The First UKSN Residential Retreat

Last weekend saw the first residential retreat for the UK Stampers Network. It was held at the Holiday Inn Express in Nuneaton and attended by 8 enthusiastic crafters (Ann, Elaine, Karen, Mickey, Nicola, Sue D, Sue R and myself Sue T). Half of us arrived on the Friday with the rest arriving first thing Saturday morning for a bright and early start. Saturdays workshop was run by Mickey and saw us making mini albums using papers from Graphic 45, By The Sea. We were crafting so hard that we didn't stop for coffee or teas we just had them beside us while we worked. Lunch saw us crossing the Hotel car park to the pub next door who had our lunch ready and waiting for us. Then it was a quick turn around and back for the afternoon where we carried on with the Albums. The time just flew by and it was 7.00 o clock before we knew it. A quick change and we were headed back our to the pub for our evening meal, we were joined by Sue D's Husband and my Husband.

 Working on our Mini Albums

Sunday after a good nights sleep we were back in the craft room ready to go by 9.30 again. This time it was my turn to run the workshop, we were altering mirrors bought at Ikea. The above photo shows us working on our base layer, and the one below, after a lot of gluing, we painted everything with black gesso.

 While we waited for the layers to dry we started Elaine's workshop which was to make a bouquet of flowers from paper and decorate the jar to hold them. Again we crafted through and had coffee and tea while we worked. We also popped across the car park for lunch again. By the time we returned it was time to finish the mirrors.

In the above photo you can see that sue D is putting some Inka Gold/Pinflair Buff It's on to the gesso painted frame. It was then time to get stuck into making our paper flowers, but by now the time was passing too fast and we were struggling to get them finished. But armed with all of the petals, stems and instructions these were taken home to complete.

On the photos above and below is what we managed to make between us over the weekend, I know I had great fun and really enjoyed myself and I think that everyone else did too. Hubby enjoyed himself fishing and found some great fishing lakes only four miles from the hotel. He is already talking about fishing there next year when we have the next residential retreat (well fingers crossed).

A big thank you goes to Mickey and Elaine who organised the weekend.

Thanks for taking the time to look and your kind comments that are always appreciated.

Sue