Mixed-media journal and catch up

I bet you thought I had disappeared never to return again? 

I've got this crafty thing running through my veins, I'll never leave! 

I live in Teesside but I've been working down in Cambridge lately, and it looks set to stay that way until Christmas at least. I come home on the weekend though so I can stroke my crafty stash at least once a week. :)

I've done a few crafty classes over the past year which I'd like to share on the blog at some point.

But here is a project that was a class I taught in Cambridge at It's Crafting Time. 

If you live near Cambridge you gotta get yourself down to Nina's shop because its amazing, I wandered round for hours just filling up my basket. I like a good mooch. There is so much great stock there, all of Tim's range, lots of mixed-media paints, mediums and canvases, card making products and scrapbooking papers galore! I can't wait to go again, I need to take photo's! Nina has amazing bargain bins too, I was rooting for ages and came home with tons!

You can find Its Crafting Time here at:-

Unit 8, Dunsbridge Buisess Park, Royston Road (A10), Shepreth SG8 6RA

However the post code on the sat nav takes you to the garage on the opposite side of the road! 

Drive into the business park, through some big open gates and Nina's shop is on your right as you go in. You won't be disappointed. :)

Here is the class project I taught, a mixed-media 7 gypsies journal.

It started life as a black cardboard folder.

But then I covered it in torn up bits of paper and book pages

I painted over it with gesso and paint then did some stamping, stencilling and some transfer rub-ons too. I distressed the edges with vintage photo. I used my own family photo on the front and added some die cuts from my favourite Tim's honeycomb die too. 

I glued a button on with hot glue for an anchor for the ribbon to tie round.

I made an insert for the inside to attach all my ephemera and photo's to.

Then I started to fill my pages up. This was the best part playing with Tim's ephemera packs and adding scrapbook page elements. Loved just playing and adding things. I want to make another one!

I used acetate here with Stazon ink

The ladies at the class were so lovely, and creative I love seeing what other people make. 

Thank you Nina for being so wonderful, well organised and the perfect host and thank you for putting me up for 2 days, you are a wonderful person, and a fab cook! Love the lasagne!

Hopefully I might be able to squeeze another class in at Cambridge if I'm not too shattered.

Take care everyone, be back soon

Michelle xxxxx