Recycle/ Reuse

Hi, how are you all doing with the snow and ice?  We have some more forecast for Friday afternoon & night, but I'm hoping it won't be too bad, as I'd like to see my mum in Liverpool this weekend.

This month, the theme over at The Stampsmith Challenge is to Recycle or Reuse something, using at least one Stampsmith image.  I eventually decided to reuse/alter a white metal plant pot holder - I bought two of these from Ikea a good few months ago, but never got round to putting any plants in them, so they've been sitting empty either side of the fire ever since, but I think it's time they were used!

This is how it started it's life off:

 

Inspired by Lynne's (Adorn) beautifully decorated glass jar, and with the addition of some cream-coloured muslin, lace, trims and pearls, this is how it ended up:

  

I've used beautiful Ophelia on this - I've had this stamp for quite some time but this is the first time I've used it.  It's the only Stampsmith stamp I have which is not a photo stamp, but because I was using shrink plastic, it was the only one I could use. 

Ophelia was stamped onto the Shrink Plastic (by Ranger, and available from Happy Daze) and cut out with a Spellbinders die - I think any of my full size images would've been too large for this pot, to be honest, and I just didn't think they'd look quite right.  I hung Ophelia from a bow with a pearl attached, then added a few more pearls around the top holes with a glue gun (and that was a job in itself, believe me!).   

I've filled this with some rose scented Pot Pourri, and it's now sitting near my tv for now (but could use it for anything, such as brushes, pens, etc).  Just the other one to do now!

I'd like to also enter this into Frilly and Funkie's current challenge, as they would like us to "Spruce It Up", a second entry into Happy Daze Challenge of "Recycle", and finally Simon Says Stamp & Show would like us to show "What You Are Known For" (I love vintage style and usually have some lace somewhere!)

Keep warm and well if you have cold weather!

Bye for now.

Maria xxxxx

Shades of Pink - Craft-Room Challenge DT

Hi, if you are here in the UK, you've probably had a lot of snow - here in Manchester we've not had it too bad, although my home town of Liverpool has had much, much more - I hope you're all well wrapped up and keeping warm and safe.

Another fortnight has passed by and it's time for a new theme over at the Craft-Room Challenge.  This time, Esther is our hostess and she has chosen the theme of:

Monochrome

which she has defined as

'the state or condition of being painted, decorated etc in shades of a single colour'

My creation is a box picture frame measuring approximately 6 " x 6", which I have made into a wall hanging (I'm sure you're very surprised at that, lol), in Shades of Pink and using Oxford Impressions stamps:

The frame was undercoated with Gesso, painted in chalk emulsion in Rose Pink, then overpainted with Camisole Pink.  I then sanded it all down so that a little of the Rose Pink showed through. A piece of untreated artist canvas was painted with the emulsions, then stamped in Rose Madder Archival Ink and attached to the recess of the frame with fabric glue.

The lace across the top of the frame, and the rose trim along the bottom of the recess, was dyed and dried then attached with a glue gun.  I stamped the dress form in Black Archival Ink onto another piece of painted canvas and cut out, attaching some net and lace to form a skirt and attached a pearl in the centre, then mounting it onto the canvas on sticky pads with a little hot glue.  A couple of rolled ribbon roses at the top, pink buttons, and "Feminine" (Clarity Stamps - thank you Julia!) stamped along the bottom, then a piece of ribbon to hang.

It was really difficult to get a good picture, but the first one is a good representation of the colours - the Camisole Pink emulsion is a pale, but very beautiful, shade..

This fortnight we are sponsored by:

 

who supply a unique range of chipboard designs that are both innovative and inspiring, as well as a fabulous range of masks. 

I hope you can join in with our challenge, but if you'd like a little inspiration first, then please check out the fabulous creations from the rest of the team.

Take care

Maria xxxxx

 

My First Notebook...

Hi, I hope you're all ok, and managing to get some crafty time this weekend.  It's forecast snow here in Manchester for today and tomorrow, I believe, with severe weather alarms showing on the weather forecast for the North/North West, but we're not quite as cold as further up north.

I managed to get some time yesterday (one of those pj days :-)) to make my first ever notebook!  It's a little 4 x 4  one - initially I thought this size would be way too small but have definitely changed my mind to "very handy":

It was a very basic and easy one, just a trial run really, but I love how it's turned out:


I covered the outside of the book boards with some dp, and the inside with SU butterfly-themed text paper.  I stamped the script from the TH Papillon set with Distress Stain in Tarnished Brass, on the front and back, then punched the 2 sets of three holes. 

The sentiment is also a TH one, stamped and embossed onto a piece of card cut with a Spellbinders die and coloured with Old Paper DI, then edged with a little Bundled Sage and Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I used a gold Krylon pen around the edge of the die cut and also around the edge of the book boards, and added some green crocheted trim on both the front and back.  The large butterfly I've had for a few years, and although I love it, I never seemed to make the right creation that it would work on, but I though it was perfect for this one.  A SU brad on the front, and a piece of ball chain with a key attached for decoration was hung from the top "o" rings to finish it off.  The inside pages are a coordinating shade of a green.

There is another one in the making soon!

Bye for now

Maria xxxxx

Valentine Ring Box - Craft-Room Challenge DT

Hi, first of all...Happy New Year!  I hope you had a wonderful and restful Christmas, and enjoyed the break and all the festivities.  I always find it a bit sad once the christmas tree and decorations come down, as everywhere looks a bit bare and you know it really is the end of the break for another year.

So, I'm sure you will be pleased to know that it's time for another challenge over at the Craft-Room, and this time it's Nikki's turn to host.  She has chosen the theme of:

VALENTINE

We loved seeing your tags, it was great to see so many variations and different techniques - Hazel definitely has her work cut out to choose just three!  My creation for this challenge is a little wooden heart-shaped ring box:

It was undercoated (inside and out) with Gesso then painted a few times with Chalk White chalky emulsion.  I then stamped part of a rose in two places, coloured with Inktense pencils, and added another thin coat of emulsion, then lightly sanded.   I stamped the Darkroom Door sentiment, the CI swirls on the lid, and the CI flowers on the sides, in black Archival Ink.  I edged in a dark black/gold metallic paste around the top of the lid, then attached the heart trim and seam binding bow with a glue gun.  The two intricate metal embellishments were coated with Viva Decor Metal paint in Mother Of Pearl, and attached with glossy accents - the bottom one was gently bent to fit onto the front.

The inside is simply decorated with a single CI flower inside the base (not shown) and also inside the lid.  As I'm not putting a ring in this little box, I decided to put a Docrafts key charm inside, and wrapped in a piece of white cotton which I stamped with a Darkroom Door keyhole.  I thought I could give it to Dave on Valentines Day and he could put the key charm on his keyring - aren't I an old romantic, lol!!!

This challenge is very kindly sponsored by:

who are offering a prize to the winner of the random draw

Click on the link to visit the shop, as they have a range of beautiful rubber stamps, dies, masks, and lots of other lovely crafty things.

The Design Team have created some beautiful pieces to inspire you, so please pop over and check them out.  I'm really looking forward to visiting you to see your creations.

Bye for now

Maria xxxxx

"Love" Wall Hanging

Hi, having had somewhat of an unintentional break over Christmas, it's now time to get back to it, and post the first of a few things I've recently made.  I hope you enjoyed the Christmas break and the New Year celebrations (my New Year's Resolution has to be to try to post twice a week, but once at the very least :-)). Ours was very quiet, but lovely as it it was our first Christmas with our little grandson, Ethan.

I'd like to share with you a gift I made for the lovely Karen at TLS, as she's just moved into a new home:

This was made using one of the offcuts of mdf I've had stashed away for a while.  It was undercoated with Gesso then a couple of coats of Chalk White chalk paint was applied, sanding between coats.  I then used various stamps to make the background, masking some of them and using the second stamping impression, and coloured the La Blanch rose stamps, which I've had for ages, with Inktense pencils.  Another coat of chalk paint over the stamping, followed by good sanding, and the background was finished:

I stamped "LOVE" from the Oxford Impressions large alphabet, adding some lace beneath, and screwed two little "o" hooks (used for curtain wire) into the top for hanging from (with some soft rope style cord), and one into the centre at the bottom, which I attached a TH pearl to. Other stamps used are by La Blanche (Rose stamps), Stampin' Up (Script), and Stamper's Anonymous/TH (Text Stamp).  Once finished the hanging was edged all the way round in Metallic rub on paste, using the 2nd spot along from the left - although not noticeable, this stuff is invaluable and crops up on so many creations.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Surprise Us (Anything Goes)
Live and Love Crafts - Something Old (mine are: La Blanche Stamps, mdf scrap, and vintage style)
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts - Anything But A Card
Loves Rubberstamps - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes
Happy Daze - Recycle (I used a piece of mdf, which was an offcut from a builder at work, who kindly
                       saved me all the offcuts from the job :-))

I hope you like it.

Maria xxxxx

a little late, but...Happy New Year!!!

Hi

I just want to wish all my friends, followers, and everyone else, a very 

Happy New Year

I really hope that 2013 brings you all peace, happiness and everything you wish for.

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me such lovely comments throughout 2012, 

they're so very much appreciated.

Take care

Maria 

xxxxx