Greetings!

Typical, just as I thought the windy weather had finally settled down I received yet another yellow weather alert for strong winds from the weather app on my phone! It has been quite a blustery start to the year so far.

One member of the household, our wee Jack Russell, who hates the rain decided that for some reason he now likes to go out in the howling, gale force gusting winds. I'm not sure if it was because of strange noises or new smells but he kept going up to the patio doors to get into the back garden, at one point I opened the door just as a massive gust decided to head north & straight in through the house. My neighbours had the opposite problem with their young Springer Spaniel who decided he didn't like the noises the wind was making and was apparently freaking out so his dad ended up spending the night on the sofa to try and keep him calm.

Work on the late 60's/early 70's chest of drawers I bought to up-cycle for my son's room continues. I'm only doing a little at a time but the drawers are almost finished, they just need varnishing and the two painted ones need their new handles fitted.

The new handles cost 10 times more than I paid for the unit from a local second-hand shop.  The owners are moving to new premises and reduced the price of just about everything to the princely sum of £1! I had very nearly bought it the week before but wanted to check sizes of it to make sure I had enough of the decoupage paper I wanted to use to cover the area I needed it for.  

I asked my son how he would like it done and had to laugh when I was told "As long as it's in keeping with the aesthetics of my room Mum I don't mind"!

For my attempt at this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challege #222 I decided to go for black & ivory and hopefully manage to make a card suitable for a male of the species.

For the card base I used a landscape hammered ivory card. I then took some black cardstock and ran the two short sides through my Darice Feathers on Side folder and applied it to the base. The card is a UK A5 size and the folder much smaller. In order to prevent the edges from marking lines down the cardstock I ran it through my Grand Calibur but instead if using the full size Raspberry Embossing Plate I used the embossing plate from my Sapphire which was the perfect width for the feathers.

I used the ivory hammered card stock with an assortment of dies to create the embellishments and added some faux stitches around the edges of the black card.

After I originally thought I was finished I just kept looking at it thinking something was missing & it was bugging me! In the end I had another look through my die collection. I found the Spellbinders Delightful Tree set which  had some small birds which I felt would add some additional interest and be in keeping with the feather embossing.

What I Used

Cardstock
Ivory Hammered - PayPer Box
Black - PayPer Box

Dies
Leafy Flourish - Die-Namics
Birthday from Happy Birthday Garland - Spellbinders
Birds from Delightful Tree Set - Spellbinders
Roses from Floral Heart Accent - Spellbinders
Greetings from Tim Holtz Holiday Word Script Set - Sizzix
Oval from Radiant Rectangles Set - Spellbinders Gold

Embossing Folder

Feathers on Side - Darice

Treasure Chests

In the months in the run up to Christmas I decided that for the younger nephews and nieces I would this year make them something more lasting than a toy to be cast away soon after Christmas.

In an earlier blog post I showed some wooden wine boxes I had worked on for Christmas presents for grown ups, the same do lots of other box styles and so I added a few to my possibilities for presents list. For the boys I decided that I would make some treasure chests for them to be filled with gold chocolate coins for Christmas and hopefully to fill with their own treasures in the coming years.  Even although I started my projects weeks well in advance of Christmas I was still working on them on Christmas Eve as I hadn't planned on a  painful flare up of my Fibro which put paid to progress while waiting for things to dry before starting the next stage helped pace me.  I now know what suffering for your art means!
 

The boxes were a nice quality although one did have a couple of screws missing on a hinge but that just took a phone call & an emailed photo to customer services at The Works and I was able to get a replacement box.

I used Distress Inks (spray & pad) to stain them. The ink gave good coverage and after they were done they were left for a couple of days to make sure that the ink was dry.

 

Once the ink was dry the inside was decoupaged with napkins which had a vintage map design and the inside edges gilded with Gedeo Liquid Gold. Once that was dry the outside was varnished before adding Grosgrain Petersham ribbon and some pyramid studs to look like leather strapping. Although not shown in the photo each chest had the recipients initial added before finishing off with a final coat of varnish. The initials were coloured with the matching ink and then coated with clear embossing powder and heated to give an enamelled look.

I left the boxes open for a few days to make sure the smell of Mod Podge and Liquid Gold had gone before filling some cello bags with chocolate coins & putting them in the chests.

I am happy to report that they were a massive hit with the boys, especially the pirate lovers!



What I Used

 

Medium Wooden Chest - The Works 

Distress Inks - Tim Holtz

Liquid Gold - Gedeo

World Map Cocktail Napkins - Caspari

Decoupage Glue - Mod Podge

Varnish - Deco Art



Paint it Black!

This is a post I was working on before my laptop decided it didn't want to play any more. I started it several weeks before Christmas however, with the way things are going at the moment, it may well be next Christmas before some of the projects mentioned get finished . . .

One of the new craft channels that have appeared in the last couple of months has had a few shows where they have been using decoupage and chalk-based paints to decorate a variety of MDF shapes. One of the demonstrators, John Lockwood from Creative Expressions, brought in a couple of pieces he'd picked up at a charity shop for a few pounds and had up-cycled. Previously I had been in a local shop which specialises in up-cycling and restoring furniture and whilst I loved what I saw I nearly choked on my Polo Mint when I saw what they were charging for a wee tin of paint!

I did a bit of research online and found recipes for a decoupage glue and glaze and also some for chalk-based paint (Apparently "Chalk Paint" is a Trade Name for the Annie Sloan product).  I opted for the fine calcium carbonate powder version. During a visit to a DIY store my friend spotted some of their own brand paint tester pots for the princely sum of 10p each & cleared the basket (there were only 20 or so but that's the equivalent of a litre of paint for £2 - they also have a deal on at the moment to have tester pots of mixed to order Valspar paint for £1 for 236ml so I think it will be a case of a few dark colours and buying a large tin of white to dilute them to the colour required! I have put the recipes I've used at the end of this post.

A few week's ago I espied a small side table in a second-hand shop that I thought would be a good practice piece for a spot of up-cycling.

Progress so far on the table has been slow, mainly because my back is playing up, though I have managed to get some paint on and decoupage the top and drawer front I have boobed a bit as I started to sand before I waxed and took off a wee bit more than intended. (The dark patches on the top is where it was still wet when I took the photo).

The paint goes on pretty quickly but as always watching paint dry seems to take forever but saying that it does mean I have no option but to pace myself.

  

These wooden boxes are intended to take wine bottles.

The colours I  used for the wine boxes were in fact mixed from some of the various 10p tester pots and are therefore unique to these boxes. Some Texture Paste was used with a stencil of a grapevine to add detail on three sides of each box and some gilding wax applied to add a touch of colour to the design. The boxes were given a light waxing with Rust-oleum Clear Finishing Wax.

They will be used as Christmas presents - I have been collecting wine when it's been on offer and I think (hope) these boxes will perhaps add a "Wow" factor.

Original condition

I've since also found a nice little nest of three tables for £15 and a scruffy on the outside but immaculate green baize inside East Craft card table from a second-hand shop for £10 which I snapped up. My son likes to play the card game "Magic The Gathering" with his friends and they often end up in his room either cross-legged on, or sprawled over, the floor so I thought a table to sit at would be better for them.





I had, by now, read about using white marble dust instead of the greyish calcium carbonate powder so I got some to add to some matt black paint to create this for my son's room. The plan was to keep the green baize inside as it was in excellent condition and no point in creating work when you don't need to.

On making up the paint it was obvious it wasn't going to be a pure black but rather a very dark graphite grey. Having said that it wasn't too far away from the colour of the Black and Silver Crackle Decopatch paper we decided to use for the top.





After a lick of DIY Chalk-based paint

Decided to give it a coat of varnish
instead of wax.

Finished off with some Cosmic Shimmer
Pewter Gilding Wax around the edges of the top.

After doing this one another similar table appeared on local Gum Tree site, same price but needing a bit more work (the baize was stained and ripped) - I wasn't sure to get it or not but when I mentioned it to my son he decided that it would be nice black on the outside with a red felt interior that would look great in his room. We bought it although it's in his room and still in need of up-cycling, it's sitting there because his chest of drawers is currently a work in (slow) progress and needs to be finished first!

I have tried a few of the DIY chalk-based paint recipes on the internet (Plaster of Paris, Calcium Carbonate and  Marble Dust) but my preference after having tried them is marble dust. The emulsion paint should be free of any primers as this can apparently cause problems with clumping I believe. When choosing a Matt Emulsion paint it should be free from primers.

• Plaster of Paris - 1 Part Plaster of Paris to 3 Parts Matt Emulsion Paint. Add a little water to the powder to make a paste and slowly add the paint whilst stirring. This, for me at least, was the worst as it turned into a lumpy mass after a short while in use and ended up in the bin!

• Very Fine powder Calcium Carbonate - 1 part to 2 parts Matt Emulsion paint.  It mixes easily with the paint although you may prefer to add one or two tablespoons of water to the powder to make a paste. Slowly add the paint to the paste and stir well. If you find the final mix too thin leave the lid off for a wee while to allow some water to evaporate or if you find it too thick slowly add a little water at a time until you get to your desired consistency. This was my original best choice. This powder is pale grey in colour so you have to bear this in mind when mixing with lighter colours.

• Fine Marble Dust - 1 Part Marble Dust to 2 Parts Matt Emulsion paint.  It mixes easily with the paint although you may prefer to add one or two tablespoons of water to the powder to make a paste. Slowly add the paint to the paste and stir well. If you find the final mix too thin leave the lid off for a wee while to allow some water to evaporate or if you find it too thick slowly add a little water at a time until you get to your desired consistency. This is now my favourite and I've been really pleased with the results I've had with it.

What I Used

Wine Boxes

Wooden Wine Box - The Works

Paint - Assorted Sample Pots Homebase Matt Emulsion

Calcium Carbonate - Oliver Brown via Amazon.co.uk

Vine Stencil - Rustoleum Rose & Vine Set

Gilding Wax - Cosmic Shimmer

Texture Paste - DecoArt Media Sand
Wax - Rust-Oleum Furniture Finishing Wax

Small Table

Decoupage Paper - Craft Consortium White Crackle

Glue, Seal and Glaze - Cosmic Shimmer

Paint - Homebase White Matt Emulsion

Calcium Carbonate - Oliver Brown via Amazon.co.uk
Wax - Rust-Oleum Furniture Finishing Wax

Card Table

Decoupage Paper - Decopatch 469 Black and Silver Crackle

Glue, Seal and Glaze - Cosmic Shimmer

Gilding Wax - Cosmic Shimmer

Paint - Valspar Black (B&Q) Matt Emulsion

Marble Dust - Robersons
Satin Varnish - DecoArt



A Belated Happy New Year

Ok, I know, it's February but I have been bereft of a laptop of late & Smart Phones aren't really designed for people with arthritic fingers to type blogs. My laptop problem is now sorted and I'm now able to get on with things again.

The weather here today is wild -  the wind is Blawin' a hooley while the rain is fair stoatin aff the grun!* Our wee Jack Russell is not happy with wet weather and it's as soon as he's out the door he's straight back in again - he's no daft!

The weather's been pretty wet and windy all year so far I just hope this is not a portent of the year to come!

*Translation: It's rather windy & it's raining so hard that it's bouncing off the ground.

This week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge is a fairly simple one which just

seemed to be ideal for one of my latest acquisitions - the All Occasions "That

Folder" embossing folder.

It originally a papercraft magazine freebie that I intended to get but by the time I went for a copy the magazine had sold out. A couple of weeks or so ago I was on the Craft Stash website (a company which supplies some of the freebie items to papercraft magazines) and they had released it on a special limited run and there was only 1 left . . .  hooray!

The folder is actually 6"x6" but for this card I trimmed it to fit an A6 (A2) blank.

  

The flower comes from a Craft Creations Creative Die "Floral" which was another magazine freebie, I hadn't used it before so thought would give it a try with this. It's a three die set and the largest of the flowers is a 3D die. I layered the components together and cut an extra leaf to create the embellishment. The sentiment comes from a Sizzix Thinlit stamp and die set and it was finished off with some fine glitter dotted across the central band of the embossed design. The glitter is another one of my bargain finds, it comes from a set consisting of NPW fine tip glue pen and five pots of glitter. I bought the set for the princely sum of 59p from Home Bargains, the identical set from Selfridges online costs £5.95!

CardStock

All Cardstock from Paper Mill

Embossing Folders Dies and Stamps

All Occasions "That Folder"

Craft Essentials Creative Dies - Floral

Sizzix Thinlits with Stamps - Fancy Labels #2

Inks

Versafine - Majestic Blue

Promarker - Indigo Blue

Etc

NPW Glue & Glitter Set

Bling from own stash 

Clocking In

I've finally finished the mixed media clock I was working on and had it photographed. I bought it in a sale after watching an Indigo Blu mixed media demonstration on one of the new UK craft channels Hochanda.com using one of their clock kits. My purchase was £3, the Indigo Blu kit costs £7.99!  

 

 

It's taken me weeks because I've really only been doing a few minutes here and there. I've been a bit unsure about what I've been doing and my arthritis has been playing up but I have to now admit that I am hooked on this mixed media clock décor thing and it looks as though I may have some Christmas present ideas milling around.

 

I used a number of Indigo Blu products, including the paper (from the "Vintage Memories" paper stack), clock numeral stencil & "Good Times" A5 stamp.

 

I managed to find a supplier of MDF and Ply shapes with reasonable prices so sent off for a heart and a teapot . This next clock is intended for my sister and her husband - so far I've got the blank gessoed, the paper, from Indigo Blu's "Emporium of Curiosities", stuck on and am currently at the sitting, staring "what now?" stage. 

As for the teapot . . . well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!

 

 

 

 



I missed the deadline for last week's Freshly Made Sketches but I think I might just manage to clock in, in time, this week! 

 

For this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge I decided to flip the design onto it's side and hang up some stockings.

 

 

Once again I have used some of the lovely freebie Winter Wonderland stamps, Norwegian patterned stockings, from Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine (craftstash.co.uk also stock various stamps from the freebie sets as Apple Blossom Craft Collection).

 

 

The stamps were each inked using 3 different Versafine pads:Smokey Grey, Crimson and Olympia Green then fussy cut and shaped before mounting onto the background. The background was inked with Distress Inks Evergreen Bough and Peeled Paint, the holly was stamped with each of the three inks.







 

Cardstock:
PayPer Box - Kraft
PayPer Box - Ivory Hammered

Stamps:
Apple Blossom Winter Wonderland Stamps - Norwegian Patterned Stockings

 

 
 

Krafty Poinsettia

For anyone who didn't see the Scotland v Australia Quarter Final at the Rugby World Cup - we wuz robbed! A penalty kick awarded to the Wallabies in the final minute of the match, for something they did (if Ref went to the TMO he would have seen it!) and the Aussies won by a single point. I think the whole of Scotland was gutted for those lads who gave it their all!  The way the Ref sprinted off the pitch as he was blowing the final whistle was probably the biggest clue that he knew he'd made a huge mistake - the rude so and so never even shook hands with the Team Captains!

Ah well, there's always the Six Nations to look forward to in the New year!

Still not got a lot done regarding Christmas cards but I have been experimenting using Kraft paper with clear embossing powder and came up with a poinsettia that looks like it's made from spun caramelised sugar! I decided to use it for this week's entry into the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #208

 

 

The Christmas bauble in the background of the photos is a work in progress. I used the Darice Ivy Corner embossing folder to create a strip detail instead of a ribbon.

 

These filigree dies are lovely but all the chads that come off are a pest. I have found that putting in a poly bag (zip-lock best) and giving a sharp tap on the edge of the table frees them from the die without going everywhere. If they are still stuck within the die cut, again put it in a bag and try using one of the rotating brushes on the market seem to free them without them making a mess!

 

 

 

 

 

Cardstock

 PayPer Box - Kraft

PayPer Box - White Linen

 

Embossing Folder

Darice - Ivy Corner

 
 Dies 

Sue Wilson Creative Expressions - Filligree Poinsettia












Stamps

Magazine Freebie
 

Inks

 Versafine - Antique Sepia

Distress Ink - Evergreen Bough

It's Started!

It's Started!

Last week I decided to get a shift on and get some crafty stuff done for Hallowe'en, I've made up some goodie bags for the bairns out Guising*, for the neighbours children I've made and filled some decorated boxes.
 

Anyway, after sorting out Hallowe'en I have given in and started making stuff for Christmas - a load of baubles! I also thought I'd make a start on some cards and ended up only making one because I couldn't decide what to do!

The one I did make is based on this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge

 

although it didn't start out as what I had originally planned to make for it! My original plan for the Christmas card went awry when I unknowingly had managed to get ink on my fingers and smudged a part of it - aarghh! Then I remembered the sketch and decided to chop off the bits that were ok and re-arrange them and add another panel.
 

  

All the stamps used this week came as a free gift with the latest Creative Stamping Magazine. They were classed as Christmas stamps but there are several which can be used at anytime of year - especially for making cards for the male of the species, including a rather nice stag's head.

 

 

 

Cardstock

 

PayPer Box - Kraft
PayPer Box - Ivory

 

Stamps

 

Creative Stamping - Woodland Christmas

 

 

Inks

 

Versafine - Vintage Sepia

 

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads:

Faded Denim, Peeled Paint & Evergreen Bough

 

 

* Guising - The verb to guise comes from Old French (se) déguiser, meaning to disguise oneself, is a practise not only associated with All Hallows Eve but also, in days of yore, with Yule. 

On the last Tuesday of January  each year, at Lerwick in Shetland Islands the men  participating in the Viking Festival of "Up Helly Aa" are known as Guizers, chief among them being the "Guizer Jarl")

 

Photo of Up Helly Aa  - Burning the Dragon Ship from http://www.shetland.org/things/events/culture-heritage/up-helly-aa

When I was younger going Guising at Hallowe'en wearing an old white sheet with holes cut for eyes sufficed as a ghost but these days, as the rather commercialised import of Trick or Treat seems to steal a march on guising, it seems the shops are full of more theatrical style costumes. 

Another tradition was the long, labourious, and a bit smelly, task to hollow out a tumshie (swede) and then carve a scary face into it but with the candle lit turnip (neep) lantern it was off to knock on the doors of friends and neighbours. The tradition was to do your party piece (tell a joke, sing a song, dance or recite a poem) to receive your fairins (presents, especially sweets, apples, nuts although you may be lucky to receive some money) rather than modern, imported, demand  of "Trick or Treat".

"Canty dame wi kindly looks,

Ye hae fairins in yer neuks,

Aipples reid, or aipples green,

Up, and gie's oor Hallowe'en!"

 

 

 

Dear Santa . . .

Autumn is now upon us, the cherry trees out at the front of our house are turning shades of red and gold whilst the fallen pine cones seem to be attracting the local squirrels. My apple tree has so far produced enough apples for some pies and crumbles with more still to come - will check later once the rain goes off as it has been windy enough to get some fallers.

It's been a few weeks since I took part in the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge so thought it was time to try and get back into the swing of things.  Unfortunately my photos aren't too great as I've had to use the camera on my phone (put the SD card reader for my proper camera in a safe place - well, you know the rest!)

 

 

I've used a combination of Tim Holtz and Dyan Reaveley stamps to come up with this bird that's got itself in a bit of a mess:

 

 

Now that it's a getting a bit close to Chrimbo to be misbehaving and making messes about the house, this little bird has decided to write a letter to Santa - just in case!

   

 

 

The card uses with Tim Holtz Bird Crazy and Dyan Reaveley's Christmas Words stamps with the Splats courtesy of a Tim Holt stencil and Distress Inks.

 

 

 

Cardstock

Image Supersmooth  -White

PayPer Box - Kraft

 

Stamps & Stencils

Tim Holtz - Splatters Layering Stencil

Tim Holtz - Bird Crazy

Dyan Reaveley - Christmas Words

Inks

Momento Tuxedo Black

Versafine - Onyx Black

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Spiced Marmalade

Tim Holt Distress Ink - Faded Denim

Be You!

Not blogged for about 2 weeks, unfortunately when my son had our wee Jack Russell out for a walk it was attacked by a the same Husky that attacked him almost 3 years ago and it has left him rather traumatised so I've been having to look after him. My boy rather shaken especially as they were chased all the way into our front garden with the Husky's owner hauling it off Jack on our doorstep! Whilst he wasn't as badly injured this time he's still been in a lot of pain and it was nearly a week before he was able to go for a walk/hobble outwith the back garden.

The Police, actually came out to get a statement this time because it was the same dog who had attacked him before, that and the fact he was being walked by a youngster when it happened. The PC said that a report would be sent to the Fiscal.  The local Dog Warden has  also contacted us and told us that there will now be a Control Order put on the Husky. Shortly after the last attack it was seen with a muzzle on and was kept on the lead but that didn't last long, hopefully this time they'll take heed.  We've certainly noticed that they have changed the route they walk and no longer pass our house!

A couple of days ago my son announced it was one of his friend's Birthday and there were plans that some way or another there would be a party. This particular friend is embracing his inner Emo/Goth look at the moment and has a habit of "borrowing" his sister's eye make-up. We have had discussions on the merits of eye pencil over liquid liner etc so I thought for his Birthday I would treat him to some eye-liner and related bits and bobs of his very own. I also thought I'd make him a card using one of the Tim Holtz Bird Crazy Stamps combined with a Dyan Reaveley sentiment that I think sums up individuality - "Be you, the world will adjust".

 

 

 

 

Cardstock:

PayPer Box -  Kraft,

Image Super Smooth - White 300gsm

 

Stamps:

Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Bird Crazy,
Ranger - Dyan Reaveley - Laugh Til You Leak,

Crafter's Companion - Moonbeam Meadow

 

Ink:

Memento - Tuxedo Black
Letraset Promarkers

Oh Joy!

Okay some may say I'm leaving it late because they've been at it since January but to me this is soon enough to start thinking about C*******s cards - oh joy! Don't get me wrong, I like C*******s I just don't like the commercial hype in the run up to it - even seen decorations & cards in a shop already!

Now the schools are back, Hallowe'en and Guy Fawkes night are approaching so I reckoned it's perhaps about time to start thinking about designs. Last year I had my heart set on the Creative Expressions Filigree Poinsettia dies but left it so late they couldn't be had for love nor money so this year I've made sure to get them and they arrived at the weekend. Also in the package was the IndigoBlu Flitglu starter set and two pots of gilding flakes - something else I've been promising myself. What better excuse to try them out than this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge:

 

I think the gilding flake panel gives an unintentional an Gustav Klimt-esque look to the card that may become intentional in other cards!

 

 

CardStock:

PayPer Box - Pearlised White
PayPer Box - Matt Bronze

Dies:

Creative Expressions Sue Wilson - Filigree Poinsettia Set
Creative Expressions Sue Wilson - Snowflake Striplet Die

Other:

IndigoBlu Flitglu
Cosmic Shimmer - Gilding Flakes - Persian Dawn
Stamp - Christmas Words from (Magazine) Freebie Set