Pix copyright Craft Stamper Magazine, artwork copyright Susie Jefferson
Just a quick note for you all - I'm in July's edition of Craft Stamper Magazine - I was too late with my Altered Book submission, but am in the Web Extra section - and they've published the article as a downloadable pdf if anyone is interested!
Here are some of my own pix, so you can see the details better:
With the extended page (on the left) closed
Closeup detail, showing the lace at the edge
And now with the extended page open:
With the extended page (on the left) open
Closeup of the extended page and pockets with tags inserted
Closeup of the slide mount detail on the right-hand page
I got a mention inside the front cover, and they've done a lovely job with the photography in the article. Nice, huh?
I'm quite excited about it - it's a new idea that Katy Fox (Editor) is trying out - more eye candy in the magazine, instructions on the web.So more room for photos, and photos are bigger too!
Another freebie blog background and header set for you!
This will work with the new templates, the old templates, any 3-col or wide 2-col blog. Just copy all the code and insert into an html widget in your blog. This will also work with some of the freebie WordPress templates, eg: Bueno.
Left-click to bring up to full size, then right-click to copy to your computer. Add text using any graphics programme (don't forget to flatten when finished, and save as a jpg). Or use the code below. Don't click to resize, and if you need to centre the header, just use my tutorial.
MY FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE
This week on Pink Saturday, the theme is Favourite Christmas Movies. Mine is perhaps a lesser-known one: The Lemondrop Kid, starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell.
Bob is a gambler and a con artist, needing to raise some money FAST - so invents The Old Dolls' Home, a charity and residence for old dolls (little old ladies to you and me). It's brilliant. The BBC repeated this annually for around 5 years or so (this is around 20 years ago, mind) and it had me laughing every single time. This is the film that featured the song 'Silver Bells' for the very first time!
You can still get it on Amazon as one of five films in the Bob Hope Collection and I would imagine it's out there somewhere to hire as well. Here's a review, giving the full plot.
Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!
The first tutorial is by Sandy at Quill Cottage - so go there for full instructions(very detailed: lots of step by step photos, you can't go wrong!) Sandy has also posted a link to another tutorial (below) which I've also listed here just in case you miss it...
This one is so easy I can't believe it! (although you have to have the kind of brain to think of these things first - which I don't, lol). By Karoline at Cherished Vintage, again there are great step-by-step photographs and it's a fabulous project. I can see this in transparency film, glitter papers....
I just ADORE Christmas, and everything about it! I put up our tree yesterday, so we get full benefit right through to 12th Night (6 January). Sigh....
They're very short sound bites, nothing in-depth, and will probably have you rolling around on the floor, laughing your socks off.
Still waiting...
However, it's my first time in front of a camera so please make allowances. I will put them all on the blog as soon as I get the DVD from the company, without the adverts (sorry about the ads!). Here's the link for the Blade Rubber Blog, which I write (because I can, and because I'm addicted to blogging, lol).
Hope I'm making sense here
A 'baby' layout (Dierdre's baby is now a grown-up teenager and ready to lynch her mother for giving me the photos to use)
Dying for a coffee...
Wow! The coffee's finally arrived... we're also hoping for biscuits...
Here are some of the scrapbook pages demonstrated in the shoot:
MADE TO MEASURE - full view
Closeup of lettering
View showing some of the dimension - and the snap fasteners and safety pins
Closeup of lettering, showing the dimension. I used ink pads to colour the chipboard letters, then covered with Diamond Glaze and threw on some glitter to finish
The 'baby' page:
Full page view of DINNER TIME featuring Dierdre's daughter Charlie
Closuep of the 3 dangly medallions - I used a circle cutter for these
Another closeup, showing these swing around freely (much fun!)
Another detail view, showing the chipboard lettering - painted white, then Snow glitter on top
And now for another vintage piece:
Vintage Chic - the full piece
Two layers of flowers + foam butterflies (glittered) to add dimension
Closeup
Another closeup, showing dimensionof chipboard letters (painted lime green, then glittered)
Finally, just one more piece (I should think you've had enough by now)
GUARDIAN ANGELS - closeup of ribbon, brads, photo corners
Closeup of lettering (stickers! See, you can find some nice ones)
GUARDIAN ANGELS - the full piece
Another closeup, showing the different papers & layers
I'll load the rest during the week, once I've finished photographing them. I have to say the shoot was pretty nerve-wracking at first but went pretty smoothly. And yes, I'd do it again. Quite an experience!
And now I have to send BIG apologies to everyone who visited me last week - because I didn't visit back. In fact, I didn't visit anyone! So much for the big anniversary dinner: I woke up Saturday morning feeling fine, and by early evening was in bed... for the duration. Flu. Bad, nasty flu - we've both had it and have been housebound the entire week. I finally staggered out the house today to the nearest chemist for more Paracetamol, tissues and cough syrup. Isn't it always the way? The best laid plans etc...
Finally, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful Pink Saturday posts!
I thought it was the Pink Saturday anniversary last week - but it wasn't - it's THIS WEEK! Hurrah!
So here is another digital birthday card for you (free for personal use).
Copyright Susie Jefferson
Don't forget to check out my last two Pink Saturdays for another birthday card and some Word Art for you all.
My Blog of the Week is Amanda Taylor's blog TaylorMade Designs - a great scrapbooking site with some freebie papers, great tutorials and totally wonderful photography.
Finally, don’t forget to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see all the other wonderful 2nd birthday Pink Saturday posts!
The big secret is walnut ink. I have some of that! (Been unused at the back of a drawer for around 3 years, so I'm finally going to get some use out of it, hooray!). I also like her little touches of velvet leaves etc.
Here are the other two projects, each very different, featuring the same basic canvas bag. Aren't they brilliant!
Begin by transferring images of birds onto canvas fabric. To create image transfers make a color copy of the images you’d like to transfer. (I use the copy machines at Staples to make my copies.) Before printing each copy, select the reverse copy option and adjust the image size accordingly.) Cut around the photocopy image and use a sponge brush to spread gel medium (Golden, regular matte formula) onto the image. Then flip the image over and press it onto the canvas. Use a brayer over the back of this image to make sure that there’s enough contact between the photocopy image and canvas. Then allow the gel medium to dry. Once the gel medium is dry, peel off the paper. Your image should be transferred. If the paper is difficult to remove, apply a water-dampened sponge over the image and let it sit for a few minutes. Then use your finger tips to gently rub off the excess paper. Allow the canvas with the transferred image to dry.
To create my black, white and red bird patch use scissors to trim around the bird images into a rectangle. Cut a small piece of lace scrap to fit along the bottom of the bird and sew to attach. Cut a piece of organic cotton batting slightly larger than the canvas with the bird image. Then place the canvas rectangle with the bird image on top of the batting and arrange color coordinated buttons across the top. When you’re happy with the button placements, temporarily remove them and sew the canvas with the bird image onto the batting. Then hand stitch the buttons to the batting. Use an embroidery needle with thread to add a French knot detail to the bird’s eye. Use pinking shears to trim around the top and bottom edges of the batting. Apply craft glue to the back of this batting patch and adhere it to the tote.
Use Staz-On ink to stamp letters (ex. s, o, a, r) onto tea-dyed office supply tags. Attach the tags to the tote using mini-safety pins.
For the “search” patch, cut a piece of canvas into an elongated rectangle shape. Then cut a piece of organic cotton batting and a piece of vintage striped fabric to fit under the canvas. Use letter stamps and Staz-On ink to stamp a word (ex. s, e, a, r, c, h), then use pinking shears to trim around the edges. Sew this canvas along the edges and on top of the batting (be sure to leave space at the top of the batting for a row of buttons.) Hand stitch the buttons on to the batting. To finish this patch, sew the batting to the striped fabric along the edges. Apply craft glue to the back of this batting patch and adhere it to the tote.
For the mini-batting patch (for the tote handle), trim around the transferred bird image. Then cut organic cotton batting, canvas and tea-dyed used dryer sheet into rectangle shapes. Place the bird image on top of the canvas and dryer sheet and sew it around the edges to attach. Next, cut a piece of fabric tape measure to fit across the canvas and dryer sheet, and embroider stitch an “x.” Place the tape measure on top of the canvas and tea-dyed used dryer sheet (under the bird image, and leave some space for a lace scrap nest) and sew it around the edges to attach. Attach the canvas fabric to the top of the batting base by sewing along the outside edges. For the nest, cut tiny pieces of antique lace and adhere them to the bottom of the bird using craft glue. Lastly, use a safety pin to attach this patch along with color-coordinated ribbons to the tote handle. As a bonus, this mini-bird patch can be used as a bookmark.
1. Begin by printing the silhouette onto either muslin or iron paper and set aside to dry per manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Using your sewing machine or hand stitching, attach printed fabric to the top of the bag; gathering as you feed the fabric through the machine. Using a straight stitch as well as a heavy thread will insure the fabric will remain in place nicely.
3. Cut or tear out a piece of your printed fabric measuring roughly 5x5. To the top of this add a piece of muslin that has the word delight printed on to it or stamped on to it. Embellish with a strip of trim. Sew this to the center of the bag on the back side.
4. To the sides of the bag stamp an image or scroll using StazOn Ink.
5. Iron on or sew on the silhouette image to the pocket.
6. To the top of the Velcro (which holds the bottom closed) either sew or glue with a piece of velvet ribbon over the top of it.
7. Onto the left hand pocket of the bag add a layer of white and crème acrylic paint that has been mixed together. It is a good idea to place a piece of cardboard or heavy cardstock within the pocket as this will protect the inside fabric.
8. Using a piece of torn muslin created a bow that will be placed on one of the bags handles. Add a favorite button to the top.
9. Finally add a bit of journaling to the painted area you created.
Images and projects copyright Stampington and the individual artists
Stampington has done a great altered tote bag project (3 bags, 3 artists) plus a nice little video by Roben-Marie Smith, one of my very favourite mixed media artists.
The big secret is walnut ink. I have some of that! (Been unused at the back of a drawer for around 3 years, so I'm finally going to get some use out of it, hooray!). I also like her little touches of velvet leaves etc.
Here are some more pix of the other bags. Full details including How To instructions are on my Techniques page:
Copyright Kristen Robinson
Copyright Becky Shander
I like this project so much that I'm putting the whole thing, with instructions for all three bags (therefore one HUGE post) onto my Techniques page, which is where I archive all this stuff, in case you have never looked there before (button under my header at the top of the blog).
