12 tags of Christmas - No. 1

I am intending to do as many of Tim's tags as I can, you can see them here . I don't have the die for the word, the die for the pine cones or the leaves and twigs. So I found a nice font, cut the word on the Robo, cut some Spellbinders leaves and flowers and here is the end result.

I loved doing this one, the embossing worked well, Oh and I didn't have a white dabber (sure I have somehwere but it is not where it should be). Looking forward to tomorrows.

Fun, fun, fun…

Another Saturday at Pickleberry with another great workshop from Jennie. We filled a printers tray using 14 different techniques. We all ended up very inky but very pleased with what we did.

 

Here’s mine -

 

 

Each compartment had a different technique. I think my favourite is the top left, it is a tiny plastic lizard. He is covered in gilding flakes then put into the box and totally covered in UTEE. I finished it off at home with the letters, cut on the Robo and then dipped in Platinum UTEE. I may add something to the letters but I have time for that. It looks OK as it is I think.

 

I also made one of the Advent Boxes from a kit. Almost all the bits were cut, was I grateful for that. It took me a while to just cut and emboss 2 boxes with their lids, I think I might have lost a bit of patience with 25 of them. I just have to get the numbers done. Still thinking about the best way to do that.

 

I thought the flash flare was a problem but it shoes the dots on the red card which is used for the bases.

 

I have also got a few more Christmas cards don, just over half way with those. I need some nice ideas for the rest.

On the catwalk!

I went to another workshop yesterday, run by the wonderful Jennie from The Artistic Stamper where we decorated a mannequin. What fun it was too, we inked and stamped sticky backed canvas for the bodice and then made the skirt with a birdcage die stuck on to more sticky backed canvas then we added gilding flakes – have to love those. We then cut leaves out of grunge paper, mouldable plastic, metal and shrink plastic and played with those using alcohol inks. Then it was time to assemble. It took a little longer than we had so we all took the foundations home to finish and I couldn’t wait so did mine this morning. Hope you like the end result, I am very happy with it.

 

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.