Favourite projects of 2017

Well, here we are, at the end of another year, and as I've done for the last few, a shortish roundup of my favourite projects of the year.

This is just a couple of cards made using the Tim Holtz Mixed Media dies, backed onto a coloured or patterned paper. Found this was a great way to use up some of the mountain of backgrounds made using things like alcohol inks/blended sheets/Brushos.















Also great for  patterned papers that I probably would not use on their own, maybe too busy, or the design too large.

 On to one of my favourite stamp companies, Honey Doo, who have lots of lovely images, mainly, but not entirely, florals.

I stamped the image on white cardstock, then stamped again in co-ordinating vellum, and cut out the flowers. Added a few gems/pearls for a little bling.

Completely outside my comfort zone with this, I decided to try a bit of  Mixed Media to alter the cover of a Birthday Book.

This one was a 7" square canvas, made for my Son Ant for his birthday. I think I added some drips to it, but forgot to take a final photo.

One of my absolutely favourite stamp companies, Stampscapes. I have about another 10 or so to mount- it's amazing what you can achieve without the Internet for a few days!

This had to be my most loved technique of the year.

Julie Rose, (Amber Rose Crafts), a DT member for Sweet Poppy Stencils,did a post about using Heat Transfer foil with Stencil Paste & a Laminator, and I was hooked.
 You can buy (expensive) machines to do this with, but a cheap laminator works just as well.

Most of these still need to be made into cards, and are currently in my UFO box.







Final part of my post, is two fabulous workshop days I had this year.
Just as we were boarding the plane to go on holiday this year, Art From The Heart announced a weekend of Tim Holtz workshops!
 I knew I had absolutely no chance of booking from Kos, so was not a happy bunny. Then I had a brainwave. My lovely friend Debbie Rock-(Tattered Rocks)- is a huge fan of Tim, and I hoped she would want to book too. Could she book me a ticket as well? After a bit of a nightmare for her- AFTH had a huge server collapse issue with so many people trying to book- she amazingly got us both booked on.

Doug had to strongarm Debbie into this photo- she's a bit camera shy, but we both knew she'd regret it forever if she didn't have a pic with the man himself.














Both Tim & Mario were lovely, friendly & down to earth.

He even signed all my Distress books at the end! Debbie & I had a blast, although at this point I was actually coming down with Sepsis- I had no idea!







  My second workshop was a local one, at Amelias Creative Crafts, in Studley. This one was with the lovely Eileen Godwin, a lady I've wanted to meet for years, in fact as long as I've been blogging. She was one of the very first visitors to my blog, and to get encouragement from a complete stranger was amazing.

Eileen is as lovely and friendly as she looks in this pic! She is such a talented crafter- she's on the DT's for Lavinia Stamps, Sweet Poppy, Visible Image & Designs by Ryn.

The lady on the left in the blue apron is Julie Rose, the one with the laminator technique, so was great to meet her too. And do you remember the Glitter Girls, with the embossing boards? That's Kathy standing next to me. I understand they sold the company, and she now crafts for fun.

Two of the projects made with Eileen.













With Tim we made a series of tags using various products and techniques.