Family canvas for a new addition

I think I'm safe enough posting on here, I doubt it'll be seen before it's given.

A friend had her baby last Saturday, I can't believe how quickly it went, when I met her she was only 17 weeks gone.  I'm sure lots of people will have bought clothes and the like, so I like to always make something a little more personal for people on special occasions - something that no one else could have gotten them, so I thought I'd make them a canvas, to remember the date and with photo corners on this to let them change the photo as the little one grows.

The title was cut on my Slice, the calendar turn is a Maya Road stamp set, I've set it to show the date he was born.  I've stitched directly on to it with my bazzill stitches templates and floss (love that stuff!)  The stars were cut on my slice too, and I've added some gilding flakes, which I totally can't get used to - they end up sticking to everything BUT my project! 

Little bit of Prima swirly bling and I'm away.  Papers used are string of pearls bling, and some BG basics manilla pp

I hope they like it... I'm always nervous about giving people things I've made, you never know if it'll be well received or just hidden away somewhere :(  eeeeek

Canvas for littl'uns room

I absolutely love the Japanese 'Zakka' kitsch-ness.  Kind of a girly version of pokemon and anime I think, lots of cute pictures and colours.  Mixing cartoon with 'real' pictures, and putting faces onto food, plenty of pink and sparkles, whats not to love?

I just grabbed this canvas off the floor yesterday morning, it's driving me mad sitting there blank, and after decorating the one for a friend last week, decided it needed something doing with it.

Originally I painted it 'lemonade' but when I'd painted the rainbow on, it just wasn't right, and needed to be sky blue instead.

I knew I was going to paint the cloud and rainbow, but wasn't sure where to go from there, until I thought about the momiji dolls that I know one of my friends daughters collects.  I printed a couple of the momiji's off of the net, cut them out and added Prima frosted wings.

The cloud is filled in with modelling paste, the rainbow was drawn and painted with acrylic and then I used imagination glitz gel to outline each colour

I added the second doll as the first one looked a little lonely.  To attempt the zakka kitsch-ness I added a sunshine with a smiley face, and added a face to the cloud (which is the bit i'm not totally sure about, it just doesn't look quite right)

I've added some drawn in speech bubbles and music notes to make it look like they're singing angels.  I think munchkin will like it, it's got dolls, wings, sparkle and a rainbow, but still not sure myself.... more practise needed!

S x

*swoon* Paperchase shop back in Norwich

When I moved back down to Norfolk, it's amazing to see the changes.... my biggest disappointment when I visited Norwich again was the closure of Borders!  Sad enough to see such a huge and lovely bookstore go, but hidden in it's depths was a Paperchase concession!  So bye bye borders, and paperchase.

Luckily at the crop on Saturday, Lisa kindly let me know that there is now a Paperchase shop in Norwich.... good job I was off down the very street the next day... so guess where my first stop was!

Had Mr W in two, so couldn't fully be myself (think kid in willy wonkas factory) but I managed a decent snout round.  They're really starting to excel themselves in goodies now, and I personally adore their 'blanks' ranges, boxes, books etc all in natural kraft to decorate yourself.

This was my favourite, not only is it crying to decorate, but hidden inside are blank pages, lined pages, graph pages, kraft pocket pages, and then photo protector pockets in differing sizes... how perfect?  So this one is now being turned into my baking bible.... it's FINALLY time to start writing it all down for my future baking offspring :)

I was even more impressed when I looked at the back and it was only £7!  Yum 

And of course, I defy anyone to nip in there without coming out with a pack of totally cute puffy stickers.... £1 a pack!!  Bargain!

I'm back... miss me?

Wow, where does the time go, and boy does life twist and turn how you least expect it!  I made the sad decision to close down my craft business, and whilst it was hard to let it go, it's a huge weight off my shoulders, and allowing me to focus on catching up to myself, and spending time with my little angels!

It's nice having time to just sit and do absolutely nothing in the evenings now... although it does let you sit and think rather a lot, which isn't always good.  I've had a lot of time to reflect on my past year, and it's not feeling so good!

Time for some therapy then, and just as the Dr ordered, Sat saw the Thorpe Marriot crop.  It was pretty quiet, but that didn't stop us nattering away.  I even got scissors to paper and started a DOUBLE LO... very very unlike me, but I loved this piccie of the kiddlywinks when we had a weekend together at the end of May I wanted it printed BIG.  Bought some new Bo-Bunny from the lovely Sam at Craft Island which was just perfect for these fun filled piccies.

I opened three new packs of Thickers for this that had been laying about for aaaages, so I'm pleased with myself for finally deciding to start using 'stuff' up!  I picked up this natural raffia ages ago in a shop somewhere, and it was just what I wanted to make my banner and accent the bottom of the page.

It's ages since I've done a DLO, I'm so used to singles all the time.  Got some ambitious projects in my head, just hope I can get them relayed down!  My friend just had a baby boy, so I want to make her something special that she won't get from anyone else.  

More than anything, I just want to get back to enjoying creating for me, and because I want to, not because I have to and not for a deadline... just as my therapy

Hope you'll pop back soon, I promise not to be AWOL so long next time!

S x