Altered Wooden calender

Hi Everyone, Long time no blog!! I have been extremely busy the last few months what with teaching three classes a week and all the prep that goes along with that the time just seems to slip by! Well last week I had a few days off and decided to do a little project just for fun. I have had this calender for ages just tucked away in a draw so decided to alter it.

Firstly I painted it with brown acrylic paint.

Then once the paint had dried I applied some Gold Leaf Rub and Buff.

Then using Modge podge I covered with designer paper by K&Co from Brenda Waltons Madeline Collection. I really love these papers they are so pretty

Here is a closer pic!

Then I distressed the number and month blocks with Walnut stain Distress ink and some more rub and buff.

Please excuse the yucky craft mat lol!!

And here is the finished item. I am really pleased with the way this has turned out. I hope you like it too. Please feel free to leave a comment as I always enjoy readding what you guys think.

Hope everyone is well

TTFN

Maria x

Bracelet number 2

Here is another coiled bracelet that I have made, this time in pinks and greens. These bracelets take around 3 hours to make. ( my first one took about four hours so i'm getting quicker!!)I really like the end result of this bracelet. I have also bought some blue beads to make another so will post a photo once I have finished it.
Maria x

Coiled Bracelet

This is a Bracelet I made for my mum, I haven't done much Jewelery Making but can now see that this could be just as addictive as card making!! I used a mixture of different glass beads in golds, browns and teal colours.I gave it to my mum yesterday and she loved it, so much so that she now wants earrings to match !!! lol.
Hope everyone is ok, I'm looking forward to the end of the week as it will mark the start of the school summer holidays and we are all ready for the rest.
TTFN
Maria x

Here is another card I have made for one of my classes on Wednesday. This is just one of the cards we will be making in the class. For this card I have used a stamp from Crafty individuals and also The Tim Holtz Film strip Die by Sizzix.

I have also used Distress inks in Wild Honey, Rusty hinge and Barn Door. This class is now Full but I have a repeat class for anyone wanting to attend on Friday 17th September from 10 - 12.30 at the Craftroom Newton Abbot.

Maria x

Wildflower Sprigs

This is a card I have made with the Wildflower Sprigs stamp set from Stampendous. For the background I cut a piece of Black card and embossed it using One of the Tim Holtz texture fades embossing folder and then rubbed over with Metallic Rub on in Pink. Then I cut The label with a Sizzix die and coloured with Distress inks (Colours are Spun Sugar, Vintage Velvet and Aged mahogany). Then I used one of the larger stamps from the set to stamp the flowers. The little greeting is also from the same set.

I also added some White highlights with a White gel pen. Then stuck it all together with DS tape.

Maria x

Bookmarks with Fox and Friends stamp set from Jules

Hello Bloggers, long time I know but I just seem to be so busy all the time. What with two kids (3 if you include hubby) and teaching 3 classes a week at The Craftroom my time seems to go so quick! Last night I put everything aside and sat down with my youngest to make some bookmarks. You might remember the ones he made last year to sell at school to raise money for Children in need. Well this year we are going to be prepared... all going to plan!! and we have started making them early.For these bookmarks we used the Fox and Friends stamp set by stampin up along with the 2" scallop circle punch and 13/4 " and 1 1/2 " circle punch all by stampin up.

We also used stampin up cardstock in Choc chip and old olive along with the matching colour ink pads. Finally we used the jumbo paperclips from Staples

Here is my Son busy on the production line!! Well if you would like to buy any of these stampin up items you can buy them from Jules. Always a great service so pop over to her blog for more details.

Hope everyone is ok and enjoying the summer so far. Take care for now.

Maria x

Tim Holtz rust Technique

For the background paper on this card I used the Tim Holtz rust technique to make the white card look like rusting metal. This technique is fun to do and it looks stunning on men's cards. The stamp set that I used for this card is called Road trip and is by Artistic Outpost. I also used a Tim holtz ticket and distressed it with Vintage Photo distressing ink.All the images were stamped with Archival ink from Ranger.
I also distressed the edges with Tim holtz's distressing tool.
Hope you like this man's card, we all know how difficult men's cards can be!!

TTFN
Maria x

Welcome Baby Emily

This is the card I made for my husbands Brother and his wife as they have just become the proud parents of their first Child, a little girl that they have named Emily. I have photographed this card several times but the camera is not picking up the shimmer and some of the detail.The Backing paper is from the Mariposa stack from DCWV and I went around the edges of this with my Tim Holtz distressing tool and then used Vintage photo distress ink to darken the edges. The Baby image is computer generated and then distressed in the same way. The 2 greeting stamps that I used are from the Congrats set from stampin up! The cream roses have been distressed on the edges with Vintage photo again and the bigger flower has been sprayed with Crafty Notions spray to match the card.

I then used my hot glue gun to stick the pearls into the centre of the flower

Here is a close up of the flowers and pearls unfortunatly the camera does not do the card justice as the real thing is a lot more shimmery!

Hope everyone is ok and enjoying the Easter holidays, kids go back next week so hopefully we will have a few more sunny days this week.

Take care for now.

Maria x

Another Tag

I suppose I really should try and make some cards but at the moment I have become a little addicted to making tags. For this tag I used a Tim Holtz stamp, I can't see a name on it so I'm unable to tell you what it is called! I have also used Glimmer mists and Tim Holtz Distress inks. The edge of the tag has been distressed with the Tim Holtz distressing tool.The Flower was originally white so I used my Glimmer mist to add colour then when it was dry I used Metalic Rub on to add the Shimmer.
Hope everyone has had a good Easter break, Back to normal routines tomorrow!
Maria x

Distressed tags

Recently I have been decorating some tags to send as cards. All I use is normal Luggage tags. On the first tag I have used the distress inks called Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord and Black soot. The Lace on the bottom of the tag has been sprayed with Tattered Angels Silver Glimmer mist. I made the satin lollipop flower myself using some off cuts of ribbon and the butterfly is off of a butterfly neckless that was reduced in Newlook, when I seen it I bought it to dismantle as there was 8 butterflies on it which I thought I could use as charms! The stamp is from A set from Dark room door. I then added some ribbons and feathers to the top to finish.On the tag below I used the Distress inks called, Antique Linen, Brushed corderoy and Vintage Photo. I then used a text stamp to stamp the background and then stamped my main image over the top. I made the Flower using extra wide satin ribbon. The Tim Holtz adage ticket has been distressed with the same coloured inks and then Ribbons and Fibres on the top to finish.

I purchased everything used here (apart from the Key and the purple satin on the first flower) from The craft room (Newton Abbot) The two Main stamps I used on both tags are from the same set.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Maria x

Distress ink card

I have to admit I got very inspired by Tim Holtz on the TV yesterday and it made me get my distressed inks out. I love all of his products and really enjoy using them. For this card I used Distress inks, Tim Holtz Masks and Tim Holtz stamps. The Buttons are from woodware and the little ticket in the corner is Tim Holtz adage tickets. The colours of the distress inks that I used are Shabby Shutters, Peeled paint and brushed corderoy. The stamp set is called Flights of fancy and is a clear set. I also used Versafine Vintage Sepia and Archivel Black ink on this card.

I then mounted the whole thing onto Gold miri card and Brown card before sticking it onto the card blank. I also distressed the ticket with some distress ink to blend it in with the card.

Hope everyone is having a good day, The rain hasn't stopped here yet, which explains the dark photo!!

Bye for now

Maria x

Another post!! 3 in one day

Well 3 posts in one day, Can hardly believe it myself lol. I have had this stamp for over a year and only just inked it up about two weeks ago. I coloured this image using my Pro Markers.

The sentiment stamp is Hero arts clear stamps and the image is Penny Black. the edge on the paper is a Martha Stewert edge punch.

Have a great evening

Maria ;0) x

Tidy for 5 mins!!

I thought I would take a picture of my desk work space as I have spent the day tidying my craftroom and thought that I would take the picture to remind myself what it looks like when it is tidy!! lol. I am used to having about a 6 inch square of space clear to work on so this will be luxury while it lasts!! ha ha. My craftroom is only 6ft by 9.5 ft so not a lot of room to work with! It will have a nice new window when my hubby takes out the door and replaces it! hint hint!!I still have a few things to sort out but not much. The photos are a bit dark due to the fact it has rained here most of the day.

This second picture shows how I store my Tim Holtz Paint dabbers. This caddy is great as it store them upside down so the paint is ready to go when you want to use them. I bought this on ebay. If you would like to ebay I.D email me and I will look it up for you.

Right, back to the tidying and then will be back with more pictures!!

Maria x

Newton The Bear

This is a card I made with a digistamp from the Digishack he is called Newton the bear and I think he is very cute!!

I have coloured him with my Pro Markers and then added him to some Chocolate chip cardstock by Stampin up! The Greeting has been printed on my computer and then punched out with the SU word window punch.

Hope everyone is having a good day

Maria x

Punch and Ink pad Storage

I thought I would share a few photos of how I store my punches and ink pads. My larger punches are stored on Ikea Bygel rails and this works perfectly as this is to the left side of my desk so they are within my reach when I am working.My ink pads are stored in this unit. You can take the little shelves out if you need more room for taller items. I have a large spac at the bottom at the moment but my Tim Holtz distress inks are usually homed there!

The only ink pads that don't really fit are the stampin up ones but not to worry as it gives me an excuse to buy the storage unit for them!! ha ha.

Hope you have all had a great weekend. Back to work tomorrow. I have a Pro Marker colouring class tomorrow with 9 ladies.

Hopefully be back with a card really soon.

Maria x

Little watering can gift Box and card

I love this little gift box as you can use it for a male or female birthday. I have made a matching theme card using the teddy stamp from Elzybells. The little butterfly on the card and on the watering can are chipboard painted with an Adirondack paint Dabber (copper) then I have used some Gem stones for the body

The colouring was done with Pro Markers

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. Back to reality tomorrow. Don't know how I am going to manage getting up and dressed ect before school lol. Kids are not looking forward to going back to school either, I so remember that feeling from when I was a child lol. Well thats me for now, Hopefully be back tomorrow with some more creations for you. Good luck if you have to get up early tomorrow lol.

Maria x

Christmas star book card

This is a little project I completed before Christmas. For the covers I used Grey board covered with material. I used Mod Podge to stick the material to the grey board which worked really well.All the stamps used are from Elzybells and they have been coloured with my Whisper and Marvy pens. I used Versa magic pads to create the light blue chalking around the edges of the pages and then used to the same pad to stamp the snowflakes around the edges too.

All The cardstock I used is from Paper celler and was purchased at The craft room, Newton abbot.

This is how the star book looks when it is fully opened.

If anyone has ever thought about making one of these I would recemmend you do so as it was a real fun project and the finished product is something to treasure (hence the fact that I am keeping mine!!)

All stamps, Materials ect for this card were purchased at the Craft room, 57, Queen street, Newton Abbot.

Hope you are all well

TTFN

Maria x

Happy New Year! and Surprise pop up card

Firstly I would like to wish everyone a very Happy new year. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. ~I had a lovely day spent with family. Luckily we escaped the snow but had a terrible time with very bad ice on the roads and as we live at the top of a very big hill a lot of the roads were closed off. Still it was nice to have to spend time at home instead of being caught up in the last minute madness before christmas!
Anyway on to the card, This is a card I have made over the christmas holiday. It is called a surprise pop up card. For some reason I can never upload my photos in the correct order so we will start off with the image of the card when it is open!

When you pull the tab at the top it reveals the message inside.
Like so

And this is how it looks before you pull the tab to open it.

The stamp is called "Row Changito row" and is by Stampendous (Q145)

Patterned paper is called "Rose colored Glasses and is by G.C.D Studios

Both available from The Craft room Newton Abbot!

I hope you all have a good day. Will be back soon! I intend to up date my blog regularly from now on as I have been so busy lately my poor little blog has been neglected!

TTFN

Maria x