Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Not Being Creative!
Hello! I know I said I wouldn't be posting until after my holiday but it is just a quick Being Creative update (or not!) As you may or may not know I am taking part in Julia Crosslands Being Creative project. Each month there is a new theme to create something on. This months was Home. I do have something to share, something I have already shared on a previous post, but it isn't what I really wanted to create as I had something else in mind. Life got in the way I'm afraid (as it so often does)! So here is a re-post of my journal page created on Kate Cranes workshop at Art from the Heart!
This is definitley the last post before I go away! I will be posting crafty updates on what I am making and any fab finds whilst I'm away on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/gingerbreadbunny) so click like to keep up-to-date!
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Bank Holiday Craftiness
I hope you are all having a good Bank Holiday weekend! For those of you not in the UK, this weekend is 3 days long as we have a lovely extra holiday on Monday! Whoop! As I am off on my holiday next weekend, I am spending my extra long weekend being crafty and making lists and other such holiday preparations!
I have already organised my travel craft projects into a bag (rather difficult as I wanted to take everything). This consists of a mini travel art journal which I have already painted the pages in, some pens, pastels, glue and pics amongst other things. After much deliberation I managed to cut it down to 1 pencil case and 1 A4 wallet! I also have my Scottish Adventure Journal ready to add pics and mementos from the week in as well. There are 2 books in there (just incase I finish one), including The Yarn Harlot book by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. As yet I haven't chosen the crochet projects I am going to take. All of my travel craft projects must fit into 1 smallish bag - this is what I have told myself - but I'm sure I can squeeze a magzine and some crochet into my handbag to (my husband will never know!)
Last week I found yet another new craft magazine called Craftseller. It is aimed at people who want to make to sell and it is looking like it is going to be a good one. There are articles from established sellers, particularly Etsy and the web, as well as projects you can make to sell. I have been using up some old felt making some of the really cute Babushka Felties in the magazine and have adapted it to make them into little bellydancers! So cute and very easy to do!
I have added brooch backs to mine so they can be pinned to bags or clothing but I'm also thinking they would be great as key rings too!
As I am going to be away, this will be my last blog post for a couple of weeks. When I return I will have plenty to share with you I am sure! I will be posting quick updates and photos on my holiday crafting and any exciting shops and products and general craftiness I encounter when away on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/gingerbreadbunny) so hop along and like the page to keep up-to-date with my crafty exploits!
Take care and see you all soon x
I have already organised my travel craft projects into a bag (rather difficult as I wanted to take everything). This consists of a mini travel art journal which I have already painted the pages in, some pens, pastels, glue and pics amongst other things. After much deliberation I managed to cut it down to 1 pencil case and 1 A4 wallet! I also have my Scottish Adventure Journal ready to add pics and mementos from the week in as well. There are 2 books in there (just incase I finish one), including The Yarn Harlot book by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. As yet I haven't chosen the crochet projects I am going to take. All of my travel craft projects must fit into 1 smallish bag - this is what I have told myself - but I'm sure I can squeeze a magzine and some crochet into my handbag to (my husband will never know!)
Last week I found yet another new craft magazine called Craftseller. It is aimed at people who want to make to sell and it is looking like it is going to be a good one. There are articles from established sellers, particularly Etsy and the web, as well as projects you can make to sell. I have been using up some old felt making some of the really cute Babushka Felties in the magazine and have adapted it to make them into little bellydancers! So cute and very easy to do!
I have added brooch backs to mine so they can be pinned to bags or clothing but I'm also thinking they would be great as key rings too!
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| She now lives on my recycled jeans bag! |
Take care and see you all soon x
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Beautiful Backgrounds
A good few weeks ago now, I attended a journaling backgrounds workshop, with my Mum, at the fabulous Art from the Heart in Harrogate. The workshop was taught by Kate Crane, who has been featured in Art Journaling Magazine, and was fantastic! She taught us 2 techniques for creating backgrounds for journaling.
The first technique involved lots of layering up acrylics using a card to apply them. We then added spray inks, stamps and shapes to build it all up to create a gorgeous background. Finally, we journaled on top. I added some cut out stamps of houses on text taken from old books, putting them on top of some ripped sheet music to ground them.
The second technique Kate showed us involved finger painting! Very messy but lots of fun and it created an amazing background! Again, we layered it up with spray inks, stencils and stamps and then journaled on top. I picked the lady above, stuck on with tape, and a giant bug which made me think of Doctor Who!
During the workshop, I had the opportunity to use pastels, which I've never worked with in my journals before, to highlight areas. Very effective.
Of course, when I got home I had to have a go at these techniques, to make sure I hadn't forgotten how to do them, and I experimented with using fewer colours, different stamps and adding other layers.
We really enjoyed the workshop, took some great ideas away with us and had the chance to do a bit of shopping (I took cash and no cards!) And of course, we had a lovely dinner in the cafe downstairs, bagel with cream cheese and a giant piece of coffee and walnut cake, mmm!
(If you go to Kate's blog, there are some photo's from the workshop and you can just see the top of my head, I look very busy!)
The first technique involved lots of layering up acrylics using a card to apply them. We then added spray inks, stamps and shapes to build it all up to create a gorgeous background. Finally, we journaled on top. I added some cut out stamps of houses on text taken from old books, putting them on top of some ripped sheet music to ground them.
The second technique Kate showed us involved finger painting! Very messy but lots of fun and it created an amazing background! Again, we layered it up with spray inks, stencils and stamps and then journaled on top. I picked the lady above, stuck on with tape, and a giant bug which made me think of Doctor Who!
During the workshop, I had the opportunity to use pastels, which I've never worked with in my journals before, to highlight areas. Very effective.
Of course, when I got home I had to have a go at these techniques, to make sure I hadn't forgotten how to do them, and I experimented with using fewer colours, different stamps and adding other layers.
We really enjoyed the workshop, took some great ideas away with us and had the chance to do a bit of shopping (I took cash and no cards!) And of course, we had a lovely dinner in the cafe downstairs, bagel with cream cheese and a giant piece of coffee and walnut cake, mmm!
(If you go to Kate's blog, there are some photo's from the workshop and you can just see the top of my head, I look very busy!)
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Inspiration, inspiration, inspiriation!
As a Folksy seller, I am also a follower of their Facebook page and fantastic blog. This week they have asked us fellow bloggers to write a post about our crafty inspiration, Collective Inspiration - an invitation for crafty bloggers. Inspired by this invitation, today's post is all about my crafty inspiration. Enjoy!
This week has been a busy one and as a result, time for craftiness has been at a minimum! Among the projects I have managed to work on are a birthday present for my mother-in-law and an afghan type blanket using left over bits of DK weight wool I have. The blanket is definitley an ongoing project and is made up of lots of little squares of crochet that are then stitched together. This project has been inspired by the sock yarn blanket Martine from iMake is currently working on. What I love about her project is that she receives left over yarn from followers of her blog and so she is creating something really special. Fabulous! It was iMake that really inspired me to start my blog in the first place. The way she shares her crafty exploits with the World is brilliant and I loved the way her blog allowed people from all over the globe to interact and share their love of the craft.
My first crafting experiences began as a very small child. There are photos of me, at a very young age, naked and covered in paint from an afternoon of messy fun. I remember making teddy bears out of gloves with my mum (and I'm pretty sure she still has it) and being taught how to knit, which I have forgotten now, by my mum. My mum was definitley my first inspiration for crafting!
My Dad and Grandma inspired my love of cooking and baking. Sunday's where spent at my Grans helping her to cook the tea and usually baking something scrummy for afters. I remember her making some of of our birthday cakes as well that always looked and tasted fab.
I am also extremley inspired by the work of other crafters out there whose work I can access and enjoy through the internet. Tracy inspired my love of Art Journaling during last years trip to America and I love reading the blogs of others and listening to excellent podcasts such as iMake, Electric Sheep, Craft Life and The Knitmore Girls.
Folksy asked for your number one inspiration, and this is pretty hard. As a multi crafter my love of different crafts has been inspired by so many people. However, if I had to pick one it would definitley be my Mum and Dad (they are married so can be treated as one!) They encouraged the crafty creativeness as a child, they bought me my supplies, they helped with the building of various models and encouraged me when I was ready to give up. Thank you Mum and Dad for making me the creative, crafty being I am today!
This week has been a busy one and as a result, time for craftiness has been at a minimum! Among the projects I have managed to work on are a birthday present for my mother-in-law and an afghan type blanket using left over bits of DK weight wool I have. The blanket is definitley an ongoing project and is made up of lots of little squares of crochet that are then stitched together. This project has been inspired by the sock yarn blanket Martine from iMake is currently working on. What I love about her project is that she receives left over yarn from followers of her blog and so she is creating something really special. Fabulous! It was iMake that really inspired me to start my blog in the first place. The way she shares her crafty exploits with the World is brilliant and I loved the way her blog allowed people from all over the globe to interact and share their love of the craft.
My first crafting experiences began as a very small child. There are photos of me, at a very young age, naked and covered in paint from an afternoon of messy fun. I remember making teddy bears out of gloves with my mum (and I'm pretty sure she still has it) and being taught how to knit, which I have forgotten now, by my mum. My mum was definitley my first inspiration for crafting!
My Dad and Grandma inspired my love of cooking and baking. Sunday's where spent at my Grans helping her to cook the tea and usually baking something scrummy for afters. I remember her making some of of our birthday cakes as well that always looked and tasted fab.
I am also extremley inspired by the work of other crafters out there whose work I can access and enjoy through the internet. Tracy inspired my love of Art Journaling during last years trip to America and I love reading the blogs of others and listening to excellent podcasts such as iMake, Electric Sheep, Craft Life and The Knitmore Girls.
Folksy asked for your number one inspiration, and this is pretty hard. As a multi crafter my love of different crafts has been inspired by so many people. However, if I had to pick one it would definitley be my Mum and Dad (they are married so can be treated as one!) They encouraged the crafty creativeness as a child, they bought me my supplies, they helped with the building of various models and encouraged me when I was ready to give up. Thank you Mum and Dad for making me the creative, crafty being I am today!
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