Decorative Paper Cutting

 For our first session after the summer break, Adrienne led a meeting on decorative paper cutting. She supplied patterns, and we all set to with craft knives! These take a lot longer than you'd think to cut, but we've got a few samples. The image used here was a trial one, and downloaded from the Seasalt and Samphire site where it's one of their freebies.

Adrienne

Dominique displayed hers on some pretty patterned paper.

Nadi used a beautiful red background

Tricia displayed hers on some textured card, and made a card frame.

Making Greetings Cards

 The last meeting of each term is reserved for planning the coming term, but that doesn't usually take too long, so a couple of members brought along a variety of toppers, backing papers and die cuts for general use, and we all had a go at making cards without any further theme. Below are a few that were made during the session, as well as some recent makes from home.

Beryl

Nadi

Nadi

Nadi

Tricia

Tricia

We've got some interesting ideas for next term, starting with paper cutting led by Adrienne to get us off to a flying start.

If you are at least semi-retired, and would like to find out more about the group or what U3A in general can offer, either check us out at the main website, Harrow U3A or leave a message below.

Making Bookmarks

 At our most recent meeting, Adrienne led us in making bookmarks. Sadly, we were short of members at the meeting due to a combination of factors, but those of us who attended had fun. Adrienne provided images for colouring, stamps, stencils, ribbon and inks.

Parvin

Shilpa

Tricia

Show and Tell

For our most recent meeting, we were unfortunately unable to work on the project we'd planned, so we decided to have a 'free' session (also known as 'bring your own project') and to have a 'show and tell' of things we've made in the past, including projects that wouldn't really be suitable for the group.

Adrienne brought a few different makes:

Origami Flowers and Dress

Stationery Folder

Beryl brought some of her knitting using a single piece pattern

Puffin

Mary brought a project she worked on during lock down

Sunny Days

Tricia brought some examples of Hardanger Embroidery she has completed over many years:

Some Coasters

Some Table Mats

Nadi's Paper Flowers

 Nadi spent some time recently making flowers out of coffee filters and paper napkins.

Salt Dough Creations

 Barbara recently led us in a session to create with salt dough. Here's what we came up with!

We started making initials in dough. Then, Barbara gave us each a couple of challenges to see what we could come up with!

Adrienne's Unpainted Initial

Barbara's Unpainted Initial and a Flower cut with an icing cutter

Tricia's Unpainted Initials and Flowers made using lightweight air-drying clay. 

The flowers and leaves were made using moulds and icing cutters.

And, after colouring,

Barbara used food colouring on her flowers.

Tricia coloured the various elements using Brushos dye powder, dissolved in water, and sprayed onto the dried clay.

And the result of some of the challenges:

Tricia was challenged to make a girl and a vase.

Made using pre-coloured lightweight air dry clay, and finished with sticky gems.

Again made with pre-coloured air drying clay

Making Flowers with Die Cuts

 Our most recent session was spent making flowers with die cuts. The dies used were all designed by Susan Tierney-Cockburn, but made by various manufacturers: Coreposis, Forget me Not and Aster. Extra greenery was cut using another die by the same designer. Because they were cut using offcuts of card, the colours aren't necessarily accurate.

Some of us used the flowers in an arrangement on a greetings card.

Tricia cut the pieces and produced this as a sample before the meeting.

In the background is a small, white doily from Dovecarft, sprayed with ink diluted from various Brushos. Leaves and the Coreposis were shaded with pastel pencil.

Cards made or started during the meeting are below:

Parvin

Shilpa

Tricia

Mary

Nadi

Panna

Barbara