They’re known as the Glitter Girls – card-making’s answer to Aggie and Kim, TV’s popular Queens of Clean – with their own show on a shopping channel and a legion of fans around the country.
In less than three years Babs Scarlett and Kathy Mills have built up an audience that gets them recognised in the street and sees them swamped by autograph hunters when they go to craft exhibitions.
The pair have not looked back since teaming up in 2004 to launch Keepsake Card Craft in Oldbury after years of demonstrating, exhibiting and teaching card-making.
When Babs invented a no-fuss system of embossing, she and old friend Kathy, a fellow crafter, applied for a patent and started up the company.
After finding a local manufacturer in Cradley Heath to produce their first embossing board, they took the industry by storm, selling out within days.
The idea has grown into a million-pound business, with the pair having just become regional winners of the 2007 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards. And growing alongside their commercial success has been their meteoric TV rise.
They star on Create and Craft Choice on the Ideal World channel every Tuesday at 9am. It can be accessed on Freeview channel 22 or via www.createandcraft.tv
Their Glitter Girls tag grew from Kathy’s insistence that every card should include a bit of sparkle.”
19 Comments
Hi Kathy and Babs
fantastic girls please keep on bringing us more of the same etc.love your boards!.
As my husband is totally addicted to his gardening, crafting is my Best friend and companion.I have learned so much from you in a short time. Best Wishes Patricia Trafford Algarve. Portugal.xx
hi ladies, found the show by mistake, havent watched any other tv since (one whole week )love the products and the demos,good luck
and keep smiling lilyx
Hello ladies
had lots of fun in your shop a couple of months ago, Sue was brilliant.
Dissapointed that you were on holiday but was delighted to meet you in Manchester.Need you to make a board with hexagonal or octagonal box & card making channels with added embelishments, would be very useful.Hope to see you at N E C in november.Keep designing, we need you.
Best wishes Hilary in Chester
hi girls, I had never done any crafts before as i did not think i had any talent, but since buying all your boards i have become an addict,all my friends ask me to make cards for them who would have thought?just bought your latest board cant wait for it to come,think i will have to get a bigger house as my conservatory is full of crafting material keep up the good work best wishes from Irene in south Queensferry scotland
hi ladies your boards r great to use wish i had more i make cards for family and workmates and friends they love them i wish i could watch u more for your many ideas my husbands tells every one im craft nuts but as i work in a day centre for people with alzheimers and differant forms of dementia all the things i learn also i can put to good use at work i love my job and the people and my craft my spare room is a mess.so keep up the good work and give us your ideas we need them
hi girls i have been crafting for 2years thought what i made was good till i discovered your bourds wish i had seen them before. now i know they are good ,love all the bourds favourite is book of tricks. waiting to receive illusion cannot wait, next is celebration on my list. i can only get to see you both when you are on create and craft,which i wish was more often thank you for all the great tips best wishes to you both joyce nov6th 2007
sorry i ment i can only get you on ideal world which is not often
hi girls. discovered your boards about 7 mths ago, fabulous, I used to emboss my cards and envelopes by sticking a stencil to my bedroom window so that the light would show through, what hard work.Your boards have made my life so easy , have made some fab cards, just about to purchase your new celebration board.A christmas pressie to myself. well done to you both,have a very merry christmas and a happy new year
Hi Girls
I got into crafting last year after having a stroke . I needed something to do to get my arms moving again.
I was struggling with a lightbox and brass stencils.
One of my friends gave me the Majestic board for my birthday in September , which I found so easy to use that I was churning cards out by the score.
Then my friends took me to the NEC hobby craft exhibition in Birmingham at the beginning of November.
Well I was elated to find that you were there and swiftly asked them to bring me to where you were .
I was in a wheelchair and there were so many people around you so I couldnt get near, but one of the girls went through the crowd and got me 4 embossing boards and some other things and there has been no stopping me since.
I have ,however, made my xmas list for pressies and it is full of the rest of your products that I haven’t got.
So thankyou Glitter Girls for changing my life for the better.
kind regards
Linda
Hi the glitter girls i love watching your demonstrations you get a good giggle, and you two seem really down to earth i am a craftaholic. Ilove the majestic board how can i order it as i havent got credit card facilities i could send a postal order as ideal world dont accept postal orders your work is beautiful please get in touch with a website of yours many thanks donna xx.
Hi the glitter girls love working with your boards I have the majestic, elegance,celebration, victoriana bar boards book a trix and christmas and more. any of the cards i have made with your boards have been greatly admired both from anyone buying my cards or recieving them. I met you both at the SECC Glasgow in October last year, I bought your last circle punch. I hope to see you both again if your in Glasgow in march. thank you both for all your insperation love June
Dear talented glitter girls, I am disabled due to having had stroke. We travel down from Yorkshire to the NEC once a year, and are coming down next week on the Saturday. I managed to talk to you last year but it was difficult on a disabled scooter due to the crowds. There are many disabled people crafting today, so wouldn’t it be a good idea if the first hour was set aside for disabled people and their carers so they have a chance to buy and talk to the demonstrators. Is that too much to ask, hope you take my comment on board
Liz
i have got the catwalk cd .
i need the keepsake embossing template can you help please .june.
Hi Babs & Kathy.
What fantastic products my cardmaking has now become more interesting and I get a lot more pleasure out of it, of it. Not got all the boards as yet but working on it.(Birthday and Christmas) I am now going for
hearts and tall board my birthday soon.
Margaret
hilasses,
all your boards r great i have got my sister margaret on them me and her r like u 2 we love all the sparkle and glitz,u have both gave us
reat ideas thanks lots of love olwen and margaret
Hi girls, could you please help me get hold of the dress to impress embossing board and keep ordered one but was sent wrong item since then unable to get hold of one. i have the disc to go with this but no god without the board. would love to get card making with this wonderful item.thank you
Hi Kathy, hi Babs, I live in Spain all your products are now in the craft shop I use, have most of the boards love using them have both your dvds now looking forward to the dress to impress dvd to make stunning childrens cards. Keep up the good work like you love a bit of glitterxx
Hi Girls, Just want to say what an inspiration you both are to crafters everywhere. I met you at the SECC in Glasgow in October ‘07. I said I felt as if I knew you both personally as I watch your every appearance on create and craft for ideas and just to enjoy the pleasure of your company. You both so deserved your award and I’m sure there will be many more in the future. Keep up the great work it is very much appreciated.
Lotsa Love
Marlene Elwood (Cumbernauld, Glasgow )
Hi girls,
Have been crafting for couple of years, but never found anything as good as your boards and ideas. I come from same part of country as you and with your sense of humour, delight in watching you on Create and Craft shows