Lots of pictures to share!

I have put the pens and pencils away for the rest of the evening and thought I had better upload some new pictures as promised. I'm still behind on my new design schedule - first time I have missed a deadline...ever! However, I'm on track for the new dates so wish me luck!

First up are some pictures from Dawn Bibby's residential weekend which everyone really enjoyed. Having said that, everyone round Amy's table looks a little glum, but I think they were just concentrating on their crafting! I was only there for the Sunday when there were around ten Make n Take tables for everyone to go round making a different project at each one. Below is the ultra talented Jane who makes lots of the cards that you see on QVC - she is a very versatile crafter and works away like a trouper behind the scenes. So, here she is at her table where the ladies were using hair gel in their cards!Next you can see Dawn who was using Distress inks and Ink Potion no 9 on her Make n Take project. As you can also see...even broken arms don't stop keen crafters!
Here's a face that QVC viewers will recognise! Craig (QVC presenter extraordinaire!) came along to the weekend with his friend Angel and they joined in all the fun and the crafting. I missed the Saturday night party, but am assured that he is a very talented dancer! Craig was absolutely lovely, one of those people who makes you feel as if you have known them for years.Here he is showing the watercolour stamped card that he made at my table.
And below with me and my friend, the lovely and talented Sarah who now has her work featured in Making Cards magazine....well done Sarah! She is modelling one of the new Dawn Bibby Studio aprons whilst I am wearing my Ranger one!
Now for a few of my recent creations! I made the frame below using a K&Co base which I covered in K&Co paper from the Que Sera Sera collection - I simply glued the paper on and cut it fairly roughly around before sanding the edges. This is a great way to work as it means you don't have to be too fussy with the cutting. I inked the edges and then did the same thing with three Maya Road chipboard birds. I used Ranger crackle paint on a couple of Grungeboard swirls, letting them dry naturally until the paint began to crack and then heating to speed up the process. The chipboard word was painted using Adirondack acrylic dabbers. I then simply glued everything onto the frame using good old Glossy Accents and added a handful of Petaloo flowers as a finishing touch. Great fun to make and it didn't take too long either...Christmas present ideas I am thinking! PS the kittens are anonymous ones....I just needed a picture to pop into the frame!
Next is one of my favourite cards that I've made this Christmas. I used alcohol inks on gloss card and then cut it using a circular Nestie, matting onto a scalloped circle after adding a swoosh of white card for snow. I stamped, coloured and added the smaller version of my scribble snowman from PICS01 Christmas set 1 clear stamp set. The gorgeous Snowflake by Sue Dix is from the same set and I used Distress ink pads Faded Jeans and Dusty Concord to stamp it onto the background card. Clear gems added to their centres just add that necessary touch of bling! My favourite element here is the ribbon. Why? Because it was just a boring white sheer ribbon until I ran my alcohol ink applicator tool along it so that it perfectly matched the rest of the card! This is one of my top tips - just buy plain white ribbon and then colourise to match your card....job done! Saves scratting around looking for that elusive piece of ribbon to match your project that's for sure! Here is a card made using Tim Holtz stamps...they are fabulous to use, just about fool proof as they seem to stamp perfectly every time, even the tiniest details show up. I used a large square card and made my background paper with Distress inks (there's a surprise!). I spritzed Perfect Pearls around the edge of the card blank and generally distressed and spritzed everything in sight! The butterfly was just a metallic piece that I found in my oddments box of bits and bobs.

Next is a little house that I made using Maya Road chipboard pieces for the sides -

again, paper covered, sanded and inked

as for the frame.

I added some paper grass and some acrylic square windows.

I simply folded some card to make a box base and attached a house shape to two sides.

Some Maya Road tree and bird stamps were the finishing touch. Voila! A dinky holder for ATC's on my demonstration tables!

I had a lovely trip to Norwich, travelling down on Friday meant that I had a chance to look around the city and do some window shopping....no buying when I know that I have my demonstration baggage to take home with me! Here is the Arcade which is a genuine Art Nouveau building and was, as you can see, beautifully adorned with trees and lights for the festive period.

And here is a very inviting looking window of a shop that had made such an effort with their display that I had to take a picture - this was the handmade chocolate shop and, no, I didn't indulge...in fact, the delicious aromas that emerged as people entered and left the shop was enough to get a chocolate overload on! Finally, here is a shot of Jarrold's department store where I was demonstrating the following day. The photo does not do justice to the dazzling lights that adorn the building. I must say that Norwich have made a really big effort with their Christmas displays and, as the afternoon grew darker, the atmosphere became more and more festive, so I had a really lovely wander and ended up walking miles. Hello to all the ladies and gents that I met on Saturday. Everyone was so enthusiastic and friendly that it was a pleasure to talk to you all. One comical thing was that I was positioned right in front of the lifts on the third floor and I was working on a little kidney shaped table that was on wheels. Let's just say that I had to keep my knees pressed against the sides of the table to avoid finding myself on my way down to the first floor!
Again, apologies to my neglected friends and those who I am owing ATC's etc to....please bear with me. It's a very busy time here and things have been rather difficult for one reason and another, but I shall rectify the situation asap - promise! Lindsay