Sunday 30 October 2011

Hobbycrafts Show, SECC - done & dusted

Hiya, well I'm back from the SECC and before I do anything else I just want to give a big wave out to all the crafters (and their kids!) who came to see me at the Hotshot Crafts and Craft Obsessions stands yesterday. It was fab to see some old friends again, to meet some that I know from blogland and Facebook but have never met IRL before, and to meet some brand new people too. I hope I managed to inspire you and that some of my enthusiasm has rubbed off on you all - I'd love to see how you're all getting on with your promarkers & flexmarkers and if you need to ask me anything please don't be scared to ask, I'll do whatever I can to help or answer your queries :)


Unfortunately I didn't get any pics during the day - I was wayyyyyyyy too busy demoing and chatting to customers, and I'm pretty sure nobody took my pic either (woohoo lol) But I had a great day - it was fab working with the Hotshot staff and the lovely David and Brenda from Craft Obsessions.


My poor mum was watching the kids for me as Graham is offshore but she managed to keep them amused quite well. Although I think she has learned that my kids can't keep secrets - especially wee Faithy. And I had a great surprise when I got home, they were all hiding in the kitchen with the lights off to show off the pumpkins they had carved with Nana - and here they are...


I didn't have a lot of time to shop, and I'm not fit to walk very far round the halls anyway so I didn't buy very much, just went to a few stands that I know well, so here's my stash...
I also bought a load of die-cut decoupage sheets for my mum, to thank her for having the kids, and I bought a couple craftwork cards goody bags..... but Willow and Faith snaffled them the minute I took them out of my bag :S
I'm really loving the Urban Stamps - terrific value.
Well, I'm away to crash in front of the box tonight, so have a great evening everyone :)

Saturday 29 October 2011

Hobbycrafts Show, SECC

Today I'm at the Hobbycraft Show at the SECC in Glasgow - if you're coming along today, please come and say hello. I'll be demoing the new flexmarkers at the Hotshot Crafts and Craft Obsessions stands. 
And in case you didn't know, you'll not only be able to buy the 6-packs of flexmarkers, but also the 51 new colours - colours that you can't get in promarkers!


Hopefully I'll get time to tweet during the day - you can find me on twitter @wiccababe73.
And I'll be back tomorrow with all the gossip

Friday 28 October 2011

1 more sleepie

Well. I'm all packed - kinda - for tomorrow at the SECC, am hoping for a quiet train tonight so I can get some colouring done, but am not holding my breath :)
Should be arriving in Glasgow early evening then off to my hotel in the city centre and hopefully a bite to eat. I can't even remember the last time I had a night away on my own - think it must've been in my single days, certainly before I had the kids. So although I'll miss them, I'm really looking forward to an evening by myself - does that sound weird?
And then I'm looking forward to working with Hotshot Crafts and Craft Obsessions tomorrow and meeting all my facebook and bloggy buddies who are coming to the show.


So before I go and leave the kids, cat and dog in my mother's care I'm going to leave you with some pics of the girls at the school disco last night. Scroll down to the post below to see the details of where I'm demoing at the SECC on Saturday.




Thursday 27 October 2011

Glasgow anyone?

Evening!
well this week has just been a blur, and I don't think I've stopped moving. Between ferrying the kids around to Lego Club, Rainbows, Brownies and school halloween discos, and my poor washing machine and tumble dryer have been on all day and I'm still nowhere near the bottom of the linen bin.
Anyway, never mind all that - tomorrow night I will be on my way to Glasgow because I'm demoing on behalf of Letraset at the Hobbycraft show at the SECC on Saturday
So if you're going to the show this weekend please pop in and say hello... here's my timetable...

  • 9.20am Hotshot Crafts - stand M25
  • 10.35am Craft Obsessions - stand K18
  • 1.15pm Hotshot Crafts - stand M25

I'll be demonstrating Letraset Flexmarkers - so if you want to see anything in particular or want some advice about the flexmarkers or promarkers just ask and I'll see what I can do.


Both the stands that I'm working at will be selling the 51 new flexmarker colours - that's 51 colours that you can't get as promarkers. And I must be the luckiest girl in the world because I have them all - so if you add them to the 148 promarkers, if my maths skills are up to scratch, that makes 199 colours!


Just a couple of quick tips for you, whether you're buying flexmarkers at the SECC or if you already have some.... some of the paler colours, especially those in Set 1 and 2 of the 6-packs, require to be primed. Now I just know some of you are already thinking OMG that sounds difficult/complicated and I can't be bothered with that. Well, it really couldn't be simpler... all you have to do is colour an area, roughly the size of a tag or ATC, this gets the ink moving along the brush nib - and you only ever need to do this once.


If there's anything you want to know, or would like any advice then please feel free to ask and I'll see what I can do to help. Letraset have also put together a fantastic Flexmarker Info site, so have a nosey around there, especially at their FAQ's. They have provided downloadable colour charts that you can colour in yourself - if you would prefer one that incorporates the flexmarkers and promarkers together then you can find one that I made up here.

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Timmy Totes

Well I've been waiting a long time for this - ever since Tim Holtz announced his new District Market range, and finally it's here.


I pre-ordered this from Inspiration Emporium back in May and it's been a long and painful wait, but oh boy was it totally worth it...
 Now I'm not a bag/shoe/clothes/fashion kinda girl, but I have a major crush on this bag!



The quality has to be seen to be appreciated, in fact I'd far rather have this bag than any of those designer bags out there. A big plus for me is it's wipe clean surface, getting caught in the rain is certainly not gonna ruin this bag, it's roomy - plenty of room for all the stuff I carry around with me, purse, keys, notebook, A5 appointment book, tablets, mirror, mobile phone.... and even with all than gunk in it there's gonna be plenty of room for me to fill with goodies at the SECC this weekend.
There's a large zipped compartment inside, plenty big enough to keep your purse hidden away, and another 2 open pockets for keeping other things separate.
And it's arrived just in time for it to come to the SECC with me this weekend - more about that tomorrow.

Monday 24 October 2011

Freedom!

yay, they're back to school today and I've scheduled this post so I can get on with tidying and sorting out my craft desk. I've loads to do this week, new mattress arriving for Scott today, have ordered winter tyres for the car and then it goes in for it's 2nd service plus I have to get the place sorted out before I'm off to the SECC this weekend and leaving my mum in charge of the kids, cat, dog and house for a couple of days.
So in the meantime I'll show you some more samples I made for last weekend at Dundee's new Hobbycraft store...
 Image: The Winters Night - Gorjuss, coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers
Finnish star made with Bo Bunny papers from xmas 2010, MS large and medium snowflake punch
I'd like to enter this one into:
Christmas Inspirations - die cuts/punches
Totally Gorjuss - Pastel Xmas


Image: Fox Gloves - Gorjuss coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers
spellbinders dies were used to make the card blank and to cut the layers
marianne poinsettia die, pearls coloured with promarker. glamour dust
I'd like to enter this one into:
Crafting When We Can - Christmas
Secret Crafter - Wrap Up Warm

Sunday 23 October 2011

Last Day of The Tattie Holidays

kids are back to school tomorrow, and not a moment too soon lol
I love my kids more than anything else in the world, but when they're bored they drive me bananas. And with the rotten weather, they've been confined inside for a lot of the time - let's just say I'm looking forward to my own company for 6 hours tomorrow :)


I'm back to share some more samples from last weekend with you. As a Product Coach for Letraset, I'm required to demonstrate a whole range of products - I know, it's a hard life isn't it lol Because Promarkers and Flexmarkers are so popular, I spend the majority of my time with them. But now and again I get to play with all the other products that Letraset produce, including Aquamarkers.


Aquamarkers are ideal for making quick and easy backgrounds, so I thought I'd illustrate this point by making up some simple ATC's. It's also a quick and easy technique to demonstrate in store.
All you need is a craft mat/baking sheet, some aquamarkers and a water or mica spray.
 Inkadinkado greeting, aquamarkers, That Special Touch mica spray, Tonic butterfly punch


 I tilted the ATC to show off the mica spray


Fiskars birdie punch, Tim Holtz filmstrip stamp, aquamarkers, That Special Touch Mica Spray.


I'd like to enter these into:
Flutter By Wednesday - open
Try it on Tuesday - taking to the skies
ATC Challenges - anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge - flying things
Scrappy Frogs - something that flies

Saturday 22 October 2011

Happy Birthday Charlotte

Good morning, today's post is all about the gorgeous manageress at The Papeterie.... Charlotte because today is her birthday. So...wishing you a mahoosive day missus, enjoy today and your week off :)
Here's the birthday cards the girls and I made for her..
Faith's one:
Faith drew herself, Charlotte and me on a sunshiney day :)


Willow decided to colour "Snow White" from Saturated Canary Digi with her own promarkers and glitter gel pens


And lastly, my card...
 Image: Nevaeh from Saturated Canary Digi, coloured with promarkers and accented with pearl pen on the skirt and white gel pen on her stockings
white and red cardstock is from The Papeterie, Sizzix embossing folder, red satin ribbon from stash and faux stitching done with Letraset fineliner. The "friend" was cut with a sizzix die, if you look closely you can see I've done a faux running stitch on it too then triple clear embossed.


I'd like to enter her into 
Saturated Canary Challenge - Stitching
4 Crafty Chicks - Marker It Up
Charisma Cards - embossing (both)
Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthday
Anything Goes Challenge - To The Letter

Friday 21 October 2011

The Sew Room - Kids Classes

I mentioned yesterday that we were going out to The Sew Room for one of Anne's kids classes and boy did we all have fun. All 3 kids are highly delighted with their Halloween Treat Buckets, here's some pics of the day - NB, I've only taken pics of my own kids at the class, as I don't have permission from the parents of the others.


 Scott sewing on his buttons, and Anne showing Willow how to sew hers on


 Lyn to the rescue to thread Scott's needle


 Back to the sewing


Faith chuffed to bits with my attempt to sew on her buttons for her


 Look, it's the lovely Lyn sewing!


 Scott, getting on way better than he thought he would



The finished treat bucket :)


Thursday 20 October 2011

Off to the Sew Room

I'm off out to The Sew Room this morning with the kids, I managed to book them onto one of Anne's fantastic kids classes, this one is to make a Halloween Treat Bucket.
So I'm dropping Graham at the heliport then heading straight out to the class. Faith's probably a bit wee for the class, but I'll be there to help her so it should be fine.
If you haven't seen Anne's new shop then you need to pop over to The Sew Room blog for all the details of her upcoming workshops and some pics of the gorgeous things she stocks.


So I'm going to leave you with some more samples from Sunday's Hobbycraft demo...
 This is an idea I got from Pinterest..
I bought some pump bottles of body lotion from Tesco (£2 each and they are on 3 for 2 at the moment) , pulled off the existing labels then designed my own personalised labels on the pc and printed them off onto Letraset Safmat - all I had to do was cut round the design, peel it from the backing sheet and gently stick it onto the bottles.
I'm using this idea to make personalised teacher's xmas gifts that are quick and easy to make and don't break the bank.

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Hump Day Again

Good afternoon, well it's the middle of the week again and this is the first chance I've had to blog since the weekend.
Sunday went incredibly well at the new Hobbycraft store in Dundee, it is always a pleasure to demonstrate Letraset products and meet new people. I spoke to all ages from wee lassies of 7 years old, to retired ladies and gentlemen, the thing I like best about demoing is to show just how easy it is to get beautiful effects with the promarkers, flexmarkers and aquamarkers.  And I just want to say that the manageress, Stephanie and all her staff are top-notch. A quick wee toot for Paula, one of the associates who is also a design student .
So here are a few pics of the store, as I'm sure you're aware, Hobbycraft have rebranded and all the new stores have new signage and layouts....



and this on the inside of the toilet door really tickled me...
I'll be showing you my samples over the rest of the week.
I used this one to illustrate that you can use promarkers for other things besides colouring stamped images...
Image: Little Red, Gorjuss from PI, coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers - cloak is Aubergine, Plum and Mulberry, dress is Wild Orchid (f), Orchid and Soft Mauve (f)
The wooden door hanger is coloured with the new Letraset alcohol inks in Plum as it is an exact match with the Plum promarker (you could also colour the wood with your promarker, but the alcohol ink does it much quicker)
All the different ribbons and clear adhesive stones are coloured with promarkers too.
the greeting is from Inkadinkado and white embossed.


I'd like to enter her into: 
Stamp With Fun - Gift
Fashionable Stamping - Anything but a card
Stamptacular Sunday - you choose
The Squirrel & the Fox - One for the girls

Sunday 16 October 2011

Hobbycraft Dundee

Morning,
just a quickie this morning as I'm leaving very shortly to go to the brand spanking new Hobbycraft store in Dundee. I'll be demoing Letraset products including Promarkers, Flexmarkers, Aquamarkers, Letratec and Safmat so why not pop along and say hello, I'll be there from 10am - 4pm.


Seeing as I'm away today I thought I'd share a sample from yesterdays demo at The Papeterie



I'll come back and fill in the details later - better go...

Friday 14 October 2011

Busy Weekend Heading This Way

It's nose to the grindstone stuff today here at Wiccababe HQ in preparation for a busy weekend of demos and classes.
Tomorrow (Saturday 15th October) I will be demonstrating the new Flexmarkers at The Papeterie in Aberdeen from 10.30am to 1pm
Then in the afternoon from 1.30pm I'll be teaching a Promarker techniques class - I think there are one or two spaces left if you fancy - call 01224 802337.


Then on Sunday I will be demonstrating Letraset Products including Promarkers, Alcohol Inks, Aquamarkers, Letratac and Safmat at the brand new Hobbycraft Store in Dundee 


So if any of you are within travelling distance of Aberdeen or Dundee I'd love to see you - remember don't be shy, just come and say hello :)


I can't share any of the samples with you yet, so I thought I'd share this card instead, it's for a special crafty friend of mine.
Image: Gorjuss - Little Red, coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers - I also coloured the ribbon with a promarker to match
black and white cardstock from The Papeterie, 3d dots embossing folder from cArt Us, greeting is Hero Arts, glamour dust


I'd like to enter her into..
C.R.A.F.T. - 1 ribbon, 2 shapes, some glitter
Colour Create - Lilac, Grey & White

New Baby 1

My boss at work, and friend Charlotte recently had her first baby so I had a few baby cards to make, on for Charlotte and her husband James,...