Boxing Clever at Hobbycrafts

This is the box we made

As promised, here is an off-the-cuff video I took of us joining in a demo of box-making at the craft fair, now uploaded to YouTube. Charmain of Payper Box led us through the process, using flexible embossing powder and removable double-sided tape. Jeanette from our craft group was on hand to do a lot of the work, also videoing sections as I did a little bit of the crafting, while Ruth did nothing! It was a laugh for us anyway and I hope you enjoy watching.

Visit to Hobbycrafts Fair March 2014

It doesn't seem any time at all since Ruth and I were at the Craft Fair in November and here we are in March doing the rounds again! It's a great opportunity to stock up on basics and see what's new.

Alice's

I look forward to practising some Tangles with the help of a book of examples, since I am prone to doodling while on the phone. It's usually treble clefs and cubes - I guess that makes me a musical mathematician LOL - seems appropriate! I also got a cracker boxmaker which looks like it might be fun and useful!

Ruth's

With permission, I filmed rubber stamped cards at Card IO, decopatch at Damselfly, card at Ross Papers and boxmaking at Payper Box. The results of our visit can be seen in a short YouTube video.

We hope to use the Card IO (formerly Tapestry) stamps on acrylic tubes, with the Day Centre patients at the Hospice. A quick tip we were given by the demonstrator is using alcohol-free baby wipes, dried-out, to rub in backgrounds to give an ink-dusted effect. The Inkylicious demonstrator uses a wet paintbrush to drag the colour; also a spray bottle of water pointed upwards drops a fine mist onto the background colours. We both bought the plastic sun and moon stencils to make ink dusting even easier!

Card IO Samples

More Card IO Samples

Demonstrator Hard at Work

Ann of Damselfly was on hand to give us advice on our decopatch technique, which leaves a lot to be desired. Jeanette of our craft group made a neater job, as she took her time. We were glad of the rest.

If only we could Decopatch like this!

Still to come, a demo of boxmaking, with Charmain of Payper Box. That will be a YouTube video on our Craft & Chat Playlist. Jeanette was with us too and helped with extra hands, since it's hard to film and craft without a tripod! This gave us another opportunity to have a seat while we crafted.

But at least our boxes are nearly finished

See you again soon.

Crafting in No Time

I thought I had better post before we're into Christmas! As usual, where has the time gone? Crafting has continued as usual, making cards to send to folks and doing a project fortnightly at the craft group.

I made a shrink plastic new home card as an example of colouring-in the rubber stamped image, and the group experimented with different shapes to hang on lobster clasps for handbags or keyrings.

The craftystudy was yet again tidied and I do seem to have more clear surfaces to work on.

Ruth and I did our twice-yearly visit to the craft fair - as usual tiring but enjoyable. Parking is the biggest difficulty, involving avoiding the rain! However, we had plenty of rests and I made a hanging star under Damselfly Ann's supervision.

Decopatch Star for Evan's Room

Ruth resting at the Decopatch Stall by Damselfly

Two tired crafters

The Rain Stopped

Alice's Purchases

Teabag folding came out to play for Christmas and made a nice simple card on embossed backgrounds.

Teabag Christmas Tree

Ink dusting is always popular with the group and combined well with a diecut Nativity in various colours.

Card for a friend from the past

We have been trying various combinations of simple ink dusting and rubber stamping.

Santa over Glasgow Skyline

You might wonder what a packet of bran has to do with the craft group...Ruth shared the recipe for All-Bran Tea Loaf...well, baking is being creative, isn't it? Did you watch the Great British Bake-Off?

Ingredient for Ruth's Recipe

However, we did actually make a decoupage Christmas card to add to our (hopefully) growing collection of cards to send this year.

Layout with the decoupage only

Our Grandsons Leo and Evan keep us occupied - just wait till they're into crafting! Meanwhile it's keeping their hands off the craft equipment that's the job in hand.

Evan grows apace and enjoyed a recent firework display to promote local businesses.

Bang!

You might notice that all my blog images now have a Pinterest button. I have started putting various photos and videos on my own Boards so I might meet you there whilst pinning your stuff! Bye for now.

Nails R Ruth

Hi everyone,

It has been a long time since we have done anything for you but our  little Grandsons have distracted us don't know why. Months ago we were talking about making another video so now we plan to be back on track and babies will just need to understand that Grannie is busy.

We debated whether or not we should go to the craft fair this year as we really didn't need anything. Now, there is a difference between need and want ...so tickets  were purchased . We cleverly left the car parking fee of six pounds in a safe place so that at least we could get home.

We were very organised about the order we were going to do things at the SECC but that went out the window when we arrived.! It was good to see Ann at Decopatch. This is something I have never tried so we sat down to have a play. I thought I was finished, when a voice said "do I still see some wood without paper round the edges" What!  I have to do there as well. Lady Ann said "well I thought a woman like you would never leave the edges not done" So I finished it and Ann then unstrapped me from the chair.

On we went shopping having a  rest when we could. We have stopped kidding ourselves that we can do......as much as we thought we could do.

As you will see from the photos we bought a number of items that we absolutely needed. I am still trying to put them beside similar craft items but one has to  actually be in the house to do this.!! 

We have some really nice toppers as well as practical items.  I also bought a table tote bag so that I can remove craft items from the side of my table for safety. I don't think it would be a good idea for an eight month old baby to play with glue and craft knives.

We ended the day exhausted but happy ready to save up for the October fair (did I say that) I might hire a stand and make tea in paper cups for £2.00 that might help pay for my purchases.

Ruth's Dies on magnets in the new case

Now time get our heads working. We have some lovely Tatty Teddy items that will make pretty cards - perhaps Easter. Well, Alice has decided it will be for Easter  I might do something else who knows.

Debra (New Zealand) and Mary NSC (America) It is too far for you to travel just to get glittery nails. Now, I wonder if they will be safe with a heat gun ...

It is good to be in touch with you all again. Since I have become a Grannie I am much more serious ...and if you believe that you will believe anything.

Leo 8 months

Leo's Grannie

Craft Fair SECC March 2013

Craft & Chat back to videoing

We made our visit to the Craft Fair again to stock up on our supplies, and as well as our usual breaks to rest our legs, we spent a long time sitting whilst trying out Decopatch for the first time. Demonstrator Ann, whom we have met before at the Craft fairs, guided our sticky hands, without damaging Ruth's craftyglittery nails. Using mdf hearts and gluing torn pieces of fabulous French-designed greaseproof-like decorated papers, that don't fall apart when glued, gave us a chance to snatch a quick video for YouTube which you can now watch.

Decopatch Ann

Our decopatch hearts completed

Other side

I bought the beginners decopatch kit as it looks like something that will work well in the future with Grandsons; they definitely have to be introduced to crafting! Evan's Mummy is very creative herself so I gave her a wee rubber-stamped and Copic-coloured picture to mark her 1st Mother's Day this weekend.

1st Mother's Day

Here's a couple of photos of our loot, and Ruth has even gone so far as to film hers to give you a good look!

Alice's supplies

Ruth's purchases

We're still very keen on ink dusting and bought some more Inkylicious rubber-stamp verses and images, to make our pictures when we get a chance to have a play.

Ruth at the stall

Next in our video pipeline is Tatty Teddy; we're going to make some simple Easter cards to use with the patients in the Day Centre at the Glasgow Hospice at the end of the month. We have various Carte Blanche From Me to You cardmaking paper and rubber stamp products which we are looking forward to using.

Evan 11 months

Evan's Granny