Create on the move - busy bags!!

 As a certified craft addict I just HAVE to take things to do with me when I go on holiday, I might not get time to do anything but I would go dolally if I had to go a whole week without my creative bits and bobs being to hand. I have tried and made all sorts of things to put them before I pack them in the case but I think I have found the best one yet, plus it was great fun to make too!!

  I spotted on Pinterest something called a busy bag, a bag to put toys and things in to take with you to keep the children quiet.So I thought why should children have all the fun and adapted it to suit my crafty needs.You could use this not only to take things away with you but for classes or just to move things around the house.

The outer part of the bag is padded with quilt wadding to protect the things inside and has a closure with Velcro so you can alter the thickness of your bag.

On the inside of the front flap I added some pen pockets.

The lining of the bag was cut in half and 4 thick sealable bags were sewn in to make pockets to store anything in really. The reason I like this is they are plastic so waterproof so if anything dose leak in transit it is contained in the bag. It means also you can have a bag for paper crafting and another for your stitching, they will all be safe and kept seperate. Also when they do eventually wear out they can be replaced by stitching in another bag. 

The bags I used are fantastic thick plastic bags the Fruit Pixie sends your order in, They are the best sealable bags I have ever come accross!

On the back part of the bag I also added another pocket with a velcro fastening, thought this would be good to store my art journal

So there it is my new creative busy bag! I have a holiday coming up so I cant wait to pack it and give it a go.

I made this one for my crafty friend Sue for her birthday. I used slightly smaller bags from the supermarket for this one, so you can make them any size you like. 

Of course you could make a busy bag for anything you want to. I am sure you can think of lots of ways it can be useful to you.

If you have any questions about my bag feel free to ask

The things stored in my busy bag photos and the bags used are from The Fruit Pixie online shop - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/ 

The bags I used will sometimes come with your order in from the Fruit Pixie.

Corner Keepers

I have been making these little corner keepers for years. Simply made from the corners of envelopes they make great little gifts and quick simple projects that are great for children to make too.

  I made these for the Fruit Pixie using some of the ephemera she sells and some scraps of the Graphic 45 Bohemian Bazaar papers, also available from the store.

To find out how I made these visit my post on the Fruit Pixie Blog -  http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

4x4 Book swap

Last month I took part in a 4x4 book swap on Facebook. Well I say swap, unfortunately the person who should of sent me a book never got in contact so I ended up empty handed. That is the way swaps go sometimes and I was disappointed but I enjoyed making my book , don't think I will take part in further swaps with that particular group again though, shame.

       So here is the book I made and sent over to the U.S.A. I made the book itself on my Sillhouette and then collaged it using images and papers from Tumblefish Studios.

I am not sure it was my partners cup of tea but I liked it!

Chalk this one up to experience I think :)

Russian Roulette digi kit

Kyrsty Scrapbook Design, who's design team I am on, has issued a brand new kit today called Russian Roulette.

I am proud to design for her and used it to make this digital page using just a few of the pieces in the kit.

You can buy the kit here - http://www.mischiefcircus.com/shop/product.php?productid=22711&cat=&page=

Journal tab card

While playing with the Couture Creations journal tabbed die last week to make my little mixed media book for the Fruit Pixie I thought it would be cute as a shaped card. So here it is -

I used Graphic 45 Bohemian Bazaar 8x8 papers and Washi tape to make the flags.

To find out more of how I made my card visit the Fruit Pixies blog - http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

All products uses can be found here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/

Little mixed media book

I have been playing with the Couture Creations Tabbed journal tab die for The Fruit Pixie and I came up with this cute mixed media book.

I used some of the wonderful ephemera the Fruit Pixie is know for to decorate the book. If you would like to know more details of how and what I did then pop over to 

the Fruit Pixie blog - http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

Everything I used to make my book can be found on the Fruit Pixies shop - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/

Puzzle piece heart

As Valentines day is coming up I thought it would be nice to make a heart project for my next Fruit Pixie post. The Fruit Pixie sells some cute vintage puzzle sets so I took those and some embellishments and along with some paint came up with this project.

Full details on how I made this project are on the Fruit Pixie blog - http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

and all products, except the ribbon, is available from the Fruit Pixie online shop  http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/

Bargains! ATC

A belated Happy New Year! Not got off to a great start so far, my Mum has been in hospital for 10 days with a chest infection so I have been busy visiting and not creating. Luckily she is slowly recovering now.

       I have managed to get my ATC done in time for the deadline in the Digital Whispers ATC swap. Here is my card and cute envelope I made for it.

I recieved a beautiful vintage ATC from my partner too!

Button ball

The Fruit Pixie dose the most amazing button collection for £1! I love them and so wanted to make something for the tree out of them. So I made a button ball.

They are simply a polystyrene ball with the buttons attached by pins! 

Do check out the Fruit Pixie for these amazing buttons.-

    http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/

Music Paper rosette

I have been busy making projects for The Fruit Pixie, this time a music score rosette decoration for the tree. I must admit these look great on the tree, so now I have to make some more!

For instructions on how I made it pop over tot he Fruit Pixie blog - http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

A shopping list will be in the design team section of the Fruit Pixie shop .

Snow Tag

I have been playing with the beautiful new IndigoBlu Christmas stamps for the Fruit Pixie. I just had to try the wonderful Snowflake lace to make this pretty tag.

The background was made by embossing with white embossing powder and then going over it with a pale blue watercolour.

I also used the IndigoBlu Merry Christmas circle stamp and gold embossing powder

I backed that with a Tim Holtz 3D snowflake and added a ribbon and charm to finish off.

If you would like to make this tag for yourself then you can go to the Fruit Pixie - 

                                                http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/

                          You can find a shopping list for this project in the Design team section.

Washi tape angel

I have been making an altered style angel using some lovely washi tape from the Fruit Pixie. I designed and made her from scratch and gilded her wings and halo so they would shine.

For instructions and the template I made to use visit the Fruit Pixie blog - http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

Wooden spool Christmas wreaths

I have been playing with the whole wooden spools from Creative Expressions which are available from The Fruit pixie.

    I made these cute little wreaths which are ideal for using all those little paper scraps you have.

This one I used the assorted music pages and vintage book pages packs from The Fruit Pixie.

This one I used scraps of Christmas paper I had.

For full instructions visit the Fruit Pixie blog - http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

1950's Christmas bowl

I have made this cute card bowl from a 1950's pattern using the new card available from The Fruit Pixie. In the 1950's they made them from old Christmas cards which is such a good idea but I think it looks rather good this new card.

For full instructions visit the Fruit Pixie blog -  http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

This card is available from the Fruit Pixie shop - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/a4-christmas-art-papers-nproducts132curpage-3-132-c.asp

Art Deco wedding card

This month a friend in my German class was married. She was having an Art Deco themed wedding, so of course I had to make an Art Deco inspired card.

The bride and groom are from Tattered lace and the frame I cut on my Cricut from their Art Deco cartridge. The papers, ribbon,buckle and sentiment are all form the Gatsby collection that was out a while ago by Craft time.

Autumn leaf wreath

Autumn is almost over now but I love the wonderful colours of the leaves. So I decided to make a wreath of autumn colour leaves to remind me of the beauty of autumn all year round.

This was made as a project for the Fruit Pixie and I have put a photo tutorial on the Fruit Pixie blog if you would like to make one for yourself - http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

 Or if you would like to buy the products I used to make my wreath, the Fruit Pixie has a new section in the shop where you will find a shopping list for the design team projects - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/design-team-projects-650-c.asp

Graphic 45 paper pumpkin

I had so much fun making this little pumpkin, I don't know why I have not played with this idea before, its so quick and easy and has so many ways you can use it.

  For my pumpkin I used the wonderful Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells paper collection available from The Fruit Pixie but you could make beautiful autumn pumpkins decorated with acorns and leaves too.

If you would like full instructions on how to make this little pumpkin then visit the Fruit Pixie blog - http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

All the papers and many other wonderful treats are available from The Fruit Pixie online shop - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/

Graphic 45 witchy art doll

Sorry I have not posted for a bit but I have been battling with horrible migraines and the worst thing I can do after one is look at a computer screen!   But I am back on top now and have been having fun making my Halloween Witch doll using the Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells paper collection from The Fruit Pixie.

She worked out a little larger then I was planning but I am so pleased with her.

Her head is one from my digital collection and I made her body from re-cycled box card.

I gave her a spell book

A broom from twigs from the garden

Some witchy potions

and of course every witch has to have a black cat!!

Now she is all ready for Halloween!!

For more details of how I made her visit the Fruit Pixie blog -  http://thefruitpixie.blogspot.co.uk/

For the Graphic 45 paper collection and other bits used visit the Fruit Pixie shop  - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/