Butterfly shadow box

Here is my last project using the Craftwork cards Time Flies kit I have designed for the Fruit Pixie. This time I have made something that would make a lovely gift or just something for the home, a shadow box.

I made the shadow box using my Silhouette Cameo  electronic cutting machine but you can buy wooden ones online and on the high street fairly cheaply.

I used 2 different papers for the background, edging the second one with ink to match the butterflies.I also covered the frame with strips of the book script paper from the kit.

For the butterflies I popped them out of the die cut sheet and using a quicky glue pen drew a line just inside each butterfly and covered it in the Cosmic Shimmer polished silk glitter. I also added tiny gems from my goodies to the centre of some of them.

I folded the butterflies down the centre attached them to the background using a wet glue.

I then stamped Live your dreams by Visible Image in a purple ink onto the same paper as the background and cut them out. Then when I glued them to the background it looked as if I had stamped them straight onto the background.

So there we have it all done!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing what I have done with this kit, there is still so much you could do but so much wonderful stuff to play with............

You can find these products in the Fruit Pixie online shop

Craftwork cards Time Flies paper kit here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-time-flies-25760-p.asp

Cosmic Shimmer glitter here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/cosmic-shimmer-polished-silk-glitter-600-c.asp

Live your dreams stamp here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/visible-image-live-your-dreams-23095-p.asp

Learning English Paper Piecing

I have started to teach myself English Paper Piecing patchwork ( EPP). I have made 2 quilts the modern way, using a sewing machine to sew the pieces together but decided the bit I enjoyed the most was the hand sewing. So I thought I would give this a try, it's the old fashion way to patchwork using paper pieces to shape your fabric and then hand stitch the pieces together.

  I treated myself to 2 wonderful books that I really recommend

This book takes you through every shape you will need to EPP with and how to stitch with them.

This book also explains very clearly how to EPP and also gives you projects to try too with instructions and patterns.

They both have wonderful instructions, photos and ideas. They have both been my constant companions.

For my first project I made the little pouch from the Quilting on the go book.

I love it it is so sweet and useful too and it was very easy to make. 

A few things I have found from a papercrafters point of view that has really helped.

1. I used my dies and die cutting machine to cut the paper pieces for my project. You could also cut the fabric but I only had a cheaper set of dies which was fine for paper and card but not fabric. I have now upgraded my hexes set.

2. Great way to use up all those off cuts of card we all have too.

3. I also used my Silhouette Cameo to cut my pieces for my latest project. You can import Jpeg and size and cut extremely accurately in large numbers quickly.

This is such a nice hobby to sit and do out and about or in front of the TV. So far I have stitched on the bus, in parks in Vienna ( I made a cushion cover while on holiday, more about that in another post) at my parents house, in the garden sat in the sun and in the evening in front of the TV.

I think I have found another love! Why not try it too?

Craftwork cards Time Flies flower card

 Here is another card I have made using the Craftwork cards Time flies kit for The Fruit Pixie.

   This kit, along with the beautiful papers, also has wonderful flower and butterfly die cuts. It also comes with the matching Candies which I have used on this card too.

The card blank was cut using my Silhouette Cameo but there are all sorts of lovely card base shapes on the market you can play with.

I covered the base with the lovely papers and used some of the borders that come in the kit as well, down the sides

For the main focal point in the centre I used the Candies to make a frame around the circle. Now Candies if you have not come across them before are small domed rounds of paper, they say they are a brad without legs. I find the best way to attach then is a small square of 3d foam.

I then added one of the die cut flowers and a butterfly, to which I had added wire antenna 

In the centre of the flower I added more of the Candies.

As you can see this kit is beautiful and so nice to work with.

You can find the kit in the Fruit Pixie shop 

here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-time-flies-25760-p.asp

Poetry is a shadow journal page

As part of my Art Journal Emporium crew duties I write a blog post each month about a journal page I have created. This month I chose to work with the grab bag kit we get each month with our Emporium membership. You can find my full post here http://shoptangiebaxter.com/blogs/news

   Here is the finished page, a step by step walk through can be found in my blog post.

                       

            Hope you like my page, would love to know what you think. You can learn more about the Art Journal Emporium here - 

Art Journal Emporium

Craftwork cards Time flies card

Here is another of my projects using the beautiful Craftwork cards Time flies kit I have made for the Fruit Pixie.

      This kit, as all of their kits, is so versatile and can be used in all sorts of ways, Today though I am going to show you one of my cards I have made with it.

      It is a simple card as everything you need is there in the kit. All I added was a DL card blank, a piece of ribbon to make my bow and some craft wire to form the butterfly antenna.

First I covered the card blank with some of the paper in the kit.

I added the Happy Birthday sentiment using some 3d tape. I then cut some craft wire, folded it in half and wound the 2 ends around a cocktail stick to make then curl. I then used some hot glue to attach the wire to the butterflies and the butterflies to the card. 

All I needed then was to tie a bow and add it to the card using my hot glue gun to finish.

So a really quick and simple card but it still looks lovely.

You can find the Time Flies kit in The Fruit Pixie shop

 here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-time-flies-25760-p.asp

DL card blanks here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/5-craft-uk-dl-card-blanks-ivory-11830-p.asp

Beautiful ribbon here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/ribbons--trims-ecfb8nproducts179curpage-2-179-c.asp

Time Flies kit wreath

      I have been playing with the Craft Work cards Time Flies kit for the Fruit Pixie, who I design for Its full of butterflies and flowers and truly beautiful. It has the usual wonderful paper pad. The die cuts this time, along with sentiments and toppers for your cards, are butterflies and flowers. Then of course they give you the candies to match.

     I loved the flowers in this kit and so decided to make a small wreath using them. To make the base I just cut 2 hoop shapes from some box card stuck them together and then covered it with strips of burlap fabric, which gives it a nice rustic feel.

         I then removed all the flowers die cuts from the card and drew around the inside of them with a quickly glue pen and sprinkled over the Cosmic Shimmer polished pearl glitter. I then shaped the flowers using my bone folder. All the die cuts are cut from a nice weight card so they hold the shape beautifully.

         The larger flowers I left single because I loved the butterfly image on them but the others I layers up to give some dimension and used some of the Creative Expression pears in their centres. I attached them to the base using a hot glue gun.

                    

     For the butterflies I did the same to apply the Cosmic Shimmer pearl glitter and then stamped a small word onto some of the waste card from the die cut sheets and cut them out and glued them to the centre of the butterflies.

     I then cut some thin craft wire and formed them into springs by wrapping the wire around a pencil, leaving a straight length at either end. Using a hot glue gun I attached one straight end to the underside of the butterflies and then the other end I pushed into the burlap fabric on the wreath. This gives the butterflies some movement as they hover over the flowers.

       

                         

       I then picked some ribbon to match the project and tied a bow. I also added another short piece to form a loop to hang the piece, attaching them both using a hot glue gun. My project was then finished.

                I hope you enjoyed looking at this project with me and will have a go yourself. I am working on other projects to show you using this kit, there are so many things you can do with it and it is all so beautiful as you can see.

                You can find the products I used, which are all available from The Fruit Pixie  -

       Craft Work Card Time Flies kit here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-time-flies-25760-p.asp

       Creative Expressions pearls here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/creative-expressions-embellishments-ecfb8nproducts464curpage-2-464-c.asp

                                                                     

Flying butterflies journal page

The March grab bag in the Tangie Baxter and Co Art Journal Emporium. I have produced this journal page as part of the design team. All is from the kit except the girl who is from Itkupillie woodland kit.

You can find information about Tangie Baxter and Co Art Journal Emporium here - http://shoptangiebaxter.com/

   This Sunday is Mothers day here in the UK. As I have been working for Craftwork cards kits for the Fruit Pixie I knew the Craftwork Cards Vintage Ephemera kit would be perfect for my Mum, here is my card.

As well as the Craftwork cards Vintage Ephemera kit I used a 6x6 card blank and one of the small Bo Bunny doilies to make this card.

You can find the Craftwork cards Vintage Ephemera kit in the Fruit Pixie Shop here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-vintage-ephemera-25685-p.asp

This is such an easy kit to work with , so do have a look.

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mums out there, hope you have a lovely day.

                                                                          

Craftwork Cards Vintage Ephemera shutter card

Here is another one of my card projects using the Craftwork Cards Vintage Ephemera kit I have made for The Fruit Pixie.

  When you make a lot of cards it is always nice to use a different shape. I also think it makes our handmade cards look even more special on the mantle piece.

  This one is a shutter card. I am lucky enough to have a Silhouette Cameo to cut and score mine but you can make them yourself or buy the card blanks.

The shutter card gives you nice areas to decorate and using the Craftwork Cards Vintage Ephemera kit you have plenty to decorate it with.

The large perfume bottle and sentiment is from the diecuts in the pack and the small bottle are cut from a sheet of the paper.

All it needs then is just a touch of glitter and you have a beautiful, quick and easy card that looks amazing!

You can find the Craftwork Cards Vintage Ephemera kit In the Fruit Pixie Shop here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-vintage-ephemera-25685-p.asp

Today I create Magic journal page

I don't make New Years resolutions but I have sort of this year. I have decided to actually use all those art supplies I have collected over the years!! Most of them you can no longer get hold of and a couple of things I have had to throw away as they had gone rancid or dried up, which is such a shame. So far though, so good. It is nice to dig them out and play with them as they usually haven't go instructions with them any more or I cant remember why I even bought them. I am in fact really enjoying the challenge.

   So for this journal page, for The Art Journal Emporium Art journal caravan itinerary number 6, I used some of my pots of inks I bought years ago. I had forgotten how beautiful they are as they are full of Mica.

The part of the itinerary I used for this page was the challenge box, I had to use 14 circles, check, 7 horizontal lines, check, 2 wild scribbles, couldn't fit them in and a noun, check. The images I used are from this months collage sheets.

You can find out more about the Art Journal Emporium that includes the Art Journal caravan here - http://shoptangiebaxter.com/

Magic under the sea Journal page

As part of my Creative crew duties for Tangies Art Journal Emporium I create a project and write a blog post on the 3rd Wednesday of every month over on the Tangie Baxter & Co blog -  http://shoptangiebaxter.com/blogs/news

   This months post is my Magic under the Sea cut and paste journal page using one of the wonderful free collage sheets you receive if you are a member of the Emporium.

Why not pop over to the Tangie Baxter and Co blog to see my full post - http://shoptangiebaxter.com/blogs/news

   For St Valentines day I have made a sweet mixed media heart project for The Fruit Pixie and I have taken some photos along the way to show you how I achieved it.

To begin with I took one of the Creative Expressions MDF hearts and painted it using the Cosmic Shimmer chalk paint in Nude.

I cut one of the BoBunny large doily's apart and glued some of the lacy pattern to the top and bottom of the heart.

I then used one of the Creative Expressions masks - Damask and some Cosmic Shimmer chalk paint in warm white this time to stencil through it.

Some of the Creative Expressions self adhesive pearls and also their pearl corners were added for decoration.

I chose some of the Bo Bunny petals, cut them down between the petal shapes and added either one of the Creative Expressions self adhesive pearls or a self adhesive crystal to the centre of each flower and folded them up.

Then I took a butterfly from the Craftwork cards Time flies and added some of the pearls along the middle. Using a quickie glue pen I added some of the Cosmic Shimmer Sahara Gold glitter around the edge.

It then needed a sentiment and so I chose the Visible image stamp Just making memories and stamped it in black onto a scrap of Craftwork Cards paper and cut it out in a rectangle and mounted it onto card. I added a thin line of glitter again with the Quickie glue pen around the sentiment. 

I used a hot glue gun to attach the flowers and butterfly. I realise I covered up my stencilling but sometimes that happens as a project evolves. Never be afraid to cover something up you like if that needs to happen. After all you know its there!

To finish I cut up one of the pearl corners to add a flower to the sentiment and then used the remaining pearls to fill in any gaps.

This is such a sweet mixed media project that would be lovely as a Valentines gift but also as a gift for a bride on her Wedding day. You could use the colours of the wedding too. I think mine might become a Mothers day gift.

Everything I used in this project is available from The Fruit Pixie - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/

  

 

Dirndl dress peg bag

If you have read my blog before you might of noticed I love Austria and visit several times a year. I love everything about the country, the lifestyle, food, countryside and their dress style. Yes they really do wear their Dirndl dresses day to day, shopping and to the office. I love them, it appeals to my creativity I suppose as they are always beautifully made. I have always wanted one and will have one one day perhaps.

So when we needed a new peg bag, the one I made a few years ago was too small and looked very shabby, I knew what I was going to make........

A dirndl style peg bag!!

All my own work too, even the pattern. The woven ribbon even came from Austria too.

Hubby had better not leave this one out in the rain!!

Doily card

   I have been creating beautiful projects for the Fruit Pixie with the beautiful Vintage ephemera collection pack from Craftwork cards. Like the Christmas collection packs I was using back in December it has lots of things in it to make all sorts of different projects. I am going to start by showing you one of my cards I have created.

Everything is from the kit except for the card base and the doily.

The doily is one of the doily's from Bo Bunny. This is one of the smallest size that I have coloured using some distress ink.

You can find the Craftwork cards Vintage ephemera collection here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-vintage-ephemera-25685-p.asp

A Fetch the dog and friend

One of my Christmas presents this year was the Debbie Shore Handy Storage DVD. The first thing I just had to make was a Fetch the dog, he is just so sweet and so useful too!

I did add a couple of my own ideas though. First I added a pin cushion to the top of his saddle, I couldn't stick pins into his body, that would just be cruel!!

I also felt he needed a nose too. Being a very stylish dog he had to have a fashionable collar as well.

I was really pleased with him and took him to show my Mum. She loved him too, so I have made one for her to help her stitch up her knitting projects.

Again I added a small pin cushion on her back.

A little button nose and this time a nice big bow.

My Fetch is defiantly a male dog, I won't go into details!!! Mums is a little girl. 

They were such fun to make and as I said so useful, he sits by my machine or on the arm of the chair is I am hand sewing. There are several things I want to make from the DVD, so watch this space!

Gypsy life mini book

   I have been busy in my craft room creating with the beautiful papers from Marion Smith designs, this time the Junque Gypsy collection available from The Fruit Pixie. I love these papers they are so versatile, as I love to collage I decided to make a little book using all the wonderful collage pieces in these papers.

I made my book using my Silhouette Cameo but you could use any book or mini album. I have collaged the images but the collection would make a lovely scrapbook too.

The main subject of this collection is Gypsy life. There are wonderful vintage images that make collage easy. 

There are lovely sayings too

The papers are double sided and it is really hard to decide which side to use but it dose mean you can use every little bit of paper. For this page above I just used my craft knife to cut around the leaves and flowers so I could add one of the images under it which looks like an extra layer.

Don't be afraid to cut your papers up and even cut into the images as I did with the hand.

There are also these old advertising images too.

Again I cut around the 2 sides of the Sunlight Soap image to layer it on top of the other soap image. I also added some washi tape too.

These two pages show more of the Gypsy inspired images. The butterfly's came from a large image. As I said don't be afraid to cut them up.

I loved these 2 images and thought all they needed was a little washi tape and some ink.

The last 2 pages I used a couple of the rose images and more of the butterfly and washi tape

Even the back of my book is beautiful using these papers.

I hope you liked looking through my Gypsy Life book, do look at these beautiful papers they really are lovely and great quality too.

You can find the papers I used here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/junque-gypsy-681-c.asp

I also used this washi tape - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/washi-tape-gold-italic-script-22090-p.asp

I inked the edges of my book using this ink -  http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/tim-holtz-distress-ink-pad-stormy-sky-7067-p.asp