Tuesday 29 May 2012

Mumma's Nest Market

Are you ready for Wide Bay's first Boutique Market?

Three local ladies who each run their own business on Facebook have banded together to start a brand new high quality market that will be held every 3 months.

It will be held at Norville Primary School and it will be an in-door market starting at 8am and finishing at 4pm. They aim to have beautifully handcrafted and maunfactured products andservices for the children and families (although that doesn't exclude anyone else).

They have some unique qualities for a market including live entertainment, craft workshops and a special "nestling zone" just for the kids. A fun and safe place for the kids to enjoy hands on activities and entertainment. There will also be a jumping castle, face painter, clown, talent showcase and superb decorating at the event.

Jump on over to their Facebook page and like it to keep updated.

www.facebook.com/mummasnest



 

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting Machine

I'll have 1 only Big Shot on sale at Sew Whats Crafty this weekend.

Brand new (not even out of the box at the moment) and it comes with a bonus Birds & Branches Sizzlits Die.

These normally sell for $150 but this one will go for $115.

Be sure to be quick and grab this bargain.

Shape-cutting and Embossing machine that works with the entire Sizzix product library, (except Big Shot Pro Dies) including their biggest and smallest dies. This ultimate roller machine also cuts everything from cardstock to fabric and many things in between.

Comes with a standard cutting pad and a multipurpose platform.


Bookmarks

Only 2 more days until Sew Whats Crafty.

There's lots of activity happening at my house. I'm been trying to make up some samples of how to use some of the stamps as I always find it interesting to see how things can be used.

I've used a few more stamps from the Chocolate Baroque Patchwork Buttefly set to make some bookmarks, one of which I gave my mother in-law on Sunday. These ones don't have a tassle attached as yet.




I've also been deciding on what do for the make & takes I'll have at the stand this year and what to demonstrate as well.

Lots of things racing through my head.

I was really disappointed to get a letter from BRAG (Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery) this week to say they weren't holding the Art Gallery Markets as part of the CRUSH festival this year.

Evidently the committee said that they were looking for new and fresh activities this year.

Now that's all good and fine but they spent 4 years building up a really good following for that once a year market and now they're just going to throw it away? It seems strange to me.

And for anyone who has been I'm sure you'll agree it was a fun day out and an opportunity for artists and crafts people to showcase their wares.

As I said "strange behaviour".

  

Friday 11 May 2012

PCYC Craft Markets on this Sunday & using Chocolate Baroque stamps

A quick reminder that the PCYC craft markets are on this Sunday.

I know its Mothers Day but it's a great outing for Mum's. They get to have a wander and maybe even breakfast or a cuppa. You might even win the raffle (as long as you buy a ticket).

You know I've said how much I love the new Chocolate Baroque stamps (and that was before I had a chance to use them) just by looking at the designs, but now it's confirmed they really are a gorgeous stamp to use.

The quality is really good, they stamp very crisply and clean up easily.

Here's a few things I've done using the large butterfly from Patchwork Butterfly.

For this card I stamped the large butterfly in black Archival Ink onto glossy cardstock.
Then I coloured it in using Tombow markers and cut it out excluding the feelers.
I cut  out a 6x6 square card in black (make sure it fits into your envelope) and cut a piece of orange card a little smaller.
 I stamped the swirly design from the Patchwork Butterfly set repeatedly in malted milk onto the orange cardstock.
It was then attached to the black card and the butterfly glued on top of that.
I then carefully inked up just the feelers in black ink and restamped the butterfly.
 Because I wasn't happy with the impression (it was too light) I used a fine point marker to go over them. The reason why it didn't stamp clearly is that I was stamping onto textured cardstock and over the already coloured butterfly so the stamp wasn't flat against the cardstock. 
Then I added a rub-on saying and it's done.
This is a similar process but I've used Marvy Markers directly onto the glossy cardstock.
I also stamped the feelers first before I glued down the butterfly. I worked out where I wanted it to sit then made two little marks with a pencil where the wings where going to be and lined up my stamp from that.
Finished off with a rub-on and copper coloured line stickers along the pink cardstock. 


Again using the Archival Black Ink I stamped the butterfly onto a paper giftbag and also the Irish Blessing saying from the set onto a scalloped piece of card.
For these I used watercoloured pencils to add the colour.
Punched a hole in the scallop and attach with coloured cord. 

Another colour scheme.

And another.

If you want to see these stamps up close then come along to the markets on Sunday. We're open from 8am until 12pm and you'll find me in the hall.

And for all the Mothers out there....Have a very Happy Mothers Day.

Friday 4 May 2012

New Wild Rose Studio stamps

Have you seen the new range of stamps I've got by Wild Rose Studio?

They're gorgeous.

I've been carrying this brand for about 12 months now and they do some lovely designs and it's a great price as well.


I have to admit when I saw the new elephant range I was a little "Oh I don't know" but when they arrived and I saw them close up I am definitely smitten.

They have also brought out a few new people stamps, one of which is the boy playing cricket, very handy for the sporty boys.

These stamps come from Scotland so it does take me a couple of weeks to receive them and I've only ordered 2's and 3's of each just to test the waters so to speak but I've sold some already so if you see one you like and want to use it soon it might be an idea to grab it.



Tuesday 1 May 2012

A good day despite the weather

Well didn't we have some rain over the weekend, and especially on Saturday.

It was such a shame because it kept the numbers of people coming through the Ladies Market Day fairly low.

If you came along thank you for supporting us and if you missed out we'll probably look at doing a similar event later on in the year.

The ladies of the QCWA did a great job keeping everyone fed and the toasted bacon and egg sandwich I had for lunch was fantastic.

All the stall holders did a wonderful job in presenting their products and in the quiet times they wandered around and did a little shopping themselves.