The Card Studio

2010-06-11T14:44:00.003+01:00

Hi Crafters!

If anyone dares t0 say that we need rain - heaven help them!

Just a quick card today. Am preparing the cards for our craft weekend and couldn't resist showing you one of the cards that wiill be on display.
I have used one of the new Impressabilities embossing stencils and punches to produce a design that would work in any colour combination - ideal as a set of notelets - start now and you could be ahead with xmas gifts!

Have used a simple PI clear stamp and versamark to create a background on the hot pink Bazzill cardstock. Used half a scalloped card in white with the embossing stencil and also a small piece of hot pink.

The flower was punched using the HUGE EK success retro flower punch which has not left my side since it arrived! A smaller flower sits in the centre with a sparkling gem.

Looking forward to the weekend - the sun WILL shine

Football will be dominating the way of life for much of the population over the next month or so - a great excuse for 90 minute crafting sessions wouldn't you agree girls?!

Have a great weekend!

jayne

2010-06-10T18:13:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone!

What a grotty day - real summer is finally here!!

Couldn't wait any longer to play with the new magnolia stamps and also a few other new products that have been coming into stock.

The new stazon metallic ink pads have been long awaited in the crafting world and they have arrived just in time for our christmas designs but I thought I would have a test trial on everyday stamps. The princess crown from magnolia cried out for the silver on silver mirricard.

It worked perfectly - just allow time for it to dry completely before cutting out. The new metallics include silver, gold, bronze and platinum and are true to colour.
The princess T shirt is a seperate stamp so very versatile. It cried out to be stamped multiple times and hung out to dry! I used the co-ordinating floss from Bazzill as the washing line and also for her pigtails!

I have used copics when colouring but the Ranger distress ink pads work just as well along with promarkers

Great new papers arriving also so have managed to incorporate a sheet of that too!

The glittered panel is made using double sided sticky sheets and glamour dust. For those of you who were with me this afternoon we did the same with glamour dust on berrylicous cardstock.

Fresh rolls of white tuille have arrived today so those of you who missed out when we used it on the allday workshop, just give us a ring and we will send it out to you.

Think thats all the news for today.

Keep smiling and dont the weather get you down - just means more time inside crafting!!

Jayne

2010-06-08T14:50:00.008+01:00

Hi everyone!

It has been a happy hectic couple of days in the Harrow household!

Katie celebrated a birthday and Jim and I celebrated thirty years of marriage - I was a very young child bride!!

Ollie did not want to miss out and spent most of sunday morning crafting this beautiful birthday message for Katie. He insisted I took a photo to use in future scrapbook pages!

Had a small window of crafting opportunity over the weekend to try out my new EK Success punches. Its pink again! I must be going through a pink crafting phase!

I love the flower silhoutte punch - so much flexibility. The scallop border punch is s.till one of my favourites

I used one of the tiny sentiment stamps from PI which is the perfect size to compliment and not dominate the card.

Many people look at the die-cut bazzill sheets and think they are only for scrapbooking. WRONG! I regularly use these on 6" cards.

By cutting and scoring you can produce beautiful 6" cards like the one below.

I have incorporated a couple of Magnolia stamps and the masking technique as a topper.

This wil fit into a 6" envelope

You can see from this photo where I cut and scored. The triangle that is left can be cut in half and used as corner decorations on other cards.

Ollie has just come back from the groomers and smells like a tarts boudoir!! He has been with his girlfriend Betty Boo who is totally flirty and always leads him astray poor lad! He will be totally zonked for the rest of the day!

Many thanks for all your lovely emails about the blog! You are so encouraging! It may not be every day but I certainly have the bug now!

Happy crafting!!

2010-06-04T16:03:00.008+01:00

Whew - summer is here! -for the weekend at least.

As promised a few designs with men in mind. I just can't believe that Fathers Day is just around the corner

Again I have used stamps produced by PI. They really have come up in the world of clear stamp sets. You can not beat them on value for money. This used to be sold as a wooden stamp and was popular then but now we have a variety of stamps on the same theme. I love to use the rocker design with cards because it is always well received by any recipient on any occassion.

If you do not have a cricut machine you can always use the curvy cutter method or even different sizes of plates that you have in the kitchen!

I am always asked for rubber stamps or patterned paper with owls in mind. They are soooo popular and have been for quite a few years - there are a lot of closet owl lovers out there!

So imagine my excitement when the new Minds Eye papers came in. This card is made up from just one sheet of paper. I have made it into a three fold C5 card and added nothing more than Sakura black gel pen to the eyes and a popular birthday greeting on the bottom which could be changed for Fathers Day.

You could hi-lite the body of the bird and the surrouning foliage with dye based ink pads and water pen. I have done this on a scrapbook page and if done subtly can be very effective.

We have a small amount of this paper left and as usual - if you would like to purchase any just give us a ring.

Off to Bluewater now - Jims favourite place - not!

Looking forward to BBQ in the garden this evening. Got to make the most of outdoor dining weather! could be all we get this year!

Enjoy the weather!

2010-06-04T14:55:00.008+01:00

Yes girls - two blogs in one day!! The heat must be getting to me! I am just finishing up on designs for our up and coming weekend and could'nt resist sharing a few more designs using the handbag stamps. They are made in house by Personal Impressions and are very reasonably priced at £4.95! We are due a big delivery at the end of next week so if you want to pre order a set then just give us a ring.

In this card you can see all the handbags and sentiment stamp that complete the set.

The patterned paper that I have used as the background is from the Provocraft Rob and Bob collection.

Katie is up to her eyes in revision. Only three more exams and she is finished!!!! Unfortunately one of her exams is monday - her birthday - so we have decided to put it on hold until after the exams!

Jim is on his way back from Stockholm where the weather is hotter than here!

Have got a few designs with men in mind so will post those tom. Fathers day is fast looming - its actually the Sunday of our craft weekend so there will be a few men celebrating on their own although football will have started by then so they will be glad of the tv all to themselves!

See you tomorrow!

2010-06-04T09:24:00.004+01:00

HI GIRLS!

At long last I have time to sit down and update my blog!

For all those dedicated bloggers who are constantly emailing to ask if i am EVER going to blog again - iI have listened!

A long time ago I realised that you could never have too many shoes or handbags and that carries through into my crafting. I tried to resist ordering these fantastic new stamps but the draw was overwhelming!!

Sooo many designs so little time! Here are just a few that I have come up with to inspire you all.

Impressive bow huh!

I have glittered the spots on the handbag and gemmed up the handle with 3mm gems which fit perfectly.

The centre of the bow I have accented with an embellishment from the Prima range.

Keep the lines nice and clean to really make the emphasis on the topper.

Where would we be without spotty ribbons!

On the 6" card I have just changed the shape by cutting off the two sides at an angle. I have used another set of stamps from PI which have been in constant use this summer in The Studio - the flower stamp has been randomly stamped as the background and then I have stamped and cut around two other flowers to act as accents. Patience is required but the result is so effective!

You get one sentiment in with the handbag stamps and I have added this to the card also.

I have glittered the centre of each fower with princess pink glitter and added clear sparkly gems to the handle.

As I speak Ollie is stretched out on cold tiles in the kitchen - summer is here and he doesnt like the heat! If it as to rain as well he would be well and truely tortured as he is not a rain dog either!

Well its well and truely BBQ weather this weekend - stand by your sausages!

Have a great time!!!

2010-01-08T17:05:00.002Z

LET IT SNOW...LET IT SNOW....LET IT STOP!!!

Okay so enough is enough!
As I speak it is a blizzard outside. I have just spent twenty minutes blowdrying a cocker spaniel who is now drying out in front of the roaring fire! He is just like a small child - sitting by the patio doors whinning to go out!
I have spent the day trying to re-arrange my craft room. Its been a case of trying to fit a pint into a quart pot.
If you had read my blog from yesterday you would have seen my new year resolution on tidyness. I am struggling to maintain my resolve and its only day one!
I have however been playing domestic goddess in the kitchen and the oven has been red hot all day. Its something about snow and sub zero temperatures that brings out the urge to produce comfort food by the platefull!
Lamb casserole, coconut cake and vegetable soup to name but a few culinery delights!
Managed to make one man very happy with a coffee and walnut cake - he will know who he is!
Anyway, off to make a new baby card for a little girl born in New England named Ava Maria.
Congratulations to Melissa and Bill!
speak soon and keep warm!

2010-01-07T19:21:00.008Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Where oh where did 2009 go!!

This is the year I devote at least ten minutes a day to my blog site!! - snow permitting!

This is also the year that I organise my life. I still believe that to be truely creative you can not be tidy but I will at least endeavour to be organised in my untidyness!!

As I type there is 8 inches - sorry 20 centimetres - of snow on the ground.

Having spent christmas and new year against a very white backdrop in Scotland we thought that the south would be green and damp. How wrong was I!!

Ollie is in his element! just like a small child he wants to spend every minute outside - which is all well and good but those of you who have a spaniel will know just how much snow can gather in those long dangling ears!!

Lots of great things planned for 2010. Those of you who have seen the latest newsletter will have seen the dates for our popular Make and Take Demo days. They proved very popular at our studio in Langley but were always very busy and restricted the way in which we demoed and organised make and takes.

Moving them to Allington will give us lots more room and enable lots of new products to be on show and for sale.

I am very aware that lots of you used to come to The Studio for inspiration so there will still be lots of new designs on show for your viewing. The Gallery will be added to regularly and I will be displaying lots of different papercraft designs in with my blog postings.

I have already beeing buying for the new year. Lots of great products to play with including Prima flowers and patterned papers. Jim still finds it difficult to understand why The Studio needs sooooo many patterned papers. You would think that after so many years he would learn - patterened papers are like golf balls - you just cant have too many of them!!

I am heavily into mini books at the moment. The Binderie has been in constant use since we introduced it. Teamed with Teresa Collins journal kits and Prima accesories I have come up with the two designs below.

Black and pink has been very popular with designers. Great easy on the eye patterns combined with strong accents can produce stunning results. My top tip would be to keep to the same depth of colouring. Try not to introduce too many shades of a colour.

For the base of the book I have used 7gypsies 8"book boards in black. I have covered these in Bazzill pink and black and decorated using the 7gypsies moulin 97% complete journal kit - this really is a bumper pack including 8"x8" pages, tabs, envelopes and journalling blox. I have finished with large Bazziill paper flowers and a selection of Bazill and Creative Expressions ribbons. The tuille really adds dimension to the centre of the flowers. The main feature on the front is a large envelope from the journal kit and I have used a magnet closure hidden under the printed Prima flower.

Teresa Collins produces many great journal kits and the one I used here fitted the biill perfectly for books to give as gifts to Katies friends. Great fashionable colours finished off with a Tim Holtz frame and Bazzill paper flowers!

Once again I wish all our customers and friends a very happy and crafty 2010!!

24th Oct Make & Take Day

2009-10-18T20:44:00.003+01:00

Make & Take Demo Day this Saturday 24th October 10-4pm. Everyone welcome!

Demos & Make & Takes all day include

7GYPSIES BINDERIE MACHINE & JOURNALS

SIZZIX TEXTURE BOUTIQUE MACHINE

IMPRESSIONS OBSESSION STAMPS

SIZZIX EMBOSSING FOLDERS & DIES

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

ADVENT CALENDARD
PAPERCRAFT GIFTS
TIM HOLTZ STAMPS & ACCESSORIES

GREAT "ONE DAY" PRICES ON MANY ITEMS
TICKETS ON SALE FOR GRAND PRIZE DRAW RAFFLE
PLUS
RAFFLE PRIZES ON THE HOUR - EVERYHOUR!!

2009-07-04T19:11:00.002+01:00

Yes - I'm back!!!

Its been a while but I am now going to fulfill my new years resolution and update my blog at regular intervals - better late than never !!
Just arrived home after our Tim Holtz allday workshop. What agreat day!! lots of lovely ladies and key lime pie to boot! Fourth of July was well and truely celebrated! The king or should i say Queen of distressing took centre stage! He has sooo many great products on the market at the moment that its difficult to know what to choose. Apolgies that we did not get around to using the beeswax girls but as usual time ran away from us!!

2009-04-05T17:03:00.004+01:00

It seems ages since I last wrote! So much has happened that it all seems to blur into one long day! We had a FANTASTIC day last Saturday. So many of you turned up to Make & Take it was standing room only! The car park was like the centre of Maidstone on a Saturday morning and we needed a car park attendent to sort out road rage!!
Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves and we had lots of lovely comments!
We finished the last batch of lessons on saturday with the acrylic album. A really lovely project to end on. The next workship list will be sent out and go on line towards the end of April but I will keep you posted nearer the time. Ollie is growing so fast. He is such a good boy. One of his favourite activities is sitting in the back garden watching the wood pigeons. They fascinate him!
We will putting a new selection of cards on to the gallery monday so look out for them. Speak soon! Happy crafting!

2009-03-20T12:38:00.002Z

Hello

I have changed the way the comments section comes up on the screen - so instead of writing your comments on the section that comes up under the actual blog - a new page will come up when you click 'Comment'. There will be a link that you can click that will take you back to the main blog site!

Hopefully this will sort out any problems people were having!

x

2009-03-13T02:15:00.003Z

Hello All,

I heard that some of you are having problems posting comments on the blog! I'm not sure why that would be but I'll have a fiddle and see what I come up with!!

I'll let you know what happens

x x

2009-03-13T02:02:00.003Z

Hi I'm Ollie.

My owners now think I am big enough to write my own blog! Having trouble with these huge paws - can't quite reach the middle keys!

I have a wonderful home - hectic but loving! Foods good - treats are better. My mum is the best!

I don't like the wet stuff that falls out of the sky - I'm more of a sun worshiper!

Have met a lot of you at The Studio - sorry about the nipping - apparently once all my baby teeth fall out I will just be giving you kisses!

Opps must go - I hear my dinner being prepared.

Licks and wags to you all - my loyal following - how do you like the new photo?!

Ollie

2009-03-11T16:25:00.006Z

Sheesh - just recovering from our first Craft Weekend!

Great time had by all - I hope. Great to see so many new faces!
Ollie went down a storm - his eyes are red from all the camera flashes! - He was very well behaved but is now exhausted!

Great new papers have arrived from the States - so busy making up samples with those!

They include this card which uses one sheet of patterned paper and is great for all the men out there.
Oh and another pic of Ollie - he is growing sooo fast!!

2009-03-04T19:02:00.002Z

Thank you to everybody who came to the Make and Take on Saturday!
We all had a great time as usual.
Ollie made a couple of appearances - and everything came to a grinding halt!

The sad news is that the money raised from make and takes was stolen from The Studio during opening hours on Tuesday. We will of course honour this for the Hospice - obviously the perpetrators need was greater - spend it wisely!

Anyway, lots of great paper and products arriving at The Studio daily - look forward to seeing you!

2009-02-20T12:41:00.007Z

What a week that was! We have been visiting the Trade Show at Birmingham N.E.C - so much to see - so little time to see it in!
LOTS, LOTS, LOTS of fantastic products - unfortunately we have to wait for their arrival from the great USA so it will probably be end of March before the bulk of our orders arrive - but hey - it will soooo be worth the wait. Papers, stamps, you name it we've got it coming.

There was time this week to make a few cards - thought this was a quick and easy one which if you changed the colour ways, would fit any recipient! A great stamp from Hero Arts!

Ollie has his final injection tomorrow so the world will be his oyster! - look out world!Many thanks to all of you who have booked classes and workshops - look forward to seeing you all!!

Have a great weekend!

Good News - the 2 and a half inch Scallop circle punch is NOW IN!

2009-02-13T20:19:00.004Z

Happy Valentines Day to you and all!!

2009-02-12T14:51:00.006Z

If people ask what's my favourite crafting item of the moment - it has to be the Big XL Scallop Card die from Ellison.
The ability to make a card from any colour cardstock with a decorative edge is second to none!

I made these two cards late last night in less than 20 minutes ready for the post today - Oh, and all the while I had a sleeping dog at my feet!

We will have fresh supplies of the Big XL die at The Studio within the next two weeks!

2009-02-06T20:44:00.000Z

We have all been busy at The Studio designing and preparing cards for both the Magazine and the upcoming classes and workshops!
As usual, The Studio has been in a state of chaos and customers have had to negotiate their way around the boxes of new stock which has been arriving daily! But hey - you can't be creative and tidy!!

Our first blog...

2009-02-06T20:30:00.000Z

...nothing to do with cards - but all to do with 3kg of huggle buggle on legs!
Our brand new addition to The Card Studio - 10 week old Ollie, a brown and white Cocker Spaniel with eyes that just melt your heart!

Welcome to our blog!!

2009-02-06T20:26:00.000Z

This is a new and exciting venture for The Card Studio!
We always have so much to say that a monthly newsletter just doesn't always cut it!
We hope you enjoy sharing our news and views which we will endeavour to update regularly!
Please feel free to leave your comments whenever you have a free minute!