A Hot Sunny Start to Summer.

I can't believe how quick the months have flown past!

I've been hosting crops in Reading and visiting other peoples crops - High Wycombe and Stoke Poges, thank you ladies for having me.

I have also been concentrating on losing weight and so far I've lost 1st. 7.5lb thanks to Slimming world, but hope to lose alot more by september. I will post pics soon but I usually don't like having my pic taken!

Cleo Crafts First Retreat.

What a fantastic weekend I had in Northern Ireland with some fanatastic ladies. Cleo Crafts organised a fun weekend of scrapping - well done girls for your first one! When's the next one?

Bridget and I were branded as "the rowdy ones" along with a few others! We had a good giggle and saw some beautiful countryside along the way. Louise and Tara certainly looked after us well and took us to see the sights aboard "Tara's Tours" on sunday visiting Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Reed bridge.

Cover Girl!

Have you got the new copy of Scrapbook Inspirations?

Well have a look at the top of the cover and then look at page 62...... It's ME!

I submitted for the first time ever a layout of me & my Mum. The photo was taken by Nathan last summer in Portugal and usually our heads are missing in the photos but this one isn't too bad for a 5 year old!

When I got my sub copy today I was beaming from ear to ear and non- scrappers don't really understand my excitment but I'm sure the scrappers out there do.

Just wanted to share my joy of my first published layout!

Spring is coming!

Well it's March already, where has time gone?

The first All Day Crop of 2009 has been and gone and I think everyone had a good day.
Back to our usual Saturday crops this weekend in Caversham ( 7th March 10 - 3pm) and if you are interested in popping along to crop then just drop me a mail and I'll make sure there is a seat for you.
Some of the new stash has turned up but unfortunately some iss still hiding at manufacturers in USA. What has arrived has been drooled over, and bought by many at the last crop. We have new Bazzill cradstock - embossed, dotted swiss and new colours of standard cardstock. Everyone loved the American thickers, and the bargain Around The Block goodies too.

Mmmmmm..... yummy new stash!

Yummy new stash is now winging it's way to The Scrap Cafe. New papers ( 6 new lines), embosed cardstock, flowers, new sizzix dies - "Hello Kitty" - very cute.

Hopefully most of the new stock will be winging it's way to us over the next week, just in time for all to see at the next All Day Crop in Earley ( 28th February). As soon as I start getting the boxes I will take some pics and post them on here.

To book a space at one of our crops or to just pop in and shop just drop me an email and I'll let you know times, dates and venues.

More to come very soon.............

Happy New Year.

I hope you have all had a good christmas and new year. Guess where we've been for christmas?

Barbados! From the photos you can see how beautiful it is. The island is amazing, the people were really nice and so welcoming. Since getting home the children haven't stopped talking about the holiday. Nathan has offered all of his pocket money to pay for us all to go back to Barbados next christmas! Don't think we will get far with £27 !!!

The Scrap Cafe is back in full swing with crops every month in Caversham and Earley. The shop is also visiting Stoke Poges crop and High Wycombe this year ( thank you ladies for inviting me).

So if you fancy some ME! time then do email me to book a space at one of our crops.

We have 3 All Day Crops booked for this year, the first one being at the end of February and there are a few places still left, so get in quick.

We are now looking forward to Stitches - the trade fair for Craft and Hobby businesses - and we get to see lots of new products, make & Takes, and hopefully a few free samples!

I'll be back with news and pics of what I find at Stitches mid Feb.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I Hope everyone is nearly ready for christmas, all the shopping done, christmas cards all written and posted?

We've had our christmas dinner early and Santa is making a special delivery on Christmas Eve so that the children can have their presents before we go away on Thursday.

I saw this version of Twas The Night Before Christmas on Ukscrappers and couldn't resist sharing it with you all.

Twas the night before christmas (scrappers version)


Author: Unkown

Twas the night before Christmas,

And all through the home,

Only one creature was stirring,

A late night scrapper alone.

While she cropped and she trimmed,

Under her breath she was muttering,

"He hid my darn Hermafix",

The poor wife was stuttering!

When out on the lawn,

There arose such a clatter,

She sprang from her table,

And dropped her Magic Matter.

Away to the window

She flew like a flash

Thinking maybe it was UPS

Bringing more for her stash!

But what to her wandering eyes

Should appear

But a miniature (die cut) sleigh

And eight (punchie) reindeer!

With a little old driver

So lively and quick

She knew right away

It was Jolee old St Nick

He carried a sack

Filled up to the brim

With paper packs, cardstock

And templates crammed in.

There were Punches, and stickers

And eyelets galore

There was even a Sizzix font

Not yet in the stores!

He went quickly to work

Storing it all under the tree

The wire, the fibres

And all acid free!

"Those whale Punches are heavy"

She heard him exclaim

Then he turned to his reindeer

And called them by name:

"On Buyer and Stasher

Puncher and Cropper,

On Scrapper, on Matter,

On Trimmer, On Cutter"

And he sprang to his sleigh

But before he could leave,

The woman yelled "STOP",

And pulled a camera from her sleeve.

She snapped some quick photos

For future keepsake,

Thinking all the while,

Of the layout she'd make!

And she heard him exclaim,

When she finally let him go,

"Happy Scrapping to All"

And to all "HO HO HO"

All Scrap Cafe crop dates are now listed at the side of this post and to book a space email me : lorraine.bilsby@c2data.co.uk
I will be taking bookings for crop after the christmas break.

Happy Christmas Everyone!