#197

Still working on making generic images a bit more special. This time by adding liquid pearls in silver.
The butterfly is actually red and gold with an emerald coloured gem and looks a lot better in real life, but I keep forgetting to take photos in the daylight.
I was also experimenting with a  signature stamping that I could use for my cards. I have a couple of ‘made with love’ stamps, but they aren’t right for the cards, in my opinion. I used one last year and it was large and didn’t always stamp well, so I had to stamp forty on the cards, and more to glue over the ones that didn’t work well and it didn’t look too nice after all the work I put into the cards.
Its about time I should be putting some cards in the mail. I’m part if the generation that doesn’t use the post often, so I’ll have to ask everyone’s addresses and ask how much stamps are. I haven’t sent them through the mail before. I hope they get to people.

#196

It was warm today and I didn’t get a lot done, but I moved a whole load into the coolest room in the house. I painted a few pictures with glitter nail polish and put glossy accents on a few things. I must have had low concentration because I looked at it later and it’s all wonky and a motled texture.
When I went to get lunch, I saw this beautiful leaf on the path and had to pick it up. I know I didn’t make it, but it’s a reminder to look at the beauty in the world and that there is inspiration in everyday things. Shapes, colours and objects are often at their best in nature.
I often wonder how nature can create things so beautiful, but it takes people years of training in creating and looking to create something of that calibre.

#195

Kitty stickers. Yaaay!
Also a stencil kit I got from Typo, a paper/novelty item shop. I haven’t done a lot with stencils, so I’m keen to try some gesso and paint techniques. They had Christmas and palm tree themed one, but I thought the love one was more versatile throughout the year, also I love love hearts.
I also bought some green glitter nail polish to put on cards. I think it gives a nicer coverage than glitter glue itself, and I can use it for other crafts or even put it on my nails! I wasn’t allowed glitter before I moved out, so I’m going crazy with it now. My cats are often sparkly by accident.
I have been crafting more than I’ve been posting, mainly because I want to write a tutorial, so I need to cover all bases and make a few different types before I write it up. I’ll try and get that done soon so I can show you guys everything.

#194

Getting to making the cards. Been trying for a couple of days, but wasn’t feeling it. I bought a few cards in a packet so I could make a couple of 3d layered card. The snowman here was left over from one of the cards so I cut him out, and he suited this card, I think. Lots more to do…

#193

I went to a craft fair today, and couldn’t go past this gem. I really haven’t been reading much lately and this was just too cute. I put it up on my bookcase to remind me to read and be funny and gorgeous at the same time. I also got a fat quarter with little cartoon cats on it that I might stiffen with glue them cut out to put on cards and things.
They didn’t have any other supplies there, so I only spent a couple of dollars, but got some inspiration and ideas which is the main reason I go.
My motto is “Don’t buy what you can make and don’t sell what you wouldn’t buy.” Which saves me money and is a paradox.

#192

A lot of taping up cat food boxes today. My assembly line is looking good. I need to add card bases, ribbon and finishing touches boxes.
I bought another magazine today that says it has all I need for my Christmas cards, including stamps, embossing folders, papers and a bunch of images and sentiments to cut out. They have a few paper tole/decopage images that will be fun to put together. I have a lot of fussy cutting to do.
I need to get cracking on these cards, as I would like to send some out at a reasonable time this year.

#191

More sequin embellishments! I got a few more colours of sequins, so I started making more circles. Using the flower shaped sequins look quite good. I can’t wait to see how they turn out with  more layers.
I also bought a heart paper embosser, some wooden shapes (including butterflies : ), some metallic starry paper, Christmas wrap and a couple of heart stamps that I’m yet to try.
I also had to get some replacement blades for my Fiskars paper trimmer, that I’ve only had since June, so six months. I guess I do use it a fair amount and replacement blades come in a two pack which is nice.
I was in the library, looking at sewing books, and saw buttons that had been covered with little embroidered images like bunnies and snails. They were so cute, that I looked through my stash of buttons to find ones with shanks that I could cover. There wasn’t nearly as many as I thought there would be, but enough to play around with. That way I can figure out what size and type of button will work best and buy some more. I could even get buttons made for covering, but no point in spending extra money unless I have a use for them.

#190

I made this card the other day for my partner. Our nine year anniversary, so there’s nine hearts on the front. I actually punched out all the hexagons from black card and used foam adhesive for the middle section, and stuck the edge ones on flat. My partners favourite colour at the moment is green, and I felt as though it would look nice with the pink. Lucky he likes pink, or this wouldn’t have worked as a manly card. You may think that a biohazard symbol is weird for an anniversary card, but it is the logo for the gaming site we built together. I created it by punching circles of different sizes. Firstly punching the smaller circle, then the larger circle off centre, making moon shapes and gluing them to a base made the same way, but centring both circles to make a ring.
I didn’t measure the card for the sentiment, so I had to tilt the words slightly, as the first letter going up didn’t fit with the last letter hanging down.
The first question he asked me was how long did it take to make. I replied, not as long as you’d think. Once I’d thought out the design while trying to sleep one night, I had figured out most of it. The hexagons punching and placing probably took the longest, and playing around to make the biohazard symbol.

#189

There was a gorgeous baby at the doctors today. She had a pink hoodie and a big pink tutu like dress. She was plopped on the floor in a pile of pink and was too cute not to draw.
I often find it awkward drawing people in public. It’s excellent practice, but its like taking a photo with flash on. You try and be descreet as you can, but if you take out a sketchbook and pencils, it feels odd to me. Then people look at what you’re drawing and watch you draw, which I never minded in art classes… Though gathering an audience when they were meant to be working was strange enough. But I just feel weird doing it in public. I guess that’s why I draw babies with pen on lined paper. Most people look at babies for an extended amount of time and I was writing lists in between drawing as a cover story.
Maybe it’s just me. Or maybe I should be a busker. It’s not weird then.