What happened to Friday!?

Hello friends

No post yesterday!
Sorry about that.  This week seems to have got involved with Elliott's appointments and
Mitchell's craft initiation - here he is making a project!
I promise to share it with you soon.

So what else has been happening?
New stock is arriving at the shop.  Mitchell has been unpacking and
displaying items - we will now be stocking Distress Inks - lots of lovely colours.

Also stocking the blending tools and replacement foam.
Some new sticky things....

Glossy Accents (not pictured), Mod Podge and Fabri-Tac.
I love Fabri-Tac, it was introduced to me when I first visited the States -
it is perfect for felt flowers as below (Spiral Blossom Three) and

 fabric flowers (Blossom Two) and any loose hems on trousers and skirts!

As always, if you need anything just drop me an email and
we can get items rushed out to you.
I understand we all have the occasional craft emergency!
Also, those of you who have already requested various Distress Inks - I will be in touch.

Have a lovely weekend - I will be back soon.
Take care friends.

Quick and Simple

Hello friends

Sharing today my final bonus paper card that is featured in this month's edition of 

Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.

So very simple - a panel of the patterned paper adhered to lilac cardstock.

A pretty border using On The Edge - a super set of dies for cardmaking,

the decorative edges are just that little bit smaller.

The sentiment is stamped onto a die cut from A2 Fancy Postage Stamps.

Inking the edges also enhances the die cuts beautifully. 

Mitchell sends his thanks for all the kind wishes yesterday.

He is already working hard and testing the new website, uploading images etc.

I cannot wait for the reveal! 

Mitchell has brought is own sense of humour to Hope and Chances... 

so far he has suggested:

Cake every afternoon (to produce productivity)

Weekly pay bonus (to enhance commitment in work performance)

Hourly praise and recognition (to promote job satisfaction) 

Employee benefits package (this leans heavily towards food items)

Staff bonding/activity day (there are two of us...!)

As you can imagine, he is good fun to work with.

Thank you for asking after Elliott.  

I'm afraid the medication for the diabetes is not working as well as we all hoped.  

The hospital is looking into this right now. 

He is keeping occupied with a very compelling computer game and dedicating

quite a lot of time to it - I truly do not mind, it is a form of escapism for him.

Bella is fit and well after her ear infection and she hurt her leg too!

Oh yes, I forgot to include her as an employee... 

perhaps dog walking can be a staff bonding/activity day! 

She looks a little puzzled by that suggestion...

Take care friends.

Happy News!

Hello friends

I've been waiting to type some happy news and here it is...

my eldest son Mitchell is now officially employed by 

Hope and Chances Creativity.

I am thrilled he has chosen to become crafty!

As you know if you follow my blog, Mitchell has helped out a lot with the shop/studio 

in the past and more recently while I was staying at the hospital with Elliott.

He is going to be such a great help with the new website (yes...nearly there)

and plans for future classes and more.  He also makes a really good cup of tea! 

This does also mean the shop will be open regular hours each week,

more details to follow.

I really feel this is a new chapter in our lives and I look forward to you joining us.

Take care friends.

Thanks so much!

Hello friends

Yes 'Thanks So Much' is the sentiment on this card - can you see it...!?

It wasn't till I uploaded the photo I realised my felt Spiral Blossom Three 

was obscuring the stamping!

The stamp is from a set called 'It's All in The Words' - a real variety of sentiments.

This is a further card created with the bonus papers from Cardmaking and Papercraft

magazine this month.  Again a simple design and inspired by a fellow Spellbinders® designer

Michelle - you can visit her blog here - she makes beautiful cards.

I've used Classic Scalloped Circles LG and Standard Circles LG.

The elusive sentiment is stamped onto Fancy Framed Tags Two and the 

dotty background created with Graduated Dots M-Bossabilities™ folder. 

I will be back soon - hopefully with good news, we are turning a corner here...

that's what we keep telling ourselves :)

Take care friends.

Something new!

Hello friends

Yippee!! 

I have something new to share with you today.

In this month's edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine I was asked

to create some cards using the bonus papers that come free with the magazine.

This month it is flowers and butterflies - lovely!

I put together this very simple card using A2 Scalloped Borders One for the 

base, it really adds interest to the design. 

The remainder of the card is patterned paper, ribbon, silk flowers and a stamped sentiment.

It has a fresh summery look about it.

As mentioned before, I always adhere the bonus papers to some cardstock to give them 

some 'body' and they die cut beautifully.

Thank you for all the comments regarding our medical dramas at home.

Elliott's diabetes is a rare disorder where the system used by the body to regulate its 

water levels becomes disrupted.  It means he is permanently thirsty and could quite

honestly drink by the bucketful! 

Truly hoping the medication works quickly for him.

Also I've got quite a few of you intrigued regarding Mitchell and his new job.... 

I will have more news on this at the beginning of the week :)

Thank you all again - your comments are always a great comfort to me.

Take care.

AWOL!

Hello friends

I think that might be the longest break I've had from blogging in ages!

Sorry about that...I hope to be back on track soon.

So what has been happening?

Firstly - do you think Summer has arrived?  Quite a few mornings in a row I've awoken to sunshine which is lovely although it does mean pets think they should be fed at a ridiculously early time.

I've even ventured to put a few bedding plants in my shed window box -

I'm hoping the snails and slugs keep away - they seem to love my garden. 

Secondly - Mitchell is up and about and returning to work soon.

I may have some news on Mitchell's new job ... this could be an 

interesting step forward with Hope and Chances...!

I will keep you posted.

Thirdly - Elliott.  As mentioned, we have had a bit of a setback, the surgery

has triggered off a form of diabetes, that is being treated although things are

not quite happening at the speed we would like them to.  

We know we have a long road ahead but at times we just wish there

were little short cuts!

This has been a lovely week for flowers in the VT.

Thank you Joanna.

 And thank you to my London firm for sending me flowers too.

Also thank you to the cards that continue to arrive for us all -

my fireplace has never looked so adorned, not even at Christmas!

Finally - the giveaway!

This employee has spent a lot of her time doing this lately....

Actually I am going to forgive her because she has joined the ranks of the sickly Embersons!

Not only did she have an ear infection but she hurt her leg this week too.

She is definitely on the mend but still likes the cuddles and sympathy!

So by the powers of random generator I can announce the winner of Mix'd Media Playtime

is.................

MADDIE, NOTTINGHAM 

Congratulations Maddie.

Please drop me an email christine.emberson@blueyonder.co.uk

and I will get them posted out to you.

I will be back!

Take care friends and have a lovely, hopefully sunshiney(?) weekend!