Designer Handbags

I am liking this handbag designer role - albeit mini handbags made from card.  I have mastered the assembly of the Tonic Kensington Handbag die cut bag so have been working on variations.

Here are two of those that I have completed.

Something Different

Today I visited two talented artists who are taking part in NEOS ( North East {Scotland} Open Studios) event /scheme that runs from 7th to 14th of this month.
 
They are both amateur artists  - by this I mean that their art has been an activity that they have used, primarily, as a creative outlet and not as their main profession.  "Amateur" by no means describes their work.

The first is a textile artist and a neighbour of mine.  I had not known of her talents prior to her involvement in NEOS.   Her work is breathtaking and worthy of inclusion in any gallery.

The second is a recently retired teacher who is now free to explore her creativity with mixed media on a base of acrylic paints. She is also using lino printing to produce lovely designs. Absolutely stunning.

The point that I am trying to make with this post is that creative talent is all around us and that it remains mainly undiscovered.  I do wonder how many people are out there that do not recognise that they have ability at all.

Anyway, to finish this post, I would like to let you see one of my photo frames that I "upcycled". 

It originated life as an inexpensive frame that I painted with white acrylic paint. I then used stamps from Stampers Anonymous Papillion set using Stazon.  I chased these discontinued stamps for ages before finally buying them from an American company.  I know that they will be well used in the future for a variety of projects.

Favourite Stamp - Sweet Stampin Challenge

I came across the "new to me" Sweet Stampin Challenge blog a couple of days ago and the challenge this week is to chose a favourite stamp.  Well, I just had to join in and I make no apologies for using my favourite of the moment - Daisy.  Three post in a row....in danger of becoming boring I know....but I will lay it aside for a while before using it to post again.  I had wondered about linking my most recent post but thought that it might break the rules.  It also gave me the excuse to use it again.

I decided to make a gift bag similar to the one that I made at a class a couple of weeks ago with Erika Gunter.  (I posted this previously) I used a rectangular shaped die for the basic bag shape and then another square shaped die for the image and mount.

The image was coloured using Promarkers and I added accents of glitter to the flowers with Stickles. Dies - Labels Eight, Labels One and Standard Circles - (for the handle cutout)

A gift for a friend

I am rather hooked on making (decorating really) notebooks at the moment. I am enjoying my diversion from cardmaking although I could apply the same techniques that I have used here to cards.   This is my latest ....a present for a friend.

I used Letraset Inks and Adirondack Pearl Mixative to act as a base.  The stamps are all from Crafty Individuals.   I introduced a little bit of dimension with diecut flowers and a paper string bookmark as described on a previous post.

Back of notebook

Another Project with Alcohol Inks.

Made a quick visit to The Papeterie this afternoon.  I didn't get what I wanted (discovered that it's on order) but I did come away with another Letraset Ink.  They are becoming as addictive as Promarkers!

While I was there, I spied Kath Stewart and knew that I had missed one of her classes. It turns out that she was working with  Fresco Finish paints, stamps and dies from Paper Artsy. How gutted am I?

I would like to share with you a notebook that I "altered" using a couple of my alcohol inks and stamps.

back cover

This started off life as a plain kraft covered notebook. I used alcohol inks to create a base for the stamps. To complete this project I threaded some paper string (Ikea) through the spine of the book and attached wooden beads to each end.  This will act as a bookmark.

I used Letraset Inks and stamps from my collection.

Another craft explored....

Before I go any further, I thought that I would like to share with you my £0.90 bunch of flowers.  

                                                                     
I caught sight of it on my way to the computer and decided to take a picture.  Actually it's two bunches that cost me £0.45 each at Tesco on Saturday night. Who says that there is no such thing as a bargain? 

I have spent much of today printing wedding invitations for a friend's daughter.  The card that I was printing on to is 280gsm Kraft card. My Epson printer didn't like it from the start.  From there ensued a battle of wills.......and.... I won.

I have always believed that printers have an intelligence of their own.  I have heard many of them say " Stop sending me 10 instructions to print at the same time!  Oh, I give up." (This is what happens in schools where several classes share the same printer.)   Before you think I am mad....I am joking.

No crafting done today....yet ....so I thought that I would look back at one of the projects that I have completed in recent months.

This was my first attempt at Decopatch.  I had seen examples and supplies at Damselfly Craft in Glasgow over a couple of years and thought that it would be fairly easy to give it a go. This was a present for my niece Hollie on her birthday.

I used PVA rather that the expensive branded glue.  I just watered it down to almost a wash in consistency.  The 3D letter came from Hobbycraft and the wooden frame was one of a set that I had purchased from Ikea.

The important thing is that Holiie liked them.

Inky Fingers

I recently attended a class with Debbi Glennie ( the Promarker queen) at The Papeterie here in Aberdeen. We decorated a papier mache box using Letraset inks.  I had always intended giving alcohol inks a go but was not sure where to start.  I am now well and truly hooked!  This is the end result of that enjoyable afternoon.

We applied inks to the box and lid as a base before stamping with a background stamp.The diecuts are from the Sizzix Tim Holtz range. (Added to want list!) The ribbon was also coloured with inks. I now use this box as a container for some of my most used sewing materials. 

Apart from inky fingers, I did manage to spill a little on my top. However, the solution (literally) was at hand - Adirondack Blending Solution. I can see that this will become one of my best friends!

Since that day I have bought and decorated more boxes. 

The flower was cut from Kraft paper using a Tim Holtz Alterations die.  The sheen that you can see on the surfaces was achieved by the application of Adirondack Pearl Mixatives. It makes such a difference to the final result.

I have already given a couple of these as presents and they have been received with appreciation.

I have also found Kraft covered notebooks that I have had a play with and I will post an example of a finished product another time.

NB. The Papeterie sells the Letraset inks cheaper than anywhere else that I have seen. 

I was at the SECC Craft Exhibition in March and they were at least £0.50 more expensive.

Something different....

I thought that I should use some of the jewellery making supplies that I have accumulated over recent months (nae years).  I have made various items as gifts in the past but would really like to take it on board as one of my main crafts.  I have a real desire to use silver clay.  This reminds me that I told this to a real jewellery designer last week, and, by an amazing coincidence, she was intending to make her very first piece in this medium that very day! For those of you that know Aberdeen, she sells lovely jewellery from her home in North Square in Fittie.

Anyway, I bought this linked stretch bracelet ( Doncaster - I'm beginning to think that I spent more than I had thought!) and added pink freshwater pearls and flat, circular shell beads. The bracelet comes with links already in place to  attach the head pins with the beads on. Of course, not entirely happy with it ........ I should buy my own tools and not borrow them from my husband's toolbox..... that might make a difference.

It's great to take another direction once in a while.

Fly Away

Took a break from cardmaking (only for today!) and made this small 11 1/2 cm framed butterfly collage. I purchased the frame cheaply, knowing that I would eventually find a use for it. "Eventually" was only three weeks so I am rather pleased that I have saved it from its rather boring original content in record time.

I used a mixture of Martha Stewart and other punches, cutting them from hot pink glitter card.  I debated long and hard about the backing but finally decided to keep to the sparkly theme with white glitter card.

Love it and may keep it.

Just a Note to Say...........

I was blog hopping aimlessly the other day when I came across the Little Musings blog. I knew the name as I had seen some stamps that had been produced with the same title.  It turns out that this is the blog of the designer - SJ. So from here I went to her digital stamp shop.  I purchased a typewriter digi stamp set.  Now, I had the Hero Arts typewriter stamp on my "list" but a digi gives you so much flexibility....  £1.50 for 11 files ..........who could resist?
Here is a set of note cards that I made. 

 I typed the sentiment myself, although there is a selection of texts provided within the files.   The sleeve is made from black card and I reduced the size of the digi  to use as an embellishment with the help of Nestabilities dies. Word wouldn't let me insert small enough text though.

I have a feeling that I will be back to SJ's shop again.

On another note, I'm off to Doncaster tomorrow with my friend, Susy, so I will not be able to join  my usual challenges....or to blog. It is the Summer Crafting Event, much larger that the one that we go to in Glasgow twice a year. I know quite a few of the exhibitors from the SECC but there are lots of others that I haven't seen before. It will be an adventure if nothing else! My main aim, as usual, will to prevent  Susy from spending too much. She has  everything already. Having said this, as I am so occupied with the afore mentioned task, I don't keep a check of my own spending!

Upcycling?

Now , I have had the recycling bug for many years. I taught children the importance of looking after our environment and felt that I had to practice what I preached. In the early days I am sure that I spent more money on petrol than I did on saving with my recycling.  I approached my local councillor back then to complain about the lack of recyclying points locally only to be told that he agreed with me but that there was no plan to increase the service.  Things have changed!  How does this rambling relate to craft..............well I recently discovered the term "upcycling".  Good old Google ...........upcycling maintains or improves the quality of the materials.  So I think that this note holder fits into this category. I purchased the original from a pound shop and covered it with K and Co papers. I added the 3D flower and a sizzix die cut as embellishment.

Butterfly Collage

I made a card the other day for my friend's daughter and son-in-law on the birth of their baby girl. It was this card but in pink.

Recently, to celebrate the birth of a colleague's baby daughter, I gave a gift of an elephant punch collage and I enjoyed making it so much that I decided that I would work on similar lines for this new arrival.

The papers used are just scraps that I have kept in a folder and often wondered why they don't just go in the bin. 

 It's so satisfying to know that I have used every available centimetre of a sheet of paper!!! 

I printed the text on the computer in MSWord and then used a nestabilities circle die as a guide to place the butterflies. I was originally going to cut a circle with the die for this purpose then thought ...duuhh.. why?

Initially, I though that I would only have to place the outer ring of butterflies but I decided to add the smaller ones to give definition to the text.

Pink Elephants

It's a while since I have made one of these punched collages. I don't know why make them more often.  They are a lovely gift.  This has been given to a colleague on the arrival of a precious baby daughter.

I bought the frame from Tesco and gave it a wash with watered down white acrylic paint.This enables the grain of the wood to show through. It can't be any frame - there has to be a gap between the glass and the base for the punched pieces to sit without being squashed flat.

I keep a ridiculous amount of paper offcuts in the hope that I will find a use for them. All of these elephants have been cut from my stash.  I (strangely) enjoy all of the measuring, positioning and repositioning that has to happen to produce the finished result.

Resources:

Punch - Martha Stewart

           Acrylic Paint 

           Picture frame

60 is the new 40

Another friend celebrated her 60th birthday recently. She is my oldest friend and still as "daft" as she was at 16. Many an adventure we had! When she passed her driving test she took me for a "run" in her father's Zodiak. We did "the ton" on the Fraserburgh road. If my mother only knew.........and her's!!!!!

I took great pleasure in making this gift for her. My only disappointment was that I couldn't find the photograph of her throwing a snowball at me during a school trip to Norway in 1967. Although she would not agree, she shows the same enthusiasim now as she did when she took up her first post in Lochgelly in Fife, 39yrs ago. On an historical note, this is where the belt/strap was made that was used for corporal punishment in schools in Scotland. I shudder at the thought of it now but I had one in my desk when I first started teaching. (Never used it)

Another Exploding Box

I was asked by a colleague to make an exploding box for her father's retirement/65th birthday after she had seen one that I had made on my blog. Luckily I had enough materials left from the previous project to carry out her request.




I scanned some photographs that she gave me to include in the finished product. She was delighted with the result- I hope her father is too.

Taking Notes

I really enjoy making gifts for friends and family. One of my favourite makes is notebooks. I do own a Bind it All machine that allows me to create books from scratch but I often buy ready made notebooks that I cover with patterned papers and then embellish. This is one that I have just completed. I purchased this from Tesco when it was on special offer. There are often good deals to be had in Supermarkets and I always have a stock of these at hand.

This is not an easy option as I have to dismantle the notebook in order to decorate the covers and I always have more than one attempt at putting it back together with the covers and pages in the correct order.

resources:

K&Co papers, Nestabilities label die, Martha Stewart butterfly punch. Sizzix flourish die, various ribbons.

Butterfly Collage

We recently had our bathroom upgraded .. .............not before time!!! The suite was ( I am so glad to be able to say was and not is) pale golden - "Sun King" if my memory serves me right. Anyway, it is all in the past thank goodness. I looked around the shops for items that would match the green towels and I was not inspired. The solution was to make something myself. I had always wanted to make a butterfly collage since seeing examples in various places on the internet....so that's what I did and here it is.

The deep frame was originally unvarnished wood so I used acrylic paint to make it white. I rubbed some of the paint off to give a textured, distressed look. The butterfly punch is one that I have had for ages and the papers are all K & Co from my wonderful, huge stack that I got from QVC. The butterflies are attached with 3D foam to add even more dimension. Love it!!!

Tooth fairy

I couldn't resist this new digi stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil. Mo Manning created it at the request of one of her customers. How's that for service. I have entered this card in the DP2 Challenge where the criteria is "Things with Wings".

After printing the image onto card, I ran the square base card through the printer to place the sentiment on the front and also the message on the inside. Had to think this process out carefully so that everything came out in the right place. I googled to find the appropriate message for the inside of the card.
I had to think how this could be used by a parent so I decided to make a little envelope that could hold the tooth and be placed under the pillow. The money that the tooth fairy would leave could then " magically" replace the tooth and put back under the pillow.
I recently came across a collection of teeth belonging to my three sons. It was an oddly macabre find! However, it it nice to know that some traditions still continue through the generations.........even though the tooth fairy has to part with a much larger sum of money than she did in my boys' days.
I purchased the tooth punch ages ago and this is the first time that I have used it. I knew that it was an odd thing to buy at the time but it only cost me £1.00.

Resources:
Image - Mo's Digital Pencil - Tooth Fairy
Computer and printer
Promarkers
Tooth punch , Stickles

Felting Project with the Janome 725 Embellisher

Seeing as I had the felting machine out to make an embellishment for a card this week I thought that I would share my first felting project with you. I had had my eye on the Janome FM 725 for some time before purchasing it at a craft fair at the SECC. I really, really want to create more with it but I am so obsessed with cardmaking at the moment that I don't have the time.

I started with the flower that you see pinned to the bag. It is actually a brooch. I then bought the felt bag from Hobbycraft and embellished it with roving, silver netting and tiny seed beads - my inspiration was the Scottish countryside. I then made a lining with pockets that I sewed to the inside. I made several more brooches and gave them to friends. I have promised myself that I will make something else soon - perhaps a pocket for my iPhone - that shouldn't take too long!!

Baby tag book

This is the little tag book that I have just finished for a friend's wife so that she can show off the first pictures of her first grandchild. The baby's mum is an ex pupil of mine so it was lovely to share some of the excitement of the new baby albeit through photos of the event. I downloaded and printed the phots from a photo sharing site so they are not perfect but now that they are inserted and embellished it doesn't seem to be too obvious.

I used a Sizzix large tag die to cut pages from card and then co-ordinating backing papers. A variety of punches and dies were used to make embellishments. Most of the text was just printed using the computer. I did intend using a Sizzix alphabet but this would have taken me ages and the words would have been too big for the layouts.

Now............ back to cardmaking.