Collaged Effects

Hi there
These cards are put together with stamped elements from the Urban stamp collection currently on offer. They were inspired by Beckie Dreyer's Creativity magazine contribution.

For your info there will be a cricut playday @ Sedefield on Friday 18th Nov - bring your machines and paper stash for some cricut adventures.

TFL

Annette x

Just A Few Cards

This 'blog;'lark is turning out a bit like the weather - you don't know what you're going to get from one day to the next. The blog monster finally decided to let me post my blog!

I've been busy with a number of Docraft Demos and have been enjoying demonstrating more locally in Newcastle and Stockton. I'm even home to watch Strictly Come Dancing - never heard of in the past. I have met some lovely crafters, and some with a more excitable temperament! You know who you are. The classes at Darlington have been busy and you have produced some amazing results from virgin cardmakers.

TFL

Annette x

There's never a dull moment....

That's right, there's never a dull moment in our house. This evening the living room has been transformed for a photographic shoot - Mike is having some photography done for Christmas promo for his magic and I have just spent 20 minutes dressing a puppet with christmas antlers and hat. It's certainly keeping the teenagers entertained.
The dog is insisting that she be in shot and has just spent 5 mins barking at the flash.

This is always a busy time of year and I spent last weekend demonstrating the new DoCrafts products at Darlington and over at The Range at Carlisle.







This weekend is the Harrogate PaperCrafts Show and I'll be working with the lovely Barbara Gray of Clarity Stamp so do pop by and say hello.

We had a fantastic Cricut Class at The Art Shop, Darlington this week and we got to play with the newly released Flower Shoppe cartridge. This is a must for any flower lover as it creates 3d flowers with endless possibilities. I cut these from some Prima papers and attached them onto a canvas spritzed with cosmic mists.




There will be more Cricut at Sedgefield Village Hall on Friday 30th Sept, 10 - 3pm if anyone is interested then leave a comment and I'll getb back to you.

Before then there will be some new additions to the demonstration locations - I'll be at Dobbies, Ponteland on Sat 17th Sept and at Collectables, Portrack Lane Stockton on Sat 24th Sept....... to be continued

TFL

Annette x

The Holiday Is Nearly Over

Hopefully I found the right cards for you Debbie!!

I say nearly cos we've still got well over a week left to continue doing those things which we spend so much time putting off completing. We have just had a fantastic family holiday down in Cornwall - sunny days spent kite flying on the beach, lazy evenings chatting with friends and enjoying spending time with each other. I just love wandering around those arty shops and spaces - places that make you think and watch the world go by.

One place which got me thinking seriously was The Lost Gardens of Heligan - I should have took more notice at the ticket office when they gave me a compass and then again I thought that the clue was in the title 'The LOST Gardens of Heligan' I tell you that garden just blew me away - that sense of self sufficiency, the colours and hues of flowers, foliage, insects and wildlife was amazing. I just love those feelings that only a garden can create. When I came too from my revealry I found out why they give you a compass on the way in!!! But we won't say any more on that matter.

September is almost upon us and my self imposed blog holiday is almost at an end so we should see a little more action on here as the diary is full of events and workshops.

One of the new ideas we are putting into action is that we are moving the Cricuteers to the Parish Hall in Sedgefield where crafters are welcome to join us for our inaugural meet on Friday 30th Sept 10 - 3pm. We will be doing our own projects with a couple of masterclasses thrown in during the day. Cost is £5.00 to cover hall hire, refreshments and some materials for a cricut masterclass. You will need to bring your own packed lunch - or you can pop to the shops for a snack. Don't worry if you don't have a cricut machine you can still join in the fun. We will let you play. If you need to know any more details you can always leave a comment and I'll get back to you.
Thanks for stopping by

Annette

Time for Tea and Cake

I'm not going to beat myself up about the lack of posting but rather focus on the positive life experiences I've been working on...
Since I last signed in I've been to Bornemouth for a couple of days. I spent a lovely afternoon sitting by the sea in full sunshine, watching life go by.... followed by a cup of english tea and chat... I was actually attending a conference down there with DoCrafts............ we spent a great time meeting guests from the USA - Cousins jewellery. I also met the lovely jewellery designer Debbie Kershaw who has a lovely necklace and ring published in the latest Creativity magazine.
From there I went to Burnley to do a Ranger Demo at The Craft Range. We spent time playing with configuration boxes and printers trays. A great day was had by all - A special Thankyou goes to Debbie and Janet for the superb organisation on the day. I have to say getting to Burnley proved more difficult as I found myself diverted over Ilkley Moor.... now I can hear you all singing the song......
The classes at Darlington have continued to grow - so much that we now have a morning and an afternoon class. Booking is essential but we have created more space so if anyone wants to join in please contact The Art Shop in Darlington.
My DD and I have been attending a fused glass evening class. We have had so much fun learning together. My DD took great delight in seeing her mum struggle to cut the glass. We have enjoyed going back the following week to see what creations have come out of the kiln - I wont tell you how impressed I was with her designs!! Life is all about learning new skills.
The photo of my 'cake' is one I made for a Demonstrator Challenge. At present it is the only image that will upload.... will try later.

Enjoy and TFL

Annette

How many miles ??!!!!

Ladies this is the viewfinder card worked on an 8x8 card base!!!




I didn't dare look when the 'Service' light flashed at me from the dashboard. Then I thought Bristol.... Kent..... Nottingham..... Cumbria (3 weeks running).... perhaps the car could do with a day off.

It's been a busy time since I last posted we have had cricut workshops, creativity masterclasses and ranger days galore. I've enjoyed every minute although not sure about the one poor lady who we discovered was suffering from a new disease named 'cartridge envy' as by the end of the cricut class had 8 cartridges in her shopping basket!

Next weekend I'm demonstrating at The Craft Range in Burnley. They are having 'A Grand Demo Day' with Judith Brewer from Woodware, Rosemary Merry, Jane Gill, Clare Rowlands who designs the Molly Bloom Stamps and myself focusing on Ranger Configuration Boxes and Printers Trays. It should be 'A Grand Day Out.' They do have a coffee shop for those travelling and wanting to spend the day watching demos.

I'll leave you with a small selection of some of the projects that have been keeping me out of mischief!

Mirror In The Garden

Doesn't this weather just bring out the best in a spring garden - especially those lovely sunny yellow flowers, my garden is packed to the brim. Oh did someone say they are dandelions - oh well!

This is a melt pot mirror I made a while back with some of those delectable
Graphic 45 steampunk papers,faux porcelain flowers and wax seals.



The real story behind the photograph is reflected in the mirror. As soon as the camera came out the dog made its way to it's top posing point in the garden, bathed herself in the morning sunshine and gave a single 'woof' to say 'I'm ready' so the shot had to be taken. Gorgeous or what. I can't bring myself to tell her that she has an appointment at the grooming parlour next week!!




Enjoy you day

Annette

Playing Catch Up...

Life can sometimes catch you unawares and I was surprised when looking in my diary that May will soon be upon us - not wishing the days away I managed to clear the diary and have a whole week to myself to play with some new stash. I'm also eagerly awaiting a new workshop which is to be sited in the garden, so Ive been told that I must be brave and enter the current den - however, like Indianna Jones, you may only enter with a rope tied around the waist. I'll let you know how I get on. Meanwhile I have some new paints from Art From The Heart that have been shouting and screaming at me for a couple of weeks.

I spent a lovely Easter Saturday demonstrating at Rubber Stamp World in Lancaster. We had a busy old day playing with the Grand Calibre and spellbinder dies. Thankyou for your hospitality. As promised - some of the photos have been posted. The stamps are from Dark Room Door - all available from Rubber Stamp World in Lancaster.

For those ladies who are interested I have a Cricut Class @ The Art Shop in Darlington on Tues May 3rd 6-8pm and a second Cricut Class @ The Scrapbook Shop, Langley Moor on Friday 6th May 10 -12. All are welcome. Hope to see you soon
Off to find the cramp ons and enter the den!!

Annette x

New Addition To The Family

Well those words certainly grabbed my family's attention on Sunday afternoon when we arrived home with two new fish for the tank. It would appear that they have been christened 'Fish and Chips' and that they have settled in well to their new abode.
To answer your question Jill the lady is from a Graphic 45 paper and she is about 9" tall and has been transfered onto sticky canvas and then attached to the caanvas board.

As promised I have a few spellbinder samples from a demo I did at Crafts 4 U 2 Do, St Helens last week. Greetings ladies - it was absolutely lovely to meet you all and get to know ALL about you and your crafting habits. I hope to get to meet you all again.







I used American Crafts card and Dark Room Door Stamps - these are a bit yummy as they are presented in a silver tin shouting to altered.

TFL

Annette

A Grand Day Out

Well it was lovely to meet so many lovely customers @ The Art Shop in Darlington on Saturday - sorry if you arrived and it was a wee bit busy, hopefully you all found the stash you were looking for. I had a lovely day and came home with inky fingers and sporting glitter in all manor of places.

On Monday I had an opportunity to play with the Grand Calibre and put it through it's paces prior to a demo in St Helens @ Crafts 4 U 2 Do on Thursday. I have to say I have been suitably impressed with the sturdiness of the machine and it's large platform is a dream to work with. Some ladies got to play with Grand Calibre at a workshop on Tuesday in Darlington - some liked others preferred the cuttlebug. I shall upload the samples after Thursday's demo.

So this morning I have prepped Saturday's Sticky Canvas workshop @ The Scrapbook Shop. This is a repeat of a previous class I held there in November but I have prepped another canvas as they are so addictive and I just had some new 'stash' looking for a place to be viewed on my little display shelf.I think there are only a couple of spaces avaiable - looking forward to seeing you there.

TFL

Annette

Where's Wally?

You know you spend hours with your kids in Waterstone's looking at the 'Where's Wally' books - the guy in the red and white stripy top. You know the intention is to look for him but you become distracted by the goings on in the crowd. Life has been somewhat distracting this month - new products and stash to play with that I can't show you 'yet' and meeting up with friends again at a recent cricut class was great. Seeing familiar faces at demos and catching up with some work colleagues at Birmingham this week combined with school half term has added to the crowded chaos of life. Saying that I would not have it any other way.
I have a melt pot class this weekend @ The Scrapbook Shop, Langley Moor, Durham and on Sunday I shall be popping over to Nissan - and for those who want to find me I won't be wearing a red and white stripy top!!!! Instead I'll leave you with a parrot.

You wouldn't Adam and Eve it.....

if I was to say that I've been trying to access this blog for weeks would you believe it - no me neither but I've been locked out, the laptop has been shouted at and the ability to upload a photo - well just don't go there.
Anyway we'll press on and see how far we get......
Happy New Year
Did you have a good Christmas??????
January was a busy month for me with some sample work, demonstrations and workshops and then I spent a very happy birthday at The Black Sheep Brewery in Masham - a lovely day out if your in the area.

I'm now going to try and post a few things I've been playing with this month



well it let me upload one - I will not be beaten

I'll be back