GJWTHF Sneaky Peeks

Well, we've been promising you some sneaky peeks of what's happening at GJWTHF in Aberdeen next month, so today we're going to tease you a wee bit.
Kath has another sneaky peek for you, so have a jaunt over to her blog for a nosey.
So here's a wee peek at my project....

and another......

So, in true Rolf Harris style: can you tell what it is yet?
I'm really excited about this project because its a bit of a deviation from my normal promarker colouring project, and I've been using some fabulous new products which has been great fun. I just hope all of you who are coming to GJWTHF Aberdeen like it too.






Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments
Debz x

DYSU GDT Spot

I recently won a top 3 at the fab Do You Stack Up? challenge blog and the lovely ladies there offered me a GDT spot - how could I refuse :) 

The challenge this time is "Use your favourite colour" (sorry, I just can't use the American spelling lol) so I thought "woohoo, I'll be able to do purple" but then they told me I'd have to use this super cute image called Princess Kitty from Karen's Doodles and I then though "agh, you can't have a purple cat", then I stopped panicking and just got on with it, so here's what I came up with. I don't think I've ever actually used more purple on one card before....

Image: Princess Kitty from Karen's Doodles, coloured with promarkers
Papers are all Wild Rose Studios, all bling and pearls coloured with promarkers
black card from The Papeterie


Here's a close up of her bonny wee face to show that I used Glossy Accents on her eyes and heart pendant, and Glamour Dust on her crown.

Thanks to the girls at DYSU for having me this week, it's been a real pleasure. Remember to pop over and have a go at the challenge and see the other fab creations from the DT.


I'd like to enter her into....

I  ♥  Promarkers - anything goes
Digi Makeover Challenge - critters
Karen's Doodles Challenge - something special
Crafting When We Can - animals
One Stitch at a Time - use a digi

Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x

GJWTHF - Update

Morning folks,
I dunno about you, but I'm loving all this sunshine we're having, bit wary that we have managed to miss all the snow this winter though.
Anyway, I'm posting today about GJWTHF - we still have places left for the Aberdeen event on Saturday 7th April and the Perth event on Saturday 9th June.
Unfortunately, it's looking like these may well be our last Girls Just Want To Have Fun craft days, the logistics of co-ordinating venues that are available at the same time that all 3 of us are free from our other work committments is becoming nigh on impossible.
So if you've thought about coming to one, then now's your chance because you may not get another opportunity.

We've had a lot of people saying that they only make cards/scrapbooks and they don't think that GJWTHF is for them. Well, we use a lot of techniques and products that can be used in a variety of different applications. For instance, my projects usually feature either promarkers/flexmarkers or alcohol inks - all of which you can use in card-making, atc's, scrapbooking etc. We are trying to inspire everyone who attends, and of course it is lots of fun.
Some people have commented that the £50 fee is expensive, - well 50 quid is 50 quid, yes it's a lot of money. But we think that GJWTHF is incredibly good value and you get a lot for your money.... you will complete 3 projects - the equivalent of 3 x 2 hour classes and we provide all the materials and tools you need, plus we throw in a buffet lunch and refreshments. It's also a great fun day out, meeting new crafters.


To book your place, email me here.


Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x

Yay, Essay Done

Well I was up until 1.30 in the morning finishing my essay, but hey-ho, it's done now and I'm more or less happy with it. I found it quite difficult to include all the points I wanted to include in 1000 words, but hopefully my tutor knows what I'm saying - we'll just have to wait and see. So that's the last tutor-marked assignment of the module that I'm doing, I just have the big end of module assessment to do which is due in April.
So now that I have that out of the way for now, I can crack on with the crafty work that's been lining up - I've been refusing myself access to the crafty space until this essay was done, or I'd never get out of the bit lol
And I now have loads of prep to be getting on with - if you pop on over to The papeterie blog, you'll see it's their 6th birthday on the 24/25th March and they're having a party all weekend. I'm joining Charlotte and a special guest for some make & takes featuring some gorgeous new products. There's the fabulous Wild Rose Studio stamps and papers, including the oh-so-cute Bella...

And there just might be some of these stunning new Mo Manning toppers fro The Hobby House...

And some special Vintage Chic products...

Charlotte also has a whole host of special offers and freebies for the whole birthday weekend, so it's definitely worth a visit. And I'd better get on with making some samples and kits :)
Before I go, don't forget that The Papeterie are offering free p&p on any paper/card orders for the duration of the Hobbycrafts show at the SECC, so that's from now until Sunday at 4pm. So you should definitely think about stocking up on Diamond White for stamping, and some of the multitude of other colours for matting and layering. I'd recommend the 300gsm for stamping and 160gsm for digital printing in the Diamond White :) Just call the shop or email Charlotte, you'll find all the info on The Papeterie blog's sidebar.
Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x

I've created a monster!

Regular visitors to my blog will already know that I have a couple of little proteges, Willow and Faith. Willow already has a very healthy selection of promarkers and an ever-growing stash box. But on this latest trip to The Papeterie she decided she's going to have a go at Altered Art and bought (I use that term loosely, what I really mean is I paid for it) a papier mache box and a wooden key case. 
Now she's a clever cookie and does listen to her mum now and again... daddy came through while she was colouring the wooden box with promarkers, and said "noooooooooooo, you can't use your promarkers for that" to which Willow and I replied in unison "oh yes you can!"
So here's her altered box - she's coloured it with promarkers and decorated it with a Whimsy image and a Tim Holtz rosette made out of SU papers...

Here's her altered key cabinet that she has decided to use as a jewellery cabinet.....

Her one fault though, is that she doesn't take her time - but then patience is something her mother is lacking too lol
Well, I have to write a Marketing essay, so I better get back to it.


Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x

Updated White Skin and Brunette Hair Tutorial

To begin with I have printed my digital stamp (Making Valentines from Saturated Canary) onto smooth white cardstock (Diamond White from The Papeterie) 

I will be using Burnt Orange and Coral promarkers and Sunkissed Pink and Blush Flexmarkers for the skin.

The first colour I use is Burnt Orange (with an ultra fine nib fitted), this looks very dark – but it is toned down with the blending as we go along – it gives the skin a nice healthy glow. I’ve very lightly coloured underneath the hairline around the top and sides of the face.

Using the bullet nib of the Coral promarker I have coloured over the Burnt Orange areas then moved slightly further out into the white areas of the face. I use small circular strokes. By colouring over the darker shade, I’m blending as I go.

Repeat the last step using the Sunkissed Pink flexmarker (you can use the promarker instead), again colouring over the already coloured areas and slightly further into the white area of the face. I have also made a few light strokes to accentuate the contours of her face e.g. her nose. Remember to be a little lighter-handed with the Flexmarkers as they are slightly juicier than the Promarkers.

And to finish off her face I have coloured over the Sunkissed Pink area and the remaining white areas with the Blush flexmarker (again you can use the promarker instead). It does look a little dark in the photo, but take my word for it, it dries lighter.

For her hair I will be using Black Flexmarker, Walnut, Cocoa and Cinnamon promarkers (all with ultra fine nibs fitted)

Firstly I use the Black flexmarker and very lightly lay down a little colour at the centre parting. (don't be too heavy handed with the black - the more ink you lay down, the more it takes to blend it out)

Next I used the Walnut promarker with the ultra fine nib fitted to make light wispy strokes over and outwards from the parting and inwards from each side. I find the quicker I do this, the more random the lines are – for a more natural effect.

Repeat this process with the Cocoa promarker with ultra fine nib fitted, moving further into the uncoloured area of the hair.

Then colour, lightly over the whole hair area with the Cinnamon promarker (bullet nib). You can repeat the steps with the Walnut and Cocoa promarkers if you think the hair needs more depth or definition

Next I have coloured the rest of her hair, her eyes (using Walnut, Cocoa and Cinnamon promarkers with the ultra fine nibs attached) I coloured her lips with Coral and Burnt Orange promarkers (with ultra fine nib attachments) leaving a tiny bit uncoloured in the middle as a highlight.

You can find the rest of this tutorial, for the clothing and hearts on the Letraset Blog, and here's is my finished Valentine gift box....

Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x

Craft Night

Oh boy am I suffering today, my throat feels like it has a roll of barbed wire shoved down it. But I managed to survive my first Craft Night at The Papeterie. Charlotte managed to talk me into taking a table so I thought we'd use a favourite stamp of mine, the poppies from Hero Arts... and to illustrate the point that you don't need to colour it in, we did some paper piecing....

Image and greeting stamps are both Hero Arts
here are one group of ladies, concentrating hard....

It was a completely mad 3 hours of non-stop crafting, and over 50 crafters joined in during the evening, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one on 26th April.
Charlotte has loads planned for the next few months at The Papeterie, keep your eyes peeled for more info on The Papeterie blog.
Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x

Prep & Landing

Well this is a first for me.... Charlotte asked if I'd take a table at the Craft Night this Thursday evening at The Papeterie so I've been thinking about what to do. Just for a change I thought I would do something that didn't involve promarkers, yes I know! and No, I don't have a fever or anything lol. (to find out about all the upcoming demos, classes and special events that Charlotte has planned at The Papeterie, check their new updated blog)
So, I've been kitting up for that this evening - times 50 :)
Now, where's my slave to give me a massage now that my shoulders are all knotted up with all that trimming and stamping - oh that's right he's got man flu.
So I'm really looking forward to going to my first craft night, can't wait to meet all these new faces.


Today was busy busy - Willow was off school, looks like she's getting the bug that I've had for a week now, Graham's got it too. And I'm just not a great nurse, I don't do sympathy - I think it's an Aquarian thing!
Faithy had an appt at the kids hospital, and they have these fantastic huge Alvin and the Chipmunks figures - and my little drama queen had to have her pic taken with them...

Right, better go to bed - it's school photo day tomorrow, so I need to try and get them all up and make sure they are particularly smart in the morning
Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x

Letraset Alcohol Inks

Ugh, it's Monday again and busy busy - can't believe it's a week since we were rubbing shoulders with the King of Craft :)
I just want to thank all the ladies who came to see my demo at The Papeterie on Saturday morning - a couple of ladies took along images of their own that they had stamped out so I could have a go at showing them how I would colour them and I think they were quite pleased with what I showed them. So in future, if you come to my demonstrations feel free to stamp out any images you're struggling with and I'll see what I can do to help out. It also made the demo more interesting for me - it's always fun to be put on the spot :)
I'd also like to thanks all the ladies on my class in the afternoon. We all decorated a papier mache box with the new Letraset Alcohol Inks, and the ladies all seemed to have great fun die-cutting, embossing and colouring their own embellishments with the inks, we used various different surfaces including recycling the acetate packaging from some of my sizzix and spellbinders dies.

So today I'm off to see my consultant - oh joy. And the rest of the week's going to be pretty busy too, with a hospital appt for Faith, the kids school photo's, Willow's class assembly to attend, Craft Night on Thursday evening at The Papeterie... no rest for the wicked eh? ;)


Have you seen what that naughty Kath has posted on her blog today? She's posted a very sneaky not-so-much-as-a-peek-but-a-whole-cat-out-of-the-bag pic of her project at the next GJWTHF day - so if you fancy joining us don't hang around or you could miss out. To reserve your place just email me.


Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x

The Coo's Tail

Yup, as usual I'm the coo's tail, with my pics and news from the NEC.
Well, I'm sure you've seen all the pics from Kath and The Papeterie, so I'm going to share a couple of mine too. But before I do, the highlight of the trip for me just had to be meeting Mario, if you don't already know Mario is Tim Holtz's business manager and he's responsible for all the BTS (Behind The Scenes) tweets which give us a little insider info on the goings-on of Tim. And my claim to fame is that Mario follows me on twitter :)
So here's me getting my pic taken with Mario, and naughty Sir Tim trying to get in on the action lol

And the one that Kath took after she had ordered Tim out of the shot lol...

Mario very kindly took one of all of us with Tim too....

After our celeb spotting and cosying up with Mario and Tim we got down to the serious business of looking at all the scrumptious new goodies that will be coming to The Papeterie soon, and here are some things that caught my eye...

 This is one of the workshops we attended - loved the project, but the tutor in my opinion left a lot to be desired. We'd have got on better if she'd just given us a photo of the finished project and we'd figured it out ourselves...... oh yeh that's pretty much what she did!!

And these are the quick cards we made at the Spellbinders workshop - which was really fun, and check out the goodies we got ... 

 the new cut, fold and tuck dies

 Ooops, tied that ribbon a bit too tight :S

 Then as if I hadn't had enough excitement, I got home to this wee parcel......

 And inside was the very stamp set that Tim has been using to demo the new Distress Markers

Back tomorrow with some pics of yesterday's alcohol ink class
Thanks for visiting, 
I appreciate any comments 
Debz x