Wedding Book Page

It is ages since I have done anything to this wedding book project and I really need to get it finished before the end of the month and so much still to do.

Today I have used the TH dress form to make guest tags. The wedding is in Italy (and sadly we can't go as it is the day after we return from our holiday), but I will send out the tags with the chief bridesmaid who will get them signed for me to put in the book and I will give it to Jamie and Helen when they have their wedding party back here in this country in September.

I am using the Graphic 45 le Romantique paper pack, which is so suitable for this and the book (which is a wooden one) - I showed some of what I have made already Here, Here and Here.

My inspiration for this piece has come from -
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Embossing (the crown and the corner flourish)
Kraft Journal - favourite things (dress forms, make own backgrounds as on the dress forms, inks and vintage)
Our Vintage Affair - Wedding
Shabby Tea Room - Charms

Supplies -
Stamps - TH shabby french, La Blanche, Stamps Happen Inc - rose postcard
DIs - tattered rose, fired brick, weathered wood, faded jeans, vintage photo
Masks - Tando Creative
Charms
Ticket - free download

Officially this is my second post for today, but with the Grungy Monday DT piece not publishing yesterday that also went up this morning, so you have to say that's 3. Must be a record for me.

I said I was going to be creative today - so I hope you like it and of course I hope Helen and Jamie will like it too.

Have a good evening - I think I will crack on and see if I can get another page done.

luv and hugs {brenda] xoxox

Top 3 at Make My Monday

Just a quick post to say that my rusty embossing tag won a Top 3 place at make My Monday.
Thanks for choosing me guys.

I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Trisha, Sarah, Dawn, Josie, Noukie, Debra, Sher, Silvia, Rusty, Clare, cv.nikolaeva, leandra, Moz, Joan, Sue, Henny, Karen, Gerri, Milla, Colette, Sue, Dot, Martina and Summite, who have all become followers in the last month or so. It is lovely to have you guys on board and joining me in my creative journey.

Right I have a day at home today so I am now off to be creative - I hope.


Have a great day.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Travel Pouch Grungeboard Extravaganza for Grungy Monday

Happy Grungy Monday everyone

I have been so excited as our lovely hostess Linda at Grungy Monday asked me to be a guest designer for this week and I have really thought hard as to what to make. This week we are focusing on a fabulous Tim Holtz product - Grungeboard or Grungepaper. You can use it in any way you like. Tim shows examples on his blog and there are videos on You Tube. Please go over and see the amazing contributions from both Linda and Dawn who is the other fab guest this week.

One of the things I have thought about making for a long while now is a travel pouch. It is an idea that has been mulling around in my head for a few years and what I mean is a small wallet that can hold postcards and journalling tabs for when I am visiting somewhere new or on my travels. Often when we go away to a new country I end up buying a small notebook to jot names of places and things we have seen, and end up keeping pictures and brochures etc. in the paper bags they were bought with.

So this is the sketch of the wallet I visualised with notes about it. I quite often start with a picture and ideas when embarking on a larger project. As you can see I wanted 2 pouches, a way to hold a pen or pencil, somewhere to keep some stamps (that got lost along the way), and some way to secure it.  I knew I was going to get the sewing machine out on this one as well as use the usual glues and eyelets or brads.

I made a paper one first and realised I needed to have gussets in the sides of the pouches to let them expand a bit so they would hold a reasonable amount if needed. I also found my own 'suggested' measurements needed adjusting too (hence the crossings out on my sketch). Once I had done all of that, I was off.

In making this I learnt that grungepaper shrinks when made wet and then heat dried so I lost some of the dimension - but everything still fits ok. I also learnt that this process buckles the paper too and I ended up ironing it with a damp cloth to get it flat(ish) again. My sewing machine found the double thickness difficult and also archival or stazon ink didn't like the finished surface. But saying all that this was an incredible project to make. At one or two points I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew but I am pleased with the end result.

I am not going to give a blow by blow account of how this was made but I hope the photos will give you a good idea.

The back of the travel pouch

A view showing the whole length of it.

A view of the front - you can see the fastener for the leather strap.

Inside - one pouch holds postcards, the other holds cut card for journalling.

A view inside - you can see the gussets and how much more room they give to the pouch.

I sewed on the little pieces to hold a pen.

A side on view again showing the gussets - they were very difficult to get sewn in.

The fastener is a leather strap and buckle from 7Gypsies. I bought a couple of these the last time I was in California - about 5 years ago and this is the first time I have used one and it worked a treat.

Main Products used
12 x 12 Grungepaper
Distress Inks - worn lipstick, fired brick, tumbled glass, vintage photo, black soot
Tim Holtz paper stash - shabby vintage
Distress staind - fired brick, vintage photo
Fresco paint - vintage lace
Tim Holtz stamps - the journey, lost and found
Dies - Tattered florals, Sizzix flower layers 8
I get most of my products on-line and and as I am DT member for the Stamp Man I tend to buy from their on-line shop.

 This feels so soft, I love holding it - just like sheep-skin leather.

We are so looking forward to seeing what you make with Tim's grungeboard or grungepaper. This is the only requirement for this challenge, anything else you use can be from your own stash. You might like to wander over to the All Things Tim discussion group at Yahoo. Gloria, the list mom, has a Grungy Monday file there where participants can upload their art for the group to admire. The address is:  groups.yahoo.com/group/allthingstim

Have a fabulous week.

Luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Edit - Sorry folks just realised Mr Blogger scheduling didn't work as I was out at work yesterday and didn't get back in till 11.00pm last night. Oh well here we are now xoxox

Rusty embossing

Yay I have managed to get a tag done that has been inspired by both the rusty embossing background from the fab Tim Holtz for Grungy Monday and the Chestnut Theme challenge at Gingersnap Creations called On The Road.

You can find the explanation for the rusty embossing background HERE on Tim's blog where he shows how he has used it with a Christmas tag. There are some fabulous pieces as inspiration by Linda, the lovely hostess and two fabulous guest designers Barbara and Rinda.

Mine has the car, map and a bit of the nuts and bolts as Gingersnap's overall focus for the month is Steampunk and you know me I love to play in this genre.

This looks out of focus, but the glossy embossing hasn't helped on the truck. But you can see how I have added the journalling.

Supplies
TH die ATC and corners.
DIs - weathered wood, vintage photo, frayed burlap, walnut stain and black soot.
Clear embossing powder.
Old book of AA maps and bits from my oddments box.

Have a good day and thanks for stopping by to have a look at my tag today.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Challenges to have fun with -
Grungy Monday - TH technique
Gingersnap Creations - On the Road
Paper Crafting Journey - For him
Crafty Creations - Boyz to men
Make my Monday - Vintage and embossing
Crafty Catz - Tags

Vintage ATC at The Stamp Man

The Stamp Man ATC swap running at the moment is a vintage theme. With Jill and Ian's move to the unit next door, the address for sending your ATcs has changed. It is now -

The Stampman, Unit 11, Craven Nursery Park, Snaygill Industrial Estate, Keighley Road, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 2QR,

I have used the sewing room die with shrink plastic and created this mini version of the dress form. 

 I used the TH weathered textile stamp on the dress form.

I have also used the haberdashery stamps and the mini classics all by the great man himself of course.

If you fancy having a go at this do post your ATC and link it to the challenge blog, we would love to see what you create.

If you have seen my mini canvas piece I published yesterday you will note that when I was at Lucy's earlier in the week she showed me how to make moulds and cast embellishments using clay. She has been asked by a number of people how she does it and she is going to run an on-line course (for a small fee) to demonstrate how it is done. If you would like to have a go at this, and it really is a fab way to make embellishments of your own, then pop over to her blog HERE and email her for more information.


I hope you are having a good weekend and thanks for your continued support in my artistic endeavours..

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Mini Canvases - Anything Tim for The Stamp Man

Hi Everyone

It's Friday and another new challenge starting at The Stamp Man. It is Jill who is the host this week and of course she has chosen a Tim Holtz theme.

I decided to follow on with mini canvases after making that fabulous frame with Lyn at her workshop. This time there is more of a shabby chic style to it.

The larger canvas has been sprayed and inked with masks after it had been painted with acrylics.

The smaller canvases have been treated in different ways.

This one has been covered with music paper then glazed with a coating of multi medium matte and some shimmery household paint mixed in.

Another covered with TH paper then inked, painted and gessoed.

The third covered with tissue tape and covered with Old Gold and Rubb and Buff metal paints.

I have used Ideology embellishments, metal corners and other bits and pieces from my box of bits. I have also been playing with making and using moulds and fimo clay. The little frozen charlotte doll has been made using one from the Ideaology set - this way it has a flat back and is great for mounting on your work. I have to thank Lucy for showing me how to do it, she has a great collection of pieces that she has made herself.

Now there is a surprise with one of the canvases - inside is a photo of my daughter Maddie and my granddaughter Becca. As they both love stars, I have altered 2 glass ones using fresco paint and crackle glaze.  See? I have just realised I was going to rub some metal rub into the tissue paper to colour it and haven't done that. Must go and finish it off.

Supplies
Acrylic paints of various kinds.
Masks - Tim Holtz flourish and Spellbinders floral stone impressabilities.
DIs - weathered wood, worn lipstick
Papers - Tim Holtz - crowded attic and shabby vintage.
Tim Holtz die - heart wings.
Alcohol inks - silver mixative, pink sherbert
Glimmer Mist - watermelon

Do you like the way I have hinged the canvas and it opens out?

I hope you will join in with the Stamp Man challenge this fortnight, we would love to see what you make. Don't forget there is a £10.00 voucher to spend at The Stamp Man on-line shop for the winner, so what are you waiting for? There are still alot of bargains at the moment due to Jill's move, but they won't be around for ever.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by and to those who leave me such lovely comments, I love to read them and I appreciate the time you take to do this.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Challenges to have fun with -
Clear it out - Wings (metal butterfly)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Alter it Monthly - Valley of the dolls

One, Two, Three

That's a song title isn't it? One, two, three - oh heck, I just had to look it up cos it's in my head now. Yep, 1-2-3 by Len Barry - sorry really showing my age now.

1-2-3, oh, that's how elementary it's gonna be
C'mon, let's fall in love, it's easy (it's so easy)
Like takin' candy (like takin' candy) from a baby.

Anyway onto more important business. 1-2-3 is the theme this week at Crafts4Eternity and I have gone Claudine Hellmuth style for this. I created a tag by masking, inking, sticking and stamping and then covered it with gesso. On top I have added 3 stamped and inked houses, 2 shrink plastic bluebirds, coloured with alcohol inks and 1 bottle top sun. A few rays and a map base for the houses finished it off.

Do pop over to see more details and inspiration from the C4E design team and enjoy the rest of the day.

Thanks as always for stopping by.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Challenges to have fun with -
The Artistic Stamper - Use hot colours
By the Cute and Girly - Things with wings
The Craft Garden - Use a bird
Try it on - Birds and bees (I only have birds - does that count?)
Art Impressions - Show me the bird
Crafts and Me - Summertime
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
City Crafter - Let the sunshine in
Clear It Out - Wings
My time to craft - Bird watcher
Paper Minutes - Houses
Tuesday Throwdown - Fun in the sun
The Crazy Challenge - Summertime
Creative Stamp Friends - Summer

Alcohol Ink challenge at The Stamp Man

Hi Everyone

Just an ultra quick post to let you know that there is an alcohol ink challenge at the Stamp Man which will close tomorrow night. I know these are a specialised product but if you have been getting inky with these please don't forget to enter soon as the linky collection closes at 9.00 pm tomorrow night. There is a £10.00 voucher up for grabs to spend at The Stamp Man on-line store where there are lots of bargains at the moment.

The next challenge starts Friday morning and Jill is hosting, come back to see what I have been making.

Here are some sneak peeks.

Tempted?

I hope so.

Have a fabulous evening - I am off out to have something to eat with a couple of friends from my old school. It's lovely to catch up with them.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Pastels for Divas by Design

Hi All

Half way through July, the schools will soon be breaking up for the summer holidays and summer is well and truly upon us. Yikes these months are slipping past so fast.

This is my design card for the Divas by Design challenge and we want to see all those lovely pastel colours. Do pop over to the blog to see all the wonderful creations made by my fabulously talented teamies.

I have a vintage shabby creation for you today. It is one of the styles I love and haven't done too much of it this year, but I so enjoyed doing this one. I used 3 different papers for the background which have been sewn together. The image was downloaded from the Graphics Fairy and I added it to another paper and sewed round part of it just for effect. The shabby bow i made using 2 different coloured ribbons and added a button. Some lace, mini butterflies, a flower and a sentiment I made in Word finish it off.

This sentiment is oh so true, always has been for me and has always been my philosophy as a teacher.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Challenges to have fun with -
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Stitching
My Time To Craft - Bird watcher
Tuesday Throwdown - Fun in the sun
The Crazy Challenge - Summertime
Creative Stamp Friends - Summer
Daisy Doodles - Summer
Paper Playtime - Summer
Stamps and Fun - lace
Dream Valley - Summer
Crafty Emmas - One image, two ribbons, three DPs.

Woo Hoo - Simon Says Stamp and Show Top 3

Hi Everyone    

I can't believe that I have got a Top 3 place at Simon Says Stamp and Show, this was for my steampunk alcohol inks card. I am sooo excited and am waiting for the blinkie to put on my blog, but I feel it is a great achievement and a huge thanks to Linda and the team.

I haven't been about in blogland much this week, in fact I haven't been making much either. Two reasons - firstly I am really pleased to say that I have got some work for the autumn term. I have been approached by some of the schools I have been working with over the past 4 years and will be doing some work with them, but I have also taken on a short term contract for 3 days a week to be the interim headteacher of a small primary school in Oxfordshire. I have been to visit a couple of times and spent some time with the staff and meeting parents. I just need to meet the children now. It is a school I know so I am very much looking forward to being there. So I am going to be very busy with work after August and probably won't have the time to create, make and blog, but I will pop in and see people as often as I can. Where I am on design teams I am already trying to get ahead of myself to keep them going, but I may be asking for a sabbatical - we will see!!!!      The second reason for not being around is that somehow I got a stomach upset which laid me low and in fact I spent one day in bed which is really not like me - but I feel better again today and had the grandchildren yesterday which didn't wear me out too much.

So this morning I have spent a bit of time at my workbench and made this for this week's challenge at SSSS and it is ready and will be entered with only a few hours to go. But I am glad I got there.

A different shaped tag for a change, inked and stamped over. I then added the 13 red card made from a TH stamp and added a TH flourish using one from the grungeboard stripes elements. I also used the playing cards stamp from Art Impressions using stazon on tissue paper sprayed with adirondack colour wash stains. the little black plate is a plastic one and I used a white pen to write on LUCKY (cos 13 is my lucky number) and stamped over it with a text stamp and fresco finish old gold paint. Other little bits added to finish it off and eh voila.

 I hope you are manaing to find a bit of crafting time and enjoying the weekend. Thanks for stopping by today.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox