Sunday Stampers plus NEC Goodies

Firstly Sunday Stampers - hosted by Hels - the challenge this week was to use Texture Fades/Embossing folders/dry embossing.  Not necessarily all of them, but to include them along with some stamping.   The only thing I've stamped is the 'love' sentiment. I embossed my tag with one of Tim's folders.  I'd decided on using a crackle effect for the background but was actually aiming for much smaller cracks, but I'm happy with these.  I actually used a crackle glaze from Homebase, intended for use with emulsion paint and last time I used it I got much smaller cracks. (It does say the thicker the topcaot the coarser the cracks).  There are tiny shimmery sequins on the leaf but as often happens the shimmer doesn't show here.

Had a fantastic time at the NEC.  The lovely Pat drove ;-)  Though we went into 'Sewing for Pleasure' and 'Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch' and there was a supposed separate hall for Hobbycrafts, inside it was all in one!   Though there were separate areas.  We saw some fantastic stuff.  If  you ever go I'd recommend giving the sewing areas a looksee as lots of stuff crosses over into papercrafts and I'm sure you'd find something to delight you that you may not have seen before.  Lynda Monk was demoing a great technique using vilene, transfer foil and tissue paper which she'd used to make some wonderful books amongst other things.  Here's what I bought ;-)  I won't list it all but in case you're wondering what the thing is between the white spray and the mould, they are felting needles.

Sunday Stampers - Dies

The theme this week for the Sunday Stampers, hosted by Hels, is 'Dies'.  I've done a triptych using grungeboard panels.  I punched the holes with my much underused BIA and connected the panels using wire with some beads threaded on.  The bird is from the TH 'Caged Bird' die and the heart and crown are from the grungeboard 'Elements' pack.

Ooh am off to the NEC tomorrow with Pat, yippee! We're going for the 'Fashion, Embroidery + Stitch' and the 'Sewing For Pleasure' shows rather than the Hobbycrafts one.

Sunday Stampers plus Grungepaper books

Phew, just in under the wire for Sunday Stampers ;-)  Well I have had a busy week.  The theme over at Hels this week is Brown.  I've made a little canvas doll.  Her shoes are brown too but they look black here.  Actually Hels uses the titles of her fave songs to inpire the theme and the song this week was Brown Eyed Girl, well my girl has one blue eye and one brown eye haha.  As is required I have done a little bit of stamping - just the 'circles' stamp.

I can also show 2 books I've made as gifts using grungepaper for the cover.  I used brusho to colour the pages of both books.  They've been left mostly blank inside with a bit of stitching and a few pockets with quotes in.  The heart on Pat's book is made from Tyvek and the flowers on Tracey's is made from fabric paper.

It had to happen sooner or later! Plus, sneak peeks revealed.

Oh no, it just had to happen sooner or later - I bet many of you have done the same - paintbrush in the teacup!

I can reveal 2 of my recent sneak peeks 'cso they've been received now.  First up is the doll!  This was for a swap born out of the PIF project and went to my friend Ann The 2nd one, an embroidered box, was part of the PIF and went to Kathleen  The box is made from fabric paper - muslin with tissue paper glued on, - which I painted and embellished with free machine embroidery.  I'd already received a lovely book from Kathleen :-) but forgot to blog it, I will do that at a later date.  I'll be receiving my swap from Ann on Friday and can't wait ;-)

I don't show many cards these days 'cos they're usually gone before I've thought to take a pic, but here's one I made for my friend Pat She's an avid Stampotique fan. I did some machine stitching on the card; I've been meaning to do more of that for a long time after seeing it used to great effect on other blogs.

Fabric tags; plus pic of Phillipa

I've made some fabric tags today; well they're not quite complete and they're not really tag-shaped!  Thought I'd tell you how to do them and indeed how to print other stuff onto fabric.  I coloured some calico with Koh-I-Noor waterbased dyes which are in a little palette like watercolour paints.  I got mine from Art Van Go.  I wet the fabric first then just 'painted' the dyes on.  When the fabric was dry I trimmed it so there were no loose threads then ironed it onto a piece of freezer paper; cut the freezer paper a little bit larger than the fabric.  The freezer paper enables it to be put through your printer - simples :-)  You need to iron the fabric onto the shiny side of the paper.  You'd think you'd be able to buy freezer paper in the supermarket!! but I've never seen any; if anybody knows of any supermarkets/food stores where it can be purchased, please let me know as I'm sure it would be cheaper than buying it from textile craft suppliers!  I believe you can buy it in supermarkets in the USA.  I'm going to glue the 'tags' onto tissue paper to stiffen them.  I printed some quotes onto the tags.  Now if you see the one attributed to Einstein you may think 'that's just not cricket'! but I think he was being jocular :-)

I've also received my saltdough dolly from the wonderfully talented Donna of Doings of Doone.  Her name is Phillipa, isn't she fabulous? I love her ;-)  This was for playing along with Pay It Forward  If you want to see how Donna makes these dolls check out the videos on her blog.

365Journal, Sunday Stampers, Sneak Peek

I'm happy that my Feb pages are complete for this as I wasn't happy with the colours.  For March I've used Brusho to colour the pages and I'm much happier with the colours this month but they look a little dull here.  I've been really wanting to use different coloured daily squares after seeing others use them to great effect but always bottled out thinking they wouldn't work for me, so I've taken the plunge this month.  I've used Dylusions spray with my 'argyle' stencil and DIs with the picket fence (bottome of page) and flourish.  For info about the 365 journal pop over to Kate's.




Last minute again with my Sunday Stampers entry; the theme this week was Paris.  I've done a collage of different stamps and made a few organza flowers for embellishment.

Last sneak peek for PIF (Pay It Forward), though you're meant to make something for the first 5 comments regarding PIF on your blog one lady who left a comment isn't actually taking part herself and another only had one comment on her blog so I've asked her if she would like to do a swap instead but have yet to hear.  This little peek is about 11/2" square.
Overcast here today, though we have had some lovely sunny days recently.