August 2011

Still playing with first page - still 11 to go!

August Calender page for 2011

One down 11 to go !!!!!
There are days when I think I've taken on more than I can chew :-)

BAA BAA BRA SHEEP

Our BADFA Convention is in 3 weeks time, we are exhibiting and auctioning decorated bras for "Breast Cancer" this is my attempt on a bra, have another new bra waiting to be done for a swap not sure yet what to do on that one - the sheep heads are part of my own design - "Shorn Sheep" This is off to Coventry later this morning, 1st class Royal Mail.

Domino Book! Re vamped

Travelled to Exeter for the Westpoint Craft Exhibition, had a ball looking and spending, I made the decision to only buy what I knew I'd use, its too easy to buy things you like and never ever use them! I wonder how many of us have done that.
I bought a butterfly punch - lots of fat quarters absolutely gorgeous fabric - a steam punk stamp set - Distress Inks - a book on how to make books and journals - musical peel offs - archival ink - self adhesive gems - and finally a big carton of card.
Today have re vamped my domino book - am now very pleased with it, used fabric & napkins to make embellishments, distress ink in Dusky Pink & Old Paper and gold paint.
Love the distress ink on the napkins - looks like stone - will use this again and again for backgrounds.
A productive learning day.

Finished - DOMINO BOOK

At last my Domino Book is finished – the dominoes I found are small, my artist flair isn’t very good with something this small….but all good for that important learning curve of what suits you best.
I have realized that I need to start thinking smaller, when collecting or making embellishments etc.
I started by covering the dominoes with white paper serviettes, giving a slightly rough texture, then painted them with gold acrylic paint – I found a bracelet which had metal elements, suitable for a fastening, it has 2 sets of holes, I threaded gold elastic through these holes, to fasten the book keeping it closed these loops can be pulled over the ends. A small pink butterfly is part of this fastener. I attached it to the front cover domino with Jo Sonja’s texture paste, it took a while to dry and it is rock hard and securely attached.
I cut the pages from a sturdy paper, cut them the width + double the height of the dominoes, folded each in half. Found some pink ribbon, which matched the butterfly, glued the ribbon inside each folded page leaving a little bit showing between each for a hinge this worked extremely well, without too much bulk, I left spare ribbon at each end to attach to domino covers. The pages lie nice and flat.
I covered these pages with gold luster fabric and scrapbook paper of small stenciled roses, I tried unsuccessfully to stamp on the fabric, it rubbed off, a mistake not to be repeated, but as a newbie that’s the best way for me to learn! So I used patches of white paper printed with the words “LIVE “LAUGH” & “LOVE”. Finally I attached the ribbon ends to the inside of both Domino covers, using a grey paper that I have embossed a gold butterfly onto, this butterfly is a tab that lifts up, underneath are the details of this swap.
My book is a very simple and easy design. I hope my swap partner likes it. I have enjoyed the challenge of making this wee book, am happy with the outcome. My best critics – my children – both say it is very nice – high praise indeed as they are rather too honest at times!

Domino Books

At last have finished this mini book, I found it harder than I thought it would be!.
Have kept it simple, learnt a huge amount on what I can't do!!!! LOL I need to add permanent inks to my stash, have wasted several items, but I'm the gal to learn the hard way - will remember - waiting for camera battery to charge.......

THINKING CAP.......................

......... is back on .......... next projects are a domimo book & a calender page ....
me thinks I best concentrate on my calender, will need 11 copies of my mastercopy!