Out of a Hat Creations

This little time piece is something I have had in my craft stash for ages and not known what to do with it. the challenge this week at Out of the Hat Creations is to use something from your craft room you have had for ages. So I  decided to decorate the inside of this clock case. I used vintage style paper, cut out the face of a lovely girl to stick inside and added vintage lace and a bead there is also a little Jewell to the side, some pearls from her necklace and a  dangle bead and bow charm. On top of the watch case a tine heart with an arrow through (I put it too near her head OOPS) All the items are mementos that her loved one carry with him. I hope you can find time to join in you must have some stash you have always meant to use for fun. We would love to see what you can do just post on the  Out of the Hat Creations challenge site.
Thanks for looking Hugs All XXX

Artful Times Challenge 1

A new challenge blog has sprung into action called  "Artful Times"  run by the lovely Von, Neet and Sam. Good Luck Ladies :) the blog looks great. The first challenge is make a tag.
As it is spring and we have had some lovely weather and all the blossom is out (I just love it) I felt all flowery. Tag cut out of a lovely piece of paper inked over to tone down, decorated with vintage lace a flower made out of a pinwheel and small Rosette mixed with a bought flower and leaves. The butterfly is chipboard embossed, I stamped the words. Clean and simple unusual for me.
Also a quick plug for another new blog where you can take part in a challenge Out of a Hat Creations. There will be something for everyone so do check it out if you have time.
Thanks for looking and hugs all. X

Out of a Hat Creations Challenge 2

This is the second Challenge from "Out of a Hat Creations" Do check out the challenge and we would love you to join in. The challenge picks a theme from a hat every week which is great fun you never know what might come along next. This time it is to decorate a box always a fun thing to do and the world is your oyster in terms of decoration. I have painted a box in Crafty Notions "Peacock" paint what a beautiful colour this has been rubbed back in places to reveal a blue which was the undercoat. It has also been rubbed with metallic silver. I then stamped it with a swirl in white. Heat embossed the cage with WOW white and painted the bird in the peacock and the wing white. With the addition of some bling, song paper, lace etc it was done. I love decorating boxes as there is so much you can do with them. Thanks for stopping by my blog and the lovely comments. Hugs Sandra XXX

Mrs Gimble's Hat Sale

Well its been a surprising few days. I was an avid fan of a challenge blog "Just for Fun" which has just closed and along with Chrissie, Florence and Janet (we all missed the JFF blog it had such a friendliness about it) another blog has emerged
 "Out of the Hat Creations" the name because Chrissie (well her Vic really) will pull a weekly challenge out of the hat. Chrissie has worked hard getting the blog up and running with a bit of support for theme ideas from everyone else. I am sure you will be welcome to join in if you would like to.
This week we have had a test challenge "Hat" I chose to do a stitched mixed media hanging piece. The background piece is a used tumble dry sheet sponged with blue paint and spayed with cosmic shimmer, I then layered with muslin, lace and scraps of text fabric and dotty fabric. It has all been machine stitched together overlayed with the wooden torso and topped with an image of a lovely lady in a magnificent hat. The little hats are from a CI stamp set and stamped onto a spare piece of the used tumble dry sheet. to finish beading along the bottom and 2 blue bows. Thanks for stopping by my blog and do drop by  Out of the Hat Creations  Hugs All Sandra XXX

GC 141 Granny's Photo Album

The Gingersnaps chestnut theme challenge this month is "Granny's Photo Album (do take a look at the DT and other participant entries they really are fab). I really love vintage style so couldn't resist making a tag for the challenge. I have coloured the tag with DI antique linen and worn lipstick it's given a nice pinkish faded tinge, the edges are rubbed with inka gold. I stamped with text and a CI flower swirl. I used a small piece of corrugated again rubbed with inka gold and the DIs and attached the cut out image. The circles are sprayed with cosmic shimmer copper (they are cut out of a colour catcher sheet) and the flowers mounted onto them. The lace is from my vintage collection and really gives the vintage feel.
Thanks for looking. Hugs Sandra XOXO 

Craft Room Challenge - Vintage Shabby

The Craft Room Challenge for this fortnight is "Vintage Shabby" (my favourite)  for this I have made a fabric collage. I used the vintage image of a girl and transferred this to calico fabric I also stamped onto the fabric and attached this to some jute I used blue and orange fibre to embellish and made a crown from grunge paper inked with spice marmalade and added the pearls. Added a little bird which I had stamped,cut out and covered in glossy accent. I then added a metal heart and hand stitched around the edge in blue. The Diamond made me a wire hanger for it (Thank you). Thanks for looking. hugs Sandra X

Tag Tuesday - BIRDS

The Tag Tuesday team have a weekly challenge which this week is BIRDS. I coloured a tag with DI antique linen, dried marigold and dry brushed a bit of turquoise acrylic here and there, a spray of cosmic shimmer copper.  I back stamped with eggs and added gold leaf. The bird stamp is from Crafty Individuals which I mounted onto a piece of sacking fabric which I made into a tag shape with a stitched edge. I have also used brown jute a measure stamp and buttons.  Thanks for stopping by my blog. Hugs Sandra XXX

GC140 2 Colour Challenge

The Gingersnaps have a colour challenge we are to choose 2 colours. I just love red and cream so I went for a collage piece I rubbed the red card with tea dye DI and then stamped a swirl, I mounted the lace doily and the felt heart and felt swirl (cut out with the big shot) added a little metal heart. The tag is washed with cream acrylic paint and then rubbed in tea dye DI. This gorgeous stamp is new from Crafty Individuals (isn't she gorgeous) I used red glitter glue to highlight the heart and beads. Added a little cream butterfly and a seam binding bow. Thanks for dropping by, hugs Sandra XXX

The Diamond is 60

To celebrate The Diamond reaching 60 I made a heart hanging for him, It is covered in paper which has been DI rubbed over then embossed a swirl in gold, added eyelets. The 60 has been heat embossed and stamped into. The saying is from TH stamp and so perfect. Needless to say he was very chuffed with this.
Thanks for looking Hugs Sandra XXX

Last Ever JFF Challenge

Sad to say this the last ever JFF challenge I have enjoyed the journey as I have learnt such a lot through this challenge site over the last year or so, A big "THANK YOU" DT ladies and to those lovely cyber friends that have left such lovely comments on my blog, it is such a confidence booster. Well for my last challenge I have used my british bulldog stamp as a tribute to all the men in our lives  and to distress I made brown fabric paper (Yippee I have treated myself to the very talented "Sarah Lawrence" book who sadly recently died, this is where I learnt this technique, A fabulous book) used a torn piece of watercolour paper and a couple of cosmic shimmer spray, text stamp and a bit of gilding then stitched onto the bpf. DI inked the bulldog and touched up with watercolour pencils. Hugs All and thanks for stopping by. I will stay in touch and I hope you all do to. Sandra X0X0. 

Poetry

It's poetry time over at "Tag Tuesday" (a new challenge blog for me) Spring is a lovely time of year for poetry. I have chosen to do a Pooh poem. I just love Pooh and his little poohisims.

How sweet to be a cloud
Floating in the blue
Every little cloud
Always sings aloud

How sweet to be a cloud
Floating in the blue
It makes him very proud
To be a little cloud

My tag has been painted with azure blue acrylic and dabbed with pearl to create clouds (see faux clouds on Gingersnaps) I then stamped with part of a kaisercraft stamp in midnight blue. Added sequin waste and my hand made butterfly made out of wallpaper. The poem, lace and beads. Thanks for looking. Hugs Sandra XOXO

Sporty Men - Swimmers

The challenge at JFF continues with the men theme and this week it is "Sporty Men". I choose a hanging, the base is from a cardboard box and I inked and rubbed metallic into the edges. The image is cut out from a graphics 45 (I think) sheet of paper called "Coney Island" (I thought they looked like swimmers). I ran a paper through my pleater gadget and a piece of blue that looked like waves through an emboss folder the circles depict bubbles. I have rubbed and distressed the papers added gold leaf, washers to continue the bubbles thingy and fibres that look like sand and waves. My handsome sporty swimmers. I had a lot of fun doing this hanging and at last I think I am getting the hang of stuff for men. Ladies you mission is accomplished LOL. Hugs All and thanks for looking . Off to view snowdrops tomorrow at Walsingham Abbey with Mum. Sandra XXX

Vintage Men Challenge

This week the "Men" challenge continues over at JFF with "Vintage Men". I always find doing "Men" stuff a real challenge, the design team always have some great pieces to help us and this month we have Valerie of Bastelmania as gust designer with a fab piece. I cut a tag out of paper that has a great variation of backgrounds into all to do with USA (these do not show on the photo) I gave it a gesso wash and rubbed in some sepia and metallic rubs to tone down and vintage it. Used old book page pieces, stamped text, faux stitches and embossed stars. The images are from some paper I have had for a while (think I picked it up for about 20p) and it is called "Vintage Movie Stars". Have no idea what to expect next week from the "Men" month. Have a great week everyone (I think our snow is at last beginning to melt a bit, fingers crossed). Thanks for looking and the very kind comments.
Hugs All. XXX

A Whole Month of Men - JFF

A new month over at JFF and the theme is "Men" this week it is also "Black and White" well! we sure did have the white stuff this morning in my part of the country. The Diamond, me and Tilly had a lovely walk around our local beauty spot and I couldn't resit sharing the photos with you. The rest of the day has been devoted to hobbies so I cut out 4 bears, cooked rock buns and an apple crumble, and then got down to the challenge. I made a card as it is soon to be my Dads birthday. I inked through sequin waste (I love this effect) direct onto the card. The tag is run through the big shot with a text emboss and black soot DI swiped. A smaller tag is rubbed with black ink and then stamped in moonlight white, the centre is a card covered in an old book page and gessoed hen stamped. The car is stamped in moonlight white onto black card and coloured with a white gel pen this is slightly raided on the card. I added the black Happy Birthday ribbon and the word Dad. Thanks for stopping by and keep warm. Hugs Sandra XXX

Gingersnaps - Shades of Green

The  Gingersnap Creations colour challenge is green. I made this vintage style card using an old book page, Cosmo cricket paper which I have punched to look like a note book edge, the image is perfect as the little girls are in green, I backed this onto green card and lifted the whole thing by adding the red edge,the green vintage style bobble braid and the heart button.
I have been following the Gingers for a while and this is my very first Gingersnap challenge so feeling a little apprehensive about it. It is my new years resolution to be brave and take part in more challenges
Thanks for stopping by my blog
Hugs Sandra XXX

JFF Medieval

This is the last week of past times challenges at JFF and we have one far back in time to Medieval (I thought it was going to be Victorian but how wrong was I - Von, Zoe and Neet really know how to keep us on our toes LOL). To me Medieval is Knights in shinning armour and rich reds, golds and purple, but then I was bought up on a diet of Hollywood and Errol Flynn films so not surprising that's where my head went. I used a tag and found the image on The Graphics Fairy and did some brush work on it, I also had just purchased some CI stamps which had the 3 lions and the saying amongst it (perfect). I used red card and stamped a crackle background  in purple with some gold swirls. Richard the Lion Heart I think.Thanks for looking & Hugs All XXXXXX

Art Nouveau Challenge

This little ATC is my Art Nouveau offering to the weekly challenge at JFF I have used DI tea stain and stamped in a dark red with a CI background stamp which is Art Nouveau-ish and oversamped with a rather lovely owl (forgotten who this stamp is from) the patterns and lines are very AN. Their are some lovely offerings from the DT ladies and the other participants do pop over and take a look. Thank you all for your kind comments it is always a morale booster to read them. Hugs All Sandra XXX

Art Deco - In the style of

The JFF ladies this week have given a great theme of Art deco which I love and wow those DT ladies did some fabulous work this week. Chrissie from Jumbled Crafts is this months guest designer and her mirror is simply gorgeous do take a look. I did find it quite tricky. After a lot of fiddle faddle in my craft room with several attempts hitting the bin, I finally painted a beer mat black and cut out the paper which I felt was in the style of Art Deco I stamped a single rose onto and added a corner shape again I felt it was in style of art Deco I then sealed it with a gloss modge podge. I don't feel very happy about my piece this week all I will say is that it hopefully resembles the style of Art Deco. Thanks for looking. Hugs Sandra XXX

Hot Pants and Platform Boots

Over at JFF the new year kicks off with looking back in time to the 60's / 70,s. Oh the 70,s in my teens and very fashionable in my purple hot pants and very high platform boots (of course I had the figure to match, I wouldn't risk my derriere in hot pants theses days LOL and as for those high platforms well!)

 I painted a beer mat with sparkle turquoise paint and then stamped purple rings and pink and lime green dots (the colours didn't photograph as well). The image( from lost coast ) I thought it represents the 60/70,s women's quest for more freedom in our everyday lives which was big in those times. As a teen this saying was my favourite, I thought it was very naughty hence using it. Nice one JFF DT, thanks for the memories.   XXX Hugs All Thanks for looking.

JFF - Anything Goes

This is the last of this years challenges over at JFF I am always amazed at the ideas the DT ladies come up with every week, they manage to keep the site fresh and interesting. Go check it out (*they don't do cute). This being the last of a 5 week month it is "Anything Goes" (but no cute). I made this door/draw knob hanging for my friend as a Christmas gift so I am entering this into the challenge. It is a solid wooden heart which I painted duck egg blue (to match her dressing room) dabbed with silver then stamped with a CI swirl and a text. I sealed it with sparkle modge podge. Made the silver butterfly and wrapped around the trim. Thanks for looking and Happy New Year to you. Hugs Sandra XX

JFF Autumn Challenge

Phew! well that's Christmas done and dusted for another year,hope you all survived, fun as it is I can't say I am sorry. Bring on the Spring. After all the gatherings It was so nice to have time to go into my craft space and get messy. Over at JFF the month of December has had a seasons challenge and this the last week it is Autumn. I used a scrapling for this 2,1/2 by 5,1/2. I dabbed the card with a sponge and autumn shade inks. Over stamped with leaves, text and a twig looking background stamp. Inked the corrugated and then stamped my main focus birds. To me Autumn is not just the fantastic colours but looking out for the gathering of the birds to fly south. I think this little stamp is perfect for this. I shall keep this for use as a card topper. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Hugs All. Sandra XX

Thoughts of Spring

Phew what a day done all my Christmas shopping in a one-er, I now need to lay down with a cold cloth on my head or open the pinot grigio LOL. I am sure you know that feeling :).
Over at JFF the challenge for the month is "Seasons" and this week it is "Spring". I think after the excesses of Christmas and those long winter nights we all look forward to the first signs of spring. Although my daffs have already poked their little green shoots up due to the mild weather. Well I did an ATC size collage (I read about using this style for ATCs somewhere recently, doh can't remember where) using colours that evoke spring. I have used hessian for the main backing and then dry brushed corrugated card with green, lilac and orange (The photo does not show the colour to well). I stitched the flower stems to the card and added the paper punched flowers with a little butterfly. the paper was stamped with a flower using the same colour scheme. A couple of embellishments and done. Happy weekend everyone and try and get through that Xmas shopping. Hugs Sandra XX
PS I went for the pinot :).
 

Craft Room Challenge "Made Flowers"

I made this for the craft room challenge the challenge being "make your own flowers" I chose grunge flowers (I love making these) and went for a frosty look. The frame is painted with sky blue and dabbed with pearl and a darker blue through sequin waste before being stamped on. Grunge flowers inked blue stamped on and finished with stickles. Finished off with a TH die cut swirl in silver card. Thanks for stopping by and for the lovely comments. Hugs All Sandra XX

JFF "Winter" Challenge

Over at JFF (check out the DT entires) team a new month of challenges has begun, and to kick off the theme is "Winter" I chose a winter scene on a tag. It has been painted with morning mist acrylic and masked to create the bright frosty moon. The stamps are kanban and the bottom of the tag is glue with cosmic shimmer icicles mixed in which give the pink sparkle tinge. I enjoyed making this scene it has put me in the mood for Christmas.Thanks for dropping by and all the lovely comments made. Hugs All.Sandra XX

JFF Favorite Shape

JFF are continuing the favorite theme and this week it is "Shape" wow excellent choice, I  had no problem with choice as my favorite is a "Heart shape"  I am making gift boxes for Christmas so I decorated a small chip board heart shape box. Panted it pink, rubbed in metallic rubs, embossed a flourish and stamped it added a heart and butterfly. All my favorite techniques and things. Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Hugs XX
Such Fun.

Craft Room Challenge

This is my Travel Postcard for the Craft Room Challenge I have gone for a vintage romantic feel in this little postcard sized hanging. I used a crafty individuals travel background paper and inked it followed by a couple of CI stamps. Added vintage lace and made a flower and used an old postage stamp.This is a short post as in the middle of Strictly Dancing :)  and now Merlin. Hugs all enjoy the rest of the weekend. XX

Favorite Technique

Oh NEET how could you LOL, choosing my favorite technique was soooooo difficult I enjoy so many. JFF is having a month of favorites. Well in the end I decided to use a favorite technique I learnt from my Tim Holtz compendium (a present from the Diamond a couple of years ago when I first became obsessed with Altered Art, little did he know just how obsessed I would become LOL)  I used a tag and painted it black then stamped and embossed in clear, re-painted with sky blue and when tacky rubbed it back the clear creates a resist. Stamped text in white paint, the frame is TH faux rust created with with heat embossing  and DI inks. The vintage image is covered in rock candy crackle and rubbed in sepia. I love heat embossing it is versatile and can be used in to enhance so many different projects. Who would think choosing favorite would prove to be so tricky but huge fun. Hugs All. XX

Lots of lovely VintageLace

Hi All, For those amongst us who simply love lace especially vintage. I have lots of lovely vintage lace for sale some of which you can view on my Folksy store. Excellent for vintage pieces and fabric collage etc. I have added little taster photo below and I will be regularly refreshing whats available.

Hugs Sandra XOXO

My Favorite Colour Challenge

Hi All, Now I love all sorts of colours depending on my mood it can vary. So this week the challenge from JFF is to use your favorite colour as the main point of your piece. I have a great love of Lilacs, purples, pinks, heathers, you see where I am headed with my colour :-) So of course my choice is a heather shade of paint for my canvas and then I gave it a sparkle glaze, stamped a swirl. Made my flowers, leaves and butterflies out of wallpaper scraps (it was the perfect colour match) and varnished with clear nail varnish.  (I did explain this recycle technique on a previous post) this is going to be given to my SIL Brenda as she introduced me to recycling wallpaper scraps. Its pretty but not cute (I hope). Love the JFFhttp://jffchallenge.blogspot.com/ DT pieces in their favorite colours.

A month of Favorites

Over at JFF a new monthly theme chosen by Neet and she is focusing on Favorites. Whoop Whoop love this theme. This week it is using a favourite stamp great I thought but as Neet said there so many favorites LOL. Anyway the stamp I used is my all time favorite. I used a tag which I cut out of water colour paper as I wanted to paint the background and this paper does not curl like painted card. For the background it is a combination of painted card (lilac)and painted fusible (bondaweb) which I painted in 2 different colours (black and pink). It is then ironed onto the tag along with pieces of sequin waste,organza and paper. I gave it a blast with the heat gun to create a few holes and a distressed look. I stamped my favorite stamp onto the card masked her and stamped musical notes over the whole thing. I re stamped my little fairy girl and gave her a wash in pink and a sparkle glaze. She is then glued over the original image to create a shadow effect (sort off) with the addition of a red heart (well it is my favorite stamp) and pieces of winged background paper she was done. I did enjoy making that tag. Enjoy the weekend even if it is wet and be careful with the fireworks. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs Sandra XX

Black & White

2 posts in one day blimey, well I have been meaning to post my Black and White challenge piece for the Craft Room Challenge since last Sunday. Anyway better late than never. I chose to do a tando jigsaw piece, painted it black and used my lovely new paperartsy crackle (it is fab stuff) and painted over the top in white. Stamped a swirls and made the flowers to match. Quite simple but effective. Thanks for stopping by Hugs All Sandra XX

Something Found

Over at JFF this is the last week of the recycle challenge and boy has it been a tuf month, but then it is called a challenge :-) Any way the Diamond has been decorating again and we have been clearing out stuff. I found some old wall paper (might not technically be an object but I did find it)I also found some old nail varnish. I have made some butterflies for a hanging frame I had. This idea is not mine but I learnt it from my sister in law (Brenda).
Punch out from the wallpaper (you do need to fussy punch) then punch out from plain copy paper, glue the two together, whilst still wet shape the wings when happy with the shape dab pva on the underside and leave to dry this will give it some body to keep the shape. Once completely dry cover with clear nailvarnish it will dry rock hard. Now how is that for a money saving tip and it really works.

Hope this is ok for this weeks theme. Enjoy the weekend. Hugs Sandra XX

From the Sewing room

I am refreshed and happy after my holiday where we spend the week walking the beaches of North Norfolk and crafting (you can see some of the project pics in the previous post). So I was ready if a little late to take part in this week JFF  challenge. The recycle theme is from the bedroom or sewing room and I was blown away by the DT pieces the GDT Hazels piece was just fabulous.  I went for "from the sewing room". I have a fabulous stash to choose from so I made sure I kept to the spirt of the challenge and only allow myself to use small scrap pieces that I had previously discarded from other projects. I used a piece of  calico that I had previously inked but didn't like added somes vintage lace and netting. Had a rummage through my bits box and found a silk heart, a couple of tiny pre cut tags which I covered in bits of scrap book paper and inked. I did cut  the image into a circle to fit the frame and then machine sewed the lot together added the little button and flower. The whole thing is only 4x4 and is is now destined for a frame. Thanks for stopping by hugs all Sandra XX

Craft and Holidays

Every year a group of us (all family members) rent a barn in North Norfolk (my most favorite place on earth)we walk the beaches in the morning and craft the rest of the time. The Diamond comes along and is our chef for the week (he truly is a Diamond XX) this year we had various projects we wanted to do and here are a few pictures of our achievements.
Altered clock is mine, the altered mini printer tray my Mum she also made most of the little bits inside it, and the wreath my Auntie. 2 others also made the star wreath. All gorgeous makes.

Dragon's Dream TIO # 100 - Ticket to Ride

A simple tag for Dragon's Dream TIO # 100 - Ticket to Ride, I choose a travel to Paris theme, used DIs tea dye and dried Marigold. A torn piece of book text and a TH Paris stamp bottom corner crackle accents and to finish a journey ticket. Thanks for looking Hugs Sandra XX

Recycle Month at JFF

Well the recycle theme continues at JFF this week it is use anything from the kitchen, Again I am amazed at the DT pieces so innovative. I chose to do a tag cut from a cereal box that was on its way to the recycle bin (note to self -Use cereal box made tags more often will save using card stock)  I inked the tag with worn lipstick and bundled sage, I then stamped text and a crackle effect background in sepia. I embossed a swirl top and bottom. I passed a piece of the cereal card through a pleating gadget (it looks corrugated) dabbed dolly mixture acrylic paint over it. My wings are the rest of the cereal package. The hearts are made out of spent beer can (the Diamond thinks I have a vendetta going on, first his Sunday supplement then attacking his beer cans, what next? :-)) I passed the metal through my cuttlebug text emboss folder and then a heart die cut, dripped alcohol ink onto them, the flower is also from the beer can the colour is from the beer can. Hugs All and thanks for stopping by my blog. Sandra XX

JFF Recycling Challenge

Over at JFF the latest challenge is to use books or magazines as the main feature of the creation. So with this tricky challenge my mojo decided to go walk about and is not back yet. I did manage to produce a little tag made out of the Sunday supplement. This caused a stir as the Diamond had not got round to reading the papers LOL. Anyway it has a swoosh of gesso and DI inks to take away the starkness of the print and I stamped onto it. I chose pretty colours from the adverts to make the flowers. I am not happy with my submission but I like to support the JFF girls. The DT pieces are a fantastic use of books, mags and those that have made a submission have been really innovative. Thanks for looking Hugs Sandra XX
PS If you come across my mojo please send it back ASAP.

Crafty Individuals October Challenge

Winged things is the October theme for the challenge at Crafty Individuals I have made an altered frame called ButterBird. The frame is painted and crackled then rubbed with DIs and metallic rubs. The stamps used are CI182 Swirl and the bugs also CI but I can't recall the number. The stamps are used on the frame and the background, the background is swiped with DIs. The Bird and cage is good old Tim Holtz die and I have painted splattered in ink and clear embossed. To finish added the delightful vintage butterfly wings and some beading. Thanks for looking. Hugs Sandra XX