More News from CHA

Whilst at CHA, I make the most of the time there by booking up on classes as well as walking the show floor. I'd booked on so many classes, half the time I didn't know whose class I was taking, our tickets we bought only had a class number and a vague title. So I was in the middle of a class "pressed for success" wondering who my crazy tutor was when it dawned on me that it was the one and only Donna Downey.

Now I've got a couple of her books on scrapbooking and there is one in particular I think is probably the best scrapbooking book I've come across.
It's called "Designing Layouts" (ISBN = 9781933516875),

and features layouts where your photos take center stage by using photos-only sketches to make over 100 reusable page designs.
It really is a very, very good book, makes you realise that all the embellishments (although very nice and pretty) aren't really needed to make a stunning page. You'd have to see the book to see what I mean really. Anyhow, after reading this book (or more to the point, flicking through it as it's not really a book you can read!), I found that I just loved this lady's style.
And so it was such a delight to be booked in on one of her classes. She's such a character, she has so much energy and so outgoing, and really knows how to work the crowd!! I now wish I'd taken my book to get signed - oh well, there's always next year. If ever you get a chance to be on a class or event of Donna's, I seriously suggest any of you scrapbookers out there should take the plunge.

The project we started to create was a fabric scrapbook album using iron-transfers. Not the sort of thing I've ever done before or had even contemplated doing but I enjoyed it as far as I had got.

When I eventually get around to finishing it, I'll let you guys know and show pics - hopefully you're still following this blog in a couple of year's time!! I got as far as ironing on the various transfers to my fabric pages and that was about it, basically we were suppose to take our own distress inkpads to ink up and spritz with water, the edges of the pages. Although my lovely neighbour offered me her inkpads to borrow (we are all such a friendly crowd us crafters), I declined after deciding that I'll colour co-ordinate each page with appropriate ink colours rather than do every page brown. I'm looking forward to finishing it off but probably won't be this side of Christmas :(


Anyhow, onto more exciting new products we saw at CHA...

We've been waiting for this a long time, metallic staz-on colours in silver, gold, copper and platinum

unfortunately they won't be cheap.
They'll come packaged - a little like the white staz-on, ie uninked pad and a reinker bottle:

Tattered Angels are expanding their range. As well as adding more colours to their Glimmer Mist collection (including colours inspired by Heidi Swapp), they have also launched a Chalkboard range, Glimmer Glaze and Glimmer Glam:

all new goodies already ordered and just waiting for it all to arrive.
However, the Heritage travel ledge kit is already in stock:

and provides all the goodies needed to create this wonderful project (a brilliant all-inclusive weekend project):

Check out full details here.


Cosmo Cricket goodies should be arriving any day:

And all the brand new Penny Black designs have been ordered and just waiting to arrive now, you can find all the designs in our "What's New" section where you can pre-order them (currently about page 6!!).

And watch out for a very exciting announcement coming soon, regarding a very special Penny Black person!!! Just finalising details and then I'll be able to spill the beans.

And finally, if you have a free Saturday this weekend, and fancy a crafty day, we still have a few spaces spare for Ann's Popcorn Bear class:

these are piccies from her demo day just to give you a little idea of what you could be up to!!
Give me a ring on 01733 324 007 to find out more.

meanwhile, happy stamping
- janicex

Exciting Stuff - Blog Hop and Challenge

Fancy some fun? This is just a slight diversion from my CHA report, and I expect most of you have already know what I'm about to refer to and possibly already completed the quest. But for those of you that aren't aware, there is a special challenge AND Blog Hop going on as we speak. And for which there is more than one opportunity to win some really cool prizes. "So what do I have to do?" I hear you cry.

Well firstly, don't panic and rush, both the Challenge and Blog Hop will run for two weeks - closing at midnight GMT on 13th February 2010.

As we (Sir Stampalot) have just relocated to new premises (not far, just next door but one) - finally vacated our old building at midday yesterday, the theme of the Challenge is 'Moving'. Create a project (card, LO, box etc) based on the theme 'Moving', whether relating to moving home, a moving sentiment/greeting as the focal point, a project which involves movement (ie a waterfall card, or slider card) or whatever takes your fancy and however you wish to interpret this theme. For the first prize, we've donated a really cool gadget - a 'Hello Kitty' Sizzix Big Shot with extended cutting platform, plus dies including two of the fabulous Sizzix Bigz dies which cut boxes and shaped cards.

There are also 2, yes 2, runner's up prizes for the Challenge.

But that's not all, oh no, there is also a Blog Hop for which there is a prize for every stop of the blog hop - that's an additional 10 prizes as there are a total of 10 very lovely, creative, enthusiastic bloggers who are involved in this exciting event.

You'll need to visit the blog of the ring leader, organiser and total all round angel Brenda. From Brenda, you'll pick up a letter clue, you'll need to leave a comment and then progress and repeat with the next blogger on the list. Each stage is well laid out so you know where you've come from and where you're going, as well as what to do in the event that I've managed to totally confuse you!

All the rules, terms and conditions for both the challenge and blog hop, can be found at each of the 10 stages of the blog hog.

Each of the DT fantastic members involved in this Blog Hop that you'll need to visit, are listed in my sidebar. And every one of them has created projects for your inspiration. Must admit that we are so blown away by all their creations, which are so stunning and special. We feel so blessed to have such lovely ladies producing artwork for and involving Sir Stampalot. I'm lucky enough to have Brenda's masterpiece at the shop. She popped round on Sunday with hubby Eddy - supposedly for a quick 5 minute drop off but ended up staying about 5 hours or more helping to move bits from one unit to the other - what stars! Words can honestly not express how special her inspirational artwork for this challenge is. I have the mini scrapbook in our counter display for safe keeping and to show off to you all on your next visit, I know Brenda has featured it on her blog but you really do have to see it in the flesh, it's so awesome.

This seems to be quite a long post, I actually started last night when we finally got in about 2am from work, sitting up in bed with my hot water bottle and laptop, busily writing up this blog but then promptly feel asleep in the middle of it all. Woke up to find Andy taking my glasses off and tucking me in :)
So finally finishing the post off tonight instead.

It just leaves me to say a huge thank you to all of these blog hopper hosts, and especially Brenda, for all of the time and effort in making this happen. Brenda's had more than her share of issues to deal over the last few weeks but has been happily soldering on with this event and really worked extremely hard in overseeing the whole event, and loving every minute of it.

Good luck one and all.

Next post i'll revert back to more CHA news...

oh, due to the move, BT have managed to cut our new phone lines and I'm still going through the backlog of emails while we were away at CHA so please be patient, all your queries and comments are very important to us and we will respond to all your correspondences.

meanwhile, happy stamping
- janicex

CHA New Stuff

Sorry this is a rather long one, I've had to combine several days' worth as internet connection here is really hit and miss. Unless I want to pay $95 a day for an internet connection, at Starbucks in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel! Of course I had to have a white chocolate mocha and a slice of marshmallow dream bar while I thought long and hard over that decision!

Hey look, it's a red Cricut.

Ah, but this is no ordinary Cricut. This is the Cricut Cake. It's a Cricut with all parts being food safe and aimed at the cake decorating/sugar crafters among you. The idea is that you can cut icing based on any Cricut cartridge design, and stick it straight on your cake.
Now I can't see that I'm going to have much use for it but there must be a market out there for it somewhere. At least the cartridges they've designed for this machine are however compatible with the other Cricut machines. Here's a quick sneak peek of some new cartridges coming out (or have already been launched):

Here's some pics of the new embossing folders that Provocraft have/are launching for the Cuttlebug:

Bazzill are bringing out more embossed cardstock and more glazed designs:

but they are discontinuing their Destinations range and some Bling colours, So be warned, if you have projects using the Destinations range and you think you need more supplies, buy now before it's no longer available.

Bazzill are also releasing some new big blingy like buttons (looks more like something you would wear on your finger to me!!)

Magnolia's new collection (that you can already pre-order from our website) is just amazing:

Sizzix are definitely progressing and getting better all the time.
They've teamed up with Tim Holtz and bringing out a line with his designs both in die and in embossing folders:

and then there's this new puppy. The E-clips.

It is just the coolest new electronic die cutting toy. But not going to be available til later in the summer - how mean can they be teasing us so?

For the Making Memories Slice machine, there's more cartridges on the way:

and they've now made it in such a way that you don't have to hold the machine in place while it cuts as it's got magnets in it and holds in place to a magnetic mat.
All these guys are not hanging on the wall but just held in place due to the magnets:

Zutter have brought out a cutter for cutting really thick chipboard

and
a gadget for distressing the edges of card\paper

very noisy (the prototype anyhow) and seems expensive for what it is.


Stampavie have released some lovely new Sarah Kay designs (already ordered, instore soon):

Watch out for new stuff coming instore soon:

Right then, back to it, more reports to follow
meanwhile, happy stamping
- janicex

Where are we?

Can't believe where time has gone! Has it really been 6/7 weeks since I last blogged? Blimey Charlie. Well, we have been extremely busy and not had much time to ourselves. Reason for being so busy? We've moved premises - not far away from our previous location - just next door but one. We've still got alot of hard work to get it finished off as we want it but it's definitely going in the right direction. Please bear with us while we change over the displays and may take some time finding stock if you come in and ask for something not currently out on the shop floor.

Cricut Chris was a complete star helping out loads. Here she is washing down our shelves before we brought the stock over (with help from her son Mitchell who was just too full of energy - wore me out just watching him!):

And here's Andy having fun varnishing the doors:

I was getting to grips with a brand new vacuum cleaner:

and here's just a small fraction of stuff to still sort through:

As things haven't gone as planned, we didn't advertise with a grand opening day, so our 'soft opening' happened last Saturday when we had the lovely Copic Louise demo'ing for us. It's so much more spacious in the new unit that you guys were able to mill around without bumping into one another so that was lovely to see. Thanks for the great comments. And also thanks to my little spontaneous helpers on the day, Brenda and Jules who seemed to enjoy themselves immensely getting stuck into hero arts stamps and unpacking them for me - thanks girls. And where would I be without Chris, again, a complete angel for looking after you all - finding stock and answering questions. What a lovely, lovely first day.

Haven't actually got any pics with me of the new look shop nearly full of stock. "Why don't you go and take a photo now?" I hear you say. Little tricky, Andy and I are sitting in a Starbucks, having a Grande Latte thingy, over in Anaheim, California. Yep, it's that time of year again for CHA, the biggest and best trade show for us crafters. Nearly didn't come as there's just so much to do still back at the unit but good ole Brenda and Eddy convinced us we needed to come - thanks you two. So glad we are here now but feeling hugely guilty for leaving my folks, Louise and Nick having to sort everything out back at base. Be gentle to them while we are away, they are working their little socks off and already come across more than one hurdle. But coping extremely well with everything that's getting thrown at them. Right then, I think it's time to go and fetch another mega milky mini mocha chocca lenti thingy (is it!) and maybe a blueberry muffin to go with it :)

I'll report more tomorrow (I promise) on what we're up to..


in the meantime, happy stamping and check out the latest Tilda collections (Through my Heart/Raise the Ceiling) that you can pre-order today and we are just waiting for them to arrive, currently no confirmed delivery date.


- janicex