Still trying!!! arghhhh

Just thought I would have another go at uploading some pictures before going to bed. I have given up on trying to leave comments, for tonight anyway!! :-(

This months Creative Cardmaking - Issue 7 is now in stock and inside are lots of free Kanban papers.


The papers contain adorable Christmas characters in a selection of colour ranges, pink and green designs snowflake backing papers and tree toppers, more traditions red and green stripes and spots... I have already started cutting my copy and making some cards.


I took this funny picture of Ava and her Dad Ben a few weeks ago, she kept putting her face up against the glass in the back door and pulling faces at me!! cheeky monkey!!


Ava and the rest of my family have gone to Ingoldmells, Skegness in a caravan for a week and it seems so quiet around here!

Didn't last long!!

I was beginning to get in to the swing of blogging again but it has all gone down hill again again today!! So I have not been able to leave as many comments as I would have liked while hoping around so I will try again tomorrow.

Today was the last day to send in your ATC's if they are already in the post and arrive tomorrow that's fine as we have been closed for bank holiday and no post anyway. Hopefully I will be able to upload pictures of the rest soon. The theme for the Septembers ATC swap will be announced on Wednesday.

Just spoke with the holiday makers and Ava has been on her first Winne the Pooh ride today and loved it!! apparently it has been hot there today and they are having a barbeque tonight!! obviously not got the rain we have got here in Sheffield tonight.

I have asked them to take lots of pictures for me!!

All packed and ready to go!!

Thought I would share this picture with you that my son emailed me earlier this evening. He his going on holiday tomorrow, this will be Ava's first holiday.

Here is Ava all packed and ready to go on her jollies!! lol



This one is definitely going in my family scrapbook!! :-)

Long weekend!!

Just been doing a bit of blog hopping Pat has got some pictures of her finished mini tin from Tuesday evenings class and the oriental book we made on Wednesday evening at Craft Den Thanks for posting those Pat, I love to see every ones projects after they have received the finishing touches.

For last night scrapbooking class we used a sketch from 52 Sketches 52 weeks you can view Jo's here and she did another layout for last night as she could not make the class. Thanks for all your help Jo it was much appreciated and everyone followed your second layout and used Bo Bunny papers from the Unforgettable range. I will post a photo later.

We have received some more ATC's so I will post the pictures of those later along with some other things we have been busy with this week.

What ever you are doing for the Bank Holiday weekend enjoy yourselves. I am going to relax and catch up on some much needed sleep!! I am so looking forward to some time off and hopefully I will get to spend some of it with the family before they go away.

Wet Wednesday :-(

Just been over at Jo's blog and seen the fabulous tote bag Jo made using the pattern from Moda Bake Shop think I might just have to make one myself!! I have stacks of fabric in the loft, I love sewing, but haven't done any for ages. In fact I think we should have a Saturday sewing workshop making tote bags, what do you think girls??

Kathryn handed in a beautiful ATC last night which can be viewed on her blog here Thanks for entering Kathryn and sorry I have not taken a pic yet:-( In fact I have no photos this morning, but you did get picture overload yesterday didn't you!! lol

Thanks Ann for showing us how to make a great altered tin last night the colours were sooo gorgeous, mmmm real yummy inks and embossing powders the results were stunning. Hope Ann got some pics, fingers crossed. Can't wait to see what the next workshop is.

Well it is a very wet morning here in Sheffield, so it is defiantly a crafting day. We have our last Fimo workshop today before the children go back to school :-( Fimo Bev has booked some Saturday afternoon children's workshops starting in September, more information and dates to follow. If you would like a copy of our autumn timetable please email info@craftden.co.uk. If you had already done this and not received the timetable for a while please email again, when we had PC problems we lost some email addresses :-( sorry!! and I don't want you to miss out.

The new Creative card making mag arrived yesterday we also took delivery off Joanna Sheen's ATC CD, Messy rabbit rubber stamps, Crafters Companion Popcorn bear stamps and Christmas Cd's .......

Make a cuppa!!

Congratulations to Norma on the birth of your new Grand-daughter Katie and thank you so much for the pictures.

For several weeks now I have not been able to blog as I would have liked to. I have either been unable to load pictures, edit posts or even leave anyone any comments. Today all seems well, up to now anyway, so fingers crossed and here goes!! So I am going to load as many pics as possible that I have been taking while experiencing these problems so I will apologies in advance for the length of this post! LOL So make a cuppa first!!

My layout from 2 weeks ago, papers from Basic Grey Wisteria range. Lots of punched and shaped flowers with gold liquid pearl centres, some doodling around the letters and tag. I am in the middle of an album for my sister-in-law, Doreen and this is one of the pages. Doreen's daughter Joanne gave birth to premature twins last year. The photograph is Joanne and Dave in hospital with their two bundles of Joy, Maya and Jasper.




In last weeks card making class we made background papers and toppers using distress ink pads and water. To prepare the background take some white card add some broken china using cut and dry foam add a small amount of blue jeans here and there. Spray rubber stamp lightly with water and stamp onto prepared background. Leave for a few seconds until you can see the water lifting the colour and then lightly press a piece of kitchen roll to take off excess water. Dry rubber stamp and stamp over the top with blue Stazon. Creates a great effect, don't you think? a rather frosty snowy look.
same technique again this time I have used a couple of snowflake stamps and added stickles and a few die cut snowflakes using the new Spellbinder snowflake dies and add some silver card candy for centres.

For a more vintage look I have still started off with white card added some old paper distress ink using cut and dry foam, a small amount of tea dye and finished off with frayed burlap around the sides and edges stamped using the water technique and over stamped with Timber Brown Stazon. This one is my favourite

For this one I have used old paper and a small amount of tea dye and stamped with black Stazon a lot lighter as I have not added frayed burlap

As promised pictures of the ATC's received so far:


Whoops sorry, this one wants to lie down!! lol

Whoops!! so does this one! LOL

The swap is open until 4pm on 31st August, so there is still time for you to join in.

A few pictures of some wedding cards I have been busy making for orders. The cards are A4 in size and have matching boxes, I have used 12x12 papers. The first one is Sandylion cream roses I have used some cream ribbon, gold trim and highlighted the edges of the roses with stickles

the second is also made with Sandylion paper this one is white with a silver foil design I have also added silver trims and white ribbon with a silver edge.


We had a little helper in the studio last Saturday, my beautiful Grand-daughter Ava. Ava has not got the hang of stamping yet so she sat knocking two wood mounted rubber stamps together, and enjoyed every minute of it!! lol

Look at that fabulous hair style!

I did warn you it was gong to be a long post, so fingers crossed that blogger keeps working!! :-)So now I am off to make a cuppa. Isn't technology great when it works!! lol

Monday morning, again!!!

The weather isn't looking too promising this morning here in Sheffield, a bit dull and cloudy. Nothing new there then!! :-)

A couple of finished layouts from last Thursday evenings scrapbooking class
Chanelle's

Kathryn's

This week, we have our regular card making class on Tuesday morning and on Tuesday evening you can have a go at making this gorgeous altered tin with Ann



On Wednesday Fimo Bev will be showing the children how to make Fimo charaters from Madagascar. On Wednesday morning King Julien


and Wednesday afternoon Hippo Gloria


The cildren were so upset last week when they realised this would be the last Fimo class of the holidays. so Bev and I have had our heads together and we are going to run a regular monthly Fimo class on a Saturday afternoon. If you would like more information about thisor any other of our classes or to book a place email info@craftden.co.uk or Tel: 0114 230732

ATC swap

Morning all. It is a lovely bright Wednesday morning here in sunny Sheffield. Sorry for the lack of blogging over the last week, there just seems to be a shortage of hours in my days at the moment!!

A quick reminder about Craft Den's ATC swap. This is our very 1st ATC swap and the theme is 'Star signs' The closing date is not until 31st August, so if you are like me and not made one yet you still have plenty of time.

All the ATC's will be displayed in the studio for one week after the closing date before the swap. It seems that a lot of you have never made one before, so that is brilliant that you are trying something new. We have a suggestion box in the studio for you to put your ideas in for the September swap.

The ATCs we have received so far are fabulous, you have all been very busy and had some great ideas. I shall try and remember to take some photos later, although we have another busy day ahead in the studio, three classes today!! Fimo Bev with the children making Feathers Magraw and Preston and tonight we have our weekly craft evening, this week we are making accordion envelope books.

When you hand in your ATC you will be given a number which will be used for the swap. If you can't call in with your ATC we are accepting them by post, please remember to enclose a stamped addressed envelope so we can send you one back.

What's On?

Sorry for being so last minute with this post!!
There are a few places left on tonights metal name plate class with Ann so if you fancy having a go with some metal work and making yourself a beautiful name plate the class starts at 7pm.

The children's Fimo classes have been so popular that we have added more classes, tomorrow we have 2 sessions of Fimo. In the morning 10am - 12 noon Fimo Bev will be helping the children make Gromit

and in the afternoon 1pm - 3pm a Fimo Were Rabbit

Next Wednesday August 19th we will be continuing with the Wallace and Gromit Fimo characters in the morning class the children will be making Penguin and in the afternoon Preston the dog.

The new timetable will be out shortly with information about all our classes for autumn and our preview weekend.

Please see our website for more information about our classes or email info@craftden.co.uk and ask to be added to our distribution list.

Well the sun is shining here in Sheffield, I wonder how long it will last??

What ever your plans are for today make sure you enjoy yourselves. :-)

Lots of cuddles this weekend!!

Ava came on her usual Saturday visit yesterday whith her Mum and Dad and then again today!! So that made my weekend, what more can a Grandma ask for two days of cuddles!!

Today was Kylas birthday, BH and I are babysitting next Friday evening and when Ben asked us he said It was Kylas birthday on Sunday, so we wrongly assumed it was next Sunday, when in fact it was today!! I wanted to make Kyla a little mini book of Ava's 1st six months so I was madly trying to finish it before they arrived, but sadly I ran out of time!! It still needs journalling adding, but Kyla loved it just as it was. The picture on the front cover is not as dark as it looks

One very proud Dad at the hospital

Little sleepy head at home in her moses basket

All snuggled up with her little hat on

First taste of food, cauli cheese and brocoli, which is still Ava's favourite

Sharing Dads ice lollie


It still needs a few finishing touches and if Kyla ever parts with it long enough it might get finished, but not today!!

Todays pictiures - Ava sat in the garden this afternoon before we went out for our family meal

and one very tired little girl going home tonight after a lovely day.

A little reminder of what is happening this week in the studio. Children's Fimo class on Monday morning, card making Tuesday morning and alcohol inks with Ann on Tuesday evening. We have our regular craft night on Wednesday evening and Thursday evening is our usual scrapbooking crop. On Friday we have an all day Copic workshop and Saturday is our all day monthly scrapbooking crop. Looks like another busy week!!

Phew what a week!!

The week started off with the children's Fimo class on Monday morning. Thanks Bev for another great class, everyone enjoyed themselves. Bev will be back in the studio again on Monday morning for another children's Fimo class making Shaun Sheep


On Tuesday morning we had our weekly card class then on Wednesday morning we had a great time with the children making cards, the girls made handbag cards and the boys made fire engine cards. Wednesday evening was craft night this week we made 4 way folding books using Wild Asparagus papers, inks and embellishments and then we bound them on the BIA and Thursday evening was our weekly scrapbooking crop. A busy but very enjoyable week.

We have had another delivery of Martha Stewart punches this week including:
Frond branch punch
Rose leaf
Snowflake border

Doily Lace

Floral Lace

Valentine Lace

Zig Zag