Good Bye Lavender Lane xx

Evening Everyone
Today was my last ever class at Lavender Lane in Stoneleigh.

We had a lovely day using 2 different Hobby Art stamp sets, and I must confess to giving the ladies a sneak peek as to what Jenny will have on the TV tomorrow and Monday. (Sunday at 5pm and Monday 9am Create and Craft channel 671)

In the morning we used Snowy Christmas and decorators chalks and although this card was made using distress inks it was one of the samples that I shared with the ladies.
In the afternoon we used a different set Christmas House which was stamped, embossed and coloured.
This also enabled me to show the ladies how to make their own background paper using the ink left on their craft mats.
One of the ladies disliked the piece of background that she had created, even though I assured her that it would look completely different once it had been stamped on. Guess what, I ended up with homework!!
'If you like it so much Kim, you can take it home and do something with it.'
Well I have done my homework, unfortunately it got too dark to take any photos so you will have to check back tomorrow and see what I came up with.
I'm off to bed now, it's been a long and emotional day.
Nite nite
Love Kimx

The Battle of the Bums

Evening Everyone
Today was my penultimate day of classes at Lavender Lane.
It was lovely to see so many of the ladies that have attended there over the years.
Jane and June had set out the tables as best they could given that we had no idea of how many people were going to turn up.
We had made a pledge that we would try and fit in everyone that wanted to play, but as you can see it ended up as a bit of a tight squeeze and a 'Battle of the Bums'.

Fortunately everyone was very good humoured, and grown up about having to share equipment and having to queue at the embossing stations.

We had 11 ladies in the morning and 15 in the afternoon!!!!
There were very few finished cards but everyone seemed to enjoy painting with Pearlex, a spot of brayering, and Percy the Penguin.
I had decided to do 2 different Christmas classes featuring Hobby Art stamps, and Jenny very kindly lent me some extra stamp sets to use and samples to share so there were lots of ideas for everyone to see.

One of the stamps that we used was from the Butterfly Kisses Cottage Hill set.
I made this sample using Walnut Stain distress ink, and although not a Christmas card it highlights the Watercolour technique which I shared with the class.

I stamped the Cottages onto watercolour card using the distress ink pad and then used a waterbrush to 'pull' the colour from the image.
Stamp it in blue, add a bit of glitter and hey presto it's Christmas lol.
We will be meeting for one last time in October when we will be doing more Hobby Art Christmas classes.
By then there will be nothing left in the shop but the tables, and hopefully the kettle, so it should be much easier for everyone to manoeuvre.
Love and hugs
Kimx

Picture This

Evening Everyone
Another lovely day of teaching at Lavender Lane. I always have a wonderful time with my Saturday 'Groupies', lovely ladies who always manage to inspire me with their interpretation of my class.
A couple of the ladies even brought in some work to show me - cards that they had finished at home after a previous class. It is always so nice to see that they have gone home filled with inspiration to try out the techniques that they have learnt with me.

Today we spent the morning making a picture frame. The class was actually inspired by the large frame that I made for the April edition of Craft Stamper (see blog post here).
I made this smaller version with left over pieces from creating the original.

The ladies made their frames from a choice of Bazzil and background papers from the shop. They also added handmade flowers - the table fairly groaned under the weight of flower punches lol.

The little people in the picture are my youngest Grandchildren, I can assure you that they don't always look this cute and angelic!!
We also managed to get the dates for the next class schedule worked out, so all in all a very productive day.
Don't forget that Jenny from Hobby Art will be on Create and Craft tomorrow. (11am - 12midday and then 3pm - 4pm). I'm not sure exactly what she will be doing but I do know that is bound to be as informative as always. I also expect that a couple of my cards might manage to find there way in there.
Have a good weekend.
Love and hugs
Kimx

A little bit of padding

Morning All
Where has another week gone to?

I'm off to Lavender Lane this morning to teach. I will be showing them how to make Padded cards and Picture frames.

Padded cards seem to have become a bit of a trade mark of mine, along with my three little 'somethings' added to a card.

I'm afraid that the pictures don't show the true padded effect, but I hope you get the idea.

Of course we will be using Hobby Art stamps, I do like this Spring set. Lets hope we have some nice sunny weather to go with it.
Must post now before my lift arrives.
Happy Crafting
Love Kimx

A box full of Wonder

Evening Everyone
I've had a lovely day today at Lavender Lane teaching a very select group of ladies.

It was an all day class making a Stationery Box full of cards. Two of the ladies had already previously attended the class when we put it on last year, but wanted to do it again as they didn't want to give the first box away until they had made a second one lol.

This is what the wallet looks like when it is open. There is space for cards and envelopes, post-it notes, a pen, postage stamps, and gift tags or bookmarks.

This is the holder for the gift tags or bookmarks just above the postage stamp holder in the picture.

I have taught this class several times before and always try to make a new one using papers available in store at the time. Here I found some fabulous matching papers which I used with one of my nesties to embellish the panels. Of course a fine hand drawn border helps to add a finishing touch to each panel.

Any good box needs a lid and this one has both handmade and shop bought flowers on it.

We stopped for lunch once the box and basic lid had been made with the intention of making the cards to fill it in the afternoon. Because the ladies are all competent card makers I gave them the option to make a second box in the afternoon or to fill the first one with cards. They chose the former.
We were joined after lunch by Gill to make the cards to fill the box she made when the class was run previously. She hates making boxes and flowers so we were all tempted to say that we had changed the order of production and were making the box in the afternoon but we couldn't keep a straight face, besides she did bring us biscuits so we couldn't be mean to her could we?
Off to bed now, don't forget to watch Barbara tomorrow on Create and Craft channel 671 at 9am. I might just have to watch it in bed with a cup of coffee and a slice of toast. Well it will be Sunday and I do deserve one lie in lol.
Nite, nite.
Love and hugs
Kimx

The power of positive thinking.....

Evening Everyone
I've had a lovely first day at the Farnborough Show working for Lavender Lane. It's always a little hectic getting set up for a workshop and a demo - have I remembered everything!!!!!  And then there is that hour before the class starts where you can't really settle into doing anything. I just wandered around the stalls contemplating my next purchases, very dangerous lol.

This is a card that I made for the 'Acetate and Inks' class at Lavender Lane last Saturday. It uses my favourite Hobby Art - Anna's collection Just for You which I am also using on my workshops at Farnborough.
The workshop is actually 'Black and White with a hint of colour' but as the samples didn't get finished till 11.30pm yesterday evening you will forgive me if I don't have any piccies as yet.

 

The images have been stamped onto acetate and then the textured background has been made with Glossy Accents, dye based ink and crumpled copy paper. Once it is completely dry I have cut a shape using one of my Nesties. The green background paper has been stamped in each corner with brown versafine ink, as have the cream circles. The finishing touches are gold card stock and a border drawn with a fine black pen.

I am once again staying at 'Chez Till' where Chef Mike cooked lamb for dinner, my favourite :)

I am always made to feel so welcome, even though I'm sure I must put them out - prepping classes into the wee small hours doesn't exactly endear you to people although they never make me feel that it is a problem. Let's hope they don't talk about me too much when I leave!!!

Gill will be visiting the show tomorrow with a friend. We got her a ticket last year for the Sunday as a way of saying Thank You. Of course that day was cancelled due to the high winds so she is taking no chances this time lol.

So I have to say that my week has definitely finished in a better manner than it began.

Last Wednesday has got to count as one of the longest of my life as I waited for news on a close relative undergoing major surgery. I have never known a morning to drag so. 6 hours seemed like an eternity.

Everything has gone well so I am certainly feeling a little more relaxed now than I was a few days ago.

I'm afraid that I'm not at all religious but I do believe in the power of positive thinking and it seems to have worked it's magic on this occasion, thank goodness.

I'd better get some shut eye now as I have to do this all over again tomorrow - it's never as bad the second day.

Pop over and say Hi if you are at the show I would love to see you.

Have a great weekend.

Love and hugs to All

Kimx

Thank you........

Evening Everyone
Just a quick post tonight.
This card was made to display at the last show at Sandown, where I was demoing for Lavender Lane.

It has been made using the embossed resist technique, dye based inks and of course the Hobby Art Floral Sketch set, my second favourite clear stamp set.
Hope you like it.
Off to bed now, although this is really quite early for me.
Have a good night.
Love and hugs
Kimx

Dazzling Diamonds

Hi All
A bit later in the day than I had planned, but I've been a busy bunny.

As promised here are a couple of the cards that we made yesterday in the Dazzling diamonds class at Lavender Lane.
It was a very full class, so it was a bit of a 'Battle of the Bums' to get to the embossing station, but I think they all had a good time.
Gill was there so the coffee flowed freely, as did the conversation, she's always good for a laugh.

By the way, I really must thank her for putting me up at 'Chez Till' when I was demoing at the show in Sandown. Hopefully I wasn't too bad a house guest and the landlord will let me stay again at the end of next month for the show at Farnborough.
The cards all use the wonderful clear stamp set by Hobby Art Anna's Collection - Just for You. Unfortunately the dazzle doesn't show up very well in the photos but it is there I can assure you.

As I said I've been very busy. The next magazine project had to be finished as well as an Anniversary card for a friend at work to send. I'm obviously in diamond mode but I think it fits the bill quite nicely. Oh and I also made 7 Christmas cards, how sad is that lol.
Hope you've had a good weekend.
Better get things ready for work tomorrow.
Nite nite
Love and hugs
Kimx

A Black and White Cristmas.

Afternoon Everyone.
I can't believe that we are at the end of yet another week, where are they all disappearing to this year. Would you believe that in 16 weeks Christmas will be all over, how scary is that!!
I'm sorry that I have been missing for so long, I just can't seem to get motivated at the moment.
I am teaching at Lavender Lane tomorrow, A Black and White Christmas in the morning, and Acetates and Inks in the afternoon.

I always have a wonderful time teaching there, so I am sure that I will return to full motivation tomorrow.
My good friend Gill comes to the classes and can always be counted on for a laugh. I have to make sure that there is plenty of milk as the kettle is permanently on. She does like her coffee does our Gilly. I think she can even out drink me and that takes some doing :)
I thought that I would give you a sneak peek of a couple of the cards that we will be making tomorrow, and then try and share the others with you tomorrow evening, although I can't promise that that bit will happen. I always intend to blog when I get back after a class but some how the time just seems to get away from me, but I will try.

I have made the background for this card using acetate, inks and crumpled paper. I decided that I would use a peel-off and permanent marker pens just in case some of the ladies found stamping onto acetate a little daunting. Don't panic Shaz I did stamp and emboss on the other cards from the class lol.
I had better go now, its my night to cook, and I have to go back and do the cigarette count at work later, no rest for the wicked hey.
Love and hugs
Kimx

Cracked Glass Trees

Good Afternoon Everyone.
Who knew how useful babysitting the Grandchildren could be. We have cleaned and tidied and gone shopping - its amazing what the promise of a burger out can get little ones to do lol.
I am now sitting 'cinema style' in the front room watching Mulan. I just love that film, it's music is fantastic and what an excuse to watch it - I just HAD to cause the kids wanted it on!!!!
I had hoped to get a couple more cards finished from the peel-off class yesterday but small children and crafting don't really mix so Mulan won.Instead I will share the 'Cracked Glass' card that I showed everyone yesterday in the UTEE class. The nestie panel has been stamped, embossed and watercoloured and then several layers of UTEE have been added. Once it has cooled (putting it into the fridge or better still the freezer will speed this up) you can crack it. Be brave, the effect is lovely. Smudge brown ink over the entire panel and wipe off the excess. The ink settles into the cracks and gives it a wonderful aged look.
I am obviously going to have to brush up on my linguistic skills. As well as adding a clustrmap to my blog with the help of Gilly, I now also have a Geocounter.
I have always wanted to add something like this so that I could see where in the world people were visiting me from and I have to say that it has proved to be absolutely fascinating. I have set it up to e-mail me whenever there is a visit from a new city and I find opening e-mails has never been so exciting. Only today I have had a visit from someone in Russia - how cool is that!!
I so wish that I had set it up right at the start, but this blogging thing is definitely a learning experience, and I have learnt that you are definitely never too old to learn.
Anyway I had better get back to Mulan, my favourite song is on.
Hope you get some crafting done, I may do when everyone is in bed.
Love and hugs
Добрый вечер
Kimx

A family Affair

Hi All.
I would say Good Evening Ladies, but after having a young man on my class today I feel that it would be distincly unfair to generalize.
It was another lovely class, if somewhat a family affair since as well as Jane's nephew (the young man on the class) her daughter dropped in with her new baby, George. You forget just how small and adorable they are, and typically very contended with a clean nappy and full belly.
As well as cooing over the new arrival everyone managed to make some fabulous cards with UTEE.I have once again used Hobby Art stamps, including the wonderful clear greeting set.
The large pink 'card candy' has been made from scraps of stamped card and just finished it off nicely.
I had better get to bed now as I am on babysitting detail all day tomorrow. That will probably mean a very early start as I'm not sure that young children know what a lie in is, at least they don't seem to in our house anyway.
Have a good evening.
Love Kimx

Classes at Lavender Lane

Evening Everyone, thanks for stopping by.
I had a wonderful, if very small class on Wednesday evening since unfortunately two of the ladies were unable to make it.
Hope you are feeling better Patricia, look forward to seeing you next time.
I can't remember the other ladies name but I hope that her Mum is feeling better now too.I actually sat and made a card that evening which I was going to share with you as soon as I had added some bling, but I couldn't wrestle the laptop off the grandchildren yesterday so I will share that one with you at a later date.
I am teaching at Lavender Lane on Saturday and as you may have guessed from the sample one of the classes is on UTEE - Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel for the uncrafty amongst you.
This is just one of the different techniques that we will be doing. I've stamped into it having first added some mica powders. I'm not sure that the pictures do the card justice, but at least taking them in daylight has helped a little.
The second class is called Patchwork Peel-offs and was inspired by a technique that the lovely Lisa B http://lisabdesignsinspiration.blogspot.com/ showed me at Farnborough.
I am really looking forward to the classes, they are always fun when Gill is there. I will make sure the kettle is on Gilly don't worry lol.
Have a good evening.
Happy Stamping if you get the chance.
Hugs Kimx