sticky fingers...

While we've been having our loft converted the whole house has been in total chaos.  Part of that chaos has meant that I have been unable to get to my desk and supplies.  Mainly because most of my "regular" supplies have been piled up on my desk and what has felt like everything else in the house has been piled up in front of it! Everything has had to be re-homed to make way for the builders and to store the new bathroom.  

Slowly but surely the house is getting back to normal. 

 I spent most of yesterday clearing my desk.

 I spent today catching up on some Collabor-ART projects!  

I'm taking part in a Purley Collaged Postcards piece.  We each create two 5"x7" postcards, backgrounds only. They are then posted to the next person on the list (Nigel in my case).  Once you receive your postcards you get to work finishing them off. If I'm honest that part worries and excites me! Your finished postcards get sent, at the whim of Royal Mail and the elements, to the next two people on the list. 

Above is my first background. Both have been created using scraps of papers.  I've tried to create something that will lend itself to the next layer.  

What I love is how different they will look depending on which way you work with them for the next layer. 

I've also started working on my other Collabor-ART project. Palma's journal. Yay!  It's sitting drying at the moment so pictures will have to be along at a later date, but here's the evidence! 

It feels so good to be creating again!

this looks familiar....

maybe because it is...to me anyway. 

February's issue of Craft Stamper is on sale today,and I have an article in it BUT I made the front cover as well.  That's mine on the left at the top!  When I saw the cover the other day I nearly wet myself with excitement.  Front cover!!!  Me!!   

I can't wait to see it in real life.  Hope I don't actually wet myself when I do. 

 Could be a tad embarrassing....

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!!