tattered floral union jack pillow

Tim Holtz set a challenge to create something with his Tattered Floral die from Sizzix It seems that the world and his wife have joined in the fun, myself included. There are some great projects and everybody has put in a lot of effort.

At one point I didn't think I would get my project done, it has fought me every step of the way, but I finally finished it this afternoon. The light has been very poor all day due to our fine spring weather. It has been snowing now for over 12 hours, so my snaps are not the best.

I bought some fat quarters last year with a British theme intending to complete a project inspired by the last years celebrations for the Queen and the Olympics.  The project is still to be started but I thought I would use some of the fabric for this project. I decided on a pillow and thought I would use the flowers to create a union jack.

I used cotton for the base and drew the outline of a union jack. I then created the basic design by ironing on red and blue ribbon onto the base fabric using thermo-bond. The bond turned out not to be that great and I had to over sew the ribbon on to the fabric. I can't tell you how many times I had to thread the sewing machine as the thread kept breaking(the thermo bond proved to be quite sticky to sew through). I do know that the sewing machine was at risk of permanent injury.

After cutting many,many, many flowers the were sewn together with a buttons.

Over 80 flowers have been attached to the pillow. When up close I will admit it doesn't much look like a union jack but from a distant you can see what it is suppose to be. I covered up too much of the base fabric where it should be white lines. Overall I am quite pleased with the outcome, which is a blessing when I think of the hours it has taken me to finish.

Tonight I am going to celebrate with a cup of cocoa and a chapter of the book I'm reading tucked up under my blanket, no sense going out in a blizzard if you don't have to.

Until next time keep crafting

Georgina

Spring Fashion

Following Horrace the Hare's adventure last week in 12 Tags of 2013 (March) Horrace could be heard muttering in the corner for several days. Knit one, purl one, knit two together,slip stitch over, subtract one multiply by 7. At first I though he was developing a new knitting pattern, eventually after a eureka moment I realized that he was counting his mustache collection. It turns out several are still missing. Then he suddenly disappeared last Friday.  Today I found him in my circle and square journal wearing a brand new coat. When I asked what he was doing he told me it was springtime in Paris and he needed to look chic. Here is the page I found him on. It seems he has found some of his missing mustaches. Somehow I don't think this is the end of this story after all there is still a week of march left.

Until next time keep crafting

Georgina

Granddad Peters Birthday Card

Granddad Peter is now another year older and still enjoying life in his own unique way, because of work commitments we have yet to celebrate with the obligatory family cake, although he has received cards and presents.

I wasn't sure that he would like the card I made for him but he says he does. Dorrie pointed out to him that mustaches are popular at the moment. All he said was "I thought that is what the black things are"

The background card reminded me of vintage wallpaper and as I had some mustaches left over from my 12 tags of 2013 project I thought I would use them as wall decoration like those China Flying Ducks that use to grace the walls of Grannies' parlour in the 50's and 60's. I read somewhere that they are now sought after items of Kitch, I don't know why(the china ducks not the mustaches). For those of you young enough not to know what I am talking about ask your mother or grandmothers. For those in other countries if your interested Google them.
Anyway here's the card.

I am now off to prep next weeks workshops as we are off to Dumfries at the weekend to support Mouse who is competing in a Ice skating competition she is very excited and a bit nervous.

Keep crafting
Georgina

Tim Holtz 12 Tags 2013 (March)

Mad as a March Hare.

I really enjoyed making this months tag, Last week spring was in the air and now we have had 3 days of snow flurries with more predicted, but as I say to everyone who remembers the un-seasonally  warm March last year, if it's cold now when it suppose to be we might get a good summer we can hope anyway. 

Anyway my mad March Hare remembered the warm weather last year and came out to play early this year.I'm sure he regrets it now. His mustaches all escaped it is surprising how strong a flock of mustaches can be, they broke straight out of their cage  After a lot of nagging I agreed  to provide a net to recapture them. Do you know how hard it is to a sew a miniature net  especially when the fabric is as slippery as a well oiled Haddock.  I think he is having fun recapturing them but I positively refuse to make a tin/aluminum foil padded jail cell.

For all of you out there saying it's a rabbit, please don't split hares. 
The bird wants you to know she is the only sane one here, she also says that she is not sure it is advisable to direct a heat gun at a birds tail feathers as it is blooming hot, it is however better than the latest fad diet, she has shrunk to a fraction of her original size.

Anyway down to the nitty gritty 
Tag painted with Bundled sage distress paint. Over stamped at the bottom with the grasses stamp from Tim's Spring Sprung Set (see he hasn't specified rabbit or hare. If you would like to clarify Tim you are more than welcome) using Bundled Sage distress ink.
Stenciled at the top with a Crafter's workshop tree stencil using crushed olive and frayed burlap distress ink.
The Hare was stamped onto white card and his jacket coloured with Rock candy distress crackle paint mixed with a few drops of shaded lilac distress re-inker. It dried darker than I expected maybe a little less ink next time. I then swiped over some spun sugar distress paint into the cracks and painted his inner ear and cravat with it too. The net is made from a curtain ring, a small piece of net, some sewing thread and a cocktail stick (3 needles were sadly lost in the production of the mustache net (I have honored their loss with some quiet contemplation and a nice cup of tea).,
I cut a cage and bird from shrink plastic using a Sissix(Tim's) Bird cage die. I also stamped some mustaches using Jet Black Stazon onto shrink plastic and cut them out. Having heated the birds tail feathers I shrunk the cage aiming for a distressed look as if attacked by a flock of mustaches (I think I achieved it). I prettied it up with a few stick on gems. The mustaches had no complaints when they were shrunk. I coloured the bird with a brown promaker, she wanted to be gaudy so I had to put my foot down with a firm hand. Whilst I had the promaker box out I cut out some little egg shaped in white card and coloured and decorated them. Where better for a mustache to hid than among a clutch of Easter eggs.
Next I cut a banner out of white card using a cricut machine and the heritage cartridge. I stamped mad march hare on using Hampton Art studio g alphabet stamps.
Last but not least I assembled the tag using double sided tape, foam pads and Glossy accents as adhesive.

Now I have finished the telling of Mr Hares tail I have to go and lay down in a dark room as to paraphrase Ms Dyan Reaveley's words I have exceed the limits of my medication. I wonder if the Doc's giving out prescriptions for a nice cup of tea.

Until next time happy crafting

Georgie

Dylusional Girls

Just a quick post before I work on some workshop demos this afternoon.
I just could not resist picking up some of the new colours of Dylusions Ink Sprays from the shop shelf.
That's the trouble I put stock on the shelves and it sits on the shelf and stares at me and says pick me, pick me(really they do), particularly when it is one of my favorite things (I have lots of favorite things). I'm getting like Mouse who even now states "I need one in every colour!" when ever we unpack new stock, she is still after her very own set of Distress pens and now her fingers are strong enough to use sprays you go away and come back to a half empty bottle, but I digress it was my bad habits that I was commenting on. Not that I am adverse to bad habits and with names such as Funky Fuchsia and Dirty Martini it just had to be done. Besides you always need examples so that customers can see the colours and get inspiration all very noble, but in truth I just wanted to play.  Did I mention the White Linen it's fantastic in my opinion.

Here area couple of tags that I sprayed with Dylusions Ink Sprays and then layered with some White Linen sprayed through some sequin waste and then added some more layers with a little paint and some pen. I then used Cricut's forever young cartridge to cut some ladies the first is painted with Calypso Teal. The other's dress is painted with Bubblegum pink one of the original colours and the yellow is mica spray I can't tell you the colour because the label has come off the bottle. The stamps are by Autumn Leaves from a set called Sentiments Circles, they are from my own stash and I don't know if they are still available.

Now it's time for more play sorry work, I mean constructing some workshop demos is exceedingly hard work (play)

Until next time keep crafting
Georgina

Tim Holtz 12 Tags 2013 February

Time flies, it doesn't seem 2 minutes since I posted January's tag and now it is nearly the end of February.

My Tag is really simple but not my usual style and has had many incarnations before I eventually got round to pulling it together.

The background tag has been coloured with Broken China Distress Stain and then stamped with gold crowns and black cogs from Kanban's Jasper stamp set. I added a topper from 'Cameo Clock Ladies' topper set also by Kanban. The cards are stamped using a Stamp Barn Playing Card Stamp.The wings were embossed on silver Mirri card using a Sizzix embossing folder from the Crown flourish & Heart Wings set. and then cut out and attached to a Heart shaped piece of Red Mirri card which was stamped with X's ans O's Using Hampton Art studio g Alphabet set. The winged heart was then attached to a black ribbon bow and attached to the tag. The little charm is a melting clock Dali style.

Now I must get back to typing the next series of workshops for the store, like most things it keeps getting to the bottom of the list, but has now risen to the top as it needs to be completed and published by Monday, Oh well no play time this afternoon.

Until next time
Georgina

Tin Foil Birthdays

Another Birthday has been and gone but what kind of card do you make for Grandma Eileen. One with flowers is usually a good bet. She likes shades of blue but definitely no pink. Oh and did I mention it needs to be traditional no steam punk no collage, no Distress in fact a water coloured field or vase of flowers would be perfect. So did I go for the traditional? What do you think?

I have been playing with an idea that was inspired by Chrissy Tomlinson and her lesson for Life Book 2013. She used tissue paper and and foil for her life book page. I have played around with adding hardware items such as washers and rings etc. I will post other examples later but here is the card .Grandma Eileen said she liked it and I choose to believe her even if there is just a touch of pink and it is a collage and it is a little distressed I did resit the steam punk, still there is always Granddad Peter's birthday next month..

We also made Birthday cakes, yes cakes Mouse wanted to make a cake as a present she made a sponge, which she decorated with icing and some of every kind of sprinkle she could find in the cupboard. I made a clementine cake which is a family favorite (just don't tell grandma that there are ground almonds in it she always says she hates nuts but she really likes this cake).

Anyhow it's time to go and close the shop etc
Keep crafting
Georgina