………………..that I have been absolutely dying to tell you all.

I am going to live the dream ……. I have been offered a full-time position with Crafters Companion, working closely with Sara as Creative Development Manager. I’ve handed in my notice at work (very scary, but very exciting) and will start work on the 11th January! My new role will encompass lots of areas of work, but will predominantly be working on new product development projects with Sara, I’ll also be doing a lot of the TV shows with Sara (and then some of the shows for Crafters on my own too!).

As you all know ive been doing quite a bit for Crafters in the background over the last year, so I am so over the moon that Sara thinks I will be a valuable asset to Crafters Companion and can’t wait to start working with her and the company full-time. The team at Crafters Companion is amazing. I’ll be working with a really talented and wonderful bunch of people

I am so excited and have been dying to tell you all, its been un-bearable trying to keep my mouth shut! no mean feat! Its been a life changing decision for me, but one I am really excited about, my wonderfully supportive husband has encouraged me every step of the way and says that opportunities like this only come around once in a lifetime, so grab it with both hands while you can.

I have driven my friends and family especially hubbie mad while making the decision, thank you to everyone who has listened to me whittle on and on …. I have some wonderful friends where I work now, and some more wonderful friends waitng for me at me my new job.

So decision made ……. and I cant wait, there is going to be some blow your mind stuff coming your way – trust me

Lots of Love, Lx

Leann Chivers
Creative Development Manager
Crafters Companion

(LOL – could not resist that, it makes me so happy to write it! )

I’ve been meaning to share these with you for some time now and just not had the opportunity, so I’ve downloaded them from the camera and took the time to up – load them today for you ……

Hope to see you at Pins and Needles over the next few days……

L x

Hi all

Just packing all my demo stuff for Pins and Needles at the arena in Newcastle. Am on the Crafters Companion Stand, and will be there Thursday, Friday and Saturday…….. hope to see you there, come and say hello

L x

Had a lovely Holiday in Crete this year, first time anywhere greek and was bowled over by the culture and lovely friendly people – will definatley be going back ……

I have been promising this for so long ………….. here it is eventually I wanted to make sure that you had photo’s to go with the instructions…………………. This wuill make a A5 Diamond Pop Forward Card…

You will need:

• 6 sheets of A5 white card
• 1 sheet of contrasting card for matting and layering
• Backing paper
• Centre Piece (decoupage or stamped image – your choice)
• Double sided tape
• Decoupage foam pads

Step 1

Take once piece of A5 Card (landscape in front of you) and fold the bottom left corner over to form a triangle at the top of the card. Burnish with a bone folder for a really sharp crease.

Step 2

Step 2

Turn the card 360 degrees (don’t turn it over) and repeat in the opposite direction taking the bottom right corner over and burnishing with a bone folder.

Step 3

Top Tip: When open you should now have a cross at one of the card.

Step 4

Turn the card over and fold the top part of the scored card across to meet the lines at the bottom of the cross. Burnish your line with a bone folder to make a really sharp crease.

Step 5

Unfold the crease you have made at step five and lay the card on your surface. Hold the card at either side of the line you have just scored and pull towards the centre.

Step 6

The card should very easily for a triangle shape at the top of the card. Make sure all creases are well burnished with a bone folder.

Step 7

Turn the card over and fold back the remaining piece of un-folded card, so that it is parallel with the bottom widest piece of the triangle.

Step 8

Repeat steps 1 to 7, as you need two of the shapes to form the front of your card.

Once fold lay both pieces flat on your surface and butt together in the centre to form a diamond shape.

Step 9

Cut a square of card to measure just short of 4 inches or 10cm.

Adhere this with double side tape to the centre for the card to join your two folded pieces together and make one card.

Step 10

Turn the card over and push the creased lines into place to form the diamond at the front of the card. You will be able to see a join line where the two cards have been joined, cut a square of card to measure 4 ¼ inches. Adhere this to the front of the diamond, which will hide the join.

Step 11

With your remaining two pieces of A5 card create two fold back cards using the A5 half fold and A5 gatefold lines on your Ultimate Pro

Step 12

Adhere the fold back cards one at each side of the fold diamond design. This will give the card added stability and dimension.

Step 13

Decorate the side and front panel with strips of backing paper which have been mated onto some contrasting card.

Cut out the decoupage, or stamped image for the centre of your card, layer with foam pads or silicone glue and position on the front of your card.

Top Tip: This card is really worth the effort and will draw gasps of appreciation.

Top Tip 2: This card can be made at any size, all you need to remember is that the size of the piece of card you start with (here we used A5) will be the size of the finished card……

Well, I have been absolutely rushed off my feet and not had a single minute to update my blog, which is very shabby of me, I know…..

Got some time now – so uploading the pics of the Winter Tales Samples I created, loved working with these stamps Jayne surpassed herself again.

Im going to upload the daimond card instructions I have been promising for so long too, I will then feel all saintly

L x

………………. has gone and given up the ghost! Ive got loads of photos to upload, my popcorn samples, and also the las C&C samples I did with the Classic ladies and just as importantly some lovely sunsets from my recent weekend in Keswick …. as soon as its fixed Ill upload them all. Im busy working on another show – Im on C&C on the 25th and 26th of July and also working on some top secret Crafters Companion stuff too MWAHHHHH HA HA HAAAAAAAAA (evil laughter) which your gonna LURVE.

Will be back soon with updates and Photo’s ….. in the meantime if you want to see popcord Samples mine are in the designers gallery on the Crafters Companion Website …..

http://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/members/member_gallery.html?page=10&gallery_id=5

You may need to register as a member to view them – but Ill upload them here as soon as I can

Hope your all well

L x

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO went to see take that on Saturday night and they were FANTASTIC…. but our seats were poop! so ive had to borrow these pics off a friend who was there (hope you dont mind Nikki!) who que’d from 11am in the morning to get a good position. However, I am much too old for that and wanted a seat, but the view from where we were was very obscured by the stadium roof! Their singing was amazing though – all live and sounded just as good as a recording, true professionals! I dont think Ill go to a standium again, but if they go to a smaller venue Ill pay 10 times the ticket price to see them, I managed to indulge my girlish fantasy that is Gary Barlow! SWOON – LOL

Leann x

PS – if your wondering about the funny costumes the whole concert was based around the “circus” theme

Hi all

Ive been looking at the lastest card I posted and thinking I like it but there is something missing ……. well I’ve realised wat it was a Messy rabbit…. added this lovely party messy and I think it finishes the card off just nicely!

Hope you’re all well

L x

Hi all,

Sorry ive not been around a lot – ive been prepping for a POTD show, I’m doing on Sunday on IW – BUT before I get there ive got so much more fun things coming too. Getting the train in the morning to London as its my SIL’s hen weekend, we are off to see Hairspray tomorrow night in London, then on Sunday a trip to covent garden and and then off to Peterborough for POTD launch on Sunday night…….. and shows all day Monday before heading home around 10pm (to treat myself ive booked a first class ticket home – no ive not come into money it was a really cheap advance fare only £35 – so travelling home in style – Ill need it as I wil be jiggered) then back to work on Tuesday morning……

off to finish packing so be good and Ill see you soon …….

Leann x

PS – Id really appreciate some moral support and a couple of emails on the show! LOL