Where's Wally? I mean, Holly....

Hi folks... So, I guess most people have heard of "Where's Wally"?
Well, every Morning after our first stroll of the day we some how end up playing "Where's HOLLY"...

She's defo in this first pic somewhere waiting for her ball... Can you see her??

Well, she had better come out of hiding in time to enjoy the contents of the cracker I've made for her!!!!

If you couldn't see her,

these last few pictures should help you....

Happy Halloween folks, hope you enjoy your day whatever you are up to....
Thanks for checking us out, see you soon.
Andy.

Pretty in.... erm... Blue....

Although I am working on a Pink version...
Hi folks..... Another sample for Saturday's Demonstration Day here at Pinnacles...

From other bits and bobs that I've posted recently, you may have guessed my colour theme this year is Blue, although not exclusively!
I've teamed this one up with some of the Pearlescent Pan Pastels...

I hope you can notice the holly stamp is stamped both in the negative AND the positive?

I say negative first because in all sense and purpose, it is a negative stamp, but to get a positive out of it too is just an added bonus..

I'll be sharing with you how to do this on Saturday....
Thanks for checking us out, see you soon.
Andy.

Sue Wilson/Creative Expressions - CED3008 Classic Poinsettia
Do Not Open Tag - XCU 503929
Sizzix - Holiday Greens (658759)
JustRite Holly Swirl Cling Background Stamp (02068)
Pearlescent Pan Pastel - Blue
White Coarse Pearl Medium for Pan Pastels

Time to start voting.....

Morning each... I have some great news to share with you today..

Our little corner of the crafting world has been nominated in the Craft Awards 2014.. The category we have been nominated in is "The Best Independent Craft Store in the South of England"... If you feel we are deserving of such an award (and we really hope you do) then please pop on over to the Crafts Beautiful site and cast your vote... Q1 thru 15 and 22 thru 26 are compulsory but Q16 thru 21 are optional, although we'd like you to pay particular attention to Q17 for some reason...!!!
It should only take a minute or two to complete and we thank you in advance for taking the time to vote...
Thanks for checking us out, see you soon.
Andy.

Across the miles....

Hi folks.. Just getting a few bits and pieces together for Saturday's (01/11/14) "Festive Inspiration/Finishing Touches" Demonstration Day here at Pinnacles....
It's going to be a mixture of ideas for your festive table, gift giving as well as some quick and simple card making ideas.... including these little lovelies....

If you have family or friends who live abroad I guess you'll be hoping to get those ones out of the way and in the post in plenty of time, if nothing else so you can keep the cost down and grab the 2nd class post?!

This first one ticks all the boxes for me.. I guess it maybe St Pauls Cathedral and therefore London? but could pass for several different cities around the world?? Either way, I love it! I've teamed it up with some Pan Pastels which have created a "dirty" snow filled sky!! And as Pan Pastels erase out, I've been able to create some light and shade on the building...

Not the easiest thing to see on this one, bit it too has been Pan Pastelled (I know, not a word!) within an inch of its life to create a warming rooftop project...
So, if you're around on the 01st November, pop in and see us and you're likely to see these projects in action...
Thanks for checking us out.
See you soon.
Andy.

Sheena Douglas A little bit festive stamp - City Christmas
Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee
Pan Pastels
Creative EXpressions Twinkles.

Back to Basics....

Hi folks.. One of this week’s lessons here at Pinnacles is taking us all back to basics.. I say "one" of the lessons, as we have 9 lessons running this week, covering 3 different topics and techniques! Jeeze!!!

So, our back to basics is all about matt and layering... I think we are all a little bit guilty of sticking to our normal style of matt and layering, me included!!

For me, I prefer a traditional "proportionate" style where all the layers are pretty much the same distance apart...
But, every now and then I feel the need to ring the changes just a little bit and trying something a little bit different!!

Disproportionate Matt & Layering,

Slightly to one side

or even on the wonk!! Not it's technical term, but I think you catch my drift?

As you can no doubt see, all pretty much the same design, but completely different in their own right!!!
Go on, be brave and change things up a bit on your next project!!
Thanks for checking us out.
See you soon.
Andy.

Tonic Studios - 644e Wreath Bauble
Sizzix - Holiday Greens (658759)

Falling Snowflakes....

Hi folks, from a positively "Tropical" Essex!!!
Just been out taking Hollister for her morning stroll, and to be honest, you'd think it was the middle of June out there, not the middle of October!!
Enjoy it while it lasts I say...

Something to cool us down with todays offering though...

Christmas is on it's way folks....

Thanks for checking us out.
See you soon.
Andy.

Sentimentally Yours Stamp Set - Festive Borders
Do Not Open Tag Die - XCU503929
White Coarse Pearl Medium for Pan Pastels
Black Course Pearl Medium for Pan Pastels
JustRite Holly Swirl Cling Background Stamp (02068)
Ranger Archival Ink - Cornflower, Jet Black
Ranger Stickles - Crystal

Centre Piece....

Hi folks... Well, the best laid plan and all that!! Back to court today!! Still not finished!!!
Thank goodness I managed to get a project completed over the weekend to share with you...

We recently had a candle lesson here at Pinnacles, decorating em, not making em I might add! And we had a few left over undecorated!
So, thought I'd try and put them to good use...

Decorating them with a few pre made gem embellishments

and fitting them in and around some die cut Poinsettias and greenery.

Thinks that's livened em up a bit!?
Thanks for checking us out.
See you soon.
Andy.

Sue Wilson/Creative Expressions CED3008 Classic Poinsettia
Sizzix - 658759 Holiday Greens

A little bit of news....

Morning each... So, the Jury Service saga continues!! Entering it's third week now!! Hopefully it should all finish today and I can get back to some normality and then normal service che Pinnacles can resume!!
In the meantime, I have some wonderful news to share with you all....

I have been accepted as a Design Team Member for Creative Expressions. Yes, 'THAT' Creative Expressions! I'm delighted to be working with such crafting talent in my Design Team colleagues and look forward to seeing what Creative Expressions have planned for us in the coming Months... Watch this space folks...
Have a great Tuesday.... It is Tuesday right? all the days are merging into one at the moment!!
See you soon.
Andy.

Feeling a little bit austere....

Hi folks.. Just starting to prepare some samples for our upcoming Demonstration Day on the 01st November...
Felling in quite an austere mood, so thought these would tie in quite nicely...

They really do have that "homemade/handmade" feel about them!

And that's because they were!! Handmade that is, not homemade! I literally have NO craft stuff at home; I struggle to find a pair of scissors!!!

I've admired this Kraft Card/country look from a far over the years, but never really got round to doing anything myself, until now..

I guess in the right setting, it should look pretty good?!
Back to Jury Service tomorrow, so not sure when our next offering will be, but I'll try and make it a goodie!! Thanks for bearing with us...
See you soon.
Andy.

Tonic Studios Square Cracker Die 622e
Tonic Studios Pillow Box Die 370e
XCut Do not open Tag XCU 503929
Bottle of Jack Daniels... Andy's own private supply!!!

Going crackers!!!....

..... but I think we all knew that anyway!!
Hi folks.. So, not much crafting has been going on I'm afraid as I have been on Jury Service this week!
I doubt "His Honour" would be too impressed with me taking my Grand Calibur into court! All I can say is thank God the ipad was invented!! So much waiting around!! zzzzzzzzz

I have however managed to churn out a few of these in my down time when I have been released for the day!!

And no, they don't go BANG!, YET!

I'm working on that one...
Thanks for checking us out, see you soon.
Andy.