All Caught Up!

It has taken me all week but finally all the outstanding orders from the Newbury Show last weekend are on their way to the PO and lots of the empty spaces on my walls and in my racks are filled again.

Want a quick peek!

Oh all right then....

New Graphic45 8x8 and coordinating 6x6 paper pads in Safari Adventure and Children's Hour with all the sizes of their brilliant Policy Envelopes in both the black and red - I can just see a smart envelope book with one of each size and colour for the pockets and pages... Hope to have the new Halloween in Wonderland Deluxe Designer Kits next week and am already chasing delivery dates for yesterday's reveals of the stunning Autumn collections, did you see the brilliant At The Races and St Nicholas collections, can't wait!

Next up all the Distress racks have been refilled, still no stock of Vintage Photo in the mini size but hopefully next week, and all the other colours in both sizes are here.

Also on the ink pad front.....

Versafine is fully restocked in both sizes, first time we have been able to get Smokey Grey in the full size pad for weeks....

...as too are the Versacolor cubes, great value for money and brilliant for the layering stamps which are the hot trend from several companies at the moment. The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed we are now carrying the full range of Tsukineko's Ultimate Metallic cubes too, twelve shades of rich metallic pigments ideal for next season, which we are not mentioning, far too soon for the C word. Also a quick reminder we carry all the colours of StazOn inkpads at £5.70 for the standard colours NOT the £7.50 charged by a certain large craft superstore!

Ok on to the stamp walls, first up Tim Holtz...

Cats, birds, coffee cups, skylines, butterflies, stencils and mixed media dies #2 and #3 are all back in stock. Unfortunately still no Showtime, Wildflowers or Garden Flowers so I will reorder (again) next week. BTW did you catch the sneak peeks of the new dog stamps this morning? So cute!

On to PaperArtsy.......

Just a little range of Lin Brown stamps and stencils plus some JOFY, beautiful florals from Elizabeth Borer and the newest Darcy stencil. Love PaperArtsy stamps but as PaperArtsy themselves exhibit at all the same shows we do, we have decided to limit our stocks to just a dozen or so lines at a time but we will mix them up so there will always be something different.

P.S. We have their Crackle Glaze in stock too now!

And finally as they say, Kaisercraft's newest A6 stamps, three more designs from BoBunny (love the Falling Hearts and Stars), and some new Summer lines from Hero Arts plus all the ever popular Stamp and Cut sets back in stock. Forgot to photograph them but we also have all the Prima Doily and Leaves dies back in stock and are expecting their beautiful new Rossi Belle collection papers and flowers in about three weeks. Meantime I almost forgot to mention the new Homegrown collection from the fabulous 7Dots Studio, full of rosy pinks, dark greens and greys, delicious and so useable. We have all the papers, die cuts, stickers, and word bands in stock and the stamps should be here next week.

My desk is laden with lovely things to choose from for new workshop projects so it will be a very busy weekend but a most enjoyable one here. Why not pop on down and checkout the new stock and maybe get a sneaky peek of some of the new projects in the pipeline. See you soon Valx

 

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May Workshops @Snazzys

Welcome to to our May workshop schedule, with a busy month for us as we are attending two events, one at Port Sunlight on the Wirral and one in Wales at Cardiff City Stadium. It does mean fewer workshops on the timetable this time but we do have our regular monthly layout workshop plus two Cardmaking classes, a pretty little mini book suitable to record every occasion and all the regular Croptime, Stop By & Stamp ad Art Journal Sunday drop in sessions will run as normal too. Hope you can join me x

Tuesday 3 May 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 6pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

 

Wednesday 4 May 11am to 2pm

Black and Cream Cards £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

This is not a new workshop but a request for one that has proved very popular in the past with five different cards made with beautiful Eclectica stamps by Lin Brown for PaperArtsy and striking cream and black papers from Authentique.

Thursday 5 May 11am to 7pm*

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

*Please note the earlier end to this session due to our travelling to Port Sunlight.

Studio Closed Friday 6 May and Saturday 7 May as we are at the HSNW Event at Port Sunlight

Tuesday 10 May 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 6pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Wednesday 11 May 11am to 2pm

Monthly Layout Workshop £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

I have use two copies of the same pretty 4" x 4" photo of snowdrops for this layout together with Kaisercraft's beautiful Botanica collection including the stamps which were just perfect here. You will have a free choice of papers etc from over 20 in stock so what will work with your photos? Why book a space and have a go?

Thursday 12 May 11am to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Tuesday 17 May 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 6pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Wednesday 18 May 11am to 2pm

Kraft Cards £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

This is not a new workshop but a request for one that has proved very popular in the past with five different cards made with beautiful JOFY stamps by Jo Firth-Young for PaperArtsy, book pages and Distress Inks.

Thursday 19 May 11am to 7pm*

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

*Please note the earlier end to this session due to our travelling to Cardiff.

Studio Closed Friday 20 May, Saturday 21 May and Monday 23 May as we are exhibiting at the Cardiff Hobby and Craft Event Event at Cardiff City Stadium on the 21/22 May.

Tuesday 24 May 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 6pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Wednesday 25 May 11am to 2pm

Fold Out Minibook £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

Join me to make this pretty little fold out book with free choice of paper to adapt it it any occasion.

Thursday 26 May 11am to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Sunday 29 May 11am to 3pm

Art Journal Sunday £5

Drop by the studio between 11am and 3pm and join in the fun with inks, stamps, stencils, masks, paints and other media all provided. Just bring your journal, pour yourself a cuppa and get started. We have lots of new mixed media products in the studio for you to try, from Tar and Glass Bead Gel to Fluid and Hi Flow Acrylics and all the wonderful new mini layering stencils from Tim Holtz.

Studio Closed for the Bank Holiday on 30 May.

Tuesday 31 May 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 6pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Remember, to save 20% on your workshops in our studio all you need to do is buy a Snazzy Workshop Voucher from the studio in advance of the day you are coming to class, or drop me an email telling me you want to pay in advance, and I will send you a PayPal invoice for the reduced amount which must be settled at the time of booking. Easy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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April Workshops @ Snazzys

Welcome to my April workshop schedule with some lovely spring projects with a wide variety of new products from Graphic45, Prima, Impression Obsession, Ranger and PaperArtsy. A busy month with the long Easter weekend but we still have eight drop in sessions and five brand new bookable workshops ranging from cardmaking to a mini folio book and a pretty layout to a multi layered mixed media project. We also have a request for a very popular past mini box with cards project so something for everyone. Do join me x

Tuesday 5 April 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 6pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Thursday 7 April 11am to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Tuesday 12 April 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 6pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Wednesday 13 April 11am to 2pm

Mini Box of Cards £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

This is not a new workshop but a request for one that has proved very popular in the past with a pretty little box, with or without a window, containing four 4" x 4" cards and envelopes in your choice of papers and stamps.

Thursday 14 April 11am to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Saturday 16 April 11am to 4pm

Fold Out Folio Book £30/2SWVs/£24(if paid at time of booking)

This fold out A5 size mini album is crammed full of places to add photos or journaling. I have used the brand new Graphic45 Cityscapes collection of papers and stamps but you may want to use something completely different, as ever, the choice is yours! Finished size (closed) is 5" x 7" x 2".

Tuesday 19 April 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 3pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Wednesday 20 April 11am to 2pm

Monthly Layout Workshop £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

I have created a very fresh layout with one 21/2"x31/2 photo, some decoupage, distressed hearts, stencilling with texture paste, Prima blossoms and gems from Artoz. I have stamped the base both with stamps and with ink washes using an acrylic block, so a fun new technique too.This could easily be adapted to suit multiple photos of any size.

Thursday 21 April 11am to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Saturday 23 April 11am to 2pm

Lost and Found Tags, Cards, Postcards & ATCs. £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

We are going to use the 7Dots Studio Lost and Found collection in beautiful neutral greys, greens and ochres to make five cards/tags of your choice. Great for men's cards!

Sunday 24 April 11am to 3pm

Art Journal Sunday £5

Drop by the studio between 11am and 3pm and join in the fun with inks, stamps, stencils, masks, paints and other media all provided. Just bring your journal, pour yourself a cuppa and get started. We have lots of new mixed media products in the studio for you to try, from Tar and Glass Bead Gel to Fluid and Hi Flow Acrylics.

Tuesday 26 April 11am to 6pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 3pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Wednesday 27 April 11am to 2pm

Take One Stamp A Little Birdie...£15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

Five cards with Distress Inks and this very versatile set from Impression Obsession suitable for weddings, new babies, new homes or if someone simply needs cheering up.

Thursday 28 April 11am to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Saturday 30 April 11am to 4pm

Mixed Media Double Hanging £30/2SWVs/£24(if paid at time of booking)

Join me to create a fun mixed media double decorative hanging with layers of paper, mediums, texture paste and handcrafted embellishments. I have used Graphic45's Steampunk Debutante collection but, as always, you have a free choice of papers and colour scheme for your piece.

Hope you can join me in the studio in April x

 

 

 

 

 

 

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January Workshops@ Snazzys

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to our January Workshop Schedule. Just five brand new workshops this month featuring new projects with loads of new stamps, new papers and new mixed media products, it's just new, new, new all the way!

There are still lots of the things you love too, although with some small changes. Drop in sessions such as Stop By & Stamp and Art Journal Sunday continue, weekly for the former but now on Thursdays rather than Wednesday's, and last Sunday of the month for the latter. The popular monthly Croptime session where the focus is on scrapping and mini books will now have a weekly slot every Tuesday. This will allow me to teach formal workshops on a couple of Wednesdays each month for those who find Saturdays difficult and increasing the overall number of workshops on offer from February.

This also means the regular monthly layout workshop will move from a Tuesday back to it's original slot on a Wednesday and, in future, there will only be one timetabled class for this as one of the groups prefer to book a slot as a custom workshop at a date and time to suit them each month. Don't forget this is an option for any group of four or more for any workshop, from the timetable or designed specifically for you and your friends, your venue, my studio or for larger groups the breakout space.

Tuesday 5 January 11am to 3pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 3pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee jug are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Thursday 7 January 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Tuesday 12 January 11am to 3pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 3pm every week on Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee pot are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Wednesday 13 January 10.00am to 1.00pm

January Monthly Layout Workshop £15/1SWV

In this workshop we will be using pre printed acetate as the key feature of a layout featuring your favourite Christmas photos.

Thursday 14 January 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Saturday 16 January 11am to 4pm

Masterboard ATCs £30/2SWVs/£24(if paid at time of booking)

We will be using a range of mixed media products to create an original background which we will cut into 12 individual ATCs and decoratewith Dina Wakeley's Scribbly Birds and Scribbly Birds on Branches or Prima's new Bloom Birds. You can combine these into a pretty hanging to keep, use them as card toppers or simply swap them with your crafty friends.

Tuesday 19 January 11am to 3pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? Want to try your hand at a mini book. If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 3pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee pot are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Wednesday 20 January 10am to 1pm

Take One Stamp Maya £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

I love words and fell in love with this plate from Impression Obsession because of the sentiments, usable and in a really pretty font, but have been surprised at how versatile I have found the large flower. We will be paper piecing, resisting, overstamping, watercolouring and so much more with this beautiful stamp set.

Thursday 21 January 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Saturday 23 January 10am to 1pm

Introduction to Postcard Art £15/1SWV/£12(if paid at time of booking)

Guess what! This is exactly what it says on the packet, we are going to create several pieces of postcard sized art which you can use as a card topper, display in a frame, pop in the post to cheer a friend (as part of a swap, or not), or perhaps leave on a coffee shop table as part of a 'found art' project. Lots of techniques in this one from simple masking to bleaching, colour layering, stencilling and more using Color Bursts, distress inks etc.

Tuesday 26 January 11am to 3pm

Croptime £5

Are you a scrapbooker? Thinking about trying scrapbooking? Got lots of photos but don't know where to start? Stuck for layout ideas? If this sounds like you then why not pop along to our new Croptime drop in session between 11am and 3pm every Tuesday. It is not a taught workshop but more of a social session where we are happy to share all our tools and equipment with a few ideas thrown into the pot too! Kettle and coffee pot are on so just bring along whatever want to work on, beginners very welcome.

Thursday 28 January 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm

Stop By and Stamp £5

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, make cards, scrapbook layouts, art journal pages or create Mixed Media pieces, stamps are a great addition. In these sessions we make all our workshop tools, stamps and consumables available to you so you can have fun experimenting and creating without having to buy all the bits and pieces. Why not drop by, enjoy a cuppa and have a go!

Saturday 30 January 11am to 4pm

Create Your Own Planner £30/2SWVs/£24(if paid at time of booking)

We will be using Hero Arts' range of planner dies and stamps by Kelly Purkey, combined with Kaisercraft's My Year, My Story collection to create your own custom planner - if you wish you will be able to buy a stunning Kaisercraft planner complete with dividers which the papers have been designed to fit, as an extra, they should be with me the second week in January.

Sunday 31 January 11am to 3pm

Art Journal Sunday £5

Drop by the studio between 11am and 3pm and join in the fun with inks, stamps, stencils, masks, paints and other media all provided. Just bring your journal, pour yourself a cuppa and get started. We have lots of new mixed media products in the studio for you to try, from Tar and Glass Bead Gel to Fluid and Hi Flow Acrylics.

Remember, to save 20% on your workshops in our studio all you need to do is buy a Snazzy Workshop Voucher from the studio in advance of the day you are coming to class, or drop me an email telling me you want to pay in advance, and I will send you a PayPal invoice for the reduced amount which must be settled to at the time of booking. Easy!

In all our workshops and drop in sessions we provide everything you need to complete the project including tools and basic consumables such as adhesive. If you would prefer to work with your own tools, you are of course very welcome to bring them along.

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you have found a workshop to inspire you but if we are not teaching something you want to learn, then drop me an email and I will do my best to cover it in a future timetable.

Val x

 

 

 

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Hello June!

Well, here we are in June already and as my perpetual calendar says, officially the first day of Summer. I don't know how the weather is where you are but it is pretty chilly and very wet here so....

........to cheer things up we finally have these in stock.

All 48 of the Distress Ink colours are now here in the mini size, in open stock. The price is £2.40 each and we have a very special introductory offer of one each of all 48 colours for just £79.95, bargain!

If that doesn't give you enough trouble choosing, we also have these......

......four of the new monthly colours in the full size, January to April and even better we are holding the price at £4.75. Unfortunately May's release missed my shipment by a day but it should be with us in the next week or so with some more lovely goodies.

I haven't managed to get the June workshop schedule posted yet, a combination of a mislaid diary and the very lovely wedding our eldest son last weekend in Cardiff Castle.

Here is a quick snap of the new Mr & Mrs MacLeod just after they signed the register. It was a wonderfully happy weekend and, despite a few hitches, everything was beautiful with some very clever and thoughtful touches that made it so individual. Huge thanks to everyone involved and to all of you who sent your best wishes.

A special mention for the flower arrangements which were stunning, in the chapel for the ceremony, in the library for the reception and in the area used for the party in the evening. Again, very cleverly thought through with white roses for an English rose combined with thistles for the Scottish half of the partnership. I will enjoy these on my desk for a few more days.

That's all for now, if you want any of the new Distress Inks and can't get to the studio, just email me, we only ever charge what Royal Mail charges us for postage.

Thank you for dropping by x

 

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A neutral sort of day

I have always admired those who can create beautifully neutral pieces which are alive with depth and texture but have never really tried to work with them myself. So, at yesterday's AJ Sunday session, instead of my planned May calendar pages I found myself attempting a page with neutrals!

I used an old plastic key card to scape two layers of gesso onto my page, the first really thin, and when that was dry a thicker layer, leaving some texture. Using the same technique I added thin layers of Distress Paints in Picket Fence, Weathered Wood and a smidge here and there of Frayed Burlap. I had no idea what I was aiming for but just kept adding thin layers of colour until I had a base I liked, sometimes drying the layers in between but mostly not!

I added some stamping with my favourite Kaisercraft texture stamps with Distress Inks in Weathered Wood and Frayed Burlap. Then, having tried to add a pop of white with some splatters of Dylusions White Linen which just didn't pop enough, I used Tim Holtz Speckles Layering stencil with some homemade white texture paste at the top and bottom of the page for a bit more dimension which popped really well but didn't take over the page.

Now I had a background I liked I stamped a couple of Chocolate Baroque butterflies from The Tangled Garden set onto a couple of book pages but, because I wanted them to have a faded look I scraped a couple of thin coats of gesso over them before adding some colour with the same Distress Inks as before. I cut them out and added some Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edges to make them stand out once I added them to my page.

I stamped the butterflies again directly on to the page and glued my coloured versions over the top. To finish I added some Distress Crackle Paint in Rock Candy to highlight the bodied of the butterflies, and some white pen outline on their wings. Not sure about that, and not absolutely sure the page is finished, but I am sure I have finally had a go at a piece with neutrals and Whilst I think I may need to have a few more attempts with different colour mixes before I feel confident with neutrals, I did enjoy myself.....

....and I am pretty pleased with the 'finished' page, but I'd love to know what you think.

Thanks for stopping by x

 

 

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A Frugal Journey Through January Day 22

Thank you for stopping by today I have a really easy make for you which can, like yesterday's cards be a one layer project, or layered up if you prefer that look.

I start by deciding which elements I want to add colour to and make a paper stencil for each layer. I wanted to colour the background on this one, leaving a frame surrounding it so I cut a stencil for this, plus one each for the whole apple, the cut apples and the leaves. I use copier paper and then store the stencils with my stamps so I can reuse them. I used different shades of Distress Inks applied with a stencil brush, but the Tim Holtz Blending Tools work just as well.

It only takes a couple of minutes, gives a really good finish, and you can make a similar piece in the future quickly and easily. All the stamps I have used in the samples today are from Chapel Road Artstamps but this idea will work for any collage stamp, so dig out your favourite and give it a go!

That's all for today, do join me again tomorrow for another frugal idea x

 

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A Frugal Journey Through January Day 21

 

Welcome to Day 21, yes 21, of my frugal journey, thank you so much to so many of you for sticking with me.

Today I have some one layer magic for which you can create with some torn scrap paper, Distress Inkpads in one or more colours, a co-ordinating Versafine or Archival ink pad and some favourite stamps. Best of all you end up with a postcard sized piece which you can simply use as well... a postcard (if you are doing this I would add a layer of Glue & Seal before entrusting it to Royal Mail!), work directly on a card blank and it will be ready to pop in an envelope to go, mat and layer the finished piece onto a card blank for some real dimension, or use as I did above, the front cover to a mini book.

My promised video camera/light has yet to arrive so lots of photos today.

Start with half an A4 sheet of copy paper, folded into quarters, either the front of your card blank or a postcard sized piece of card. Place what is the centre of your folded copy paper to the centre of your card and either mark or just eyeball the size of piece you need to tear out of the centre of it to create a frame that fits the size of your finished card.

Don't discard the piece you tore out, you need that too!

Centre the frame over the card and tape it securely to your mat/desk. I am going to just use black ink for all of this as I think that best illustrates the depth you can create - and I happen to be a big fan of black and white!

I applied a fine layer of Black Soot Distress Ink to the inside of the frame and then used the inside piece to apply a little more ink to give a fake quartered effect. When you find yourself looking at this and thinking how uneven it looks remind yourself it's just a background!

 

Still using Black Soot I stamped the second I impression of two different Kaisercraft texture stamps onto my background, keeping to the quartered look. Still looking scrappy but just hang on in there!

 

Using one of the leafy stamps from this retired Hero Arts set, again with one impression stamped off on my scrap piece, I randomly stamped it over my card. Not impressed, bear with me!

I always add my sentiment at this stage, otherwise I tend to get carried away and not leave enough space for it. Versafine is always my first choice for this as the pigments are so strong so gives great definition to this final layer, but sometimes I use Archival as it offers a far more extensive pallette of colours.

 

I picked some bold rose leaves from the same set and again using Versafine Onyx Black stamped them to frame the greeting, repeat stamping each time until I had used all the ink on the stamp to add to the illusion of depth. Now I know this is still looking a bit, or a lot, scrappy but bear with me and remove the frame, carefully, because you will want to use it again!

 

Distress Ink but clean and crisp, and a normal stamp to post it too! Great as a postcard but you can layer it up as well, and use different colours, or multiple colours, different stamps, different greetings.... go on, give it a go.

 

 

 

That's it for today but I will be back tomorrow, same time, same place with another one layer idea, but this time for collage stamps. I hope you will join me then xx

 

 

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