Go 3-Dimensional (Which One to Use)

Over on Gingersnap Creations there is another Challenge - "Go 3-Dimensional" so whilst I was doing my beads yesterday (which could have also been entered for this challenge) I made some other pieces.

I have always liked the mold for this head and the head-dress with the additional little pieces and thought it about time I made a pendant with it.

First of all I made the face with skin tone polymer clay and then I used black for the head-dress and the two 'dangly' bits.  When I had fired them all I coloured the head-dress with Perfect Pearls in a mixture of blue/green/lilac and added some gold.  Then I drew on the features with permanent markers.

Here she is - mounted on a card stamped with Non Sequitur images, ready for me to give to one of my friends who happens to like this kind of thing.  She can easily remove the pendant as it is only stuck on with a foam buddy.

Steampunk

This is my (dismal) attempt at a Steampunk pendant - maybe I could cover the holes and use it on the cover of my Steampunk Journal.  First of all I rolled a flat piece of clay through my pasta machine, fired it and then coloured with Alcohol Inks.  Stamped on it using Stazon with a Paperartsy stamp and stuck on some of those bits from the various watches I had been dismantling.  Now I wish I had made it chunkier but maybe next time - or maybe I should try Steampunk on a domino.

My final photograph shows some bits and pieces I made using up my clay that I had conditioned (like 25 times through the pasta machine).  The heads are for a project which is "work in progress" and has been in my head and on my desk for ages.  Big project - need to get my head going and get it finished.

The African head is a pendant, along with the two smaller ones for ear-rings, that I am sending to a friend in America.  She is always making bits and pieces for me and I need to return the favour.

So one of the top two (Steampunk or Card with Head)  is my entry for the Gingersnap Challenge.  Not sure which one but I will only put one in thumbnails and they can see my attempts at 3D (hope this counts as there is no papercrafting).

Cinderella

It's late and I am just scraping in, like Cinders who had to leave the ball at midnight, with my beads for the Lots to Do Challenge this week.

I wanted to make some big beads to wear with a certain outfit and so I mixed some colours of Polymer Clay and began rolling.  Fired them tonight and just strung them.  As you can see I have not put a clasp on yet but don't think I can get this done in time for the challenge so here it is:

Made some of the big beads a slightly different shade as I was going round and then mixed what I had left together to create the mauve colour at the end - not too sure about that.  Will have a think about it in the morning.

This Groovy Chick Sent Me Dotty

I saw on Play Date Cafe that the Challenge had once again been set by my friend Sarah.  Had problems with her last choice of colours and this one made me go "OMG".  Hot pink, Mustard yellow and Navy blue!  Then the light went on and I thought of this stamp I had had for ages.

Out came the Caran D'Ache - yes, the colours were in my set, a rummage through cardstock - yes, got the colours - and here it is.  My entry for the PDC this week.  I actually like the mix.  Missed last week's because I deliberated too long and I loved the colours (sorry Julie) but could not think how to use them.  Glad I managed to join in again this week.

The funny thing is I was making some beads yesterday (way not finished) and these are the colours I was working with - now to dig out a mustard yellow - actually I am making lots of different colours - want a summer necklace to brighten myself up with this horrid weather.

The colours on the card do not seem true to what they really are in the photograph - honestly they are the right colours.  The "Dotty" bit in the heading is because this morning my eyes seemed to refuse to focus - painting those lines drove me dotty.

Phineas (Steampunk)

First of all may I say "welcome" to my new followers.  It is lovely to see so many people bookmarking my blog.  Thank you all, new and old, for becoming followers.

A couple of posts ago I showed you the beginnings of my Steampunk Journal I did with Sarah.  Well I have been busy undoing old watches to collect some cogs and wheels and now need to visit some charity shops for alarm clocks for larger pieces.  In the meantime I have been on the computer looking for pictures I can use in my journal.

What to do with them until I decide where they are going was my dilemma.  If I put them just in a cupboard I will not remember where they are so I set to and decorated a Project we had done with the talented Gill at Vicky Stampers.  We had made this 'kind of concertina file' with envelopes and, because I 'yacked' a lot, I did not get mine decorated.  Decided it was my prototype and didn't need decorating.  Well, suddenly yesterday the light went on and I thought of decorating it to hold my cuttings.

Here it is (and Phineas had to be featured again)

this is it closed

First of all I changed the colour using my Distress Inks in various shades of brown - so many I cannot remember what I really did use.  Love my Distress inks.  I wanted to make it stay closed as the top kept open showing the base of the envelopes so I hit upon the idea of using a couple of Grungeboard hinges.  Painted them and the lock and key with Dabbers and attached them with TH brads.  The lock has a magnet underneath it so that the flap closes as well.

This is it open

At the very top of the triangular piece is a watch cog which allows the magnet to hold it fast.  You actually turn the whole wallet over to get to the inside of the envelopes.  I won't bore you with a picture of them but if you go to my friend Jo's blog you can see how she decorated hers and her inside shot shows the lovely tags she made (mine has only images inside remember).

I haven't decorated the back, am going to make a pocket on the back of it to hold my little Steampunk Journal.  That's another project in itself and not worth showing anyway as it probably won't be decorated.

Heard from Jennie at The Artistic Stamper, that she has tracked down the stamp of Phineas and his 'mate' so I have just sent for them and now I can have Phineas and the other guy whenever I want them.  She might have more if you are interested.

Second Instalment

A couple of comments made me realise I had not shown my desk - here it is - dashing off for the day with my favourite little girl - Chloe.

Nothing much going on - waiting for this canvas to dry so I can work on it - tin of paints by its side (just the first coat kind).  Polybag storing my black and white scraps peeking out - otherwide as usual.  Still got Zoe's card in the window but her hanging artwork is hung up now.

WOYWW

Last week I said I would do close up pictures showing before and after shots of the various things the BSB's had done when they did the makeover.

This is one of the units they made for me from drawers out of those double boxed thingies from Ikea.  Am sure you will recognise them and know what I mean.

You can see that they have attached the drawers to a sheet of MDF (?) to make suspended storage and they have used the casings, with some drawers taken out (ie used on the board) free standing underneath.

Well, this is what it looks like now - a bit of a mess isn't it?  Spill over from my workspace to the left of this picture.

Bit of a change what!  I bought lots more of those containers and just wedged them between the ones fixed to the board.  They are great for storing my ink pads.  To the right you can see my ribbons - got Chas to attach a piece of dowel to a block of wood and some of my ribbon spools are on it now.  The others are in plastic containers at the top of the cubby holes - I just pull a little tail out of the holes down the side.

The casings underneath hold all manner of things.  Some of my Distress inkpads and stamp cleaner, most used ink pads, mainly black and browns, are in a plastic container with my babywipes on top; then there are some dabbers; underneath  it begins with ds sticky tape, glues in the next one - with a dabber holder being used underneath the plastic box to hold my diddy Ranger glues; post it notes; glitter glues, then underneath some more ink pads (Ancient Page), more glues, and the last two have embossing powders in.

Some magazine holders on the right sit on the counter and they contain a few of my books.  There is a little carousel type thing which sits on top of a round plastic box containing Cut n' Dry foam and that used to have mustard pots on - it now has my water jars on (mini jam jars).  A couple of pots with my most used scissors/journalling pens and brushes, pokey tools etc in can just about be seen on the left.

This is tidy!  You should see the rest of my room but I don't think Julie or any of you want to see that.  Yesterday I was mounting some rubber on Easi-Mount and it all now wants tidying up, plus the blood removing from when I stabbed myself several times with my Tonic scissors (only kidding about the blood but I did stab myself - do any of you have that problem?)

Want to see more desks - then pop over to Julia's blog and see what the Stamping Ground has to offer this week in the way of crafting areas.  It's good fun and you get to see some amazing stuff and maybe one or two ideas to help you with your storage.  What you waiting for?  Get on over!

Steampunk Journal

At the end of July I took a workshop with Sarah A when we did a Steampunk Journal.  This was not any ordinary journal - we actually made our own book from an old (unloved and destined for the tip) book.  Thanks Sarah, it was a great idea.

Sarah A was on the workshop (confused?  It was a different Sarah A) and eleven days later she put up her lovely work that she had done.  Shame on me - mine was still the same - but I had been thinking about it - getting nowhere - but thinking about it.

The other two people on the workshop were Sue and Cynthia and today Cynthia called round and showed me her progression.  That was the spur I needed and so here is what I have done to date:

This is my first page.  You can hardly see it but it was already stamped with a "This book belongs to ...." and so in scrawly writing I wrote "Phineas Pinchbeck".  That's Phineas on the right.  I love that stamp, I covet it, and my friend Mo has it.  I do wish I could track him down.  I WANT THAT STAMP!  And his friend!

Do you like the fingerprints?  I thought that would make the book look even more old and dirty.

 The second page begins the story of Phineas and his journey.  Originally I stamped lots of travel things on but thought it was too crowded so when my friend Mary sent Chas a birthday card with this train on I decided to steal it (only done that tonight) and block out some of my stamping.  This shows that Phineas is going to travel on various modes of transport when he begins his journey.

On the opposite side there is a torn vellum page with a couple of things stamped on and you can see that the next page has more things on but they are muted with the overlay of vellum.

The third set of pages has some torn out text on which I found by accident but thought it appropriate for he and his lady love saying goodbye as he set off.  You might just about read them (or click on it to expand the picture in another window)

On the right hand side is a small set of pages.  This has been run through the Cuttlebug with the ruler and then inked over.  You can just see the inside right hand page peeking out which has a map of London - showing the road from Paddington to Islington.  The left inside page, which you cannot see, has some luggage stamped on it but I won't upload that one.

That is more or less it.  I have one or two things on other pages but they are not completed as yet and I need to think carefully about my story.

It's been great fun, is going to be even more fun and I am really looking forward to getting to grips with those cogs and wheels and all things Steampunk.

I just wish someone would make a die with small cogs and wheels as I like the look and feel of texture and raised images.