A LOT of buttons and a quick dolly necklace (please ignore the hair...)

Okay, any ideas of what to do with a ***** load of buttons - I keep collecting because they're just so pretty - and obviously, if you have a tin which says "buttons" on it...well, it's just necessary isn't it?


That out of the way, I wanted to share with you a necklace I made from some dolls house crockery - SO easy, I literally just hot glued on the teapot lid and strung on the necklace fitting (from good old Hobby Craft - Where else?) through the teapot handle.

....and here, if you can ignore for a second the desperately in need of a root job/cut/general brush, crazed barnet and also my pallid complexion and just look to the necklace - I give you, a photo of me modelling it!

I bought a whole pack of Dolly crockery, again from Hobby Craft... so expect more Doll's house jewellery themed M.A.D'S!

Strike a pose...

Hello my little Mashuga nuts,

I have been vair busy with the old university working, but, have managed to fit in one guest post, over at Make and Takes - which I think you'll agree is an absolute gold mine for us crafty types. I also managed to fit in a little bit of framing of some magazine bits I've collected towards the 'wall of frame' - yes my elusive craft corner. It is nearly there but I can't show to you until it's perfect and I still have two more frames to fill - one of which is MASSIVE so I'm abit stuck as to how to fill it...By the way I totally understand why framers charge so much - NOT an easy job my friends, mounting and measuring and arrrrggghh! Anyway - when I think back to those hideous frames I picked up in good old Wot Not, I think I deserve some kind of prize for the new lease of life I've given them.

Vogue cover - This was the front cover of a special edition pull-out inside December's copy of Vogue - don't get me wrong I don't but Vogue every month - I actually think it's a little too heavy on the adverts. So really I just wanted that retro vogue pull out!

Jean Louis David - This is a French hairdressering chain, I have had the priveledge of a JLD haircut and have been besotted ever since, this is the cover of a promo mag my sister brought me back from Milan.

Prada - Okay I'm aware I'm starting to appear quite the label whore, I promise you I'm not. This was another promo mag but it has a faux leather effect cover (who could resist?) I spotted it in a store whilst busy pretending I could afford Prada in Vegas

Love to link

image thanks to fiona Harron

The weekend is here and for many of us that means back to work...I am anyway! So take a tiny break and cheer yourselves up with these little tidbits on me;



Piddix is a great resource for all you scrapbookers out there!



This illustration challenge game looks like fun! Also, have a go at making your own handwriting into a font!





Also I ABSOLUTELY love these beautiful etched vintage mirrors - now there is a good artist - it was on my crimbo list but never mind, theres still my birthday...



And finally, ever tried to make a tower of cards only to breathe too hard and it all falls down? this man puts us all to shame!

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!