Seaside Frames and more - a new online workshop

Hi Everyone

First of all I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who is supporting me whilst I try out once again for this years Graphic 45 Design Team.  As you will have seen if you follow me on Facebook I have made it through to the second round and I am now excitedly preparing my final piece for the final audition round.  My mind is a whir and I am stuck between two ideas so I think I am making both and then I will choose.  I know my fellow design team hopefuls will be feeling the same pressure.  Mind you it could be worse at least I don't have to write a thesis!!!!  Here I am covered in paint and glue with scraps of Graphic 45 all over the place…..happy days!

If you want to see all the finalists and their original pieces then click on this link and pop over to Graphic 45 for a good ole blog hop!

Because I am making a tutorial (or two)  I have had a clear out of my iMovie files and have found two online workshops almost ready to go……I do let myself get sidetracked sometimes….so many UFOs.  I know you identify with me ;-)

So here is one of them all finished and ready to be purchased from my ETSY shop!

If you want to learn how to turn boring picture frames into totally awesome ones then this is the workshop for you.  I will teach you how and then once you have mastered the techniques you will be creating fabulous frames for all occasions to showcase your family photographs in style.

If you purchase this workshop you will receive a pdf file with detailed project notes and the links to two videos that will show you how to make these three seaside themed frames and give you details of a Christmas and a Halloween idea too.

They make great home decor items as well as beautiful gifts.  Just think how happy the Grandparents would be to receive one of these with their grandchildren smiling back at them!

I have of course used Graphic 45 papers….because I love them …….and because they work so well for this kind of work but lots of other paper collections will be suitable for these projects too!

So if you want to know more please watch this video advert.

If you can't wait and want to get started straight away then click on this link to visit my ETSY shop or you can order from my sidebar.  The choice is yours but the result will be the same hours of fun crafting along with me and then I just know you will come up with amazing ideas of your own!

I'm off to craft some more!  Hope you are having a fun day and thank you for popping by X

Brrrrrr It's Cold Outside!

Evening All ;-)

On Friday I taught an all day workshop for my Christmas Tag Countdown.  It really got me in the Christmas spirit.  It is a project based on my online workshop for the Tag Storage Unit (for sale on my side bar on the left or over at my ETSY shop).  So to tempt you with a Christmas version I have made a tutorial for the Advent Tags that will build into either a countdown of your Christmas preparations or can be used as an unusual photo album for your Christmas photographs this year.

I hope you agree it looks fab and I am sure it will compliment your Christmas Home Decor too.  There is room on the back of each tag for journalling and a photo and the tutorial gives the measurements for a non journal version if you averse to writing!!!!  It also shows you how to increase the photo capacity of the tags too.

The tag tutorial is free (below) and the online workshop for the storage unit is only £8.  You get the links for access to the workshop anytime day or night and you also get the written photo instructions too.

Here is a close up of some of the tags:

I intend to journal each day but I will print the photos out in batches and I am looking forward to seeing the mayhem of my Christmas preparations documented for prosperity!

Here's the video - hope you like it.

Hope your are feeling nice and cozy.  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

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

Announcing the Tag Storage Project Workshop!!!

Sometimes life just seems to be so busy you can't get things past the finishing post!!!  I have 3 items on the go for my shop and this one got in there first (it was the one I started last!!!)  So without further ado here it is!

The Tag Storage Project Workshop!

If you love making tags but have nowhere to store them then this is the workshop for you!!  I have 3 already:-)  This one is covered and stamped to go with my Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 collection.

When you purchase any of my online workshops you will receive the links to your video tutorials.  This one has been broken down into 5 tutorials in total and they are accompanied by full Photographic Instructions to show you how to make a Tag Storage Unit of your very own.

You will receive full Cutting Guides, Materials and Tools Lists and lots of clear instruction.

If you like me love making tags then this is a great way to keep inspiration on your desk.  I have easily stored 26 tags on my tag storage unit.  That means in all likelihood I will get next years collection of tags on this cute little storage unit too - As you can see because it hangs your tags if you like me embellish your tags to differing degrees they will naturally space out so as not to squish all your lovely artwork.  It is easy to get your tags on and off and you can look at them without removing them from the Tag Storage Unit too.

Here is one I Zentangled all over (quite a few crafting hours in this one!).  It houses a full A-Z of Zentangle Patterns I worked on as part of the Alphabet Challenge over at Tag Tuesday. Because of the drop down door anytime I want to choose a few Zentangle patterns to put on a project I can!

Have I tempted you?  If I have then please click on this link and visit my ETSY shop to purchase your Workshop.  There are more photos over there too.

Alternatively you can order from my Blog sidebar.  Just click on the Buy Now button under the photograph of the Tag Storage Project and Paypal walks you through the rest.

A full set of video tutorials and full photo instructions for only £8.00.

Everything is supplied electronically.  If you order from my ETSY shop it sends you the pdf file with the video links immediately your payment is confirmed and if you order via my Blog I will send you your file within 2 working days of receiving confirmation of your order to the email address you supply to PayPal.  No postage!!!!! and I can craft with you wherever you are in the world - I can never get tired of how cool that is.

If you do decide to purchase this online workshop then it is worth subscribing/following my blog as I always share any ideas I have for my workshop projects here.  I have a few ideas that I know you will like so watch this space.

Hope you like The Tag Storage Project and hope you buy it!!!! ;-) Have a great week and thank you for popping by.

PS If you have friends that like to make tags I would love it if you would share this post with them.  Thank you X

Announcing the Daisy Projects

The Daisy Projects is the latest (third) item to arrive on my virtual shelves!  Learn how to make a fabulous Daisy Embellishment (Video Tutorial 1), Gift Box (Video Tutorial 2) and Matching card (Video Tutorial 3) and if that wasn't enough the photo instructions that come with the tutorials show you how to change the Daisy into a Gerbera!  All this for the bargain price of £3.50.  You do need to have or have access to being able to use the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals and Tattered Leaves die to make this Daisy.

I hope you like the projects enough to buy my tutorials and join me in my virtual classroom.  The beauty of my lessons are you can take them any time, in any country and you can pause me anytime you like to take a coffee and cake break!  Oh and I will not mind one bit if you make me repeat myself over and over again! ;-)

I am trying to get PayPal buttons to work on my blog but they are still on trial at the moment.  I hope to be able to try them at the weekend on a different computer to make sure they work so in the meantime if you want to buy this tutorial click on this link to my ETSY shop!

More fabulous flower projects coming soon.

Thank you for popping by x

New Item in my ETSY Shop! (this is a sticky post)

A while ago now I wanted to teach a class to Zentangle.  I needed to be able to cater for all abilities and I really wanted the class to take home their usual 2 completed cards.  The patterns I am selling in my shop today are the designs I made for my class to practice Zentangling plus a few more!!! 10 designs in all to be precise.

But I didn't stop there....oh no.....  There was a lady in my class who didn't really take to Zentangle and when I wanted to do another class I had to put my thinking cap on and I came up with 2 totally different ways to use these card patterns.  You can use your background stamps and your patterned papers to make these cards too!

So if you like what you see in this photo and on the video below then click on the link at the bottom of this post to visit my ETSY shop and purchase your 10 blank card patterns, 5 Christmas and 5 all Occasion designs, full written instructions and the links to 14 video tutorials that will ensure you make beautiful cards time after time whether you chose to Zentangle, Stamp or Paper Piece to complete your card!  I am pretty sure that there are other ways to use these patterns and I will share them with you on my blog.

10 Card designs ....infinite possibilities!

I am making this a sticky post for a while.  You can never have enough advertising I say!!!

Thank you for popping by x

Please Click Here to Visit to TheCraftProjectShop!

MY ETSY SHOP IS NOW OPEN!

Today is the day I have been working towards for over a year now.  I have learnt much (so much that I am surprised my brain hasn't exploded!) and finally I am putting all that knowledge to the test - so fingers crossed for me.  I feel like I want to add a fanfare to this blog post but there is always something new to learn!!!!

This is the banner for my new shop.

I will be selling templates with photo and video instructions.  As yet the shelves in my shop are a bit bare but I will work hard to fill them.  So today I am announcing the availability of my first project template.  If you follow my blog you may have seen a sneak peek of this project on one of my WOYWW posts.  The lovely comments I received made me choose this as my first item to offer for sale.  Here is a taste of what you can make if you decide to purchase my template and the two video tutorials that accompany it.

As you can see it is a very versatile template that is great fun to make and great fun to give.  I will be releasing more design ideas for using this template over the coming weeks so if you intend to purchase this item (and I am keeping my fingers crossed that you do!!) don't forget to sign up and follow my Blog and my You Tube Channel to make sure you do not miss out on the inspiration.

I hope to add a links page soon (.....again when I learn how to do it!) so that anyone that purchases a template can share their own interpretations and design ideas for using my template.  I can't wait to see what everyone makes.  It is so exciting.

I started this blog at the beginning of the year to keep a track of my progress towards starting my own internet crafting business and almost a year later - TODAY IS THE DAY!

My Blog has introduced me to all the other wonderful folk who blog and craft out there and I have had and am having such fun.  I have met lots of lovely people (virtually!) and thank you for all your kind words of encouragement.  I am definitely going to carry on blogging ('cause I love it!) and hope to still make time to participate in the wonderful challenges I have been playing along with.

So without further ado here is the link to my brand new shop:

TheCraftProjectShop

and here is the link to my relatively new You Tube Channel:

ACraftProject - You Tube Channel

Watch this space.....More coming soon!

WISH ME LUCK!

New Design Idea for the Surprise Package

I have been working hard since my last post and almost have project number 2 ready to add to my shop.  I am on the final edits to the pattern and I also want to make a third video to go with the main video tutorials that will accompany this set of card patterns (small clue before the big reveal!!)

This week I realised that my craft business is about selling templates for great paper crafting projects I have designed (if I say so myself!!!) and personal virtual tuition, a private class with me that my customers can attend whenever and how often they like!  I want to be sure that anyone that buys from me knows I will (virtually) hold their hand every step of the way, giving clear and detailed instruction so they can be sure to make a project they will love.  I think with a few tweaks I just wrote my company mission statement!!!!

So taking a short break from project number two I want to share a design idea for anyone that has purchased or will purchase the Surprise Package Template which was the first item on the virtual shelves of my brand new shop.  

Introducing the Comic Strip Surprise Package.  

This design would be fab to make for a youngster, teen or that always young at heart lover of comics in your life.  A great design for the boys in our lives which is always a bonus when it comes to card making inspiration.

I have made a video that shows of the detail of the comic strip design.  It is a bonus mini tutorial to any customer that buys my Surprise Package Template.  I am hoping that all my design idea videos will now and in the future help me promote my business and generate interest in what I do and of course turn interest into sales ;-) !!!

Thank you so much for joining me on my crafting journey and being interested enough to click the follow link.  If you like what you see here then please pass the link of my blog and brand new shop to your friends.

Here is the design idea video.

Thank you for watching and incase I have tempted you - here is the link to my shop!!!!

I hope to post my Tag Tuesday and 12 Tags of 2012 this weekend.  It will be nice make a tag again.  I have had a bit of a lull!!!!