Happy Christmas 2017!

Gosh has it really been that long since my last post?

Here's Blaze opening his Christmas presents!





Hope you have a fabulous day and lots of love from us to you and yours!

November Class - Christmas Gifts

Hi there,

The clocks went back yesterday so it'll be dark an hour earlier but just now the sun is streaming through the window.

I'm biting the bullet and going to run a class in November. I only have about 8 spaces left available and we're making some fabulous Gift Wrapping!

Were going to make a super little gift card holder.

A sweet little Pillow Box - Ideal for small items of jewellery or something else for a stocking.

And finally this fun hexagonal box... just crying out for some sweet treats!

If you think you might like to come along I have 3 dates available. The 13th, 20th or the 27th of November. Give me a call to book or pop me an email! The details are in the header above.

Can you believe Christmas is only a few weeks away now! How did that happen?

Positivity...

I can't believe it's nearly a month since I posted!

Still suffering with my back but this week I did manage to make a start on a markers class with Kit and Clowder.

Unfortunately I wasn't happy with the results and here is why!

I had opted to use some 'cheaper' card stock that someone suggested might be suitable for markers, but unfortunately, this months' class was quite detailed and I noticed the markers were bleeding. You can see here, where these were supposed to be fine lines... easily achievable with Copics with practice.

You can see the 'spread' of the ink.

There are a number of things to take from this...

• It is important to always buy the 'tools' most suited to the job in hand
• Cutting corners to save money isn't always cost effective
• Be patient, improvement comes with practice and that includes making mistakes
• Trust in the advice of the experts - that's why they're experts.

It is important too to look at the positives! 

• I have learnt an important lesson
• I will have the opportunity to improve my colouring even further with the extra practice
• No practice is ever wasted
• I have been able to 'recycle' my penguins and made 3 awesome cards!

I'm entering these in the Whimsy challenge! https://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/

That's me for today! Happy crafting! xxx

Aaaand - Back in the room!

I need to be more positive, so I'm going to make one brief mention about my back problem... Yes it hurts... still! It's curbing my activity as I can't sit down, the Chiro is costing me a fortune I'm lucky I have a few bits I have had on my hard drive for a while to share.

I'm going to try and blog more! I've been back from holiday for a week - it was hot... I was prone and I wish I was still there. Even if I did spend most of it flat on my back!

Today I have a video tutorial for you. Please let me know if there is anything you would like a video for - just add a comment on this post and if it's possible I'll do it for you!

This is a little shaker card I made and I know they're quite popular... this is a Christmas design but you can substitute any of the stamps! And the paper!

Here's the tutorial! Enjoy! And I'll be back soon! xxx

Irony...

I always get a little confused as to what is and isn't "Ironic" - especially after Alanis Morrisette got so much stick.

Anyway - Thought for today...

Is it considered irony that when I planned to give up smoking after the packet was finished... with 3 cigarettes left, the lighter ran out of gas?

Couldn't leave you without something else I've been working on...

Pencils... yipes - if I thought the alcohol markers were a new challenge - who would have thought pencils would be so hard to master!

How are you liking the new style blogging? Would love to hear your thoughts! I would also love for you to share my blog... so please feel free to post me all over t'interweb!

Dog gone...

Hiya!

Well I've decided to shake up my blog a bit and today is as good a day as any!

I'm broken... yup - completely knackered!

It's seems I've managed to do something to one of my discs in my spine... So I'm pretty much prone, and have been for a week now. Sitting is the most painful thing ever and for goodness sake don't ask me to bend!

Blaze has gone to stay with my parents... which he is loving as he's playing 24/7 with their collie puppy. That way he will get walked.

Now I don't know if you've ever had a problem with your back but I now know why pregnant women are taught to pant... it really does help a little with pain management. I just never expected to have to pant in order to put on my knickers!

I mentioned I've been doing some work with my Copics and here's a couple of things I would like to share today.

This was an entry into Conie Fong's monthly challenge. The illustration is one of hers and the challenge was to team it up with die cuts - so my SU stash came to the rescue.

I love the monochrome technique I used here and I'll probably use it again - I would love to hear what you think!

This is another of Conie's images and I used some SU items here too. If you fancy colouring this image and would like some guidance, Alyce (Kit and Clowder) has re-released her class where she teaches techniques to colour this and another image - one in Pencil and one Markers.

Check out the Facebook groups and websites to colour and buy the images (Discounted if you purchase the class!)

Conie Fong on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/396730687168777/

Kit and Clowder on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/kitandclowder/

Conie's Etsy Store - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ConieFongArt 

Kit and Clowder - http://www.kitandclowder.com/

The holistic approach

Well everything in my life needs a bit of a shake up every now and then... so last weekend I de-cluttered and am embarrassed to admit I filled a skip, a van and sold a load of bits too!!!

I'm doing this Diploma through work and I'm really struggling with my confidence and my ADHD really doesn't help with my focus - but I am going to do this! You watch!!!!!

So now I've bored you I'm going to share some of my recent work. I've been doing a lot of colouring with Copics and some with Spectrum Noirs. The joy of the alcohol markers is that they blend beautifully - as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I usually focus on SU products as the quality and diversity of their products, combined with the co-ordination, is unrivalled.

I do recognise though that a lot of my customers have other products so today I'm going to show some projects that have used Stampin' Up! products to showcase the colouring I've been doing.

Here I've used the new embossing paste for the brickwork using the SU mask... all the elements are SU but I've used the Spectrum Noirs to good effect. The stamp sets are At Home With You (and coordinating dies), Bella and Friends and Banners for You (with co-ordinating Dies).

In this second card I have used the shells and fish from the Seaside Shore stamp set, the lily from Remarkable You and you'll notice the embossing inside - that's the Seaside embossing folder. The lovely mermaid is by Conie Fong and coloured with my Copics

Lastly for today - It's Christmas in July! Except it's now August - and we seem to have moved straight to winter, as it certainly feels more like Christmas in light of the recent weather. The stamp set is Seasonal Bells - with coordinating punch and the background stamp is Sheet Music - I'm totally in love with that!

Righty ho - I've been studying all day and sat at the computer a lot - so I'm off for my tea and a bit of a lie down to free up my old aching back! Ha Ha!!!

Birthday Blooms - Stampin' Up! - Kit and Clowder Colouring Classes

Good afternoon! Today I'm sharing a few cards made with just one set - Birthday Blooms.

I was really disappointed when Stampin' Up! withdrew their Blendable markers. So the first few images show you really don't need alcohol markers to colour beautiful images... the last is a little self indulgent as I did buy a set of Spectrum Noir markers... I'm still learning but am going to be doing a set of amazing classes from Kit and Clowder. (Link at the end!)

These first two are made by embossing the Vellum then colouring with my Blender Pens

I also used Blender Pens here - not perfect but It's the colour combo here that I love! Oh - and the fabulous Lace Trim and Duet Banner punch.

This was coloured with Aqua Painters after first stamping the image with Versamark and using Clear Embossing Powder.

This was another one with the Aqua Painters, but I used Archival Ink so it wouldn't run when I added the water.

This last image was coloured with my Spectrum Noir markers - I may have opted for a different manufacturer if I had realised the limitations of these pens... But they're probably perfect for me to get started with!

If you would like to start colouring you won't go wrong at all joining one of Alyce's classes at Kit and Clowder - she is AMAZING!

http://www.kitandclowder.com/

Check out her group on Facebook too - but only nice people are allowed to join - I couldn't believe what a lovely, encouraging and generous group they are!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/kitandclowder/

Take care all!

Christmas in July!

Just to let you know if you join my team in July, Santa has a few extra gifts for you!

You will get an extra £65 worth of FREE gifts with your starter kit. This includes -

• Clear Block 'D' x2  - 118485
• Grid Paper - 130148
• Paper Snips - 103579
• SNAIL Adhesive - 104332
• Bone Folder - 102300
• Carols of Christmas Stamp Set - 144804

Click here to see the stamp set!

So - pay just £99 for £130 worth of product of your choice from any current catalogues, get all the above Free... and there's no obligation, though obviously I would love to see you succeed in growing your own Stampin' Up! business and will support you all the way!

Click on the tab above to join my team!

For every £45 you spend in July get £4.50 off in August!

I've just got back from a lovely holiday in Cornwall with my family to be greeted with this fabulous offer!

Oh Yes! What a great deal! AND it's in addition to any hostess benefits you earn on your orders. So it equates to an extra 10% FREE.

July Classes

Hi Guys,

I have had a little time for a play with my new goodies, but I also had my first assignment to complete for my diploma - a little scary as I left school quite some time ago!

In July classes we're making these lovely cards.

I LOVE this one! Daisy Delight combined with Jar of Love and Badges and Banners. I'm not surprised a year's supply of the punches sold out in weeks, globally! AND I actually managed to cut into that stunning DSP (patterned paper).

Then using Jar of Love again with the Swirly Scribbles thinlits and Layering Squares framelits I rustled up this cutey - the ladies wanted something for the men in their lives.

And this one, using Swirly Bird and the Swirly Scribbles dies with the Everyday Jars framelits is  a bit of fun!

Take care and please keep popping by - I will update again soon!

I can probably squeeze in an extra date if you wanted to book a class - just give me a ring!

2017-18 Catalogue

Whoo Hoo! Although I've been working up in London with no internet... I've been desperate to share the BRAND NEW catalogue with you!

I've been having a play and promise I'll post some projects soon - but if you could please have a browse and if you are local and would like to split the delivery cost by adding on to my order... then email me or send a message to Knall Crafting on Facebook where my colleague will pass me your message .

Or you can place an order via the 'Shop Now' button on the top right of the sidebar >

Click on the catalogue image to browse!

If you would like to earn hostess rewards on your order or by holding a party - check out this fabulous deal!

Subtle Watercolour Shading - FREE Video Tutorial

Hallooooo!

I've been bust drooling over the new catalogue... don't worry you only have until the 1st of June to wait!

My pre-order has arrived and quite honestly I don't want to be typing this! I want to be playing!

My friend Anthony asked me for some videos... But I hadn't a clue what to do so I recorded the shadowing technique below.

The stamp set is 'Remarkable You'.

The first 2 cards show where I have used this technique to extract some of the ink from the stamped image. The 3rd where I have added colour. Scroll down for the video tutorial.

May Classes...

Well hello there! Long time no see! I've been crafting quite a bit the last few weeks... using some of the retiring products that I love before I get to swoon over and stroke all my new goodies from the new catalogue!

I've also booked quite a few trips in the caravan, next weekend is my first since June last year towing!

One of the questions I asked some of the other demonstrators was... "I love my patterned papers, I buy them because they're beautiful... but I just can't cut into them! What can I do with my stash to make room for new papers?

The response? "CUT IT!"

So I did... and the next few days I'll be sharing some simple ideas... the first is the one we'll be doing in our classes during May.

More ideas to come! xxx

Another Anniversary! Whoo Hoo 5 Years!

Hello - Happy Tuesday!

Today is my 5th anniversary as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator - it has been great fun. I have grown creatively and met some amazing people, forging some lasting friendships!

To celebrate my 5 years... the first 5 people to order at least £50 worth of products from me will get around £5 worth of goodies sent to them as a gift from me or a voucher for 5% of the value of their order off their next purchase - whichever is higher! 

The retiring list has been published and I'm sad to say many of the items are selling out fast! I can't believe 3 of my favourite, 'go to' stamp sets are retiring! Gorgeous Grunge, Papillon Potpourri and Petite Petals. So I have a couple more cards using Petite Petals to show you today!

The retiring list is available via the link on the right hand side... I'm definitely going to miss this set though.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Today I celebrate the first of 2 anniversaries this month. It is my 14th Wedding Anniversary!

I know... he would have got less for murder!

I made him a fab card before I had my op as I knew I might not be able to make one for a while after the op.

I hope you like it - he did - bless him, he says all my creations are amazing - even the ones I am convinced are rubbish!

I used the Heart punch, Petite Petals punch and stamps, the First Sight stamp set and the Flourishing Thinlits dies.

He's taking me out to dinner this evening. I'm just hoping the food is easy to cut as I'm still struggling a bit - just a tip - if you can 'dictate' an email on your smartphone... send it to yourself - then you can just copy and paste the text where you want it without doing lots of typing with your injured hand.

April Stampin' Up! Card Class - Birthday Blossoms

Hi Guys,

I hope you don't mind me delving into my archives for designs at the moment. I'm in a bit of pain with the hand still healing. I can't use my right hand much at all and certainly not for crafting or typing so thank you to my fabulous hubby for writing this!

I have an amazing friend who is prepping my classes for me and will be doing the practical stuff... so here are the cards for April!

This card... and the others all use Birthday Blossoms stamp set with the Pansy punch, this is my favourite!

I needed a little inspiration and I based the next card on one by Teri Pocock (I think!)

It's lovely isn't it?

I used the Petite Petals stamp set and punch too on this one.

The last card is this one.

It is based on a design by Sam Donald of Pootles fame... I'm proud to say we are both in the same team... she's just such an amazing business woman - I wish I had a 10th of her abilities!

So - back soon with some more from the archive!