A Fantastic Idea...

Hello friends

Today I'm featuring a project created by the super talented Sherry Cheever. 

Sherry is on the Spellbinders Blog Team. 

Sherry has kindly given me permission to share with you her altered frame

created with....3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L -
yes 3D Foam Squares!

Sherry began with a bargain store frame and added Regular 3D Foam Squares around

the outer edge.   Small 3D Foam Squares were used around the inner frame opening.

A layer of Gesso was then added.  Once dry, the entire frame was painted with

grey acrylic paint.  For the antique finish, white acrylic paint mixed with a

staining medium.  A piece of watercolour paper painted the same grey added to the

aperture, a stamped sentiment onto Classic Ovals SM and  the flower is

Grand Peony Creations. 

Further details can be found on Quietfire Creations blog.

I've calculated that Sherry has used 64 Regular and 32 Small 3D Foam Squares

so a Variety 3D Foam Square pack at £2.49 would be perfect!

I cannot wait to try this out - such a fantastic idea, thank you Sherry!

Please visit Sherry's blog for more brilliant projects and inspiration.

I have some update news regarding the Tool n'One...

I spoke with the States yesterday and it looks like they will start shipping 

from there next Wednesday.  As soon as they arrive at my door I promise to turn them

around instantly - I've got packaging and labels at the ready!

Let's hope they are on a nice fast aeroplane - if I could I would ask them

to take Concorde out of retirement!

Today Elliott and I are back at The Royal Marsden..
oh yes it could be McDonalds again!

Take care friends and stop by tomorrow for Friday Die Day!

Winner and Footfall!

Hello friends

So pleased you like the 'Retro Spellbinders' - hopefully more on their way soon.  

There is just one left of the Charms and Rod...

Today I am announcing the winner of February/March Charity Kit.

The lucky number is......

Check your Charity Kits to see if you are the winner and if so, please drop me

an email:  christine.emberson@blueyonder.co.uk

The prize - a goodie box containing Spellbinders, stamps, adhesive, ribbon, buttons, 

magazine and more!

A new Charity Kit will be announced next month so please keep an eye out

for that.  In between, if you missed any of the previous kits they are now

all uploaded to the website here.

I was going to ask Bella to pick out the winning number but this is what 

happens at the end of her day - dog tired!

Gravesend really is pushing itself into the limelight at the moment, what with 

filming at the end of the month and now we have 'Footfall' - Art in Progress.

Run by Gravesend Arts Consortium you can see exhibitions every Saturday starting

this weekend.  I have spoken with Wendy, the lady who is organising this and 

Hope and Chances should be having a little stand 

and me brandishing my leaflets to everyone - I think I may get the boys involved too!

Kent On-Line have featured this project in an article here

Please pop along if you live locally or passing by - I love to natter!

Yesterday I mentioned FDD - apologies if you misunderstood the abbreviation -

it means Friday Die Day.

I have the FDD project all organised now, Elliott is falling behind a little with the videos

but having a catch up day soon..otherwise he might just get the sack! ;)

Take care friends.

Retro Spellbinders!

Hello friends

A week or so ago I featured a discontinued Spellbinders die (Seed Packet)

and I'm pleased to announce I've managed to secure a small quantity

of another design....Charms and Rod

I've had a little play with these... 4 die templates in each set.

 This is how they look cut/embossed with bronze craft foil - available here.

 I've used them to make a very simple card. The scallop die is Classic Edges One,

the little flowers and leaves from Homespun, paper is Bo Bunny - Country Garden.

 Close up of the little charms, I like that they cut out the aperture so they could easily

be frames. 

 I think a very versatile die set.

I've only been able to secure half a dozen of these and I think they will 

prove popular so don't delay if you need this die today! :)

Click here for all the details.

Other news... it felt very Spring like at the shop yesterday, my little basket of flowers

even made it outside! So nice not to have torrential rain running down the High Street!

Take care friends, I'm in my little shop again today working on FDD!
Oh yes..Mrs B - can I borrow your daughter please?
How wonderful to come home to a cooked dinner and lots of
meals prepared :)

Too cute!

Hello friends
I mentioned cute...and I think these fit the bill!

How about needle felting??

Available on the website now are some amazing kits - rabbit, sheep, robins
and more.  I personally adore the rabbit!

I met with the lady who created these kits when I was in Birmingham, 

they are so well put together, top quality and the instructions are superb.

The sheep - look at that face!

Pair of Blue Tits.

Pair of Robins.

I've made a start on the rabbit kit so I will be sharing my needle felting progress

with you.  This is the forming of the ears..

and within a very short time I had a rabbit's head and joining the ears!

I've only ever done a tiny bit of needle felting before so I was really impressed at
how easy these kits are - the instructions are a dream, step by step photos!

All the kits can be viewed here and arriving very soon will be Fox and Barn Owl.

Thank you so much for your comments yesterday both on my blog
and the Spellbinders blog - really appreciate it.
I am looking into the wooden memo blocks, I've had them for ages
but I'm wondering if I could speak to the woodworker in my family (aka Dad!)

You'll be glad to know(!) yorkshire puddings were homemade and enjoyed yesterday!

Take care friends - I'm dashing down the studio/shop today to prepare
some projects to show you.

A Gilded Life

Hello friends

Yesterday I had a post go up on the Spellbinders blog!

I was asked to create a project using the new A Gilded Life,

these are gorgeous pendants, bezels, relics and more - all extremely versatile.

You can see the range here.

I chose to make some simple memo holders - well, you know how much 

I like lists and now I have a place to have them on view!

All the details of the project including step by step photos can be found here.

Hope you are all having a good weekend?

I'm cooking today, I cheated some weeks ago and used frozen yorkshire puds -

the boys still haven't forgiven me! (Bad mother!)

Take care friends - stop by tomorrow - 

it is cute overload!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Hello friends

Thank you for all your kind wishes yesterday, 

Elliott's appointment went well.  

We still have a way to go with various things but we all keep positive 

(and eat McDonalds!)

Awoke yesterday to the fog horns on the River Thames - they are loud!

It wasn't a surprise to arrive at the studio/shop to see it 

looking like this....a right pea souper!  Looking very Victorian.

(Shame about the blue bin bags!)

Some interesting and exciting news - a film crew is visiting the High Street!

On Sunday 30 March (which is actually the day of Nikki Payne's classes)

filming will be taking place just up the road from the shop at the Old Town Hall. 

Gravesend is going to be transported back to the 1960's with extras in 60's

costumes and a Morris Minor parked along the High Street.  

No idea what programme this is for - what do you think?

I'm wondering/hoping it might be Inspector George Gently - a glimpse of 

Martin Shaw would be quite pleasant!

If you are attending Nikki's class there should not be any disruption although they

have said they may have to stop the flow of pedestrian traffic occasionally but

no longer than 5 minutes.  

I think we might be crafting, cake eating and star spotting that day!

Nikki's morning class has sold out but there are some spaces left 

in the afternoon.  Nikki has been telling me her plans and I've been ordering

some beautiful Heartfelt Creation dies and stamps - real treats in store!

Crafty news today.... more dies have been added to the Pre-Loved section
on the website and keep an eye out on the Spellbinders blog!

Take care friends - enjoy your Saturday.