Craft Spa Workout - Stationery

Now don't faint.... yes.. I am actually posting something.... and I am actually posting the projects from this week's session a whole day before I do the first session!!

So this week is Stationery - and we will be doing a mouse mat; a double notebook and pencil holder; a post it note holder  - and a notecards booklet.

So first off is the mousemat. I have used the On A Pedestal stamp set and the gorgeous Night & Day speciality papers along with Real Red and Old Olive. The flower is from the Die Cut Blooms pack ( flowers also in Bashful Blue; Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive) The leaves are punched using the 5 petal flower punch.

Secondly the notebook and pencil holder.  I have used the Sweet Pea paper pack along with Taken with Teal cardstock ( which I will be SO upset to see retire in September) The stamps used on the front are from the Take Note set by Papertrey Ink.. which I was sent as an early birthday present. Mmmmm!

The pencil is wrapped with just a 1" wide strip of the Sweet Pea paper. Our Tombow glue just can't be beaten for gluing stuff like this!!  I didn't even have to use pegs to hold it all together - it really does just take a few seconds for this glue to grab and hold.....

Inside I have used the Trendy Trees stamp set ( which is still one of my most used and favourite Stampin' Up!stamps!!) - along with some more stamps from the PTI Take Note set.

This double notebook and pencil holder was inspired by a similar one posted by Nichole Heady using the PTI Take Note stamp set when it was released in January 2010.  However the sizes are different to her template as the notebooks are a different size and I wanted a higher pencil holder so it kept a tighter fit around the pencil.

And then my handbag post it note holder. I used the Brighton inspired handbag template from Becky Roberts blog. (aka Inking Idaho) This template was a perfect fit for a standard 3" square post it note pad and it is one of a set of 3 of the most gorgeous TRES CHIC handbags for which Becky does a tutorial. So 2 more of these will be appearing on here at some point!! 

The papers are from the Sunny Day Scrappin' Kit.

The Stamp set is Hello Again - which I have used on the bag closure and on every page of the post it note pad.... this set is lovely little useful one ( 5 stamps for just £9.95).  Though the Jot this DOWN wording is another stamp from the PTI Take Note set.

And last but not least - the NoteCard Book - this is just a supermarker bought little booklet containing 4 colours of study cards.

I used various papers from the Tea & Crumpets paper pack to cover the front and back of the book along with the PTI Take Note stamp set again - and the gorgeous All A Flutter butterfly stamp. The Spiral punch was great for this project - the holes lined up perfectly with the rings on the book - making the job of covering the booklet SO easy!!!

A few little flowers using the One of a Kind stamp set and the Boho Blossoms punch - and 4 tabs for each of the colour cards inside - and it was ready!

And lastly - did you notice this gorgeous butterfly...... I have embossed it using the white embossing powder on the vellum cardstock and then just cut it out - very simple but stunning ( and I am not even a butterfly fancier which I know so many of you fellow crafters are!!!)

Spa Workout - Playing with Inks and Brayers

Just a quick posting of the projects we will be working on this week.  I have never been a inky/messing kind of girl.... but I have really enjoyed doing these 4 projects. And I now wouldn't be without my brayer - or my daubers!! I can't believe that I had the finger daubers for 4 years... tried but not really used... and then something clicked.... and now I can't stop using them - so thank goodness Stampin' Up! sells them in packs of a dozen.......

Firstly, a card that I have CASEd from fellow  Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Jo Dumbleton 

Jo's cards are linked here .http://stampin-n-stuff.blogspot.com/2010/02/brayered-pocket-silhouettes.html   This has to be my all time favourite brayering sample... so I couldn't ignore it when asked to do a brayering class. I just simplified the base and used the 1/2" circle punch to round the edges. So thank you Jo...... a gorgeous card!

The second project uses the Baby Wipe technique to make a custom ink pad. This was then used to ink up the pheasant from the Autumn Days set - I guess I would get about 25 images from this ink pad... saves a lot of time colouring individually with markers.......

The Field of Corn panel was created using the Emboss Resist Technique and applying Soft Suede ink over the top with an applicator. I then overstamped the corn in Soft Suede ink over the moon and the long grass in Elegant Eggplant. DSP from the Sunny Days kit - and some of the beautiful new Soft Suede polka dot ribbon.

And then we have the Background Stamped & Brayered Emboss Resist Technique ( I think I have probably just made up that name!) But I just loved making this card.

 Quick resume... ink up & stamp French Script background; ink up & stamp Baroque in Versamark over the top & add clear embossing powder, heat. Then brayer over the gorgeous new Rich Razzleberry ink & wipe off with a cloth to reveal the Script background within the Baroque shape. Add the Elegant Thank You greeting punched out as a 1 3/4" circle and the Vintage Vogue flower...... 

This is the taken to another level by also stamping Melon Mambo flowers & Old Olive leaves from the Vintage Vogue set over the French Script background before applying the emboss resist Baroque image over the top.

And lastly a simple treat bag with a Trendy Tree on the hills with a sun..... but this one was daubed and not brayered... which still works for me....

And now I need to rush off.... my son needs picking up from school an hour earlier than planned..... so I have to be off!!

Night & Day Cantilever Box

Edited to Add August 2014.... I am now able to sell the tutorial for this Handled Cantilever Box.. just click on the Email Me link to the to RHS to arrange your copy.....

Here is the cantilever box (or sewing or tool box) that we will be doing in next weeks workouts. So this is what you will (or can ...) be making next Monday night and Tuesday morning (24/25 May) This box uses the gorgeous Night and Day speciality papers & Taken with Teal and Basic Black cardstock. Just a little addition of some diecut felt from my stash and a stamped Circle of Friendship greeting - and voila!

A big thanks needs to go to Sarah Bonsell for her fabulous tutorial on this Cantilever Box. Find it here..... http://wwwcardoasis.blogspot.com/

I just love this box - though I added the handles to Sarah's work ( just by scoring and gluing two 9" by 1" pieces of cardstock in half and then scoring at 2 1/2" and 6 1/2")

Here are some other photos to show the box partly open and fully open. What will you put in yours???

BLOG HOP Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue...New Products!

Welcome to The Craft Spa for those of you that have hopped across from Keren's blog and for those of you starting here..... just a few words to explain!!

A group of 15 extremely talented Stampin' Up! demonstrators have got ourselves organised ( via the forum In Love with Stamping) in the form of a blog hop to show you some projects using products from the new Stampin' Up! mini catalogue. These products are available from 1st April.

Firstly I have a little birdcage to show you..... I have used the NEW Solid Stripe background stamp ( Page 23; item code 115707) to stamp the bars... and the fabulous NEW punch - the Extra Large Two Step Bird ( Page 6; item code 117191) to punch the bird and the wings ( there is also a lovely leaf/branch as part of this punch as well....mmm!) I have then stamped the bird and wing using the NEW Fine Flourish background stamp ( page 23; item code 115709) to just give a bit more fine detail.... The cage door is made using the Tag punch and the hook using the 1/2" circle punch and then the Scalloped Oval punched around ( all of these are on pages 88-89 in the main catty) This is all produced using one of the 3x3 Love Note Cards... so cute!!

And now a couple of treats for Easter....

A wrapped large Aero Bubble bar where I have used the leaf from the Bird Punch and the fantastic Jewellery Tag punch. The papers are from the 48 page Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack ( page 13; item code 117161) These papers are all wonderful... I think you will be seeing a lot of these......


And lastly a super box using Lauren Meaders In A Pinch Template with the new Vintage Vogue stamp set ( Page 14; item code 117690)

And now it is time to pass you onto the wonderful creations of Hayley - you can either press the Blog Hop icon below

(or in case of any problems with that link......go here..... Hayley's Blog  )

Clippy Photo Bag Revisited

Oh what an exciting week I have had as a result of the photo bags we did a few weeks ago.

Firstly the bag is going to appear soon on the Clippy web site .... WOW!!!!   How exciting!! And I got to speak to Calypso of Clippy bag fame herself......

Also lots of people have asked me to run the workshop again - so I am happy to oblige.....!!  I have managed to secure further supplies of the bags and so I can still charge £25 for a Craft Spa Clippy Photo Bag. I can also supply extra workshop kits for those interested too.

Please press the Email me button at the top right of my blog if you are interested in attending a workshop for these bags.

I have no actual dates scheduled yet... hopefully towards the end of April and beginning of May. I will provide more details in about 10 days time......

Signing off for now

Easter Treats & Cards Workshop

At last a miracle has occurred....!! I have finished all of my samples for next weeks workshop 3 days prior to the first workshop!!

So ladies... here is what you will be doing next week... a couple of cards and 3 treats..... My son says our  house looks like a chocolate shop at the moment... but the worst shop ever....as he can't have any of the stock!!

So you have the choice of a Tent Topper Card either with the cross from the Special Blessings stamp set ( page 29) or the flowers from the Simply Said set ( page 59) with some extra beautiful flowers using the One of a Kind stamp set ( page 56) punched out with the Boho Blossoms punch.

Also a Centre Step Card using A Good Egg stamp set ( page 25) which has to be my favourite set ever for easter cards. I just think that chick is SO sweet!!

And 3 different Easter treats...

..... a good sized box for filling  with loads of chocolate for someone special!!! This is made using Lauren Meaders In A Pinch template... and the Vintage Vogue stamp set (coming soon!!)

..... a pair of caramel bunnies in a Bunny Treat Flap Holder

.... and last but not least.... a large Aero Bubble chocolate bar in a  SWEET wrapper using the Spot On wheel ( page 40) and die-cut wording and felt flowers

The observant amongst you will notice a few new stamp images, punches and papers amongst these samples... these are coming from Stampin' Up! on the 1st April with the launch of the new mini catalogue. But as always I just couldn't wait to play with my new products... and so they just "snuck" into my workshop samples........!

Girls & Ladies Workshop

I am quickly trying to catch up with the posting of this year's workshops and some other stuff I  have done this year! I am have been suitably told off by many many people for not updating this blog... so I will try to behave from now on!! So first it's catch up time....

So last week we made 3 cards...

A circle easel card for Mothers Day using the wonderful Greenhouse Garden ( page 43) and Frames with a Flourish ( page 53) stamp sets . In the wonderful colour combi of Elegant Eggplant; Almost Amethyst and Old Olive in the ribbon! The flower is all made from scallop circles.....

And there were some very happy Mothers last Sunday!! Mine was almost speechless..... ( and that is unusual!!)

An iPhone card for the girls..... using images from the Occasionally stamp set

( page 22) and the greetings from A Bit of Birthday Cheer ( page 63)

And last but not least... our Girl on a phone card where we got to play with the Copic pens..... and make pretty handbags from the Circle Circus stamp set ( page55)  using the 1 3/8" circle, large oval, scalloped oval and scallop circle punches. Image stamp by Lili of the Valley.

Clippy Photo Bag Workshop

Here are some photos of a photo bag project we did as a one-off workshop last week. The original concept of the Clippy Bag was to put Polaroid photos in... but armed with the Stampin' Up! Sunny Day Simply Scrappin kit ( page 78) we turned it into a scrappin' special!!

And here is a photo of  Bev's alternative using the same photo... but printed in different colours... how cool is that!!

And a couple of close-up photos of the flowers on my bag ... these were created using just the SU! circle punches; scissors and water! Oh... and a button on one of them!

Just hello!

Thought it was about time I posted something and removed the reference to Christmas at the top of my blog!! I cannot believe that it is 3 months since I last posted an entry on my blog!! Gosh how those 3 months have flown. I don't think I have ever been so busy - and apart from Christmas celebrations it has almost all been crafting time ... Shame!!!

So I haven't any inspirations to show today ..... as .....as usual, time is pressing - but I have the fruits of 6 classes to post shortly .... plus some other stuff I have been working on. So I will be back with you very shortly... and I have lots and lots of pictures to post.......

12 Blogs of Christmas

Hello and welcome from The Craft Spa to our 12 Blogs of Christmas cruise whether you are starting here or have arrived from seeing Michelle's wonderful creations... Please press the icon at the end of this posting to cruise on to the next stop.

This blog cruise has been organised by a bunch of very talented Stampin' Up! demonstrators that all meet in the cyber space at the In Love with Stamping forum.... A particularly big thanks must go to Carolynne for inspiring us and getting us organised!!

My first project is one that I have wanted to make for a long time.. a Gingerbread House made from my wonderful Stampin' Up! punches and stamps. So I am delighted to have finally achieved it!!

My second project is particularly for those with 4-12 year old children who are immersed in the web or trading card world of Club Penguin.... or for those who just like penguins!! The little pot holds a lollipop... so a double treat for kids everywhere.

I will be posting a full recipe and directions for these projects during next week so please feel free to leave me a comment and join my followers.... It will really spur me on to finishing the directions!!

In the meantime, please press on the icon to go to the next stop for Kara's wonderful creations to further inspire you. (www.kimberlight.net)