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...

Scrapped at last

At the very last minute, I signed up for a workshop at PaperArts near Stroud, yesterday. Sue made me most welcome, as always, and I joined Lorraine Freeman's class. You can see the result above.

I hadn't prepared any photos for the class as I really didn't know I was going for sure until Saturday morning, but discovered the Jenni Bowlin papers and Kraft card colours were perfect for scrapping this less-than-perfect photo of my lovely dad (sadly no longer with us).  I have had the photo for a long time but hadn't got round to doing anything with it. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to put that right.

I followed the class instructions pretty closely but omitted some of the lace and flowers to make the page less 'girly'. I also added some journalling to record how my dad loved to walk out in the orchard where he and mum used to live in Kent. Arthur, the cat, always went with him and they both, I think, rather liked the company! I decided that the page didn't need a title.

The stash details: Jenni Bowlin red large dot and vintage red tiny dot patterned papers. Kraft card. Brown card. Lace. Tim Holz Distress Ink. Cats Eye ink pads. Scallop punch. Flower punch. Small dot punch.

I finished this page at the workshop, too. Used various strips and ric rac for colour and texture. We went on this ferry for a trip to see the Needles close up. Which reminds me, the first layout also required some sewing, shock horror!

I did start on two other layouts during the day but didn't have all the materials I needed to finish them. I will complete them soon, I hope!

Happy wedding anniversary!

Here's a card I made earlier this week for a 50th wedding anniversary. It's hard to see from the photos, but there's lots of texture here - in the hammered cardstock base, the lace strip and ruffle, the layered torn paper and the glittery bow. There's some embossed card, too, made with a Cuttlebug embossing folder, but used in my Sizzix Big Shot (I haven't got a bug).

The greeting is raised on foam pads, and the edges are inked for definition. It was supposed to be a red Tim Holz distress ink that I used, but there must have been some residue from another colour on the pad I used, and it came out coffee coloured. Fortunately, it went quite well, so I didn't worry too much.

I made the rose from some scrap 12x12 double sided paper I had in my odds-and-sods box. I scrunched the paper, sprayed it with glimmer mists and inked it, as well as distressing the edges ... I went the whole hog LOL! Oh, and I used one of the fab Woodware flower punches to make the petals. I am addicted to this flower-making mullarky!

There are some small stick-on gems, too, for a bit of bling. After all, why not!

Hope you like the result.

What, March already?

OK. So I admit it - not only has 2011 arrived (how did that happen?) but it's already March and I've been a very Bad Blogger .... no pix or posts for ages! So I thought I ought to extract a digit, and join in for the first time this year in WOYWDW (What's on your work Desk Wednesday) or whatever the acronym is.

Anyway, I have loads of 'stuff' on my desk, as usual, and am far too embarrased to show you any evidence. So I've cleared a space and voila! here are my latest purchases from the lovely Sue at PaperArts http://www.paperarts.co.uk/  Sue has a bricks and mortar shop near Stroud and is well worth a visit, but if you are unlucky and don't live nearby, she'll be happy to take your orders online.

So, what did I buy? Well, I succumbed to a couple more Distress Ink pads for my collection (Spun Sugar and Frayed Burlap, if you're interested). Sue has them at great prices at the moment and there are lots of different colours in stock, so go and snag yourselves a bargain ...

I also bought some pale pink gems (Craftaroo) at just £1.20 for 100 rhinestones. I need them to add to the 'new baby' card I've added to the photo.

The fourth purchase was a Marianne's Creatables butterfly, which I've been debating about buying for a while. Today, I made up my mind and it, err, 'flew'  off the shelf into my hands. I am thinking about using this die (with my Sizzix Big Shot) to make a Mother's Day card. If I do, I will try and remember to share a photo of the finished item with you.

In case you're wondering, also on my desk but well out of shot, are Glimmer Mists, pen pots, double sided tape rolls, memory sticks, papers, card, ink pads, scissors, tooks, headphones, camera, embellishments, mobile phone holder, glasses, blossoms, a job description (I have a telephone interview tomorrow), rubber stamps, Promarkers, notepad, tissues, baking tray, gesso, rub-ons, ink, Dymo tapes, home-made paper flowers, ribbon, cord and a tube of mini Twiglets!!!!!

Now you know whay I am NOT showing you a photo of the whole thing!

Kalika is cute!

I just love the Days of Christmas from Digital Designer Shop (it is a fab creation from Cilenia Curtis and Honey Scraps). It has so many lush papers and elements it's hard to choose what to use. And a lot of the items would work really well for anyone who does hybrid scrapping or cardmaking.

Do go and check out the girls and the shop - there's some lovely stash to be had.

This pic of Kalika, our collie-lab cross, was taken a year or so ago, but I keep using it because it's so silly ... unlike Kalika, who is of course, very bright and and on the ball.

Did someone say ball? Let me out, I want to play!

Seasonal word art from Digital Designer Shop

I don't know about you, but I think these word art creations are rather nice - great for scrapbooking both digitally and 'in the the flesh', or for card-making.

Speaking of cards, I had better get a move on write the ones I've already made and work out how many more I need to create this weekend. After all, soon be Christmas!!!!

Have you seen this?

http://networkedblogs.com/bxusg

You need to visit this place and enjoy the 12 days of Christmas!
Sorry I am behind in sharing the link - but that's me at the moment, all behind LOL!