First practice....

The new crafting goodies arrived this week, so it was only fitting that I started 'playing' with them immediately! I have now approached a local community centre to hold my own craft workshop and can't wait to get started!

I decided this time not to just stick to card making. I have made an easel card card and a chocolate gift box......so much fun.

These may be a bit more advanced than I need for my first demonstration, but at least I now have an idea of what i can create using these fab new stamps.

Away from crafting, as promised, here is a now 5 month old Sam. He is becoming a very big chilled out pup who loves nothing more than eating my garden.....(hope he grows out of that one soon!)

My beautiful Sam.

Stampin Up!

I have only gone and done it! Yes, I have joined the Stampin Up! family and become an independant demonstrator. Hopefully this will be the start of my crafting business career!!!

For those of you who don't know about Stampin Up!, it is an American based company that has been running for 22 years. They sell stamps, inks, card, embellishments etc and you can only buy the products through a demonstrator by catalogue. If you are interested in having a look, visit http://www.stampinup.co.uk/.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the products, let me know. I am looking at running challenges/competitions once I have received my goodies so that everyone can have a chance to win some of the fantastic stamps/cards/embellishments to have a play with.

I will post some of my creations once I have had a chance to play and would appreciate you sharing details of my blog on your own blog to help kick start my business ( at this point, all help is greatly appreciated!! )

I am so looking forward to starting up this new venture and will keep you posted as things progress.

If you live in or around the wakefield area, I will be starting a monthly craft class soon, so let me have your details and I will update you with dates/times/venue as soon as it's finalised.

As I am still quite new to blogging, if anyone has any pearls of wisdom to help me get this business started, please let me know.

It's been a while.....

Hi all,

Well it's been an interesting 6 weeks since I last updated my blog. I haven't been on here as I lost 60% of my vision overnight.....scary!

Fortunately it is starting to come back, but it seems very difficult to keep my vision focused (very frustrating when trying to make cards!)

Anyway, after a holiday to Florida I am back and making my cards as and when the vision allows.

Do crafts have released 'tatty teddy' stamps, which me and my daughter absolutely adore. We have been trying to be a little bit more adventuous with our colours and designs, but the feedback from relatives has been great. It was my sister in laws birthday last weekend and I put together something a little different:-

 

I am aiming now to try and start some form of crafting business. I am contacting suppliers and investigating anything and everything to do with business start ups. It would be so nice to have a career round something I love so much.....so watch this space!

Happy crafting
X

Distress Inks

After attending the GNPE at Harrogate and learning new Distress Ink techniques, I have been busy dabbling and testing what effects I can achieve. I stamped a few images to play with and was pleasantly surprised at the finished results:-

I haven't decided what I want to do with the forever friends bears yet, though I am thinking about an Anniversary Card (I'll keep you posted!)

After finishing the flowers, I thought they would be ideal for my Gran's birthday card. After playing about with the different backing papers and ribbons, I finished the card quite quickly. It will be my Gran's 93rd birthday this time. She has been falling a lot lately and keeps telling us she doesn't have much time left, so I hope this will make her happy and that she will enjoy being with the family for a get together.

I absoluately adore this stamp and the distress inks have really added depth to the image. I am looking forward to playing more with these inks as the demonstrator mentioned that they are very versatile...... I guess only time will tell! If anybody has any hints and tips, please let me know.

xxxx



Happy Easter!

Well, what a busy week! The fabulous weather has meant the garden is now finished, I have been building a pagoda with my husband and we have just finished wiring in the lights and planting the honeysuckles to finish it off. It does look fab, even if I do say so myself!!

Last Sunday I added to the family by purchasing a chocolate lab puppy. I have called him Sam and he is sooooo cute and very well behaved...

In between the gardening and puppy (playing) training, I have managed to make the 18th not girly, girly birthday card. To be honest, it took me ages to decide on what I could use on this one, but after rifling through a do-crafts magazine, inspiration finally hit...

 This is nice easy card to make using the following:

8x8 white card blank

Purple spotty paper

Purple striped paper

Purple satin card

Thunder Grey Mirriboard

Silver metalic effect paper

Organza Ribbon ( lilac with silver edge and Heather )

Papermania glitter dots

Cricut - Simply Sweet Cartridge (for name and numbers)

All the card and papers are stuck together using double sided tape, the bow using pinflair glue and the letters/numbers using Quickie glue.

I am pleased with the outcome and will be taking this one to work next week after I've finished my Easter break.

Hopefully the remaining few days will be nice and relaxing and the sun will continue to shine!

xx

Unique Wedding Card

Well what a fantastic weather we've had this week. I have been focusing on one card along side the garden projects I decided it was time to undertake!!.

I was asked to make a custom wedding card. The brief I was given was a wedding card with a purple theme. Simple!

I spent two nights this week sat on the floor making paper roses. Its a slow process, but I hope you agree that the end result is so worth it.

To make this card you will need:

Card Blank - any size you desire. I've used an 8x8 craftwork cards blank.
Lilac satin cardstock
Craftwork cards white paper with silver spirals
Craftwork cards paper blox - purple selection
Liliofthevalley wedding couple stamp
Copics - BV29,E37,E00,RV000,V15,V17,V91,V95,YG11
Oval scalloped edge Nestabilities Die
Cuttlebug or other die cutting machine
Crafters Companion Irreidescent Spray
Pinflair Glue & Quickie Glue
Cricut - Calligraphy Cartridge (for writing)

The lilac card and white/silver paper is attached to the card blank using pinflair glue. This gives you the extra time to move the items into the exact position.

I have also used the pinflaie glue to stick the roses together and then attach to the card. I have only just started using this glue, but I have to say, it is fantastic! It dries quickly and if you splurge, it wipes away leaving no marks! Superb!!

The letters are attached using quickie glue. I am loving my Cricut for cutting different shaped letters. Although I haven't used it here, you have the ability to cut shadow lettering for a 3d effect and can make any size you so desire.....(just want a gypsy now to complete the outfit!)

I will be delivering this card to my colleague tomorrow. Fingers crossed it is well received!

Next week I will be working on an 18 year old girl's card. Apparently she's not girly or cutesy, so this one is going to be challenging!

Unit 1 Assessment - the first 3 cards

I think I'm getting the hang of the blog site now, so here are the first 3 cards I have submitted.