Change

“There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction”
Winston Churchill

My absence might not have been noticed but there have been some developments that have challenged me to find the time to blog. Work has keeping me busy and there has been little time to craft... boy do I miss it!

Also blogger is doing my head in... I am having problems leaving comments on blogs using my blogger account. I have no idea what is happening but... every time I want to leave a comment it is asking me my blogger details... and again... and again... It is driving me crazy :(

This all coinsides with a new computer we just bought... giving me a headache with the new filing system... I keep losing my files grrrrrr! Oh my... am I too old.. maybe I need an update LOL.

Most of all I am so very sad that my all time favourite craft shop - The stampman in Skipton - is closing it's doors after many years. Although the mail order service, their own stamp range, shows, challenges and swaps will continue as normal... I will so much miss being able to visit the shop. Jill and Ian are wonderful people with great knowledge through the many years of experience in the stamping business. They are the pioneers and it seems so unfair that they are so much affected by the current economic crisis.

They have a massive sale on (until June 20th) as they need to clear the warehouse before they move to smaller premesis. Don't miss this oppertunity to grab a bargain and visit them! In whatever way they continue I will always support them... they are just an amazing couple!!

The Stampman Shop
The Stampman Blog

Treasure hunting

Charity shops have a wealth of treasures waiting to be discovered... look what I found this week...

Do you remember?

Need more space, finding new storage solutions… you might recognise this challenge with our ever growing stash. I started a sort of (stash) spring clean with the aim to reorganise and clear out. No need to mention that I was not able to let go of anything! When you are a crafter, every piece of material is a possible – future – project.

While reorganising I found my very first purchase ever… 2 stamps I bought at The Stampman in 2000. I was not actively crafting back then… it actually took another 9 years. Once bitten by the bug.. there was no hope for me and I thought... when did it get so out of hand he he...

Can you remember your very first purchase?

Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine... Love it!

Glassine is a very thin and smooth type of paper which is air and water resistant. It is generally translucent unless dyes are added to color the paper or make it opaque. Source: Wikipedia

The Tim Holtz Kraft glassine paper is wonderful to work with, especially when you like the grungy / vintage look. It is perfect to emboss, stamp, ink, easy to tear - leaves a great edge - and looks even better when you wrinkle it. It feels a bit like wax paper.

I tried to make some flowers today and I think they look really good. I used a flower punch for the tiny flowers and the Tim Holtz Tatterd Flowers die (the smallest flower on the die) to cut the other size. You will notice how easy it is to cut this paper with a punch... it might even be good for the punch too as it is like wax paper :)

Materials I used are

PaperMania - Petal Elegance 1.6cm midi punch (PMA 258104)

Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine - 36 papers on the pad

Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Tattered Florals (656640)

Paper Mania Adhesive Stones - Jade

Ranger Inkssentials - Glossy Accents

You can find some of the materials here:

- Paper Mania Products - can't remember where I bought it :) 

- Tim Holtz Kraft Glassine and other products from The Stampman

For butterfly lovers....

Usually I'm far behind with the new scrapbook paper releases - except if it's anything to do with Tim Holtz... I'm addicted to all his stuff ~smile~. I was browsing today and found this new collection (winter 2011) from Bo Bunny. All I can say is Wow!

Anyway, thought I share it with you. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.