Stamping techniques with a twist...

This month's workshop is dedicated to slightly more advanced stamping techniques, but don't worry if you feel you haven't mastered the basics, as most of the demos will help to reinforce the basic skills, whilst at the same time extending your expertise and allowing you to think about stamping in a different way.

I will be demonstrating stamping through paper stencils, using regular stamps, distress inks and the See D's Morsels sets that we haven't used for a while.

Kay is also on hand to demo collage stamping (see also first photo in this blog entry), using masking tape to mask sections of your card while you stamp. She will show you how to create backgrounds and embellishments using this technique.

And for those of you who want to become more expert in stamping and heat embossing, Michelle will be showing you tips and tricks with this technique.

Envelope book challenge

I promised I would upload the pictures of my envelope memory book now it is finished. I used mine as a birthday card for my daughter. She turned 11 last week so I included pictures from all her previous birthdays and added a sentiment to go with each photo. I still have to add one on the back from her 11th birthday to complete it. She loved having the photos in the pockets and has said she will "keep it for ever!"

Hopefully your books are all well under way. If not don't forget you can see demo notes on the side bar or click here for instructions on how to set up a basic envelope book. You can then mat and layer in papers of your choice. What you then use it for is up to you but if you are stuck for ideas here are a few starting points:

• Memory book - birthdays, special days, anniversaries, wedding photos etc.
• Scrapbook/souvenir book - keep tickets or special memories in the pockets
• Baby book - keep locks of hair, hospital birth tags etc in the pockets
• Journal - add diary entries or memories in the pockets
• School trip memento book for kids
• Gift for a teacher with notes from the children...

Lots more ideas I am sure!! Don't worry about adding personal photos. It doesn't matter if we can identify who made each book. We always try to be as objective as possible when choosing the challenge winner. We will look at layout, choice of colours, the overall finish etc.

Look forward to seeing your creations at the March workshop on Wednesday 27th.

Bright as a button...

We got the button card techniques all sewn up on Wednesday as you can see with all the different cards that were made below! 

We used buttons as accents/embellishments:

 We got creative with buttons:

Button balloons...

Button birds...

...and Button Bugs.

And we created sewing theme cards with different colour and pattern variations.

Well done to all. Another productive and enjoyable evening!