It's Christmas!!!!

Well at least it is Christmas in my Ideology Assemblage Clock!!!!  I have had such a lovely time making this over the past couple of days.  It took me back to my childhood days of playing with the dolls house my Mum and Dad made and gave to me one Christmas.

That particular run up to Christmas my little brother Paul had been hunting for evidence of Christmas presents (as he did every year!) and he showed me that he had found my present (I couldn't resist a little look when he told me what it was!) so we spent a fun (and naughty) time peeking under the blanket at the progress my Mum and Dad made making me a beautiful dolls house.  It was huge as they made it using a packing crate and I remember seeing little quilts and pillows for the beds appearing courtesy of my Mum and little lights that worked courtesy of my Dad.  Much as I am not a peeker even to this day, I like to keep the surprise for the day, I did enjoy the build up of seeing my dolls house take shape.  When I think about it now my Mum and Dad must have spent many hours long into the night making this for me while I slept.

Now here is the funny thing.  All the time we peeked at the magical progress of the dolls house we never once lifted the blanket up far enough to see that on top of the dolls house a fort was taking shape!!!!  So on Christmas morning my brother had the biggest surprise of all when he received a fort so large that he could sit in it and play with his army of little cowboys and indians!!!  Happy Days ;-)

Here is a view of the inside of my clock.  I have used one of the Idea-ology Christmas trees and I dyed it (and my hands!) using Evergreen Bough Distress Ink and then decorated it with a beaded garland and jewels and sequins.  I found the perfect silver star charm for the topper!  It was fab to play with miniatures like this and I am already planning an Autumn, Summer and Spring clock too!!!!

I have made a video of this project so you can better see some of the fun I had wrapping miniature presents and sewing tiny stockings.

Here is a close up of the frosting I put on the clock using a whole host of sparkly product.  I used Silver Glass Glitter which I think was a Stampendous product, Iced Diamond from Pinflair, Cosmic Shimmer Pearl PVA and the sugary Ranger Rock Candy Distress Glitter with the odd gem thrown into the mix.    Lots of product there to produce a lovely icy frame to my Christmas scene.  I had a hard time photographing this project because of the glass in the clock and the photo does not do the frostiness justice at all.

Here is a closer look at the Christmas Tree.  You can see the silver charm that was the perfect tree topper and you can see the details of one of the Christmas stockings I patiently stitched.  I have decided to buy the Christmas Idea-ology word bands as although the one I have used here is a nice sentiment I want something a little more Christmassy.  This project taught me that I can reposition things I have hot glued into position by melting the glue with my heat gun.  That is how I will change the word band but my second lesson was that the glass on the Assemblage clock does not like the heat gun and I did crack the glass of one clock in the making of this project!!!  I was trying to heat emboss some snow flakes on to the glass - bad idea - don't do it!!!  I am glad I did it early on before I started to get into the details of the clock.  So it was a lesson learnt and I now have a clock without glass to dream up another project for!

The sun is shining here in the UK this Sunday morning and we are having a bit of an Indian Summer.  I have a few plans to increase my storage in my craft room.  A hubby job!!!!

Here is the before photo.

I am hoping to increase my storage and to have a good sort out of what is currently dumped here!!!! A me job!!!

So I am off to clear the shelves ready for hubby and then to edit the video I made of this project which I will share later. Hope you are all having a lovely Sunday.  We are planning probably the last BBQ of the year instead of Sunday Lunch later and I think I have to give up the computer to Callum for his Math homework shortly too so I had better get a wiggle on with this post!!

Have a great rest of the weekend and thank you for your patience with the Word Verification whilst I hopefully sort out the annoying spam!

Thank you for popping by X

Spam!

Just a quick post to let you know that I have had to turn my word verification on again as I am having problem with anonymous spam.  It is a pain but I hope it doesn't put you off commenting as I do love it when you say hi.  I will turn it off as soon as I can and hopefully that will deal with it.  I wondered why my Birthday Giveaway post from last year kept being my most popular item!!!!  Mr Anonymous seems to like that post so hopefully the word verification will sort him out :-(

On a brighter note I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for all your kind words of encouragement.  I really do love it when you take the time to say hi.  Thank you also to my new subscribers both here and on my You Tube Channel.  Don't forget to let me know if you want me to send you my Thank you tutorial as I need an email to be able to send the link.  Just a small token of my appreciation. x

It is late here in the UK and I am off to bed but I thought you might like a sneak peek of my next project.  I will be drifting off figuring out how I can achieve what is pictured in my head!!!

Can you guess the season???!!!!!!

Thanks for popping by ....night night X

12 Tags of 2013 - September

Here is my September tag for 12 Tags of 2013.  This tag made me want to shop for more stencils!!!  It also let me play with my newly acquired Distress Glitter!!!!  Any excuse I know ;-)

I think it was the mixing and matching of Distress Product as I wanted to use my Glitters that led to the tag you see before you.  I didn't have the right colours of Distress Stain but did better with the Distress Paints (both in the gradually collecting process!!!)  I know you are reading this and empathising with me ha ha !   Crafters are selective hoarders don't you agree ;-)

My Distress Glitter Collection so far comprises Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed and Shabby Shutters so that became the colour scheme for my tag!  I glittered and Glossy Accented my butterflies fussy cut from the paper you also see before you.  There is a texture paste resist in there somewhere!  I think because I used Distress Paint it has blended in a bit!!!

Another new product I used was the Industrious Stickers.  You can see my happy accident on this close up.  Where I didn't quite line up my stickers back to back the sticky caught the Peacock Feathers Distress ink and I really like the result!!!  I love the stickers I just wish there was more of them in the pack!!!!!

Here is my collection building up nicely one crafting month at a time.  It is fun to look back and see all the techniques we have tried and what they inspired us to do.  If you don't already play along with this monthly challenge and love to get messy with inks and paints then why not follow this link to Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 and join in the fun.

I have an online workshop available to show you how to make my tag storage and display unit.  If you would like to make one you can purchase the video workshop and full photo instructions from my blog or my ETSY shop.

A video of how I got from Tim's Inspiration to my Interpretation is coming soon!!!  A watched uploading video never uploads ;-)  (new interpretation of old saying 'A watched kettle never boils!!!')

Finally after an aborted upload here is the promised video:

Thank you for visiting me today X

WOYWW 224

Hi fellow desk hoppers.  Here is my video desk this morning and considering I have filmed two videos over the last two days it is relatively calm and tidy.  Particularly as one of those videos was for my September tag (12 Tags of 2012) which normally calls for collecting copious amounts of stash on my desk while I make decisions about which way my tag is going to look!  So not too much of a tidy up job for me this morning!!! ;-)

Here is a close up of the results of all that filming.  If you want to know how to make the beaded heart that is my latest free video tutorial which you can get to by clicking here.  Today I will edit the tag video and get it posted to 12 Tags of 2013.

I have a relatively quiet day today so plenty of time to go desk hoping for a while!  WOYWW and Pinterest two activities sure to enthral me so I do not notice the hours slipping by!!!  If you are just passing and want to know why I am showing you my desk this morning then please follow this link and join in a world wide desk hop!!!  It is great fun and you meet lots of lovely WOYWW folk along the way.

Part of me is glad we can't offer coffee and cake (or Percy Pigs) to our visitors or we would end up thudding rather than hippety hopping across the craft desks of the world!!!!

Wishing you all a happy WOYWW and thank you for popping by and saying hello X

New Tutorial from a New Angle!!

I have just posted another free tutorial to You Tube and from an entirely different angle!  As I mentioned yesterday I learnt to flip my video in iMovie!  Who knew????? Not me.  I think that is one of the disadvantages of being self taught.  You learn the bits you use but do not necessarily find out all the possibilities of a software package.

This tutorial will show you how to make this pretty beaded and buttoned heart.

I have made several of these hearts for Christmas and they look fab hanging from drawer and cupboard handles.

This one was the first one I ever made and as you can see it is less encrusted in beads and has more wire showing which is also a fun folk art look.  I made this one in the colours of my bedroom and it hangs on my bedside table.

These pretty hearts make thoughtful gifts and this one I gave to my husband on our 28th wedding anniversary coz I luv 'im!!!!!

So if you like these pretty beaded trinkets and want to give it a go then here is the link to the tutorial.  Hope you like it and and make a beaded heart of your own.  Let me know if you do!!!

Thank you for popping by X

Callum's Room Update.

Just a quick post before tea!  Thank goodness the painting is all but finished!!! The carpet is laid and the wall paper is up.  Callum is really pleased with how things are taking shape.

I used my Cricut to cut out the words for my mural in vinyl and it worked a treat!  My next job is to paint the sofa!  I am going to use Distress Paints and the plan is the Callum will help and the sofa will become a colourful statement piece!  A little Interior Design terminology ;-)

Here is a close up of the new home for Callum's Guitar and if you look closely at the edge of the wall paper you will see I have used TH Tissue Tape to edge the Photo Mural  It worked perfectly and it covered up an untidy edge where I didn't quite get to grips with the craft knife I used to trim along the skirting board and coving.

Hubbies next job is to create the shelving in the alcove above the guitar and above the bed.  We are now saving up for a 3/4 bed so Callum has room to spread out a bit!!  I noticed Callum put his shoes and his uniform away in his wardrobe when he came in .....Result!!!!

I had a bit of a result too today.  For a while now you may have heard me talk about researching a camera rig that would allow me to film tutorials from my view point.  I think it was a case of 'can't see the wood for the trees'.  I was so focused on the rig that I didn't think to look to see if imovie could flip my video.  Thanks to my pal Helen and a link to a very quick tutorial I now have the power!!!  No extra expense and one extra click per film clip.  So if you are reading this Helen I will tape my next Art Journal video the right way up and dedicate it to you!!!!

One final thing I thought you might like to see..... Here is a layout that I made sometime ago to celebrate beauty shining through in the face of adversity.

Here is a close up of the sunflower growing out of the old brick work....Amazing!

Now look what grew out of my strawberry tower this year!

No Strawberries as you can see!!!!  The ferns and the Sunflower just appeared!

Please excuse the junk in the background of the photo - we are getting ready for a car boot sale!  Concentrate instead on the lovely sunflower that magically appeared this year.  I am glad it is a miniature on rather than  a giant one!  You can see the windows of my craft room too in this photo.  Unfortunately I can't see the sunflower just the roof of the carport when I am sat at my desk :-(

That's it from me today except to say look out tomorrow for a free You Tube tutorial to show you how to make a wire beaded heart that makes a great home decor item or thoughtful gift......and of course it is filmed using my new improved camera angle!!!!

See you tomorrow and thank you for popping by X

PS Please subscribe if you like my blog.  Let me know if you do by leaving me a comment and I will send you a free tutorial to say thank you for joining me on my creative adventure X

Halloween and Steam Punk Spells!

Hope everyone is having a fab Sunday

I have a huge list of things to be getting on with but they are all fun so I don't mind.  I have had a fab weekend of crafting with my friends and I thought I would share a layout that I actually managed to finish in between the chatting and eating of cake.  Alison gave us the perfect excuse to eat copious amounts of cake as she organised a Macmillan coffee morning and so we had a tasty time doing our bit for charity.  Great cause and great cake Alison.  The lemon drizzle was scrummy!!!

Graphic 45's Steam Punk Spells recently fell into my shopping basket and I have used a little bit to make a halloween layout.  These photo's were taken 5 years ago before Callum and Charlie (in the main photo) got too old for trick or treating!!!!

There is a bit of a glare on the photo so I have taken a close up of the little pocket watches I created.  I was pleased with how these embellishments turned out.  They look cute on my spooky page!!!  I fussy cut a couple of watches from the G45 paper and then I attached a tiny Tim Holtz clock hand with a brad and finished them off by cutting up some circle bubble plastic wrap and it was the perfect size to finish off a realistic looking fob watch what do you think?  Easy peasy but the perfect embellishment for my layout.

I made a couple of little tags (tucked in behind the Mummy and Witch photo ready for some journalling about the spooky exploits of trick or treating at Halloween.  That holiday is fast approaching again.  I know it is not as big here as in the US but I love it.  Even though the kids have grown out of it a bit I am still going to decorate for the trick or treaters that pop by.  I'll share some photos of my creepy garden when the time comes.

Just a quick post today and I am back to ticking off the jobs on my list.  One down lots to to........!!! Have a great week and thanks for popping by x

WOYWW 223

Busy day ahead for me final prepping for class today.  Yesterday afternoon was spent designing two cards and this is the aftermath minus the paper debris!  I did tidy up a bit yesterday.

Some times a card takes a while and this not very traditional Christmas card did take a while to come together.  I had an idea in my head but I struggled with it for a time.  I loved using Distress Glitter on it.  It was perfect.  A sugary coating rather than bling.  Great for the non traditional look I was going for.

Then I had to design something that didn't take as long for the second card and it came together quick as a flash - sometimes it is like that.  So as you can see I am easing my class and myself gently into Christmas!!!

At the end of the desk you can see my New Theresa Collins Christmas Cottage Papers.  The are fab and I am looking forward to running a Christmas Workshop with them!!!!!

Can you see my growing collection of Distress paints peeking out from behind the Chinese containers....no Chinese left only glue and glitter now!!!

Here is a close up of the Christmas Card - love the sugary finish that the Clear Rock Candy Distress Glitter adds to the card!....Hope you can see it a bit on the photo.

And this is the quick card design.  Perfect for any colour combination of card stock.  I am in love with book pages at the minute.  I bought a lovely pile of old books when we went out on a day trip recently.  Seemed rude not to get some use out of them really!!!

If you have enjoyed this peek at my desk this morning then I suggest you follow this link and pop along to see what Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday is all about - You will love it!  Happy WOYWW to you and thank you for popping by X

Announcing my Latest online Workshop - Available to Purchase now!

I am always so pleased to get to this point.  The project is designed.  The videos have been filmed edited and uploaded.  The Photo Instructions have been written and now it is time to put the product on the virtual shelves!!!

Announcing the Waterlily and Dragonfly Projects online Workshop!

This online workshop comprises 6 videos and full Photo Instructions.  You will learn how to make a gorgeous paper Waterlily (all templates included), an iridescent beaded Dragonfly, you will learn how to create a watery background effect with Distress Inks and Dylusions sprays and then I show how to use them to embellish a pretty tag and a fabulous easel card.

Once you purchase this item you have unlimited access to the workshop videos.  You can join me in my virtual classroom any time day or night and from anywhere in the world!

This workshop can be yours for only £5.00.

My Angel and Copyright Policy is outlined on the last page of the Photo Instructions or click on this link to read them now.

This project can be purchased from this post right now!!!  Hope you like it.  You can use the Waterlily or Dragonfly on lots of crafting projects so you are not limited to just the projects I show you how to make.  I have beaded dragonflies fluttering about my craft room!

In the future it will be available to purchase from my left hand side bar or my ETSY shop.

Brrrrr it is chilly in my craft room today I think I need something warming for lunch!!!

Hope you are cosy wherever you are!!!  Thank you for popping by X

Another idea for the Surprise Package and a Sneek Peek of my next Online Workshop

I forgot to share this design idea for a wedding version of the Surprise Package.

I was aiming for elegance.  I used lovely pearl card stock and it could be easily adapted to the colour pallet of any wedding.

I added a pocket in the envelope so you can tuck in a gift card or cash for the happy couple.

For those of you that don't know, the template and video workshop for this project is available to purchase from either my ETSY shop or direct from my blog, forth workshop down on the left hand side bar.

Here is a link to a you one of my very first Tube video that shows you what the surprise in the Surprise package is!!!

And now for the sneak peek of my next online workshop - I am finishing off the photo instructions today ....well that is the plan so I may just get this up for sale tomorrow!!!

Ha ha - how naughty - there may be some fellow tag folk out there that may recognise this!!!!  A sneek peek and a clue ;-)

It is a bit chilly in my craft room today so I have on my fluffy socks again - guessing that Autumn is on her way.  It was misty out there this morning.  Have a great day and thank you for popping by X

Stamp Club Coming Soon!!

For some time now I have been working on two new areas of development for my online workshops and on Friday I ordered the first batch of goodies in preparation.  Today I have started setting up the first of the two areas.  It is my plan to running a Stamp Club.

I have been teaching card making classes for over 2 years now and it is my experience that most people, myself included, want to get the most out of the stamps they buy.  They are an investment and we want to make the most of them.  Although I am still working on the details, the intention is to sell a set of stamps with 10 online classes.  I can supply to anywhere in the world subject to postage and packing and if people have the stamps already they can opt to purchase the online classes without the stamps.

Each set of card classes will include simple and more complicated designs and they will all explore lots of different stamping and card making techniques.  There will be itemised tool and material lists and the lessons once purchased will be available to use day or night 24/7 always.  Once you have purchased a set of lessons you will have the links to the tutorials so that you can use them whenever you want to make a particular card.

Whilst I am making my videos I also intend to make tutorials for things like how to create inners for cards, all the different card folds, tips and techniques, etc. which will eventually grow into a useful library resource - particularly for those that are new to card making.

I am really excited about setting this up.  I will still be working on workshops to fill up my ETSY and Blog sidebar shop.  These workshops will focus more on home decor projects and mini scrapbook projects.  I think I am going to be very busy!!!  There is a fun Advent project coming soon!

Today I fired up Photoshop and set too making a new intro slide for my Stamp Club Videos.  I think you can still recognise it as belonging to The Craft Project but it looks different to the videos that are on my free You Tube Channel.  So here is a sneek peek!!!

I have also set up the credits (you know the bits at the front and back of my videos!!) and I have changed the intro music.  It is very odd hearing a different tune on one of my videos but again I think it is worth doing.  By the time I have made the first set of tutorials and am ready to launch my first kit I will know for sure if I want new music!!!

I videoed the first tutorial yesterday so I am ready to edit tomorrow!  I will keep you posted of my progress.  If you want to leave me some feedback on the kinds of things you would like from a Stamp Club I would love to hear what you think.

It has taken me two years to get to this point and now it is time to step up a gear!  Wish me luck!!!!!

Thank you for popping by X

Art Journal Page - Bloom and Grow

Good Morning.  It  is bright and sunny here this Sunday morning and I just popped in to see if my video uploaded to You Tube during the night!!!  It is always a happy moment when the upload is successful!!!

Here is my completed page.

Do you like my pretty watering can???  I think I have created what could be my second quote on this page so feel free to use my phrase - add my name and then because you have quoted me it becomes a quote!!!!!

A sprinkle of imagination helps your creativity grow.  Helen Allen

I have created a new label for Quote so I can find this again - It would make a fun card don't you think. I have a class coming up next week so that gives me an idea!!!  I have another quote somewhere on my blog.  I have noticed that some blogs I visit have search facilities so I am going to learn how to put that on my blog next.......maybe I will have some breakfast first ;-)  Brain fuel!

My son told me last night he needs to do his homework on computer binary code today and I told him I am interested in seeing what he is learning............I think I need an extra large helping of breakfast for sure!!!

Before I post a link to my second Art Journalling Video (this one turned into a tutorial because of the resist technique I was using to make the funky frame for my page) I thought I would share my first ever journalling page.

This one was pre blog and pre You Tube channel but I was inspired to try Art Journalling by a video I found and watched on You Tube.

Actually there is another quote of mine on this page!

Travel to where your Imagination takes you then take time to enjoy the view.  Helen Allen

You can quote me on that!!!!

There is also pieces of Graphic 45 paper on this page....did I rip it?!!!!???  I think I definitely like including book page paper on my Art Journal pages.  I love that each of my pages are completely different.  I am a bit of an explorer of different styles and I think my Art Journal shows that I am.

My tummy is rumbling so I am going to stop rabbiting and post my link.

Hope you like it!  Have a great day and thank you for popping by X

PS Search bar added and I found my first quote........

Who needs therapy when you have art? Helen Allen

Definitely going for my breakfast now X

Callum's Room Update

On Tuesday I managed with help from hubby to put up a photo mural - you can see the theme taking shape now!!!  What is nice about this mural is that we stayed in a hotel just off Times Square when we visited New York.  Happy memories!

We should hear we can go and pick up Cal's carpet today or tomorrow - We have gone for a Black and grey stripe.  Most of the small bits are out of the room in preparation but Callum and his Dad are the muscles that need to shift most of the big pieces of furniture out so the carpet layer can do his thing!  It is all starting to take shape and I am glad the painting is done!!!  I have painted this room 5 times in total!!!!

I am going to have a bit of a play in my Art Journal today and I may fit in a spot of afternoon sunshine! Callum is back at school today and I have to say getting up early wasn't as bad as I anticipated ;-)

Here is the link for the August tag video that I posted a couple of days ago.  A video showing how I got from Tim Holtz's inspiration to my interpretation.

Have a fab day and thank you for popping by X

WOYWW 222 (Three Little Ducks!)

Morning Everyone!

Bit of a lie in today - the last one of the Summer holidays as Callum goes back to school tomorrow!  Has it been 6 weeks already????

Here is my first WOYWW photo, the before shot......

Mess, mess and more mess!  This is the mayhem left behind after making Tim Holtz a thank you present and after finishing off making my August 12 Tags of 2013 tag.  Oh what fun I had as you can see!!!  If you want to see what fun we had with Tim when he visited us in the UK I have posted about it here, here and here!  I was very excited as you can tell from the 3 posts!!

Here is my desk after a quick tidy - I now have room to finish off my tag book that we made at the workshop - I will share photos when it is finished.  In shot is also my Art Journal as I want to make another video.

I uploaded the video from my 12 Tags of 2013 series last night.  I have been making a video of each of my tags this year.  I thought it would be a fun way to share.  It is fun to see how I go from Tim's inspiration to my interpretation.  I love to see all the creativity that his challenge inspires in everyone that plays along.  I will post that in my next post.

Here is the tag that I gave to Tim - I popped a smaller tag in the pocket (don't know why I didn't photograph it!!!) to say thank you for all the 12 Tags fun.

....here is the other side!  Now as you scrolled down you may have noticed I have Pinterest buttons!  I have taken the buttons off the photos of my mess but kept them on things I think folk might want to pin.  This is my new found blog skill!  I feel quite techie now ;-)  Always something new to learn.  I thought I would include these tag photos here so I could give you the link to the 'How to do it'.  You need to be a bit careful because you are playing with the HTML code (scary) but I managed it first time so I think most people could.  Hope you find it useful.  TIP.  As I copied in the code I wrote down the line numbers so I could delete the code easily if I messed it up!!!

That's it from me - off to have a late breakfast and then back for some desk hopping!!! If you don't know what desk hopping is then follow this link to the WOYWW hub to find out more - It's great fun and you meet lots of lovely crafters along the way.

Happy WOYWW to you and thank you for popping by X

Pinterest Buttons and A Valuable Lesson Learnt!!!

Hi there - just a quick, but I hope useful post, to my fellow bloggers!  I love Pinterest and have lost many a happy hour exploring a beautiful pin trail!  For anyone that doesn't know what Pinterest is it is an internet pin board.  It is fabulous for collecting gorgeous crafting ideas, inspirational photographs or quotes and a whole host of other things.  The beauty of each pin you make is that when you click on it much later it takes you back to the internet site you found the image.

This is really really useful for tutorials you want to try out, crochet or knitting patterns, recipies, etc.  You may know I am redecorating my son's room and I have been collecting ideas on a mood pin board I set up.  When we made the final choice of wall paper I clicked on the photo of the wall paper and was transported to Amazon ready to make my purchase.  It is so useful.

If you blog then there may be crafters who pop by who want to pin your tutorials or project photos to inspire them or to try out later.  You can make it really easy for them by adding a pin button to the images on your blog you are happy for them to pin.  It was a bit scary to be working with the html code of your blog but I have to say the tutorial I found was very clear and easy to follow so I am sharing the link with you.

This link is for the instructions on how to add a pin button to your images and how to take it off the photos you don't wish to be pinned.  It also shows you how to take the button off photographs you don't want the button on.

This link lets you add a Pinterest widget to your sidebar so people can follow your pin boards if they would like too.  I follow lots of boards of people who like me love Halloween and Christmas decorating.

Now I need to show you that I followed the tutorials and they worked for me so if you scroll down my right hand bar you will find the pin button to take you to my boards which you are welcome to follow and I am adding a photo of my Surprise Package Workshop and if you hover over the photo you will be able to pin it to your boards if you already have them.  Then one day in the future when you want to make this project you will be able to click on the photograph and it will take you back here to my blog where you will be able to click on the link below the photograph and it will take you to my ETSY shop where you can purchase the workshop!  Genius don't you think and I definitely didn't need to be a genius to do it!!!

Click on this link to visit my Etsy shop to purchase the workshop that will show you how to make The Surprise Package!

I am so glad I decided to share this Pinterest knowledge as if I hadn't I wouldn't have learnt a very valuable lesson!!!  I had no idea that ETSY shop items have an expiry date and that you need to renew the items on your virtual shelves!!!!  So I have just renewed this workshop!!!!  I could have ended up with an empty shop :-O.

Here is a video to show you what the Surprise is!  This is a fun project to make and to give.  I hope you like it enough to Pin it and then one day when you need a special card for a special occasion..........

Here is the video of the version I made for my Graphic 45 Audition - I love the oriental style of this version!!!

I hope this post is useful to you if you have been thinking about adding Pinterest to your Blog.  And I certainly hope it proves useful to me and that I can persuade you to pin this project and one day follow the links to my blog or shop to purchase this workshop!!! ;-)

Have a great week and thank you for popping by X

Oh What Fun We Had - Part 3

A bit of a delay in my final post for more painting and a  day out!  Today I should start putting up the Wall Paper in Callum's room so I thought I would finish off posting the photos of our wonderful day with Mr Holtz before I get all glued up!!  I am keeping my fingers crossed I can get this photo mural up without messing up - no second chances with a photo mural!!!  It should make a massive difference to the room - I will post more about that later.

We had a fab day out yesterday when we dropped Callum off to visit his friend Holly.  We were very close to the place I was born so we decided to visit Catterick - a large military town to see what we could see.  I had my Mum on the phone telling us what she could remember and my Mother in Law was with us recounting what she could remember and it was fun putting it all together.  I think I now have a photo of the second house I ever lived in and where my little brother was born.  The huge coincidence is that a couple of years later my husband's family lived in exactly the same street!  We snapped a photo of my husbands first ever school too.  Eventually our families were posted to Cyprus at the same time many years later when we where 18 and 19 and that is where we met and fell in love.

The hospital where I was born sadly no longer exists but we did find the ruin of a very old bungalow that we think might have been my first home - both Mum's tell of a house with no electricity an only a range to cook upon - hard to imagine today!  I am going to see what my Mum thinks when she sees the photo.  Even though I have no recollection of my birthplace whatsoever as I left as a toddler it was fun to explore!

So back to my Tim Holtz Workshop Serial!!!  Now where was I???...  Here is a photo taken at the end of the class when suddenly Christmas arrived!  Yes we got presents too!  In this photo you can see Emma talking to Jane from Personal Impressions who was the event organiser.  She did a fantastic job and made a lot of crafters very happy bunnies indeed so a great big hug to Jane.

You can see our table looks tidy again as we packed away all our lovely inky goodies and our projects in our newly gifted idea-logy bags - see below ;-)

Here am I posing with Mario.  I think I need to shrink the strap of my bag or I will be falling over it!!!  Mario and Tim must have had cheek ache after all the photos they posed for!  I am sure as you see all our photos arriving on blogs everywhere that our smiles show what a lovely time we all had.

So another huge thank you to Tim and Mario for coming to visit us and for sharing some fabulous crafting in the real world.  It was a wonderful treat and I am looking forward to completing my tag book and filling it with photos of a great workshop and day out.

What treasures!!!!!  Look at those cute little stamps and the first of my collection of layering stencils!!!

Here is my tag book so far.  It is now time for me to have fun finishing it off.  I love that ruler binding and the measuring tape book wrap.  I am going to put all these photos in it so I have a great memento of our day and all the fun we had together.

Here is a photo of me and Deb two very happy crafters indeed!  So all that is left for me to say is wherever you are in the world if you, like me, love the inspiration, techniques and products Tim Holtz shares with us in the virtual world of crafting and he is in your neighbourhood giving a workshop do not hesitate to get on that phone to book your seat!  Deb and I loved meeting so many wonderful people who loved to create just like us.   It was a heartwarming experience as well as a wonderfully creative one.

So a massive thank you to Tim for sharing his creativity, to Jane of Personal Impressions for organising such a wonderful day and of course to all the people who worked so hard to make our day such fun including of course Mario - I will treasure my little wish bone charm!

Oh what fun we had!

Thank you for popping by x

PS I will post photos of my tag book as soon as it it finished.