Friday 31 August 2012

Tuxedo Card

This card measures 10.5cms x 14.5cms and is made using white linen effect card.
Tuxedo prom Card
Not an original idea I know, but with the Prom Season approaching in schools I thought it would be a good idea to try my own version.  I fiddle farted around with the buttons for ages plumping in the end for these flat backed pearls ….. I now wish I’d gone for real buttons! Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Thursday 30 August 2012

Therapy – My Decopatch Coffee Table

Decopatch Table
When we had to remove The Dukes marine fish tank it was heart breaking, but there was no way that Lucy and I could maintain it and if anything had happened to the fish we would never have been able to forgive ourselves.  In the end we managed to contact two lovely gentlemen from a local aquarist society who not only very kindly found new homes for our fish, but also completely dismantled the tank and all its gubbings for which I will never be able say “thank you” enough.
Ikea Lack Table
Anyway ….. with the tank gone, the room looked tired and empty and Lucy and I decided that it needed a completely new look ….. so guess what …. I decided to Decopatch (!!!!!)  one of our Ikea “Lack” coffee tables …… to create the colour palette for our new “girlie lounge”
Ikea Lack Table_
….. and because I am incapable of choosing just a couple of Decopatch papers , I ended up using all the designs I had …… and you will no doubt realise that it also matches the table in my utility room that I had already done ….. no imagination me!!!!   Once covered I applied about six coats of Ronseal Quick Drying Varnish to withstand the rigours of our coffee mugs etc.
Decopatch Ikea Lack Side Table
When the table was finished Lucy pointed out that as we had two Ikea “Lack” tables, rather than go for the Decopatch overkill look, we could mix and match them depending on our mood – Decopatch top with plain legs …….
Ikea Lack Side Table Decopatch
……. or plain top with Decopatch legs …..
The rest of the lounge is a work in progress with much gratitude to my very talented brother Andrew, but when it’s all finished I will post some more pictures so that you can see the finished results!

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Punched Art Penguin/Elizabeth Shaw Mint Novelty …..

Now …. I am being very lazy here, trying to save time by being economical with words and typing, but hope you can still get the gist of how I have put this paper punched penguin together …..
Punched Art penguin.
These are the three punches I used ….
Stampin' Up Circle Punches
….. and these are the punched parts I have used to put “Percy” together …… not a lot to him really!
Punched Art Penguin
I’ve just popped him on a makeshift background to show how he would look on a Christmas card…. but you know what I am going to say next …… he would make an excellent embellishment for an Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisp….
Elizabeth Shaw Mint Penguin
……… by just adding a matching plain black circle on the back!
Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisp penguin

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Crabby Birthday Card

This card measures 5.5 x 5.5 inches and is made using white linen effect card.
Crab Birthday Card
This card is just a bit of fun, made it for the Duke's birthday last year as he had the most amazing marine fish tank which included crabs, so it became a bit of a running theme in my cards for him!
Crabby Birthday 1
The background paper came from a free pull out in a card making magazine and the crab and other creatures are spongy, self adhesive foam shapes from Poundworld with googly eyes added to them. 

Monday 27 August 2012

Snowman Tags

snowman tags Can you believe these tags were made back in February?!  I found the wooden snowman embellishments marked down to half price at a local garden centre and at 74p for 8 they were too good to resist, but I knew if I didn’t use them almost straight away they would linger for too long in my Christmas box of bits.
Craft for Christmas wooden snowman embellishments
I thought that the painted effect was rather dull, drab and flat ….
snowman head embellishments
So I re-coloured their noses and cheeks, added a few stripes to the scarfs and then added a generous coating of Anita’s 3D Gloss Finish, giving them much more luxurious feel.
snowman tags
I then cut out the tags using a strong Kraft card, covering the front with a polka dot paper and white glitter card, adding faux stitching round the edge of the blue paper and on the back of the tag.
snowman tags 1
The final touches are made by adding punched snowflakes, a tiny handwritten tag on the hat, plus holly leaves left over from other projects and red and clear flat backed gems. I kept a couple of the heads back as I I want to try and make a few cards based on the same design and using the same materials, watch this space …..

Sunday 26 August 2012

Snowman Let It Snow Card

This card measures 4.5 x 4.5 ins and is made using white linen effect card.
Let It Snow Snowman Christmas Card
This is the card I made to go with the tags I am posting tomorrow.  The blue polka dot paper is from Doodle Bug and the metal snowflake from a pack from Craft For Christmas.

Saturday 25 August 2012

A Project …. Having A Go At A Decopatch Chair

I have said a couple of times already that I am struggling with my mojo, which is why you are seeing a lot of my Christmas stuff now, because I have had to bunk it down so I still have posts to post if you see what I mean ……. but at the moment I do find Decopatch very soothing …. and it takes no thinking!
Decopatch ProjectSo, when I saw this chair outside one of the  village shops going free to a good home, it would have looked rude not to avail myself of it and bring it home ….. The Duke use to just tut and sigh when I brought “more rubbish” into the house ….. but I have been wanting to have a go at a Decopatch chair for ages and fortuitously Tom and Laura had bought me a pile of new papers a couple of weeks ago ….. so it was fate!!
Decopatch PapersI am also having a bit of a reshuffle in the house at the moment and I need a new chair for my bedroom, and this could be it!  I have never reupholstered a seat before, but I have a staple gun …. so how hard can it be?  So watch this space!!!!
Decopatch Chair
Since writing this post on Wednesday I couldn’t resist making a start …. all I can say is that it is lot fiddlier than anything I have decopatched before ….. and I am dreading the knobbly bits on the legs!!! However, a little and often I think.  It is interesting to see how Decopatch works when put straight on dark wood … I thought it might be more subdued …. but it still looks bright and fresh. I am thinking that I am going for a cerise seat cover …. and if I could find a knitted jumper that I could cut up for it, it could look pretty FAB!!!

Friday 24 August 2012

Gymnast Newspaper Card

This card is A5 in size and is made using white linen effect card.
Gymnast Card
My sister asked me to make a card for a photographer called Eileen Langsley who she met during one of her volunteer sports events and who had given her a copy of her beautiful book Gymnastics in Perspective http://figshop.lx2.sportcentric.com/product_info.php?products_id=40
Gymnast decoupage
My sister gave me a few ideas and I worked round them.  I just love the gymnasts, which I I found on this wonderful free clip art site http://www.phillipmartin.com/ 
Gymnast card 2
The images are  free if used for a non commercial purposes and are attributed to the artist Phillip Martin. It really is worth a look but please check the regulations first before using any of the available images
Gymnast card 1
All I have done is make them up into simple decoupage layers to add a little texture and dimension.  The Visa logo was added to  reflect Eileen’s frustration with background advertising boards which often get in the way when she is taking her stunning pictures. http://eileenlangsley.wordpress.com/

Thursday 23 August 2012

First Day Back At School Gift …..

As you know I like to make a little “fairing” gift for some of my friends at work to “bring in” the new school year ….
First Day of A New School year gift…. and this is what I have come up with for this year …. small jars of assorted chocolate buttons, Milky Bar, Cadbury and Thornton's smiley face ones Thorntons jars of SmilesThe plastic jars came from a poundshop, but I can’t for the life of me think which one, but I would really like some more now that I have tried using them, and have other ideas …. and at just 12 for £1 they are a real bargain.
Fabric jar covers - first day of school presentI cut the mop tops from some cotton patchwork material I have had for ages with pinking shears….
First Day of School Gift…. and then punched out and handwrote the tags ….. not much crafting I know …. just very quick and simple, less is more!

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Tatty Teddy Decoupage Christmas Card

The base of this card measures 13.5cm x 13.5cm and is made using a white linen effect card.
Tatty Teddy Pink Christmas Card
This is another of my Tatty Teddy decoupage cards using the Winter Wonderland A4 glitter pack that I found for £1.74 (half price) earlier on in the year. I didn’t like the background to the decoupage image, so I cut it away and did my own thing!  I’ve added a pink gingham background (Handy Hippo Creative Paper Strips in pastel gingham), a punched white glitter heart and  a couple of punched snowflakes with gem centres. Voila!

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Final Goodbyes To The Duke …. In Brixham

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift” - Mary Oliver
compressed harbour
I didn’t say anything in the days leading up to it, but on Saturday,18th August we went to Brixham to scatter Andy’s ashes.  Originally the Brixham Lifeboat Crew were going to do it for us when they were next on manoeuvres, but in the end both Lucy and I had a change of mind, and wanted to do it ourselves. …. I know it sounds daft but we didn’t want to leave Andy/Dad/The Duke with strangers …. even though they would have been very, very lovely caring strangers, I know, deep in my heart that it was the right decision. Copy of 052 cpmpressedWe had to make several trips to the beach, a place which Andy had described, while fishing off the jetty last year  as, for him, the closest place to heaven on earth because it never quite quiet enough….. !
Copy of 054 compressedHowever, as the light faded we all said our final goodbyes and then skimmed stones ….. before leaving Andy where he was happiest …. a place where he could fish to his hearts content …… and gaze at the beautiful view.
blogWe were able to make a donation of £1,025 in Andy’s memory from friends and family, towards the upkeep of the Brixham Lifeboat, something that would have really choked him. He would never fail to buy something from an RNLI shop/stand/stall whenever he saw one ….. as we can all contest, as we each have at least one RNLI keyring courtesy of Andy.
Comressed BrixhamA wonderful gentleman called Stuart Elliman, the Lifeboat Operations Manager at Brixham gave us a guided tour of the Lifeboat and Lifeboat station, something Andy would also have just loved ….
compress…… it was such a privilege … and made our visit even more special and something that will stay with us for a very long while to come….

Mini Pebble Canvas Mementoes

I wanted to give something to everyone who went to Brixham to remember the weekend by ….
Miniature Pebble Canvas.… so I made these tiny heart canvases. which measure 7cms x 7cms, made using the small pebbles I had collected from the beach at Brixham where the Duke and I shared companionable happy silences as we drank in the view and enjoyed large cups of coffee when everyone else had gone home.Miniature Pebble Canvases

Monday 20 August 2012

Colour Chart Christmas Tree Card

This card measures 5ins x 5ins and is made using white linen effect card.
Paint Colour Chart Christmas Card Glass Christmas Tree Nuggets
This card was an experiment, but is very me. I know just the person to send it to for Christmas who will appreciate it’s quirkiness too.
Colour Chart Christmas Card
There’s not a lot to it, I’ve mat and layered a Dulux colour chart on silver mirror card and then stuck three glass Christmas tree nuggets  (which I’ve had forever)  to cover some of the writing using E600 glue.  Done and fairy dust dusted!!

Sunday 19 August 2012

Plain and Simple Christmas Card

This card measures 15cm x 10.5cm and is made from a hand cut blank using ivory linen effect card.
DSCF2184
This card is very plain I know, but it’s just the sort of card I would like to get, very less is more!
Christmas Prhase eyelet
The Making Memories eyelet phases, which need to be set using my Making Memories Instant Setter have been languishing in one of my drawers  for years since I bought a “job lot” of them at Hobbycrafts at the NEC, but this year I am determined that I will use each and every one of them, so you’ll probably get sick of seeing them this Christmas!!
instant setter
The bookplate die cut is from a K & Co set which I have simply mat and layered on matching patterned paper and mirror card.

Saturday 18 August 2012

Tatty Teddy – Snowflakes Kisses Card

The base of this card measures 13.5cm x 13.5cm and is made using a dark blue linen effect card.
Tatty teddy winter wishes card
I don’t do a lot of decoupage, but when I do they are very popular. The image I have used here is part of the Winter Wonderland A4 glitter pack which I found for £1.74 (half price) earlier on in the year. All I have added is the tiny gingham print background, and a couple of punched snowflakes with gem centres plus a handwritten sentiment, as the ones in the pack didn’t match the blue I had chosen.

Friday 17 August 2012

Christmas Snowflake Microscope Slide Decoration

Microscope Slide Christmas decoration
This decoration follows on from yesterdays post, made in exactly the same way, with the same papers etc. but using microscope slides sent to me by Marc which measure 8cm x 2.5cm.
Microscope Slide Christmas Snowflake decoration
It is double sided so that there is no back or front view.

Thursday 16 August 2012

Memory Glass Christmas Tree Pendant/Ornament

Can you believe that I made this way back in February, what was I on? This first one was a bit of an experiment, it could have been a little better finished off, but to be honest it’s got just the right handmade feel to it that I wanted. I have made a whole pile of them since, and plan to give them to special friends on December 1st so that they have them to hang up for the whole of Christmas.
Memory Glass tree pendant
I’ve taken two 1.5 x 1.5ins Ranger Inkssentials Memory Glass slides between which I have sandwiched two squares, stuck back to back of Basic Grey Jack Frost Blitzen paper (BLI-337), so that the pendant has two identical slides. Before sticking the papers together I added a small flat bail between them so a thread can be attached to hang the finished decoration by. I then added a small strip of white glitter paper, a few tiny punched snowflakes and a handwritten “Let it Snow” label to complete a very simple snow scene.
Memory Glass Christmas Tree Ornament

The fiddly bit was sticking the silver ArtEmboss metal foil tape round the edges of the glass, but it wasn’t half as hard as I imagined.
tiny silver bail
The finishing touches were made using two metal snowflakes from Craft Candy, sticking them on either side, matching up their positions as best as I could. 
Ranger Inkssentials memory Glass Christmas Decoration
I also added a tiny silver stud in the centre of each punched snowflake on the outside of the glass, for a little  extra dimension and a clear gem on the large metal snowflake.
Ranger Inkssentials Memory Glass Christmas decoration let it Snow
http://www.craftcellar.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d209_artemboss_metal_foil_tape.html