Some lovely class makes

Time for a coffee and a breather in between work projects to update with some recent class projects and makes.
Classes have been very varied and included decorating calico pencil cases/make up bags and gift bags using a variety of techniques, mixed media, stitching and stamping.
Another card making class used a resist embossing technique which I will be blogging shortly.
What a fantastic selection of makes, aren't they all fabulous, well done everyone!
We now have a designated craft area at our local community library and meeting place with a lovely tearoom where classes are held.
Saturday classes are starting in February.
For details about any of our local events or classes please don't hesitate to get in touch
craftyk@hotmail.co.uk

Networking and the benefits of a craft experience

It's full steam ahead for 2018 with specific goals and targets planned.
One thing I am passionate about is promoting the benefits of a crafting experience, the sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes from creating a piece of artwork, whether you are an experienced crafter or a complete novice.
This year will see quite a few changes for me, like many I use various social platforms to share and talk about crafting.
One of these, Facebook, has made significant changes to the way our newsfeed is viewed.
Coincidently the focus going forward for me has been on branding and a new website where everything will be in one place. A complete makeover for my little business!
This has been a personal goal that I set myself going forward and it's very exciting to know that I've reached the target where this is currently being worked on.
It's taken time to get to the stage where this was right for me and also to know exactly what I wanted and what felt right and resonated with me.
I have dabbled myself in building websites previously but these things take time to get right and it isn't something I know enough about or have the skill to achieve what I'm looking for, so there comes a point where it's far better to delegate the task to a professional.

Opportunities have presented themselves that allow me to share my love of craft.
Last night I attended another local networking event where I chatted to many people from local businesses and charities about crafting and the benefits of a crafting experience.
The event was attended by the local Mayoress and it was lovely to speak to her about crafting too.
For whatever reason someone chooses to craft it should be an enjoyable experience, providing relaxing, calming and therapeutic emotions.
I don't very often talk about how I got into crafting as a career but, it came about from a period in my life that involved bullying in the workplace and unprofessional misconduct.
I was doing a job that I loved but that became impossible to continue with because of the unprofessional working environment that I found myself in.
I'd always crafted from a young child and with the total support of my family and friends I turned it into my career.
This is one of the reasons that I'm so passionate about promoting a positive and therapeutic experience when it comes to craft classes, workshops and demonstrations.
Turning my hobby into a career has been thoroughly positive achievement for me and it would not have happened had the unprofesionalism that preceded it not taken place.
Don't get me wrong it's not always easy and there can be many obstacles and hurdles along the way but if you're passionate about what you do and you love it, it shines through and gets you through.
There are many things I want to focus on this year so planning, preparation and focus are key.
These things I know, can be especially challenging at this time of year, it can be quite a low time for so many.
So I began by setting little goals, making notes and lists and gradually things are coming together nicely, it's still only January so I'm very pleased with progress so far.
Ticking jobs off the list and keeping focussed but allowing time for relaxation and a few treats too, its all about balance.
So onto some crafting and the first class of the year is on Sunday, it will be nice to catch up with the lovely ladies and spend a few hours chatting and creating over tea and cake.
Here's some samples of what we will be making.
Thanks so much for reading today, crafty hugs xKx

Warm and Cosy Love Place

It's so cold, I wanted to create a comforting, cosy looking card with a Valentine theme.
I used a piece of wood effect paper on a kraft card blank and layered with the pink embossed card.
The embossing folder I used for this is from a set of 2, Sizzix Texture Fade set "Holiday Knit"
These have been in my stash a long time I recently used them again for some of my Christmas cards.
I had a lot of interest in these cards and contact about the folders used.
The knitted look is fab and needn't just be for Christmas.

I the die cut the red and pink felt hearts and used 

Polly Allsorts Whimsical Street Sign stamp set to create the 

Love Place sign, adding wire and foam pads to mount on to the hearts.

The wood effect paper for the sign board was mounted on to a piece of card for strength and stamped with Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves ink, Love Place is stamped in the Pincone colour.

Once cut out, red wire was formed to shape and attached through holes made with a pokey tool.

Red ribbon has been threaded through a length of rustic ribbon and a bow tied to finish.

Polly Allsorts Whimsical products can be purchased here

I'm working from home today so I think a warming hot chocolate will be on the menu for this afternoon, keeping snug and warm.
If you have the awful flu that's is prevalent I hope you soon feel better and can avoid it if you haven't had it already.
Crafty Hugs xKx

A Whimsical World

New Year, New Home...

Today I have a Whimsical make to share, a mixed media card using stamps and stencils from Angela, designer, creator and owner of
Polly Allsorts

A new home card called The Mouse Box
I've used fussy cutting for this and incorporated my love of creating miniature scenes and displays.

Using the individual stamps from the A5 Street Signs stamp set, 22 individual stamps on a red rubber sheet.

I stamped the Ivy leaf and branch with Versafine Clair inks and sponge coloured with distress oxides, I also heat embossed some of the leaves for variation and used second and third generation stamping.
These elements were stamped and fussy cut to create the branches and leaf layout.

 The main coloured background was created blending distress oxides and adding water for the bleaching effect, this formed the main centre square and was mounted on to a Kraft card blank.
The Mouse Box was stamped onto the main street sign board using a stamp press tool to align.

I added hessian and string along the top of the card along with the ladybird and butterfly embellishments and layered punched hearts.
The New Home wording was stamped from the set.

Using the 6 x 6 Whimsical texture stencil I created a cobbled path, I love the fine detail it shows when used with texture paste. The mini toadstools are created using the same stencil and coloured with distress oxides. I've also used flower soft in green for a mossy/grass effect and for flower blossom on the side panel along with some flower stamens.

Corrugated card sits behind the branches either side.
I cut the triangle mouse from felt and added string for the tail.
A perfect new home for this cute little chap.

Angela and her creations feature in the current edition of
Making Cards Magazine and her Whimsical houses, stamps and stencils can be purchased here at her Etsy store.
New designs and creations are on the way...

Thanks for reading today, crafty hugs xKx

Who am I and what inspires me...

I have a very personal and special post to share today.
It's a culmination of my crafting history and what inspires me to craft.
From a very early age I utilised my love of crafting and loved nothing more than creating cards, gifts and keepsakes for family and friends.
Keepsakes that still hold special memories and are treasured and loved in the same way as they were given, from the heart and with the great pleasure I had in creating them.
The early creations may well have been assembled with crepe paper, cotton wool balls, empty toilet rolls and such like but this is where it all started.
My family have always supported my love of creativity and I have also enjoyed the immense learning curve as I developed my craft and eventually turned it into my career.
In more recent years I have learnt and developed techniques from those who inspire me, there are so so many talented people out there!
My passion for craft and these techniques have all come together for this project, it is decorated to tell the story of building the family tree. Putting pieces of the puzzle together bit by bit and it was my gift to my daughter for her 30th Birthday our "Family Tree"
Discovering who we are and unlocking the information over time, the wings represent those we have lost and my dad being in the Royal Air Force, each element has it's place and together tells the story.
This is what I like to do, capture stories and recreate them in my art.
I wanted the colour to be fitting for this keepsake, rich and decadent and it had to be in Jennifer's favourite colour of purple.
Imagination Crafts  Starlights and Alchemy Waxes worked just perfectly.
I commissioned a friend of mine, Krisha, who is a genealogist and runs her own business -
Ancestor Finder  to research our family history.
Wow! The discoveries are fascinating and it's very addictive!
It has also been a very emotional journey as it started back last year before mum passed away so the timing was even more poignant.
Krisha put in hours of research and I have to thank her so very much for doing such an amazing job of discovering "Who we are as a family"
The history that has unfolded for us is really special and will be treasured always.
We will never take for granted the poverty and hard work, time in the workhouse, the tragedy, WW1 respect and recognition and we will always treasure the memories, happiness and love.
Today I share an insight into these very special memories all contained in a folder I created along with the hours of research printed off, the family tree in book form, which I assembled, along with family photo's.
Have you researched your family tree, I'd love to know...
Thank you so much for visiting
Much love and hugs xKx

The Best of Friends!

Welcome to the weekend,
I'm so pleased it's here, yay! No alarm this morning and a scheduled blog post so I can relax after a hectic week.
Today I'm sharing a special gift and card I made for my best friend of over 30 years who celebrated her 60th Birthday last Sunday.
We met as next door neighbours around 35 years ago and have been friends ever since.
Our children grew up together and we've all been on some super holidays.
Shared lots of laughter and some tears along the way, we're like peas in a pod with our likes and dislikes and still enjoy our lunch dates as much as ever.
The distance between us now Kent to Hamphire doesn't keep us apart and we've faced life's up's and down's the best of mates together.
So I knew I wanted to make an extra special keepsake and after much deliberation this is what I came up with.
A Candy Box Crafts Notelet Box which of course can be any kind of keepsake or trinket box and a matching theme card.
I also used another of my favourite products, Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paints.
An idea based around the photo and on all things we love, vintage and feminine.
The photo was taken when we were on a weekend away together celebrating my 50th.
I had the little brass teacup and saucer, kettle and teapot charms in my stash and the oversized bottle top made the perfect tea tray for the card.
Happy days and Very Happy Friends!
Thank you for joining my reminiscing today,
Love and crafty hugs xKx

Portrait of an Icon

Hello lovely people,
Hope you had a good weekend and start to the week.
Over the weekend we were really spoilt with the weather here in Kent but the rain appeared again yesterday.

On Saturday I organised using the function tea room at mum's care home to do a surprise afternoon tea for her with my daughter, my big bro and my sister in law.
Mum did really well and it was lovely to be able to have some of the family together and catch up.
Then on Sunday I started to prep my work area for jobs I need to do this week and I cooked a curry before settling down in the evening to watch the long awaited last series of Downton.
Oh I was in my element, it was the start of the happy endings!

Yesterday my lovely daughter is took me to The National Potrait Gallery to see the exhibition - Portraits of an Icon The Audrey Hepburn Collection.
A fabulous treat!
Then we went to Jamie Oliver's Union Jack restaurant in Covent Garden and enjoyed a lovely meal.

Below I'm sharing a crafty collection I created featuring Audrey Hepburn.
She really was so captivating and inspiring and I hope you like the projects I created.
There's some further pics of postcards I picked up yesterday that I have crafty plans too.

Now it's back to work today, lots to do this week.
Hope you have a good day and I'll be back soon.
Crafty Hugs xKx