All that Glitters

Well I've been working folks hard over the last couple of weeks, you've got to admit, making glitter look classy is a tall order but I think the ladies who have attended the Lovin' Ink workshops lately have made a fantastic job of it!

This is a little Diarama we've been working on, learning a multitude of ways to use glitter and of course Frantage - love it!
The rest of course is all die cuts - not a stamp or ink in sight, so unusual for me but thoroughly enjoyable.
Hope I didn't tax your patience too much ladies.

Looking forward to the next round of workshops where we'll be exploring ways of making your gift wrapping extra special!

X Michelle

Playing with Pan Pastels

I'm really looking forward to next weekend after a couple of days exploring and developing techniques using Pan Pastels.

Have a look at these technique tags I've made for the next workshop at
Samuel Taylors, Brighouse on Saturday 17th August.

Who knew they could be so versatile?
In the workshop I'll be teaching a multitude of techniques to help you get the best out of you pastels, if you haven't broken down and bought them yet, come join us to see if they are worth having! Make sure you bring your purse though, the richness of the colours, the ease of use and the endless possibilities will have you very quickly convinced!

To book the workshop phone 01484 401419. Be quick places are filling up!
X Michelle

More Blousy Blooms

Just want to show you more plays I've been having with the new Big Blooms from woodware. I made these for the demo day at Craft Range and loved every minute of the time spent making them, lots of experimenting and sprinkling!!!

Such a simple scrapbook page but so very effective. Those daisies set off the photo of my mum and her sister beautifully and needs very little embellishment. The phot says it all really.

A completely different way of using the stamps along with a frenzy of frantage. I must say I could take or leave this product at first, but having had more of a play I'm just wowed by what you can achieve with it.

I've been asked to do this card as a workshop so will be running it as a fFantage workshop on the 24th August at the Craft Range in Burnley


It promises to be an exciting playtime.
Well then, are you taken with these stamps? Have you bought any yet?

Just to tempt you a little more, here are a few more bits and pieces I"ve made with them

And I'm still not bored with them!
See you soon
X Michelle

What a week!

I sincerely hope none of you have been afflicted with the bugs that have hit our house over the last couple of weeks - it all started with me having a cold progressing to chest infection and then pleurisy followed by poor old Liam going down with the Norovirus and throwing up for the week, followed very quickly with Al's cold becoming a chest infection. Grassing is definitely a no go area!

Anyway I am on the mend now after a lovely week away and a well needed break from responsibility, and am raring to go!!

Before the dreaded lurgie hit I had a wonderful day with some amazing crafters at Samuel Taylor's in Brighouse, making tri shutter cards Avec le difference, what a lovely, relaxed day, spent in the company of lovely people.

Here's a sample of their makes

What a talented bunch!

Lovin' ink are running the same workshop on the 30th April at Samuel Taylors in Leeds - still a few places left if you're quick.

We've plenty of craftiliciuosness planned in the Embsay store too on the 4th May when we'll be playing with loads of ways to use distress stains ( how do you use yours?) and having fun with the new A4 embossing folders.

Not a good photo but if you look closely you'll see it's a a wall hanging with space for a little note pad and pen.

Ooo and I forgot! I've found some fabulous ink pads for stamping on fabric which you can set with an iron then colour in so the background and some of the embellishments are stamped and coloured on calico. Now doesn't that open up a whole new range of possibilities for your stamping - I cited!

Anyway I'm off to a spinning class now, I've always wanted to learn how to spin all the bundles of wool I've collected off the fields around Grassington.

Stay safe and do try to avoid all these horrid bugs that are about

Hope to see you soon

A more Masculine Approach

We've been at it again, inky fingers and inky papers abound, ready for our next workshops for Samuel Taylors at Roseville Street and Brighouse.

Cards with a masculine feel are always a challenge so we thought that these would inspire a few of you to give them a go. Not only I'd the stamping a more masculine feel but the 3D card is bound to get the men wondering "how did you do that"?

Here's the front of my sample

And here's Janet's

With Janet's inside

And mine

Just love the way we both set out with the same equipment but finish off with very different projects!
Throughout the workshop we will be showing you a great alternative to brayering to get that smooth inked effect, demonstrating perfect stamping techniques and giving you ideas for using stencil and embossing folders. A perfect intro to inking and stamping or a chance to hone those skills on a fabulous project, if you're an experienced crafter.

These workshops are running on 20th April at the Brighouse store
And 30th April at Roseville St, perfect for a pick me up from this bitterly cold weather!
More info here.

Hope you're managing to keep safe and warm
Hope to see you soon

Janet & Michelle

Starry Starry Night

There have been some beautiful starry nights lately and I've spent some lovely peaceful moments staring up into the night skies contemplating how small we really are, and thinking about the fab sentiment in my latest woodware stamp set.......

Thought I'd make a secret panel book for the next workshop at the Craft Range at Burnley

Had a great time playing with pan pastels and working out different techniques I could include in the workshop. Managed to fit in 4 different techniques as well as designing a new take on the secret panel card so that the picture is continuous. Can't wait to share it!

The workshop runs on the 12th April from 1pm till 4pm. Lets hope the bad weather is a distant memory by then!

In the meantime, have a fabulous Easter and enjoy the break.

X Michelle & Janet

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Well, the lovin' Ink Craft Retreat is almost upon us and Janet and I are busy sorting out last minute bits and pieces to get ready for the big day on Friday, when 14 lovely ladies will retreat to a beautiful converted chapel near Beamsley in the Yorkshire Dales for a full weekend of uninterrupted creativity! Just can't wait to get started!

I've spent the day today gathering up everything we need to start altering books by the dozen and have just landed home after picking up a car full of succulents.
Intrigued? Watch this space! We'll be posting pics throughout the weekend!

In the meantime we'd like to show you what we've been preparing for the next workshop at Samuel Taylors, Embsay......

Now I wonder how many of you like violets?..

You've probably already seen the photos of this little box around, inviting you to guess what we've filled it with, well here is the rest of the photo.....

Who remembers these?

My Niece works in a fab little olde worlde sweetshop in Skipton which I have been known to pop into from time to time, and when I saw these wonderful Spellbinders stamps I knew just what to do with them!

Here's a photo of the inside of the card too

This workshop is running on the 6th of April (details here) and even if you are not fond of eating Parma Violets (you either love 'em or hate 'em), the smell is divine!
I even wondered if I could use them as an embellishment so that my cards smelled of violets....what do you think?

Time to get on with more prep for the weekend me thinks, looking forward to seeing you all soon

X Michelle & Janet

March Giveaway

Isn't it always the case that if you start a project in class and don't get it finished, it stares at you, unfinished from your craft room shelf forever more?

That's been the case with this little treasure which Janet and I are offering as lovin' inks March giveaway pressie

These wonderful exploding boxes have been a recent workshop and have been so popular we thought we'd give you a chance to own your very own.
All you have to do is leave your name with Mr. linky below and we will draw the winner at the end of the month.

The inspiration for the boxes came from the most talented lady, Elaine, at Magic Boxes. check out her blog here and you'll see what I mean, she's truly inspirational!

Hope you're having a great crafty week
X Michelle & Janet

Just Right Violets

Our next workshop at Samuel Taylors in Embsay, is on 6th April and has been an absolute delight to prepare for. I've been lusting over the Just Right stamps for quite a while but as they are a tad on the expensive side have hesitated a little.

I will, however hesitate no longer!
Here's the sample I've been playing with

What a joy these stamps are to play with. I couldn't resist making this little treasure!

The box stands on four little feet and has this delightful box liner......and inside???

We've filled the box with Parma Violet sweets but it could equally hold some violet perfumed soap or tea lights.

During the class we will be exploring more ways to use Tim Holtz distress inks and Archival Inks, along with embossing folder techniques, to create this little box and matching card, a lovely present for someone special!

If you fancy joining us you can find all the info here
Don't hesitate as this workshop will fill up fast!

Hope to see you there
X Janet & Michelle

Stamping club

Today we have been practising our watercolouring skills whilst making a gorgeous Easter decoration.  We had 12 ladies here today but a few were not finished when I took the pictures.

All so beautiful don't you think?

and here is Michelles sample

Stamps are Some Bunny by stampin up with the Molly Blooms bunting to add to the look.

A lovely day with some lovely folks.

Janet

An Easter project with a touch of Old Fashioned Spring

 At Craftrange this month Michelle is hosting this class to make a cute little egg with an old fashioned feel. Gentle colouring and some fimo eggs give this a lovely look for Easter as a decoration or alternative gift to a chocolate egg.

If you fancy joining her then give Craftrange a ring on 01282 833091.  

The class is on Friday15th March 

1-4pm .

We have just got our date for our "do your own thing retreat" at Beamsley, Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire. 23rd-25th August 2013 with the option of staying over until Monday 26th.

If you would like to know more drop us an email at lovinink.lots@gmail.com

Back with the giveaway very soon .

Janet

Crafty Giveaway winner

Yep time to announce last months winner of this gorgeous postcard set made by Michelle.

So drum roll please...............

Random org has picked number 6 which is Debbie !

Well done Debbie - do email us on lovinink.lots@gmail .com with your address so we can post it on to you .Back with a new giveaway very soon.

Happy Crafting xx

March at Samuel Taylors

Janet and I had a lovely day last week getting the class samples for March ready. Amongst much tea and laughter we managed to get this little gift card box made using the fabulous Darcy stamp sets.

Such an amazing buy at just over £6 there is everything you need to make fabulous patterned papers along with text and lovely focal points.

We will be running the workshops on March 16th at Roseville Street (0113 2480044) and 26th March at the Brighouse store (01484 401419)

We'll be following on from February's class with different techniques for using your stamps and inks to make the little drawer and the cards to go inside.

Even if the day isn't bright these stamps are bound to bring a little sunshine to your life!

Bye for now
X Michelle & Janet

March Craft Retreat

Plans and samples are whizzing ahead for our fab craft retreat in March, menus planned, shopping ordered and samples made, jut a few finishing touches to add to the umpteen ways we intend to alter these fab books

It took some doing but I finally summoned up the courage to take my Stanley knife to these old novels to surprise anyone fool enough to be tempted to pick them up to read!

Here's the inside of the red book and here's the front of the blue one

Janet's alteration took on a life of it's own as it became a very personal memory of special people in her life

We've many more ideas for altering books so if you are booked on to the Craft Retreat, start looking for books to alter. If you've got a book in mind with a particular theme ie gardening, food, medical science etc, let us know and we can start collecting our stamps together! Really looking forward to this retreat, a chance to catch up with old friends and meet some new!

If you do fancy joining us, I think we have just one place left, so email us for details.

Hope to see you there
X Michelle

Stress Free Distress

The first of our new series of workshops kick off at Samuel Taylors, Embsay on the 2nd March with an introduction to using Distress Inks.

We'll be teaching you how to achieve that perfectly blended finish then working through a few ways to get that unique Tim Holtz look by spritzing, watercolour stamping and smooching!!

Teaming Distress Techniques with some fab little stamp sets seems to be a winning combination and you'll go home with a technique tag book too!

Hope you fancy joining us for what will be a smashing day trying to emulate the Master himself.

X Janet & Michelle