Ally Pally April 2014

For those none the wiser, I'm talking about Alexander Palace Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show (BSSS) . An annual road trip for us crafting gals.
After a week of not having good health, plus entertaining the girls during their first week of the Easter holidays, it was a well deserved day out!
Many pennies spent, lots of stamps bought, cardstock, mdf blanks and a few dies later, 3pm came for our show and tell sit down. 
I'll be showcasing some off my purchases during the next few weeks as I am determined to use these items instead of them sitting around in my craft room! Lol. I'm even considering to do a haul video highlighting some of my favourite shops and the bargains that they offered during the shHiow. 
I was totally amazed of our British designers and suppliers of whom I'm determined to be supporting from now on.  There has been too many years where us crafters have coveted US items and waited patiently (or sometimes not so patiently) for them to arrive in the UK. It is very exciting times for us all in the UK!
Any hows, crafty item today is the thank you card that I gave my friend Janina for driving us there and back.  And a bonus photo of a very tired Emma & Karen after a long day of traipsing around all the stalls... Looking forward to next year already!

Creative Palette

NEW TOY ALERT!
It was Karen's birthday so we decided to treat ourselves to something each!  Well I thought that it was a good enough excuse!

Stampendous have brought the creative pallette a see through A4 clear sheet that you can apply mediums to and pull off 'prints' A bit like the Gelli plate, but cheaper! Lol always one for a bargain.

We originally played with Karen's paperartsy fresco paints, but they didn't seem to be successful even with an extender, but when I got home I had a play with some acrylics that I had to hand, namely, my Adirondack paint daubers pictured below.

I had fun with the girls with a few prints and now that I've played more am looking forward to i) making something with these sheets & ii) making more! Lol
Enjoy x

Scrapbooking@Craftability

Well another month has passed and another chance to share my talents with the girls at Craftability.
In the shop there were some new Authentique papers in a mix of ble and yellow, I really wanted to use them so put this layout together. 
We used spritzers to add colour to the base white in the top right and bottom left hand colour.  I was quite impressed in how they jumped into the challenge.
I added several diecuts for added interest using my own memory box and sizzix dies as well as some eksuccess flower punches.
The main patterned pieces were placed as matts behind our photos.
The title was split between stamped, hand written and a diecut on the cricut.
Enjoy!

The Cutest Baby Hats

.... even if I do say so myself!

My friend Rachel is due with her second baby girl today.  I am sending her positive labour vibes and hopefully her bundle of joy will arrive very soon so the family can meet her!  Not only that, but Rachel is having to inject herself every day and will do for 6 weeks post birth due to a rare blood condition that Rachel has.  I know that this bundle of joy had been extremely longed for! 
Anyway, I've been busy making some hats for her (oh I look forward to knowing her name!) Both made from cotton yarn. One is a cool summer hat and the other a diddy bonnet with a flower accessory.

It was a sunny Sunday

So, I managed to finish the shawl off, I cant show it, I must resist showing the whole thing as it is what is called a CAL (crochet a long) and this one is done in the stages, basically the pattern is given in the stages !  Don't want to give the game away do I! I can show instead a daily I made last Monday whilst Molly was off poorly..  I saw a pin on Pinterest which was a Russian pattern in the form of a diagram, so I bit the bullet and attempted it!  All in all it took my  @  around 2 hours, I might be making some diddy coasters similar!

So, yesterday it was gorgeous!  The girls were out playing, I bought some plants last week, Rob planted them for me and started tidying up the garden.  SPRING HAS SPRUNG! I'm excited!

Saturday's creation(ing)

So, Thursday night, browsing ye old Facebook, Rohn Strong (US crochet designer) was asking for people to help him out.  Having finished my blanket, completed a doily and Sarah's hard drive case, I thought why not. 
So Friday morning I received an email with top secret instructions of three clues.  I'm almost finished clue 2 now.  Haven't got a clue if what I'm doing is ok., but hey ho... Has kept me out of mischief I guess.  We can't show the completed project until March 18th, but I can keep you in suspense can't i?! Lol... Call me mean.
So with my back giving me problems again, I've been layed up - crocheting lasting down isn't much fun (read pins & needles!) But I've succeeded in short spurts.

YOU LIKEY?

More YouTube watching.

Julie Fei Fan Balzar is renowned in the stencilling world for some beautiful designs, most I know of are endorsed through Crafters Workshop.  I love her whimsical designs, versatility and patterns that they create.
I also love how she doesn't just use her stencils, templates or masks solely for mixed media like other artists, but encourages others to use their newly created backgrounds to be used with cards and scrapbook pages alike. A GIRL AFTER MY OWN HEART! Those who have taken my classes know that this is a huge passion of mine! 
Anyway, to my delight, I found out that Julie does live broadcasts demonstrating her techniques... I got totally lost watching a few, but had to stop as my head was starting to explode with envisaging how I could use the stencils that I own.. needless to say the creative juices began to flow!

Here's the link to Balzer Designs blog entry that I watched.  The video link is at the bottom of the entry..

New start.. again!

Why give something up for lent?
They say that it takes 40 days to break a habit... So, me being me, I'm going to flip this saying and start my new habit.
I've been off the radar for a long time, both crafty & life in general.  Don't ask why, it's just how I cope.
I don't care if this is not going to be huge, but rather a virtual diary for myself.  My day to day craftiness, creativity & general chatting.

YOUTUBE
Since being bed bound for far too long, I've developed a fascination with YouTube... Just love it! I want to log what I have been watching, learning and what had inspired me each day.
I'm hoping that documenting my daily 'doings' will also act as a memory board for me and inspire me to make something dare I say... Each day?! Well if not irl, in my mind.... Lol!

So, without further ado, what I perused this a.m.
Stencils!

Using stencils

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxGAbJpq5TY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Twisted greeting card

I've been playing today. As soon as I saw this card, I wanted to make it!
Kelly from Always Stampin' made her first video tutorial & I can honestly say I've never seen this style of card before.
It fits into a normal C5 envelope.
I used the new cannery framelits set (127822), perfectly preserved stamp set (126692) along with the new yummy autumn paper from the new autumn/winter mini.

Card Class July 2012

We had a lovely evening last night creating & chatting. A few new faces came along, Janice, Emma & Karen. It was lovely to see them having fun & making new friends.
In all, we made 4 cards, here are 3 of Tracey's & I'll take a pic of the last one and put it on later.
We used the new Simply Scored to score the cards & make a medallion. It really is such a handy tool. I actually sit a cutting mat on top & use it as a firm base to stamp & colour on! So its also a mini desk for me! A couple of the girls ordered the whole set last night, which came to £48, so they will also each receive the customer offer for this month & get a tub of beads & 2 reels of ribbon.
I'll put some instructions on for the cards later too, I loved making this class! I have another group if ladies making them next week, so if you are interested, let me know & I can make you a set up too!

Crafty Hugs,
Emma x x

Up, up & away..

Here is another card from card class, loving masking off cards to create a dimensional, but one layer card!
I really like the hot air balloon stamp set, so simply & effective. It's the little stamps which really add to the card, like the birds & clouds.
Love it!

New Summer Mini

I just thought I would share a few if my cards from my May class. Most items are from the new summer mini, but mire importantly, its the new techniques that I've taught which grab me the most!
The first is using a lovely new flower punch, which I am sure will be a firm favourite of mine!
The new twitterpated papers are divine! And almost make up for losing the adorable saleabration papers!
I love the peekaboo style of this card, & certainly wowed the ladies in class.
If you are interested in.coming along to future classes please get in touch. They are held the first Tuesday of the month on the west side of Ipswich. I have a few free spaces, and it would be lovely to meet some new faces.

Crafty hugs,
Emma x

Bordering on Romance

My new best friend!
This is a stampset was part of a bundle on preorder that we got at a reduced rate. I went for it of course (who doesn't like a bargain?) But because I love the Twitterpated Suite, and HAD to have to fabric & paper.
Anyhoo... with not being my most liked stampset (Bordering on Romance), it is now high up there! It is so versatile, has so many combining products & most importantly, I have loved colouring the images in!
Here is the card we made last week in our class. Incorporating the new framelits & edglits die set. Simply divine!

Congratulations Ben & Liz.

I have been away with Sarah over the bank holiday weekend to see my eldest cousin Ben get married to Liz. It was such a lovely day out, meeting friends & relatives old & new.
Anyway, I adapted a class card to give to the newlyweds to congratulate them both.
I am really loving the one colour cards at the moment. I have a plan to make a page layout on this theme too.

Don't faint.. I have been playing!

Not for anything in particular, but just because I wanted to!
There is a challenge on the Stampin' Up! UK facebook page to use some of the spiced parsley dsp. 
I have to admit now that I am slightly addicted to pinterest right now & saw this idea of decorating pegs. So that's where the idea has come from.
It was fun to do. I will use it in a couple of weeks to display cards from a string. More photos then I hope!
Well, I didn't stop there, I also cased a SAB card, with a little extra detail of the riding hood red punched detail along the edge of the dsp.
Hope you like! I've also been scrapbooking today, so maybe I'll trump my offerings and have 3 things on today that I have made.

Bye for now,
Emma x

Happy Valentine's Day

I wish you all much love & happiness on this day of love. X x x
May today be a happy day for you all.x
I want to share some lovely artwork by my lovely loyal customer Maria, it really pleases me when my ladies show me their artwork, especially using the items that they have purchased from me.
If you would like to join as one of my customers or my growing team of demonstrators, please email me for more information on my classes, workshops and new starter pack.
emma.joyner@ntlworld.com

More to follow tomorrow,
Hugs
Emma x

Craft fair goodies

A couple of diaries that Ive covered, similar to one I received from Jenny. Theyve been flying out! Brilliant idea, Ive also covered a sketch pad for a uni student.
More cards and goodies for tomorrow and presents for the end of the week. And a little pressie for my lovely team and special customers.
Hugs for now,
Emma xx

Distressing fun.

Last night I went along to a technique class and had so much fun! Nothing to do with stampin' up! But stamping is stamping.... Isn't it!?
The techniques were fab, starting at the basics, blending inks together, and exploring resist effects. It was a fun messy, ink evening.
Despite scrubbing my fingers - (after wearing gloves..) I still have red orange fingers this morning.
Anyway, got me thinking... I have the perfect stamps to do this technique, so.... I've just had a play and came up with this little 'tag' I'll probably use it for some cards for next week...

Products used were:
French Foliage
Distressing kit (the inks in this kit are Fab !!)
Marina Mist
Pacific point
Baja breeze
Whisper white cs