ATC - The joys of Spring

An ATC today, made just because I wanted to and also because I am still trying to use up scraps. 

The background was made when I did my demo day at The Art of Craft and I just finished it off with small vintage images from my box and then generated the sentiment on the PC.

Enjoy.

hugs {brenda} xox

Altered box - Shabby Chic

Here is an altered box I designed for a workshop a couple of weeks ago at The Art of Craft. Simply painted with acrylic paint and TH crackle paint - sanded at places where there would be some wear after a period of time and vintage photo DI added to those areas to age it.

The stamp is from the Shabby French collection by TH, images downloaded from the Graphics Fairy and then butterflies, buttons, flowers, leaves and beads added to the lid and some ribbon and lace round the lower part of the box. I love how this turned out.

Unfortunately I had to take the photos at the shop with no natural light so they aren't a true reflection of the colours, but I think you can get the feel of it.

Hope your week is going well.

hugs {brenda} xox

Just to let you know regarding size of photos etc and filling up your Picassa web album (see my post below), I have tried both my normal large size I save my photos as and re-sizing to the 800 x 800 pixels you are allowed free if you purchase additional space and the 500 x 500 pixels for the current free space.

If you click on each photo here you will see the difference it makes to enlarging your pics.

Hope this makes sense to you - if not read the Picasa guidelines on their web.

Picasa Web Album problem

Am I the only one being told I can't upload any more photos because my free 1 GB storage is full?

 If anyone has experienced this before please could you let me know how you solved the issue without buying more storage? It is obviously to do with photo size and I just gaily save at a large size as I was told by a blogging friend that my pictures didn't enlarge if I didn't!!!!

All help welcomed.

Many thanks.

 hugs {brenda} xox

PanPastels - Easter Week

Hi All

This is my DT contribution for the new PanPastel UK challenge this week where we want to see your Easter project. SO come on show us what you have been making.

Mine is a vintage Easter card using an image from the TH seasonal paper stash layered up with paper scraps which have had PPs added to either blend the colours in more or as in the case of the green background used with versamark and a stamp to create the crackle background.

More of my cheesecloth with the flowers as well and a small sentiment printed on the computer.

We look forward to seeing your Easter creations; remember you don't need to use PanPastels on your work but of course we love it when you do.

Don't forget My Creativity Store sponsors us with a fabulous prize of a sample set of PPs but they also have extremely competitive prices so don't pay the earth - go take a look at what they do.

For now.

hugs {brenda} xoxox

Thank you

I had such a lovely day on Friday which was my last day at school. There was a special Leavers Assembly for me where the children took over and gave me a certificate for being such a lovely headteacher, they also gave me a large framed photograph of them all outside the school with drawings of themselves all round it.

 I received a gorgeous Bay tree and some chocolates from the governors and the staff bought me a bottle of bubbly and a stunning Pandora bead for my new bracelet. 

It has been such a pleasure working with the staff and children of this school and I am going to miss them dreadfully, but I have told them to expect me to pop in for a coffee sometime.

Here are two of the cards I have made to send to say thank you.

I have used the Tilda Sewingbird paper pad for both.

Hope your weekend is going well.

hugs {brenda} xox

Challenges to have some fun with.

Lily Pad - Flower challenge

Art Impressions Stamps - Spring has sprung

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Celebrate the Occasion - Thank you

Riley and Co - Spring and polka dots

Creative Stamp Friends - Spring

Unruly PaperArts

Tomorrow is the big day when Unruly PaperArts is first published. This is going to be the most amazing blogozine.

Have you joined the merry band of followers? Have you bookmarked the page? Have you become unruly on Facebook or joined the Unruly Yahoo Group? Lots of ways to stay in touch. Just visit the blog and you will see where to join up.

My first article is not scheduled until May as I need to give myself some time to get ready for it,  

having finished work yesterday!!

BUT you are gonna see some amazing pieces from the most unruly team in blogland and there are some fabulous items coming up from guest contributors too.

Come and be unruly with us and grab this badge from the UPA blog

See you again soon.

hugs {brenda} xox

Altered canvas - Sewing theme

This was a workshop piece and the class just loved making it. My canvas was 8 x 8 but the ladies made a 10 x 10 and did a superb job. 

We used an old tissue dress pattern for the background and washed over it with watered down emulsion paint. The clock face had crackle paint and vintage photo DI on it; the mannequin from Craftwork Cards was painted stamped and inked and a skirt made from the pattern tissue. A smaller canvas wth bookplate and other embellishments finished it off.

Unfortunately I only got photos of two of the ladies work.

Lynda wants to buy a clock mechanism for hers - what a great idea.

Susan used some papers from the Tilda Sewing Bird Paper Pad.

Thanks ladies you were real stars.

For now.

hugs {brenda}  xox

Challenges to have fun with -

Simon says Stamp - Anything Goes

Frilly and Funkie - Your favourite vintage style

Craft Us Crazy - Altered item

Gingersnap Creations Visiting Artist 4

It's a sad but happy day at Gingersnap Creations as this is the last challenge; and of course it has to be the inimitable colour theme "Copper, Rust and Ginger".

My card is made up of these colours plus a fabulous vintage picture I found of Ginger Rogers, which I thought fitted perfectly.

Have you ever painted with alcohol inks? The rose background is a foiled piece of printed cardstock from the  DCWV Natural Stack, I wanted one of the flowers to stand out more so I used copper, ginger, pearl, raisin and butterscotch alcohol inks to create that metal effect. I also used the fabulous Graphic 45 Steampunk Débutante papers.

The two pictures show the rose in different lights. The first shows the foiling and on this one you can see the alcohol ink painting.

Go take a look at all the wonderful inspiration on the Gingersnaps blog and hopefully we will see you participate too.

Hope your week is going well. I finish school on Friday and can then say I am retired. Woo that will feel strange, but I am looking forward to having more time to experiment and create again.

Take care, next week I will be able to come and catch up with you all. My huge thanks to those of you who have stayed with me, I really appreciate your love and support.

For now.

hugs {brenda} xox

Sewing theme

Everyone who visits me knows I just adore anything with a sewing theme and this piece I loved playing with - I think it is very different for me. I actually made it some time ago but not had the time to blog it.

Can you see what the actual container is? Take a guess.

I have used a vintage dressmaking pattern, several clay moulds, fabrics and other embellishments to finish it off.

Not long before I finish work and then I will be able to visit you a bit more.

Take care.

hugs {brenda} xox

PanPastels - Bright colours

Another beautiful morning here in Surrey folks. The sun is shining; the spring blossoms are coming through and the colours are stunning.

Today the challenge at PanPastel UK is to show us your bright colours to celebrate the fact that Spring is here.  I have made a card for my sis' birthday using PPs for the backing paper; the DP and the flowers.  

I used a Prima stamp and cut each of the flowers out individually.

We hope you will join us and if you want to top up your PanPastels or if you haven't tried them yet go on over to Your Creativity Store where you will find a 10% discount and free P&P if you live in the UK. 

I  had a great party at home last night with friends and neighbours; so I think that has to be the end of my birthday celebrations for now.

Have a wonderful day.

hugs {brenda} xox