Hope you are enjoying the long weekend?

This is my first weekend off for over 5 weeks so I have finally been having a proper play in my craft room.

A few weeks ago I took my Mum to a shop near Sheffield where the lovely Julie was doing some demonstrations using distress inks and I have finally been able to sit and do the same techniques but using Stampin' Up! products - and they work!!

I dont know why I thought that they wouldnt - they are waterbased, so theres no reason for them not to. I havent done that much distressing with inks for the last couple of years so it was fantastic to play and get really messy.  Heres one of the cards I made.

 I  took a piece of Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper and used the Freindly Words Wheel in Early Espresso ink along the bottom.  Then I wheeled a couple of times over the entire piece in Versamark ink using the Texture Wheel (I am now in love with this wheel!!!) and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

The sides of the paper were torn and distressed and then I used sponge daubers to apply Early Espresso and Marina Mist ink, gradually blending the edges.  The embossed areas from the Texture Wheel are protected from the ink, giving a gorgeous mottled effect.  

The DSP was then mounted on a mat of Early Espresso card which was torn slightly larger than the DSP and the edges on two corners curled (you could use a coctail stick, but I used a round file from my Distressing Essentials kit). This was then mounted on a Marina Mist card blank.

I inked the edges of a die cut butterfly from Beautiful Butterflies and then stamped it with the En Francias background stamp in Early Espresso ink.  A line of basic pearls was placed down the centre and it was attached to the card.

To finish off I used my Tiny Tags set and the Medium Jewelery Tag punch, attaching the tags with linen thread.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a lovely weekend.

Jan
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Stamptacular Pics

Wow, what a fantastic day we had on Sunday!!!

The Stamptacular was so much fun, but I must admit, we were shattered at the end.

We did a purse with matching cards and tags, a gorgous chocky bar holder and matching card, some card toppers with punched animals and a little folded brag book using a sheet of 12x12 paper.

Everyone attending got a Fine Flourish background stamp and a pack of Basic Pearls in their goody bag, along with everything they needed for the projects.  We also provided a light lunch to keep everyones strength up! 

Heres a picture of the sample cards I made for the punched animals.

I am sure Sara will post some of her photos soon - you will love them, they're gorgeous.

If you would like more information on the projects, just contact me.
Jan

Sneek Peek for the Stamptacular...

Heres a little sneak peek at one of the projects that we'll be making at Sunday's Stamptacular. In the card at the front you'll see that we're using the Fine Flourish background stamp. Everyone who attends the Stamptacular will get a goodie bag that includes this fabulous stamp along with another surprise item!

It's not too late to book but we do need to hear from you very soon, so that we can make sure that we cater for enough people. The cost of the day is £30 for a single ticket or 10% each place booked when when you bring a friend. More details about the day are on Sara's blog here.
 
Have a great weekend.

Jan
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SUDSOL Blog Hop & Stamptacular

Just a very quick post to let you know that Sara is taking part in the SUDSOL Blog Hop today.

SUDSOL stands for Simply Unique Demonstrators Sharing On Line, a 24 hour network of Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  The ladies are located in the US, Australia & Europe and there are some gorgeous projects on the blogs so grab a cuppa and settle down for some real inspiration!

The other thing I wanted to mention is there are still some places left on the Spring Stamptacular that myself and Sara are holding THIS SUNDAY, 22nd May.

You need to book and pay in advance to enable us to provide the food, refreshments and all your items for your goody bag!!!  So dont delay BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment.

Jan
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I'm Sorry!

Its been a week since I posted anything but I have been a 'bit busy' lately.  I wont bore you with all the details but I have been designing and making wedding favours for a commission I got from a local craft fair.  The lady is going to decorate the boxes herself to match her invitations so you can see the ones I made for her lower down this post.

Then I sorted the silk flowers for my neices wedding this Friday.  I am not posting the photos until after the wedding so bob back in a couple of weeks  to see them!

I managed to have a play this this afternoon and made a one of the favour boxes using the same colours just to see what they looked like.  Heres the one I made.

I used two die cut milk cartons for the box and joined them together to make a tall box.  Heres a couple of photos of how I did it.  The first shows the two cut boxes.

This one shows where I joined them.

As you can see, you get upto about an inch across the middle of the box where you can adjust the height of the finished box - you just have to make sure that you line them up properly!

I used one of the flourish stamps from Tiny Tags and stamped randomly in Early Espresso Ink on the Very Vanilla cardstock before folding on the score lines and assembling the box. A 1" strip of Early Esspresso card was run through my Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder and attached to cover the join in the box.

To decorate I stamped the flowers from Punch Potpourri (Level 1 Hostess Set) and punched them out, attaching some Basic Rhinestones to the centres.  The 'love' and Mr & Mrs' stamps from Tiny Tags were stamped and punched out before being attatched to each end of some Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta ribbon and a bulldog clip from the Clips Assortment was used to keep the top of the box closed.

Here is a photo of some of the boxes I made for the commission.

Ok, I have to go now and do some more preparation for our Stampacular.  Oh, its going to be FAB, I cant wait...

Jan
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Strength and Hope

I have decided - I need to win the lottery! There just arent enough hours in the day for all the playing I want to do.

I have been getting ready for mine and Saras Spring Stamptacular this week (I can't post any pictures, you will just have to come and see on the day!!! )  Heres a link to Saras blog with all the joining details and payment info.

Lots of other things have been happening too, we changed estate agents last week, and had someone come to view the house on Friday (mad rush needed to tidy my craft room - eek!!!).  They need to sell their house too so it may still be a while before anything happens, but they were very impressed with the house.

I had to cancel the Crop and Vintage Vogue Class I had planned at the local Community Centre on Saturday as they had to have a new kitchen fitted.  So I went to a demo day at a craft shop in Sheffield, that the amazing Julie was demoing at and met some brilliant ladies - HELLO *waves*!

Anyway, heres a picture of a card I made a while ago for my Mini Catalogue launch party.

I used my Big Shot machine and the Beautiful Butterflies die to cut out the large butterfly from Bashfull Blue card and embossed it with the Manhattan Flower embossing folder.  Then I ran a strip of Bashfull Blue cardstock through my Big Shot using the Square Lattice folder and gently rubbed my Marina Mist inkpad over the raised areas of both the strip and the butterfly.

The butterfly from the Strength and Hope stamp set was stamped in Marina Mist ink onto a mat of Whisper White card - making sure that the antenna from one of the stamped images was going to sit where the large die cut butterfly was going to be.  Then the embossed strip of Bashfull Blue card was attached to the bottom of the mat of Whisper White card and a strip of Marina Mist Grossgrain ribbon wrapped around before securing it to the Marina Mist card blank


The body of the butterfly was made using the Word Window punch and trimming to a point at the bottom and I used a 1/2" circle punch to make the shape to define the head and body. Basic Rhinestones were placed along the body before attaching it to the butterfly.

For the sentiment, I stamped the Hope stamp in Marina Mist onto Bashfull Blue card and punched out with the Curly Label Extra Large punch.  I used this punch again on a peice of Marina Mist card and cut it in half, attaching to the back, but slightly over the edge of the Bashfull Blue card then attached it along with the butterfly, to the finished card.

Right, I have to go now and do some samples for a possible commission for some wedding favours from a lady I met at our local craft fair in March. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Jan
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Its Back - Spring Stamptacular 2011!

Due to popular demand, myself and Sara are holding another Stamptacular event, a full day of crafting goodness, goodiness and maybe a little giddyness!

Where and when?

10:30 - 15:30

Sunday 22 May

at St Saviour’s Church Hall

(postcode S35 3HS but please note that it is next door to the Parish Council meeting rooms located at the junction of Mortomley Lane and Pack Horse Lane)

How much?

£30

Prices held! We have kept them at the same level as last year’s introductory offer:

Bring a friend and you both get 10% off, reducing the price to just £27 each!

Price includes:

Goodie bag

3 complete projects with full demonstration and printed instructions

All materials needed

Bonus project to complete on the day or take away

A light lunch (please advise of any dietary requirements)

Refreshments throughout the day

Prizes

... and more!

Booking Essential

Spaces are limited and will be allocated on receipt of payment. Bookings are

non-refundable but if after booking, you find cannot attend, we will send you

your goodie bag complete with all project materials.

How do I book?

Please email Sara to book. Please note that their are two options; single rate and reduced, Bring a Friend rate. To get the reduced, Bring a Friend rate you will need to purchase both tickets at the same time, using the drop down menu.

If you would like more information, please contact me.

Jan

Easter Bunny Lolly Holder

Woo Hoo, another Bank Holiday!!!

Its been a great one for me too, I went to my first Zumba class on Thursday evening and spent most of the time giggling whilst trying to keep up with everyone.  I think I did ok and am looking forward to going again.

Friday was nice too, like most people I watched the Royal Wedding and chilled out in the afternoon.  Then yesterday I had my first bicycle ride in about 30 years! And it was a long one - 10 MILES!!!  I am struggling to move today though, and even sitting down is proving to be challenging...

Today has been brilliant too, Sara and Chrissi came round for a crafty morning and we have been working out the projects for our next Stamptacular.  Its on 22nd May and there will be loads of projects, freebies, prize draws and crafting.  So if you fancy a day of fun with some lovely ladies, please contact me or Sara for more details or to book.

As I have been quite busy, I forgot to post a photo of the make & take project for my last workshop.  We had a theme of Punched Animals and as it was the day before Good Friday, we just had to have this cutie.

He's really easy to make using Stampin' Up punches.  The colours are Pink Pirouette, Always Artichoke, River Rock, Whisper White & Basic Black.  For more information on how to make him just contact me.

Hope you have a great weekend, thanks for stopping by.
Jan
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