Row Houses

I can't believe how long it's been since I last added to my blog. Time just seems to fly by!

I have recently taken part in a swap organised by Trish Bee on the CCSwaps yahoo group. I needed to make 26 small houses. I have fallen in love with the 'bandana' technique so had to use this to decorate my houses. I made the backgrounds by swiping distressing inks onto a non-stick baking sheet, spritzing this with water, then swooshing the white card across the inks. I then stamped onto them with black Stazon ink. I added more black detail using thick and thin permanent pens then added more detail with a white pen.

Deco page in Ria's book

It was very exciting to receive the first deco book in the post this Monday. It was Ria's book from Holland and had already been elswhere in England before coming to me. I had to use another shining stones background as I'm addicted to making these! I also used one of my altered Photoshop photos. It looks even better in the flesh so I hope Ria likes it.

Deco book

I have joined a deco (decorated) book round robin on Next Generation Stampers Yahoo group. The book gets sent to someone else on the list who decorated pages then sends it on to someone else on the list. Eventually when the last page is complete it gets sent back to me.

I made a 4" square book using the instructions for the mini-album elsewhere on my blog. I covered the covers with gold wrapping paper before using some of the shining stones backgrounds on top. I decided to add an altered photo of myself so that those receiving it would know what I looked like. I also found a great quote in the introduction of an old encyclopaedia I am 'recycling'. Inside I have included a sign in page and a map where I can add locations when the book returns to me.

backgrounds sketchbook - shining stones

On the Next Generation Stampers Yahoo group, Trish Bee is showing us lots of background techniques and suggested we record the techniques in a sketchbook. This is the first technqiue I tried and I have finally put it into a sketchbook. Actually it's the only technique I have tried so far as I keep making more of them and trying different possibilities, like using pearlescent paper rather than glossy photo paper etc.

ATC holder swap

I made this ATC holder as part of a swap on CCSwaps. It will be heading off shortly to Linda in Idaho, USA. I used the mini album instructions (see my blog entry for 22nd November 2007), however I started with a piece of paper 16" square. I stuck ATC clear pockets on each page so it will hold 14 ATCs (It should have held 16 ATCs but I made a mistake when glueing the pages together so had to cut one page off!). I used some of my shining stones backgrounds on the bottle tops.

My Fruit

You Are a Strawberry

You are friendly, outgoing, and well liked by many people. You are popular, but there's nothing ordinary or average about you. You are a very interesting person, and you have many facets to your personality. Sometimes you feel very conflicted. Your different sides of your personality pull at you. You are a very sensual and passionate person. You are fiery... you can't help it. In general, you keep your passionate side under wraps. You are only wild in private.

What Type of Fruit Are You?

My colour

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks. Your warm personality nicely counteracts any strange habits you may have.

What Color Green Are You?

Valentine Countdown

Thanks to Lisa Vollrath for the Valentine Countdown at http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/ Visit the site to find out more.

Birds

I thought I'd have a go at some bird collages for another possible swap.

Fairy

I have been playing with Photoshop and experimenting with blending modes. I used a photo which I had taken at my birthday party of my friend's little girl, Tahlia. She is so cute, I had to add wings! I also used one of my shining stones scans in the background.

Instant art

I have recently made some 'instant art' for a swap on CCSwaps. The idea is that these items can be used in other projects you make. These items are ready made so can add speed to any project.

I sent 5 decorated side mounts (I love making these)





Also 5 decorated tags. I had great fun making a variety of backgrounds, including shining stone.

Also 5 little beauties. These are 1.5" x 2" and can be used a card toppers or on ATCs.

I also sent 5 ATC backgrounds. I again had a go at the shining stone technique but used pearlescent card instead of glossy paper. This has an overall sparkle to it which I love.

Shining Stones Backgrounds

I have recently had a go at making shining stones backgrounds, a technique explained by Trish Bee at trishbee.co.uk (see blog entry for Jan 1st). These involved inking a piece of glossy paper (I used a roller), spritzing with water, adding 'mica paint' (made by mixing Perfect Pearls with water etc), spritzing again and drying with a heat gun. These were my first attempts (they are much better in the flesh as the photos don't show the wonderful shimmer):

Today I made some more and found that the paper is really important for achieving a good result. I also used Twinkling H2Os as I have a wider range of colours. They were so easy to use as I just added water then splattered them on.

This one was done on Tesco finest glossy photo paper (I had piece in my scrap box and thought it was the same as I had used before - however it wasn't!). The ink didn't blend very well and when I spritzed it nothing really happened (with the other paper speckles instantly appeared):

So I went back to using my Poundland glossy photo paper (I also love this paper to use with alcohol inks) and am much happier with the results.

Here I used more water so the ink/H2Os puddled more.

Mr Picassohead

I have discovered a great fun site through Next Generation Stampers (one of the Yahoo groups I belong to).
It is http://www.mrpicassohead.com/ You can design your own Mr Picassohead. Here's mine: