Dazzling, Dunes?

Contrasting Cards :)

Welcome back crafter's, that is if you've already visited us today to read this morning's blog, but if not, hello!

So you all hould know what day it is and exactly what this post will be all about. Yes, it's Thursday which means that we are now free to tell you all about this week's workshop cards. So lets' get straight to it.

Ever needed a card for a young woman? Whether they're growing up, moving job, or just having a fab birthday bash. Well if you have then you won't be in future because the first card we'll be revealing is just right for anyof those ocassions and more. Now, although we've said "young woman", always keep in mind that with a few ajustments, cards can often be adapted to suit anyone!

Now that you've got that in mind, here is this week's first card...

You Will Need:

- A4 White card

- Patterned paper

- Plain coloured paper of your choice

- Kaisercraft Crackle Stamp

- Ink pad of your choice

- Gold mirror card

- 'That Dress!' Template

- Peacock Blue & Prussian Blue glitter card

- Cafe Riviera Stamp Set

- Corner rounder punch

- Star Punch

How To Make This Card: 

1. Take a white piece of A4 card, place it landscape on your MNF fold board and score on line 6.  

2. Cut a piece of patterned paper, 21 x 7cm and stick it on the left hand side on the front of your card. Then cut your plain coloured paper  to measure 21 x 8cm. Using your Kaisercraft Crackle Stamp, stamp onto your plain paper and stick it on the righthand side of your card. (the pieces will overlap slightly). Now cut a piece of gold mirror 21 x 1cm and stick it in the middle to cover the overlap.

3. Using your 'That Dress!' Template, cut a dress out of the Prussian blue glitter card. Cut the bottom of the dress as seen in the picture. Use your Peacock Blue glitter card to add the details. Stick this on the left hand side of the card. TIP: if you want your dress to arch slightly, bend the card slightly and stick it using pinflair glue).

4. Stamp out the mirror frame and a sentiment from your Cafe Riviera Stamp set, (or stamps of your choice) on to a piece of white card and cut around the edge of the mirror or chosen stamp. Cut a piece of Peacock blue glitter card 7 x 5cm and round the corners using a corner punch. Attach your sentimetn to this piece and stick it on the right hand side of the card using foam pads.

5. The stars are made using a star Woodware punch and spare glitter card. The handbag is made by cutting out two D shapes and sticking them together. The shoes are also cut out of spare glitter card. See image above for refernce.

So! A glamourous card made using... glamorous glitter card! A perfect woman's card, that is, unless you know a drag queen or two!

So what could the second card be? Well the title of today's blog is 'Dazzling. Dunes?' and now you know what the dazzling part means but what could 'Dunes' mean unless it's a seaside card? Well it's not, but it's still a lovely card to make and to give someone else. 

Here's the second card we made this week...

You Will Need:

- 2 x A4 Cream card

- Ranger Distress Inks (to match mulberry paper)

- The Treasury, Dune dots stamp.

- Green Mulberry paper

- Oval toppers of your choice

- Oval Die Cut

- Acetate

- Card Candi

- Dute/string/ribbon

- Cafe Riviera stamp set

How To Make This Card:

1. Place a piece of A4 cream card landscape on your MNF fold board and score on line 6. This is your base card.

2. Cut your other piece of cream card to measure 20 x 14cm. Distress the edges of this piece of card. Now stamp around the edges using the dune dots stamp (or one of your choice), still using the same distress ink. (This is how the card is realted to the title). 

3. Wrap your ribbon/string/dute around this piece of card 3 times. Now attach this piece of card to your base card. 

4. Place your topper on to your Mulberry paper. Using a water brush paint around the topper leaving a border roughly 1cm wide. Die cut an acetate oval to fit on your topper. Attach your topper to the Mulberry paper and using a small amount of tape on each side, attach your acetate to your topper. Cover over the tape using Card Candi. 

5. Attach this whole piece on to your card roughly in the center. Stamp out the banner and a sentiment from your Cafe Riviera stamp set (or stamp of your choice) on to a seperate piece of cream card, using the same distress ink as before. Cut round the banner and stick down either side so that this piece is slightly arched.

Well done! You have now made two great new cards and hopefully been inspired in the process. Let us know what you think of these cards by commenting below or on our Facebook or Twitter.                                                    

Welcome To Summer.

Stick With Me Kidz Summer Guide :)

Hello crafters unfortunately we've been experiencing technical difficulties and so our posts have been delayed but we're back up to date and we'll be posting twice today.
Today's first blog is all about the kids. Now that they've all broken up from school, whether they are: going up to high school, leaving for good or just moving up a year, we all hear the same words... "I'm Bored".

It's hard enough trying to keep up with the ever changing trends when it's comes to young people, and if they are between the age of 7 and 17 then it's even worse. So how on earth can we entertain they without setting up the tv or spending lots of money? It seems impossible but luckily for you crafter's you have a secret weapon... your hobby! 

Crafting is a great way to get kids outside, where they can still have fun and it won't cost you the world either! All you need is a garden table and our ''Stick with me Kidz'' guide to summer!
So how can you entertain the kids when they run out of things to do? Well how about you make paper lanterns, or paper windmills? They are simple to make and you don't need a lot of materials to make them. If that's not really the approach that you want to take then why not get some decopatch and get the kids to decorate that? You can decorate bird cages and all sorts, with all the papers that you've got lying around at home or ones that you can buy in store. There are loads of great projects that you can do outside and inside that the kids are sure to love!

If you want to see how you can make all of these projects and more then visit our Pinterest Board: Summer Ideas.

HOWEVER: if you would rather not spend time in the beaming sun, then we know the best way to cool yourself down. Get out your crafting box and pull out that christmas cardstock! Because there's no better way to cool down then thinking about cold, cozy christmas!

We hope we've helped and inspired you to get crafty with the kids!

Multi Media Class Sucess!

What A Brilliant Weekend!

Good Morning and how was your weekend? Ours was fabulous! The Multi Media class that took place this Saturday was a huge success and everyone had such amazing outcomes!

If you haven't already guessed this will be the theme of today's blog and before we get started, if you would like to all of the pictures from the class then head over to our Facebook page :)

Moving on and getting down to business. Obviously we were very busy here on Satrday and so we didn't have time to post at all! We're very sorry and we assure you that we try our hardest to find 2 minutes to post online but sometimes it's just impossible! However, we'll move away fr4om that subject and get down to the real point of today's blog.

So what is Multi Media?

Multi media is using a various range of mediums together and/or in different ways to reach an overall result.

Example?

When using distress inks you can spray water over the top of your colours and dab it with tissue paper to remove some of the colour. This is called spritzing. This is an example of multi media because you have used two mediums (water and distress ink) to create one effect.

So now that you have a better understanding of Multi Media, let's move on to what we actually made :)

The class ran from 10am - 2pm, and during that time the ladies were taught how to use various mediums that we have in the shop such as sprays/sprintzers, structure paste, distress inks, crackle paint and more!

Each lady was given a blank canvas, and then let loose with all the materials we put out on the table...

And this is what they got to play with!

Our lovely Pat showed all the ladies various techniques and helped them to create some amazing work and we had a fabulous suprise when our new lady came up with some fabulous meanings behind their canvas'...

 A canvas made for this ladies grand daughter who is going up to high school...

- The weaves of the lace that go to the key that unlock the cogs  of time to the blooms that blossom in to her future.








A canvas that was made to hang in this ladies new summer house...

-This key unlocks the summer house of dreams with the waves of thought that flow through the cogs of the mind, to the sparkle of future that we do not know 

This canvas was made for the ladies new little niece Pippa.

- The beginning of life which develops and blooms in to the flowers with the key that opens the heart of the new baby girl.

This was made by our new lady, who wanted to try something new and we say well done.

- The cogs of life are peaceful with the footprints leading to the key to the heart of my family and my garden that is my sanctuary.

So all in all a wonderful class with some breath taking results. We hope that this had inspired you to have a go at sime multi media yourself and if there's anything you'd like to know then pop down and see us and we'll do our best to help or ring us on 01562 510203 

Penny To Talk About

Your Weekly How To.

Hello there crafter's. We hope that you are all enjoying this fabuous weather and that it's inspired you to do some summer crafting, but if it hasn't then we've got just the thing that will!

You may have already guessed (thanks to the title) what type of card the ladies were making this week. It's a wonderful, quirky kind of card that's not only fun to make but offers you so many possibilities!

Here's the penny slider card that the ladies have made...

To Make This Card You Will Need:

• 2 x A4 White Card
• Floral Patterned Paper
• 1 x A4 Purple Card
• Shaded Lilac & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks
• 2 x 1p pieces
• Punches of your choice
• Stix 2, Foam Pads and Strips

To make the base card: Take an A4 piece of white card and place it on your MNF fold board landscape. Score on line 6. Cut a piece of floral patterned paper 20.5 x 14.5cm then matt and layer it on to your base card. 

To make your slider: You will need to cut a piece of white card 19.5 x 4cm. Distress the card using your Ranger Distress Ink Pads. Cut a strip out of the middle of the card measuring 18 x 1cm using your craft knife or prefered cutting tools. This is where your penny will slide. 

Attaching the slider and pennies: Place a penny on the table and stick a round foam pad in the middle of it. Place your slider over the penny making sure that the foam pad doesn't stick to the sides. Leave your slider where it is and place another penny on top of the first. Attach your chosen image using foam pads and now it will slide!

To attach the slider to the card, cut 2 foam strips 19.5 x 0.5cm and stick your slider roughly 1.5cm from the bottom of your card (see image above). 

The finishing touches: Cut a piece of purple card 6 x 4.5cm. Then cut a white piece of card 5.5 x 4cm and stamp out your sentiment using one of the inks you used to distress. Matt and layer these 2 pieces together and stick it on your card with foam pads. (The small butterfly is a Woodware mini punch.) Punch some different sized daisies (Woodware) out of patterned and purple card and stick them onto your card. Now you can go over your card using your Stickles and highlight the card to make it really shimmer.

Now, with that out of the way and looking fabulous we can move on to our second card. This card makes a great man's card but with a change of colour could easily be a woman's card as well...

To Make This Card You Will Need:

• 1 x A4 White Card
• 1 x Sheet of Checkered Paper
• 1 x Sheet of Dark Green Core'dinations paper
• 1 x A4 Gold Mirror Card
• 1 x A4 Plum Card
• 1 x Pack of gold brads
• 'The Cafe Riviera' stamp set from Creative Stamping issue 18
• Glue Gloss by ColourBox
• Archival Ink Pad
• Stix 2 Foam Pads

To make the base: Take a piece of A4 white card and cut it down so that the width of the card is 15cm. Place the piece of card landscape on your MNF fold board and score on line 6.Cut your checkered paper down to measure 14.5 x 14.5cm. Matt and layer it on to your white card.

Next, cut down your core'dinations to measure 7 x 14.5cm and put it through an embossing folder. This will give it texture. Stick this length ways down the middle of your card. 

The topper: Die cut a shape that is about 8.5cm wide and 7cm high. This will be enough surface to stamp on. Stamp outyour image using Archival Ink, Please keep in mind that this is an oil based ink and therefore you cannot use your alcohol based markers to colour in. We used distress markers which are water based markers. Now colour your image :)

Put your topper to one side. Cut a piece of gold mirror card 10 x 8cm. The cut a piece of plum card 9.5 x 7.5cm. Matt and layer these together.

Bring your topper back and attach it to the matt and layered piece using small, round, gold brads. You can now attach the whole thing to your card using foam pads.

The sentiment: Cut a piece of gold mirror card 9.5 x 2.5cm. Then cut a piece of plum card 9 x 2cm. MAtt and layer these together. Now stamp out the banner that you get with your stamp set onto white card, and then stamp your chosen sentiment inside it using the same archival ink form before. Cut around the banner and stick it onto your matt and layer piece. Stick this to your card using glue or souble sided tape.

Now you're done! And we hope that you have once again enjoyed our how to and that you are looking forward to us getting our video tutorials up and running. Please feel free to go onto our Facebook page and leave a comment or a review and/or our Twitter page

A Quick Note

Keeping you in the loop.

Good afternoon everyone! Welcome to day 2 of the open week. The week where you get to choose what you read about. We've had no suggestions yet but we've always got something to talk about.here, so we're going to tell you what's going on in store :)

First off, we've got something that will definitely get your attention. For those of you who follow us on our Social Media sites you'll know that we have the new Sue Wilson dies in store. And we've got some good news because we've got a special offer on! 

So now's the time to come on down and take your pick because the offer is only on while stock lasts! If you can't get down to us then don't forget you can order online from our website by clicking here

And if that news isn't enought to satisfy your crafting hunger then we have something that will. We have had Hunkydory issue 18 in store! We think it's definately a must have ready for christmas.

You can reserve your copy by ringing us on 01562 510203 or order your copy from our website by clicking here.

Also remember that this is open week on our blog and we want you to tell us what you want to read! So contact us on Facebook, Twitter or by emailing us at the-treasury@btconnect.com

It's An Open Week!

Letting you decide.

Good afternoon crafter's. We hope that you all had a wonderful weekend and you're looking forward to another week of fab crafting.

First off we've got some exciting updates for you.. Now available to buy in store and online are the fabulous NEW Sue Wilson Fench and Austrian Collection Dies! Aling with the latest form the Finishing Touches and the Striplet range! The best thing is that all these dies are at an amazing price!

To see the range for yourself come down and see us at 200 Park Lane, Kidderminster, DY10 6TQ or visit our website by clicking here.

So what's happening this week? Well. we were just about to ask you the same thing. As a change of pace we;re letting all of you decide what ou want to read about on theblog this week. Simply let us know by commenting on this post, messaging us or posting on our Facebook, or our Twitter posts. Alternately you can email us at the-treasury@btconnect.com

We do have a little something to show you today that we think is simply fabulous!

A lovely lady that comes down to our shop recently told us about a cup that she won at Edith Hall for the Droitwich Horticultural Spring Show. She won the prize thanks to a bookatrix card that she made using a board that she had bought from us...

The bookatrix card that she made :)

The prize cup!

We chose to feature this on our blog not only because the card itself is absoloutely fab, but also becasue it just goes to show that with a little confidence and the attitude to give something a chance, you can do things you never thought possible :) A big well done for winning and you defonately deserve it!

Delivery!

Get them while they're hot!

Good morning to all you lovely crafter's out there and how are you all enjoying this wonderful weather?

Well we're certainly finding it uplifting, that's for sure. However, if it's not quite bright enough for you then we've got just the trick to fix that!

We have had 2 fabulous deliveries the past two days and as we always do we're going to tell you all about what we've got!

The first delivery came Wednesday, late afternoon, and we fell in love as we opened that box to find NEW Marianne Design, Lea'bilities and Craft-Too dies! 

A fabulous range of die that would make a fabulous addition to any card and to prove how nice they are here a selection of them...

Marianne Flower Mirror

Marianne Mini Alphabet

Marianne Snowglobe

Cheery Lynn Bird Bath

Cheery Lynn Gear Butterfly

Cheery Lynn Whistle A HappyTune

Cheery Lynn Ornament Tree

Cheery Lynn Snowflakes

Lea'bilities 3-D Fireplace

Lea'billities Corner Flowers

Lea'bilities Multi Die Flower 006

Lea'bilities Scenery With House

And there's much more! These are just a few of our latest arrivals so why not log in to our Website or pop down and see for yourself, but hurry, while they still last!

P.s. If you are coming down to the shop tomorrow then you'll have a treat waiting for you in-store! We've had the brand new collection of dies from Sue Wilson come in today and they're going out on the shelves tomorrow! You can be the first to see them and grab one while they are still in stock! And we're not kidding when we say you get first pick because they won't be uploaded on to our website until Monday, so if you've got some time tomorrow then come on down and have your pick :)

A Wonderful Workshop

Your regular update

Good Afternoon everyone. We're here as usual bringing you your weekly workshops update! This week the ladies have made 2 more fabulous cards!

The first card:

Whereas last week the cards were all about the men, this week's cards are something for the ladies and this card is perfect for anyone who loves music, or you can personalise it any way you like.

The base is a landscape card that comes ready cut. To make the background: You will need to cut two different pieces of patterned paper both 10.5 x 14 cm. Chose one of the pieces and use a border punch to make a decorative edge one of the longer sides. Stick these on to the card as seen in the image.

Cut a piece of black card 14 x 10cm and round the corners. Then cut a piece of  gold mirror card 13 x 9.5cm and round the corners again, we've embossed this piece but whether you do or not is personal preference. Attach a topper on to your gold mirror card and then, matt and layer your gold and black pieces together and decide where you want to stick it on your card. Take into account that you will need room for the musical notes. 

Finishing touches: Pick out a sentiment,  and mount it with foam pads in the middle of your topper. The musical notes are cut out using a Marianne die-cut.

The second card:

This delicate card is not only simple to make but uses some fantastic pastel colours to really bring out that summer feeling.

To make this card:

First, take an A4 piece of card, place it portrait and cut it down so that it is 14cm wide. Then fold it in half, this is your base card.

Cut yourself a strip of patterned paper 5cm wide, 14cm long adn stick this in the middle of your card, (each side should be roughly 5cm in from the edge of the base card)

Next you need to make your two side pieces. To do this cut two pieces of double-sided patterned paper, 7cm x 14cm. Now, using a border punch, punch one of the longer side of each of your pieces. And then, slightly turn up both corners of the punched side (see image above). You can now attach these pieces to your card, making sure that the punched edges are facing inwards.

To make the center piece: Cut another piece of patterned paper 14.5cm x 5cm, use the same border punch, and punch on both of the longer sides. BEFORE you stick this piece on, get a piece of ribbon 15.5cm long, attach it to the center piece in the middle and by folding your ribbon behind on either end. This will stop any marks from the glue or tape being seen and spoiling the design. Then attach a bow.

The flowers and sentiment: Where you have folded up your corners you now have two gaps. You can put anything you like in these two gaps depending on the occasion. We have uses paper roses at the bottom and a small sentiment at the top.

And that's how you make card number 2 :)

And that's the lot for today! Sadly we don't have any pictures of our lovely ladies at work but we hope you've enjoyed reading, that the instructions have helped and that you'll have a go at home and if you want to, then you can always post your cards on our Facebook or our Twitter by uploading a photo. Also if you have any queries or questions regarding the workshops or anything card making related the feel free to give us a ring on 01562 510203, pop into the shop or email us at the-treasury@btconnect.com. We'll be seeing you soon crafter's.

Quidz In!

The Latest and Greatest!

Hello all you crafter's and welcome new readers.

Today we've got some brilliant news for all you stamp fanatics out there because we've received Creative Stamping issue 18 today! The free stamp set 'The Cafe Riviera Collection' is simply fabulous! Come down and get yours today or ring us on 01562 510203 and reserve yours now :) 

So getting down to the real topic of today's blog, did you know that we have a section on our website called Quidz In? It's the part of our website where you can buy a wide range of our products for just £1 and with Christmas coming round fast and all the pressure from TV channels to buy it now, we hope that this little bargain will do you a world if good! And just because our products are £1 doesn't mean that the quality isn't the same... all of our products are brand new and we only sell good quality material so that you can more for your money :)

So why not get on to the website now and check out our Quidz In section by clicking here and catch yourself a bargain today!

A Weekend Review :)

Build A Page!

Hello crafter's! It's good to be back after a wonderful weekend of fun in the sun and to start off another good week we have a fab topic for you today! We're going to tell you all about our Build A Page workshop as well as other workshops that we've got coming up this July! Let's get to it...

What is "Build A Page"?

• "Build A Page" is a scrap booking workshop that involves just as the title suggests.. building a page! To be more specific, this workshop is one where you get to put together 4 pages of a scrapbook, and bind them together

How long does it take?

• Our workshop is divided into Part 1 and Part 2. Both parts of the workshop are 4 hours long and take places on 2 separate days. 
• Part 1 of our workshop has already taken place, on Friday the 4th July and Saturday the 5th July. We always run our special workshops on two days if possible so that if you can't make it on one day, then you can attend on the other so that you don't miss out.

How much does it cost? 

• Costs of our special workshops vary, however for Build A Page Part 1 & 2 the overall cost is £50. That's £25 per class. 
• We try to price all of our classes fairly and in our workshops we provide you with all the materials that you need and all you have to bring is a pencil, a ruler and a cutter! We also provide these things but using your own tools can often be easier then using one that is provided for you, plus you can go at your own speed. 

Why should you come to our workshops?

• We have friendly and polite staff who are always happy to help when you need them.
• If a member of staff is helping someone else, you won't be stuck for long because our ladies are always happy to help one another. 
• We provide a friendly and comfortable environment where you can go at your own speed and not feel pressured or rushed.
• Our feedback shows that everyone who comes to our workshops are happy with the results and 9/10 would recommend our workshops to a friend or family member
• If you've never been to our workshops before or you aren't a regular, then this is your chance to meet new people who have the same hobby and the same passion for crafting as you do!

If we've convinced you that our workshops are worth your time and if you want to try something new and exciting then why not look at the workshops we have lined up for the rest of the month...

Multi-Media

- A workshop where you'll get to experiment with all different types of crafting such as using texture paste, alcohol inks, dies and stencils.

Days to attend:

 Friday 18th July 12 noon - 4pm 

OR Saturday 19th July 10am - 2pm.

The workshop cost £25 and materials will be supplied.

Build A Page Part 2

- Following on from Build A Page Part 1, in this workshop you will be making 2 more pages and binding them to your first ones.

Days to attend:

Frisay 25th July 12 noon - 4pm

OR Saturday 26th July 10am - 2pm

The workshop costs £25 and materials will be supplied.

PLEASE NOTE!

Terms and Condition apply when booking for special or our weekly workshops!

They are as follows:

All workshops require a deposit of £10. Installments will be taken if required, but all workshops must be paid 21 days prior to the class.
Workshops are non – refundable, but if cancelled 7 days before the class we will transfer your money to another class.
We reserve the right to cancel classes, but in such instances you will receive a full refund or be offered an alternate date to attend.
Unless specified all workshops are for adults only. (16+)
Tea and coffee is available at all workshops.
Materials are always supplied unless specified.
Permission will be asked prior to photos being taken in the class, all photos are for business use only.
All workshops take place at The Treasury, however you will be notified if otherwise, and directed to the new location.

A Workshop for the Gentlemen

Your Weekly Updates!

Hello crafter's! 

It's that time of the week again where you get to pick our brains for some inspiration and this week you won;t be disappointed...

The theme this week, as you can already tell, is men's cards. We have 2 wonderful cards to show you today, and we hope that they'll inspire you as much as they have our ladies.

The first card that we made was a simple card made using graphic 45 papers; 

Instead of using women's toppers our ladies used men's sports toppers. A quick and simple card that still does the job and looks lovely. 

The second card was more complicated but still as lovely as the first;

This card uses a range of techniques to really bring out the colours of the sea. Alcohol inks have been used on the silver mirror card behind the topper, to make a fantastic effect that reflects the sea. A collection of blue patterned papers have been used in the background as a little something to make the card really pop! On the base card, we have stamped and embossed and then distressed with Tim Holtz distress inks. 

So, those are the cards from this week, we hope we've inspired you and as always here are the pictures of the ladies at work:

Your Weekly Teaser

Cards For Men

Good afternoon readers :)

It's that time of the week again when we can give you a little teaser regarding the workshops taking place this week.  

Something simple, 

that might give you a kick, 

when it comes to these cards, 

inspiration runs thick!

Vague, we know, but we can;t make it too easy for you can we? However, we can guarantee you won't disappointed!

So moving on to today's main topic, we are going to be talking for men. One of the most difficult challenges that faces crafter's today is making a card for grow or teenage men. You've got all your regular sports toppers and paper, along with cars, trains and other vehicles, but when you're making a card for someone who isn't interested in those things, then you get stuck. We know the difficulty that comes with making the right card for the right man, and if he likes to go out drinking in pubs there really isn't a lot out there to make a card with. 

So how do we solve this problem? Well we at the treasury are looking for those gaps in the card making market, and doing our best to get the more unusual men's toppers etc. However, to do this we need you to tell us exactly what it is you have difficulty finding. If your grandson likes karate, let us know, if he likes to play video games, tell us! 

We aim to stock products that are useful to everyone, and that appeal to a range of different customers. 

for example: If you need to make a card with a computing theme, we will do the research and see what's out there, if there isn't anything, then we will give you as much inspiration as possible and we may be able to provide with something from our own range of products that will do the job nicely.

So readers, tell your friends and let us know what you think needs to be out there! You can contact us via Facebook, Twitter, visiting us in-store, or ringing us on 01562 510203.

Thanks for reading, and come back again tomorrow to get all the updates about this week's workshops. 

The Treasury, Young Apprentice :)

Better Late Then Never!

Hunkydory Challenge.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the first thing we would like to do is to apologise for the delay regarding the results of the Hunkydory challenge, due to numerous late entries, online errors and incoming orders, we've have been set back quite a bit. Looking on the bright side though, due to the delay, we have decided to give away prizes to our runners up and our winner. 

As we stated when we first advertised the challenge, you'll get to see photos of the top 5 cards that we have chosen! we've boosted it up to 5 winners because we simply couldn't choose only 3! 

So! Our winner is... Maria Banks!

Maria has made a boxed card, with a wedding theme and we think it really is the bee's knees! She utilized all the materials that you get in one kit and created something elegant and beautiful. A worthy winner in our books! 

Maria's card will be sent off to Hunkydory and a Goodie bag full of Hunkydory products!

However, as beautiful as this card is, we won't forget about our runners up! They've done a fabulous job with their entries, and here they are now...

Designed by: Janet Baugh
Out of all the entries we thought that this was by far the best summer card!

Designed by: Shirley Hunt

We love the contemporary wedding colours that Shirley has used, and the design may be simple but it's definitely effective! 

Designed by: Chrissie Hughes

We love the way that Chrissie has used such an interesting fold to illustrate one of the many ways to use one of these card kits.

Designed by: Judith

Regarding men's cards, this one definitely caught our attention!

All of our runners up will receive:

• A Pack of 5 Shaker Domes
• A Hunkydory Magazine
• AND a Pack of Shaker Card Elements

So a big thank you to everyone who entered, and a big well done to our runners up and our winner! And a big, big thanks for all your patience and understanding and we hope you enjoy your prizes :)

Letting you know..

We'd like to apologise in advice because we are having a problem with our internet connection so posting will be very limited posting and online orders will be delayed until it's fixed.

However, cheer up crafters because we'll still be updating you this thursday regarding the workshops this week :)
And we really hope that you find the cards this week inspiring and that they help you where you're stuck. We won't say much more so you'll have to wait until wednesday's teaser.

Again we'd like to apologise for little posting but we're working as fast as we can to get it fixed.

A Gardening Treat

Concentric At It's Best.

Good afternoon all :)

It's Thursday and that means that today's blog will be all about this week's workshops. Although this card is far from your usual design, we hope that it will offer you inspiration and if nothing else, encourage you to experiment with your fold boards!

Before we get to the main part of the blog, we'd like to say that the photos regarding the mixed media tags that Beth and Ann-Marie made on Tuesday will hopefully be uploaded tomorrow.

So, about this week's classes then... The ladies have made a card that our young apprentice has called "A Gardening Treat". This concentric card is elegant, imaginative and bright, the perfect card for when you're feeling up to a challenge or wanting to do something a little bit unusual. The best thing is, as with most of our cards, it's perfect for any occasion :)

And here is the Finished Card:

Usually this type of card is stood up however, it's be redesigned and it's turned out well.It just goes to show that changing the smallest detail can sometimes give you a completely different result and that experimenting definitely pays off in the end :)

We were hoping to have started uploading video tutorials by today but unfortunately we've been delayed, however we assure you we are working on it when we have time available.

This type of fold makes a Concentric Card, to make this type of card you will need an MNF fold board.

-  Place your A4 card landscape on your MNF fold board, make a pencil mark on line 2 at the top and the bottom of the card, turn it all the way round and do the same again. Next, place your card portrait and score on line 2 from your top pencil mark to your bottom pencil mark, then turn your card landscape again do the same again scoring from the top of your card to your already scored line. Turn your card all the way round and repeat. Place your card landscape again and score all the way down line 4, and again turn your card all the way round and repeat. Leaving the card in place, score on line 5 in the middle between your  horizontal score lines.

Place your card portrait and cut from the top score line to the bottom score line on either side in order for your card to fold.

And here are the photos of the ladies making this card... 

It's a long process but we're sure you'll agree that the result is worth it :)