hate the cold...

...but love the frost

having a little celebration...

we've now announced the 

Creative Design Team!

You can find out all about them, take a trip around their blogs, and if you are anything like me sit and wonder at their combined talent. 

To celebrate we have a not so little batch of blog candy.  I haven't opened packets and spread it all about to make it look more than it is.  It's already worth over £55.00 of anyone's money! 

Go take a look! 

encourage your hopes...

Running the store has been a life long dream of mine, and just recently things have changed up a gear.

I kid you not when I say that I have worked night and day since launching the shop 18 months ago. It's been a hard slog, too damn exciting and way too stressful at times.  It's seen me in tears and filled with joy & laughter. 

This last half of 2012 has been a whirlwind. 

From being invited to submit a piece for publication in Scrap365, to writing a piece for Sian's So This Is Scrapbooking series on her blog which was published yesterday (and there is candy involved, you can find it here!) 

I am a fan of Scrap365 so that tested my nerves. 

I'm also a fan of Sian's blog so felt incredibly honoured to have been asked. 

A few weeks ago I was thinking out loud about having a design team for the store.  There just aren't enough hours in the day for me to showcase some of the wonderful products we stock. And, as hubby keeps telling me...."you can't do it all!" 

 I might die trying though!! 

Today has seen the first day revealing our fabulously talented creative design team. 

I was flabbergasted by the talent that applied to join us.

To join us, and our humble store, to help it grow and flourish. 

I couldn't take everyone on, so agonised over who should form our first ever creative team.

We have some equally talented Guest Designer joining us at points during 2013. 

I guess this post is to say a massive thank you to all those who have helped me get to this point and supported the business, making it all worth while. To say thank you for helping me make my dreams a reality.  

Please do come and support the Creative Design Team Blog. We have lots in store for 2013. 

nothing quite like black & white...

I've not suddenly turned into a card maker.  

This one was part of the Journal Journey's feature I did for the October edition of Scrap365. The journal and the cards are finally home. I'll share more pictures soon so you can see the journal should you not have a copy of the magazine. 

Until next time, thanks for stopping by! 

a christmas quickie

I am not a Christmassy kinda gal, not at all, I'm more bah-humbug.  

I hate Christmas shopping. 

I like present buying, but not at the same time a million other people are dithering over what to get Aunty Mable & Great Grandpa George.  Make your mind up BEFORE you leave the house people.

I also DO NOT make Christmas cards. 

I know lots of us crafty folks appreciate what goes into handmade items, but in all honesty they are hours I will not get back, and when our house is still upside down as the loft conversion is under way, I have more things to be getting on with. 

But yes, these are Christmas cards you see before you. 

Christmas Quickies.

I've made these for the ukscrappers home page as Mary-Anne likes to have a Christmas gallery on the homepage for December, and I said I would join in. 

Yes - I did groan at myself afterwards, wondering what the heck I was going to make. 

I know this is a stupid busy time of year all round, so I thought how about some quick, bright Christmas cards.  These took minutes to make (once I had decided what to make....)

I've used acrylic ink, scraped out across the card for that artistically modern background (did you spot that...artistically modern..oh yeah). If you use pearlescent inks it make it feel more festive.

I should also add at this point - use good quality cards that will take the ink. I get mine from Inspire Me Papers, or you could make them out of watercolour paper or similar.

Let the ink dry thoroughly while you put the kettle on. 

Once you have your cup of whatever you fancy, stamp away. Mine are done with archival ink, which you must heat set afterwards especially on the pearlescent ink.

Bobs your Uncle, a Christmas Quickie! 

design team call!

CALL NOW CLOSED!  

Thank you for your interest.

Now that we’ve been up and running for a little while here at a sprinkle of imagination (asoi) , we’ve decided we should bring some fun into our lives and start getting even more creative, so we’d like to have a design team!

We’re looking for designers, from within the EU, who would commit to an initial six month term. We’re also looking for Guest Designers who can commit do joining our team for a month at some point during 2013, to help promote the products available from our online store. If you’re not familiar go take a look, we have everything from scrapbook papers to jewellery making supplies and lots of art supplies. These are the products you would be working with as a member of our design team.

Have a read through the requirements and the benefits and get in touch with us by the 3rd December if you are interested. Don’t be shy! If you have any questions then email us at dt@asprinkleofimagination.com
The requirements:

• You must have an active blog and be prepared to link to a sprinkle of imagination for products used where applicable.
• You should be able to take clear photos of your projects.
• You will be expected to post a minimum of three projects per month using mainly products available from a sprinkle of imagination (a combination of challenge examples, your own posts etc)
• You must be prepared to have your project photo’s used on our Facebook page and on any asoi galleries in use. 
• You must be prepared to promote asoi from your blog, facebook profile & forums etc.
• You must be prepared to design and take part in asoi challenges.
• You must be prepared to design projects with step by step guides.
• Write reviews on new products as appropriate.
• You must create original pieces of work exclusively for asoi .
• Upload DT blog posts to the asoi blog and your own blog, linking to the product pages for products used in your projects (I can help if you get lost!)

Other notes:

• We are looking for people who make one or more of the following types of projects: art journals, altered art, scrapbooking, card making and jewellery making. 
• We stock a range of art & mixed media supplies so you must be prepared to use these types of products in your projects. 
• If you are successful then we will wish to share a profile of you on the design team blog to introduce you!

DT Benefits:

• Regular design team packages.
• Discount on all orders at asoi.
• Exposure on the store blog, our facebook page and website.
• The chance to be challenged to try something new!

How to apply:
Email us at dt@asprinkleofimagination.com by 3rd December 2012 with:

• An introduction telling us about yourself to include
  • where you are from,
  • what sort of crafting you love most
  • what you would like to try
• a link to your blog and any online galleries you upload your projects to
• details of any forums you are a member of
• details of any other designs teams you are currently on or have been on within the last 12 months. 
• Photos of three of your favourite projects
• Tell us why you’d like to be on this design team

eyes on the prize...

This months Scrap365's sketch challenge prize has been sponsored by our good selves and features Glitz Designs Joyeux Noel collection.  You can see more of the collection here. 

It's gotta be worth taking part to have a chance to win it right??

Closing date is the 20th December and you can find more details here.

Good luck!

facebook giveaway time!

Graphic 45 Nutcracker Sweet Collection

 giveaway on our facebook page. 

All you need to do is like our page, then share & comment on the post. 

Good luck!!

NOW CLOSED: WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

that layout then...

 I thought I'd share some more shots of the layout I created for the Childhood prompt I talked about in my last post. 

Thanks for stopping by to take a look

an attitude of gratitude: childhood

A few weeks ago Bernice approached me to do a guest post for her Attitude of Gratitude challenge blog which is running throughout November. The prompts can, of course, be used all year round so it's worth dropping by the blog at anytime. 

Today's prompt was childhood and I created a rare layout.  It was quite nice doing a layout for a change. You can see more here, along with my thoughts from today's prompt. 

creativity for creativities sake

Sometimes I need to get out, away from the kids and the housework and make time in a different environment to create just for the sake of it.

 This huge canvas, roughly 3 foot square, is now hanging on a spare wall in the family room. A spot of brightness to look at while I'm in the kitchen popping the kettle on. 

I created this piece with Ms Dyan in her studio in Harrogate. Always a great place to escape to and creatively recharge. Sadly at the moment I can't get to my paints and whatnot as the loft is being converted and everything that was in the loft is now stacked up in the spare room where all my gear is. That and I have so much work to do I don't really get time to create much for myself.

You cannot imagine how much I want the loft finished so I can uncover my desk. I'm hoping to that I'll get round to making another couple of canvases in a similar style once it's all done to hang in the room that will be our new office. The whole house is upside down at the moment, and the drive has been taken over with huge piles of wood and a skip. Work starts in earnest tomorrow to cut out all the trusses...and here's me with a banging head cold. Ha! This should be fun!! 

catching up...

I seem to be constantly behind on something at the moment. Never quite catching up on all the jobs that need to be done.  BUT, I am getting there and I have some, now, very tight deadlines.  Evidence part one above, a sneak of some mail art I have made, all it's waiting for it to me to address it and pop it in the post!

And look.... Can you see that, decidedly scrappy if you ask me! Another project completed. Just a peek though for now. Secret squirrel work and all that. 

The next job on the list is to review a book for Waterstones.  This has had to wait a little while until I got my new funky specs. Ahh, and now the text is clear.  I do need to get a shimmy on though as the book is due in stores in a couple of weeks and I am the worlds SLOWEST reader!  I'm saying that but I can rattle through John Grisham books quite quickly so it's time I put down my current book and read through this one and got the review written and submitted. 

I once worked for someone who said I like to work to the JIT Methodology - Just-In-Time. That has to be THE most accurate statement anyone has ever said about me, but with all these deadlines and builders due in very soon I really do need to catch up.  

Wish me luck!! 

giveaway!

No purchase necessary.

Just like the Facebook Page

and then

like and share the photo. 

Winner will be drawn at the weekend!

Good Luck!!

a little adventure…

 

A little while ago, over on Collabor-ART, I signed up to do a Pairs Journal with the incredibly talented Palma, and after a mahooosive fight with my sewing machine I have finally made my journal. I know I could have used a ready made one, but I see this as a chance to play and try something new. So, one piece of canvas, a selection of different papers in different sizes and a good dollop of swearing, here it is!  I’m now just keeping my fingers crossed that it makes it Palma in one piece.  If it doesn’t survive I’ll just have to rebind it. No biggy but I’d love it to stay in one piece.

I’m really looking forward to seeing this journal evolve over the coming months, or however long it is until we’ve finished. The idea is that you work on each others pages, so I’ve started mine off with a few backgrounds.

The backgrounds above and below have been started off using Gelli Plates. I really want more time to play with these.

And this one is a stencil – one of my favourites at the moment.

And finally the front of the journal.   No closure on it as yet as I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do, or restrict how thick it gets. I may work on the cover some more when I next see it, or Palma is welcome to work on the cover if she so chooses.

that’s me that is !!!

 

This is not normal behaviour for me but WHOOP WHOOP!!

That’s me! “Designer Vicki Abrathat….”

I cannot tell you how absolutely thrilled I am to be in the October edition of Scrap365.  I bolted to the front door when the postie came this morning and I heard the thud of something heavier than the phone bill landing.

Not just one page either….

Not even two pages – a whopping four page feature!! I did not expect that I can tell you. I won’t share all four pages just in case you’ve not got your hands on a copy yet. But I can highly recommend this edition!  I can’t say enough how thrilled I am to see my project and how it’s been presented. I really do hope you all love it too.

What’s more in the Scrappers Bazaar on pages 18 & 19 there’s a fabulous giveaway from a great little shop I know.

I’m now going to spend the day with a huge smile on my face while I bake pies and cupcakes.

incoming....

I thought once the kids went back to school I'd get more chance to get back to creating something other than large piles of ironing in my spare time, but no such luck ...yet. In the meantime I thought I'd share with your the latest piece of mail art I received from Sarah via the Collabor-ART Mail Trail. 

I love the colour combinations she's used. Sarah's work is always so colourful and nicely balanced.

Ah well - back to creating a nice big pile of ironing I guess, then I can go play with the Gelli Plates impatiently sitting on my desk screaming to be played with. I have lots of idea's for them.

an old favourite…

 

A couple of years ago I took part in a 365 challenge, needless to say I didn’t get very far. I think a daily commitment is something I struggle with. Having said that I’ve been revisiting some of the photo’s I took and this is one of my favourites. Another reminder of why I should use the camera more often!

what would you do with £5.00?

Back to School Offer!!

To celebrate the removal of noise & chaos 

we're going to give you £5.00!! 

Sound good? 

What do you need to do? 

We'll give you £5.00 for every £30.00 you spend with us, 

excluding P&P when you add BTS2012 to the comments box.

Orders must be placed between 

Monday 3rd September 2012

& 

Monday 17th September 2012

Then What? 

Once we've processed your order we'll send you a discount code for your each £5.00 you claim. 

You'll have six months to claim your discount. 

Redeeming your Back to School Discount will work in the same way our Gift Vouchers do. 

Happy Shopping!! 

swoon….

Ah, lampwork beads. Oh how I adore you.

These are my latest beads, not made by me you understand, but from Mangobeads. I’ve always wanted to create my own and I’m lucky enough to have a tutor with a fantastic reputation less than half an hour away, but I resist. Why? Because I know I will be addicted to it. I know myself well enough to know I’ll want all the gear and we have nowhere for me to set up shop. I know I’ll want to spend hours perfecting my idea’s and learning techniques. I love working with silver art clay, but don’t have the time to do that, especially when the kiddiewinks are about, so what chance to I have with molten glass?! None. So for now I will resign myself to swooning and supporting some of the amazingly talented lampwork artists there are out there, and when I have finished ooohing and ahhhhing I’ll even string them so I can wear them.

at last!

Friday evening I got an hour to myself as everyone went out. Just an hour? Yep, just an hour, but it was enough to get another overdue circle journal done and an overdue piece of Mail Art done. It must have sparked something in me as I sat and did the next circle journal as well.  Painterly love at last, and what’s more it’s all winging it way to the recipients courtesy of Royal Mail with one CJ homeward bound early. I’m feeling quite pleased with myself for finally catching up, although not so please for falling behind in the first place. 

just wishing for more time...

I cannot really express how much I love these new stencils from Donna Downey & Prima. More frustrating though is that I have plans for a page, maybe even a canvas using these two designs but it might have to wait until September before I get chance. 

remember...

New stamps from Donna Downey & Unity Stamp Co.

We're back, have been for a few days. I've had enough Disney to last me until I'm 70 now...and no, I'm not 69...far from it.  However adjusting to a Newcastle accent after we landed and stopped for dinner on the way home, after listening to a French one took some doing. I swear the guy in the restaurant thought I was a bit simple LOL. Still got to see the Angel of the North again, if only passing by. 

Since getting back I've been stupid busy catching up with post holiday trauma (aka dirty washing and chores) store orders, admin, arranging deliveries, uploading new stock to the store, and working on some creative projects to be shared at a later date. I'm almost up to date now so fingers crossed I'll get some me play time soon as long as the kids allow it. Not that I'm counting down to when the kids go back to school, or trying to get the Grandparents to have them for a few days during the week..... but really...September.  Wonder how quickly we could move up to Scotland...?

be back shortly...

Raspberry pudding anyone…?

Raspberry Pudding 12x12 double sided paper.

The new Domestic Goddess collection from 7 Dots Studio.  I can honestly say I adore this collection, and we hope to have it in store early – mid August!

Proudly Handcrafted 12x12 double sided paper

 

12 x12 Collage Sheet

and the winner is...

A big thank you to all of you who visited and left a comment here as part of yesterdays blog hop. 

The randomly drawn winner of the £10.00 voucher to spend in my store, a sprinkle of imagination, is...

Lynne said...

This has really inspired me to have a go at messy play once more,Thank you so much for those instructions UKS name Retired nana

UKScrappers Blog Hop

Welcome to the UKScrappers Sponsors Blog Hop!

I’m Vicki, owner of a sprinkle of imagination.  If you’re here because of the blog hop you may have come from here 3D Jean.  After commenting (and BE SURE TO MENTION YOUR UKS USER NAME in your comment) hop on to a trip down memory lane .  If you lose your way, hop to the UKS post  to see the whole linked list. Be sure to reply in that thread when you complete the hop!

If you’re not here from the blog hop, or a member of UKScrappers, please feel free to leave a comment anyway as I’m giving away a £10.00 gift voucher to one of the commentators here!

OK, down to business then. This time around I have a layout for you. I know, it’s been a while, and I know we sell a lot of art supplies and goodies that are great for your mixed media projects and art journals, but we also have a fabulous range of scrapbook papers.  This is a really straight forward and inexpensive layout as I’m betting you’ll have most of the bits, or things you could substitute sitting in your stash. Nothing fancy, and yes, there is paint involved.

I’ve taken just two sheets of 12x12 paper.

 

From 7 Dots Studio’s Dreamer collection – City Lights using the “b” side which looks like this….

Next up – from Graphic 45’s Olde Curiosity Shoppe… Butterfly Specifics

The photo’s I’m using on this layout are of The Angel Of The North, so to help create a more industrial feel to the page I’ve grunged up the 7 Dots paper and the photo’s by taking a paint dabber (Jenni Bowlin Fountain Pen) and using it fairly dry and cross hatching around the edges. Test your dabber on some scrap paper first to get rid of any excess paint.  You do need it fairly dry for this effect.

Next I’ve taken a Prima mask (fence 2), and have used it with Violet Archival Ink on some some cut ‘n dry foam.

Background done! How easy was that?! I know very, right, and I’ll bet you still have clean fingers and haven’t decorated half your desk with ink and paint. Bonus!

I’ve used three photo’s, all different sizes, put them in place and then added strips of Tim Holtz Tissue tape (from the Traveller set in this case), layering them up.

For the final touch I’ve cut six butterflies from the Graphic 45 paper and added a date stamp using the SMASH Date stamp.

Don’t forget to leave a comment, both here and on the UKS post.  I’ll do a random draw here for a commentator to win a £10.00 gift voucher to spend at a sprinkle of imagination!

Happy Hopping, I hope you’ve enjoyed my project  and enjoy the next project at a trip down memory lane!

Thanks for stopping by!