Bloomin' Hard Work!

Anyone who says that presenting is easy ain't telling the truth! It is bloomin' hard work (...granted not as bad as labour or gallstones; but back to back it is gruelling! I do not know how DB keeps up - and manages to look un-phased by the process ;)

Anyways, it was one heck of a weekend - and I got to meet the Bobbi Brown team, Maxx NY owner and drool up close on those killer handbags, Liz Earle presenter... and Julia Roberts (*highlight*) I am one of those people who DOES get a little star struck - so I had to pull myself together and try not to dribble and speak incoherently...

I have got a WINNER for the Wednesday PMA Paper Kit!
Congratulations... STEPHANIE (the gemini!!) Send me your address and I will get these off to you! (P.S. these were the papers went to QVC and back... so they are well travelled ;)

ALSO have a winner for the RUB TSV free kit!
Congratulations... SARAH Send me your address and I will get you all those lush boxes to get organising...

Becks xxx

N.B... hi becks - just a quick note to say thank you again, the boxes have just arrived and they are excellent. i am ready to get organised!!!
thanks again and happy crafting
sarah

Wishing you a Wonderful Wednesday!

Thank you for all the kind comments :)

Wish Wednesdays are back... (I am in the mood... suffering from *man flu* so in a weakened state of mind ;) I have got some LUSH new Papermania Signature paper packs to give away.

In my role as Head of Product at DO, my team have been working on some stella designs that are a steal for any cash strapped scrapper who wants a little luxury for less ;) These are a touch of floral... to complement the brand new boutique release from JESSE EDWARDS!! Watch out for PMA this year, as we have more signature lines up our sleeve ;)

Leave a comment - and a follower will get a bundle of Blueberry Hill and Regency paper packs.

Becks xxxx

Wish Wednesday Winner...

I have not been able to get a meaty shot of the complete wish wednesday CHA goody bag (due to the contents being *between locations*)... but it will be sent out next week... and the one lucky blog follower to be showered with some lush new stash is...
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MAX, from Scotland.

Heading to Frankfurt, Paperworld Show

I am back in the hot seat as I head to the Paperworld trade show in Frankfurt, Germany. It is a 4 day show, and is *even bigger* than CHA (mainly because it is not so paper-centric!) So I have my walking boots, camera, plasters (for those annoying blisters) and some trend spotting antennae...

This is my first encounter of Paperworld; having in the past opted for SMAC & STITCHES as my foray into international trade fairs. I am looking forward to the imperfect booths, cluttered with gazillions of non-coordinated products... all looking for a home. I am brushing up my rusty Deutsche (I went to a German school whilst living in Turkey... so it won't all be Bratwurst and Bahnhof ;)

I will add *little* nick-knacks which I pick up along my way...so that heaving WISH WEDNESDAY WONDER-STASH prize will be awarded on Wednesday week... (as this allows me time to read properly through comments and get over the cumulative jet lag ;) Some lucky follower is going to be like a pig in poo... lucky you!!

Ok... Tschüss for now!

Crafty Trends... continued

Other key trends spotted include...

• VINYL HOME DECOR
  
  Remember I scoped Uppercase Living last year? Well the scrapbook world is now awash with home decor vinyl applique. Originally Lisa & Becky (Advantus) tried to get us to decorate our walls with hanging things and stickers... then the Cricut (Provocraft) and the Silhouette (QuicKutz) sold vinyl sheets that you could die cut then use to decorate frames, albums, walls et al... and there was at the same time WALLIES (which is a blackboard type vinyl which encourages your kids to "feel free" *which on a sad note my 3 year old daughter DID in my absence on my brand new carpet... joy!!)
  
  Anyways, we now have virtually all the big boys selling finished die-cut phrases and icons to be used to decorate those all-so-bare walls we Brits have a plenty. They LOOK oh so good in the brochure, but not so sure if they will translate onto our teeny walls in our teeny houses...
  
• SPARKLE
  
  If you thought that rhinestones were the epitome of all things glam, then think again. The trend for glitter speciality finishes on patterned paper has flooded scrapbook manufacturers. It is pretty pricey compared to adding your own glitter at home to a sheet of 50p paper - but the effects are less *homemade* and definitely more bam bling. You won't be able to escape this trend, or the cash it will take out of your pocket to feed the habit!
  
• COST CUTTING
  
  Saving the planet was firm on the agenda, but only after saving the pounds in your pocket first. Thus the advent of 99p-esk stamps popping up all over the show (We R Memory Keepers have some cute ones to match that Tiffany line... which is a wowzer one irl!) BUT pack sizes are also reducing, so retailers can buy more breadth, and less depth. With GCD Studios also getting really cost sensitive when it comes to their deliciously designer papers and accessories. The credit crunch is hitting... big time!

I did nip into the TWO PEAS IN A BUCKET cupcake party (Kirsty, Shimelle, Marion and Bev were there also from the UK) and we had a hoot with tsome american lasses on our table. Whilst they were 2 pea buffs, Holly & I were struggling to answer the simplest of quiz questions... although weirdly on my turn I ended up winning a new fiskars trimmer due to my acute knowledge of album manufacturers (aka guess work!?!)

My ill gotten gain will be added to the WISH WEDNESDAY STASH PILE... which is mounting up nicely! There are wallies, t-shirts, a cute Doodlebug shoulder tote and more... for that one lucky follower. xxxx

CHA Winter 09 - Wish Wednesday Stash Build...

I have the most delicious goodies already... including an artylicious flocked storage 12x12 box with samples which includes a cute PURSE BOOK from the new *fabulous* (that is what it is called ;) range from Chatterbox. Worthy of raised eyebrows and pulse racing... AS WELL as samples from Hello Kitty (Sizzix/Ellison) x 4 dies, Clear Stamps, Modge Podge T-Shirt, Spellbinders concentric scalloped circles, Mambi Sticker, this wierd bag with a monkey leg (which looks like a tail...) all very bizarre... and it is growing for ONE LUCKY follower!

Keep tuned as the doors to CHA open and we head into the wonderful world of papercrafting a la USA.

Wednesday Wish Granted...

Ok... so I am already suffering jet lag without having stepped on the plane (today will remedy that!) and am bringing you the wish Wednesday winners a couple of days late... apologies! It will be a little hairy the next couple of weeks - but I have chocolate and the front cover of Creativity Life issue 3 to keep me sane ;)

WINNERS:

Lainey, card crafted & Sena... CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Send me your addresses and the lush clear duo stamps will be popped in the post.

So up for grabs this week... SAMPLES FROM CHA 2009! I am going to be gathering new release samples and freebies from CHA... and one lucky winner will get the loot long before it hits these shores. For your chance to bag the booty, leave a comment or become a follower.

Let the CHA journey begin... xxxx

Wish Wednesday WINNERS

Congratulations to LOLODESIGNS, SARAH (with her new flat) and CASSIE101! Send me your details and I will get your wodge of lucious core'dinations in the post to you (...forgive the small delay as I will be heading to Athens tomorrow, and back on QVC Tuesday... so I won't have forgotten about you ;)

So up for grabs this week...

Papermania Stamp Duos! We have teamed up with Imaginisce to create an exclusive stamp duo collection for just £1.99. In store now, there are 24 designs to collect... and they are very cute (and affordable ;)

Limited Editions... so lucky I have some for Wish Wednesday winners ;) Become a follower or leave a comment for your chance to win next week!

Becks xxx

Christmas is creeping up... {and winners!}

OK.

I have been hit by the Christmas magic. You know when you *think* you will have enough time to do everything on your never ending list - but then end up waking in a cold sweat, panicking that there is someone you have forgotten to buy for, and that you have run out of wrapping paper, mincemeat and the will to endure another week of jingle bells... WHERE does December go?!!

Anyways, I will announce the winners of all the previous Wednesday winners this week before hanging up my blog boots for the festive few weeks so I can sit back and relax before JANUARY and trade show season hit BIG TIME!! January beckons with CHA sneak peaks, Frankfurt Paperworld, Stitches (UK) and more... busy, busy, busy.

So Merry Christmas's are coming your way - and blog winners KIM (the Imagepac winner), Pam, Twinklyspangle, Gayle, Jozza, Lynsey and Martine... all send me your addresses so I can post your goodies in time to be be flung under your Christmas Tree!! xxx

P.S. See you on QVC (22nd December) at 12pm (aka noon) for an hour of CL crafting!! Some great new brands, great prices and some festive cheer. It is craft day, so expect to see We R Memory Keeper's Andrew Hiller as well as our very own CLUR (Clare Curd) for a full hour of Papermania!!

Wish Wednesday!

Have I got some goodies for you... (I am unseasonably jolly and generous - must be the festive season of good will ;)

For one lucky follower - I have a brand spanking new IMAGEPAC (worth £69.99!) It contains everything you need to create your own clear stamps.

For another lucky follower (I told you I was feeling generous) I have a selection of BasicGrey paper pads... (worth over £25!)

...and then one last freebie this wish-filled Wednesday. I have a cute pink Bo Bunny cutting mat (it is 12x6) - and well, did I already mention it was pink?! A stocking filler for someone if you can bear to give it away!

So leave a comment; become a follower... and be in with a chance to WIN!!

Wednesday Wish Granted...

WINNERS:

Terrie

Annie2006

Anesha

Janey Pye

Ruth (the Libra...)

Congratulations ladies! Email me your addresses and I will get your Core'dinations BLACK MAGIC in the post ;) I would love to see how you end up using it... so feel free to blog n' brag.

So THIS WEDNESDAY... how would you like to win a year's worth of crafting products?!! Well, I personally would love it (as long as Adam off Spooks was hand delivering ;) ...but {until that day comes} I am offering lucky blog followers a bundle of blooms. BIG N SMALL... there is a whole heap of these up for grabs. If you don't want to scrap with them, you can always use to creatively LABEL those Christmas pressies... going against the grain of the traditional stickers and gift tags;)

Wish Granted Wednesday...

Up for grabs this wonderful Wednesday...

Cute and adorable must-have mini Core'dinations 6x6 Black Magic... If you have *yet* to convert to Core'dinations, let me tell you why you *need* to try it! You could use it as plain old black cardstock with a hint of a shimmer... OR you could unleash the beast and toy with it to create pretty pucka background effects. I spotted this <<< on scrappindipity.com.au and love the effect!

You can sand over embossed (raised) designs to reveal the coloured core - or you can take yourself back to days of yore and relive those *brass rubbing* days to create a rubbing of whatever it is you have to hand. You can create some pretty funky bespoke backgrounds this way...

Anyways, I am on a mission to convert! There will even be a free sample for EVERY reader of Creativity in January!! So if you have used it... leave a comment - and as always follow the blog and be in with a chance to WIN!

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

Online inspiration... budge over printed mags!

The trend is definitely not a new one... with the likes of docrafts.co.uk focus on "projects, projects, projects" attracting approx 225,000 crafters (they identified the opportunity early...) SO with craftbubble.com's launch (see yesterday's post) as well as fiskars.com launching their own e-cards...both promoting their online inspiration - do we really still love to sit down with a printed magazine?

Digital Scrapbooking (US publication) seems to think not, as it closed it's doors and went whole heartedly online only (click link for online issue: LINK.) Not the first mag to bite the dust on newsstand shelves, but definitely not the last. Both Scrapbook & Cards and Craft Life & Home both launched as dual purpose publications... serving the instant fix online and then delivering a hand held hunk of love to leaf through.

Interestingly no-one really gets excited about downloadable magazines. There is something a little remote about them, that leaves us tactical crafters wanting... We are after all in the business of touching and feeling. We may shop online in our millions - but we still get a little giddy when we walk into a craft shop. In this heightened state of euphoria sniffing paper is certainly permissible...

Already the new price point for Creativity Life (now only a credit busting £2) is proving that crafters desire a little touchy feely indulgence to flick through... BUT we fickle fashionetas are STILL looking for a quick fix online to stave off scrappers block. We want the best of both worlds (what woman doesn't?!!) and lucky for us, someone is out to deliver whatever we wish for...

So whizz around the online world of inspiration, then grab a mug on the sofa and cuddle up with a great magazine. The perfect chilly Thursday therapy.

Becks xxx

Wish Granted Wednesday (delayed version...)

Ok. I may be a day late, and a dollar short...but these lucky winners are going to have STAMPS winging their merry way to them... (just email me with your addresses ;)

JOZZA, BREN, TRACEY, GINGER and SMEEPEE

So what is up for grabs this week?

I have a couple of the QVC kits which we aired this week... so if you fancy some BasicGrey or Doodlebug, then leave a comment or become a follower - and you could be in with a chance of some FREE STASH to play with. Never resist the urge for FREE ;)

Becks xxx

Jet Lag and QVC Countdown...

I am in that thick *fug* they call Jet Lag... where you feel like there is a time delay in your brain, the world is spinning, and everyone seems to be talking a little too loud and fast. The extra hour in bed was redundant, as I was awake and ticking from the wee small hours. Despite it all, it is GOOD to be home!

So the countdown - less than 24 hours, and it is QVC pour moi. Am I nervous? Heck yes... who wouldn't be?! I have some really gorgeous kits... all designer labels ;) I have a list as long as my arm of friends I would love to say hello to (so if I don't get a chance I am thinking of you all!) We also have 5 copies of the brand new issue of Creativity Life (signed by myself and Anthony Heywood) to giveaway to callers... so if you want a FREE copy be sure to phone ;)

Monday Madness will be back next week - and Wednesday Wishes will be back this week (as it is a certain little girl's birthday and we are all off to see High School Musical 3 ;) So stay tuned...

Wish Granted Wednesday...

Who would say no to a Doodlebug LIMEADE Cutting Mat and Craft Knife... which is what is up for grabs this Wish Filled Wednesday!

Even if you own a self-heal mat (and let's face it, they are pretty standard stuff when it comes to crafting...) these little 9x9 wonders are the ideal companion when on the go, but also scream "Look at me, I am style... and I am so not going to fade into the background"

So - for your chance to be Marcus's random winner - become a BLOG FOLLOWER, and reap the rewards ;)

LAST WEEK'S Imaginisce Floral Extravaganza WINNER:
Li'l Pidge... congratulations!

P.S. If you like freebies - log onto Emma's blog where each Tuesday she gives away new Papermania goodies. Click HERE for details!

PaperArtsy WINNERS!

Congratulations to...

PIGLET
SUSAN
SASSYLM
*chosen from blog followers

PAULA
TWINTROUBLE
*chosen from comments

Send me your addresses ladies!!
Becks xxx

Wish Granted Wednesday WINNERS

BasicGrey Stamp Winners:

As chosen by Marcus Poly Pants (face to be revealed... if he isn't too shy ;)

RibenaRuby
Joanne

Congratulations ladies!

Creativity Life "Follower" Winners:
Lisa
Howejam
Deb

WANNA SEE WHAT YOU CAN WIN THIS WEEK?
I have a BasicGrey Notch & Die Tool; A Doodlebug 6x6 Album & a very super cute Doodlebug keychain up for grabs. Just simple become a "follower" (via the right hand column) OR leave a comment and a link...

Wish Granted ;)
Becks xxx

FREE Photoshop Actions... {more!}

Download your FREE sample {ooo the magic words!!} of these classy actions from my fav *totally rad* website... Never so no to free... EDITED: added link (oops!)

ALSO - I have 2 sets of BasicGrey journalling clear stamps to giveaway (!!) So leave a link to this blog with a comment... and 2 winners will be chosen randomly by the magic hands of "Marcus Poly Pants" man...

Last freebie for Wish Granted Wednesdays...

I have a couple of issues of Creativity Life (issue 1) up for grabs! So become a follower, and I will randomly select 3 to receive a copy...

Results posted next Wednesday!

Becks xxx