Vintage farewells

I had a play with the Docrafts Papermania Vintage Notes range - it was lovely to work with the Fabric Paper!

This card is an A4 card, as it's a leaving card. As the lady in question is going on into the textile industry, it seems appropriate to use fabric in the card!

I also got a little creative and made a heart that could be a keepsake - using the Docraft Urban Stamp Bird stamp as inspiration for the applique on the heart and some rather lovely lacy ribbon - unsure of the supplier as it comes by the meter and is un-named on the reel....must investigate!

But otherwise, all the products used are from the Papermania Vintage Notes range and all correspond nicely.

The beautiful shell buttons come from a different range -  Ahoy There! I thought they just went so adorably with the look and feel of this set and really gave it a sense of elegance.

I glued everything down using Collall All Purpose Glue - and used foam pads to give a little dimension to the circle 'focal point' and also the little pink heart on the note. I felt inspired to hand write a message, it's also a scrapbook feel - and as the card is so large (to incorporate all the farewell messages inside...!!) it seemed like a nice touch to write using a Sakura pen and a shade to match....as best as I could...

It was a bit of a quick job, and done at work with the materials to hand, and I inked up the edges only slightly, as I didn't have my cut n dry pads to hand....but all in all I'm rather pleased with it.

Hope you like it and thanks for looking!

Love and Light!

Day at Creative Expressions

As I have just mentioned within my last entry that I had a day with the Creative Expressions team, I thought I would further "embellish" on the day and our "gettings up to!!!".

With the craft team of 5 at my place of work (I have a part-time job working in the craft department of a local garden centre), we had a workshop day at the Creative Expressions office.

We got to play with some new and not so new products, to help us better understand and help customers who are looking at these products whilst we work.

We are all crafters in different things....and so it was interesting to see that we were all able to create different, yet equally stunning pieces of work, using the techniques, tips and tools provided by the lovely team in Kettering!

We split into 2 groups - one started with the messy table - where I started, and of course, my favourite!! Seeing the Melt Pot, ultra thick embossing powders, cosmic shimmer sprays and mica powders had me into a crafting frenzy of anticipation and I couldn't wait to get stuck in!!

Using the Stamps Away masks, we sprayed Cosmic Shimmer mist over the little A6 sheet of card. We got to play about using various masks and mists, to create an interesting background. We then used Ranger Distress Inks, either directly or stamped on, to further enhance our backgrounds. Each of us ended up with very different looks - mine was the most messy and grunged up!

We then got to play with the Melt Pot!!!! We used some clear ultra thick and also the coloured ultra thick embossing powders - and wow, what colours, using the mica powder shades, like lava black! I have used fine embossing powders (and in fact have a stack of the Cosmic Shimmer lava black, etc range), so I was very keen to play with the ultra thick, having seen it used on the television!

We poured directly onto our heat mats, stamping into our blob to get a wax seal effect - then adding cosmic shimmers and the ultimate of all ultimates - Guilding Wax!!! This was able to give the most stunning effects - we also poured onto a piece of hessian, which was really effective.

We poured directly onto a Texture Tread - these look like black stamps, but have been infused with a release agent, so you can easily remove the embossing powder once it has dried.

We also poured into a mould, and into a cookie cutter whilst it was sitting on the texture tread. We applied mica powder and guilding wax to each....

Another fun thing we did with the Melt Pot was to dip skeleton leaves into the clear, and paper flower shapes into the lava black (though I dropped mine in and it was exceptionally blobby!!)...

Then we took our original A6 bit of card that we had done and dipped the edges into the melt pot - we dipped into the coloured one and it framed the paper, and also made it more ridged. Once everything was dry, we stuck our embellishments we had made onto our sheet (using Cosmic Shimmer glue of course!) and then got ready for our next project!

The next project gave us an opportunity to play with the new Cosmic Shimmer Polished Silk Glitter - and boy, is this stuff fine and so so shiney!

This time, we had an adhesive sheet and using masks, we masked up areas and applied the glitters by rubbing them into the sticky! We also applied some gilding flakes to some areas....We stamped and heat embossed, and did all sorts!

At this point, I would like to mention that Sue Wilson popped in to say hello and see what we had been creating - and having seen her on the TV, I thought she was lovely in person (and she looked smaller and younger in person too!!!)

We stuck all the embellishments (flowers, etc) to this and then had a break, to swap with the other team...!

After lunch, we used the Grand Calibre and Spellbinders Nestabilities dies. We embossed an A6 card using the Creative Expressions embossing folders, which I inked up with distress inks (I think I used aged photo and then walnut stain).

Then die cut using the nestabilities in a green card and a white card. We stamped using perfect medium onto the white card and then used a gold embossing powder, which we heat embossed then coloured in with the Cosmic Shimmer drawing inks - never used these before and they have such rich colours! Almost like stained glass windows!!  Inked up all the edges with walnut stain distress ink and then mat'n'layered with foam pads.

Once again, we took another A6 card and embossed - I chose this one as I thought it looked a bit like trellis and as we were adding flowers, it seemed to work for me.

So, of course, I inked up, using Spiced Marmalade and either Fired Brick or Barn Door (I just can't remember which!!)

We then die cut flowers and leaves from the Spellbinders range of dies and inked up - edged the daisy and inked the other flower using both inks blended together on the petals of the big flowers. We had already added alcohol inks to some Micro Beads - didn't know you could do that, so a brilliant top tip from the team at Creative Expressions!!!!  Die cut a shape using gold card, which I inked the edges of and then we glued everything into place with Cosmic Shimmer glue - including the micro beads - these were added by applying a big dollop (technical term!) of glue and then pour beads into place and leaving to dry!

The butterfly was created using the Cosmic shimmer flake and glitter glue. We applied the glue to the stamp with a piece of cut and dry, stamped the butterfly and then added Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes. Brushed off the excess of flakes, cut around the shape and glued into place!

Apart from the little heart in the first image on this page, that my little girl just loved and wanted to keep!!, all of these are now at my place of work, though I haven't added them to the display yet!

 I have not had much chance to play further with any, having been so busy - so will try my best to update with any future crafting creations!

Peace & harmony to all!

It's been a while.....

I have been so busy that I have neglected posting onto my blog.

It just seems that there is so much to be done! And so I shall pop up a few images of some recent cards and jewellery I have made.

I have also been creative on the graphic design front too! And of course, being a mum, cook, cleaner, taxi driver, chicken farmer, vet to one poorly chicken (RIP Jade) and, well countless other titles!!!

        
Above - various jewellery all made by me!



Below are the result of a fun day at the Creative Expressions offices!



Fun with Creative Expressions polished glitter


Ooooo ink-dyed micro beads - upside down!!!


Fun with UT embossing and mica powder!



Below are some custom made cards I was asked for.

 

 
  


I made this apron for my little girl who had a Victorian school day

AND just a few more bits by me!
I have lots going on a will try to be more proactive.
Peace & Harmony to all.
Maxine

Sparkle and shine!

Oh what fun! More beading! This time, necklaces! I've got a bit of a thing for hearts....! I totally love these, especially the Swarovski crystal heart pendant, and those filigree balls mixed with the pearls give it a soft, elegant feel - I imagine this would be lovely for bridal wear.....?  Seeing this next to each other gives me the idea that the blue will work very nicely with that heart pendant - the colours just reflect and pick up all the colours around it, impossible to catch on camera! But here's a picture just in case it can be seen!  Peace to all x

All that glitters....

I have been busy making up jewellery, alongside my card making - and have also now got the Ultimate Pro so I can make up boxes much easier and quicker - great for both cards and jewellery making!

So first up, we have the handbag charm I made for my daughter's teachers end of year gift. The box and card was then made to match!

I also had fun making this Shamballa style bracelet and used the same bead to make these lovely earrings.

This cute little set has been called the Jade Collection and has Japanese seed beads using memory wire and brass findings.

I just love these cute butterflies and so I made some more earrings along with some sparkly crystals and also love the filigree balls - they are so delicate!


So that's it for now, I will add more another day - I have used some lovely Swarovski hearts for a necklace and earring set and have just got more sparkles to make more things! Fun! Peace to all x

Spellbound!

I'm very excited, as I now have a Spellbinderrs Grand Calibre! So I have been playing and experimenting with dies and embossing....well, it is my first time, so I need to get more adventurous...and I managed to buy also some mica powders, which, WOW, I LOVE them! They look so effective, but so far, just brushed onto wet ink... Also been experimenting with embossing powder, and am enjoying the results! I will add some pictures soon. I'm also excited about going on a craft training day tomorrow, for work! So my 2 shifts rolled into one day of crafting....what could be better.. AND i have had fun depatching at work too, a bit of card making, and getting absolutely COVERED in glitter...I was in Heaven! Sadly, with all the ups and downs of keeping up with life, admidst the fun of experimental crafting, I forgot it was Father's Day! Oh dear me, was I in trouble. Sony did manage to quickly put a card togetherr for my daughter to give to daddy, but I did not send one to my dad, something I must remedy! I have recorded the lovely Christine of Spellbinders, on create & craft with lovely Leonie there, so I can see some of the ways to use my new maching. I'm a little upset that my one is pink and not purple, but it's not really a problem (it's just my favourite colour is purple!) but this is what was at work (and I got a lovely discount! Yay!!) really love the grunge and distressed looks and have had great fun with the distress inks, sprinkling embossing powder to frame, oh I like it, whether anyone else does is another matter... I might have a play in my crafty space now..... Peace to all x

May, it's May but ne'er a dry day!

Well, what a very wet month! Thankfully we had a couple of sunny days though - last weekend being one where the whole village was out for Blossoms and Bygones and I was all dressed up 40's style - any excuse!!

I've been busy working with Tom's Pantry, designing logo and signage, including the labels for the food. I've designed website which is being built by a CMS web developer, so hopefully that will be live late June!

We've got chickens too!!! So it's been busy getting them settled in and they seem to be very happy!!!!

We have already got 2 hens laying, and have had eggs for the last week, which were very tasty! Both Ginger and Amber are the layers so far.... Jade and Georgie have yet to lay, but there is no rush!!

Poor Amber (white hen) has a bit of a sneeze happening just now, so I need to go buy some chicken cold medicine!!! Ah bless, she seems in good form though.  Here they are on a rare sunny day pecking and scratching about!!!  It had been raining and suddenly the sun came out, so I snapped pictures while I could!!!

and here are Jade and Georgie up near the fruit trees and bushes. Jade is more upfront and runs up to me - Georgina, well, she runs up if she thinks there is food...! But won't let me stroke her. The others all 'assume the position' for a stroke, admittedly, I think it's more instinctively for a rooster to get busy, but hey, they're not getting that kinda attention from me!!!!

We love the fact that they get to free range, we have a fairly large garden and so they can truly get some freedom. They love digging about the allotments and also love messing up the compost heap too - well, it keeps it stirred up...!!! So we've had great enjoyment with them, they are such wonderful 'pets' and my daughter really enjoys them too! The cats seem to have got used to them and after my initial panic when Harvey looked as if he would pounce on Amber...hmmm well since then, the chickens just charge the cats if they get to close! They charge the wild birds too which is a shame, but I think they have sorted their pecking order out and are more tolerant of the birds, unless they think there is food they are missing out on that is!!!!

Well, I need to get on with some work!! I did some lovely crafty things for my friend's birthday but didn't take a picture, which is a shame. Made a beautiful bracelet and a I modge-podged a candle holder with lovely peacock tissue paper and added some stickles glitter - I have also done a little shelf/dressing gown hanger for my daughter with butterfly paper, so I'll take a picture of that when it's up!!! But Oh, most exciting, at work (not my business, but the p/t job in garden centre craft department), we have now got Deco-Patch papers in, so I shall be getting some more of that I expect!!! AND I did a flower soft demo at work too!!! Going to play with some Kanban core paper too so we can put examples of how to craft with it - loving working there and got a course in June for some crafts, some things I already do and a couple of things I want to do, but not had a chance to, so getting myself very excited about that!! BUT I REALLY MUST GO! I have labels to finish, and working this afternoon... Not enough hours in a day!

Peace & Harmony to all - and much glitter to brighten your day!