Shadow Box

Today I want to show you a little project I have been working on the last couple of days.  Of course, it wouldn't normally take very long to make, it's just that I do a bit and then get distracted by family, chores etc and so pick it up again later.

This is a little shadow box from Twiddleybitz, really easy to put together, and I used the new SU papers 'Twitterpated'.  The flower is cut using a Tim Holtz die 'Tattered Florals' and the leaves are the SU 'Bird Builder' punch.  Ribbon is the gorgeous seam binding 'cherry cobbler' and I've used a 'real red' glimmer brad for the flower centre.  The reds seem to work together, just far enough away not to notice the difference.

Here is a close up of the flower embellishment on the finished frame.  Of course, a pretty frame needs an appropriate photo and purely coincidentally colour-wise, I popped in a photo of my BFF and I taken a few years back.  I don't think we've changed very much and this is one of my favourite photos of us.

Bev is on the left in red, and I'm on the right in blue.  So now my photo is no longer under a ladybird magnet, but is framed instead.

Have a crafty day!

Rain, Rain go Away

Just a quick post today, the last two days have been very wet, and earlier this afternoon we had a torrential downpour.  The dog was panicking outside the back door and when I went to see what his problem was, I was absolutely amazed at the river running through our back yard.  I don't ever remember so much water and so I decided to take some photos.

I thought I should have a look at the front yard and it too was running, we even had cascades coming from next door.  I don't ever remember seeing that happen before either.

I have to say I'm really pleased we don't live at the bottom of the hill, we're about half way up.  I think the forecast is for more rain and I have a feeling it's not just Sydney but all the way up and down the coast.

Have a crafty (and dry) day!

Olde Curiosity Shoppe

As you may have guessed by now, I just love Graphic 45 papers, and this last collection "Olde Curiosity Shoppe" is no exception.  Lately I have been buying the 12"x12" pad of papers, but this time I thought I'd go with the 8"x8" collection instead.  I was inspired by a design I saw recently while browsing, where they had used Inchies.  So when I was in Alice in Paperland browsing (not working) and came across some inchie squares by Twiddleybitz, the old brain cogs got whirring, and this is what I came up with.

Mine doesn't really look like what I'd seen, but sometimes you just need a nudge of inspiration not to mention imagination.  This paper is just so quirky.  All I need to finish it, is either a tiny pair of spectacles or a tiny magnifying glass to go in the top left square.  I know it's hard to see but it has an eye chart and a little added extra would just finish it off nicely. 

Have a crafty day!

Scenery Cards

Last Thursday was my birthday.  I received lots of lovely presents including a cushion, called a 'back rest pillow', perfect for sitting in bed to read, a dvd of a favourite tv series, chocolates, and a new 'friend', a very soft white teddy bear.   My DH took the day off work to spend with me, and we went out for a family dinner in the evening.  We had just arrived home from dinner when a friend dropped in unexpectedly with a gift, a small white teddy wearing a garland of flowers.   This little teddy bear is just gorgeous and is handmade using felting and sewing.  I have a very clever friend!

I have quite a collection of teddy bears, so these two newbies should feel right-at-home.

On Saturday, I taught a class at Alice in Paperland which was entitled 'Scenery Cards'.  The ladies each made 4 cards using masking, sponging and colouring techniques and all quite enjoyed learning new skills.  The original idea behind these cards was to be a One Layer Card, but changed to include layering with mats.

On the 'roses' card the image was stamped first, then masked and the lace border stamped over the top.  Remove the mask and it gives the appearance of two layers.  I then coloured it using brush markers.  The 'sunrise' card was sponged using chalks - the hills were simply torn edges of card moved around at different angles, and the tree was stamped last.  The tree stamp is from Penny Black "fantasy" and the rose from KaiserCraft "English Rose" collection.

The 'butterflies' and 'birdhouse' cards were made using the same masking techniques.  Both these cards use KaiserCraft stamps "Tigerlilly" and "Loire Valley" collections.

Have a crafty day!

Faux Silk

Expect the unexpected - last week I was asked by Alice (Alice in Paperland) if I would like to record a Youtube video showcasing a simple technique.  This would be the first of  many with a number of different people recording tips and techniques etc.    So what to make .......?

After looking through my "Inspire" book, I decided on the 'Faux Silk' technique.  This is done using tissue paper, card stock, stamp, ink and a glue stick.  Simply stamp your image onto the tissue paper, scrunch it up into a ball, carefully open it out again and after running the glue stick all over the card (which should be smaller then the tissue paper) pat the tissue down gently.  The finished card has the look of raw silk and has a very soft appearance.

The first card uses a solid colour while the second uses an outline image which has been watercoloured.

I was quite happy with how the video looked.  What do you think? I'd love you to leave me a comment. Click on the link and have a look for yourself.  Faux Silk effect for paper craft projects - link

Have a crafty day!

7 Gypsies Mini Album

I always find the Easter weekend very relaxing, we rarely go away, but have a lovely quiet time at home.  Today DS#1 has gone off to the Royal Easter Show with some friends and will probably stay until the fireworks tonight.  In a while I shall go back to my "desk"  (i.e. the end of my dining table) and think about the upcoming class at Alice's.

But first let me show you a little project I've been working on since I was on the coast last week.  There is a great scrapbooking shop at Tuggerah called Pages 2 Scrap, only a few minutes from my BFF, and I asked her if we had time, could we go and visit the shop.  Not only did we visit but she left me there to browse while she went off to pick up her son from school ...... aahh bliss!  Hanging on the 7 Gypsies stand was a sample book made with chipboard covers, just my thing - I love making little albums/books - so I bought a packet of covers, some Prima paper for the pages, a couple of other bits'n pieces and then waited outside to be picked up.

As you can see, all the pages are different sizes, you can get so much out of a couple of sheets of paper.  The papers used for this project were from Prima "Almanac Collection" - 'Agenda' and 'Composition' with a couple of images from Graphic 45 "Olde Curiosity Shoppe" - 'Genuine Article' and 'Parlor Wall'.  I've use Distress Ink 'Vintage Photo' blended on the edge of all the pages to give the book a vintage feel.  My cropadile was used to punch the holes for the album rings.

This was so much fun that I decided to make another book, this time using Graphic 45 "Tropical Travelogue" papers.  The cover is from plain chipboard I found in my stash, which was about the same thickness as the 7 Gypsies covers.  Both books measure 5 1/2" x 3 1/2".

 This time the book has two album rings binding it together, using my cropadile to punch the holes.  Again I've blended 'Vintage Photo' distress ink around the edges of the pages. 

On the back page is a fold out just to add more dimension to the book.

When my DH looked at the first book, his comment was "hmmm, interesting".  "It's decorative", I said, "it doesn't have a real purpose", but I really enjoyed creating it!

Have a crafty day!

Easter

It's almost that time of the year, Easter, when we remember the death and resurrection of Christ and the sacrifices He made for us.   If you are able to, go along to your local church and hear more of the Easter story.

Easter is also a time for eggs (mmmm chocolate), chickens, rabbits, Royal Easter Show (if you're in Sydney) and school holidays.  None of these things have anything to do with the REAL Easter (see above) but we enjoy nevertheless.

Normally I don't do Easter cards, however, Kaisercraft have put out a collection of papers called "Fine and Sunny" and one of them, "Forecast", has the cutest little chicks and eggs just waiting to be played with.  This is a side-stepper card with lots of places for the eggs to be put along with the little chicks.

 After cutting all these images there wasn't a great deal of paper left so I thought I'd get out my 1" square punch and this is what I created.  This is a CASE from Jan at  www.stampspaperscissors.typepad.com and is a terrific way to use up those little scraps we all collect.

 The caption on the front reads "you crack me up" and inside is "Happy Easter".  Both stamps come from SU "A Good Egg" (retired).

Wishing you  all a Happy Easter!

Have a crafty day!

Meander Album

Today I've been working on some cards for an upcoming class at Alice in Paperland.  The class is to create a 2D card with a 3D look using masking and sponging etc., a bit like a one-layer card but this one will have an extra layer.  I'll post some photos closer to the class when I have some more samples.

At the recent Meander Album class at Alice's, everyone enjoyed making their own little album which was  made from Graphic 45's Tropical Travelogue collection.  My sample album, however, was made from Kaisercraft Tiny Woods collection, just for something different, with lots of cute little animals to fussy cut and pop any photos behind.

Have a crafty day!

Engagement Card

Before I headed up the coast to the Arts & Media Festival, I needed to make a card to go with a gift as DS#2 had been invited to an engagement party.   After procrastinating for 3/4 hour trying this and that and not being happy with anything, I suddenly thought back to a display card that I had made a while back using Allison Ellis papers.  The original card had tiny pearls dotted in the swirls on the heart.  This foil paper is divided into squares with every other square having a picture e.g. heart, shoe, tree etc, with the remaining squares having a dot design.  This means it is easy to put a card together in about 10 minutes, with a splash of colour and a few pearls as embellishment.  Unfortunately the foil doesn't show up wonderfully well in the photo, but looks quite effective in real life.

The Arts & Media Festival was really good.  There was a terrific display of photographs and paintings from a variety of different individuals as well as local schools, with a number of participants receiving Commended and Highly Commended certificates as well as a winner in each of the categories.  The craft section had a variety of items with cross stitches, quilts, scrapbooks, ceramics, upholstered chairs and rocking horses.  The winner of this section was the cedar rocking horse (designed for a small child) with Highly Commended awards going to a quilt, a cross stitch and a digital scrapbook.

The highlight of the event was the walk-through dramatisation of the Easter story.  Groups of about 50 people were guided through "rooms" with the first being the market place in Jerusalem.   It was a terrific display of fruit and veges, pottery and breads.  Children were helping roll dough, make pots etc and when the call came of who was riding into town, they all waved palm branches to welcome Jesus on a donkey.  Then we were ushered into the next room by centurians.  This was the last supper, with the disciples and Jesus sitting on cushions around a long table.  Following this was a garden scene and after that was a video of sketches of the story.  The next room was of the tomb with the stone rolled away and the sadness of the women until an angel came to tell of the wonderful news that Jesus was risen.  Then the women danced as they rejoiced the good news.  In the final room there was a brief talk of the resurrection with an invitation to join in a sunday church service to find out more about the gospel.

The whole presentation was so well done and it was estimated about 500 people passed through during the evening.  I was helping with tea/coffee and hot cross buns and it was great to be part of a successful event.

Have a crafty day!