A Very Challenging Challenge

Good morning and happy Saturday - welcome to the weekend! The wonderful Autumn of Sew Paper Paint has started a fab new blog devoted to mini albums. called the Mini Album Makers Challenge. 

This has always been something that I've admired, but never attempted - far too much measuring, and certainly no room for my wonky sticking! But the more I've looked, the more I've wanted to have a go - so I did!

There is no way that I could have done this without the help of the lovely Gloria Stengel of Scraps of Life. Her blog is full of amazing inspiration, including the full tutorial of the book I've made. She was so helpful and generous with her time in pointing me in the right direction - thank you so much Gloria. The only problem is she's dragged me back into the world of designer paper - like I don't have enough to set up my own shop already!

I have taken far too many pictures, so no more words lol

This is the front, with Tim Holtz and Fizzy Lemon dies.

The back with more TH dies.

And this is the spine.

This is the inside.The papers are by Prima. I must admit the tab mechanism was the hardest thing for me to make, but having done it once I think it would be easier next time.

One of the pages. I just followed Gloria's instructions. I've put a tag inside the pocket.

This is a flap for a photograph.

This is a pocket that holds another photo mat.

Another pocket and large tag.

And another...

And another...

Ok no more photos lol.

What I've learned is 

My old Fiskars trimmer is perfect for the scoring and I also used my old bone folder.

A good strong tape is essential - I've also used some wet glue in places.

And if/when I make another one I will make the outside match the inside! I'd already made the outside when I found my Prima pad and I just wanted to crack on.

All I need now are some photos. As anyone who knows me knows, I don't often have my photograph taken. My profile picture is at least 12 years old (and 3 stones lighter) But, I've decided that it's better to have some slightly naff older chunkier photos than none at all (don't hold your breath waiting for a new profile pic lol)

This was such fun to make, very calming once I'd got over the yikes I need to measure and cut straight stage.

A huge thanks again to Gloria, and thanks very much for looking x

Born To Stand Out

Helloooo and happy Wednesday, it's my turn to share my 'borders' project for the latest Lost Coast Designs event. 

I've used glossy card and alcohol inks for the background.

Then I stamped Spray Webbing and embossed in white.
For my borders I've used Diamonds and Dominos.

I've paper pieced the middle guy from 3 Waiters and given him a hat from the Party Hats 2 set.
The sentiment is one of Carmen's Veranda clear stamps.

I've really enjoyed my play with border stamps this month, and of course they're not just for borders, I made a fab (if I do say so myself) background with the numbers here.

So now it's your turn, please join in with our fun challenge for the chance to win $'s to spend in the online store.
Have a wonderful day, and thanks very much for looking xx

A Grand Day (Weekend) Out

Good afternoon and happy Monday! I recently went on a fun weekend crafting retreat Mixed Media Mayhem with the wonderful Kate Crane and Mark Gould. It was a day with each of them, and this is what I made.

This was made with DecoArt media and some gorgeous 7 Gypsies papers. I may have enough papers to set up my own shop, but now I have some more! Mark made the stars himself, 2 for everyone on a 2 day retreat, mmm sounds like fun!

On Kate's day we made a mini album. Again all the paints and mediums are from DecoArt.

This is one of the signatures.

This is the inside.

There are spaces left for photographs

This was a great weekend, two very different tutors and projects. Mark's was finished on the day, and Kate's will be played with and added to over the coming weeks. I also met some of my blogging buddies which was fun.

Thanks to Kate, Mark, and Sharon for organising, and also DecoArt and 7 Gypsies for the materials.

Have a great week, and thanks very much for looking x

Last Days of Summer

Good morning and happy Sunday, hurray for the weekend! Today I'm sharing a step by step over at Rubber Dance.

Just click here and all will be revealed. 
As always please quote SDFreeShip for free worldwide P&P for orders 15 Euros and over.

Have a fun day, and thanks very much for looking xx

Be Happy

Good afternoon and happy Wednesday. Today I'm sharing my second piece that I made for the Lost Coast Designs 'numbers' challenge.

I seem to have 2 types of projects, those that turn out something like they were in my head, and those that bear no resemblance. This one is pretty much what I had going on in my head (along with a squillion other things that are never going to save the planet, like boy bands of the 80's and Flearoy and Moose from the TV ads - I LOVE Flearoy and Moose!)

White cat in a snowstorm time! The border stamp has been diagonally stamped across the page, then clear embossed. I thought I could do a few lines at a time, but the ink dried too quickly, so I had to stamp a line and emboss, stamp a line and emboss....

It was worth it though, I love how it's turned out! The stamp is the Numbers Border and it's 8 inches long! I've sponged bright Distress inks over the top so the numbers really pop.

Then I've chomped bits out with dies, and mounted onto black card.

I made a Brusho background and stamped the wonderful Medium Doodle Feather. Although this is a really ornate stamp it's really easy to cut out.

And there we are. Feathers in place, and the Carmen's Veranda sentiment stamped onto a leftover bit of Brusho background.

You still have until the 25th to join in so come on and make the numbers up (sorry!)

Have a wonderful day, and thanks very much for looking x

Happy Families

Good morning and happy Wednesday.  I'm very pleased to be sharing my second 'metal' piece with you today for Country View Crafts and this time it's a blast from the past - VerDay Paints.

They're a handsome lot, aren't they!

This started life as a rather fetching plastic frame.

This was given a couple of coats of brass and copper VerDay paints and left to dry. It's ages since I used this - it was all the rage but then something else came out and it was all forgotten. It's nice to go back sometimes and find the old favourites.

It was painted a 3rd time, and whilst wet, sprayed with the 'activator' and left to work its magic.

I do like the mottled patina effect. I also added some gilding flakes in random patches using bubble wrap.

I covered the inner sheet with my backing card cut to size - it had to fit 'cos it came out of the frame.

Of course, the family photo has to have the family in it! I've used my uber cool Hipster family stamp set and dies. I can't decide who I love the most - sometimes it's the monkey, then the cat, and sometimes it's all about the goat! I also stamped a couple of sentiments from the Crazy Thoughts set.

In the end though I decided that these weren't quite right, and went with the Mini Crazy Cats and Dogs. They were all coloured with Distress Markers. 

To finish I used a sentiment from the Tim Holtz Quote Chips.

And there we are - happy (maybe a little grumpy) family all done!

There's still lots of time for you to enter our challenge, just show us your metal! 
Have a very happy day, and thanks very much for looking x

Stay Curious

Good morning and happy Tuesday. It's my turn to share a piece over on the Rubber Dance blog.

To discover what this is, please click here and be transported as if by magic.

Don't forget to quote SDFreeShip on orders of 15 Euros and above for free worldwide P&P.

Have a great day, and thanks very much for looking xx

Give Me My Coffee!!!

Good afternoon and welcome to the weekend! It's my turn to kick off the challenges on the new look Lost Coast Designs Portal To Creativity - I'm only typing that once! We have a brilliant theme this month - 'numbers' so here's what I've made.

I am this bird! OK, maybe a little plumper in the leg area, but you get my drift. I can't function at anything above amoeba level until I've had my coffee on a morning. I allow myself 2 cups of full fat before 12, then 2 decaf's for the rest of the day. I was drinking upwards of 15 'real' cups a day (I know, scary) so this is a great cut down for me. I've replaced the others with hot water with orange and lemon slices - I shall soon look like a goddess, with the skin of a new born baby - next week, at the latest!

So I took a very inexpensive A5 notebook with a kraft cover and brayered gesso over the top.

Next, I used some DecoArt paint and a number stencil. It's not rocket science is it, but this is one of my favourite colour combos.

Then fun with stamps! All the words are from Carmen's Veranda, and the numbers are a Lost Coast border stamp.
There is many a true word spoken in a clear stamp sentiment!

Again a CV sentiment, and this wonderful bird is by Lost Coast.

So what could be easier than this challenge! You have until the 25th to join in and link up for the chance to win $s to spend in the online store.

Have a fun September, and thanks very much for looking x

Spread A Little Happiness

Hello, I'm back again, just like a bus with my second post of the day. It's time to launch our new colour challenge over at Rubber Dance, and this is what I've made.

This is our mood board, aren't these colours wonderful.

I started with a Tando tag and DecoArt Media paints and Tinting Base. Not looking too good at the moment is it!

I've stamped and stencilled in the same colours and added a bit of black around the edges.
I've used a That's Crafty Dinky stencil, and stamps from the Whale Wishes and Round in Circles sets.

For my main image, I've used Melina's fab new Funny Funghi and done a bit of doodling with a white pen. The sentiment is from the Something Wonderful set.

Now it's time for you to join in with our challenge, and see where these colours take you.

Don't forget, for free P&P on all orders of 15 Euro's and above, simply quote SDFreeShip.

I'm also joining in with the Craft Stamper TIMI challenge, and  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday 'anything goes'.

Have a fun weekend, and thanks very much for looking x

You Are About To Enter - The Twilight Zone

Good morning and happy Friday. Can you believe it's September already, when is Summer going to turn up? As always the first of the month means it's time for a new challenge at Country View Crafts, and this time around the lovely Miriam has chosen metal. Here's what I've made.

You know when something turns out to be just like it was in your head - well this was nothing like that!

I knew that I wanted to make a tag with a metal frame, so I gathered my supplies together. I know - how organised, not at all like me!

I cut a tag sized panel from the Regions Beyond paper stash, and stencilled over with Distress Inks and Tim Holtz stencils. This was then stamped with a PaperArtsy Halloween set. I cut an aperture with an oval die, to fit my happy family image from the Found Relatives cards.
 It was at this point that I decided that I wanted more than a tag.

So I had a root around in my 'all things Tando' box and found this. It's a piece of waste when you've pushed all the bits and bobs out, and it fitted perfectly.
I painted it with DecoArt Media paints, and added some stencilling with gilding flakes.

So now we have a new set of 'ingredients' I stamped my frame with stamps from Paper Artsy HPHW05.

I've used some Ten Second Studio metal and cut a frame with a Tim Holtz Ornate Frame die to frame my family from the Found Relatives, then added a Crypt Cameo.

I love these Paper Dolls but come on, they are seriously spooky. These two remind me of the twins in The Shining!

The lady from the paper set has been coated in Sepia Accents (as if she didn't look old enough). I framed her in a Plaster of Paris frame that I'd made but I stuck it down a little too vigourously...

Whoops - never mind, it all adds to the effect. My frame has been painted in DecoArt silver, then rubbed over with Prima Alchemy Wax. There's also a Tim Halloween Charm - I don't think we could rule her out as a possible poisoner!

And we're all done, happy families Twilight Zone style. I know I'm showing my age but I don't care, I used to LOVE this programme!

I'm also entering my spooky family into the Craft Stamper TIMI challenge,  Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes, and Mixed Media Monthly - Vintage.

So please join in with our metal challenge, and I'll see you soon with my second piece. Have a great month, and thanks very much for looking xx