Crafty Update

 So... what have I been doing? I hear you cry... I've been mega busy so sorry for the blogsilence! I'm back now!

I've been busy making so many albums this year- I've now got a physical location to sell my products as well as the markets I attend and my online store... so it's been hectic making sure I have enough stock for all 3! I managed it though.

My wares are in a beautiful gift shop called Artistique Boutique- it's an amazing shop in The Green Community... packed full of local and internationally made gifts... every time I go and drop my stock off I end up spending loads of money. They've got great home decorations at really affordable prices and they're also a bit quirky- you won't see them anywhere else in Dubai. They also do craft and jewellery lessons... perfect!

I'm using the summer here in Dubai to build up my collection for the winter months- it's too hot to do any markets at the moment- so I'm planning ahead. You can read the article I wrote for ExpatWoman.com on how to survive a craft market here>> It's full of tips and ideas making sure you're well prepared for what to expect.

I've been busy stocking up my Little Majlis store as well as doing an interview with them as their featured crafter for August- oooh the fame!

I've also been trying out some new crafts- I went on an amazing book binding course learning the technique of this ancient art, it's really helped my scrapbooking techniques too, I also have been learning how to make painted wooden signs with sayings on. I know they are getting a bit cliched now but I still really like them and was happy to make my first one yesterday... let's see if they sell!

Other than that I've been crafting away- have had a lot of special orders as well which has been great fun!

So bye for now and will be back soon :)

Interview on Little Majlis

I was wowed when the gals at Little Majlis wanted to interview me as the featured crafter on their blog for August! What little old me? Anyway the interview was great and here's a sneak preview of it!

August 01, 2014
Meet Gail...

Do you feel that there is a crafty creative person inside of you just itching to get out and get busy? Gail, the talent behind Little Majlis boutique 'Scrappy Doo Fripperies' is that person that did something about it, and now she is bringing us gorgeous handmade paper crafts that will inspire you... either to get making or to get buying, but either way it has to be good for you!

So we would like to introduce you to Gail - who was a trooper in our virtual chat, and her enthusiasm has worn off on us, so beware (from experience!) you'll be down at your local craft shop, or frantically writing notes in your ideas book, before you have time to hit the 'Love' button at the bottom of this post...




What sort of products do you market?
I’m a paper lady! I love papercrafting! I make scrap book memory and photo albums, paper bag albums, exploding box albums, altered Moleskine notebooks, as well as decoupaged birdhouses and anything else paper-y!

To read the whole interview visit the Little Majlis blog by clicking here>>

My Online Craft Store at Little Majlis

Hi All!

It's been a while- I've been busy crafting away! I've got an online store now if you want to buy any of my goodies.... or if you want to order any personalised items- I can do names, themes and can also add the photos in to the album for you.

Hope to see you in my "virtual" shop soon!

You can visit my shop by clicking here>>

Sorry & Back In The Room!

I'm so sorry I've not blogged recently- I am going to blame spending too much time crafting to type- plus I type and write all day as my day job so sometimes the thought of more creative writing after hours is just too much and I get my glue and inks out instead hahaha!

So I've been doing a few new crafty things- have done a nice fairy range of books and albums as kids seem to really love my work and I know how girls of all ages love fairies- in fact my nieces are begging me not to sell them and let them have them! (I'll make them some for Christmas!)

This is a blank notebook inside for writing and drawing your fairy sightings in!

I made a mini mini album, a mid size and a notebook for the fairy collection- lots of pink ribbon and sparkly gems too- I would have loved one as a young girl!

I've also done some vine wreaths and hearts this weekend- I always used to make wreaths for Christmas- so was nice to do something I've done before but with new skills and equipment! I wanted to keep my vintage style still and also make them a little bit rustic... I really enjoyed making these!

These are vine wreaths and hearts trimmed with ribbons and antiqued newsprint and music sheet butterflies!

This one has a floral wire frame that I wrapped with cardboard and trimmed with twine, ribbon and red wire and added hand made flowers and the beautiful butterflies with a smattering of love hearts thrown in!

I've also launched an online store on Little Majlis- it's a great website for artisans in the UAE and really easy to use... just need some sales now! Great to have an online presence and not totally be reliant on being at craft fairs!

You can visit my shop here www.littlemajlis.com/shop/scrappydoofripperies

 I'm also featured as a favourite crafter on ExpatWoman.com which is v exciting

www.expatwoman.com/dubai/monthly_shopping_deals_crafts_crafters.aspx

I've also been making some brooches... I think jewellery making might be too fiddly for me and I didn't know how the vintage-y feel would translate by using paper for jewellery- been quite surprised by the results and it's something I definitely want to do more of...

They look cute on- they are inked, stamped, painted, glossed and button attached! Took longer to make than you'd think!

So actually have been up to quite a lot... also got a new craft desk so am looking forward to spreading out- wish I could have a whole craft room- but I make do hahahah!

Hope you are all well and will be back soon!

How it all began!

I'm a new to scrapping scrapper! I started in June last year and haven't looked back! It all started when I went to a craft fair in Oman and saw some cute little albums a lady had made. I bought one and as per usual thought "I could do that!" Which has been the start of many a crafty attempt by me... I've tried it all... Painting, sewing, crocheting, knitting, glass painting, paper mâché, making candle sticks from plaster of Paris... And failed at them all!

So I started making an album for my little brother who had just got married, then I did one for my mum with all her grandchildren in...  then before I knew it I'd made 20 albums! Just a few too many for presents and I wanted to make more...

I started to buy more equipment and supplies... Found the wonderful Tim Holtz and Graphic 45 and a fab website called Cuddly Buddly to order things from as well as the craft shops here in Dubai... Creative Hands and Paper Lane... And booked a stall at the ExpatWoman Winter Fair. I was going to sell my wares!

Guess what?

I sold out all my stock of 35 albums... I wasn't totally nuts... There was a market for my hobby so I could carry on with it. Finally I had found something I was actually good at! I don't know who was more shocked... My family, my husband or me! Hahahah!

So since then I've done 5 fairs including the RIPE Market and Arte Souk and some cute school fairs and have also been dong special orders for people too... I am now a "commissioned artist"... Well in my head I am!

I'm going to share my creative journey here with you as we'll as tips, ideas and inspiration and feedback n the various markets in Dubai and anything else that occurs to me!

Exciting times!