Emily 'My Muse' Mews

I have been compeletely and utterly inspired to draw this portrait of the gorgeous Emily Harper over at Emily Mews, I am just so inamoured by her 12 blog girls project for her dissertation that I just had to act on it. This is my portrait of Emily - in the style of, well, Emily. It was originally supposed to be my own style but it just kind of came out as an unintentional tribute. I guess I was just TOO inspired. I need to remember that commandment I think, the one about not having idols...

The Running Man, The Fish and the Paintpot

Sounds like a good name for a pub! 

Whilst I'm in Wales nestled cosily in the bosom of my family home. Ha!

I have spotted here and there, a few little things I've made over the years, I did hope to see some of my childhood salt dough creations adorning the christmas tree, but alas! they are no more. Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my past M.A.D's and the story behind them.

The running man

A school art project to convey movement and speed based on the Unique Forms of Continuity in Space sculpture by Umberto Boccioni. I rather think instead of conveying speed, he looks more like he's trudging through a snowstorm in slow motion but there ya go! Underneath all that plaster of paris and black and gold paint is a power ranger bought in a charity shop! Somewhere there are photos of the whole process but their wherabouts eludes me entirely.

The fish

A slightly more traditional creation, made from clay, colour-glazed then fired, I still remember making each individual scale! He's lost a fin or two and been repaired over the years, If you look closely you can see that big crack in his little fishy tail. Here he is a fish out of water beside Mydr (the stream running through my parents garden).

The paintpot

 A little boredom project I remember doing; a glass jar decorated with stained glass window effect paints intended as a paintbrush holder, the idea was not to use the same colours next to each other which is why, despite my efforts to mix new shades, there are quite a lot of blank spaces! I think it adds to the overall effect though...

I'll let you know if I come across any more of my past M.A.D's dotted around my parents home!

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons...of blue (well all different colours really)

Hello Magnolias!

Here are the bits I collected from mine (and a certain amount from other peoples...) christmas wrappings, watch out for them in future make and dos - that purple bow (from a box of Elemis goodies) is just crying out to be made into a sweet little hairband dontcha think?

I also managed to salvage some christmas cracker remnants and golden hats, love that glittery paisley pattern.

Any bits you managed to salvage from under your tree? Any you've already used in card-making or scrap-booking? Send it this way I love reading your feedback emails!

M.A.D Christmas

Okay so I didn't make my own cards this year, mainly because I'm rubbish. Last year though, I did a very simple design; black card, folded, with a square of red or navy foam which I stuck a little green with white polka dots christmas tree to. There were simple but cute.

 Even though I didn't make my own I did receive a few very cool M.A.D christmas cards, a few of my favourites were; one from my friend Adele, which was handmade with a photo of us on the front (a photo of us with balloons sellotaped to our heads being idiots no less)! if you're reading Adele - Love You! I also received a card from Alice Melvin which I was quite impressed by - it was a plain tree to decorate with little Alice Melvin stickers! and last but not least, a polar bear outline beautifully decorated with the scribbles of a little boy from my nursery! I'm sorry I don't have pictures of these but I'm currently iced in in the depths of West Wales far far away from my own house and christmas card collection. 

Meanwhile I thank all my loyal followers for sticking with me in the process of setting up this blog. Wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, and remember, christmas is a great time to add to your card and general crafty resources collection - my 'mother in law to be' was kind enough to save for me a few glittery beaded leaves that came off her swanky set of crackers. Also high on the list are; chocolate tins, pretty napkins (I'll show you a M.A.D for these in the new year!) and of course reams of pretty ribbons, bows and wrapping paper from your copious amounts of prezzies!

Any hoo, any handmade cards or other crimbo make and do's - share share!

Merry Christmas!

Sweet tooth

Okay so I went a little crazy, but it was SO worth it....

break up all the sweets and cookies into small chunks and spread them into a tin lined with grease-proof paper.

Melt the chocolate in a bowl over boiling water and pour over your 'chunks', refridgerate until you get....doorstop slabs of scrummy rocky road! (don't tell my dentist.)

Turn your chocolate craving into a make and do, and no, you don't need an excuse!

Children's face painting

As some of you may remember, I did mention a week or so back about doing more children related crafts, anyway, more recentely than that my old friend and her daughter visited me, cue box of face paints. Here are the results, she asked for a butterfly;



This, my friends, is what I had to contend with...three colours! although for what they lacked in colour choice they most definately made up for in the addition of glitter gel!

Luckily, I was blessed with a subject who was beautifully patient and sat still for nearly forty minutes...you may not be so lucky.
I definately think my butterfly attempt beats the one on the box at least?

Magazine Coaster

Hi Hi, and a Happy Monday to you! I thought I'd share something I made to go on my desk to stop me making mug rings all over my naaice uni books! Yeah, right; more like a procrastination technique to stop me having to do any actual uni WORK.

I know we all love scrap-crafts, so dig out an old magazine and flick through til you find a page which catches your eye.

I used an existing coaster as a template, but of course you can just measure it to the size and shape you want. Pick another piece of paper from your magazine and cut it slightly larger so it acts as a border or mounting paper if you like. Then mount the whole thing again on plain coloured card (I used black.)And then of course, my favourite bit; LAMINATE! Hey Presto! Your own scrap magazine coaster. Now to get back to WORK, safe in the knowledge that I'm not making rings all over it!

M.A.D cards

As you can see, I've been having fun this evening making propaganda for this humble slice of the web. Check out my CUTE stamp set too, it's by a designer called Alice Melvin. She has drawn bunting, so I'm obviously already in love!

I can't wait to play with this set more. I am tempted by Christmas cards but I'm really can't do that to myself again. I made forty last year, yes forty. Which, by the way, is the number that makes cutting out little felt Christmas tree's hell!

Anyway, what do you think?

Love to Link

Image thanks to Darwin Bell

Here goes guys, my first ever crafty links post!

Ever thought of using something a bit different as your artists medium? this guy has used pomegranate juice as ink with rather sucessful results. Tea bags are good too, I seem to remember using them to give paper that old effect.

Also I've been scouring the charity shops for the perfect old man shirt to try this out on for waaay too long now...

Not Martha has the brains behind making your own bath bombs, perfect if you're a fan of the shop Lush like me!

Also I've mentioned it before, but CraftFail is a seriously funny site. you'll never feel bad about trying and failing again, at the moment it has a good few halloween horrors and crying children to offer - oh dear...

And finally, does anyone remember this programme? I LOVED it as a child, where are they now I wonder?

Any thoughts? Links to share?

Have fun!

Folder Holder and 'How to make a bow'

I made this to go on my desk to hold some of my uni bits, because, organisation is the answer, and I'm not good at organisation...so I find injecting a bit of pretty into something you're not good at always helps!

Heres how I did it;

Mark a line along the edge of a washing powder or cereal box. Then from this line up to each opposite top corner.

Before cutting using a craft knife.

Then paint the whole thing with a nice thick acrylic - obviously I felt bad painting over Snap, Crackle and Pop's excited little faces, but I quickly got over it.

Cut out a short length and a long length of material, I used the very scientific method of placing the edge I wanted to cover against the material and drawing round it! Always iron it first and stick on using good old craft mount.

Now for the bow attachment;

Take a piece of the same material, I didn't measure it but it was probably about 30cm by 40cm for those that need specifics - this doesn't really matter though as it can be any size you like. Iron it out.

fold inwards, like doors. Lengthways first...and iron again.

Then fold the short ends in. Iron.

Turn the fabric over and fold like this; make sure it goes so that there's an up fold at the centre and down folds at the top and bottom of the bow, I used a kirby grip to hold these folds in place.

Wind some white cotton round and knot before removing the kirby.

To make the centre strut just take a small strip of the same fabric and fold in lengthways and (yes, you've guessed it.) Iron...I'm sure this is this most ironing I've done in years!Wrap it round and make a few stitches before cutting away the excess and sewing round the exposed edge (don't worry you won't see this bit.)
Et voila...

To attach it to your folder holder use a hot glue gun or some strong glue. You could also use these bows to attach to hair clips or Alice bands if you want to use them to jazz up something a bit dull or give it a new lease of life.

But who is this creature with terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws?

image thanks to mossgreenchildrensbooks.co.uk


I'd like to start doing more children related crafts, face-painting, egg box beauties and the like. So, on that note, I give you;

My Gruffalo!

I made him originally to take to interviews as a kind of "look what I can do" type of thing. Then, when I got my job in my current Nursery, he was up on the wall for a while, until he kept falling down and I took him home. Whilst he was up though - the kids loved him and constantly wanted to read the story.