Collectors Box

Morning to everyone and Happy Sunday.

 

The sun is sort of out here in West Sussex.

Lots of cloud about but better than yesterday.

That's the weather report out of the way!!

 

We had a holiday 2 summers back, in Suffolk and Norfolk.

We found this amazing shop that sold everything, from a plastic spoon

to wooden items, like this display box.

I bought loads of smaller items too, that I have already sold.

 

For some reason, the 2 display boxes have sat on a shelf untouched!

 

Then, last week I had a light bulb moment and

knew what I wanted to do with at least one of them!

And this is what that was!!

 

 

An emulsion paint, crackle job first on the outside.

Add a bit of Grunge Paste onto it (bottom right) and a couple

of Paper Clay flourishes.

A Sue Wilson flower die, 2 Marianne Creatables leaves

and a Memory Box Butterfly added.   

A touch of Distress Inks and Treasure Brass Gilding Wax.......Job done!!

Well the outside was done!!Lol!!

 

The inside was more difficult, choosing papers and items.

I wanted to leave space for whoever has it, to put into it what they want to.

 

 

I still have the other one to do but I will wait until I see what

comments I get from this one.

 

I am doing a School Summer Fair next Saturday.

 It's in the village where we used to live and is the school

my Grandchildren go to.

 

It's the first time they have had stalls from people outside of the school.

I just hope they have a nice day for the event.

 

Thanks for visiting my little corner in Sussex.

A big thank you for the lovely comments you leave me.

 

Blogland is such a wonderful place to be a part of and I love visiting your blogs.

To be able to leave messages for you too.

 

It's wonderful to read, the supportive messages on our friends blogs,

that are perhaps going through difficult times.

It's also lovely, to be able to add a little note of support to them.

Don't you think?!!

 

Big hugs,

Carolxxxx 

 



Book Box - Mixed Media

Hi everyone,

 

More mixed media. I am really into this now and this was my second attempt!

 

A book box, that has had the, chuck it all on technique!!

Or as we arty peeps like to call it.........Mixed Media!!HeeHee!

 

Lots of pics I am afraid. So hope you have a cuppa to hand.

 

They look a bit blurry to me.... so apologies.

 

Front.

 

Front and Side.

 

 

Close up of front

Front from side.

 



Inside

 



 

This is what I used on it:

Gesso, Paper Artsy Chalk Paint,Grunge Paste, Assorted Dies,

Scrap of corrugated card, Wooden butterflies, Bud bottle top,

Assorted Mica Sprays,

Assorted flowers, some I made and some from stash.

 

Hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by and please leave me a message so I know you have been.

Then I can visit you.

 

Hugs,

Carolxx



Big Egg!! Not Easter!

Hi, everyone in blogland.

 

Firstly, I must warn you, there is a pics overload!

 

As in my title, this is a very big egg.

In fact, it is a real, empty Ostrich egg.

 

My Daughter and Granddaughter have just been around.

I showed them what I had done to it.

 

My Daughter said it was the most beautiful thing I had ever made.

I told her it was going on my stall to be sold.

She said that I was not to sell it and it would go perfectly in my bedroom.

So it is now sitting on my dresser in my bedroom.

 

I have had it for a couple of years and didn't know what to do with it.

My Brother-in-law made the stand for me and it has just sat on a shelf

in my craft room.

 

I then had a euricka moment on Wednesday and this was the result.

 

I had great fun doing it.

I first tore up loads of papers into smallish pieces.

Then I glued them all over the egg.

A covering of Gesso and assorted paints.

 

 

Using a glue gun, I stuck bits of lace very randomly and flowers, buttons

and also a few clay butterflies I had made.

 

I also cut some flourish die cuts and glued them on along with

wooden flowers and more butterflies, with sequins on.

At this stage it looked a mess!!

 

A bit of grunge paste and stamped text.

 

I love this Butterfly Flourish die from Wild Rose Studio,

 which I got from The Craft Barn.

They have loads of their stamps and dies, so check them out here. 

 

And then it suddenly looked ok!! 

 

Are you still awake?!!

This was a little out of the box for me but I loved doing it.

I am now onto another project,

that is all gessoed and waiting for my attention.

 

Watch this space. If it is c..p, I will let you know and hide it somewhere!

 

Thanks for popping in and I hope you liked my egg.

It's surprisingly heavy, even though it's empty.

 

Hugs,

Carolxx

 

My First Box Card

Hi to all my blogging friends and thank you so much for all your kind birthday wishes.

A special big thank you for my BFF Annie in Australia. She made and sent me the

most beautiful card. Will be kept and treasured.

 

I started the day at the Doctors. Had a laugh there!

After examining my neck on the couch, I returned to the chair and couldn't find my glasses. I had left them on the corner of his desk. I then spotted them over by his keyboard. I reached over for them, saying 'Can I have my glasses back!' He said, 'They are mine.' I told him that his were on his head!! We had a good laugh and he then got a fit of the giggles.

 

A friend came round with a gorgeous present of crafting goodies. Then my daughter and grandchildren came round in the afternoon. More pressies. Had a nice day.

I still don't know who this old bird is, that I see in the mirror. I am 38 now and she looks a lot older than that!! Think it's a ghost!! Hee!! Hee!! I wished!!

 

 Sorry I haven't been around for a couple of days but had computer problems. I bought a Laptop and getting it working for me has been a nightmare. It took 4 telephone calls and one visit to the shop to get it working properly and allow me to print. It finally took the last guy, on the phone for 2 hours, to get it all working correctly!! The Techy people at the shop, for some reason, had downloaded Apple drivers onto my HP laptop!!

 

I am still unable to download photos to my blog on the laptop. It says that they are loading but they don't appear!! It also effected our main computer. At least I can do this on our main computer.

 

Are you still with me?!! It's a long one!!

 

Anyway, my eldest sister was 80 last Thursday. So I thought her card had to be rather special.

This is the first box card I have made and took me a whole day!!

 

There is a mixture of stamped, drawn and painted flowers, along with flowers from my stash. Die cut leaves too.

 

The 'happy birthday', is a MB die I bought at Sandown Park fair last week. I cut it out from white card and then applied Versamark ink all over it. I then used Vintage Ivory Frantage all over it.

The chipboard numbers were from my stash and had the

Frantage treatment too.

 

The picture below is of the front panel. I used grunge paste and glitter.

 

The vellum butterflies were from my stash. These are on the side open panels. 

 

I hope you are still awake and not too bored!

 

Well that's it. Got a fair sort of thing to do on Sunday. I have been invited to have a stand at Felbridge village celebration, just up the road from us. It's to celebrate 300 years ago, hundreds of Sweet Chestnut trees were planted by the Evelyn family. There are about 40 remaining. I have drawn some pictures of the nuts in their open shell and used them as wraps on candles. I was also give some of the wood. My Brother-in-law and I made some coasters. He cut them and I sanded and polished them. I  made some tray boxes from card and put sets in them. I wrapped them in cellophane and tied some string around, with a tag of the painted chestnuts attached.  He also made 2 huge bowls but one sadly split right down one side.

 

Wakey, wakey! Sorry to bore you!!

As it's Saturday mid-day, I am not off to bed for a change.

 

Thank you so much for visiting and putting up with my waffle. I should rename my blog to that I think!

 

Have a lovely weekend.

Hugs,

Carol xx

The Craft Barn Classes

Hi everyone, just a quick post writing wise. It's my birthday today, so want an early night. I am going to be VAT + 40 something!!

 

Inside I am 38 years and the mirrors in my house are very strange. They keep showing me some old biddy, that must be a ghost or similar! Don't know who she is!!

 

I am also knackered from having my 4year old Grandson here,

Monday, crafting for the day.

 

These items are what my 2 classes made in August. The box is a wooden box, covered with card and using the gorgeous stamps from Helen Meighan, under the name of Helidot. You can buy all the items at The Craft Barn.

 

The top of the box below.

 

The next 2 photos are of the inside, floating butterflies!

 



Below, Tando Sleigh pieces and for the box, I made my own template.

Last piccie, Tando bauble and sleigh. 

All items used are bought from The Craft Barn.

 

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to leave me a message, so I know you have stopped by.

I will return the favour.

 

Hugs

Carol S.xx

Jewellery Box

Hi everybody,

 

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. The weather here in West Sussex, turned out to be better than we expected.

 

I had to go to The Craft Barn in Surrey this afternoon. I took my samples and had to get more supplies for my classes. The first one is now on Wednesday 6th August and my next one on 28th August. I have just got another sample to do.

 





This is a jewellery box I have made for an order. I bought the wooden trunk from The Craft Barn and painted it with the base colour of purple. I then did the crackle technique, using a cream colour for the top coat.

 

I used Martha Stewart Air Dry Clay to make the flowers and butterflies.

The roses I made just in the palm of my hand. For the daisies, I used a mould. Just for a change, they stayed as they came out of the mould. I do like playing with the moulded clay, changing it into a completely different flower!

 

 This is the side view of the trunk. I embossed card and glued it to the box.

 

I lined all the inside and the bottom with purple satin. and made some sections for rings.

I made the tray for earings, which can be lifted out, to put heavy items in the bottom.

 

 

 

I quite enjoyed making this. I love the colour of the satin. It makes it look less handmade.

 

I think I have caught up with most blogs I follow. I will check tomorrow, incase I have missed someone. If I have missed you, I do apologise and I am sure I will catch up this week. I need another holiday to get over this one!

 

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. I love reading your lovely comments. They make my day. If you become a follower of my blog, I will return the compliment.

 

A special thanks to my new followers and I am honoured that you chose to join me.

 

 

Hugs,

 

Carol xx

 

 

LOTV New Fairies Galore!!

Hi all,

 

Hope you are all enjoying the same hot weather, we are having in the south of England. I spent all day Sunday in the garden, putting plants in big pots and hanging baskets. My right arm is still aching!

 

I did a Craft Fair on Saturday and it wasn't very well attended. I think it was because of the lovely weather and also the Football Cup Final was on. I really feel for the organisers, as they feel responsible and of course they are not. They did all the advertising they could possibly do.  As stallholders, we know how much work goes into putting a craft fair together and you just never know if people will support it. As long as I take my stall money and a bit over towards materials, I am happy.

 

Any way moving on! I apologise for so many piccies and I suggest you have a glass of something in your hand. This is obviously another fairy clock but using 6 of the 8, (I bought 8 not 7!) Lili of the Valley new fairy stamps, released just over a week ago. I just love them all!

 

The Background was created with papers from my stash. I used an assortment of masks, with Paper Artsy Grunge Paste, to add a bit of texture. Some of which, I added colour using my Copics pens. The little bird and his birdhouse are a Marianne Die set. All of which I bought at The Craft Barn in South Nutfield.

 

All of the fairies have been coloured with Distress Inks.

 

 



This first fairy is called 'Hugs'. She is so cute and I love the mouse she is hugging. I have added Stickles Star Dust to her wings, flowers and skirt.



 

The next fairy is 'Catkins'. She comes laying on the branch, which I extended, using a Marianne Die.

This is one of my faves, 'Cobweb'. She is sooo cute and I love the cobweb. I cut away the line from the stamped image and replaced the 'tightrope, with black cotton. I forgot to get the spider in the photo that is hanging from the web. You can see it, on the complete photo of the clock.

 

Now this little one, 'Midsummer's Night', is my favourite in this collection. She is so adorable and cute. Her face is so very beautiful. Her little bunny, is a laser cut shape from Artcuts. You must check out their web shop. Rebecca, I used to work with her at The Craft Barn, and her husband are making these shapes and loads of other amazing ones and selling them at great prices. They are also doing some of the big Craft Fairs. So make sure you look out for them.

 

The fence is a Marianne Die. The butterflies are the 'waste' from the centre die from Spellbinders.

This fairy, 'Water Lily' never fails to make me smile. I just love her sunglasses. I put Glossy Accents on the lenses and Stickles on the frames. I cut an oval from Mirror Board, to form her pond.

 

And finally, this is 'Petal'. Another gorgeous fairy on her beautiful flower. They are all absolutely stunning stamps and I still have two that I haven't even coloured yet. They are Flower Dance and Time Flies.

 

Still awake?!! Stop yawning!

 

Well I hope you like my new version of my fairy clock. It was made over 3 days, so not a quick make!

 

I am going to enter it in the following challenges:

 

Crafty Little Fairies - In The Garden.

Ideas to Inspire - Fairies

 

Thank you for your precious time visiting my blog and your luffly comments that make me feel all warm!

 

Big hugs,

 

Carol S.xx

Purple Butterfly.

Hi everyone,

 

It is 12.55am and time I was in bed but I thought I really must just do a very quick post.

 

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend, 3 days here in the UK. I did manage an hour working in the garden this morning. No longer, as I have another sale to do on Wednesday. Still trying to make cards and stock.

 

This was a butterfly I decorated and sold it straight away at a market 2 weeks ago! I have just prepped another, slightly larger than this one.



 

Paper clay butterflies and a small daisy. A sentiment from Kay Carley. The leaves are using a mask and Paper Artsy Grunge Paste.

The flowers are again Martha Stewart Paper Clay.

This is a close up picture of the roses, as I made them, using the palm of my hand, to create each petal. I then wrapped each petal around each other and shaped the rose. After leaving them over night to dry, I used some Treasure Brass Wax on the edge of each petal. I bought the wax from The Craft Barn in Surrey.

 

After I took these pictures I tied some ribbon onto the wire, which hung down slightly.

 

Sorry it is such a quick post but I am really tired tonight.

 

Have a lovely Monday. Supposed to be very warm here in the South!

 

Thanks for visiting and leaving me your lovley messages. I promise I will try to post again a bit quicker. I have a few cards to post.

 

Hugs,

Carol S.xx

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Hi fellow bloggers,

 

Firstly I would like to welcome my new followers. Thank you for taking the time to join me and I hope you like what you see.

 

What a gorgeous day yesterday, Sunday. It was a really warm, 18 degrees! Yippee!!

 

So sorry I haven't posted for far too long but I do have an excuse! And it's a good one!!

 

I have a 'Trigger Finger' on my right hand. If you haven't heard of this, it means I have damaged the Tendons in the palm of my right hand. This effects my finger, so I have difficulty holding things, as it is very painful to clench my fingers. If I do clench my fingers and then release them, my effected finger will not straighten on it's own. I have to unroll it with my other hand. Ouch!!

 

So, as I have a market on Wednesday, first this year, I am trying to make stock for that. It has been a bit slow, which is so annoying. I now, at last, have got an appointment at the Docs on Saturday morning, to have an injection into my finger. I have had this twice before, so must be careful what I do for the first few days after the jab.

 

This is one of my market makes. It's an MDF heart I bought at Sandown Craft Fair.

 

I will list at the bottom of post, all the things I used on it.

 

                                        

 

The rose was the new Sizzix die I had, which I scaled down to 'card' size. Very fiddly but I had done it before finger prob.

 

I really enjoyed making this, as I had most of the elements already in my stash.

 

The leaves are made with Martha Stewart Paper Clay, my new addiction! I just love it. It is so quick to use and you get perfect results every time. I did make a couple of roses free hand and have used them already on projects.

 

The white flowers are just strips of copier paper which I feather cut and rolled.

 

I will hopefully find a couple of challenges to enter this into later!

 

Hope you like it as much I did making it. It does make a change, as normally I always find fault with what I make.

 

Here is the list of products used:

Gesso

Emulsion paints, 2 colours

PVA Glue

Paper Artsy Grunge Paste

Marianne Creatables - Clock Face Die & Swirl

Martha Stewart Paper Clay

Treasure Brass - Gilding Wax

Book pages from stash.

Distress Inks

 

Thank you for taking time to stop by and leaving your wonderful comments.

 

Don't forget to add your name to my Candy.

 

As couple of people said they are having a problem with Mr Linky, I will include all the comment people into the draw. I will put all names into a box and get husband to pull the winner.

 

Huge hugs,

 

Carol S.xx