Putting on the Glitz!

I know you may not be able to see it clearly from these shots and they're still a work in progress in these photos but I have been playing with those fab embossing glitters that Amanda turned me on to.  I am just loving the things you can do with them - so much so I had to have a newer, quicker heat gun cos I got fed up waitin for my old thing (you now the kind that looks like a hair dryer) to heat the powders up. 

I usually figure if it's not broken and it still works then why change it? - but it has been sooooo nice bringing myself up to date with a new one - makes such a difference!  Plus I sold a whole bunch of surplus craft items this weekend that it was nice to put something back by way of new crafting gear.

I was surprised a t the colour scheme - not usually my colours but these BoBunny papers were sooooo pretty.  They're from a design called Jazmyne and are part of their glittered range.  That's important as it happens cos I glitzed up the chipboard, die-cut accents with glittered embossing powder. I think we'll have fun with these in this class so I can't wait!

You might just be able to make out the glitter in this shot.  I have since added green embroidery floss stitches to the flower stems plus changed the title frame - finally used one of my new Waltzing Mouse Stamps from Jessy for Christmas (about time!!) - to a glittering lush purple so it 'pops' out of the page.

Since I've already taken my samples in to the store I can't re-photograph it until someone takes me there again.  I saw my doc today and I'm still a health and safety hazard (LOL) so I'm still not allowed back to work let alone able to walk on my own yet.

I also made up the handmade card kit but the photo I did in a hurry was not up to scratch but it's in store if you want to see it and I promise I'll eventually post a picture here.  These classes don't run until March and I sure hope I'm better by then!  I don't want to be a lady of leisure anymore - it's getting BORING!!!

Blessings

Suezie

Still Wobbly But I'm Crafting!

WARNING - megga long post!  I have a lot of catching up to do.

Well folks I can't yet say I am well - labyrinthitis and I are still very much aquainted but I am beginning to get the upper hand in our relationship shall we say :-)  Still wobbling and leaning all over the place, clutching onto everything and EVERYONE in sight to get from A to B and back again - and we're only talkin' a handful of steps here folks but I can SIT better AND more importantly I now feel I can actually craft too - whaaa haaay!  Might take me slightly longer as I potter around (and look real funny doing it) but I can craft and that's all that matters.

Can I just give a MASSIVE thank you to everyone that has helped me over the past few weeks - you know who you are!  I know I have leaned against you, pushed and pulled, hung on for dear life and even dragged you around as you've steadied me along my way.  I have even learned to see the funny side and laughed at myself and with you.  Jessica that picture of me walking into the wall in the corner of the ladies restroom when I was tryin to make it to the sink and us both nearly peeing our pants laughing will stay with me for a very long time LOL!  I think we would've pee'd if we hadn't just gone :-)  Too much info - sorry.

I have needed my hubby's steady hand to gently push me back to standing on numerous occasions as I've tried to cook dinner and swayed backwards out of control - love that man :-) or to rescue a glass from my hand as I feel myself going.  And lately I really appreciate the picking me up and taking me somewhere too - even if it's just to sit and visit with someone.  I'd go megga stir-crazy otherwise and it's good for me to attempt things, even if I fail so at least I can judge my progress.  There's still a ways to go yet and stairs and doorways remain a very real struggle but I think there has been some progress so that's good news and I thought some of you might appreciate the update.  It's not all bad and it feels good to be able to say that.

Okay dokay then - on to the crafting.  Yay!

I have managed to do quite a chunk of crafting over the weekend - mostly cos Amanda picked me up and helped me get in-store at YTOC both Saturday and Sunday (much easier to craft when the stores not open).  I may well be a health and safety hazard LOL - I didn't say it my doc did - but I'm the only one likely to get hurt if nobody else is around huh? Besides - if you can't make a fool of yourself among friends then when can you?

First up are some pretty blue and yellow creations.  I'm not sure how this colour scheme came about - just sorta stumbled onto it so it's different but quite sweet.  Our mission, besides catching up with each other - yes we did have one - was to heat emboss, heat emboss, and heat emboss some more as Amanda needed samples.  I won't claim to be a massive fan of heat embossing - probably because it involves dragging out equipment and lots of clean-up more than anything else but I ADORE stamping on scrapbook pages so it worked for me.

I had grabbed a handful of photos so I just had to work with what I had but Maddy's little butterfly hairclips gave me a chance to use that stunning butterfly stamp that we've all seen on Amanda's sample board in every colour and type of embossing powder imaginable.  I just love how stunning they all look - makes you want EVERY colour.

I started off by adding pretty pearlised butterflies to the background layers.  I think I am a convert for the pearlised embossing powders for sure.  I quickly followed this up by adding 3D cardstock stamped pearl butterflies, swiftly followed by stamping on vellum for a more 'floaty' feel.  A quick bit of computer generated text - remember we were short on time here - and one page done.

I took the opportunity to use up scraps (I frequently do this) from my page to make up a quick card and I even got adventurous and tried out a bit of glitter embossing powder too.  If you break this card down it's simply 3 strips - 1 of which has been border punched, a nesty circle and scallop, a bit of ribbon and a stamped and cut image plus a sentiment and some bling - easy peasey when you know how.  Why not try it.

Then on Sunday I made this page.  Again the idea was to keep it quick and simple but it took longer to heat emboss everything on this page than I thought by the time I was finished.  ALL the ladybugs, trails, flowers, leaves and letters are stamped and heat embossed.  Some directly on the page and some cut out and then added.  These were pictures of Maddy on one of her birthdays wearing an 'oh so cute' ladybug outfit that mummy and I simply couldn't resist buying her.

This was the first chance I had to use one of my new Waltzing Mouse stamp sets that Jessy got me for Christmas.  I am really keen to do more scrapbooking pages using WMS stamps - I just love em'.  I was super impressed with this frame stamp and I'm only sorry you can't see just how lovely it was in red glittered embossing powder.  I'm not a fan of glitter but I was converted - keep reading!

All the lettering was stamped, embossed, cut out free-hand, inked and then added to the page in different ways.  This is the simplest, easiest technique I know of and I love it.  I did start a card with the scraps but as it's not yet finished I'll have to share it later.

Then because it was getting late we made one last joint effort to get a 3D project done.  I made up this basic box while I watched Amanda glitter up some die-cut flowers and leaves.  Boy oh boy!  I fell head over heels in love with the 'clear sparkle' embossing powder and how it transformed these!!!  Does anyone know what I'm talkin about when I say K & Co. glittered chipboard embellishments?  You know the REALLY over-priced ones?  The ones I refused to buy but drooled over.

I was so excited at the thought of using chipboard and this technique that you can fully expect to see it featured in a class project just as soon as possible girls!  I am also a massive fan of making gifts as you know so I hope to plan a class this year that features a handmade card kit with our very own embellishments all presented in a handmade box of some kind.  I love, love, love to give handmade card sets but I love to give a card kit even more.  Why should I be the only one to have crafting fun when you can share it?

Best of all Amanda sent me home with a pot of this stuff so I can have a play.  Those of you who know me will know I don't do TV much at all if I can help it - maybe a film, a good period drama, news or an interesting documentary now and then but mostly it doesn't go on unless hubby is home.  If you've ever wondered how I have time to craft with work, church, family etc. - that then is your answer I guess.

Anyhow I am going to try sitting and playing with this stuff today or tomorrow for sure.  I think I will be loathe to give it back too.   Maybe I need to get me one huh?  I just love it loaded onto coloured cardstock which turns it a paler shade (very pretty) but that competely transforms it once it's heated up.  Kinda like my sweet 'n' sour sauce.  It goes a milky pink when I add the cornstarch and then goes a vibrant reddish-pink once it heats and thickens.  Come to think of it - that's exactly the effect LOL!

I'm converted!  You should SERIOUSLY check it out :-) Oh, and you should check out Amanda's glittered page here too - simply beautiful and another great stamp!

Hugs!

Suezie

Love is in the Air!

I'm not quite sure how I've managed to do some crafting this week being so poorly an all but I am finally on some anti-biotics so once I get to feelin better there'll be NO stoppin me!  Right now I feel like I'm falling off my chair and leaning to one side when I stand so hopefully that'll go by the end of the weekend. 

BUT I do know that having my new desk area cleared and well organised is having an impact on my crafting already and I am really enjoying being up here in my room.  I can't wait until the rest of the room is just as organised!  IT's going to be the kind of craft room I should've had all along so I'm getting really excited now!!!

Okay, okay I'm waffling so on with the page.

I still have a finishing touch for the title to work out but otherwise the page is complete.  I took time out to select several papers for classes for 2011 and I really like how things are shaping up so far.  I need to be inspired to create same as anyone else so it was great to just 'pick & choose' what to play with.

Besides some lovely papers from Basdic Grey called 'Olivia' I also used the Bo Bunny polka dot papers in two shades of pink and a lovely light green.  I love that you get a range of each colour and all with these cute polka dots that add an overall detail.  I played on the polka dot theme by adding swirls of dots and I think everyone will have fun doing this in class.  I know I did so I may bring this technique out of the basket a few more times during 2011.  Swirls of gems are stunning, granted but they're so costly and this is a nice, easy (and cheaper) alternative.

There's some punching with Martha Stewart border punches - I purchased this heart one on a whim around February last year.  I had to have it even though I didn't think I'd use it but I used it last year and I've already used it this year so I'm glad I got it.  There's also a little bit of stamping, some good ol' Sizzix die-cutting going on and even some free-hand cutting.

As this is the class sample and therefore belongs to YTOC I've decided to re-create one for myself and maybe a further one for gift giving.  I am also challenging myself to do this throughout 2011 so that I'll have a collection of lovely scrapbooking pages for me and for friends and family (or even for my store?) by years end.  I challenge those of you who take my classes to join me.  Are you up for it?

Well crafting is on my agenda this weekend for sure but so is house work - I have been too poorly to do much at all (funny how I managed to craft tho' huh?) and laundry plus of course a bit more work in my craft room.  There's still lots of re-organising, painting 3 remaining walls and a bit more 'built in' to do before I can even think of dressing it up with curtains and things and there are just 5 weeks left to delivery day LOL!  Best keep busy I guess.

Blessings

Suezie

First Makes for 2011

Well I must be feelin somewhat better cos this morning I baked and this evening I crafted - still coughing liking crazy but it has to go eventually right? and it didn't stunt my creativity thankfully!

First the baking......

I whipped up a batch of chocolate mint cupcakes.  I added chunks of 'Twilight' chocolate mint candies into the middle of the cupcakes and then frosted with choc/mint whipped frosting and finally topped each cupcake with some more choc/mint candies finely grated.  It's quite nice to use my tiny grater for something other than nutmeg in the eggnog - it's normally the only time it gets used.

I picked up some pretty boxes at the supermarket (Sainsbury's I think) that were perfect for gift giving cupcakes.  I love that these kind of things are becoming easier to find - makes giving simple things like home made cupcakes easy peasy.

I needed a couple of boxes and each held 4 cupcakes.  Since I made 2 dozen cupcakes and only needed 8 I will be taking the rest when it's back to work tomorrow.  If I leave them here at home hubby and I will just eat them so sharing is a good thing.

Okay so now to my first ever crafting of the new year.........

I took my first trip out into town briefly today and stopped in at YTOC to pick out papers for the first class of the year coming up on 19th January.  The theme is Valentine's Day and I had in mind to make a set of stacking boxes just perfect for filling with yummy sweet treats.  I knew I wanted to make 'pillow' boxes in graduating sizes so the class is called 'pillow talk' - kinda cute huh?  Well I thought so.

After several colour selections I finally settled on the pink, white and black combo and chose a couple of Jilli Bean dotty papers and 3 colours of Bo Bunny polka dot cardstocks for the actual boxes.

After making the boxes I stacked them on top of one another and tied them together with black ribbon.  Then I decided to create a pretty decoration for the top using the Jilli Bean papers, glitter and nestabilities heart dies.  The smallest of these boxes is 3" x 5" and the largest measures 6" x 7" so there's plenty of room for goodies.

This should be a fun, relaxed class to start the year, nothing too complicated so I hope there's enough demand and the class runs.  I'm really looking forward to it already.

Although my craft room is still very much up in the air right now I am gradually putting things back together and have made sure I have a good basic supply of craft tools and space so I can still craft.  I now have a 6 week deadline to get it finished since we have a beautiful day bed being delivered in 6 weeks time and it's going on the side of the room that is still very much in chaos!!!  I can't wait to share a picture of it - it was love at first sight I'm afraid and the budget went right out the window - oops!  Never mind, I'll just make it up somewhere.

So far I've managed to keep the finished side clean.  Can you believe I actually crafted these boxes and then cleared away afterwards - all in a matter of seconds too!  Everything was close at hand and easy to put away.  I sure hope that's a sign of things to come.  I'm sure it helped that I had one of my new Michael Buble CDs playing while I worked and it was HEAVEN!  I'll have plenty more of that thank you LOL!

I am booked in for several dates over the next few months so hopefully I'll have more to share real soon.

Enjoy!

Amanda's Card

I wanted to share a lovely card made by my friend Amanda at YTOC.  She has been making some amazing cards lately - all very stunning and all very beautiful.  It's such a joy to see her enjoying crafting again.  Running a craft business might sound like an ideal job to a crafter but it can zap the 'joy' right out of you too.

I love the cream and gold colour scheme and card making is so super pretty when you use any of the Craftwork Cards products.  This doesn't shine in my photos but up close and for real the gold foiling in the design is just lovely.

 Amanda has been doing lots of stamping and embossing this past year and she does it so well too.

I especially liked this 'loopy' bow and had Amanda share how she made it with us girlies. This bow is a great way to add a really 'classy' touch to any card and I can't wait to use it on something of my own.

I almost missed the punched snowflake border.  This is probably one of those borders that I would look at and think - "nah! couldn't see myself using that" but actually when you see it made up in something you could find yourself re-thinking that statement.  I know - it happened to me with a Martha Stewart heart punch last year.

While I'm here can I say a shout out to Rosina :-) and welcome aboard! I'm sooooo glad you've joined our internet world and I hope you'll have a year full of inspiration and ideas m'dear.  There are masses of talented people out there who share and inspire and it's always exciting when you discover a new one worth checking out so enjoy!

Class Sneak Peeks!

Just wanted to stop in and post a couple of sneak peeks for the last class of 2010 coming up on 1st December!  THEN and only then can I really begin to focus on my own Christmas projects (except for a few more DT projects that is).

I promise I will post full shots some time next week but for now this is all your gonna get.

We get to make two of these - one that is colourful and fun (above) and one that's more traditrional but still equally pretty.

Best of all I get to teach something that I have been desperately wanting to teach ever since I first made one earlier this year.  I just love this idea and hopefully you will too.

Sorry to you girls over the pond who can't be here to take the class.  I might have to do something especially for you all further down the line.

Enjoy!

Christmas Classes

I decided the only way to get back into crafting was to book myself in to teach some classes at YTOC and with Christmas fast approaching they were destined to be seasonal projects.  This was a good move - a step in the right direction for sure.

Class 1 was this Tuesday and featured an easel topped drawer complete with a presentation box.  It was a lot to get done in a single 2 hour class so we worked on getting the various components made and left the decoration till last.  I was keen to use one of the Christmas collections from Craftwork Cards and Kay chose this design for me to work with.

The class was smaller than usual and we all knew each other so it turned out to be real fun and it was good to be back teaching again especially since I've missed everyone.  These photos were taken in store after class rather than my usual 'posed' shots at home so they're not my best I'm afraid but hopefully you get the picture LOL! 

Once opened up another entire box lifts out revealing a sweet little drawer - perfect for a sweet gift (yum) -  topped by an easel card making it a card and gift in one.  The drawer is just under 5" x 5" and nearly 1" deep so it'll take quite a few small gift items if you give it some thought.

I even decorated the inside of the drawer some - why not?  Besides the more you 'bulk up' the drawer the sturdier it becomes.  My samples have to take a lot of abuse like opening and closing numerous times and even though these shots were taken on the night of the class I think it's held up pretty good.

As this one belongs to the store I decided to make one for myself (mine's green and purple) but with so much work involved I didn't get a chance to finish it.  If I can I'll tinker with it this weekend and post it later but I really must get into my DT work again too.  I have completely gotten out of my routine as well as my crafting so I need to be super disciplined with myself and get back to it especially as I have chosen the projects for December over at Project Tuesday.  I just need to remind myself what I chose, find the rest of my mojo and get crafting so I can get excited about it!  I'm sure once I get started I will.

The next class at YTOC is on 17 November and features the purple and silver Christmas page using Craftwork products that I featured earlier here on my blog.  We'll be stamping, heat embossing, punching out and generally having some scrapbooking fun.  I like that I can squeeze in a scrapbook page every now and then to mix it up a bit.  The last class of the year is on 1 December and is one I'm REALLY looking forward to teaching.  I have been desperate to teach my little paper sack gift pocket project (my sample still needs making).  I just have to play around with the Bo Bunny papers I picked out to get inspired. 

My mojo is there somewhere it's just proving slow to return to me I'm afraid. My eldest daughter is going to be stopping in on Wednesdays from here on so I can help her craft up a bunch of Christmas pressies (plus do my own too) so maybe that'll get me back on track.  Certainly can't hurt huh?  Anyhow I am looking forward to spending time with her.  I just love my girls and I miss hanging out with them more.  We are planning to all be together for Christmas this year so I'm really looking forward to having them both around for a few days even if it will prove noisy, busy and hectic - who cares - it's worth it and I can't wait!  Now that's something I CAN get excited about :-)!

Class Page & Craftwork Cards

Since I finally managed to get photos printed yesterday I can now share a class page that I'm teaching tonight.  I knew I had a cute photo of Maddycakes somewhere but had to hunt through several disks until I found it.

I used some of the pretty vintage rose papers we had at the Craftwork Cards workshop back in July.  In fact I made this page a few days after we attended and have been waiting to share it here on my blog.  I knew as soon as I saw these pretty papers and the patchwork template that they would make fab bunting.

I traced where I wanted my bunting to hang, pierced holes and then hand stitched in brown thread.  Since the papers were called 'vintage' rose I used brown ink EVERYWHERE to distress and age all the elements on my page.  I left the bunting loose here and there to give it a look of 'flapping in the breeze' which of course is exactly what bunting does!

I got a chance to add several of the pretty papers with the corner detail and used one of my MS punches to create a lovely 'double' layered scallop effect.  I also used a whole bunch of 'card candy' in place of brads or buttons - the colours matched perfectly and you get tons of these in a pack.  I just love these for scrap booking, they're such a clever idea!

I even used the flowers that I had left over in my workshop pack - in fact all these supplies came from our freebie workshop packs - a little really CAN go a long way!  I added 'faux' stitching ALL over the page - just adds an extra bit of detail to bring it all together. 

Here's a close up shot of the pretty flowers.  They're actually inked using a brown ink pad - which made them look brown on the edges and pink everywhere else - how cool was that?  I sanded the edges of pretty much everything too which is why the ink has picked up so dark around the edge.

I had fun finding just the right equipment to create the different sized circles for my flowers.  The busy floral circle is actually my MS button punch which has a nice embossed ridge detail.  And yes I even inked up that card candy - absolutely love to alter them as well LOL!

And just in case you missed it in my earlier post - here I am with Julie Hickey at the workshop.  I don't actually like this picture of myself so if it wasn't for Julie being in this shot I wouldn't be sharing it again LOL!

By the way Amanda now has these fabby products in store (YTOC) if anyone would like to get their hands on them.  The lucky gals in class tonight get to play with them for sure. 

Now while I wait to be descended upon by three little munchkins (babysitting the grand babies) plus wait for the chappy to come fix my cooker (should've turned up this morning but got the day mixed up) cos those elderberries won't wait a day longer - I have several DT projects to get done so I'm off to craft a bit more.

Enjoy!

Suezie

Craftwork Cards

Recently I had a chance to attend a special event laid on by the crafty people from Craftwork Cards in Leeds. It was a chance to view some of their new products as well as play with several designs in a few make 'n' take sessions.

These products have been a regular feature at YTOC and we've always intended to play more with them but haven't for some reason. When we saw all the fab new products we quickly realised all that would HAVE TO CHANGE!

As you can imagine Leeds was some distance away so the day started with a 4.00 am wake up call and a very long drive - 3 to 3.5 hours one way to be exact! But when we finally got settled in we were greeted by a table of goodies to get us started including a yummy cupcake and plenty of tea on tap. I do love my tea!

These pretty new Vintage Rose design papers - very CK in style (and you know I LOVE CK!) were one of the first things we saw.

And guess what? We had a chance to play with them because we had them in our pink goodie bags!

The first project was this cool little chipboard bag which opened to reveal concertina'd envelope pockets. How cute is this. We had a basic project design but then got to decorate them up just as we wanted - using lots of CWC products of course like 'press out' text designs, die-cut flowers and that lovely card candy. If you are unfamiliar with card candy check it out here. In fact there were lots of card candy in pretty cupcake cases in the middle of the table for us to play with too.

Of course Julie Hickey was also on hand to chat and have fun with us all as well as helping us to play! She was so down to earth and easy to talk to - just what you hope for when you finally get a chance to talk to someone 'famous' in the craft world.

There were so many lovely samples - most of which were probably done by Julie herself I'm sure. Don't these 'Vintage Rose' papers lend themselves to 'patchwork' and you know I LOVE patchwork! I can see myself sewing on these papers, adding vintage lace and maybe even paper roses - how pretty would that be? Of course these papers are far too clean for me - they would have to be 'aged' too (kinda like my bag project).

Lunch had been included in the event and this is always a hard part for me. As a veggie-tarian and a fussy one at that I usually struggle to get enough to eat. There were lots of meat dishes but also just enough veggie ones that I was able to join everyone else and not have to go grab the food in the car. I always take some nibbles with me cos I'm so darned fussy!

We had presentations and discussions throughout the event and then we had even more time to play after lunch. They had a Christmas range that featured these fab trees and text in a lovely shade of green and purple. They also had this same design in pink and black too. Ladies if you're looking at these and wondering when you can get your hands on them? SOON! Amanda already has everything under control!

They had used these pretty papers to make paper bunting that adorned the sample table. We even had pretty numbered cards in our goodie bags and throughout the event numbers were drawn for prizes!

After remarking that our table hadn't won any prizes we suddenly had a flurry of numbers drawn for our table. Both Amanda and her mum Kay were lucky enough to win prizes as well as 3 other ladies on our table. Sadly Rosina and I were not among them!

That's ok tho'. We really enjoyed the day, the crafting, the fun, the freebies and especially the company! Thanks sooooo much Amanda for inviting us along. AND lucky me - I get to demo with these new products at the Thetford Craft show coming up in August and I know you're just gonna love em' when you see what we create! PLUS look for them in upcoming classes too.

See you there (and see several of you in class on Wednesday).

They're Here!!!

Ok all you girlies that are booked onto the first EVER Waltzing Mouse workshop at Your Touch of Craft - I have a surprise for you - THEY'RE HERE!

I have your fabby new stamps in my grubby mitts! Well not actually as I type of course LOL! But today at around 1pm Mr Postie rang my bell and handed me a package! Thanks Claire :-)

Don't they look lurvely! You are just going to have way too much fun playin with these and I know you're gonna use this first set again and again and again.... I use mine ALL the time! And hopefully you'll find using the pretty nesty set I chose equally fun with these stamps too.

Are you gettin excited!!! I sure am - can't you just tell? My post is sooooo full of !!!!!!!!!!'s.

Well if that wasn't enough excitement for one day I have a further surpirse for you but you're just gonna have to wait till on the day - I know you'll love it you just gotta trust me!

Baby Boy Flip Album

I have finally managed to finish a further flip album. This one is as a sample for YTOC and uses some really cute baby boy papers by Making Memories from a range called 'pitter patter'. Amanda has these in both pink and blue versions and they're super cute - I seldom do 'baby' themed things these days so this was fun.

Do you like how I made this photo look? I have been getting to grips with 'Gimp'.

I am obviously getting really bored being at home on my own now cos I'm starting to play around at the computer! I have company coming tomorrow tho. Still I am really glad cos it gives this project a 'baby soft' look which I really like AND now I know how to do this too (can you see me beaming inside?). I know, I know, pride goeth before a fall so I'll quit. Kinda hard not to remember something like that when you're sittin here listening to some lovely gospel music as you type.

I didn't take shots of the whole thing open like the last one but I did do a couple other snapshots for ya. On this one I dragged out yet more old Sizzix dies and created 'swinging' die-cut baby shapes hanging from the inserts in the pockets. I thought it would be a nice decoration, add some movement and even more interaction to the whole project.

This is the left side with a diaper pin tag (the bottle is on the right side). I just love the cream, blue and peachey colour scheme for a little boy. The other embellishments were created by cutting circles from the paper and covering up the holes with photo mats and borders. Not only is this frugal but it makes it more cost effect sometimes for a class so over the years I've learnt to do this routinely. Crafters appreciate knowing how to get more from their supplies too. This project takes just 4 sheets of card stock and 4 sheets of double sided paper - oh and a velcro dot.

This entire project took about a week to get done. It should've taken maybe a day tops but do you realise just what muscle groups are involved in crafting? I didn't - but over the past few weeks I sure have! I'm not a wimp honest. I have a pretty good pain thresh-hold I think but repetitive pain - you know the niggling kind that just won't let up drives me to despair so I have wimped out rather than persevere. Rose would be proud of me!

Thankfully things are much easier than they have been up to now. I had soooooo many projects I couldn't get done and stamps I couldn't play with that I was beginning to get really frustrated. Maybe I have finally turned a corner - sure hope so - it's about time!

WM Sneak Peek 1

Since getting the 'go ahead' for a series of Waltzing Mouse workshops I have been busy getting organised, getting paperwork done like class details and advertising as well as trying to get in a bit of crafting to create projects for the first workshop. It hasn't all been easy since even sitting at the computer was a bit tough going for a while. Thankfully it's getting easier with every week that goes by.

I am pleased to say I can finally share my first sneak peek (and hopefully there'll be a couple more over the next couple of weeks). Here it is.

OK so does it make you curious? I sure hope so. Do you know how hard it is to narrow down a shot so you don't give too much away? Well I can vouch that it's not that easy! I'm not tryin to be mean by not sharing the entire project. I'm just tryin to 'wet your appetite' and share my excitement at the same time. If I don't at least share a sneak peek I think I will just burst!!!

I wish I could show you a whole lot more but I simply can't so you'll just have to trust me that this is really pretty. Amanda and I chose some cool papers so we would have a real mixture to play with - lots of patterns, lots of colours so plenty of choice and all double sided too.

I think I have a couple of projects finalised for definate but because they're more involved I also want to do a few 'clean & simple' (CAS) projects too. I plan to have even more samples on the day and even though we can't make them all they'll be available for people to take snapshots of for more lovely inspiration so don't forget to pack your cameras girls!

I know a few places have already been booked and we haven't actually advertised yet so you will need to be quick if you want on there. You can check in store for the finer details. We are limiting class size to just 8 to make sure everyone has plenty of room to work on projects. I'm soooooo excited to have Caroline on the workshop - she's just a super sweet gal who already has a couple of earlier WM sets and really likes them so I hope I do her proud. If you're checkin my blog Caroline - it was so nice seeing you yesterday - it's been way too long.

Well guess you'll have to check back for a further sneak peek. If you haven't signed up for email updates to my blog nows a good time - that way you won't miss a single post!

Back on Track

Well a couple days rest does wonders! I am back on track and managed to get a bit of crafting in today. I still can't use the sewing machine but as long as I don't over do it I can do some paper crafting until I can - just as well as I have a few ideas running around in my head for when I can finally get back to teaching classes - although this is not likely to be before end of July.

I wanted to do a variation on the flip album that was a Project Tuesday challenge and I was keen to make it a square shape. I loved the one I made with photos of Maddy but it left little room for embellishments so I wanted to make decent sized square pages with plenty of room for a photo and something else besides.

And just to be different I chose these cute 'boy' papers with a 'motion' theme - just perfect for photos of a plane ride, or special trip or even play time with cars, trucks and boats. The colour scheme was simple - red, white, blue and golden yellow so I chose black as the base colour to make everything jump out.

As with my last PT flip album it's hard to get a good shot once you start opening up the entire album but this is pretty much how it starts with a left side and a right side as soon as you open it. Then the fun really begins!

Once the entire thing is open you can see just what fun and interaction you get with this kind of project. I still kept the flaps top and bottom but instead of putting pockets on the lower flaps as before I chose to add one nice big pocket to each side.

Then after I had added my DP on every available surface I made sure I decorated the back panel too. I added a piece of strap and used a black velcro dot to keep it closed on the front. I added the button for effect.

I love anything square and I think I actually like this album in this shape much better than my last one. The measurements were much easier too since every side was the same size.

I think this will make a cute class so I just hope there are enough gals with boys, nephews, brothers or 'new baby's to come and book on it. Granted it's rare to cancel a class but if minimum numbers aren't reached it's always a very real possibility. In the past we've played safe and chosen very 'open' themes covering a range of events so I'm hoping a few people have been wishing for 'one for the boys' so I can teach it. I just love it and can't wait to make another one!