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!

Paris Hilton hits the Craft Scene...

Lock up your kids... your new BFF is getting into crafting...

Hilton's Crafty New Project

11 January 2009 6:07 AM
Socialite Paris Hilton is set to unveil a new project - she has designed a craft set for kids.
The hotel heiress has already put her name to a variety of ventures including her own fragrances, a footwear range, a clothing line and a hair extensions brand.
And now she has produced 'Paris Hilton, the Creative Collection' which will be unveiled at the Craft + Hobby Association 2009 Winter Convention + Trade Show in Anaheim, California later this month.
The kit is billed as "a multi-faceted line of fashion crafting kits from some of the most popular craft segments including scrapbooking, jewellery making and fabric embellishment."

What are the chances of bumping into her at CHA?!!

This week has been mad...

TV tripe is viewing bread and butter. I watch those TV programmes where the passengers miss their plane, and rolled my eyes at the cliche. THEN... I arrive at Athens airport on Tuesday as my plane flies into the clouds - and realise that the naff reality is exactly how it is portrayed on TV.

THAT was the beginning of my week. We had to wait 7 hours in the airport, pay for a new flight which landed at the WRONG airport... then drive to Gatwick to pick up the car, then drive back. It made for an interesting "we'll laugh about it one day" beginning to my week... Hence the lack of Wednesday Wishes... just call me Ebenezer; *bah humbug*!

THEN I hear that my little sister is staring in a film in a scene with DEMI MOORE!! She blagged her way onto the set (they are filming in her suburban neighbourhood in the US ;) and somehow wangled accidentally to become one half of a couple who Demi chats to... surreal or what?? Needless to say that the film may be a pile of poo - but I shall be lining up to watch and buy it as a family heirloom.

So I am ready to grant a wish to the lovely Dental Nurse SARAH (follower and commenter ;) We R Memory Keepers goodies are all yours! CONGRATULATIONS. Just email me your address.

Love 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

Jonathan Edwards... a 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist... my Canon Rebel ...and the dribble!

The thrill of stroking paper melted away when I walked into my hotel {after a hard day at work} and standing just metres away is the delectable World Record Holder, Jonathan Edwards... He had an Olympic Gold Medallist standing next to him (in his dashing Team GB shell suit ;) - but don't ask me who he was, I had my eyes firmly on the prize, who was presenting something or other to someone or other....

I was star struck from the get go. You know that "school girl giddy" at breathing his exhaled air kind of feeling - the one where you know that all intellectual words will fail you... and dribble will flow freely.

So I ate my dinner, with the whole presentation thang going on just yards away... and could not resist yanking my hulking great Canon out of my car with the hope I could sneak a shot from afar.

BUT - not one to shy from celebrity (*cough*) I eventually caught his gaze and could see that he had that "oh she is coming for me" look flash across his eyes... ;) Anyways, what then happened was a blur of babble, dribble, and a real gormless photo (thanks Katy for pointing out there is NO anti-gormless action on photoshop ;)

I have to add that I have a very limited recollection of my verbal incontinence, and I believe that I may have scarred the poor man with my wide eyes, and grunting.

He is basically a real hero in our house! In the summer we spent an afternoon triple jumping on the beach (even my youngest who is 2... which was highly entertaining :) I had to then call home and garble the whole exciting episode to my oldest, who was buzzing at the prospect of a 2012 badge handpicked by JE for him . Just have this sneaking suspicion that my boys will be fighting over who DOESN'T get the pink one ;)

Becks xxxx

Celeb Spotting... at pre-school

The most unlikely of starts to the week, began when I Nasser Hussein (ex England Cricket Captain) walked past me... just as I was waiting to take my youngest into pre-school. Our children are in the same class... and both girls... so let's hope my wee cherub doesn't get all boisterous and pull hair (we have a little "yanker" in the family!!)

Anyways, onwards and upwards from the gormless shell shock (...so determined to talk to him at some stage ;) I have been toying over the weekend with the HYBRID hype... like, has it really hit the UK?!! We still adore our decoupage (as a nation...not making any claims about the scrapping community before I get lynched ;) and we are definitely a "traditional" nation of crafters. So where does hybrid slot in? Do those plentiful CD ROMS from Create N Craft count as THE accolade of synergy between paper and computer?!! ...because, seriously, crafters in the UK seem to go gaga for anything on a CD... fork out an arm and a leg, then spend big bucks printing (using all your ink and paper... which doesn't seem all that *cost effective* in the long run.) Maybe we are at the forefront of hybrid... can you imagine ;)

The CD-ROM designs seem light years away from the de-lish prima hybrid goodies {still loving this company... even if flowers are not as 'must-have' as they once were} and so in fairness, I have to tickle my screen with 'puritty....'



Last little nugget from me! I love the useless gadgets we scrappers inflict on ourselves. Usually born from brilliance... The following great idea should be easily re-created with some ingenuity and not a whole lot of expense. Not sure if it is valid enough to take booth space at a show... but me thinks there are more ideas festering for CHA Winter...



Happy Monday!!
Becks xxxx

Spotted: New BasicGrey!

Bookmark this space, as on the 8th of September, the new Christmas WASSAIL line from BasicGrey will be unveiled! My lips are sealed until then... (but it is Christmas *pretty-ized* ;)

Also SPOTTED... Cliff Richard (yes Sir) at Lakeside. Who would have thought he would mingle with the commoners, but apparently Essex can hold it's own on the celeb spotting front...

I *need* your photos!

We are hot on the heels of issue 1, working on the covershot for Creativity Life numero duo. (I am seriously jumping up and down with glee since bezzy mate Holly McCaig said issue 1 was wicked... How mind blowingly *hip* would it be to get her in the mag?!!) SORRY - I digress...! Still a little "star struck" ;)

Anyways, I NEED you to submit your best Christmas shots, as I am currently searching for my front cover gal (or boy, family, dog, cat... or Christmas tree ;) Send your high res photos to me HERE and the winning shot will be credited, and the featured finished cover layout sent to you (all the hard work is done by us, and you can sit back and relish at least one great layout without labour!)

DEADLINE: September 1st... so get submitting!

Small Print:
We will contact the winning photographer via email and include it on our cover for issue 2.
By submitting your photo, you are allowing us to use it in print and promotional activity, and your photo must be your own artwork.
The winner will receive a complete layout and a free issue of their featured cover shot.

We are also teaming up with CANON in issue 2 to bring you a pretty special competition... so watch this space!

Want to be our next Scrapbook Apprentice and be PAID to design? Enter our comp today and fight for your chance to be put through your paces!!

CHA Summer 08 - Day Two

...sticky stuff that works with glitter, foil, flock and perfect pearls... lovely!!

Spotted: Clearsnap (in addition to the WATERMARK PAD) have this new vivid glitter bling... which was super shiny (like layered glamour...) and although just in prototype packaging - this is one line I think will dazzle those card makers ;)

She sure is famous in Europe... the lovely Karen Burniston. She is hoping to head our way at the end of the year - and also liscensed Jane Dean earlier in the year to be her UK authorised tutor (and Karen's classes *ROCK*!)

We got to toy with the *love machine* by Quickutz. Loved the electronic feeder (although the prototype was like cracking nuts...) but it looks a little heavy on the hands and the purse. Are you ready for an electronic feeder die cutter? Well even if you are not - this is not your only option, as I have some Ellison/Sizzix Express images to share!

Off to sleep off the jet lag xx

I MET Holly McCaig in the Lift!!!

I seriously lucked out here... {and I *know* I look daft and dazed...} but I was minding my own bees wax when I spotted that I had walked into the same lift as Holly. So to break the ice I commented on her fame... to which she asked who I was... and I said "oh a nobody" and then when she spotted my name she said "You're Becks! I read your blog all the time..." SERIOUS??? I about fell off my high heels and wanted to smoother her in kisses. Here was the genius designer who I have been cyber stalking for eons *knowing* my name.

Anyways, we are now BEZZY MATES. So *hello Holly*... and you rock Mrs!!!

CHA Summer 08 - Day One

Spotted: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new Doodlebug lines. Did you see those smoking *hot* 6x6 and 12x12 pads that they made "just for us"?? I have been begging them for these little sweeties as I know card makers will go nuts for them in the UK! Sooooo looking forward to stroking outside of the packaging ;)

Next to Cynthea and I is a creative display from Graphic 45. Sort of reminscent 7gyspies... and Melissa Frances.

My Yellow Bicycle and SEI were busy...

...and across the way we bumped into ALI; and Emma managed to grab a pic with her. Not sure if I embarrassed her too much (sorry Em!!!) but once we photoshop that pic, then we will have a little collection going ;)

Spotted: I know the last Heidi Swapp rub-ons sucked as bad as the original DO ones - but these new designs are stunning, and I am sure they wouldn't not inflict the nasty flaking on us again...

You have heard of BADGE IT (surely every 10 year old in the UK owns one!) well now you can BRAD IT (...see what I did there, a little clever play on words ;) It will retail in the US for $40, but I can see it's appeal... make your own brads to suit the paper designs, or clothes in a pic... and they are chuncky accessories that make a statement. Thumbs up from me!

Spotted: Provocraft's new tool is a binding laminator - make your own 'MY STORY' books... retail around $50 (I think??) and will have the wow factor for anyone who makes... well, books. I want to go back and really play some more with this before giving a verdict. I am trying to see how often I would use it...

They DO have new 'Hello Kitty' cartridges (...so on my shopping list!!!) and decked an entire bedroom out in the stuff. If my 5 year old is watching, there will be pester power when I get home ;)

The new WRM lines are gorgeous!! They have adhesive flocked die-cut ribbon, and just really vibrant, rich colours both for Christmas and for everyday. LOVED the new look!

Jewellery anyone... seriously! Watch this space...

Spotted: The new Claudine Hellmuth lines - which you are going to go gaga for. CANVAS... is all I am going to say. It is going to be the new acrylic ;)

Claudine H.

I opened my emails to find that the hugely original Claudine Hellmuth had posted a comment. I had a stupid giddy moment, then pulled myself together over a plateful of marshmallows (the healthy way to start your day!) I am so going to have a chat with her at CHA... especially if it involves paint. Just days to go!!!

I am frantically making all those last minute panic purchases... ticking and rewriting my 'do to' list every few hours... and as long as I have my credit card and passport I think I can cope with whatever comes my way ;) I *did* succumb to some new sketchers - they are soooo comfy (...eek!! Since when does comfort override cool. Is this the slippery slope to becoming my totally uncool mother ;)

I spotted that the ENTIRE catalogue from Dream Street papers in now available online HERE I like the simply stated (HERE) as it will fit with just about any occasion and photo op!