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It's all going on here!

Well we are almost ready for Version Scrap, the show which is in Paris this coming weekend April 9,10,11. We shall depart in the wee hours of Thurs am to head for Paris. We have all day to set up and the show opens that very evening to VIP peeps- who they are and how they get in I have no idea, but I'm just praying we arrive and get set up in time for doors opening at 6.30 pm. The show then continues for 3 days 9am to 7pm, those Europeans really work us hard! Breakdown is until midnight Sunday, and then we come straight back through the chunnel on a nocturnal crossing, we just have to make sure we are back in time to pick up Mark's parents from Heathrow at 6am Monday!! They fly in from New Zealand to stay with us for a month. I am pretty sure that the house will be in no fit state to receive them so I am praying for a miracle that I have the energy to clean up and re-organise for them on our return from Paris - that gives me about 3 hours! LOL. We do have to co-ordinate a major room shift about with the kids as Courtney needs her own room with GCSE's looming, so she'll move into Hugo's room, Hugo will share with Millie and Ella who have a large room, and the in laws get Courtney's room. Oh boy, its not a simple as just making the bed up! Lets hope they are too jet-lagged to notice too much of the chaos they will meet! Day 2 of them being here is FIL's 70th birthday, and I haven't even thought about that!!! Blimey. It's going to require all of my organisational and bossy skills to get the troops focussed for this effort. Anyway I am not thinking about all that until Monday!

For now we have some fab stuff to share with you. HUGE excitement here!!! Developed for release at the Version Scrap show we have dies to match our new Hot Pick stamps that were officially released on April 1st. Yes you are not seeing things...dies!

Use this stamp set HP1004

and you can stamp the large flower and leaf image onto the flower die PAD-GF. This is the larger of the grungy-collage style, steampunky image (top right) that Mark created and is causing such a buzz stamped as a metal rose. And you can see why... here it is all in one colour of metal, but it looks fab with different colours layered up too!!

PAD-GF

OMG think of the possibilities, that you can even die cut your metal to make a metal rose it fab-u-lous. Samples like this were a magpie magnet on my demo table at the NEC! Everyone wanted to do the metal rose thing, and its so much easier than grungepaper as the metal holds its form...although I do admit to totally loving those grunge ones too!! Anyway we are filming a you-tube of the metal rose technique so stay tuned, we just have to fit in in with the show, room re-organisation and in laws! LOL

Oh but it doesn't stop there! As if!!

We also have the birdcage as a die

PAD-BC

Here is the birdcage stamped onto acetate, I then painted bits with gold precious metal colour, and once that was dry, added some acrylic paints ...that's why its is the reverse... paint acrylics over the stazon on the stamped side, then flip the acetate over. Start with a Die cut acetate shape, stamp on it and go to it!!

The Moth

PAD-M

And to go with this set HP1005 we have

The bird

PAD-SB

And the tag base for the filmstrip

PAD-PF

And for the smaller flowers from the Squiggly Ink Flora and Fauna set

We also have another flower die to match the scallop edges of the larger flower from plate SIFF5

And to match the Tops and Tails plate 3 (SITT3) dragonflies we have these two. I love dragonflies as bellies on cards, they are so easy and very effective, especially in metal!

 All these are available to order on-line now. We will try to get orders out before we go to Paris, but if your order doesn't arrive by Thursday, then it will be shipped after Tues 13th April once we are back from the show! At least you know you will be top of the queue if you place an order now!!

Oh and I forgot to tell you, last week (before Easter) I spent 3 days with Lin putting the final touches to the May ArtsyCrafts weekends. We are really pleased with how the classes have all turned out, suffice to say birds abound with many techniques. Its going to be fab fab fab!!!

Here's a few sneaky peeks

I think both weekends have sold out, but if you still want a place call Karen on 01234 714848 to go on the waiting list.
Here is the state of Lin's workroom on Day 3!! And we thought we tidied up the night before! Oops

HobbyCrafts, Version Scrap and new {rubber stamps}

After so many positive comments about us exhibiting at the NEC late last year, we decided to do it all again for the show this coming week.

NEC HobbyCrafts is on for 4 days in Birmingham, UK from Thursday 25th to Sun 28th March. 4 days of demos, new products and new stamps. Our stand is F02. Write it down as I'm not sure if we made the showguide but we are near the demonstration forum. Come in the main entrance and turn left. Go towards the end/ demo area and you will see Once upon a stamp on your left. Turn right into the aisle (second to last aisle) and we are in the first block on the right opposite Craft Superstore.

2 weeks after that we will be in Paris for Version Scrap. April 9,10,11. This is a show I have attended for the last 3 years to teach classes and make and takes. This time we shall exhibit with our own stand. If you are looking for an excuse to have a weekend in Paris this is it! It is a fabulous show. They have many great teachers such as France's own many stars like Celine Navarro, Manuela Jamet and Karine, or les Americans also put in an appearance such as Teresa Collins, Debbie Schuh, Donna Downey. 

As well as great teachers, there are also many exhibitors, and with some really interesting and different products. Then when its time for lunch, you sit down for a quiche or crepe with a glass of wine or a beer! Fabulous daaaahling!! 

The Version Scrap venue is in the midst of Parc Floral which is most beautiful at this spring time of year, and has easy metro access. Take the yellow line (number 1) and get off at the last stop, Chateau de Vincennes, there is then the cutest little trains (les Navettes) take you direct to the venue or you can have a lovely 15 min walk thru the park if you prefer. Beautiful way to start the day.

So what have we got lined up for you at these wonderful shows? Lots of new stuff !! 

 Lots of Viva paint, 

new ranger distress inks, 

And we will have a selection of new products from Crafty Notions too (opaque dye sprays, masks and stencils plus more!

fantastic wood substrates, 

chipboard and canvas products, 

brand new Ten Seconds Studio metals in new metal packs (we put 3 colours in a pack for £5), 

New TSS moulds and of course 

new rubber stamps!

This one is HP1004 - 

Hot Picks are A5 stamp sets and will sell for £14.99 UM or £19.99 on EZ 

We are releasing a new one each month

This one is HP1005

We also have 6 new stamp sets for Squiggly Ink called Flora and Fauna

 These are SIFF1 and SIFF2 to give you an idea

Here are all 6

So we hope to see you at one of these shows, if you can't make it, you can buy all this on-line from April 1st from us at PaperArtsy or at your local stamp store now. 

I will be demoing my socks off to show you the versatility of all these products. It's going to be so much fun so do drop by and say hi. Free gift with every purchase.


Have a great week and follow me live at both these shows via twitter www.twitter.com/paperartsy


Leandra

 

Warrington ArtsyCrafts {we loved it } !!

Another fun filled ArtsyCrafts weekend to remember has gone all too fast. Lin and I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute. They are hilarious events, lots of fun, laughter, and learning. This time I tweeted (follow me here)  all the way through the weekend and it was fun to get feedback from peeps all over the world following us as we worked. Twitter is like a mini blog, and I love commenting during the day on what we are up to and putting photos up on twitpic.

A lot of hard work happens behind the scenes in the lead up to ArtsyCrafts. A big thanks to Karen for kitting up perfectly again. How could we do it without her? She is a true gem. Lin and I can hardly call our play days together designing classes work now can we?? It all comes together when we start setting up the tables. Lots of space for everyone and a huge box of supplies to use!! Plus each peep gets their own meal tool kit for the whole weekend.

This time every person finished every project, and the extra time to embellish the arches paid off with gorgeous copper accents adding a new dimension to the finished pieces. The time theme was perfect for the arch, there was a lot of happy peeps so excited about the pieces they made. We liked the venue a lot and we will certainly be considering another event there in the Autumn. Some of the goodies we had for sale including all Tim's newest inks and other relevant toys!

Lin's daughter Sarah gets married in a couple of weeks (big excitement in the Brown household) and so once Lin has recovered we shall be putting the finishing touches to the May ArtsyCrafts events. I am so looking forward to the bird theme. It will be stunning.

BTW This is how the new mini packaging looks (below). We are gradually getting all the stock switched over.

I think there are only 1 or 2 places left on the first weekend of May ArtsyCrafts, week 2 is fully booked. If you want to go on the waiting list you can as we occasionally have the odd last minute cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. I am really looking forward to this one. The theme is Flights of Fancy, and we have some fabulous new stamps to incorporate into the projects. Simply can not wait. They will be available from April 1st online. Here is a sneak peek of the Squigglies, there are also some cool A5 new Ink and the Dog stamps called 'Hot Picks'. I'll save those for another day.

So here follows some weekend piccies, stamping on fabric.

embossing metal with scootchy tools

 using moulds and pieces the metal around the frame

 new Ten Seconds Moulds with a time theme (handy!)

adding some copper trim

beginning to paint distress - putting the paint on...then we take it off again!

adding paint to a terra-stamped slide-mailer

how amazing is this? LOVE it! We added stamped metal bellies to this project

In the evening we came back for a chilled session to sew the embellishments like tiny seed beads onto the stamped and coloured fabric. Not everyone's favourite task, but as an incentive we offered a secret project if they did speed sewing in 30 mins.

Each group was given a baggie of bits, and they had to make a card from their bits. My favourite bellie was these gorgeous tags stamped with the Urban Snapshots tree from Plate 3. Adore this effect!!

If you were in Kay's group it was the hardest 30 mins of the weekend while she worked her team into a creative frenzy - drill sergeant major styley. Lin and I fell about laughing watching her competitive streak shine through but it all paid off as the whole group voted their team as the favourite card of the evening.... I think we were all impressed by the sheer number of products and techniques they squeezed in!!

Start of Sunday and we were straight into the 'Leandra beads' to embellish the bottom of the arches. Wooden painted beads dipped into UTEE, and perfect pearls worked perfectly as the finishing touch. Everyone managed these perfectly.

Those who didn't mica dip still had sparkly beads from the gorgeous Precious metal colour paints on the wooden bead base.

With the afternoon looming we started on stamped bellies for the arch. The 6 petal rose (SIEN10) worked a treat for this creation of Kay's and generated lots of oohs and ahhs. She made a tape sandwich and said the rose held in position so easily, and even found this metal version easier than grunge-paper roses! I can't wait to have a go myself! Love it when people do their own thing in class, we were all inspired by the individuality expressed  on each arch at this stage.

Amy also did a rose with the same stamp, and she ran hers thru the bug with quite different results. We all totally loved this too, so now we have another version to try out....so very awesome!!

But there were other gorgeous flower creations going on around the room too. These ones are from SIEN4 which is a fabulous plate. You can make diddy flowers for the centre with shrink plastic!

How about a crown or Fleur de Lis?

And this gets the genius award....metal buttons!!! How cool, and with thread. I tell you...these guys may have been metal beginners..but boy were they good!!

How about this arty idea from Mell - love how the copper is positioned at the foot of the frame with the contrast of the eyelets!

Alice was totally chuffed with how hers turned out.

My Auntie Alice (left) dropped in to have a catch up at lunch with me and stayed to see what the ladies had been up to. She was fascinated with everything they had achieved over the weekend.

And after lunch the last session. A new take on the platter we made in a previous AC. This time a tiny tray was painted and the metal embossed and sanded. All the colours made for such different results.

Mell did pink

This blue and brown combo was very modern (here the pieces are just being loosely fitted.

And the greens also looked amazing....

And how about this chocolate - denim one!! How can you ever choose a favourite! They all were absolutely wonderful!

Well I think all that gives you a brilliant flavour of our fantabulous ArtsyCrafts weekend in Warrington. Yes you should have come! So don't miss the next one. There are only a few places left on the first May weekend (8th & 9th). Don't miss it!! All new classes and lots of new products to play with!!

Thanks ladies, you were wonderful. Sorry this isn't the best photo and this was before you were holding the arches....

oh and who can forget the lunchtime bunny! That's his paw behind my head. Cheeky bunny!