My Creative Spirit (Blog Archive)

It's confirmed :-) Rob, affectionately known as Mr MDF has invited me to host a Graphic 45 workshop at his new showroom in Mansfield.  During the day we'll be altering an egg rack (similar to mine above), letter rack and tray with Graphic 45 papers adding a little bit of gilding with the fabulous IndigoBlu mega flakes and Rob will be sharing some of his altered art techniques with us all too.  You'll also be able to shop till you drop and stock up on his quality MDF blanks too.  Here's the details for the day: Date:  Saturday 15th June 2013 Time: 10am - 5 - 5.30pm ish Venue: MDF Man Showroom, Unit GB, Mill 3, Pleasley Vale Business Park, Mansfield. NG19 8RL Whats included:  All MDF Blanks Choice of Graphic 45 papers to cover your blanks with Buffet Lunch Inks for edging  What to bring :  Pencil Ruler  Paper Trimmer  Craft knife if you prefer to cut with one and a cutting mat  everything else will be provided for you so

Curtain Call Guest Book - Graphic 45  Hi every one, just a quick post to let you know Susan at Suzicrafts Crafts has invited me along to the shop to run a Graphic 45 workshop on Saturday 29th June.  We'll be making one of my Zig Zag albums.  If you'd like to join in the fun and would like more information about the day just contact the shop direct on 01642 605117 or Susan on 07754 659780. The shop address is: 5 Portrack Lane  Stockton on Tees TS18 2XB  I thought I'd add a shout out to Joan and Janella who I understand had a big shock in the shop today.  I am really coming up to see you all and will be bringing some of my altered projects that have featured on my blog and You Tube channel along with me. Looking forward to seeing you all. :-) C

Happy Wednesday everyone, Congratulations to Sue the Iron, No 24 who was this months winner of the IndigoBlu blog challenge and scrummy prize. Here's the link to her blog and wonderful altered heart . A new monthly challenge starts today, and its all about "Beautiful Backgrounds".  Just click the l ink here for more info on how to enter and the prize this month. I really loved making the sunflower card using the IndigoBlu stamps and took the theme a step further to make this altered gift box. The box is made out of chipboard 6 x 6 squares (the lid is a little larger), painted with black acrylic. Then I covered it with stamped white card panels, inked with Mowed Lawn and Vintage Photo distress ink and then stamped with black Versafine ink. Stamps used were: Script Background Crackleglaze Background Sunflower Nature 1 - Butterfly Poppy Meadow - tag detail I used yellow and orange Copic Ciao Markers and a walnut stain distress pen for the brown centre to c

Secret Garden Card - Graphic 45 Kelly's been busy again writing todays post over on the Graphic 45 blog. Click here to take a look at Susans Olde curiosity Shoppe easel card, Arlene's Little Darlings card and my card made from the new patterns and solids 6 x 6 pad that complements the Secret Garden collection. There's instructions on how to make it yourself too. Happy crafting everyone :-)

Simple Home Decor with Graphic 45  If your a G45 er you'll know that the gorgeous papers Diane and the team design are great to use to up cycle home decor pieces.  Simple projects are just as effective as those that have all the bells and whistles added :-).  Here's a wooden key cabinet I altered using two 8 x 8 papers from the French Country Collection and inky pool PaperArtsy fresco finish chalk acrylic paint.  It matched the inky blues in the paper perfectly.  It really doesn't take too long to transform an item into something you'd like to have around the home either.   Happy paper crafting everyone :-) 

Secret Garden Altered 8 x 8 Match Book Box - Graphic 45  Happy Saturday everyone Not the sunniest of days for May here in the UK but its not raining... yet!!!  Anyway as it's been a while since I shared a Graphic 45 project with you all I thought I'd take some pics of one of my demo pieces I made for the Create and Craft shows last weekend.  I went lilac using papers from the Secret Garden collection that matched perfectly with PaperArtsy's Pansy Fresco Finish chalk paint.   First I altered the box by cutting along one of the lower edges of the outer cover, and then sticking the inner box down to the base.  I angled the two right hand edges and added a magnet (hidden under the papers) to keep the box closed.  then I painted it all over with Pansy paint and when dry used one of Ali Reeves Brick Wall masks and Brushed Corduroy distress ink to highlight the uncovered sides and inside cover of the box.  The inside was covered with one piece of cream 12 x12 paper and t

Getting Creative With Clare Charvill at a Graphic 45 Workshop Hi everyone Here are a few pics from our fabulous Graphic 45 workshop today in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire.  It was lovely to meet you all. Andy and I would like to thank you all for making the day such a huge success.  We thoroughly enjoyed it.  What busy bees :-) I think we've caught every one hard at work int he pics below. Sue, who runs the Redditch Craft Club was with us today.  Here's the link to their web site.   The club meets once a month, and if you fancy joining other crafters for a day of creativity just contact Sue at sue.gadd@redditchcraftclub.co.uk sue.gadd@redditchcraftclub.co.uk . Lovely to see all the ladies from the Moxley Massive Crop too.  Their fabulous crop runs on the first saturday of the month. If you're local and would like more info about the club just click this link . I still have a few places left for my next Graphic 45 workshop on Saturday 6th July and

Altered Gift Box - Various Graphic 45 Collections  I'm just home after todays Graphic 45 sell out shows on Create and Craft TV .   It was great fun meeting and working with Hayley and Genevieve and meeting Emily the producer,  Di, Annaliese again and the rest of the floor crew who all did a great job packing up all my samples at the end of the day.  I've never know hours fly by so fast as they did today.  Thanks also to every one who mailed into the shows. Lots of mails made their way into the cup but sadly there wasn't time to read them all out. Congratulations Jean on winning the card which C & C will post out to you.   Enjoy crafting with the papers and embellishments you've bought today and if you're in need of some inspiration, stop by my You Tube channel , the Graphic 45 blog and Pinterest  board .  Happy paper crafting everyone :-) 

Secret Garden Easel Card  I'm back home after a fab break, and having washed and sorted out our bags am getting ready for the Graphic 45 shows on C & C next SaturdaySaturday.  Lol!!! am in need of another holiday.  Here's a sneak peek of one of the demo's I'll be doing.  An easel card made with the Secret Garden papers and embellishments.  Happy crafting :-)   

Scrapbook Magic - Mullion Meadows, Mullion, Cornwall If your holidaying in Cornwall and want to visit an amazing Scrap book shop call in and see Margaret (above right, with Cathie left and Bridget centre) and browse through her fabulous shop in Mullion.  Margaret stocks the largest collection of Tim Holtz dies in Cornwall,  Graphic 45, IndigoBlu as well as hundreds of other must have products by top suppliers for you to use in your projects however big or small.   If you're too far away to call in why not visit her on line store at  Scrapbook Magic .  If you can't see what you're looking for there give Margaret a ring and she'll try and find what you're after, and mail it out to you.   There's a bright and spacious workshop area and regular workshops are held in the shop each week.  I'll be back in September to hold some Graphic 45 and IndigoBlu workshops with Margaret.  Details to follow over on the on line workshops and event page of my blog

Steampunk Spells - Graphic 45 Here's the first sneak peek of the second mid season release from Graphic 45.  More pics and sneak peeks start over on their blog from Monday 6th May.  This one is a steampunk revival with a Halloween twist whoot whoot!!!!. Guess who can't wait to get her crafty hands on this :-) Graphic 45 blog . Happy paper crafting everyone :-)

What a week to be in Cornwall.  It's been a scorching 19 again today but instead of heading off to the beach we went upcountry to see what's been named the 8th wonder of the world -  The Eden Project.   Born out of a hole in the ground back in 1997 this amazing place now houses the two biggest green houses (Biomes) in the world that take you on a journey through rain forrest and dry deserts, humidity and dry heat and showcases the most amazing plants that provide us with so much.  It was over 30 degrees in the Tropical biome and lovely to stand in front of the cold spray from the head of the waterfall.  Fab day had by all, and well worth a visit if your ever in Cornwall.    xC

Bohemian Bazzar - Graphic 45 Happy Wednesday every one  If you've been waiting for the mid season release from Graphic 45, the wait is over. This collection is full of fabulously vibrant colours in true Bohemian style.  Sneak peeks are start today over on the G45 blog along with four "Win it before you can buy it" prize giveaways each day so don't forget to leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning yourself. .  I wonder what we'll make with this collections :-)  .............