June already ..

Hello

Well settling into my new job has been more time consuming than I expected and is ongoing ....

But I have been crafting in between times ... so I thought I would show you what I have been working on ...

Firstly, a mini-album using Prima's Fairy Rhymes paper pad ... I have made life difficult for myself by putting twelve pages into this album! That's twenty-four sides to decorate (sigh) ... I start enthusiastically but now ten pages in I am becoming bored with it and finishing will be an effort ... anyway here are a few pages of this work in progress ...

It's quite pretty and I have used lots of glossy accents and glitter ... hopefully in a week or so there will be a Youtube video.

I have also been a bit obsessed with making beaded charms ...

I did say obsessed ... a few close ups below ...

I may decide to video these ... it will be easier to see the detail ... I just love making these and will add to ATCs, tags and cards I expect or use several together to make chunkier charms.

I have also made a few cards - although these are completely unoriginal and more or less direct copies of  cards I have seen on Pinterest ...

The originals can be seen here ...

http://nikiestes.typepad.com/my_paper_creations/2010/02/butterfly-dreams-day-3.html Thank you Niki

here ...

http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/justrite-week-day-three.html Amy Sheffer is my all time favourite cardmaker ...

and here ...http://www.ewenstyle.com/2013/03/diva-darejust-give-me-stamps-buttons.html Amy again - Thank you Amy.

Hello

I started a new job recently and crafting has taken a bit of a back seat! I have another ATC for the group I am in and the 'theme' for this was 'shrink plastic embellished'. This is what I came up with ...

... the colour in the picture is disappointing - in real life it is a pretty mixture of pastel creams, pinks and green with a few gems added for sparkle.

I have been making videos for my mini albums and swaps ... if you are interested the links are below ... there are rather a lot! The last video is the first one of five where I show my 'junk' journals and how I fill them ...

Another month gone ...

... so quickly.

I made this today - it's for an 'Altered Wooden Heart' swap. This poor heart has been through at least four incarnations and has ended up ENTIRELY different from my plan - which just wouldn't work.

I ended up over-painting several other layers of papers, collage etc and finally used some turquoise acrylic colours - then finally breathed a sigh of relief - I felt there might be somewhere to go. The painted background ended up so pretty I really didn't want to cover it up ...

... but I had to so in the end just did this ...

... I covered the sides in lace and copper and that's where it will be left ...

Another ...

... ATC for a swap. Theme was 'Greens' and I used 5-6 different shades of green on this ATC with inks, sprays, glimmers and acrylic paint ..

... also uses my favourite Stampotique stamp 'Marci' and a touch of red for contrast.

Clipboard ...

made for a swap on UK and Ireland Craft Swaps Group

The flowers are made using a Spellbinders die and the leaves are a sissix die. The tag measures 7" x 4" and hasan altered clothes peg, lace, a decorated envelope and 3 journal spots.

Altered paper Bag ...

... for a swap on UK and Ireland Facebook group ...

Made with Prima Romance Novel papers, some altered paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts (I painted white flowers with acrylic paints and glittered the edges with Star Dust Stickles), some coiled wires, lace and ribbons. Ans this is whats inside ...

An envelope from the paper collection, a handmade tag stamped with Stampingtom stamp and finished with a die cut layered flower; a fabric flower I have made using Tim Holtz tattered florals die; and 2 tiles I have made in the Prima 'style' using chipboard, stamps, Distress inks and glossy accents.

Something new ...

I tried my hand at some clay modelling yesterday - just followed the instructions by Christi Friesen and this is how it turned out ...

Cute (sorry it's a bit blurry - I couldn't get the camera to focus properly) ...

and here he is in his purple nest (an altoid tin) ready to go off to a new home for a polymer clay swap (I used Premo) ...

The colour is more accurate in this picture.