HERO ARTS AND SIMPLY CREATE SHOP RELAUNCH...

So Saturday saw me, Sonja and Judy meeting up for lunch at the Bistro in Alford - if you haven't tried it...WHY NOT???? Gorgeous food and very reasonably priced... we all opted for the steak pie, chips, peas and gravy....mmmhh and pudding to finish - the sticky toffee pudding was fab!!! Afterwards it was a mooch across the road to Simply Create who were having a Hero Arts demo day and a relaunch of the new shop...and how fab it is...lots of lovely space with shelves full of lush products...what more could a crafty girl ask for...lol.... And here she is the Hero Arts Tart (as she has taken to calling herself!), Kath in full flow - although I have to say we didn't get near enough to see what she was actually up to due to the crowd that was surrounding here for most of the afternoon so we settled with browsing the shelves and sitting relaxing on the sofa with a cuppa....

Some of Kath's gorgeous creations....

A nice close up (well as close as I could get without having an elbow poked in my ribs!!!)

and another couple of lovlies...

I do love a nice relaxing Saturday afternoon with great friends...makes a change from running around after the kids for football and dancing...here's to the next lunch girls...:0)

PARIS MINIBOOK AND SUITCASE...

This is my creations from this month's DT kit...Sonja got hers the day before me and as soon as she showed me it I knew I was going to do a Paris minibook and I still had the mini suitcase from the last kit so thot it would make a great little set... The papers are Glitz by Scarlet Lime and all available from Simply Create....

I painted the suitcase with black acrylic paint and then covered it (apart from the straps) with the Paris map paper which is gorgeous! I then made lots of little flowers from punches and spiral rolls...The Tim Holtz tickets are scrumpled, inked and covered with crackle accents...I wrapped the handle with the orange thread that came in the kit...took ages getting it lined up and then used some gold buff and rub that I found in Jacqui's shed at the Save the Children event she had last year - looks fab...I also did the whole of the inside of the suitcase with this...

I decided on a tag book for the inside and since I bought SCAL the other week I have been having much fun cutting out all manner of shaped...I cut one size for the background from the black cardstock and added some green too and then I cut a slightly smaller size out for the top layer...There are so many photographs I had to collage them in Picasa... Basically the book is about a trip to Paris that Allan and I went on in February 2008...I actually won it!! I was feeling sorry for myself one Saturday night and went to bed early with a Magnum Ice Lolly and my book...there was a code on the stick which you had to text in and since it was only 25p I thot I would have a go (you have to be in it to win it as they say) so imagine my surprise when I had a text back immediately saying I had won....Was so excited...I texted Allan (even tho he was downstairs) and I don't think he quite believed me til I had the email confirming I had won a weekend to either Paris, Barcelona, Reykjavik, Cannes or Rome...we chose Paris as we were allowed to fly from Aberdeen!! It also included all transport, hotel and 250.00 spending money!!!

Unfortunately I lost a lot of photos when my PC crashed and these were some of the best ones that were recovered but I really like my wee memento of this weekend and would love to go again...

Hero Arts Launch Party & Simply Create Official Relaunch

Come along to Simply Create in its new home 59 Main Street, Alford on the 22nd of January between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm for a fun filled day with Kath Stewart in the "Create Station" demoing our beloved Hero Arts stamps and have a play yourself with some of the new stamps from the 2011 catalogue.

And as if that wasn't enough receive 10% discount off ALL Hero Arts stamps purchased and ordered on the day.

Go on, you know you want to...(I really have to stop saying that...haha!)...it promises to be a fun packed day with Kath as she is such a laugh and such a talented lady!!!

I for one am hoping that Morgan's football matches don't start back for a few weeks yet... with him playing on a Saturday now it really scuppers my crafty weekend plans...lol...xxx

THE SIMPLE WOMAN'S DAYBOOK...

Just been over to Gez's blog and she has entered into The Simple Woman's Daybook so I thot for want of anything else to blog I would join in (I have too much to do and not enough time to do it...lol...need to get of here and get on with it!!!)... The byline is

"Would you like to linger on the simple things...then join me and many others in taking a little look into the day plans and thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the everyday moments. "


FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it is a nice crisp, sunny autumn day although there is a slight chill in the air

I am thinking...will Morgan be happy at Aberdeen Football Club after finally signing on the dotted line for them today!!

I am thankful for...my four beautiful, healthy children, love them to bits even tho they drive me up the wall

From the kitchen...lots of Jamie Oliver this last couple of weeks...Jools Pregnant Pasta, Chicken Pie, Chicken Tray Bake...yummmmm!!!

I am wearing...warm cosy clothes after being at Morgan's football match today

I am creating...Libby's birthday invitations(craft party at Simply Create), Dina's 103 Art Journal (well technically I haven't actually started yet!), Willowing and DT stuff for Simply Create...Oh and also stuff for the craft fairs that I have coming up (wasn't going to be doing any this year but friends twisted my arm to do theirs!)

I am going...to see Take That in concert (again) next year with one of my bestest/oldest friends Liz and her mum (who is 70) and her sister...can't wait!!

I am reading... the Harry Potter Series (again!) - 7th time round for me Gez...lol and yes I am in the Biff and Chip series for the fourth time too...

I am hoping...that my children at least try to behave this week

I am hearing...football commentary - well it is Saturday afternoon

Around the house...there is too much needing done

One of my favorite things...is my new Dylusions Ink Set by Dy at Art From The Heart

A few plans for the rest of the week...to get some of the craft commitments out the way...get my bedroom sorted out for decorating...go to Kath's class over at Simply Create

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
So that's it for me for today - hopefully be back next week with some more crafty stuffy...take care and have a great week....xxx

DT PROJECTS AND CHICKEN PIE...

Bet you thought I had forgotten all about these?!?...well not exactly..don't know what the matter is with me just now - just not been in the mood for crafting at all the last couple of weeks (did get some more stuff done for the table on Saturday but that's been about it!)... These are the bits I have done so far and I am in the middle of another project and have something in mind for the left overs...I have to say I struggled with this snowman stamp as he is just too cute and I don't really do cute but he looks kinda nice all grunged up!!!

It is also so long since I have really done any cards that I just thought simple would be better...

I printed of a 5"x5"ish photo which I altered with the time machine feature in my photo editing, I then distressed it er....slightly, well I couldn't not...lol...wrapped some twin around it and added a button. I cut a piece of the Merry Christmas paper from Echo Park and then er.....distressed the edges with my wee sharp Timmie tool and a Stampin Up border punch...

I used a cranberry paint dabber to er...distress the edges of the kraft cardstock and added the patterned paper and photo....Cut out the @ using the Cricut and it's actually had about 5 different effects on it and guess what? I ended up back at the original...always the way isn't it... For the Christmas Time I cut this out using the Cricut but had a brainwave before using the cut out letters and decided to use it as a stencil instead with a lettuce paint dabber...I like this very much, finished of with some bobble ribbon and buttons with twine (Kath's influence at work there). Will try and get the rest finished by this weekend and will also try to keep up in future!!! But in the meantime why not pop over to Simply Create and see what the rest of my teamies have been up to (much more productive than me!!) or better still why not pop over to Alford and take a look IRL....

Mmmmh Jamie Oliver Chicken Pie was definitely much better tasting than his Wonky Summer Pasta which was a disaster but to be fair I was trying to sort something important out on the phone at the same time as cooking...not a good idea!!!