GNPE - Harrogate Show

Good Morning Bloggers,

Well then, its that lovely time of year when one of my fave shows of the season is held.... the Great Northern Paper crafts extravaganza!

I'm busy preparing the kits for Saturday and Sunday's Breakfast workshops that this year I will be teaching, we are making TWO cards and in the goody bag you get to KEEP TWO brand new Cling Stamps from HERO ARTS! Wowzers eh?

I'm also busy creating samples using the brand new Penny Black Stamps, that we will be featured over the weekend on the Samuel Taylors Stand!!!

Do pop by to say hello, our stand is located at the very end near to the entrance to the food hall!

Yesterday I took a day off from my real job at the NHS to order baby McCrossans pram, it was so exciting, we've opted for the Silver Cross 3D Sport in Ebony! lol the names of these prams are just so funny, you would thing we were ordering something to take us to outaspace!!

It wasn't the most expensive pram in the shop (my mum says thank god) but its practical, small and very agile, as we do alot of traveling, walking and camping this is just what we need.

Next week we are off to get a papoose and slings for Ewan and I!

Then we are looking forward to a week of in May when the Nursery will be decorated and the beautiful Humphrey's corner nursery furniture will be delivered, I tell you it's all systems go from now on!

Back to craft have you seen my articles in this months "Making Cards Magazine"?

I designed a spring collection in lovely lemons and whites, then at the back of the magazine you will find my grungy looking Pirate cards for boys, they would make great birthday party invitations!

The materials I used are listed in the magazine, however you can locate the Tim Holtz Products from any Personal Impressions stockist and the Stamps are from Stamping Up, to find your nearest demonstrator check out Stampin Ups website.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the weekend,

Take Care,

S and B xxx

Fish Fight Continues.................

view online

An update from Hugh regarding the BIG FISH FIGHT!

Dear Fish Fighters,
I'm writing to you all again sooner than I had expected, but I have just received some very exciting Fish Fight news that I'm sure you'll want to hear about. I'm also convinced there is a great opportunity now for direct action from you to bring about an even better result – so please read on! Here's the headline:Princes, the largest tinned tuna supplier in the UK, have committed to making a dramatic change in the way they source their tuna. They have just announced that they will stop relying on purse seine fishing on fish aggregation devices (FADs). As we highlighted in the Fish Fight series earlier in the year, this fishing method is responsible for huge amounts of bycatch including sharks, rays and other fish, and even some turtles.

Joining forces with Greenpeace, we directly challenged Princes to either change the way they catch tuna, or to remove the misleading environmental statements they were making on their tins.We're delighted to say they've chosen the former option!Princes have pledged that by the end of 2014 all their tinned tuna will be caught by either pole and line or FAD-free purse seine nets.This is tremendous news.This latest result brings the company in line with Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, whose tinned tuna is all FAD free. Let's not also forget Tesco, who made a fantastic commitment to go 100% pole and line back in January, just before our programmes went out. We've also just heard that Asda have committed to match Princes's strategy to remove all FADs from their supply chains.So what is next? That leaves just two companies - John West and Morrisons - which are refusing to stop buying tuna caught by purse seine fishing on FADs. We now have a massive opportunity to make these companies improve their practices, starting with John West. I'd like to ask you to help take this campaign one step further by emailing John West to urge them to change their tuna sourcing, by dropping FADs and/or sourcing from pole and line fisheries. You can find all the details on how to do this on Greenpeace's website. It will only take a few minutes to do but I'm absolutely convinced that direct pressure from you could rapidly bring about this vital change.Email John West now!The rest of the Fish Fight campaign continues full steam ahead! As part of our research for a Channel 4 follow up programme we've been talking to a wide range of NGOs, decision makers, fishermen, scientists and industry members. Thanks to your incredible support, we have access to all the major players shaping the future of our fisheries.And we're also very keen to hear more about what you're up to. If you are an individual or a family that has dramatically changed your fish eating habits as a result of the campaign, we're really keen to hear from you. Please do get in touch via hello@fishfight.net and you could be featured in the next Channel 4 programme.Many thanks and as always keep fish fighting!Best,Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall


We’ve loved seeing pictures of the sustainable fish suppers you’ve been cooking. Like this Pan-sauteed herring atop of a sweet potato, potato and beetroot hash from Claire Kleinedler. Please send further pictures of your culinary delights to hello@fishfight.net
You've sent us some great videos of your incredible campaigning stories. But we need more so we can feature them in our follow-up programme. This could be as simple as filming a poster you have in your car, a sustainable dinner you cook, or a Fish Fight event you hold. Please send videos or links from YouTube to hello@fishfight.net and you could be on Channel 4!


But we still need more! Please continue to help spread the word. Email this newsletter to a friend…or three!
Have you tried this tasty and sustainable alternative yet? If your local doesn’t have mackerel on the menu, ask them why not! Then add them to the MackMap and we’ll do the rest.
Net yourself a Fish Fighter t-shirt, bag or even a babygro and help support the campaign. Please note we are not making any money from the sale of these products; they are just to help publicise the campaign.

Saturdays Class - Haberdashery ............ EDIT with Birthday message

Good Evening Bloggers,

Here is a sneak peek for Saturday's Class.
This project was created using the brand new stamps from Tim Holtz Haberdashery CMS105. The class will concentrate more on techniques than finished cards, but this mini project will let you have something nice to have on your craft room wall to remind you of some hints and tips.
The second half of the class is using another of Tim's New stamp sets, Papillon CMS106, wowzers these are just fab! I have really enjoyed working with them........
I'll post some more photos of the cards using the Papillon set over the weekend....
On Saturday we will also be eating lots of cake I'm sure, as Linda from CCP will be celebrating her birthday!!! Whoo Hoo!!! Again I'll post photo's.
Take Care
S & B xxx

Busy Weekend in Farnborough

Good Morning Bloggers,



Well what a weekend at the "Make It" Farnborough?



As soon as I took one foot of the train at Farnborough Railway Station I was amazed to notice how mild the weather was "down south" It was just lovely. The nice weather continued on Friday when we had the busiest day of the show! But Saturday and Sunday saw some shocking rain and hail!!! ECK!!!



I was demonstrating Hero Arts Stamps, Distress Inks and some fantastic new dies from the GO Kreate range. All very yummy!!!

It was so lovely to see some familiar faces too, hello to everyone who popped on the stand!



I love working the shows and will make the most of the Spring season, as when Baby McCrossan comes in the summer I will be too busy being a new mum to work any of the Autumn shows!



Anyway better crack on, I have samples for Saturdays Class at Card Craft Plus in Preston to work on and my cards for the Harrogate breakfast workshops for Samuel Taylor's to design!



Take Care,

S & B xxx

Tim Holtz Workshop....

Afternoon Bloggers,

I am so excited I could burst! I am a very lucky girl in more ways than one!!!

Tomorrow afternoon I have the pleasure of attending a Tim Holtz Workshop at the Stitches Trade show in Birmingham. Jan from PI got me a ticket for the event and I am so very grateful, it's been quite a few months since she told me and I just cant wait to see what we will be making!

I'll post photos when I get home.

Hope that you all have a nice weekend too!

Take Care
S & B xxx

Making Cards Magazine....... March 2011 Issue

Good Morning Boggers,

In this months Making Cards Magazine, I have three articles yet again! Whoo hoo!!!

pg. 11 -13 Heavenly Hydrangeas - A collection of cards using a simple colour pallet of Bundled Sage and Cream card stock. The Hero Arts Hydrangea stamp is available from Personal Impressions Stockists, including Samuel Taylor's and Card Craft Plus Preston.

pg 16-17 Dainty Designs - Two cards created with The My Minds Eye Market Street Collection Kit, available from Samuel Taylor's

pg 88 -89 Designs for Icons, Rockin' cards using the Cambridge Collection of papers from Bo Bunny and trinkets from east of India co. Also including metal embellishments from Tim Holtz, products available from Card Craft Plus Preston and Personal Impressions.

Hope that you have liked my latest creations, in next months magazine I have two articles, Serene Stamping and Pirate cards for the boys!

Take Care,
S & B xxx

Card Craft Plus - Preston

Good Evening Bloggers,

Phew, I'm shattered!!!!
I've Had a great day today at Card Craft Plus in Preston, I have been demonstrating as part of their 1 year anniversary of the New Inspirations Shop at Capitol Way in Preston!

It's such a lovely shop, with very lovely staff and yummy customers, each and every time I do any work at CCP, either workshops or demonstrations, I'm always well looked after, Subway Lunches, lots of refreshments and today even a Cadbury's Crunchie with Georgina!!! mmmmmm

I'm back again tomorrow teaching a mini workshop, spaces are very limited, I think only the afternoon session still has some spaces. Like I said in my last post we are using a set of Hero Arts Stamps and Distress Inks to create background work, main focal images and "Inchies" art!!

So off to bed now, me and Bump are a wee bit tired and an early night will do us the world of good!

Take Care,

S & B xxx

Piece of Art

Good Evening Bloggers,

Here is a project that I have created for my demonstration for tomorrow at Card Craft Plus in Preston. Apologies for the really bad photo, my camera has given up and I took this in the dark using my Blackberry!!! (note to self need a new camera)

Its using a mixture of Hero Art Stamps , Distress Inks, Nestabilities, and Tim Holtz Ideology items.

I have added each 5cm x 5cm image to a wood frame that I painted white with Rangers Paint Dabbers.

I have been busy tonight prepping samples, its great to get in my craft room now and then to make some pieces that I'm happy with!

Hope to see you tomorrow,

S & B xxx

Weekend Review

Hello Bloggers,

Phew one weekend down, many, many more to go............
This is a very busy time for us crafter's as its show season and with all the lovely new products being launched from CHA, most retail shops are booking demonstrations and events.

This past week I have been working the stand at GMEX, working with all the great new releases from Go Kreate, Superb new card making dies, that come in collections of 4 are just genius! More about them tomorrow.

Saturday was a fab day at Samuel Taylor's on behalf of Personal Impressions, we looked at the lovely Hero Arts Stamps and New designs from Martha Stewart, all yummy!
I also got to spend the day with my dear friend Sue Hobbs, Store Manager at ST Leeds. Her work is just lovely, so I had a great day, but don't ask Sue about the train journey home, that's a sore subject - lol!!!

Anyway just a quick reminder that I will be at Card Craft Plus in Preston Thursday and Friday on behalf of Personal Impressions, demonstrations on the Thursday and mini workshops on the Friday.
The mini workshops are designed around a single set of stamps for Hero Arts, we will be making focal images and background papers as well as "Inchies" art. It will be great fun, do pop along any time during this week as there are lots of demonstrations, including Leonie, Ann-Marie and many more!

So buy for now,
Take Care,
S & B xx

Demonstration Day at Samuel Taylor's Leeds

Good Morning Bloggers,

Just wanted to remind you that I am going to be at Samuel Taylor's Leeds on Saturday 5th February, on behalf of Personal Impressions working with fantastic stamps from Hero Arts......

Also I will be teaching two classes on Saturday 12th February at the Leeds store...

• Making the most out of your Die Cutting equipment for the morning session
• Using the fantastic New Hot Pick Stamps from Paper Artsy for the afternoon session

To book your place on these workshops please call the Leeds store direct on 0113 2480044

Hope to see you then,

Hugs Sarah and Bump xxx

New 2011 Catalogue from Hero Arts

Good Morning Bloggers,

Well here it is the new 2011 Hero Arts Catalogue, they have as always some very exciting new designs. The range covers Clings, Woodblock and clear, so whatever your preference there are collections of stamps for everyone. I still personally like woodblock but I do like the convenience of the Clings, as they are still the trusty old red rubber.

Anyway here are some of my hot pick, which I cant wait to get my hands on............

Personal Impressions will be shipping the lovely new designs to retailers in the next few weeks, so not long now to get our hands on great new designs.

See ya soon,

Sarah and Bump xxx

New Products from Sir Tim and Ranger

Good Afternoon Bloggers,

Here are some of the lovely new product releases from Tim Holtz and his teams at Ranger, Sizzix and Stampers Anonymous.

I have long been a fan of the Ranger Distress Ink Pads and now they are launching Distress Ink Stains. How cool is that? I think it will be a month of two before we get them here in the UK, but I'm sure all the new produces about the be launched next week at CHA will be in stores here very soon......
Obviously with every CHA launch Tim releases new stamp designs, he has 11 new sets coming out, I have to say they contain are some of my fave designs from Tim in a long while, really usable images, and with the added bonus of a index sticker and his new Grid Blocks, stamping Tim's way is gonna get a little more interesting this year!


One of my loves is to match card to the colour of ink that I'm using, well this new release of CO-Ordinations card stock in all the Distress Colours and some of the Adirondack pallet is right up my street. The fact that I love to us the sandable textured card is just great news!


Check out Tim's blog for an exciting video viewing of all his new lines........

Take Care
Sarah and Bump xxx

New Paper Collections from Bo Bunny

Good Morning Bloggers,

It's that time of year when all the American companies release new product lines at CHA winter 2011. This is the twice annually Trade show over in the US, which one day I might attend, but hey we have our version which is Stitches in February (can't wait, as I'm going to be attending a very special workshop wooooooo) And as the bump is starting to get a little bigger I think I'll stay home for now!

Anyway over the next few days/weeks I'll be sharing with you some of the lovely new product lines which have caught my eye and can't wait to work with.

Starting this series of posts are the lovely new paper collections from Bo Bunny

Check out the full collections at Bo Bunny's Blog, they are just all lovely. I think my fave is "Time Piece", but I'll try some of each of the new ranges, I'll also slip them into my Spring 2011 workshops.

Back tomorrow with new products from Ranger! Yummy!

Hugs Sarah and Bump xxx

Demo Day at Samuel Taylor's Leeds

Good Morning Bloggers!

After enjoying a nice peaceful break over the Christmas period, things are beginning to hot up again, demonstrations, workshops and the Spring show season is now nearly upon us once more!

Kicking of the season I'll be on the Samuel Taylor's stand at the Manchester GMEX, Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th February. Demonstrating all the lovely new designs from "Go Kreate" die cutting systems

Then I'll be demonstrating at Samuel Taylor's Leeds on Saturday 5th February 10-4pm on behalf of Personal Impressions. I'll be working with Hero Arts Stamps, Martha Stewart Punches and much more!

Hope that you can make it?

Love Sarah and Bump xxx

Making Cards Magazine February Issue

Good Morning Bloggers,

Just picked up the February Issue of Making Cards Magazine and I have three articles published this time, wowzers!

One collection focuses on the use of Alcohol Inks to create individual backgrounds using rustic colours of Cranberry, rust and gold incorporating Tim Holtz Stamps from Personal Impressions Stockists.

Another is a collection for Babies using the fab papers from Making Memories Pitter Patter, all so cute and very, very versatile. Papers available from Card Craft Plus in Preston.

The last one is in the Made for Men section of the magazine, using the unique papers from Bo Bunny - Mamma Razzi. I love how these sophisticated papers can be both vintage and modern at the same time. Bo Bunny available from Portfolios in Blackburn.

Over the next few months I have some really exciting new projects to share with you all featured in Making Cards Magazine!

Enjoy,
Love Sarah and Bump xxx

The Big FISH Fight

Good Morning Bloggers,

I rarely encourage thoughts or ideas onto other people, however after watching a whole week of programmes on Channel 4 dedicated to looking into the state the fishing industry I am urging you to have a look on the Channel 4 website read the interviews, watch the "4OD" programmes and sign the petitions.

Ewan and I are truly disgusted in the way we not only catch Fish, but more importantly "DISCARDED" back into the sea!!! Not to mention the barbaric and utterly disgusting way sharks are being murdered simply for the fins. Last nights programme "Gordan Ramsey's shark tail" was disturbing in so may ways. Huge sharks are being caught, brought on deck, having their fins sliced off and then thrown back into the sea to die a long and painful death. This can not go on, for the sake of a £90 bowl of shark fin soup! Disgraceful!

It is such an important campaign, fronted by some of the country's well known celebrity chefs, Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Heston Blumenthal. This is one time I believe the general public can help make the Fisheries commission change the way quotas are set to protect our fish stocks but more importantly reduce the amount of "wastage". The amount of dead fish thrown back into the seas due to unrealistic quotas is shameful, it could feed so many people, not enough people eat fresh fish as due to the ever increasing cost, forced to rise by 'again' the quotas!

Anyway better get off my soap box now, and get back to work but Cceck out http://www.fishfight.net/

Love Sarah and Bump xxx

Sneek Peek

Good Morning Bloggers,

After a two month absence from making cards and the craft world, I am now back with the creative juices flowing.

I've been designing for magazine articles, demonstration days and upcoming workshops, its been such fun!

It's also been great to get back in to my craft room, which will soon be turning into the Nursery for baby McCrossan so I'm making the most of it while I still have my little craft haven!

Anyway here is a sneak peek at one of the magazine articles which will be featured in Making Cards over the next few months! I'll apologies for the poor quality of photograph, my camera has finally given up the ghost and since my current shopping list contains, cots, prams and other baby items I don't think I will be getting a new camera this month!

Hope you like?................

Hugs Sarah and Bump xxx

New Card Making Dies

Good Morning Bloggers,

Well as it's the new year I thought I would share some NEW product lines with you.

This is one of my favorite products at the moment The New Cards Making Dies by GO Kreate, exclusive to Samuel Taylor's I love shaped card bases but they can be so expensive to buy, well now you can cut your own in any colour.

When Blogger decides to upload my photos, I'll post lovely finished samples using this unique die.

Catch you later,
Love Sarah xx