Ally Pally Craft Show

I decided to brave a visit to the Ally Pally Craft Show today. It was very, very busy So we didn't stay long, as I am not too well.

Sadly Indigoblu were not there this time : (

I discovered two new (to me) companies with lovely products 

I always like to use natural elements in my projects so I was delighted to discover Anna Marie Designs. They have the most gorgeous natural products and stunning creations! 

As I am an Alice fan it was nice to find some original and different Alice designs at Dolly Dimple Crafts

Clarity Stampswere very busy and I tried to watch Barbara Gray give a demo, I couldn't see much but the finished result was wonderful!

Jenny Maye was there with Hobbyart too, with lovely projects by the Design Team. 

 

Lovely Cards by Lavinia Stamps

I am finally seeing the surgeon next week.I hope he will say that something will  be done to unblock my artery.I am trying to do a little crafting each day.

In Memory of Princess Diana

I visited Kensignton Palace earlier this year to see Princess Diana's Fashion story.Which of course was a collection of the most beautiful dresses.

I also visited the Elegant and charming White Garden which was dedicated to her memory.

Rest In Peace Princess Diana.

I have not been creating anything recently as I have been in hospital, and have developed another serious problem. I will be seeing another specialist at the end of September. I will try to craft when I can. How can it be almost September - I am still waiting for the summer to arrive !

Dandelion Wishes

I am delighted and honoured to have been invited as a guest designer at A Vintage Journey.This month Amanda has chosen Watercolour as her theme.Which is of course my favourite colouring medium, it is very versatile and easy to use.Why not give it a try and join their challenge this month.

I created a background with my watercolours and stamped this gorgeous girl blowing a dandelion stamp by Crafty Individuals. I always love to use elements from nature with my projects, so I found some pressed gypsophlia to use for the blowing away dandelion seeds. I am always finding forgotten pressed flowers in between the pages of thick books, where I have pressed them many months or probably even years before!

I wrapped some threads around the base of the card and tucked some more gypsophlia between them.

I finished the card by edging it with black ink, and adhering the picture onto a scalloped edged card.

May all your wishes come true xxx

I would like to share this card with the following challenges.

Craft Stamper Anything Goes with Stamping

Artistic Stamper Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Twist Bloom

Stamping Sensations Anything Goes

Emerald Creek Dares Anything Goes

CAS Watercolour Challenge Salt I used salt on the watercolour background.

Try It On A Tuesday In The Garden

Noors Designs Anything Goes

That's Crafty only Cards

 

Alice in Wonderland Keepsake Display

I have always loved Alice In Wonderland, so I was very excited when I heard that there was a new immersive play happening at Waterloo Vaults. We went to see it as a pre birthday gift for myself! It was absolutely brilliant! Wheelchair users had to take a different route to everyone else, but I did not miss out on too much. It was great fun, apart from being soaked by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum! 

I have a lot of Alice stamps and whatnots, so I decided to make this little keepsake display box so 

I would always remember my happy day. I found this box at the Ally Pally craft show last April.

I used pages from an old Alice book to line the little cubby holes, and for the inside roof I used the cover of the theatre programme, which featured alice falling down the rabbit hole. I used Indigoblu's gorgeous Grandma's Teacup acrylic paint to cover the outside of the box.

I stamp and heat embossed white roses down the sides of the roof.

To decorate the inside of the roof I stamped Alice and the White Rabbit onto shrink plastic, and then I gave them a drink from the bottle marked "drink me" and they both magically shrunk! The White Rabbit peeped out of the heart which I had outlined with a red glitter pen, and Alice sat on the shelf with the bottle, the Mad Hatters hat and a badge.

In the first cubby hole sits a rose made of book pages and of course it had to quickly be painted red, so the paint inevitably drips over the side, the Queen of Hearts is overseeing the whole event. Tea is then taking place with a stamped teapot and cup on shrink plastic, and the all important jam tarts made of chipboard and then painted. The third cubby hole has a cover from a little Alice bar of soap which I had. 

The fourth cubby hole has a shrunken stamped Alice with a special clock which I cut out from the programme. The fifth cubby hole holds a special real postage stamp, it was produced for the year of the child in 1979.Sitting in the six cubby hole is Humpty Dumpty.I made him with paper clay, it is only the second time I have used paper clay, it has a very different texture to regular clay. I made the wall with chipboard and texture paste. 

The last line of cubby holes features a picture cut from a tag that came with an Alice umbrella, a raven badge given out at the theatre, some pictures fussy cut from an Alice quiz game, and the final cubby hole has some words cut from my Ace of Clubs travel permit card which I was handed at the beginning of my Alice Underground experience.

I hope you have enjoyed visiting Alice and myself today, if you are coming to London this summer I highly recommend Alice Underground.

I would like to share this with the following challenges.

Frilly and Funkie Read Any Good Books Lately

Craft Stamper Anything Goes with Stamping

Artistic Stamper Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations Anything Goes

Emerald Creek Dares Anything Goes

That's Crafty Anything But A Card

Underwater Mini Book Cover

I have always loved seahorses so when I saw 49 and Market's gorgeous Sea and  Sand paper pad, I knew it would be perfect for my mini book to scrapbook the few days I recently spent at the seaside.Then I saw they had matching seahorse stamps ! So of course I just had to get those too!

I decided to use the front cover of the pad as my mini book cover and covered it in gesso, then I had my doubts as it got a bit soggy poggy, but luckily it was ok when it dried out. I made a a background with watercolours and used embossing powder in olive for the seaweed. For the air bubbles I embossed some with clear and others with white. I watercoloured the lovely seahorses and stamped Indigoblu's bubble stamp all around the edges and heat embossed them  in white.

I finished off by spreading some bead gel over the bottom of the cover.This was my first play with the stamps and I am looking forward to using them again.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I would like to share this with the following challenges.

Stamps and Stencils Colour,Texture, Shape

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour/Blue

Dandelion Fairies

These two lovely Fairies are overlooking their field of dandelions. At midnight thousands of fairies emerge from the dandelions and twinkle and sparkle as they flitter  around. Some of them fly away and grant wishes for special,people, while others stay in the field and play and create magic. 

A sideways view of the card, the wings fold inwards so it fits in the envelope!

I watercoloured the background and stamped and heat embossed the dandelions and the lovely sentiment.

Thank you Fairy much for visiting us today.

I would like to share this with the following challenges.

Artistic Stamper Black and White

Country View Challenges Things with Wings  - oh dear I hadn't better call the fairies things!

 

Craft Stamper Anything Goes 

Lavender Fields

This Majestic Deer stands proudly in his field of Lavender. He also loves to sleep in the Lavender field too as it soothes him to sleep.

I created  the background with water colours, and stamped the Lavender with two colours of Adirondack inks. I have heard a lot of good things about the new Distress Oxides so I am thinking about trying them out! I fussy cut some of the Lavender flowers and adhered them with foam pads to give some depth to the picture.

I hope you are all enjoying the summertime and all of the glorious flowers in bloom at this lovely time of year.

Thank you for stopping by xx

I would like to share this with the following challenges.

Stamping Sensations Anything with Flowers

Happy Little Stampers Watercolours/ Twist Blue

Craft Stamper Anything Goes

More Mixed Media Option Pastel

My Time To Craft In The Garden