March 2025

This month the class will be led by Jackie - and will be the following cards.

A basic craft kit will be needed (glue/ds tape, scissors or trimmer) because minimal additional equipment has been used this month.  Extras like stickles glue etc will be available on the day.

Card 1

A happy card for any occasion - this one was made using a new file from the Crafty Witches, and I really would recommend checking out their website.  This file was a new development for them - all the pieces are produced on sheets ready to print, cut out and make and they are very reasonably priced.  Check them out here: The Crafty Witches

Card 2 

The second card - 5 x 7 foldback card

Card 3 

Our Christmas card for this month.

This card base was made using an SVG file from The Gentleman Crafter - I cut it out using my Scan n Cut machine.  He produces new files every week on his patreon account, and membership to this is very reasonable.

February 2025

The class this month will be led by Shirley.  Again, there are 2 birthday cards, and 1 Christmas card.  Normal craft kit will be needed, i.e. scissors, glue, ds tape, trimmer etc.

The first birthday card is a decoupaged butterfly on a 6 x 6 card base.

The second birthday card is a reversed easel card

And lastly, the Christmas card is a clean and simple one, made with die cut christmas trees.  A sentiment of your choice to be added to this one.

January 2025

 The class this month is led by Jackie, and we will be making three cards - 2 Birthday, and 1 Christmas.

The first birthday card was a folded back scalloped edge  6 x 6 card base.  The backing paper and image for the centre topper were sourced from Crafty Witches and cut down to size.

The second birthday card was made using a 7 x 5 white card base, with 2 frames cut out using the scan n cut, and a Tattered Lace die of the lady sitting at the table.  The flowers can be die cut or punched, and gems were placed in the centre.

 

The Christmas card was made using a generic stepper card base die and some papers from Crafty Witches.  The poinsettia was a die too - sorry, brand unknown for both of these!

New year, new start

 I've been very remiss in keeping this blog up to date and to be fair, it was looking a bit tired and jaded, reflecting that.

So, I've had a bit of a revamp! The background is changed, the layout is changed, and I plan to post the next months cards here straight after the class each month.

March 2024

 

Today the group is led by Shirley and we will be making 3 cards.  You will need your normal kit (glue, ds tape, scissors, mat etc) as well as some ink pads to colour the flower.  If you don't have any ink pads, don't worry as extras will be available to you.

Card 1

Card 2

Card 3

February 2024

 Jackie is leading the class this month, and we will be making the following cards:

Card 1

This card is a stepper card, decorated with printed images and paper flowers.

Card 2 - 6 x 6 

This card is a simple die cut image, which is matted and layered onto a plain card base

Card 3 - 7 x 5

This card is a layered one with printed and inked images, paper flowers and ribbon.

January 2024 - a new year begins

Welcome to a new year at Busy Bees!

This month there are 3 more cards, courtesy of Shirley.  You should bring a scoreboard/trimmer if you have them along with your normal craft kit - but there will be equipment available for you to borrow if you don't have it.

Card 1 - this will be made using an embossing folder and inks.  You can choose which of these 2 folders you want to use on the day

                                                          

Card 2 - This is a quick and simple card made using printed paper and inks.

Card 3 - This card is made using die cuts and plain card - a good way to use up offcuts!

  

October 2023

We are very much in the Christmas spirit now - 3 more Christmas cards are on the menu for this month's class, led by Jackie.

Because there is quite a bit of die cutting, and a limited amount of time,  a lot of the prep work will be done before the class, so you will only need to bring your normal crafting kit - scissors, ds tape, glue, sticky pads, a pokey tool and a cutting mat.

Card 1

This card is made using a stepper card die (one of my favourite card shapes, to be honest) and a snowglobe die set.  The wonderfully vibrant image in the globe can be found on the The Witches Cauldron (thecraftywitches.co.uk)  All of the images there are available to download, and I printed this one out using matte photo paper and my epson ecotank printer.

Card 2

This is a card made also using images from the Crafty Witches, and a frame die.

Card 3

This card is an advent card, and is made with a Moonstone die from Hunkydory.  The die, and also pads with a selection of 12 top and bottom sheets can be obtained from Hunkydory or Amazon.

Alternatively, this card can be done as an easel card, with room on the base of the card then for a sentiment or other personalisation.

September 2023

Hopefully we will all be refreshed after our summer break - and we are back in September with.... drum roll... the first Christmas cards of the year!

Shirley will be leading the class and we will be making these 3 lovely cards.  All you will need is your normal craft kit - so let's all get in the Christmas spirit!

Card 1

Card 2

Card 3

July 2023 - photo/memory book

 This month we will be making a photo book - or, as I have made, a birthday book.  The beauty of this book is that you can have as many pages as you want - just keep adding spines!

The book can also be the size you want - I have chosen 6 x 4 for this one, so if you want to include photos, you can trim down a standard size to fit.

At the class we will primarily be concentrating on creating the book - the decoration can be done at leisure and will be up to you.

For my book pages, I used plain 12x12 black card but you can use any 12 x 12 paper/card that you have.  Patterned paper will save you having to mat and layer onto the base page as it will already have interest.

For this class you will need basic craft kit plus a trimmer and a scoreboard.  Using a bone folder will ensure a nice crisp line, and make it easier to line up the edges when sticking pages together.  I'm a belt and braces girl, so I like to use glue for stability with a taperunner as a quick stick, but it is up to you - you can use either.  It is best to use red liner tape for the spine though.

Visual printed instructions will be provided so you can follow along when making future books.  And as a bonus, I have included the instructions for making the small "maze" book, which leaves you with a 3 x 3 inch square book.

Instruction sheets: