Sewing Butterflies and dipping my toe into quilting

This is a new post as it is a slightly different type of craftiness from journalling. A while ago I spent many evenings making little felt birds in the evening and you can see the first one here and  more here. I wanted to explore felt creatures further and as butterflies are everywhere just now I decided to try my hand at one. This is my prototype. I drew half a butterfly in my notebook and then traced this half onto white card, folded it in half and drew the other side. This was to make it symmetrical but I forgot to take into account my inability to do anything in a straight neat way. I then made three card templates and cut out two bodies, and two of each wing shape. I pinned the wings inside the body, backstitched around and stuffed it before closing at the top.

I was trying out ways to photograph this but think I prefer the one at the top. I then added more bits of felt with applique and messy stitches and some buttons. I strung some beads onto thread to make feelers but would do this on wire next time. The underside mirrors the front (minus eyes) and meant I tried to be tidy on both sides. In the picture at the top the butterfly is attached to a hair slide but I think this would work as brooch or as embellishment or in a mobile which is what I have in my head at the moment and why I spent time on the underside.

Can you guess what craft I want to try next? Don't you just love the colours and the material - it is even more lush than a paper stash? My mother in law has been quilting for a few years and has now enticed  my sister in law and me into giving it a go. I am going to make a quilt from a Jelly Roll and then one from my pile of old shirts. My big concern is my problem with straight lines but I am awaiting a rotary cutter and ruler as I think these will be essential tools for me (the material seemed to fall into my online basket whilst I was researching rulers...) At least that is the plan but so far I have spent weeks reading fabulous Modern Quilt blogs and trying to decide what block and style to create. I think it will be Granny Squares but then again... If you are interested in quilts (or just the amazing colours) I suggest you follow this link to the Modern Quilt Guild as this page has links to lots of beautiful quilts. Thinking about quilts made me think about paper piecing scrap pages and journal pages and so it goes on.

Altered Box - stamping with hot glue - part two

Metal, image transfer and ink embellishments from stamps

This is the technique courtesy of Annepat on UKstampers. When I first read it I though this will never work and it will ruin my stamp. But it does work and the stamp is fine... Grease cake cutter with vaseline so glue does not stick. Coat red rubber stamp in Versamark. Pour in hot glue.

 I tried putting glue in using my glue gun but it was too slow so I just cut up the glue sticks and melted them with my heat too. This time I had stamp facing up. When dry it comes out of cutter as below.

 Trim round edges and peel off the stamp from the dried glue.

 Finished piece - there was an air bubble so not perfect but I like this effect and I just swiped some distress stains over the stamp to highlight colours more.

This time (now I knew stamp was safe) I used PaperArtsy butterfly and dragonfly.

 I quite like the look of it embedded in the glue before I cut it out and I imagine this could make some interesting fossil like embellishments.

 For this one I just reused the glue I had cut away from the ones above and although it was slightly dirtier I hate to waste all that glue.

I also made these embellishments using a sandwich of PaperArtsy metal, double sided tape and image transfers which were then stamped, metal embossed with metal tools and swiped with alcohol ink.

An Altered Box, part one

 I set a monthly challenge on UKStampers and this is my almost too late entry for the challenge. The challenge was to create a piece of art in any format, use an image transfer somewhere on the piece, use a favourite stamp in a new way no red or hearts as I am the grinch of Valentine's day.

The idea behind the challenge is to try out new techniques and I have had all sorts of problems experimenting with image transfers as you can see here. In the end I used large photocopies of feathers I found on Graphics Fairy. I added layers of Golden acrylic gel medium in different directions and then soaked the paper and rubbed off the back. It leaves a transparent flexible image.
I began with this box from Molton and Brown which I added three layers of gesso to.

I then used TH text stamps from the Shabby French collection and stamped them randomly over each other - blue side used broken china, evergreen bough and faded jeans, orange side was spiced marmalade, worn lipstick and fired brick. 

I promptly forgot that Distress inks react with water and applied the feather over the stamping with acrylic gel. Cue smudged inks and major swearing. I then decided I could use this even more distressed look. I added more stamps on top and an other layer of gel. I also added some stazon and versamark inks that would not smudge.

The butterflies and dragonflies were image transfer feathers onto double side paperartsy tape and metal. I stamped on the metal and then embossed with metal tools and cut out. I also added some more alcohol inks.

 This was using stamps in a new way but I wanted to try something else. I had read a post from Annepat on the forum who said you could use hot glue, versamark, vaseline and stamps. The dragonfly and square stamp that holds the ribbon come from those experiments.

 I will post separately about those experiments as there would be too many pictures. I lined the box with adhesive back blue and green felt and used turquoise seam binding to make the tab ribbon and edge the box.

Subtle textured background and one of the hardest los I've ever done

I have been struggling with this lo for three days. It is the first time I have tried to scrap pics of my little brother and me (sadly he died 2 years ago). I so wanted to created a happy lo of our childhood memories but everything I tried seemed wrong and I made many mistakes.

The wrong embellishments and too morose

punched border, and glitter alphas

 After matting photos with Basic Grey Romani and creating a scalloped edge I decided to mimic doodle lines in paper onto card with white pen. It  ran out... so I used gel pens to go over bits already done and created more. The trying out embellishments I struck them down by mistake and ripped paper taking them off.

adding doodled texture

ink, stamps and embossing helped to make journalling area

I used a ranger pen to create more texture and then embossed it and thought I was finished but it seemed too morose so I liberally added flowers and butterflies and I think it happier now.

Storage, organisation and pages three and four

I was taking pics today to show how I like colour and arranging things. The printer's drawer I made into a holder for my jewellery is a classic example. I love it and it helps me to find things quickly.



I need to focus on me a bit which is why I created the I am an inveterate hoarder page in the book. As one of the pics was of pieces of shell capiz cut off a light that was too long I thought I should include them. The acetate overlay uses a paper from Shabby Princess Sweet Serenity and the I am is from the same range. Not sure where I found the butterfly but will try and find source.
The next page shows "Lens Guy". The pictures were taken on different days but they give you an idea of what he does. Youngest daughter and I have spent many chilly, and not so chilly days sitting around waiting while he does his job. I had to find something to fill in my time... (Backing paper DCWV All About Girls, mounts coredinations and a scrap piece of Skate Shoppe. Tag from a shirt)