Tuesday 25 August 2009

Oooooh Love to Laminate baby

Okay, I totally admit it, I'm ADDICTED to laminating. I work in childcare, so yes its a useful addiction to have but an addiction all the same. I bought my laminator quite cheaply about 6 months ago and its been really useful, I have actually used it A LOT.

So anyway, my point, if you're forgetful and unorganised as I am (and I believe all you artistic minded people are) why not make yourself a wipe-clean message board! I literally just cut out lettering from my junk mail and rubbish (only felt a teeny bit like a stalker) stuck it onto plain A4 and laminated it. Hey presto!



I made one for my room at work ;





Loved it so much I made one for home too!







Seriously they're great - and I'm not just trying to find stuff to laminate...and did you know, you have to be over 17 to buy a laminator? Yes I got ID'ed - oh the shame.




Be inspired,

Alice

Saturday 15 August 2009

A Present for Mutti





I was looking through archives of frugality on one of my favourite blogs; Mrs Priss and came across a beautiful little pressie box she's made for her mum, I thought I'd give it a go;


I used a commercial box and covered it;






Downloadable labels from creature comforts which I decorated with the help of sticky silver glue and sakura pens these pens are rather expensive but very cool - I especially like the souffle and gelly roll range;




And to go inside...I made my own little gift certificate (a promise to treat her to a spa day) I do hope she appreciates the personal touch;



I was inspired,

Alice

x

Wednesday 12 August 2009

Fun with Fimo


Fimo, or as I tend to term it, to those who ask me what it is; ‘adult’s plasticine’, I remember using it when I was really quite young though. My dad used to make all sorts of amazing little knick knacks which I would of course attempt to imitate (I have always been in awe of his artistic talents).


Anyway, six months ago, when I got promoted to room leader at my nursery, I made a few changes to the way things were done (I’ll spare you the gory details) but basically this involved us having a clipboard each.


Now whenever I need to buy something out of necessity, regardless of what it may be, I want it to be unique and niche (therefore usually expensive) and very pretty. I find internet shopping a great tool to achieve this and so set to work to find the prettiest clipboards out there – only I didn’t really have much luck with this apart from coming across a few scrapbook clipboards people had made.


So that’s where Fimo comes in, it just suddenly popped into my head when I imagined what a clipboard with a decorative plaque on it would look like.



Fimo is so easy to use, sometimes you have to work it with your hands for a while to make it suitably malleable but they’ve brought out a ‘soft’ version since my childhood days of modelling with my dad so there’s really not that much effort involved – only pure artistic flair!



When you’ve finished your masterpiece just pop it in the oven for around half an hour at just over 100 ◦C .


After my plaques were complete I used the power of araldite to adhere them to plain plastic clipboards (I also found it helped to rough up the surface a little first using sandpaper, or if you don’t have any, a nail file!)


The clipboards went down a storm and I have since made more for new members of staff, and staff who have left take them with them when they go.




There are many beautiful (and complex) beads to be created using fimo. However, you can make really cool marble effect beads quickly and easily by simply squishing two colours together – and using a knitting needle to create the thread hole.




Let me know if you try any Fimo creations, I’d love to see pictures!



Be inspired,


Alice
x

The beginning of M.A.D

Welcome to M.A.D, my name is Alice.

Well here goes,
the beginning of my very own craft blog, among my first posts will be; the joys of FIMO and, if I ever get it together, obtaining a very sexy desk to spray silver is paramount! - my craft corner! I hope I can also bring to life many creative projects for you to try.

Tata for now

Alice
x