A G45 Workshop at Suzicraft Crafts

Curtain Call Guest Book - Graphic 45 

Hi every one, just a quick post to let you know Susan at Suzicrafts Crafts has invited me along to the shop to run a Graphic 45 workshop on Saturday 29th June.  We'll be making one of my Zig Zag albums. 

If you'd like to join in the fun and would like more information about the day just contact the shop direct on 01642 605117 or Susan on 07754 659780.

The shop address is:
5 Portrack Lane 
Stockton on Tees TS18 2XB 

I thought I'd add a shout out to Joan and Janella who I understand had a big shock in the shop today.  I am really coming up to see you all and will be bringing some of my altered projects that have featured on my blog and You Tube channel along with me.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

:-) C

Backgrounds Galore

Happy Wednesday everyone,

Congratulations to Sue the Iron, No 24 who was this months winner of the IndigoBlu blog challenge and scrummy prize.
Here's the link to her blog and wonderful altered heart.

A new monthly challenge starts today, and its all about "Beautiful Backgrounds".  Just click the link here for more info on how to enter and the prize this month.

I really loved making the sunflower card using the IndigoBlu stamps and took the theme a step further to make this altered gift box. The box is made out of chipboard 6 x 6 squares (the lid is a little larger), painted with black acrylic. Then I covered it with stamped white card panels, inked with Mowed Lawn and Vintage Photo distress ink and then stamped with black Versafine ink. Stamps used were:

Script Background
Crackleglaze Background
Sunflower
Nature 1 - Butterfly
Poppy Meadow - tag detail

I used yellow and orange Copic Ciao Markers and a walnut stain distress pen for the brown centre to colour the sunflower, and then added a few layers of glossy accent dots to the brown centre to give a textured finish.  I had to add a sprinkle of brown art glitter to finish it off lol!!

Let your imagination run wild, get out your inks, paints, pastels and stamps and have loads of fun getting creative :-)

Picture Perfect cards for all Occasion

Secret Garden Card - Graphic 45

Kelly's been busy again writing todays post over on the Graphic 45 blog. Click here to take a look at Susans Olde curiosity Shoppe easel card, Arlene's Little Darlings card and my card made from the new patterns and solids 6 x 6 pad that complements the Secret Garden collection. There's instructions on how to make it yourself too.

Happy crafting everyone :-)

Simple Home Decor with Graphic 45

Simple Home Decor with Graphic 45 

If your a G45 er you'll know that the gorgeous papers Diane and the team design are great to use to up cycle home decor pieces.  Simple projects are just as effective as those that have all the bells and whistles added :-).  Here's a wooden key cabinet I altered using two 8 x 8 papers from the French Country Collection and inky pool PaperArtsy fresco finish chalk acrylic paint.  It matched the inky blues in the paper perfectly.  It really doesn't take too long to transform an item into something you'd like to have around the home either.  

Happy paper crafting everyone :-) 

Have fun with Altered Art

Secret Garden Altered 8 x 8 Match Book Box - Graphic 45 

Happy Saturday everyone
Not the sunniest of days for May here in the UK but its not raining... yet!!!  Anyway as it's been a while since I shared a Graphic 45 project with you all I thought I'd take some pics of one of my demo pieces I made for the Create and Craft shows last weekend.  I went lilac using papers from the Secret Garden collection that matched perfectly with PaperArtsy's Pansy Fresco Finish chalk paint.  

First I altered the box by cutting along one of the lower edges of the outer cover, and then sticking the inner box down to the base.  I angled the two right hand edges and added a magnet (hidden under the papers) to keep the box closed.  then I painted it all over with Pansy paint and when dry used one of Ali Reeves Brick Wall masks and Brushed Corduroy distress ink to highlight the uncovered sides and inside cover of the box. 

The inside was covered with one piece of cream 12 x12 paper and the front decoration includes one of the new pockets and tags, hinges, stamped buttons, brads, staples ribbon, chipboard pieces, cut a parts and violet sprays cut out from the 12 x 12 paper.   
Here are a few close up shots. 

Have a great weekend :-) C

A fab day had by all

Getting Creative With Clare Charvill at a Graphic 45 Workshop

Hi everyone
Here are a few pics from our fabulous Graphic 45 workshop today in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.  It was lovely to meet you all. Andy and I would like to thank you all for making the day such a huge success.  We thoroughly enjoyed it.  What busy bees :-) I think we've caught every one hard at work int he pics below.

Sue, who runs the Redditch Craft Club was with us today.  Here's the link to their web site.   The club meets once a month, and if you fancy joining other crafters for a day of creativity just contact Sue at sue.gadd@redditchcraftclub.co.uksue.gadd@redditchcraftclub.co.uk.

Lovely to see all the ladies from the Moxley Massive Crop too.  Their fabulous crop runs on the first saturday of the month. If you're local and would like more info about the club just click this link.

I still have a few places left for my next Graphic 45 workshop on Saturday 6th July and IndigoBlu workshop on Saturday 3rd August .  For more info on both just click the link (top left) to my On Line Workshops and Events page.

Happy paper crafting everyone :-)

Just got home

Altered Gift Box - Various Graphic 45 Collections 

I'm just home after todays Graphic 45 sell out shows on Create and Craft TV.   It was great fun meeting and working with Hayley and Genevieve and meeting Emily the producer,  Di, Annaliese again and the rest of the floor crew who all did a great job packing up all my samples at the end of the day.  I've never know hours fly by so fast as they did today. 

Thanks also to every one who mailed into the shows. Lots of mails made their way into the cup but sadly there wasn't time to read them all out.

Congratulations Jean on winning the card which C & C will post out to you.  

Enjoy crafting with the papers and embellishments you've bought today and if you're in need of some inspiration, stop by my You Tube channel, the Graphic 45 blog and Pinterest 
board. 
Happy paper crafting everyone :-) 

Secret Garden Easel Card

Secret Garden Easel Card 

I'm back home after a fab break, and having washed and sorted out our bags am getting ready for the Graphic 45 shows on C & C next SaturdaySaturday.  Lol!!! am in need of another holiday.  Here's a sneak peek of one of the demo's I'll be doing.  An easel card made with the Secret Garden papers and embellishments. 
Happy crafting :-)  

Scrapbook Magic in Cornwall

Scrapbook Magic - Mullion Meadows, Mullion, Cornwall

If your holidaying in Cornwall and want to visit an amazing Scrap book shop call in and see Margaret (above right, with Cathie left and Bridget centre) and browse through her fabulous shop in Mullion.  Margaret stocks the largest collection of Tim Holtz dies in Cornwall,  Graphic 45, IndigoBlu as well as hundreds of other must have products by top suppliers for you to use in your projects however big or small.  

If you're too far away to call in why not visit her on line store at Scrapbook Magic.  If you can't see what you're looking for there give Margaret a ring and she'll try and find what you're after, and mail it out to you.   There's a bright and spacious workshop area and regular workshops are held in the shop each week. 

I'll be back in September to hold some Graphic 45 and IndigoBlu workshops with Margaret.  Details to follow over on the on line workshops and event page of my blog. 

It was lovely to meet you all today and look forward to seeing you again soon xx 

Happy crafting everyone :-) 

Steampunk Spells are upon us!

Steampunk Spells - Graphic 45

Here's the first sneak peek of the second mid season release from Graphic 45.  More pics and sneak peeks start over on their blog from Monday 6th May.  This one is a steampunk revival with a Halloween twist whoot whoot!!!!. Guess who can't wait to get her crafty hands on this :-)

Graphic 45 blog.

Happy paper crafting everyone :-)

Another beautiful day in Eden

What a week to be in Cornwall.  It's been a scorching 19 again today but instead of heading off to the beach we went upcountry to see what's been named the 8th wonder of the world - The Eden Project.  Born out of a hole in the ground back in 1997 this amazing place now houses the two biggest green houses (Biomes) in the world that take you on a journey through rain forrest and dry deserts, humidity and dry heat and showcases the most amazing plants that provide us with so much.  It was over 30 degrees in the Tropical biome and lovely to stand in front of the cold spray from the head of the waterfall.  Fab day had by all, and well worth a visit if your ever in Cornwall.  

 xC

Bohemian Bazzar - Graphic 45

Happy Wednesday every one 

If you've been waiting for the mid season release from Graphic 45, the wait is over. This collection is full of fabulously vibrant colours in true Bohemian style.  Sneak peeks are start today over on the G45 blog along with four "Win it before you can buy it" prize giveaways each day so don't forget to leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning yourself. . 

I wonder what we'll make with this collections :-)  .............

Cornwall here we come!!!!

St Ives - Cornwall 

Just a quick post before we head off to the end of the country and the gorgeous St Ives for a chilaxing week by the sea to say a huge  thank you to every one who's mailed, Facebooked and You Tubed me today with congrats messages.  I haven't managed to reply to them all so apologies if I haven't got back to you, but they are all much appreciated.  I'm so excited to have been selected back onto the Graphic 45 Design Team for another year. 

Have a great week all.  More posts and oodles of creative inspiration to follow .................... xC 

Little Darlings!!

I don't think I've ever made a pink baby card, so rather than going out and spending a fortune on something special I challenged myself to make one for friends that have just had their first baby.  
For this truly vintage looking card I used pink papers from the 12 x 12 Little Darlings collection along with cut aparts and cut out images mounted on an 8 x 8 kraft card.  

Little Darlings Baby Card - Graphic 45

Happy paper crafting everyone:-) C

IndigoBlu Forever 21 Blog Challenge 3

Happy 21st of the month everyone

If you love the quintessentially english IndigoBlu stamps you'll love the new blog challenge launched today, but first a big congratulations go out to Kerry and her entry No 12 that was randomly selected as the winner of our challenge No 2 - Words and Phrases.  Here's her gorgeous card and link to her blog.

IndigoBlu Forever 21 Challenge Winner - Kerry

Now for this months blog challenge.  For all the info you need to enter, details of how to upload the picture of your entry and the fabulous prize on offer this month click the link below.  

http://community.indigoblu.com/?tag=challenge

Here are some flowery ideas from Jo, Clare, Linda and myself (the Indigo Blubelles :-) 

Good luck and have fun creating your entry :-)

IndigoBlu Forever 21 Blog Challenge 2 - Last Day

Hi every one 

IndigoBlu Anenome Corner Card

Today's the last day of this months IndigoBlu "Forever 21" blog challenge.  This months theme is Words and Phrases so if you haven't entered yet and have some of the fabulous IndigoBlu stamps to hand, why not get creating and upload your entry before 8pm tonight.  Here's the link to the blog and all the info about entering and uploading your entry.  There's a fabulous prize for the lucky winner. 

http://community.indigoblu.com/?p=3338

Good luck !!