My mum's first crochet project

Despite having bad arthritis in her hands my mum decided to teach herself crochet.

This bag is her first project. She even crocheted a flower as the clasp and made little tassels.

I think it is great and so cute.

If you can could you please leave her a comment, it would make her day.

A little altered frame

This was a tatty little glass frame that was covered in glue, it did have gems stuck on it at one point but some fell off so i took them all off and put it in my projects waiting to be done box.

Nicks http://nicksartystuff.blogspot.com/ set us a challenge to alter a frame on the altered art section on dc.

I finally found some time and inspiration to do this little frame, it is just 3.5" square.

Istarted by sanding all the glue off, then i put blobs of silver metalic paint all round and added different colours of paint, i then swirled them together with a cocktail stick then bleneded the sections together.

I then added confetti on top. Then i glazed it over and swirled a little silver into the glaze.

I stamped a quote and put it in the centre and covered it with crackle accents and anitas 3D gloss which i swirled together.

It looked horrid at one stage but i quite like the finished effect, nothing like i planned though lol.

3 watches

3 jigsaw watches in a different style.

I have done these ones using different types and colours of paint and a cocktail stick lol. All have been glazed for strength and durability.

These have taken me a week to do mostly drying time, i hate waiting for things to dry.

I am starting to build up a stock of these and am thinking of opening an Etsy shop or rather my mum thinks i should sell them on line, i am not that computer literate so Etsy seems a good option.

Everyone who sees them says they are good enough to sell but i'm not so sure.

My dogs

Totally off topic thought i would share some pics of our 3 dogs.

Yes there are 2 pics of Lucy heehee, couldn't resist the one of her hiding under her toys one of her fav places to sleep. The little one is Rex and the black one is Tink.

Handbag Birthday Card

This card is for my cuz who is over from oz on holiday, we will see he and her oh this week.

It is her bd today but she'll get it when we see her.

She loves handbags so it had to be a handbag but i wanted a scottish twist so made the shape vaguely like a sporran and added the thistle. Added brads as button and 2 tiny charms with findings.

Stamped background as usual and fibres to finish.

Jigsaw Watches

2 jigsaw watches

The first is now with the lovely Liz http://laceribbonsbuttonsandbows.blogspot.com/

The 2nd i really like and might just keep for myself lol.

Alcohol Ink Pendant

A simple pendant using frosted memory glass and memory frame. I inked 2 pieces of memory glass one frosted side up other frosted side down using stream and wild plum alcohol inks.

Very easy to do and very pleased with the result.

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge Entry

C.R.A.F.T Challenge http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ is another new challenge blog .

There first theme is also to do with new and you use any craft materials and techniques so as i needed a little pressie to go with new home card i came up with this slide mailer.

Used distress inks and pearlescent watercolours for the base, same stamp as new home card.

You can just about see the pattern i stamped on the background it is the same one stamped on the written words.

Used sepia and clear glazes to finish.

Tuesday Taggers entry

Tuesday taggers http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ is a new challenge blog and their first challenge is new beginnings.

I needed to do a new home carsd so came up with the idea of putting a tag on a card (5x7")

I had this lovely little stamp that i had yet to use (it has been well christened)

Stamped background with distress ink in walnut and dabbed ink over card with a sponge.

I don't do a lot of colouring in as i am hopeless at it, this one has turned out ok. The background colour for the main image is actually blue and green pigment ink which i used after i had put on a coat of clear embossing powder i them put another layer of embossing powder on top. Gives a nice watercolour effect.

Scanner has not picked up that the red corrugated card is swiped with a golden ink which highlights the texture.

Added ric rac braid to complement the corrugated card, finished with brads, eyelets and new home banner.

More slide mailers

My mum asked me to do 2 keepsakes for my cuz and her dh, she is australian, he is american which are the themes my mum wanted.

I went a bit overboard with the glitter but otherwise they are ok.

A mix of postage stamps, stamped images, picture and words.

A simple slide mailer

A simple slide mailer with a sea theme.

This took longer than it should it was going to be host's rak for slide mailer swap but i took too long doing it oooops so it needs a home.

I used metallic pens in shades to blue for the base, front and back very simply done. It was the inside that gave me the trouble as well as splitting it in two and adding the ribbon as a spine it kept moving lol.

Not the best but presentable.

More atcs

These are the other atcs i have done, the top one went as a host rak with the slide mailers (told you i am way behind with my blogging).

You will see the paper/text backgrounds a lot i did 2 12x12 sheets of them to use up pages from a book i altered, very simple inked pages torn up and layered with lots of pva.

Sepia accents are used to cover the stamped images, not sure if i like this glaze or not i find it more of a pinky brown colour than a true sepia but that is probably just me.

I went a bit mad with contents of my button box, i do like my buttons.

The jigsaw bits was me experimenting with different inks etc.

The fishy postage stamp one i did at the same time as the slide mailers.

Almost up to date now. Got a slide mailer to add but will do that tomorrow.

3 of a kind atcs

These atcs i did for the swap i hosted on dc.
There were some gorgeous atcs, they are all in my pb http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj255/craftycrittershostedswaps/Three%20of%20a%20Kind%20swap/
The brief i set was three inks and 3 stamps on each atc.
I tried to use different stamps for each and some that i don't use, hence the fairy atc.
Quite pleased with the result.
I am way behind in my blogging these should have been put on last week, and i have a stack of atcs still to scan.
Having a bad time with migraines and pc screen makes them worse but it does mean more quiet crafty time when i can see properly as my migraines affect my vision.

Ooooooooooh i've been given an award

I have been given this award by the lovely Liz http://draytonatcswaps.blogspot.com/

She gave me this a while ago but i haven't been on pc much due tobad migraines and she didn't tell me she had given me this.

So it is a lovely suprize, thank you Liz.

Will have to ask her if i am to pass this on lol.

Slide Mailers for swap on DC

These slide mailers are for a swap hosted by the lovely Tish(kent) on DC.

I had to do this one after i found slide mailers at a bargain price and made people buy them lol.

I found a lot of old postage stamps i forgot i had and as i have some postal themed stamps, i just had to do a postal theme for these.

I used a burgandy acrylic paint with a drop of metallic paint added to paint both mailers.

I then stamped with stazon added stamps then on the front of both i used crackle glaze but i must have been stingy as you could see the brush strokes and i wasn't happy with the result so i then put on anitas 3d gloss but i used a paintbrush and did what you shouldn't lol. I applied it in a circular motion adding lots of air so it was very bubbly then when dry i sanded it back and i have a lovely aged effect which i used on the inside as well. I think you will be seeing this a lot more in my work.