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Today I filmed another of my little 'Cup of Tea & a Catch Up' videos, that way I can fit lots in! Here is all the latest news from Hurley HQ!

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Last week I was sent this book to read (cue lots of excitement - I do love a good book and I knew I'd love this one!)

Focusing on beautiful letter writing, this book is illustrated with photos of gorgeous letters, recipes, craft projects, packages, washi tape and stationery - it's REALLY inspiring to see such effort and gorgeous creations throughout, here are a couple of peeks at some of my favourite bits...

This has given me lots of inspiration for future craft projects, I'll be sharing soon! Whether you're looking for step by step projects or just a coffee table inspiration book, if you love crafts, stationery and / or letter writing, this is the book for you!

You can get your copy here on the publishers website - Hardie Grant Publishers or here via Amazon.

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

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If you've picked up the latest issue of Papercraft Inspirations magazine then you may have seen my pet cards featured! Today I wanted to show you the step by step of the origami cat face featured on this one...
I used DCWV paper from the Blue Citrus Stack - this is really good for origami as there is pattern one side and plain white the other!
To start, I cut a square to 4" x 4" and folded it corner to corner across the diagonal. I then folded the edges together and just pinched a small crease in the middle to mark the centre. Open the square back out and fold the tip of the bottom triangle up to meet the centre, then fold the bottom half up as shown in picture 2.
Fold each side from the middle up to the tip of the triangle. Fold each triangle back on itself (this creates the cat ears!)

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Just a quick reminder today that you only have until midnight tonight to get your entries in for the CHA UK Creative Exchanges Scholarship competition, winning you a free place at the upcoming Creative Exchanges event and a big swag of goodies!

All the details can be found here in my earlier post and in case you missed the super exciting keynote speaker news, that can be found here!

Thank you for dropping by today!
Sarah x

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Today I'm sharing a little peek at an upcoming blog project, this time, some Art Journaling...

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Just a quick note today to let you know, I have lots and lots of brand new shapes over in the Silhouette store! Here is a little preview of some of my latest ones...

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My lovely team have been super busy again this week creating some lovely inspirational projects for you...

we have calendar inspiration, a cupcake card, an inky tag and Easter inspiration from Jaine and Clare - pop over now to check out all of the inspiration!

Thank you for dropping by today
Sarah x

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Today, I'm super excited to announce another business launch, this time, not mine, but B's. He came up with a concept at the end of last year that I thought would be FAB!
I stock only my own brand products but often use other things in my projects - I get so many messages asking where you can get a certain stamp or paper, often I've found them abroad and it's hard for you to get hold of the same things. B decided that he would solve all of your problems!
He has today launched his online shop, BeeBee's Boutique, stocking a range of gorgeous crafty things, pretty things (like stationery, stickers and gifts) and yummy things (like the delicious American candy we enjoy here at Hurley HQ!) For us, crafting is an experience, we use our crafty favourites but we also mix in pretty stationery and it doesn't hurt to have something delicious to snack on while we create either! BeeBee's Boutique brings you all of those things in one handy place.

We very much hope you'll enjoy shopping with us and like all of the gorgeous new things we have for you, check it out here now!

Thank you so much for dropping by today and sharing our excitement, it's B's Birthday today so we're going to be celebrating that and his new venture tonight!

Sarah x

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Today I wanted to tell you all about the first big event I've been working on for CHA UK - Creative Exchanges!

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Today I get to share some exciting news, I shared some sneak peeks at Stitches of something I was working on, a brand new business (running alongside my existing businesses!) with a good friend of mine Diane Rooney - I'm very pleased to tell you about the launch of Spark Creative!
Spark Creative was the merging of our ideas, Di and I had a lunch last year and we got to talking about business and our plans for the year ahead. Di asked me if I would write some content for a new business idea she was working on and I asked her for some help with one of mine, as we started talking, we realised we were basically starting the same business but with different approaches. As we discussed it more, we realised that the strengths in our differences could make a joint venture much more exciting than the two separate ventures we had planned, we merged our ideas, plans and visions together to create Spark Creative!

Spark Creative is an online resource for those of you who have, or are starting, a creative business. We'll be giving you inspiration, business tips, resources and all the things we wished we had known when we started out, including all of the mistakes so we can hopefully help you avoid the same ones and take the first steps to igniting your dream life!

We will be bringing you more information over the coming weeks and you'll start to see information on all of the exciting things we have in store, keep an eye on our new website, blog and Facebook page, or sign up for our email newsletter, for all the news as it happens as well as some great business inspiration and resources.

Thank you for dropping by and sharing in our excitement!
Sarah x

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My lovely team have been super busy again this week creating some lovely inspirational projects for you...

we have planner inspiration, a mothers day card, a cute sausage dog keyring and a fantastic bookmark - pop over now to check out all of the inspiration!

Thank you for dropping by today
Sarah x

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Today I looked again at the list of eleventy billion blog posts I need to do (they are coming, honest pinky promise!!!) and thought, you know what, I'm just going to do a quick video and tell everyone what I'm up to, so.... here it is!


p.s. I know what you're thinking... great thumbnail right? *sigh* lol
Thanks so much for dropping by today!Sarah x

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My lovely team have been super busy again this week creating some lovely inspirational projects for you...

we have art journaling, hidden scrapbooking pockets, shaker cards, silhouette shapes and neon zendoodle embossing - pop over now to check out all of the inspiration!

Thank you for dropping by today
Sarah x

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Over the weekend I got a little free time so I thought I'd finally open my ShinHan markers and one of my new stamps from Prima and see if I could remember how to colour in!

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Following on from yesterday! After my first tour of the show, it was time to head off to a party! Create & Craft were launching Create & Craft USA with a cocktail night and I popped along to hear all about it and catch up with some friends!
As I had to be up early the following morning for the Designer Section Meeting I sneaked out a little bit early and head back to my room with a big bottle of Gatorade (all the aircon and talking means you pretty soon lose your voice!) I had to take a picture of the label of my bottle of Gatorade fruit punch - notice NO actual fruit juice in that giant bottle of Fruit Punch - I LOVE America!
The following morning I had just enough time to go and do my seminar on Creative Blogging, it was so fun to get to speak to an amazing group of ladies and I got SO much fabulous feedback on my talk that I was over the moon, one lady even said it was the best seminar she had been too - and it was only my second time! eeek! so fun! Then I had just enough time to go and say a quick goodbye to everyone before hopping on a shuttle back to the airport and another 11 hour flight back to London.

I so LOVED my trip, I can't wait to go back and until then, I brought back this little piece of America...

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Today I want to tell you all about my recent trip to L.A. for the CHA Mega Show. As there is so much to tell and so many pics, I've divided it into two halves, here is part one...
This was my first visit so I was VERY excited, but I was also going alone and doing a seminar so I was also VERY nervous! After an 11 hour flight, I arrived late in the evening, the block party was in full swing but after a long flight and shuttle ride to my hotel I was just too tired - I climbed into bed with a pack of Fig Newtons and a big glass of water and went to sleep - bliss! The following morning I awoke to the sun shining on this beautiful view...
I had a quick breakfast with my friend and fellow CHA UK Board Director Mark (look how HUGE this plate of French Toast was!! I just about managed one slice!) 
 Crowds had already started to gather, even about 40 minutes before the show opened!
As well as lots of meetings I had planned I was acting reporter for Papercraft Inspirations magazine so I took a quick circuit around the show to snap some pictures of the new releases for them. Here are a few of my faves - the Heidi Swapp booth was glittery, shiny, gorgeous...
I fell in love with these acetate journaling cards at WRMK...
Then I headed off to speak to the lovely Heidi of Chickaniddy - she gets better with every range and this was no different, gorgeous papers, lovely foil paper that die cuts perfectly and the most amazing stamps and enamel shapes - gimme gimme gimme!!
Thats all for today, please check back tomorrow for part 2, some of my favourite parts of the trip and some exciting news I get to (kind of!) share...

Thanks for dropping by today!
Sarah x

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Today I'm sharing a layout I made a couple of weeks back - I finally got to dig into a couple of my recent Studio Calico Kits (yay!) and scrapbook this sweet picture of my nephew. I must admit, until my nephew came along all of my scrapbooking was pretty girly, I've since bought a few 'boy' collections to try and better scrap his pictures but I find it harder to make it flow somehow and have to work a little harder at pulling the pages together. Anyhow, this time I had the papers in mind I wanted to use which were pink and glittery, even though the picture is not girly at all I think I pulled it off OK!
I used a strip of this triangle paper from Crate Paper's 'Notes and Things' collection down the centre, there is another strip of a text paper underneath, this was from a Studio Calico kit and is actually place names which make no sense to the story of the picture, however, I thought it would toughen up the pink a little so I put just a hint peeking out so you can't see the text - it gives a graffiti kind of look!

So there you have, my take on a boy layout with Pink, Sequins, Glitter and Hearts but without being too girly! I think the geometric shapes and painter / graffiti style text of the papers really helped and I'm super in love with those Thickers (I'm always chopping mine up to make them do what I want!) so I'll definitely be needing more - I'm off to CHA tomorrow so I hope to spot some of those in lots of other colours, will keep you posted!!

Thank you for dropping by today - I'm off to pack now, eeeeek!
Sarah x

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Today I get to share some super exciting news! (good start to the New Year!) as you may have already seen if you follow CHA UK on Twitter or read the CHA UK website regularly, it has just been announced that I have been appointed the UK Brand Ambassador for ShinHan Art - the leading manufacturer and distributor of art materials in Korea (including some truly fabulous markers - I can't wait to show you! - and a wide range of paints and mediums). Here is a little peek at what is to come...
I'll be using all of my illustration, craft and previous colouring in experience to show you lots and lots of projects, tips and techniques using the whole range of products (probably starting with markers though, you know how I love my pens!!)

We are currently working on establishing the UK team and getting lots of content and things set up so you will be seeing more about this in a couple of weeks time once all that behind the scenes stuff has been completed (I'll share some peeks as we go though!) and I'll be showing you all of the products in much more detail - I just know you'll love them as much as I do!

You can read the full press release here on my website. 

Thank you for dropping by today and sharing in the exciting news!
Sarah x

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With 2014 gone, I'm very pleased to welcome in 2015. Last year was a real rollercoaster of a year for me, there was really no down time and it was either massive highs or massive lows leaving me feeling a bit emotionally and physically wrung out come Christmas, especially after following what was one of the best years of my life in 2013. I spent the festive period disconnecting, resting, sleeping, grieving and just generally repairing myself, making myself stronger ready for next year.

2014 will be the year I remember as the year I...

* Took my product range from around 400 products to over 700 at last count, expanding into toys, bakeware, stationery and more

* Grew my company by almost 500% once again, I had thought this year would be quieter, apparently not! I don't think I'm programmed for quiet and laid back somehow...
* Launched lots of new product ranges including the World of Imagination, Charm Street Cuties and Dollybelles - you'll be seeing more of all of these this year!
* Won an award for my first ever toy just weeks after it's launch, it was also shortlisted for another prestigious award in association with John Lewis and was featured in the notonthehighstreet Christmas catalogue.
* Won a Spirit of Small Business Award acknowledging how far my business has come in just four years (I still can't quite believe it!) and appeared in a national newspaper
* Was appointed to the Board of Directors for CHA UK
* Launched our YouTube channel with a tour of Hurley HQ
* Did my first ever public speaking engagement at the CHA UK One Big Show (shortly followed by my second and third!)
* Exhibited at our first Trade Show - Top Drawer London and booked again for this year - yay!
* Had this quote sent to me by SO many people that it seemed to be everywhere I looked, it definitely kept me strong through some tough times.
* On a personal note, we lost my Dad, suddenly, unexpectedly, heartbreakingly, my Dad's loss overshadowed the whole year for me, with no time to grieve I was back on TV just a few days later (as he would have wanted) I coped the only way I know how, by throwing myself into my work, something where I feel in control, and keeping the faith.
* Spent all of my free time creating, drawing, writing, making, the results of which you'll see over the course of the next year or two...
* Collaborated with some fantastic companies including Freckled Fawn, DCWV, Filofax...
* Agreed and signed the biggest deal of my life in a Minnie Mouse onesie... (although I've already mentioned this a little bit, there will more about that next year too *wink*)
* Booked my first trip to the CHA Mega Show (next week - eeeeek!) and another public speaking engagement as I do my Creative Blogging seminar that I first done at the One Big Show, at the Mega Show for a bigger audience (there is still time to book here if you're attending!)
* Rediscovered my love of this geeky Harry Potter Game (I taught B to play so I'd have an opponent!) got some time to play with Lego (yay!) and snuggle this little snuggle buggle (I can't leave Fuzzybutt out of my round up as she spends every day by my side!)
Last year I chose a 'One Little Word' which was Sparkle, if I'm honest I'm not sure I managed it, I certainly didn't feel very sparkly at the end of it. This year I'm not sure I have a word, I do however have a plan (a big one!), goals and a direction, I've managed to change my life completely in the last four years and I've not finished yet! So for the year ahead, rather than a word, I'll be living by this...

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This week's Freebie Friday is a Documented365 December Journaling Card Set!

I'd love to see what you do with yours - leave me your blog links in the comments if you'd like to share :o) 

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Today, I'm very excited and pleased to share, that for this weekend only you will be able to buy a selection of my products at the Etsy House pop up shop in Covent Garden, London! Pop along to check out all of the gorgeous products from a selection of Etsy sellers
You can read more about Etsy House here on their website - if you go, I'd love to see some pics and hear all about it, we are going to try and pop along if we can, I'd love to see my products there!

Thank you for dropping by today and sharing in my excitement!
Sarah x

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It's that time of year again and Team Hurley are kicking off Documented December over on the Sarah Hurley365 blog! 
I used my Documented December kit with the Gold album (that was a tricky decision and it came right down to the last minute before I decided to go for gold!) Here is a little look at my intro page...
I've kept it very simple, spray painting the wooden number in the kit gold (what on earth did I do before I discovered gold spray paint???) and using it on my favourite paper in the kit with a little embellishment - I loved using the stamp and stitch stamps to add the stars!
I'll be showing you more of my album in a few days...

We'd love you to follow along with us and I look forward to seeing your projects - don't forget to hashtag us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with #documenteddecember and / or #sarahhurley so we can have a look and like and comment on your projects!

Thank you for dropping by today
Sarah x

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