Alas...farewell Tony Hart!

Tony Hart has died at the age of 83... leaving many of us with fond memories of THE GALLERY (the ultimate showcase for wannabe artists... from the age of 3 onwards ;) That dulcet tune that would play in the background as the camera scrolled through the week's lucky entries - and you KNEW yours would not be there... as it was still sitting on your bedroom dresser. If you had used chalk smudges, and that awful charcoal substance - then you were a shu-in to be picked... So long, farewell... Mr Hart. Long live Morph!




Monday Madness - Looks like there are deals to be had if you are in the mood to be spending ;)

• Save 50% on Scrapbook Albums
• Save 50% on Autumn Leaves
• Tools & Storage with up to 50% off
• BOGOF deals on DCWV
• 7gypsies sale!
• 50% off punches
• 50% off Ellison, Provocraft and other dies!
• 60% off BasicGrey/Papermania

I head off to QVC later - and have managed to pass the TSV launch at midnight to the lovely CLUR CURD (*I am not wonder woman!!) I am on from 1-2am and then will find the nearest bed to curl myself into. We have some exclusives on the 1am show, as well as more from Core'dinations, Doodlebug, Clearsnap and BasicGrey!

The best thing for UK Scrapbooking?

If you have been following the dollar exchange rate... you will be as glum as me {no big spending planned for spare time at the CHA Winter show!} We are around 1.4 (from over x2 earlier in the year) and with the credit crunch, it looks like all those inviting cross-continental purchases will have to be put on hold... it has been the death-knell for all those irresistible half-price bargains!

BUT the exchange rate annihilation could spell the *best* news for Scrapbooking in the UK. For years die-hards and bargain hunters have been browsing the Internet for better deals from our US cousins, and even with added shipping... making a saving on buying on home soil. UK retailers have been bereft at the lack of loyalty - and there have been a few "Buy British" campaigns... but that juicy half price mentality has tempted ££££ being spent elsewhere.

Now the exchange rate is less attractive, retailers will find those same savvy bargain hunters now scouring the net for best prices, best deals and CHOICE. It is a huge opportunity for UK scrap suppliers to step up to the plate and win market share... so it isn't all doom and gloom!

So some homegrown Monday Money Saving Tips:

• Craft Superstore (really like shopping here!) have BOGOF offers!
• Artbase have a wide variety of products online - so if you are looking for CHOICE they are a fav!
• The Glitter Pot have some great BasicGrey offers... and a cuddly Forever Friends bear (I have 2 already wrapped for my girls!!) worth £16.99, for only £9.99!
• Crafty Devils is another great CHOICE outlet, and has plenty of Sizzix, Cuttlebug, Wizard (if you are looking for a die cutting Christmas pressie...)
• Artymiss ALWAYS has a bargain...
• QVC clearance can be a way to pick up a few *hard to get* items at a good price... my fav place for K&Co and American Crafts... even some 7gypsies ;)
• One for the kids... www.wilkinsonplus.com are selling a 1000 piece Kid Craft Caddy for just £3.99! GREAT stocking filler (just hide your good glue!!)

Monday Money Saving Bargains...

Apparently the high street is bucking the trend when it comes to money spent in store. It seems we are less apt to pay online, and would rather rummage around the aisles picking up a bargain in person...

If you have Christmas on the brain, then toys are on offer EVERYWHERE - from Woolworths, ToysRus to Tesco, Asdas and Argos... toys are half price, 3for2 or 25% off. BUT research by TRB shows that we are spending more per purchase - but making less purchases! So we are opting for quality over quantity ;)

So what QUALITY craft goodies are hitting the bargain headlines on this nippy Monday morning?

1. Hobbycraft have got vouchers in practically all the craft mags which saves you up to £5 off when you spend in store. PLUS in store they do have some bargain bins and discounts. You unfortunately cannot shop online - so this does involve a trip in the car! Spotted in store - WRM, Making Memories, American Crafts and some pretty de-lish quality brands ;)
2. The Craft Superstore have a 15% off promo on Cuttlebug accessories (great stocking fillers) also check out their SALE section for a whole plethora of nick-knacks for crafty Christmas pressies...
3. Subscribe to your fav mag - or even sub for a mate this Christmas...
4. If you love Making Memories - there is a killer bargain HERE (save £60!) If you order TODAY you will also get a FREE Chipboard Sticker pack worth £1.99. Follow THIS LINK.
5. American Crafts 6 jars of Foam Shapes bargain HERE
6. MORE killer clearance QVC kits HERE (includes 7gypsies, K&Co, Creative Imaginations, Fiskars etc!!)

Remember: The key to a GREAT bargain, is needing it in the first place...
Becks xxx

Monday Freebies...

I spotted some worth sharing (esp if you shop at Tescos!!)

• PHOENIX is an image editor that works just like Photoshop. It’s got magic wands, layers, masks, blend modes... et al. It is web-based and has over 40+ FREE TUTORIALS. If you fancy a gander then click on the links. (SOURCE: Photojojo)
• If you nip into TESCO's... it is actually worth shopping online, as you get a much better deal when you use money off vouchers... Simply key in the codes and shop n save. It may leave you a little more in your pocket for some Christmas pressies. (SOURCE: Paid2Shop)

£4 off £40

• XX6LHY - valid 27/10/2008- 02/11/2008
• XXMFT9 - valid 03/11/2008 - 09/11/2008

£3 off £40

• XXDKP7 - Valid 27/10/2008 - 02/11/2008
• XXTDKZ - Valid 03/11/2008 - 09/11/2008

£9 off £90

• XX9KTM -valid 27/10/2008 - 02/11/2008
• XX7GRX -valid 03/11/2008 - 09/11/2008

£6 off £60

• XXYL9K - valid 27/10/08 - 02/11/08
• XXF9N9 - valid 03/11/08 - 09/11/08

Monday Money Savers...

Spotted: The high street is biting back when it comes to Credit Crunch pricing... and Lidl (one of the cheap discount stores) has TRIMMERS ON SALE (from just a minute £4.99 *gasp*) Other bargains to tempt your tighter pocket...

Other Monday Money Savers:
Quickutz Sophisticate Gift Set (half price)
Remember All My Memories (AMM)?! Well HERE you can grab yourself these limited (but gorgeous) lines before they are sold out forever...
Half price Scrapbook Albums HERE
5% off your order with Craft Superstore when you use the word CUTTLEBUG at the checkout.
Stateside: Create for Less great website!

DID YOU SEE? The Creativity Life Crafting 2 hour show on QVC was mentioned in the new issue of Scrapbook Inspirations! 28th October here we come...
Becks xxx

Hugh N' Lou... and Monday Money Savers

Not to be outdone when it comes to my celeb *bumping into* exploits... Lou in the office (photographer extraordinaire) just happened upon Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. She managed to not only grab him for a pic, but chat on camera in an upcoming series he is filming. How posh!!

So what is on offer this week?

I discovered SMILEBOX - and you can discover it too! FREE digital layouts, that you can easily create (no real skill required) but they are lots of fun.... Maybe it will tempt you enough to give digi a go?!
The £1 shop... for card making ;)
Perfect Pearls, Chalks, Wooden Stamps... all 1/2 Price!
Bookmark the FREE printables from Forever Friends (none just yet... but keep checking!)

Happy Monday!
Becks xxx

Monday Money Saving Bargains...

Question: What is better than a magazine for £2.50?! {this is NOT a trick question...}

Answer: How about a totally botox'd mag for £2?!! PLUS 4 *FREE* (it's the magic number) papers from designer label We R Memory Keepers... sneaks to follow ;)

Money Savers Spotted:

• Crafts Beautiful & my fav stamp company "PaperArtsy" have put together an exclusive Christmas kit packed with stamps, papers and little gold stars. The 25 papers feature five new double-sided patterns that have been especially designed for Crafts Beautiful. The kit also contains a total of 28 rubber stamps, each mounted on EZ mount foam and ready for use. Also included is a sheet of gold embellishments from the stylish German Scrap range - perfect for all your Christmas projects.
  Pack value £50. Special Offer Price £24.99 ...I know t isn't Wish Granted Wednesdays... but I have 5 sets of papers to *giveaway FOC*. Just leave a comment about what you lurve about Paperarsty... and Marcus Poly Pants will pick at random 5 winners!
• BOOKMARK this great (non-craft) saving site - www.madaboutbargains.co.uk
• Save 10% if you sign up for the Handy Hippo Newsletter HERE
• Glitter Glue on offer
• K&CO on offer
• Great all-rounder Tool Kit on offer
  Another stateside goodie... HERE

Bargains for anyone on a budget from HP...

• Great savings on Original HP Ink combos
  Buy one, get one half price (notebooks & printers)

Spotted a bargain at your local craft shop - leave a comment, and share the savings... Happy Monday!

Becks xxx

Monday Money Saving Bargains...

The word on the street {the highstreet} is that Woolies is breaking the mould, and selling all chart DVDs for under £10! That includes all *new* releases...

Alan Hunt, trading manager for music and DVD at Woolworths, says: “Staying in is the new going out and over the next month it will be cheaper than ever before to buy a brand new film and settle down for a great night in. Our price drop will help our customers beat the credit crunch while enjoying great films like Sex And The City, Three And Out and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

So - for a bargain night in, get yourself to Woolies (for once ;)

As the news is fixated on *saving money* I am making Monday's all about crafty stash savers... so read on and reap the rewards of savvy shopping...

Monday Money Saving Bargains...

http://www.craftbargains.co.uk/
Craft Saving Thread (on moneysavingexpert.com)
Half Price Storage (and other bargains!)

Albums on sale

Chatterbox ribbons with 75% off!

Papercases on sale

Look out for Hobbycraft vouchers in local newspapers *and in scrapbook/card mags!

Also... the best SAVER is FREE... so check back here each Wednesday for giveaways ;)

Stateside (postage will be a killer for UK consumers... but US blog watchers beware ;)

http://www.scrapbooking-warehouse.com/

Becks xxx