December 2013 Cards

Hi there everyone I do hope you are all now well & truly getting into the festive spirit I know am. In the past 2 days alone I've attended a panto & tonight went to "Mini Me" aka Amy's Christmas carol service.

I now only need to find time to put my Christmas decorations up, do all my pressie shopping, write my Christmas cards, buy/cook my Christmas food goodies, visit my friends & family and so on and so on...........Oh please Santa can I have more hours in my days, I have been a REALLY good girl!!!!

Saying all that I'm afraid that we won't be doing any more Christmas cards this year, so put away all that red & green cardstock & get out all those other lovely colours we have in our stashes.

Card 1 - Sunburst Dream

Supplies needed

14.5 cm square card base – colour to coordinate with papers plus spare card of the same colour

14cm square piece of white card

Patterned papers 4-8 different pieces

Ruler & knife

Embossing tool

Wet  glue

small pearls

Card 2 – Blue & White dream

Supplies needed

Blue C6 card

White card – 10 x 14.3cm

Spare White card

Blue ink – MUST be water soluble

Water reservoir brush

sponge dauber

Medium pearl

Card 3 – Blue & White Dream – version 2

Photo to be added shortly

Supplies needed

C6 Navy card base – plus spare card in same colour

White card – 10 x 14.3 cm

Spare white card

Navy ribbon

Embossing folder

navy ink 

December meetings

Hi everyone hope you all getting into the festive mood. This is just a quick post to remind you all of the dates for this months meetings.
Aylsham will be held as normal on Saturday 7th December but Hethersett will be a week later on Sunday 15th December. We will also be holding this month & January's  Hethersett's meeting in the big hall so that all our members can attend & not have to tackle the stairs.
I will post the cards we are doing in the next few days
xxxx

November 2013 cards

Hi ladies hope you all had a good Halloween & Bonfire night, as you may remember I said I was going to Alton Towers for Scarefest so I thought you might like to see a piccie of us all in our Halloween costumes. The little girl in the middle is Amy's best friend Marie who went to Alton Towers as a scared mouse & came back a complete adrenalin junkie :-).

Well back to the craft group now, I'm sorry to say that this months Aylsham group is cancelled as Sylvia is having major work done on her kitchen & therefore is unable to host the group so unless anyone knows of another venue the cards will be held over until December. Our apologises to all the ladies this effects.

On to Hethersett who will be doing a variation of Aylsham's October card so please see the previous months post for more details. As discussed at last month's meeting you will not require to bring any patterned paper as we will be stamping/embossing our card fronts to try to speed up the whole process. If you have a Cuttlebug/ Big Shot & embossing folders you don't mind bringing along this will help,  along with any large background stamps & Christmas themed embellishments  you would like to use. I will endeavour to cut all your card bases in Christmas colours so would much appreciate it if you could let me know if you are coming along so I can cut the correct amount. Please do this by leaving a comment below as my emails are still playing up at present.
See you all Sunday

October 2013 cards

Hi Ladies I do hope you are all keeping well, unlike us March family sickies who have all seemed to succumb to all the nasty bugs that  life can throw at you all in 1 week. I hasten to add we are all now on the way to recovery & I promise I am bug free now & will not infect anyone this weekend.

Well on to this months cards, we have different cards to offer each group this month so I will start with Aylsham

Card 1 – A Very Special Christmas Card

This card may take all the session to produce but it will be well worth it. I will cut your white card bases to save time but you will need to supply your patterned paper & other coloured card.

My card has a red & green theme but your colour scheme can be anything you fancy.

From the front this looks like nothing special but just wait until we open this card up………

The word can be any 4-5 letter word you like as I will bring all my alphabet dies with me plus all the dies to make the snowflakes etc. but please feel free to bring any of your own along plus any Christmas embellishments you may want to use.

Supplies needed

Coordinating patterned paper – 12x12” work best – I used 1 of each colour

Coordinating coloured card

Glitter card – I used Red, Green & Bluey White

Strong wet glue, 3D foam

Hethersett only

Card 1 – Circle trees – Birthday version

Supplies needed

14cm Square card base – Sylvia’s was Dark brown

Matt toning card – Yellow used here

2nd matt – white used here

3 toning patterned papers

brown paper/card – for tree trunk

3 circle punches – 1 1/4”, 1” , 3/4”

3 small buttons that coordinate

Ink to match your darkest paper colour

large sentiment – SU’s Sassy Salutation

Circle punch to make button holes

Alternative version

Supplies needed

As before but Black, Silver & white used here

Card 2 – Poinsettia wreath

I’ve used a black & white theme here but please feel free to use what ever 2 colour you would like instead.

Supplies needed

14.5cm square base card – mine was white

Spare card – I used black & white

Small gems/pearls

Sentiment stamp/peeloff

Silver glitter pen

Coordinating ribbon – mine was all white to start with but using a black promarker I changed its colour

Card 3 – Jeanette’s Ribbon Card

Supplies needed

Square white/cream card approx 12 –13 cm

matching 9cm square piece of card

Peeloff or Greeting stamp – approx 6cm long

Punched or die cut shape in coloured card approx 5cm –can be shaped i.e. Butterfly, Christmas Tree

spare card for greeting  - die cut or punched to a slim tag/label 6-7cm long if you can

coloured ink pads & blending brush/sponge

18 strips (each 11cm long) of 1cm wide ribbon – can be plain, patterned, dotty BUT NOT SHEER OR SEE THROUGH

STRONG double sided tape

die cut postage stamp & scalloped square shapes to finish card

September 2013 cards

Hi ladies Wow what a busy month I have had so far. For those of you who did not know my little “Mini Me” left for her new life as a boarder at Wymondham College. I can tell you now my house has only been this quiet & tidy since before she was born but it doesn't take her long to convert it back to its usual state when she gets home at the weekends!!!!
This month I have 3 cards for you but you will notice 2 are the same concept but time willing you should be able to get all 3 designs completed.
So here goes:
Card 1 – I think I caught a snowflake 

Card Supplies
C6 White card
Patterned paper for background – blue spotty works best
Spare black, white & orange card
Glitter card for snowflakes
Circle punches – 2 1/2”, 1 3/4”, 1/4”

Card 2 – Nestie pull-out

Card Supplies
A4 sheet blue card
Spare white & black card
Scoring board
Favourite colouring medium – I used promarkers
Small gems – I coloured mine to match my flower
You can bring your own stamps & ink if you have a design you would like to use – maximum size 7 x 8cm

Card 3 – Nestie pull-out take 2

Card Supplies
A4 sheet purple card
Spare white & blue card
Favourite colouring medium
Own stamps & inks if you wish to use your own.
If you would like to make the above card in a Christmas design then please swap the card stock for more appropriate colours & bring your own stamps

September cards - Aylsham only

Hi Ladies, just to let you know that all those attending Aylsham meeting tomorrow need only bring their basic kit as I will supply all your other card ect. If you could include in your kit your favourite colouring medium that would help.

I will post Hethersett cards nearer the time
See you tomorrow or at Thetford show on Sunday xxx

New September date

Hi ladies just a quick reminder that as the next Hethersett date clashes with the Thetford Craft show we have arranged a new date for Sunday 22nd September.

The date for Aylsham will remain unchanged on 7th September.

Cards for August 2013

 Hi there ladies hope you are all keeping well & that you enjoyed the recent hot weather we have had. I was fortunate enough to bag  2 weeks off so thoroughly enjoyed it, although I just wished it could have been slightly cooler overnight, as our hotel room registered a whooping 32 degrees at night despite the air con & fan!!!

My 2 cards this month follows a request from our 2 youngest members – Courtney & Chelsea who wanted some cards with butterflies on. I hope you both like what I came up with.

So here goes:

Card 1 – All of a Flutter

This card has a real 3D effect to it whilst being able to go completely flat for easy posting.

Supplies needed

C6 base card – mine was black
Mat layer 10 x 14.3cm – mine was the new SU colour – Pistachio Pudding (got to LOVE that name) which is a pale green
3 different scraps of coloured card – I used the colour above plus the new SU Coastal Cabana (Blue) & Strawberry Slush (Pink)
White card
Ink to coordinate with one of your scrap colours – mine was Coastal Cabana (Blue)
Sentiment stamp & black ink
Embossing folder
Coordinating ribbon – approx 1cm wide
Stick on Gems
3D foam pads
IF anyone owns the SU Top Note & Beautiful Butterflies dies & don’t mind sharing them could they bring them along as it will speed things up.

Card 2 – Flutter By

Supplies needed

C6 base card- mine was cream
Black card mat - 10.2 x 14.5 cm
Newsprint paper - 9.9 x 14.2cm
Acetate
Stazon ink
Butterfly stamps
Promarker pens or similar i.e. Copics, permanent markers - need to be bright colours
Strong clear glue i.e. diamond glaze

Card 3 – Fun with Snow – if time allows

Supplies needed

white square base card
extra white card
sheet of patterned paper
A4 silver mirri
A5 matting card (dark)
10 x 6.5 cm picture stamp
sentiment
Archival ink (or similar) mine was coffee
Colouring medium
Blue ink and brushes or sponges

July’s Cards–MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

 

Apologises first, I did this blog post at the beginning of the week & have only realised today that none of you could see it & the reason for that was………..

I had saved it to draft rather than uploading it – what a numpty I am…….I really must learn to double check the postings before going on to my next job.

Apologies over with I wish is say a really HAPPY CHRISTMAS in JULY to you all. If any of you saw the Lord Mayor’s parade on Saturday you will have seen how our little celebration is spreading – at least one float was celebrating just that = Christmas in July YIPEE.

I want no excuses for you all not wearing your best Christmas finery this weekend …so dust off those christmas earrings & let the fun begin.

Card 1 – Elfing Around

this was a card i found on the internet & i thought it would be perfect to get us in the Christmas mood. I hope you all like it

Supplies needed

C6 Green Card PLUS extra matching piece

Spare white & red card

Red Glitter card

Stripey patterned paper

Bakers twine/thin ribbon

Card 2 – Robin Redbreast

The robin was again something I found whilst browsing the internet but I have changed the background he is on to one of my own.

Supplies needed

14.5 square cream card

Spare brown, red, black & yellow card

Glitter pen or glue pen & glitter

Black marker pen

White pen

Card 3 – Positive / Negative Christmas Trees

Hopefully there will be time to do both versions of this card

Version 1 – The Posting one

Supplies needed

Sylvia’s design was done in blue so all the matting card/xmas paper/ink were shades of blue

C5 white base card (A4 folded in half)

Christmas paper to cover front

Dark matting card

More white card

Ink and we'll being swirling ink onto our cards so bring your brushes or sponges

Stamps - positive and negative stylistic Xmas trees (about 4 inches) could be done with baubles, etc)

Version 2 – Blinged up

Supplies needed

so another set of the same original items as above plus

A4 sheet of mirri card silver (if working with blue)

round gems plus star gem (if you are using a tree stamp)

and ribbon(I used organza in blue and white)

3d pads

June’s Cards 2013

Well hello again ladies, can you believe we are nearly halfway through the year?
At least the nice weather has at last made an appearance. I don’t know about you,  but I do find it hard to go to my craft room when the sun is shining & my lovely garden is calling to me…….but I have been good & I have been there so here are this months cards, which mostly have a male theme to them as we have Father’s Day in just over a weeks time.
As Sylvia said in her email the 1st three cards involve using templates so if you wish to strength yours, so they can be reused, you will need to bring some old acetate with you.
Card 1 – For the Office Guy

Supplies needed
C6 white card
Striped paper ( needs to be shirt like)
Coordinating paper to make a tie with
Coordinating card stock & pen - mine were navy
Scrap white card
2 small brads - mine were silver
Pricking tool & mat

Card 2 – Outdoor Man

Supplies Needed
C6 card - mine was blue to match my paper
Checked paper
Coordinating card stock
3 small coloured buttons
4 small brads
Coloured pen to match paper

Card 3 – Saw it

Supplies needed
A4 sheet of white card - strong enough to make card base
Scrap card - brown, dull silver
Patterned paper - mine was text
Black biro pen
Brown ink & sponge dauber

Card 4 – Goosy Goosy Gander


Supplies needed
A6 white base card
plus extra white card enough to cover front of card and punch out daisy and stamp extra image
other card to cover front (mine was orange)
Cherish friendship StampinUp set or background stamp and animal stamp
post it note for masking
ribbon mine was orange gingham just under a cm
Gems - mine were orange
a Stamp a ma jig if you've got one ( unless you're using clear stamps)
Archival ink (or whatever you use that doesn't run) mine was coffee
Your favourite paint medium
Daisy punch

May’s 2013 Cards

Hi everyone hope you all had a great Bank holiday. I unfortunately had to work so missed out on all the good weather that I hear was happening outside.

Well back to this months cards and this month it is all about…………….

TWINKLING H2Os

I will endeavour to enlighten those of you who have never heard or used these little pots of magic and for those of you who do own these beauties then I hope to teach you some new techniques.

So here are this months samples:

Basic Supplies

Twinkling H2Os

Paint brushes

Paper towels

Water mister

Small pot to hold water

Sea salt – NO I’M NOT BRINGING US ALL CHIPS!!!

Card 1 – H2O resist

Supplies

A4 sheet coloured card

White card

Subtle patterned paper

Scallop circle punch

1” circle punch

3/4” circle punch

1/2” circle punch

3D foam

Card 2 – Do you want Salt with that????

Supplies

C6 card blank – needs to match h2o colours

White card

Spare black, light brown & blue card

Coloured gems (or clear)

Background stamp

Grey ink

Black ink

Suitable image stamp

Sentiment stamp

Scrap of ribbon to coordinate with H2O used

Card 3 – A Little more Salt needed???

Supplies

C6 card blank

Black card

White card

Patterned paper

Black ribbon

Thin coloured ribbon

Gems

Hope that all makes sense & see you all at the weekend

April’s Cards

Hi Ladies here are I am again with this month’s offerings. I have taken on board your various suggestions & this month I have decided to follow a suggestion made by Jeanette, if my memory serves me correctly, who asked that we make some more complicated cards.
Now don’t all start panicking at the word “complicated”, in this context it just means the cards will have a lot more layers & involve several different techniques, hence why I have only 2 cards to show you. I hope that at the end of our sessions you will be pleased with your Finished results.

So here goes with the first card which I’ve called
One for the boys (distress look)

This is similar to a card I found whilst blog hopping & I immediately thought it lended itself to this month’s theme.

This card involves lots of stamping, distressing & layering, as well as stamping on acetate & twill ribbon. With this in mind it would be helpful if you could bring your own stamps & inks.

To help you know what to bring, here are the stamps I used, so anything similar will work. As per usual my stamps/inks  will be available for those of you who do not have your own.


Supply list
14.5cm square base card – mine was red
13cm square piece of navy card
12.5cm square of cream card
Spare card in all of the above
Acetate – mine was 11.5 x 9cm
4 small brads – 3 red & 1 blue
2 silver eyelets
Silver, light blue (SU Bashful Blue), Navy (SU Night of Navy) & light brown (SU Crumb Cake) inks
Black Stazon ink
Stamps similar to those pictured above
Twill ribbon approx 2cm wide
Sponge daubers
Stapler
Distressing tool


The second card is totally different & is one of those cards you give to those special people in your lives. It uses lots of layers again & some Sizzix dies. I also hope to teach you how to make your own paper flowers to embellish the card with (& this is the reason for the lateness of this post, I will explain more at the weekend!)

Card 2 – Special Girlie card (sorry could not think of a better name)


Here is a close up view of the flowers.


Supply List
2 x A4 sheet of Cream card – must be able to make base card therefore not too flimsy
A4 sheet of coloured card  - mine was purple
Coloured Paper  (not card as stated in email) in at least 2 shades – mine was light, dark & mid purple (in a pearlescent finish)
Coordinating background paper & ink
Plus – matching ribbon (forgot to add this to email)
Flower/leaves punches or dies – I used Stampin up 5 petal flower punch, Boho Blossom punch, Bird punch & some Marianne design dies
Stick on Gems/pearls
Quickie glue pen
Iridescent glitter or stickles
Wet glue – PVA & STRONG
Green card or paper

Looking forward to seeing you all at the weekend.

March’s Cards

 

Hi Everyone, it only seems like 5 minutes ago when I last updated this blog.

As suggested at our last meeting I’m going to concentrate on specific products that we all have lurking in our crafting spaces. Theses are the products that we had to have when we saw them demonstrated at a craft show or on the TV but that now hardly ever see the light of day.

So with that in mind I’d like you to have a look around & give me some suggestions as to what you would like me to cover in the coming months. If I do not own that product (which I very much doubt ) I may have to borrow your ones……so bring those products to the next meetings & I will try my best to come up with some new suggestions for how to use them.

This month’s product is …….Distress Inks.

I have made 3 cards using only Distress inks & a few stamps. Hopefully you will agree that each card has a different look & I hope to teach you a couple of things that you did not know you could do with them.

Please note that for Hethersett only there is a fourth card kindly designed by Jeanette. Unfortunately I do not have an image but will list the supplies below.

So lets kick off. As per Sylvia’s email there are a few things that are common to each card so rather than list them under each card I have compiled a list & if you could bring them along with you.

Please don’t worry if you do not own any as I will have my supplies with me but a Teflon mat each would be helpful as I can only find 1 of mine at the moment. You can purchase them from the bakery section of Poundland (Riverside definitely have them at the moment)

Common items

• Distress inks - various colours - I used mainly blues, greens, purples & browns
• Teflon sheet
• Mini water mister
• Sponge daubers/ cut & dry foam
• Rubber gloves if you don't like your hands getting dirty

Card 1 – Distress Background & Tag

Supplies needed

• C6 cream card
• Spare cream card
• Background stamp - mine was musical notes
• Embossing ink & clear powder
• Small piece of white vellum
• Sentiment stamp/ peel off
• Brown Stazon ink (only if using stamped sentiment)
• 4 small brown brads
• Scrap of ribbon - colour to coordinate inks used
• 1 normal sized brad

Card 2 - Watercolour Technique

Supplies needed

• 14.5cm Square card - to coordinate inks used - mine was blue, (Marina Mist)
• Cream card
• Spare coloured card - to coordinate with ink colours - mine was lilac, (SU Wisteria,)
• Gold Perfect Pearls

Card 3 - Distress Ink Scene

Supplies needed

• 5" x 7" card - mine was light brown (Crumb Cake)
• Coordinating spare card - mine was blue
• Flower/foliage stamps
• Sentiment stamp/Rub on
• Coordinating ribbons - I used blue & green
• 1 button

Card 4 – Hethersett only – Flower pot Surprise

• 14 cm square card OR 5” x 7” card
• Half A4 sheet pale green card
• Scraps of about 4 other coloured card (for flowers)

OR

• Paper flowers -  different sizes work best
• Gems/buttons/card candy to use for flower centres.
• Border punch.
• Stripy or dotty paper plus coordinating piece of ribbon approx. 1cm wide.
• Embellishment or greeting for front of pot (mine was a metal dragonfly.

 

March meetings

Hi Everyone just a quick post to let you all know that from the responses we got from the email we circulated (many thanks to those that took the time to respond) we have decided to keep the dates of the meetings to the same weekend as planned. 

I appreciate that the Sunday is Mother's Day & being a mum myself I understand that some people will have other plans on that day, but those of you who can make it will be more than welcome to attend my Mother's Day Crafters Celebration. I may even take a leaf out of Jo's book & bring along some homemade cakes (but I am not promising anything).

I am now finishing the cards for next weekend so you should have the list early next week & I hope to get the blog done on Monday. I will ask now, that as I plan to concentrate on Distress inks this  month, if  you could all bring along a nonstick Teflon mat each it would be most helpful. For those of you who do not have one you can get a small one from Poundland for obviously £1, you will find them in the bakery section of the shop.

Take care & speak to you all soon

February 2013 cards

Hi everyone hope you are all well and looking forward to another weekend full of crafting. I am hoping that those of you who attended the local craft show last weekend are full of inspiration & may be persuaded to demonstrate a card or 2 in the next few months (hint, hint),  just to ease the pressure on Sylvia & myself as I think we are both struggling at the moment due to our personal lives infringing on our crafting times. Just let us know over the weekend if you fancy having a go.
Begging over lets get back to this months cards.
I have tried to limit the amount of things I used for my 2 cards, so with that in mind I have found 2 new techniques that use similar resources to achieve 2 different looks PLUS as an added bonus I have done 2 different cards for each technique so you can choose which card you prefer to do on the day. They both use an Embossing / Die cutting machine so if you do own a Cuttlebug etc. plus embossing folders / dies & are willing to bring it along it will speed up things considerably & you may even get both versions of each card done.
So here goes…………
Card 1 – Puzzle Resist card
Version 1

Supplies needed
C6 card – Mine was SU Melon Mambo (pinky red) plus extra for sentiment mat
10 x 14.3cm mat – mine was SU Certainly Celery (light green)
9.5 x 13.8 mat  - white plus spare for sentiment
Embossing folder
Shaped die cutters/punch
Sentiment stamp/peeloff
At least 2 different coloured ink – mine was SU Melon Mambo & Marina Mist
Adhesive pearls/gems
Wet glue
Version 2

Supplies needed
C6 card – mine was SU Pretty in Pink
14.3 x 10cm mat – mine was SU Elegant Eggplant
13.8 x 9.5cm mat – white
Background stamp
Versamark ink
Clear Embossing powder
Pink, Purple & green inks
Sponge daubers/brushes
Spare white & purple card
Sentiment stamp/peeloff
small piece ribbon & 1 brad
Stick on gems
Kitchen roll
Scrap paper

Card 2 Faux Pressed Flowers
Version 1

Supplies needed
C6 pink card  -mine was SU Pretty in Pink PLUS spare card
Scrap purple, white & green card
2 tiny buttons – mine were purple
Sentiment stamp/peeloff
Ink
Embossing folder
Corner punch

Version 2

Supplies needed
C6 card – mine was mid yellow – CU So Saffron
Spare card for mat – mine was purple SU Elegant Eggplant & white
Scrap card – mine was yellow & purple (as above)
Small circle punch
Flower punch
Background stamp
Coordinating ink
Die cut frame shape
Embossing folder
SU’s bird on a branch punch
Stick on pearls

Card 3 – Punched Easter Bunny (oh poor Bunny!!

 

Supplies needed
C6  Blue card – ideally sky coloured
Scrap card (ideally at least 1/2 an A4)– white, black, green
Pink ink & sponge dauber
Pink pen
Butterflies (?what type see picture for clues)
The following Stampin Up punches (or equivalent)
1” & 1 1/4” circle
Plain oval
Boho Blossom
Easter greeting – stamp or peeloff

Hi Ladies I hope you all had a good time at the Thetford show & did not spend too much.

This is just a quick post to remind you all that the new date for this months meetings are Saturday 16th & Sunday 17 th February (times as per usual)

I will be adding the card details hopefully tomorrow.

January 2013 cards

Well hello ladies and a Happy New Year to you all.
I hope you all had a great Christmas & New Year and that you are all looking forward to getting back to doing some more crafting again without a Christmas tree & poinsettia in sight…..
Can I just say now a big thank you for all the lovely Christmas cards & greetings I received over the holiday period, I was deeply touched that you took time out of your busy schedules to think of me & my family, all your efforts were greatly appreciated.
So here goes with this years first batch of cards.
Card 1 – Faux Delft Tile card

Supplies needed
7x5" card not C6 as in email- mine was blue ( stampin up pacific point)
Extra card in same colour as base card
White card
Large background stamp - flowers work well
Scoring board or scoring tool & ruler
Ink to match base card
White ribbon & ribbon to coordinate with base card
Ribbon slider
Sentiment stamp or peel off
I forgot the following off the emails:
sponge dauber
scrap paper
Light grey pen – mine was  a Promarker in Cool grey1
Card 2 – Surprise Fold Card
Spplies needed
Double sided 12" x 12" patterned paper (will work with thicker single sided patterned paper)
Scoring board with inches on
Spare white card
Spare card to coordinate with patterned paper
Something to decorate card with ie a small stamped image or topper
Glue pen

Card 3 – Anniversary card






Supplies needed
A4 white pearlescent card (which makes a 14 sq card with enough spare for a 14cm strip and 2 cut outs)
A5 silver mirri card
silver patterned paper or velum min 14cm square
white ribbon 1cm wide about 25 cm long
white brad
anniversary peel off or stamp
heart peel off (or number or initials of the happy couple)
border punch
cuttlebug
nestabilities or similar circles (or hearts)
Sizzix or similar framelits label collection