Papier Mache Key Ring

A bit of an experiment today using a papier mache letter that I got from Hobbycraft a while ago on special offer at 10 letters for £1.
 

I’ve covered the L with a small print paper on both sides then stuck on a few Accessorize puffy cat stickers (£1.75 per pack) to the front and followed several layers of Anita's 3D clear gloss finish to the front and back to give it a pottery plaque type look.  But, if I were to do this project again I would use Range Glossy Accents instead of the Anita's as it is thicker and less prone to bubbles and running.

Old Photo Album Display

Recently the school where I work celebrated its Centenary and so there was a lot of activity going on putting up displays and I thought I would show you one of mine as a bit of change from cards etc.

The original albums

The original photo albums, dating back to 1911, were too delicate to have on display, so as this display was for the PE Department I photocopied all  PE related pictures from them and then replicated the albums and pages they were in/on as best I could.

My replicas albums …..

….. and pages …

I made and covered boxes, and then dated them to put the albums in and people could take them out to look at and handle.

The border of the panel  was made from more modern photocopied photos to add a then and now theme.

Finally to add dimension and accentuate the sporting theme I’ve put four plastic trophies that I found in a party shop on little podiums near the top and two sets of the Colours the girls are awarded with at the end of the year at the bottom.

My Lucky Holey Stone Bracelet.

Whenever I go away to the sea I have to spend an hour or so each day looking for “holey stones” – I just like stones with holes in them and didn’t realise that there were any magical powers attributed to them until I found a couple of articles while blog hopping …

“Holey stones are old stones carved by nature; water, wind and sun, and have holes that go completely through them. These stones are reputed to have extremely powerful magical properties, the most important of which is protection.”

I have a huge vase filled with them on the windowsill of my Craftroom, the little ones I am starting to make into “charm” bracelets, but as you can see, I need a bit more practice with the findings which I find very fiddly to work with.  The large ones I give to friends now and again …. but they have to be “special” friends as I love each and every stone I have ever found.

Thank You Card

This card is A5 in size and made using white linen effect card and pile of old rubbish!!!

I think one of my most irritating habits after a night out is gathering all the little bits and pieces I can find and shoving them into my bag! Sometimes I don’t do anything with them, but this time, after a brilliant night out at “The Dogs”, I wanted to put it all together to make a Thank You card for the friends who organised the evening.

 

Hopefully it will be a lasting memento of a brilliant time which I know will be very much appreciated.

I’ve added the  bingo cards as they are a reference to our next planned night out …..!

Oh ….. I know how to live!!!!!

Butterfly Card

This card measures 5in x 5in and is made using ivory linen effect card.

I’ve used papers from My Mind’s Eye Stella and Rose 6 x 6 paper stack for this card and a Woodware punch for the butterflies.

Sea Glass Heart Canvas

I’ve been tidying my craft room and found a small bag of polish sea glass …… I also found a canvas measuring 15cm x 15cm. …….

I cut out a heart and used it as a template on the canvas,  drawing very lightly round it with pencil and then began placing the glass pieces on the outline, chopping and changing their positions until I was happy.  When I was happy I used a strong PVA glue to secure them.  I’m dead chuffed!

Flying Pig Card

This card measures 6ins x 4ins and is made using white linen effect card.

I love and collect flying pigs but nice ones are hard to find, so I only have a handful.  The stamp for this card is from Penny Black called The Pink Squadron (2602K).  All I have done is colour it in, then go over the pigs with Ranger Glossy Accents to give them a shiny pink “piggy” look.  I’ve also added Hero Arts micro hologram glitter to their wings.

Gingham Owl Card

This card measures 13cm x 13cm and is made using a white linen and purple gingham card.

This card was a nightmare to match papers up with, but in the end I finally settled on purple gingham.
 
The owl and leaf stickers are from Paperchase,  bought a little while ago.  I just drew three sloping lines on the small square topper and stuck the owls in pairs along them I then mat and layered the topper on gold mirror card.

Rico Creative Can Can Scarves

Last summer I raved about Rico Can Can wool after seeing it knitted in to scarves but didn’t have a clue how to use it or know anyone who could show me …. until yesterday, when I went into a wool shop in town and noticed the start of a scarf on the counter … so I asked the lady if she would show me “how it worked” …. two minutes later a ball of the yarn wool had myserriously dropped into my bag.

All the way home on the bus I went over and over in my mind what I had learnt and once I sat down and started knitting I was so excited I didn’t have my tea ‘till late. I was totally hooked, so much so I had both (150cm) scarves completed before bedtime!

I was a little unsure of casting off so went on YouTube and found this really simple demo on how to cast on, knit and cast off ….. brilliant! 
http://www.blacksheepwools.com/acatalog/Rico_Can_Can.html

And the Winner Is

Ooooops I got so involved with clearing out my Craft Room that I forgot to do a draw for my American Craft Stamps, so to make amends, there will be a couple of little extras in the winners parcel ….

 

…… And rather make the draw myself,  I decided to employ the services of two leg-ends in their own lunch time to delve into my famous Teapot of Fortuitous Fortune to find a lucky winner …..

And the winner is …… fan fare of trumpets and a roll of the drums ……
Barb Cady who said “Love the denim papers! You have such a knack for a good bargain, you must carry the 'spot it gene' wish I did! Enjoy.x”  - can you e-mail me Barb and I will send you your prize!
As you know, I don’t do blog candy very often,  but on 20th August I will have been blogging for 2 whole years …… so to celebrate I’ll have a few more stamps to give away!

Silver Anniversary Newspaper Card

This card is A5 in size and is made using white linen effect card and my newspaper template.

I love it when I get a photo that I can build a newspaper card around.  It makes it so special and unique for the people who receive it.

I’ve built up simple decoupage layers with the photo of the couple, and champagne bottles and then used Ranger Glossy Accents to add a bit of texture and interest. Silver stars and very twinkly glass flat backed gems complete the effect.

Bird With Musical Background Card

I’ve had these bird stickers for ages, bought from a seaside pound shop.

All I have done is stuck them on some old sheet music rescued from a skip, which I have mat and layered on gold mirror card.

Both cards measure 5cm x 5cm and are made using Papermill ivory linen card.

You may be thinking to yourself, but there are three birds on the sticker sheet ….. there were, but I made such a pigs ear of the what should have been a third card, that it all went into the bin!

Pins and Things Decopatch Tin

I used an old Altoids tin to make this little box for my daughters sewing basket, covering it with Decopatch paper No. 455

I learnt from my disaster a few weeks ago not to cover the  the part where the lid rim covers the sides with the paper, I tried to do this as neatly as I could, but think I could have done it a bit better.

I printed off the label and then cut it out using a Nestabilities label die, which I stuck onto the lid, followed by several  applications of  clear glossy varnish all over covered the tin.

Inside I put some green felt on the bottom and on the inside the lid to make it look all posh and professional!

Butterfly Card

All the papers I have used for this card come from the Madeline Collection 6” x 6” paper stack from Prima, mat and layered on silver and dark brown card.

The butterflies are made using a Woodware punch. I’ve added small pearls down the centre of each one for the finishing touch.

A Wedding Card

This card measures 5ins x 5ins and is made using white linen effect card.

I’ve had these pearl hearts for ages, I’m not really sure about them, up close they are a bit naff. So this card was a bit of an experiment on how to get them used up.

I’ve used paper from a 6” x 6” My Mind’s Eye Stella and Rose stack punched with a small scalloped square punch. I think this card would be both suitable for a wedding or engagement.

A Visit To SCARF – Decopatch Apple

You may have noticed a bit of banter in the chatbox in the sidebar about me going to SCARF, a small resource centre in Wolverhampton. One of my friends is doing a Fine Arts Degree and I took her there to show her the array of goodies they have at very reasonable prices ….. she filled a carrier bag full of material for £3. ….

….. and I got five pretend apples for 35p each and some keyrings.  The keyrings were 5p each and I thought I would be able to take out the middles and put my own in …. but alas, they were jammed in solid! But I have a few other ideas for them …… so all is not lost (yet)!

I’ve wanted some apples for ages to see how they would look Decopatch-ed. On this I’ve used Peacock Feathers Print (538). To be honest I am always disappointed with how the Decopatch looks when I first put it on, even after using the proper glue, but after several coats of clear glossy varnish it always comes up a treat.

Just for a laugh, I wondered how one of my jewelled flies would look sitting on my apple!

To give the apple an extra magical effect I rubbed a bit of StampinUp Dazzling Diamonds over it while the glue was still tacky and before the varnish.

….. but what a nightmare it was to dry between several layers of varnish being round …. in the end I attached some cord to it and hung it from one of my mobiles!