A Garden Journey Book

On AFTCM I am participating in a swap where we are making a house shaped book themed " A Garden Journey". A friend on the group was kind enough to send me a template of various shapes for the house and I cut them out on some cardboard.

For the front I printed off a gate on a piece of acetate and cut it to size.

The first page is an picture of a door from my friend Adrienne from her personal collection which she shared on one of our groups. I cut out images from an old calendar which had various garden themes and worked them around the door image. For the peak of the house I chose a butterfly from a brochure - one of my favourite things.


The back of this page was covered with some scrapbook paper and again I used some flowers from the old calendar as well as a magazine page.  The image of the lady is from magicmoonlightfreeimages.blogspot.com. I added a border from an old greeting card at the bottom and the word sticker on the top.

Page 3. I coloured a piece of cardstock with Cathie Allan's Stamp Smoosh technique, and lightly stamped a music stamp all over, cut it out and attached it to the cardboard shape. I stamped and coloured the LaBlanche stamp of the little girl in the daisies, cut it out and added it to the stamped background. To complete the page I added a transparency which I recently bought and a little sunflower button to which I added a punched image and a dewdrop which I coloured with alcohol ink.

The back of this page was covered with scrapbook paper which really is not floral but I thought it would work well with some little dimensional plastic flowers that I had in my stash. I added gems to a couple of the flowers that had holes in the centre.

Page 5, I started by stamping an old favourite PSX stamp of a garden pond scene and coloured it with Lyra coloured pencils. I then added colour to the background with chalks then added stamped trees, rocks and grass. I printed off the bird image which is a freebie from Elizabeth's blog. I then stamped the "welcome" stamp coloured and cut it out and added it at the bottom.

The back of the previous page started off with what my friend Trish B calls "worksheet wonders"; basically a piece of paper that has been under a project while stamping or spraying. In my case this was a piece of cardstock that was under a project that I was spraying with Adirondack color wash. There were a lot of white spaces so I added Ranger distress stain over the whole sheet, which is transparent enough to allow some of the original colours to show through.

I stamped a Judikins Sunflower stamp on the background using distress ink and distress embossing powder.

I printed off a poem and put it under a cute little frame that I bought for a couple of dollars at Michaels. The bird image is a thin sheet of self-adhesive cork precisely laser-cut from Magenta which I coloured with pigment inks. Finally I added a butterfly, a little rainbow and a grass sticker.

Page seven, I covered with a floral themed paper. I had some chipboard pieces left from my Ezee Pzee design kits and decided that the tree would be my centre piece. I coloured it with acrylic paints. I found some apple and squirrel stickers in my stash and added them to the tree. I also had a smaller Magenta cork bird that I had already coloured and added it on one of the branches. The little pink cat was from a stash of embellishments and I thought he/she would be perfect sitting under the tree, perhaps hoping the squirrels would come down?

At the top I added the acrylic daisy and the Escape stickers  to finish off the peak.

The opposite side of page 7 started off with a piece of a brochure with a floral design at the edge. I printed a poem/quote and coloured over it to make it blend into the background, but the edges still showed so I added some sticker borders around it.

The bird image is from Elizabeth's blog and the 3-D bunnies were a gift from my friend Tracy. To complete the peak I cut out a large flower from the old calendar to make it look like a roof. The little bees are from a free sheet of images from vintagepaintworks.com. I am not sure if these are available anymore as I could not find the site when I recently did a search to link to them.

For the back cover I cut a piece of thick vinyl and stamped a saying at the bottom in Stazon ink. I had some wooden bird pieces from Kaisercraft which I painted with acrylic paint and glued to the cover.

This will be on the way to my partner later this week. Hope she likes it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Altered Ruler

On AFTCM I am participating in a swap where we alter a ruler 6 inches or more in length, with the theme School days.

I was able to find some school themed scrapbook paper at my local stamp store which I knew I could use on a wooden ruler that Linda R.sent to me (Thank you Linda!)

I started by colouring the ruler with Adirondack and walnut stain sprays. Cut out a portion from one of the scrapbook papers which had various words pertaining to lessons and glued it to the back of the ruler. I discovered some graduation stickers in my stash and added them to the back in various spots. Also found some "cutesy" stickers and cut around the white areas and attached one of them to the back.

On the front I glued on a banner from another scrapbook paper and added stickers to each end. Discovered a little sneaker button in my stash and added it to one end. Took one of the Tim Holtz pen nibs and coloured the end with a black permanent marker to make it look like it was dipped in ink, and attached it to the other end.

I thought I needed to add more, so I cut out some pieces from another scrapbook paper and attached them under Tim Holtz fragment charms, one being placed on a piece of dictionary page for arithmetic.

To complete it I stamped a Tim Holtz stamp on glossy cardstock and framed it between two pieces of acrylic with some of the Ranger metallic tape.

To  make these items part of the ruler, I drilled a hole in one end and glued in two eyelets, I attached jump rings to the three pieces, put a clasp through the hole in the ruler with another jump ring and placed the the pieces on it. 

Scraplings

I joined another swap to make some Scraplings. Basically these are a miniature card which are normally 1.25" X 4.25" because they are made from off-cuts after making a card or other project. The premise is to use all your scraps to complete the Scrapling.

This is a great way to use pieces that you would normally throw away.

This particular swap has a red/green/white colour scheme, but how we create it is entirely up to us.

I ended up making three as I was actually enjoying the whole process.

For the one on the left, I stamped an image with Vivid ink, outlined it with a green marker and attached it to the green cardstock. I added a red die-cut and a pearl embellishment which I coloured with alcohol ink.  I wrapped some green thread around the card and added some white pearls. To complete it I stamped the saying with fluid chalk ink and attached it with double sided tape.

The middle one was just a fun idea I had as the image is one of my favourites. I stamped the base with some green Versafine ink using a background stamp. I stamped the face with warm red fluid chalk ink and cut it out. I added some velvet rick-rack at the bottom then inserted the face just above it. I stamped and embossed the word Zen and the Z's on a piece of scrap cardstock and coloured it with the red fluid chalk and outlined them in green. I made a crown out of a stamped scrap piece of paper and added it above the Z's. For the final touch I took a punched flower, another scrap piece and added a little paper gem to finish off  the bottom.

The last card was stamped and embossed in white on the red card base. I took a sticker and attached it to a piece of white cardstock and clear embossed it. I coloured around the sticker with two colours of green fluid chalks. I then stamped a swirly snowflake stamp in red over the area, and wiped off the overstamping on the sticker. I framed it by using Be-creative (Sookwang) tape and Hunter Green Glitter Ritz. I had some little butterfly embellishments but felt it needed something so I attached a couple of tiny beads for the body and glued it to the top. I added some gem pieces to the bottom to complete it.

I am not sure which two I will be sending to my partner but I guess I can decide that when the swap closes.

Altered CD Jewell Case

In the AFTCM group I am doing a swap where we alter a CD case and make a booklet to go inside with a winter theme.

I started by cutting some lunamatte paper to fit inside the front portion of the CD cover folded in half; which would be the booklet. I used two pieces so it would not be too bulky.

I stamped images, coloured them with Copic and Tombo markers, added glitter to some of the pages and added colour with my inkpads and Clearsnap stylus, and edged some with my markers. I finished it by sewing the centre together with some blue metallic thread.

For the front of the case I covered it in some silver toned paper. I stamped a Magenta image with brown memories ink added some white and silver glitter around the edges, I attached this to the centre. For the left edge I stamped and embossed the saying and edged it with a marker, and added some snowflake stickers.

For the inside right I took a piece of cardstock cut in a circle the size of a CD and covered it with black paper. I inked it with several colours of Opalite inks then stamped a snowflake background (Pedlars Pack) with Brilliance Moonlight White. I then took a snowflake cut-out and stamped and embossed a snowflake image on it an attached it to the centre of the circle. I added a little tree brad at the top and taped the circle to the area where the CD would be placed.

I also wanted to include a little extra item with the CD case. I recently bought some die-cuts made by a local company Ezee Pzee (Engravit.net), one being a snowflake. I took this and embossed one side with Peacock glitter embossing powder. On the other side I painted it with white acrylic paint and then embossed it with a different colour of glitter embossing powder. This is hung over the tree brad and can be removed to use on the Christmas tree or as a package topper, or whatever else the recipient chooses.

I also painted the black portion of the CD holder with a silver Krylon leafing pen, as I felt that the black was a bit glaring against the images.

This will be mailed and on it's way to my partner sometime this week.



Have a Heart

Another swap I am participating in is to use hearts on a project. I was trying to think of something a bit different and decided to make a mobile.

I used 3 different stamps and stamped them twice, the smallest one was done with Colorbox Fluid chalks, then I stamped it again and cut out the tiny heart and coloured it with Mica watercolours and attached it with double-sided tape to the heart.

The Middle one was stamped with Colorbox pigment ink and embossed with red embossing powder, and the small patterned pieces cut out.

The third one I stamped with dye inks using Cathie Allan's Stamp Smoosh technique. I stamped a quote on each side using a different stamp relating to friends.  I added heart sticker, then embossed both pieces with glitter embossing powder.

I strung all the pieces together using nylon thread (the kind that looks invisible) and added beads to give it a little more dimension. The thread was a great idea until I accidently cut it and then tried to tie another piece to the end..... Believe me it really is Invisible!!! I used a dental floss threader to put the beads on the thread, which is a great and cheap tool. There are 25 in a package for about $4 it makes it so much easier than struggling with the beads (see picture below).  The picture of the mobile is not the greatest, as I hung it in my craft room and put a piece of craft paper behind it but if you click on the picture you will get a better view.

August Quote of the month

The August quote is: "There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart" Charles Dickens

I got a head start on this one now that I have most of my other swaps finished. While rooting around in my craft room I came across a piece that I had never finished from and online course that I took and thought I would use it for the August Q.O.T.M.


The background was done on watercolour 140LB coldpress paper and the body and head were already attached. I took some ephemera pieces and coloured them with chalk inks and attached them to the piece. Found some nice heart stickers and added them around the piece. Did the saying on my label maker machine and attached it and am quite happy with the finished item. This is a totally different colour pallette for me as I normally work with blues and greens, but I like the vibrant tones.
Now my biggest problem will be to find some cardboard and a large enough envelope to mail it once the partners list is posted.

Celebrate Spring

There is another swap "Celebrate Spring" for which I have been playing with an idea.
I drew out a bird from a template I found on the Internet. I did direct-to-paper with Colorbox pigment inks and added some Smooch ink around the edges.

I stamped some images and coloured them with Prismacolor and Lyra pencils. I added some stickers that my friend Cathee sent me in a recent swap. I cut the end of the tail and the wings with some scalloped scissors. I added the "spring" quotes (Hero Arts) and the little butterfly on the tail. The eye is a flower from a cheap dollar store bracelet.
I was not completely happy with this piece so I made another one and am much more satisfied with the result.

The second one was done by applying scrapbook paper to both sides of my template, then doing direct-to-paper over it with Fluid Chalk inks.

On the Blue & Yellow side I stamped a Magenta Flourish stamp with Vivid green. I took a butterfly shaped Grungeboard piece, covered it in Glitter Ritz and embossed it in the Cuttlebug. The word Fly is also Grungeboard, coloured with Mustard Seed & Peeled Paint distress inks and Yellow pigment ink. The bird and tulip are stickers and the eye is a piece of confetti and a gem.

The orange/red/coral side was stamped with a Magenta border flourish stamp with Versafine Satin Red. The flower is a sticker and I added a scroll die cut and the rivet eye. The brad was added to cover the end of the "wings" on this side.

The wings are Cuttlebug leaf die-cuts, which I coloured again with the Fluid chalks on both sides and added the Hero Arts "spring" words with the same inks that I used for the body.

April Quote of the Month

The April quote is: "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."Langston Hughes

I really struggled with this quote for some reason and looked through a lot of pictures, stamps, stickers and things on my computer.

First Attempt: The background image and the frog are stickers, and the little girl on the bird is from Lisa's Altered Art. This was my first attempt and I was not happy with it, so back to the drawing board!

Second attempt: The canvas was completely stripped and painted over with gesso then painted in a deep red, brown and a smidgen of black acrylics. I added some lace at the top and some text paper at the bottom with a bit more of the same paint and some acrylic pewter paint over it. I am still not happy with the overall effect.
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Third and Final: I had some worksheet paper that I had on my desk that was covered in paints, inks, Krylon pen, embossing powders, stamped images and glitter. I decided that I preferred this to the previous backgrounds, so adhered it to a piece of 130 Lb card stock.

I lightly stamped a few more images on the background with Ancient Page Coal; stamped the "Believe" stamp with pigment ink and embossed it with Pearl embossing powder.
I attached the picture of the little girl (flickr-chicks 57)then added the transparency with vellum tape and attached the quote. I am finally happy with this and can now sign up for the swap.

Next Generation Art Lottery

This month's theme for the NG Lottery is Fairies. I decided to make an ATC for this month. I printed off an image from Dover Art and attached it to the ATC blank with Golden gel medium.

I took some embossing paste and added it around the image with a popsicle stick. Once it dried I stippled on the various colours of acrylic paints. I added the little sticker at the bottom and the stars on the top.

June Tag Your it

This is an ongoing swap where we make a piece of art for the person whose name was chosen.

This month the "It Girl" is Autumn and the theme is mermaids/mermen or anything related to the ocean. I do not have any mermen/maids stamps so I printed off some images and made a deco page for her.

The background is some of my monoprinted cardstock. I stamped the front with Versafine blue, added some gold mica flakes and some Shimmering Sand to the bottom and attached the merman image. On the back I stamped cattails ( did not have a seaweed stamp, so I substituted - artistic license!!) coloured it green and added some green and yellow Crystal Lacquer to give them dimension. Again I added the image and Shimmering Sand at the bottom.

Sketchbook "The Year I was Born"

 This is my "Year I was Born Page". I am the baby of the family as my Mother did not want any children while World War II was still in progress, being as we lived in Britain, so I came along the year after the war ended.

I could have written many things about that year, such as: I do not like eggs much as due to rationing there were only powdered ones available. My first taste of bananas was not enjoyable as fruit was at a premium. I decided instead to just pick a few key points about the year and add them to my page.

Used stamp pads to colour the backgrounds then added some stickers.