Art Stamp Show, Edinburgh

Well this is a very quick post because I am dead beat. The weather in Edinburgh was glorious today and as it was grey in the North-East before we left, the first thing we had to do was buy ourselves something cooler to wear. We then had to walk the length of Princes Street and more till we found a bus that would take us to the Corn Exchange where the Art Stamp show was being held. Unfortunately un-beknown to us, a parade was being held and as a result the traffic on Princes Street diverted.
Anyway (did I say this would be a quick post) we eventually arrived at the venue and having paid the entrance fee trawled all the stands to checkout where we could spend our hard-earned money. There were stands there from Graphicus, Wendy Stenton, The Craft Bug, Heritage Stamps and many more.
We spent most of our time however at the Lavinia Stamps stand where a demonstrator was using a brayer and Adirondack inks to create some magical fairy scenes and landscapes. Needless to say we then spent a fortune in the vain hope of achieving a similar effect. So tomorrow if my body has recovered I will "try" to replicate what she showed us. Watch this space....

Early night, Stamp show tomorrow

My friend and I are having an away day to Edinburgh tomorrow for the Art Stamp show. Really looking forward to it. Will try not to spend too much money....

Baby, Baby I love you........

I was playing with this Sisslit die over the weekend and made this baby card.

It needed something to lift it a little so I added a thin row of yellow beads above and below the gingham ribbon. Unfortunately you can't really see them. Oh well....
I have entered it for the Cute Card Thursday challenge.

Prismacolor Pencils

I treated myself today, to some Prismacolor pencils from an E-bay seller. They are seconds and therefore cheap, but if I like using them I can always buy more. Any excuse to spend money....

Another Z-fold card

I seem to be making a series of Z-fold cards at the moment. The image is one of my favourite stamps by Creative Stamping. I watercoloured her dress with Marvy pens and finished it off with fine glitter and a Swarovski crystal. Sorry the image is squint. Technology, as I have said before, is not my strong point

Bank Holiday Monday - re-charging my batteries

Very lazy day today. Re-charging my batteries for work again tomorrow. Not that I am teaching but must catch up on admin. Must also make time to play with the Sisslit dies I ordered recently. As if that would be difficult...

"Ladybirds In Love" Engagement Card

I have been playing today, with a stamp I bought over a year ago and have never used. I bought it with some other stamps from the USA but I can't remember the name of the maker. Sorry!

Anyway I thought it would make a quirky engagement or wedding card. I stamped it with Staz-on and glossy card and coloured it with Sakura pens. I mounted it on a red pearlescent Z fold card and stamped the greeting with a Woodware stamp and Brilliance ink pad. Ideally I should have used Staz-on for the word but I am never happy using Staz-on with clear stamps. I think this is why the " Congratulations" is a little blurred. Oh well.......

Decided to enter it for the Funky Fairy challenge 21

Sizzlit "Sweet" set

Received some Sissix Sizzlit dies in the post this morning. They include the " Sweet" set and once I have had time to play with them, I hope to upload some finished samples to my blog.

My blogging anniversary!.

Well, I have been blogging now for two weeks and it's so addictive. However I find myself spending a lot more time reading everyone else's blog than writing up my own.
Its the mid-term holidays here in the North-east and next week will be spent playing catch-up. As well as working on my wedding invitation costings for the Announce It With Style website, I hope to catch up with some business correspondance, prepare some scrapbooking and card samples and do some housework. Well, perhaps not the housework.....

ch..ch..changes......

Been busy networking today at a meeting with fellow tutors. There have been some changes to the management structure within the Adult Learning Service. It may lead to some work in other parts of the county. Here's hoping!

The only card I have to show you is one of the first cards I did for the Crafty Devils website. Its a baby card and uses a Sissix die. Not happy with the colours I used. Although its partly the poor editing of the photo I still think the colour needs toned down. What do you think?

.... and chocolate

Spent most of today finishing the samples for tomorrows class. Not very happy with them but its too late now. The girls in the NCFE class last night, were lovely. Gave both of the tutors flowers and chocolate. Needless to say I've scoffed one of the bars of chocolate already. Will try to keep the other bar for the weekend but I'm not hopeful.
Tomorrows a busy day- teaching in the morning, preparation for Friday's class in the afternoon and a tutor evening later. Looking forward to the Bank holiday weekend when I will try to put some new stuff on my blog.

Lazy days. I wish!

Well tonight is the last of my NCFE card-making classes for this year and we are having a party.Yeah! We are all taking something for the buffet and luckily I am supplying the crisps and nuts. (Must have heard about my cooking skills.)
Busy, preparing for my disabled scrapbooking class on Thursday. We are working with a seaside theme, so busy Cuttlebugging , tearing, glittering and gluing! Love it!
Here's a "gift"card I submitted as a project to Crafty Devils recently. It includes some earrings made by Margaret of "Specially For You" The poppy was made using a Woodware flower maker Fairy Noble punch and red vellum. For more details go to http://www.craftydevilspapercraft.co.uk/ (Sorry for the poor quality of the photograph)

"Spring" Wedding Card

Well I have just uploaded my most recent project to the Crafty Devils Papercraft website. Its another "Spring" card but this time with a wedding bias. It could be adapted for wedding invitations or place cards. Hope you like it!

It's taken me most of the day to upload it. I tell you, technology will be the death of me.

Sample for Crafty Devils

Finished my card for Crafty Devils All I need to do now is upload some photographs and the instructions to the website.
Had a phone call today asking me to take part in a local craft fair. Seems they got my number from the "Made In Northumberland "website.Thats two requests to do craft fairs in a week.I am not complaining though!

Alcohol inks and vellum- A marriage made in heaven.

Made this card sample for a class I took earlier today. Its based on a card by Penny Bearcroft which appears in this months Craft Stamper.
The vellum was coloured with Adirondack alcohol inks and overstamped with an Artifacts stamp and embossed in gold.
The slight buckling was due to the difficulty I had in sticking the vellum to pearlescent card. If only someone would find the perfect glue for vellum.

Long long day.

What a long tiring day it's been. Scrapbooking class this morning and preparation for tomorrows cardmaking and scrapbooking classes this afternoon.
Called in to see the owner of a local jewellery/gift shop after my class. She and I are working together on some " gift cards". She makes some beautiful stuff. I will post some photos when we they are up for sale.
Must get an early night!

Under the weather !

Busy, busy day. Didn't finish the card for the Crafty Devils website. Didn't even start it!!
Youngest daughter moved back home complete with double bed- so all hell let loose.
Did however, manage to get scrapbooking class prepared for tomorrow and my bag packed ready to grab on the way out the door in the morning.
Also managed a " Sorry to hear you are under the weather" card made for a friends wife. Very quick and simple card using another of my favourite Penny Black stamps and my watercolour pencils.
Been a long day so after I watch the Apprentice off to bed!

Iris Folding

Taught my NCFE class Iris Folding and they seemed to enjoy it. The time certainly passed quickly.
Need to work on new project for Crafty Devils tomorrow. But what? Hopefully I will wake up inspired in the morning!!!!!!!

Spring Card

Well,I got the camera fixed but the laptop is now playing up. Managed to upload the spring card I made for tonights class. The stamp is by Penny Black and I watercoloured it with Marvy pens. Quite pleased with it!

The weather has been beautiful here and Bill (my husband) and I spent an hour or so at Druridge Bay. Its a country park where they host watersports in the lake. Not that we went anywhere near the water. No-we basked in the sun,admired the scenery and had a coffee.
Spent an hour or so this evening making a "spring Card" using a template I downloaded from the Splitcoast Stampers website. Its for one of my cardmaking classes tomorrow night.
I intended to take a photograph and upload it to my blog but the camera has gone on the blink. Needs a new picture card. At least I hope that's the problem. If I get it fixed I will try uploading it tomorrow.

Crafty Devils Design Team

I have been a member of the Crafty Devils Papercraft Design team since February 2008 and I am really excited at having my work "out there".
Thought I would post my most popular project to date. Its a wedding congratulations card and it was made for a my neighbours who were married last month. I also made their wedding invitations. Hope you like it!

First Post

Hi and welcome to my new blog. I live and work in the North East of England in the beautiful county of Northumberland.
I teach papercrafts - both cardmaking and scrapbooking but with all the new products and techniques coming out I am always learning.
I have also started a business designing and making handmade wedding stationery but there is a lot of competition out there! I hope to post some of my designs -so watch this space.
This blogging lark is not as easy as I thought and its getting late so night !night!