Prima class peek

I always try to include a masculine class in the collection of kits for our retreats and I instantly fell in love with the new Prima 'Craftsman' line when it was released this Summer, so we had to have it!! Because I couldn't decide which of the fab papers to put in the kit, I got loads of them in A4 so we could really cram a lot in.  In total we have NINE sheets of patterned paper!

I threw the matching stamp set into the shopping cart as well and then a bit of bling found its way in there too!  I'm sure you girls attending won't be complaining that you'll have a fab stamp set to add to your stash?

Obviously this is going to be a masculine page so you'll need some pics of one or more men in your life. There is a vintagey/steampunk vibe to the designs and the colours are deep rich burgundy/navy/rust, perfect for most masculine photos but if you're not sure then bring along a black & white print or two - its sure to be perfect!

Cosmo Cricket class peek

Take a peek at the products that we have in our Cosmo Cricket 'Evangeline' class!!  I love the teal, cream and red colour combo, right up my street!  We have stuffed this kit full of goodies including a pack of chipboard, a pack of cardstock stickers and an entire pad of 24 different tags.  With four sheets of double sided patterned papers, there's plenty to play with here.

Keep dropping by to get a look at what we will be doing with this collection of gorgeousness!!

Take a peek at the project sample for the Retreat....

This is the type of project that you can keep playing with and adding to, the problem is knowing when to stop, I could keep tinkering with this but I had to draw the line somewhere and this is it!  I loved playing with each of the tiles that make up this patchwork.  You can do absolutely anything you like to each one and even if you do the same as your neighbour, they can be put together in so many different ways that each project can look really different.  We'll be inking, spraying, stamping, embossing, crackling, faux riveting, embellishing and anything else you'd like to do!

Almost everything that was used on the sample will be available in the kit or to use in the class but if you have any particular ink colours, stamps or embellishments that you would like to incorporate then feel free to bring it along.  The letters used to create the words on the sample don't form a part of the kit, you can bring along a black alphabet or cut letters from black cardstock - the Tim Holtz Wordplay Sizzix die will be available for you to use if you'd like.

I didn't include a photograph on the sample but one could very easily be added and it can be any size that would fit onto a 12x12 and leave space for embellishments!  This can be as flat or dimensional as you like, it can be a piece of art or a scrapbook page, its absolutely up to you!

Take a peek at our Retreat project class kit!

I am so excited to tell you about this class because quite a few months ago I was given permission by Tim Holtz to take one of his classes as inspiration for the project at the Retreat!!  We will be creating a stunning piece of wall art that is choc full of techniques, colour and inspiration for you to refer back to over and over again.  The patchwork of pieces come together to create a 12x12 piece that you could add photos to and place into your scrapbook or could be hung on the wall.

The kit contains; chipboard, grungeboard sheets, chitchat stickers, ticket, a bottle of clear rock candy crackle paint, assorted Tim Holtz ephemera, tissue tape

You will have a huge selection of Ranger paints, inks and mediums to use in the class plus shimmer sprays, stamps and Sizzix dies.  You can make your own unique statement with this project, you can combine any colours, make it any theme, add more of your own charms etc... This will be a class to play with products and have fun!!

Take a peek at the sample page design

After posting the peek of the kit contents I thought you might like a peek at the finished sample design too.  Of course you can't see the whole page but it should give you a feel of the colours and layering.  The flowers are a deeper tone of the vintage blue in the papers and you decide on how bright you want them as you colour them yourself.

Now that I look again at the sample layout I think it would be very easy to add two portrait photos if a single landscape isn't your thing.  You wouldn't even need to rotate the page!

So, think soft vintage and pretty but not sickly sweet and you'll be on the same track as me.

Retreat class peek

Here we go with the first of the class peeks for our retreat next week and we start off with a pretty vintage kit using Melissa Frances products.  We have gathered together stickers, resin architecture and lace to create a stunning vintage sample page that would be perfect for baby, feminine or heritage photographs. We will be altering the embellishments in the class to create co-ordinating products.

The kit includes; cardstock, 2 patterned papers, a sheet of cardstock stickers, resin embellishment, paper roses, decorative brads, coloured cotton lace and resist canvas butterfly.

The sample uses a single 6" x 4" landscape photo but you could use a couple of smaller pictures or rotate the page for a portrait photo.

You will also need; a brown inkpad (sample used Distress Ink in Vintage Photo), paintbrush, liquid pearls or adhesive gems/pearls.  We will have liquid pearls available in the class together with Glimmer Mist.

Tim's 12 Tags for October

If you are a Tim Holtz fan then you will have been waiting expectantly for his tag for this month which was a little later than usual as he had a much needed break from his manic schedule!  The tag for this month is of course Halloween themed and in his step by step technique pics he shows how to create custom coloured glitter using the new dry Distress Glitter and alcohol inks (remember those - I have loads of them!!).

The background is created from a layer of printed tissue crinkled onto a tag and then painted over with paint daubers.  He then applied distress inks over the top and the translucent qualities of the inks pick out the creases while allowing the paint colours to shine through.  A couple of glitter die cuts, a stamped ticket shape and a clip finish off this gorgeous tag for October.

If you would like to see exactly how Tim did it himself them simply click here and have fun!!