Thursday, 6 October 2016

Crochet Star Baby Blanket

I found a star blanket pattern online which was for a 12 point star blanket
it wasnt long before I realised the pattern wasnt working for me
the work in progress was bunching up and wouldnt lay flat
i didn't like it
I really wanted to make a star blanket for a baby boy who is due any day now
the solution was to design my own 8 point blanket which turned out quite pleasing....
After creating this I decided to start another for my granddaughter Thea
this time I created it with a ridge which kinda defines the pattern more
I am liking this one even more, cant wait to show you when it's done.
and see our Thea trying it out!
I will be writing up the pattern soon
when I finish the pink blanket for our Thea
the pattern will be available in my Etsy store in November

let me know what you think, its still a work in progress!

The Best White Ink Pad on the Market!

I just wanna let you know some great news...
The Stampin' Up Whisper White Craft ink pad 


has won #1 place in an independent review 
of the 10 best white ink pads on the market

click the link below to watch this review 


its brilliance on black card stock 
and opacity was the best of all 10 ink pads tested
it is pigment ink 
therefore, it takes a little longer to dry 
which is great for using with embossing powder!
and a re-inker is available too

This fabulous white ink pad is available in my 
(click the link above)

page 180 in the 2016 annual catalogue
item number #101731 £7.25 for the ink pad
item number #101780 £4.25 for the ink refill

Thank You Stampin' Up 
for another top class award winning product




Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Open Sentiments Card Making Class

***ANOUNCEMENT***

New Crafteresa UK Stampin' Up Classes

in St. Annes on Sea Lancashire.

My 2nd class will take place on

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16th at 2pm


This a card making class for beginners and all

we will be making 2 cards suitable for most occasions 

as the sentiment is changeable

so I have called it the Open Sentiments Class

some of the products used will be the 

Stampin' Up Flower Shop Stamps and co-ordinating punch

a sneak peak of one of the cards!

***this class must be pre-booked*** 

please contact this number to book your place
 01253 788546

I have teamed up with a new shop just newly opened

 'R Tilly 

You will find lots of other classes there for other subjects like Mixed Media, Altered Art, Jewellery Making, Scrapbooking, Decoupatch, Glass Painting, Sewing, Costume and Dress Making to name a few! 

and they are bespoke printers too!

you will find a friendly welcome at
'R Tilly
St. Andrews Road South
St. Annes Lancashire

01253 788546
pop in for a cuppa and a taster of whats going on
open sentiments class is suitable for anyone who wants to have a fun afternoon learning how to make  
handmade cards with a choice of sentiments
You will make 2 handmade cards 
learning how to use the fabulous Stampin Up stamps and punches along with their other products
Elements of the cards will be pre-cut and scored ready for you to assemble and decorate with the rubber stamps & punches etc.
if you have never made cards before
YOU CAN DO IT!
if you have made cards before
you can further your card making experience,
enjoy your creativity,
and have fun! 


come and join us
limited spaces so book up now!

a cuppa and biscuits will be provided!



Tuesday, 4 October 2016

Christmas Card Making Class for Beginners

***ANOUNCEMENT***

New Crafteresa UK Stampin' Up Classes

in St. Annes on Sea Lancashire.

The first class...WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12TH at 6pm
is a Christmas card making class for beginners 
using the 

Star of Light stamp set & Starlight thinlits dies.

a sneak peak of one of the cards!

***this class must be pre-booked*** 
please contact this number to book your place
 01253 788546

I have teamed up with a new shop just newly opened

 'R Tilly 

You will find lots of other classes there for other subjects like Mixed Media, Altered Art, Jewellery Making, Scrapbooking, Decoupatch, Glass Painting, Sewing, Costume and Dress Making to name a few! 

and they are bespoke printers too!


you will find a friendly welcome at
'R Tilly
St. Andrews Road South
St. Annes Lancashire

01253 788546
pop in for a cuppa and a taster of whats going on
My Star of Light Beginners Class
is suitable for anyone who wants to have a fun evening learning how to make Christmas cards
You will make 2 handmade Christmas cards and learn how to use this Stampin' Up beautiful Star of Light set of stamps and dies. 
Elements of the cards will be pre-cut and scored ready for you to assemble and decorate with the rubber stamps and die cuts 
from the Star of Light stamps set

if you have never made cards before
YOU CAN DO IT!
if you have made cards before
you can further your card making experience,
enjoy your creativity,
and have fun! 


come and join us
limited spaces so book up now!




Thursday, 22 September 2016

planning!

hello friends
This week has been a blahhh week. One of those weeks where I just dont feel up to the mark healthwise. I had more laser eye surgery on Tuesday which I have to admit really hurt this time, and I am still a bit sore (thats unusual though!) I just cannot cope with the bright light he shines into my eye to line up his next load of zapps.  It was mentioned that he will probably inject my eye to freeze it next time....GASP.... the very thought of that makes me wanna run off somewhere till its all done! I'm struggling with a sore throat n tongue too so not going out today as planned.
Talking of plans.....I am busy today working on ideas for my first video tutorial. I hope to be posting it up to Youtube and here on my blog by next Thursday, well thats the plan! It's quite nerve wracking getting the first one done.
I am sure I will feel a lot more confident when I have done 3 or 4! I have heard it said that the first step into anything is usually the biggest! and another quote I have heard is...failing to plan is planning to fail! so with that in mind I'm planning lol
One great thing has happened this week which has really made me smile.....my concrete ramp has been built so that I have good independant access to my home!!!


Therefore, I dont need to have massive amounts of strength or someone else to get my wheelchair in or out, and thats gonna make a big difference to me.
I just have to wait untill the railings have been made and fitted for it to be complete but it is usable now yay \o/ and just in time for the winter :o)

Saturday, 17 September 2016

Hello Again

Hello Again
I have been taking a break over the last couple of months because of ill health after spending some time in hospital again. Meanwhile I have been thinking through the ways I spend my time (and money) in the hope of finding a formula that fits well for me. After much thought I found that yes I do wanna be an Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I still have that desire within me, but I need to take it a little slower than I first planned, Gving myself a good time of recovery. So rather than finding somewhere local to hold classes and be out there in the public I decided to try sticking to more of a web based formula to begin with. at least that way if I don't feel so good I can still take a rest with less pressure.

Therefore, I have bought a 2nd hand Sony Handycam digital movie camera. We, (Kev and I) have been working on the best way to set up the camera to record my tutorials. I have had lots of advice passed on from Jan B who makes really good video tutorials. I have been learning so much on how to set up, edit videos and produce something which I hope will be watchable!
Believe me its been such a steep learning curve but I am determined to do it. I have been cramming my head full of video making info, using windows movie maker and viewing videos to see how other crafty people have done it. One of the barriers I need to get over is my voice,  I really don't like it much lol but I suppose the totally real barrier is self confidence and self criticism! I can be my worst critic! but hey I can get over that too!
I am already set up with a Stampin' Up retail store so it's easy to buy through me now ;o) if you want to view the annual or holiday catalogue on line and perhaps buy products through me here's the link, I would love the opportunity to earn your business. Alternatively you can find the 2 current catalogues in my sidebar on the right! Christmas is coming and the new Holiday 2016 catalogue is full of  S U fabulous products and projects just right for Christmas handmade cards and crafts. I think if I have learned anything recently it's to do what makes me smile and enjoy it. Well for me thats spending time with the important people in my life and papercrafting! thats what brings out the smiles!
Over this next week I hope to be uploading my first tutorial to YouTube with an easy but lovely card. Ideally I hope to upload at least once a week a card that can be made with Stampin' Up products in 3 ways...in example one stamp set =3 different cards! or show you a fab technique to get the most out of your papercrafting experience. After all, we are all learning, whether seasoned crafters or complete beginners, creating something is such fun and even more so when it's to give to someone else!

I'm also thinking through how to put together good card making kits and perhaps a stamp club but first I need to get out there on the internet and find some customers. its kinda like that ancient question...what comes first the chicken or the egg?....The customers or the incentives?

If in the end all I end up doing is having some fun with the camera, making a few cards, and maybe even being able to fund my Stampin Up hobby spending I will still be happy.

So if you have some idea's that would help me get going then all suggestions would be gratefully recieved, although setting up a club at home is not possible as I dont have the space at home.
so here's to the next week and the new video tutorials!

Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Numbers Numbers Numbers!

My new stamps and matching dies set arrived on Friday \o/ I ordered the photopolimer stamps "Number of Years" #140653 with the "Large Numbers Framelits" set #140622 to match. Now I can make cards featuring any number. I am not just constrained to the usual milestone 18 21 30 40 50 60 birthdays or Anniversary's! At first sight I wondered if I actually needed the stamp set at all? because I could just cut the numbers with the dies! but then I realised two things...
Firstly that the number stamps give a slightly faded look in some areas of each number. A soft watercoloured effect can easily be achieved. Secondly, there are a total of 29 stamps in the set! There's so many little stamps alongside the numbers to use! theres the sprig of leaves with tiny flowers and dots, then the "Look Who's Turning" arched stamp, the sentiment which says "the number of years the world has been a better place because you're in it" Then the other stamps are HAPPY, BIRTHDAY, ANNIVERSARY, AGAIN, GRADE, NO. with the little ND TH ST RD a kinda brush stroke stamp and finally a banner and a teeny tiny banner too.
The framelits set have the numbers, the banner, and the teeny tiny little banner for the RD etc. Number 6 is also the number 9 
When I consider a stamp set to buy for myself or to recommend to customers I try to find products that are versatile and will be well used. the last thing anyone wants to do is waste money on something that will just sit on the shelf without much use!
 
Well this set will get a lot of use. the possiblilites are almost endless! It's such a handy set to have for anyone who makes cards or is interested in Scrapbooking. The matching alphabet stamps and dies are available in the catalogue too! but theres too much on my wishlist to get them yet!

So for the first use of this set I made a card for myself... YES ME! I was 53 on my last birthday and I was born at number 53 too! so what better number to start with? it's just a sample card really but why not have a bit of fun creating it?

iare you nterested in rubber stamping or papercrafting? want to know more about Stampin' Up products? then just contact me and I will answer any questions you may have.

if you click the picture of the catalogue in my sidebar you can view it online or use my shop now button to go to my Srtampin Up Store. I would value your custom!

Happy Crafting