Newsletters and Colour classes

What a sunny day it has been today - in our neck of the woods, at least. Thank you to the ladies who attended the men's cards class today, it was a shame we couldn't have taken the class outside! But due to lack of green space around the shop, perhaps crafting is better indoors than on the pavement :)

I have neglected this little blog these last two weeks, due to being quite poorly, but I'm much brighter (like the weather), so blogging has recommenced, hooray.

Below is a sneak peek of the first newsletter for May...

And the following three photos are of the samples for the C is for Colour card-making class. 6 cards, 10.30 am-3pm, £20 and it includes all the materials and tea/coffee/biscuits. The first date, Saturday 29th May, is full, but the second date still has places:
Saturday 5th June.

Comment, or better still, email, if you'd like to book a place. It's centred around colour, and how to incorporate it when stamping. Lots of ladies say they don't stamp because they're really bad at colouring in, but we want to show how you don't need to be a renowned watercolour artist to liven a stamped image, be it using coloured pens (Memento in our case), ink, watercolour pencils plus water, paper, as well as other pattern stamps...the ideas are endless.

Have a good week everybody x

Backgrounds class, lacy daisy and lush green trees

Thursday was our first of two Backgrounds classes - the 'B' in our Alphabet classes. Thank you to all the ladies who attended, t'was fab,and I even taught a bit myself, was quite proud if i do confess so myself! Teaching is not something I'm at ease with, I prefer to let my mum teach, she is so patient and explains everything so well. I usually assist - I prefer to help people. But I taught a bit more, as a few cards were mine and t'was easier to explain them if I was doing the explaining. And I really enjoyed it! This will not be the end, of this teaching lark, I think I will don the gauntlet again soon.
























The two cards above are some of the cards that were made on the Backgrounds class, but the following are some that were inspired by the class. We had a week where we made the cards for the class and were just totally background obsessed. One such test sample exploring all things background-stamping-related was this experiment with a Hero Arts Lace Background stamp. The left card I think was stamped with Versacolor Turquoise ink - but I may be wrong, as we've been using 4 different turquoise shades of ink at the mo! The one on the right uses Adirondack Brights Ink Pad in Watermelon flavour. Such an unusual shade, truly watermelon as it's a mixture of pink, orange and red.

Some paper ruffling with the flower, and some paper ribbon weaving too.

We are currently playing around with Bo Bunny die-cuts - this being one of them. You stick a quarter of the 12x12 Persuasion Forever die-cut onto a square card, and cut around the edge, leaving some of the inside of the card exposed. Some Wild Berry Red Dot paper can then be stuck on the inside, so it shows on the outside. Punch a circle out of the same Red Dot paper, and using your fingers, turn and flattern the edge. And Craftwork Cards oval messages and card candy add nicely too. All available instore, and Bo Bunny and Hero Arts are on the website :)

And finally, as we left the shop on Thursday after the class, I couldn't resist taking this photo. It's just past our shop and the other line of shops, down one of the side streets. The avenue trees are just so lush and lovely.

Happy weekend everybody x

P.S Scrapbooking tomorrow, have started scrapbooking again! Only done one page so far, very minimalistic (less is more philosophy). But planning more. Want to do some scrapbooking on the Gatherings on 14th and 22nd May, instead of just watching everybody else make cards or scrap!

Recipe Newsletter Issue Twoooo..sneak peek

I've just sent out the second issue of our recipe newsletter. Thank you to everyone who sent praising replies with regards to the first one, much appreciated! Here's a sneak peek for this second one...

...singin' in the rain springs to mind! April Showers is the theme. Just get in touch via the top right hand corner of this blog if you'd like to subscribe to our recipe newsletter, it's out twice a month.

Happy crafting x

P.S

P.S I forgot to add this, and say there's still a few places on the Altered Art Class on Saturday (1st May) if you'd like to book. 1pm - 4pm, you make this Altered Notice-Board. It involves spritzing and ageing book-paper with Distress Ink Pads and Adirondack Ink Pads, and completely transforming a plain-looking notice-board. With a collage of notebook, envelope, ephemera/trinkets, and transport shapes form masculine Graphic 45 papers.

Email us if you'd like to join.
x

Pretty Paisley

Looks a bit weird, doesn't it?

It's a 'mini paisley texture wooden cube'. Such a big name for a little thing - I didn't measure it, but I'd say it's a bit less than 2 inches. It has four stamps on it, and Jennifer decided to have a see what she could create with it. Four cards appeared from this experimenting, and they're below. By the way, the stampy cube is available here.

Paper curling. We're quite taken by this paper curling lark at the mo. Just roll up the edge of your patterned paper, and then push it and crease it and use a sanding block against the edge to add a worn look, if you wish.

Pastel inks, with clear embossing powder on top to add clarity and vibrancy to the stamped image.

This card has a big pleat in its background paper, which the stamped images then sit on. And the decorative edge is made using the Martha Stewart Scallop Dot Punch. And the pink paper is Bo Bunny Tutu Dot Paper.

A black and white, window-like alternative.

The stamped image squares are raised on foam pads. The decorative edges have been created using Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag Punch.

This stamp from the cube is nice to colour in.

And all the oval sentiments are Craftwork Cards products, and are available in our little shop too.
Ciao for now, off to attempt the beginning of my art journal :)

The After

About two weeks ago, I did a post about a set of craft drawers I have in my work space, that are really plain. I had seen a photo of a friend's craft space, with paper-covered drawers and patterned letters on the shelves. So, inspired, I did 'the before' post, with the forlorn looking plain pink drawers, and now, finally, here is 'the after'! I've had these drawers nearly ten years, and I think they've been painted nearly every colour of the rainbow. As I covered them, I could see remnants of yellow, lime, blue, purple and red paint.
Paper makes such a difference though, such a different look.
The cloudy and flower papers are from a stall at a papercrafts fair. Even though we own a craft shop, we still visit other shops as customers, because it is impossible for any craft shop to stock everything; there are so many brands and new craft innovations out there. So inevitably, I have a lot of paper that I can't use easily, because if I put it on samples I'd be asked if we had it in stock. So, an opportunity to use it as drawer 'wallpaper' :)
The striped paper is ours, however - it's from the K&Co Margo collection, and in our sale section, absolute gem. Full of pretty floral stripes, matches the current fashion trend of pretty, pastelly, lacy.

Can't believe it took me two weeks to get them
done, that's ridiculous! If you don't get these sort of home decor things done straight away, something else crops up and the paint and paper gets tidied away. Woops.











Another make recently was this house. Not my make, my mum's, the head crafter. This sample is hung up in the shop, and is made from three My Mind's Eye Papers that we have in store at the mo: the gingham, green spotty, and the flowers. The flowers are on a striped paper, with other strips on it including a strip of birds in a row. It's so pretty.
The 'Home Sweet Home' is from Doodlebug rub-ons, a classic product. So adaptable, there's lots of letters on the rub-on sheet, plus lots of letters can be adapted into other letters, if you run out.





The scallop edge on the bottom of the roof is from one of our Woodware Chippies sets, with Ranger Shabby Shutters Crackle Paint on top of it.
And the handle to hold it up is red wire, with raffia wrapped around it, then little pieces of ribbon tied around. All in store.



Had to show it, I love these paper, and it just looks so cheerful.

Back soon with more!

Happy Crafting, looking forward to seeing the ladies for the stamping class on Thursday x

A gathering, and an ultra quick post

Oh dear,I've neglected my little blog these last 2 weeks, I really must finish my unfinished craft projects and photo things at work and get posting! I confess I've had an artistic block these last few days- 'blocks' are onlyever attributed to writers, but 'tis just as unhelpful as a crafter. And so many items at work - patterned paper and stamps being the main culprits - to distract you on to some new idea.

Anyhow, a really quick post to say there is a crafty gathering on Saturday, t'is £3, bring along your latest scrapbooking, cardmaking, altered art, knitting, crocheting...whatever craft you're involved in...and sit and craft and chat. And drink tea. And eat biscuits and cake. Nam nam. Oh and it's between 11am and 3pm.
Ciao for now,happy crafting, and I'll be back! (Ok, I know, it's Schwarzenegger's line, but mine for the mo).