Or is it afternoon………last night I decided I need a little relaxing me time…… So I ventured into my first ever laminated cotton project! It’s a nightmare to work with and was not all relaxing….. There a couple of tiny bits I would have liked to turn out better but overall I am chuffed to little pieces with my new laminate cotton tote…… This will be perfect for all sorts of things, the beach, picnics, shopping, and when I’m down at the shopping channel carting all my make-up, shoes, clothes and stuff around with me
I’ve lined it with a lovely heavy weight cotton, I love turquoise and polka dots so this was perfect
I might need a little rest before I try another one but I am already planning different sizes and shapes for all kinds of different uses, I am now off to get lots of preparation for the pick of the week on Friday done, it’s gorgeous and you are going to love it!
After the huge success of our Frou Frou launch, I had a me day Yesterday, a very lazy do nothing but please myself day, lie in, breakfast and a day full of sewing – Bliss
I used another precious piece of my Cath Kidston fabric that my gorgeous son bought for my Birthday…… I say another piece but I can’t actually remember if I have shown you my first creation yet! So let’s start at the beginning, it is after all, a very good place to start!
Last week, just before I headed down to Peterborough for the eBosser potd and launch our brand new embossalicious folders I decided I “needed” a new make-up bag, so I rifled in my rapidly expanding stash of fabric, and decided the occasion was mighty enough to warrant cutting in to not one out but two pieces of my special Cath Kidston fabric!
I love it….. I was so proud, my zip is perfect, the lining, (which I was very extravagant with) is also Cath Kidston, I used my previous knowledge of boxing a base and deviated from Debbie’s pattern slightly, added a light wadding for structure, then raided my embellishment stash and found perfect lace an ribbon to finish it off, this is a make-up bag I am not afraid to get out in public!
So while all this was happening Ms Shore uploaded another you tube to make a bag with an edge to edge zip and handles! In my new proud inserting a zip moment, I accepted the challenge! And even decided on cutting into more precious Cath Kidston fabric! This is what I spent yesterday making and I love it so much, I now have a big toiletries bag to go with my make-up bag
This was more technical and a bit more of a challenge, it’s by no means perfect, and I’ve learned some valuable lessons for the next time I make one (which may be today!) but it’s my first attempt and so I am going to use it with pride
So I am off to see what else I can make with probably one of the best birthday presents I have ever had, my Cath Kidston fabric bundle
Have a wonderful Easter Monday whatever you are doing
Lx
Ps – you may be wondering why strawberries and cream for the title? Well the strawberry fabric if the larger bag got me thinking, about strawberries and cream mmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMMMM
I am so excited (again!) tonight I get to launch the Create and Craft Birthday event early with our Frou Frou Pick of the Week. How special is that? I feel like my feet have not touched the ground this week, as as soon as I was back from the fantastic Pick of the Day last week, I have been working with our new staff to each them all about fantastic Crafter’s Companion products
I wanted to show you why I love Frou Frou so much, so I have chosen my favourite Design Team projects to show you. All of their blog links can be found on the side bar on the right.
Frou Frou, is a little bit of something different from us, it’s what you have been asking us for, and it is Tres Chic
I have a lot to show you, so you may want to get a cuppa and some Chocolate to get you through to the end ……….
The first thing I must absolutely show you is this amazing bag Margaret Brown has made for me. She has printed onto iron on fabric ink jet transfer paper, ironed onto plain cotton and then sewn this whole bag just for me! the panel with my name has been made from the Serif Digi Kits, how amazing is this. If you want to see this in the flesh, you must tune in to my shows (all dates and times at the bottom of this post) because, I’ll be bringing it home with me
Then, my next favourite is this gob-smackingly gorgeous Cushion from Margaret (which may also have to come home with me ) – she has used the ink jet transfer paper again, and oh my goodness gracious me, wait till you see this in the flesh, I adore it!
next up (an in no particular order) is this fabulous Cocktail receipe book from Tracey Branscombe. I think it’s really clever and would be a perfect 21st Birthday present for a young girl about town (actually I am 43 and I would like this too )
This stunning creation from the CD by Lorraine Craig Mckie really does just show the elegance of the Frou Frou Collection, that lace paper in the backgroud is printed from the CD! I know Amamzing
I love this gorgeous little notebook by Joy Ferguson, it would make perfect little birthday gifts or stocking fillers, I know its something I would be very happy to carry around in my handbag for all those occasions when I need something to write on, and I can only find the back of an old receipt!
Any of you who are avid blog followers will know Edna Taylor, I am sure, she is such a talented crafter, this example below is no exception, and shows you one of the amazing Frou Frou stamps from this collection (and let me tell you here and now – the stamps are going to sell out, make no bones about it, they will not last, so you must tune in early and get them if you want them because they are stunning! ) - It also shows you one of the new features on our CD – Punchables I know how exciting, you have shapes/sentiments in 1inch, 1.5 inch and 2 inches circles so you can use your craft punches to punch them out – whooo hoooo – if you like them I can use them on more of our CD’s in the future – PS that amazing background paper is printed from the CD too!
Another of Edna’s fabulous creations below, and this one is made entirely using the Serif Digi Kits we will have on the shows – how gorgeous is this the the 3D dimension she has created using the different features in Serif is stunning I love it (check out the end of this post for a you tube link to show you how awesome the Frou Frou Digi Kits are )
Still with Edna, she has made two cards using one of my favourite images from the collection “poker face” one from the CD, and one using the stamp, both in the same colour ways, but I hope shows you how versatile this collection is, it all works together beautifully.
When I grow up I want to be Linda Hill. who is the most amazingly talented Colourist in the whole of the UK. The below two pictures are examples of what she has created with the Frou Frou stamps – I am speechless wait till you see them in the flesh.
Doreen has made this wonderful stepper card below – what I want you to pay particular attention to is the embellishments, crystal gems, velvet ribbon, feathers – all this and more will be available in our sparkle and fluff embellishment kit ……… WHAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAA wait till you see it
This card below is so stunning it takes my breath away. Donna Mosley has created this stunning easle card, and with the addition of the Enchanted Sprint Frame from our Die’sire range and all the embellishments from the CD too (including the amazing background paper) – It’s one I will be rushing to re-create for all my girl friends, it is Tres Chic!
Ok – I feel I need a little drum roll for this next one from Bianca Shervington. Bianca has used one of the stunning Frou Frou stamps, papers from the CD, lace Border and Qulling flower fro the Die’sire range and created this totally stunning creation, I keep just looking at this, because I love it so much – there are so many occasions and people I can use this for, including some of the males in the family, who would certainly appreciate a tray of cocktails from a beautiful girl like that – notice this stamped Frou Frou lady is holding a tray of drinks this time, she was holing a cake before! we have made it interchangeable on the stamp – BRILLIANT!
The last, and my no means least, two creations are from Ali Watson – who has completely summed up the whole look and feel of Frou Frou for me here, Elegant, sophisticated, stylish, grown up, Tres Chic, wonderfulness, this is a collection you need in your stash, trust me, it’s one you are going to keep diving in to.
So, as promised here are all the show times and the name of the Crafter’s Companion crew member who will be presenting the shows, all are on Create and Craft:
Thursday 28th 20:00 28-Mar CC– Leann
Friday 29th 12:00 29-Mar CC – Leann
Friday 29th 15:00 29-Mar CC – Leann
Friday 29th 17:00 29-Mar CC – Leann
Saturday 30th 08:00 30-Mar CC – Leann
Saturday 30th 13:00 30-Mar CC – Leann
Saturday 30th 18:00 30-Mar CC – Leann
Sunday 31st 13:00 31-Mar CC – Dawn
Sunday 31st 16:00 31-Mar CC – Dawn
Sunday 31st 18:00 31-Mar CC – Dawn
Monday 1st 09:00 01-Apr CC – Dawn
Monday 1st 12:00 01-Apr CC – Dawn
Monday 1st 17:00 01-Apr CC – Dawn
Tuesday 2nd 12:00 02-Apr CC – Dawn
Tuesday 2nd 17:00 02-Apr CC – Dawn
Thursday 2nd 11:00 04-Apr CC – Louisa
Friday 3rd 09:00 05-Apr CC - Louisa
…..and here is the link to the fabulous You Tube Clip showing you the amazing Frou Frou Serif Digi Kit Collection
My nephew Ryan had his first birthday this weekend and we had great fun spending time with him. I made his birthday card using our brand new party paws cd, as I thought little bamboo would be perfect ! However I had a dilemma! The image of bamboo sitting on the cupcake was perfect but the cupcake wrapper was pink! I wanted blue for Ryan……..
So I simply printed the image onto Neenah card and coloured over the pink wrapper with my Spectrum Noir pens, I used IB1, IB2, IB3 and BT7
…… You would never know it started out pink would you? I may be using this technique of altering CD toppers with my pens more in the future I love the result!
Today I have one of our 6×6 folders to share with you, it’s a lattice design, which when I showed my good friend Sheena D, she said was so useful and that she would be using it all the time for everything. So in her honour I’ve used her stunning butterfly and sentiment, with a few of swirls for good measure thrown in to
The folder was wiped with Victorian velvet ink then embossed the card through the ebosser, then distressed around the edges with Victorian velvet and aged mahogany distress inks, swirls stamped with the same two colour inks, butterfly stamped onto construction acetate with Stazon, and glittered on the back with dries clear collall PVA and glitter I’ve had for a century, or it feels like it, it’s and old technique but still one at I love
Guess what? Yep! It’s another my of my pick of the day demos so ill see you there 9pm tomorrow night, whoooooo I am so excited
I had myself a good old play yesterday and came up with a couple of creations I was actually quite proud of. This one is to say Thank You to all of you wonderful crafters out there in blogland, you keep me sane, make me smile and my job worthwhile – Thank YOU
Ok so if you know me, you will know that Roses are my favourite flower, all types of them, although I have a particular penchant for yellow ones . This, however, is and old English red rose, the type that smell amazing when you brush past them, I have several variety’s in my garden. I have made this using our Quillng flower dies, Rose Large and Rose Small, and also Blissful for the beautiful yellow centre of the flower. I have also used leaf 1 for the green leaves. having the Quilling dies, really does help you knock up one of these flowers in next to no time. With the help of the eBosser, this one took about 10 minutes from beginning to end, for something which such impact, I don’t think that’s half bad
I’ve created a faux picture frame effect by cutting aperture’s in different shades of red core’dinations card, the final top layer has been embossed using one of our new A4 embossing folders Floral Vine, I love this folder, when it’s sanded back I think it looks beautiful.
Here I am writing this post after a fab night out for lovely Louisa’s birthday. I have a bacon sarnie a large mug of builders tea, I’m sitting in the conservatory, the sun is shining and the birds are singing……it feels like spring is just around the corner…..
So I thought I’d share this card I have made using one of our brand new 6×6 folders, I love this style I think I may be designing more like this in the coming months
Lx
I’ve embossed onto a lovely pastel yellow from the tim holtz core’dination pad, sanded, matted onto a deeper yellow wrapped some organza around the band in the centre of the design and popped onto a white 6×6 card base
it’s finished with a sweet little daisy made with our Die’sire quilling dies, I’ve used small sunflower and stamen, again this will be one of my demos on the up-coming pick of the day on Wednesday 20th at 9pm, with the eBosser too
Morning everyone (actually it’s almost afternoon!)
So no doubt you will have seen, the fabulous sneak peeks from the Die’sire DT sneaking up all over the place, and I wanted to join in so I thought I’d take the opportunity to show you two of my favorite things from the up-coming Pick of the Day. I love my job!
If you read my blog regularly you will no doubt have realised how excited I get about our launches and when we bring you new and exciting stuff. Can I just tell you that my excitedness is OFF THE RADAR just now………. This Pick of the Day, is the one I have been looking forward too for sooooooo long
Not only do I have the eBosser on the show for the first time since it sold out in 14 minutes! But the most fantastic range of embossing folders and Quilling flower dies too.
So for this sneak peek, I have made a pretty little gift box in tones of pinks from the fabulous coredinations range.
I’ve used, possibly, my favourite embossing folder in the history of the world ever! the brand new A4 patchwork folder! I know I know your jaw has dropped and you are speechless at how beautiful it is
I am so proud of this new launch because the full range has been put together by me, for you, I’ve picked the sizes and designs that I want to use all the time, useful everyday, for all occasions, designs, which I am certain you are going to love. This Patchwork one is one of my proudest moments
These flowers are so easy to put together, for the camelia I have used camelia small and camelia large quilling dies. I rolled a small strip really tight to make the centre bud, I have then continued with one more strip of small and then large layers, it’s so quick and easy with the eBosser and our dies, because of the quality of the dies, and the even and continuous pressure of the eBosser you can cut two layers of core’dinations in one go! yes two!
The “carnations” have been made with the Marigold die each carnation is cut in one go as you only need two strips! I know! It’s hard believe but it’s true. To make them really look like carnations I have used the aged mahogany from the tag and inked the tips I think it works a treat to make them look like carnations
This is actually one of my demo’s for the Pick of the Day Shows, really looking forward to them and seeing you there, give me a wave, I’ll wave right back
So the last couple of nights I fancied something a little bit different and decided to indulge my new found love of sewing, I am really enjoying it. I had a piece of fabric which was given to me by a good friend John Bloodworth and I love it, it was screaming tote to me. So I set off last night with a pattern from a Cath Kidston book, then ignored several bits and just did my own thing! But it did give me the inspiration at least.
It’s a fabulous size, it would even fit a laptop in if I wanted…… Ill be using it as my TV bag, to carry my essentials in and out of the studios, face (make-up to the un-initiated), high shoes, hairspray, comfy shoes, chocolate and mini craft essential kit – I am wondering if I should make Sara one, I think she would like it in Cath Kidston fabric……..
I’ve lined the inside in a gorgeous vintage petrol blue heart design ….. and, get me……. made myself a phone pocket (I’ve trimmed off the loose thread, which I spotted after I had taken the photo, I was in such a rush I didn’t see it!)
My success and new addiction is in no short measure thanks to Debbie Shore who is a fantastic tutor, if you have not yet checked out her you tube’s, please do she is so inspirational and makes everything achievable…..
So I’ll leave you with this last picture, as I head off to plan my next project and give this bag a good iron
I have the greatest pleasure in announcing the successful Die’sire DT applicants, these are:
Lynne Kontou
Tracy Evans
Pops Morfitt
Kim Robertson
Clare Buswell
Sharon Hayes Callis
Competition was really tough, and the hardest job I have ever had to complete was go through each and everyone of the entries and make a decision. You are all such a hugely talented bunch of people, and I am overwhelmed by the hundreds of applications I received I personally have looked in detail and replied to every single one, as I wanted you all to know how much I appreciated your time and effort.
The DT call is now closed, and because I have been successful in finding the 6 people I needed the extended closing date of the 8th march will be closed from today.
I can not wait to see what they all come up with and we are really looking forward to providing you all with inspiration, hints tips and projects in abundance to support you all with our fantastic range of Die’sire products.
Join me in congratulating the ladies and welcoming them to this new and exciting Team.
Hi, and welcome to my blog space. I hope you enjoy your visit and come back again sometime. Hopefully you will see something to inspire or interest you but please do not copy the designs directly and claim them as your own work. Thank you, for your support.
Leann x
) – she has used the ink jet transfer paper again, and oh my goodness gracious me, wait till you see this in the flesh, I adore it!
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