March Class – Stencils, Inks & Mega Flake

Hello crafters, happy Saturday.

Kirsten here with a look back at Lisa’s classes in Maidstone yesterday.
I don’t think Lisa & my fellow assistants would disagree with me when I say that both classes were busy, busy, busy! Each class had almost a full complement of students – we had some new ladies join us & we were delighted to welcome them -  there were masses of new items to be purchased &  new techniques to be taught, especially regarding the use of stencils.

 

 

Firstly, the tables of new goodies were examined most carefully, with people making purchases instantly. There were a number of sell-outs in the first class, including EVERY pot of

Sparkle Medium. It was disappointing for the second class, but as Lisa said, you just don't know what people are going to like. She will be ordering another consignment in the next few days, so keep an eye on the website, we’ll get it uploaded as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can contact her direct, by phone, 01622 675078, or email, lisabaker1@btinternet.com & she will take an order from you that way.



 

New stamp sets from Hobby Art, on the website and can be found here.

 

Stencils from Glitz Craft.

 

Stencils from Imagination Crafts.

 

Stencils & masks from That Special Touch ….. from Creative Expressions.

Again, if you see a stencil you particularly want & it's sold out, Lisa can order it for you.

Cardboard frames in assorted shapes & sizes. These are sturdy, yet lightweight & will be on the website soon.

Tiny Versacolor ink pads. Gorgeous colours, suitable for embossing & again, they’ll be going on the website soon.

The afternoon class eager to get started.

At the February class Lisa asked everyone whether they wanted to make a card or a frame. I think some of the ladies who chose to make a card wanted to change their minds when they saw the frame.

Time to get inking. Everyone used the Bay Leaf stencil from Imagination Crafts in class & they got to take it home with them afterwards. There were a few left over & we’ll add them to the website too.

Adirondack inks from Ranger were used through the stencils & it was great to see all the different colours that people chose.

                                                           So much concentration........

Most of the ladies hadn’t used stencils before, so as they applied their chosen colours they were all somewhat nervous about the end result. At the ‘big reveal’ when they lifted their stencils there were lots of “oohhs” of delight at what they had achieved.

The ladies who were using the frames had covered them with gesso first, then used the same inks as their central image. The inks faded into the gesso, drawing the eye to the picture.  I think the inks used on this one were Stonewashed, Denim, Meadow & Oregano.

After all the inking was complete, Sheffield Steel Mega Flake was applied with Flitter Glue (both from Indigo Blu). Much fun was had as bits of silver flake ended up everywhere & on everyone. Hopefully, they've been able to remove it all by now....

 

I hope that’s given you a flavour of what happens at the classes. They occur each month, on the first Friday in Fant Hall, Maidstone, ME16 8NN. Details of the next two classes can be found on the 

Craft Classes & Workshops page & if you would like to book a place, please contact Lisa via phone or email, as above.

 

 

In other news, the Lavinia Stamps promotion ends today, you can find the final promotional post from Suzanne HERE. Comments on all posts must be left by midnight tonight & I shall be back sometime tomorrow to announce the winner.
The new blog challenge will launch tomorrow also, so keep an eye out for that. Have a great weekend.

 

Kirsten

Two ways with the Artemio Tree Silhouette stamp

Hi everyone

I had a play around with the 

Artemio Tree Silhouette stamp

 and came up with two different looks....
available HERE

****

With this one, I used my Faber Castell watercolour paints on watercolour paper.  I cut a tag shape and brushed it with water.  I dabbed some green, yellow and pink paint on to the paper with a paint brush and let the colours bleed in to each other.  When dry, I used Onyx black Versafine to stamp the Artemio Trees and bird.  I stamped the word Hello (from my stash) and used Black Soot Distress Ink around the edge

I finished off by embellishing with black lace ribbon, Petaloo Chantilly velvet hydrangeas which are currently on sale and

Steampunk charms - swallow and watch face and watch cogs.

 Finally, I layered the tag on to a piece of black card.  

For this one I started with a Craftwork Cards 148x148mm white card. 

I used Flitterglu to stamp the Artemio Trees on to black card.  I used

Mega flake Brighton Pier on the flitterglu.  If you like the look and have never tried this technique before, you might like the Flitterglu starter kit which has everything you need to get you started.

I cut a couple of pieces of Graphic 45 12x12 paper from the Olde Curitosity Shoppe Collection called Genuine Article and blended around the edges with Tea Dye Distress ink and attached them to some black card.  I embellished the card with Candi mini's called Newsprint  and Petaloo Darjeeling collection hydrangeas which are currently on sale - bargain !

More next week, happy crafting

Suzanne

Pretty Pocket Watch

Hello & happy Wednesday, Kirsten here with my weekly blog post.  Sorry it’s later than I intended, I’ve only just finished this project.  I have turned this post into a little photo tutorial.  The tag tutorial I showed you last week seems to have been quite popular, so Lisa & I thought that maybe I will try to do one each week.

This week I used the the pocket watches from Studio 490 by Wendy Vecchi.  I love Wendy’s work, she creates the most gorgeous embellishments, which can be inked & painted & altered.  She has a terrific stamp range too.  If her name is new to you, I recommend a visit to her blog; http://studio490art.blogspot.co.uk/

You’ll find pictures & links to everything I used at the end of this post.



This is what the watches look like.  They are made of layers of a kraft coloured material, very light, very sturdy & they can be inked, painted, stamped onto, anything you like almost.  Before you do anything with them, I recommend you wipe around the edges with a piece of paper towel, or a soft cloth, to remove the dusty residue caused by the manufacturing process.




I painted mine firstly with a thin layer of Ranger's Snow Cap acrylic paint, this seals your substrate & provides a base for the paint layers to follow.  You could also use gesso.  Then I added three or four thing layers of Ranger’s Shell Pink paint dabber, making sure to dry in between each layer.

I attached a scrap of Graphic 45’s  paper to the base & left it aside to dry.

I put a tiny amount of Indigo Blu’s Flitter Glue on a piece of cut & dry foam & gently tapped it onto the top of the pocket watch, making sure it went on a few areas only, to get a patchy effect.  Then I added the Chariot of Fire gilding flakes on top, pressing them firmly on, then rubbing off the excess.  That done, I set that aside too.



I stamped the quote, (from an Indigo Blu set of the same name) onto shrink plastic, die cut a large circle & used my heat tool to shrink it.  I covered a scrap of white card with Old Paper distress ink & glued it to the back of the plastic.




Now it’s time to put everything together.  I used Cosmic Shimmer glue on everything in this project, except for the brad.  I painted that with the Shell Pink paint, cut off the legs & attached it with silicon glue.





To make sure the two pieces were stuck together I pressed down firmly on them with an acrylic block, then wiped off any excess glue that seeped through.  When it was dry, I painted a few more layers of paint around the outside.  This gives an extra seal & stops the patterned paper being too noticeable.





I didn’t want a lot of embellishments, but I like these little birds & branches from Tando Creative.  So I painted them with Ranger’s Aqua & Willow paint dabbers, coloured the bird's beak with  black Spectrum Noir pen & gave him a black adhesive pearl for an eye.  When both pieces were dry I went over them with my distress ink blending tools, adding a little blue & green.





I added a few Petaloo flowers & here it is, finished.  I haven’t decided what I’ll do with it yet.  It could be a topper on a card, or on another altered piece, or I might add a chain or ribbon so that it can hang somewhere.




                        
Regarding the Indigo Blu stamp set, there is only one available on the website at present, but Lisa has ordered more, so they'll be available very soon.

That's all from me for now, thanks for looking.  A quick reminder about the blog challenge, we've had quite a few entries so far, but there's always room for more.  And also take a look at the What's New section on the website, Lisa has added a lot of new products in the last few days.

Until next time, happy crafting.

Kirsten.

It's That Time Again......

Good Morning Bloggers,

Hope you all had a great Easter!

First of all I would like to apologise for the lack of newsletter not sent out to all my workshop newsletter subscribers for last month.

If you wish to sign up for it please email me at: lisabaker1@btinternet.com .

As a lot of you know I had four shows last month, hence no workshop in March and was only home for around 12 days in that month which was quickly taken up by catching up on a lot things!!!!

It was a very exhausting time and I am only just starting to feel like my normal self again.

The weather we have been constantly having has not helped as I am not a winter person at all and the cold does not help my bones!!!

On a lighter note I am very much looking forward to seeing all of you that are attending my workshop this Friday 5th April, as it seems an age since we have all met up and had a bit of crafty time together.......

I am also very much looking forward to seeing your altered art box come to life as the kits have come together beautifully, and below is a sneak peek of what's in store for you, the pre chosen choice of the Kraft Vintage Memories Box or the Pretty Vintage with the gorgeous Ladies Diary papers from Graphic 45.......
 

There are a couple of places on each of the day and evening class that have become available due to illness, so if anyone is available and wishes to attend please email me a.s.a.p or ring me on

01622 675078 to book the places.

I have masses of new goodies going to be in the shop on Friday, ranging from wood pieces to alter like all sorts of wooden boxes, books with secret drawers, chests, clocks, money boxes, bird houses, key cupboards, plaques, etc, etc........

Massive brand new vintage range including lace's, miniature bottles, 5 sizes of cotton reels, gorgeous ready made roses, buttons, buckles, brads, metal embellishments, etc, etc.......

Loads of new Indigo Blu goodies including new Flitter kits, slap it on kits, clock kits and clock numeral stamps, new stamps, Kroma crackle paint, Slap it on, etc, etc........

Brand new Hobby House toppers including the new Elizabeth Bell toppers and now exciting new die cut scalloped round and square frames to match for those who don't have die cut machines and new Lili of the Valley A4 toppers..........

Brand new Wild Rose Studio Stamps and toppers, Creative Expression Dazzlers in lots of colours, new Couture Creation, Sizzix and Crafts Too embossing folders, etc, etc.........

Ohh I could go on forever there is so much stuff but will I get it all in the van, I ask myself????......

Remember anyone is welcome to visit the shop on Friday at Fant Hall, Barming. ME16 8NN from 2.30pm to 9.30pm and have a nosey around the shop.

Remember to bring your loyalty cards with you and bring cameras if you want to as I have been working very hard on lots of new samples to show you.......

Next months class is 3rd May and we will be back to making two cards.

It is all about die cutting and embossing and I know that you are going to love the two cards that we are making, they will be there on Friday for you to see.

I have some amazing new dies and embossing folders for next month and also a great new product called Shimmer Film as well as loads of new paper ranges and toppers.

Anyone not attending on Friday can email me or ring me to book for 3rd May........

Well I think that is all for now ladies, time is flying by and I still have so much to do!

I look forward to seeing you all.

Big Hugs Lisa.X

Blue Indigo Blu

 

Happy Tuesday blog visitors!  Goodness, I'm late with this post, it's been a long, busy day & I'm heading to bed the moment I hit 'publish'.

 

This is another card I made with the Indigo Blu 'Season's Greetings' stamp & 'Winter Dawn' mega flake.

 

 

I stamped & gilded twice onto black card & die cut the circle & the flowers from the second piece.   The white card is a glitter card, I couldn't get it to show up in the photograph.

I didn't have enough adhesive pearls, so I used the liquid pearls ice white pen I found in my stash.


   

That's it for now, goodnight!  Don't forget the challenge!

Kirsten