Christmas tree decorations

I have always admired people who could knit. My mum and grandmother were amazing at knitting, they made the most beautiful shawls and baby cardigans, and seemed to whip them up in no time.

I lose patience with knitting and need something quick and easy to knit. Years ago I discovered Jean Greenhowe's knitting patterns. They are quick and easy to follow, you can get amazing results in very little time.

The Father Christmas, angel and snowman have been on my Christmas tree for 25 years now.

There is a free stocking knitting pattern on Jean Greenhowe's website here. Scroll down the page.

The book which features this pattern is now out of print but you may be able to get a second hand copy, these are the details,

Knitted Toys by Jean Greenhowe

Published by Hamlyn Publishing Ltd in 1986

ISBN Number 0-600-50286-4

I hope I have inspired you to knit something for your tree.

Debbie x

Its a Creative World, simple things project

This months word was inspiration, and this is the page I have created.

I wanted my page to be a collage of different techniques that I could use as a reminder.

I used acrylic gel medium to transfer a vintage photo onto a piece of canvas that had already been covered with a layer of gesso and stamped on. I covered the top with a layer of pva glue and the heat gun has given the wrinkled look!

I embossed a piece of clear laminate and then used black stazon to highlight the text. The butterflies were stamped with versamark onto black card and then I used perfect pearls so they would show up.

This part was created using alcohol inks on the reverse and then stamping with stazon on the front.

I used a dark piece of acetate (previously coloured using the floor polish/caught in crystal method) and stamped on it with white acrylic paint.

I used a stamp that I made of my Great Grandparents wedding and then distressed the top with green acrylic paint.

The final finishing touches were a couple of old stamps and bus tickets, and some utee embellishments I have made by making my own moulds.

Debbie x

Gingerbread things

When my friend went shopping for nursery items I just loved the gingerbread and bunting theme. I decided to try and make a tissue box cover and a fabric container to match some of the things she had already bought.

I decorated plain calico for the fabric container, it is much easier to decorate while flat and then sew to the base.

I finished all the edges with a light blue paint and then sprayed it with a craft spray to seal the watercolours and paint.

I really enjoyed making these and my friend was really pleased with them too.

Debbie x

Birthday card

My friends daughter recently celebrated her 5th birthday. As she wants to be a mermaid when she grows up, I decided to make her a mermaid card.

Art journal

I was inspired to use different techniques by Milliande's website, which I found with a simple google search. I love trying out new techniques so Lynne and I are making pages for each other using different techniques. We have decided to keep the pages small these are approx 4" by 6".

I started off by masking off squares on the paper, and then spread a couple of spots of Adirondack re-inker lettuce over the paper, using a baby wipe. I dabbed the excess randomly over the paper ( I hate to waste anything,) and then stamped a flourish with white acrylic paint.

I took the masking tape off and drew random squares with watercolours and pro-markers.

Next I drew some circles with a progresso graphite pencil and then coloured them using cobalt blue neo colour water soluble crayons, blended with a paintbrush.

The saying blue and green should never be seen was stamped and handwritten. Extra detail was added to the painted squares with a white sharpie pen.

New home card

My friend recently moved house so I made her a card, the move took quite a long time to go through so I can finally post her card online without spoiling the surprise.

I made the background using layered tissue paper in torn strips and the house and tree were cut using a sizzix die.

Funny things mini book

I work in an infants school and the children often say funny things. I made this book for a colleague so that she can write down some of those things before they are forgotten.

Making your own cog moulds

I was lucky enough to find some old cogs and clock parts from DH's Grandfather who used to mend clocks. I love the detail in them however realised making my own moulds would not be as straightforward as other items.

I used gel flex (blue) or you can used vinamould (red) to make the moulds, and silicone cupcake cases to pour the gel flex into. As the cogs have a very long spindle I needed to cropodile a hole in the middle of the silicone cases to make a suitable mould.

The silicone cupcase then had to be supported (I used small boxes and two small pieces of MDF to make sure the silicone case was flat and would make a perfect mould.

Once you have covered the cog you need to let the mould set and take the cog out. Then you need to cover the hole and pour more gel flex over the mould to finish it off.

I am still trying to make a suitable mould for the cogs with much finer detail, if anyone has any tips they would be greatly appreciated.

Debbie x

Painting on records

Did you know you can paint on records? I found a couple of old records in a charity shop and decided I had nothing to lose. I used a cake decorating template for the flowers and white and pink acrylic paint.

You can use acrylic stamps too, as long as you dont over load the stamp and clean it straight away you can get some amazing detail on your records.

I have decorated my record so it is double sided, two layouts in one. I am wondering what else you could use to decorate records, any ideas very welcome.Debbie

Simple things Project

I decided to make this months post, create a collection of all the things I like to use at the moment in scrapbooking. The butterfly background is alcohol inked. The embellishments (wing and butterfly) are handmade using my melt pot.

Simple things honesty

Honesty. I have always considered honesty in my own children to be very important so when I found this quote linked with school and children I found a vintage photo of school children to use.
I used Lyndseys diary and inked the letters. The background has card stock put through a script embossing folder and inked or sanded to add extra detail.

Simple things Project

I realise it has been ages since I blogged, other things have got in the way, and I haven't posted my simple things projects. This is a year long project for It's a creative world. The first page was simplicity so I used a dandelion clock, a piece of lace and some text paper.

Sketch challenge for Modscraps

Ellie has a sketch challenge for Modscraps, although I don't often work with four photos I really enjoyed making this layout.

Make your own moulds

My friend Lynne recently spent a couple of hours showing my friends and I how to use a melt pot. I am currently saving my pennies to buy one of my own. When I saw a lady at the NEC who was using aluminium foil tins and a heat gun to melt the utee I realised I could start experimenting while I saved.

After hours of googling, I think what I have is gel flex, (an identical product apparently is vinamold.) I had this product from years and years ago to make plaster moulds. What I like about it is you can re-melt it, if your mould doesn't work out, so there is no waste.

I melt mine in a jug in the microwave, check on it every 10 seconds, less if it is close to being totally melted as it can quickly go over the temperature and burn.

I have used silicone cupcake moulds to pour the melted gel flex over. It cools down fairly quickly and shows the detail of very delicate things.

Then you are ready to melt your utee and use it to make your own embellishments.I have used old keys, big jewelry from the 80's and little trinkets to make my moulds but the possibilities are endless.I hope you might be inspired to have a go at making your own moulds, I will be looking out for old fashioned keys etc to make more.
Debbie x

Fiskars sketch challenge

This is my entry for the Fiskars sketch challenge.

I found it quite difficult to use this sketch as I felt the circles could be too top heavy, so I made my own flowers using organza ribbon.