What a sad excuse for a blogger I am! Life has just run away with me. I am so excited (as usual) about this Christmas season. We went to thGerman Christmas market last night. It was so different! Loved it. Phoebe enjoyed pottering around looking at all the "pretties", and we enjoyed some hot waffles, what more could we want?

I've finally got the crop dates for next year. There will a change of venue one month because of repairs to the Reading Room, but we don't know when. It's not iminent anyway.

Here's the dates:

All the saturday ones are 9.30 to 4 and the Thursday evening ones are 6.30 to 9. They are:
Saturdays: 5th Jan, 2nd Feb, 8th March, 12th April, 17th May, 14th June, 5th July, 9th August, 13th Sept, 11th October,8th November, 6th December.
Thursdays: 17th Jan, 21st Feb, 20th March, 24th April, 29th May, 26th June, 24th July, 21st August, 25th September, 23rd October, 20th November.

Get them in your diary :-)

The picture is a nice idea I found for a Christmas banner- it's not mine, it was a link from Heidi Swapp's web page.

Tesco bargain

Found these in Tesco today- 3 for £2. They unscrew and you can stack as many as you like together. Bargain!

Penkridge Croppers Exclusive Preview

Purple Room Crafts is re-opening under new management. Our cropping ladies have a wonderful opportunity to see what scrummy new stash is on offer before anyone else.
Where? Purple Room Crafts, Penkridge
When? Monday8th October from 7pm till 9pm. I will be there along with Shell, Carolyn, Linda, Vickie to name but a few. Hope you can make it.

Crop Dates

EVENING CROPS
Because our first evening crop was such a great success, I have booked 2 more! The dates are Thursdays 25th October and 22nd November. 6.30 to 9.30.

OCTOBER CROP
The 13th October saturday crop is now an all dayer! Sorry for the short notice- but I bowed under intense pressure from a certain cropper who shall remain nameless (Shell).
ALSO- there will be a major suprise at the next crop. I've been spending your money on something I know you will LOVE! (and it's not the Fancy Pants stamps, but they are coming soon too) Get excited!

........and my humble creation

Trish gave us and idea for a tag book on a ring to take on holiday and record the best bits of every day. Much better than taking a big journal, and more fun! I loved the book, and thought i would make one with lots of journalling tags on. I plan to do different colour themes and just take one off the ring and add it to a page when needed. You can write as the event happens and not have to do it all from memory. They have glitter on too, which didn't show up in the photo, but its been fun to make, and I look like a Christmas tree at the mo! Glitter everywhere!

some more inspiring work..........

This is Vicky's lovely work, so I couldn't resist putting themon here for all to enjoy! Thanks Vicky :-)

saturday's marathon crop!

These are the 2 classes we did on saturday, giant matchbooks and a canvas. We used the amazing fancy pants stamps, which made it all the better. We did not intend to make a profit, but did, so we will spend the money raised on 2 sets of fancy pants stamps for the crop, so everyone can use them and as different person can take them home each month :)

Trish did an excellent demo with tins, see picture at the top of the page. I came away with a very bad back, but oh so inspired!

the no curry curry night

We had a lovely meal at The Bridge in Penkridge. Food was yummy, company was great, what more can you ask? Thanks to everyone for coming. Michelle was greatly missed- hope you are better soon :-)

I couldn't resist bringing the samples for saturdays crop classes. Just hoping my back holds out so I can come!

Croppers prepare......

Wednesday night Penkridge croppers are getting together for a meal at The Bridge in Penkridge. Contact Shell at Purple Room Crafts for details. Saturday 15th is our all day crop at the Reading Room in Penkridge. There will be the opportunity to do a class using my new amazing stamps. Can't believe I am even going to share them!!!!!!Email me for more details.

Scrap Retreat, 8th to 10th February 2008

This is the converted barn on the outskirts of Uttoxeter where we will be holding our retreat. Here's the info from the web site about it:
"This luxury accommodation features 6 spacious bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, 4 of which are en-suite,and has been skilfully renorvated with period charecter. The property has a football table and the use of the shared tennis court. The large kitchen with seperate dining area is easily able to sit the whole of your party together, there is also a good sized sitting room with patio doors opening on to a private patio with wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. This perfect location on the edge of the tiny village of Somersal Herbert is ideal as a base for visiting the many attractions that Derbyshire and nearby Staffordshire have to offer.
Ground floor, Large kitchen and dining room, utility, sitting room (with TV , VHS, DVD and stereo), 2 triple bedrooms, shower room, Sofa bed.First floor, 2 double bedrooms with en-suite facilities, 1 double plus single bedroom with ensuite, 1 twin with ensuite, Z bed.
The property has oil central heating, bed linen and towels are included,it has dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, freezer, fridge,microwave, patio with garden furniture and BBQ, TV DVD, video, stereo/CD player,ample off road parking." Cant wait!

Lots of good things........

OOOoohhhhhhhhhh- so many exciting things coming up! Penkridge croppers are going out for dinner on Wednesday Sept. 12th at 7pm at the Bridge in Penkridge. All welcome. Contact Michelle to put your name down.
EVENING CROPS- just when you thought it couldn't get any better, we have organised an evening crop for Thursday 27th September from 6-10pm. Usual place. Hope you can come.
REMEMBER- September 15th is an all day crop with a class. Money raised with go towards our
BIG event next year- our SCRAPPERS RETREAT :) It's happening on 8th to 10th February. We are in the process of booking a very luxurious converted barn for our weekend of scrapping fun. We will share the cost between us all. It should be about £40 to £60 each, plus money for food and optional classes. We are so excited its just ridiculous! Places are limited to 18, and we have had lots of interest, so if you want to be sure of getting a place bring a £20 deposit to the next crop, or bring it to the dinner.

Squash Book Instructions

Here's a diagram of the mini book we made at the last crop- as promised. We used a 12 x 12 peice of card, cut along the dark lines and folded it up concertina style. I found you can get tons of journaling on this. I managed to do a little story/memory from my childhood on each of the 32 squares. When you start writing it's amazing how all the memories come flooding back! It's a great thing to do- very rewarding. The next crop is this saturday at 9.30 till 1.30. Parking is available. Can't wait!

Crop Info

The next crop is on Saturday 14th July at the reading room in Penkridge, 9.30 to 1.30. Thanks to a very helpful team, I have a lot less to worry about this month! Carol is going to do a demo of a mini book. There may be a class also, but I've not got my head round that one yet. If I see something inspiring before then I might just do it! Hope some of you can make it.

cricut

Good news for all the penkridge croppers! Our 'crop cricut' is on it's way! I have managed to get hold of an almost new one for the exact amount we have got saved. I have also ordered 3 new cartridges for my own stash, but I will 'share' them for the day, so expect some fun at our all day crop which is coming up in June :)

clever stuff

Saturday was crop day! I look forward to the Penkridge crop. We have a great bunch of women who are SO talented! 'Ellie' is Vickie's layout- you can't help but love her work, she is so inspiring, a natural artist. Karen made the 'family' colour blocking layout- so neat and precise. Karen is a perfectionist, as you can see! It is a privilege to work with such great people, who are as addicted to scrapbooking as I am. Saturday's class was a mini book, pictures coming soon. Next month is a fold out book that can be attached to a layout to get tons of info/pictures in a small space. We are working on getting loads of yummy embellishments to go with them.

Life story

I am excited that I'm finally getting round to working on my life story! It is proving to be quite an adventure. It amazes me how one thought triggers another and so many memories come flooding back. A most enjoyable process. I had not realised how much there would be to write, and it's only the tip of the iceburg! I think I may have to add a written mini book to my scrapbook when it's finished. I loved putting together the cover. I used fabric, paper, metal, wood, buttons and chipboard on this piece. I am loving my 18c gold leafing pen, which I used on the fabric and just about everything else that sat still long enough :) The rub-ons also worked great on the fabricand on the wooden heart and buttons, much to my suprise.

Easter!

It's been a lovely Easter sunday. I've completed another page on my personal scrapbook. It's fun to remember my childhood and write down the most important bits. It amazed me how much I can recall once that pen starts going!

I've been playing with stash purchased from Hobbycrafts at the NEC. I bought stamps, paint pens and books. Here's another lo :) and my exploding box from the last Penkridge crop.

Cricut again

I'm loving my crucut- so far! Here's my latest, from fab finds

Been playing with my Cricut and come up with a mini book. I love this machine, so far anyway. Here it is

First Post

Here we are then! It's official- I'm a blogger. This is a glimpse of my journey through the days of life. I called it I'm into something good a) because I am and b) when I was deciding, the song of the same name came on T.V, so that sealed it.