Archive for March, 2010

What’s happening in April

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Forget the April showers, April is a busy month for us but the event highlights are:

Don’t forget to make your Easter cards for friends and family this weekend.

6th April - Kintbury Stamping Friends Club evening (new members must pre register as space is limited)

10-11th April - The Big Stamping & Scrapbooking Show at Alexander Palace, London

17th April - Kintbury (Berkshire) Spring Stamping Extravagenza - with free admission

22nd April- Men’s cards class - Sorry class is full.  We will repeat this class later in the year due to demand.

24th April - Ribbon Class - booking is essential for this class

25th April - We are hosting a Copic Class in Farnborough, Hampshire.  Class is almost full so book now if you are interested

I hope to see you soon,

 

Wendy

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Elegant Cards for Elegant Ladies

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

 Jo (my stamping friend and helper!!) visited last night and we had a great relaxing time chatting and crafting.  I was busy finishing the preparation for tomorrow’s class which called Elegant Cards for Elegant Ladies.  I’ll be using the wonderful Sarah Phelps clear stamp sets. Here’s a sneek peek of one of the cards will be making.  img003 The main image and background paper were stamped using CL214 -  Flowers for You -  clear stamp set. 

The gorgeous rose vase image was stamped onto our copic white card with a black mementos and coloured with the Copic Markers (BV00, Bv02, BV04, Yr00, YG63, YG41, C1) and cut with the oval nestabilities.  This was layered onto a larger scalloped oval cut from green card.   The background was simply randomly stamped with a Black Memento Inkpad onto white card, which was mounted onto green card and then onto the main card.  To finish i added a dragonfly brad.

Other local classes between now and May 2010 can be found on my website.  The new class schedule will be released on Saturday 17th April at our Kintbury Spring Extravaganza where we’ll be joined by Karen Watson (cardmaking royalty!!)  Karen is sure to inspire you to come along if you can.

 

Happy Stamping, Wendy

Posted in Impression Obsession, Stamping | No Comments »

New Nikki Stamps

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

I have just finished loading the new brand new “Nikki” selection of clear stamps to my website.  These images are ideal for all your feminine friends, sisters etc and there’s a design for almost every occasion.  The stamps were so popular at the recent Harrogate show that we sold out of some designs within hours…

Here is a card that my talented demonstrator Karen designed

img002

Stamp used in Martini Nikki http://www.stampsandmemories.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3105 and it has been coloured with Copic Ciao Markers.  I hope you like it!!

Happy Stamping, Wendy

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Harrogate

Monday, March 22nd, 2010
Busy demonstating Copics at the Harrogate Show

Busy demonstating Copics at the Harrogate Show

Back from Harrogate and as is usual with me I’m shattered… Shows are really hard work whether you’re visiting, demonstating, organising or exhibiting… This was definitely true for us this weekend as we are based in the south of england so had a 5 hour drive to get to the recent Harrogate show.  Anyway I thought you might be interested in the work of an exhibitor… 

It begins about nine months before the event when you receive the booking forms from the organiser and you have to confirm you wish to exhibit and pay a deposit (or sometimes in full); then over the next few months we have to decide on products and demos, make card samples, book any helpers needed for the show, book accomodation and van hire, plan the journey, print fliers and posters, get a float from the bank etc, plan the stand layout, pay the balance… the list goes on. 

The days before we travel to the show I have to pack all the stock into crates so it is easy to unpack at the show, and pack stands, gridwall and other display items, plus demo items; sort artboards and card samples and print any posters or special offers etc.  Once we arrive at the venue we have to fairly quickly set up the stand and unpack and display all the stock so that it looks attractive…

You know the next bit - it’s my favourite part - meeting all the lovely customers, helping with any questions, demonstrating, or serving on the till, usually all the above!! - then customers leave and the hard work begins again we have to pack everything back into the crates, and load the stands and crates all back into the van and drive home….  

Guess what we then do?  We unpack everything back into the shop, stocktake and then have to quickly reorder sell out stock items for the next show which is quite often days later and start the process all over again…..

I’m not complaning - I really love my job but it is hard work which is why I hate shoplifters… how dare they steal items from me?  I’m a small business trying to keep my head above water and work bloody hard…  Everyone else, I would like to use this occasion to thank you for supporting my baby (my business)…

Card will follow tomorrow !

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Chaos

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Hi All,  I’m sorry that I haven’t been blogging but I have been poorly.  I’ve been suffering with a really bad head and blurry vision and this is the fourth week so it is beginning to get me down now.  The headache is now just a constant aching but was quite bad at one stage.  I’ve been referred to the hospital and next week have to go and have a scan - scarry!  My husband says they’ll have to find my brain first - cheeky monkey!!

Anyway despite this I’ve been really busy.  Last weekend I taught the Exeter Copic Class on Saturday and the Bristol one on Sunday.  I was a little nervous teaching in case I coloured over the lines but what a lovely bunch of ladies.  Thank you for being very understanding!  Unfortunately I forgot to take any photos but if the comments are anything to go by, everyone had a great time.

Tomorrow we’re off to the Great Northern Papercraft show at the YEC in Harrogate.  If you can do come along as this is really a great show.  Karen & I will be demonstrating on our stand A6.

I promise some inspiration next week… Sorry I’ve been missing for so long!

Happy Stamping,

Wendyx

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Copic Instructor

Friday, March 5th, 2010

img001Well here is the proof that I am now a qualified Copic Instructor.  We are currently running Introduction to Copic Ciao in various locations throughout the UK.  Our new class “Next Step with Copic”(too attend this class you should have already taken our Introduction to Copic class); and the NEW to UK Copic Certification courses will be introduced later this Spring.  Watch our website/blog for details.  Alternatively contact me and I’ll let you know as soon as we have a class in your area.

I have lots of exciting Copic plans in the pipeline including a new Copic Online club with challenges, Copic friends and regular Copic Wednesday with hints, tips and techniques and card samples.

Posted in Classes/Stamp Club, Copics | No Comments »

Exeter and Bristol Copic Classes

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Interested in learning more about Alcohol Markers and live in the Exeter or Bristol areas, then why not come along to our Introduction to Copic Ciao classes next weekend… 

The day class costs just £40 and includes a goodie bag with 4 Copic Ciao markers. 

If you need more information please contact Wendy on 01488 658728.  Bookings can be made online or by telephone….

Posted in Classes/Stamp Club, Copics | No Comments »

Copic News

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

copicregional_instructor150Life has been chaotic over the last couple of weeks…  The most exciting news (drumroll….) is that I am now a Copic Certified Instructor -one of  the first to become qualified in the country.   I will tell you all about in over the next couple of days but basically it means that we will be able to offer Copic Certification classes in the UK (details of dates and venues to be announced shortly).   On top of that we attended the trade show in Birmingham and the Make It show in Farnborough… 

Just before I travelled overseas for my Copic Course my laptop died and I have only just  been able to gain access to the blog so sorry if you were desparate for our news.

Our Copic pricing will be increasing next Monday (our prices when up in December so we have held the pricing for as long as possible) so if you know you need Copics order asap to get the unbelievable price of just £2.00 per Copic Ciao Marker.

More info to follow soon, Wendyx

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