A story 'From The Heart'....

A few weeks ago, my mojo was about as far away as it could be, and I was really struggling to get inspired by anything. I wasn't sleeping at night, and was generally feeling a bit naff!!


Finding myself awake at 4 in the morning, with nothing on TV... and no clue what to do, I got out my sketch book.....

And came up with this.....and I have to say I was really pleased with it... I'm not the sort of person who is ever happy with my work....I rip everything I do to bits... but this was different!

Then something hit me!!.... I didnt get my sketch book out purposely to create my next designs to sell....I drew what I wanted to draw....A drawing 'from the heart'...

And I think that was the mojo problem.... I was trying too hard!!

So I carried on over the next few days, every night when I couldn't sleep, I'd get my sketchbook out......

There was never an intention to turn these into anything to sell..... I was just enjoying drawing the way I used to draw.... just for the sake of it.... and I was loving it!

But after I'd shown them to a few people, and the more I looked at them, the more they screamed out STAMPS!!

So thats what I did, got them turned into digital drawings ready to go to the stamp manufacturer... and on Tuesday morning......They arrived!!!

And I just had to name them 'From The Heart'........

Click on the image above to go to the shop to view the full range........

I am hoping to have a few more sleepless nights VERY soon... so that the range can be expanded as i'd love to add fairys and pixies......

But first I must get on with some decoupage sheets, as I have been letting those slip a bit....

Hope you are all still awake.....

Paula xxxx

Pollycraft Challenge 2 -Stripes

Hi all,
The challenge this week over at the POLLYCRAFT MONDAY CHALLENGE has been set by the lovely EMMA
this time we have to use stripes.....
Unfortunately we are 1 DT member short from now on, as Tracy has had to leave us due to family commitments....

So this time I thought I'd enter 2 creations... 1 made using a download, and the other using a stamp......
Here are my 'stripes' creations........

The first has been made using the MILLY SNOW DAY download...

Milly has been coloured using promarkers, and I've added glitter touches... I think you can just about make them out on the photo.....also added little pink gems for the baubles on the tree.....

The backing papers are 'DCWV rose tinted christmas'..... sentiment is hand written, and the rest is from stash.... wish i could remember where the snowflake brad was from, cos this was my last one..... if anyone knows.. can they drop me a line please......

For this one I've used the BILLIE APRIL SHOWERS stamp, and tried something a little different....

I stamped the image several times at different angles onto a backing paper from the 'Stripes n stuff' paper set and then cut out the umbrella sections, and added them to the main image.... then added little pink gems to the 'points'

The image is coloured with promarkers.... ribbon from making memories, flowers mix of making memories and american crafts... striped brad -making memories, charm from stash.... handwitten sentiment, and a bit of doodling.....(phew)

Dont forget to check out the challenge, and the other design teams entries....

you could get your hands on this 'snowperson' stamp.....
We had a great response to the last challenge... thanks to everyone who joined in.... looking forward to seeing what you all create this time.......

got to dash... meant to be helping hubby decorate....... sigh....

Will be back later with some more stamp news......

Paula xxxxx

Sharing....

No... you are not seeing things...I am posting twice in one day...... please sit down if you are not already...LOL!

If you read the previous post, you'll know that I mentioned coming up with my own award... so as not to keep re-awarding the same people.....

So here it is.....

Now as you know I'm not one for rules.... there will be none of the old you must award to so many people and link back to me etc.......

This award is for you to give to anyone who has made a difference to you.... brightened your day... given you inspiration, made you smile...... and...... once you have it you can re-use it.... people make a difference to us everyday..... so we should tell them!! why wait till we have a new award to give them...recycle!!!

It can be one person.... 10 people 100 people...... just let people know you think they are a star!!!

so I'm nominating 2 people today... both for different reasons......

Wheezie-Wheezies world I've only just discovered this blog, and I'm so glad i did....Wheezie entered the current challenge using a Milly download.... and I don't know why, but I just fell in love with her card, and it really inspired me this week....I went out and bought the papers that had been used, and printed off loads of Millys...... (Little hint at my DT team entry for this weeks challenge.....shhhhh) you can see Wheezies entry here ...So wheezie... you are a star!! Thank you for inspiring me this week.....

Poppet-Poppets place Pops.... you make me laugh SO hard every single day!!even when you aren't having the best day yourself, you can always make me smile.... You are an inspiration... and a STAR!! Thank you for being you xxx

If you've not been mentioned .... dont fall out with me...LOL!..... remember the award can be recycled.... everyday somebody does something that means the world to me.... can't mention everybody all in one go... doesn't mean as much then!

I've got to share this with you:

As i was writing the top part of this post...my little man decided to share a poem with me.... that he had written HIMSELF at school today.....

you'll love this....

If I were an animal

If I were an animal I'd be a bat

or a rabbid rat

what about a monkey?

theyre really funky

maybe a dog?

or a weird warthog!

I want to be something wild and free..

I know, a Lion, that would suit me!

How Brilliant is that!!! I'm so impressed with him!!

Doesnt get it from me thats for sure.....

Off to bed now..... can't believe we are up this late...still no school tomorrow....nice lie in!!!

Paula xxx

awards... and stuff....

I've realised I dont post as often as i should, because either I've got no cards to show, no new products... or just nothing interesting to say....

But I've decided that shouldn't matter... so from now on i'm going to post anyway, even if I have nothing to say....

Today though... I do have something to say, and its ......

THANKYOU!!!

To Tracy and Pops for this award:

and to Emma for this award:

now as usual I'm going to be in trouble with the blog police, Because i'm going to 'bend' the rules a little.......

I'm keeping them both for myself..... so ner ner!!

anybody I would have awarded them to has already got them!!!!

I'm going to come up with my own award later to compensate......

Hoping to get on with some new designs over the weekend.... but I'm afraid my mojo has jumped ship again.....

so if anybody wants to help out by providing me with ideas, inspiration, anything... i'd be VERY grateful....

Thanks again girls for the awards...I'm honoured you thought of me.....

Paula xxx

Pollycraft Monday Challenge *1* Christmas-no red!

Hello and thanks for visiting...


Today we have set the VERY first challenge over at the new blog...POLLYCRAFT MONDAY CHALLENGE

And its SOOOOO exciting!! I just can't wait to see what kind of response we get, and to view all your wonderful creations!!

The Design Team (YES...I know, i can't believe I have a DT!!!) have come up with some brilliant cards for this challenge.. please take a look at their blogs for more inspiration... (links on the right)

This week we have challenged you to create a Christmas card without using the most christmassy colour of all....RED

Here is my take....

I've used The MO-Having a ball stamp, but (if you'll pardon the expression) I've cut his ball off! (he should be sitting on a snowball!!) coloured with just normal pencil crayons and highlights added with fineliners...

I've then had him 'sitting on' a strip cut from the Happy-Holly-Days Christmas Wishes papers (which i've just 'aged' slightly by adding some distressed edges, and dots)

Behind this i've used the magnolia swirly star stamp, and added little gems...

The backing papers are DCWV, Flowers and ribbon from my stash, Brad - Laura Ashley.

very 'untraditional' but then ...thats me!!

Hope you like it...

we'd love you to join in with the challenge....

All we ask is that you have at least one pollycraft design on your project... Decoupage...stamped image..backing paper...the choice is yours!

Visit the challenge for more details...

Have fun

Paula xx

Whats in a name?

Okay.... so its time to announce the winner of the Mary Lou Stamp.... which until today was un-named!

You seriously would not believe how difficult this decision was.... there were some really good ones!! (and also some suggestions made by someones husband that never made it into the draw...you know who you are!!!)

.... I'd managed to narrow it down to 3 by lunch time ...

And then I was completely stuck... I changed my mind SO many times!! in the end I decided to leave it in the hands of my husband.... (VERY brave considering some of his ideas....)......

SO with the decision made..... we got started on the packaging...

And here is the finished packet, clearly showing the winning name......

CONGRATULATIONS SHEENA!!

If you get in touch with your address details...Mary Lou 'Hello sunshine' will be on her way to you....

Now that she's named, she's available to purchase in the shop....

Thank you SO much to everybody for your suggestions... All of them were FAB... it really was SO difficult to choose....

Paula xx

MORE EXCITING NEWS...

Pollycraft now has a permanent home for challenges!! The POLLYCRAFT MONDAY CHALLENGE
Starting officially on the 13th October we will be holding fortnightly challenges so that you can show off your Pollycraft creations and be in with a chance of winning some LURVELY prizes....

But even more exciting....I have a Design Team!!!

3 amazing women who have become Fab Friends...... all of whom have a unique talent...I feel so honoured to have these women working with me.....

Please pop over and check out their blogs... I'm sure you will find something to inspire you!!

So pop over to The challenge blog and have a looksy, and feel free to pinch the logo to display on your blog.....

Then put the 13th in your diary, and pop back over to see what the first challenge is.... I'm hosting the first... and i'll try to make it an easy (ish)one!!!

Look forward to seeing your creations....

Paula xx

A little help from my friends...

Hey....I'm back!!

Where on earth does the time go?

If you've popped over to the shop today, you may have noticed a few new additions.....

The latest set of stamps 'Mary-Lous Shoes' are now available for your viewing pleasure..... HOWEVER they won't be available for sale until tomorrow...... along with the Christmas Collection

This is a collection of 9 designs, featuring the VERY cute Mary-Lou.. her sassy sister Billie, and her Friends William, Jade and Felicity.....

Now then the eagle eyed among you will have noticed that there are only 8 available to view in the shop....

Thats where you guys come in........

The 9th Design..(which is actually the very first one I created) has not yet been named!!......

I want you all to tell me what YOU think the stamp should be named... so Mary-Lou'?' (e.g Mary Lou 'in the garden'....)

All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post with your suggestion(s) of a name for the stamp. (you can check out the names of the rest of the range if you need ideas)

I'll announce the chosen name next Wednesday, and the WINNER will recieve the stamp as a PRIZE!! and the pride of knowing that you named it!!!

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with...

I'll be back soon with YET MORE exciting news.....

Sorry the links don't go directly to the Mary-Lous shoes page, blogger isn't co-operating tonight...grrrr!

Paula xx