Life, the universe and everything

Are you like me?  Do you ignore the post during the week? 

Actually that's not entirely true .... if it looks interesting I'll open it, but if its a bill it gets ignored. It's not like we don't all pay by direct debit these days so it's not like the bill won't get paid!

Whilst at a local craft fair I picked up an mdf letter rack as I've never found anything I liked.  When I started painting it all I knew was that it was going to have the following ingredients:

1. Metal
2. Embossing
3. Viva inka gold and ferro
4. A wooden heart I've been meaning to use for ages!

Not keen on watching paint dry I went a hopping whilst waiting and found two challenges to inspire me, Hel's Sunday Stamper with the theme "Life" this week and Simon Says Stamp and Show "Anything goes."  Pity the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge was last weeks!  Oh well, it still inspired me!

I hope I can get away with saying I've used stamping - I did, honest!  The word life was stamped on the metal and then embossed.  I then used a Tim Holtz embossing folder to create the distressed harlequins.  Once happy with the look I polly filled - it gets used more in my craft room than in DIY!

To hide the edges of the metal I used Viva ferro around the edges of the letter rack before painting everything black and wiping it back.  Then I got carried away with Viva metallic paint and inka gold in several colours.

The little wooden heart was treated in a similar way and stuck to the back of the letter rack.

I'd prefer to recycle items, but if you can't find the right thing I'd recommend the mdfman. If you fancy a challenge grab the above ingredients or create a list of your own and see what you can create.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the Taz monster, currently in possession of one bald ear.  It's a good job it's warm at the moment and that he still looks as handsome as ever!

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Back on the right weight loss path

I gave myself a talking to at the beginning of February.  I couldn't get into the right frame of mind to stay on my weight loss path, instead I kept eating sweets, chocolate and other junk food.  It was great though ... I still lost weight .... why?

That's easy, I was only eating sweets, chocolate and crisps some days.  I'd balance it out by not having dinner.  Clever, hey?  NO!

I  still lost weight, fab?  Not really, I expect I was losing muscle, not fat.  If you ever get in that frame of mind or you're in it now STOP!  It might not be food that's your vice, it might be shopping, drinking, starting smoking again or some other negative thing.  The point is ... is this what you want to be doing?  do you feel guilty afterwards?  is there something you need to deal with?

Fancy a challenge?  Next time you want to eat crap, smoke a cigarette or whatever your vice is, grab your journal or a loose piece of card and a paint brush.  If your painting you can't be eating or smoking, well not easily!

I've used a couple of unusual items on these pages - Viva ferro paste and Viva inka gold.  The paste has been stamped into which has given great texture under the pictures which I've highlighted with inka gold. 

This is my first double page and I'm not sure I'll do another one.  I like the quickness of a single page and it doesn't feel repetitive.  There's nothing wrong with double pages, but I 'm a quick win person!

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Kissed a frog

I'm experimenting with blogger on my phone today so this is going to be short and sweet!

I've wanted to scrap this photo of a frog for a while but didn't want it to be a nature based layout...

Happy crafting
Debz
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From tatty to floral

I love recycling things from car boot sales, but having spent lots of time shopping for bits I've decided that I have to start using up stuff before I get more.

It's all part of the craft cleanse which I'll tell you more about another day.  All I'll say for now is wow I have a LOT of stuff and eek several duplicate items.  Better still I've rediscovered items and am challenging myself to use them.  You know, those stamps that you have had for years that never seem to have been inked ... don't deny it I know you have them too!

Anyhow this is a memo holder which I updated and gave to a friend for her birthday.  Lots of Fresco paints from PaperArtsy (Yep, I'm addicted and I'm not even ashamed!)  It's got a few Art Parts on it, a bit of a tissue paper flower (thanks Artsy Craft weekend) and I may be addicted to my Claudine Hellmuth stamps too.  But they are fab, so I'm happy to be a Claudine floozy for a while longer.

These tissue flowers are so simple.  Use a die cut or just simply cut some rough circles, scrunch them up and then add a button or something similar for the heart of the flower. 

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Just a quickie tonight

I'm glad I didn't make a new year's resolution to keep my blog updated regularly otherwise I might have had to sack myself!

I've been having a craft cleanse in the hope that I can clear some rubbish from my craft room and make room for regular crafting.  Then I might even get organised and remember to take photo's of what I make - shocker, I know.

Anyway, this is a quick and cute card I made for a friends birthday using distress ink, Claudine hellmuth stamps, paperartsy paint and a really cute owl.

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Playing around al fresco

My new year's resolution is to play in my craft room with no guilt.  Yes I'm ignoring the housework and the 10 million things on my to do list, but how many items can be cleared in a day anyway!  I promised myself I would do some work today as it's crazy there at the moment, but that can wait until tomorrow when I'll work late anyway.  Decision made and that's that.

What can't wait is my playtime! 

I placed an order for Fresco finish paints at Paper Artsy during the week.  Before I'd even checked my email to confirm the order it had been dispatched - what good little folk they are in Paper Artsy land!  Just click the link to be taken to crafter's paradise.

See they know us crafters, once we've placed an order we NEED it NOW!

Today I've played all day, I know terrible hey.  I haven't got children though or a husband so the only neglected one in the house was ginger and furry, but he gets cuddles and treats galore anyway.

Here's some of the pages I made:

Inspiration: Conformity

 Having done a few soul searching pages I got to thinking about how we all try to conform to the latest trends, colours etc.  I scrapped a photo which I've been meaning to do for a while, but I'm not in the mood for cold winter colours ... and why should they be.  There's a great brick wall to take as inspiration after all.  Colours used were London Bus, Haystack, Butternut and Snowflake fresco paints.

Inspiration: brick walls

I used a creative expressions mask and Decoart acrylic gesso to create the texture of old plastered wall.  Squished a bit of Autumn Fire fresco paint over the top and then used a fabric stamp to create the flowers along the bottom.



Inspiration: Red

 On this "layout" I used London Bus and Snowflake smudging a bit here and a bit there. I then scrapped a bit of gesso back over the top with a hotel room card (come one, hasn't everyone forgotten to give at least one back - handy things they are - not that I'm suggesting mass theft or anything!)

The photo was taken in Thailand where they always take such time and give so much attention to wowing the guests.  Every night they do something different and I've stayed in plenty of hotels in Thailand.  They are all the same (in my experience, lucky hey).

Right I'm off to play with more paint

Enjoy
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Upcycling

I've trained my mum so well that every time she goes near a charity shop she is always on the look out for things for me to alter or improve.  Thanks Mum!

This little beauty turned up and was in fact a jewellery box in the first place.  Whether I use it  as one or keep something else in it who knows, but for now the photo needed something extra and the green necklace worked really well.

The box was shiny and covered with flowers so it definitely needed a makeover.  I started by pulling the box apart and covering the inner part of the box with tissue tape.  The inside cover was covered with paper and then I painted and textured the outside of the box.

Once painted black I dry brushed the outside with green Paper Artsy fresco paint.

Hope you like it
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