Big catch up

It hs been so long since I blogged, I have almost forgotten how! Well not really but you know what I mean.

 

I have done quite a lot more than is here but I would have to split it all into 2 or 3 posts so I thought one of my favourite pieces would be best.

 

First there is a LO I did of the kids ‘When they were young’. The photos were taken when we took them to Kenya on holiday and we came across the pics while clearing out some drawers. I just had to do this

 

Next I have some photos of Connor with his pop up tent, he loved it and spent ages popping in and out

 

The image is a bit small to show his expressions but they were so funny.

 

I also made a star book for Alan, he doesn’t have many photos of Connor and wanted some. Hope he likes this

 

Lots of pics of him with various family members and on his own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I did a UTEE class with the lovely Jennie and put my pieces on canvases, this is one of 3.

The yesterday I did a Spellbinders workshop where we used a new template for making flowers. We made this first, you can see the

template as well. It is easy once you get the hang of it and there are some videos on You Tube that I want to check out in case there is more.

 

Then we cut the same template in felt and this is the result

 

The one with the green leaf has another, larger leaf which is hidden and is set on a brooch pin. I added a few Stickles to match.

 

Finally I spent the afternoon playing and made these.

 

From the left, one made starting from the centre of the template(normally you start form the outside). Makes a tighter flower. The middle one is made with 2 die cuts, the same as the ones on the trinket box. Finally I had a go at cutting 3 and assembling them, I actually like this the best and will make more once I find some suitable paper.

 

OK this is the end of a long post, hopefully it won’t be so long next time.

 

Thanks for looking.

Crafting again - YAY

Yes I have made a start, well with the new Grandson I really need to got moving or things won't get done when they should.

So first the front page for Michaels 1st year album. Jackie had 4 scans and got copies of each one for me to put in the album. I have done a flip book with them and the duck was on the folder each scan came in. I have done the last page as well but it is just a list of important information about the day, prices and things that happened in history. It is a very functional LO so doesn't warrant a photo.

This is the first one in the album we will keep here and will include lots of the photos that don't go into the 1st year one. I am really pleased with it, though I say so myself.

How long has it been?

I really haven't had the energy or the inclination to do anything apart from my monthly workshops. Things are improving though and I managed a couple of very basic LOs to complete our Tombstone album. Now I need to get the rest of the Arizona trip finished.

I have a number of projects to think about.I have my version of a printers tray to prepare. I have the papers to go in the back of the units and some tissue tape for the edges. A few embellishments are waiting and I will collect some more along the way.

I have 3 canvases that I want to make into a trio to hang somewhere but need to get a distress stain for the base coat.

Then there are several Christmas things to work on, started in the New Year and got no further!


I will get back to regular work soon and then there will be pics as well.

Cards and things

After what seems to be ages I have completed some things and also remembered to bring the camera down from the attic so I can get some other things uploaded. So here we go.

 

First the Mothers day card I made for MIL. Quite a simple card but she liked it.

I finished these three yesterday.

 

There is a LO with no pictures which is the introduction to the re-enactment of the Gunfight at the OK Corral, the first LO of that series which is Doc Holliday and the ‘card’ I have made to welcome the forthcoming grandson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally a close up

 

 

It is not an original idea but one I found at Kate's. A large cotton spool covered in ribbon and some added buttons. A piece of dowel sits in the hole, held in place with some bluetac. The top is a shield shape cut on the Robo, inked and embellished with a quote ‘Welcome to the world'’ some narrow sticky borders and some more buttons. The back is blank for us to write on when the time comes.

 

Hopefully I will get more done now!

Another Workshop

Yes i attended another of Jennie's workshops yesterday and we played with the new colour washes, Perfect Pearls mists, distress inks, UTEE and so much more. This is what I made

and it is hanging on the craft room wall for inspiration. I also had time to make a little journal with a few more edge pieces of the jigsaw, that is going to become a journal of our daughters pregnancy, it already has the first 2 scans and a few notes but I won’t show it till it is completed which will be about July time.

Home Decor Plaque

Goodness that sounds so American! There is no other way to describe it though. The method for the metal flowers is shown in an earlier post. I thought long and hard about the word to use and I am still not sure if it is the right one but that leaves me scope to make another one!

 

 

I think I will do another one as there are a couple of things I would change, partly because I didn’t think it through properly.

 

Oh and all the flowers, leaves and the heart are in metal with no backing, I might change that but I will experiment first.

Birthday time.

We have 4 family birthdays in 9 days starting with Gary on 25 February, then Stef, Jackie and finally Gary on 5 March. I have been making the cards gradually over the last few weeks and got them finished in time. The 2 for the boys are a decoupage and a pyramage. I had the diecuts tucked away and the subjects are good for the boys.

 

 

 

The girls ones are a bit different. The pink one is for Stef (she is such a pink girl) and is a double stamped technique. You need a stamp with open areas, ink up a stamp with fine detail ( mine is tiny script) using a Versamark, ink up the main stamp (mine is poppies) with Versamark, stamp the fine detail directly onto the other stamp then stamp the other (poppies) onto the card. Cover with embossing powder, heat and watch the magic. I then coloured the flowers and stems using distress inks and Cut n' Dry™ Nibs.

 

Jackie’s card is a resist technique, the background stamp is embossed with clear embossing powder over Versamark then distress inks over the top. The butterfly is embossed with pale blue embossing powder and flies off the page.

That Calendar

OK so it took a while but I have finally got to take the photos and bind it together so it has pride of place in my craft room.

Stand by for all the months, some look a little pale but they work IRL.

There you go! The December page was one we had free range on. I used the resist technique on the borders, with a musical stave background stamp. The I filled the gaps wither side of the month with a Christmas stamp using Versamark and Perfect Pearls.

Arizona layouts

I seem to be taking ages with these, not the normal rush that I do. I think it is because I do other things these days but I have also had some mojo problems. I am gradually getting them done though, about half way through now. I have completed one 8 1/2 x 11 album of the Grand Canyon, the pics are great for us but I suspect pretty boring for others. I have another album the same size for the Tombstone photos. Chris put in a special request that we have a separate one just for that. The rest of the photos will take up 2 12 x 12 albums and the first is now full. Here is a selection of some of the contents.

 

Downtown Tucson, taken from the Interstate. We saw this view a lot as we drove this road almost every time we went out for a day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stumbled across this amazing Western shop in flagstaff. I used to work in shoe shops part time while I was studying but I have never seen so many boots in one place. All colours and lengths, and yes they are real chaps hanging on a rail as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A composite of 3 photos made up this view of the Canyon. The most amazing place I think I have been to.

 

The map was in one of the free guides we picked up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was one amazing place, Davis Montham, otherwise know as the ‘Bone Yard’ and huge area covered in so many planes all mothballed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally there had to be one of the car we had (sorry about the reflection). We did manage a few trips with the top down but it was far too hot a lot of the time, much to Chris’s disgust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will no doubt get round to showing a few more when they are done.

Metal Flowers

I was trolling through You Tube for some metal projects and came across this Metal Flowers and Frame and I have just the best idea for using it. Hope Kate still has some of those plaques left!