Sunday 23 March 2014

... of Crafting, Clocks and Cake !

I can't believe how much time has passed since I last posted on my Blog, so much has happened and I have lots to tell you.

Firstly, I had a great weekend with my crafting pals a our 'Craftathon 2014' this year.   We are a group of crafters who met online through the Craftbubble Forum, which is sadly not in existence now, but we all still keep in touch regularly and we try to meet up a couple of times a year.  My pal Kathy has written an excellent description of Craftathon on her blog here if you'd like to learn more.

I thought I'd share a few pix of the weekend activities to give you a taste of all the fun we had.  Our main project for the weekend was to decorate/alter a Tando Creative clock blank.  In addition to this, we all put together a 'shoe box' project where we made an item and then put together a set of the materials we used so that everyone else could replicate our design or use the materials in their own way to create a unique design.  This gave us six projects to work on over the weekend in addition to the clock.

Here's my finished clock

 
I covered the blank with black gesso first
 
 
Then I used a sheet of Graphic 45 Steam Punk Spells 12 x 12 paper and a few stickers from a sheet in the same range plus the Steam Punk Spells 1 set of stamps to decorate the clock.  I haven't decided yet whether I'll add the pendulums to the bottom, they are gessoed ready but I'm still thinking on it.


Here's how everyone else finished their clocks - I love how they are all so different



My shoebox project was this altered chipboard shape

 
I stamped the Create, Inspire, Dream stamps onto canvas heart shapes using Versacraft ink then ironed to make the ink permanent.  I made the rose embellishments using silicon moulds and air dry clay, then coloured them using Distress Inks and a light brushing of Treasure Gold guilding paste.  The background is papers from the DoCrafts Madame Peyraut range, the main sentiment is an Inkyliscious stamp and the shaped layers cut with a set of nesties.  All layers distress with Distress Inks and Treasure Gold.
 
Here's what everyone made with their pack of materials
 

 
Here we are, stash unpacked and all settling down to work on the first day


Lauren's shoebox project was this cute birdhouse made using a Sizzix die - this is how everyone's turned out, so pretty aren't they
 

Cherry challenged us with a journal page for her shoebox project
 
 
 here are the three which were finished by the end of the weekend, such creative work from the Craftashoniers


 
My Dad's shoebox project was a clock made using an old CD/DVD with a selection of designs to choose from, these three were finished by the end of the weekend.


Deb set us the task of creating a pretty door hanger, here's her original - front



and back - so pretty in pink !


 
and our interpretations of Debs' design




Sadly I don't seem to have a pic of Kathy's shoebox tag book project which was splendid, but here are the ones finished by a couple of the Craftathoniers


 
Nicola's shoebox project was to create a decorative tag using a number of techniques, to produce a lovely finished tag like her original (here she shows each of the stages)
 
 
 
My Niece joined us for the first day and here's her beautiful finished clock - well done Becky
 


 
And here's my Dad's fabulous finished clock
 
 
And now to Cake !
 
Nicola spoiled us all by bringing along her delicious homemade cake which was greatly enjoyed by all over the weekend - slurp....
 
 
 
We all went out for dinner on the first evening at a local pub/restaurant
 
 

 
at the end of the meal, they surprised me with a delicious birthday cake, complete with candles !  It was my birthday a few days later and I received some fabulous handmade cards and great gifts,  I was thoroughly spoiled - thanks everyone
 


 

Eventually the weekend came to a close, here we all are in our last group pic 

 


We all agreed that this year's format with a main project plus the individual 'shoebox' projects work really well and we are likely to repeat it at next year's get together at Craftathn 2015.  We were able to take away with us the packs of materials for the shoebox projects we didn't manage to finish over the weekend so we could complete them once back home.
 
This was a rather picture intensive post, thanks if you've stuck it though to the end and checked out some of the things I got up to since my last post.
 
I have a few more to share with you over the coming days, I hope you've enjoyed today's posting.

6 comments:

Kathyk said...

And how great was it to see the pix from a different perspective - thanks Wynneth. Your clock was GORGEOUS ... roll on 2015!

Kathyk

Patricia said...

What a fantastic thing to do I think that is wonderful idea to keep meeting up.
Love the idea of the "shoebox" projects.
All the wonderful things you managed to achieve during you time away are brilliant ..... the cakes look great as well.
Have a great day

Patricia xx

Annie said...

what a fabby weekend of fun and craft you had! if and when you are back and settled I'll pop over if that's ok.
hugs, annie x

Unknown said...

Sounds absolutely blissful - a lot of crafting achieved by you all. Beautiful projects and lots of inspiration.

Debs M said...

it was a fabulous weekend and so many fabby projects! Love your clock and Becky's and Andy's are fab too! Thinking of you all x

Katie Berberich Handmade said...

Oh wow Wynneth, what a haul of creativity. Great, great photos.
Your Dad's clock is amazing, so striking. You are such an extremely talented family.
And to think I missed it by a few days. :(
How sweet to have a lovely birthday cake waiting for you too. Hope you had a great holiday as well.
Katie x