October was a busy month!

Good evening crafters...if you are still out there.  Don't you just hate it when you sign onto a blog to find that it is still the same as before!!!  And now I am as guilty as the next one.    After a few weeks away I have finally got down to writing a new post.

When I was on holiday in September I met some great people and the whole experience made me realise that I have to get my priorities sorted...so I have resigned as a school governor and a Bishop's visitor.  My resignation to the Youth Offending Service is in the post and I have decided to convert my garage into a craft room. I am going to spend time doing what I love best...crafting with friends.

We had a super afternoon at the beginning of October when we sat in the sunny conservatory making milk carton boxes...it caused great amusement...but they eventually turned out really well.  They will certainly be useful to contain simple Christmas gifts. All together we made 5 projects as you can see from Sues picture above. (If you would like the measurements and instructions for the milk carton box, do get in touch.)

One of the projects was the 'twisty sweet favours' from last months Impressions.  We made them using the 'Frightful sight' papers and they looked great.  I have made about a dozen and filled them with sweets.They are sitting on my worktop waiting
for the children who come 'trick or treating' tomorrow night.


Also in October we went to the Bentley Hotel in Lincoln for an afternoon workshop with Zoe and Emma.  As usual they were full of new ideas and certainly turned me onto the new InColours which had not inspired me much to begin with. 

Many thanks to Lynn Petitt of Grimsby Crafts who once again welcomed us into her lovely shop to demonstrate Stampin'Up products. Her shop is filled with a huge stock of crafting materials but still she wanted to buy some special products from the new SU catalogue. 

Yesterday saw us crafting once again with some lovely ladies who made a variety of projects.  Here are Anita and Cindy concentrating on getting things just right.

You can see that Rita was getting lots of advice from Sue and Ginny!
Here is a list of our workshops for the next few weeks.  If you would like to come and join our friendly group, do contact me for more details.

8th November   1.30 and 7pm    Snowman crafting

14th November 1.30pm             Crafting using the new Mocha Morning Speciality papers.

17th November 1.30 and 7pm    Stampin'Up Christmas bag, small gift and card.
6th December   1.30 and 7pm    Black and white card making
15th December 1.30 and 7pm    Stampin'Up  Bag with matching cards.

3rd January      1.30 and 7pm     'Beautiful Ladies' cards
19th January    1.30 and 7pm     Stampin'Up Using the Big Shot
7th February    1.30 and 7pm     Cards for men
 
Happy crafting.  Mandy

Well, the weather just can't make up it's mind, can it?  It has been a really great day here.  Ginny and I have been planning next Saturdays all day workshop and we are really excited about the projects we are going to make.  We still have 2 places left so if you are within travelling distance of the Church Hall at Middle Rasen, Lincs. then get in touch and I can tell you all about it.

We had a really useful team meeting at Zoe's home in the week, it was great to meet Linda again, a new recruit from the Grimsby area.  We had good fun using some of the new punches and getting ideas from that super publication "Impressions"!!

We really are going from strength to strength at the moment as I would like to welcome Dawn to my team.  She is so enthusiastic, it is a pleasure just to discuss ideas with her.  Thank you for coming on board, Dawn, I look forward to lots of crafting together.  My new recruit also gives me a promotion to Silver 1 and, as a consequence, it has contributed to our upliner, Zoe ticking all the boxes for a trip to Vienna.  A good result all round.

One of the swaps from Leeds inspired my main project at our class last week.  It was by Sara Rayner and made using Blushing Bride and Early Expresso cardstockwith Rose Red ribbon.  We made ours using Crumb Cake and Pacific Point.....I think I was 'drunk' when I stuck the ribbon on mine!!!  Thank you , Sara for the great idea. 

                                                                                 
                                                                                

                                                                                  

What a good idea swaps are.  I loved them all, and was especially pleased to see Ginny making a great contribution with her "Dasher" swap.  It was her first training experience and like me, she found it really useful and inspirational.  So thank you to everyone we swapped with...they really do give us great ideas.

We also made some Christmas cards using the last of the Jolly Holiday paper.  What a pity it has disappeared from the new catalogue, but then there are lots of super new papers to get hooked on!!

That is all for now, hope to see some of you at our launch on Saturday

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HAPPY CRAFTING

Mandy

Good morning,

Is it very windy where you are? It is not too bad here I'm pleased to say. Probably worse on Saturday when I decided to tidy up the garden and put things away that were likely to blow about!!

Last weekend I went off with Ginny, Emma and Zoe to Leeds for a training day.  I really enjoyed it, met some friendly crafters and learned a lot, too.  It is really useful to put faces to the names that crop up on the website and on blogs.  Thanks to Julie Kettlewell for some great tips, and thanks to all the lovely ladies who swapped with me.....what imaginations some people have.  The new catalogue is really super and I can't wait to share it with my friends and customers.  The 'sneak peak' doesn't do it justice!

Thursday evening I did a demonstration at a Holton cum Beckering Church and was surprised by the number of people who turned up, fortunately I had prepared a lot of kits for them to take home and make.  The card inspired by Amanda Burditt's Coventry swap really went down very well.   Thanks to Janet for inviting me.

 

 Friday found me doing a workshop at a local craft group in Wragby run by a very enthusiastic leader, Lynn Henry.  The group, who were very appreciative and seemed to enjoy the session, were already talented crafters and some of their efforts can be seen below.

After a quiet weekend I am off this afternoon to the U3A craft group where we will be making a box.  For those of you who have never heard of U3A, it is an association of slightly older people(50 plus) who get together and facilitate learning groups drawing on 'in-house' knowledge and expertise.  We have groups that learn languages, groups that walk, groups that play chess, scrabble, bridge,ma jong,etc.  Why not google U3A, there is bound to be one near you?

Have a great week.  Happy crafting..

Hugs  Mandy

Hi all,

On Thursday, a group of friends came round for an evenings crafting when we made a card using the owl punch and a lovely gift box, again, using the owl design  The box was made using Rose Red card stock, the lovely Springtime Vintage DSP and the Big Shot

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Saturday found us at Uncle Henry's, near Gainsborough where we welcomed a new crafting friend, Cindy.  Really good to meet you, Cindy.     Again, we used the versitile owl punch to create two lovely cards and the gift box. It really is a super venue and the cake they provide is wonderful!      All the  projects were originally devised by my good friend, Emma Daye.  Thank you Emma, for the inspiration,  my imagination is just NOT that good!

This card is made up from Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip cardstock and Elegant Soiree DSP and, of course, the wonderful owl punch.  If you would like to buy any of these materials do get in touch.

Our next whole day workshop will be at Middle Rasen on October 1st, and we are really looking forward to launching the new Stampin' Up catalogue!  We aim to make 5 projects using some of the new products from the catalogue. The cost of this day will be £20 including all materials, tea, coffee and biscuits. Just ring to book a place!

Happy Crafting.

Mandy

Ginny and I had another successful workshop on Wednesday and made some super cards using the Ornate Flowers stamps and the lovely Greenhouse Gala and Elegant Soiree papers.  They really did look lovely, I shall be sorry to lose the great variety offered in these super papers and such good quality too.

 Am off on holiday tomorrow and leaving the grandchildren in charge!  ( hardly children at 21 and 17)  They have promised no rowdy parties so I have nothing to worry about, have I???!!!

Our next workshop is at Uncle Henry's. near Gainsborough on 20th August.  Why not join us for an "Owl Feast"?  Ring Ginny on 01673 844432 for more details.

In the meantime, enjoy your crafting.
Hugs from Mandy x

Hello everyone,

I spent four enjoyable days last week at the U3A Summer School in Harlaxton. Eleven of us, enthusiast crafters, joined our tutor, Jill to make an interesting selection of boxes, bags and cards.  It is the practise on Sunday morning to put out a display for all the other groups to see and below are a few of the photographs I took of our efforts.

Magnificent Harlaxton College set in the lovely Lincolnshire countryside near Grantham.

Next week I am off on my annual holiday, leaving my grand-daughters to look after the place and water the greenhouse!!!  Looking forward to the rest but will miss having my computer to check out all the interesting blogs there are available.

I do hope you all have lots of lovely sunshine and enjoy your crafting while I am away!

Thanks, Mandy

This weekend promises to be an interesting one, as I am going to Harlaxton for a U3A summer school! And my chosen subject is of course papercraft! I am looking forward to meeting up with the new friends I made last year and learning lots of new techniques and ideas.

Last Thursday, a small group of friends gathered to make some cards and achieved some excellent results, which you can see for yourself in the photos.

Saturday was our first venture at Uncle Henry's, near Gainsborough, and it was a complete success! Our projects included a Green House Gala bag and matching cards, which gave the opportunity for lots of imagination.

Ginny's folding card that could contain a packet of seeds or a tea-bag, or even a cheque, certainly went down well.

 Here is Dawn's folding card which looked super!

Karen used the DSP to great advantage as you can see from the picture below (couldn't turn it round!), and here is Sue's folding card!

Our next workshop is at Binbrook, near Louth, on July 27th, 1.15 until 4.15, with tea, coffee and all materials included in the cost, £15. For more information, or to book a place, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Happy Crafting,

Mandy

First, I want to say a big THANK YOU to Zoe for fixing my blog.....I'm almost scared to have another go and mess it up again!!!!  Fingers crossed.

Second, and much more important, CONGRATULATIONS to Zoe, our very own Lincolnshire Miss Big Shot.  Well done for putting our fair county on the map.

Third, I am sorry that I have been missing from my blog for a while. No excuse really except I have been having some bits frozen and others cut off (a long term skin cancer problem) and this time it seemed to hit me quite hard.....probably old age but just as likely to be self indulgence.  But it has been really hard to know what to say and do when there is no oil in the tank.

My friend and co-worker Ginny kept the flag flying and ran an allday workshop on Saturday when a few of our stalwart ladies joined her to make cards and a bag.  The chance to sit on Ginny's new patio for lunch in the glorious sunshine helped to make it a very special day. The results speak for themselves.

They used the fabulous Greenhouse Gala for the bags and matching cards.

Just Believe stamps,  Baroque Motifs and heat embossing made these cards really attractive.

We are having an afternoon workshop on Saturday at the outstanding and award winning farm shop and resturant known as Uncle Henrys, near Gainsborough.  There are one or two spaces remaining so why not enjoy a super lunch and a great afternoon crafting?  Book or get further details by ringing Ginny on 01673 844432 or me (Mandy) on 01673 860893

We are also planning an afternoon at Binbrook Village Hall on 27th July.  Why not come along and make 3 quality projects...all materials provided?  Just ring to book.

Hope there are one or two people out there to read my thoughts.  Many thanks for stopping by and do please leave a comment.

Happy crafting.  Mandy.

Listened to the Teleconference last evening and decided to make another effort to book some workshops. Then an email from Zoe confirmed that the team is going to ring round together. What a great idea!
I don't know what has happened to my blog but I can't get rid of the spaces however hard I try. Can anyone out there help as I can't see anyone wanting to look at it at the moment...except maybe my loyal "team".
We are having a whole day workshop on 2nd July at Middle Rasen and there are 3 places left. Anyone out there up for it? I can assure you that we are so much better at papercrafting than blogging. Get in touch if you would like to come along, or if you know how to sort out miscreant blogs!!!
At Zoe's team meeting we met Majella, a lovely lady who came all the way from Scotland for the meeting and shared some of her inspirational cards with us. Thank you, Majella. Hope you don't mind me slipping one in here.

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Looking forward to The Bentley Taster on the 6th July. See you there!!
Happy crafting. Mandy

Good afternoon all,
There has never been a better time to have a Stampin'Up party. You can earn £20 extra to spend on top of the usual rewards in June and July . Have a look on the web site and get the details or contact me and find out how you can have, not only a hostess gift, but £45 to spend in the catalogue, too. Don't wait, BOOK A PARTY NOW!We had a great day at Nettleton on Saturday. Look what we all achieved ...5 projects using the In Colours and the Big Shot. These are Ritas. I especially like the note book.

And Dawn decided the folded card would make a good wall hanging complete with photos, of course.

We had a couple of ladies who were new to crafting and they seemed to enjoy all the cutting and sticking. Jess completed a lovely "owl" card never having used the Big Shot before.

One last picture of the ladies working hard!!

There was 100% positive feed back so we will be having another workshop one evening in July. Watch this space for further details or email me for a copy of our monthly newsletter.

Thanks to everyone for helping to make it a super day of crafting.

Why not join us for the next day at Middle Rasen Church Hall on 2nd July? Contact me for further details.

And don't forget the taster day at The Bentley on the 6th July Details from Zoe on 07717855179 See you there!

Good Morning all,
This time last week we were at the 'Sincerly Yours' papercraft show in Lincoln, and experiencing a huge interest in our Stampin' Up stand. Over 1000 people attended the show and certainly a fair proportion came to our 'make-and-take' table and came to watch demonstrations with the Big Shot. A happy shot of Emma, Zoe, Bridgett and I before the rush!!

We had a lovely display of 3D items and cards, see the pictures below.

On Saturday, Ginny and I are running an all-day workshop in Nettleton, and we will be welcoming some new crafting friends. We are really looking forward to it, and hope to make a small folding picture frame, a notebook, a pretty gift (see below) and two cards. If you would like to join us on what promises to be an enjoyable day, please get in touch to book a place! (Only 2 left!). mandy1390@yahoo.co.uk

Have a great week, happy crafting!

Mandy

Gave up on the other photos in the end so here is the sweetie card and our ladies working hard. I just hope they come out right!!!

On Tuesday we got together for our monthly club. A very relaxed affair but we managed to make two Easter baskets and an Easter card AND go home with lots of homework!! One of our regulars is off to France for three months and we wish her a great holiday, but in the meantime, we will keep on crafting.

Mandy