A Day At Julie's

Just wanted to let you all know how my day at Julie's went. Early morning (6am!!) and an early train journey into London (or the outskirts at least). I bumped into Alex at the train station as we'd managed somehow to synchronize our arrivals.

After a bit of a chat, and the handing out of goodies, we got underway. Thankfully, they all liked their post-it note holders that I'd made for them (and they didn't fall to pieces in my bag, which I was rather worried about!!). But, I did forget to take a photograph of them, so girls, if you get a chance, please email me a couple of pictures so I can put them on here!

Alex had very kindly given us all one of her little boxes that was filled with chocolate. My dear hubby has been looking at it longingly but I'm blowed if I'm going to let him have them. I might just suck them a little every night so I can taste them but not actually eat them. They should last a while that way too!!! Darn this diabetes!!!

Alex had also assembled a card kit for us all in another beautifully constructed and decorated box. The card was a nice clean and simple design, using the gorgeous Papertrey Ink Damask stamp set (if only they would find a UK distributor/retailer, I'd snap them up in a moment, but with such exorbitant P&P charges, I could never justify the expense).

Anyway, having made my version of the card, I then proceeded to get inky finger prints (Versafine Vintage Sepia) all over it, which I had to disguise when I got home by sponging on the lightest brown colour from the Brilliance Tiramisu ink pad. I also failed to match up the border stamp in the centre of the gatefold!! I really should have a think before I commit anything to paper or card!!

Here is what I managed to create. I don't think it turned out that badly. The card blank was made from brown Kraft card, also available from Papertrey Ink, and brown gems were added to embellish the ornament image.



The second project I attempted was given to us by Julie's friend Lesley. She had prepared a pram template for us all to use, and this time we all managed to make completely different cards. Cutting the template out was the hardest part for some of us (wasn't it "stompy-feet Julie"), but we all produced lovely cards.

Here is my attempt!! I'm not sure what make of papers these are, but I thought they were perfect for a 'just in case' baby card, to keep for when you do need one!!

The Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder was used on the hood and the Fiskars Apron Lace border punch was used to create the lace trim. Craft Planet yellow glitter glue was added to the dots on the hood and along the top of the paper lace trim. A large Stampin' Up flower punch and a second smaller flower punch were used to create the layered flower in the top corner. The brad was originally pink, so was coloured using a green Copic marker and a blob of the yellow glitter glue.

Buttons from my stash were added to the wheels and the hood (when I got home), after threading them with green embroidery thread.

Alex very kindly did a demonstration of how to use the Copics to their best, so when/if I get around to buying any, I'll have more of an idea of how to get those great effects that so many of you all produce!!!

Also we all had a go at the monochrome look using the Tim Holtz Distress inks on a stamp and dragging the colour out, just as Alex had done on a Sarah Kay card she made last week. I decided to use the technique on one of the lovely house stamps from Papertrey Ink and the Weathered Wood ink. I haven't made the images into cards as yet, but will upload them when I have.

The rest of the day (and somehow there wasn't much more!) was spent stamping up each others various images that we had brought with us. Before we knew it, it was almost 7pm and we had to start tidying everything away.

Amazingly, that didn't take as long as we had anticipated, so we made our way back to the train station. We said our goodbyes (reluctantly) and headed off home. It was 10.45pm when I got home and was pretty bushed, but it was all worth it for an amazing day spent with friends - 'cos that's what you are girls!!! I never thought that two very special friends could be made through a forum, but they can and you are the proof!! Hopefully my move up north won't spell the end of our get-togethers. We'll have to figure a way around that! Not sure how big my new house is going to be, but maybe a weekend in Lincolnshire is on the cards.

Well, enough of all this soppy-ness! Hopefully I'll get around to uploading a few more cards tomorrow. Not sure which ones though. I'm still a bit behind on my uploads, so I might add a few of the anniversary cards I've been making.

Weekend Get-Together

OK - so I haven't uploaded the men's cards, but I've been far to busy. You see, I'm meeting up with a couple of friends from the docrafts forum on Saturday and I wanted to make them each a little gift, so I've been busy beavering away making them. I'll try and either scan them in or take some photos and upload the pictures next week (assuming I can find the cable to connect the camera to the laptop!!)

I'm really excited to see Jules and Alex again, and a friend of Jules is also coming along so I look forward to meeting her too.

This will also be my first post-diabetes solo trip so a bit nervous about that aspect of things, but I shall have my insulin and a snack with me to make sure I'm OK.

Well, got to go and put the finishing touches to my little gifts, then off to bed. Need to decide what stash to take with me and see if I can find my little cutting mat. I think it's in a box somewhere!!!

A Great Day of Stamping, Crafting and Making Friends

I meant to post this on Sunday but I had great problems with my Internet connection, and then I've just not had a chance to sit down and get on with it since.


Anyway, I'm talking about last Saturday - although the day actually started on the Friday as I didn't sleep at all on Friday night (believe me, this took its toll later on in the day!!)

I was up at 5.45am (I didn't realize there WERE two 5.45's in the day!), showered, dressed and in the car and heading for Newbury train station by 6.45am. I was on my first train at 7.05am and on my way to West Sussex. I only had one problem with the trains -probably due to the wrong sort of rain on the line, so missed my connection at Redhill, but thankfully I eventually arrived at Haywards Heath just 30 minutes later than anticipated.


There I was met by the lovely Alex (I sort of recognized her from her blog picture and was hoping I wasn't smiling like a mad person at a complete stranger!!) and from there we headed to the Glitter Pot where we met up with Julie and Sarah, who had made the trip from London and Surrey respectively. Michelle Saxon was there demonstrating the BIA and the Dreamkuts, and we all took notes as we all wanted to have a play with the BIA later on in the day. Having spent far too much money in The Glitterpot, we then headed off to Alex's house for an afternoon of crafting.


We all decided to get lunch out of the way, but not before some great gifts were exchanged. Alex gave us all some wonderful hand-made goody bags, each containing a lovely calendar, some stamped images from the new Magnolia Christmas collection, and some beautiful papers. Julie had made us all a lovely book of papers, made with her BIA,




here is the book she gave to me:




and Sarah gave us all a box of Belgian Praline chocolates (one of my favourites!)


After lunch, we decided to make the most of Alex's graphic design background and get her to give us all a crash course on using the Copic Markers. When used properly, the effects really are amazing. The colours are so vibrant and they blend beautifully - but, only when done properly!! I think I'd want to practise a bit more before I committed to spending all that money on them.


After our colouring lesson, we all took advantage of Alex's amazing collection of stamps and started stamping some images out. This was accompanied by a delicious Donauwellen cake that Alex had made herself, and reminded me of 'Kaffee and Kuchen' when I lived in Germany. I love all those rich German cakes and this was no exception.


Then, with the exception of Julie who made a start on her calendar, we all started to make mini books following the instructions given by Michelle Saxon earlier in the day (although of course there's always one person who manages to mess their design up completely due to not paying attention - stop pointing fingers at me!! :}).


At about 5pm, my eyes started to get very sore and itchy, no doubt a result of the fact that I hadn't slept the night before!!


Unfortunately, the day had to come to an end. Julie and Sarah bid their farewells at 6pm and headed home. I stayed a bit later as my train wasn't until 7.30pm. Alex dropped me off at the train station and we both expressed our hopes that we'd be able to do this all again!! I have to admit I really enjoyed the day and would love to do it all again, but it was a very long and tiring day!!


Thankfully all my trains were on time on the way home. I almost missed getting off the train at Gatwick but realized just in time where I was and managed to jump off. I didn't fall asleep at all on the journey home amazingly, and was picked up from Newbury station by my lovely hubby at 10.20pm.

If I ever manage to sort out my mini book I'll post a picture of it on here for you.