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