I've messed up... again! Grrrrr!!!

Once again I am having to move a giveaway from facebook over here.  I am really annoyed at myself (and have given myself a bit of a headache because of it) for not remembering last time I had a giveaway (I moved it over here!).  All I wanted to do was thank people for their support, but I am not allowed to have a giveaway on FB... they could shut my page down. :-/

I'll have to write 'NO GIVEAWAYS ON FACEBOOK' on post-it notes and stick them around the house until it sinks in!!!

All those who entered, I would like to thank you, your names are written down and will go into the hat in a little while.  I'll announce it on here later.

In future all giveaways will be done here.  

The Owl and The Pussy Cat Commission

This is a recent paper cut commission that I have been working on this summer, finally framed. 

I love the Owl and The Pussy Cat by Edward Lear and find myself singing it quite frequently!  

It was a pleasure working on it and I am really pleased with the outcome. 

If you are interested in having one of these created for you, or you would like something else done as a paper cut, please do not hesitate to contact me.  You can find more of my work in my shop and can follow my progress more frequently on Facebook.

p.s don't forget my giveaway on Facebook!  It finishes this Sunday evening (GMT).  Pop over and tell us what your favourite pudding is!!!  If you like what you see, hit the like button for my page, and please help spread the Loula Belle love by sharing it with your friends and family by hitting the share button (this is really important as FB has changed and less people are seeing posts... they want us to pay for advertising... small business need all the help they can get so please share things you like.  Thanks x).

It's time for a GIVEAWAY :-)

I have reached over 500 likes on my Facebook page, and to thank people for their support and kind words, I am having a giveaway... and of course I will say thank you too!

THANK YOU everyone (I shouted that from the roof top!), it's lovely to have met so many lovely people and I hope I continue to do so, and it's lovely that so many people think me work is lovely too :-D.

I will be announcing the winner round about this time next week, and the winner will be able to 'choose from one of the following options' ;-)

One of my cosmetic bags, chosen from this collection...

... or a £10 discount voucher to spend in my Etsy shop...

... or alternatively, £20 discount off one of my paper cut trees.  A Memory Tree (perfect for a new baby gift, a Christening or Baby Naming gift, a first birthday, a wedding or other occasion you would like to remember), or a Family Tree.

So, what are you waiting for?  Get yourself over to my page.  If you don't already 'like' my page, then please do so, and then leave me details of your favourite pudding (?!!) under the giveaway post.  Oh, and please do be very lovely and like it and share it with your friends.

Yey.... have a lovely Sunday evening.  Here's to week two of the summer holidays *raising glass*.  Have a lovely week :-)

Cut, cut, cut...

Since my last post, my time has been spent creating paper cuts!  My 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' resulted in a number of commissions, so I have been a very busy lady (and still have work to complete)!

The first was using the same art work I had used for "The First Time', but using different lyrics.  Someone else's special song :-)

And then there was 'The Owl and The Pussy Cat'.  It was lovely doing this.  I love the song, and I am really pleased with my water!

I've not had chance to take any decent images, but will share them with you as soon as I do!

It has also been the Fairy's birthday, and although I felt her party was a bit of a cop out (she'd decided she wanted a film party, so not much organising to do!) ...

... but I did make her a very beautiful card.

A bit of an improvement in my cutting since her card from last year!

Oh, and we also managed to spend a few days with my brother and his family... 

... enjoying the sun (something we are still struggling to find up north) whilst partaking in various o'clocks (one day we had Pimms o'clock, G&T o'clock AND wine o'clock)!  Fab!  

'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'

This has to be one of my all time favourite songs.  I love the original version sung by Roberta Flack, but the Stereophonics version is fantabulous!

So here it is in paper cut!

When my mum saw the art work before I started cutting it she informed me that my head was wrong, that I wasn't wired up right.  This is because everything is done as a negative on the reverse, so each word is written backwards!  It is surprising how adaptable brains are, however I do sit by a mirror, just so I can check I am getting it right as I go along.

Everything has been painstakingly cut by hand using a scalpel.  Can you imagine the hours?  I daren't add them up!!!

This paper cut is for sale.  You can find out more about it here.

Must go and get some sewing done.  I have orders to fulfill!

Have a lovely day x

Front Page News!

Firstly I must apologize for my absence (once again), every time I write a post I make a mental note to do more, and then 'things' take over!  Things are pretty busy here, which is fantastic, but it does leave me less time to share stuff with you all :-(.  If you do want more frequent updates, I do tend to post what I am doing on facebook.  If you haven't been over to see me there, please do pop in say hi, and have a cup of tea and a piece of cake while you are there!

I have had some lovely news today.  From Britain With Love contacted me to tell me that I am on the front page as they have featured my Family Tree in their Editor's Pick.  Yippee!!!

 

' FromBritainWithLove.com is an online magazine and directory dedicated to showcasing Britain’s most talented designers, craftspeople, producers and retailers. From gorgeous handmade gifts to delicious locally sourced food, original designer fashions and unique pieces for your home, every fabulous product we feature has been made right here in Britain.'

If you haven't already visited the site, please do.  There is a fantastic collection of goods produced in the UK by small businesses.  Please support small businesses!

Since being commissioned to make one of these Family Trees in March, they have kept me very busy.  These are two that have already been given as gifts that I can now share with you.

Apologies for the dreadful photo.  I had little time to do this and get it
posted to the US  in time for Fathers Day, so it was taken at night!

I have also been working on Memory Trees in this style, but with dates of events on.  There is a gorgeous birth date one that I am dying to share with you, and I have also done one with a wedding date for a 1st wedding anniversary present (which is paper!), and have 2 more waiting to be made as wedding gifts.

It is so lovely that people like them so much.  Here is some feedback that I have had:

"love it, love it, love it :-) x"

"The Family Tree is absolutely beautiful - thank you. It will make a very unique and personal birthday present for a very good friend. Thank you for making it and sending it so promptly and for your outstanding communication every step of the way."

"This tree is so beautiful! It is even more amazing to see it in person than the picture. Leonie was so gracious to work with me to get this done quickly and shipped to me in time for Father's day. I love it and I can't thank her enough!"

"It arrived this morning - totally delighted, you are very clever."

If you would like to have a look at more of my papercuts, you can find them here.

Right, I'm  off now I have a papercut that I must finish as I also have some Foxy Loxy wash bags I need to make up in the next couple of days! 

If you are interested in having a Family Tree, or a Memory Tree made for you, you can find more details here.  Please do get in touch if you have any queries :-)

A holiday in sunny Skeggy... and an escape to Lincoln!!!

We had planned to go camping this week, but last Saturday after searching the internet for decent(ish) weather in the UK, and a couple of glasses of wine, we decided that we would snap Butlins up on their offer of cheap accommodation and head off to Skegness!  When I told my family they really did think I was joking, but no, it was booked.  Am I pleased we went?  Well yes... I will never return (!!!), but despite it being difficult at times, the children had a great time and we had time to play with them, which was the plan.  We were also very lucky with the weather, it did rain, but for short periods, and we managed to keep dry for most of it!

On day one, the weather was dry, so we escaped to Lincoln.  A fabulous, and beautiful city that I would love to spend some more time in.  

We visited the castle, experienced the prison in the grounds, and saw one of the original Magna Carta's.

We had also planned to go into the Cathedral, but unfortunately the cost was a little too much after being in the castle, so we admired it from outside instead.  A truly fabulous piece of architecture.  Just look at some of the stone work.

We did a lot of walking!  We saw lots of gorgeous streets...

... stunning buildings... 

... and amazing doorways, and windows.

The Fairy also got a bow and some arrows, and spent hours practising (the mirror in our 'apartment' was covered in sucker marks when we left!!!)

So, you are wondering where the pictures of Skeggy are?!!  There are none!  We drove into the town, and back out again, deciding that we would rather be running around on the beach at Butlins than bustling with people and hotdog stands!

A fantastic decision, and we managed to get back just before the heavens opened!

We also had fun at the little funfair on site (most rides were free) and the water park was fab (it'll be even better next year as they are redeveloping it at the moment!!).

But...  I would have preferred to have been in one of these!