Anything Goes with Sewing Ephemera

I managed to squeeze in some more crafting time to produce this little project for two challenges:  

 CRAFTY INDIVIDUALS - Anything Goes

and

FASHIONABLE STAMPING CHALLENGES - Sew N Sew

I used a Crafty Individuals' wooden box shrine which I bought from them about 2 years' ago.  It has always made me think of a shop window, or shop shelves and so it seemed perfect for this project.  I painted it with some pale cream acrylic paint then spritzed it lightly with Glimmer Mist in Gingerbread.  I stuck a piece of the printed ribbon I bought recently down the right-hand side, pushing it into the squares (you can see the printed image of the woman).  I placed a piece of lace in  the top left-hand square and the pearls between the two recesses.

 Next I sprayed a piece of white card with the Glimmer Mist and wiped it over the card with a piece of sponge.  When dry I used Distress Ink in Black Soot to stamp the CI-306, Corset stamp.  I cut out all the elements from this and stuck them on with small 3-D foam squares, stacking these up on some of the corsets so they were raised.

I wound some embroidery thread round two mini wooden cotton reels and added the tape measure ribbon and the metal scissors also from Crafty Individuals.  

Blogger Templates

Something New - Also Blue

Over at CRAFT ROOM the current challenge is Something New, as in new stash or new idea and it's a great way of getting stuck into new crafting goodies or trying out that idea you saw last year in a magazine or on the web.

I recently bought a set of round, stacking boxes for altering and they've been sitting on the windowsill in front of my craft table waiting for inspiration.  I also bought some new FranTage colours so I've combined the two.

This is the smallest box which I painted with pale blue crafter's acrylic paint then spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Mist in Astral and Glimmer Mist in Gingerbread.  When dry I used a large heart stamp and Blonde Moments Embossing Powder in Savoury Sky Iridescent to heat emboss the pattern round the base of the box.  I put the stamp on an acrylic block and rolled it around the base, only using the top half of the stamp. 

I stuck the lace and ribbon round the lid with Glossy Accents then used Ultra Thick Embossing powder in silver on the lid, mixing this with a little of the blue before the under layer was completely cold.  

I used a small piece of wide blue lace which I pleated and fixed at one end with the brad before fanning the lace flower out.  The two butterflies were cut using the Cricut Indie Art cartridge, covered with Shabby Blue FranTage embossing powder then layered and stuck to the lace.

Blogger Templates

A Simple Page

I still haven't finished the painting but I will by the weekend but here's the scrapbook layout I was working on. 

I took this picture of Keith on holiday and wanted a simple layout for the photo but not white and completely plain.  As there is green foliage in the picture I opted for the orange card stock to brighten the whole page up and added elements of green taken from the photograph.

I used IndigoBlu Alphabet Circus stamp to make the letter tiles and made the words 'Love' and 'Is' for the top left and bottom right corners, dotting the remainder around the page.  The title was stamped using a mixture of other alphabet stamps and the sentiment to the top right of the photo is from Tim Holtz Stuff to Say. 

Blogger Templates

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

Yes I'm still here but I've been very busy this week settling into a new job.  I no longer teach in primary school.  I'm now a University Lecturer in Education with a whole new way of working to get used to.  I've really enjoyed my first week but it's been tiring so I haven't had much time for crafting.  However, as the weeks go by and I get used to my new routine (and all the course codes, phew!!) then there'll be time again for my favourite hobby.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with this photograph I took on holiday recently.  Why am I sharing this? Because I've almost finished a painting of this bird and I'll share it with you at the weekend but hopefully I can post a scrapbook page before then.

Blogger Templates

Altered Bottle for Altered Eclectics

It's the first of the month and that means another challenge over at ALTERED ECLECTICS.  Remember no ATCs, layouts, cards, tags or any other paper craft project, altered art only.

Here's my DT piece, an altered cider bottle.

In case you're wondering, I used most of the cider in a chicken pie and drank what was left.  Well you have to, don't you?

I've used the fabulous Viva Decor Croco Crackle paint on this; the first time I've used it and I really like the finish.  If you are using this on glass or other non-porous surfaces, you need to give the piece a coat of the Croco base paint or primer first.  I chose Blackberry Croco Crackle for this which is a lovely deep purple colour.  When dry I brushed a little of the Viva Precious Metal in silver randomly over small sections to add a bit more interest.

The flowers were made using the Cricut Flower Shoppe cartridge to die cut several layers which were  covered with aged bronze and aged scarlet Fran tage.  The leaves are a free stamp from the September 2011 issue of Craft Stamper Magazine, covered with aged teal Fran tage.

Blogger Templates