Tuesday 29 March 2011

Twisted Easel Card

I've had such a lovely morning, I went over to Lechlade to the Christmas Shop searching out bits for a special class I will be running in June.  My lovely friend Sue told me all about it and realising that it was only about 40 minutes away I hot footed it over there to see if they had what I needed.

The lady who owns the shop and her assistant were very friendly and welcoming.  They were dashing around the shop selecting items that I could use for my projects, it was extremely difficult to decide on what I wanted (I wanted it all really - lol), but I did come away feeling very proud of my purchases!  Watch this space for a sneak peek coming soon!

In the meantime I have a little card I made this afternoon, it's a twisted easel card.  I've been meaning to make one for ages and finally got the inspiration today to make one.

I have used all Stampin' Up products; Cardstock in Wild Wasabi, Garden Green & So Saffron, Designer Paper from the Subtles paper stack, Eyelet border punch, Extra Large Fancy Flower punch, Flower for You stamp & a stamp from the Punch Bunch Sale-A-Bration stamp set.

Will be back soon with some work that I've had to keep secret!

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Sunday 13 March 2011

Left over bits!

This morning I am supposed to be tidying away all the bits and pieces I used in the classes I taught on Friday at Sue's.  As I started putting away the tools I came across my box of unused ready cut bits for the cards we made.  I always cut a few extras and this month we had two or three ladies unable to attend so I had even more bits left over.  Normally I divide them up into my scrap cardstock/paper boxes and use them up later but this morning I decided to play with the bits and make a few different cards with the bits I'd cut for other designs.

Here are 3 of the cards all made with the same bits, just placed differently.


I have used Designer Paper, Whisper White cards stock, Always Artichoke ink, Basic Pearls, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Scallop Trim Border punch and the Sweet Summer stamp set all from Stampin' Up.

Have a great Sunday.

Carole
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Monday 7 March 2011

Ornate Flowers

I am back from a nice day of crafting with my up-line Michelle Last.  If you would like to see what we made then pop over to Rose's blog, you will find the link on my side-bar.  Rose finished her project, but I'm afraid I'm still working on mine!

I really enjoyed making those lovely flowers, so this morning I sat down and worked out how to make them so that they still looked nice but dried faster.  I stamped the little flower from Cottage Garden with Blushing Bride ink and "rock & rolled" it around the edges with Soft Suede ink, then cut it out, put it on the card and then using the Crystal Effects like a pen, I scribbled the Crystal Effects on.  This way I got a very shallow but still lovely effect that dried quicker.

With my renewed Crysal Effects enthusiasm, I then drew over the Ornate Flower, which I'd stamped onto a piece of dictionary paper, that I'd given a wash with white acrylic paint and Blushing Bride re-inker to soften the words.

I am pleased with the finished card and it will be one we make in this months classes.

Hope you like it.

Happy crafting.

Carole
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Saturday 5 March 2011

Time with Tim

Many months ago I secured a couple of places at the Artsy Crafty 6 hour, mega crafting event at Newport Pagnel, with the extremely talented Tim Holtz, Leandra from Paper Artsy and Lin Brown from LBCrafts teaching two inspiring classes.

With Tim we made one of his configuations boxes, the class was so well planned, organised & equipped.  Tim was, as you can imagine, very clear in his teaching, very good at explaining and showed some really inspiring creative projects all made with his configurations boxes, it has left me wanting to make more!

Tim was also very available to each of us, with a little extra idea here and there and if we needed anything extra we only had to ask and Mario was on the case!

I didn't manage to finish my project on the day but I did get immediate inspiration as to how I was going to use my box.  We were taught how to make the carved tile letters and were advised to make three of them to use and it didn't take me long to think of C, S & K, for me and each of my girls. We were given a whole little sack of miniture goodies and I set too working out what item belonged to each of us and this is what I came up with:




C for Carole - in and around my box is tiny bottle of gin and an artsy flower.


S for Sarah - I had plenty of thoughts about things to attach around her little section.  I had in mind the numbers, because she is a mathematician, the key is hoping that she will find a flat in London soon, the hope tag is hoping that she settles well into her new job and the ticket of course, because she will have to look after her tickets whilst dashing around the big smoke!

K for Kimberley - as soon as I saw the wing I assigned it to Kim straight away.  Out of my daughters Kim is the most like her father, she is the one who always makes me remember him, he like her, loved to go places, see things and talk in other languages, so I gave her the wing in memory of her father, who's mother always told me he had wings! The tiny little bird is there representing a spare pair of wings, just in case and I've given her a couple of tickets, she will need them to get in to the next museum, theatre or cinema which ever she decides.  After the picture was taken I stuck a little pen nib just under the K, as she has a passion to write.

D is for David, I was a little concerned to start with about missing him out, but needn't have worried as I soon realised I'd got a fourth initial to choose.  Tim came round with letter stickers to each table and I rushed in to get my "D"!  By this time though, I'd committed the main focus box and was unable to add things assigned for especially him - but you will note; I've got him firmly held with a chain and whilst finishing my project today he giggled and told me to stick some money in, as he reckons that's why I love him!

This is my completed configurations box.  I am so pleased with it and I have loved adding a few of my own items, like the watch in the bottom left section.  This watch was given to me by Rudi's brother and wife over twenty years ago, I wore it and wore it until it made my wrist go bad (I wore off the top coat of metal and was allergic to what was underneath) and it was at that point my mother bought me a gold one.

You can't really see it very well but the little train wagon in the bottom middle compartment has "South Leicester" written on the side.  I picked it up this morning from a model railway exhibition, along with the old Beetle car and some track for my wagon.  I was delighted when I saw it this morning, I just had to have it (I come from Leicester and live near Oxford now, in case you didn't know!) and these last couple of treasure purchases gave me the enthusiasm to finish my project today.


 Other pics for you: this is Mario and I, he was great and helped Tim prepare all the things we needed for our project - bless him.........I know what pre-class prep is like and really appreciated how well it was done.


This is Alain from Ranger, he isn't normally the one who gets asked for a photo opportunity, but he reminded me of someone and I just couldn't resist being a little cheeky - he is cute ;) !

This is Francois, I found her blog during the weeks leading up to the event and she is amazing, you should check out her blog it is called "Papillon", (I will try and put in a link later, when I find my bit of paper that tells me how!) she travelled all the way from Belgium for the class and was a pleasure to meet.  She is hoping to get a place at Ranger U - the university of Ranger and I hope she gets one soon.


This is my final picture for you to take a look at, its the project I made with Leandra and Lin, I think this picture is one that I took of their sample, it looks better than mine!

I hope you have all enjoyed reading my extended post, a post I hope you will think is well worth the time it took me to write it!

Happy crafting to you all.

Carole
x

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Treats!

I know, its been a while again..........but here are a couple of pics for you.  The first one is a photo of some treats I've been making up today, for my girls who promoted and won a treat day that Michelle Last offered at the end of last year.  We finally get our treat day this coming Sunday and I can't wait to be there, along with 3 members of my team!  Well done girls!

The other picture is a photo of the swaps I will be swapping on the day, sorry I can't show you more......I have used some new product on them from our the new Stampin' Up mini catalogue which launches next month!!! Its so exciting, I can't wait to show you all what we are getting!





Hope to back with you all soon. 

Happy crafting.

Carole
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