Chunky idea keeper

Well, this was something  new for me. I would say I can sew, I was taught at school and my Mum always made all our cloths as we grew up so I can handle a needle and a sewing machine but this took those skills in a different direction. I did Rea Missigman Chunky Idea Keeper on line course and loved every minute! Its a video course taking you step by step through dying the covers to stitching the flowers and every page of the book. I had always been judged by how straight my stitching was so to let myself go and stitch in a wiggly line was great! I just loved it and am now addicted to decorative sewing.

   So here is my finished book, all packed ready to take with me on holiday, which was the reason for making it as I always take something to feed my arty addiction while on holiday. There is plenty of room for pens etc, a big pocket at the back and pockets throughout the book for paper and blank ATCs. The page with the pin cushion is to pin bits and bobs and ideas.

UTEE Pendent

I have been playing with the wonderful Imagination Crafts Magi Boss Chunky Mother of Pearl powder and the Melt Art Texture Treads Mod Circles, both available at The Fruit Pixie and made this little pendant. For further details of how it was done and the products used go to the Fruit Pixie Facebook page and blog

Holiday journal

We are off to sunny Austria in a few days and as usual I have made my holiday diary/journal. This time I have used the stack the deck binding method, the first time I have used it and its a brilliant way to make quick books. All the papers, tags and embellishments are from the American crafts Campy trails digi kit and the book covers are made from pizza box card. I have made plenty of tags to journal on and then the pockets to add any bits and pieces I collect along the way. I must admit I do love this kit. Can't wait to get there now!!

Greek wedding anniversary card

A friend of mine asked me to make a card for their friends who were renewing their vows after 5 years of marriage. They were wed on Kos, as the bride is Greek, and so they wanted a Greek feel to the card. So this is what I designed. Blue and white theme for the Greek flag, the map of Kos and names and dates, 5 gems for each year they have been married and the word congratulations in Greek. Luckily my friend speak, reads and writes Greek so she could send me the word I needed, what an amazing looking language it is but I think I will stick to German!    My friend loved the card, I hope the couple did too and all went well on their special day.

Jubilee table ideas

I have been working with the wonderful Ruby Rocket Vintedge papers from the Fruit Pixie as a member of the design team. Here are my ideas for table decorations for your Jubilee weekend. If you would like more information with instructions visit either the Fruit Pixie Facebook page or their blog.  What ever you are doing to join in the celebrations this weekend, have a great time! 

Why not make some cup cake decorations?

Or some cute napkin rings

Or even this envelope to hold the cutlery? All instructions on the Fruit Pixie blog and Facebook page. Everything I have used is available at the Fruit Pixie, why not take a look?

Cards for Operation Write Home blog hop

Altered Pages are taking part in the Operation Write Home Blog hop this year and as part of their design team I have contributed 2 cards using Altered pages collage sheets.

 
 For the dream card I used the sketch #58 and the following Altered Pages collage sheets -
                                                      Collage background 2 - 1724
                                                      Collage background 6 - 1724
                                                      Mixture of images - 2135

 For the Bingo card I used sketch #115 and used the following Altered Pages collage sheets-
                                                      Brown collage - 1714
                                                      Collage background 3 - 1724
                                                      Collage background 1 - 1724
                                                      French postage - 1636

  Altered Pages has hundreds of wonderful collage sheets and as you can have them sent digitally there is no  postage, which is great for all of us across the pond here in the UK!!

New home card

A friend of mine has just moved into a new home and so I made her this card. Images are from Polka Doodles.

Dream of travel collage

Altered  Pages are holding a mixed media collage competition at the moment, closing date is the 15th may. It had to be collage, ink and metal. So here is my entry . I used several different Altered Pages collage sheets for the collage and main image. the canvas itself is coloured and the images ages with ink and the world and aircraft are metal.

Vintage Lady ATC

It was my turn again to do the blog post for the design team for Altered Pages so I came up with this Vintage lady ATC. The main lady image, butterfly and black boarder, which is the top part of the gate, are all from the white collage sheet. Altered Pages have a big collection of coloured themed collage sheets which makes designing a breeze, so why not take a look. One tip though, get yourself a nice cup of tea first, there are loads to look through and enjoy.

Button bracelet

I have been playing with the large bag of buttons you get from The Fruit Pixie Button Assortment Britannia for just £1! Along with some of the Creative Expressions Bakers Twine Black & White I created this cute button bracelet. If you would to make one too you can visit the Fruit Pixie on Face Book for instructions and the Fruit Pixie shop for your bargain buttons! They come in other colour combinations too.

As we have just had the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic there are images everywhere. I have used the Altered pages Titanic collage sheet 297 to make this tag as my tribute to that great ship and all who lost their lives that night.

When I was 5 journal page

The prompt I chose this week for the AJC was what did you want to be age 5? That was an easy question for me I wanted to be an Air Hostess! The photo is of me in my school uniform, St Anthony's Convent school in Sherborne Dorset. This was our summer uniform, complete with straw boater! I am stood outside our little house built for me and my sister by our Pop and Uncle Ken in our garden, complete with opening windows and furniture.

My " My life" journal page has been featured on Tangie Baxter's blog! Tangie is the tour guild of the Art Journal Caravan and a Queen of the Art Journal. What an honour!

 http://tangiebaxter.com/news/2012/04/25/art-journaling-102-focus-on-hybrid/

Queen for the day canvas

I just love these Vintedge papers from  Rudy Rock it from the Fruit Pixie. I have the Collection pack and it is going such a long way. One of the things I have done with it is this Queen for the day 8x8 canvas. I used one of my many images I love to use be it could so easily be a family photo and made into a scrapbook page. If you would like to see how it was made then visit The Fruit Pixie Face book page

My life journal page

After all the colour of my previous Art journal Caravan pages I wanted to do a simple page without using too much colour. The challenge I chose was your life in 3 sentences. I think so far this is one of my favourite pages.

Jubilee banner

I have been busy making a banner for all the celebrations we will be busy with this summer here in the UK. The fruit Pixie has loads of great red white and blue papers and embellishments over at The fruit Pixie. The instructions and product list for my project are over on the Fruit Pixie face book page.

Coffee cup Holder book

I actually bought a take away coffee the other day and kept the corrugated holder for thinking Iam sure I could do something with that. Well I came up with this little book. I used the lovely Muca collage sheet from Altered Pages to decorate the front.

Kismet journal page

I have been busy with other crafting things and so it was nice to be back with my journal and on the caravan again. Here is my Kismet page. It is our 25th wedding anniversary this September and this is a page that celebrates the fact. Even if Andrew did say we look like we are arm wrestling!!

London Bus card

I have been playing with the new Paper Artsy Hot Pick 1208 from the Fruit Pixie. they have the most fantastic London images on them. I started with this London bus card, although it could be what ever the colours of the old buses in your city were. In Bristol they were green. All the things you need for this cad are available from the Fruit Pixie and instructions can be found on the Fruit Pixie Face book page.

Sewing themed card

I have been playing with Fruit Pixie goodies and have made this sewing themed card. If you would like to make it pop over to the Fruit Pixie face book page where you will find all the instructions and list of things you need, all available from the Fruit Pixie.

Birthday cards for the men

I am very busy over the Easter time for birthday cards, all of them mens cards. Here are 2 I made, one for my brother -in - law and the other for a friend.

TV Birthday card

I made this cute TV birthday card for my nephews birthday from the Looney Tunes CDrom. There are loads to choose from and and great fun to make. They do take a bit of adjustment to get them to work how they should but got there in the end. They fold flat to post too.

Animal ATCS

I haven't made many ATCs lately. So for my Altered Pages blog post this month I decide to play with the cute animal images and make a couple of ATCs. All the images are available, as many 100's of others from Altered Pages.

Beaded heart

I made this little heart for Mum for Mothers Day. Make a heart out of a sturdy wire and then attach a length of thinner wire to the join in the heart and wire it close. Add beards to the length of wire and wrap them around the heart. Go around twice and tie it off to finish. A simple gift but looks good.

Mothers day card

My first card using my new Imagine machine! This was for my Mum for Mothers day.

Baby card

My German teacher left on Monday to have her first baby. Of course I had to make a card. I don't often get a chance to make Beatrix Potter cards and this one fitted the bill perfectly. From the Crafters Companion Beatrix Potter collection.

Altered frame

I found this frame in the £1 and thought it ideal to paint up using the Fressco Finish paints and the lovely new Lynn Perrella stamps from the Fruit Pixie. Full instructions and a supply list is available on the Fruit Pixie Fave book page.

Union flag card

Some thing a bit different here but I was sent some glitter card from Sarah at the Fruit Pixie and always up for a challenge gave it a go. Well if I was going to do glitter card I thought I might as well go the whole hog and made this very patriotic card. If you would like to make one the same then go to the Fruit Pixie face book page where I have left full instructions. If you need red, white and blue goodies for your jubilee or Olympic projects then The Fruit Pixie has a great selection, why not have a look.

Places I've traveled journal page

For this weeks page for the AJC I chose Places I have traveled. It was perfect for the wonderful image on a leaflet I hunted down and found in Austria last summer after falling in love with the image of the lady in her traditional dress. She was on a poster in our hotel and after looking in every tourist info in the area I found the leaflet while waiting in a que for the cable car to go up to the top of the Zwolferhorn to go walking. We had never had to que for a cable car before and perhaps if we had just gone straight through I would of missed them. The view on the right hand page is the Wolfgangsee with St Gilgan in the foreground. Austria is our second home and perhaps one day it will be our home.

Recipe book kit

My new kit for Altered Pages is a vintage recipe book. You can add any recipes you wish to this little book as you can label and custom the book to your needs. Visit Altered pages, link to the right, and find my kit in the kit section.