Biggin Hill Festival of Light - Today 9.30 am - 5.30 pm

Hello, Crafters.

Today's the day for the Biggin Hill Airshow! Hubby and I went down to the Gingham Goose Craft Village late yesterday afternoon so we could set up our tables, tablecloths, banners, shelving and racking, etc. We didn't take any stock with us although several people were leaving theirs overnight. 

Because my products are all papercraft, I had the additional worry that if it rained overnight - it may be summer but this is England! LOL! - I wouldn't be able to rescue anything if the roof leaked or if it became damp in the marquee. Guess what, it rained overnight! Fingers crossed everything will be fine when we get there in a little while. I'm glad I decided to play safe rather than be sorry! A couple of years ago, we did get caught out in a downpour when we had a gazebo. The good thing about that kind of experience, you only ever get caught out like that once!!

We came home and made our final check that all products were nicely priced and that I had remembered business cards, catalogues, classes leaflets, recruitment packs and of course my float! I was up at 5.30am this morning so I had plenty of time to shower, wash my hair and be off by 7! At this time in the morning, we should be able to get to the airfield comfortably in half an hour. We've been advised to get there before the roads get jam-packed with visitors - surely they can't get there more than two hours before it starts, can they??

Yesterday, I made my video showing the products I've bought from the new catalogue. I also included the products I won, or was given, at Convention in April, plus products I ordered during the pre pre-order and  the pre-order. As the video runs for 46 minutes, you may want to get yourself a cup of tea or coffee, and a biscuit or muffin before settling down to watch it. ☺ You may want to have pencil and paper handy as I've said which page each stamp set can be found on.

To make today's card I used the beautiful Artistically Asian Stamp Set. I fell in love with this stamp set the moment I saw it and it's been an absolute dream to work with! There are two stamps in the set that have Chinese symbols on  that I've used as part of the design for my own DSP but I don't know if they are actual symbols and, if they are, what they say. If you know the answer to these questions, I'd really love to know it. Would you be kind enough to leave a note in the comments box below for me, please? ☺

To make today's card I started with a card base of Whisper White Cardstock, then a layer of Sweet Sugarplum and a top layer of Whisper White, which I used to create my own Designer Series Paper (DSP).  I put the two Chinese symbols on one block, one above the other and stamped a border on either side of the Whisper White layer but it looked rather bland, so I added two more columns. Then I took the solid lily-like flower stamp from the Live, Love, Grow Stamp Set, inked it with Sweet Sugarplum Ink, stamped off once - except for the very top flower when I forgot! - and stamped in between each set of two stamps. If I'd planned this design from the beginning, I would have made more effort trying to get it all lined up but I'm pleased with the finished effect and rather pleased that this is a Topsy design i.e. it just grew!

I chose the chrysanthemum-looking flower for my main image and painted it with Marker Pens: Sweet Sugarplum for the two flower heads, Emerald Envy for the two leaves and Soft Suede for the stem. Before I stamped onto Whisper White, I huffed on the stamp in case any of the ink had dried. It came out beautifully. I die cut it using the Layering Oval Dies and the layered it onto a Scalloped Layering Oval - I love these new dies! I adhered the two layers together and then attached it to the card front using Dimensioanls.

For the sentiment, using Emerald Envy Ink, I stamped one of the banners from the Thoughtful Banners Stamp Set and chose Happy and Birthday for the inside. Putting the two words at a sensible angle on the block wasn't quite as easy as it sounds! What you see on my card was my third attempt. The first try was on scrap paper just to test how easy it was to line the image into the stamped frame but it also gave me a chance to move the sentiment - it didn't look anywhere near as curved as it actually was! I loosened the curve, stamped on another piece of scrap and then I went for it using Sweet Sugarplum for the sentiment and punched it out using the Duet Banner Punch. I attached this to the card front with Dimensionals and voila!

Well, I must dash! If you're planning to visit the Biggin Hill Festival of Flight today, please pop into the Gingham Goose Craft Market and say Hello. It'd be great to see you! ☺

I hope you have a great weekend and until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB.