A post with no pictures!

I'm sorry folks there won't be any posts for a few days.
I have slipped a disk again! So flat on my back bored to tears. Lots of planning going on in my head but backs are a slow process and I know from experience that it will be at least a month before I am back to normal.
I do hope to be back in the studio next week but that is probably my positive thoughts over reality. Please pop back and check in, its lovely to know that people read the blog. k x

Coffee Cafe make number 2

 This time the year before last (I think) a new stamp set in the catalogue had ice cream cones and ice cream in it. At training we made a card like an ice cream parlour with the cones sat on a counter. I can't find my card to show you other than this one from the training on  Pinterest
Although I hadn't any measurements I decided I wanted to do one of my own as a coffee kiosk. This is what I came up with......

Not much stamping, lots of fussy cutting from the beautiful designer paper.

The designer paper is still available for another 3 days as is the stamp set and dies with 10% discount.

Shopping

Coffee cafe stamp set and dies bundle   415331

Ooops the designer paper is sold out!

Wow, wow, wow

I don't very often go to workshops or classes for paper-crafting but a friend Kylie of Fox and Magpie was holding one making giant paper flowers. I needed to see how she made them.
The class/workshop was a ladies night event on the last Friday of the month. A girlie night out, you could take wine and there was a very relaxed atmosphere.

We did make giant flowers. They are stunning and really quite simple. Lots of cutting out but that wasn't a problem. Glue with a hot glue gun or tombo, some paper curling and hey presto a giant flower emerged. I went with a friend who is getting married this summer she now wants a dozen for the wall behind her wedding cake! Guess who is doing the cutting out!

They really do look stunning don't they.

Late to the party...

This time next week it will be the last day to order any of the bundles from the current catalogue with 10% discount. Those that carry over lose their discount and are no longer bundles. The coffee cafe set has been on my wish list since this time last year. I also love the papers however my wish list was very long!!! Last week I took the plunge, I ordered the bundle and a packet of the paper (I had one from a previous order). I love it, why didn't I get it earlier when every one was using it?

So for my first creation this is so fitting as its for my 'Card and a Cuppa' group on Tuesday morning. The lady who runs the cafe has been away on holiday and we were chatting last Monday lunch time and she asked how I thought it was going, I explained we had a couple of new people and if everyone who has ever been turned up at the same time there would probably be a dozen, I'm not sure how I would cope and the space in the cafe is limited and we laughed about it....... The following morning 8 turned up.... thats the biggest group I have worked with in the cafe and it was so hot! We laughed about it afterwards.

This is for next Tuesday morning at Card and a Cuppa. More cards using this set to follow.

Shopping

Coffee Cafe Bundle      145331

Thank goodness for Sam

Once again I was stuck for ideas for my Tuesday afternoon class but on Monday morning Sam of Pootles came to the rescue with her brilliant little desk tidy. As soon as I saw it I knew my ladies would love it.
As there was no stamping involved I knew just the papers we would use. I got the resist papers during SAB.... yes months ago and hadn't opened them. I knew my ladies would have their own ideas about colours so these were ideal. And yes they went their own way using green and turquoise where I had stuck to the pinks and mauves!
As the class is only 2 hours I did all the cutting and scoring before class and this worked well. We worked through the largest box together then they worked at their own pace.
A great success for all. Next week we will be back making cards.

Everything is a good snug fit and the whole feels quite substantial. Mine will sit on my desk...... .until it is swamped with everything else!

Tuesday afternoon group 3D week

Two weeks ago the group that meet every Tuesday afternoon made 'squash books'. They love making little books but the highlight of this class was when I bought out my paper stash. Talk about children in a sweet shop. Its not as if they don't have lots of paper already at home but the oohs and ahhs as they chose the papers for their book was something amazing.
So this week my little 3D make again required the paper stash. If I am honest it was nearly a mistake as they spent so much time choosing what paper to use we nearly didn't get finished!

Some time ago I had ordered some little wooden houses, when they arrived firstly the bag had burst in the post and there where only 7 out of 20 left, secondly they weren't anything like as big as I expected. Sometimes I find its hard to picture the size of things from given measurements.

We covered the houses with designer paper then added embellishments, we daubed the edges, we searched through lots of stamp sets for small images we could use  the embellishment stash was rummaged through and fun was had by all.

This is Victoria's house.

What fun was had by all.

Card and a cuppa

Card and cuppa has been running now for nearly a year and the ladies who come regularly are now really good crafters. This week as the weather was warm I decided we would use the 'Mediterranean Moments' stamp set. However the first card was a bit of a departure from what we normally make. I wanted to try a card with lots of layers and a bit vintage. As my regualr readers will know I love daubing, the card and a cuppa crew have got used to this but today really tested them. Daubing with pale colours is harder, it is subtler, and the control is needed to ensure you don't daub so strongly you rub the paper surface into bumps. Its a classic case of doing a little then sitting back and looking.

The colour scheme was pink (Blushing Bride), crumb cake and a little early expresso.  Every thing was daubed! Plus we tore the edges of the paper we have water-coloured.  This technique was new.

The second card used another stamp from the same set but although also watercoloured this one is clean and crisp. This is achieved with contrasting colour combinations.

All those lovely greens.

And finally some pictures of the group at work and their creations.

Shopping

Mediterranean  Moments stamp set 143191

By clicking on the product numbers you will be taken to that product in my online shop. From there you can have a good browse.

When you have had a browse and are ready to place your order use the hostess code before you shop. When shopping with me for orders over £30 please use the hostess code  RB9GBYFC I will send a card and a gift in the post in the middle of May as a thank you..... more lovely crafty goodies!

Last card from memory lane for this week.....

I seem to remember this card was inspired by something I found on Pinterest but I can't find the item in question.  Again it involves some daubing plus a little water colouring. The stamping again is simple single layer. 

Inside the card the sentiment reads 'Happy Fathers Day'. Although a little early this card is now in my  Etsy shop

Converse sneakers...... for a Birthday card.

This is a fun card, I just wish I had a pair of pink Converse sneakers they look so comfortable. 

This is a fancy fold card with 'Happy Birthday' stamped on the inside.

What do you think? The chalk pen makes the white areas really stand out.

This is for sale in my Etsy shop here

Lovely as a Tree ....2

I have used the same stamp out of the set as yesterday and daubing but with a completely different colour scheme to create a very different mood.

A bit of glitter on this creates a beautiful Christmas card.

In detail, I used 'post it notes' to create the layers and the moon. Followed by one very simple stamp.

I think this one has to be one of my all time favourites.

Shopping

Lovely as a tree  127793

By clicking on the product numbers you will be taken to that product in my online shop. From there you can have a good browse.

When you have had a browse and are ready to place your order use the hostess code before you shop. When shopping with me for orders over £30 please use the hostess code  RB9GBYFC I will send a card and a gift in the post in the middle of May as a thank you..... more lovely crafty goodies!

Lovely as a tree

Its back again..... yes Lovely as a Tree is in the new catalogue. I am so pleased about this as its one of my go to stamp sets when I am really short of ideas. My set is wood mounted and to be honest I just tip them out of the box and then spend about 20 minuets trying to get them back in! I love a puzzle and usually in that time I have a new idea. Today I am bringing back 1 of my favourite makes and another one tomorrow..

I love this technique, all that daubing, the stamping is very simple. 

The colours are spring and summer. I have a similar one for the autumn but with yellows, oranges and browns.

So pretty. This card is for sale in my Etsy shop here

Shopping

Lovely as a tree stamp set 127793

By clicking on the product numbers you will be taken to that product in my online shop. From there you can have a good browse.

When you have had a browse and are ready to place your order use the hostess code before you shop. When shopping with me for orders over £30 please use the hostess code  RB9GBYFC I will send a card and a gift in the post in the middle of May as a thank you..... more lovely crafty goodies!

I do love to be beside the seaside........ take 2

OOoops I forgot to add the pictures. so here is the post again with pictures.


Its Friday and I am making it 3D friday.
Todays make has been a while in the making but the lovely weather at the weekend meant I could sit in the garden and paint. I had a box of shapes and all my acrylic paints, what a satisfying day. Then today in the studio I have been able to create the background.

 I have used elements from a number of different stamp sets, plus a lot of daubing which you know I love.
I started at the bottom and worked up the background, adding the deck chair and glass with straw last.  It was so satisfying to see it come together. Lastly I added my beach hut and shell. This would look lovely in a bathroom that has a nautical theme.

It is for sale in my Etsy shop