My first Easel Card

For the card making class this week, I decided that we'd have a go at making an easel card. Everyone seems to be making them in Blogland, and I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon too. My Mum, who is a little hard of hearing, thought that I was making an 'eagle' card, but that's another matter. Maybe we could have a go at one of those next week! Anyway, I followed the instructions from the Whiff of Joy Tutorial Blog which was really helpful. I used a Whiff of Joy stamp for my main image, and a little Whiff of Joy sentiment to prop the card open too. The scrapbook paper that I have used was from a huge Christmas stack that I bought last year at a greatly reduced price. I have tons left, so I am using it up gradually. I love these little gnome stamps from Whiff of Joy, I bought the whole lot, as I thought that they were so cute. This is the first one that I have used, but I shall certainly be inking the others up pretty soon.

It's my birthday on Tuesday, so Megan is coming home on Sunday for a flying visit, which is lovely. She is bringing all of her washing home which is not so lovely. She is also bringing her new boyfriend home to meet us. I'm practising my scary look! Terry will just act the way he always does, that will do the trick...

How is everyone else getting on with the Christmas Cards this year? I have a hard job really feeling like making any until I get my Birthday out of the way, and then it's a mad scramble to get them all done. Not really the best way of doing it I know, but I do the same thing every year. I do have a few, but only by default, because we're making them in the class, and I had a Craft Fair this week. I don't think that I can really count those as a real concerted effort.

I'm back in my craft room now, not completely unpacked, but getting there. Terry is helping me to make the room far more organised this time around. Before, you couldn't even see the floor for boxes and carefully orchestrated piles of stuff. I have more shelves this time, and am trying to get more dedicated storage, like an ink pad rack for example. Hopefully this will help keep me a little tidier, but I don't think Terry holds out much hope. I am a messy crafter, I'm afraid. Anyway, hope life is treating you well, back soon, Judith x

Still busy!

Just a quick post today, with a card to show you. I needed to make a card for a teenage boy, and this image fits the bill perfectly, it's from Mo's Digital Pencil Too, the link is in my sidebar. I've used Crate Paper backing paper, and my Nestabilities to cut out the image. I've coloured the image in with Coloursoft pencils and Zest it.

I'm still putting everything back into my Craft Room, working, and getting ready for a Craft Fair this week, so just a normal week really! Hopefully, life will slow down soon, Judith x

Christmas Cards

I've been a bit distracted this week; firstly, I came home from the Retreat on Monday, so I lost a day there. Then, the extension is keeping me busy, because the decorators are in, which has caused a bit of an upheaval. Lastly, Ryan had to go to hospital for an unpleasant procedure this week too. I'm not saying any more, I'll leave it to your imaginations. Poor boy had to be sedated, and was still so tired on Thursday, that he had a second day off school, because he was too sleepy to go. However, as today was 'Children in Need' day, he was dressing up as Batman, and energised himself into geting up and going in, which was good to see. Hopefully next week will be a bit calmer.
It's our wedding anniversary on Sunday, 23 years, and we're going out for a meal tomorrow night. We've been together 30 years, so we're not doing too badly. It's my birthday on 1st December, so we have lots happening at this end of the year. At least I don't have to make a card for that one! Terry has asked me to in the past, and said he'd buy it off me, what a cheek! He said at least I'd like the card I got!!!

I have finally started to make Christmas Cards, we made some at the card making class last night, and I'm posting one for you to see. It is using a Whiff of Joy stamp, and a monochrome scheme. I've embossed some off white pearlescent card, and then rubbed black soot Distress Ink over it to give a metal effect to the card, (an idea I picked up from this month's Craft Stamper magazine). I really like this effect and will use it again.
My Craft Room is painted now, and Terry very kindly put my desks together tonight. Hopefully tomorrow we can move my computer back downstairs, and I can start the long process of putting my craft stash back into my room where it belongs. I have felt so out of sorts these past few weeks, because it has been dotted all over the house. I will be so glad to have things back where they belong. That's all for now folks, back soon. Judith x

Unforgettable Weekend

Well, I've just come back from the Graphicus Paradise Retreat at Blackwell Grange in Darlington. There were 40 of us, and we had such an inspiring experience. The tutors and helpers were amazing, and the projects that we tackled were just everything we could have hoped for, and more.

We arrived on Friday afternoon, and had a session playing with textures and colours. We did a little bit of prep work for sessions to come. We had been advised that it might be nice to make some ATCs as an ice breaker to pass around with our details, so that we could get to know people at the Retreat during the breaks, and at mealtimes. This proved to be a great success, as it got us talking about ourselves, and the craft techniques that we had used on our ATCs. I used a lot of my favourite ideas and mediums, as I had never made ATCs before, but found the whole experience great fun. I also received some fantastic ATCs back, and am now a convert!
Our next class was a stitched book, which was the class that ran until 10 o'clock that night. We were all a bit tired, but we kept going, and completed the book, which has covered hard front and back, pockets with tags, stitched pages, and a strap to hold it all together. It is really special, and just need to be decorated to make it personal.

On Saturday, we made an arch shaped book, with hard covers. These were covered in tissue paper, and painted and gold leafed to look like aged Italian plaster. There was then an acetate overlay which we stuck tiny mosaic tiles onto. We scrunched and inked our inner pages to distress them, and again, we need to stamp and personalise them by putting photos and journalling into them. Such a beautiful piece of work.
The next class was a canvas wall hanging. This was made up of four 6x6 inch canvases which we coloured and then need to stamp and embellish to our hearts content. I have so much left to do on this one, that I do not have any pictures to show you. On Saturday evening, we had a relaxed card making class, doing a bit of stamping on acetate, and gold leafing.

Sunday morning saw us sitting a class with Jean Hardy from Crafty Individuals. This lady is so unassuming and down to earth. I had used some of her larger stamps before, but not used the miniature stuff . We made a little shrine box, which we painted and embellished, then stuck onto a back. I really enjoyed this, as I chose my favourite plummy colours, and managed to paint the gold embellishments silver (which I prefer). I also incorporated a picture of Megan into the little box.

On Sunday afternoon, we worked with Stampboard, which I really like. We were making a pencil box, and mine is still at the unassembled stage, but I want to show you the design. We inked the Stampboard, and then stamped the design onto the panels. All I have left to do, is to fold my paper flap inside, glue it, and then glue in my base.

We had such a great time, we shared lots of ideas, and it was so lovely to be with people who share the same interest for a while. I feel as though I have made new friends, and have come away with a warm glow inside, and happy memories.