Stampin Up UK Demonstrator independent supplier paper craft scrapbooking tutorials lincolnshire: I love school holidays!

Whilst many mums dread the summer hols, I love them. It gives me a chance to chill not having to whizz all over getting the children to clubs and parties. It also means I have more time to let them go mad in my craft room and do some stampin'! So much so that Charlie decided that he would do a picture for the ladies and gentleman (yes I've had my first man or should I say the dashing Paul is my first and very talented male customer!). Charlie also wanted me to tell them how to do it just like his submarine picture and I just managed to persuade him that I didn't need to rush to a copy shop to produce a copy for the guests at the workshop! As you can see he had lots of fun creating and I'm glad to say he received several very favourable comments written on the back of his picture from the workshop guests. Thanks everyone he was thrilled.

He's also been to a session at our local library to learn about and meet a hedgehog called Zippy; so called because sadly at only 4months he had unceremoniously been unzipped by a strimmer. He is recovering well though and entertained many children with his tales of life thus far. At the session the children were all able to make a cute hedgehog and learn a little about mini beasts and in particular the ones that Zippy likes to eat.

Meanwhile Olivia has been busy earning more skills as Drama Queen Extraordinaire!!! She's been at the drama club summer school learning circus skills, musical routines and stomp music, Morris & Modern Dancing, mime and voice exercises with the week culminating in a play in a day production of Alice in Wonderland. Olivia was the queen and shouted that famous line ' Off with her head' often and loud!

I have managed to craft also and here is the card I demonstrated at my friend Maria's workshop for everyone to try as the make and take. As usual I found that everyone gave their own interpretation and I've made a note of things I might try in the future. That's one of the main reasons I love being a demonstrator because I can always learn something from each workshop even though folk think I'm an expert. We all are as there is no right or wrong way to make cards. They all create a special joy for the recipients as they are individually handcrafted.

Maria has recently invested in our Many Marvellous Markers and asked if I would show some uses for them. I coloured the stamps with the markers to get different colours across the flower and stems.