Little Note Books

Another I have been working on is covers for little note pads. This one I used old cork tiles cut to size, then covered with some fantasy scrapbook papers I had laying around my craft room. The corners I cut out from old thick card from the back of a note pad and painted with metallic acrylic paints. The paper flower is made from old scrap paper and coloured using whispers stroke pens. Then wet with plain water and scrunched up to hold it together I used a brad, I covered the brad using a ribbon flower also coloured with the pens then added some glaze to protect it. The little cat I found in my odds and bobs tins someone had given me and used it as a tie holder

New Creations

Summer has arrived so time for crafting in the conservatory. As a gift for someone I decided to make a wall hanging for them. I used the backing board of my scrapbook pages as a base. Covered with some cloth I found from an old outfit that was sort of cotton cheesecloth style and painted it with metallic acrylic paints. The shapes I bought ages ago from the Range and painted them to resemble cloisone beads and the paper flowers I painted to match. The large flower is made from paper coloured with whispers stroke pens and water added to wash it out slightly then added some old gold metallic paint. The lady picture I found in my scrapbook of decoupages and when put together glazed over it. To finish I added a little lace and ribbon to hang. Really enjoyed this project.

Holly

Where does the time go!

Since I last added anything on this blog so much has taken place. It's been almost 3 months since loosing my beautiful dog Mollypenny, and only now can I feel like placing a small part of of her life on my blog without floods of tears. Molly was part of our lives for over 10 years she was a true welsh border collie with all the traits. She was a loveable dog and is missed by so many in the family now. She gave me lots of love and much comfort when times in the past have been so hard to bare at times. Molly was so very special. She would always be there when I got home and would always greet me in her own way. The time when she became ill I knew it was time for her to finally have some rest and go in peace. She was my life for so many years it is at times difficult to realise she will not be here when I get home from work, or there to wake me up if the alarm does not go off, of which in the past has happened and she has saved me many a time from being late. I have thought of another dog but I feel it would be hard to replace the space she has left behind. The house is so quiet these days and many a time I never know if anyone has called she was always the guard dog for the front door. Molly was and always will be the best part of my life as I got older I just wish our animals could stay with us a little bit longer. God bless you Molly!

Holly

Latest Crafting

I thought it a good idea to raise money for my work funds,by making some craft items. I set off to buy some Bare Basics frames by Papermania. I bought these last year and made family members a special photo frame each.

The frame shown in the photograph is the larger frame, I started by giving the frame a good coat of normal matt emulsion. You can use acrylic paints and many others, but this seemed to give the frames a good base. Once dry I used rub-ons, this was to give the effect of wood grain. You may be able to see this in the larger picture. Once dry I covered with Anitas embossing fluid. (This I have since discovered has been discontinued dissapointing really) Once the varnish was dry or while it was drying I adapted some deep red petals into the shape of poppies, using buttons for the centre. I used plain white rubbed down with a nail file to remove the shiney surface, then used black acrylic paint.

The shapes are once again bare basics and you can find this set in most good craft stores. These were painted with gold acrylic metalic paint then brushed with glitter glue. The petals are available from Hobby craft they come in all colours, they also do a plain white, of which can be sprayed or painted different colours. This is the cheepest option.

All of the frames sold very well, a good way of making some money I raised £30.00 less the cost of the frames, they are not that expensive.

Hope you enjoy making a little project like this.

Holly

Busy Bee's

Been quite some time since I added to my blog. I have been busy crafting as well as visiting facebook too much. Recently I have been helping the people I work with to produce fabric artwork, they have been creating fabric books and fabric items. They are now working on patchwork quilt squares. You can view my work blog here .
I need to get the camera working again and take some pictures of what I have been creating. I have recently altered a ring folder, we were lucky to find some that were of a smaller size and been thrown out. I have covered it with a blue and white check gingham, then made a patchwork square to go on the front, adding wording in felt and cut out items. It is now going to be a baby book that you can add clear sleeves and place photographs, as well as other items. I will place the picture on here when it is finally completed. I am still making my cards but since the lack of steroids have not been so creative, now the warmer weather is with us I may be able to create some more. I love sitting in the conservatory with all my craft items around me. So there may be a chance of more items to come, I dont like to be stuck in the one room all the time. Apart from that I am still struggling with my Crohn's but getting used to it now, there are good days and bad days so I have to take it as it comes...lol.
Hope to catch up with my crafting sooner rather than later...lol
Happy Crafting all of you!!!

Holly

Remember to Feed the Garden Wildlife

Due to the really cold weather this Winter many of our garden animals are suffering and struggling to find food. Here is one little hungry character finding some seed and nuts on the garden table. He was the last to arrive, at one point there were so many birds all feeding in my garden it was hard to list them all.

This morning I got up early to make them some fat balls simple and easy to do, using old scraps from the kitchen. These I have now put in the nut feeder which is safer for them to use.

For the fat balls I used, chopped up nuts, breadcrumbs, old dried fruit, biscuits, some grated cheese and melted fat. Mixed it all together and rolled into ball shapes then placed in fridge to harden. Although, it was probably cold enough to just leave them outside...lol. Dont forget to feed your birds this year, I did notice they were going mad for stale bread as well as water, they were even taking to eating the snow for a drink. Bless them.

Keep warm everyone

Holly

Seasons Greeting's

What a wonderful Christmas it has been this year, lots of visitors and presents, plus so far good health, apart from the odd slip up of over endulging in such rich and wonderful food...lol. My own fault really..but can you blame me after such a downer last year! Anyway feel alot better today. So a new year is almost upon us and we head into a new decade, lets hope it is better than the last one. Now I have completed my NVQ3 I can concentrate on new ideas and designs in my crafting, I cant wait to start...lol. So to begin with it has to be a special birthday card for my dear elderly neighbour who will be celebrating her 90th birthday on new years day. So think I better get off rabbiting from here and gather all my craft stuff and get creating..lol.

Happy New Year to you all and all the best for 2010

Holly

Christmas Gifts

Continuing my Homemade gifts for Christmas, here is a small selection of some domino keyrings I have been making. My favourites are the shoes and rose ones. These I stamped the image onto the domino once inked up and then embossed using the glitter gold embossing powder so they sparkle. These keyrings have been so popular when shown to my friends, I just cannot make enough! To add a special christmas touch to the wreath and Santa I found a tiny holly leaf gem stone and a tiny bell.

Hope you are all making homemade christmas gifts this year I found it to be more cost friendly and so personal to the individual it is made for. The programme on Channel 4 this week Kirstys Homemade Christmas was so inspiring and well worth watching, if you missed it you can go to channel4.com and see the episodes, 3 in all and well worth it. Although I felt it was a bit late in the year to make some of the ideas...lol!
Holly

Altered Photo Frame

I wanted to give something different this year as Christmas presents. I found some bare basic items from papermania. So I got down to altering this photo frame, I actually bought 2 frames so will add the second one to my flickr when completed. The frames come as bare brown, I began by painting the frame black using liquid gesso, this gives it a good base. I then covered the black in Anitas 3D embossing fluid. I then added a hint of gold by using a rub on. As you can see I did this around the oval and around the outter sides of the frame. I then found some silk flowers in my box of tricks and decided to paint them using metallic paint, thus giving them a nice gold look and a bit of a shine. I then added tiny diamonte gem stones. For the shapes I found these in the Range also from papermania, these I painted with the gold metallic paint and then used sparkles glitter glue to add some christmas effect. The skeleton leaves also had a hint of sparkle by using the glitter glue. I then completed by adding more diamonties to the oval area of the frame. Now all I need is a lovely photo to go inside. I enjoyed making this frame and it looks better in person than in the photograph.

Holly

Crafting like crazy

At last I have been able to get back into my crafting. Just in time for Christmas. As you can see I started with the traditional Christmas stockings..lol. These are made of felt and cut out shapes. I added some beads and sequins to finish. There are more in my flickr photostream.
Finally I have completed my NVQ3 now and just awaiting all my work to be verified and eventually will get my certificates. I am very pleased that I completed it on time, as when I was ill it was such a hard task to keep up with.
I bought some plain photoframes at the Range and decided I would alter these to make as Christmas presents, when they are completed I will add a picture here. It seems to have been so long since I last added to the blog, but at the time my camera seemed to have given up the ghost, but now I am able to use the bosses camera...lol!
Well thats about it for now hope all of my followers are keeping busy and I do visit your blogs often.
Happy Christmas crafting everyone!
Cheers
Holly