Had a very quick play with my Gelatos which Andrew bought as one of my Christmas pressies.
I am in love!!! They make the quickest and easiest backgrounds.
Archive for 2014
Flimsy & Delicate But Very Beautiful
If it wasn’t for Andrew, the making of this flimsy and very delicate teensy weensy ‘Tea Bag Book’ could not have been possible. Not being typically English of me but I have never formed a relationship with tea. (Really can’t stand the stuff.) I’m a REAL coffee drinker kinda gal, black and no sugar but if out for coffee and cake with friends then it’s a large LATTE with Starbucks being my fave. None of your ole instant for this baby.
Fashionable Stamping Challenges this fortnight have a theme of “Heat It Up” which was picked by the lovely ‘Mrs B‘ … as you know it’s Avril to you and me.
She looks really fed up but I love this image which is why I decided to add her to the front of the album. Left the back rather plain as there is so much going on elsewhere.
Andrew probably only drinks one cup of tea a day, so collecting used tea bags has been a struggle for me … he forgets to keep the used bag!!!! Finally managed to dry out a few so this little book could see the light of day.
1st pic shows the used t-bags (dried) but with the tea emptied out. 2nd, details the stamping and embossing. 3rd, is where I have added an extra piece of paper onto the edge of the bags. Because of the flimsiness of the bags I had to find something which wasn’t very heavy and a light manilla envelope was perfect for this. Also distressed over with DI Vintage Photo. 4th, the reverse side of the bag where I have collaged some tiny images mainly from one of Tim Holtz collections.
1st pic shows some unused t-bags which I wanted to alter into little tags that fitted inside the square t-bags. I had to open each bag individually, pour out the tea then flatten ready to make the tags. 2nd is the made up tags which had some stamped card fitted inside. How this was done was to stamp and emboss some sentiments and quotes onto the card then these were placed inside the white tissue-like paper bag. Again because it is only like a tissue paper you have to work very carefully with the materials. Sealed the end with a Spellbinders cut down tag die .
More and more pics, this time with the album put together and displayed in all it’s glory.
Just about near the end of the photo showing and I really hope you enjoy looking at this album as much as I enjoyed making.
Who Saves Old Toilet Rolls
OK no jokes about the whiff please, Irene has said enough for everyone lol but finally … after not having a bath or shower for a week (because of the op on my leg) … I had a long, long soak last night so that the stitches would dissolve. The leg now looks like the colours I have used on my box (black and purple)!!!! The stocking stays on during the day for two more weeks but it can come off at night, phew that will be a relief in itself. Irene and myself have still been Skypeing and crafting which has been a life saver for me.
How many of you does this happen to, you reach over for a paintbrush, which happens to be kept in an old plastic mug, and they all fall over with brushes falling everywhere? Got so fed up with this happening that an idea started to form in my head. Plus the satisfaction of making something from start to finish without knowing how it is going to turn out is a real buzz.
These are some of the items which I started with, which I am sure you recognise, toilet roll holders and a block of wood getting a once over with black gesso.
Below is the finished make and also a few before and after pics. No measurements are given because everyone uses different loo rolls so each make would end up a different size. My box ended up being, 6″ x 5 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ Hopefully from the pics you can see where I was going with the plan and the block of wood at the bottom makes it very heavy which gives the stability to the whole project. The ladies peeking out of the window remind me of “The Ladies Of The Night”, what do you think??
A bit further on with the project and the loo rolls were also painted black before adding to the block of wood. Grey board sides were added (recycled from my bit basket, some far away project which never made the grade). Starting to take shape now.
All frames are cut from the Tim Holtz Window Box die which I crackled and painted. Paint colour is called Amethyst from the JOFY Limited Edition at PaperArtsy and used with some black gesso. Crackle paste was used with the Fluer-de-lis stencil mask. Only a teensy tiny bit of stamping and this was mainly on the odd bits of G45 paper. I did stamp on the bottom of the box just to tie it all together.
Entering into the challenge at Artist Trading Post called ‘Lets Celebrate’ – I am celebrating the fact that my brushes won’t be rolling all over my desk anymore … YAY!!!
Nikki from A Vintage Journey has chosen a theme of ‘Let’s Celebrate’ which is the same as the above challenge. You also have to say for this challenge what influences you from Tim Holtz. For me it’s always his dies, they are my all time favourite cutting dies.
Mr Brush Box is now sitting proudly on my craft desk and what a gorgeous thing it is to look at.
Second Make With Brusho’s
When you look here you can see my first make with Brusho’s. What I forgot to say in the post was the type of cardstock I used. It was a 300gsm watercolour card.
This time I have used the Clarity white coated cardstock. Totally different types of cardstock producing different looks to the projects.
No preference yet of which cardstock I like the best as I am still in the experimental stages and there are so many more to try.
Sharing Brusho’s With Amber
Whilst Amber was here on holiday last month we had a play with my new Brusho paints. Andrew bought them here for me.
She loved them so much that she asked me to take them home when I went back for our break.
She told grandad that they were on her Christmas wish list. Not silly that girl because softy Andrew asked me to leave my set with her and he would buy me some more (which he did).
Sadly I didn’t take a photo of what Amber made with them (far better than my effort) but I decided to show mine anyway. Used a Stampin Up stamp called Forever Young
The close up shows more detail of all the little doodles I added with a fine tipped pen.
Birthday Gifts Galore
Another topsy turvy week has just gone by, which has been the way my whole year has gone so far.
I was due to go into hospital on 7th January to have an op on my leg. First date they gave me was the 17th December. Turned this down because it was too near Christmas so 7th January was suggest and I said yes.
The electricity went off for most of the day Monday and off again for an hour on Tuesday morning which didn’t put me in a good mood. The phone went and it was the hospital to say they had a cancellation and could I go in the next day (Wednesday). What the heck, it would be over and done with for Christmas and then I could start the New Year afresh.
So here I am sitting with a very sore leg on my birthday. Only able to hobble at the best of times but managed to take a pic of a couple of my birthday pressies.
How gorgeous are these? When I got the phone call I had already made arrangements to have a coffee and lunch with my crafty friend that day at Rathwood. Whilst there she bought me these fabulous slippers for my birthday so that I could take them in with me the next day. Because they were so gorgeous and comfortable I decided not to take them into hospital (in case they got anything yukky on them). At the moment I can’t get them on my feet but will be wearing them soon lol. Thanks Crafty Friend x x
Another birthday gift came through the post from my SIL Irene. She sent me a handmade Chocolate Bar and Gift Wallet. It is soooo pretty and very much me, I love it.
Inside pics of the chocolate bar and a little extra pressie of canvas tags.
Just in case you are wondering what Andrew got me … just what I asked for all the Spectrum Noir AquaTint Inks. YouTube here.
What a little gem and he is spoiling me rotten. So how lucky am I – who cares if the leg hurts!!!!
VSC Wants To See A Christmas Song
Vintage Stamping Challenges has a Christmas Song challenge theme this month. This means you can make anything as long as it has a Christmas song or carol.
The stamp I chose from Flonzcrafts, which you can find here, is called’ Mother Reading Book For Children’ which fitted in just nicely. Coloured mainly with DI’s – Peeled Paint and Barn Door but also added a white hi-lighter pen and coloured pencils. Ripped a piece of G45 paper from the ‘Twelve Days Of Christmas’ collection and the other paper was from my stash.
I can so remember myself sitting on the sofa, when my boys were younger, and reading to them just as this mother is doing. What an age ago that was but how happy the memories make me feel.
To enter this month’s challenge just click Mr Linky at the bottom of the VSC web page and maybe it could be you who wins the $20 from Flonz’s store. Please visit the DT’s blogs for more inspiration and also it would be nice to leave them some love.
Winter Wonderland At FSC
I have had such a fabulous month that there just wasn’t enough time left for crafting and blogging.
The family have been over for a 10 day holiday (four adults and three grandkids) – wow, full house!
Remember the saying … ‘can’t see the woods for the trees’, well that’s what my craft room was like … ‘can’t see the room for the craft stuff’ … Not Any More
Whilst my son was here he revamped my craft room. All new work tops have been added along three walls and new shelving. All I can say is what a transformation. Everything was taken out and not so much was put back in. Still having a tidy up but when finished I will bore you with photos.
The month wasn’t finished there, Andrew and I took ourselves off to the UK for a well earned break. All refreshed and ready for my birthday this weekend then I can start thinking about Christmas.
In the meantime Fashionable Stamping Challenges this fortnight have a theme of “Winter Wonderland” which was picked by my fabby teamie sister Dani.
Loads of different techniques used but my fave has to be the over embossing in white.
Used this stamp here, Gibson Lovers, as I thought the image on this card needed to be soft and romantic to fit in with the winter wonderland colour scheme I chose.
I would love it if you hopped on over to see all the DT’s work as they are simply stunning. Also don’t forget that the winner of this challenge has $20 to choose anything they like from Flonz’s store.
Weather Forecast At FSC
Fashionable Stamping Challenges this fortnight have a theme of “Weather Forecast” which was picked by my fabby teemie sister Claire.
I smiled when I saw this challenge and also thought OMG what am I going to do. Then I remembered my raindrop stamps, first saw these type of stamps on Dots blog. (Ashamed to say my set was bought can you believe nearly six months ago but never seen the light of day until now.)
The background doily is from Do-crafts which the girl was stamped directly onto.
Totally in love with the raindrops (now they are out of their packaging) which were coloured in before adding the Glossy Accents.
The larger raindrops were made by using a mask from Creative Expressions called … wait for it … Raindrops and a dimensional paste. When dry Glossy Accents was dripped over the top. Other stamps are from PaperArtsy here and here plus the DI Ripe Persimmon was caressed over the top.
I would love it if you hopped on over to see all the DT’s work as they are simply stunning. Also don’t forget that the winner of this challenge has $20 to choose anything they like from Flonz’s store.
Storage Shoe For Tags
Are you ready for this … another Skype session with Irene and today we made this fabulous storage shoe for tags. This is already sitting on my desk with all those yummy tags just waiting to be used. We loved making this so much that we each said we are making another but this time it will be for our finished tags.
I used grey board and Tim Holtz papers with some core card for the inside. Only a teensy bit of stamping (couldn’t resist) you know me and stamping.
Very simple to make as there isn’t much going on really. What else would you expect from a storage box.
Wait until we make the one for finished tags that will be a different matter.
