Say hello to baby Evie Elizabeth

Hiya to anyone who's still reading...

I'm just popping in to announce the arrival of our beautiful little lady Evie Elizabeth..

She arrived 4 weeks early on the 9th December weighing just 5lb... we've had some initial worries with breathing, blood sugars and feeding, and we've spent 10 days in hospital... but we are home now and looking forward to a wonderful christmas as a family of 5!!!!

wishing you all love and happiness this Christmas....

Paula

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Due to high demand the mega bundles have been re-added for the weekend ONLY... last chance!!!

okay...I know, this is ridiculous... 

but it seems the 2 weeks notice I gave for closure just wasn't enough!!

I've had so many emails about the mega bundles, that I feel bad people have missed out!!

SOOOO...

For this weekend ONLY... I have re-added just the 2 bundles to the shop...

this REALLY is your LAST CHANCE now though....

I  really do have to call it a day!!!

I should take this opportunity to say a MASSIVE thank you to you all for your custom and support over the years... 

Its been an absolute delight to see my designs all over the web... and i've made some wonderful friends through this adventure!! although it did become stressful towards the end... for the most part its been incredibly fun and rewarding... and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

From the bottom of my heart...

THANK YOU

to every customer, blog reader, challenge entrant...

and an extra special thank you goes out to my DT members...recent, and past... pollycraft was as much about you, as it was me... and it wouldn't have been possible without you...

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

its been amazing!!!

well.... theres fireworks going off here, and the dogs going crazy...

Dylan finds it hilarious...bless him!!

I'd better round this up and see if I can calm things down...

btw... only 8 weeks now till our little lady makes an appearance!!! its gone SO quick!!! 

getting a bit nervous now... and the little madam is breech at the moment... eeeek!

right... I'll probably disappear again for a while now...

i'll be back though....if anyones still interested in hearing my news that is....

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Thank you SO much!! 1 week left till shop closure, and a 'Farewell' FREEBIE

Hiya!

Just popping in to say a MASSIVE thank you!! for all the lovely comments and emails after my last post...

honestly...I was so nervous about posting it... I really felt daft!!

its lovely to have so much support, and to know I've done the right thing!!

if you have no idea what I'm talking about...please see the post below...

okay....SO... theres now only 1 WEEK remaining until the shop closes... so you need to hurry along, if you want to bag a bargain....

also...as an extra little bonus to say thanks... there's a little pressie over there for you all...

I know how popular these guys are... and I never got chance to release many Christmas images...so I scribbled one quickly last night for you...

and he's COMPLETELY FREE!! (terms of use still apply)

(please...if you want to let your friends know about him... use the watermarked image above with a link...  they need to get him themselves through the shop)

You'll need an account to get him, but seriously it takes seconds to set one up... and just pop him in your basket...

simples...

I'd REALLY love to see anything you make with him...so please do come back and share...

right...it has to be a quickie today, cos my little fella is having a snooze at the mo..and I suspect it will be a short one...

have a FABULOUS day all...

enjoy rudolph!!

Paula

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VERY LONG POST... SAD news, and GLAD news....

Hello all!

I really don't know what to say...or how to word this post... 

so I'll just go with it, and see what happens...

It won't have escaped your attention, that I've been rather distant for a while... posts are few and far between, and when they appear they really don't say very much!

well, there are one or two fairly good reasons for that...

So....

I have news...

I'll get the bad news out of the way first...

It is with a VERY VERY heavy heart that I have decided to close Pollycraft.

YES, I know... I only re-opened a few months ago! but I think I have finally realised this isn't where I want to be any more...

I'll willingly admit...deciding to re-open was a mistake... 

The whole reason I closed in the first place was because I'd fallen out of love with it... I'd begun to hate drawing, and crafting.... I'd begun to get SO stressed out with it that it was affecting my family... and that was awful!

Our beautiful little Dylan coming along was the tipping point really... and I knew that life needed to be different... closing was for the best!

but then we had a bit of a difficult time in Dylans first few months... and think I saw a return to Pollycraft as something that would help me get through it...

honestly.... it helped at first, re-building the website, and getting creative again gave me something else to focus on, and helped ease my constant panic and worry about everything we were dealing with....

As soon as I opened though it became just as stressful as it had before... and I knew I'd made a stupid decision!

 I decided I'd have to persevere for a while...

Then just a week after I re-opened we got a MASSIVE shock...

I discovered I was pregnant again!!

in those early days I honestly just couldn't think straight... my head was just bursting with a million and one worries about EVERYTHING...
I'd only had a c-section 9 months earlier... and we'd had such a lot of worries with Dylan...

it took a LONG time for the news to sink in....

gradually as we got through the first few doctor/midwife/consultant appointments things started to feel less scary, and suddenly felt 'real'

naturally we've got concerns, but scans have been re-assuring... and we are now JUST OVER THE MOON DELIGHTED....

so that's the ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL news!!!

It's looking likely that I'll be booked in for a c-section between Christmas and New Year...

(pretty rubbish timing huh?)

and....the most exciting part?!.....

We are having a little bundle of pink!!

I can genuinely say, I really didn't mind either way...
but....

in a house full of boys, I have to admit to looking forward to dresses, and dolls and pigtails...

Some news eh???

so, in a nutshell...

I'm not enjoying Pollycraft as much as I should (and how can I expect customers to if I don't?!)
My hearts SO not in it... so I just don't have the passion to re build it to what it was before...
And Kev is SUPER busy at work, so time is a big issue too...

Plus... that stupid little brain of mine has had to learn the hard way that life is far too short, and that there are so many more important things going on...

Kev's been getting one day off a fortnight lately...so it would be LOVELY to spend that one day together as a family, and not have him just letting me catch up with Pollycraft stuff...
We will soon be expecting our fifth family member... (less than 12 weeks!!!!)
Our gorgeous little Chappy is now a walking, talking bundle of trouble... into EVERYTHING, and bloomin' hard work at times... but SO SO worth the aching back, and tired eyes!!!
And our not so little 14 year old STAR! has been quietly just accepting everything that's been going on, and not complained one little bit that his life has had to change so dramatically... he's just started his GSCE's and has a lot on his plate at the moment, and he SO deserves a Mum who is there for him, and has the time to have fun again!

Say no more really...

YES, I'm an idiot...
I shouldn't have re-opened for the reasons I did... I knew deep down it wasn't for the best...

But, you know what...
I can hold my hands up and admit my mistake... and so what if I look stupid for a while...
I'm a whole lot happier for it!!

The store will close on the 23rd October...
So you've got 2 weeks to grab anything you want before they are gone forever...

The MEGA bundles will remain on sale until close... and there are also 3 new images in the shop...

You can get all 3 for the price of 1..
just £1.49

There will be NO new challenges set over on the Challenge blog...
HUGE thanks go to the WONDERFUL Design Team!
You are all STARS... and I thank you so much for your talent, your support, and your understanding...

I honestly can't thank you enough!!

Okay... I think I've said plenty now...
I think I feel better....
I'm sorry if I've disappointed anyone...
it just needs to be done...

phew...

I'm not going anywhere in a hurry...
I'll still be sharing news on here for a while....

This blog will eventually become more of a general/personal/family blog...

I haven't yet done the big Dylan update I promised, and I'll be letting you know when our new addition arrives!!

Plus... I might get back to crafting for fun once life settles down, so I'll be able to enjoy sharing again...

I'll be back with a 'proper' goodbye post soon...

Take care all...

Me
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BIG prizes STILL unclaimed...and Massive Mega Deals continue....

Good Morning!!!

How are we all today???

it feels frrrrrrrreezing here! not sure if its just me, or if winter really is on its way....

not that I really mind... I love winter!!

Any-hoo.... the reason I'm here is to remind you all to check your accounts!!

2 people STILL haven't claimed their £10.00!!!

and..... 5 people STILL haven't claimed their £5.00!!!!

that's ALL the bigger prizes unclaimed!!!!

get yourselves over to the shop and check!!!!

there's only a week left to use any credit... 

got yourself one of the MASSIVE MEGA deals yet??

they really are super value!!!

they won't be available for ever...so grab 'em while you can!!!!

right...that's me for today...

reminders done!!

see you soon!!

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MASSIVE MEGA BUNDLE DEAL 60+ IMAGES FOR JUST £13.99!! AND COLOURED VERSION AVAILABLE TOO!!!

Did you check your account yet??

you might have £10 just sitting there waiting to be spent!!!

check out all the full info HERE

Fancy a BARGAIN??? 

Of course you do!!

Check out these FAB deals.....

ALL OF THE DIGIS RELEASED SINCE THE SHOP RELAUNCH... INCLUDING SENTIMENTS...

BARGAIN AT JUST 15.99... AND ALL HAND COLOURED, READY TO GO.....

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE STANDARD UNCOLOURED LINE DRAWING FORMAT

FOR JUST  £13.99 NOW THATS A STEAL...... (ABOUT 23P A DIGI!!)

go shopping now....

See you soon...

Paula

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Everyones a winner!!! Are you the Lucky winner of £10 OR £5?? Check your account NOW!!!

Hi All!!!!

long time no post (again!)

I had intended to get much more organised, but well.....you know how that goes!

I did want to post you another freebie last week, but life is really getting in the way of my work time at the moment (not that I mind...lol)

so.....instead of that, I thought I'd do something a bit different....

YEP... EVERY account holder will find a random amount of credit in their account balance...

could be £1.... could be £10!!!

you won't know until you log in and check!! 

everyone will at least have enough to get yourself a FREE digi from the classic cave...

OR use it to get money off your next shopping spree!!

be quick though.... the credit expires in 14 days!

(9/10/13)

See you soon!!

Paula 

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Christmas Pixie Holly and sentiment FREEBIE

Goooooooood Morning all....

its FREEBIE time!!!

Did you see the sneek peek I showed last week???

hee hee.... 

soooooooooooooooo mean of me to make you wait.... but I hope its worth it...

Here she is in all her Christmas glory...

Pixie Holly!

You'll need to get her in the shop... which means you'll need an account, but that's no biggie...only takes a minute!

She'll be FREE for a week, and then will be available from the 11th Sept for the regular price of £1.49

Can I please, please, please draw your attention to the fact that 'free' just means you haven't paid for her...it doesn't mean you are 'free' to do what you like with her!

IF you want to let others know about her... please send them here ..... you are NOT permitted to share the file, or post it online!

Thanks!

other than that.... enjoy!!

I'd love to see anything you make with her... so please come back and share....

....talking of sharing...

I'd LOVE to share with you what my DT have made with her....

Donna's made this beautiful pink card!

I love pink on Christmas cards... I'm not sure why, cos on the whole I'm not really a pink fan...

Gorgeous isn't it?

and Calypso's gone all traditional with this beauty...

Loving the bells... and check how she's flying out of the card...

FAB!

Check out this supercute little tag Janes made! fabulous layout and colour scheme isn't it?

so.... go grab her

and feedback would be nice... what do you think of her?

Paula

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New Autumn Lil Dumplings, and a sneek peek of a freebie!

Good Morning!!!

Long time no see...

So sorry for just disappearing... 

We were on our hols in France for a while, and then we've had lots on since we got back... including Dylans first birthday!!!

YES...it really has been a year!!!!

I'll do a big 'Dylan update' very soon... but in the meantime heres a cheeky piccy of our big fella!

can't believe a whole year has gone by already!

awww...look at him!

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So....its been AGES since anything new happened in the shop hasn't it.... 

Typical me though huh??

I have been busy behind the scenes though....

firstly there are 6 new Lil dumplings in the shop right now...

Buy them individually for 1.49 each OR get all 6 for just £5.75! ooooooooooooh!!

wanna see them all?

here you go..........

and..... you can also get the first set for a bargain price too...  

all 10 images for £7.50!

I might as well give them away!! lol.....

.....which leads me to my next news.... 

Fancy a freebie???

of course you do...

well, you'll have to wait till next week to get one!!!

sorry, thats really naughty isn't it???

how about a sneek peek for now?

hmmmmm......does that give too much away?

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what else was there?

oh...did you see a new challenge has started today? 

its the lovely Pami's turn to choose the theme this time... and she's chosen 

for the kids

great theme huh?

nice and easy... and lots of new digis that fit perfectly!

please pop over and check out the amazing samples on display!

right... I think that's enough for today!!

I'll be back soon with a Dylan update, and some other news!!

please pop back!

Paula

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Friday Flashback - Monsters vs Aliens vs Robots!

Hello! Happy Friday everyone!

Anyone fed up of the heat yet?.... sigh.... its a 'hands up' from me!

well...its time once again for a Friday Flashback...

where you get to revisit some amazing older creations from my DT, using some of the older images... 

Todays Friday Flashback focuses on those critter characters... the monsters, aliens, robots etc...

these have always been some of my favourites, as they make such fun cards...

ready for some fun???

check these out...

  Fluffy from Cazza

Beer Monster from Jane

Beer Monster from Shelly

Spike from Jane

Robot Dad from Jane

Fluffy from Jane

Zoom from Faye

Spike from Mary J

Fluffy from Lisa

Beer Monster from Mary J

Fluffy from Lisa

Spike from Mary J

Zoom from Jane

awesome...right???

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Only 1 day left to grab 'Andrew' Free!! and 30% off everything else...

Hey all....

WOW...its still bloomin' hot!!

hope all you sun worshippers are making the most of it?

I'll continue sitting on top of the fan (yeah, we found it!) with the curtains closed.... lol!!

just popping on to let you know that the 30% off and FREE 'Andrew' offer ends tomorrow...

so grab him while you can...

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Also...

Did you see the new challenge that Shelly set over on the challenge blog?

**Ruby Red**

we want to see red as the main colour of your creation...

theres a £10 pollycraft voucher up for grabs!

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Friday Flashback.... Sapphire, Barclay, and Maurice

Oh my word its HOT!! I'm baking!!! 

Our freezer is broken, so no ice lollies...and we can't find our fan!!

arrrrrrrgh!... its not good at all!

Little monkey is not enjoying it either, he's off his food and grumpy, bless him...

if the 'powers that be' are reading... just a little bit cooler ....please??

well......... I figured I'd pop on here while monkey is having a power nap...

I thought it would be a good idea to shine a little light on some of the older images I've recently added to the store... I've been hunting down some samples from my DT's blogs over the last couple of days, and WOW, I've found some beauties!!

Today I'd like to dedicate the Friday Flashback to....

Maurice

Barclay

Sapphire Bloom

Check out these FABULOUS creations.....

This perfectly pink beauty from Faye uses '2 hearts'

This super cool set from Mary J uses 'Barclay at sea'

Mary has taken away the umbrella, and added a flower instead!! genius!

Another Barclay from Mary J... this time 'Barclays tie'

Here's the hunky Maurice in his sexy boxers... a brilliant creation from Jane

And another from Jane (who has a secret Maurice crush!shhhhhh) using 'ready for business'

These 2 from Shelly I had never seen before... (amazing the older designs you find on new DT blogs!!)

aren't they fabulous?!?!

both use 'hello rainbow' LOVE Shelly's doodling!

I ADORE this '2 hearts' card from Jane... it just 'works' 

And last but not least... this corker from Cazza!! amazing colours aren't they!

this uses 'Barclay at sea'...

WOW, I'm really pleased I decided to add old stock to the store... otherwise these amazing creations would have been lost to the blogger archives!! 

I plan to do this all over again next week (little monkey permitting...) 

I hope you've enjoyed these, and will come back for more!!??

Don't forget the special 'game, set, match' offer....

its running until the 18th...

Right, that's me for now....

have a fabulous weekend!!!

Paula 

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Well done Andy Murray!! Celebrate with 30% off EVERYTHING and a FREEBIE!

WOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!

How fantastic was the Wimbledon final yesterday???

blooooomin' brilliant!

I get completely wrapped up in the whole tournament every year... its the ONLY TV I actually get to watch in our house, so I LOVE it!!!

It was so great to see Andy win, and he really deserved it too... last year I cried with him... this year I was just so thrilled for him....

Woooohooooo!!

So.... now theres nothing to watch... I got my doodling head on, and came up with a NEW digi to mark the occasion....

'Andrew'

but..... thats not all.......

Theres a fab offer too....

30% off everything in store, and if you spend over £3.00 (before discount) you can have 'Andrew' for free!!

FAB EH???

Offer ends 18th July....

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Did you also see that I've added some older images to the store now??

there are currently about 50 to choose from... at just 99p each....

go shopping now....

well... I think that's me for now....

catch you later

Paula

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okay.......I've caved

Good Afternoon people!

been meaning to post for AGES, but there's always something that gets in the way...

So... today's reason for posting is to let you know that I've caved!

yes....since I reopened, my intention was to only add new images to the shop... BUT... I'm getting so many emails every day asking for older images, and so many of you are still blogging creations using them... that I can see that it does make sense to add some of them to the shop...

I won't be adding all of them... as I'm limited on space... (and to be honest...ALOT of the really old ones were pretty naff!)

but...over the next couple of days you should see some of your old favourites popping up...

In other news....

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Theres a new challenge starting over on the Pollycraft Challenge blog...

this time the theme is:

**STARS AND STRIPES**

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I'm trying to get the Pollycaft facebook group active again...

 if you haven't joined yet... pop over and get involved...

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I think that's all for today.... I have a few other things on my mind, but I'll save those for another post...

need to do an update on my little guy soon too....

Bye for now...

Paula 

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A New Range, and a FAB offer!

Good Morning Crafters!!!

And a BIG Happy Fathers Day to any Daddy's that might be reading!

We are off to visit Grandad in a sec... but I wanted to quickly pop on to let you know I've added a new range to the shop!

Introducing the....

A new range of Diddy Doodles...perfect for those cards for the Little ones in your life...

(But equally suitable for the big ones too!)

Say 'Hello' to....

Bloom

Champ

Brains

Nipper

Fleur

Curly

Rory

Shelby

Queenie

Sparky

All available in the shop now for £1.49 each!

Can't decide which is your favourite?
Grab the Bundle!

all 10 images for just £7.50!!
Bargain eh?

Don't forget the Pollycraft Challenge is BACK on Wednesday!!
woooooooooo!!!

We can't wait!!!
I'll be back soon... but in the meantime....

Have a wonderful Sunday with your Dads....

Paula
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