A Labour of Love

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Minnie Muse

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Thank you for your continued support...x

A weekend catch up...

Hope you're having a lovely weekend.
I know many friends have been to Ally Pally craft show and spent way too much! Lol
We've been catching up on all the news, its one of my favourite venues especially when the the sun shines.
Work commitments meant I was not able to attend but maybe next time...
I've been busy finishing design projects for classes and events, I don't know where the time goes...
The next retail show I'll be at will be in May at Create It, Kent, with the lovely Angela at Polly Allsorts with all things Whimsical, projects and all sorts of makings...
I'll also be sharing lots of inspiration at The Range stores for Docrafts during May and crafting with lovely ladies at the craft classes, so it will be another busy month.

Now it's all change...
I am concentrating on the launch of Minnie Muse which will also incorporate a blog and that is where everything will continue, all in one place.
Minnie Mews...the home of musing...a place to meander for a while...
Relax...enjoy creativity and feel inspired...
Minnie Muse is the culmination a life long love of crafting...
Follow the journey and history so far as it unravels over the coming weeks...
I have lots to share with you...

Thank you for following my journey so far, I look forward to seeing those who continue to follow my passion when the new site goes live...

Hugs xKx 

Make Today Amazing...

Hope you're enjoying your Easter weekend, the weather has been a real mix, a lot of rain here and in Surrey and more snow for some of you I know.
Let's hope the sun will shine for us all soon, we could all do with some warm bright days but the lighter evenings are a real treat.
We have spent some time doing necessary jobs and relaxing in between.
Today I was able to completely relax and spent some time designing projects for craft classes which was really enjoyable especially as I didn't have to rush at all.
My choice for today was bright cheery designs and later this month I look forward to sharing the cards and techniques over on the
Craft Show Crafty Bloggers blog.
As a bit of a treat I enjoyed a glass of something while I was crafting away...
I recently discovered Edinburgh Gin, Rhubarb and Ginger liquer, add a slice of lemon and make into a long drink with ginger ale, cheers!
Enjoy your evening and a shorter working week ahead...xKx

Happy Easter

May your April be filled with gladness...xx
Just popping in to wish you all a very Happy Easter, filled with happiness, peace and love...xx
Don't forget to share your crafty makes, news and chat with us all over at
The Craft Show Crafty Bloggers  and on our Facebook Page

A quick catch up and a crafty tutorial

Hope you're week is going well, and you are hopefully looking forward to a shorter week with the Easter weekend approaching...
Just popping in quickly to share the link to my recent tutorial for
The Craft Show Crafty Bloggers.
It's been a busy week so I'm taking some time out tomorrow, I've been prepping for an upcoming class and makes behind the scenes that will be revealed in April
Now time to start thinking about dinner...have a good evening...xKx

The Craft Show and a crafty catch up...

Morning and a very warm welcome to our new followers, thank you for joining, it's so lovely to have you here.
Well that was another interesting weekend with the snow again, I hope you all managed to keep warm and had a safe journey if you had to travel.
When we had the last snowfall I had to cancel my Docrafts demo's and reschedule them for the weekend just gone. Who'd have thought we'd have yet more snowfall! I know many of you had to postpone and reorganise events and activities too.
Fortunately I managed to get to the stores and was made very welcome by the staff as always, and the customers who bravely ventured out.
It is lovely sharing ideas and inspiration at these events, I will be blogging a few makes and techniques as promised, thank you to those who visited and spent time at the demo's.
On the subject of sharing ideas and inspiration, have you managed to catch up with
The Craft Show on Facebook and their Youtube Channel ...
It's an online magazine show for the crafting community with demonstrations, guests, chat, competitions and audience interaction but best of all...No Selling!
A friendly and welcoming community to be a part of and there are exciting plans underway and opportunities to get involved so why not take a look, join in and subscribe to the channel to avoid missing out on the latest activities and news.
I am excited to say I will be getting involved and sharing blog posts, tutorials and chat along the way.
With that in mind I couldn't resist getting these gorgeous notebooks, that were available in store at the weekend, in readiness for jotting down my ideas and notes to share with you all. I do love stationery and I know many of you do too! It's an extension of my crafting obsession.
So I'll leave you with these inspirational quotes and a couple of cards made at the demo's using embossing folder backgrounds and the latest Xcut dies.
Have a good day, I'm off for coffee and a crafty catch up with friends this morning before getting back to the jobs on my crafty list...Karen x

Docrafts Moroccan Papermania Collection

There are lots of lush new goodies from Docrafts that I've had the pleasure of creating with for my next loop of demonstrations.
The first collection I've used is Moroccan Blue and Moroccan Haze, they are so lovely and everything coordinates wonderfully.

Circle cluster plaque for SamanthaKGifts

Here's a quick step by step for the circle cluster plaque made for SamanthaKGifts, Hochanda debut shows.
Using the medium long plaque and one of the circle clusters, both of which I quickly primed with gesso.

Then using a favourite technique I added some distressing, simply using the scourer part of a washing up sponge, far better than the use they are intended for!
The scourer is used to "dry brush" a couple of colours of DecoArt chalky finish paint, firstly in Yesteryear  and then Relic, drying in between colours.

I use and teach this technique frequently and find it produces great results for distressing effects.
The circle cluster and plaque edges were then coloured with a gold gilding wax before gluing the circle cluster on to the plaque.

These clusters just shouted out to be filled with various beads, gems, glitters and embellishments.
It was a fun project to create and makes a lovely decorative piece that would look great in any colour choices.

I finished with some twisted soft wire and threads to hang the plaque.

Sam will be back very soon with more amazing goodies and I will be blogging the rest of the pieces I made for the shows.
Do take a look at her website and blog for amazing MDF pieces and inspiration from the rest of the team.
xKx

Craft class candle wax resist technique

Today I'm sharing a step by step tutorial by request for a technique used recently at craft class.

It uses a wax candle to create a distressed resist background.

 Ingredients to complete the card include - Inkylicious Bigz Butterfly 1,
Sentiment stamps from Mama Makes, watercolour inspirations,
Spellbinders die set - card creator, curved borders 1,
Jeanine's Art Christmas Classics embossing folder - Christmas Tree.
I also used distress inks and Versafine Clair cheerful ink pad, these ink pads are a dream to stamp with, I love their vibrancy and clarity.
To start with I've used the embossing folder and cut a piece of glossy card to size.

Once the card was embossed I rubbed the whole surface with the side of a candle to apply wax to the surface, then on top of the wax surface blended distress ink with a smoothie sponge.
The colour used is Peacock Feathers.

Once finished inking, polish the whole area with a paper towel, this will reveal the embossed resist leaving a distressed background.

Place the stamp in position to decide where to cut the curved die through the card.

 Remove the stamp and use low tac tape or a magnetic shim to hold the die in place for cutting.

Stamp the butterfly onto smooth white card using the Versafine Clair.

Roughly cut round the butterfly edge and apply sellotape behind the antenna area, this will allow for easier detailed cutting, as the image has not been heat embossed which also makes cutting easier.

At this stage I also blended some Squeezed Lemonade distress ink over the stamped image.

Then fussy cut the butterfly. 

Mount the butterfly in position on the embossed, coloured card and glue in place.

Choose a sentiment to stamp and position the card pieces before gluing to determine how much space is needed for the stamped sentiment/s.

This is where a stamp press tool comes into it's own to stamp the sentiment/s in position on the card.

I stamped the sentiment with the Versafine Clair ink, look how crisp and vibrant the colour is.

 The embossed pieces can then be glued or taped into place

We had a lovely time using this technique at craft class and below are some more ideas and cards created in the class, aren't they all just fabulous!

Have a lovely day xKx 

Needle Felting technique class

Yesterday I had a great time attending a lovely beginners needle felting workshop run by Judy, who along with her sister Roz own
Woolly Felters.
Fabulous talent and awesome creations by both these ladies!
On my agenda this year is to fit in time for new activities and things that I say I must do that but never get around to doing!
It's was so good to actually attend a craft workshop for a change and learn a new skill, very refreshing!
Friends of mine had attended these classes and thoroughly recommended them and yesterday did not disappoint.
The class was called Wee Woolly Wonkies and we could choose a character to make in the 2 hour 30 minute class.
I chose to create a Hare.
Now I though I was going to be rubbish to be honest and was seriously worried about pricking my fingers!
My doubts diminished quite quickly and I was pleased and quite surprised with how I took to the technique with Judy's expert tuition and written instruction.
I started off and progressed quite quickly but then the perfectionist in me took over a bit so I didn't quite finish in class by my own choice.
I found the features quite tricky but once I got home I soon tinkered with my character and got him completed and was very happy with the result.
At the moment I'm in the middle of teaching myself some basic weaving techniques, another task that was on my to do list! Lol
I do have a plan with here this is all heading but that is for another day.
So without further ado let me introduce you to Harvey Hare, I'm going to show my age here and refer to the 1950's film staring James Stewart with Harvey the rabbit, but I've chosen to name my Hare Harvey, he has a character all of his own and I really am a little in love with my first needle felted creations.
Enjoy your weekend, crafty hugs xKx