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

From Art Journal to Christmas Card!

Hi Everyone

I am busy with a new workshop project but still finding time to get some Christmas Cards made and I have another video to share with you today.

When I made my Let it Snow Art Journal page last year I commented it would make a fab Christmas Card!  Ta Da……..it took me a while but here it is.

I decided to make a simple easel card for this one and you will see how to use clear embossing powder to create the lovely snowy background in the tutorial.

Cutting Guide:

Turquoise Card Base - 5 3/4" x 8"
Book Page Frame - 5 1/2" x 7 3/4
White Card Topper - 4 1/2" x 6 3/4"
Turquoise Easel Card Base - 5 3/4" x 8" scored in the landscape position at 4" and 6"
Book Page for base - 5 1/2" x 3 3/4"
Turquoise Strip - 5 3/4" x 5/8"

Today I have tasked myself with getting the written instructions ready for my new workshop - The kits are in the process of being produced so I am getting there!  Watch out for the photos of the samples I make along the way!  Here is the first one I made way back in the year.

Enjoy the tutorial and thank you for popping by X

Better Late than Never!!

Hi Everyone

I am finally getting round to sharing my recent trip to Cornwall with you.  I have been so hectic since we got back I am not sure where the time is going!

We had a wonderful time and the icing on the cake for me was being able to teach a workshop for the lovely Margaret at Scrapbook Magic.  I loved meeting everyone and we all had a wonderful time creating with yummy Graphic 45 papers and pretty soon we had a whole host of Pyramids appearing!

This was a great test fun for my brand new chipboard kits for this workshop and they worked a treat!  I and my class were happy not to have to cut chipboard before all the fun stuff of construction and decorating could start!!!

Here is the lovely Tilly spraying her ribbon to match the papers we were using.  I have to say that Tilly is a crafting star of the future for sure!  She is 10 and she definitely gets a 10 from me for her Pyramid!  Amazing talent.

Look at what we put inside our Pyramids!

That's what I like to see lots of happy crafters!  We had a workshop full of laughter as you can see.  Scrapbook Magic is in a lovely setting and is full to the brim with crafting goodies too!  Unfortunately the view was shrouded in mist that day but to be honest we didn't notice ;-)

For this workshop and of course to use more of our lovely Couture papers I change the design of the pages of the mini album so each page had a fold out section (not flap!!! this word put everyone in stitches) to make room for more photos or journaling.

Time for a chat before the class began and as you can see I bought lots of samples along!  So if you are a crafter living in Cornwall then please go and visit Margaret and book a workshop.  I know you will have a fun time and make some great friends as well as some lovely projects.  When I left Margaret was getting ready for a class using Christmas Clarity stamps!  Follow this link to find out more!

…and the rest of the holiday…..well there were a couple of these!

Views like this…….

….and did I mention we had one or two of these????

……..more lovely views

Where Callum did a spot of this!   Brrrrrrr……

I did paddle a bit……..until my feet went a bit numb ;-)  Paddling and surfing on the 1st November!!!!

I love this photo of a little spot we discovered…

Oh and no trip to Cornwall is complete without one or two of these!!!!

mmmmmmmmm tasty!  So a huge thank you to Margaret and everyone at Scrapbook Magic for a wonderful day and to Cornwall for great views no matter the weather and of course for hot chocolate and cream teas!!!!!!

Have a fun weekend.

Thank you for popping by x

PS I will be posting a Christmas tutorial tomorrow x

The Pyramid Mini Workshop comes to Cornwall!

Hi Everyone

Just thought I would let you know I will be teaching the Pyramid Mini at Scrapbook Magic in Cornwall on Wednesday 29th October.  I am so excited to be doing this and am really looking forward to crafting with Margaret and her workshop ladies!

If you happen to read my blog and are in the vicinity and fancy coming along then there are a couple of places left but you need to be quick as they are going fast!

Here is what we will be making:

This one was made using Graphic 45's very pretty Ladies Diary Papers but we will be making ours using the new Couture collection.  I will be working on the sample next week!

For those of you that do not know the Pyramid Mini houses a mini album…….

……..and the pyramid opens up to reveal a surprise within!

I am going to share this on my Facebook and Google+ pages so if you in the neighbourhood and are reading this and want to make this fab project for yourself then please follow this link to book your place and come and join Margaret and I at Scrapbook Magic in Mullion, Cornwall.  Margaret has a fab shop full of wonderful crafting goodies and a view to die for!  I am so excited to be invited to do this and am really looking forward to meeting everyone on Wednesday 29th October from 10am - 4pm and lunch and refreshments are included as well as all the materials!

If you can't make it but still want to make this project then alternatively you can purchase the workshop from my left hand side bar or follow this link to find out what other workshops are available from my ETSY shop!  All my workshops come with full video instructions as well as comprehensive written and photo instructions too.

Alternatively if you live in the Derby/Nottingham area I am teaching a card class on Friday evening (10 October) at Elvaston Village Hall.  We will be making 2 cards and the class runs from 7pm until 9pm.  Click on my email on my right hand side bar if you want to book a spot!  It would be fab to have you join us for some Christmas inky fun!

Hope you are all having a fun week and thank you for popping by X

Announcing The Celebration Cake Mini Album Online Workshop……At Last!

Hi Everyone

I am so excited!!!  At last my new online workshops is finished and up for sale.  This one has taken me a while to complete as I wanted to make sure my instructions were as clear to follow as possible and I wanted to include as many ideas and versions as I could.  If you have purchased my workshops before you will know quality and versatility are very important to me.  So here it is the perfect project for you to make to mark any special occasion in your life or in those of your friends and family.

I made a little advert which is now on You Tube so please take a look to see first hand what I am offering:

Now for the versatility - check out these ideas and I am sure there are many, many more!  This is my Birthday version.

It was given to mark a 40th Birthday and the Mini was filled with photos of the 40 years of the birthday girl's life.  The little tags were signed by all the party guests with lots of loving messages and good wishes.

I think you will agree it makes a wonderful and thoughtful gift.  I made the Christmas version during the filming of the workshop and although this one is going to contain photos of our Family Christmas this year I had a thought that you could also decorate it with Snowflakes and put photos of a Skiing holiday in the Mini!

Then I made a New Baby Version which houses a mini all decorated and ready to add photos and journalling of baby's first year.

The file for the Journalling and Photo prompts comes free with this Workshop.

Last but definitely not least is this Wedding version.

This wedding cake has 3 albums.  I suggest the bottom tier is for photos and journalling of the wedding.  The middle one for photos of the honeymoon and the top tier could be one for your wedding guests to sign for the bride and groom.  Although I do not make this in the videos I do give you all the tips and measurements you need to be able to make this 3 tier version.

This is an exciting online workshop with a ton of potential for you to personalise this for your special occasions and for the special people in your life.

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!

So to purchase your copy you can do so by pressing the button on my sidebar or by clicking on this link to visit my ETSY shop.  All this is yours for only £8.00.

As with all my workshops my Angel and Copyright Policy applies and it is outlined on the last page of the Photo Instructions or click on this link to read them now.

Advertising a Workshop

Hi everyone

Yesterday I was looking at my You Tube channel and tweaking a few playlists when I realised I do not advertise my workshops hardly at all so I set to creating a playlist and I edit a video I made at Christmas that I decided to give free with my Tangle Card Templates.

Originaly these templates were designed to enable me to introduce Zentangling to my classes.  They turned out to be great fun and, if I say so myself, let even a beginner to Zentangle make fab cards.

This is one of the Christmas designs.  The beauty of the 10 templates is that they come with spare shapes so if you are Zentangling and make a mistake you can just Zentangle another shape and you card is not ruined.  All the pieces are cut out and assembled decoupage style to make up the final card design.

As I was filming the 14 videos that come with the workshop it occurred to me there was so much more to these patterns and I tried stamping with them - they looked fab and then I tried using patterned papers and that was a great success too.

At the time I made videos that explain both methods.  This is a paper pieced version - what a great way to use up those christmas patterned papers.

This year I took it a step further when I made print files that allow you to batch make this card design.  Check out the video to see what I mean.  I am now offering 2 pdf files free with every purchase of this versatile set of templates which can be purchased from my blog or my ETSY shop.

This video shows you how quick and easy it is to make fab looking cards ready to send at Christmas.  The PDF file for the Curvy Tree Design allows you to make 12 cards in one batch.

I am working on the tutorial for the Holly Wreath but it's pdf file allows you to make 20 cards in one batch.  I hope you like the concept and that you purchase a copy of this very versatile template with 10 fun designs - 5 Christmas and 5 Birthday versions.  They look fab which ever technique you decide to use to make them up.

There are more possibilities for batch making cards with this template - Zentangle one whole sheet and then photo copy it before you make it up!!!

All this for only £8 - what a bargain!!!!  Have I tempted you yet?! ;-)  Check out the video to see all the other card designs.  Here is the link for the full playlist for some of the workshops I sell - I have a few more adverts to make!!!!

I am off to pack up for a crop with my friends today - I hope you are having a lovely Sunday and 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