Tuesday 26th January

This was our last day at the show so it was a walk around to see if there was anything I had missed and a quick "au revoir" to friends I would not see for a while.  Who did I bump into but Suzie Blu.  She was chatting on the Ranger stand and I knew straight away it was her - it was lovely to see her after having corresponded with her for a short while last year.  One very talented lady who has lots of plans for future workshops lined up.

Bumped into Jennie (The Artistic Stamper) and had a good old chin wag whilst she was waiting for one of her friends.  We had a chat about what we had liked and what new things we had seen whilst poor Chas stood on the side lines, probably totally bored with all the crafting - and it was first thing in the morning.

I had been looking for Donna Kato as I heard she was at the show so after three attempts I finally found her demonstrating on the Van Aken stand.  It was lovely to meet up with her again so we had a brief chat and then met up outside for a longer one just a short while later.

Went to see Mary and Carol's friend Gail who was working on the Clearsnap stand.  I was rather taken with these spray booths which Clearsnap have brought out.  They fold up flat and are ideal for workshop situations so you can each have your own and at $5 each they are not badly priced.

This has always been one of my favourite booths at CHA.  Graphic 45 always seems to have a Parisian feel about their stand.  I think this one, the Ranger, Advantus and Vintaj are my favourite ones to look at.  I did hope to do a Make and Take at Vintaj this year but the queues were enormous so I gave it a miss - again!

One person I had to see was JLo - an old friend I had not seen in a couple of years.  It was lovely to meet up again but I was so excited to see her (and the wonderful things she had done on the Amaco stand) that I forgot to get a photograph of the two of us.  She had this amazing book with her and I knew I just had to have one so I took myself off to Walter Fosters and got my own signed copy.  I could not believe it when the author, Angela Cartwright, asked me what part of the north of England I came from - she was born in Altrincham.

You can see a photograph of Jen (JLo) and one of Angela on Suze's blog.  You can also see lots of the amazing work on the Ranger booth on her blog too.

Then it was off to Spellbinders Booth to say my cheerio's to dear Cathy and Kim.  Hugs all round and an assurance to Cathy that I had my beautiful brooch I had made with her using one of their exquisite dies tucked up safe and sound in my suitcase.

For my final look at CHA 2010 -  I took Mary's Tattered Angels class, completing her book of samples - so clutching the samples we did Carol and I made our way down to the entrance where Mary and Chas were waiting for us to head for Sylmar.  Tired, loaded up, heads bursting with ideas we all sank back in our seats and faced the dreadfully busy journey home - and it had started to rain.

Monday 25th January

Had to be up early this morning as I had a workshop at 7 AM!!!  Complimentary shuttle at 6.30 and off to CHA.  Now I did wonder why I had chosen this workshop as it was called "You R 2 Tweet" and the picture showed a banner.  Not my particular thing by the looks of it.

This workshop was being tutored by Lisa Pace and was using Maya Road products.  Lisa had just brought out a new book and we all got a copy.

It was quite an easy workshop and I managed to keep well ahead with all that we were doing and I liked the end product.  Towards the end of the workshop Lisa would tell us about something in her book and we had to find the correct page - I was the first to find one of them so I got a clear stamp as a prize.

The workshop finished a little early and so I took advantage of it and went down waiting for the show to open.  I was reasonably near to the front so I thought I would queue, again, for a Tim Holtz die for Mary.  You should have seen the queue this morning!  It was massive despite my being so early - guess some of those ladies ran much faster than I did.  Someone came round counting up to 100 people and I was number 98 so just managed to scrape in.  Half an hour later I had rounded two corners of the queue and I saw Mary so asked the two ladies in front of me if they would save my place whilst I just ran over to make sure she had not got the die.  Mary hadn't so she came over and stood with me and then I slid out of the queue so she could take my place and speak with Tim.  She got her die.

Next was a Make and Take where I made myself an ear-ring holder. Quite a good idea and one which can be copied so easily.  It was an adhesive stand (can't remember whose) and they had taken some frames, stuck torn tissue paper over with their product and then put a piece of plastic mesh behind.  A few jewels dotted here and there, a ribbon hanger and you had it completed.  Took quite a while to do but the finished product is nice.

Then it was time for Sherill Kahn's class - Resist Techniques: Texture and Pattern.  No finished product here but we came away with quite a bit of knowledge about layering paint on different types of paper.  Definitely something I will try at home - thinking of those backgrounds here.  She has a new book out which looks very interesting and will be a must have from Amazon when it is available.  

My very last workshop was that evening.  Another with Julia Andrus, an Illuminated Chunky Book.  This was actually a board book which has been designed by and for Eco Green Crafts (her company).  Similar techniques with paint to the Steampunk Birdie class.

Then it was back on the bus to the hotel, a quick wash, a G&T at the Embassy Suites with Mary and on to Bucco de Beppa's for a meal with Gail joining us this time.

Tomorrow, Tuesday was to be our last day at the show.  Was it "Boo Hoo" or was I too tired with all the walking about and the early rising?

Sunday 24th January

Oops!  This is showing up as Thursday (and it is here in America) but last night's was done in American time Wednesday and showed up as Thursday on my blog - guess I have not hit the right time of day.

This was the first morning Tim Holtz dies were on offer - to the first 100 people.  Carol and I shot off and didn't do too bad queue wise so we managed to have a chat with him and get the die, autographed of course.

Clutching our precious die we headed off to the Advantus booth because the display is always gorgeous and found that they were doing the most fab Make and Take so we both sat down and made a pendant.

Isn't that just fabulous!

Then it was off to our first class of the day sponsored by Hampton Art and Clearsnap so lots of goodies.  The lady running the workshop was an excellent tutor - Melodee Cousineau - I really liked her style of teaching.  It was a Stamped Mini Book that we made, with pages for journalling, library pockets with tags inside and it was really a type of photo album but as mine is not completed I haven't really got a photograph to show.

After the class it was back to the show for a look around.  I think it was my "Brits" morning as I first bumped into Richard and Sue from Craftwork Cards, then Linda Brown from LB Crafts, Andy and Janice from Sir Stampalot and Graham and Tracy from Oyster Stamps.

I decided to go and see what Tim Holtz was doing and he had his new die cutting machine there.  It is absolutely fabulous to look at, very heavy but what a machine.  In true Tim style it is designed to look like a suitcase when closed up, sort of opens like the Cuttlebug does, is motorised (and the UK version will be out at the same time as the American one) and, wait for it ... every time you do a Tim Holtz workshop you get a luggage label to put on it.  I think he said it will retail for about $199 so I guess it will be a hundred and ninety nine pounds sterling.   It was there I saw Linda so we toddled off to the Designers Wall where her beautiful piece of work (and Leandra's amazing piece) was displayed.  Not sure if I am allowed to upload pictures to my blog but if I find out I can I will upload them later.  You can see Leandra's on her blog and the picture is much better than mine.

Then I went over to look at the amazing beeswax work Suze (Weinberg) was doing.  She was rather taken with my clay bracelet and I had to remove it for her to take a photograph.  I do wish I had taken photographs of Suze's pieces but I am sure you can see them on her blog, or something similar.  I hope I can remember the things she did when I get home.

Then it was off around the show again, a stop at the Hero Arts booth where I did another Make and Take

My last class of the day was the Play and Stay Cafe where we were moving from table to table playing with different mediums.  My first table was with C&T Publishing and they were using Liquitex products on a cloth book.  Then it was on to Tattered Angels for another page, on to Walnut Hollow for another and so on.  Again it is not complete so no photographs as yet.

By the time this class ended I was totally whacked out and made my way back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

Back From CHA

Only a quickie because I am so tired.  My feet are like puddings with all the walking about over the past few days and my head is so full of everything wonderful that I cannot think straight.

Set off Tuesday, flying to London from Manchester and then on to LA.  Had extra security at Heathrow because of the attempted bombing and had to ALL be frisked and have our hand baggage searched.  As I was about the 5th woman and Chas about the 4th man to go through we sat on the plane for one and a half hours before the other 390 passengers had gone through and it took off.  Eleven hours later I was crawling the walls and wanting to get off - had had enough.

Arrived in LA to rain but a Margarita later and I was not really bothered.  Wednesday morning I was bothered - torrential rain and a thunder storm.  Now I don't like thunder and lightening but this was different.  American thunder is not like English thunder.  One big clap - think sonic boom here - and I was out of the bathroom like a bolt of lightening myself.  Seriously, the floor of the house shook.  It rained for the next two days ... continuously.

Friday we set off for CHA and the Super Show.  This was quite different to the shows in the UK with lots of give-aways, raffles and shouting and hooting.  All good fun.  Maybe we should have this element in our shows at home.

One of the first people I saw was Lisa Pavelka.  She is just about the nicest person you could wish to meet.  She has a new book out and I had to go and buy it, take it to her for a signing and have a chat.  She is so personable.  Her manager was there and she sent me up on the stage with Lisa and took a photograph.  OMG Lisa Pavelka put her arm around my shoulder.

She is hoping to do another workshop in England but this time in the north.  Please please let her do one, and let me get on it.

Saturday we woke to ... sunshine!  Went to Michaels with Mary as she wanted a new scoring board (Martha Stewart) before we went over to CHA.  The show did not open until Sunday but there were classes that day and we were on the Tim Holtz one.  Yes we were.

As always the class was well prepared, lots of Ranger people there to help if you got into difficulty, great OHP so everyone could see and Tim is just about the best teacher you could hope for.  So patient, humorous and walking about all the time to make sure everyone was on target and knew what they were doing.

Great give-aways with the class as always, and we all got a copy of his new book - the photograph is when he was signing it.

Mary and I had another class later that day and so we stayed and ate at the Hilton Hotel and returned for our classes.  Now mine was with Julia Andrus and it was called "Steampunk Birdie".  Not quite sure what to expect but Julia was diagnosed with cancer a while ago and so in order to try to combat the dreadful disease she took on a whole new life-style.  Thankfully she is now clear and has been so for quite a while.  As Julia is a 'chemist' she has now developed a new line of inks, paints, glues etc and manufactures under the name of Eco Green.  Nothing harmful in her products, in fact she says you could "eat the glue".

Here is my Steampunk Birdie - how he is going to get back to the UK I have no idea.

The Distressed looking bit on the base and the pedestal he is stood on is done by putting Petroleum Jelly on the painted surface and then painting over.  When you dry it and then rub it with a paper towel it flakes off for the distressed look.  If you rub the ordinary painted surface with a paper towel you can get quite a gloss showing.  Just a bit different!

Will leave it there for now and write a bit more tomorrow (hopefully).

Just a Quickie from Not so Sunny CA

Sorry no pictures - just a quick update on my trip.

It is raining - well torrential downpour would be more like it.  Forecast to last all week and I don't think there has been any time at all that it has not rained.  Had the most horrendous clap of thunder yesterday, think along the lines of a sonic boom - seriously - it shook the floor!  Took the power out for around two hours and then we had little spells of it going off throughout the day and early evening.

Lovely to be with our friend though, and with this rain it means we are kept inside so lots of time for catch up.

The journey was a bit difficult in that new regulations mean that each and every passenger is subject to having hand baggage searched (talking individually here) and being frisked.  Imagine 400 passengers going through that!  Led to a one and a half hour delay in taking off so as I went through about fifth lady we were sat on the plane for around twelve and a half hours.  I was a bit stir crazy by the end of it.

Not to worry, we are here now, enjoying ourselves as always and looking forward to CHA on Friday.  Watch this space!

Just Noticed LTD

Oh heck!  Just as I was about to relax and have the last hour at home before setting off I noticed the Lots to Do Challenge.  I hate missing it.

Here is my 'Quickie for the day' for Lots to Do.  I used one of my new background pieces and stamped Tim Holtz' atc stamp on in Black and then did the scrabble letters to spell out "travel".  Used another TH stamp for the background on the Teal cardstock and then punched out circles with a regular punch, stamped the "NSEW" on and used an ideology spinner.

Sorry this is a bit rushed but best I could do as a last minute entry.

Off to America

Not had much time for anything with aunty being taken ill and getting ready for the trip to America.  Flying out tomorrow - can't believe how quickly this has come.

Did manage to get one more card finished for my workshop but used two of my own images (in keeping with the theme though) so will leave you with that.

Thank you to all who have visited my blog of late, especially to my many followers, and welcome to my new ones - be sure to check whilst I am away as I will blog from time to time - and then there is CHA - I will report back on that.

In the meantime here is the other card - another foldy one.

Am now off to check what I can take on the flight regarding doing just one bit of work whilst flying across the Atlantic.

Happy Crafting everyone!

Another Challenge for Tuesday Taggers & Sneak Peek

Well, at long last my order arrived from Leandra this afternoon.  Not her fault as it had been posted over 10 days ago - it was the weather!  Apparently the post is piling up in the parcels office and they are even working Sunday to get the back log out.

Anyway, this is the card I was going to enter into Tuesday Taggers Challenge but I could not finish it as I wanted the stamps for the "button" and the words to put across the base.  It is also another card for my workshop at Paddy's which is now the 18th March (and 10th April is a repeat).  A big gap because I have so many committments in March!  As you can see it is an easel card (with a tag) and features "Archie" again from Paperartsy.

I used Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters and Pine Needles Distress Inks for the green background and then did the drippy water thing on it.  Then I used the swirls from Ding & Dong 5.  Another piece of cardstock was made for Archie and the background using Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed.  Again the stamps were from Ding & Dong 5.

The "stop" at the bottom was from Ding & Dong 3 and the words from Clocks 5.  The whole thing is mounted on Teal coloured card - I love that Teal cardstock.

The colours are much brighter than it shows up in the scan, the card used to mount the green over the orangey card is bright yellow as is the card used for the words!

Gingersnap Challenge

One of my closest friends has a birthday whilst I am away and so her card has to be done well in advance and hidden away at her parents' house.  I made this 8" x 8" card for her this time and used pink cardstock but went over it with Broken China Distress ink - she is a very "pink" person since the birth of her little girl - and she loves lilac (blue and pink make lilac don't they?).

I used Grungeboard swirls and used the cut out bits (the left-overs) to do some of the background by pouncing Cut and Dry with Broken China through.   Like a stencil - I like the effect and do this quite a lot.  The flowers and small butterflies are cut from Grungepaper using a Spellbinders die, as is the fancy scroll around the word.  The large butterfly is a Grungeboard one.

The various elements are painted with Dabbers and the images are from Oxford Impressions.  Not sure who the photo corners are by but they are metal and I gave them a little light sanding - and the spinner is from the Ideology range.

I've made the photoart stamp so that it can be taken off and she can attach a photograph of her own little sweetheart.  The sentiment "A Daughter is a little girl who grows up to be your friend" is embossed with Gold ep so it can now be my entry into the Gingernsap Creations GC38 Spicy Supply Challenge which is embossing powder.

Talking of Gingernsap Creations I was over the moon to be alerted by Shar to the fact that my Frieda calendar had been chosen as a Ginger Gem.

Anyway, enough chat - here is the card

I am hoping I will get chance to do some more Challenges over the next couple of days but yesterday we had to make a dash to Southport as Chas' aunty has been taken ill.  We love her so much and are her closest family so she has to take priority at the moment.

Journal

Got up early this morning but don't know where the day has gone.  However, I did finish off a journal page in the early hours, prompted by my lovely Mr Blackbird.  Don't laugh at my attempts at poetry.

I am entering this in Tuesday Taggers just in case I don't get chance to do anything else for the Challenge.  I've been so busy (dare I say - cleaning up) that I almost forgot to post today.

Play Date Cafe & Blog Candy Alert

Had to get a last minute entry in for the Play Date Cafe Challenge this week.  As I am in love with Archie I used him to do some metal embossing and mounted him on some black card.

The colours this week are black, white, silver and gold so I used White for the main card, stamped a light background in Gold (Encore Ultimate Metallic Gold) and Archie (Paperartsy again) is on Silver metal then on his Black background.

I had a great time with my Ten Second Studio tools embossing Archie and using one of the wheels to fill in the background on the piece of metal.  Maybe I can get a few tips when I go to CHA from the girls at Ten Seconds Studio.  You will have to wait and see if I improve my metal skills when I get back.

Another Sneak Peek for my workshop.

Was not happy with the scan above as the Gold does not show up as Gold so did another card using gold and silver embossing powder.  This is a favourite technique of mine and I usually use Gold, Copper and Bronze ep, especially for autumnal cards.  Again the scan does not show the Gold up very well - maybe if you tip your screen back you will get a better view.  Ah well, at least I tried.

BTW - I have just been to Erika's blog and there is a MASSIVE blog candy giveaway - would be a shame to miss it.  Some good stuff on there too, so well worth a visit.

Another Sneak Peek

This is another of my workshop cards.  I am hoping to do Tim's class (as in Holtz) at CHA - yeah I'm off to America providing the weather does not stop me - and the class is on Distress Inks so maybe some new techniques to bring back.  Watch this space...

For this one I used all manner of Distress Inks in Blues, Reds (count Pink in as well) and finally Dusty Concord.  Then I did the drops of water on it and dried it off with my heat gun.

I am waiting for a postal delivery of some Paperartsy stamps and so I looked to see what I had that was suitable in my Elusive Images ones (I have to use what Paddy stocks or can stock) and came up with these bird images.

The card is a 6" x 6" square with each side folded to the centre and then a flap folded down at the top.  The flower is a Prima one which was swiped with Dusty Concord and a jewel stuck on.

Simple ... but I hope effective.

More Black & White - A Sneak Peek

I think I am becoming obsessed with Black and White but it fits in so perfectly with that Art Nouveau image from Tanda Stamps and I have to get some samples done for my next workshop at Paddy's Stamping Place in March.  I'm uploading them here as I do them because I may not be able to get the samples to Paddy, because of the weather, and this way people can see them if they want to book on the workshop.  Here's a sneak peek at another one of them:

As you can see the left flap slots into the right one (my workshop is all about cards that flip and fold), when it is opened out it looks like this:

I think I will put it into Tuesday Taggers as another sample as well.

Well, this snow is not moving at all so here are a few more photographs - this time of our back garden (you might recognise bits of it on my header which is from photographs taken a few years ago when we had snow (but not as much as this and it certainly did not last as long).

This gives you an idea of how deep it is
those BIG plant pots house little trees and they are almost submerged

This Christmas tree was about 5' tall when we moved here

12 years ago

There's a bird feeder somewhere in the middle of that scene

OK so it looks pretty - I've seen it now - am getting bored

Please Go Away Snow!

Lots to Do is Back!

How I have missed the Challenges on this site over Christmas - the people are so friendly and I feel as if I know them personally now.  It was good this morning to see a new challenge posted on Lots to Do - "Winter Wonderland" was the theme - very topical with all the snow that is blanketing the UK at the moment.

Instead of digging out my Christmas stamps again I turned to my stamps from the Far East as I knew I had this stamp (Hiroshima in Snow by Stamp Francisco) which would fit the bill exactly.  I stamped the image in black and embossed it, then I mounted it on black and white thin cardstock and finally on a burgundy card.

The lettering was cut using a Spellbinders die (Playful) and a mammoth search began for my Mizuhiki Cord.  After tidying 50% of my stamp room, looking in every cupboard and drawer, I looked in my concertina file - there it was, filed under "M" - doh!  One knot later and it is ready...

... and appropriately it has started to snow!!!  Drat!  I am fed up now - had enough of the snow - want to see it green again.

Black and White

What about this for a coincidence?  Yesterday I had to do two rather belated Birthday Cards for friends on one of my groups.  I had this image on loan from a friend and so I made two very similar cards with it.

Then I went on Zoe's blog and from that went to Tuesday Taggers where they are having a "black and white" challenge which does not have to be a tag.  Perfect!

Later I saw on one of my groups they are having a "black and white challenge" too.  Is it the snow that is making us all think black and white?  Anyway, here are my two black and white cards - both very very similar but with a slight difference.

and the other one

Both cards are now in the post wishing each friend a belated birthday and I get to enter Tuesday Taggers Challenge.

Second Calendar

I am using this one for the other Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Random Redhead - GC36 Resolutions.  That's two Challenges for Gingersnap Creations in two days - good for me - thanks to the snow.

My resolution is not to save as much as I have done in the past because my stamping room is getting (or has got!) choc-a-bloc with things that I rarely ever use.  Do I really want all those bits of cardstock cut off the ends of things I have made.

Both calendars have now gone in the post but as we haven't seen a postie for days I am not sure when they will arrive.

This one, used Tim Holtz stamps again, one embossed in white and the other in black with a Grungeboard Butterfly painted with two pink Dabbers.

This one, which is the reverse side running from July to December, chose the proverb "a stitch in time saves nine" but without the ending on as I must get into the habit of sewing buttons on when they fall off.  I think images are by Stampattack and I have attached press-studs and a button from Tim Holtz ideology range.

Both calendar recipients like Tim Holtz which is why I have chosen some of his things to be included.  Now I just have to sit back and wait for them to arrive at their desitnations.

Calendar

Think I said the other day that I had been making a couple of calendars but could not get to post them out.  Still not posted - but here goes:

This is the front of one of them.  They are just cards with the fold at the top and I have decorated both sides so they each have a six month calendar on.

For this one I ran some core paper through my Cuttlebug with the Allegro folder then sanded the top off, used a Tim Holtz word and flourish stamp and embossed them in black.  Then I used Grungeboard for the letters painted black with a Dabber.  Oh, and I cut out the shape for the words with my Spellbinders Labels Seven Die.

The other side uses core card again, this time using Diamonds in the Rough, again sanded and cut into a frame which is mounted over the picture via foam sticky things.  Then I used one of my Frieda stamps which I embossed in black for the pictorial context and in the corner I used an Ideology charm.  Now this does not look very straight but I have checked it and it is my scan that makes it look wonky.

Why have I uploaded this before I send it out?  Because I wanted to enter it in the Gingersnap Spicy Supply Challenge which is about using sandpaper - hence my use of core card and sanding it.

Now the recipient will see it before she gets it - but she doesn't know I am sending it so it will still be a surprise when I finally get out of the lane to the postbox.

Woke up to This

"This" being 6.5" of snow.  To prove it I stuck a ruler in the snow outside our door (it had been cleared there yesterday) and took a photograph.  Guess my crafting of yesterday which was due to go in the post will have to wait a day or two.

Had a phone call from my DIL to say my son had made it into work this morning (4.30 AM) but she hadn't as the buses were not running from Bolton and it is one of those she has to catch in Swinton to get her to the University in Manchester.

It's still coming down thick and fast but we both went out to clear some snow so we could get to the bird table.  We moved one nearer to the other so it is sheltered by the magnolia bush and they don't seem to use it much where it was.  I battered the bushes on either side of the bird table so that the poor little things can land on it and gain access to the food.  Two more fat balls went out and two came in to defrost.  This is what the magnolia bush and the bird table looked like this morning.

I have never seen snow on our big tree like this before.

It really is quite thick and I guess it will keep the squirrels away.  Nowhere for the collared doves to sit either. I just hope everyone is remembering the birds at this time - when I put the seed on the cleared off table you should have seen them come flocking.

I checked the hanging seed feeder and it was full of snow where the seed drops so that had to be cleared as well.  Please check your feeders if you have them.

Slipping and Sliding

No, not in the snow - although I guess I would if I went outside (only ventured a toe out to feed the birds this morning).  Just heard it is snowing in Holcombe Brook which is only about 4 miles away from us so I think it must be on its way to Bolton.  When will it end?

Anyway, being housebound I decided to try to make this card.  It is one I got from a friend a couple of years ago for Christmas and it fits in perfectly with my next workshop which is about folds and things.  It took me ages to work out trying to do instructions for others to follow.  Chas didn't like it when I showed it to him, was impressed when he saw it open though.  Whether it is the colour I have chosen or what he does not know.  I am going to make another one using my own stamps (the ones I have used are ones I have to use in my workshop) as I always find it easier to work with my own stash.  I like the stamps and will use them for another card but this will have to do for the moment.  Can't wait for my order to come through from Leandra and then I can finish my other cards off as I need those stamps!

This is the card closed

This is it open

If anyone knows what it is called, has proper instructions for it it would be helpful.  If not, and you are one of my followers I will send you MY instructions (possibly not very clear) via email when I have typed them up if you want to try it.

Oops - nearly forgot in my excitement to get my blog out - my friend Jo has a great giveaway on her blog.  Pay her a visit and give it a go.

Workshop

This is one of the projects I will be taking with me to America shortly.  Originally I did this with Pat (Chezzie) at one of our workshops at Victoria Stampers and I thought it would be nice to show to my friends when I next go to visit.  I will be doing a one day workshop over there so I asked Chezzie if it would be ok for me to do what she had shown me.

I had stamped these images (the ones on white cardstock) when I was last over there so based my project around them.  As you can see it is a kind of box affair with a lid top and bottom to hold it closed and when you open it there are four little box bases in which to put things - ideal for a little gift with stamping goodies (brads, eyelets, charms etc) inside.  I was going to put lids on the boxes but thought it would take them too long to do this but maybe those who work faster can put lids on theirs.

This view shows the front where the box opens (side to left of photograph)

This shows the other sides

And the final one shows the box open with the little box bases - each one has a red insert in the bottom.  I did think of another variation on this but as I have to prep for a workshop over here I have not had time to work on it as yet.

The idea of the workshop in America came about because I took two "never ending cards" over for my friends so I will be doing one of those as well.  At the moment it is just the mechanics of it that has been done because I want to use their stamps.  Similarly I have done a couple of fancy folded ones as well for those amongst them who are quick.

Ah well, now to my prep for my workshop at Paddy's which is coming up.  At least this snow is making me stay in and work.

Snow - AGAIN

Got up early this morning to find it had been snowing in the night and before too long it was coming down thick and fast.  Reckon we have another 1" - 2" here.  A Police Van was trying to go up the road at the side of our house and he ended up taking it very slowly backing down to level ground.  So far no cars have been able to negotiate it.  What angers me is that people have emptied the grit box for their drives and now there is none for us to grit the road.  It doesn't cost much to buy a bag from B&Q - ah well, they will be stuck in now.

Grumble over!

I have made two cards this morning, one I won't be uploading because it was a Sympathy card for a friend who lost her dad very suddenly the day after her birthday (the day before New Year's Eve).  Liz, I am thinking of you.

The other is a birthday card for a friend who is 21 again on Tuesday.  Last night she rang me and her twin grandsons sang to me.  They are both trying for the Cathedral choir at the moment and they sang like little angels.  I've never heard them sing before - it was magical and I was so touched by the thought.  Anyway, as they are a very musical family what else could I choose for the theme for her card?  Here it is. painted with 16 different shades of brown Twinkling H2O's and with an Alcohol Ink background for the instrument.  Hope she likes it.

Happy New Year

Well, midnight has come and gone and now we are beginning a new year - 2010.  My greatest wish is for peace and harmony and I will leave you with some words that my friend Sue sent me:

We will open the book.  

Its pages are blank.  

We are going to put words on them ourselves.  

The book is called Opportunity and its first 

chapter is New Year's Day.  

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Happy Crafting - stay creative in 2010

Thank you all so much for making blogging such a pleasure, your comments and the fact that so many of you have become followers of my blog has meant more than you will ever know.