Never More

The new theme at Gingersnap Creations is the famous poem, The Raven, by Edgar Alan Poe.  The word 'nevermore' features many times throughout the verses and so as a play on that, I decided to split my word up as my poor man is definitely Never More!!!

I used stamps by Tim Holtz and Green Pepper Press to create the grizzly scene and I inked and masked the background with distress inks and dylusions sprays.  A splat of gold acrylic grunged it up a little more before the swirls (In My Words by Fancy Pants) were added.

I used an ideology acrylic chip for the title and a skull charm to finish it off - lovely and creepy!!

As Halloween is upon us, why not see what gruesome images you can find in your stash and join in the fun?!!

Keep craftful (is that a real word - I'm not sure?!!)

x

Apron.ology

I have been interested in having a go at Apron.ology (as named by Stampington & Co!) for a long time.  Well, actually since doing a canvas album a couple of years ago, which involved me trying to work in harmony with my sewing machine with whom I have  a love/hate relationship (I love it and it hates me!!)

I knew my retreat this weekend would be really messy so I decided that if any time for a new apron was upon me, this was it!!  

I headed off to the shops with an idea in my head and before long I returned with a crisp white apron and various threads and ribbons.  I hung my apron in the garden on our decaying tree house and sprayed it with Adirondack color wash.  I love their colours but I have to say that most of the depth washed out in the first rinse (despite serious heat setting) and my tumble dryer needed quite a bit of remedial work before using on the family wash (thank God the boys' rugby kit is black)!!  However, I was undeterred ...

I did a second spraying and rinse which did increase the depth but I would still have like to have achieved more colour density. 

Once dry for the second time, I got my sewing machine out and sewed all the frill, bobbles and stems onto my apron.  I used metallic thread which looks great on the apron but is a NIGHTMARE to machine sew with as you cannot get it to thread through the needle without removing the needle from the machine and using a threader.   In future (note to myself) DO NOT USE THIS THREAD!!!

The next day I was sat in the hospital with my eldest son who needed an operation so whilst he was in theatre, I sat and sewed the flowers and seed beeds onto my creation.  Found it really satisfying and for a non-sewer, remarkably relaxing!

Despite my mini-traumas with this project, I would recommend Apron.ology as it is  different and fun and the best bit is ... you get to WEAR your ART!!!

Keep crafty (it's the only way!!)  x

Art

I'm really pleased with how these little tags have turned out.  A lovely friend, Lesley, who lives in Canada posted a fantastic tutorial on her blog.  I loved her idea and wanted to make some but we don't have counter top samples in the UK (well not that I could find).  So I got in touch with her and she mailed some over to me - how kind is that?!  

If you want to see how to make these or any of her other lovely projects, hop over to Harmony Road Studio.  The tutorial is a little while back to click here to go directly to it.

I made my tags to give to a couple of good friends of mine who I was meeting up with this weekend.  The images are by Diva D'Este and the beads are Beadazzles (which I love!).

Thanks for visiting and hope you all had a great weekend. x

House of Horrors

A departure from both my normal style and theme but this month at Gingersnap Creations is all about mystery and the macabre in the style of Edgar Allan Poe.

I don't really do horror - the oddest things in my craft room are my Stampotique stamps with their weird faces but I did have this old photo I picked up last year in a secondhand shop.  I think it was taken of an old stage set but as it was so unusual already, I thought I could alter it to make it into my House of Horrors!

It was really fun to create and I had to look far and wide to find bits and pieces which were small enough to use.  

If you are feeling mysterious or macabre (not sure that's good?!!) then why not see what you can come up with and join the challenge!

Keep an eye on the art in whatever you do ...   x

Beach Day

I love the beach! I'm drawn to shells, beach huts, mermaids and fish - in fact anything connected with the beach.

I recently ordered a beach house kit by Bella Creations and I decided to combine some of the elements from the kit with a seaside stamp set by Crafty Individuals and a few other bits and pieces from my stash.

I had a great time playing with all these lovely elements to create my very own beach scene for my beach babe to cool off in!

Thanks for taking the time to look. 

Happy crafting! x

After 39 ...

No, I'm not a fan of spiders either but Mr Stripes is way cute!

This is my entry for the challenge this week at the Stampotique Designers blog.  It is entitled SDC38 Humorous Birthday and is a stampotique only week so only their stamps are allowed.

I've had the web for some time but Mr Stripes arrived this week (he had been languishing on my wishlist!) so I wanted to get him out to play!

I created my background using alcohol inks first and then acrylic paints and perfect pearls mist in heirloom gold so it does have a shimmmer (hard to pick up with a camera!).

Thanks for visiting ... hope you all have an artful week.  x