Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Steampunk Birdhouse #128

I absolutely loved creating this project!  I wanted to show you that the little papier mache birdhouses we stock (just a £1.00 each!! - six different shapes available) - can be decorated in more than just the Decoupage style.  Sorry - lots of pictures on this one today so you can see all the stages!
Well this is what you start with... well sort of.. I was that excited to get started I forgot to photograph it in it's natural state - this is it... balanced on its side whilst drying from a coat of Gesso.

Next I cut out lots and lots of different size cogs and gears using my Spellbinders Sprightly  sprocket set and started to arranged them onto each of the sides and then stuck down with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue..


Next for some paint - I wanted a purple-magenta type shade - so mixed Art Proff Blue and Red shades
and then painted over the entire birdhouse a couple of times...
(it looks a little brown here) - but really its a magenta pinky purple shade.  Next - add some gold gilding wax to highlight the cogs...
Finally - I added dry brushed soft gold Cosmic shimmer pearlescent watercolour paint to further enhance the cogs and then glued some metal findings on with my glue for the finished piece.  We now sell packs of these metal findings - and absolute must for anyone who likes altered art!




love love LOVE it!.... what can I steampunk next???

happy crafting

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk







Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Green Butterrfly #127

see... told you I was still playing!... yes more from the Woodware Bubble Butterfly set. 

I've started by using pale green memento inks and lightly rubbed over my card surface.  I darkened the edge with bamboo leaves.  I also stamped the Woodware Viva La Plume stamp in the Bamboo leaves too.  The stamp at the bottom is from Chocolate Baroque stamps in green Versafine. 
My butterfly has been coloured in greens using cosmic shimmer drawing inks and highlighted with flat back gems.

A final dash border around the outside finishes the piece off.

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Monday, April 28, 2014

From the Heart Butterflies #126

You might detect a little theme over the next couple of days as I'm still playing with my Woodware Bubble Butterflies set.

I've started by stamping my butterflies in black and then using pale yellows and green Memento inks I added colour around the butterflies and then used the same inks to stamp pieces of text from the Woodware Viva La Plume stamp - it doesn't matter if it goes over the butterflies as you'll be adding stronger colours over the top.

I then added colour using a mix of colours from Cosmic Shimmer Drawing Inks - orange, blues, yellow and added a few details of some Marine Stardust pen in some circles too.   I then added some flat back gems to add extra sparkle.

I stamped the from the heart greeting in teal memento and then added a drawn border in black fineliner.

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Miracles #125




Happy Sunday all - hope you are getting some crafting time today!  My creation for today is using a Cosmic Shimmer Ink Mister background that I had already done in my stash using a selection of pinks and lilac shades.  I resisted the tempation to fill in more colour as it had quite a bit of white space.

Unusually I started with my hand-drawn border (in truth I was buying some thinking time as to what to do with the piece!).  I thought I would use my new Indigoblu stamps - Enjoy Life.    The miracle stamp caught my eye so I started by stamping this in the corner in black.  I then used the corner of my clear block to create a frame around the words.  I then went over the top and right side to create a heavier border and then on the other two sides with white gel pen to give the impression of dimension.

I stamped the little scroll stamp from the same set this time using the purple archival - it makes a lovely pattern when stamped side by side.  I picked out some flowers to layer up and topped with a sequin.

I used the tall birch Memory Box die together with the perched bird also from Memory Box.  I cut the tree twice and used the branches as extra.  I coloured them using brown shades of Promarker and the bird with purple and magenta shades and added an eye and wing with a fineliner pen.

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Blingy Butterfly #124


 I've scheduled today's post as I'm off at Stamford today providing a craft stall and make & take at a Lacemakers Guild.  This is the project that we'll be making.  This is a lovely little card design that I've used many times as you can adjust it so easily to suit your own stamps.  It works very well too with flowers - and not just stamps but die cut ones too.

I started with cutting a card blank - size it to suit your envelopes (allowing room if you plan to stick your flowers/butterflies off the edge of the card).  I like to make these on a vertical fold card.  I started by stamping my butterfly  - a Woodware set called Bubble Butterflies.  These are such a versatile design and they are also available as a peel-off sticker too!  You can colour the bubbles with whatever you like - Promarkers, Stickles, Liquid Pearls, Sakura Pens or use Large Gems or Card Candii - or a mixture of everything!

Before I decorated it I cut out my butterfly shape.  I then used a mixture of everything to decorate is sticking to my blue, green and red theme.

I stamped the Chocolate Baroque Floral Edges border in Versafine Blue and then the Amazing Greeting (Saluations set from Woodware) in Versafine Green I tied a blue ribbon around the top of my card.

Once dry I stuck my butterfly onto my card. 

here is another variation of the same design....
happy crafting

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Friday, April 25, 2014

Christmas Baubles #123




Back to Christmas again today!  This was a card I made as part of a make & take project at club last year.  I started with glossy white card and added a mix of alcohol inks and then sprayed with Stazon cleaner and dripped on some blending solution to add all the mottled patterns.

I then stamped my bauble stamps with black archival ink.  The merry christmas bauble is a Just Rite Stamp that has a matching spellbinders die so I cut it out once stamped, the tall bauble is a Joanna Sheen stamp that I hand cut out.

I hand-drew on the hangers to suspend them from and stuck my baubles down.  i then used an off-cut of the glossy card with the alcohol ink and as I only had a small square I cut it in two 'L' shapes so I could use it at both corners.  By rubbing the inkpad around the edge of my card gave it enough of a border to make it stand out from the card blank.

A fun technique to play around with  - perfect for Christmas baubles!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Chantilly Petal Card #122



Trying something new for me today.  I was itching to have a play with the lovely Tattered Lace dies.  I don't naturally tend to create very lacy designs of cards, so it was nice to try something a little different.  I was inspired by all the lovely samples I see popping up on my wall on Facebook using these dies and thought I would give it a try.

I started by cutting four of the Chantilly Petal dies out of white card stock and played around with how to lay them out.  I couldn't decide whether to put them into the corners, or put the corners together into the centre which made it look like a pretty doily.    I cut out a Small Bow die out of white too and popped all the pieces out (is it just me that finds that so satisfying?)  I found a lovely sheet of lilac patterened paper amongst my collection that would be perfect for this card.

I worked onto an 8x8" card and if you are careful, you can cut all your layers out of just 1 12x12 sheet of paper and 1 A4 sheet of card.  Work out what size your top layer needs to be and then your largest backing sheet.  Cut the largest one first, then cut your smaller piece out of the middle.  do the same for your white card mats - as you are laying one on top of another it won't matter that the middle is cut out!

I mounted all my layers onto my card blank and then positioned my die cuts - making sure I left the bow pieces to stand out to give some dimension.  I stuck them all down with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue.

Next I played around with little lilac gems to design a pattern I could repeat on all the four corner pieces.  Once happy with the design I set about sticking them all down... it did take a bit of time, but I hope you'll agree that it's worth it!  I squeezed a little dries clear glue onto my mat, then picked a little glue up on the tip of my pricking tool and then stuck on the back of a gem to pick up and then carefully press and place into position - methodical and it really works easily without having lots of mucky glue waste on your card.

Well what do you think... did I do the lacy style justice?

We'll be ordering more dies from Tattered Lace shortly - so do let us know if there are any dies you would like us to add to the order or if you would like to reserve a copy of the Tattered Lace magazine.

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Shop for Tattered Lace Dies

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

A little Christmas #121


I had a fancy to make a Christmas card today.  This cute stamp is a magazine freebie I've had for ages - he's a nice stamp to colour with some Promarkers.  I added a couple of red shades to his hat and used a mixture of browns, greys and pale beige for his body and face.

I've cut him out using a Spellbinders die.

The backing papers are another freebie from a magazine - from Kaisercraft.  A little bakers twine artistically swirled to finish and a little white gel border on the papers was the finishing touch.

Short and sweet today - busy busy photographing more of my jewellery to put up on my folksy shop!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk



Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Oriental Ladies #120


Sorry, I'm a bit late with my blog post tonight.  My birman kitten, Finlay has been into the vets for a routine op today so I was otherwise distracted - he's now recovering at home, but I've had to spend the evening keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn't try to clean his stitches!

today's creation started out with a mixture of blue, yellow and green tones of Distress Inks - I think it was salty ocean, shabby shutters and scattered straw.  It looks a stronger green where the yellow and blue have blended so well.  I blended the colours with my cut n dry foam and then I took an oriental style background stamp and sprayed it generously with water.  I then stamped it onto my background and lifted off to leave wet sections of design.  I left it a while for the water to react with the ink before drying off the excess.

I next stamped my oriental text stamp in the corner using black archival.

I've had these little miniature postcards in my crafting stash for years - I haven't used any for ages but thought they were ideal for this project.  I've just added a simple black card mount to frame the postcard.

Finally I stamped in black some border details with little pattern stamps along the bottom and added other border details with my fineliner pen.

Loving the vibrant colours on this one!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk



Monday, April 21, 2014

A little wine? #119



Today's creation features a stamp from Indigoblu - the BFF set.  I started by creating a bold background using Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean and lots of blending. 

I stamped with my bubble stamp (creative expressions) using both inks and then again using some black archival.  I like to work with this type of stamp off the block, wrap it around my finger to give greater control over where the image is positioned.

I next stamped the wine stamp using Archival black and added a few white gel pen highlights.

I drew a line across the top with a fineliner pen.  I then drew vertical lines down at different lengths.  I next drew lots of little circles and a star at the bottom.  I added some white highlights to this too.  It makes a nice efective zentangled border.

i hope you've all had a chance to enjoy some time with your families this weekend, I have had a lovely weekend catching up with family - and fitting in some very long overdue time sorting out the garden... although I think the nettles won today... they may now be on the compost... but I have gained lots of stings along the way!  Those Norfolk nettles sure do pack a punch!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk



Sunday, April 20, 2014

Burgundy Phoenix #118




I created this phoenix at the demo on our birthday event. I promised I would show what I created with him.

He was created by applying red, pink and purple Distress Ink through my Sweet Poppy Stencils Phoenix stencil.  I blended my colours using cut n dry foam and once I was happy I then applied translucent paste through the stencil.  While it was still wet I sprinkled a little gold glitter to give a little sparkle.  The Phoenix was then left to dry.

I next mounted him onto the black and burgundy card mounts.  He was too big for a 5x7 card so I worked onto an 8x8" card instead.  I remembered I had a swirl that was similar to his tail.  I think this is a very old inkadinkado set of swirls.
I stamped the swirl using Plum Archival, don't worry about making a mess in the middle of the card, you will be covering this up.  Just start stamping your swirls and keep putting your phoenix back on to see where you need more swirls.  Keep stamping until you have a good balance around each side.  The picture above is the finished swirls just before sticking the Phoenix topper down.  When you are happy, stick down your Phoenix.

Hope you are a enjoying your Easter Sunday  - enjoy your Easter Eggs!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk
Shop for Phoenix Stencil
Shop for Translucent Paste
Shop for Distress Inks

Saturday, April 19, 2014

More than just stamping #117




I'm an addicted rubber stamper.  No hesitations whatsoever - give me a stamp and I'm a happy girl!... but I know not everyone is confident to create with stamps.  So, today's creation is to show you that there is more to art than just stamping.

I've had this background made for some time... just waiting for the right project.  It was created using Distress Paints with generous amounts of paint applied and then spritzed with water and then left a long time to dry saturated with paint.  Love the splodges and the way the wet paint has mixed.

Today I have used a peel-off sticker - white of funky flowers.  I've simply laid a selection of flowers onto my cardstock and then used some of the little circles and dots to add some movement.  I've added some white gel shading inside the flowers and leaves and also used it to add a border all round.

Then mount onto black and onto a 5x7 card.

hope you like it!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Shop for distress Paints
Shop for Peel-off Stickers (the sheet I have used is in stock but not online yet contact us if you want to order one!)


Friday, April 18, 2014

Black, White and Grey #116


Another monotone piece again today - again practicing my shading with Promarkers.

I started by covering my card with two different black white and grey backing papers.  I added a ripped edge on the bottom backing paper and added some black ink.  I edged the card piece in a little black ink too.  I then stamped my happy happy stamp on the background.

I stamped my Hero Arts stamp (G2812 Woman in Profile) onto a separate piece of card using Black Memento ink.  I darkened up the black pieces with my fineliner black pen.  I then used my Promarker blender and Promarker Frosted Leaf to add some outlining around the lady and the postmark and then also around the border.  I tried to blend the grey shade using the blender.  As a final touch I used the chisel edge to run a border around the outside of the panel.

It's surprising that just that little bit of shading makes her and the postmark look three dimensional and raised up from the background

I then mounted the whole piece onto black and onto a 5x7 card

Not quite mastered the blending yet - need more practice!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Cute as a button #115




Back again with another quick card.  This cute little chap is a House Mouse stamp.   He's sound asleep on his cotton wool  shhhhhhh. 

I've stamped him in Black Memento and coloured with Promarkers.  I'm trying to improve my blending techniques with my Promarkers at the moment - leaving more white spaces by putting down some blender pen and then adding colours so it blends easier and more delicately.

He was then just mounted onto a navy card and onto a small square card blank.

he's just so cute!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Mooooooooooo #114


Quick and easy cards are on my list this week!  Partly because I've had such a busy week being at the shop stocktaking and then I've been running workshops Monday and Tuesday evening - so no time to fit in crafting! - so when I realised I had run out of blog creations... I had to put on my thinking cap to come up with a couple of quick ideas.

However.. that doesn't mean that you can't create a fab card... it doesn't have to be complicated!  I just love clean and simple lines on a card  -and if you have a fab stamp or topper - it really doesn't need much else.

This is a card I have made many times with a few variations... I can't remember now where I found this stamp - but I've had him in my collection for a long time!  The stamp has Vap Scrap label on the side.  So... instructions will be quick on this one!  Stamp him in Versamark, Emboss him with Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Black.  Cut and mount onto black and onto a small square card.  Handwrite in the Mooooooo!... easy peasy!  He also looks fab stamped just in black and then glossy accents put over his body for a bit of gloss too.

Back tomorrow with another quick card!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Paper Piece Bunnies - #113


Something a bit different today.  I've stamped using a paper piecing technique that is really easy but very effective.

I started with a 6x6" sheet of backing paper - the papers used today were from a cheap n cheerful little 6x6 pad I found at the works - all nice vintage style papers.  I chose a pale paper for my background with just a little pattern to it.  I chose a much darker, busier paper and stamped my two hares (they are Crafty Individuals stamps).  I cut them out and then highlighted some of their features with the white gel pen.  I stamped my tree using Memento Olive Grove (I think!!) - using the Indigoblu Tree-Mendous stamp.  I used the ink pad to add a little distressed border around the background and then dotted a few lines at the bottom so my hares would have a 'hill' to sit on.  I stuck my hares to the background and then finished off by stamping a Kaiser craft stamp greeting onto another paper from the set and then adding a dash border with my fineliner.

I've just put in a big order with Indigoblu - so there will be lots of stamps & mixed media products restocked - as well as lots of new stamp designs too!

This panel must have been eye-catching as it was up on our gallery wall until spotted by a customer who asked it be made into a card - I will have to make some more in this style I think!

happy crafting

Jane

www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk

Our new workshop list has just been published - see the blog post earlier today or visit the website for more details.

Workshops in Norfolk - April-June 2014

come and join us at one of our crafting workshops run in our shop in Attleborough Norfolk.  Papercrafting workshops are taught by myself and the beading and jewellery workshops by my colleague Sarah.

You can book your place over the phone.

Hope you can join us for some fun crafting.

Workshops April - June

15 April 2014 at 12:52
Aldridge Crafts & Champagne Moments
01953 454976  www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk
Craft Workshops
Held in Store – Limited places – book now!

Booking is essential.  Payment is required at the time of booking.
Check online or in-store for pictures/samples of our workshop projects.


Wed 23rd April 2 – 4pm Polymer Clay animal print canes                   £20.00
Gill Thompson will be showing how to make canes using polymer clay to make giraffe and leopard print canes that can be made into beads, pendants, roses etc.  (Intermediate)

Wed 30th April  2 – 4pm Agate and crystal collar necklace set      £20.00
Join Sarah to make a project using Agate column beads and teardrops combined with Tibetan silver bead caps and crystal rondelles. Skills required turning loops with round nosed pliers. (Intermediate)

Thu 1st May  6-8pm             Sweet Poppy Stencils                                            £15.00
Jane will teach you a range of different techniques for using your Sweet Poppy Stencils.  You will learn about using dimension paste with a range of finishes. (Beginners to Advanced)


Wed 7th May 2 – 4pm     Gemstone torque necklace                        £20.00

Join Sarah to make a lovely wirework piece using 1.5mm wire as a base as your torque then add gemstones to the frame using the tiara technique. Makes a lovely light-weight but visually beautiful necklace. Because of the nature of the tiara technique used good manual dexterity is needed.  (Intermediate)

Thu 8th May  6-8pm             Creating a Stamped Collage Panel                     £15.00
Jane will teach you how to work with a range of different inks, sprays and paints and rubber stamps to create a beautiful piece of artwork.  You will learn all about layering your designs, adding focal points and highlights.  We have lots of samples in store to show you the type of panel you will create! (Beginners to Advanced)

Sunday 11th May 10am-3pm        All day stamping workshop                      £30.00
A day of fun fun fun!!  This all day stamping workshop with Jane is suitable for any level crafter – whether you are a beginner or have experience.  The morning project will be to create a beautiful 8x8” card with an animal theme (different choices available!).  You will be using masks and Distress Inks, plus embellishments and printed backing papers too.  The afternoon project will be to create a 5x7” card with a lovely butterfly or peacock design.  You will be heat embossing your design and using mica powders and mica watercolour paints or drawing inks to colour in and also to create your background.  Refreshments provided – just bring your lunch! (Beginners Or Advanced)

Wed 14th May  2 – 4pm  Wirework rings with gemstones                £15.00
Come and learn with Sarah, how to make a wirework ring using varied gauges of wire and natural gemstones. My only warning is wirework is seriously addictive!  (Beginners to Advanced)

Wed 21st May 2-4 pm        
Shell and crystal tassel necklace and earring set                                          £15.00
Using chain, shell beads, crystals and acrylic spacers this necklace will look great with a T-shirt, tunic or dress. Although this is a longer length necklace it is lightweight.  (Intermediate)

Thu 22nd May  6-8pm          Decoupaged/Painted Elephant                £15.00
Join Jane to decorate a cute papier mache Elephant.  You can choose to decoupage him with Tissue paper, or paint him up and bling him up with embellishments.  The workshop includes the price of your elephant. (Beginners or Advanced)

Wed 28th May 2-4 pm         Polymer Clay with Gill Thompson           £20.00
Gill Thompson teaches Polymer Clay techniques that you can take home and use in your beadwork.

Thu 29th May  6-8pm          Zentangling                                                  £12.50
Another chance to join Jane to learn all about how to zentangle!  We will work with stamps and stencils and learn all about forming patterns and different designs.  You will also learn about creating zentangled borders too. (Beginners or Advanced)

Thu 5th June  6-8pm            Papier Mache Stamped Heart Panel       £15.00
In this workshop with Jane you will create a beautiful painted papier mache heart panel.  We will use rubber stamps, inks and embellishments to create a unique piece of artwork perfect for your home. (Beginners or Advanced)

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY!
On Saturday 21st June we will be joined for the day by Annette who will be demonstrating Stix 2 and Woodware projects.  Annette always has lots of fabulous ideas to get the most out of your products and will give you lots of inspiration and ideas!   Free Demo Day! 

Chain-Maille Workshops are also available with our Experienced Tutor Shawn Mills of Aglaia Silver both for beginners and advanced Chain Maille students.  Please enquire for details.


Can’t make one of our workshop dates?  Most of our workshops can be run on a 1-2-1 basis at a mutally convenient time.  Minimum cost for a 1-2-1 workshop is £20.00 for a 2 hour workshop.  Phone/call in to book


By booking you agree to our booking/cancellation T&Cs available to see online & instore.


Monthly Craft Club
Come along for friendly fun crafting – lots of chatting, cups of tea… and crafting too!  We run mini workshops*, demonstrations and have a few crafting goodies to buy too.  We meet every third Friday 6.15-8.30 - Francis Room, Connaught Hall. 

New for 2014 – Themes! – to add a little extra fun you can make something on the theme for each month – it can be a card, scrapbook page, Artist Trading Card, piece of jewellery or anything else you can think of!  You can bring it along just to show everyone else, or swap with someone elses project on the night.  Club costs just £3 in advance, or £3.50 on the night.

April – 25th April – Theme: Bling Bling Bling
May – 16th May – Furry Friends
June – 20th June - Nautical

Monday, April 14, 2014

A little bit nautical #112



I fancied created a monochrome piece - and I had a new set of Crafty individuals stamps - Call of the Sea - which I hadn't yet had a chance to play with and what could suit it better than blues.

i started by wiping streaks of Memento Summer Sky on the tag and then stamping the lighthouse in Memento Paris Dusk.  Next I stamped the wording in the same colour.  The seaside words were stamped in Teal Zeal and then the feather in Bahama Blue.  I also used Teal Zeal on the little corner stamp along the top of the tag and then dragged some colour around the edges of my tag too.

Something a little different!

happy Crafting

Jane
www.aldridgecrafts.co.uk