This thread is a double-edged sword!!! All these great ideas and suggestions . . . but soooooo much lovely stuff to buy! My bank account is probably relieved I don't live near a well-stocked store, (though internet is never too far away :-\ )

Now would somebody mind letting me know just what watercolour pencils are used for and how?

Sara, while you are pricing, price Sakura gelly roll pens. They come in different types, for instance metallic, glitter, glaze and more. They are Japanese.

Mine just arrived and they are to die for!

I just paid £37.33 to QVC for 13 glitter and 10 glaze, but that includes £5.45 P&P.

I just looked on Joanna Sheen's site, she doesn't charge for P&P and will send worldwide for free except for paper, card and heavy stuff. On her site single pens range from £1.10 to £1.65 but she does various sets and one set is £27.50 for 25, and another set is £26.40 for 16 - different types, not different sized packs of the same ones. I think I might buy from her in future rather than QVC - I will have to see. They are supposed to last a long time anyway.

I can't wait to use them. Jill they would be great to colour in stamping. You can even use them to paint by using water with them. You can also apply direct to the stamps instead of ink then spritz with water and stamp with them.

*hands over ears* I'm not listening I'm not listening I'm not listening!!!

Santanna - you blend water with them and it creats a more paint watercolour look.

I wasn't sure whether this is really for here or for the toilet roll thread.

http://www.cheap-chic-weddings.com/wedding-contest-2006.html

haha! that's crazy!!! so crazy that it just might work! I like the crosshatch one down the screen a bit.

hihihi some people really have too much time on their hands!

Makes for a cheap wedding dress though.

Wow, that's pretty cool. If I tried that the paper would break.

Well, I wonder if they do something to it to strengthen it, Lioness?

that would be a bit better, I still wouldn't trust it not to rip either in the process of making it or at the actual ceremony. That last one could be a bit akward.

I bet it isn't homebrand stuff they use!! It's have to be tripple ply and a brand with a cute puppy on it to stand up to the work!

Can someone tell me why on earth a large store which has a huge toy department and a large craft section would organise a day's craft workshop/demonstrations on 8th December?

Such events ought to be early autumn when people have money to spend and the prospect of the winter to come, and it is not fit weather for the beach.

Most people have far better things to spend money on at this time of year and are rushed off their feet with shopping for presents.

Not that I am complaining, far from it. An expert was flown in and the workshop/demonstrations were from 10.30am to 6pm with a short break for lunch. Two of us, the other being a woman of similar age to myself, plus for a short time a couple of other ladies (this morning) had the expert to ourselves.

This morning she was demonstrating techniques for which I already have the paints, but was waiting for some nozzles which she brought with her. I learned a great deal and will be playing later.

Then this afternoon she taught us silk painting, oh la! As it was just the two of us women we were able to ask lots of questions and to have a go at it ourselves. Later she showed us other fabric painting.

She gave us some patterns to get us started and some silk panels ready to work. She also gave us some samples of cards and other things she had demonstrated.

I went with the intention of just buying a few essentials, like the nozzles, but ended up buying all the stuff to enable me to do silk painting cards and the fabric painting.

I have finished making my Christmas cards, all seventy four of them, so now I can play with a clear conscience.

I wonder what it would have cost if we had had to pay for a seven hour course with just two people to the instructor - quite a lot I think.

wow, good fortune for you! I haven't been to many craft days but I do prefer the smaller ones but have to feel sorry for the shop owner who must prefer the place to be heaving.

The silk painting sounds interesting .. look forward to seeing what you do with that.

Sounds like you've had a very good time in there. And a fine cuddle too .

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I went with the intention of just buying a few essentials, like the nozzles, but ended up buying all the stuff to enable me to do silk painting cards and the fabric painting.

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Bad girl! I told you to be careful and not empty all the Jersey shops .

Can't wait to see your silk paintings, I bet they are going to be stunning too, like every other craft things you've did in your favourite techniques.

This is the cuddle to which Mada refers. TW told me off for putting a photo NOT taken by me in the Photo-a-Day thread, even if it was only a link, so I had to remove it. Bad me!

I asked Santa if I could give it a tug and the naughty man said "Yes, but don't pull my beard!". Naughty! It was a real beard and mustache.

Lucky Sue (for the personalised craft lesson and getting to cuddle Father Christmas/Santa Claus too!).

We have a friend who works as a Santa every year and he has his own authentic beard and moustache. It really freaks the children when they pull his beard and find out it's real. You can see from the looks on their faces that they are wondering if perhaps this time, it really is Santa!

I have just won another $76 US worth of craft supplies! Same site as before, I feel quite guilty.

Congratulations !

No need to feel guilty at all, you are one talented and lucky lady. Happy shopping!

Ooh, that's great, Sue!

Nice one, Sue! It can be an expenisve hobby so take the goodies when you can .. guilt free!!

Just bringing this one which is for general craft chat...

Congratulations to Santana2002 for winning $50 US on the craft site which some of us belong to.

Way to go! Now all three of us have won on there.

Joanna Sheen has some nice stuff, she won't post heavier things but the lighter stuff she doesn't charge P&P - she says which items can't ship overseas.

Thanks, Sue, and sorry for (once again) posting in the wrong thread. I had fogotten about the 'general' craft thread

Okay ya'll, I've a question for you. Your photos of cards is starting to get under my skin. Like maybe I need to try a hand at it. More specifically Sue, those cards you use to make with a burnishing tool. (?) They are gorgeous. My friend looks at me askance (yes, *askance*) and wonders - rightfully so - "when are you going to have time to do that!" No problemo - I'll just fit it in between quilting, laundry, work, quilting, ironing, quilting, etc. You get the idea. But I think I'd really like to try.

June

Do you mean my parchment cards? When I use coloured pencils on them I use a wax pencil to burnish and blend the colours. Sometimes I just do white on white.

For the cards I use several techniques, there is the 'embossing', and then there is the 'gridwork'. The former produces the white designs, the later produces the lace effect. I start with a piece of 'parchment' paper, this is translucent and normally white although you can get colours. Then I trace a design, unless it is gridwork, then working with various special tools I emboss or shade. I use different tools and pressure to achieve different shades of white.

The gridwork involves pricking the paper then cutting out, very time consuming.

The longest I have spent making a card is about three days, I often spend a couple of days.

Send me a PM with your postal details and I will send you a card, it might not be yet as I am about to go away for a few days. Let me know if you want one with colours, whitework or 'lace' - or I suppose a mixture!