Zipper flowers

I LOVE trying out new techniques and projects, and my latest conquest is one I've been practising on and off for some time now.  I know I've still got to practice more before I'm completely happy with everything, but here's my first real efforts worth sharing.

 

I made these zipper flowers each out of a 7" zip.  The pink ones are mostly stitched, whereas the black is mostly hot glued.  I followed these excellent instructions on You Tube, for the pink ones here and the black here.  I'll be using the 2 pink flowers on my current project, and the black one has been made into a brooch for a friend as below.  Instructions to attach the pin are included in the pink tutorial.

 

I hope you have found this helpful and would love to see your efforts also.  I'm now off to try some multi-coloured flowers or perhaps a butterfly or dragonfly. 

 

As always have a happy scrappy day, and please leave a comment.

 

 

 

 

July IARDC

Time for another challenge at I am Roses where this month they've asked for something to be recycled, along with their regular criteria of using a minimum of 2 of their gorgeous products.  Here I've recycled an old CD, attaching it to a chipboard key from Imagine if . .

 

To start I covered the CD with old book paper, then attached the little chipboard house (again from Imagine if . .), the lettering followed then the gorgeous flowers. 

The IAR flowers I've used are Daisies, carnation, mini rose (which I sprayed with Dylusions Ink Sprays to get the vibrant violet), little S10 blooms & of course the buds (again touched off with Ink Spray).

The key was painted brown then I heat embossed it with TH Distress Embossing Powder, which I then inked.  The pearls then link everything together.  This measures 9" x 3" so will look very nice hanging on my wall.

 

Thank you for visiting, and please have a happy, scrappy day.

Fairies that sparkle at night

How's everyone handling this colder weather?  After last weeks extreme wet & wind its been a blessing having these days of clear skies, even though it means  really cold nights and mornings.  However I have been inspired to get stuck into some more crafting rather than get cold and wet being out in the garden.
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Todays project is for the 2nd Imagine if . . blog hop for July and is something I've been working on for some time on & off.  When Jo sent out her gorgeous fairies to us I really struggled for inspiration (as I live in a house full of males).  Then wedding photos on facebook from a friend gave me an idea to be a bit cheeky. 

 

 

While still searching for ideas I came across this very tired and dated table lamp at the local SPCA second hand shop, so at only $8.00 I thought I'd try to recover it and go from there.  This fabric is off white with a slight zig zag pattern on it.  The sequinned trim 'pretties' up the edges without being too much.  I HATED the square base so I had to create this round one to match, also covering with the same fabric & trim.  The beaded trim dangles look gorgeous in real life and as seen above really sparkle when the light is on.

 

 

This is when my cheeky plan came into play.  Debby is a friend of mine and coincidentally she is also a fabulous artist (visit her facebook page here) AND grandma of 2 little girls, so I asked her if she would paint these fairies in return for the lamp when it was finished.  How could she resist such a great offer?  I LOVE her efforts, she has painted everything then lastly added sparkle with Stickles.  All were then carefully shaped then glued into place.

 

Lastly I had to create the 'flower garden' on the base.  These are more of my satin roses, you can find a tutorial here.

So if you are following this blog hop correctly you should have started with Jo, and come through the ladies, and visiting Carol before me.  Next stop is to hop over to see what Lilian has in store for you all.  As previous blog hops, just leave a comment at all sites to be in with the chance to win.  The giveaway this week is two new chipboard clock cutouts and a set of keys (something I don't even have  yet). 

 

Good luck and thank you for visiting.

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Kiwiana brag book

Here we are again with our first blog hop for Imagine if . .  since the great success of SENZ.  I believe all who attended had a great weekend.  I really enjoyed wandering around all the stalls and spending all my money, but mostly meeting some of my fellow crafters for the first time and also catching up with old faces.

Again follow through our blog hop where you should have started with Jo telling you about all these awesome creations ahead of you.  Remember to leave a comment here and at every other blog you visit for a chance to win a small prize of amazing Imagine if . . products

Today I'm sharing with you a favourite little brag book I make quite often, featuring lots of the smaller kiwiana pieces (chipboard & felt) made by Imagine if . . which I will be sending over to friends in the UK.

                                     

 

This little book measures 4" x 4", and has fabric covered chipboard covers.  I have found fabric is much more durable than paper, although you can use paper if you wish.

Cut your fabric about 4.5 - 5" square, then glue to the chipboard.

 

 

Cut 3  8" squares of cardstock.  Fold in half & score then open out, turn once clockwise then fold in half & score again, open out again (folded into quarters), now turn cardstock over and fold in half diagonally & score ONCE ONLY.  Do this to all 3 pieces of cardstock.

 

Once you have all the lines folded & scored punch ONE corner only with a corner punch, of the outside corner of the unfolded quarter on 2 pages only.  This will help all the folds fit together more snuggly when putting the pages together.

 

Arrange the 3 sheets as the photo, overlapping an unfolded quarter on each page.  Glue together with a strong glue.  There's no reason why you couldn't add more pages if required at this stage.

 

Now fold the pages back down into its 4" square concertina fashion.



 

Before attaching the covers consider how the book is to be securely closed.  I generally attach a length of ribbon (or similar) to the inside of the back cover, then glue both covers to the cardstock pages with a strong glue.  The ribbon then ties around the front in a bow.

 

Then decorate away.  For this book I have used a lot of different kiwiana pieces, some appropriate sayings from the quote sheets and lots of lovely pictures from travel books to showcase our gorgeous country.  In other books I have used patterned papers, photos, recipes, verses, even small embellishments like charms, tags, flowers etc. 

 

I hope you can understand my instructions, if you have any problems please leave a comment & I'll try to help you out.

 

Next stop on the blog hop is the awesome creation made by Beth, go visit her from here, leave another comment and you're in with another chance to win.

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Love our Dog

Time for another new challenge at Southern Girls Challenge where the theme this time is 'You spin me right round baby' (circles).  Straight away I thought of using circle shaped photos, and then the rest just grew from there

 

I started with a Heartfelt Creations paper where I've distressed the edges, then lots of texture was added using 2 different TCW templates.  A bit of ink was rubbed under the larger stitched circles, then I just stitched the smaller circles to match in the corners.  The awesome little dogs, chipboard word & lettering come from Imagine if . . .

 

This closeup shows the lollipop flowers (yes, more circles) with the clear beads in the centres.  The satin fabric I've used was different thickness, hence the different effects I've got when heating the edges.

 

This has been a fun page to make, especially when I realised that I haven't actually made a layout since the last SGC layout I made 6 weeks ago.  I've been too busy doing OTP creations for SENZ, which is finally upon us this weekend.  I hope some of you can make it and go and see some of my work, and that of the other awesome designers at the Imagine if . . stand.

 

Thanks for visiting, please leave a comment, as I will when I visit your entry into this challenge.  Lets see what you can all do with circles.  Good luck to you all.

Its a BOY

Time is running out on me very fast, with only a few hours left to get this latest entry into the I am Roses monthly challenge. This month the challenge is to include a frame along with their regular requirement of a minimum of 2 of their products.

 

Here I've made a little tag to welcome a boy into the world.

I've used  a G45 'Ladies Diary' paper for the tag, painted a little frame & cut this image from a G45 'Little Darlings' paper.  The lettering was painted to match.

 

I've used I am Roses buds, S10 blooms, carnations (which I painted to match) and a daisy.  Some muslim, cones, stamping, gold stickles, seam binding & string finish my tag.

Simple but still very effective.

Welcome to Seahorse Bay

Here we are again with the 3rd of our blog hops for Imagine if . . .  This is such a fun way to show you all these incredible new products that Jo has for you all.  If you have been following along over the last 2 weeks you will be aware of the awesome creations being created by the Design Team, along with having the chance to win some of these fantastic products for yourselves.  Again this week we are giving you all another chance to win and all you need to do is follow the blog hop, leave a comment on each blog and also comment on the facebook page for a total of 9 chances to win.

This week after starting the hop with Imagine if . ., follow thru the ladies until you reach Tash with her gorgeous work, then I follow with this:

 

The idea of Seahorse Bay was conceived after seeing an ad on TV, (I think it was the Sunday Times advertising a trip to Nuie) where I got the idea for the waves and palm trees, then as with topsy this just grew and grew. 

 

 

After making these gorgeous little houses & church, I painted this 16" x 12" canvas with varying shades of blue, created the 'shoreline' with some cord, then created the sea with all its boat and seahorses swimming about.  The willow fence in the background has actually come from an old washing basket that was destined for the rubbish.  With all the components glued in place, I found I needed to create an outside edge to contain the pebbles, which cover all the 'land', this die cut picket fence has worked very well.

 

Enjoy these closeups which show the different sides of the buildings.

 

This has been real fun to create, I hope you like it too.  To continue on your way on the blog hop just follow this link to see Lilian's fabulous creations.  Remember to leave a comment here to increase you chances to win.

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Art Journal page 11

Who would have thought it, we are now only one more journal away from finishing this epic journey in our Creative Dreams art journal swap.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the freedom to experiment and try out new techniques/colours/products on these pages.  Here again I am trying new ideas, what do you think?

 

Only days before I created this page I received my latest parcel of goodies I've just purchased online with all these gorgeous coloured Dylusions Ink Sprays.  The 'bubbles' template was also new, so of course I just had to play with them all.

 

I started the page by firstly splashing a bit of gesso on thru the new template, then once dry I got a bit crazy with the Ink Sprays.  What a gorgeous result I got.  I then hand drew the flowers which I filled in with random background stamps.  On top of this I've used some new Dylusions stamps & templates.  All stamping was done using Stazon inks.  Black & white sharpie pens were used for the highlights & lettering.  Black buttons finish the flowers.

 

I'm really please with how this page has turned out, so much so that I recreated it in my own journal, where I usually do a practice run first.  Thank you for visiting, please let me know what you think.

Even a yard for the Dog

After our first very successful blog hop, here we are again, with the 2nd blog hop for Imagine if . ..  Again we have been given another awesome 'new release', and by following this hop right from the beginning at Imagine if . .,  thru all the girls you should have come to me from Ngaere.  Aren't the girls all awesome??  Its really amazing how we all start with the same 'raw product' yet all finish with completely different creations.

So I hope you like my effort.  I imagined I was creating a log cabin, but all the girls comment on the 'corrugated iron' effect, so call it what you will.

 

Sadly the photos don't show the interior, which has green & white stripey wallpaper, green carpet and green & white gingham curtains (very homely touches).

 

After the interior was finished I started on the outside, firstly by colouring all the corrugated cardboard with 'Melted Chocolate' Dylusions Ink Spray, which I touched up when dry with 'Chocolate' Gelato and 'Creamy Brown' Colorbox Chalk Ink.  I love the effect I've got, its really rustic, yet still very quaint.  The chimney got a splash of brown paint then I heat set the 'Vintage Photo' Distress Embossing powder, again its quite rustic looking.  The windows and fences just got a splash of gesso.

 

But then what to do???  These small felt flowers work very well and create a gorgeous little garden around the house.  I was all finished, taken photos and everything, but still thought it needed more . . . then I realised - it needed a dog in the front yard.  So if you look carefully in the 3rd photo there is a black and tan dog there, sadly it really didn't show up well in the photos.

 

Thanks for visiting, I hope you enjoyed my creation.  Please leave a comment before you return back to the beginning as I'm 8th and last place to visit, remember the more comments you leave (1 per blog only tho), the more chances you have to win our giveaway at the end of the week.  This week Jo has put together a small bundle of her goodies for you including her awesome quote sheets.

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Funtime for the Boys

How about this for something different?  This merry-go-round is the latest 'new release' from Imagine if . . , and is part of our very first blog hop.  We are having a give away at the end of the week, so all you have to do is visit each designers blog following the links provided, and leave a comment at each post.  Also for another chance to win leave a comment of our facebook page.  You may only enter one comment per blog, then once on facebook to be in with 9 chances to win your own merry-go-round with horses.  Each of the Design Team have been given a different theme to complete, you'll be amazed at how different they all are.

To make sure that you are on track in the blog hop you should have come to me after visiting Carol's blog, and before her from Imagine if.

My theme was 'boys', so I was given a car, truck, helicopter & plane to decorate the merry-go-round.

 

When I got all the chipboard pieces I was actually quite intimidated, but when you sit down and get into it, it really is quite easy and fun to put together.  Without the flag on the roof this stands 18cm high with the base measuring 17cm. 

 

 

I started the base firstly by covering the side with this gorgeous My Minds Eye paper along with the central pillar.  For the floor I have used aluminium foil which I embossed with a cuttlebug folder.  This was painted black, then I rubbed most of the paint off the give a bit of depth.  The poles are bits of dowel that I painted silver.  The roof has been covered with the gorgeous Bella Glitz glittered cardstock, which really gives this a 'circus' feel I think.  I have painted all the vehicles fairly traditionally, and added photos to them for a little more interest. 

 

 As my vehicles were quite large I soon realised I wouldn't have room to fit all 4 around the bottom, so I've attached the plane to the top of the roof as if its flying over.   I liked the extra fun look of the multi-coloured flags hanging around the roof (more of that circus feel)

 

This has been a real fun project to tackle and I am really excited with how its turned out, just let your imagination go wild as to all the possibilities to make your own very personalised merry-go-round.  Browse through the chipboard available at Imagine if . . to find and create the theme of your choice.

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit and please don't forget to leave a comment before you hop to the next blog which belongs to Ngaere and gee has she got an exciting merry-go-round to share with you all. 

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