Floral festivities

Today I've been learning how to make a festive hanging basket.  It was my Christmas present from Anna and we've had a fabulous day.  Look at the beautiful setting, it was at The Wheatsheaf at Oaksey.

Nikki our tutor, made random look so easy!

Anna & I with our finished baskets, they were huge - now how am I getting that back to Manchester!

After the workshop it was time for lunch, which was spiced fish and chips.

Followed by chocolate & orange mousse with a hazelnut and chocolate biscuit - delicious.

 After that it was back to Anna's to open Christmas presents.  Look at my cute new slipper socks, they've a gorgeous pink flower on the back too and little pearls - I love them.  You remember that the dress I'm wearing was given to me by one of the ladies at Craftaganza and so the giving continues as I've left the dress with Anna.



So of course we crafted, so here's a couple of cards.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

Papercutz - challenge #71, snowflakes

Chicken soup - the 6th day of Christmas - baubles

Stamp with fun - Christmas

ABC challenges - J is for Jewels

Supplies used:

All items from Papertrey Ink

Card - plum pudding and Hawaiian shores

Stamps - fancy flourishes, Christmas tags 2009

Ink - plum pudding

This card was inspired by challenges at:

Pink Elephant - winter wonderland

Cupcake Challenges - non-traditional Christmas



Supplies used:

Paper - My Minds Eye

Stamps - Christmas Tags 2009

Punch - Martha Stewart

So that's my adventures over for a few days and I'm heading back home at silly o'clock in the morning, ready for getting back to work.

xxx

A trip full of trees

What a fabulous trip I'm having.  Nets, Raymond & Rosie it was fabulous to see you.  I'll try and stay longer next time.  My demo at Hobbycraft Norwich went really well and the store were really happy with it.  Here's my demo table - the tablecloth was quite bright!

Next to me was Lindsey Mason

From Norwich it was on to Reading and the lovely Harper Household and today was the day for putting up the big Christmas tree and as a houseguest, I got to help.  Rich & Nick trimming the tree to fit in the stand.

 Et voila - all decorated.

I was treated to a great Sunday dinner before setting out on the next leg of my journey to Stroud.  Here I was greeted with more Christmas trees and of course we popped open the fizz.

Yes it was late, but did that stop us crafting - no way!!  But instead of paper we got out the felt and made this little cutie to hang on the tree.  I'm entering this into challenges at:

Chicken soup - 3rd day of Christmas - those felt trees set me off

Allsorts - last minute Christmas projects

Creative inspirations - anything goes Christmas

Tomorrow I'm off to play with flowers.

xxx

Off again

I'm off on my travels again, today I'm off to Norwich, ready for a demo I have there tomorrow at Hobbycraft.  I'm lucky enough to be visiting my lovely friend Annette and her gorgeous family.  From Norwich it's onto Reading and the lovely Harper Household and last but not least it's then onto Stroud to visit my lovely Anna.  I should be back on Tuesday, with news of any adventures I've had on my way!!

I'll leave you with a little floral number, that's inspired by the challenge at:

Cute Card Thursday - Floral frenzy



Supplies used

3 Birds - cardmaking by numbers

Have a great weekend.

xxx

Having a "grate" week

A little while ago I mentioned CSN Stores and they kindly gave me a voucher to spend in their store.  I treated myself to a couple of Microplane graters.  These have been on my wishlist for so long, I'm rather excited to have got them, so it'll be grated everything for the next couple of weeks!

The whole Christmas thing has now started to catch up with me, so tonight I ventured to the Trafford Centre.  It was busy but quite good fun and I even grabbed a bargain or two.  With most of my shopping done it was time for a treat and I decided green tea and miso soup at Yo! Sushi were just the ticket.  I don't have a problem eating on my own, it's great for people watching!  No surprises, as is my way, I ended up  talking to the people next to me, Grandma, Mum and son.  What a lovely young man, he'd never tried miso soup, os I let him try mine - another convert!  That stuff just makes you feel good about the world.

So what else would you do when you get home, bake of course!!  Yep, mincemeat muffins, ready for crop on Saturday, even though I won't be there.

I'm entering my muffins and the tag that I made for them into challenges at:

Chicken Soup - Christmas Dinner

Charisma Cardz - Christmas gifts

A Passion for Papertrey - Christmas

Now let's hope there's still some left when I deliver them!!

xxx

A whirlwind weekend

I've had a fabulous weekend dancing in Toulouse, France. The little amount of sleep that I've had (all of my own doing!) since I got there has been more than made up for with such amazing classes, with great teachers, hanging out with some of my favourite friends and the late dance dance parties. The icing on the cake had to be watching Jo & Mel with the competition on Saturday night. I'm so proud to know you both, especially as I've been promoted to the team as the motivational coach. I still think we should have team tracksuits!

Congratulations

I'm so pleased that my lovely roomie Julie made it in from snowy Gatwick, even if she was delayed by a day. There were lots of travel tales about delays and cancellations and not to be out done, mine involved a missing suitcase. I made it to Toulouse on Friday but my bag decided not to join me until Saturday morning. A huge thank you to Jo, for tucking me under her wing and sorting me out until my case arrived. She even let be borrow a pair of her gorgeous shoes.  Now if only I could make them dance as beautifully as she does!

Now I'm home it's back to paper and glue and today I have a couple of cards to share with you.
This one I'm entering into challenges at:
Daring Cadrmakers - turquoise
ICS - sketch #94

Supplies used:
3 birds kit - cardmaking by numbers

This one I'm entering into challenges at:
Totally Gorjuss - sketch challenge
Creative Card Crew - Anything goes

Supplies used:

3 birds kit - cardmaking by numbers

I'm off to catch up on some sleep!
xxx

Snow Angel

I think cabin fever has hit today!  The furthest I've been since getting back from the NE on Saturday night is the Post Office!  I donned my skiing stuff that meant I kept dry, it also made me smile as it's not long until we hit the slopes - woo hoo!!

So today I decided to spend my lunch break clearing the drive.  I think its time to invest something bigger and more substantial than a coal shovel!! 

But with all that snow in front of the car laying untouched I couldn't stop myself from making my very first snow angel!!  Not bad for my first attempt - why it's taken me 40 years to get to do that is a mystery!

Just one card to share with you today.  I'm entering this into challenges at:

Dutch Dare Challenges - Christmas Card

Paper Cutz - anything goes



Supplies used for all :

House mouse unmounted stamps

pins

Felt holly leaves

Ribbon

Copic Ciaos

Nestabilities

Patterned cardstock - forever friends pad

Right, I'm leaving for the airport now, to go dancing in Toulouse.  See you in a few days.  Have a great weekend.

xxx

More good news

I was one of this months Passionistas over at A Passion for Papertrey - thanks for choosing my card as one of your favourites girls.

You'd think that would be enough excitement for one day, but I've also found the video for the started we made with Ainsley Harriott.  Go and have a look, it's too funny!  Why is it always me doing the daft bits!!  Yes I know I didn't do the words at the end, I was so busy laughing I had no idea what was going on!

Back in the land of card making here's some cards that I recently made for Papercraft Essentials.  I had great fun working with the House Mouse stamps and decoupage.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Cupcake craft challenge - light it up
Chicken soup - advent - it was that gingham ribbon that I loved

This one I'm entering into the challenge at: 

Chicken soup - based on those lovely ripply colours

One stop craft challenge - Christmas Cuties

This one I'm entering into challenges at:
Twisted sketches - sketch #35, layers
Daring cardmakers - Christmas spotty and stripes
Card patterns -  sketch #92
Clean & Simple - FTL # 118

Last one for now, into the challenges at:

Stamp with fun - advent

Just us girls - make a 3D holiday embellishment

Tuesday Taggers - jolly St Nick

Papercraft Star - challenge 23 (this card is so small you could use it as a gift tag)

Midnight Madness sketch - sketch #83

Supplies used for all 3 cards:

House mouse decouapge

House mouse unmounted stamps

Tim Holtz edgability die

Heart pins

Felt holly leaves

Ribbon

Copic Ciaos

Patterned cardstock - forever friends pad 

Now if I was only this organised about getting my Christmas shopping done!!

xxx

New Monthly Challenge

Oh my, is it really the 1st December?!!  PANIC!!  When on earth am I going to find time to get my Christmas shopping done!  Oh well I managed to find time to get my card made for this months Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge.  As always there's a sketch with an optional element of Christmas.

I turned the sketch 90 degrees.  This is the fourth card I taught at Craftaganza, so I'm hoping to see lots of entries this month, even if they're all very similar or exactly the same as my card.  Remember the winner is a random draw, so everyone has a chance of winning.  The fabulous prize this month is a £50 voucher for the Crafter's Companion website.  I think Sara is feeling extra generous because it's not long until Christmas.

Supplies used:

CD- Popcorn Cosy & Warm

Popcorn die cut decoupage

Die cuts - Nestabilites

Punch - Martha Stewart

All items available from Crafter's Companion.

If anyone is unsure on how to enter the challenge then just leave me a comment here and I'll help you out.

Have fun and I look forward to seeing your cards or projects.

Here's today's snow update.  There's still loads of it and it's been snowing again this morning!  My card is still on the and will need to be cleared before I can go anywhere!

One more card for you today, it can also be seen in Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.  I love the colours on this card, it's what you need to brighten the day.  I'm entering this into the challenge over at:
Moxie Fab World - the birthday card challenge
Fab 'n' funky - birthday - happy birthday girls x

Supplies used:
Echo park -  walk in the park
Plus some bling and twine

Keep warm.
xxx

Winter Wonderland

Well the snow has caught up with me and landed here in Manchester.  Here's the view at lunch time from my office window.

So whilst we're looking at the snow, here's another Christmas card for you from my recent magazine work for Cardmaking and Papercraft. I'm entering this one into challenges at:

Ooh la la challenges - Christmas Song - Let there be Peace

One stitch at a time - bling it up

Papertake weekly - sketch 51 - I flipped it 90 degrees

Supplies used:

Bo Bunny - Winter Joy, papers, stickers and rub-ons

I hope the snow and ice aren't causing too much chaos for you.

xxx

Who do you think you are?

No I'm not getting stroppy, it's much more exciting than that, well I think it is.  I'm always excited to get my cards published in a crafting magazine but this month I've got a piece on "Scrapbook a family gift" in the Who Do You Think You Are Magazine.  Yes a real magazine!  Starting on page 54 I have 3 pages, including a full step by step.  I'm entering it into the following challenges:
Crazy 4 challenges - script paper
CRAFT - Christmas present
Creative Inspirations - Christmas Gifts
Dutch Dare - sketch
Fab 'n' funky - anything goes

Supplies used:

Box frame from IKEA

K&Co classic K Margo Mat Pad

 K&Co classic K Margo Tag pad

K&Co classic K Margo Fabric stitched brads

Bazzill basics - half the edge (borders)

Brown ink

Thanks for letting me share my excitement.

xxx

It's homework time

You'd think that because I'm home I'd be putting my feet up but instead I have some last minute homework to do for Sara.  Do I mind?  Not a jot.  I'm getting to work with a fabulous kit, so have a look on Create and Craft on Friday, to see what I've been playing with.  Now I can't shar4e that with you just yet but I can share some other homework.  Here's some cards that were made for Cardmaking and Papercraft.

This one I'm entering into the challenges at:

Totally Gorjuss -  tree

CPS - sketch #195

  

Supplies used:

Echo park - walk in the park

This second card I'm entering into the challenge at:

The crafty pad - snowflakes

Right I'm off to watch the results of Strictly and X-factor and finish my homework.  If I was having a bath and washing my hair it would feel like I was going to school tomorrow!

I hope you've had a great weekend.

xxx

Craftaganza Day 3

I can't believe it's already day 3 and our last day of Craftaganza today.  First things first, breakfast and I had been told that if I asked I could have a dippy egg and woo hoo, that's just what I had for breakfast.  I love the egg cup but I was good and left it behind!

Today I got to go to class and did some jewellery making.  Oops I think I may have a new addiction!

Then it was time to eat again!  Today I went for the roulade, maybe I'm lemon meringued out!

In the afternoon I got to be Leonie's little helper and here's the cinnamon tag they got to make and I've made one too.  Not only did it look great but it smelt delicious too.

I'm entering mine into the challenge at:

Stampin' for the weekend - winter

My time to craft - tag along

Tuesday taggers - decoration

 Here's the second project that the class got to make - cute.

  

At one point during the class Miss LEonie decided to cover me with glitter, very funny!  But don't you just love karma - 5 minutes later she picked up a pot of glitter and didn't realise that the lid was open - giggle!! 

  

But how can you keep a girl down when she has such fabulous shoes on.   I tried to steal them but she was having none of it!

As fast a Craftaganza had come round, it had finished and we had to say goodbye to everyone.  A big thank you has to go out to the staff at The Aston Hotel, they are all fabulous and help make the event run so efficiently.  They're also the friendliest hotel staff I've ever met.

So just time for a quick latter - hold the brandy, before setting off home.

 

It took a while to clear my car but then I was on my way home.  There was no snow south of Wetherby!  Although I brought some home on my car - yes there was still that much snow on my car after 120 miles!

I guess we'd better start planning Craftaganza 2011.

xxx

Craftaganza - Day 1

This has to be one of my favourite times of the year.  Yes it really is up there with Christmas and going on holiday.  It's our annual craft event - Craftaganza.  This year we've had 80+ of our customers join us for 3 days craft classes and lots and lots of fun.  They really are the nicest people who come to the event and it's great to see so many of them come back each year.

My class was crafting boot-camp and we had 4 cards to make in an hour and three quarters and all of workshop attendees today flew through the class.  The first card we tackled was a circle slider card which looks really tricky but with a little bit of know how it's a doddle.  I'm entering this card into the following challenge:
Cute card Thursday - blast from the past - challenge #114 no designer papers

Supplies used:
Circle slider - Popcorn Platinum Cd - kids and florals
Die cut - grande scallop square nestabilities

This next one is a little dome card.  These are super easy and I'm going to pop a how to over on the Crafter's Companion News & Inspiration Blog very soon. 
I'm entering it into the challenge at:
ABC challenge - ice and snow

 Supplies used:

Design printed onto pearlised card - Popcorn CD - frosty & bright
Die cuts - circle and scalloped circle nestabilities
Decoupage - Popcorn die cut decoupage


It's a wonder we even got the event started with the snow that had fallen overnight.  It took me a while to get there but I did arrive as did all the workshop leaders (Sara, Leanne, Jayne, Sheena, Carolyn, Margaret & Sarah) and our lovely delegates.

Giving me a hand with getting ready for class the lovely Carolyn and Margaret, who were there to teach jewellery making.

We got Sarah helping too

Here's my first class with their dome cards.  The first class is always the toughest but they were a fabulous group, so no problems.

We even get a break for lunch.  The food at the Aston hotel is fabulous, it might be even better this year as they have a new chef!  Lemon meringue wasn't on the dessert menu for lunch but with a quiet word in the right ear I managed to acquire a rather large slice!

So back to it after lunch and it was the class with some of the design team in and also a few of our forum members.  I thought they might give me a bit of banter but they were surprisingly well behaved. especially Carol, who was  exceptionally good. 

The last class of the day were mostly made up of the class that I had in the first session last year, so I know quite a bit about this bunch and they finished off my teaching day with a smile.  It was also great to meet some new crafters.

 That evening after dinner I held a drop in session for those people who wanted to know more about the different die cutting machines we stock.  So yet more handle turning - hopefully it's toning up my bingo wings!
With the snow still lingering a decision was made for us to stay over.  Luckily we're a team that don't mind sharing hair brushes.  The good part of that is that I could have a glass or two of wine, but we were quite restrained as we know we were up for another busy day tomorrow.