Happy Crafty New Year

Not long now!.... New Year... and a rather nice crafty surprise on the 4th January to look forward to which makes going back to work on Tuesday all more bearable!!

Come back and see me on the 4th to see whats going on!!

Crafty B xx

First Class of 2012

Don't ask "are you ready for Christmas?"  LOL!  I've got a few surprises organised, and the tree is up but its coming up fast and I need to get some pressies and finish off my last minute card orders!

Anyway, I'm certainly ready for the New Year and I've arranged a special crafty day on Saturday 7th January at the Bishop Beveridge Club in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire - 11am-4pm,

Our first project will use the gorgeous Everything Eleanor stamp set, and then after lunch we'll tackle some techniques that have fab results but take a little bit of mastering.... like Brayering for example!  We'll also have a go at the reflections and emboss-resist techniques.   It will be a day full of surprises!  Especially if we manage to finish everything planned!!

If you're interested in joining in please give me a call or email me.  My contact details up there on the right --->

Crafty B x

Fancy a Crafty Sunday?

A few of us are getting together next Sunday 27th November for a crafty session and a gossip!  Bring your own projects or I'll bring some for you.  I'll bring card, seasonal stamps, big shot and dies so if you'd like to join in let me know. £5 each. Or just come and join us at the Bishop Beveridge Club, South Street, Barrow upon Soar - we'll be there from 11am till 4pm!

CraftyB x

Happy Crafters

For ages I've known what projects my next class would consist of, and then the other night I couldn't sleep and went to the craft room in the middle of the night and completely changed them all!!  The lovely Mocha Morning papers were calling me!  My class loved them, and hope you do too....

Christmas 2011 Projects

Christmas Projects 2011

Stampin' Up! Materials used: Beautiful Season stamp set, Chocolate Chip ink, Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers, Mocha Morning designer paper, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla card stock, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Basic Rhinestones, Antique Brads, Mini Brads,Curly Label Punch, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Word Window Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Fun Flowers Die and Big Shot.

Other peoples Blogs

I like a browse now and again......... don't you?  People tell you all about their lives in a few short paragaphs and the daily goings on at Aldi's and Tesco and the stresses of being married to active service men etc.  One minute I am giggling away, the next welling up with tears in my eyes.  Nevertheless I carry on reading!  Sometimes in our most stressed times we can be our most creative... and thats what I keep telling myself as I have not yet got a clue about the projects for my November class!  I've got the bare bones of what I want to do, just need a shot of inspiration!  So the browsing continues..................

Crafty B xx

Are you thinking about Christmas yet?

After the fantastic heatwave last week, it felt like Christmas was ages away, but the turn in the weather last night made me realise it really is October, and the countdown has started....  Halloween, Bonfire Night, and for us here in Loughborough our annual street fair 9th -11th November and then its all down hill all the way to the big day!

So with that in mind my class on Saturday 5th November will be Christmas Crafting and Mince Pies!  The emphasis will be on decorations and gifts plus a few special cards!

If you'd like to join in the festivities, we'll be at the Bishop Beveridge Club in Barrow upon Soar 1pm till 5pm the cost is £15 inclusive of all materials & refreshments.

I will post some sneeky peeks of the projects as soon as I've got them together!

Crafty B x

New Catalogue

 Here it is.... the new Stampin' Up Ideas Book and Catalogue launched on 1st October!

 

Looks nice on the outside eh?! Wait till you see what's inside! I'm sure you're going to love it!

Click to view.2011-2012 Ideas Book & Catalogue 

Contact me if you would like to order anything!  

10% Discount off all orders during October 2011. 

Crafty B! x

I was supposed to be tidying up....

... but y'know how it is.... as soon as I picked up a stamp set I had to make a card or two.... 

The inks I used here are Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral - two of the new colours, and Old Olive

Just Believe & Pocket Sillouettes

And just a random pattern using Circle Circus and Pacific Point ink.

Circle Circus & Curly Cute

And after I made a couple more, I didn't have "time" for the dusting and hoovering as it was time for bed!

x

Quick Update!

Here's a pic of the ladies at my last class at Thorpe Acre church ... having a coffee and biscuit break!  L-R Janice, Marina,  Debbie & Meg.  Meg "I only knit" was really taken with the Big Shot and romped through making the box and card set! 

Before the launch of the new Stampin up Ideas Book & Catalogue on the 1st October, I was  able buy a couple of the new Hostess stamp sets, and I made a couple of samples to show you.

All ready!!

Here are the photos of the projects for my class for Saturday.  Hope you like them. 

First is the Ribbon of Hope.  This is based on a project made at my first "Christmas in July" training with Monica Gale with NOEL    I did use a little Nellie Snellen doilly die on this one which prettied it up and I have since added a blinged-up butterfly to it.

My Second project is a Scallop Circle Card Set,.  This is based on a design by Rosemarie Diehl from Craft Project Central but given my own twist and using pink colours for my Breast Cancer event.

Crafty B!

Its been a while.....

but I have been crafting... honest!!  I've had quite a few commissons recently together with navigating a route up and down the country to visit family- so my brain has been taxed quite a bit!!  There's a couple of cards on the gallery, but more to upload soon.  My charity class projects for this Saturday are almost complete just the notes and a box to finish off!  I will post the pictures shortly.

The biggest disaster to hit me on the crafting front was my Bigshot Express blew up!!... its not 6 months old... and guess what? .. they discontinued it last November!!  Not only did it blow up, it blew all the fuses at home so I had no phone, no lights, no nothing till I found the fuse box after grovelling around in the dark having a hissy fit and flicked the magic switch! 

Anyway, what I have to report is that Ellisons Customer Service are FABULOUS!  and tomorrow I take delivery of a new machine, albeit manual... no quibbles at all... just pure helpfulness and compassion!!!!  I must have sounded pathetic... as they are sending me two BigZ dies too!!  Mega thanks to my friend Rebecca for letting me borrow her Bigshot to get my class projects finished on time!

See you soon!

Crafty B! xx

Fundraising Class

Hi everyone.  Thought it was about my turn to hold a fundraiser in aid of the Breast Cancer Foundation and its booked for Saturday 20th August, 2pm till 5pm (ish) at Thorpe Acre Church Rooms in Loughborough.  Please contact me to book your place.  All the profits will go to the charity and I am hoping to get some matched giving from my employers charity fund, fingers crossed for a good donation.

I've got pink ribbon and card and butterflies everywhere and millions of ideas running round in my head!  Everyone out there in blog-land have so many lovely ideas/projects to share I get overwhelmed by them and I want to do them all!  In the end, I hope a great class project will emerge!

Yours, all pinked out.....
Crafty B! xx

Strawberry Fayre

What a lovely class I had yesterday.  In between the cups of coffee, bikkies and then strawberries and cream (! yes really) my ladies made these.... what do you think?

Good enough to eat, eh??!!!

Strawberry Fayre

Strawberry Fayre

Crafty B! x

Craft Room

Whilst I was having a tidy up my cheeky monkey was posing in my craft room ....

It looks quite neat!  You should the other view!!  Later.... xx

Did you see the hail?

My goodness me did it chuck it down here today.... along with some big hail stones!  I hope you didn't get caught in it.  Glad I was in the car!

Had a lovely class today and my two new regulars - my cousin and her friend - use it as therapy! We did a bit of stamping, cutting and sticking and ended up with a lovely little portfolio and four cards.  They were thrilled. We also made a cute little handbag and started our Technique Book - something we'll be adding to at each class.

I just love making cards for a specific reason (usually happy occasions) so cards for sad ones are just that bit harder and this card was for a friend who suffered a bereavement this week.  (I used Choc Chip, Concord Crush, V. Vanilla and Crumb Cake, Just Believe Stamp set and bit of Baja Breeze seam binding).

On a happier note, my first batch of Father's Day cards were snapped up by my friends at work, and I forgot to take some photos, but this one made it I also had to make the envelope as I didn't have one big enough!

Scrapbooking

I've had a little dabble with my first scrapbook page too after going to a family wedding.  I didn't know where to start.  I was almost too scared to cut the paper, y'know what its like!  Anyway the theme was yellow so I sorted out some bits and pieces and the page is in progress, I think a small fold out album in the middle will finish it off, which I hope to do tomorrow when I will post a photo!  Crafty B! x

Off to a Wedding Soon!

My Cousin's daughter Deanna gets married today. As usual, at the last minute I realised I still had the card to make!  Here it is!  I like to think of it as ""Something Old, Something New!... using some retired card (which I could hardly bear to cut) and the new Fun Flowers Die. All cream except for a little stamping in StazOn Mustard (which was my purchase of the week at £1!).

Hope you like it.

Crafty B! x

Lazy Sunday?

I think not.... endless washing (where does it come from?)....tidy up the craft room... a bit of Something for the Weekend... right now American Idol.... and then I must empty the car of all the craft gear from yesterday's class and put it all away!

My cousin Debbie and her friend were my class newbies this month and they loved it!  Deb's daughter Deanna is getting married in two weeks so I was really surprised when she booked in.... but hey as we all  know crafting is Therapy! right?!!   They were both excellent students and went home chuffed to pieces with their projects!  They've booked in for next month and hope to another friend or two with them!! 

Well, suppose I better think of the next class project then!

Crafty B! x

New day... new look!!

Hope you like the new look of my blog?  I loved the blue but it was getting just a bit too fussy .. although I might add a few bits and pieces to this one as time goes by!  Ah well.... better get to the day job!!

Crafty B! x

The Bleach Results

Here's the photos. I hope you like them.  I am chuffed to bits with the results!!

A Bleaching Success!

Bring on the Bleach!

Well, I knew it would happen. I tipped it up didn't I ......it was just a small capful of bleach but off it went across my desk down the cabinet and landed upside down on the carpet! The wastebin now has a new home right over the mark!

Anyway - like I said the other day, I've been stamping with bleach but with the gloopy stuff I've got its hard too get a sharp image. So I've taken to heat embossing the images now and then filling in with my aqua painter turned bleach painter.

Of all the Stampin' Up! card I've played with Real Red, Basic Grey and More Mustard have given me the results I wanted. I tried Not Quite Navy - which is a marine blue - and that bleaches to a pink tone. Best of all, I love the grey which comes up a lovely match for River Rock which is a very light khaki colour. I've used the Fast & Fabulous stamp set and Sail Away... and then I thought try Beware Pirates! they all work a treat.

Photos will be uploaded tonight! So watch this space.

Crafty B x

Just Catching Up!

I've been trying to catch up on this-that-and-the-other around my home and getting side-tracked by finding other things that have to be done..this inevitably means going round in circles and getting nowhere!!  Anyway, I promised to do a bleaching technique demo on Thursday evening and so have been researching ideas and the pros and cons, I have tried it out on every colour card I own, with varying degress of success!  There is now a big mountain of scrap n'stuff on my desk!  I've tried painting with it and stamping with it, stamping over it (thats fun - if the bleach base isn't completely dry the image disappears!).  The craft room smells very clinical but the effects are stunning. I'll post a piccie of my efforts later, meanwhile I'm just going to have another quick peak on the internet for more tips and inspiration!!

Crafty B x

This month's class

Hi everyone, I don't know where the time has gone! Hope you have been enjoying extended bank holidays and the lovely weather ... although yesterday we had thunder and lightning, a hailstorm and torrential rain in the space of an hour! Anyway the weather never stops the crafting!!

My next class is on Saturday 21 May, 1pm till 4pm (ish!) at the Rothley Centre, everyone welcome - no experience necessary.

This month's project is a set of four cards with matching folder, with a fruity theme!  The stamp set we'll be using is Tart & Tangy from Stampin' Up! together with Stampin' Write markers instead of ink pads.
AND remember the springtime vintage bag and cards in my previous post, well we'll be making those too! 
The class costs £12.50 which includes full instructions and all materials needed to complete the project. 

Give me a ring to book your place on 01509 413830 or Mobile 07598 966410.

Wednesday Wonder!

I say Wednesday Wonder, because its a wonder I was able to stay awake to finish this in the wee small hours of today Wednesday!... but I got crafters rush as the adrenalin kicked in and here it is, a lovely little set of cards and gift basket.  Finished at about 1am this morning,  I am definately a late nite stamper!

 

More pics on the gallery.

Crafty B! x

Happy Easter Day!

I cant believe how early the church bells started ringing this morning in my village - how idylic you might think... lovely sunny morning, easter day and the bells ringing... until you live across the road!!  Well I hope you haven't over indulged on chocolate eggs and if you have I hope you enjoyed every mouthful!

I have had a very productive day, the next class project is almost ready to photograph, and I've also been playing about with designs on black card ... I'll let you know what I come up with!

Crafty B! x

Happy St George's Day!

Well I thought I might just have a lay in this morning... hah! hah!  But I woke up early and got on with the chores... now the last room on the agenda is The Craft Room!  It needs blitzing-  so I can find my desk and get on with preparing my next class!  When I saw the state of Monica's craft room on her blog the other day I thought ..."its not just me then"!  But what a great sense of satisfaction when its all tidy and everything is in its place!

Anyway, back to the class....  The stamp set I've chosen is one you've probably never given a second glance to as you've trawled the SU catalogue... but there it was (and still is) at the bottom of Page 68 ...  calling out to me ... its Tart & Tangy (Code 111514, £12.95).  Using this cute little set, we'll be making four fantastic cards and a portfolio to put them in.  The project is clean and simple but don't let that fool you, as it will be a challenge.  When I've finished the samples I'll post up a sneeky peek!

Crafty B! x

Something to Share

Where has the time gone since my last post?!  Well, I was busy making samples to swap at our regional training, here's a snap of a four of them...I made 36!   I used a new stamp called "Sail Away" from Stampin' Up! (SU) I left some of the scenes plain but then I tried a bit of the distressing technique on them..  Bit of blue here, bit of pink there, bit of purple...... My fellow demos loved the mean and moody look!  In return I received some great swaps (samples) so a great big thank you ladies!

My Big Shot is now being worked to a frazzle using the new embossing folders and dies I've bought from Stampin' Up!  Manhattan Flower is my favorite embossing folder, and its exclusive to SU.  I bought some fantastic stamps and dies from PaperArtsy at the NEC and I've been giving them a good work out too!

My next class projects are also on the "drawing board" and will be finished very soon.   I hope you will be able to attend.

Thought you might like to see the great projects we made on Sunday at our Regional Training in Peterborough...all the stamp sets are from the new Mini Catalogue which was launched on the 1st April.  As usual for me the outcome is not quite exactly like the samples but hey thats what makes it "creative"!!

  

Hope you like them.

Crafty B! x

How much did YOU spend?

Before my trip to the NEC the other week I swore I wasn't going to spend much!.... HOW MUCH????  I can hear you all laughing!  BUT I NEEDED IT, I JUST HAD TO HAVE IT!!!!  I am now in love with distressing and altered images!  After watching a demo using a stamp almost identical to one from Stampin! Up! (which I had at home) I couldn't wait to get back and try out what I had seen with my new stash of inks!! 

Several distressed tags/bookmarks later, I tried this ....What do you think? 

Because I Care

I LOVE IT!!

Crafty B x

What a great Saturday afternoon!

Dont you just love it when you can share your crafting knowledge?!  I had the most fantastic afternoon yesterday!  The new venue at Rothley was perfect - so that made my day, as I was a bit apprehensive about the move!

I gave a quick demo on using finger daubers and then demonstrated the two-step stamping technique using the Fast & Fabulous set which we used on our first project.  What a fantastic stamp set this is (only  recently acquired through a swap with fellow demonstrator Heather!)

Project 2 was a bit more challenging - a circular photo album (seen on Splitcoast, but a bit smaller than their dinner plate sized version!) You might just spot some little chicks from the Itty Bitty Bits set too! I chose the Vintage Vogue flowers to decorate the outside and then A Flower for All Seasons and butterflies to decorate the inside (as well as some family photos which I added after photographing this! 

I have to say, my Big Shot came in very handy for cutting the card and paper circles for this project! 

My last project was a simple but effective butterfly wreath - Monica Gale posted a similar one on her blog and I loved it so much I just had to re-create it!

See you soon!  

Crafty B x

Class & of course... The New Mini Catalogue!

Morning!  Just loading up the car for my class this afternoon dodging the rain!  We're at a new venue in Rothley today so I am hoping it will work out well for us all. Project pictures will be loaded up later.

THE BIG NEWS.....Yesterday April 1st saw the official launch of  Stampin' Up! new mini catalogue - its been agony knowing about it for a month and not being able to show you!  Have a browse...You are going to love whats in it.......

Stampin' Up have also launched a new Stamp set called Strength & Hope (its a the back of the Mini) in aid of Breast Cancer Research and will be donating a £1 for every set purchased. This is the first time a fundraising campaign has been launched across all our regions around the world at the same time. On a personal note, for every set purchased through me I will also donate £1.

Crafty B x

Sunny Saturday!

Hello everyone... isn't it a beautiful day?   I'll be out there very soon but I just have to  finish off  my class projects, and type up the instructions and I can then relax.  Also this morning I planned out some wedding invitations for my friend Laura who lives up in bonny Scotland! She loves vintage, so there's  plenty to choose from at Stampin' Up!   Looking forward to going to the NEC on Friday too!  I will post a sneeky peek of the next class projects soon.  Crafty B x

April Class

Well, after Saturday's Handbags & Gladrags class I can truly say we all went home covered in glitter ... and me from head to foot!  The Bliss stamp set we used from Stampin' Up!s Sale-a-brations promotion was definately one to keep in the collection, even though it has now retired. 

My next class is called Easter Parade... its on 2nd April 2011 at The Rothley Centre, in the centre of Rothley village (directions/map will be posted shortly!). The Centre has a huge car park and is all on one level, so no stairs!  We start at 1pm till 4pm and the price is £12.50 all inc.  Advance booking is essential, closing date is Friday 25th March - this will ensure I have all the supplies for you!

Hope you can join me!

 Crafty B x

Catch up!

Remember I told you I was going to Stampin' Up! regional training last weekend, well here are a few of the 40 swaps I took with me. They can hold gift cards or even an After 8 mint or two - and I did in fact hand round the mints with the swaps!

The training session was great fun and informative, and I didn't know a soul there although I did recognise a few faces!  Well the big news is that the new mini catalogue will go live on 1st April and it is seriously good!  As soon as I am able, I will post it on line but meantime we're all gonna have to wait!  March Frenzy should help pass the time away!  

Crafty B x

To keep you going....

...during March Stampin' Up! are having a March Frenzy!  Some great items are listed below, and if you'd like to order anything just drop me a line or give me a call!

If the flyer is a bit hard to read, click here for a plain ol' list!

Crafty Weekend

Up early this morning, finishing off my swaps for the regional training in Fareham next weekend! This will see the launch of Stampin' Up!'s new mini catalogue, I cant wait to find out whats it it!! 

I had a delivery on Friday from Stampin' Up! and as usual I got it all out of the box, stroked the new card and stamps and put them all back again! I shall decide tonight what they destined to become!

Anyway I had a lovely Saturday afternoon crafting with the ladies at Lindseys class at Mountsorrel.  Isobel (Lindseys mum) and I finally finished our gorgeous twisted easel card, and you can just see Marie in the background with hers!  Well done us!

Just Believe Stamp set

Valentines!



Had a couple of commissions for Valentines Day, and I thought you might like to see them. All made with Stampin' Up! products ... the name and letters on the card were all cut from the designer paper and it also made a fantastic envelope!




 

 

The little boxes are a variation of my class project in January. This time I punched holes down the sides of the bigger one and laced it up with red satin ribbon.  Sexy or what!!??



Crafty B x


Blustery Monday!

Phew! What a weekend! My second class of the year was on Saturday afternoon and my ladies produced some marvellous work ...(and if you're reading this you deserve GOLD stars!) I was very proud of them, and myself too. They finished all the projects with about 5 minutes to spare!

Special thanks to Peter for helping me get the projects ready in good time! (He will get an extra hug when I see him next!)

Sunday was spent in Peterborough attending a training course with the ever growing Passionettes team. We did some business training and a fair bit of crafting, and watched some brilliant demonstrations. Fantastic! The swaps I made were well received and in return I have some lovely samples to display at my next class!

Well with that behind me, I now have to get everything ready for some more training, this time down in Fareham near Southampton, for which I have to make another 50 samples to swap with my fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators!

Before I forget, my next class is on 5th March at 1pm at the Community Room at Mountsorrel Library. The title is Handbags & Gladrags! It costs £12.50 which includes all materials and instructions Email me or call me (0798 966 410) to book your place.

Crafty B x

Class Preparations

The projects and instructions for my next class are all done and packed ready! Phew! (does that mean I can put my feet up tonight?)

I am really looking forward to welcoming some new members to my class tomorrow - its going to be a busy one!

Crafty B x

A Special Birthday!

Something I made (in secret) for my friend Linzy's 30th Birthday I think she was just a bit surprised!! Many thanks to Darren and the Mortimer family for the photos!!