Jacques Junque

WOYWW 140

2012-02-08T12:45:00.001Z

I've been missing in action from Julie's fabulous blog for a few weeks due - as my regular readers will know - mainly to this ...

... and for the same (and other) reasons my 'desk' has had to move downstairs for the time being ... well actually and literally 'under the stairs' ... this is not as bad as it sounds as the dining table and the kitchen are both close at hand.

I have utilised some 'custom door storage' ...

And have the use of these shelves for everything else - well the stash mountain doesn't all fit but maybe less 'stuff' will concentrate the mind and increase creativity/productivity ...

I am still attempting to complete the little mini that was on my desk four weeks ago (it's still there in the picture above) but only two pages and the covers are left to do now ...

If you like peeking into other peoples lives head over to Julie's Stamping Ground for a weekly fix.

Liebster Blog

2012-02-06T15:37:00.001Z

Thank you to Chris of Chris's Ramblings for passing a Liebster award on to me.

The award is given to smaller blogs who have less than 200 followers to encourage more people to visit. If you want to join in just follow the steps below ...

1. Link back to the person who gave you the award and thank them
2. Post the award on your blog
3. Give the award to 5 fellow bloggers who inspire you
4. Leave a comment on their blog so they know

So here are my five ... in no particular order and chosen from a mixed media group I belong to ... sorry I had to leave some out ...

1. Adrienne ... Adriennes Art Garden

2. Annie ... Annies Attic Room

3. Pattie ... Patties Art

4. Jackie ... Jester Crafts

5. Lottie ... Lotties Artful Journey

Molly

2012-02-04T11:29:00.002Z

More than two weeks have gone by with very little crafting - almost none! - due mainly to this little 'time waster'.

Molly is now 10 weeks old and really 'finding her feet' - in some 'good ways' but mostly she is 'trouble on four legs' - luckily she's adorable!

Back to crafting shortly I hope. I do have a video to be going on with - this is another mini album created with some old basic grey papers. The pages are made from toilet paper rolls ...

Alphabetica

2012-01-13T10:39:00.002Z

Two 4" x 6" postcards for an Alphabetica swap with a group I belong too ...

A is for Alcohol Ink background, Appliqué (paper) and Abodes

B is for Background (torn book page and acrylic paint), Branch (bough), Beak and Bird

I enjoyed getting back to backgrounds and stamping - but the end of the alphabet seems a long way off ...

Tag Tuesday

2012-01-12T10:30:00.003Z

... even though it's Thursday!

Tag Tuesday has been started by an extremely talented textile artist Carolyn ... check her out here and here.

This is my entry this week for Tag Tuesday where the theme is 'Snow sports and games'. i am this woman in another life.

The background is adapted from a blog post by Lin . The tag is covered in small strips of torn masking tape and then is 'dipped' into puddles of acrylic paint. I have added gesso, snowflakes, Diamond Dust and Stickles.

WOYWW 136

2012-01-11T09:42:00.002Z

Finished projects - Yaaay!

Two mini albums at the back - one just awaiting its cover decoration and the smaller one is 'in progress'. The tag and postcards have been completed for challenges and swaps and the other stuff is a recent purchase - a few additional beading supplies as I want to make some charms. If you like looking (snooping?) at other peoples work spaces check out Julia's Stamping Ground here.

I have added a video to Utube of my 'Floral Mini'.

And if you are still with me ... here is another photograph of Molly who will be coming to live with us in 6 days!!

Puppies

2012-01-08T11:25:00.001Z

I am not really a blogger that puts a lot of personal stuff on here (apart from my messy desk!) but I thought you might like to see Molly ...

who will be joining our family in just over a weeks time.

WOYWW 135

2012-01-04T19:13:00.000Z

This is how my desk looked this morning ...

I was in the midst of 'sorting out' my very tiny craft room. This was the only tidy corner ...

Then it looked like this ...

Much better ... I had a go at these too ...

And even managed to organise my ribbons ... from this ...

to this ...

And now my desk looks like this ... another mini album ...

Other desks are here at Stamping Ground

Tag Tuesday

2012-01-03T10:13:00.004Z

Here is my mixed media entry for Tag Tuesday - a new challenge blog - the theme is 'snow'. The base of the tag is felt with watercolour paper on the top and although the photograph doesn't show it too well it is quite shimmery. Silver thread has been used to highlight the snowflakes and beads and clear sequins sewn on to add more texture.

Mini Album

2012-01-02T10:28:00.001Z

Photographs of a mini I made for a Christmas present. It uses flattened TP rolls as a base. Not very mixed media but I will be back tomorrow with a much more 'arty' tag.

Album in a box

2011-12-29T14:20:00.002Z

Well I have tackled another video - I quite like doing them but hearing your own voice is very strange...

WOYWW 134

2011-12-28T14:38:00.003Z

I belong to an online mixed media group and this year was able to take part in the 12 days swap where participating members make a handmade gift for everyone else. These are the beautiful gifts I received this year

They are not shown to there best on my very scruffy cutting mat - no new one from Santa this year

:-(( - but are all beautiful and demonstrate a lot of time and effort.

My gift is not amongst these - I made a stitched bookmark with a Christmas theme

and packaged it like this ...

with a wrapping and tag like this ...

More work desks can be viewed here.

New Year Giveaway

2011-12-27T11:27:00.000Z

Looks like a great giveaway here or click the parcel on the sidebar

WOYWW

2011-12-21T12:19:00.004Z

Another wednesday and this is what my desk looked like this morning

Working on a gift card holder for a Christmas present and in the background you can see the beginnings of an explosion box and in the far corner an almost finished mini album. See more crafting spaces here.

Shortly after this my desk looked like this as I decided to try videoing my album - this is the result left just as it is with all its 'faults' - my first video upload ever ...

Christmas Images

2011-12-16T10:48:00.000Z

Really lovely Christmas Images from Lisa Vollrath

Another Mini

2011-12-12T07:33:00.000Z

Can you tell I'm addicted to these - they are lovely to make, have a functional use (when the photos are in) - AND use up my enormous stash of patterned paper. Most of my minis have some stamping and die cutting in them but for my stamping friends I don't think there is in this one ...

Phew! a bit of script stamping on this page ...

This album is made of chipboard following a pattern by Tanya Deurrich

Treat Bags

2011-12-01T14:45:00.004Z

As well as stamping and mini albums I like to make boxes and bags. Here are three different types I made recently ...

from an idea by Kathryn and with embellishments made from my favourite Paperartsy stamps.

And the 2 above from tutorials on Split Coast Stampers.

Christmas TP album

2011-11-30T14:17:00.001Z

This album is approx 23/4 inches by 5inches and is made from flattened toilet paper rolls. A useful upcycle! It is made to hold small photographs on the pages and tags and I had planned to add these before photographing, however my scanner is inexplicably not working so here they are before - if I get the photos in I will re-post.

First then is the front cover - 'stickled' numbers and a poinsettia made from Paperartsy stamps with a bit of gold tinsel underneath ...

Pages 1 and 2 - a place for a photo on page on page 1 and a fold out 'booklet' on page 2 with spaces for smaller pictures and journaling ...

This next picture shows page 2 open ...

Here are pages 3 and 4 ...

and here the same pages with the tag out of the pocket and the file folder opened ...

Pages 5 and 6 - 5 has a 'bellyband' with a 2 layer tag in it and page 6 is a pocket with 3 smaller tags inside ...

and here are the tags (I like the way the acetate one turned out) ...

Now pages 7 and 8 - a double pocket on page 7 with 2 tags and a booklet held closed with a magnet on page 8 ...

and shown here with the tags out and the booklet open ...

All 5 'pages' hold a tag which fits inside the flattened toilet roll ...

If you've made it this far - thank you - and I apologise for the poor quality of the photographs (I think I need to try a lightbox). The main inspiration for this album came from Belinda Akers who has a great Utube channel. Other ideas included are my own or from various Utube tutorials that I found using 'tp mini album' as a search term. Thank you to all of the people who share their work in this way.

WOYWW

2011-11-30T13:59:00.001Z

Here is my rather dull (and a bit grubby) desk this morning - lots of toilet rolls being beaten into submission to produce mini albums - I have only just discovered these and love working in this smaller size. If you would like to see a completed album there is a second post today with photographs of a Christmas offering. Anyway the desk ....

If you want to know what it is all about head over to Julia's blog here.

Murmuration

2011-11-27T10:23:00.000Z

Loved this ...

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

Album box 2

2011-11-18T18:00:00.002Z

This is the second box I made - see previous post for links to the Utube tutorials I followed for inspiration. This one is 3/4" deep which gives a little more space for embellishment and is, I think, better thought out. This one has the photographs added as I plan to give it as a Christmas present.

The box closed and tied with ribbon. It measures just over 6" x 6" x 3/4". It is constructed with black cardstock and the paper is Basic Grey Marjoline.

With top and bottom flaps open

With left upper flap open

and then the right one

now with the inner lower flap down you can see the left and right inner flaps. The following pictures show these open and I've removed a couple of the photograph mounts to show spaces for journaling on the backs

and here is the box with the photographs in place and showing the opened 'spread'

With this box I wanted to add a few extra pictures so made another pocket on the back ...

the ribbon tie holds everything in place.

Album Boxes

2011-11-17T12:48:00.001Z

The album 'box' on yesterdays desk is the third one I've made and still needs finishing off. The original video demo of these appears to be by Vanilladaze on Utube. I have watched this and taken further inspiration from Creativecafegirl and Charliejones2686 (who also has a series of tutorials on Utube showing how she put this together).

The box below is pretty much the vanilladaze version but I made some alterations for the next two I made. These are fairly minor adjustments to the measurements and I have made the boxes 3/4" deep rather than 1/2". I have also been careful about where I add the embellishments in the later versions so the boxes are flat when closed - almost - no major bulges anyway.

So here are the pictures of my first box which is 1/2" deep ...

The box closed, measures just over 6" square and the paper used is Basic Grey 'Wisteria'.

With the top and bottom flaps opened and showing pockets and tags that I have created with spaces for photographs

Next with right and then left upper flaps opened ...

and then inner bottom flap (below) ...

Next we can open right and left inner flaps ...

to reveal the final inner back page and the entire 'open' spread'.

Some of the pages are a bit thick in this album and the second box I made is better thought out ... I have also added the photographs to the second one as it is intended to be a Christmas present. I will photograph it and upload later.

WOYWW

2011-11-16T10:41:00.001Z

Or for those who don't know 'Whats on Your Workdesk Wednesday' over at Stamping Ground. I've never posted to this blog before although I often check out the entrants. If your interested in other peoples 'messes' just go here - great fun and inspiration. And to prove my previous post is a 'work in progress' here is my desk this morning. There should also be a huge box of tissues in view as I have the worst cold ever and progress is slow :-)

I'm working on 'box albums' for Christmas presents and will show more soon - I need to work at being a better photographer.

Another giveaway

2011-11-14T12:09:00.000Z

A great blog and giveaway here ...

...and the chance to win this

In case anyone still checks out this blog I will be resurrecting it shortly with new projects as I am now creating again.

Blog giveaway

2011-09-06T20:39:00.001+01:00

My little blog is sadly neglected these days but there are plans to return to it - I have finally taken the plunge handed in my notice and plan to take a few months off to relax .. while I work my notice I want to let you know about a 'giveaway' by my favourite shop LB Crafts in Olney Bucks - Lin is giving away these!

Mini Album 3

2011-05-18T15:47:00.000+01:00

This will be a present for my sister ...

Mini Album 2

2011-05-17T15:39:00.000+01:00

Here's my second mini - the first picture is the front cover and is unfinished. I need to use my printer for the title but it won't work ...

The pages are pockets made from envelopes (DL size) and each one holds a tag for photos and/or journaling.

The frame above has a bit of scrap paper in it ready to act as a template for the photo I will add.

The above page is a slider pocket and when the green tab at the top is pulled this is what happens ...

... both sections emerge at the same time!

Art?

2011-05-16T15:16:00.000+01:00

I have been doing less mixed media stuff lately and rediscovered 'scrapping' - in particular mini albums. I really need to use up some of the piles of patterned papers I have stashed! The internet is full of inspired scrappers and I have been looking at these people in particular http://injoystampin.com/, http://justafewdesigns.blogspot.com/, http://lakeavenuedesigns.blogspot.com/, http://thescrapbeach.blogspot.com/, http://blog.odonatacreations.com/, http://scrappystickyinkymess.wordpress.com/, http://followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com/, http://paperphenomenon.blogspot.com/, http://withagrin.blogspot.com/, http://timeforscrappin.blogspot.com/ and http://tracystreasures-tracy.blogspot.com/.

So I have been making mini albums and learning as I go from the many tutorials these ladies have put out on Utube. The pages are unbound at present and there are no photographs or journaling added - if I get that far I will re-post them finished!

I have made 3 albums so far ...

The first one is about 5" x 7"

Flowers made from Paperartsy dies, Nestibilities and punches.

Spaces for journaling and photos shown above.

This little wallet page opens out as shown below with a tag and a little booklet.

and this is the back of the wallet with more space for a photo or journaling.

An acrylic page front and back.

More photo mats above and below is a pocket page made out of envelopes ...

Another pocket page above made from an envelope and the tags from each one below.

I still have to do inside the back cover!

Row Houses

2011-05-15T15:16:00.000+01:00

I have had a lovely day making these for a swap - they're very addictive and give good results relatively quickly.

Art!

2011-04-17T12:04:00.004+01:00

I finally have something worth blogging. Creativity has been a little slow lately but these experiments with oiled paper which I made for a swap turned out quite well. I have used ordinary cheap copy paper and coloured it with spray inks in the first two pictures and with Brusho watercolours for the third. The Brusho sheet was stamped prior to colouring with Stazon ink using some floral stamps from The Artistic Stamper. The papers were then coated with oil (extra virgin olive oil in this case). This is worked into the paper by crumpling it over and over. It should then take an hour or so to dry, however I used far too much oil and the paper remained very oily so I put it between sheets of newspaper and ironed it a number of times with a hot iron until the oil was mostly removed. The results were a fabric like paper that took stitch beautifully. The green paper has Mistyfuse ironed onto it to give a black cobwebby effect but it is hard to pick up in the picture. I have made an ATC with each piece and have treated the paper exactly like fabric, backing it with felt before machining.

AndySkinner.org: Its Time!

2011-04-16T14:26:00.000+01:00

AndySkinner.org: Its Time!: "The stamps are in the shops, so to celebrate it’s …Competition Time!Details of where you can purchase my stamps can be found HereThe w..."

Card

2011-03-23T09:34:00.000Z

Another Mojo Monday card - this an old card sketch (104) that I've used a few times ...

Mojo Monday

2011-03-16T12:30:00.001Z

Well my mojo's been missing lately so to try and find it I have gone back to a card again ... this one uses Mojo Monday's card sketch as a starting point ...

Card

2011-02-26T18:14:00.000Z

A card for this weeks Shabby Tearoom Challenge, Buttons and Bows and for the Allsorts challenge blog, make a flower

The Shabby Tearoom

2011-02-20T11:04:00.000Z

A challenge blog I have just discovered is called The Shabby Tearoom. I made a tag for this weeks challenge ...

Try it on Tuesdays

2011-02-14T19:27:00.001Z

A 'Hearts and Flowers' tag for this weeks Try it on Tuesdays challenge - once again - only just in time. The flowers are there but very subtly in the pink background paper

Monday Take a Word

2011-02-13T13:20:00.001Z

I made a tag for this weeks Take a Word challenge. This week's word is 'Blackbird' (I think I am in time).

Row Houses

2011-02-10T17:07:00.000Z

Here are the final three row houses

Journal Pages

2011-02-09T17:01:00.000Z

I have been continuing with these and this is a selection - some have 'painty' backgrounds and some are collaged papers ...

Row Houses 2, 3 and 4

2011-02-08T20:02:00.000Z

Sampotique Challenge

2011-02-07T16:54:00.001Z

I love Stampotique stamps especially their quirky characters. I am entering this journal page for their most recent designer challenge - a colour one 'orange and turquoise' - I love this colour combination.

Simon Says

2011-02-07T16:44:00.001Z

I have been creating a little more in my comfort zone lately and have been making some row houses (always a favourite of mine). Here is the first one and I am entering it for this weeks Simon Says Challenge ... 'show some embossing'. The embossing is at the bottom and was done with the Cuttlebug.

Paperartsy stamps and Basic Grey background paper. I am making seven of these little pieces and will post them day by day.

Art Journaling

2011-01-19T13:14:00.000Z

Whew ... 3 more daily art journal pages ... although I haven't got around to writing on the first two ...

Another Junque Journal

2011-01-18T13:09:00.001Z

This a smaller size - around 6" x 6" ... the cover is woven fabric strips that have been stamped and foiled and then covered with organza and free machines (adapted from a class by Angie Hughes) ... I'm only showing a few pages this time you will be pleased to know ...

Art Quilt

2011-01-17T13:04:00.001Z

I have been trying a few new techniques and this art quilt incorporates a laminating technique from Mixed Media New Studio Techniques by Maggie Grey and Isobel Hall. I enjoyed making it but need to try again to make a better job of it ...

Art Journal daily pages

2011-01-16T13:00:00.000Z

I am not a very consistent blogger! - its not the blogging as such - it is getting round to taking the photographs that I have trouble with. I have been trying to art journal every day however and here are 2 weeks worth in one go. Some are better than others...

Daily Journaling

2011-01-04T15:48:00.001Z

Have managed so far ... but back at work today after 10 days off so will see how this evening progresses .. anyway here are pages for 1st and 2nd January ...

The second one is a page from yet another stitched junk journal via Mary Ann Moss's fabulous online class. I won't bore you with even more photos of these ... but I am strangely addicted to making them. Pages from these books are great for days when I don't want to paint, draw, stamp etc and for when I want to add photos, ephemera etc etc. If you are a paper hoarder and want a good way to get rid of some of it check this class out.

Journaling

2011-01-03T15:10:00.002Z

I thought I would try a few journal challenges this year. Last year I followed The Kathryn Wheel blog and enjoyed the calendar pages produced so thought I might give it a try this year. My January page is completed ...

... and ready to be journalled on - we will see how it goes.

New Year

2011-01-01T16:35:00.000Z

Well Christmas and New Year are done once more and I have managed a bit of crafting over the last two weeks. A ROD journal made for a friends Christmas present (I am obsessed with making these little sewn journals) and the bag got finished!

Christmas Tags

2010-12-12T10:14:00.000Z

Two more Christmas tags - the plan was to make one for every present! May not make that deadline! Oh well - could always try again next year. Happy Christmas to anyone reading this and thank you for your lovely comments over the past year.

More sewing

2010-12-07T15:14:00.001Z

More sewing to show today - a completed quilted bag and another one on the way!

Sewing

2010-12-06T15:12:00.000Z

I have been doing a little sewing lately and have half completed a patchwork quilt

Now I need to add the borders and quilt it - watch this space.

Remains of the Day

2010-12-05T15:03:00.001Z

I have made another ROD journal - these are so addictive - check out Mary Ann Moss's online course here or on my sidebar.

Back blogging ... for now!

2010-12-04T15:00:00.000Z

I've been away for a while! Now have a few things to share.

Here are a couple of Christmas tags

The first one is not original - I am a big fan of Jo Firth-Young's art and this is an (almost) direct copy of a recent tag on her blog - I love the layered look and it is a great way of getting a small(ish) image onto a big tag.

These tags fit the themes for the SCD challenge which is 'Trees' and the Simon Says challenge which is 'Tags' so I am entering them in both..

Tag 7

2010-10-22T14:54:00.000+01:00

Rolling Recipe Tag 7 for UKStampers which needed the colour black, a bird and metal (the bottom embellishment is Ten Second Studio metal stamped and patterned with one of their tools).

ATCs

2010-10-17T17:51:00.000+01:00

You may have seen these before - I think they were posted on my old blog - but just wanted to catch up - yet again a fortnight has passed by between entries! How does that happen???

Marci is a gorgeous Stampotique design purchased in the UK from The Stamp Attic

Look out for another post later with another of these fab stamps.

Row Houses

2010-09-30T21:23:00.000+01:00

I made these for a swap group I belong to ... the instructions said they had to have a face on and the colour scheme should be autumnal! Hope this is close enough because I forgot to read the instructions properly before I made them!

Fabric Postcard

2010-09-13T17:00:00.000+01:00

Here's a 6" x 4" card I embroidered the other day. The back is Lutrador with a felt backing and the textured piece is melted Tyvek which I have coloured with spray inks and acrylic paint and a bit of mica for sparkle.It is machined stitched on and the beads are attached by hand stitching.

Back at last ...

2010-09-12T19:47:00.002+01:00

I have been absent for a while but am still crafting when I can. I am becoming more and more interested in mixed media and textile art and had a wonderful day at 'The Festival of Quilts' at the NEC a few weeks ago. While I am not aspiring yet to a full on quilt I have been playing with smaller works...do you remember this...

Well I have turned it into this...using some more fabric paper made from chocolate wrappers to applique on top...

I liked how it turned out. The motifs on these pieces are adapted from those by Jackie Cardy in Quilting Arts Magazine Issue 39.

A week or two ago I had a morning making fabric paper out of paper napkins ...

So I decided to do another little appliquéd piece using the chocolate paper and turn it into a journal cover using some napkin paper ... here's how it turned out ...

In the end I used the back of the napkin paper for the actual cover as the way the colours had seeped through seemed to 'go' better! There's a bit of purple sparkle on the top piece where I used a metallic thread but it is hard to see in the small picture. This will be going off to a new home soon as one of the groups I am in has a fabric paper swap going at the moment.

I'll be back

2010-08-21T19:02:00.002+01:00

Have not been 'arting' or 'crafting' much lately but will be back soon.

Journaling

2010-08-04T20:50:00.000+01:00

I'm loving my journaling explorations. Spent the weekend at AFTH with Dyan and had a great time messing with paints, inks, images and pens - I have made a few pages but will upload later. In the meantime here are some pages from my Kelly Kilmer class Memories and Reflections which is all of the above but without the paints (so far!). These are more collaged based.

Just need to journal on them now ...

Fabrics and Dyes

2010-07-27T15:49:00.002+01:00

The Bramble Patch run lots of workshops - if you live in the Midlands and enjoy textiles, quilting and mixed media they are worth a look.

On one of my recent Saturdays there we did a bit of fabric dying - great fun. This is what I completed hung out to dry when I got home after a thorough rinsing.

Last Saturday was Batiq Waxing and Discharging colour - here are my samples ...

Eventually these samples will all become 'something else' - I hope!

Lutrador

2010-07-26T15:04:00.002+01:00

On my latest Saturday class at The Bramble Patch we were experimenting with Lutrador, spray inks, fabric dyes and paints and printing phoographs onto fabric. The Lutrador was coloured to 'go with' a chosen photograph and then the printed photos were placed on the Lutrador and machine embroidered in as free a way as you wished.

This was my photograph

And this was my embroidered piece

I didn't really like it but I did like the offcuts of coloured Lutrador and completed a couple of 'sample' pieces at home. These are 6 x 4 inches and have been coloured with Adirondack Color Wash inks, gessoed and sprayed again. As the inks dry they lighten considerably creating a very subtle background.

This piece was gessoed and texture added to the gesso with a spatula. It was then 'painted' with fountain pen ink and sprinkled with salt grains. The salt grains were shaken off when the piece was dry. I then added some brighter spots of acrylic paint and backed the Lutrador with felt before machine embroidering over the painted sections with varigated matching threads.

This piece was just coloured with the spray inks then free machine embroidered with metallic thread. Toning beads were added in one section and the same metallic thread used to satin stitch one section and to fill another with french knots. If you click on the picture you should be able to see more detail although the colours don't show up very well.

Workshops

2010-07-25T15:12:00.003+01:00

I love workshops - online and 'for real'. Some months ago I went on a 'real' workshop with Angie Hughes where we made woven bookwraps. I never really finished mine at the time but have just 'found' them and would like to to complete them - it's a cool idea. The idea was to weave strips of torn cloth, stamp and foil them, cover with organza and free machine over the top.

This is the first 'weaving stage

and here's one with some stamping and foiling added.

The finished piece below has been machined with gold thread and made into a book wrap.

I got quite carried away with these and have another ready to finish off ...

and here it is with red organza over - may decide to change this though - it's a bit too red for my liking!

Gorgeous painty backgrounds ...

2010-07-24T10:35:00.000+01:00

... well I think so anyway. These 'postcards' are an amalgamation of lots of techniques gleaned from people like Kelly Kilmer, Mary Ann Moss, Dina Wakely, Tracy Bautista, Michelle Ward and probably many others - thank you to all of them! They are (mainly) collaged backgrounds, gesso, acrylic paints, spray inks, stencils and stamps. There are lots of layers. I have added a little collage to one or two - the idea being to use them as journaling cards at some point ...

More ATCs

2010-07-18T15:57:00.000+01:00

These ATCs are made using packing tape transfers

ATCs

2010-07-10T12:43:00.002+01:00

More ATCs - vintage sewing related theme.

Memories and Reflections

2010-07-05T16:08:00.004+01:00

I love Kelly Kilmer's blog and have taken several of her online classes - and have loved them all. The latest is Memories and Reflections which is similar to A Life Made by Hand but 'more' - I am already enjoying it. My friend Carol is also a member of this class and emailed today to say she is finding it hard to start! So I thought I would talk about how I go about making a page using one of Kelly's templates. Obviously I can't show the template itself on this blog as this is part of the class but for those who are able to access the group the template can be seen here - bottom row far left. If the link doesn't work it's MARTemp1 bottom row far left.

I spent some time on Saturday evening (while watching 'Con Air' - again!) cutting out images from two sources, a free glossy magazine that I picked up recently advertising events and places in the county of Buckinghamshire and an old National Geographic. I may try and limit myself to just using these as my main images for this journal.

I have a journal already made but have not constructed covers yet - I also decided that I wanted my pages all the same size they are approximately 71/2" x 51/2" - here is my first page

I really liked this sheep and chose her (she looks female to me!) as my main (focal) image. You can see that she is placed centrally and lower down than in the template sketch. This is because - in this case - the picture needed anchoring to the bottom of the page. I then chose an old book page as my largest background piece. The picture made me think of 'counting sheep' to get to sleep and so I used the words (from an advert) as another background piece and then decided on the red check as a third background and a matching journaling label for the fourth. For the last background piece in the bottom right hand corner I used this 3 printed from my PC because by this time the picture was making me think of the nursery rhyme 'Baa baa black sheep'. The 'extra' bit of red check down the left hand side was added to create a 'balanced whole' and was needed because my focal image is placed centrally and not to the left as in the template - it just looked better with it.

Hopefully you can see where my thoughts were leading me when completing this page and the journaling will probably reflect these thoughts - maybe something about my childhood and bedtime nursery rhymes. This type of 'thought process' often just happens when I make these pages even though the decisions to choose particular images aren't conscious ones. Try it and see!

Fabric Paper

2010-07-04T18:33:00.002+01:00

I've been busy making fabric paper. I follow Beryl Taylor's method although I think there are others around. The basic principle is in her book, Mixed Media Explorations and she demonstrates it on an Interweave DVD called Layer by Layer.

This is 'paper' made with sweet wrappers. The brand name is a bit too visible but can be disguised in several ways e.g. heavy stitching or layering over the top, foiling and using paints or oil pastels.

Below are some small stitched samples using this paper. The fabric paper is backed with thin felt first.

This piece has been free machined with a couple of different threads, one varigated and one metallic and some foil added to cover the brand name on the right hand side!

These pieces are using the same paper and are from an idea in Quilting Arts magazine by Jackie Cardy. They are layered (all pieces are the same fabric papers) and then stitched, beaded and hand embroidered. The purple one needs a bit more added to disguise the brand name! Clicking on the pictures should show a bit mre detail - sorry the colours don't show up too well.

These fabric papers are made using gift wrapping paper

Another Journal

2010-06-30T16:47:00.002+01:00

Well I said I was becoming addicted to online classes and this is the result of another one - actually it's unfinished as it needs 'bits' added and some shading etc plus journaling of course on the pages. BUT I loved doing it - it was good for a change just to tear and glue and like the ROD journals uses up some of the mass of papers and pictures I have collected. It's from Kelly Kilmer's online class A Life Made By Hand. Check her out - she has a great blog with lots of lovely links. Anway here are some of the pages from the journal I made...

Just collage on these pages although I may decide to add some paint and/or ink. The journaling over the top really brings a page together...hopefully that shows up below...

Enjoyed making these pages especially the one on the right! Have my journaling planned already - I want to be like her as my hair greys - I was never outrageous enough when I was younger.

These are definately a bit 'bright' but I couldn't resist the painted fire hydrant.

I have kept the front cover simple and just attached one of my favourite paintings - 'The Sense of Sight' by Annie Sywnnerton.

A sort of quilting class

2010-06-29T07:23:00.002+01:00

I spent last Friday at The Bramble Patch (again!) - this time for a workshop with Jenny Rolfe. ( I don't think she has a blog so have linked to one of her books so you can see 'who' she is) and had a really good time. The workshop was called Tall and Slim and it is a 'tall and slim' wallhanging! There was too much to do in one day so we concentrated on three of the seven pieces. I have carried on since and got this far ...

Piece1 - free machining on the back ground and flower pieces attached with satin stitch. Finished with beads and buttons and still waiting for the edges to be finished off so all the pieces can be joined together and hung. Pieces 2 and 3 are pretty much at this stage too and have been completed in the same way. The rest are appliqued but waiting for their embellishments.

With this last one I was finally pleased with my stitching!

Stitching

2010-06-28T17:35:00.002+01:00

I have always loved sewing (hand and machine) and have been very interested lately in art quilting. I'm still a novice and have dipped my toe in by making small fabric paper quilts and ATCs - see here and here.

Wanting to take this further I have read (a lot) and found great classes at The Bramble Patch - they are primarily a quilting shop but do a lot of mixed media workshops. The fabrics on sale are to die for!

Below is a journal cover made from hand dyed cotton which has been stamped and stencilled. The seed heads were screen printed and then foiled. I then added some wadding to the back and finished with a bit of free machining.

I love journals and journaling and have made some more Remains of the Day (ROD) journal pages for the inside of this cover. I learned how to do these from an online class with Mary Ann Moss (she also has a great blog) and just love doing them! They are completely addictive.

I think I am a bit addicted to online classes too as I have also done her Stitched and Stencilled and Stencilry workshops - all very enjoyable, however, I have done less stencilry and more sewing so far.

Anyway here are a few of the pages - they are 'bare' at present - just waiting to be journaled on.

All the pages are stitched together with whatever you have around, made into signatures then pamphlet stitiched into the cover.

I have used a mixture of magazine photos and personal ones. The girl at the back is my Grandmother, Maggie born in 1882, photographed here with her mother, sister and two brothers. Her mother was widowed by the time this was taken around 1892.

You can always showcase a bit of original 'art' too - see far right an experiment with Brusho.

This is the dog I grew up with, a little Jack Russell terrier called 'Nipper'. She lived to age 16 and this photo was taken near the end of her life in 1973.

Many of the pages have extra pockets and flaps for later additions. On the left here I have used a 'free' junk mail envelope.

My Mum (on the right!) - photo taken about 30 years ago.

A magazine photo and my own during a trip to Crete.

I like my colour co-ordination on this page.

Shakespeares sonnets and Hever Castle.

Love this ant picture - from National Geographic I think.

Swap

2010-06-27T19:34:00.001+01:00

These three little Vintage Geisha ATCs are ready for a swap and will be posted out soon.

The card is painted with acrylics and then a strip of patterned paper is added to the left hand side. Copies of the Geisha Girls are attached. The cherry blossoms are stamped with Stazon onto tissue paper, torn out and then glued in place with gel medium. I have coloured over this with Copic Ciao markers and finished the cards with 2 little 'gems' and some white dots.

Re-blogged

2010-06-26T13:01:00.000+01:00

This was on my old blog but wanted a record of it here. The stamps are all from Oxford Impressions - one of my favourite stamp companies.

Tags 1 and 2

2010-06-11T20:29:00.002+01:00

UK Stampers offer a tag challenge every week or so - I think they are now on Tag 20 but I am a little behind! Here are my takes on challenges 1 and 2.

The requirements for Tag 1 are: a stamped image, lace and glitter (my glitter is subtle as I am not really a 'glitter' girl, but it is there!)

Tag 2 uses: a stamped image, Glitter and buttons (it's a rolling recipe and each week one item is taken off and another one added). Check out UK Stampers - follow the link in the sidebar

Not sure if I will catch up but I enjoyed making these!

To blog or not to blog

2010-06-05T14:51:00.001+01:00

Not too much 'art' around here lately although I have been working on journal pages of various sorts - I don't usually blog these though! Anyway I did make these today for a 'hanging ATC' swap. They are from an idea by Ruth Rae in her book 'Layered, Tattered and Stitched' - pretty much a copy really but fun to do!

Fabric Paper

2010-04-25T12:11:00.000+01:00

I'm still in the process of transferring some items from my previous blog so here are a couple of small 'art quilts' and an ATC made from fabric paper a la Beryl Taylor (apologies if you ahve seen these before).

Whoops!

2010-04-12T18:58:00.001+01:00

I haven't blogged in a while - the time just flies by. I have a new job and a lot of sorting out to do but am still managing bits of art here and there. Below are a couple of ATCs (when I am short of time I always come back to the ATC!)

Collaborative Book

2010-03-28T12:18:00.000+01:00

I was invited to take part in a collaborative book project recently and here are the results! The book was themed 'Nature' and was to be a paper bag book. 12 participants made 2 pages each so that the resulting book would be 24 pages. All the pages were sent to the hostess who sent them back out to participants with the necessary number of paper bags. All went smoothly and the pages are gorgeous! However what hadn't been anticipated was the depth of the resulting book and how best to bind it!

I recently took an online class with Mary Ann Moss where we made a journal. I really enjoyed this class and heartily recommend it - it also teaches a fab way to use up all that paper you've bought or saved and can't get rid of. The cover technique seemed perfect for this project so off I went. I don't feel I can go into too much detail regarding the process because it was someone else's class but the basics are to create a lightweight cardboard template sized to go around the pages, including a spine deep enough for them and then to create a fabric slip cover. All this is machine sewn. The pages are then attached using a standard pamplet stitch - I did each of mine individually so have 6 signatures.

Book closed (sorry this one is a bit blurry - the rest are better)

Inside front cover and page 1 by Hilda

Pages 2 and 3 by Liz and Adrienne

Pages 4 and 5 by Annie and Annette

Pages 6 and 7 by me and Linda

Pages 8 and 9 by Hilda and Teresa

Pages 10 and 11 by Debbie and Wendy

Pages 12 and 13 by Linda and Wendy

Pages 14 and 15 by Rachel and Margaret

Pages 16 and 17 by Debbie and Annette

Pages 18 and 19 by me and Liz

Pages 20 and 21 by Teresa and Rachel

Pages 22 and 23 by Adrienne and Annie

Page 24 by Margaret and inside back cover

These pages are really lovely as you can see - they are even better in 'real life' - loads of different techniques, depth and layers. Thank you all.

Tag

2010-03-27T12:29:00.000Z

Made this today. Background is Distress Inks and all stamps used are from The Artistic Stamper including the flower which is stamped onto tissue paper and cut out.

More ATCs

2010-03-22T19:35:00.000Z

A few more of my ATC collection - copies of various swaps - most include some stamping which I love to do.

Blog Candy

2010-03-20T08:03:00.000Z

Great giveaway over on Kristin's blog - free copies of this

Go and take a look

Tag

2010-03-14T09:13:00.002Z

I needed a large tag today and came up with this.

I have stamped directly onto some vintage paper. The woman is stamped in Ranger Black Archival ink and the swirl in Dusty Concord Distress ink. The patterned papers are glued on afterwards and finshed with rows of stitched beads. I have embellished further with chipboard hearts covered with patterned paper and have glued some micro beads onto the larger one. All stamps and inks are vailable from The Artistic Stamper

Faux Lace

2010-03-13T09:03:00.000Z

I made this card for Mothers Day using the new lace stamps from The Artistic Stamper. They are really lovely stamps. I have stamped the lace 'square' behind the flower and the two lace strips along the bottom of the card with versamark ink on vellum paper and then embossed with white embossing powder, cut them out and then added to card. The flower is also made using the same technique and stamps from The Artistic Stamper and is finished in the centre with a cluster of beads.

Remains of the Day Journal

2010-03-12T16:00:00.003Z

I signed up for the Mary Ann Moss 'Remains of the Day' Journal online class and have finshed my first one. I really enjoyed making this journal - no stamps (I might add a few later though), inks, paint or glue - just scraps of material, paper and a sewing machine. Even if you are a complete beginner with the sewing machine I think you would manage this - Mary Ann is a great teacher and her videos are really easy to follow. So here are my pictures - the cover first and then a selection from the 39 pages that are in my journal - all ready to start journaling on!

There are loads of pockets and places to add pictures including clear inserts and envelopes. The idea of this journal is to use up 'stuff' you already have and I did exactly that.

ATCs

2010-03-07T10:01:00.001Z

I love making ATcs and have many made and not blogged - so here are a few. Most of these are duplicates of ones made for swaps.

Most of the photographs are bought images but the lady in the top row in the centre is my Great-grandmother, Anne-Marie Yardley. She was very poor and I often wonder where she got the smart hat from to pose for this photograph. She worked as a silk weaver hence the sewing connection and the photograph was taken around 1913.

Art From The Heart Workshop - Day 2

2010-03-05T05:03:00.003Z

This two day Dina Wakley workshop in Harrogate was 'the best'. Day one was all about preparing, masking, painting, stenciling and a bit of journaling. Day two took it a bit further and was all about the layering process. The aim was 20 layers - a layer was any change e.g. colour, technique, direction etc and 20 'layers' was easier than it sounded. Here are my 3 'practice pieces.

Notice there is still no journaling - I have a big issue with my handwriting and plan to practice a bit more first. Well after these 3 pieces a bigger piece of paper was called for to get to the 20 'layers. Here's mine:

I rather liked this! You'll have to trust me re 'The 20 layers' - they are there - well 15 at least! This could be a finished piece of art or it could be turned into a mini book which is what I did. This worked amazingly well - not just for me - all the booklets were fabulous - each little page had a lovely coherency that was hard to believe. I can't wait to make another. Here is the booklet - I especially love the back page and hope you can see the texture which is modeling paste spread through a stencil - I will journal in it too - just need to get that handwriting better!

Art From The Heart Workshop

2010-03-04T09:42:00.014Z

I just got back from fab two days at Dyan's Art From The Heart where I took a journaling workshop with the wonderful Dina Wakley (all the way from USA!). Everyone was lovely and there were a couple of 'famous' bloggers there too! Check out Sue's blog and Sarah's!

Dina was lovely - very encouraging and generous with her knowledge and comments.

Here's what I produced on the first day although none are finished yet - they will be though - I LOVED this class.

Unfortuntely the colours have not photographed great - they are more intense in real life.

I will be back later with the second days pages.

Roaring Twenties

2010-02-24T10:35:00.001Z

Here is another submission for Gingersnap Challenges. I've stuck to my favourite lady from the roaring twenties plate by The Artistic Stamper to make this birthday card which has a romantic feel yet again!

Romance Continues

2010-02-17T10:40:00.002Z

It's Gingersnap challenge time again and this week's Romance theme is colour 'anything but pink and red'.

The 'Roaring Twenties' certainly conjour up romance and The Artistic Stamper's 'flappers' combined with a few hearts and a fabulous sequin waste background stamp give these ATCs a romantic feel.

Gingersnap Creations

2010-02-10T10:44:00.001Z

Do check out the wonderful Gingersnap site - there is loads of brilliant inspiration and information.

The challenge this week is Lace and/or Fibres. This is my entry - a card made using the gorgeous new stamps from The Artistic Stamper.

ATC

2010-02-08T11:05:00.001Z

The latest ATC for the swap group I belong to. January's theme was 'Brocade'.

Collaborative Book

2010-02-07T11:02:00.001Z

I am involved in a Collaborative Paperbag Book swap where participants make 24 pages 4.75"x4.75" (12 each of two different designs). These will be swapped out with the paperbags and made into books. The theme is nature and these are my pages (I seem to have my own theme - trees - going here).

Gingersnap

2010-02-03T10:46:00.001Z

This is my take on the latest Gingersnap Creations challenge which is, of course, ROMANCE

This little 'chocolate treat bag' is made using fabulous new stamps from The Artistic Stamper. They are sponsering Gingersnap this month so hop on over and take a look at the Gingersnap blog for some gorgeous projects using these great stamps. The template for this treat bag can be found at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/treatbagcover.

Pink and White

2010-01-25T11:30:00.001Z

Once again I have used my favourite flower stamps from The Artistic Stamper to make this 'quick' card. The stamps are from The 'flower power' sheet. Suitable for most occasions the flowers are simply stamped and embossed onto patterned paper, cut out and mounted

ATCs

2010-01-24T11:35:00.001Z

I love making (and swapping ATCs). Here are a couple I completed recently. The Stamps are from The Artistic Stamper Stitchels range. Artistic Stamper have a free P & P offer on at the moment! Backgrounds are made from Distress Inks.

Swaps

2010-01-18T11:38:00.001Z

A couple of completed items. The first is a little art quilt made for a swap. The theme is alcohol ink and I have used metal coloured with the ink on the quilt. The background fabric is painted with Lumiere paint and stamped with Encore ink. Metal sheet is cuttlebugged. The cream square is cotton fabric and the text on it is stamped. The little heart is a chipboard piece covered with fabric that has been stitched and beaded.

The second piece is an ATC for our group swap. This is December's and the theme was 'Birds'.
All the stamps used in these pieces are from The Artistic Stamper except for the swirl under the bird which is Paperartsy

Mabel Lucie Atwell

2010-01-04T11:43:00.002Z

Here's another card using one of the lovely Mabel Lucie Atwell stamps from The Artistic Stamper. The stamped image is partly coloured with markers and partly paper pieced.

I used a sketch from The Pink Elephant challenge blog. Because the patterned papers are Baisc Grey I guess this also meets the requirements for their recent colour challenge Cream, Pink and Blue