BOGOF!!

... That's buy one, get one free to the unititiated & it starts in store today. We've run out of space for all the new goodies we've got coming in, so it's time for a big clearance. The Big BOGOF bonanza starts today, so if you are in the area pop in & bag a bargain. The new webshop has not been updated with these offers as yet - but if you do order anything that is on a BOGOF deal, we will do it automatically for you. And if it's not in the webshop yet, e-mail for more details.

Just for starters - BOGOF deals on: ALL American Crafts cardstock; ALL Peel Offs (including Christmas Designs); ALL MIC Toppers (including Christmas Designs); ALL English Paper Company 6x6, 12x12 & Border Strips pads AND ALL loose papers from the Siesta & Vanessa Arbuthnott Collections; ALL 3D Christmas Stickers.
That lot all goes on offer today (just as soon as I get in to work LOL) & then we will be adding another deal every day for as long as it takes!

There's still plenty of time to enter our first ever Design Team Challenge (we'll be playing along too!) & to submit for a place on our Design Team - imagine a bag of yummy stash to stroke every month - for free!

Challenge #1

Welcome to the first of our weekly challenges!

These will go live every Saturday evening, and the idea is that they will provide you with inspiration, challenge you to try something different (or perhaps re-visit something you haven't tried for a while) and perhaps take you out of your comfort zone a little! We'd also like to see what you come up with, so leave a comment on the challenge posts with a link to your creation on your blog/online gallery.

This weeks challenge is to create a Layout using just patterned paper and ribbon - and nothing else. No cardstock, brads, eyelets, buttons, chipboard shapes or any other type of embellishment. You can use tools such as punches and diecutting machines.

This Layout is a little idea to get you started. I used the HOTP vintage sarapapers and Cardmaker's Pretty ribbons. The title was cut with Ellison "twang" alphabet and the "&" was cut using the new HOTP Thinga-Ma-Jig template.

So, get out your papers and ribbons and get creative, and make sure you leave a comment on this post with a link to your creation.

Can't wait to see what you come up with - have fun!

Edited by The Guv 18:42 pm:

Just to say, you can still join in if you don't have a blog or gallery - just send your entry by e-mail & we'll add it to our new challenge gallery! What are you waiting for - go play!

Personal Shopper Kit Class

Tonight (Friday) we held the first of a brand new class. This is the Personal Shopper Kit Class & unsurprisingly, is only open to those who purchase the monthly scrapbooking kit. In this class, we tackle a double layout. As we usually have trouble finishing a single page in the two hours, there was always a fair chance that the double one would go home half done. But, it's not too much of a problem as the images are freely available on my gallery, and this blog too!

These kits are bursting with soooo many goodies that we are able to tackle something a bit more in depth than you'd get from a 'normal' class. We go through instructions for all the little elements (in this case, the envelope & journaling tags; photo pocket, chipboard embellishment etc) so that all the tricky bits are covered. Of course class members are always welcome to pop in or e-mail if they get stuck on anything when they get home. I really enjoyed doing this layout, which uses the July kit. It was very refreshing doing something for a class where I had soooo much stash to choose from LOL. Can't wait to do the next one!

Oh! And if you'd like a kit, you'll need to hurry - I have just three left (& at least three people that have made noises about having one!) - it's strictly first come first served!! E-mail for details, pop in to the shop or telephone us!

It's Pink & It's Mine!

The new webshop, that is. Gandalf and I have been working on this since January & finally have found just the right software to create the webshop we want! It's not finished (can a website or webshop ever be truly finished??) but it's pink & it's mine - so it's ready to go online now! Check it out here! Over the next few days, weeks and months, I'll be adding new products and getting to grips with all the other features.
You can all get involved too! Simply create a log in profile (it's only your contact details - no financial information) & maybe write a review or two on any of the products that you have tried and liked! At the end of August, I'll pick a review at random to win a prize. So the more products you review, the more chances you will have to win! There is absolutely no obligation to purchase but if you have a look around, there are some brilliant bargains to be had (Deco Art Acrylic Paints at just £1.50 for starters!).
You can also sign up here to join our mailing list & get all the latest offers right in to your inbox!!
See you there!

I Love Hot Off The Press!

Oh my! There are some exciting things going on at Hot Off The Press!

Fortunately, Paulette says I'm allowed to tell you all, which is just as well cuz I'm not much good with secrets LOL. The first is all about the Personal Shopper Scrapbooking monthly kits:
From September these will include a fabby DVD (plays on PC or DVD player) containing around 90 minutes with Paulette & Sara (who are my favourite ladies on the entire planet!!). The DVD takes you step by step through all the projects with tons of extra hints & tips. There'll be a new DVD every other month. And if that wasn't enough, the September issue also features the brand new 'Use 'Em ForAnything' Pastel Papers with 259 pastel Monograms, 200 pastel brads, 25 pastel flowers and some overlays and ribbons too.

It is only fair to warn you though, the current kit (July) has practically sold out since we took delivery 6 days ago (at the time of writing we have four spare kits). The only way to make sure we have a kit for you is to take out a subscription(to do so, e-mail me), the rest go on a first come first served basis.

You may have heard that we are exhibiting at Sandown Park in September 2007. The most exciting thing about that is that we will be launching a brand new kit from Hot Off The Press. The Stamps Only Club, does what it says on the tin! Every other month, our subscribers will receive a yummy set of Clear Acrylic Stamps & a fabby newsletter full of tempting projects to get the creative juices flowing. This is sooo hot off the press (geddit?) that the projects are not yet back from the photographers! And as it is all totally top secret (oops! I spilled the beans!) I don't have all the details to share yet. If you'd like to be kept informed, e-mail me & I'll tell all as soon as I know!

Oh! OK then! 1 little clue: the first set are Thinga-Ma-Jigs. Not the same as the Thinga-Ma-Jigs Template in this month's Personal Shopper Kit but another big bunch of cool ampersands, brackets, asterisks and other punctuation marks! Images range in size from 1/2" to 3 1/2". Total of 33 stamps.

Ooooh! I've said too much! Better go before I give away any other big secrets LOL

Some Of Our Pics Are Missing!

Panic not!! both Looby & I have a couple of things entered elsewhere & the rules say we have to remove them from all blogs and galleries in the meantime - so that's what we're doing! The images will be restored later in the year - but we'll be adding lots of new ones before that (pretty soon you'll forget what's missing!!)

A welcome from me

This is the first time I have ever done this so hope it goes ok.............

I live in Dartford (just a short walk away from Crop 'Til You Drop) with my boyfriend of 10 years and 2 lovely children (Josh, age 3 and Megan, 1). I have been crafting now since September 2005 when I decided to make that years Christmas cards while on Maternity leave, since then I have dabbled in scrapbooking, ATCs, sarabinders and Decoupage. I am also one of Beverley's Saturday girls, which means lots of goody stroking to help me through those occasions when finances are short.