Lamali Journals and life!

 Hi there folks. I generally do my weekly catch up at the weekend, but I thought I’d pop a little note on here, as I missed last week.

First, I’m going to start with my pooches. The weather has been lovely. Chilly and full of autumn colours. And the girls are most definitely loving the fact I’ve been at home more. As I type they’re bookending me - it’s cuddles galore. So at least they’re happy.

The change of events has also made me use my planner more than ever. I didn’t think that was possible. I didn’t want to sit around and do nothing. After all, I’m self employed and a freelancer. As such I know being out of the office means no wage - so I can’t take the risk of seeing what happens. I need to make things happen. And they are. Which is actually really exciting. Life is about change, growth, new challenges. And I quite like that. Granted, there are better ways to kickstart a major life shake up - but there’s no way I’m sitting around feeling like this is a holiday. So, the planners looking just peachy.

And then of course, the journals! Oww, these are a thing of beauty. Most definitely one of the most popular things we bring you here at Art Inspirations - they fly off the shelves. Which makes me think of Harry Potter. They look like they belong in a wizarding classroom. Anyway, we launched them this week on what would normally be a Let Leonie Loose show. I say normally. Currently create and craft isn’t broadcasting live. We’re stood down just waiting to see what happens. Apparently there are investors interested - so we’re all standing by to see the next chapter of this story. In the meantime I wanted to just touch base with my lovely customers and do some crafting. Which was great actually. For my pages I used loads of goodies. Ink from Hero Arts, the stunning Art Inspirations Nikolas Tower stamps, sticker from The Happy Planner, one of our Art Inspiration stencils from the new Rodrigo Assi collection, lovely waxes from Pink Ink, and cool rub one from Funky Fossil. I’m so pleased with the results. If you do want to see the demo, you can find it here

As I said, I’ve not sat around just eating and drinking…..granted I’ve done some of that. But I’ve also been chatting to folk, making plans. Lovely Paula did some new photos for me as well, which i just might need for a cheeky announcement at the weekend…….😃🤗😚

Weekly Catch Up

 Hello, the crafters how is everybody? I hope our email finds you well.

Well, let’s see, what’s been happening this week…

First, dog sitting duties! I’ve been looking after my friends dog, who is just gorgeous. He’s such a big softy, and often gets told off by Lola! I dont blame her, he does have a tendency to stomp on her paws - and his feet are big.

I was in the Create And Craft studios on Monday with the Carabelle shows. Poor Louise the buyer had to put the show together really quickly as the product didn’t actually arrive until a few hours before the live show! She did a fabulous job. It still breaks my heart that Carabelle shut their doors a little while ago, they were such a fantastic company. We had some brilliant deals and some really cool stuff to play with.

Tuesday. we did a Facebook live with some Lavinia goodies - another brand I absolutely adore. What a pleasure to do one of their shows.

Wednesday, I was back in the studio with my let Leonie loose. What a cracking line up. Two of mixed media greats, Dyan and Dina on one show!! Marvellous. We also squeezed in a cheeky Stamperia sale show, which was rather nice.

Thursday saw the launch of myself and Mandy’s company - Art Inspirations - brand new stamps. We were thrilled to introduce a brand new artist to our company, Rodrigo Assi. I absolutely love his work. He has a cool, sketchy style. And the stamps turned out spot on. As usual, our design team went above and beyond. Their samples were incredible. I also had a Chameleon pens show. I do love their pens, and they looked great on my ghost stamp!!

Friday….a day off. I caught up on jobs and then went to visit the lovely Sarah Milsop - we had a lovely evening catching up, and planning!!

I’m now back up north. Today I’m meeting up with Half Rice (haha) - Lou Withers. She’s showing me the venue she uses in Manchester to see if it’ll be good for our workshops. Fingers crossed. We have a couple of venues planned already - they’re coming together nicely. We’ll announce them soon and release the tickets. I’m so excited about getting them underway. 

And then of course, I’ll be popping onto Facebook at 7pm, for our live. I have a plan….so I hope to see you there xxx

Leonie

Weekly Catch Up on Create and Craft

Afternoon lovely crafters I am writing this whilst in a field again, and it’s sunshiny! I’m currently baby sitting my friends dog who is such a big softy and scared of most things including lightbulbs! It’s such a shame as he’s a lovely dog.

Anyway, this week. I was in create and Craft on Monday with the fantastic Happy Planner shows. I love those shows and picked my new Planner for next year hurrah.

Tuesday I had the rest of my happy planner shows, then I had another play with the amazing Chameleon pens. I then popped the presenting hat on, and did the late shift.

Wednesday I was up early to walk the gang and then got in to prep my LLL. We had the brand new AALL& Create dies, which are so cool. Loved it. I loved my Marlene shows as well! We had the brand new calendar kit. It’s full of really exciting stuff. Such a good pressie.  I then did the late shift with my presenting hat on.

Thursday I was back in for the wonderful Craft Consortium - really beautiful collections. And then we were into a Stamperia one day special!! 2 nice big collections, which were such a joy to work with.

Friday was the rest of the stamperia hours. I then sat with our lovely buyer to pick Happy Planner goodies. It was the leaving dos of two of our great buying team, but I was so shattered I couldn’t join them. I was gutted. It’s rubbish seeing folk leave, but they’re young and have new adventures ahead!!

The weekend - I’ve not done too much really. I’ve been whacked, so all my stuff on the “to do” list kinda sat there. Annoyingly. Anyway, I’ll be with you this evening for my Facebook live, and I’m going to give you a sneak peak at the brand new stamps we are launching on Create and Craft next week.

I hope you’ve had a lovely week everyone, see you tonight xx

All Counties Craft Challenge

Well, what a wonderful weekend.

I want to say a massive thank you to John Bloodworth for inviting me to take part, and for the organisation he put into the event.  It was amazing.  I loved catching up with some of my lovely friends, who I haven't seen in ages, that'll be you Paula (with her fantastic book), Julie, who actually attended classes, and Sarah, looking stunning as ever.  I even saw Dean who was teaching some fantastic techniques for furniture and mixed media.  And it was so so good meeting wonderful crafty ladies, and teaching again.

The positive energy was fantastic.  It's so nice to be with people who have such good energy, and share the passion for creativity. It's utterly uplifting and definitely inspiring.  It reminds me why my job is so incredible (as if I ever forget).  I've come home with a wonderful glow and that lovely excitable tingle you get....do you know what I mean.....when life feels good!  When anything is possible.  When you are just thankful for where you are in life......am I sounding a bit gushy?

If you want to follow John's travels, or maybe even go along to one of his workshops, then please head on over to his blog:

https://gentlemancrafter.com/all-counties-craft-challenge

It tells you much more there, and there will definitely be dates for your diary.

Thank you to the lovely ladies who came along - as usual I hardly took any photo's, so if anyone has some to share, that would be super!!!

Crafty queries

Thank you to everyone who sent messages after the craft class yesterday. There has been a couple of questions via
Facebook, so I thought I'd pop the answers on here so we could
all share.

First of all Lynn asked what to colour clear shrink plastic with. Well shrink needs something that will dry, I like using brilliance ink pads, pencil crayons, gel pens, any permanent pen. Go for light colours, as the colour intensifies when the plastic is shrunk.

Next Carole (thank you for your lovely comments). Carole asked about stamps. Unmounted stamps don't have to be put on ez mount. If you do mount them use acrylic blocks, with any foam mount it lifts the stamp higher than the "rocks" on your rock a blocks, so they won't work as well.

If you don't mount your stamp you can use rock a blocks, just have a practice getting the rock right, and the pressure. You can still use acrylic blocks, and you may find putting a piece of foam (mouse mat etc) under the card you are stamping on helps you get a clear image.

I hope that helps, I'll keep answering queries on here.

Next is the paper clinic. Remember you can send you questions in there so we can demo live, the email addy is:
Paperclinic@createandcraft.tv

Seeya tomoz xxx



- Leonie

Paper Clinic - Create and Craft

Sorry, my poor blog has been ignored beyond belief! Whoops. Anyhow, back now!! Okay, just finished prepping for the paper clinic tomoz, and hopefully will be answering questions from:
Christine from Devon - asking about Hobbydots, I'll show how they work
Margaret Keating - using glaze and triple thick embossing. Plus shink plastic
Lorraine Proud - asking about shrink plastic
Annie from Ramsgate - Ink pads
Sue from St Helens - which glue dries clear
Whoops, no name, but asking for a demo from MCS On the Shelf CD
Elaine from Peterborough - MCS standard and Pro, whats the difference
Fiona Paisley - mmmmm, my fav, angelina fibres
Eunice Quinn - Mica powders - loads to get through here!!
Connie Thomas from Rochdale - has asked how to make the card from the Hunkydoray magazine.

I hope I get through everything, always a mad rush at the end! There's always so much to show isn't there.

Anyway, hope you can join me, we start at 11 sharp.

Best get to bed eh!!

Seeya tomoz xx

Did it!!!

Well, first show done and dusted. I'm really glad I was on with Sara, she's so professional and organised, so I had nothing to worry about - well I didn't but I worried a little bit!!! Well, you would wouldn't you, be crazy not to! It was so different from QVC, of course my roll is different, but also the way it's done is very different. It was great though, and I'm really looking forward to my next one. I'm even going to watch today's show to see what I need to be doing different - oh no, saying that Nicky's gone and put it on now - urgh! Noooo, hate watching myself, phew he's turned it off for now. I will watch it, but maybe after 3 (big) glasses of vino.

Anyhow, great day. Met lots more people, didn't get lost (whoopee). It's so funny, I sort of stand in a corridor trying to work out where I am! haha, need a sat nav just to get me round work.

Hey, I've now got a dressing room, wooo. Well, me and Steph are sharing, it's the biggest room (and makes sense keeping us crafty sorts out of everyone's hair with our sticky stuff). Even get a posh car parking space. Fabulous. Anyhow, it's lovely to be home, Nicky had tidied up, then I appeared with more crafty stuff (oh yes, already bringing boxes home). Poor Nicky!

Off to chill out, ttfn xxxx

First Day!!

Wow, it's years since I had a first day - or first day nerves. Suppose the NEC was my first first day. It was great. Had a slow puncture going to Birmingham (duh), but got there eventually and met some great people. It did make me giggle how many times I heard "what are you doing on this stand" etc. There were alot of surprised faces, but everyone was so happy for me, and positive, it was lovely. The C&C gang were very busy - but very friendly. I didn't get to have much of a nosey round the show (boo), so saved lots of money. I did notice there was a proper food bit, and someone said there was even a stall selling brandy (yes, I went back to the C&C stand, didn't disappear).

My second first day was today, in studio. I got lost trying to find my B&B last night, then again this morning! I'm a liability. Going to get a sat nav, I've resisted for so long, but just getting sick of circles. Anyhow, met loads of people today, lots of teams, and presenters. Jo and I did a piece to camera to introduce me to all the lovely C&C viewers (I was abit nervous!!), then I just watched TV - how cool is that for getting used to a job. Steph was really nice, went through all the doings, and I'm going to be doing a walk on tomorrow at some stage - wow. They are being great, and breaking me in gently. Really excited and wanted to have a go - especially the show with the templates on the CD - the wedding one. Did you see, the samples were amazing.

Anyhow, I'm now back in my room, chilling out. Looking forward to tomorrow!!
xxxx