sugar and spice

I love PINS... especially hat pins, I've had a bit of a fetish for a couple of years now, they're just the perfect little embellishment !! But... I always loose them, I put them down,  I can't find them, I pick them up, I prick myself.. so I needed a pin cushion, now I've made plenty of pin cushions in the past, from my sewing days, but I knew I wanted something different and one day I was flicking through the pages of one of my favourite trends magazines and saw it, it was perfect, it was a picture frame pin cushion. I LOVED it and needed to make one, but it had to be right. I was halfway there, as a couple of years ago I bought a piece of fabric (I know I'm a hoarder), didn't know what to do with it, I just knew I had to have it, so it's sat on my shelf waiting to be used, then the other day I popped down to our local antiques centre and found the perfect little frame. and look... just £3.00... bargain !!! I didn't like the colour, so quickly gave i...

If you know someone that needs a little lift, this should do it... I've just used a Nestie and embossed it with swiss dots, then stamped the sentiment from this yummy set HERE , made a calico flower and filled it with a pearl and some Frantage (of course) !! popped in on some ribbons and mounted it all on a cream card from Craftwork Cards. For all of you that missed out, the GOOD NEWS is we've got more of the Scrap 365 coming back in, so get on the phone and get us to it a side for you. YAY!!! Hugs Marion xx

Here's a quick Layout from a we while ago, it's of my Nan and her sisters, only problem is no one knows where it was taken, that's why it's so important to put all those little details on your pages.... for the future generations !! It is of course... Minimalist, sorry but that's my style !!! But so simple to do, just one sheet of plain card stock, 1/2 sheet of patterned and a piece of Hambly Screen Print... Mmmmm !!! layer up, make a scruffy flower out of scraps and book print add a bit of lace, hat pins and buttons then finish off with some rather yummy pearls... pearls not your colour ? then use your Pro-Markers as I did, to bring some more green in to match one of the layers of the flower. Hugs Marion xx

Want to take a break from all the hustle and bustle of Crimbo. Why not join me on Saturday 17th December at 10am or alternatively Sunday 18th December at 2pm where we're going to make this gorgeous Desk Top Calendar The class includes over £14.00 worth of product and it's only costing £16.00.... How brill is that !!! Call it our christmas gift to you !!! Spaces are VERY LIMITED so book EARLY !!! The question is will you give it away as a fabbi gift, or keep it for yourself ??? Along with this, I've just updated the website with all the NEW CLASSES - Check out Chilli Barb's Friday Fun, you can see them all  HERE We've just got in the fab Dylusions Stamps.... Love these and they're absolutely perfect for all you Smash addicts.... you know who you are !!! Some great new paper lines and some rather LUSH albums, have just nestled themselves on our shelves, all just in time for Christmas.... Talking of Christmas, did you know it's the Barleylands Christmas S...

First off let me show you a quick simple gift bag idea. This time of year I find wrapping (presents that is, not singing) !! a complete pain, so many things don't come in boxes now, that would make it oh so much easier, but no !!! So I often go for the simple gift bag, but sometimes it just needs a little jazz up. It's one of my friends birthday real soon and I know she likes simple things but a bit blingy!!, so I just got a rather inexpensive silver bag (no offence Adrienne) !! Used the back end of a paint brush to etch a design onto it, in this case a heart Then just add bling and some yummy tulle and ribbons !!! Just want to say thank you for all the comments from the last post, all the names were put into a draw ....... AND THE WINNER IS..... Jaki, well done, can you get in touch to give me your details please :) :)  It seems a LOT of you like the simple style, so here's a couple more very quick and simple crimbo cards. This first one is using the lovely Paula Pas...

A few years back I designed this really quick and simple little crimbo card, it still hangs in the shop today, along with another version, and we still get asked how it was made, so here goes... Take a small square card blank, I used Craftwork Cards 4" White (love them) !!! and stamp your sentiment  in the centre about 1" up from the bottom Next, using Glossy Accents, "scribble" a tree direct to the card Then take your favourite Martha Stewart Iridescent Fine Glitter and sprinkle over the "tree" Shake off excess glitter, add a little bling and leave to dry And there you have one of the quickest, simplest little crimbo cards, even the kids can do it... so go on what are you waiting for !!!! If you're a follower of this blog and you would like to receive this gorgeous little card, just leave a comment and a winner will be randomly picked. But REMEMBER you MUST be a FOLLOWER... so sign up NOW !! Hugs Marion xx

I do believe we've broke a record today. We put out for sale the NEW SCRAP 365, just this morning at 10am and by 10.30am they were ALL SOLD !!!! While I'm here, let me give you a quick update :- ALL halloween stash is now 25% OFF, this offer ends Sunday AND if you buy 3 sets of rub-ons you get a FREE rub on eraser We're nice like that !!! ohhh yes and we've got more stock back in of the EK Success Dimensional Punches and the Martha Stewart Punch All Over The Page - delicious !!! Some rather gorgeous Doodlebug cardstock Black and White YUM !!! Anyhoo's back to work  Hugs Marion xx

Just landed on our doorstep, hot off the press, the much awaited SCRAP 365 Ooo nearly forgot to say, 3 large boxes have also just arrived from the States with lots of yumminess in them. Happy days Marion xxx - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Just been chatting to QVC, and I'm really happy to say I'll be back on your screens alongside the lovely Kirsty and Amy, on the following dates :- WEDNESDAY 28TH DECEMBER WEDNESDAY 4TH JANUARY WEDNESDAY 15TH FEBRUARY there's plenty of other dates for your calendar, but I'm off to the States for 3 weeks in between these dates, and alongside crimbo and new year, it's going to be BUSY BUSY BUSY :) :) Yay happy days !!! I know it's been quiet of late on the old craft front, but it always is this time if year, QVC only have so many hours in the day and with so many other shows out there, i.e. christmas gift ideas, etc. craft graciously stepped aside (cause we're nice like that) !!! But..... We're coming back with a bang !!! There's so many great shows planned for you, including some fantastic outlet days, you know you all love a bargain !!! And one in particular that I'm really excited about is a new..... Ooooh don't actually know if I'...

I've done a quick layout using the lovely SIMPLE STORIES HAPPY DAYS. Using Bazzill Kraft card stock, splatter with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, then randomly drop embossing powder on and heat.  Cut a strip of patterned card stock and adhere, mount photo onto patterned card stock, cut out bunting from card stock and cut a couple of strips, adhere to backing and mount bunting on top, glimmer mist some wooden buttons and adhere to bunting, then make a flower from Burlap and place button in center, adhere and voila.... a very SIMPLE layout. Go on give it a try !! Marion xx

How clever is our Barb..... Look at this little guy, hanging on the side of the sleigh, all ready to be filled with christmas treats. Well done all you ladies that got on her Friday Class to make this little treat!! Marion xx

Here's a little sneak of the Flower classes coming up on the 20th November.... Sorry but they are both full, but if there's enough interest I may do it again :) What do you get if you start out with this.... Add a little magic ........ and TA DA !!!! you get this ... Soooo simple. Marion xx

Since we opened our doors some 8 years ago we were graced with the presence of the lovely Linda Pease. I'm so sorry to have to say that she passed away recently, after struggling with so many obstacles. She was a truly inspirational crafter and will be deeply missed by so many. We would like to pass on our deepest condolences to her husband, family and friends. Marion, Nina, Barbie, Barb, Adrienne and Megan xx

Over on the QVC CRAFT FACEBOOK PAGE  we've been sharing our craft spaces with each other and showing/confessing just how we craft and the neatness/messiness we work in. It's really quite inspiring and quite nosey in a lovely way to be able to take a peek into other peoples lives. You may just pick up a storage tip or two !!! This is my "utter chaos" area... Just look at the floor... disgusting !!! and as for the desk tops... well I know exactly where everything is !! This one's a bit more organised !! And this one's always organised, it's where I do my designing.. serenity comes to mind !! So why don't you pop on over to the QVC Facebook Page and share, or leave a comment here with a link to your little piece of heaven Off to sweep my floor now !! Hugs Marion xx

What a fun morning we've had. The girls have been making a Spoooooky Layout... They're all very shy !! Once Vanessa got hammering... she just couldn't stop.... it all got very noisy !!! And here they are proudly showing off their masterpiece's.... and now for this afternoons class, the first group on the book of me for this month, and it's all about music !! Oooo, I meant to say.... If you know what you want for Christmas, then we have the perfect thing for you... it's the SUGAR AND SPICE WISH LIST, it's the best way of getting just what YOU want, just send your family/loved ones/friends in and let them choose the perfect gift from YOUR list, so come on in and write down your wishes. Hugs Marion xx

How exciting... I've been given permission to give you a sneaky peek of the Martha Stewart TSV, on this Thursday 3rd November at midnight, 12 noon, 3pm and 7pm. So there's surely one you'll be able to catch !! It's a NEW punch with NEW designs that's ONLY available through QVC !! The lovely Alex Peruzzi is demonstrating this fabbi TSV It's a set of 3 punches at an amazing value :) :) With a brand new technique, never before seen in the UK. On top of that there's also an auto delivery option, which means you can be the first to get even more designs in 2012, that you won't be able to get anywhere else.  What a lovely christmas gift to yourself that will be.... Go on on spoil yourself.... you deserve it !! So tune in at midnight, 12 noon, 3pm and 7pm Hugs Marion xx