Typewriters and Tiaras

I have quite a bit to share tonight, first up this weeks class cards

Both created with the same stamp but used in two slightly different ways, the masculine version

And a slightly more feminine version

My wednesday class went according to plan and nothing unusual occurred until Dawn did the most extraordinary thing. She organised an impromptu raffle among the class, keeping it to herself what it was for.

After the prize was drawn and the monies collected she handed them over to me. I thought she had done it to help support one of my nominated charities, but no !

She had done it in order to replace the Cuttlebug which got damaged in a previous class ( I hasten to add she was NOT responsible for it breaking, it happened in an earlier class )

She reduced me to tears bless her, in a good way of course, and once again it reminded me how lucky I am to have such a wonderful customer base who have all become so very special.

A customer remarked recently that walking into my shop  was like walking into the bar at Cheers, I made a quip about not serving alcohol but she insisted it was the friendliest and most relaxed craft shop she had been in. I took the compliment with a blush and a mumbled thankyou but afterwards realised what a special thing she had said and that is down to my lovely customers who are always so caring and sharing. We have a proper little community and for that I will always be truly grateful.

So, thankyou Dawn, and all my other wednesday ladies for the kind thought and to all my customers for reminding me what is so wonderful about the crafting community.

Talking of community, we have been running the ATC swap for just over a year now and I have to say I love every single swap.

June's theme was chosen by Kim,  Jubilee/ Street Party and the required colour was blue.

Here are my ATC's

The teapots were stamped and painted in distress inks, the hearts were added with copics and the backgrounds were created with inks and acrylic paints

The wording and number '60' were handwritten with a journalling pen and the flower was die-cut out of ribbon with a Tim Holtz die, the brad has been coloured with a copic pen to match the theme.

Here are all the entries for the swap and although each one looks similar from a distance, but they were all very different on closer examination.

And this months winner was our newest ATC swapper, who made a debut with this utterly cute version of a street party - congratulations Sarah

Sarahs attention to detail won me over, the little heart banner all individually created and glazed, the cupcake and supersweet critters just stole my heart. Well done Sarah.

And this is the little prize I made for Sarah

A little box, a similar version to the one I recently shared as taught by YeeTing in the Stampin' Up class.

And the three little drawers filled with a few treats.

Once again a massive thankyou to everyone who took part and made the swap such a fun and inspiring event.

A reminder that this months theme (July) is

ORIENTAL and the required colours are BLACK and RED.