Playing Hookey!

I mentioned yesterday that I am doing some crochet...

The truth is that I cannot lounge about doing nothing

even though I am "lounging about" for a valid reason!

it just feels wrong sitting doing nothing while I rest my body

but thankfully crochet has come to my rescue!

most of you will know I love colour, 

whether its the pretty delicate colours in a sweet card 

or in ya face primary's, I love colour! 

and the way colour combinations work together.

That's one of the reasons I love Stampin' Up!

their colour co-ordination is fabulous through inks, card, dsp, etc.

Well I have been playing hookey!
I have busy with my crochet hook and keeping myself happy
 with this fabulous array of coloured yarn by Stylecraft

I created this pastel rainbow star blanket...

I created the pattern myself, 

it's something I have been working on for some time,

the size of this blanket is 30" x 30" from star point to star point

which is ideal for a pram or baby car seat or even a crib or moses basket

I can make it a bigger but I wanted the edge to be purple! 

I will have to plan the next one working the colour combo

 back from the edge rather than from the centre outwards as I did here.

just a bit more planning with note taking before i dive in again.

I used my pattern to create a couple of star blankets in pink or blue stripes 

for newborn baby gifts, they had blocks of colour and looked stripey!

I just had to try this rainbow colour combination 

which changes colour on every row.

I think I will try a primary colour rainbow next but 

oh thats gonna be so bright!

perhaps I should make it as a lap blanket??

I spread the blanket on my settee but I need to retake the photo 

as the arm of the settee distorts the pic! (sorry)

I have to say I am very proud of this blanket, 

I love the way the colours really blended, that was such a delight 

after many attempts to get it right.

now I have decided to list it on Etsy and see what happens ,.

I am not sure if I have the price right? 

maybe a bit low for all the work I have done 

but just gonna try it out for now

I hope to write up the pattern and have that for sale in my Etsy shop too

but writing the pattern for others to follow is a very precise art

but hey its one I will master soon \o/

I have it all in my head but just gotta get it down on paper in an understandable way

let me know what you think

if nothing else, at least its something useful to do when I cant do much else!!!

here's the blue one I made for baby Matthew last year, 

I didnt do the ridges between the points on this one, I hadn't thought of it then LOL

but this inspired me to keep trying out the pattern untill I was happy with it

Just to let you know

I have been struggling with some significant health issues.

I seem to have been catapulted into a season of pain and sleeplessness

I am hoping that this is just a season and a very temporary problem.

However the current health problems and distractions have made it 

impossible for me to concentrate on my card making and paper-crafting

some days I struggle to think clearly 

because of the pain and the effects of my medication.

Therefore, I have had to step back from my dream of being 

an active independent Stampin' Up business demonstrator

I am still registered as a demo right now 

but that's as a hobbyist, although I can still order products for anyone

but I will not be doing any business focused demonstrations classes or sales drives.

I really don't know right now what the future holds

I am still happy to help anyone with techniques or products etc

I absolutely love Stampin' Up products 

and have had immense fun making cards etc for classes etc 

and meeting new, lovely people

but I am not able to sit at my desk for any length of time 

without acute pain, and to be honest I am a bit stressed

so I am putting my feet up and crocheting until this situation changes

that might sound like I am giving up, but no

I am just taking control of a bad situation

and trying my best to be good to myself.

I am gonna be spending extra time with my husband and my family

enjoying the most precious treasures of my life

they make my heart sing

God bless you all xx

***CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE***

unfortunately due to ill health 
I have had to cancel my Card & Cuppa classes at Mooch1 

which were being held every Monday! 

I am very sad and disappointed about this

but with the amount of pain I am experiencing 

and the serious lack of sleep it causes

 I just cannot function properly to do a good weekly class at this time

sorry for any inconvenience 

I hope to still do my card making buffet 

at Wigglesworths on the first Wednesday of every month

I continue to be an Independent Stampin Up Demonstrator

in fact making cards really helps me to relax 

and think of something or someone 

other than the pain I'm in

even if for just a short while!

it's still my fun fun fun thing to do!

My online shop is still open if you want to shop for Stampin' Up products

just use the link above on the right to browse the current catalogues 

or the my Stampin' Up shop button above

 if you need any help with Stampin' Up products

or general card making questions I would be very happy to help

just contact me (without obligation) for advice

by email at

crafteresauk@gmail.com

thanks for dropping by xx

From Stress to Success

Do you remember I had posted about my first 

Card & Cuppa event at Mooch 1 in St Annes?

I was so excited about it

I had spent some time designing the initial card and I 

bought a lot of the tools & bits n bobs needed

like cutting mats rulers glue scissors pencils and some new stamps, dies and card for the first month of card kits needed for this event.

I love it when a plan comes together don't you?

 I was all packed up with the kits prepared 

and my full trolley tote on the back of my wheelchair. 

everything was ready for a successful day!

The weather was nice and sunny and not too cold. so I decided to go early and have lunch at Mooch1 before setting up!

THEN DISASTER STRUCK!

I put my key in the lock of my front door to leave my flat

but the key sheered off in the lock

***GASP***

having no back door to my tiny flat meant that I was locked in, 

I was trapped!

***GASP***

Stress! Stress! Stress!... I had been so excited just minutes before, 

Now what was I gonna do?

I contacted my housing association, they said they would try their best to get a locksmith to me A.S.A.P. but he was 26 miles away in Leyland on another job he could be 2 or more hours!

so now the disappointment of having to miss my 

first Card & Cuppa class hit me hard 

I was overwhelmed with stress and very upset

but nothing could be done to change the situation.

I had to just get over it!

At 2pm the locksmith arrived, he fixed the lock in minutes 

then he changed the inside lock so I don't need a key to lock or 

unlock the door from the inside anymore \o/

Within minutes I received a phone call telling me that 2 ladies were waiting for the class, can I still do it?  I tried to calm down 

as I whizzed to St Annes square on my electric wheelchair

Finally, I got to the class an hour late, My card making friend Kath joined us and the class went ahead. PHEW! 

The 2 lovely ladies who had so patiently waited 

were both very new to card making 

we made this "Soft Sky and a Butterfly Card" 

Using my kits and a little instruction, they did really well.

They were both very pleased with their handmade creations. 

I was so pleased how the card kits had worked for them

as they had no cardmaking experience 

yet they produced lovely handmade cards.

My friend Kath who has been cardmaking for some years 

was pleased with her card too

which just confirms that the Card & Cuppa event is suitable

 for beginners and experienced card makers alike.

I totally de-stressed as I shared my love of cardmaking and felt quite relaxed as I simply got creative and did what I love doing

As the afternoon went on we all chatted away as if we had already met before. We enjoyed a lovely friendly fun atmosphere which made the afternoon a time to get together and share the fun

just as much as a time to make cards.

After all that stress 

the first Card & Cuppa event

turned into a real success

The Card & Cuppa at Mooch 1will continue as a weekly event

every Monday starting at 1.30

just drop in & join us

no more boring dull Mondays LOL

in the near future my card making kits 

will be available to purchase online

as part of a stamp club

I just need to sort a couple of things first!

I will let you know when they are available

please email me for details

crafteresauk@gmail.com

Soft Sky and a Butterfly

Soft Sky and a Butterfly

It's been ages since I entered a card making challenge, 

I came across the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge this morning.

There challenge #84 is a "tic tac toe" challenge which ends on the 5th of February.

you can find the challenge by clicking here!

To use the Tic Tac Toe grid above 

you simply choose a line and use those elements on the challenge card

The top line of the grid shows "blue, embossing, sequins"

which fits fabulously with a card I have been designing

for my first Card & Cuppa event here in St. Annes

I love the colour combo of Soft Sky, Crumb Cake, and Whisper White

I wanted to use my new Butterfly Thinlits dies.

along with the butterfly stamp in the Butterfly Basics stamp set

Soft Sky is a pale blue colour, 3 sequins adorn the card 

the Square Lattice Embossing Folder 

was used to give texture to the pennant

so I have met the requirement for the challenge

all of these products are from Stampin' Up.

Can you see the stamped lace at the very bottom of my card?

look behind the strip of lacy trim

this was stamped using whisper white craft ink and

the delicate details set of stamps shown below.

This stamp set "Delicate Details" is from the 2017 Sale-a-brations catalogue

any of my customers can get this set free of charge

 ***YES FREE!!!***

when they spend £45 on Stampin' Up products

from any current catalogue or clearance rack

(not including postage charges)

for each further £45spend  there are other fab free items to choose from too!

If you really like this card and you live near Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England

then the good news is that this card will feature in my

 Card & Cuppa event

at Mooch1 in Garden st St. Annes

drop in on Monday 13th of February

between 1.30 and 3.30 pm

to make this card and enjoy a nice cuppa 

for just £5

You will recieve a kit and the use of my stamps and equipment 

to complete this card

all the cutting and scoring is done 

and the sentiment can be changed if desired.

well that's my card for today 

 I am already thinking of some slight changes

like colour, embossing folder, sentiment and the square 

but hey that's what gives me such a buzz

Remember

 I am here to help

with any Stampin' Up product questions

or general card making tips techniques etc

without obligation

and of course if you would like a catalogue 

then please contact me

crafteresauk@gmail.com

CARD & CUPPA

Don't hate Mondays! join in the fun

I am so excited to anounce this weekly event...

This is gonna be fun fun fun

you will recieve a kit of pre-cut and pre-scored cardstock

 and patterned paper for the card design 

and you have the use of my rubber stamps and equipment

to complete your very own version of my card

each week the card design will be changed.

if you want to create a 2nd card without another cuppa 

that will cost just £2.50 per card

I have the capacity in the room at Mooch 1 

for 5 customers at any one time

see you soon I hope

Bee Happy Crafters Group!

I have some exciting crafty news...

I joined The Bee Happy Craft Group 

it's a knit and natter group which meets 

every Thursday morning  between 10am - 12noon

 at the "Wigglesworths" coffee shop in St Annes

I go with my crochet hook and help others to learn
the beginning steps of how to crochet

other ladies bring there knitting etc and share knitting tips.

I find it very rewarding to get out and meet new folk every week 

while enjoying a cuppa and a chat.

 and my own crochet project has grown so quickly!

As a group we recognised there are lots of folk 

with nothing to do, bored or lonely! 

who would love to get out and chat 

Theres other folk with very crafty skills who could share there craft too!

Therefore, every first Wednesday of the month starting on 

Wednesday 1st of February from 6.30pm ~ 8.30pm

we will be holding The Bee Crafty Evening at Wigglesworths.

I will take my cardmaking kits and equipment

to hold a "Card Buffet"

there will be baskets with the kit and equipment required 

to make the card of your choice

participants will take the basket open the kit 

follow the instructions and make a handmade card

enjoying the fun of making handmade cards
while getting together and enjoying an evening out!

there will be other crafty folk there too, 

there will be a selection of crafts to try each month

like jewellery making, sewing, felting, colouring, beading, etc

and lots more as we get established we will find more crafts to try!

there will be something for everyone

The Bee Crafty evening will cost 50p to enter,

then you choose what craft you want try 

and pay the individual crafter for the item you are making

for example:-

to make one of my cards will cost just £2.50 per card

I will give you all the help you need

so absolute beginners are welcome

The fab thing is that if you are thinking of taking up a new craft

you can try it out quite cheaply

instead of buying equipment and realising that craft is not really for you!

we have a facebook group called the Bee Happy knitters, crochet and craft group

so come and join us, its far better than being stuck in front of the TV

and you will meet new people too

we are a very friendly bunch!