My very first (completed) scrapbook page

I'm very proud of this post! It's my first ever completed scrapbook style project I have ever made. It was one of the projects that I got to make at the Shoebox Swap event I attended, designed by the very talented Lesley Sharpe. She'd done so much hard work before the class for this project, with full instructions given, and lots of the stamping already done for us, to make sure we got it made in 30 minutes. We used the Artistic Etchings and Aviary stamp sets, with the First Edition Speciality DSP, and a colour combo of Crumb Cake and Real Red. I especially liked the distressed effect of this project, as it's something I don't do very often, but will be trying to incorporate the technique into more of my cards and projects. I also liked making the paper roses, and was shown a new way of making them using a quilling tool (not Stampin' Up!). They are just circles punched with the circle punches, and then cut into a spiral, and twisted round.

I decided to make this into a gift for my Mum and Step-Dad Ray, as it was their wedding anniversary a few weeks ago. I bought a 6" square box frame from The Range, so it could be displayed in their house. They were really pleased with it. I'm hoping to try a few more projects like this, they'd make a lovely present or gift for any occasion.

Aviary class card

Here's another card from the first Dock Street Market card class.  I'd seen one very similar on line, and loved the layout, using the Aviary stamp set.  I used Marina Mist and Very Vanilla card stock, with Island Indigo and Crumb Cake ink.  The Top Note die was used to cut out the Very Vanilla card stock.  The hello stamp is from Pennant Parade.

It was really good at the class to see how everyone made this card in different ways.  Some people were happy to copy it, exactly, detail for detail.  Others however, wanted to bespoke it, and were unhappy the birds were caged, and wanted to free them!  That's one thing I love about classes, some people want to be led, and others, want to break free!

Card Stock / Papers - Marina Mist, Very Vanilla

Stamp Sets - Aviary, Pennant Parade

Embellishments - Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Mini Brads

Tools - Stamp-a-ma-jig, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Paper Piercing Tool

Inks / Markers - Island Indigo, Crumb Cake

Photos from my first card class

This is a very quick post, as it's way past my bed time.  I held my first real card class last Tuesday, at Dock Street Market, Leeds, and the evening was a great success.  There were eight people who came along, some were experienced crafters, and others were complete beginners.  They all seemed to enjoy themselves, and I loved it too! Can't wait for the next one now, just got to choose what projects I'll be doing.

Here's a few pictures from the class, and to see the rest, click here (Thanks to Phil for taking these pictures - great shots!)  I'll be sharing the cards that we made in due course.

Me explaining how to use the Big Shot

Stamping action shot

One of the cards that was made, using the Aviary stamp set

Setting up the Beautiful Wings Embosslit die

The tea pot cocktails - maybe that's why they seemed to be enjoying themselves!

If you'd like to come along to future classes, keep an eye on the classes page on this blog. This class will be held on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Regular updates will be posted giving details of what's coming up.

Aviary card

Last night I attended another one of Julie Kettlewell's stamp-a-stack card classes, we made twelve cards in three hours, two each of six designs. I'll be posting these over the next week or so.

The first I'd like to share uses the Aviary stamp set, one that I own, and can't wait to try this design again. The colour combo on this card was Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade with Crumb Cake. The Scallop Edge Border Punch was used, and the large Scallop Punch was used for around the owl and cage. The sentiment is from Petite Pairs, which is a nice set, it comes with sentiments for the outside and inside of your cards. To finish off the card, Old Olive Taffeta ribbon was used to make a bow for the top of the cage, and for the top left corner with a Rich Razzleberry button.

Card / Paper - Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake, Paper Stacks - 2011-2013 In Colour and Brights

Stamp Set - Aviary, Petite Pairs

Embellishments - Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Brights Designer Buttons

Tools - Large Scallop Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch

Inks/Markers - Basic Gray, Melon Mambo

All Day Training

A couple of weeks ago, I attended an all day Stampin' Up! training session with Julie Kettlewell and 33 other members of her team.  It was my second one, and I had a great day. We made five cards with the Create a Cupcake stamps and punch, I ran out of time on the day, and haven't finished them yet, oops! We also did some workshop training, and learnt lots of good tips. I'm looking forward to putting them into practise.  There were some fantastic creations there by Sally Jo & Julie, on the Inspiration Stations. 

Everyone that attended had to make and bring swaps, the idea of this was to share ideas, and everyone gets samples of products they might not have purchased yet.  We didn't do this at my first training, so was really excited to see what everyone made. I now have even more products on my wish list!  These are the lovely swaps I received. 

This is what I made for my swaps, using the Aviary Stamp Set, and a colour combination of Melon Mambo and Old Olive, inspired by the Colour Coach.  The Top Note Die was used to cut Whisper White card stock.  Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, the owls were stamped, and then the cages were stamped and then heat embossed with the Stampin' Emboss Powder.  It's been ages since I did any heat embossing, I'll have to experiment with it a bit more often.  The For My Family Stamp Set was used for the greeting, and then to finish it off, an Old Olive taffeta ribbon was tied around the card.  Miraculously I had exactly enough for the 35 cards I made, with none spare!

I hope everyone liked them!

Card - Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Papers -
Stamp Set - For My Family, Aviary
Embellishments - Old Olive 1/8" (3.2mm) Taffeta Ribbon

Tools - Big Shot, Top Note Die, Heat Tool, Stampin' Emboss Powder

Inks / Markers - Melon Mambo, Old Olive

Aviary Candle

Last Saturday, I tried a new technique that I've been meaning to try for a few years. Inspired by my friend Kylie (and soon to join my team as a demonstrator!) who had tried this out at Christmas, I wanted to try decorating a candle with stamped images. It was really easy, and just look how it's turned out. I used the Aviary Stamp Set, and used Basic Grey ink for the cages, and Baja Breeze for the owls. The images were stamped into tissue paper, and then using a heat gun, applied them to the candle. I added a Rhinestone jewel for a bit of bling. I can't wait to experiment with this using different sized candles, colours and stamp sets.

If you'd like to learn how to do this, please contact me to book a class.

New Year's Resolution & Christmas Catch Up

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year, and that Santa brought you lots of crafty goodies.  I received a few sewing books that I've had my eye on for a while, and my friend Kylie let me choose a Stampin' Up! set of my choice - so I picked Aviary, I can't wait to get started playing with it.  With my last order, I also received the Charming and the Create a Cupcake stamp sets from the new Spring Mini Catalogue (blog post to follow) for free, as well as a set of the Brights Brads, as a reward for getting two workshops booked during the recent Worldwide Week of Workshops Bookathon.  13,887 workshops were booked across the world that day! How good is that! It's not too late to book a workshop, so if you are interested, please contact me.  Or if you are interested in becoming a demonstrator, to receive great benefits like has just been offered, let me know.



Charming & Create A Cupcake stamp sets and Brights Brads

Aviary Stamp Set

I've not been very good at keeping myblog updated recently! Christmas took over, and I was so busy making all my cards and a few gifts, many at the last minute, that I forgot to take pictures of all my creations! I also didn't want to spoil any surprises by posting pictures on here before I sent cards.  I managed to sell quite a few cards at work this year, which was very exciting, two colleagues saw samples I had brought in and asked for 6 each.  Another friend wanted a 21st birthday card, and ended up buying 3 others too.  It got me motivated to try to do more this year, and have confidence that people do like and want to buy my creations.  My New Year's Resolution is most definitely to do more blog posts, and generally, do more crafting! Or at least be more organised with it! I've noticed a lot of crafty plans being made through Twitter recently, and I'm looking forward to making a few more friends through the various groups that are popping up around Leeds.

The first step to this organisation, will be getting my craft room in some sort of order! Even though I have a room where I can keep everything, I still end up bringing it all downstairs to the lounge and spreading out there in front of the TV.  After I had finished my cards, I then took it all back upstairs, and just put it on the floor, so I can barely get in and around the room now. It all needs taking out, sorting through, and putting back in so I know where everything is.  I also need a clear out, and I need to be brutal! So keep an eye out, there may be some sales and bargains available soon.

On a down note, my New Year didn't start off too well, by dropping my iPhone! So just incase any of you are trying to place orders or get hold of me or through Facebook, Twitter, email or good old phone calls, please be patient! It still works but is pretty difficult to see, as you can see from the picture below.  The "A" key on my laptop is playing up too, so please excuse any funny spellings! Why do these things all happen at once eh!