Summer School

 Over the long weekend, when I have promised to stay at home and be with the boys, I hope to sort out the plans for this years Summer school in a lot more detail. Last year we had such a great time, but you know me, always ways we good make it even better. I am planning lots of dates this year. Each set of dates will feature a day with Fabric, a day with Wood and a day with Clays.
It should mean that you can come and do 3 days back to back but if you prefer you can do Fabric one month and Wood another and so on. I do also have some Christmas Breaks pencilled in, with 3 days of projects in a similar way but this time they are all Christmas themed.
I know last years students used a lot of their makes from Summer School as gifts both for birthday and for Christmas.






One thing that seemed to go down well was the food, I did try to suggest that we missed that bit out this year but last's years students were pretty sure it should stay.


 Tea and coffee etc are available through out the day.

These workshops are a chance to indulge in the longer projects that sometimes use materials you don't normally having in your stash at home.
It is a great opportunity to meet and get to know other crafters.

If you would like to join us this year email me at lynndaw@gmail.com to find out more.

 If you can't wait for Summer School we have a great weekend planned for the beginning of May. (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May).

Four Half day sessions
Saturday Morning  Background Papers/Pages
Saturday Afternoon Borders and Corner
Sunday Morning Making Books
Sunday Afternoon Making Books

Each session is £15 or book the whole weekend for just £45.

I have a few places left for each day.
you can find out more and book HERE

and the winner is....

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on the blog this month. April is a big month for Oak House Studio with two new guest bloggers and the next ONE STAMP project. I do hope you will join us on line or pop by the studio and join in.

And the news that you have been waiting for, with Ben at home I have roped him into helping pick a winner, so this months winner ...... gillnstu if you can contact me with your details I will get the stamps to you.

Lynnda  x

March give aways

We have a give away to last through the month so everyone has lots of chances to win. You will get one entry for each comment made from the 1st March until 27th March. {only one entry/comment per person per post ; ) }.
So it has to be special. This month I will be posting out to one lucky winner our clematis tower stamp and a background stamp. As always I like to play fair so the stamps will be on offer on the website at a great price for everyone and if you buy the stamps and then win I refund the cost to you.

Not the best photo but I think this gives you the idea.

My Last Clematis

Hello to you all. Well this is my last project for Oak House Studios  I have used the "Clematis stamp" which has been silver embossed and the "English Garden Words" both have been distressed and Matted  onto navy card, I then added the ribbon and roses.The sentiment is also an Oak House Studio's stamp. 

I hope you have enjoyed my projects.xxx

Dragon Pen Pot

Well it's Elaine here with another project using Oak House Studio's Oriental Stamps.  Not a card this time but I've used the stamps to decorate one of the Pen Pots on the website.

The Pen Pots are available in red or black, are made from recycled board and are very easy to decorate. They come flatpacked (it's a simple matter of fixing them together with the bands) and provide a good flat surface for stamping and heat embossing without any buckling.  Do have a practise put together before you start - you'll then know which bits show and where you should decorate.  I've just embossed here but the pots paint beautifully and are also easy to cover with paper/card but just be warned - the slots are tight to hold the pot rigid so it's best just to cover the faces!!

I've used various Oriental Stamps inked with Versamark and embossed with Gold Embossing Powder.  For the front I've used the Outline Dragon and kanji symbol from the Double Dragon Set,  the sides feature  Diana's Dragon, the Medallion is on the back and I've stamped the Serenity Prayer on the middle divider. 

To complete the gift, I've added a small notebook with the ATC Dragon stamped in Jet Black Archival on a gold panel and added some ribbon to finish.  A great addition to any desk I think!!

Oak House Studio stamps, inks and embossing powders can be found HERE - go take a look as there's a sale on at the moment.  And please don't forget to comment on this or any of the posts in March - Lynnda is giving away the Clematis Tower and a background stamp to one lucky winner!!

Just for You

Hello to you all I am back with another card using Oak House Studio stamps. I have used the "English Garden Words " on the tag which I have  inked up and white embossed  and "Walesby Flourish" for the background of the card.The inks I have used for distressing the cards are Colour Chemistry Forest Green and Purple.I do hope you like it.xxx

Eastern Inspiration

Elaine here with more designs using Oak House Studio's Oriental Stamps.  This week I've been using the ATC Dragon Stamp and getting inky with the Ink in a Bottle Sprays.  Here are my supplies:

For my first card, I've sprayed the ATC with Spode Blue Ink in a Bottle and then clear embossed the ATC Dragon using Forest Green Pigment Ink. I've stamped the kanji symbol for Lucky Day and just blended around the edges with Powder Blue Pigment Ink.

For the card itself, I've cut the teal base card diagonally and clear embossed Diana's Dragon twice on the rear corner.  For the front section I've used silver card and an inky panel sprayed with Jubilee Blue, Peacock Green and Pearly Silver Ink in a Bottle and just finished it with some fibres and a brad.

The background for the second ATC was sprayed with Jubilee Red Ink in a Bottle, and then I've clear embossed the large Serenity Prayer inked with Valentine Pigment Ink.  The ATC Dragon was embossed in black and I've just added some ribbon and the kanji symbol for Happiness.  I've used my ATC to decorate an envelope for money/vouchers (and then to keep for receipts, notes etc) as a gift for my daughter - being a teenager she loves Sakura from DS games and Japanese Anime films, and anything to do with the Orient!

The base is red and black card, the inky panel is sprayed with Jubilee Red, Citrus Orange and Glorious Gold Ink in a Bottle and I've used Valentine Pigment Ink to emboss another dragon to the right.  The flap is stamped with the Sakura (Cherry Blossom) and finished with a triple embossed Medallion using Red Embossing Powder and I've added a handmade tassel.

All Oak House Studio Stamps, plus Colour Chemistry Ink in a Bottle, Pigment Ink Pads and Embossing Powders can be found HERE.  Did you know Lynnda sells embossing powders in large (very economical) 100g jars - Clear Gloss, and then Gold, Silver and Copper Detail Powders!

Next week I've got a gift idea lined up - maybe for that man or teenager in your life - so please come back next Friday for some more inspiration.  Meanwhile thank you for all your lovely comments!!
Lynnda Here: That is great Elaine, don't forget leave a comment to win two stamps Clematis Tower and a background stamp. Draw at the end of the month from all comments, Only one comment per person per post will count.

Serenity Prayer

Hello to you all, Doreen here again for my card share today I have used  one of the oriental stamps,this one is called "Serenity Prayer"....I have just inked it up and mounted onto some dark blue card, the backing papers I thought matched the theme and are quite oriental are. The sentiment is also from Oak House studio. I do hope you like it.xxx

Oriental Moongates

Hello!   Elaine here again with some more ideas using Oak House Studio's Oriental Stamps. I was looking at oriental symbolism and found the moon an important element so both my cards today use hand cut circle masks.

For the first card, I've sprayed Spode Blue Ink in a Bottle through a 4" diameter hole to create the moon and stippled some Powder Blue Pigment Ink around the edge to add definition.  I've stamped Diana's Dragon with Midnight Pigment Ink and the Serenity Prayer with Powder Blue Pigment Ink and clear embossed both. 

The card is finished with some ribbon and the Medallion stamp from the Double Dragon set.  I inked the Medallion with Silver Versacolor and stamped this onto the triple embossed circle of chipboard  - I used Midnight Pigment Ink between the layers to give a lovely deep petrol blue!

For the second card,  I've sprayed Brazil Nut Ink in a Bottle through a circle about 4" diameter but with a smaller circle inside to create the moongate.  The Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Stamp has been inked with Cocoa Bean Brilliance and then painted using a waterbrush and Aquash colours.  I've also stamped the Bamboo (from the Oriental Companion set) in the corner to balance the layout and because this card looks a lot more spring-like (and as this weekend it's Mothering Sunday), I've made it into a Mothers Day card!!

Oak House Studio stamps and all the Colour Chemistry Ink in a Bottle, Pigment Ink Pads and Embossing Powders can be found HERE. 

Next Friday I'll be getting inky (and messy probably) with more oriental designs but in the meantime thanks for taking the time to look and for your lovely comments.  Doreen will be here on Tuesday so please come back and have a look what she's been creating!

Clematis Tower

Hello to you all, Doreen here. I have had the pleasure of using the “Clematis Tower stamp” this month. I do hope I give you a little inspiration with what I make.

 I have made a black and white card, I have just used a portion of the stamp and the corner stamp and white embossed them both onto black card,the sentiment  is also from Oak House Studio. I hope you like it.xxx

Oriental Matchbook

Hi, I'm Elaine and Guest Designer here on the Oak House Studio blog for the month of March.  I've been tasked with using the Oriental Stamps - now I know some people aren't keen but I'm hoping that by the end of the month, you'll be inspired!  And who can resist the Dragons, all hand drawn by Lynnda.

For this project I've started by making some earrings - I die-cut two ovals from black shrink plastic, stamped the outline Dragon (from the Double Dragon Set)  with Starlite Silver Brilliance, and remembered to make a hole before I shrank them.  I've just added a selection of beads and some ear wires.

You could just put them in a box, but I've made a matchbook with an inner card for them to hang on. 
To make the matchbook cover, I've used a piece of black linen card cut to 28cm x 15cm and creased at 4cm, 16.5cm and 18cm.   I've stamped the solid Dragon (also from the Double Dragon set) on some red gloss card and added the Kanji symbol for Lucky Day.  It's just finished with an oval ribbon slide, the motif and some ribbon.

To present the earrings, I've cut a piece of white gloss card to fit in the matchbook cover and decorated this with the Serenity Prayer stamp and the Kanji stamp for Happiness.  I've also added an alcohol inked acetate panel.

Here's the finished set which I think would make a great gift.  All the stamps are from Oak House Studio (the Double Dragon and Oriental Companion Sets) and can be found HERE. 

I'll be here again next Friday with a different take on the oriental theme.  Meanwhile, please come back on Tuesday when Doreen will be here to inspire you.