BADFA Annual Convention 2011

The British Association of Decorative and Folk Artist Annual Convention 2011, will be on Saturday 1st October and Sunday 2nd October. Apart from the AGM on saturday evening the event is open to the general public. There will be an exhibition of members work, workshops and several make'n'takes, as long with a Trade stand from Wightcat Crafts.

The Venue is Lamb & Flag Inn, Batt's Lane, Ottery Saint Mary, Devon EX11 1EY.

Painting with Paint Fusion

I have to say, I'm loving this Paint Fusion! I have been doing decorative painting for a little while but this new Paint Fusion (by Sheena Douglass) has given it a lovely new twist and its really easy.

All you do is stamp the images first, so that cuts out the need for any tracing and drawing, and then you paint the stamped images....several stamps in each set so you can mix and match and make up your own variations.

I've had a go at most of the Christmas sets, but first I will show you the poinsettia, I think it's my favourite. I painted it in layers so I could build it up into 3D, then gave it a bit of a glitz with some spray & sparkle. Here it is mounted onto a card just as it is because you don't need much else to go with it.

Happy Painting!!

Hilary x

Scrapbook Friday: Back on black

I don't know why it never occurred to me to mount my photos on black card before? Five years of scrapbooking and I manage to miss something obvious like that.

I think I've had this background paper almost all of that five years...I know it's been in my stash a long time. I still think it's gorgeous, but no-one is ever going to see it stuck in my folder, are they?

Possibly the longest page title ever...but it is indeed, very important to take regular breaks for tea (and cake)!

Scrapbook Friday: Late night scrapbook love

You'll have to excuse the late night photos as I prepare this Friday page for you.

It's a formula.
2 photos + whole sheet of patterned paper background + something at an angle or offset to make it interesting = a page that could be really similar to last week's but is somehow quite different.

My favourite thing about this layout (apart from Mindy, of course) is the luggage tag.
Just an ordinary tag (you could even cut one from plain card) and these journalling block stamps.

Stamp twice across the tag to make it look like horizontal ledger paper. I'll be honest here, I tried masking off the edges so I didn't get the double line in the middle...and it didn't work. I couldn't line them up straight. So I decided to embrace it instead, and actually I think it looks fine.

Then I used a brush and some acrylic paint to edge it, and tie in with the paint block behind my title. A few extra embellishments from my collection, and it's done.

Scrapbook Friday

Big foot, little foot.

Big page, little photos.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the need to fill a page completely with paper and photos and stuff. Here, though, I loved the background paper and really didn't want to cover it up. Cropping the photos to 10cm square and making fake-polaroid backgrounds was the perfect solution. The splashes of green keep the page from looking too dark.

Summer scrapbooking

I think we can all agree that we had better weather in April/May than we have done in our actual summer months. So this page of our first ice-creams of the year is kind of appropriate.

This layout uses these stamps to create the bunting, and I hand-stitched across the top using embroidery thread. In a moment of madness, I decided to create a matching swirl across the bottom of the page as well. My hand-stitching projects always seem like a good idea at the time, but at times I was stitching through three layers of cardstock, so it was quite labour-intensive.

My top tip: draw the shape you want and poke holes for your stitches before you start sewing. And make sure you make the holes big enough for your needle to go through :)

Xmas is coming with Paint Fusion

We are sure you are all starting to get ready with all your crafty bits for Christmas so we have some really good news for your today.

Sheena is launching a new set of Paint Fusion Stamps and a DVD containing 3 hours of step-by-step projects and inspiration.

It’s all up on our website and we are taking pre-orders NOW, it should be in the shop within about 10 days.

http://www.wightcat.com/crafts​/paint_fusion_xmas.htm

Hello, Just a reminder….. if you want to be sure of being included in the first delivery of the New Pergamano products due out in September we need to receive your pre-order in the next couple of days. Happy Crafting x


These are just a few of the new goodies due out, follow this link for the complete selection
http://www.wightcat.com/crafts/perg_new2011%5Bc%5D.htm

There are quite a few products including a new book by Julie Roces, Christmas themed clear stamps, parchment papers, “M” magazines & lots more http://www.wightcat.com/crafts/perg_new2011%5Bc%5D.htm

I've missed you

My presence on the internet has been quiet these last few weeks, but here in the land of bricks and mortar it's been plenty busy. How, you ask?

• We've had a move around in the shop. Our new layout gives us space for small workshops, more space for crafting essentials, and a better position for the wool and yarn. Good news all round. Say hello if you pop in!


• Hilary and Steve went to Bristol for the South West Parchment Craft Exhibition. A lovely chance to catch up with everyone, share work and show off some new patterns.


• There are some new goodies in the store...starting with a range of photographic greetings cards by yours truly :) I love design, and thought it was about time I did something useful with my thousands of photographs. The picture above is just a taster.


• We started stocking Christmas decoupage. Wait, did I just write that? Yes folks, it's true. The hottest days of the year so far must mean it's time to start your Christmas cards.


• 44 colours of Stickles glitter glue. You know I love anything sparkly.

That's enough for now, isn't it? I'll be back soon with some more crafting inspiration. Promise.

K x

Something different

Sorry folks, it's been a quiet month for blogging. I can only blame the Open University, really, because I've been working hard on my course.

Still, sometimes it's nice to forget that I have another essay due in less than two weeks and play with some paper. It's been a while since I put a scrapbook page on here so I thought I'd share this one. My cat Morpheus is, apparently, not the only black cat in the neighbourhood. I did a double-take when I saw this one sitting on my wall!

And this is a little peek into my craft space too...the page is resting against my computer monitor. Yes, my Martha Stewart punches pretty much live on the desk, I use them so much. I would like to point out I do have another table that I actually craft on, this desk is only for my PC. Somehow the craftiness just gets everywhere though! And the crazy mess on the left is my ribbon collection, which lives on 2-inch book rings that are at the moment hanging from my desk lamp. It's not neat but it makes me smile.

Hunkydory domed flower cards

Aren't they beautiful? These cards are lovely, I think they'd make a beautiful centrepiece. The decoupage is all made of the same 300gsm silk-art card and so the flowers look really 'full'. These cards just use the standard items in the kit, but you could add extra butterflies or flowers, and I'm dying to make some as proper 'shaker cards' with lots of glitter. Fabulous!

A new perspective - To the Manor Born Tunnel Cards

These tunnel cards follow the same kind of design as the Glimpse of Glamour cards, but with an added dimension - quite literally.

You get a set of figures in a range of sizes, so you can arrange them within the scene to create some really incredible perspective. The background papers also have a sharp vanishing point so you can really see the depth in the scene.

It takes some planning, as you need to think about which figures go where for the best effect. Once you've done one, you can soon see how it's supposed to work and then it's up to you to create these charming silhouette scenes.

Wedding invitations

We do love a wedding here at Wightcat, and not least because we love working with brides who make their own invitations. It can be really easy, and a lovely way to personalise your day. For brides (and those who are helping them!) who need a bit of inspiration, here are a few ideas:

I cut a background using a scalloped circle die, then layered it with mirri card and pattern card and topped it off with a greeting, some of our new paper roses and a pre-made bow. Despite the layers, it's super-quick, and you can get all these elements in colours to match your day.

We have some beautiful new Martha Stewart punches in (which are so new I don't even think they're online, so please contact for details) so you can create lovely border strips for a simple but elegant detail. The background is embossed card that I actually put through the Cuttlebug the wrong way, so it is de-bossed instead, but I rather like it. A happy accident!

This uses the same punch, but in black-on-white for a strikingly different effect. Any strong colour on white would look lovely.

And if you use the infinity loops punch on mirri card, and layer that on more mirri card, you get a super-glam look. I'm also loving the butterflies (another punch) which I think make a nice alternative to flowers, and the glittery ribbon. If you can't use glitter on your wedding invitations, when can you?!

If you are local, do pop in because we're always happy to help you come up with a creative solution that's perfect for you.

Free Postage- This weekend only

Free UK Postage

This Weekend Only!
Spend £20 or more online at www.wightcat.com

& we will refund your postage

Offer ends at Midnight on Monday 28th March

www.wightcat.com

Lindsay Mason Clear Stamps

Lindsay Mason Clear Stamps
We’ve just updated our website with the complete range
Including some Mothers Day & Easter Sets...

Click Here

Mothers DayTraditional Easter

Cute Easter

Contemporary Easter

Click Here

www.wightcat.com

3 New Collections from La Pashe

Build a Blossom Collection – Series 2

Click Here
-----------------------------
Trinitage Collection – Series 2

Click Here

------------------------------

Nice and Easel Collection – Series 2

Click Here

www.wightcat.com

Brand new Hunkydory

Flight of Fancy Butterfly Toppers with Acetate Wings

Featuring pretty butterflies galore, these twin-packs include one high-quality topper sheet accompanied by a foiled 220micron acetate sheet, die-cut to the same outline as the butterfly toppers to be built up for extra dimension.

£2.25

Click Here
--------------------------------------------

Classic Cameo Die Cut Toppers

£1.50

Click Here

--------------------------------------------

Radiant Roses Deluxe Mini Card Kits

£3.99

Each kit makes 4 complete cards

Click Here
--------------------------------------------
To The Manor Born Tunnel Card Kit

Each kit makes 4 complete tunnel cards

£7.99

Click Here

--------------------------------------------
Radiant Roses DieCut Decoupage

£1.25

Click Here

www.wightcat.com

Clear Stamp Sets

Clear Stamp Sets

Brand New for Spring 2011

Only £5.99 each set

Alphabets, Sentiments & Greetings

------------------------------------------------------------------
Characters & Images

------------------------------------------------------------------
Occasions

------------------------------------------------------------------
Shapes, Scrolls & Patterns

www.wightcat.com

PCA Sale

SALE!

10% off selected PCA tools

Limited time

Click Here

Flora Doodles- Velvet Butterflies

Flora Doodles- Velvet Butterflies

12 Embossed Velvet Butterflies
Now in stock at Wightcat

Click Here