LOTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO

It's a time for thinking about the year ahead. 2011 is a new decade, lets make some goals that will get us where we want to be. Whether we are looking at our crafting or general life goals, we will accomplish so much more if we know what we want to achieve. So, think what you would like to happen in 2011, and then write down some steps that will set you on your way. You could even scrapbook your journey. The most important thing is that you take those steps! So often we set goals and don't achieve them, because we don't follow through and do the work. Lets change all that and live more purposefully in 2011. I have always loved this quote, I hope it inspires you too!
"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours" David Henry Thoreau

Crop 2011

CROP DATES
The crop will take place on the second Saturday of each month, except for February when we couldn't get the second so we went for the first Saturday. Dates are as follows:
January 8th
February 5th
March 12th
April 9th
May 14th
June 11th
July 9th
August 13th
September 10th
October 8th
November 12th
December 10th

WORKSHOP- If we get at least 15 people signed up, the workshop will be subsidised for regular members, so a workshop that usually costs £30 will be yours for £20! Karen or Carol need your £10 deposit by the January crop to secure your place. I am very excited about this workshop!!

Next years workshop

Just a note to let you know that the very talented Anneliese Bates (www.anneliesebates.co.uk ) will be running an altered scrapbook workshop for us on 12th March next year. She is a certified Ranger Educator and has had work published in a number of magazines. She works at the Artist Trading Post. I have seen her demo and she is brilliant! It should cost around £20 to £25 , so maybe you could ask Santa for an extra pressy? Deposits need to be in by the January crop. Get excited!!

Christmas Crop

It's our Christmas crop this Saturday!!! I am so sorry I will miss it. We are at a good friends wedding in Peterborough, and just can't miss that. I hope to be sending along a little thought for each of you though. It's 10 till 3, as normal. Bring along a £5 scrapbooking gift if you want to take part in the gift exchange. Are you following Tim Holtz's 12 tags? Yesterdays was fabulous- see picture above. I can't believe that creativity! Good news though, you don't need the die to cut the flower if you haven't already got it. I cut a strip of paper with a wavy edge and it works fine. OK, not as good as Tim's, but that is because its me doing it!! Enjoy the crop xx

My Christmas Tags

This tag was painted with blue crackle paint, stamped with the word then stickled over the lines.

Gold heat embossed all over the tag with the holly stamp, distress inked and adhered printed flower, highlighted with stickles. Red holly berries were done with red stickles.

This one was gold heat embossed with holly stamp, distress inked edges, stamped holly on another card and cut out, then distress inked leaves.

I used flocked red patterned paper for the middle, gold crackle paint for the bottom, inked, stamped and distressed the lot! I glued a button on and used glossy accents to put a star on it.

This is my favourite. I stamped 'NOEL', distress inked whole tag, inked and adhered robin, inked grungeboard crown and added gems, punched holes and threaded fabric through for ribbon bow.

I distress inked tag, stamped on it, added star that was made by pressing angelina fibres onto a stamp with an iron, added lock which was made by pouring beeswax into a mould and painting.

Inspired by all things Holtz (LOVING his tags) I've conjured up a few of my own. These tags are so much fun to do! They don't take long, and are just doable little pieces of art. Have a go! I will be making some sweets for Christmas and attaching these tags with ribbon.

Christmas Tags

This is exciting! Tim Holtz is doing it again! He has created 12 amazing tags for Christmas and he is posting photos and instructions every day so you can do the same! His blog is always inspiring. Even if you don't have all the dies and stamps that he uses you can adapt the ideas to what you have. I will be following him avidly as ever, and I may even post some of my own creations. Tim's blog is www.timholtz.typepad.com