Friday, 18 March 2011

Bridesmaids gifts


When I was thinking of how to ask my bridesmaids if they would like to be just that, I probably would have given them each a card as that's my speciality! But one of my very close friends had recently asked us to be her bridesmaid's in that way, so I set to thinking of something different.
I wanted a creative angle on it - and I eventually had a lightbulb moment of these chocolate slabs from Thorntons! I bought these for the three adults and asked them to personalise each one with my question, and then thought of something more appropriate for my younger ones.

I thought sweets would be more appropriate so I found these cute gift bags in Sainsbury's, filled them with mixed sweets and tied them with pretty ribbon and a crafty tag, featuring the same question. I also made one for my nephew to be usher too. Each of the gifts was met with gasps and screams so I think they were well received!

Monday, 14 March 2011

Oh oh oh...

I've just ordered all the materials in for my next craft class but more importantly - my PREORDER items from the new mini catalogue!!! There's so much in it that I love, I've already planned an idea for my next craft class with some of the materials plus ordered some bits I wanted to make projects to share with you all here... oh oh! I couldn't resist!

Sunday, 13 March 2011

Last chance to book March Class - bookings close tomorrow

Join us for a trio of papercraft projects including a handmade card, treat box and a decorated candle!

Saturday 26 March
Ardleigh Green Family Centre
11 – 2pm
£15 per person


These items are perfect for Mother’s Day but can easily be adapted for any other theme on the day. Grab your friends and come for a fun afternoon out! Refreshments are provided along with a kit of materials, with all you need to create your projects on the day.

Booking deadline TOMORROW – Monday 14th March —Book your place by email (see my address to the right) or via the CRAFT CLASS PAYPAL LINK in the right hand column of this blog.

Beginners are very welcome and you do not need to bring anything in order to attend – if you do have a basic tool kit please bring it along, but there will be tools provided that you can share. I will also have a table with my second hand craft items for sale so don’t miss your chance to grab a bargain as I have a lot that needs to go!

Hopefully see you there,

Jenny

Saturday, 12 March 2011

Striking black 'Circle Circus' card

Pastel Chalks Technique

Black cards are very striking! But for some reason, they tend to be something people steer cleer of so I'd urge you to have a go today if you've never tried it - share with me what you make! This card was made at one of my Stampin' Up! training events with my team leader, Natalie O'Shea and it got us all trying the chalk pastels which was fun.

It's good to be challenged to use new products by taking classes with other crafters and so much fun not to be leading them for a change! So with this card we stamped four circles from the lovely 'Circle Circus' stamp set from Stampin' Up!. You get ten different patterned circles in this stamp set!

To stamp the circles onto black card we used the Versamark Stamp Pad which is effectively a sticky, clear ink pad. We then used 'Stampin Pastels' - which is a case of different coloured chalks and applicators. We rubbed the applicator into the chalk, then carefully ran it over the sticky images using different colours on different areas of the stamp. It gives a lovely finish. You can spray it with a finishing agent if you want to protect your finished image (or some cheap hairspray like we did in art classes back in school!).

The black card was mounted onto red and then blue card, some Old Olive green ribbon along the bottom with some 'brights' coloured buttons. Try it for yourself!

Thursday, 10 March 2011

New tote bag

I've needed some good 'portable' storage for all my craft tools for a while now - at the moment I have a great spinning tool holder on my craft desk, but it's too heavy to carry around and since I've started up my craft classes again, I've been in desperate need of something to hold everything that I can just grab and go!

So when I went along to the Stampin' Up! convention at the end of last year, they had this lovely tote bag based on a set of their patterned papers - who could resist?! They sold out very fast though - and this event is solely open to SU demonstrators so you can imagine the frenzy to get hold of one! We could order one at the event and it followed some time later - and now I have it filled with my wonderful goodies. It's already been useful to taking place to place so it was definitely worth the investment. What do you keep your craft items in? I'm always keen to know anything about storage so send me your links and I can share them here!

Don't forget the March Frenzy offer from Stampin' Up! where you can get up to 30% off of SU products - limited time only! Contact me with anything that takes your fancy to order - details can be found here

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

Cajun Craze heart card

This is a lovely little card using the "I {heart} hearts" stamp set, which that Monica Gale (another Stampin' Up! Demonstrator) sent me a while back. Isn't it cute? It's the heart stamped onto white card using 'Cajun Craze' colour cardstock for the card blank, and Chocolate Chip satin ribbon folded into a bow shape and secured.

If you notice, it also uses the 'Tiny Tags' stamp set and punch for the tiny sentiment - this tag set is brilliant and you get lots of little sentiments that can all be stamped and punched in mini tags - so cute for an extra touch to cards. This is secured with a mini brad. Got the urge to make one now? Thought so!
Don't forget the March Frenzy offer from Stampin' Up! where you can get up to 30% off of SU products - limited time only! Contact me with anything that takes your fancy to order - details can be found here

Saturday, 5 March 2011

Would you like to make this set for your mum or a friend?

Stamping Craft Class - Saturday 26 March


Would you like to try something creative and meet like-minded friends? I am teaching a variety of cardmaking and scrapbooking classes which are suitable for all levels of crafters, including beginners, so this is your chance to come along and create some papercraft projects with step-by-step guidance from me.

Join us for a trio of papercraft projects including a handmade card, treat box and a decorated candle!

Saturday 26 March
Ardleigh Green Family Centre
11 – 2pm
£15 per person



These items are perfect for Mother’s Day but can easily be adapted for any other theme on the day. Grab your friends and come for a fun afternoon out! Refreshments are provided along with a kit of materials, with all you need to create your projects on the day.

Booking deadline – Monday 14th March —Book your place by email (see my address to the right) or via the CRAFT CLASS PAYPAL LINK in the right hand column of this blog.

Beginners are very welcome and you do not need to bring anything in order to attend – if you do have a basic tool kit please bring it along, but there will be tools provided that you can share. I will also have a table with my second hand craft items for sale so don’t miss your chance to grab a bargain as I have a lot that needs to go!

Hopefully see you there,

Jenny

Friday, 4 March 2011

Watercolour technique


If you want to try the watercolour technique - take a look at this card. It is much simpler to make than it looks! We made this sample at the Stampin' Up Convention and as someone who didn't particularly like the watercolour technique (I've always found it fiddly and usually a bit of a mess when I am confused with which inks to use etc) I have to say it's converted me now!

This card uses the 'Just Believe' stamp set from the catalogue - you get a massive 8 stamps in this set and it's really pretty. And this is used with the Stampin' Up inks which work well with this technique.

To create this card you ink up the stamps (either in one full colour or colour different parts like I have here using my ink marker pens in Old Olive green and another blue) and then simply 'spritz' the inked stamp with a water bottle. Not too much or the ink will run too much, but enough to make a difference, and then stamp onto some 'watercolour card'. The ink blends into the special card a little and gives a watercolour painted effect.

The sentiment was then stamped on and the entire white card was spritzed with the new colour spritzer tool - this is such a brilliant gadget for adding splodges of colour to enhance the background of something. (If you look closely you will see the splattered blue effect behind the flowers). I've torn the edges of the white and blue card for some texture too and added that all to the card blank with a strip of ribbon and the button.


This is such a versatile set and I've barely touched it yet to maximise it's potential. If you don't have a Stampin' Up! catalogue but love inspiration I'd strongly recommend taking a look at one online or getting hold of a real copy which is so much better - it's full of so many free project ideas for each stamp set and they can be adapted to use with other materials too quite easily, I love mine and I turn to it more than magazines now.


It's lovely to add some detail to the envelope with one simple stamp too!


Don't forget my next stamping craft class is Saturday 26th March - you can book using the paypal button to the right. It's perfect for Mother's Day as we are making a large card, a treat box and decorating a candle - but can be adapted for any theme, I'll show you how. Bookings close Monday 14th so don't miss your chance!

Tuesday, 1 March 2011

March Frenzy

You can get up to 30 percent off great Stampin’ Up! products during our March Frenzy sale! Take a look at the link below for details. I've also just seen the **new mini catalogue** - hold your breath for April 1st as there are some AMAZING goodies in there that I know you are all going to go crazy for!
Contact me with anything you'd like to order to bag this discount (click on the image to view it larger) - Stampin' Up rarely offer 30% discount so make the most of it. Be back again soon with more inspiration projects...

And don't forget you can now book your place for my next craft class - Saturday 26th March - £15 each - we are making a large card, a treat holder and decorating a candle - all perfect for Mother's Day!