Thursday 15 November 2012

PPPPPP - been there....


At the workshop this morning, I met five (count them - five) people who were entirely new to card making and stamping and die cutting and our way of doing things.  Imagine!  It was magical for me..because they'll learn to do it the way I do things! I love that.  Influence.  For one whole workshop, I can say 'do it my way, or do it wrong' and they believe me.  Power.  And then they buy a magazine and realise what a crock I can talk.  But really, while it lasts.....
There are several really nice things about having newbies at a workshop...everyone gets a chance to refresh basic skills through questions that don't come up so often with experienced crafters,  and I feel compelled to do the odd technique demonstration...oh the bliss of hearing surprise and delight when you demonstrate heat embossing with gold powder.  Or explain how technically difficult it is to apply foil..and then zap some foil over a bit of scribbled glue.  Love it all.  Love getting to know the stamping characters...the precision merchants, the scared to commit to actually sticking it down merchants, the people who want to know more about the difference in fast and slow drying ink properties...like ingredients.  The people who want to know the difference between this glitter glue and that glitter glue. (The answer to that one is usually simple: choice.) And as they relax a bit and start to feel less like they're being bullied and more as if they may be enjoying things, so they ask questions about my crafting history.  I would say pedigree, but really...there's no pedigree here. At this time of year, there is always one question that I have to answer honestly.  They usually look relieved at my answer, too:
' I expect you've made all your Christmas cards, tags and lots of gifts already, Julia?'

Now really, gentle reader, collect yourself and go make something to tick off your massive Christmas 'to do' list. It's not fair to be constantly laughing at me.

37 comments:

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! Of course all your cards and tags are done... :D

Jan x

Lunch Lady Jan said...

PS The card looks so fab in close up = jingle those bells, gal!

Claire said...

Gorgeous card Julia, glad to hear the crafty newbies had a great time, it's always nice when more people join the crafting sisterhood
C xx

Helen said...

I love that card, it is gorgeous! And of course all your cards are done, just like mine are (but I have done 50 )

Pam said...

Glad I didn't get the kno it all newbie :-) x

My name is Cindy said...

Well, I couldn't resist a little giggle........

Anonymous said...

Love the card and the behind-the-scenes from the teacher's perspective. Heat embossing *is* pretty magical. :)

donnalouiserodgers said...

through my tears of laughter I realised... I have started 30 million things, if only i could finish ONE

dx

Lynn Holland said...

More crafters to join WOYWW.
What a great community

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'm not laughing, because I haven't started mine, either, Julia. But of course, that card is so gorgeous, I want to make one just like it. Now if I just had the stamps, the dies, the glitter glue, the embossing powder, the chord, and what looks like puffy paint on grunge board, I'd be set. I DO have a bell or two and glue dots! It's a start, at least. Now YOU can laugh.

fairy thoughts said...

mm I bet they are stored in alphabetical order too ha ha ha
Janet

okienurse said...

done and saved in alphabetical order and by color combo! Mine aren't done either!! Love this card so sparkly and Christmasy! BTW that's why I keep teaching classes...it keeps me refreshed and ready to do something new!

Judys Lace Creations said...

Love this post!
Isn't it like the plumber whose pipes are a mess, or the builder whose home is a "renovator's Delight"....

OF COURSE your cards are done!!Hmmm!!
Thanks for having this site Julia, so many friendships have begun through it.
Judy

trisha too said...

Oh man, the pressure to make the Christmas cards--people know I make stuff, so they expect handmade cards, AAAAAAAARRRRRUUUUHHHHHg.

Sorry . . . had a little rant there!

:)trisha

Myzdamena said...

Fresh meat Yeay. I love that card It's gorgeous x I still think heat embossing is some kind of voodoo ..It's powder then all of a sudden.....bam! .... X

Crafty Lark said...

Such a fab and fun card. I love it. See all those spare Christmas cards you have made!!! xx Flora

Bethan said...

oh just fabulous.... newbies...didnt think there were any left in this world!!! goog for you for 'influencing' them...they couldnt get a more fab teacher!! I bought stuff to make cards about 2mths ago...apart from the cardstock...now doubt will get time to make 'em anyways!!! ah well theres always next year...sure I sais the same thing last year!!!

Monica said...

you mean to say they are not just sitting waiting to go the the post office!

Words and Pictures said...

Fantastic card... and I love the sound of your workshop - lucky crafters! What fun encountering it all for the first time through your eyes...
Alison x

Eliza said...

Yep you are right on top of things and totally in control. LOL

Great post........

Eliza

scrappymo! said...

Ahhhhh...they are like clay...you can mold them into mini jJlia's...hahahahah

Cardarian said...

Ha, ha, ha.....thank you for a good laugh - great post - So you haven't made any cards yet aye??? I have made a few but I am not even close to the plan I have set myself to fullfil!¨80....done 12! Have a laugh now!
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian

pearshapedcrafting said...

I have every intention of sending my Christmas cards early and putting in our change of address.....errr...how many days to the end of the month? Not enough!!! Chrisx

Anonymous said...

Love that card, Julie amd like you I would like to think by this time of year I was all ready to sit down and enjoy the rest of the season with out tearing my hair out in the process but unfortunately not, once again. I do promise myself every year I will start in January or even September at a pince but it never happens. Heigh-ho such is life.
Have a good weekend
Tricia

KatzElbows said...

I'm not laughing at you; I'm laughing with you. And then getting a bit hysterical about my own card making situation.

Showing someone heat embossing for the first time never gets old, does it? It's always magical. Glad you had fun.

cheers, rachel

Elizabeth said...

Julia, you crack me up and I really enjoy your lighthearted approach too. Of course, I have a drawer full of Christmas cards just waiting for the EM to rummage through and then tell me that none are suitable for his male kith and kin so can I just knock up something more appropriate!?!? It happens every year so you would think I'd have learned by now. I should plan more carefully, sigh! Elizabeth xx

Elizabeth said...

Oops! Forgot to say that the card looks great. xx

Angie said...

Gorgeous card ...glad you had so much fun with the newbees. xx

Kim said...

Never underestimate that gold ep!! thats what sucked me in, 16 years ago this month!! And only my dear hubby has regretted it! LOL!(But hey, I do let him buy a new golf club every now and again...just to alieviate the guilt a tad)

kyla said...

Ooh...newbies...how marvellous.....power and influence......mwhaaahhhh.....world domination.....(oops sorry.....got carried away!).

Kyla

JoZart Designs said...

Still laughing... probably still will be for a week but thne you will probably make one card for Wednesday then gloat. Well I have made ONE!! the one from the kit you gave us at the crop. It may well be the ONLY one but I've made one.
Jo x

Andrea said...

LOL you are fab, and I may have had just a teensy weensy laugh but not at you ...honest ...! im glad you had a great time and im sure you have left them feeling hungry for more..and eager to be just like you.. the card is ace all the embellies work so well together..would love to see more... and lovin the artistic angle , have a fab weekend x

Anonymous said...

I am also amazed that there are any newbies left out in the universe, but then I go to a workshop and meet lots of them! Sweet card. I started making my Xmas cards back in June - and was so smug then, but now I seem to get involved with more swaps and then the cards don't get made, plus we are off on holiday soon. Oh well, 'whispering', there are always charity cards to buy (makes me feel less guilty - and we give them to neighbours etc who do not know about my secret life as a crafter)! Ali x

Auntie Em said...

Hehehe! Maybe that is the reason I have been introducing people to paper crafting all these years. The sheer power...that and, like you said, the magic of a heat gun and embossing powder. lol
I don't teach classes but like to talk and everyone who gets any where near the vortex of my craft room has to watch at least one demo on whatever technique I am taken with at the time. But nothing compares to the excitement of watching that dull powder turn to pretty gold. Must have been the feeling that alchemists wanted to achieve. :D
Have fun with your classes! Wish I lived close enough to join in.

Tamika said...

Such an adorable card Julia!

Neet said...

Power to you girl - go get 'em.

Hugs, Neet xx

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