a Good Life

Bubbly Scrumptious update...Valentine projects...

2012-02-13T17:49:00.000Z

have you been over to the Bubbly Scrumptious blog to see my latest creations...i've gone all romantic for Valentine's day :0) if not...just click here!

who said Valentine's have to be red or pink, eh? ;0)

constantly amazed!

2012-02-06T20:29:00.001Z

i am constantly amazed by just how many beautiful effects and textures can be created with a little Distress Ink and some water...

now...i have to go and play with some of my other favourite colours...back soon!

a touch more Midas...

2012-02-05T17:40:00.000Z

...this time with FlitterGlu and gilding flakes!

i've finally gotten hold of a pot of the magical FlitterGlu by IndigoBlu and i have to let you know i am massively impressed...finally a gilding glue that does exactly what it says on the tin {actually its not in a tin...but allow me a little poetic licence}. this stuff is amazing, no hanging around, no heating to the magic {and tricky to spot} moment...and no level of detail on a stamp that is too fine for this stuff!! Brilliant. the only bummer i can find to it at all is the smell...but its worth opening the window to use in my opinion :0)

See...pretty impressive stuff, huh? see how it has picked up the tiny border and and the distressed script text...all the details...no hassle. sorry the picture of the whole card is a let down...its really quite pretty in real life as i hope the close ups show!

the Midas touch..?

2012-01-22T11:34:00.000Z

Hi there everyone...today i've come over all Midas...and had a huge desire to emboss everything in gold!
As you can see i'm still bonkers about puzzle cards...and in fact i'm getting complaints from people who get regular non~puzzle cards now, too!! This one is for my Mum who's Birthday is next week...

i find it very difficult to photograph gold embossing and make it look sparkly and as it does in real life...hopefully the close~up gives you a slightly better idea..? if any of you have any tips out there for photographing shiny surfaces, i'd love to hear them...so please share them in the comments form! Thanks :)

i've coloured the whole background in a couple of shades of Brilliance ink and then stamped the lovely heart shaped balloons several times in Teal Versafine. if you look closely you'll see that i've stamped it both ways up, and on the left of my puzzle i've made a border using just the tails. {The stamp is from the Little Feet sheet by Paperbag Studios and is so useful...i love it!}

i then overstamped most of the images and embossed in gold, not inking my stamp between impressions so that some places take the embossing more than others. i added a Happy Birthday stamp, also embossed and swiped my embossing pad all around the edges to give them a touch of the Midas too.

all i have to do now is break it apart and pop it in an envelope...oh...and think of a present to go with it ;0)

a very Merry Christmas LO...

2012-01-17T13:15:00.003Z

a little light~hearted scrapping today...and a LO that took hardly any time or supplies...but that makes me smile when i look at it!

the pp are so pretty that i didn't feel it needed much more, so i simply die~cut an extra bauble onto which i did my journalling and added it with foam above Will's picture...to let you know that these pics were actually taken at 11am in the morning!!

i doodled frames around each of the photos and the Merry Christmas title to make them *co~ordinate* and added a little glitter to the bauble at the bottom.

is it too minimal do you think?

beginning again...art as therapy!

2012-01-15T17:42:00.000Z

do you ever completely lose all sense of yourself? in the last 5 months i have been diagnosed with breast cancer, had two surgeries which have altered my body forever and embarked on a journey of chemotherapy that has taken my hair, my energy all that remained of me. i am no longer the *busty blonde* i have come to think of myself as...and so i'm currently going through a bit of an identity crisis!! in order to help me tackle this, i decided to create this journal page as a way to look back at a time when i was very clear who i was {and heaven help anyone who got in my way ;0) }...maybe, from looking back at the deeper essence of who i was and who i am...i'll eventually come to a place of acceptance...and a new sense of *me*...afterall...i've got more to me than boobs, right?

i studied art as therapy at universitiy and am a firm believer that the most crucial impact of art for me is the process...the act of letting go and expressing my emotions and *being real*. art can be very healing and also revealing...if we let ourselves go and explore the inner workings of our psyche...so here i am...exposing myself and making myself vulnerable...its not something i generally share with people...but maybe there are other of you out there with your own struggles and emotional journeys who might be inspired to have a go yourselves.

its a thoroughly mixed~media affair this page...i've used water colours, water soluble pastels, acrylic paint, stamping, doodling, paper punches and brush pens as well as masking tape, tissue paper and a sponge! i guess that represents that i don't want to be constrained, or categorised!

I'm a creative girl!

2012-01-14T11:00:00.000Z

a quick post over on IACW today...all about less being more...not very me...so a real challenge!!

click here if you'd like to check it out :0)

simple journalling to get back in the flow...

2012-01-10T13:39:00.001Z

when i've been away from crafting for a little while and need to get back in the zone...i find it can be really helpful to keep as simple as possible...limiting my time, my supplies and the scope for getting creatively lost. this journal page is such a page, i gave myself 10 minutes, 3 brush pens and a squirt of ink! its not an awe~inspiring page in terms of technique or perhaps even in terms of what it attempts to say...but i got my thoughts down and got on with creating something...and although its simple...i really like it! :0)

is this a tactic you try when you've been away from your desk for a while? i'd love to hear any ideas you have to kick start yourself again...there seems to be a huge amount of talk on this subject atm...but more on that next time!

a little wine...bottle!

2011-12-28T10:26:00.000Z

Hi there bloggers...i do hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year celebrations.

Despite alot of illness throughout the whole family...we all managed to be well enough on the big day to spend a few hours together and had a thoroughly fabulous time...which i plan to scrap later today! :0) Have you scrapped your day yet??

Now...back to the wine...its not a Christmas whine...but a Christmassy bottle of mulled wine...a perfect but inexpensive gift {depending how much brandy you put in it}. I decorated this empty brandy bottle with Viva Decor Croco paint and tinted it with Saddle Brown Stazon to give it a lovely golden glow. I die cut the label using a Nestability die and stamped and embossed the words "a little festive spirit" in gold embossing powder using a PaperArtsy alphabet. I edged the die cut with Cranberry Adirondack ink using some cut and dry foam to add a little age and depth to the label.

Obviously, the glass changes colour completely when you pop the mulled wine in...

To embellish the bottle i tinted some Prima flowers with the Stazon ink and then used Alchol Inks, dropping them directly onto the white pearl centres and letting the ink run along the veins in the flower. I then dipped the edges of the petals into drops of ink placed onto my craft sheet to get the coppery colour around the edges of the petals. Finally i added some Prima leaves and beads...and i think you have a pretty spectacular gift in minimal time...with maximun impact! The lace i've used was also tinted using the Stazon so all the colours tone beautifully which really helps to create a project that *works* and looks well thought out.

Now...who can you think of in your life that needs a bottle like this..? I think it would make a lovely gift to take to a New Years' Eve party...and if you're not a drinker...you could do a similar bottle and fill it with luxury bubble bath for an alternative kind of treat!

Happy New Year to you all,

alixxx

Bubbly Scrumptious update...oh 3~D Christmas tree...

2011-12-19T11:07:00.001Z

still not able to post pictures...but i have another project over on Bubbly Scrumptious today...just click to here to be magically transported to a world of 3~D trees!

I'm a creative girl!

2011-12-19T09:35:00.000Z

ok...i think i can post if i don't add any pictures...which is a shame Mr. Blogger!!!

i've made a very vintage styled Christmas wreath...but if you want to see my latest creation you'll have to pop over to the IACW blog here :)

i'll be back later if i can get this to work...as i have other things to share...

*frustrated*

Bubbly Scrumptious update...Angel wall hanging

2011-12-07T08:58:00.000Z

Hi all,

This week over at Bubbly Scrumptious we're doing another product focus...this time on the rather lovely wooden words Caroline has in the shop. My word was Angel, but there are 6 different ones to choose from...so do check the blog all week to see what the rest of the DT have created. They are a fabulously talented bunch so i know we'll all be inspired by their work :0)

My full post is here if you'd like to know how i created this!

straight out of Mollie Makes...

2011-12-03T17:01:00.000Z

...its not very often i copy something directly from a magazine {or anywhere else} but this little raindeer totally captured my heart and i had to immediately make one for my new baby niece, Amber. It was designed by Rita Maia and is on page 27 of Issue 8 of Mollie Makes. Pretty cute, huh?

and now i'm wondering how often you make things just as you've seen them in a magazine? or a book...? or on one of the crafting channels? do you always like to make you're own mark on a project or are you happy to make a total copy..? i'd love to know your thoughts...

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a pop~up starcard for Christmas

2011-11-29T12:21:00.001Z

hi all,

just to let you know i have a project up over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog today...just click here to see it!

i hope you like it!
alix

a little advent idea that you still have time to make...

2011-11-27T18:45:00.000Z

if you've not got yet created your own advent calendar...you might like to try this idea that i've posted onto IACW today :0)

sorry for the lack of posts lately...i'm struggling a bit with my chemo...but my brain is storing up ideas in the middle of the night {when i really would like to be asleep...} and there will be lots of things coming in the New Year :0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...sail away with me!

2011-11-15T17:15:00.001Z

hi all,

just to let you know i have a full on nutzo~bonkers posting on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog today...just click here to see the full thing! :0)

alix

I'm a creative girl!

2011-11-13T09:28:00.000Z

I don't know if you've noticed...but i've been invited to join the fabulously talented DT over at Its a Creative World...and i'm sooo happy to join this super fun team who share a wide and wonderful variety of crafty ideas on their blog every day!

Today is my first offering for them...and you can see my creation and details on how to create something similar for yourself...just here.

Don't forget to add IACW to your blog list or follow us as this blog is well worth a regular look :0)

30 minute Thursdays...interchangeable faux amber charms!

2011-11-10T11:03:00.003Z

I love it when a happy crafting accident leads to a discovery...and today's 30 minute Thursday project is a classic example of this...i discovered through laziness that if you don't clean your Melt Pot thoroughly enough when you've been using gold embossing powder in it...and then you add clear UTEE...you get something that looks remarkably similar to amber!! Personally, i've always had a love affair with amber...so i'm particularly tickled by this discovery :0) Add into that the fact that it occurred to me that this technique could be used to make interchangeable charms...and i have to say i'm rather chuffed with today's offering! *blushes slightly*

What you need:
Clear UTEE
Flex
Ranger Ink Essentials Memory Frame
Chipboard shape/costume jewellery pieces/small flowers...whatever you like really as long as it fits in your frame!
leather thong

What you do:
This is such a simple project that i haven't even bothered to give you step by step photos...i really don't think you need them.
First off, melt the clear UTEE in your Melt Pot with a tiny smidge of gold embossing powder {less really is more here and the gold powder is opaque and we want a beautiful translucent liquid}...while that is heating...lay your frame onto a non~stick craft mat and arrange your inclusions in the frame. In the sample above i've used a chipboard flower {from Bee Crafty} which i coloured with gold Brilliance ink. When the UTEE is liquid carefully pour it into the frame, over the flower and gently press half a press stud into the flower centre...leave it to cool...add a thong and some beads and you're done!! See...i told you it was easy!!! I''ve only popped a short length of thonging on this one as we both like the look of it hanging in the kitchen window.

As long as you are careful not to add too much UTEE {no going over the edges}...and because of the way the frames open and close...you can remover the cooled charm...and then do another one with all sorts of other things in the *amber*...i've used a chipboard letter with a fabric rose and some small flowers with some glass chips...but if you want to go for realism with your pendant maybe you could try a dead fly!! ;0)

My favourite of the pieces i tried was this one...with a rather yummy piece of broken jewellery in the middle and i've hung this one on a long thong to wear as a Winter necklace over a cowl neck jumper.

The jewellery piece was quite chunky so the gemstone *ahem* section sticks up above the *amber* and the whole thing feels rather sumptuous. :0)

And there you have it...a simple idea that can be used to create pendants to wear or for hanging in the window...even to hang on the Christmas tree would be lovely. I'm bursting to make a steampunk version of this too with clock parts and cogs...i think that would be fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by and i do hope you'll give this technique a go...

Bubbly Scrumptious update...another slice of apple

2011-11-07T17:59:00.000Z

Hi all,

if you fancy seeing what i've created here...just pop on over to the Bubbly Scrumptious blog for the full details :0)

more charming chainmail...

2011-11-06T11:20:00.001Z

i'm loving this style of jewellery atm...check the previous post if you missed my tutorial...and couldn't resist making a slightly chunkier, more embellished version...this time i've added assorted large red and white glass beads {always buy annealed beads to avoid chipping :0) } and some cute pearly buttons. its all mix and match and i just love it!

30 minute Thursdays...simply charming chainmail

2011-10-27T15:30:00.002+01:00

Jewellery is beautiful...i guess that is the point of it....but it can take forever to make something that looks stylish and unique...in today's 30 Minute Thursday project i share my love of chain mail and my simple take on how to give the technique a go and create a pretty bracelet...in under 30 minutes!

You will need:
2 pairs of jewellery pliers {to open and close the jump rings}
75 jump rings {i use sterling silver ones to prevent allergy issues}
Toggle clasp
7 small glass beads
7 silver head pins

How to do it:
Creating a basic chain mail chain like this one is actually very simple...and endlessly satisfying! ;0) Firstly use your pliers to open one jump ring and thread 4 more onto it, before using the pliers to close the ring again.

You should then have 5 rings that look like this:

Next, open another jump ring and hook the two end rings over it, and add 2 more jump rings, then close the ring. Repeat this, hooking the end two rings and adding 2 more each time, and your chain will look like this!

Once you've got the technique, its surprising how quickly the chain grows so keep a ruler handy to make sure you don't make the chain longer than you need! Add the toggle and bar onto the ends on a double link for extra strength.

If you want to, you can leave the chain at this stage...i think this is really *grown~up* and stylish for a subtle jewellery piece.

I have added simple glass charms to my chain mail chain. This was done by creating a wrapped loop charm with each of my glass beads and attaching them to my chain with a jump ring at regular intervals:

I love how pretty and girlie this is...but understated too...although you could use bolder, bigger charms for a more chunky look if you should choose to!

As always, i do hope you've enjoyed seeing my make and if you do fancy giving this a go...i'd love to hear how you get on...and see the finished creation! :0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a slice of apple...its up!

2011-10-19T14:29:00.000+01:00

the link is here if you'd like to go and check it out! :0)

link!!!

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a slice of apple

2011-10-17T09:52:00.000+01:00

a very Autumnal feeling project for me over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog today...i'll add a llink here when Caroline uploads it :0)

obsessed with puzzle cards...

2011-10-15T09:30:00.000+01:00

oh me, oh my...i've only gone and made another one! ;0)

This one uses a lovely set of Andy Skinner Christmas stamps {the robin and the icicle type border}, and is super pearly and pretty irl. It was so funny watching Ruth try to assemble it in the dim lighting of our local Chinese restaurant...lol

As always i coloured the reverse of the puzzle too before writing my Birthday message :0)

So...what i want to know now...is have you made a puzzle card yet? i've had super feedback from those that received them in the post...Granny spent all day playing with hers! *go Gran*

30 minute Thursdays...shoe revamp!

2011-10-13T17:27:00.000+01:00

I bet i'm not the only one out there with a really comfy pair of shoes that have seen better days...so today's project shows a cute way to revamp a scruffy/stained/scuffed pair of pumps...into a new and rather unique pair!

You'll need an old pair of shoes {obvious really}, some sheets of newspaper, an ink and some Mod Podge:

Tear your newspaper into lots of pieces {not too small or you'll be all day, not 30 minutes!} and mix some Mod Podge with a few sprays of black ink in a glass jar:

Paint your shoes with the Mod Podge mix and cover with the pieces of newspaper. Add a layer of the glue over the newsprint too to add colour and to seal the paper to the shoe:

Continue until you have worked your way all around both shoes. At this point I decided to remove the elastic straps:

When the glue has dried enough for you to handle the shoes, neaten all the edges with a permanent marker pen:

And finally, add a toning flower to each shoe. These are Prima flowers which i've sprayed with the black ink and sealed with Marine Varnish to toughen them up a bit:

Assemble yourself a cute outfit...i'm thinking these will look good with warm tights and a cute grey dress i own...and model your new shoes for all to admire!

I hope that's got your creative juices flowing...and feel free to adapt the idea by using tissue paper instead of newsprint...a pretty coloured pair would be lovely!

can you tell what it is yet..?

2011-10-12T08:44:00.001+01:00

If you'd like to see this puzzle completed...just pop over to the Bubbly Scrumptious blog and see the finished article..here!

30 minute Thursdays...a properly puzzling card!

2011-10-06T18:32:00.000+01:00

Hello again Thursday crafters!

This week's offering is a properly puzzling card...literally a card made onto a puzzle...that you disassemble and pop into the post for the recipient to recreate themselves! Cool, huh? ;0) It can be made as my example shows from a pre~bought jigsaw blank {available in lots of craft shops} or by reusing an old jigsaw and sanding off the picture...so you have no excuses not to have a go!!

Warning!

You'll see from the photos that i have used a selection of the fabulous Dylusions mica and non~mica sprays to create this design...so do work in a protected environment and not over the dining room carpet...and if you've got to go to work later...wear gloves!! lol These sprays are gorgeous...but they do get everywhere...so don't forget your non~stick worksheet...

To begin with, spray some colour onto the blank jigsaw in a light colour, leaving some areas uncoloured:

Next layer some mica infused colours over and around the first colour and allow to blend. Shake the bottles to allow some splattering to occur:

Move your jigsaw to one side to dry. Spritz the ink on the non~stick sheet with a little water and create co~ordinating embellishments by allowing plain paper flowers to absorb the colour:

Dry these with a heat gun and draw in two stalks for your flowers using a large marker pen:

***Glue your flowers onto the stalks, being careful not to glue over the lines of the puzzle ;0)***

Now add a little stamping around the edges of the puzzle {this makes it more fun to put together} and if you wish a message at the bottom:

To finish the design, swipe a permanent black inkpad all around the edges, add a little pen work with a fine black pen and glue some gems into the flower centres:

Turn the puzzle over and create a simpler version on the back...and write your message:

Now all you have to do, is heat set all the ink, and pop all the separated puzzle pieces in a sturdy envelope...and wait for the excited call when your properly puzzling card reaches its destination!

I do hope you've liked this idea...and as always i'd love to hear what you think...
happy crafting,
Alixxxx

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a Christmas box!

2011-10-05T09:58:00.001+01:00

do pop on over to the Bubbly Scrumptious blog to see my latest project...a versatile Christmas box...

just click here!

thankyou
:0)

30 minute Thursdays...coaster from scraps!

2011-09-29T17:28:00.000+01:00

Welcome back again Thursday crafters :0)

This week i have a cute project for you that helps you to make something useful...a coaster or trivet...or maybe even a pot stand for a cute plant...and all out of the scrap cardstock left over from scrapping or cardmaking...and one of the cardboard rings from your double sided sticky tape rolls! As always on a Thursday...you can do it in double quick time too :0)

First up, you need to assemble your supplies...you'll need some cardstock that you no longer love, or leftovers from other projects...you could even use junk mail! You'll also need an empty DSST ring, some craft glue {PVA or your favourite kind}, a metal ruler and a craft knife.

Cut a cardstock strip 12" long and the same width as your ring. Use this strip to cover the outside of your cardboard ring and use a peg or clip to hold into place while the glue dries. Colour the top of the ring with a permanent ink that tones nicely.

While this is drying, cut more cardstock strips of the same width...using your knife and ruler or a paper trimmer.

Curl the strips in your fingers, as if you were rolling up an old fashioned tape measure.

As you curl your strips, glue them into place inside the ring as shown below. Make sure you glue the end to the outside for neatness. Complete the outside ring and then glue 5 or 6 strips together to create one mammoth strip and roll this to form the centre. Alternatively, you could make another ring of small coils with one coil in the middle...just play!

Glue your massive coil into the middle making sure you have glue where each coil touches. Attach a diecut scalloped circle or chipboard shape to the bottom for stability and place a heavy book on top and leave for the glue to dry. At this stage you could simply hang your project as a cute work of art...it looks lovely in a window if you don't add the backing as the light travels right through :0)

To use as a coaster, add a couple of coats of Marine varnish {a spray sealant available in model shops} and add your favourite mug!

As always...i do hope you've enjoyed today's little project and i'd love to know if you have a go and create one of your own...or if you just spark off the idea to create something quite different!

If you'd like to win this one...simply leave a comment with your name and e~mail address...and i'll randomly choose one person to win it!

come and win a rather fabby prize!!

2011-09-28T21:36:00.000+01:00

if you fancy a little challenge...come over to the Bubbly Scrumptious blog and see our new challenge feature...with an amazing prize up for grabs!!

just click here to see the DT's designs...and how to enter...good luck :0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a little Christmas sparkle

2011-09-26T13:51:00.004+01:00

hi all,
just to let you know that over on the Bubbly blog this week i have a quick, vintage style Christmas card for you to make...you can see it here :0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...the whole hydrangea

2011-09-19T18:00:00.003+01:00

Hi all...limited crafting still here due to the surgery...but i've got a Bubbly update for you...the full instructions on how to turn your hydrangea heads from last week into a full bush! Do click here to see my full post.
Back soon...hopefully with the return of 30 minute Thursdays...watch this space!
:0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...how to make a hydrangea

2011-09-14T18:16:00.002+01:00

just recovering from Op number two this month...and believe me the body does not like two lots of anaesthetic in such a short period of time...will be back asap...in the meantime you might like to check out my latest Bubbly Scrumptious offering...just click here :0)

stay well...and chat soon ;0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a whole lot more utee

2011-09-05T17:27:00.000+01:00

hi gang,

apologies for the lack of blogging...i've been having some surgery and couldn't use my right arm for a while there...bummer, eh??? but i seem to be back in the land of craft now...so i'm happy again :0) i will have to have some nasty chemotherapy over the next few months so blogging may be erratic i'm afraid...but hang in there with me...and i'll share what i can...when i can...and your little comments will keep me going through the difficult times :0)
**if you have breast cancer too and want to say hi...please do!**

anyho...enough of that...today over at the bubbly scrumptious blog i have another UTEE project that i hope you'll enjoy...pop on over to see it here.

Bubbly Scrumptious update...all of a flutter

2011-08-16T09:21:00.002+01:00

Have you popped over to Bubbly Scrumptious to check out my latest project, yet? I'm still playing with my Melt Pot and this time adding some chipboard and fabric shapes to create a little wearable art...just click here for all the details and instructions :0)

30 minute Thursdays...a very simple needle book

2011-08-11T19:00:00.001+01:00

hi there Thursday crafters!

a useful 30 minute project for you today...a very simple needle case using leftover felt pieces...another project which is simple enough to do with the younger crafters in your lives...but cute enough to do for yourself or even as a gift for another stitcher :0)

You will need:

2 colours of felt

embroidery floss and a large holed needle

scissors and/or a die cutter

a button

some needles

Begin with 3 pieces of felt layered one upon the other. I have alternated light and dark for contrast and my pieces are roughly 6" x 3".

Add a simple line of running stitch through the centre to create a spine for your needle book and hold the pages together. Do a double stitch {i.e. stitch again over the original stitch} at either end and tie a knot. Trim this fairly closely. Make sure your stitches do not go right to the edges!!

Close the book up and use big sharp scissors to cut it into a fun shape...this is why you didn't want to stitch right to the edge...you don't want to cut your stitching ;0)

Fill the leaves of your book with a selection of needles or pins of your choosing...

Finally, we will decorate the book. I've cut two Tim Holtz tattered floral blooms on my Big Shot and layered them with a toning button in the middle. Sew these together and then sew onto the front to hold the front down and keep your book in shape, and to give it a bit of personality. If you don't have a die cutter you could cut any simple flower shape by hand and make a truly unique needle book.

Thanks for stopping by and as usual i hope you enjoy having a go at this project...its part of my never ending quest to create a simpler, more organised craftroom!! lol

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a whole lot of utee

2011-08-08T18:43:00.000+01:00

today's post should be available now...just click here for the details :0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a man for all seasons ;0)

2011-08-01T11:24:00.001+01:00

Morning all...this week's Bubbly offering is a cute idea to do with the children over the holiday...little Christmas men made from Maya Road's chipboard shapes! Of course they could easily be Birthday men or footballers...whatever floats your boat...just change the papers you use!

All the details are here :0)

30 minute Thursdays...the pom pom coaster...on a Saturday!!!

2011-07-30T18:14:00.000+01:00

ok...so there has been a definite lack of 30 minute Thursdays of late...but better late than never, here is the project i prepared but you never got this week! :0)

its a cute and practical coaster for your cup of whatever to rest on while and the colours can be adapted to suit your colour scheme...so why not give it a go..? a handful of these tied with string would make a super gift too ;0)

You need:
a coaster base ~ an unwanted coaster to recover, a coaster blank or as i've used some unwanted cork floor tiles die cut into circles in the Big Shot!
Tacky Glue {or similar strong glue}
String
Pom pom trim

Coat the entire top surface of your coaster with a thick layer of the Tacky Glue {i spread mine with a lolly stick} and apply your pom pom trim all the way around the edge. Overlap the ends slightly.

Next take your string and create a tight spiral starting in the middle of the coaster and winding round and round. Press the string into the glue as you go and it holds nicely :0) Don't worry if you're not exactly in the middle...this becomes obvious as you increase the spiral and you have plenty of time to slide into the right position.

When your spiral reaches the pom pom trim, apply a line of glue onto the trim {not the pom poms...the flat bit} and overlap your spiral to hold the trim firmly in place.

Trim your string to the right length and use a pokey tool to tuck the end underneath the spiral to finish off neatly and prevent little fingers undoing all your work...now leave to dry! The glue doesn't show at all in the dry version :0)

what now..? time for a cuppa i think and a sit back to admire your handiwork!

looking on the bright side...

2011-07-29T18:45:00.001+01:00

hi there one and all...sorry for the lack of blog action for the last couple of weeks...all is not bright and shiny in alixland atm...but i'm doing my best to look on the bright side of things...and as proof...i'm even sharing a quick page from my journal with you:

well i did say it was *bright*...i hope you've brought your shades!

... it was created in front of the telly using a Pitt Artist pen and some Neocolour II crayons with a waterbrush. You can get brilliant colour and texture with these crayons on the lovely watercolour paper...but if like me...you're distracted...and using a nasty lamp to light your work...the colours can look a little odd by the following morning! see that section where the bottle doesn't even look coloured???? very odd...but sometimes just getting a thought down and out of my head is enough...its doesn't always have to be *art* in and of itself for me :0)

as always, thanks for stopping by...even more thanks for leaving me an encouraging comment...and do bear with me...i will be back in full blogging stride again asap!

Bubbly Scrumptious update...embossing with Tando!

2011-07-25T08:14:00.000+01:00

its amazing how much fun you can have with a Tando mask and some sandpaper...come and see what i've been upto on the Bubbly blog! click here :0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...Christmas at Trevelyan LO

2011-07-18T19:32:00.000+01:00

a LO for you today over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog...come and see it...here!

30 minute Thursdays...a funky button ring...

2011-07-14T08:55:00.000+01:00

Morning all, time for another 30 minute Thursday project...a rather funky button ring. This is a great project to do with the girls in your life...young and old...and would make a great sleepover activity!

You will need some wire and a couple of buttons. I cut my wire into three 9" lengths:

Loosely plait the middle section of your wires to hold them together {this is much easier if you have someone else hold one end!!}...just plait enough to go around your finger:

Check it by bending it around your finger and twisting the wire together to keep the join where you want it:

Remove your finger...and you now have a ring with 6 legs! Notice how your plait seems so much neater when you've bent it round into a circle? Magic! ;0)

Add your buttons to 2 of the longest threads by pushing the wire up through the back, over the middle and down through the other hole:

The back of your ring will look like this and you can stop at this stage, twisting the wire gently into a small spiral behind the button and trimming neatly {making sure you have no rough edges to catch on your finger} this will create a simple button ring...

...but i like to take it a bit further and add a coiled wire petals for extra fun to my rings! Simply use round nose pliers to make a small loop on the end of each wire and then use your fingers to make loose spirals with each of the wires. Arrange the spirals to look like petals all facing the same way and you're done!

And here is my finished funky button ring:

...and here is another...slightly smaller buttons this time {i only have small hands}:

...and finally...my favourite but most bonkers version...the super~sized funky ring!!

Bubbly Scrumptious update...the butterfly collection

2011-07-11T09:25:00.001+01:00

Morning all...a new project of mine is up on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog today...if you want to check it out, just click here!

30 minute Thursdays...a fabulous star decoration...

2011-07-07T18:43:00.004+01:00

Another Thursday quick project today...how to use what we learned on Monday's Bubbly Scrumptious Blog posting...not to make a starbook...but to adapt it to make a rather fabulous star shaped decoration! These are great for parties, children could even do them...and they'd be super for Christmas fairs if you want to use a little bit of stash to raise a whole load of cash! :0)

Firstly, cut yourself 21 strips of double sided pp, to the sizes listed below. This is really quick if you use your paper trimmer.

Secondly, use a wet glue to stick the sections together...one strip of each size, glued as shown below with a little glue on either end.

When your sections are all glued together, stack them by glueing one on top of another adding the glue as shown below:

Now add some ribbon with some strong tape and glue the first section to the last section, opening the star out to form the shape.

Your star should now look like this!

Add a flowery embellishment to the middle of the star with a generous amount of glue...this will help to stabilise the points if you've used thinnish pp...but it looks lovely even if you don't need it!

Finally, hang your decoration up...this one is going to go to my sister and her hubby to decorate the nursery they are preparing for their much anticipated baby...

Warning:

You may well be asked to make lots of these...people do seem to be disproportionately impressed with the skill required to achieve these babies...but i won't tell if you don't!! ;0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...step by step starbook!

2011-07-04T09:20:00.002+01:00

If you love the look of starbooks and are unsure how to create them...then today's Bubbly Scrumptious post is perfect for you...just pop over here to see the step by step photos!

of course they can be decorated for any theme...but the real stars of my book are the children...love these two angels! xxx

30 minute Thursdays...personalised keychain...

2011-06-30T12:07:00.007+01:00

Hi all...its Thursday again...so time for another 30 minute project...this week i've created a personalised keychain with a photo of my hubby on it. Of course, you're unlikely to want my hubby on your keychain...so feel free to add photos of your children, pets or favourite flowers...whatever you love!

Materials:

1 large Tim Holtz facet and the jump rings you get in the pack

Glossy Accents

2 charms of your choosing

alcohol inks

Stickles

a scrap of ribbon

a keychain

a scrap of pp

a photo

The first step is to adhere your pp to your facet using a smoosh of Glossy Accents. Move the facet around a bit {wiggle it} to spread the glue and allow it to dry for about 30 seconds. Cut carefully around the facet.

Next, adhere your photo to the reverse of the pp just as before, wiggling the facet for good adhesion...and allow to dry. Trim as before and using a pokey tool, remake the hole all the way through so you can attach the jump ring.

Using the jump rings in the pace of facets, make a simple chain of 5 rings with the keychain on one end and the facet on the other. Take your charms and colour them by dabbing with alcohol inks and when dry {again about a minute unless you've totally soaked them!} add a dab of glitter glue with your finger for some subtle sparkle. Leave this to dry, then using two more jump rings attach the two charms to the chain.

The final step is to simply tie on a piece of co~ordinating ribbon and attach keys!

And there you have it...a simple but personalised keychain perfect for a gift or as in my case, just for yourself...because *you're worth it* muahahahahaha

Bubbly Scrumptious update...tote~ally Colorwashed!

2011-06-27T10:59:00.004+01:00

hi all,

i do hope you'll pop over the Bubbly Scrumptious and check out today's colorwash project...here's a sneak peak :0) and here is the link!

this would make a super project to keep the children out of trouble during the holidays...go on...you know they'd love to! ;0)

who did that???

2011-06-24T18:49:00.008+01:00

i swear it wasn't me! lol and to hide my shame i've made the picture really small...if you want to see the true horror...just click the picture and i'm fairly confident it will get huge!

why is it whenever i'm crafting i end up working in the smallest possible area on my desk and collecting all sorts of crafting paraphernalia in stacks all around me..? it drives me nuts...and i can only imagine how it makes my hubby feel!! maybe that is why just pops in with raw carrots and quickly hops off again...either that or he's a rabbit! ;0)

30 minute Thursdays...a very versatile pin...

2011-06-23T19:40:00.005+01:00

Aesthetically i love this time of year and lately i've been very inspired by all the lovely flowers that are blossoming around me. Today's 30 minute project was inspired by the beautiful rambling roses my FIL grows...i hope you like it as much as i like the roses! ;0) its a simple rose pin that could be used for a myriad of things and in many situations...how about as a bag, coat or hat pin, a Wedding boutonnière {is that the right word??}, as an embellishment on a hairclip...

This is a super easy project and in fact you could create more than one in 30 minutes if felt so inclined! So what do you do?

First take a 40cm length of scalloped velvet ribbon and wind this around and around as you do when you're tidying up the tape measure. Let it slacken slightly and add a generous dollop of Tacky glue to a section of felt slightly larger than the coil. Trim the felt into a simple flower shape and layer another slightly larger piece of felt underneath, again trimming to a rough rose shape. Take a fancy pin {or create your own with regular pins and a few small beads} and push this into the centre of the rose. Now cut a piece of wide green ribbon for the leaves. Fold the ribbon in from both ends to the middle with a slight overlap...pop the pin through the middle hiding the ends and glue this into place. Finally, using small pliers bend the pin at a right angle and use this as a simple brooch attachment, or trim and glue on whatever attachment you prefer.

Easy, huh? This works well in all sorts of colourways and it looks so good in all sorts of places...mine has come to rest on the kitchen roll as i just loved the spotty ribbon agains the spotty towel!! ha haaa not a very practicle place really...i think it will come to rest permanently on my wicker type beach bag :0)

another easel card...

2011-06-21T18:36:00.003+01:00

this one was for Katy {Craft Stamper Ed...so i figured i'd better make a stamped card}...and used one of the lovely lace flowers i'm so into at the moment.

apologies for the dodgy photo but i took this in a super hurry as i was getting ready to go out for her party!!

Bubbly Scrumptious update...

2011-06-20T09:44:00.003+01:00

today's post is here for anyone who is interested :0) its all about colorwash sprays and Tim's faux batik technique!

oh my...we appear to be able to create links...upload a photo...now i wonder if it will publish today too!! lol

was it a fluke???

2011-06-11T12:49:00.001+01:00

just wondering if the elusive 30 minute cardi picture will show today..?

hmmmm...i guess we're not fixed then!!

can we do pictures today?

2011-06-09T13:53:00.001+01:00

just wondering if Blogger will let me upload yesterday's picture, today...??

testing, testing. 1. 2. 3.

2011-06-07T11:08:00.003+01:00

just curious if Blogger will let me play today...in case it will...here is the link to my Bubbly Scrumptious posting this week :0)

hmmm....still not working with photos...**grrrrrr's**

30 minute Thursdays...create a cardi!

2011-05-28T09:49:00.013+01:00

Hello+again+30+minute+crafters...and+what+have+we+this+week...create+a+cardi...in+half+an+hour..%3F++You+bet%21+%3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AFor+this+project+you%27ll+need+a+thickish+t%7Eshirt+in+a+colour+you+love+%7Bmine+is+cerise%7D%2C+5+clear+buttons%2C+some+pp+that+co%7Eordinates+with+your+t%7Eshirt+and+some+embroidery+thread.++Make+sure+your+t%7Eshirt+is+a+size+larger+than+the+cardi+you+want+to+create+as+making+the+overlapping+button+area+will+effectively+make+it+a+good+size+slimmer%21%21+lol%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ca+onblur%3D%22try+%7Bparent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully%28%29%3B%7D+catch%28e%29+%7B%7D%22+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9_d_sRwdhjI%2FTeC6iGqBljI%2FAAAAAAAACr0%2Fbaho_kWUGfA%2Fs1600%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bcut%252Band%252Bpin.jpg%22%3E%3Cimg+style%3D%22display%3Ablock%3B+margin%3A0px+auto+10px%3B+text-align%3Acenter%3Bcursor%3Apointer%3B+cursor%3Ahand%3Bwidth%3A+259px%3B+height%3A+320px%3B%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9_d_sRwdhjI%2FTeC6iGqBljI%2FAAAAAAAACr0%2Fbaho_kWUGfA%2Fs320%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bcut%252Band%252Bpin.jpg%22+alt%3D%22%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611690230768834098%22+border%3D%220%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fa%3EThe+first+step+is+illustrated+above...using+sharp+scissors+cut+your+t%7Eshirt+directly+up+the+middle+ofselectBloggerImabrave%21++Then+lay+tB%7D+catch%28e%29+%7B%7D%22+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yh1VfCsyxq8%2FTeC44muJcbI%2FAAAAAAAACrk%2F6dAPiZH6U-o%2Fs1600%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bbuttons%252Bon.jpg%22%3E%3Cimg+style%3D%22margin%3A+0px+auto+10px%3B+width%3A+250px%3B+height%3A+320px%3B+text-align%3A+center%3B+display%3A+block%3B+cursor%3A+pointer%3B%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611688418309927346%22+alt%3D%22%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yh1VfCsyxq8%2FTeC44muJcbI%2FAAAAAAAACrk%2F6dAPiZH6U-o%2Fs320%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bbuttons%252Bon.jpg%22+border%3D%220%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fa%3ENext+take+your+embroidery+thread+and+sew+the+buttons+on+in+line+with+each+of+your+buttonholes...and+pat+yourself+on+the+back+for+making+a+new+cardi+out+of+a+t%7Eshirt%21++Because+the+buttons+we%27ve+made+aren%27t+washing+machine+proof...i%27ve+stitched+them+on+with+a+couple+of+stitches+each+and+tied+a+knot+in+the+front+so+i+can+easily+snip+them+off+if+i+want+to+wash+my+cardi+and+pop+them+back+on+in+no+time+%3A0%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cdiv%3E%3Ca+onblur%3D%22try+%7Bparent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully%28%29%3B%7D+catch%28e%29+%7B%7D%22+href%ou+wiggle+it+to+spread+the+glue...then+simply+cut+them+out+carefully+with+sharp+scissors+and+then+hold+them+up+to+a+bright+light+to+remake+the+holes+using+a+pokey+tool.++Do+this+from+the+back+for+neatth%3A+297px%3B+height%3A+320px%3B+text-align%3A+center%3B+display%3A+block%3B+cursor%3A+pointer%3B%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611686751764393026%22+alt%3D%22%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xyqYxXdWLkY%2FTeC3XmWurEI%2FAAAAAAAACrc%2FuOAOeLU4ekk%2Fs320%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bensemble.jpg%22+border%3D%220%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fa%3ENow+style+your+new+cardi+with+a+cute+cami+and+a+fun+necklace+and+step+out+into+the+World+to+show+them+your+new+style%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%7BYou+may+notice+that+my+finished+cardi+has+cute+stitching+around+the+sleeve+hems...this+did+not+happen+during+the+30+minutes...i+must+confess+i+added+this+while+i+was+watching+The+Apprentice%21%21++Naughty+Alix...that%27s+a+bit+like+cheating%2C+right%3F++Well+the+stitchin+is+optional...so+you+decide%21%7D%0D%0A%3Cdiv%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E

30 minute Thursdays...create a cardi!

2011-05-26T11:14:00.015+01:00

in honour of another wonderful Wedding day...

2011-05-26T07:44:00.002+01:00

my darling cousin is getting married in Kefalonia today {which is now yesterday because Blogger is NOT PLAYING NICE ATM!!}...as i couldn't be there to celebrate with them...i decided to make myself a necklace to wear on the big day...using some pearly beads {the dangly bits} that were on the cuffs of the bridesmaids' dress that i wore when her parents got married and i was only 7 years old!

bubbly scrumptious update...beaded beauty LO

2011-05-23T09:32:00.002+01:00

morning all...do you remember these beaded flowers i showed you how to make a couple of weeks ago? well today they are featured on a Prima Reflections LO over on Bubbly Scrumptious...along with a rosette made in the same way as my Everlasting Bouquet flowers...do pop over to see it...here!

thanks...and have a crafty week!

what happened to 30 minute Thursday this week, eh?

2011-05-20T11:30:00.001+01:00

sorry chaps...i just couldn't cope with the pc at all yesterday...i was emerging from a baaaaaad migraine...and had gone into the *post migraine haze*...all will hopefully be back on track for next week!

bubbly scrumptious update...Tim's fragments...

2011-05-16T09:54:00.003+01:00

i do hope you'll pop on over to Bubbly Scrumptious and see what i've made for you today...using Tim's darling fragments and some yummy Prima pp :0)

just click here!

making the most of 30 minute Thursdays...

2011-05-15T12:43:00.002+01:00

sometimes i even take my own advice...lol...and this week when i needed a Birthday card i looked to my 30 minute Thursdays and made an easel card with a lace flower on it! thats 2 prompts for the price of 1 in my book ;0)

i'm happy to say jaki seemed to love it...and i hope you continue to have a stupendous Birthday week, hon xxxxx

a free class!

2011-05-15T10:21:00.004+01:00

hi everyone...i have a free sketch class online at UKS today...it officially for the Green Buttons house members...but if you'd like to play along feel free to add your LO as a link here! :0)

there will be a wee prize for someone!

:0)

bubbly scrumptious update...simple wire flower tutorial

2011-05-09T09:07:00.002+01:00

Morning all...especially those of you popping in from the Bubbly Funk forum...i have no idea why i've been unable to upload to the Bubbly Scrumptious blog for the last three days...so rather than have you miss out, i thought i'd upload my simple wire flower tutorial here instead!

How to Create a Simple Wire Flower:

Ingredients:

70cm length of craft wire available from Bubbly Funk {just click to buy it and see all the other yummy goodies in the shop}

125 seed beads

Method:

Thread 25 seed beads onto the length of wire and twist to create a petal shaped loop as shown below...

Thread on 25 more beads and twist again to create the second petal shape...it helps to leave a gap between the petals as the wire centre will gather here...

Thread on another 25 beads...i'm guessing you can see where this is going by now...and create yourself a third petal shaped loop...this time as well as twisting the wire to make the loop...wind it between the petals a few times to start building up your flower middle...

Thread on another 25 beads, make your fourth petal shape and continue to wrap the wire around the center of the flower about 5 times...working in between each petal...

Thread on the final 25 beads and create your fifth loop in exactly the same way, wrapping the wire around the middle another 5 or 6 times to create a juicy flower center. You can finish the flower either by leaving the two wire ends for a stem and twisting them together...or as i have done here, by tucking them into the knot of wire at the back and trimming with wire cutters or strong scissors.

As a final touch, bend each petal into a slight curved shape to give dimension and mimick a real flower...then attach to your chosen project.

These flowers are very simple to create and can be created in a multitude of sizes by altering the number of beads used per petal...or by not using the beads at all and simply measuring the length of your first petal to get an even sized flower. They can also be used in lots of ways...they look fabby on coat lapels or headbands...attached to handbag flaps or on the front of cards or scrapbook LO's.

i hope you like the flower and will have a go at creating it...and don't forget to check back in for my next tutorial where we'll take this idea and make a much more complex flower!

thanks for stopping by and to all who leave encouraging comments...they are truly appreciated!

:0)

a LO that makes me smile...

2011-05-07T13:37:00.004+01:00

a super quick LO today...using a sketch by Lisa Day from her 28 days of sketches class over on BPC...i love having a sketch when i'm in a hurry...and i love that i managed to scrap all these cute photos that have been collecting in my *not used* pile for a while all in one go! :)

it may not suprise you to know that this is sketch one...and she's already onto sketch three...but hey ho...i knew i wouldn't do them all ;) how many do you think i'll get done next week??? huh? lol

30 minute Thursdays!

2011-05-05T12:41:00.004+01:00

Wow its Thursday again...i swear i have no idea what time of day it is, let alone which day of the week what with all these Bank Holidays and royal events! So...thinking it probably is Thursday...i've designed a rather cute little any occasion card that can be completed in 30 minutes...i hope you like it!

Its basically an easel card, so first off take a white card blank and fold the front flap in half inwards, to create the triangle shape, as you see in the photo below :) That was easy, huh? now all we have to do it decorate it and create a step!

i've glued a strip of bobbly trim to the bottom of the card and then added my message {a rubon} and a gem to a strip of cardstock which i've attached with foam to raise it up. this is what holds the triangle flap in place.

i've decorated the top section by covering it with a scrap of pp that i adore {its a DCWV one} and edging it with ink from a big brush pen. my main embellishment is a simple stamped flower which i've coloured directly on the stamp, huffed on...and stamped onto white cardstock and cut out. the india ink pens i've used are one of my favourite things atm...and the stamp i've used is one of my hand cut ones...but you could use any flower you have to hand...or any suitable image you choose...

once my flower was stamped and cut out, i simply matted it with a paper frame i had and backed it with another scrap of pp...3 gems and a ribbon bow later...and its done! simply adhere the whole thing with more foam tape {only on the bottom half of the design so you can fold it, remember}...and the best thing about these cards is that even though they have a lot of dimension to them standing up...you can fold them flat for posting and fitting in the envelope...yay!

here is the stamp i used and the pens in case you're interested in them...they are brilliant...but if you don't have them...don't worry...just use whatever pens you have got :)

ok...hope you like today's post and will give it a go...and if you do...remember to pop back and tell me all about it!

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-05-02T10:02:00.001+01:00

do pop over and check out today's Bubbly Scrumptious blog post...another LO using the stunning Prima Reflections collection :) Thanks!

trying again...and a bit of jewellery...

2011-05-01T18:51:00.003+01:00

still very much a novice jewellery maker...i've been experimenting with creating a floating necklace this week...i love glass beads and chunky ones at that...and i'm a big fan of long necklaces {mainly because i've got such a big, fat neck!!} both of these things mean that a necklace can get pretty heavy, but by using crimp beads to separate the beads and float them along the tiger tail wire...i can have the look i want, with the beads i want...without weighing myself down! Rah! ;)

if anyone has any tips on photographing long thin jewellery...i'd be super grateful if you'd share them!!

i'm loving playing with beads and wire atm...and i'm working on a chain maille charm bracelet which i hope to share later in the week...so if you like that kind of thing too...watch this space...

and finally...here is a photo of my journal page from Thursday...see how much more subtle and vibrant it is than the scanned image? :0)

30 minute Thursdays!

2011-04-28T18:12:00.005+01:00

Welcome back to the 30 minute Thursday spot...where i share something i've created in...well...you can guess how long i give myself, right? ;) i encourage you to join in too and leave me a link in the comments to your 30 minute projects too :)

This week i got to thinking about how daunting a brand new journal can be...how intimidating some people find all those pristine blank pages...so i thought i'd share my way to deal with *first page fear*...i tend to make the first page a sort of mission statement for the journal...a promise and a challenge to myself about what i want to create within the journal...and that is exactly what i've done here...

the fear is dealt with also by restricting the materials i can use...in this case only what is out on my desk...and it all has to be done and dusted in less time than it takes to make dinner :)

i'd love to see if this strategy works for you...to help you get started...because once the first page is done...its so exciting to fill all the other pages and doesn't seem so oddly scary...another theory i have...is that all journal pages do not have to be beautiful!! this might seem a bit radical...but i don't want to censor the pages that don't quite hang together...or don't quite work out...there is something to be learned from these pages...often more than the ones where you've stayed in your comfort zone and made *a pretty picture*...am i right here?

Apologies for the properly poor quality of today's photo...i opted to scan my page...i won't be doing that again unless its raining...{which is a shame because its a lot less effort than dragging myself, my camera and my crafty delights downstairs into the garden and back again...but hey ho!}

ok, happy journalling...do share your mission statement pages...and see you soon!

ps the journalling on this page reads:

*which way now?*
it may not be an easy journey and it will not always be a pretty path we follow...but this journal and i will travel through techniques and ideas together...hopefully arriving at a destination where i feel i've found *my style*...but then again...we'll probably just have found our flow!

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-04-25T12:07:00.002+01:00

an actual scrapbook LO for you today over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog...do pop over and see it...here!

and because i'm super thoughtful...this is a project you can complete in less than 15 minutes...leaving you plenty of time for scoffing your Easter chocolate!! ;)

30 minute Thursdays!

2011-04-21T19:50:00.005+01:00

For this week's 30 minute Thursday i decided to whip up a Speckled Easter Egg Hunt kit!

The little flags are created by stamping an Easter egg shape and the words *eggs this way* onto black cardstock and embossing with Adirondack matte embossing powders. I don't often use these powders as they give a mottled, speckled effect...but its just perfect for creating speckled eggs!

once i'd stamped the egg shapes i simply cut them out and taped them to kebab sticks so i can stick them into the grass on Sunday :) Easy peasy, huh? and super fun to do with your children if you have them {i don't...so i tend to borrow other people's ;) }

i created my own stamp from speedy carve rubber and lino cutting tools...but if you don't have any of this...you can easily create a simple egg shape with a potato...and amazingly...you can still emboss it!! who knew!! if you don't want to do any stamping at all...look for some Easter themed clipart and print out some flags using your printer...or get the children to draw them :)

once you've created your flag signs...simply pop them in the groud all around the garden and then hide your little eggs not too far away...unless you want the guests to spend a LONG time in the garden ;)

this is my stamp {which coincidentally also took less than 30 minutes to create}...notice that you have to do reverse the lettering...and i did that *almost* perfectly...did you spot it??? lol

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-04-18T09:27:00.001+01:00

morning crafty peeps...just to let you know i have a new post over at Bubbly Scrumptious...do come and check it out here! thanks :)

tick tock...i altered a clock!

2011-04-17T17:14:00.003+01:00

Wow...i'm usually complaining that its too dark to photograph anything well...*i need some daylight*...but today...i think its actually a bit too sunny...and its overexposed and washed out all the colours!! i'd rather be grumpy with sunshine than without it though, eh? ;) i love this simple clock blank that is available at Bubbly Funk {just click here if you want to buy one!} and i thought it would be ideal in my craftroom...so i've used up some scraps of pp and bits and bobs in soft colours that go with my room. the hands were black which i didn't love...so i coloured them pearly white with a paint dabber and let them dry before attaching them...i created my clock face background by taking a pale pp and stamping over it and adding stickers and rubons and a large paper flower cutout, added some number stickers and dots, then smeared the whole lot in transparent Viva Decor crackle paint to give it a slightly glossy, sealed finish with a barely there crackle look. as a finishing touch, i ran a like of crystal stickles all around the edge for a bit of extra definition and added a sparkly gem sticker to the top of the hand shaft to finish it off nicely :) another fairly quick and simple project...must be something in the air at the moment...or maybe i'm just busy...anyho...i have hanging baskets to water...so i must be away...ttfn!

30 minute Thursdays!

2011-04-14T18:00:00.007+01:00

Hi everybody...welcome to my new weekly feature...*30 minute Thursdays*! If you're anything like me,...you like to create something most days but sometimes you'll be short on time, on energy or inspiration...this is where my new feature comes in...each week, on a Thursday, i'll share a quick, and inspirational project that can be completed in less than 30 minutes...using only things that you are likely to have in your craft stash already! i'll vary the techniques and materials from week to week...so expect to see stamping, sewing, altering and inking...and even some surprises! Sound good? i do hope you'll join me on my 30 minute journeys each week...and if you leave me a link to your project...you could a win a wee prize too! :) This week i've started with a pretty beaded bag charm: To create this you'll need a bag clip or key ring, 8 or more jump rings, 5 or more headpins and an assortment of small charms and beads that you love. Tool~wise you'll need a small pair of jewellers' pliers to open and close the jump rings...and this is the most complicated part of the whole project! Start by making a chain from the jump rings, using the pliers and your fingers or tweezers to open and close the jump rings and attach the chain to the bag charm...then take your beads and one by one place them on a headpin and create a top loop with the pliers, winding the excess wire around the top to finish off...and attach to the jump rings in a pleasing arrangement...et voila! as you'll see i've made two samples {both in the 30 minutes!} using an assortment of beads and charms that i had to show you what different looks you can achieve with the same basic design...one pink and girly...and one with wooden beads and pearls which is more sophisticated :) i hope you'll agree this is a quick, simple gift idea that would be ideal for all sorts of people and occassions... do let me know if you have a go at this...and leave me a link to be in with a chance of winning a little beading gift... of course...if you have any questions...do leave those in the comments section too and i'll do my vest to help!

i promised you a face...

2011-04-12T13:34:00.004+01:00

...and here it is...my first ever attempt at painting a face...and an angel at that!! obviously...i'm hoping practice will make perfect...so i'll be painting lots more faces in the near future to see if i can get them how i like them :) if anyone has any tips...especi ally on doing a nose head~on so to speak...please leave them for me in the comments to help me on my journey! thanks

so why did i attempt an angel...i mean...they are not exactly my normal style are they?...well the answer is...ROSIE!! she and her hubby...*my two favourite vicars*...have just moved house...and i thought it seemed appropriate to send them an angel to watch over them as they settle into thier new home and Church...hope she likes it!

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-04-11T11:33:00.003+01:00

just to let you know my latest post is up at Bubbly Scrumptious...i've found a new use for Viva Croco paints and created a rather cute gift box and card combo! i do hope you'll pop over and leave me some love...or at least *wave*...here!

vintage cottage swap on UKS...

2011-04-10T11:28:00.002+01:00

sometimes...when i fancy doing something a little bit differento to my usual crafty style...i look for a suitable swap to join in on UKS...this one was hosted by Smelly who sent us all a cottage template and challenged us to make vintage style art withing the shape.

i love how they are all different...and all i need now is a bookcase to display them on! ;)

many thanks to all who took part...Gail S, Lou, Sarah {aka Smelly},Karen and the un~named cottage creator too!

can you tell which one i made???

bridal jewellery...

2011-04-09T08:34:00.002+01:00

i've been bursting to share this cute tiara made with real gold and pearls and enhanced with gorgeous Swarofsky crystals...but i felt it was only fair if the bride saw it first! ;) thankfully, it arrived safe and sound *thankyou RM* and the bride in question loves it :) i think you can see the effect of the pearls and crystals especially well on the band: as a little suprize i decided to make her a matching bracelet {which she hadn't asked for} and its basically the same as the headband...alternating pearls and crystals...very pretty and would look better on a less hairy arm than mine!!

i remember so well how happy, excited, nervous and overwhelmingly lovely those days before my Wedding to his Nibs were...and i was delighted to be asked to contribute to the planning of the *big day*...good luck to you both xxxxx

the arty owl painting...

2011-04-08T09:52:00.003+01:00

...be warned...this is probably the most bonkers one i've done so far...but bonkers works for me! ;) when i started this canvas...it was half an hour before tea...and i had a stinking headache...but i thought i just might feel better if i created something to distract myself...and this is what emerged! its rough and quick and my attempt at being a little *free~er*...i'm not totally convinced i like it...but oddly his Nibs keeps putting it up on the wall every time i take it down...so i have to assume he loves it as much as he says he does :) my favourite areas of the picture are the leaves, which i cut roughly from pp scraps and painted with Dylusions mica spray... ...i also love this floral section which is a large BG rubon over which i've painted , doodles and then added a Prima paper flower which i've also painted with mica paint...its properly bursting with colour and life...just what i needed!

even if the results aren't perfect...i think its really good to push yourself our of your comfort zone every know and then...and i'm really working on being less of a perfectionist...why don't you have a go? set yourself a deadline of half an hour...and see what you can do! :)

our very own pearly queen :)

2011-04-07T17:57:00.006+01:00

...well if you ever need an excuse to treat your mum as a Queen for the day...Mothers' Day is it, right...so that is exactly what we tried to do on Sunday...we had a super lunch with all sorts of goodies from the local farm shop...and a few family favourites from our past...including the first *recipe* i ever made up, aged 7, and to this day referred to as *oeufi ali's* lol notice the everlasting bouquet i made on the table? and as a little extra treat...here is a close~up of the pearl and golden swarovsky crystal bracelet i made her...hubby made her matching earrings too...but the camera battery had died by the time i got this far...so i haven't got any photos of the earrings...or of Mum!!! oooops!

i hope you all had a super Mothers' Day too...and big hugs to all of you out there who don't have Mum's in your lives...this is only the second without my darling MIL and hubby was super brave and joined in with spoiling my Mum despite his sadness. *very proud of him for that*

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-04-04T13:41:00.003+01:00

just to let you know i've posted a little French~style shabby chic project over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog today...come over and see it here! thanks...and i hope to be back later with some more photos to share :)

less is not more...

2011-04-02T17:10:00.004+01:00

...when it comes to blogging, huh? i've been neglecting you all of late...but don't be fooled it means i haven't been busy in the craftroom...quite the opposite in fact! i'll try to get as many of my latest creations up here for you during the week so you can see exactly what i've been up to...from grungey metalwork to dainty tiaras...i've been doing it all this last month or two!! :)

as you know...i've been taking the She Art course with Christy and sadly its over now...but i've really gotten the bug for painting now...and decided to create some paintings for my lounge with uplifting or meaningful quotes to inspire us...here is the first of them...my *happy* painting :)

this girl lives in a properly shiny happy World...all pearly with mica sprays and she even has glitter in her hair...she is me on a good day...only with a waist! ;)

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-03-28T10:41:00.003+01:00

Morning all...just to let you know my latest Bubbly Scrumptious project has gone live...and its a rather yummy idea for Mothers' Day...or for anyone who loves flowers :)

do pop over and check it out...here!

have a great day...alix

She Art week 3

2011-03-25T17:38:00.003Z

the third week's challenge on Christy's fun she art course...was to create a self~portrait she art girl...and i decided to do one featuring me and the hubby...bet you didn't know i was married to Paul Weller, eh? ;) actually...i think he's aiming for Dave Grohl...but he's just too blonde!! lol

i used layers and layers of mica sprays, **i love Dyan** :) and alot of gold acrylic paint...this large blob here is to cover up some stamping i did but hated!! lol so as usual...its a learning curve...as you'll see i'm experimenting with different levels of distressing/painting/etc to see which i prefer...which do you prefer? {last week i did alot less...}

i guess i'm also still finding my *style* for these paintings...and this one turned out a bit like a scrapbook page...but its a very forgiving format...and i really like it...hope you do too...and i hope you've all signed up for the next course??? ;)

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-03-21T10:48:00.001Z

today i've posted an ideal Easter gift idea for anyone who might be dieting...or anyone who keeps chickens :)

do pop over and see it...here!

thanks!

She Art week 2

2011-03-14T20:23:00.003Z

so its week 2 of Christy's She Art Workshop...and the challenge this week was to tackle creating background scenes...all i'll say is...i had a go!!! lol

i was delighted with my decision to add a large balloon...and i think the pp worked really well with paint for the trees...

i struggled big time with the sky...and i still don't like it...but i really do like how the clouds turned out after had the idea to smoosh them with Liquid Applique :) realy fluffy clouds!

perspective has never been my strongest point...but i tried to create a flower meadow disappearing off into the distance...i tried!

my favourite bit of this canvas has to be the girl...i love how she turned out...and the fact that my mum even recognised her!!! :)

i'm still not sure about where to go with the faces on these girls...last week, no face...this week a basic face...next week i might go wild and paint a whole face...who knows??

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-03-14T11:05:00.002Z

...i've just posted my latest LO over on the bubbly scrumptous blog...i do hope you'll pop over and see it...here!

metal mania...

2011-03-11T10:53:00.005Z

this week's challenge over on the simon says stamp and show blog is to use metal...and i had to play along with that theme, right?

i've used 10 seconds studio metal and embossed it by hand, and with folders, i've inked it, stamped it, cut it out, glittered it...accented it with glossy accents and sanded it! i've also used metal tags, metallic glitter and metallic paint...as well as a couple of staples...so i think i've got the metal thing covered... ;)

one of the things i love about metal work is how versatile it is and how much dimension you can get into even a basically flat project...

i was particularly chuffed with how this rose turned out...its cut in metal and alcohol inked, then covered in distress stickles so its all sparkly...very vintage looking :)

ooooh....and i haven't shown you the whole thing...so...can you tell what it is yet??? lol

its a new doorhanger for my craftroom!

a quick update...

2011-03-09T13:54:00.003Z

...hi all...i seem to be totally behind on my blogging...not to mention my housework ;)...so i'm just popping in with a quick update to say two things:

1. we have a winner ~ we've decided the caption competition winner is julia dunnit...because she made us giggle...and because hers was the only non~boob related comment!! lol
julia hon, could you leave me your addy in my uks pm box? and i'll have the little *booby prize* on its way to you!

2. i've added my latest bubbly scrumptious post...a real easy quick gift to make...even suitable for a man! check it out here :) and while you're there...do check out the other girls' projects...there is some amazing talent on this team!

ok...hope to be back later with goodies to share...ttfn!

She Art...week one

2011-03-06T18:11:00.005Z

Hi all...please be gentle with me...i had my Birthday party last night...and i'm a little delicate today ;)

It was a real shame i didn't have much time to play this week, as i've enrolled on the *She* Art Workshop with the lovely Christy Tomlinson...check it out here if you don't know about it :) Here are my Week 1 canvases...portraits of 2 of my favourite people!

this one is an old friend of mine...and a proper hippy chicky...just like me :)

this second one is a new friend...but one i'm hoping will become an old friend in due course...

what do you think? i know neither of them is by any means perfect...but its only week 1...so i've got time to perfect my techniques!

one thing i must say though...this is the first time i've used the Dylusions mica sprays, by the lovely Dyan at Art from the Heart...and all i can say is *wow wow wow*...i love these!!!! just look at that beautiful pearly lime green...i only have 3 of them...but clearly i need them all now!

Dyan if you're reading this...can i have a discount for raving about them, please!! ;)

just one last word before i go...how do you all feel about faceless girls?? i am getting used to them...and i did them this week because that was part of the project...but would you like them more with faces do you think?

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-03-01T12:52:00.004Z

just to let you know...if you didn't spot yesterday's post over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog...its here...and its a an explosion of the gorgeous new Prima collection called *Reflections*...i have to say my favourite new collection for years!! :)

there are lots of extra photos and a tutorial for making the little frame in the middle there too...so see you there :)

plastic fantastic..?

2011-02-26T17:55:00.003Z

Hi everyone...a little bit of Friendly Plastic play again today...this time some brooches and badges. I'm really just using up the bits and pieces left from the tutorial i did a few weeks back...but its fun to see what you can come up with when you're a little bit limited!

The brooch above is made in a metal brooch base by Efco and is mainly tiny scraps of FP and glass shards melted into the recess...i've also used Alcohol Inks to colour a charm in similar colours and then i've pressed it into the warm plastic {sorry no idea where this beauty came from but if you know...do share...as i'd like another one, pls!!} When the FP had cooled, i topped up the recess with Glossy Accents and left it for 2 days!! Notice how i've not covered the starfish completely...i real life this looks like it is emerging and gives a beautiful textured finish :)

for this butterfly brooch i experimented with chipboard shapes and used this butterfly circle {where the butterfly is cut out of the circle}. i painted the chip with black paint and then heated a circle of FP scraps until it was very soft and pushed the chip onto it, lifting it on the heat proof sheet and pressing with my fingers up behind to fill the gaps. The painted area was then flooded with Glossy Accents and stuck a brooch pin on the back.

finally, i decided to try using an old badge and as the heated plastic was warm it melted onto the plastic coating and formed a tight bond...brilliant! the design is simple, a cut out of a heart made from left over strips and some glass shards are pressed into the green scraps which i really like the look of :) again i've finished it with a layer of Glossy Accents over the heart, but not over the green background. This would be a super project for the kids to do as they could create all their own badges for parties and presents...and you could make one for yourself while they are at it! lol

as always, thanks for stopping by...and if you haven't entered the caption competition yet...hurry...i'll be choosing a winner soon!

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-02-21T09:27:00.002Z

...i hope you'll pop over to see my latest bubbly scrumptious projects...a love bird wall hanging and a rather unseasonal Christmas project!!

just click here! :)

and keep your suggestions for the caption competition coming...i am loving them!

ps...paula and ruth did both agree to me sharing this photo...i know...amazing!! lol

caption competition! :)

2011-02-19T12:47:00.005Z

a little bit of fun for the week ahead...and a fun prize too :)

firstly a LO...this week i've been trying to finally scrap the photos from my hen~do...my lovely sister took it upon herself to organize a fun hippy themed fancy dress party for me which was a hoot...although i think i might have been the most enthusiastic about the dressing up part!! lol

i've used a sketch for this photo of me {a rarity in that i actually like this photo of me} and its from the fabulous Pencillines sketch site...check it out here. The sketch is actually for their design team search...and i haven't applied...but i liked the sketch so i've used it anyway!

with the hippy theme, it was important to include a serious amount of flower power on the page...and i really like to mix and match styles so...i've included printed flowers with brads for middles...

i also created my own hippy daisies by die cutting some orange leather i had from a sofa swatch and filling the middles with enamel accents and micro beads...and drawing on some simple stems with a white pen...

and i finished my trio of different floral embellishments with a layered flower created from a felt shape overlayed with a fabric on and a cordroy brad...i love how all the flowers work together...and i hope you do too!

now...on to the fun caption competition...one of the reasons i've struggled so much to scrap this event is because everytime i get the photos out...i get the giggles and get lost in the memories of this fun evening...there are so many funny/silly/amusing photos but i've chosen this one for you all to write an amusing caption to:

please leave your caption and your details in the comments to this post...and next week i will pick a winner who will get a prize {related to what is actually happening in this photo!}

so...i leave you to ponder and amuse yourselves with thinking of a caption that sums up what might be happening here?? you don't have to get the answer right...i'll pick the one that makes me and his Nibs giggle the most!

enjoy...but keep it clean please!! ;)

Happy St. Valentine's Day...

2011-02-14T09:30:00.003Z

...hope you're all being totally spoiled today...and do pop along to the bubbly scrumptious blog to see the Valentine's card i made for my darling hubby...the link is here.

love, alix

Embracing Imperfection!!

2011-02-13T17:29:00.003Z

hi all,

did you know that there is currently a free class running over at Big Picture Classes...all about Embracing Imperfection and getting busy at the scrapping table..? you can join in by clicking here

the course is basically a 2 weeklong lesson in how we spend too much time and energy fretting and worrying about creating perfect pages to go in our albums...and not enough time simply putting our thoughts and our photos onto the paper and into our albums. sound familiar, huh?

i have wholeheartedly embraced this notion for the LO i'm showing you now...for well over a year {maybe more than one...but who's counting, right?} this LO has sat half completed in my WIP {work in progress} pile...and the reason...well...even tho it wasn't finished, i knew it wasn't perfect so i lost interest. but doh! i love this photo...i love the memories that flood back when i look at it...and so what if the tone of green isn't perfect with the tone of the purple...when i look at it...and when i showed it to my sister...we both felt transported back to that very moment. that is exactly what scrapping is for, right? so i've embraced this LO, imperfections and all and now its done...i actually love it!! :)

to emphasise that i encourage you to take this approach to your LO's too...i'm even going to point out the imperfections that were holding me back...

firstly...the photo was small and blurry...and when i enlarged it...it was even more blurry...so there you go...imperfect photo...but its all i have of that memory...and its important to me...so who cares!

secondly...i matted the photo by electric light {not daylight} and in the morning i didn't like the tone of the green with the purples i'd used...imperfect colour~matching...a designer no~no...but not really a show stopper in my personal albums :) i'll just learn to live with it!

thirdly, and this one might be a total no~no for some of you...but the LO has sat in the pile for so long and been shuffled so many times that the border had gotten torn...normally i'd scrap it and start the whole border again...but i decided to hell with it...it barely notices in the scheme of things {my sister didn't notice when i showed her the page...she was just happy wallowing in the memory}...so i've embraced that imperfection too!

i can't say i think its the greatest page i've ever created...or that its the one i'm most proud of technically...or stylistically...but i'm really glad to have it in the album and out of the the WIP pile...and i feel sort of liberated about getting it done...and moving on to the next thing. that is a good feeling :)

so go on...see if you can spend a little less time fretting and a little more time achieving! see you in the classroom!

bubbly scrumptious update...

2011-02-07T12:58:00.006Z

...do pop along and see my latest projects on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog...today i've made a ring and a card from one Tando chip shape for you...i hope you like them!

use it or lose it...

2011-02-05T13:40:00.003Z

...its true in Yoga...if you don't use your body to its full potential...you quickly lose that potential...and its now true in the craftroom...if i've not used it...i'm chucking it/passing it on/or popping it on ebay! these quick card makes were an example of this process in action...i had had this 6X6 K&Co paper pad sitting around forever...and so i decided to use it up in a mass card making session!

the card on the right here uses Hels' sketch again...and the rest are just bosh, bosh, bosh cards! but now i have a draw full of ready to go cards rather than unloved paper and embellies...much happier with that!

i bet you've got a few papers and bits and bobs sitting around that could do with using up, eh? lol and it does feel good to have some cards ready...before crisis time! ;)

i think it might be time...

2011-02-01T19:02:00.004Z

...we repainted our woodwork...we do like a bit of *shabby chic* at our place...but i think we're verging close to plain old *shabby*!! ;)

Wood work aside...i thought you might like to see the Birthday card i made for my Mum this week. i dug out the ancient K&Co papers that i use for her Birthday every year...and this year i was inspired by the sketch that Hels used on her Bubbly Scrumptious post this week...see it here.

the sentiment is one of my favourites by PaperArtsy...and daffodils are one of the first marvels to appear in the spring time...so it seemed perfect.

happy crafting,

alix

a little canvas art...

2011-01-31T10:00:00.004Z

...I've just published my first project for Bubbly Funk...its a canvas celebrating the fact that *life is good*...do pop over and see it...it and all the instructions are here :)