Clever Cards for Christmas!!

Well Easter actually, but the originals above were for Christmas (and Easter doesn't alliterate - if there is such a word!) And before you think we have completely lost the plot, let me explain...

For this month's workshop Michelle and I have decided to place the demos in the capable hands of three of our members, who produced some very "clever cards for Christmas" last year (see piccies above). Marilyn will be showing you how to make easel cards, Carole E will be showing you the 3D pop up effect one in the middle and Pat T will be demoing her accordion style Christmas competition winner. Obviously it is too early for Christmas cards (even for us card makers!) so the designs will be adapted for Spring/Easter cards. So now does it all make sense?!

So while Marilyn, Pat and Carole are doing their demos Michelle and I will be putting our feet up and having a cuppa or two!! Actually, we have been busy sorting and bagging the stamps we have acquired, so that we can distribute them at the workshop, for cataloguing. If you have offered to help, make sure you take home a bag of stamps and some card to stamp them on to. More instructions will be given on the night.

Michelle has been back to the Grange Shop in Bookham to take the proceeds of the sale at last month's workshop. The lady there was very pleased and Michelle has restocked with a few more bits and pieces to sell this month. She will also be bringing along some PartiCraft discontinued stock - stamp sets, shimmer paints, 12 by 12 papers etc. So bring lots of pennies! And don't forget to bring membership renewal money too, if your membership is due to be renewed this month.

A reminder also that Ally Pally is on in April - Sat 10th and Sun 11th. Michelle is on the PartiCraft stall doing demos so do go along and say hello if you are planning to visit. For the jewellery makers amongst you, The Big Bead Show is on at Sandown the following Saturday - 17th April.

See you all on Wednesday.

Spring comes early to ACMC!

Well our February floral workshop seems to have worked a little magic on the weather this week - perhaps we are now starting to see signs of Spring after all!

It certainly looked that way in the Ralli Room last Wednesday with snowdrops, roses and chrysanthemums all in full bloom!

Michelle's rose demo (board pictured above) proved to be very popular and this time I remembered to take some piccies of the finished results. The roses featured below were handcrafted by Sheila H. and Sarah M.

For those of you who were not at the workshop, Michelle's PartiCraft friend and colleague Maria has a wonderful tutorial on her blog showing step by step how to make the roses, and she has kindly agreed that we can link to her blog. Click here to go to her tutorial. And do check out the rest of her blog for inspiration as she is a very talented lady!

Thanks also to Chris for her quilling demo. Everyone seemed really involved in what they were doing and some beautiful, delicate designs were produced. Jan especially enjoyed her one to one tuition with Chris (after first making a rose with Michelle!) and discovered she had hidden quilling talents!!

The final floral demo was using our new Nestabilities scalloped circle dies to make either handmade paper floral embellishments, chrysanthemums (see Kay P's card above) or folded 3D Nestie flowers. Apologies to Fenella here - I did take a photo of her completed card but my camera battery died and it didn't save!

One day I will get it right!!

We hope you are all thinking of ideas for cards for the Membership Pack competition. Again for those of you not at the last workshop, we have decided to make the criteria stricter this year. The card design can be on any theme using any techniques you like, but this year you must show that you have used at least three items out of your membership pack. As last year entries will need to be in by the May workshop in time for judging at Village Day. If you have any more questions on this ask us at the next meeting or drop us an email.