting of 4 dies.

And the winner is...

Kitty Davies

Congratulations Kitty, please email: 

hope-chances@live.co.uk

with your details and we will post your prize out to you.

Now those Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L goodies,
it is a 3D Foam Creative Embellishment Kit and Creative Photo Corners - Kraft.

If you would like to win this week's giveaway,

please leave a comment on today's post 

A winner will be picked and announced next Wednesday.

(Please claim your prize within a month of announcement).

Take care friends.

Shadow Box Collection by Becca Feeken

Hello friends

As mentioned, I'm heading to Hochanda studios today to meet 

with Becca Feeken.  Her shows today are 6pm and 8pm,

tomorrow's shows are 9am, 1pm and 5pm.

She will be sharing something very very new.

So new I've only just seen it myself and managed to get some images,

so here's a bit of a rushed blog post!

It is called the Shadow Box Collection and it is a series of dies

that enable you make shadow boxes and more.

Adjustable Shadow Box Frames with varying size borders.

 

Ribbon Threader die.

 Vintage Starburst Valance and Gatefold

 Filigree Shadow Box Easel and Pocket

There are new Layered Scene dies that will also work with the previous 

3D Vignettes - Grand Arch and Grand Cabinet - now back in stock here.

 Layered Thinking of You Woodland Scene

Layered Sweet Birdie 

 Gorgeous shadowbox frames too.

 There's Cinch and Go Flowers IV as well as butterflies!

We have managed to place an order for the entire Shadow Box Collection

and we are just awaiting confirmation that the quantities will be correct.

They will then go live on the website later this afternoon before the shows 

so please keep an eye.  Mitchell will ensure they are on the homepage 

and if you subscribe to our website you'll receive an email too.

If you would like to subscribe please click here.

Tune into Hochanda to see the designs in more detail and how to 

make the shadow boxes.

Take care friends, have a super Tuesday! 

The Winning Ticket and ...other stuff!

Hello friends

How was your weekend?

Didn't it rain!  

Oh my goodness it was torrential here in Kent,

it made dog walking a bit tricky especially as Bella hates the rain.

Cinema trip was lovely and Christopher Robin
is an absolutely charming film, definitely aimed more
towards adults than children, Mum and I decided afterwards.

In my crafting world, first of all it is time to rummage in 

your September kit bags to see if you are a winner.

Here's the winning ticket number.

If you have 206 please email hope-chances@live.co.uk
with your details and a goody bag will be sent out to you.

If you missed this month's charity kit there is still some
available.  It is the Hedgehog card using lots of photo corners.
All the details here.

Yesterday I received comments and emails

regarding Spellbinders shows on Hochanda.

These questions and messages pop up quite frequently so I'm going to take 

this opportunity to hopefully explain the workings of it all.

The Hochanda contract for shows is not with Spellbinders direct,

it is with Creative Expressions.

Whenever Spellbinders products appears on Hochanda those shows

are put forward by Creative Expressions,

this means often I'm not selected to be the guest.

I've tried to write that as impartially as I can :) 

I really appreciate everyone's thoughts and questions about this,
and it is one of those situations that sadly is out of my control.

Nonetheless, I'm proud to be the UK Spellbinders Ambassador

and my role still allows me to do so many wonderful things.

If you hear any sort of buzzing today it is me flying at high speed!
It is a runaround day getting some final things done
before heading to Hochanda tomorrow to meet Becca Feeken.
She will be doing the one day special, her shows will be
6pm and 8pm and then on Wednesday, 9am, 1pm and 5pm.

Take care friends, wishing you a brilliant start to the week.

Enjoy!

Hello friends

Today's project is one I created for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

using their adhesive sheets, so handy for die cuts.

I've upcycled a wooden plaque with white paint and added

Enjoy - one of the Expressions stamp and die sets,

and Cinch and Go Poinsettia.

A nice little adornment for the festive season which will be upon

us in 93 days! 

I picked up the wooden plaque in Asda reduced to 50p!

The paint was very roughly applied and once dry I sanded the edges

for a rustic look.

The poinsettia is one I created recently in my YouTube video

and was handily sitting on my desk looking at me when I was creating.

For the full tutorial please stop by the Scrapbook Adhesives blog here.

I'm really liking the Expressions stamp and die sets,

we've restocked recently but there's just one 'Enjoy' left in stock!

Friend, Love, Thanks and Hello have been super popular.

Take a look at all the designs listed here. 

Items used today with clickable links:

Expressions Stamp and Die Set

Cinch and Go Poinsettia

Adhesive Sheets

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday,

I'm taking a few hours out this morning to take my Mum to the cinema,

we are seeing Christopher Robin, a few hours of indulgent escapism.

Take care friends.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

Today is a roundup and a little celebration of projects

featuring Becca Feeken's Charming Christmas Collection

that has just arrived. 

(aka I was really pushed this week and didn't quite have time to

create a new FDD!)  

This is Charming Round Tag

Charming Cottage Box

(Don't forget to check out the blog hop featuring 6 ways to use 

the Charming Cottage Box with a competition too, details are here).

Snowflake Toppers and Borders

Cinch and Go Poinsettia 

The collection is now in stock with the exception of 

Charming Cottage Box and Sentimental Christmas Stamp and Die Set,

those two are available to pre-order and will be arriving soon.

You can view all the items here.

I'm really excited for Becca Feeken's visit, 

she arrives at the weekend and will be in the UK for 2 weeks.  

I'm going to be travelling with her.

Look out for her shows on Hochanda, I will be posting more details soon.

Tomorrow I will be at Keep on Crafting in Bury St Edmunds,

if you live that way please pop by, 10am onwards, it's a Glimmer demo,

all things shiny! 

Take care friends, have a lovely weekend.

Six Ways to Use the Charming Cottage Year-Round

Hello friends

I'm absolutely thrilled to have been invited by Becca Feeken

to take part in this special blog hop.  

I'm joining members of her design team to show you 

six ways to use the Charming Cottage die set all year round.

This is truly wonderful die set with so many components (15!)

and hugely versatile too, you can make 

things for Christmas and special occasions throughout the year.

I've chosen to to create a Summer themed gift box.

Keeping the colours pastel, adding a trail of little flowers with foliage

and finishing with the lovely shaped tag, also included with this die set.

I'm imagining these filled with candy or perhaps a fairy cake.

Equally pop inside a piece of jewellery or handmade gift.

Now to start hopping, here is the link list:

joannakrog.blogspot.com
victorianpaperqueen.blogspot.com
keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com 
leishasblog.blogspot.com
hope-chances.blogspot.com/ (you are here)
amazingpapergrace.com/blog

Exciting news is that you could win!

We will be giving away one die of the winners choice, 

(excludes A Charming Christmas) 

to 1 commenter picked from the combined comments 

on all 6 six blogs.  This is open to international commenters. 

The winner will be posted on the Amazing Paper Grace blog on 

Monday, September 24, 2018

Now where can you purchase this delightful die set?

If you are visiting from the US the Charming Cottage die is available 

on the Spellbinders website here.

If you are in the UK you can pre-order through the 

Hope and Chances website here,
they are due in stock soon.

More exciting news...Becca is going to be on Hochanda,

please be sure to save the date.  

Becca's shows are on September 25 at 6pm, 8pm and 

September 26 at 9am, 1pm and 5pm.

You can watch Hochanda Sky 673, Freeview 85,

Freesat 817 or online here

and if you miss a show there is a Rewind facility.

Thank you for stopping by, be sure to visit 

all the links and don't forget to comment.

Take care friends.