BOOK COVER WORKSHOP - 5TH OCTOBER 2013

This Saturday the workshop is all about making a lovely set of book covers using the Tando Book Cover kits designed by Neil Walker.... 

This is the class sample...

I used one cover to fit the front of my art journal.... (the kit comes with two sets of fronts, backing sheets and accompanying embelishments)

In the class you will be shown how to get the most out of the kit.  You will learning, or re-visiting, lots of technqiues, including paint resist, stencilling with paste and paint, using gilding wax, making flowers, dry embossing and lots more.... You can make a set of covers, or it you have a book or journal you'd like to use bring that along to class.  This class is suitable for all abilities as Carol talks you thro' each stage and is always willing to help you achieve a great finished product.

There are still places left so if you fancy doing something different, have a browse and buy in the shop with a great discount, click here to buy online or ring the shop.... if you have any questions or queries please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Prima Stamped Tags

One of our regular croppers and shop customers, Karen, has kindly designed a couple of tags for us using the gorgeous new Prima Marketing Girl Stamps we have in.

Karen has kept the design fairly simple, but to maximum effect, showing just how you can dress up your stamped images, and make good use of your scraps at the same time

By keeping the papers within the same manufacturers line, and adding fussy cut elements from each, she has perfectly coordinated designs on each. Karen has also added some ruffled lace to the bottom of the skirts for more texture and dimension.

You can find the whole range of Prima Doll Stamps here in our online shop. 

Don't forget to check out our range of workshops available for the rest of 2013 at our shop in Otley, on our website here.

Creating Texture Workshop

This Saturday, 28th September Lou will be holding a class at the shop in Otley. This workshop is all about creating texture on your craft projects, and the techniques learnt can be applied to Art Journals, Cards, Scrapbooking and Altered Art pieces. In fact it is suitable for crafters of all abilities.

You will leave with six chipboard tags, each decorated using a different technique, and a pretty, sturdy box to store them in. We will be playing with some of the newest products available in the shop, and all that is required for you to bring is your lunch and general crafting tools you like to use. We are a small friendly group and love to welcome new crafters.
Workshop attendees will also receive 10% discount in the shop on this day.

You may like to bring your own small photos to personalise each of your tags, or your favourite phrase stamps.

Simply contact us via email, Facebook or phone (01473 892195) to enquire or reserve your place.

See our website here for details of all of our workshops on offer.

I Heart Summer and Project Life ~ Our Summer

Now that the summer holidays are over and we are all getting back to normal I can now show you my 'our summer' project life pages featuring the I heart summer collection by Simple Stories. 

The photo above shows the products that I gathered together to use before starting this project. Supplies are as follows and can all be found in the shop here, although I have included links below too :) 

• Project Life Mini Kit
• Project Life Photo Pocket Pages
• Studio Calico Wood Veneer Shapes
• Simple Stories I heart Summer Collection
• American Crafts Stamp
• Washi Tape 
• Enamel Dots

After selecting the products that I was going to use, I then chose the photos. As I wanted to create a project life double page based on our summer holidays, I picked a random selection of my favorite pictures from the last 6 weeks. Size 6x4 horizontal and 3x2 vertical to fit in with the photo pockets as well as some smaller ones to add onto the project life cards. 

Before we go any further I will just say that I love the idea of project life, its a great way of simple scrapping. But I just can't commit to the traditional week by week approach to it. At the moment I use it to do pages like this to add something different to my albums. I have also used it in holiday albums (most recently Disney, when you just have so many photos!) But one year I would definitely like to challenge myself to use it in the 'proper' way.

So once I had decided where the project life cards, photos and simple stories journalling card elements were going to go I could then begin to add details to them. I used a corner rounder to round the corners of my photos and the journalling card elements to match with the project life cards.

I wanted to use some of the photo pocket spaces for specific events over the summer, so one was for a day trip to London and another for 'fun with friends' and I left a space for journalling on each side of the page. I added stickers from the 'expressions' and 'fundamentals' cardstock sticker sheets on to the photos as well as the project life cards. 

I hope I have inspired you to give project life a go, even if its not committing to the week by week approach. It can be used in other ways as well like I have with my 'project summer' pages.

Anna x

More from the August kit

This month the kit is packed with all sorts of great embellishments, I created a feminine page here and now I'm here to share with you the more masculine page I made

 

I loved the Polaroid frames, and on this layout I used them both as accents and to frame one of the smaller details on my picture, once again the tiny word stickers act both as a title and journaling to sum up my feelings about the photo.

I fussy cut some of the hexagons to create layers behind my photo and by using the blues/greens I think it gives the whole page a more "boy" feel to it.

You can find this kit here and of course any other supplies you need can be found in the shop

The Urban Traveler...

...That's the name of this collection from Simple Stories.

Simple Stories always have such fantastic and easy to use collections.
Fun and bright double sided papers like this.

Let's Go

They also include journaling card 12x12 papers which are great for scrapbooking, project life pages, cards and mini books. They make life so much easier.

Journaling Cards

Then there's also the Title, Border and Strip Elements. These are also wonderful to cut up and add to projects.

 Title, Border and Strip Elements

And then to top it off there's the 12x12 sticker sheets. Full of alpha's and cute stickers.

Expression Stickers

 

Can you see why I love Simple Stories so much?

I have made a LO to show you using this 'Urban Traveler' collection.
I wanted to capture a little road trip that we took during our trip to Florida last year.

These papers are so perfect.
I wanted to use lots of the fun elements, so needed a plain background to start.
Thankfully you can also get the Basics Papers.
These will match the rest of the collection, but aren't quite so busy.

I used the 'Title & Border Strip' . As it measures 12x12 it was too big to fit on my LO as I wanted space around it, so I cut it and then overlapped the paper to reduce the size.

 

I cut some of the strips from the same paper and layered them up at the side, using some 3d foam tape.

I then started on the sticker sheet.  I made a couple of little flags using 2 of the smaller stickers and 2 cocktail sticks. I changed the colour of the sticks by rubbing a little Distress Stain over the wood.

The Distress Stains have a sponge top so it's a very easy way to add a little colour and it dries quick too. 

 

 

I've then cut up other parts of the papers that match and used more of the stickers to finish this page.

 

For my journaling strips, I've printed them on to normal printer paper using a free typewriter font. Cut the paper in to strips and crumped lightly. Inked the edges slightly and stuck them down leaving some parts of the strips unstuck so they still keep that crumpled look.

 

 

 There are lots of other Simple Stories collections on the site here.

I don't think I could pick a favourite if I'm totally honest. I just love them all so much.

I really recommend you take a look if you aren't familiar with this manufacturer. There really is something for everyone.

 

Enjoy!!

 

Lisa xx