Getting messy at Paper Arts!

OK. So lovely Sue at Paper Arts near Stroud, rashly decided to have an open weekend at the shop - inviting us punters in to try the stash, get creative and get messy! Who could resist such an invitation? Even Sue (left) and Irene (right), who are usually to be found behind the counter, came out to play. I think they were having far too much fun ....

Elaine Rolfe (above. far right, ace scrapbooker and creative gal!) was on hand to give lessons in the art of flower making and loads of other stuff, too. You can see the flowers below - the photo doesn't really do the Ranger Ink / Tim Holz Distress Stains or Creative Impressions' Cosmic Shimmers! Incidentally, apparently you can wash Cosmic Shimmer stains out of clothes with a little help from good, old, Fairy Liquid ...

The flowers were amazingly simple - but very satisfying - to make, and are a great way of ensuring your embellishments match your layout or greetings card colour scheme. We used a small punch - possibly called Starburst? which Sue promises will soon be back in stock - for the centres, and a grungy flower-type die-cut for the petals.

 I've tried to show a sample flower (above) close up but a) my camera is not that brill, and b) it's raining and dark outside so I've had to try and take the shot in the poor indoor light. But I hope you get a bit of an idea.

These last flowers were made using the spiral flower template die from Marianne's Creatables. Available, of course, from Paper Arts LOL!

And here you can see a couple of my flower creations 'in situ' as it were, on two of the tags I made during the drop in sessions. Is it sad to admit I visited the shop on both Saturday and Sunday? I did ask permission, honestly.

I must say a very big THANK YOU to the lovely Elaine who so generously let me use some of her rubber stamps on these tags. And for her patience in helping us all with the new techniques and ideas. Thanks too, to Sue for sharing her tag and stain genius (you can see some samples in the shop if you happen to be in the area).

No, I didn't eat any of the cakes made by Sue's mum or partake in the nibbles provided but I have it on good authority that they were all very tasty. Judging by the size of the slices that were being consumed, calorie counting wasn't an issue this weekend!!!!!

And finally, well done to Sue for selling raffle tickets during the weekend for an Alzheimers charity. This is a cause close to my heart as one of my aunts has dementia and is in a care home. So sad to see a bright, smart, well-organised individual reduced to such a level by a cruel disease...