Enjoying the Magic at Henstead Exotic Garden - Merly Retreat 1

A recent photo of me taken when looking about at Henstead Exotic Garden, in Suffolk. This layout is the first on I have completed from the Merly Impressions Retreat a few weekends ago. This was designed by Chrissy and uses the beautiful Kaisercraft Sea Breeze collection. 

In addition to the kit contents I added some alphabet stickers and Glittery American Craft Thickers.

Here is Chrissy's beautiful layout

Thanks for looking, and I will be back with more as and when they have been completed.

Lynn x

The Magic of Merly

A big thank you to Chrissy, Paul, Merley and the team of Merly Impressions for another great weekend retreat at Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire. I was great to make new friends and catch up old friends throughout the weekend. Linda and I travelled to the retreat on the Friday so we were already there for the start of the event on Saturday morning. We did quite a bit of retail therapy on the way!

When we arrived at the retreat on Saturday morning, everything had been organised beautifully and this is what greeted us when we arrived in our cropping room (one of three).

This was my little work space for the weekend 

Chrissy's attention to detail is simply amazing. And I cannot imagine how many petals and butterflies she must have stamped and cut out - so much patience! You can see the booklet we were all given with detailed instructions for all the projects. The pizza box contained all the kits,

This beautifully decorated bag contained the bonus project and we had been asked to bring a small photo of ourselves along for this.

The lovely jar held a few tiny embellishments and lots of questions to break the ice and get us chatting - but I think we are all pretty good at that!!

Here are Chrissy's original projects (all using Kaisercraft products) for the weekend - I will be back with my interpretations once they are finished off.

3 layouts

An off the page project

and a bonus project (this was hiding in the little bag).

Before we went away we were given a little homework, to make a card for someone else on the retreat. Here Is the lovely card I received from Lorraine - thank you.

this is the card I made, using one of the techniques from the Creative Chemistry 101 class

A great weekend all round.

Thanks again Chrissy and team, and enjoy your well earnt holiday.

Thanks for looking

Lynn x

Challenged by Merly Impressions

I had a fantastic weekend away at the Merly Impressions Summer Retreat, held at Wyboston Lakes. Linda and I travelled there on Friday and met up with the others in the evening. It was lovely to be with old friends I hadn't seen for years, and to make many new friends as well.
 

We were given a goody bag which contained a Kaisercraft Beyond the Page MDF Recipe Book and we were challenged to create a journal during the course of the weekend. The book contained details needed for the weekend, some acetate dividers and card stock pages, all held together with silver book rings.  I didn't get around to taking many photos during the weekend but do have a few so I hope to be able to share with others who attended. I was too busy chatting creating, eating and generally having a good time to remember to take pictures!

I dug out some 365 Days collection papers, which I purchased from Chrissy last year and together with the stamps from the same collection I set about covering my journal. This example is called Schedule.

To this I added some hand crochet flowers, paper flowers cut with Spellbinder dies, paper daisies, brads, Prima wooded leaves, Dusty Attic chipboard chicken wire, Kaisercraft ink pad in Gum leaf, an old Key charm, ribbon, eyelets and lace.

I had great fun making these items, many thanks to Chrissy, Paul and the team for making it such a fun creative weekend. So much inspiration form all involved. This photo shows Chrissy finally getting to sit down for a few minutes near the end of the weekend - sleep well tonight Chrissy.

 Sandra showing Sylvia, Charlotte and Chloe her super album full of beautiful layouts.

Emilie saying farewell.

Thank you for looking, back with more creations later. I created six layouts and three cards and still have my beyond the page photo box to decorate.

Lynn x

A Retreat and Blog Candy on Scrapology

If you go to the Scrapology blog you can read more about Jill's second retreat in Eastbourne to be held in 2011. You will also find out how to be in with a chance to win £10 voucher towards the retreat.

Cardinal Colours Retreat

We all had a fantastic time at Jill's (Cardinal Colours) retreat, held in Eastbourne from 17th to 19th September. Anita, Linda and I were helping Jill and although we are all exhausted we all had a great time, met some lovely people and would definitely do it again. Pleased to hear that Jill has had some great feed back from the retreat too.

I have added some pictures here from the weekend.

Making up the seaside buckets of sweets on he morning of the retreat.

They looked lovely all together. Brilliant idea Jill. What a lovely treat to find in your room.

One of the workshops, Angie was teaching this one.


One of Anita's marvelous make and Take sessions

I pinched this photo from Jill, everyone in front of the Band Stand.

 Me outside the hotel with the deer! It was lovely weather.

 Linda also outside the hotel

Linda teaching at a make and take session

 Me teaching the Cricut make and take session

All together by the pier (another of Jill's photos)

Crazy picture on the pier on Friday night! 

Back with more later.
Thanks for taking a look.

Exciting News from Cardinal Colours

Exciting News from Cardinal Colours - A Seaside Retreat

As Jill says on her blog:

" I have been trying to organise a retreat. It has caused some headaches and sleepless nights but I think I am on the homeward stretch.I managed to find the venue quite easily, as my grandaughter Natalie is Head Receptionist at the Chatsworth Hotel in Eastbourne. Finding teachers was more difficult. But after burning the midnight oil I think I have found some cracking tutors. Firstly Karen Burniston has offered to design a class page for me. I love her work and as she is an engineer by profession her pages always involve some pop-up items. I am meeting up with her when she is over here in February to finalise the details, or brainstorm as she puts it, and she will then go home and finish the design.Then I have Zoe Pierson. You may know her from Stamping Up. She will do some cards and show her products from Stamping Up. Then there are two others, but at present they are contracted to someone and won't be free until February, but then I can reveal who they are. Two well known and published scrappers and I'm sure that you will be pleased when you hear who they are.Then we have Shimelle. She needs no introduction. Its a bit like saying Madonna or Sting in entertainment, everyone in the scrapping world knows Shimelle. Last but not least, and a very important part of the weekend, we have the lovely ladies who have agreed to do Make and Takes, and Demonstrations for me. They too are very talented and are bound to come up with some good ideas. Thank you Anita, Lynn and Linda. So here are the preliminary details with prices in case you know of anyone who would like to attend. Any plugs on your blogs will be gratefully accepted lol.

Cardinal Colours is absolutely delighted to invite you to our very first retreat on the south coast. We are having a crafty weekend with something for both scrapbookers and cardmakers alike. In fact anyone fancying a relaxing time away with like minded, crafty individuals will have a great, fun break.We will have the run of The Chatsworth Hotel, right on the seafront at Eastbourne, from 2.00 pm Friday, 17th September through to 4.00 pm Sunday 19th September. What an ideal time to recharge your batteries if you’ve exhausted yourself looking after children in the school holidays.

All meals and refreshments are included - full English breakfasts, buffet lunch on Saturday and roast lunch on Sunday, two 3 course dinners and teas/coffees mid-morning and mid-afternoon. There will be a vegetarian option available too.We have a full timetable of classes, with separate ones for scrapbooking and cardmaking, demonstrations and make & takes running from the Friday afternoon right through to Sunday.The fabulous Karen Burniston will be designing a class especially for us and you can get a feel for her work on her blog www.karenburniston.com You will have the choice of 3 classes with kits being provided and there will be raffles and games throughout the weekend too, with the Grand Raffle Prize being a Cricut Die Cutting Machine. It’s a free draw so any guest will have the chance to win The cost for all this is just £259 per person for a twin shared room and £289 for a single occupancy double room We do have a limited number of small single rooms at £239 per person . We also have 3 twin rooms with an extra bed so 3 people could share at £245 per person You can reserve your place on payment of a £39 non-refundable deposit and payment terms are available. Some places have already been taken so to express an interest and find out more about the classes and teachers, please contact me at jill@cardinalcolours.co.uk

We are really looking forward to seeing you. Teachers and classes will be confirmed soon but we are proud to say that Zoe Pierson and will be amongst our talented teachers."