What happens to Time......Where does it go?

Hello All my crafty friends,

My word doesn't time fly when you are having fun.I cannot believe that it has been over a month since I last blogged.
I did promise to show you some piccies of our session with the lovely Maria from Clarity stamps.

The samples where stunning, and the group was so inspired with all of Marias tecniques.
We had a great session, and had 17 ladies join us.I am saying ladies, as up to now we have no men join us,but of course our sessions are open to both ladies and gents .

 After the demonstration Maria had a make and take organised for the group.The ladies got really stuck into the make and take table, and produced many amazing samples which they where all extremely proud of.

The feedback from the group about the CLARITY SESSION was fantastic, and we are hoping to get Maria back in the near future for another amazing demonstration and make and take.

We are not having any crafty meetups during August ,but are back in September.

RETURN DATE: WED 11TH SEPTEMBER 2013

Same place, same time in Lowton Warrington.

Will blog towards the end of August and of course will also a do a reminder for the meetup at the same time.

Well hope you are having a great summer , and will chat to you in the next couple of weeks.

Take care nd happy crafty days to you all

Jacki x

Beautiful Butterflies-Stampin Up Style

Hi All

Sorry I have not been in blog land for a while,but hopefully you will love what I have to show you today.

Well we have to start with the wheather,thats what us Brits are known for.
It wouldn't be a conversation if the wheather wasn't mentioned.
This morning was lovely and bright, and it really stopped me feeling down in the dumps,but alas this did not continue.This afternoon we saw grey clouds appear ,and it has now started raining.
My little Westy dog has just poked his nose out of the patio doors ,felt the rain reversed,sighed and went to his bed.He does look rather sad now.......Poor Westy dog.......

You may well be wondering why I am mentioning butterflies in the title,well I thought with spring close by, we may well be seeing butterflies in the next couple of weeks.With this being a couple of weeks away my next best thing was to show you the not quite so real butterfly stamps which come from STAMPIN UP.

Although these are not real,they look truly amazing  and are perfect for all your crafty needs The styles are perfect for all sorts of papercrafting ,and with the with the stunning collections of the Stampin Up inks they look amazing in whatever colour they are stamped in.

Below are a number of stamps that are from the main STAMPIN UP  Catalogue page 115,this set has 7 stamps,excellent value for money,great versatlity.
I have used various STAMPIN UP ink colours to give you an idea what they look like when stamped.

A BIG BONUS is that the stamps also have a matching punch which are so easy to use, and they cut out the butterflies perfectly.I personally struggle cutting out perfectly ,but the punches save me having messy edges.

Stampin Ups Swallowtail super large stamp  has the WOW factor,you literally only need this stamp and it fills a card.Decorate with all sorts of mediums from chalks ,water paints ,glitters this stamp gives you great value for money.

If you like the look of these stamps and are close to Warrington why not pop into our crafty friends Craft group this coming Wednesday.The stamps will be out for you to have a look at and for you to have  give them a go.You can see the full address at the top of this page including times.

BELOW is the large Stampin Up SWALLOWTAIL STAMP which is stunning and is a favourite order of many people.I used the Stampin Up ink pad as my water colour palette and I was so pleased with how it turned out.
This stamp is on page 18 of the mini summer STAMPIN UP catalogue and well worth every penny at only £12.95.

Do hope you have enjoyed looking at these beautiful butterflies,they may not be real,but they are gorgeous little beauties and well worth adding to your crafty stash.Butterflies are a crafters dream and I know they are part of many peoples crafty stashes.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend ,and hopefully I will be back mid week to show your the makes from the CRAFTY FRIENDS group this coming Wednesday.

Take care and speak soon.
TTFN

Making an Origami Box In Craft group Warrington

Hi Everyone

 Just a quick post to say thank you to all the lovely ladies who came along to the crafty friends craft meetup in Lowton, Warrington today.
We all had a lovely morning ,chatting,crafting and swapping ideas.
Our group is for all sorts of crafts from papercafts to knitting,quilting,jewellery making and so much more.

This morning I did a CRAFT ALONG showing how to make origami paper boxes which I just love making. You can do so much with a box, dress it, and decorate it in 1001 ways.

The ladies who joined in where really pleased with their end result, and no doubt there home will have many boxes in different rooms.
Come on ladies let me have some phtographs of all the boxes you will now be making..................

Below are the boxes I made as samples for this mornings session ,and do hope you like them.They are perfect for all sorts of storage, from favours, to keeping you earings or small crafty bits and pieces in.

 Below are the boxes in close up ,the white box has beem embossed using embossing folders, and the top has been decorated with faux pearls and paper spiral roses, and edged in irridescent glitter.
The sides have been finished off with sheer oranza ribbon, and a co ordinating green faux mini buckle.

 The next 3 boxes I have decorated using the STAMPIN UP SECRET GARDEN STAMP SET which I usesd in a variation of ways from stamping with my stampin up ink pads in a selction of the most up to date colours.I have heat embossed the silver and pink box ,but it is the same flower that is in the set.

This stamp set is such a useful set, and you can do so much with it.
You can even get the matching dies  which cut out the stamped images for you which is fantastic if you stuggle with cutting out small bits.

If you come along to the group and would like to see these stamps please just ask and of course you can have a try out with them.I know you will be so impressed withese stamps.

Hope to put another post up within the next couple of days so don't forget visit us again in the near future.
Take care and speak soon.

Neil Wittaker-Flowers and More Flowers

Hi All

Sorry I have not updated my blog for quite some time,but you now how it is with life!
As I have said before there never seems enough hours in the day, and just how do you mange the time you do have?

Well today I had some time to myself, and had a brilliant day out with my friend Lynn.
As some of you may know I have been into floristry for many years now.

I love updating my ideas and I find that watching live demonstrations the best way to do this.
I am a visual learner so I was in my element watching all the demonstrations.
I noticed that my local floristry wholesalers where having a floral demonstration on today, and the very talented award winning florist Neil Wittaker was showing off his amazing talents.

Well what a show it was,it didn't go with a bang ,but more of a gust of wind ,and my word horrifc gusts of wind...........
We both arrived expecting the demonstration to be held in the wholesalers itself ,but "OH NO", low and behold, a large Marquee was set up outside.We ventured inside and there where just 5 of us, and lots of empty seats,we where shivering,there was a small heater ,but it was not doing anything as the flaps of the marquee kept on opening up.I think our cold, and snowy, icy weather had put many people off attending as they are usually so well attended.

We all looked like eskimos, all done up in our boots,hats scaves and gloves ,and what made me giggle when Neil had completed a demonstration  we all applauded ,yes, the 5 of us ,but we where all laughing as we all had gloves on ,and you could just hear a faint echo of a clap due to our gloves muffling the sound.

The demonstrations where fantastic, and we both learnt so much from Neil ,lots of hints and tips.We watched for 2 lots of one hour sessions and after that we where just too cold to watch the last demonstration.

We bought a number of bits and pieces to make displays ,we where both really very good and did not spend too much.You could spend ,spend and spend in there.They have such a fantastic assortment of floristry items as well as a full array of of crafting items,including ribbons and more ribbons and stunning home decor items. 

By this time we where cold,hungry and thirsty,so off we went to the family pub across the road to treat ourselves to lunch.We talked and talked and talked as we always do,my other half says when I start talking I can speak forever.Slight exageration ,but I do know what he means haaa haaa.........

So thank you to my friend Lynn for such a lovely day ,and cannot wait for our next meetup.

Below are some pictures for you all of the demonstrations with Neil Wittaker.

As you can see the arrangements where focused on the Easter theme ,but of course the tecniques could easliy be adapted for all sorts of occasions.

Well I am off to get my hot chocolate and to watch the tv in bed, as I am so tired and maybe read some of my new crafting magazines,thats of course if I can keep my eyes open long enough......


Hope you all have a wonderful week, and if you are local to Warrington,don't forget the craft meetup is this Wednesday the 27th March.
Even if you are not local ,you would be most welcome to come along you would be made very welcome.

Take Care
Jackie

Mothers Day-Cards & Boxes

Hi All


Hope everyone has enjoyed the bit of sunshine we have had in the north west of England today.
Doesn't it cheer you up to see the sun shining in the sky.
Perhaps we actually do have spring on its way ,so keep your fingers crossed.

While out shopping I noticed the shops full of mothers day cards ,and all of a sudden I remembered that I had promised my son that I would make a card and gift for his partner.They have just had there first baby,my first granchild and he wanted a special card made from her.

So once I was home I got to making them for him .I decided on a 5 x7 card  as I wanted to personalised it using my new Stampin Up lovely letters alphabet and needed quite a bit of space.To this I added a cute owl ribbon which was from my craft stash.I have been using a lot of the embossing folders especially with the white card as it gives such a clean look to projects and used this on my background of the card.

I wanted the card to have a special feel to it so made a co odinating box.I used the Stampin up stamp field of flowers  to decorate the box, which is one of my favourites.I further embellished the box with a full fluffy satin ribbon bow.Do hope he likes it ,but he likes anything that is handcrafted so that is a big bonus.
I have a picture below and do hope you like it.

Do hope that you have been joining me on my blogging journey,I would love you to leave a comment just so I know I am not waffling to myself.

Take Care and speak soon.

Anyone For Tea And Paper Roses

Hi All (Jackie Here)

Have you ever typed your little heart out, and then all your writing diasappears ,well that has just happened to me ARGHHH ....... so frustrating.

Think I will definately need a cup of tea, and a bit of relaxing music to destress me now,take a deep breath Jackie and count to ten ...uhmmmmm.

Well our second CRAFTY FRIENDS MEETUP is nearly upon us ,yes, it is this WEDNESDAY 27 TH FEB 2013 .How the last ten days have flown, where have they gone to?
If you know, would you please let me know.

I have had so many new enquiries about our group so it looks like we will have an expanding group this Wednesday.Both Sue and myself  are so happy that there are so many people out there who would like to join us, and we are really looking forward to putting faces to emails and phone calls.

May I say a big thank to Sue for the lovely parchment card she made for myself and family on becoming a grandma to Evie-Grace my first grand child.It was beautiful and I may frame it as it is too lovely to put away in a box somewhere.Below is the card she made and you can see it is beautiful,it was graciously recieved.

This week I will ge giving a mini demo on how to make floral embellishments which do not cost the earth,but at the same time can be so effective, and can be used on so many projetcs.

I will bring along SAMPLES on how I have used them, and this perhaps will give some ideas on how to use them yourselves.
Below is a GENUINE VINTAGE TEACUP SET which I have made into a sweet pincushion, and have embellished with the paper roses which I will be making for you at our next meetup.

In the coming weeks I will be making this TEACUP(see below) as a "CRAFT A LONG SESSION" which I will tell you all about at the meeting and in the blog in the week.

If anyone is interested in making this just let me know, or remind at the group so I can let you have all the information about it.

Our newsletter will hopefully be put together for the 13th March Session,so if anyone knows of any good crafting type shops including wool,materials etc just let us know.
This could also be any good websites, as so many people shop on line these days.
If you could email them over ,or jot them down on a piece of paper for our next meetup we will make sure they are added to the newsletter.

Off to have my lunch now so will speak again soon,but please come back and visit us.
Why not add a comment at the end of this post just so we know we are not talking to ourselves.
 If you would like to add a comment, but are struggling just drop us a line and of course we will always help you.

Take Care

Jackie x

Nearly Vintage Craft Magazine (2004 Practical Crafts Mag)

Hello Friends new and old   (Jackie here)

Thought I would give you all a bit of a chuckle ,especially as it is nearly a new year.As you may have read I have been crafting for many years now, and have been seriously papercrafting from abput 2004.

This was the year that I thought I would have a go at stamping and heat embossing.Well how things have moved on since then,I used to heat set my powders over the gas ring as I had never heard of heat guns at that point.Where they around then ,I would love to know?

I suppose I am a bit of a hoarder,and have kept the very first craft magazine that I bought in 2004 ,all in tact even with the FREEBIE still attached to the front. I know I am a bit sad ,but I always keep anything to do with crafting.
Below is the magazine itself ,not too sure when it stopped being printed will have to do some research on that one in the next couple of days.

It was the November edition so I suppose I must have bought it for ideas,I am always on the look out for new ideas.How styles have changed from the decorations themselves to the style and the layout of the magazine.

I love the paper cut trees ,I know paper cuts are very much back in at the moment for all special occasions and are very popular for wedding invites.This would have been all done by hand,now all the new cutting cutting machines could do this in a minute or two.How times have moved on in eight years.

Hope you have enjoyed a little bit of nostalgia from the crafting world.I thought this was appropriate with the new year not many hours away.I wonder what the new year holds for the crafting year of 2013.
What do you think will be trendy ,I would love to hear your ideas so why not leave them in the comments box for us to have a look at.

TTFN
And all the very best for 2013 and look forward to chatting soon.

Off to have a go at one of my new cricut cartridges that I got for Christmas ,will post my makes once they are completed.

Sues New Baby(So Baby Crafts Are Needed.)

Hi All  (Jackie Here)

Where you all a bit curious about Sues news? Well the wonderful news is that Sue has a new baby in her family, and NO it is not Sue who has had the baby (I know Sue will be chuckling at this  thought heeee.......)

DAA DAA Sue is now a proud Nannie ,hope that it is what she said she was going to be called ,I am sure Sue will correct me If I am wrong.Sues daughter had a baby girl on Christmas day and weighed in just over 7 lbs sorry to too sure of the metric weight.I hope that Sue will send me over a photograph in the next week or so.
Sue is helping her daughter for a couple of weeeks, and I am sure her daughter will be most grateful for this as new  babies can be hard work.Sues daughter will appreciate mum taking care of new babe for a couple of hours so she can catch up on sleep.Everything always seems a little better when you are not sleep deprived doesn't it?

I have a relative whos birthday is on Christmas day and he has always hated it as he says he gets a raw deal when it comes to pressies ,as his are always the 2 in 1 presents,Christmas and birthday combined.
Mind you ,you just cannot choose when you are going to be born ,can you?

With our Wigan and Warrington craft group starting in the new year, we can now apply ourselves to learning new tecniques for personalised baby gifts.I will have to get my thinking head on for some of the demos which we could link into baby /children gift crafts.

Before I go may I just take this opportunity to congratulate both Sues daughter and partner on the birth of their new baby daughter, and to say congratulations to Sue in becoming a Nannie(check that one for you for next post)

The phone is ringing ,my little Westy is barking his head off at the phone ringing so will say good bye until tomorrow and I am off to answer the phone now.
I know its early,but night night to you all.

JUST A QUICK ONE....
Where you born on Christmas day or know somebody who was ,why not tell us how they feel about it as it would be so interesting to know their feelings about pressies etc..Tell us in the comment box below we would love to hear from you..

Now I am gone..........