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!