Feeling Nostalgic

The Great Normano and I took a day out to Prestwick to have a celebratory anniversary meal, so naturally I visited the CreativeArtShop. Sadly, the actual shop is closing down on 15 August, (might be some bargains!), so that John Byars can concentrate on his art.  As you know, he designs rubber stamps for doCrafts, and I weakened enough to buy another two for my collection:
   
The umbrella is most suitable for our Scottish weather! I just love the Nostalgia range and used the footballer for a boy birthday, ‘the gift’ card for Jane’s birthday.  The observant among you will notice I changed the 3 to a 5 to fit the birthday age.  Watercolours such as Twinkling H2Os are ideal for adding some extra colour:
  
Tim Holtz Distress Inks are great for the edges around the shape, using Cut ‘n’ Dry Foam to dab on the ink:

He has two other sets of acrylic clear stamps in a range by Papermania:

As always, the detail is beautiful. I hope you manage to get hold of some of these stamps and have fun with them.
PS -- OK I weakened and bought four more to complete my set:

craftyalice

Canary Crafters

Some of you might have been surprised when watching the latest craft video, Frame Easel Card,  to see us in canary yellow.  When we first formed the craft group in 2005 (see About Us tab) Ann geared us up with these tops embroidered Get Creative.   Unfortunately I can’t find where I ‘put it away safely’! I had to resort to my back-up one, which is paler.  We hated the colour but it is certainly eye-catching at events…

The last time we filmed, I totally Hassled CraftyWhippet by doing the close-ups first.  This time I filmed the detailed work the day before, hoping  (I thought!) that the filming would be straightforward.  No way, the Stop button “disappeared” on the remote and we dissolved into our usual laughter.  Whilst preparing for the ending part we noticed that the Start button had been pressed again – thus an Outtake was formed.  Amazingly, all filming came in under the 10 minute YouTube slot.  We hope you like the results.

You can see in the photo the wooden stamps designed by John Byars – we meant to have another wee try-out of them but instead just cut out some Ruth had already stamped, to be decoupaged at a later time.  After lunch, we decided to assemble some more of the Raindrops kit, having got the Wedding one under our belt.  Taking the Best Days and Growing Up sheets, the die-cuts were carefully pushed out, the frames and card were even more carefully cut out and the card was assembled with not too much confusion over girl on a swing – it required Ruth to pay particular attention to aligning the body; the other one was a simple but effective decoupage.  We did have a laugh, and when I come to make the set of two, it should be firmly in my head what to do...I hope! 

 

Back to Crafting

Crafty Alice is now back from her cat sitting, and I am back from my birthday few days away and seeing my sister in her motor home, so maybe now we might get back into some routine and prepare some craft demos for you to view on YouTube.

Alice's weather wasn't that great while she was away. During this time my nephew Paul and his girlfriend came to visit me and Dana was highly amused that we had a newspaper in Scotland called The "SUN" I never thought of the paper that way. I have been busy making craft cards over the summer but find it hard to believe that we are more than halfway through August and the dreaded sparkly season for card-making is getting closer.

The new John Byars Nostalgia range from do Craft I love. I have just bought the wooden stamp of little girl on a swing. I will need to replace my sepia ink pad as that is the one I use for the nostalgic images.

I might show you the stamps when we are next filming, that is if I remember. You see, as I have now just become bus pass age I can, and do, forget very easily. Alice informed me that she has been like that for ages but then she is 6 months older than I am.........and always will be.

New Stamps and Decoupage

Hi Everyone,

On Saturday I went to Prestwick.If you don't remember where that is, it is the home of John Byars, the creator and designer of the new Nostalgia range of craft stamps and decoupage.I have been waiting for it since it was advertised in the docrafts magazine. I am now a happy bunny and once Alice and I have shared my purchases I will have some fun with it.

    

While I was there John was telling me about the memorial plaque he created after the Lockerbie disaster - a very poignant reminder of the many lives lost.

It has been a privilege to have seen the photo of this and I thought you would also like to see it and understand the horrific circumstances of that time.

Meanwhile I shall catch up on some crafting as my friend didn't seem to do ANY card-making while she was away. Ah well I suppose we need to rest occasionally.

Until next time.

Down to earth with a bump

Hi everyone,

First of all I would like to thank all those who wished me a Happy Birthday last month. I am now the proud owner of my bus pass, been for a trip down memory lane, arranged my pension and have now come back to reality with a bump.

Last weekend was lovely and sunny. My husband and I (I sound like the queen ) regularly go to Ayr, a seaside town only an hour from where I stay. We go through a smaller town called Prestwick. Now, this is a name you are going to become familiar with as Prestwick is where John Byars has his Creative Art Shop which is now linked with Do Crafts/ Papermania. His drawings and paintings are out of this world and some of his work should now be available as delightful wooden rubber stamps and decoupage cards to purchase. His range is called Nostalgia and nostalgic it is. I have ordered some sets of decoupage from him and I will collect them next time I am going to the coast (or even earlier if it arrives before a weekend )  These wooden stamps are a work of art in themselves – with the craft design etched into the top of the block and his signature on the side.

I have been busy crafting since I came back but have finally found time to say hello.

Alice and I as you can see have being demonstrating framed photo cards. I think the guys worked well and made a really good job of them.
Alice is going to the North of Scotland to Fort William for a few days for a summer break with the Great Normano so I hope they have a restful time. Phyllis ,you will remember where that is. I am sure when she returns she will tweak this Blog and put in some appropriate photos.  [Yup, I did!]
I will catch up with everyone soon. Please keep commenting ...then we know you are still out there alive and kicking. LOL

A new day dawns

I've just read CraftyWhippet's latest post - writing a blog at that time of night...tsk, tsk. However, she has retitled her cards, so her brain must have worked OK. LOL Now, today, I too have been busy - setting her YouTube Channel to CraftyWhippet instead of reporterwhippet (a previous alias!)

Next, the Great Normano and I headed off to Prestwick on the Clyde coast, as it was a beautiful day.  There I visited the Creative Art craft shop run by John Byars.  He is a well-known artist and sculptor, and I was interested to learn he has designed Nostalgia for docrafts decoupage and rubber stamps.  When the July issue number 22 of Creativity magazine comes out we will learn more. 

The mobile phone photo shows looking towards Troon and we had a nice wee walk on the shore before lunch. 
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