Did you think I had disappeared???

Almost a week since I blogged and longer since I shared with you any crafting. Clearing and putting back the craft room after the double glazing was put in took much longer than I thought!

Still a few things to find homes but at least i managed a little crafting for Try it on Tuesday - which this week is Do you believe in Fairies?

Who could resist this gorgeous tiny fairy by Mo Manning?

I have coloured her with promarkers, added crackle glaze to her wings and then surrounded her with flowers and leaves.

When sorting out the ribbons etc I noticed I have lots of red and green - which I expected because that's what I like on my Christmas cards however it did surprise me how much pink and blue ribbon and flowers I have!

The gorgeous flowers are courtesy of one of my crafty buddies Alison who is lucky enough to visit Thailand regularly so buys some gorgeous flowers to bring back. We are like vultures pouncing on her to see what goodies she has found.

Whilst tidying my stash I came across the wicker wreath, bought in winter 2010, so that seemed like a perfect base for the flowers and fairy - a touch of Timmie with the ticket and I quite like the outcome. Shame as ever I took pictures late last night so they are not the best light wise but I hope you get the picture!

As its an anything goes week - as long as your project includes a fairy its eligible for this weeks challenge - do stop by and see what my team mates have been up to too here

Broken phone and a bump............

Yep thats right my phone will no longer let me make or receive phone calls - time for a new phone dontcha think??? So I rang my network provider (who have always provided just a sim card on my deal) to find out I can actually have this little baby for £1.50 less than I was paying before! how does that all work then???

So as the chap told me it would arrive today by courier I was a little excited. Can you sense a catch??? Well by 5pm it was a no show so I rang again only to be told they were out of stock so delivery would be Monday!

How rude - first to build up my hopes and then not to even tell me they were dashing them again!!! I was not amused.

Then tonight Hubby set off to his Wednesday band practice. He is not a well bunny so really needed the break away from home as he has been going mad. He set off then half an hour later he rings to say he is coming home as someone has bumped into the back of the car at a junction! Poor love was fairly shaken up - even more so as he has had to endure Megsy and I on our new fitness routine - on wii dance. Not a pretty sight I can tell you but at least we are trying to get moving instead of being craft potatoes!

Anyhow he is ok and car will be sorted tomorrow - only damage seems to be to the back bumper and we get a courtesy car whilst its being sorted.

Sorry no interesting pics for you - the craft room is still in disarray - Mum is going through all her stuff before mine goes back in so I am limited for crafting at the moment - however stampin club starts again on Friday and we are in for a cutesy session so no doubt I will get to play a while there xx have missed the fab ladies who come they are a great bunch of gals - Lots to catch up on I am sure.

Hope your week is going well xx

Janet x

Do you like Timmies books???

I have one for sale at a well know auction site - the crafty clearout begins and I am being very very ruthless! Want to look - its here

In the few minutes I have had to craft for myself I have.....

These cushions arrived as one of my Christmas pressies from an old friend. She had asked me what I would like for Christmas and I had seen these fab cushions in Past Times so I asked for one. Imagine my delight at receiving 5 of the most gorgeous cushions! These look stunning in my sitting room and will look even more amazing if it ever gets decorated!

So my new year atcs to send to crafting pals have carried on this patriotic theme using some amazing stamps by Kanban, distress inks and promarkers.

Poor lighting again - so sorry

and here it is. I have made quite a few so far and plan to do a good few more too especially for those who missed out on Christmas cards from me.

I love the stamps and am thrilled to see a number of the stamp company bringing out the patriotic themed ranges - perfect to lift our spirits in the recession.

Now does any of the stamp companies out there want to chat to me about making a button back stamp???

I would love one with British buttons on it in the style of an old fashion button card - if you have seen one do let me know.

Happy Sunday folks xx

Hello folks - here is my news!

Michelle and I formed Lovin' Ink almost 2 years ago. Our overall aim was to get out "there" encouraging folks to experiment and play with their crafting tools and products and get the most out of them.

Our plan for the first year was to get our retreats working well. We love coming together with folks who love to craft and spending a whole weekend at play is what we love to do so we wanted to share and make new friends. The retreats have been really successful - the do it yourself ones as well as the workshop based ones. Our workshop based retreats are full of experimentation with a theme which we have loved putting together.

The March retreat is now full and provisional bookings are being made for the September retreat.

So phase one - box ticked.

Next was to run a few workshops and a regular stamping club to encourage folks to experiment and play with their stamps. Both Michelle and I have a passion for stamps of all kinds and both have our favourite and very different tastes in brands and what we like to do with them.

We even have different tastes in inks we like to stamp with mostly because our early crafting experiences have been so vastly different but it still does not stop us sharing what we love most and that's crafting in all its forms.

In 2010 we were approached by the local day services to provide a card making class for adults with learning disabilities. Despite many hurdles we managed to do this and have so enjoyed seeing those adults gain pleasure and confidence from their achievements. Our dream for this group was for it to be in the community alongside other crafters and in July 2011 this also became a reality. Now our adults travel to our stamping club and join in the projects alongside our regular stampers. Their delight and pride in their achievements is wonderful to see and our ladies who come along to this group so enjoy seeing and being part of their crafting journey.

So fortnightly stamping and the day services group have joined together and are now a regular group of 14 people crafting once a fortnight.

Another box ticked.

Michelle and I have been so proud to pull these things together and have a planned next stage for 2012 which is :-

Once a month workshops at Samuel Taylors at Embsay Mills

and also at The Craft range at Hapton, Burnley .

Both these shops have very much played a part in our love of craft and to be asked to join their team of tutors is a great honour.

All the classes will be based around a love of stamping, moving from one stage to the next for both the new and experienced crafter. The classes at each venue will be different although similar as they are based around each shops stock which is very very different in style.

Each session will build on skills, encouraging experimentation and even mistakes so participants can learn to work around those happy accidents and enjoy the whole experience as well as make gorgeous cards and a small gift. The classes will be progressive aimed at building confidence in your knowledge of products but can also be a stand alone experience.

To aid learning and provide recap when you are at home you will be given a technique book to bring along to each session - you will build your own reference tool, with this book, for use in the class and out of it - a great way to record what you like and have enjoyed and make step by step instructions for it.

Our first session at each shop will be a craft clinic

Bring along things you are unsure how to use, bought but cant remember why or just come along and ask us questions. You will see us playing all day!

The session at Samuel Taylors in Embsay is Saturday 7th January 10-4

The session at Craft Range, Hapton, Burnley is January 21st 10-4

Samples for the first workshops will be at each of these venues on the day to view.

All bookings will be taken through each individual shop and a list of workshops will be available there too as well as our Lovin Ink blog.

So you can see why I have been very excited and also why I have not been around very much - lots of plans to arrange and samples being made.

Hope you can join us for inky fun!

Janet x

Try it on Tuesday

Sorry awful pics again! Was late last night finishing the card so the light is abysmal!

Try it on Tuesday is back to making cards week with the stipulation that we do all the work ourselves so no designer papers, no bought embelishments just your own handiwork!

My craft room is in total disarray. on Thursday and Friday we are having double glazing put in and the following Monday is Mums house which is where the craft room is. being such a tiny room crammed with so much stash it really needs to be mostly emptied so i have been slowly packing up my stuff ready for the move into James' room once he is back at Uni.

I am therefore limited as to whats at hand and have reverted back to the Tim Holtz collection of stamps to help me out!

Adirondack inks - a little versafine too and to lift the card a wax seal of Heart, Home and Hearth.

I want this to be my brothers card but cannot locate my birthday stamps at the moment - hopefully i can add to it by the 19th!!

Do stop by and check out TIOT where we have a fab sponsor as well as wonderful DT samples to inspire you xx

happy Tuesday x

Birthdays and bargains

Today its James, my middle sons birthday. As a small child he found it difficult to wait all year for his 2 best days to happen within 8 days of each other - even though I am past wanting to do anything special I always try to make the effort for him.

This cake stand was a bargain at Tesco in the sale - I've always loved cake stands - I think they make them look so classy and proud!

So lots of brownie mixture, cut into squares and piled up together with his fav fruit of blueberries and grapes - just not sure where to put the candles!!!

Hope you have had a wonderful bank holiday. I had a facebook conversation with a very old friend last night which has already made my year so I am very easily pleased.

We are having an Indian takeaway tonight which James loves - not a great start to the calorie reducing programme but he will only be 22 once!

Happy Birthday Son x