Counting down to Christmas!

We are counting down to the big Christmas crop on 3rd December and here are the details that you need.

For Ann's calendar class she is using this paper line

You will need 12 - 3inch x 4 inch photos (2 per 6 x 4 photo) and for the project additional project 3 coordinating photos max 2 inches x 2.5 inches.

Debbie is using these papers for her class



When I asked her for photo size this was her reply

"No photos required for this class ... yet. It is a countdown to Christmas layout - the idea being to create a page then add a photo or journalling card each day from the 1st to the 25th December. What is required is the delegates take a photo or make a note of something each day from the 1.12.2011 to add to their page after."

What an exciting prospect - The whole of Christmas 2011 on a double page!

For Denise's class it would be helpful if you could bring along a blending tool, if you have one and distress inks.

Well there you have it - a 10 hour day packed full of crafting, a bring and share lunch, an amazing calendar class and a project taught by Ann Freeman, an awesome double page layout taught by Debbie Jewell and a fabulous card and envelope taught by Denise Holmes - all for just £30.00. We have three remaining places so if you would like to book one then email eclectickeepsakes@btinternet.com.

Have a safe journey ladies and I look forward to seeing you on the 3rd.

Karen

Three Remaining Places!

If you are free on 3rd December you might like .............................................................

Are you up for catching a few scraps?

Look at this absolutely gorgeous scrap catcher - the class that, the very talented but oh so modest, Jane taught at the Eclectic Keepsakes crop on Saturday.
By the end of the afternoon almost everyone had one of these little beauties dangling from their scrap space and can you believe it - some had even started using them for paper scraps! They were just so easy to make, especially with the comprehensive instructions that Jane supplied and even Denise who claims not to have sewn since leaving school had made a perfect scrap catcher.

Now here's the deal, Jane has a few spare kits that are for sale at £7.50 including p&p. All that is needed to finish the scrap catcher is a sewing machine and 250gms of red lentils to fill the bag that holds the catcher onto the table. If you would like a kit, email me at eclectickeepsakes@btinternet.com.

Inking it up with Sue

Well, better late than never. A few examples of the beauties that Sue coaxed out of our inks and card. Her class was fabulous and we all learnt so much. Sandie has sent me some examples of the beautiful pieces she has made and also given details on how to achieve the beautiful effects over on her blog .





Also, I had a bash at her technique on Thursday and am delighted with the result.


I made my piece of stamping/inking into a banner for a layout which can be seen on my blog here.

Karen M

Prepare to be Wowed

As I said in the last post Sue is so talented when it comes to anything Tim Holtz. She came over to my house a few months ago and made some of the pennants that I have photos of below. This was what gave me the idea of asking her to teach at the crop.


Now when you look at these pennants bear in mind that they all started off as plain white card. I think AWESOME is the word that comes to mind.


She inks and stamps and works all sorts of magic on the card to produce such beautiful results.


There is no pattened paper involved at all just stamps, ink and Sue's magic.



So how about some sneaky peeks at the class, Sue has made two examples but we emphasise that this is a technique class and not a page class so although you will have all you need to make a page the same as Sue has, it is up to you how your page turns out.



Photo requirement is one or two photos, any size, any orientation and any subject.

So see you Saturday ladies.

Karen
xxx

Welcome to Victoria Gardens

We are getting closer to the next Eclectic Keepsakes crop on the 8th October and we are delighted to have Sue Plampton teaching a technique class using Tim Holtz inks and stamps. I cannot describe the beautiful projects she produces and will try to persuade her to let me photograph a couple to put on the blog next week. So this is the kit she is going to work her magic on,

it uses a selection of papers from Echo Park's Victoria Garden range and we will have available a selection of ink pads in coordinating colours.

I, for one, cannot wait to learn some new and exciting techniques and am working up to the trauma of getting my hands all inky!

I will be back on Sunday with some sneaky peeks of the class and the photo size.

See you soon.

Karen M

Variations on a Theme

Well what can I say, the class by Ann went down a storm and we all loved our pages.

It always amazes me how you ladies take an idea and run with it. Ann loves it when she gives you the basis of a page and you take it up and 'freestyle it'. So with no further ado here are the variations on the theme. The first two pages are Ann's pages and the rest are from our talented croppers.












What a fantastic day we all had and I am so looking forward to next month's class by Sue - a technique class using lots of stamping, inking, and all sorts of messy stuff !

Karen M

The Count Down

Well ladies, the count down has begun. Just over a week until the next crop and the class being taught by Ann. I can promise you is it a stunner and just to get you excited here is a little peep at what to expect.


Photo requirements for the two pages are a 6 x 4 portrait for layout one (colour or black and white) and a 7 x 5 landscape (sepia) photo for layout 2.

Have a lovely week and see you on the 10th.

Karen M

Lost and Found

Not my marbles but the papers Ann is going to use for the September class.


Are you getting excited yet?

Karen M

Beach Babes!

Yesterday was the day for the August Crop and what a lovely day it was. Thank you ladies for making it a day filled with laughter, crafting, witty banter and friendship. I really love our monthly crop because we have such a lovely bunch of ladies that come along.

Although the numbers were not our usual, we still made the class that was postponed from last month. It used beautiful whitewashed Core'dination card and Fancy Pants Beach Babe paper and chipboard along with hybrid elements from several Echo Park ranges.

I made the example and the ladies rocked it so well! I only have examples from two of the ladies but the others were also brilliant.



Apologies for the bad photographs - silly me had the camera on the wrong setting!

First there was Denise's page

Just look how Denise so cleverly used the bunting on the journaling card as the tail for her kite.

Than Jane's

Look carefully and you will spy Jane's little crab peeping out from the waves - genius!

and finally Denise was so inspired that she decided to make another page!

Love how Denise has made two separate pages from the kit rather than a double page.

So a fun time was had by all and we are all looking forward to next month when the fabulously talented Ann Freeman is teaching - I am counting down the days!

Ladies who were unable to make it this month - we missed you and hope you can come next month.

Karen M

Work in Progress

Getting ready for tomorrow's crop and just a little peep at what to expect.


There are six of these little collages to make and put onto a double lo. I am way behind with finishing it but am off to visit the very lovely Mel and Jill this afternoon to pick up the card and papers so by tomorrow (and by the skin of my teeth, as always) the class will be finished and packed. Don't forget you will need scissors or craft knife for lots of cutting and lots of foam pads. Also the photo requirement is two 7 x 5 beach themed photos, one landscape and one portrait.

Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow and I am busily thinking about what cupcakes to make!

Karen M

Today

We are having lots of fun at Marks Tey today. We have just finished a Lime Twist Minds Eye layout and have a few extra cropping hours as it's National Scrapbooking Month. Here are some of our layouts:



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Hope you are all having a great day.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bags of Fun

Oh yes, we all had bags of fun on Saturday making this little number.

It must have been a challenging class because there were quite a few moments of absolute silence while all the ladies concentrated on making their flowers.

We were amazed at the variations that all the ladies managed to make, some added their own fancy buttons, some designed different flowers and some used inventive colour combinations but I think we all agreed that the results were fabulous.

This is one that Deb made,

a little free styling going on and that is what we like to see.


Our classes are only meant as a springboard for your creativity and this class proved what creative and talented ladies you all are. What tosh telling me you couldn't sew!

We have a few kits left over from the day in various colours which are available for purchase at £7.00, including post and packaging. If you would like one of these please email us at eclectickeepsakes@btinternet.com and we will sell them on a first come first served basis.

Karen & Karen.

The Shape Of Things To Come

Tomorrow we will be stitching and twisting and beading and gathering


and hopefully Ohhhhing and Ahhhhhing.

Ops I spy a cotton that needs snipping off!

But we wont be doing any of this because I have done it already :)


See you all tomorrow


Karen & Karen

xxx Happy Birthday To Us xxx

Thank you all you lovely ladies and businesses who have supported us over the last year. I cannot believe that a whole year has gone by since we had our first crop and we have made so many friends and learnt so much from the marvelous teachers we have had.


The day started, as it always does with tea and cupcakes.


Then there was a little birthday present for all the ladies at the crop. A super little stamp for use on projects made at our crop. I stamped the back of my lo and even my rubbish stamping looked good with this little beauty.



We did our own thing for the morning

all eagerly awaiting Denise's beautiful class (not many of our teachers bring Tom Selleck to our crop, a welcome addition he was too).


What a stunner she taught.

I loved all the different variations that people have produced - the sign of a good class, very adaptable.
What is a birthday without a cake? During the afternoon we had a tea break and a piece of the delicious Eclectic Keepsake birthday cake.


The time to pack up and go home came much too quickly for most of us but there is always next time to look forward to. A very big thank you to the ladies who stayed behind and helped me pack away.xxx

Karen M
xxx