Late presents....

Finished the last lot of Christmas presents (yes i know its all over, but eldest child wasn't seeing her friends until a New Years Eve party...so I had plenty of time to get them done!) All handstamped, apart from the resin skull!!!
The group of three bracelets apparently represent Harry, Hermione and Ron...no, I have no idea..... I just make what i'm told to!
Been getting very inky today too, but i can't show you that yet.....so this will have to do!

Trish xx

woooooooo!

My tag was chosen as one of the winners on the Crafty Individuals Blog!
Wooooo!
Thank you Jo !!!
I love all things Crafty Individuals, so as part of my determination to keep up with my blog I'm sure there will be a lot more CI images appearing here regularly!
Trish xx

Exciting News!!!

I'm thrilled to be able to share that from January, I will be part of the Calico Crafts Design Team!

I can't wait to get stuck in and play with all the fabulous products!!!!!

Love Trish xx

Rock Salt!

I've been digging out my bag of this to sprinkle on the doorstep as it has a nasty habit of becoming a real icy hazard ! Reminded me of a rock salt project that didn't make the final cut....this hanging was part of my series in Craft Stamper Magazine on using salt in background techniques. The long stemmed hearts have been treated to the salt soaking method (dump a load of rock salt crystals on a very wet surface, add inks and then brush off the crystals once totally dry). Coloured rock salt also added to the bottom as an embellishment!

Really enjoyed this, although I did get into a right pickle with the hot glue gun when adding the layers! You know one of those gluey projects when it just seems to go everywhere? This was one of those days!
Right, need to get a squillion pressies wrapped before the little people finish school!
Trish xx

Her Brain....

one of my favourite stamps ever...this quote from River City Rubber Works. Their quote stamps are just fab..see here for some more examples!
Anyway, used it today on a canvas, it kind of sums up the whole Christmas feeling without being a Christmas project!
The large hatted lady is a Zettiology image.

Hope you like her!
Trish xx

Configurations Box- Grannys' Sewing Room

In the hope of being more organised, I'm making sure I have next years workshops at least thought about, if not planned totally. As the Christmas Configurations box proved a real hit, I've another planned. This one is scheduled for February, and is called "Grannys' Sewing Room' . Yup, you guessed it, a sewing themed box. Not exactly original, but after having a long think, and discarding many themes that are simply too 'niche' (forgive the dreadful pun when talking about shadow boxes!), sewing it is! My sample is all made and on display at the shop if anyone is close enough to pop in and have a closer look. For those that can't get there, here are the pics.....

This is the pink version, but students can opt to do a 'shabby blue floral' box on the day if they wish. The Box itself is covered with vintage sewing patterns, then coloured with a wash of cream then pink paint. I found the most cost effective (working to a workshop budget is tricky!) way of achieving the shabby florals for the back panels in the boxes was to use tissues. Regular tissues you would blow your nose on! Cath Kidston makes tissues (and napkins) that can be pulled apart and then attached to cardstock to give the most delicious floral backgrounds. One single tissue did all nine of the back panels in my box. Bargain!
Details.....

 

The Dress form is a Sizzix die cut, again covered with patterns and painted. Lace, thread and a button to decorate.

Rolled up felt for a tiny pincushion, and tiny vials from a favourite shop SkyBluePink filled with beads.
All the stamps are from Katy Foxs fabulous stamp sheet here .

The top of the box is decorated with mini spools. These are best found in model or miniature shops. The real vintage ones cost a packet, not a plan when you need to buy in bulk for a workshop! I also customised a lot of clear buttons by simply adhering text paper and then cutting round them. Great way of making something that little bit different!
So......(ha ha geddit?!) As ever, these things book up fast, so if you're interested have a look at the details here . Maybe I'll see you there!
 Trish xx

Beads And Beyond Magazine- January Issue!

Another fabulous issue is out !!
My project this month is called "Teenage Dream" , a quirky twist on kiddie friendship bracelets. These are definitely all grown up! I created a pair of handstamped aluminium bracelets, each with a single phrase that when put together form a song lyric. Of course the words used could be anything that has significance to you and your friend, as long as the phrase makes sense when split into two!
These earrings are the 'extra' to the bracelets, same lyrics split up, but this time stamped onto copper squares and turned into earrings with the addition of some handmade spiral findings!

I think they maybe I should have given them a polish before taking the pic! oops!

Its great fun thinking up lyrics or phrases that can be split in two! To see the latest Beads And Beyond Magazine, click HERE

Trish xx

Fairy Sister!

This is the little sister of the fairy who lives in the love potion box.........nope, not lost the plot totally! I enjoyed creating the fairy box that is in this months Craft Stamper magazine  so much, I made another one! This one has been created inside a hinged wooden box, and my fairy is the tiny version of the stamp, hence little sister!
I gessoed and painted the box with blue and purple paints, then added accents in turquoise. As the inside of the box was tricky to get at, I stamped the flourish and dots that decorate it onto tissue before using ModPodge to glue it into place.

Bit of an odd photo, the large rectangle with the purple flourish on it is the open door of the box! Looks too big for some reason!
Closeup of the fairy.....

I'm liking these boxes!!
Trish x

Craft Stamper- January edition is here!

And fabulous it is too!
Click HERE to go and see this latest issue!
My article this month is the Masterclass. I've used slide mailers for the projects, and I can honestly say that this was one of the best things I've done, in terms of having fun! Normally I have a very firm idea of what I'm going to create, and how it will look. This time, things seemed to evolve and change as I was playing, so the finished items look sooooo different to the initial 'in my head' plan. I'm going to try and be more 'free' in the way things go art wise, I think, as I really like the finished pieces!
Two little peeks to show you, firstly of the inside of the fairy box, so you can read all the words!

Secondly, a tiny bit of the shrine!

To see the whole article, including a 4 slide mailer turned into a book!, pick up a copy of the magazine. Available now from all good craft shops!!!! There is some fantabulous art in this issue, you don't want to miss it!
Trish xx

Last one of the year....

Workshop that is!
We were playing with Stampbord this morning, inking and embossing. A new surface to most of my students, so it was nice that I could show them just how fabulously well it takes ink and stamping. We made a Christmas decoration (well I suppose I had to do something seasonal!) and this card.....

Embossed acetate as well.....first time ever I've had someone manage to totally melt heatproof acetate, so that was er, interesting!
Now a nice six week break to recharge the teaching batteries and get properly organised for next year!
Trish x

All Wrapped Up!

Is the theme for the new December Challenge over at Crafty Individuals . I decided to make a gift tag...allbeit a large one!

I created a painty background using pale blue, purple and white paint. I stamped the Flourish in white paint along one side. The Tree and the Postmark were stamped onto tissue, then applied to the background using ModPodge. I added a load of eyelash fibres to give some texture!
Really enjoyed making this!
Trish x

Brrrr its cold!

Sitting here with a jumper on, unheard of!!!
Very apt though, the last ATC theme of the year (and sadly of the group) is Baby its Cold Outside. Too flipping right!
Here are the four ATCs I've made, with a close up of my favourite!

 

Ecoline drawing inks, lots of splatters then overstamped with white paint.

Just need to finish up the class prep for my last workshop of the year (will post a pic once the glue dries!), then onto inky painty playtime for me with no agenda! yay!
Trish x