Watercolour Wonders

Gina certainly knows how to keep you guys entertained. At the NEC she drew the crowds as always. I think this just had to be my most favourite card out of the ones she demo'd.

I love the way she's used the Art Impressions Phone Box and topped it off with Snow Writer (now back in stock) with some added bling (prisma glitter) to give it a real glistening snowy feel.

Gina's also stamped out the wrought iron fence a couple of times whilst masking off the phone box to place the phone box infront of the fence and then stamped the birch tree and grove of trees to make them look like they are behind the fence. A little bit of added foliage with the leaves stamp and teeny tiny grass, and you have yourself a fantastic festive scenic card. Finished off very nice with the greeting, which I firstly didn't realise what stamp Gina had used, until she pointed out it was a verse stamp and she'd only used part of it (that's the great thing about using the Marvy Le Plume II pens, they give you complete control). I so love that font on the greeting.

Now, although that phone box card is my favourite, this next card definitely wins the most points for the most ingenious.

This design, you just won't believe it, is actually created by using a twig stamp design (wc bare branch).
If you click on the link you'll see what it looks like to start with. This idea came to Gina in the middle of the night when she couldn't sleep, and then she had to get up and out of bed, straight to her craft room, to try it out while it was still fresh in her mind. Now I know she's not the only one who seems to get wonderful ideas in the middle of the night (our scrapbook tutor Lisa - to name another!!). And i'm sure many of you do too - keep a notebook and pen by your bedside - definitely worthwhile.

Anyhow, back to "twiggy". Gina's stamped it at North, South, East and West on a small square of card, then again between each of those impressions, all so that the base of the twig touches in the middle (or close enough). You'll then be able to see 'petals' that you can colour in, add some glitter, a lovely sparkly gem in the centre and you've got yourself a superb, very creative, poinsettia card.

Thanks Gina for all your wonderful ideas that you share with us. It is very much appreciated.


The 2nd Ultimate Rubber Stamping Demo Day
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This Saturday - 5th December 2009

If you want to come and see Gina in action - along with 6 other fantastic demonstrators (Brenda, Copic Louise, Crafty Lou, Chris, Kim, Scrapbook Lisa), then we are holding our 2nd Ultimate Rubber Stamping Demo Day here at Sir Stampalot in Peterborough. If you came last year, you'll know how good it was (and hopefully will be again this year). Brenda's hubby Eddy and grand-daughter Azaria will be on Free Food and Drink duty!! It was such a blast last year. Bring your camera. It's totally free. Rolling demo's (including copics, cricut, gypsy, watercolouring, metal work, distressing, tildas, fork 'andles!) from all 7 ladies all day long (10am- 4pm) and I seriously suggest you allow at least a couple of hours for your visit. Cant' wait to see you all.

Click here for directions to Sir Stampalot, Peterborough.

Sign up to our online newsletter as, later next week, we'll be featuring some product discount vouchers to use instore on that day - Saturday 5th Dec.

in the meantime, happy stamping
- janicex

Copic Louise

We were very lucky to have Louise Roache demo on our stand at the NEC for a couple of days. She was promoting our Copic Ciaos and wow her samples were just amazing.

This one was a last minute sample Louise made before coming to the NEC, however, Louise had mentioned she wasn't over fond of - but I sooooo totally disagree. It's gorgeous!!!

Louise used Copics (of course!) to colour in the 'Tilda wearing Christmas Wreath' design:

Tilda looks fab sitting on the Tilda Clock, such an appropriate card to see in 2010 - it's brill. With a touch of glossy accents on the clock face to give the appearance of glass.

Even this New Year greeting is embellished with ferns and flowers brads and some bling! Bet you never guessed the flower is taken from Tilda design's head-dress - ingenious.

The card is finished off very nicely with a couple of brad'ed bazzill hinges, and notice how the flower/fern combo is repeated from the greeting. Great punched edging using the Martha Stewart Lattice Arch edge punch. The Mistletoe patterned papers are from the Tilda Christmas Collection.

Here's another card sample Louise made for display at the NEC.

These little chubby robins from artist Gillian Roberts are adorable. You can find all the colours of copics that Lousie has used to colour them in with, by checking this sample out on our online gallery where all the materials used are listed.

The background to the card is embossed using a cuttlebug embossing folder and then accented with embossed die cuts from the nestabilities 'create a flake #1', then embellished with self adhesive gems and some random applications of prisma glitter too.


Great ideas from a very creative lady. Thanks Louise.

You'll be seeing a lot more of Louise if you decide to stop by instore!!
Additionally, you can keep upto date with Louise's creations by visiting her blog - just love to stamp.


Next installment - Gina's artwork from the NEC ...

NEC Report!

Well, we're back from the NEC and slowly getting back ontop of the orders and emails. Sorry to everyone who's had to wait for their goodies to arrive.

The NEC was interesting to say the least. It's always great to met the customers and put a face to a name. It was a treat to met Dawn - All Pink Girl (thanks for the chocs Dawn, very yummy), and it was wonderful to see so many of our shop customers come by to see us and support us - big thanks to Tricia and Joan who brought along home-made fairy cakes - wow are we spoilt! And also to Mandy for helping out on the Stand on a busy first day.

Our girls demo'ing at the show did the most spectualar job ever. Thanks to Gina, Chris and Louise, I'll show some of their work over the next couple of updates.

Chris demo'ed the Thursday and Friday at the show and attracted the crowds with her wonderful techniques and tips, including the peanut flower!!

Chris inked up some plain white textured flowers from Hero Arts with versamagic ink, dipped the flower in clear embossing powder and then embossed. Then embellished with a shrink plastic centre piece.

The card itself has a main focal point of a Hero Arts angel and the mistletoe Tilda patterned paper sets it all off a real treat.

Then there's this little guy:

He's from the Sarah Kay range of clear stamps and is just the most cutest guy ever. Love the way Chris has used Bazzill Cardstock and Imaginisce patterned papers and fanned them out behind the image - brilliant idea Chris.

This card by Chris is again using some wonderful ideas. There's the punched baseline using Martha Stewart Snowflake edge punch, zigzag die cut at the base of the patterned paper center piece. Texture added by using string to dangle the little podgy birdie, liquid pearls used for the mistletoe and silicone to give it shape on the card.

Thanks Chris, look forward to seeing you demo again at our instore demo day on 5th Dec - everyone welcome.
Check out more of Chris' creations at Always About Colour.

Lastly but by no means least, a HUGE thank you to my folks for being there at the NEC to help us, and for always being on call to help out. We miss you greatly when you're not here - come back soon!!!


Next installment - artwork from Louise.....