Just a few pictures

This really is a rushed post whilst I'm having a (well deserved lol!) coffee break. Every time I finish a set of designs I have a little break to rest my eyes and fingers which often get a little tensed up through concentrating so hard.  

So, I just wanted to share a few more pictures of some of the samples that I had on my table at the Port Sunlight show. If any of you have been thinking about going but haven't yet managed it, I would urge you to make space in your diary to go to the next one as there were so many really inspirational stands there. Anyway, here are some of my efforts! 

This is a very simple card, though you can't really see all the faded details in the background too well. I made a softly blended distress ink background, leaving the centre fairly un-inked. I blended out some fir trees using water and a fine brush, then stamped the message into the middle using Archival Coffee. The greeting is from my Friends at Christmas set (PICSA6371). I then used one of the twiggy plant images from my Winter Country Scene set - the same one used in last night's card - and stamped them around the edges using the Coffee ink pad. I simply dotted the berries onto the twigs using a Poppy coloured Promarker. It's a simple design but I think quite effective. 

The next picture is of two cards both made the same way. I stamped snowmen (have I ever mentioned how much I like snowmen?!) from my Christmas From All of Us set (PICSA6362) coloured them in and then painted them with Glue n Seal. Once dry, I placed a Crafters Workshop template over the card - the one I used here is Aspen Trees - and blended distress inks over the card being carefull not to move or damage the template. It's easier to tape the card down really. Once the template is removed the snowmen look stripey! So, simply use a damp tissue to wipe the excess ink away from them and buff with a dry cloth. Easy peasy! 

Next are some tags...not Christmassy this time. These feature backgrounds made with distress inks and/or Dylusions spray inks. Glue n Seal was used in the same way as on the snowmen cards so that I could have fun making some really vivid backrounds. That's Gwendoline in the centre and Gabrielle on either side. I used CW templates on them too - I love this technique as it really does look as if the stencilling was done first and it's much the easiest way I have ever found of masking off an image. 

Lastly, here's a simple card using three of my Christmas Tinchie designs. The background is Dylusions ink sprays with faux bleaching through a CW harlequin template. I added some simple swirls with  Stardust Stickles and just layered up the images - I said it was simple! 

Well, hope you like them. I'll have these, and more besides, with me when I'm at Weavervale garden centre near Northwich on the 13th of this month. I would have been at Samuel Taylors in Brighouse this Saturday coming, but there was a bit of a mix up and the date is now the 27th October. Still, it means that I can now go to the Harvest Supper in the Church hall so I'm looking forward to that. Well, sort of, as it is also a barn dance which I'm not quite so sure about! I'll be taking my camera though, so may have some amusing sanps to share!

Okay, coffee break is well over now, so it's back to the drawing board.

 PS I am still hating this new blogger thing and frustrated about the font size. The last but one post just came up in my usual sized text even though it was on the same setting as this and the last one. No matter what I try it comes up as either microscopic or massive! I have no logical explanation but wish they would just put the usual text sizes in numbers so I could make a proper choice. So, apologies if you're having to squint to read this now.

Christmas cards, QVC and a little helper!

Morning everyone, I am just taking a coffee break between making lots of new Christmas card samples for my demonstrations and various events. It's always good to be working with new designs so I am really enjoying this week.....getting the old glitter out always cheers me up!

This Saturday I'll be demonstrating at Crafts 4 U 2 Do in St Helens and I have so many products to show! My new stamps as well as Andy Skinner Christmas designs, Gorjuss Girl stamps and decoupage, Nit Wit festive decoupage, Best Creations papers, Martha Stewart latest Holiday punches.....crikey, I need more hands!

Talking of which, a certain someone decided that he should help out on the design side of things with his very own pencil and paper....... ......though I'm not sure he was too happy with his efforts! Lol! If you are at home this afternoon do tune into QVC as there will be some of my stamps on...I think in the 3pm hour. I haven't made the samples for the show so I'll be interested to see what has been made using them - always fun to see what other people make using my designs! There will also be stamps by my friend Andy as well.

Last Saturday I was at The Craft Box in Elsecar (Barnsley way) where there was a demonstration event to celebrate the opening of their new premises. It's a lovely big (really big!) shop with a very airy, spacious feel. Thanks to Carole for taking these piccies for me on the day! I think my table looks quite tidy for me...for a change! And here's a close up of everyone's favourite card of the day which features the tactile Teddy from Darkroom Door stamp set "Hello Baby". If you look closely at the cards on my table you can also see a girly pink teddy card. Carole kindly emailed me some more photos which I couldn't post as they came out like thumbnails when I save them...David will sort that out though I'm sure, so will show you them once he has got them resized for me.
David and I are really looking forward to Sunday in St Helens too where we will be hosting another day of workshops. These are Christmas themed and using my new stamp designs amongst other things. There are still places available (mostly in the morning session) so if you'd like to come and join in the fun, please drop me an email. There are also more details in my demonstrations and workshop dates sidebar on the left.
So, here are just a couple of cards that I've made for Saturday's Christmas Card Extravaganza! These aren't the workshop projects...they have to be kept under wraps! This first one features my new Elf stamps...cheeky characters! I've kept it pretty simple using Best Creations Trees paper in the background, highlighted with a white pen. Next is one I've made using Andy's Winter's Tale stamp set. Unfortunately the photo doesn't show it too well as I've used Perfect Pearl Mist on the card and it's reflecting in a rather odd way here! It's been Distress inked, Faux Bleached, stamped and spritzed. The words are from my new PICSA6263 set which has lots of little Christmassy sentiments and words in it. Next is a card using Gorjuss Girl Clear stamps...if you love colouring in these are great. What I really love is the new Martha Stewart Holly Leaves Punch around the Page set which I have tinted using good old Distress inks. Think I will be using this punch rather a lot! The little character just fits in the 3.75" x 5" punched mat perfectly. The verse is from my new stamp set PICSA6264.So, just a few sneaky peeks and I'll post more photos in the next few days. That coffee is stone cold now, so I shall drink it up and get cracking again with more stamping!

Christmas card apologies...

Here's the thing. I made almost all of my cards. I used A4 folded card. I added a small gem to each. I tied a ribbon round each spine. No bow. Just tied it round. I used my Post Office size guide. I pushed a card through the standard slot. It went through. I tried a second one. It went through. It didn't struggle. Just went through. I stuck the stamps on. David posted them.

How sublimely simple that was. Or, at least, I thought it was. Today I had to send a few parcels, plus a couple more of my cards as described above and some that I had made seperately. These were thicker cards so I knew they would need large letter stamps. The nice man at the Post Office took everything off me and said he'd price each item and stick all the stamps on for me (I must have looked even more tired than I feel!). He did all the parcels and then moved on to the cards. "All of these are large letter rate" he said. "What?", said I. "I've just posted all my cards with ordinary stamps on....they went through the slot.". "Well, they don't go through my slot" said he. I felt like telling him just what he could shove through his slot, I can tell you!

The upshot is that, if the postman/sorter is feeling all Christmassy and charitable, you may just get your lovingly made Christmas card from David and I. If, on the other hand, he is related to a certain seasonal Dickensian character, you may just get a card from the postman requesting your presence at the local sorting office where you will be asked to part with at least a pound of your hard earned money to retrieve something which may, or may not be, our card to you. I say may, or may not, as it's as likely to be a card from anyone who is as confused as I am about how the Post Office decide what will and will not cost less than a side of salmon to deliver these days.

Annoyed? Me? Never been known. Lindsay

Dates for next year's diary!

Hello folks, sorry it's been a while, but what with the computer problems, working hard to get designs finished by the end of this week and sorting out Christmas cards I have struggled to have time to post on here!

Anyway, I had a very eventful time in Norwich at the weekend....yet another horrendous train journey on the way down, which I will post on my rant blog as soon as I can. Let's just say that it involved two females who were drinking and getting drunker and more foul by the minute, and a ticket collector (I won't use the word "guard") who was unwilling to put the rest of the passengers first. After checking into my hotel I spent six hours wandering around the city centre and on walking back, I managed to find what was probably the last remaining piece of ice in Norwich and do a spectacular dive through the air that ended with me skinning my elbow and knee!

Saturday, at the new Hobbycraft store, was a much more pleasant experience however! Hello to everyone that came along - hope you are getting on well with the distressing, the punching and the stamping! The day went by really quickly and I then looked forward to getting home...I had a four and a half hour journey but, as it was on one train, I didn't have any lugging bags about to bother with. Instead, the train had no heating! Oh well, guess I had to finish my 2010's travels with a humdinger of train journeys!

So, to the title of this post...I will be adding some dates to my sidebar and these will include workshops at Dawn Bibby's design studio. I spoke with Amy today, so we have arranged the first set of classes. Those who were asking (you know who you are!) will be happy to know that we have included the all day journalling class. There will also be a couple of two hour card making workshops as well as the normal three hour classes, including making jewellery using Ranger products, a Shadow box, mixed media Guardian Angel and a Mermaid Art Doll! Please check the sidebar for more details, dates and prices. All classes are booked through Dawn's Studio...there's a link in my sidebar. I have some demonstration dates around the country...I only have dates and places at the moment and will post more details next year - yikes, that sounds terrible! Keep your eyes peeled for some special guests at Dawn's in February too!

Many thanks for all the Christmas cards and gifts we have received. I can't tell you how fortunate we feel to have got to know so many special people this year. Our cards are either on their way, still being made, or about to be posted! Hopefully they will all arrive before Christmas....fingers crossed and weather allowing!

I have a few more days of intense work and then can start thinking about relaxing for a couple of weeks over Christmas. I always start to feel really drained in December, so that little break is just what's needed...guess most of us feel that way.

So, I'll sign off and get the dates onto the sidebar as promised! Lindsay