Hello my blog chums. How on earth are you? Well, I hope.

Now, in my last post I left things on a little cliffhanger, so in traditional style I should recap what that was…

I shared two pictures and posed a couple of questions.

These were the pictures …

Very odd eh?

What could I have been making?

Well, I was preparing for the workshop day at That’s Crafty in Romford, Essex.

Laura (Holland) invited me down some time ago and we have been discussing possible things to make and, to be honest, until a couple of days before the workshop, I didn’t really know.

I did however decide that we were going to use MDF projects and that, unlike previous workshops, we were going to create the papers that we decorated them with.

Marbling was the technique of choice.

How does this relate to the odd looking production line in Maisy’s kitchen? Well, it was the preparation of the floater powder. The water that the powder is sprinkled onto needed to be near boiling so I was using my whistling kettle for that. The saucepan as a mixing bowl and the petrol can (clean and unused) as a holder for just over 4 litres of the stuff.

I guess that this should now explain the strange liquid too. This was the first steps of my experiments to see what effects I could share with the group.

So, secret revealed, I should continue the story!

So, I had already premixed the paints into the fabby glass dropper bottles (1 part water to 1 part paint) – the little pots in the kit make up a lot of paint!

Decanting a couple of pipettes worth, doesn’t look a lot, but these little monkeys really did go a long way!

Some of it did end up at the bottom of the floater liquid though … oh, sorry for the fag packet shot again!

The diary? That was to give me a stable and level surface for the tray to sit on – I was on a slight slant – these are some of the challenges to crafting in a motorhome!

That and trying to pee at an angle but I won’t go into that, lol!

Anyway, here were some of my experiments.

First, a single colour.

Followed swiftly but a multi colour (with just a couple of drops of each).

And then an all out, five colours and multiple layers combed with an afro comb …

Boom! Love it – now hurry up a dry!

*sighs*

Hurry!

Hmmm, being baldish I didn’t really have a need for a hair dryer … heat gun? Not plugged into the mains so the three pin socket won’t power up…

Ok, think I am going to have to stop literally watching paint dry and start thinking about how to use it.

Here’s a little tip, just for you. I something doodle directly onto what I am covering to make sure the layout works.

So that I don’t forget I also then take a quick snapshot to refer back to. It doesn’t always turn out the way I originally doodled, but its a thought if ever you are unsure.

Ok, papers still drying.

I therefore chose to paint the MDF a dark purple so that if any bits showed up, they would blend with the background.

Paper still not dry.

Time for lunch!

I rustled up a chunkey monkey burger. No monkeys harmed, sadly a bit of a pig though. I added some ‘green’ as I remembered I was supposed to be eating healthily.

While I was munching on a bun, Mr Squirel was nibbling away at his nuts.

Don’t let his cuteness fool you though – there were warnings at the campsite entrance advising, “If you leave food in your awning or tent, the squirels will eat your awning or tent”.

How hungry are these swift little furballs to eat a whole tent or awning?!

The paper did finally dry after the sun had set – no exaggeration – and I applied it to the MDF shape with some PVA (in the workshop we used Mod Podge).

I also inked the edges with a gold pigment ink.

Maisy has some UV lighting or something in the ceiling . hence the purple cast on the photo.

The central flower was created from an off cut of the marbled paper and the others were die cuts that I coloured to coordinate with the rest of the design.

As you can see I did change the design. This was because I thought all of the extra flowers would cover the marbled paper that was sooooo beautiful!

Project one finished and it was off to bed.

Here is what I had created.

In the morning I was up with the larks and out of the gates by 8. Through the Dartford toll and into Romford by 0835 – it’s getting military style!

Popping my head into the shop I suspected something was up when I saw a wanted poster…

*pops glasses on*, oh, it was advertising the workshop! lol.

I met Laura Holland, who did not want her photo taken at that time of day, but I was a little cheeky and selfied her … almost getting the hang of this selfie thing.

And before you know it, workroom was set, lovely ladies had arrived and we were off!

It was a nice mixed group with some that hadn’t been to workshops before, some who had, some who hadn’t marbled before and some who had.

Oh! I skipped ahead a bit. I forgot to show you the mound of marled papers that the ladies made before we started work on some of the other projects that we did that day (all courtesy of That’s Crafty and the lovely Laura).

Here they be!

There was a bit of heat gun action going on to avoid the wait that I had had.

Sometimes double heat gun action in a wind screen wiper fashion – very innovative!

Before I knew it the day was over.

Most of the class had things to finish at home – we were a little ambitious in trying to get three projects done, but I think that it gave value for money.

Here are some of the ladies with their creations.

I couldn’t find Lesley when I took this photo, I think that she had gone for a browse around the That’s crafty shop (which is amazing by the way) but she’s the one far right in the next image.

Trying to make sure that Maisy gets a look in on workshop days so I hope that the group shot is going to become something of a tradition, unless I have to park miles away, in which case – get over it Maisy.

Here are the Essex posse!!

And here is me running away from them…

And in case you wanted to say hi to Laura Holland if you visit the That’s Crafty store in Romford, she’s the one on the far left, as helpfully pointed out by the rest of the group.

Oh, and thanks to Helen for capturing this gloriously candid moment of me looking like a stern grandpa. Lol!

Right, who’s been naughty …

Anyway, with Essex now ‘done’ I slid back into the driving seat of my little Maisy and headed out onto the road.

I had forgotten to plan where I was going to stay overnight but luckily South Mimms services has overnight parking – and Starbucks and Burger King – so I decided to rest up there and figure out the next destination in the morning.

Ok. That about somes up this one.

Thanks for reading and again, many thanks to everyone that attended and helped make it a lovely day, and of course for helping to get this roadshow off the ground and raise awareness and money for Mind.

Thanks for reading, thanks for the words of encouragement, I’ve definitely been needing them lately.

Right, onto SUFFOLK!

Bye for now …

J :)