04 December, 2007

Small Beginnings

Well who would have thought it, looks like I have caught the bug and I now have a blog of my own to share my projects, ideas and inspirations with my friends and family.

My love of crafting began when I was much younger, I loved to create things - whether it be cooking, using fabrics, paper or junk - I usually found something creative to do with it. To me crafting is a way of relaxing after a busy day at work and I love nothing better than creating lovely cards and gifts for family and friends. The look on their faces is worth the time and effort it takes to create something special.

Now my crafting has taken me to a new level - a friend recommended me to Louise who owns my local scrapbook shop - KittyKrafts in Dundee and suggested that I might be interested in teaching classes. A year on we have an increasingly keen group of crafters who are always eager to learn new techniques and desperate to see the new class list as soon as it is published. We run weekly classes, weekend workshops and even 1:1 sessions for special projects. If you are ever in the locality pop into the shop, you wont be disappointed.

4 comments:

Dawn said...

Hi Diane
Never thought I would see you blogging but a good way of displaying your classes.
It will be amazing to look over the year how many classes you have done.

Dawn said...

Ooh I see there is a website coming for Kitty Crafts about time too.

Lori said...

Welcome to the world of blogging Diane! Great to see you putting your fabulous work on show for everyone to see and appreciate!

Maggie said...

Hi Diane

Great to see you are blogging now.

Love the calendar class - it looks fab.
Looking forward to seeing more of your class projects here :)

Have a great Christmas

Our Silver Wedding Anniversary

Our Silver Wedding Anniversary
This is one of the nicest photos of my husband and I taken at our silver wedding celebrations with our family and friends in June.

Feeling like Royalty

Feeling like Royalty
Our daughters paid for a limo for us to chill out for an hour before the celebrations started, it was so nice to chill out and relax in style before the night started. Complete with champagne, music and chocolates we spent an hour driving around Dundee on what was a beautiful sunny evening.

The cake

The cake
After checking out the price of cakes in local bakers, our eldest daughter decided we could make our own and so the production line began. 150 cakes later, iced and decorated with chocolate butterflies, the stand was found on ebay and a handmade topper completed what was a stunning talking point.

Table Decorations

Table Decorations
The lanterns on the table were found in Dobbies in the sale, our daughters took over all the decorations and so many people commented on how stunning the tables looked with the candles flickering.

Advanced Scrapbooking class

Advanced Scrapbooking class
I have been experimenting with my cricut and designed this for an advanced scrapbooking class at KittyKrafts - I really enjoyed playing with unusual shapes and getting away from the normal squares.

Another advanced class

Another advanced class
This idea came from a sketch at Pagemaps.com and a layout by Dawn Inskip - I altered it and included some hand stitching around the large white circle - the photos aren't family members - just some photos I found online. Everyone really enjoyed this class and went away brimming with ideas and possibilities.

Advanced Scrapbooking Class

Advanced Scrapbooking Class
This is the double layout for this week's advanced class, the large photo mount hinges up to reveal space for photos or journalling underneath!

Some of my work

My Disney Acrylic Album

Mini-Album for Katy's 18th birthday

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror
Sam designed this project based on a mirror tile from B & Q. The paper is Imaginisce!

Bare Elements Wine Container

Bare Elements Wine Container
This was created using Cosmo Cricket Twist and Shout papers - a lovely gift idea!

Picture of the container open, I originally used red ribbon but then changed it for green, velvet paper was used on the bottom of the container and inside the wine bottle area to cushion it!

Candle, Gift Bag and Christmas Card

Candle, Gift Bag and Christmas Card
This project was adapted from an idea in a Christmas magazine from last year using Carol Wilson papers, Bazzill Bling and Poinsettias, a quick and easy way to brighten up plain gift bags!

Advent Tree

Advent Tree
Sam adapted this from a project in a Christmas magazine last year, it went down really well and everyone has admired it in the shop since. The bags were cut using the Cricut Bags, Tags, Boxes and more cartridge.

Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to Christmas
This Calendar was created on a Making Memories Magnetic board to allow the pieces to be interactive.

Clipboard

Clipboard
Everyone loved this quick and easy project that Sam created using Blonde Moments Friend Junctions papers - it helps that the photo is cute too!

Family Word Book

Family Word Book
Family word book using K & Co Mira papers, Stickers and Chipboard Words - one of our classes at the Workshop Weekend

Christmas Snowflake Wall Hanging

Christmas Snowflake Wall Hanging
This wallhanging was created using the Maya Road Sheer Snowflake book, alcohol inks, glitter and various punches. I really enjoyed creating this project and loved the very subtle effect of the alcohol inks!

Travis Box

Travis Box
This was one of our 4 hour workshops using K & Co Blue Awning papers and embellishments. The box was painted using Blonde Moments Gold paint. The box is easy to decorate and the time it takes is well worth the effort. Below are the pictures of the inside trays.

Lid open with trays

Lid open with trays

Back of the box!

Velvet paper was used to line the bottom of the trays and the bottom of the box.

Acrylic Disney Album

Acrylic Disney Album
I made this album for the challenge at our monthly crop featuring pages from our recent trip to Orlando, Florida. This was my first time experimenting with acrylic and wow I loved it. I look forward to adding to this album and making some more for gifts for family and friends.

Mother's Day Gifts

Mother's Day Gifts
This is the card I made for my mum and MIL for Mother's Day, adapted from an idea I found on the web. I used Basic Grey and Papermania silk screened papers, Holy Cow and Creative Imaginations rub ons, K & Co ribbon and Heidi Grace flowers. I printed verses to go on the back of each panel

It is always difficult to know what to buy my mum, so this year I made her an altered tin. I used alcohol inks to decorate the top and Basic Grey Urban Couture papers to decorate the sides, finishing off with ribbons from Little Silver Hat's monthly kits. I filled the tin with her favourite chocolates.

Dawn's Card

Dawn's Card
This is the lovely card I received from Dawn on the morning that I was due to go for hospital tests.

Frances' Card

Frances' Card
Another card I received from Frances - just to let me know she was thinking of me whilst I was waiting for the results of my tests.

Picture Frame Class - 10th Feb

Picture Frame Class - 10th Feb
This is the frame we will be creating this Sunday in the class. It uses a blank frame from Creative Imaginations, papers and embellishments are from the K & Co Smitten range and are totally stunning. I also used organza ribbon and pink magic mesh.

Gift Box Class - 3rd Feb

Gift Box Class - 3rd Feb
These Maya Road boxes are so easy to adapt to suit any occasion. I painted this with Adirondak dabbers in powder blue and then used Imaginesce papers from their Love collection. I have recently been experimenting with magic mesh, a product that is truly versatile and adds depth to any project. As it is self adhesive it is so easy to use. The embellishments are all cut using Quickutz dies.

Mini Book Class

Mini Book Class
This is the class from 27th January - these mini chipboard books make wonderful gifts. I painted this one with Blonde Moments bronze paint and then used Paper Adventure papers to decorate it. The books can easily be adapted to suit any occasion - simply by changing the colours, papers and embellishments.

Sisterly Love

Sisterly Love
Guest Design Team submission for A Trip Down Memory Lane

Christmas Presents

Christmas Presents
This is the altered tin for my sister which will be filled with mini toiletries. The papers are from Craftwork Cards and the embellishments from K & Co. No doubt my Neice will want it as she really loves pretty pink things!

Birthday gifts

Birthday gifts
My friend bought me an enormous bouquet of my favourite flowers for my birthday last week, I just love these stargazer lillies. I was also really lucky and received lots of lovely gifts from family and friends.

Hanging Calendar

Hanging Calendar
This is the class that I taught at KittyKrafts, Dundee last weekend. All the papers are from Blonde Moments.