Summer Crafting Show

 I haven't been to a large craft show for years. About a decade ago I went to the NEC, and again a year later, but it seemed a long way to go and a lot of hassle/ cost, when I could buy nearly all the products at home anyway online.

My mum and I went together, we paid £25 each for the coach fare, then admission fees, so knocking on for £60 before we'd even bought anything. We were the first passengers to be picked up, and so the last to be dropped off, and the day was just way too long and tiring (think getting up at 5am, being ready for home by 2pm. coach not leaving until 5pm...fed up of being rammed by crafters with shopping trolleys and sharp elbows, trying to carry heavy stash across the NEC maze etc etc)

We've had a tiny local show recently. It's a novelty when it's on your door-step, especially when you live where I do, but it's not that amazing stash wise.
This year, now the craft club is thriving again, I decided it was time to brave one of the larger shows.
Doncaster is just over an hour in the car so it seemed silly not to try the Summer Crafting event.

We found the venue okay, trying to find a way into the car park was another matter, but we joined the huge queue of crafters at 9:40am, waiting for the 10am opening.

Actually considering how big the queue was we got in the building really quickly, first stall we stopped at was Card-io.
We've used Card-io/ Rubber Stamp Tapestry at craft club recently so it was great to see all the sample boards here.
I did ask permission from the stall-holders to take photographs, some stalls have signs up asking you not to, unless you are buying the products, fair enough but it makes them seem less friendly somehow than the stalls who don't mind.

Chloe's stall was one of my favourites. I had actually made a proper shopping list before we went, to try and avoid being over-whelmed with "Must have that/ oh heck what did I buy that for" syndrome.
I did have some of Chloe's products on my list so it was just a case of patiently waiting to be able to actually get inside the stall, the queue to pay was very busy.

While waiting we bumped into one of my old crafty ladies so we had a good natter. Her husband had gone with her and was hovering about somewhere, my husband would rather saw his own head off than attend a craft show so I am slightly envious!

Craftwork Cards was another on my list. Unfortunately they'd sold out of what I'd planned to buy, but my mum thought these matchbox cards looked like a good project.

Lunch time: disappointed with the food available in the food courts. Slightly irritating that it stated you can only consume food and drink purchased there whilst on the premises. We bought our lunch from the food court and then had a job finding somewhere to sit while people sat at the tables eating food they had obviously brought in with them.

The main hall was very busy, and very hot. Having so many bodies in one place made it seem even hotter, and I was reminded again how much I dislike shopping trolleys and suitcases at these kind of events.
I am fairly strong but I found myself flagging, and it was a toss-up between looking at more stalls and more lovely stash, or just making a bee-line for my favourite retailers and ignoring the others.

The last stall we visited had heaps of lovely card, good job we went there last, and then we'd had enough, my arms were like spaghetti trying to carry the weight of the stash.
As we got out of the main hall we noticed Create and Craft were filming a live demo, so I left mum with half of our purchases while I made a trip to the car to drop off the rest.

What did I buy?
I loved the last stall, as mentioned loads of lovely card. It was all Anna Marie products. I'd been looking at packs of cards and envelopes in gorgeous colours, 25 for £5. I'd picked up 3 packs and then asked the stall-holder how much something else was. He explained that all that half of the stall was mix-and-match, 5 for £10. This included the packs of cards I'd already picked up...

Ten packs for £20, these will be great for craft club Christmas projects. I also bought fifty sheets of pearlescent A3 for £10, 100 sheets of A3 stamping card for £10.

Phill Martin, very nice man. A popular stall judging by how crowded it was, I bought a couple of paper pads and some inks. I would have bought more but to be honest you couldn't easily see what was there because it was so busy so I gave up (sorry Phill for throwing my money at you!)

Lili of the Valley. Another retailer that was on my shopping list. They had a 3 for 2 offer on so we bought six paper pads, worked out at £5 each (think they're normally about £7.50?)

I had to buy more Card-io stamps. What I really like about these is that every one of the sample cards shown on the stall were different but they were all flat. I struggle with not putting ribbon or bulky embellishments on cards and then obviously they cost more to post - and not just the actual stamp cost but the hassle of queueing up at the post office. The Card-io cards were intricate enough without needing any bulk but still look as though you've spent time making the card.

More Lili of the Valley on 3 for 2.
Again a stall I would have liked a better look at but people were spending so long examining things. Two women were ages looking at every image in the Art-pads section, between them they were really blocking quite a part of the stall, I gave up in the end!

I couldn't resist the sparkle- fest that was Chloe's stall. It was difficult to know which glitters to get, or whether to get glitter or glittery embossing powder. Too much choice.

We avoided: machines, dies and punches. I have been stung in the past buying such things, getting them home and finding there's a fault and not knowing which company I'd purchased from or having a job trying to get a refund. With that in mind we stuck to cards, stamps, inks etc.

We also avoided "Show Special Stamps" that seemed good value until you noticed they had spelling mistakes on...

We did spot the presenters from Create and Craft and the 'recognisable retailers' but, no offence to anyone who does this, had absolutely no desire to queue up for a selfie with them!
There were lots of people waiting to talk to Leonie Pujol in particular, she must have the patience of a saint.


I think considering how near we live to Doncaster it's worth attending the show and will probably go again next year. I'm happy with what we bought, it is nice to see things in the flesh especially as our local craft shops have been decimated the last couple of years. I'd definitely make a shopping list again, that was useful. Now I just need to work out how much I spent (eek!) and find somewhere to stash it all.

One Sheet Wonder

Two more cards made with the same one-sheet wonder from the previous post.
I ended up making two 6" x 6" and two 5 x 7" from the same sheet, I still had more left over but was bored of it at this point!

The above card, it's not easy to tell from the photo, but the green on each side of the panel is actually vellum so it's softer than it appears here.

Sentiment here is a Waltzingmouse stamp

One-Sheet Wonder

Another craft club project. Stampin' Up! French Foliage stamp set used for a one-sheet wonder.

I used gold embossing powder on one of the leaf stamps, the burgundy panel on the above card was stamped with Versamark but not embossed. Sentiment by JustRite.

For the sympathy card I used a kraft card blank and ripped the stamped before edging with a strip of torn gold card.
The die used here is a new one by Crafters Companion, it needed a little help with some wax paper to get a clean cut, but is good value I think (£2.99)

Thinking of You

I masked off a strip on some white card and smudged on a couple of distress inks, then stamped with Card-io stamps in black.
The sentiment is Jane's Script by Woodware.

Thanks

Another card using Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamps.
This time I die-cut two ovals and used them as stencils, stamping through the gap between them.
Sentiment die is Memory Box.

Thank You

I recently dragged out my very old "peg" stamps thinking it would be a good project for craft club.
I need a bit more practice: this card was a rush job!

Sentiment stamp is Waltzingmouse
Wreath and flower/ leaf stamps are Rubber Stamp Tapestry.

Birthday

Over the years I've amassed a collection of Tilda patterned papers, I love how they all mix and match so easily.
We used them to make this craft club project, everyone chose their own patterns so each one was slightly different.

We used two 6 x 6 card blanks, cut one diagonally to the left and one to the right, then attached in the centre. A strip of paper was attached across the bottom to keep the tag from slipping out (I should have stamped a further sentiment here, oops)

The sentiment stamped on the tag is by Lili of the Valley.

Birthday

Last week's project at club, an 8 x 8 inch card.
Sue Wilson embossing folder and dies.
Sentiment die is Tonic, swirl die is Sizzix

Dinner Jacket

I'm back, but still busy with GP and hospital appointments, so card making fitted in when I can spare the time.

I'd seen cards similar to this on Pinterest and liked the simplicity of it. I haven't credited one specific person as I don't know who did the original, but hats off to that person!

Bow die is by Sue Wilson, "buttons" are Card Candi

Saddle

 All stamps are by Waltzingmouse
Made for my dad who is a bit poorly at the moment, I'll be posting less frequently for a week or two until we get him sorted out.

Candi

Last week's project at card club.

This was a good session, everyone chose their own colour schemes, and they were kept quiet concentrating on their colouring in!


We used a stamp by Woodware called 'Michelle' and added Card Candi and glitter and gems, plus some colouring with pro-markers, the leaves were paper-pieced.

I should have taken photographs of all the different cards with their various colours,  never mind.

Birthday

Stamps are Waltzingmouse, butterfly dies Spellbinders
Papers are K & Co

Fabulous

Bit of an oops with this one.

We made it for our project at card club last week, and then when I got home I thought I'd be clever and add some liquid pearls...I wanted nice neat circles on every other scored line.
Unfortunately the liquid blobbed out where I didn't want it and I soon gave that idea up!

Anyway, embossing folder is Sue Wilson, sentiment stamp is Lili of the Valley, dies are by Tonic.

Courage

Background made with distress inks, all stamps are by Waltzingmouse.
(love that sentiment!)

Birthday

Last week's project at card club.
Card is 8 x 8", embossing folder is by Crafters Companion, we added Glamour Dust to highlight

Sentiment die is by Tonic, others are Spellbinders

Friends

Blue background card is Tim Holtz kraft and I've lightly sanded it.
Sentiment stamp is Hero Arts, I masked it off to use part with black ink and part with Versamark and embossing powder.

Watercolour background is distress inks patted on to an acrylic block and then applied with a water-brush. The white patches were made by small pieces of sellotape dabbed on and removed, it takes away the top layer of colour.

Congratulations

Main image is a Penny Black sticker
Sentiment and flower stamps are by Woodware (Jane's Script)

SU ribbon slot punch used on the right to thread the ribbons through, I'm wondering whether to untie them and just use a knot rather than a bow?

Sweet

Patterned papers are DCWV
Sentiment is by Clearly Besotted, a recent magazine freebie.
Die is Die-namics, strawberry charm from stash

Another of the handmade cards I received for my birthday. This one is from one of my card club ladies and she wrote a lovely message inside, thanks Margaret!

Lily

Last week's project at card club.

We used three layers of clear embossing powder on a panel cut from Graphic 45 paper to give a faux enamelled look.
Background paper is also Graphic 45 and we stamped over it with SU French Foliage

My example also had a partial die-cut (Papermania) tucked away in the bottom left but really it was too hidden to have any real impact.

We cut the card ends with a Spellbinders die, making the underneath end longer and attaching the green card, also die-cut, for a layered look.

The card blanks are available from Samuel Taylor, I haven't seen them anywhere else as yet, they are 5 x 7" but are cut landscape style so the spine is at the left not the top. They are much more stable when using heavy-ish embellishments than using the normal style 5 x 7", and obviously easier to die-cut the ends, loop ribbon round etc.