Small Bejewelled Heart Canvas

I made this heart canvas for my friend Sarah’s birthday . Sarah has been so wonderful over the past few weeks I just wanted to make her something more than a card to show her just how much I love her and can’t thank her enough for constantly making me laugh and singing at me, even on the darkest day.

I’ve taken a small 5” x 5” canvas, onto which I have drawn an outline of a heart, then filled it a strong PVA glue and lots and lots of flat backed gems and jewels.  As you can see, nothing changes on this blog …. I was so anxious to get the idea posted the PVA has still quite some time to go before it’s properly dry …….

Three Organza Flower Cards

These cards were experiments after Marc sent me a parcel that included a bag of these very delicate organza flowers.

I’ve tried to keep them as “less is more” as I can, adding only brads and settings to each of the flowers, which were made up of four layers of flowers, some leaf effect ribbon and a scattering of tiny flat backed pearls.

I think my favourite is the top purple one.

Blue Angry Bird Birthday Card

I’ve had another go at punch art, this time to make a Blue Angry Bird topper for a birthday card.

I’ve used a variety of punches, but the shapes need a bit of trimming to get the overall effect right

I also used a picture of the Blue Angry Bird  found on Google for reference .

And hope the photos give you an idea of how I put it all together.

Googly eyes and a little outlining complete the design.

Done and dusted and ready to fly!!

Tom’s Scrapbook

I've featured the scrapbook I made for my daughter a while back, today I thought I would show you the scrapbook I put together for my son, who's 29 now and will probably never forgive me for putting this in the public domain!

 

Scrapbooking isn’t really my thing, layouts are well out of my comfort zone, a bit like Tim Holtz stuff, but perhaps, when I have a bit of time, I might set myself a new scrapbook challenge.

 I think my problem is I don't get into the theme enough and so the layouts are very basic and flat.


But having watched quite a few QVC craft days I should have a bit more idea by now.

Perhaps it's a medium where I need to forget my rule of less is more. By the way, thats me as bridesmaid above, I had to wait till I was thirty for the honour, and then ended up with  my head chopped off in the photo!

Broadway Birthday Card

This card is A5 in size and is made using a blue shimmer effect hand cut blank.

My sister in law asked me to make this card for a friends daughter, the brief was that Charlee had just starred as Arial  in the school production of Footloose and perhaps a Broadway theme with her name up in lights might be a nice idea!  No pressure there then!!

I asked for a photo of Charlee knowing that there are some brilliant photo editing websites where I might be able to find a billboard or something similar to edit the photo into, and I hit the jackpot first time on the site below.

http://www.writeonit.org/

After creating the picture, I edited it further in Paint to get rid of some bits where I wanted to add my own text too, like “Happy Birthday”

Then after printing the picture I mat and layered it onto silver, before sticking it on to an A5 card blank, adding assorted sequin stars and Stampin’Up Dazzling Diamonds micro glitter to give it some Broadway bling!

Why not have a look at the other wonderful things you can do with your pictures to add to cards etc. here, I’m addicted!!

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/freebies/28-online-photo-editing-websites-to-have-fun-with/

Baby Jar Chandelier

As you know I love candles and night lights and this was an idea I had for Christmas last year but never seemed to have the time to put it all together …. so after my mahooosive craftroom tidy up I  gathered up all the bits I’d bought and decided to finally have a go……I had a circular cooking rack and one of a  pack of three hanging basket chains from Poundland plus some baby food jars given to me by a friend.

The chain fitted onto the cooling tray like a dream, balancing it was easy because the rack was divided into six equal parts.  The rack  also had six feet which is where I thought I could dangle the jars from.

To hang the jars I simply tied a piece of rustic looking string round the top using another piece attached to both sides to form a hanger, I then tied the hanger onto a foot on the rack with yet another piece of string, nothing fancy, I wanted it to look makeshift and a bit rough.

Then on top of the rack I glued seven more jars using E6000 glue (as recommended by Marc) which is really, really strong when dry, six jars went round the edges and one in the middle ….. and that’s it … Fait accompli!!

I couldn’t believe it when it hung perfectly first time and I didn’t have to fiddle and fart about to get it to balance.

Now I know the idea works I can really let my imagination go wild ….. and really fancy things up if/when I make another ….. using wire instead of string ….. using a frosted glass spray on the jars ….. adding beads ….. the world is my really is my lobster!!

My Decopatch Table …..

I have finally finished my Decopatch kitchen table by covering and varnishing the two large and four small drawers.

I then got carried away and Decopatch a stool to match.

I love it so much, I smile every time I go into the room.

The budgie isn’t real …. he just makes me smile too and sort of blends in with all the other colours!!

I now have my beady eye on the radio on the side ..... but would that be overkill???

Pebble Heart Canvases

During my mahoooosive craftroom clear out last Sunday/Monday I found a tin of  small pebbles that I had collected on the Dukes and my summer holiday in Brixham last year …..

I also found the packs of two  5” x 5” canvases (£1.99) that my sister bought in bulk for me last year, as canvas squares of this size are quite hard to find …… I then decided it was about time that I did what I had originally intended to do with them all…….

I made a template heart and drew round it as lightly as I could with pencil.  Then I went over the pencil mark with a line of strong PVA glue, placing the small pebbles on top.  I didn’t plan the placing of the pebbles …. I just went with the flow.  ….. I have a few more to make …. and then intend to give them, instead of a Christmas card, to some of the special people in my life who have helped me in the past few weeks.

And … do you remember this photo I took when we were on our Sun £9.50 holiday in Dawlish Warren at Easter and I noticed a heart shaped pebble just at the edge of the groin … ?????

Well,  I found that too and I have made a canvas of my own!

Oh My Life ....

Thank you for the lovely comments ...... but I can assure you .... the tidiness won't last beyond a week!

Little Doll Tags

I’ve been a little anal …. if you’ll pardon the expression.  I haven’t crafted (except for my Decopatched table) since The Duke went to look after the great fish tank in the sky …… but I did decide to tidy my craftroom …….. to see if it would help me get my mojo back ……

All my embellishment boxes are now labelled and the contents within duly sorted ….. I warned you …. how robustly anal is that???  Oh my life !!!!!!!

…. But during this mammoth sort out my mojo was inspired a touch by these little doll hair bobbles that I have had for more years than I care to remember …. and I thought gift tags ….

… So I cut out some tags measuring roughly 9cm x 5cm…..

…. covered them with pretty papers ….

….. added a bit of faux stitching to the front (and back), some lace and an eyelet …

….. and used up every last doll!

I have to admit it was an effort …. but I’m getting there!

Dream …

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

Not a lot to this card today … just a embellishment sent to me by my lovely follower Marc and a hand written sentiment. I can think of lots of times and people where sending this card would be perfect. 

Best Medicine - Creativity Direct

Yesterday I have an e-mail out of the blue from a company called  http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/ introducing me to their website …

Now, apart from my Decopatched kitchen table I have not done anything vaguely creative or to be honest been that way inclined, however although Alex didn’t know my circumstances when he contacted me, his e-mail has been the best medicine I could have ever had!

Once I started looking at the website I almost felt like the “old me”, getting excited about all the wondrous things they have and working out what I could do with them ….. so as a thank you to Alex I have put together a few of my most drooled over items and hope you are as inspired as I am…….

http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/angels-8-asstd.aspx

How cute are these angels?  £2.40 (inc VAT) for a pack of 8 ….. I can see them on my wooden domino gift tags already!

http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/reindeers-4-asstd.aspx

And these metal reindeer are mine!!!  £3.60 for 4 is a bit pricey, but for a special “man” card at Christmas they are gorgeous!

http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/dove-of-peace-5x2-asstd.aspx
Among the Decoration Materials/Wooden products, these Doves of Peace are also a must - £3.90 for 10.

http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/cup-box-8-cm-1-pc.aspx
And who could resist this papier mache cup??? I am thinking Snowman Soup here!! (£2.10)

http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/cup-cake-6-asstd.aspx
….. or what about this tray of cupcakes (£7.50) ?

http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/cards/?PageIndex=1&showAll=true

I am not a great one for card kits …. but I could see the potential in quite a few one the Creativity Direct site …. there were a couple of unusual ones which, when coupled with a few of my own embellishments and paper would be ideal for making a quick “batch” up.

http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/christmas-trees-4-asstd.aspx

These are just a few of the things that caught my eye,   I have no personal experience of the company and just have put together this post because I liked what I saw and the prices seemed quite  reasonable, see what you think.

http://www.creativitydirect.co.uk/bag-1-pc.aspx