There's Nothing Like Learning Something New!

Hi there,

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to attend the CHSI show which is the UK's craft trade show.  I was lucky enough to spend the day doing wonderful workshops with the PaperArtsy crew.  You will have seen the projects shared by Sue, but if not, you can see them here.

Today I am sharing the other projects created.

The very first workshop of the day was run by Leandra who owns PaperArtsy with her husband Mark.  These guys are the geniuses behind the company.  For me, they were one of the first brands that I used when I started to craft and I have been hooked since!

Leandra showed us two projects using the amazing Sara Naumann range of stamps.  The PaperArtsy Fresco Acrylic Paints colour Grunge Paste perfectly.

I love the simplicity of these project.  Perfect for clean and simple projects as well as more distressed and grungy affairs.

The second project saw us use the fabulous new PaperArtsy brayer.

The project combined lots of techniques using the brayer and infusions.  I just adored creating these two cards.

Leandra was an amazing tutor.  She is so busy we don't get to see her in action very often, but when you do, wow!  Her teaching style is wonderful.  It was a great way to start the day!

I also had the privilege of completing a workshop with Raquel (aka ScrapCosy) before she finishes to start her maternity leave.  I have been lucky enough to do many a make and take and previous workshop with Raquel and so I knew I was in for a treat.

We created a tea journal using the amazing vintage stamps.  I have to say that I am a little bit in love with them.  

Raquel has the most wonderful and calm teaching style yet has the most innovative mind that I have come across in the crafting world.  Where Raquel gets her ideas from I will never know.

We were shown so many brilliant ways to use both Oxide re-inkers and Infusions.  In fact, I was so excited that I had to order some re-inkers as soon as I got home!!

I was totally engrossed in Raquel's workshop.  I loved every minute of it!

As you can see, the folk at PaperArtsy have some very clever ideas.  They are always coming up with fabulous ideas using their products.  You can see their full range here.

So, two totally different styles of projects, but very enjoyable using amazing products that you can buy in the online shop.

I hope that I have inspired you to get creative with some of these products - I would love to see what you create.

Thanks for joining me today.
Miriam

A Grand Day Out - Sue

Good morning and happy Sunday. Last week I was lucky enough to attend the Stitches show in Birmingham, which is a retail craft show. This was very exciting as I was going to spend the day taking PaperArsty classes, sat next to my teamie Miriam. It was a very early start, but as I was being chauffeur driven by my ever suffering husband that was OK.

We'd both seen who was attending the show, and it was a real treat for knitting, crocheting, and sewing enthusiasts, but not so much for papercrafters. Well what else could we do but spend the day with Leandra and all the PaperArtsy designers (yay!!)

There was a mini class to start with, and then it was the turn of Tracy Scott who is one of my favourite designers. This is what we made.

So Tracy showed us the project and said that we had about an 1hr 45mins to make it. This did scare me 'cos I'm a very slow crafter, but in fact it was a very relaxed class and we finished with time to spare. 

 I didn't take step by step photo's, and I'm not going to share the techniques as this is a class that Tracy teaches.

 These are the new stamps and stencil that I was given. There was a selection of her new releases on the table that we all shared. My set is TS24 and the stencil is PS124. 

The beautiful mandala stamp is ETS 23 and it's gone straight to the top of my wish list. Don't you love the texture that we made with the Gold Fresco paint. This was a new technique to me and is one I shall definitely be using again (and again, and again).

We then had a class with the wonderful Raquel (Scrapcosy) which Miriam will tell you more about. This was her last show before she goes on maternity leave and it was such fun and I learned loads.

Next was a class with Kay Carley. I've never taken a class with Kay before, so I was really looking forward to it.

 Again we had about 1hr 45 to make this, and this technique was definitely new to me. I stuck my dragonfly in the wrong place, and of course it refuses to move without taking the backing with it, so here it stays lol.

Again we used lots of new goodies, and some old favourite frescos. I'm not saying that I have a favourite, but if I did it would be bougainvillea  This was my stamp set and it has a matching stencil which I think is a brilliant idea.

This was a really intense class, packed with techniques that were all new to me so I really enjoyed it. Just pretend that the dragonfly has his tail pointing down, and that he's not covering up his stencilled younger brother doh!

So after a 3minute rest it was time for the final class of the day which was with JOFY. It's been a few years since I've taken a class with Jo so I was looking forward to it immensely.

 Now I must admit that this isn't quite what Jo's sample looked like, but we only had 45 mins so I did what I could and the rest went home in a paper bag to be finished off later lol.

 Again lovely new stamps and stencils. 

It's years since I've stamped in Gloss Glaze and I'd forgotten all about it, so it was great to re-visit this technique.

And now we were all done. In fact the show had closed ages ago, stalls had been packed up, and security were there to escort us out! I'd had a brilliant day and I'd love to do the same again next year hint hint.

Before I forget, Tracy Scott has a workshop at CVC Towers (Potton) on Thursday 6th June. If you can possibly make it you must you will have a brilliant time!

Please look out for Miriams post where she will tell you all about the other classes. Have a brilliant weekend, and thanks very much for looking x

Leaf and bugs birthday card - CAS Brenda style

If you've seen my work you'll know I don't do CAS style - I'm much more a vintage, shabby, grungy, industrial type artist but this came together with some salvage bits from leftover boxes plus a leaf die cut from the newly released Large Stems die from Sizzix and Tim Holtz. I also used the stitched circles, an old garden greens bigz die and the Entomology stamps and dies also all by Tim Holtz.

You'll probably recognise the latticework stencil design that I used on a piece of canvas paper and used to cut the stitched circle, this helped to create the focal point.

The large leaf stem was covered with embossing ink and sprinkled with the new lime mixed media powder from Ranger.

To create a little more interest I added the garden greens leaves and some stamped and die-cut bugs ......

.... and finished off with a happy birthday sentiment.

Can you tell I love Tim Holtz products?????

I know this is not true CAS style but it pleases me to get somewhere near it..

Thanks for looking.

hugs Brenda
xx
Bumblebees and Butterflies

Rusty Faceted Heart card - Brenda

I had a craft day with a friend recently and she brought over her new die which creates this fabulous heart shape and is one of the new range from Sizzix and Tim Holtz for the Chapter 1 release and out and in the shop now. I also used the fabulous new wildflower stems and fun large funky florals dies from the same release and the stacked deckle frames which I think were released last year.

To me there's nothing nicer than creams, whites and browns together and to help achieve the look I layered together (from the bottom) card , patterned paper patterned, faux shabby floorboards created with paints and inks and a deckled frame on the top.

The wildflower in the background was cut from media paper, acrylic watercoloured and distressed whilst the funky florals were cut from a piece of leftover card from sometime when I had experimented with layering acrylic paints to achieve the shabby look.

The faceted heart was also cut from a left over rust effect piece of card that has been lying in my bits box for ages - this box can be a mine of fabulous inspiration sometimes when an oddment and a die just fit together so perfectly.

The die cuts the multi-faceted shape with score lines which need to be folded and pushed into shape to get the design. You can see the wonderful height and dimension and as a card it is best given to the recipient by hand as it wouldn't survive the post in just an envelope.

I love the way the neutral palette becomes shabby with the textures and the scuffed floorboards, I must make some more pieces to be ready to use for more new creations.

Here you can see the top of the heart and how the rust enhances the contrast in the colour palette.

The same here with the lower part of the heart.

I'm looking forward to experimenting more with the heart shape to see how else I can use it.

Thanks for stopping by and if you like the new dies please go to the Country View Crafts shop website and search for new products for January 2019 to find them or click here.

See you again soon.

hugs Brenda xxx