Summer Crafting

I managed to get away to Doncaster for Summer Crafting this month with Stephanie Weightman, Nancy Watts and the team.  I had not been since it had been the one workshop format and was surprised at how many people were there.  It really was packed and took ages just to get into.

The weather was lovely and it was a nice setting looking out on to the racecourse.

Steph and Nancy took the theme of Grease and came in dressed up although the wigs lasted about a minute in that heat.

You're the One That I Want

There were 5 projects that we made and they all took the theme from Grease - We Go together, Beauty School Dropout, Summer Nights, Look at Me and You're the one that I want.  The projects  were all from a papercrafting kit (Pockets Full of Dreams) but there was no way that they could be anything else with the amount of people.  

One of the projects that we did was an ikea jar that we decorated and I thought that it was a nice touch that they supplied Epsom Salts to fill the jar ups to take home.  We also made an bag to hold it in that we decorated.

Summer Nights

I liked the fact that we did not have to take anything with us as the supplied a goody bag with all our essentials in and a few more bits as well.  I was really pleased to see that the Tattered Lace Essentials Christmas Window die and the Tattered Lace Mini Trimmer which were in the bag and it was nice to be able to take them home with us.  We also got to use a small sewing machine and got to take this home as well.  It will be great to use that on cards to save using my good sewing machines.

I am not sure that I really learnt anything from the day but it was meant to be fun and it was certainly that.  Nancy and Steph made sure that they came around and spoke to everyone.  

Although it was hectic and the projects basic, I would still like to go back again next year as it is still good to spend a day with like minded people.

I just have to get over this cold I have at the moment as tomorrow I am off to spend two day with Barbara Gray at one of her workshops - I know I will learn at this one. 

Brushos Workshop

I am so pleased that there is a local craft shop opened near to me now that does workshops and certainly intend to make the most of them.  It is great just to drive down the road rather than half way around the country. Last Saturday there was a workshop at That's Crafty with Helen Chilton and this time it was using brushos.  I had never used them before and did not really know what they were but was informed that they were great to make backgrounds with.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained so booked in and attended the workshop.  I was quite surprised at the use that I would be able to make of these.  The first thing we learnt was not to open the pots but to just put a small hole in the top and shake the powder out - a little went a long way and also to write the colours on the top of the pots so you would know straight away what colour you were using. 

 

We spent the first part of the morning just making samples using both matt and glossy card and also using cling film, straws, water, stencils and Perfect Pearls mist and finding out what the colours looked like when using different techniques and what the finished effects were.  The colours looked very different to when they were first put on the paper and were very vibrant with water.

One of the techniques that I really liked was putting the powder on dry and then stamping on it with versamark. It was surprising how much detail showed up.  I can see me making use of this technique quite a lot.

 

After making our samples, we then had a choice of making a piece of work with either flowers in reds or buildings in blue using Carabelle Studo Stamps.  I choose to go with a blue background but red flowers to stand out more.  I mainly used the spray technique but then over stamped in black on the background using a Kaisercraft stamp.

The real piece of work was much more vibrant than the photo shows and I would not necessarily make this piece again but the workshop was definitely worthwhile to get an introduction to brushos. 

Cousins Birthday

It was time to get back to birthday cards after the graduation cards I have made recently.  This time, I only needed to make one and was for my cousin.  

I decided to make a shirt card as I could you the buttons on the shirt to spell out his name.  I like to give him personalised cards as he means so much to me.

I used some papers that I had bought from Hobby Lobby in the US.  I put the pocket and sleeve using the pattern the other way and just used a foam trip down the centre to create the effect of two separate sides.  I drew stitching around the centre, cuff, collar and pocket and added small gems to the cuffs, pocket top and collar.  The sentiment was from Spellbinders Sentiments 1.

Graduation Cards Part 2

As we had taken my Mother with us to the US, I made the graduation cards for her to give to her Grandson and his girlfriend.  It would be more difficult to buy a card at this time of the year here and what was the point of having a daughter make cards if you couldn't call on her when necessary.

I wanted to use Whiff of Joy Graduation Willow and Graduation Oakley stamps. I had to look around for the stamps to make the cards for her and although I bought Graduation Willow here in the UK I ended up having to buy Graduation Oakley from a store in Iowa, which was quite ironic seeing as that was where the card ended up back.  The problem was that graduations are so much earlier in the US than the UK and there just did not seem to be much around in this country.  Of course, once I got to the US, there were lots of graduation pieces in all the craft stores but by then was too late as we only arrived a day and a half before the ceremony.

Again I wanted to keep the colours blue and yellow for the University and so coloured the robes blue and used copics again for the colouring and decided to make a stepper card using my dies from Tattered Lace.  I then downloaded some images which I coloured and attached to the card and personalised the books with their names and the University's name.  For the greeting, again I typed out what I wanted to say and then foiled it.  I also typed out the verse and foiled that before attaching it to the card.  

I have attached a photo of them both together and think that they make a lovely couple and they certainly made us all very proud.

Graduation Day

I am now back off holiday - although with the weather we had, it did not quite have a holiday feel as was quite cold.  We had gone to the Iowa in US for the first few days for my nephew's graduation - or commencement - and had taken my mother with us.  We then headed on to Chicago to catch up with friends and for me to catch a baseball game after.

It doesn't seem like 4 years ago that we had a party to wish him well on his course.  We were really delighted that he managed to get a double major and also graduated Summa Cum Laude which is the equivalent of a First Class with Honours here in UK.

His girlfriend also graduated at the same time and it was great to meet her family.  

I decided that I wanted to make the same card for them both but one with a girl and one with a boy.  I managed to find La-La Land stamps Graduation Luka and Graduation Marci which were ideal for what I wanted but had to order them from Texas.  I coloured them with copics but kept the theme blue and yellow, which are the colours of the University.

I used both Spellbinder dies and Tattered Lace dies to create the background and just typed the sentiment onto some card which I then used my foiling machine to finish.

I also made a mortar board to go inside the card that popped up when opened. 

To finish, I typed a verse onto some card, added a picture of a diploma and mortar board and again foiled it.

I did not put a tassel on the mortar board and I could not get the right colour for Emily as the colour denotes the subject in the US and I just could not get the colour Citron right so left both off. 

Quick Card

I found this card which I had not posted before and thought that I would post it as I am running out of time before my holiday. 

I do have some cards ready to post but cannot post them until  the recipients receive them.  

This card was made quickly delving into my old craft stash - some Quickutz dies that I have had for years and some paper that i had long forgotten about.  I think most if this card was made from paper, card and dies at least 8 years old and I can't remember where I got it from or what any of it was called - I didn't even keep the name if the dies - it is sometimes good to delve into the stash to see what is there as I am sure that I will be adding to it shortly.

It is not my usual card but I just fancied playing when I has a spare few moments  - and that seem rarer than hens teeth lately.  I am hoping that things quieten down a bit when I get back - someone needs to invent a 30 hour day - or at least get rid of the commute to London each day.

New Cardigan for Husband

I decided that my husband needed a new knitted cardigan as the last one that I knitted for him had literally been worn out. He gets one that he likes and does not seem to want to wear anything else.

We had gone to The Cheap Shop in Tiptree at the end of January and he chose the pattern he wanted his new cardigan to be.  They have a good selection of crafts and wool and the quality is very good there. The shop is like an Aladdin's cave - it looks small from the front but just goes on and on in the back.

It is no small feat knitting him a cardigan - I have to use the largest size but at least this one was on large needles and was made with super chunky wool.  It knitted up very quickly.  I had to hang it up to get a photo as that was the only way I could get a photo and I knew it would not be off him long.

The button were the hardest items to get but managed from an online store that ships from Hungary.  I used Knitpro Symfonie needles for this first time and now know why they are so expensive.  I did not think that they would make such a difference but am now hooked on them - to me they are worth every penny.

I found the cable knit on this a little different to usual but was pleased how it turned out.  Just two more left on the list to make now but do need to get back to cardmaking .