Playing with colour...

Tomorrow's workshop will be a colourful one!  Michelle will be using brayers and Big and Juicy rainbow pads to create colourful backgrounds using Perfect Medium as a resist.

I will be demoing Brusho paint crystals, creating backgrounds with an explosion of colour.

Don't forget your "Emboss It!" challenge cards. And also if you would like to sell any cards at Village Day this year then please bring them in Cello bags with your name (or Membership No if you have one) clearly marked on the cello bag.

'bossing around...

Lots of embossing going on at the last workshop from basic stamping and embossing techniques to double embossing using embossing folders and embossing powders. See below for the results of all that embossing!

And this month we are doing an online vote for the "Wear It" challenge pieces. Please send me an email with your 3 preferences in order.

April and the year ahead

The year is flying by - April already! This month we are doing an embossing masterclass. Michelle and I will start with the basics of stamping and embossing for those who haven't done it before or who haven't done it for a while. We will explore different inks, embossing powders and look at a range of techniques that can be developed from basic embossing.

Linda A will be doing a demo, based on a workshop she attended, featuring double embossing, i.e. using Cuttlebug embossing folders combined with embossing powders. See below for some of her ideas.

And the plan for the rest of the year, based on requests and pins to Pinterest, looks like this:

April 27th - Embossing Masterclass
May 25th - Brusho/Distress Ink Resist
June 29th - Collage Mini Canvas/Silk Paint
July 27th - Melt pot/Wood burning
August 31st - Pan Pastels/Gelatos
September 28th - Christmas decs (fimo/clay)
October 26th - Christmas bling
November 16th (Scout Hut?) - Christmas gift wrap/tags
November 30th - Final workshop - party?

This schedule is not set in stone so if there are any other techniques anyone would desperately like to do, or if you would like to volunteer to demo for any of the above then please let us know!!

Don't forget your entries for the "Wear It" challenge this month.

Getting Sentimental

This month our demos will give you the chance to get ahead with your first challenge card (if you haven't already done it) which is to create a card where the sentiment is the main feature on the card. We will have lots of sentiment stamps available for you to choose from. 

My demo will focus on using watercolour markers with various different types of stamps and we will look at different ways they can be used - so not all cards are sentiment focused. (Sally you will get the chance to do the butterfly card similar to the one I pinned to Pinterest if you like!)

Michelle will focus on using Nestabilities very cleverly to create flip cards where the central panel can be used as a focus for your sentiment. She also has another clever folding idea for funny sentiment cards - see below!!!

We also plan to have a short AGM at the start of the workshop, so we will try to get started promptly. Oh and you may need your diaries.

Metal effects photos

The cards below were all made using blank scraper foil sheets. Both backgrounds and embellishments can be created by first embossing the background or die cut shape using embossing folders through the Cuttlebug or similar. The raised design can then be sanded to reveal the inner foil of the scraper board.

The other metal technique we explored was using metal tape - the kind found in most hardware stores. We covered card with the tape then die cut shapes. You can then colour the shapes with various combinations of alcohol inks and emboss designs on to them using the embossing folders. We also took this one step further by inking up the raised designs with archival ink pads. Before the ink dries it can then be rubbed off with an old facecloth, removing the alcohol ink from the raised design and making it 'pop' out by revealing the silver tape again.

Metal Effects

Summer hols are nearly over so one last workshop before we start being infiltrated with Christmas cards!! This month we are focusing on faux metal effects. Techniques available include using scraper foil board with the Cuttlebug embossing folders and using metal tape with alcohol inks and acrylic paint. The metal gilding flakes will also be available for anyone who wants to revisit this technique.

You still have another month to complete your challenge - create a new card from an old card.

See you on Wednesday.

Distress Ink Masterclass

Our next workshop will be a Distress Ink Masterclass ("In a change to the published programme...!") We have decided to bring it forward as we have had a couple of enquiries about techniques. So on offer will be a Beginner's Intro, Distress Ink resist techniques and using Distress Inks with water .

Prepare to get messy fingers! See you on Wednesday.

Stamping workshop photos

Well here are some of the results of our "Stamping with a twist" workshop last week. Below are the masking tape technique cards. (Click here for step by step instructions). I love the way different colour combinations have been explored with these designs.

With the stamping through a paper mask technique (step by step coming soon!) lots of different floral designs were experimented with on the Easter Eggs, and other finishing touches such as embossing and glossy accents were added. Kay P also used the reverse masking technique with her heart design.

Michelle and I had a very difficult job indeed with judging the Envelope Memory Book Challenge. The entries were all very different, personal and very impressive! In the end we chose two worthy winners.

Rachael B for her two entries (one for each of her sons as she couldn't do one without the other!)...gorgeous mementoes of days out with her boys with good use of bright colours, photos, tickets, embellishments etc.

And Carol S for her "Garden Memories" book. She made good use of the pockets too with photos, quotes, memoirs etc documenting her feelings, thoughts and memories of her grandparents' garden. Even a photo of herself aged 2 or 3 - we could tell it was you when you pointed it out Carol!

Well done to both of you - one free workshop entry for each of you. And well done to everyone else who took part. 

Our next challenge is due in May. If you didn't pick up a stamped image and would like one to make a "Humorous Caption Card" then please let me know before the next workshop so we can stamp some out ready. You don't have to use those images, but the card must be humorous. Can be as cheeky as you like!

You will notice there are now links to Pinterest in two places on our blog. (below the Challenge posting and below the Crafty Inspiration listing) If you follow either of these links you will see a pin board with some examples of humorous quotes. Feel free to use any of these that you feel are appropriate or just use them for inspiration for your own.

Check it out and let us know what you think!