Hi All, Charlotte was unable to blog today so I am adding my "Curiosity shoppe" card stand. I hope you like as I really enjoyed making this one and think it is very different. Front: For this I cut and shaped a piece of A4 card and made it into a curved envelope style. Then I added the papers. I added hinges and metal bits from the shed to add the steampunk look.

Side: For this side I cut the man from the papers and curled him and added some foam pads to make him stand out.

Side: For this side I stamped on a domino and then added some Tim Holtz tissue tape.

For the stand I scored a piece of black card and added some Curiosity Shoppe stickers to prop up the card. Love and Bugsxxxxx

Hi all

Well i promised the ladies who came to the Steampunk flower class I would make a larger flower than the one we made in the workshop. So here is the card. I have used Olde Curiosity Shopp papers from Graphic 45 and love them. I have taken the picture in front of my sewing machine my new best friend. Hope you like ladies it was great fun. Love and bugs Andrea xxxxx

Linda's lovely cards

Hi all here are Linda's cards for this month. Fashion card

Bird card

Butterfly card

Paris card

The materials I have used to make these 4 cards are as follows: Kaiser Clear Stamps – Bonjour Tim Holtz Ticket Tape Distress Inks, Forest Green, Stormy Sky, Wild Honey Adirondak – Plum Memento Ink Graphic 45 – Glimpse of Paris and Feminine Heart Charms Doily PanPastel pastels – Violet Perfect Medium WOW Silver embossing powder Celebrate it – Handmade Decor Flowers What lovely cards Linda they are great thanks so much love and Bugsxxxxx

ALL DAY WORKSHOP - STONELEIGH

One Day workshop - Stoneleigh, Warwickshire June 16th 2012 Ali, from Ali-Craft, Lorraine from A1 Crafts and Clare this years UK Graphic 45 Design Team Member are holding a one day workshop and would love you to join them for some crafty fun and creativity. Date: Saturday 16th June 2012 Time: 10am to 5pm Location: Stoneleigh Village Hall, Warwickshire. Car parking at rear. Lunch: Please bring your won sandwiches Refreshments: Tea and coffee will be provided What to bring: Scissors, paper trimmer, black or brown ink pad. All other supplies will be provided for you on the day Cost: £28.00. Deposit £10.00 Shop: Ali Craft & A1 Crafts will be offering a shop at the event The workshops There are three, two hour workshops covering loads of techniques for you to enjoy during the day: Places are limited - to book a place just send Ali an email on alison.iain43yahoo.co.uk If you ‘d like more info, or have a question that hasn’t been covered in the blurb above just mail Clare at clarecharv@ntlworld.com. We’re looking forward to seeing you and having a fun day. Ali, Lorraine and Clare

Some lovely cards from Laura

Hi all


well the weather is rubbish and I have no enthusiasm what so ever! even the coffee didn't do it this morning.

I have some lovely cards from Laura to share with you all and yes they did cheer me up as they are lovely so here they are:

Blue Tic toc card


Recipe:

Kaisercraft Tic toc stamp
Blue card stock
scrap of gold card
Prima flowers
faded jeans distress ink
glossy accents
Kaisercraft word stamp
brad and gems

Cream bird card



Recipe:

Kaisercraft Tic toc stamp
distress inks: pumice stone, peeled paint, black soot and vintage photo.
bird punch
glossy accents

well I think they are great and show you two totally different ways in which the tic toc stamp can be used.
Love and bugsxxxxx

Welome to Laura on our design team

Hi all

A huge welcome to Laura on our design team. Just have to get a picture.
Laura has been crafting for many years and we here think she is great at it. Laura can turn any stamp into a card and they all have the wow factor. Laura demonstrates for stamping up and uses her knowledge to continue to produce excellent cards. we know you will love her work.

So here are three cards she has made:

Purple flowers postmarks card


Recipe

Kaisercraft Postmarks stamp
prima flowers
glossy accents
white card stock
distress inks: dusty concord and mustard seed
scraps of black card
tags

Decorative Lamp card



Recipe

Kaisercraft lamp stamp
kaisercraft word stamp
distress inks: dusty concord, mustard seed and peeled paint
butterfly punch
glossy accents
ribbon
gems

Red decorative lamp card



Recipe

white card stock
kaisercraft lamp stamp
red paper
black card
distress inks: faded jeans, dusty concord, peeled paint and fired brick
glossy accents
ribbon
flower stamp and words stamp

thanks Laura these cards are beautiful you can find most of the products used at Ali's the other bits are Laura's own.

So a great big welcome

love and bugs xxxxx

Papercraft Essentials editorial

Hi all

well it is freezing here! so so cold :(

I am very very happy this week I was featured in Papercraft Essentials magazine. The Studio came under "whats hot" well I think it is ! so heres the article :


so very very pleased and then Ali had an add in the magazine, I did the add so slowly getting the hang of the new computer!!



some great card ideas in the magazine so you will all have to go and get a copy

love and bugs xxxxxxx

Large Suitcase + Graphic45 papers

Hi Everyone

With all these great cards/houses from our Design Team, thought i had better do some crafting myself

So have used a Large Paper Mache Suitcase

!st step - painted in and out of suitcase with Gesso - did two coats in all. then left to dry






2nd Part

Using Fresco Finish Chalk Paint, i painted suitcase, doing two coats in total
When dry, i cut a strip from the GRAPHIC45 COMMUNIQUE 12x12 paper pad



All other pictures are from the 12x12 COMMUNIQUE Paper pad









FLOWER
Iain cut the flowers for me
Used Tim holtz Big Die Tattered flowers - cream card
Stamped over the flowers using a general image stamp, using red ink
Then shaped flowers, and used glossy accents to stick together




FINISHED SUITCASE




Hope you like the finished suitcase
ali x

Barbara's Tags

Hi all


As promised here are Barbara's fantastic tags. She has used Tim Holtz stamps and great masking and stencil work. Thanks Barbara.






Just getting ready for the stamp of the month class tomorrow still a few spaces if anyone wants to book on? check out Ali's website for times and prices.

Love and bugs xxxxxxx

Welcome to Barbara on our design team

Hi all

We would like to welcome Barbara to our design team (sorry a day late). Barbara demonstrates at a few of the shows for Ali-Craft. Barbara is a busy crafter, who loves to alter, stamp and create. You can follow Barbara on her blog at : http://iveartinmysoul.blogspot.co.uk/



Barbara has done an amazing house our fave here at the moment. It looks great and altered. Thanks Barbara x Barbara has used: fresco finish acrylic paints, graphic45 papers, tim holtz embellishments, and odds and ends she had

Looking fab


Top of house


Butterfly on spool




Loving the bottles and bits


Tomorrow I will blog Barbara's lovely tags

Love and bugsxxxxxxx

Fab Kids workshops

Not just for the Girls x



Hi all

well I must be mad!!?? over this holiday I have held a trial Kids workshop and it was great! The kids had so much fun and they went home very very happy. It was on the rainiest day so far af the holidays so great timing! My kids were there and had loads of fun too. It went so well I will be holding them in most holidays. The next one is nearly here!!! June, as there are two bank holidays that week I will only be having two. The places are limited and I ask a parent/ carer to stay.


The dates are:

Wednesday 6th June- mirror class- very messy and loads of fun. £6 per child.
Friday 8th June - Paper book - great fo a gift - £5 per child.

Just email me if you would like a place. As usual workshops are held at my studio in Bracebridge Heath.

Love and bugsxxxxxx

Stains Workshop

Hi all

Well Ali and I had a great day today doing the stains workshop. Thanks ladies. We showed lots of techniques using the stains and made some great cards. I loved all the different colours. We all enjoyed lots of chatter and homemade scones. Ali even sat in for the afternoon part lead by myself and hogged all the craft products!!! Here are some of the cards the ladies did. They are all great thanks again. Everyone can view all upcoming workshops on Ali-craft website.

Yes Ali's Orange card!


June's Card


Sally's Card


Ann's Card


Carol's Card


Audrey I see I have not got a piccy of your card, you must hide in that corner sorry honey x
Love and bugs xxxxx

Welcome to Charlotte

Hi all

I would like to welcome Charlotte to our design team. we are having four in all and each week I will introduce the fabby new members and I will post their work on a Monday.



Charlotte's profile:
My name is Charlotte Aylward but have been called "Possum" since birth, I live in the South Hams in Devon with my cat Milly in a house full of crafting materials. I have always crafted and come from a crafting Family. The crafts I have enjoyed over the years are Cross stitch, knitting, jewellery making, baking, sewing, paper crafts and at the moment I am learning to crochet. My main love is rubber stamping combined with use of my die cutting machines and my favourite are Cricut machines and my Tim Holtz Sizzix dies. I love the grunge look and all things Tim Holtz but also love very pretty designs so enjoy crafting both styles. I am looking forward to joining the Ali Craft design team.

And here is Charlotte's fab card:



Recipe:

From Ali Craft

Graphic 45 En Vogue 12" x 12" cardstock Double sided card both sides used
Graphic 45 Core Impressions Timeless Collection 12" x12" paper pad
Sizzix Sewing Room Die
Grunge Board
Scissor Charm
Distress Inks Walnut Stain & Vintage Photo

From my stash

8" x 8" ivory card
Black card, textured gold foil card
Black american seam binding
Papermania Scrabble tiles
Sizzix rosette dies
metal chain
metal button
brads
string of pearls
tutu netting
ball end head pin, crimp bead to hold beads in place
Swarovski Crystal Beads Black AB
Black and gold fine liners

We all think it is great here well done Charlotte

here is another card from Charlotte that Ali took a picture of during a show and I can't wait to see more of her work you will all agree it looks great!!


Love and bugsxxxxx