The Introverted Crafter

The Works has opened in Newquay now, so it's been a lot easier buying things to alter. These boxes are only a quid (bargain) so I bought three. With this one I started off by coating it in white gesso, before coating the outside in tissue paper, and spraying it with Lindy's sprays. I used a bit of black distress crayon in places, to make it look like it's been burnt. I then used texture paste through a floral stencil, and painted it with mica powder. On the inside I stamped a crackle stamp, then used various ephemera on the inside lid, using distress crayons to age them a little. I also painted the inside edge with metallic copper paint. This is my progress on my current cross stitch so far. I'm hoping to get this one done soon, as I have another one in mind for a present for somebody. Not to mention I have a few more still in my stash! search for a novel, panned b y critics and readers, see if I agree The plan this week was to choose a bo...

Sandwiches piled high, a cacophony of teas, cakes and buns galore This week's 'thing' was afternoon tea. As it is mum's birthday (Today actually - happy birthday mum!) I decided to go all out and book afternoon tea and a spa evening at the Headland Hotel. I've known about the Headland Hotel since before I lived in Newquay, thanks to The Witches, yet I have never been there in the entire twenty two and a half years I have lived here. I think it's one of those things. Always seemed beyond my reach; somewhere that isn't for people on my pay grade. This cemented that thought. Look at the bathroom! That's better décor than the average house. The staff could not have been friendlier. I suppose that is their job. I've always envisaged a certain snootiness though; the nascent ability to detect whether someone is a lower class than their normal clientele. I was totally wrong though. Afternoon tea is £18.50 per person. You choose fro...

Post two! I've been a bit busy this week... First of all is another card. I started off by embossing a tag, gluing on a wooden flourish and a prima heart, then spraying it with Lindy's sprays. I was stuck with what to do then so I decided to incorporate it into a card. I stuck it on vintage paper, then die cut gears painted with copper paint, spring greenery inked with peeled paint distress ink, and flowers inked with Victorian velvet distress ink. I used a stickle in the centre of each flower, then die cut the word mum before assembling the card. I've also been making some bracelets. Some of them were simple beaded strings, others were weaved in a pattern. I used crimp beads for the ends. (Love crimp beads, but I need some things for corded ends because I have a lot of cords in my stash) I finished a cross stitch piece! This one is going to be a gift for someone. I've already started setting up my next one. Headphones cover ears...

Two posts today - this will be a short one, as I'm entering this card in the Countryview crafts March challenge  which is inspired by Tim Holtz. Relatively easy when I have so much of his stuff! Anyway, here is the card. I started off by cutting out a piece of white card, and inking it with Distress Inks, before using a harlequin thinlit die (one of the mixed media sets). I backed it onto purple card, then cut out a sentiment in purple card, and black card. Finally I sprayed a piece of card with Lindy's sprays, then used Tim's butterfly frenzy die to die cut a load of butterflies. Ems

I've been making jewellery this week, using things from the new Beadhaul box, as well as some shrink plastic and things from my rather extensive stash. I'll go through them one at a time. Hook earrings made using items from the latest box, plus gold beads and hook earrings from my stash. A bird necklace. I managed to bag the first beadhaul box on ebay, which I was happy about as I missed it initially. This necklace uses a few beads from the latest box too, plus some chain fragments. A shrink plastic bracelet. I stamped the jars, then chose some stamps to go in the jars (my favourite is the kite) then I painted them with watercolours before punching a hole and shrinking them. I attached them to some fragments, and added some head pins with beads from my stash, and a lobster clasp. I decided to try something a little new here after seeing something similar on a television programme. I die cut two feathers out of shrink plastic, stamped them with scrip...

It's time  for another Beadhaul box! This one is February's - slightly belated but definitely worth the wait. This may be my favourite box yet! Green is the colour of 2017 apparently. Being my favourite colour maybe I have a good year ahead of me? The list of what's in the box. Findings. I like the fact there are a few different findings this time - particularly the cords and the earrings. It's the first time they haven't included the hook ones, which is good cos I have loads of those! Wooden beads. The big ones are the only thing I am not sure of in this box. Crystal glass. Don't they look like grapes? Acrylic crackle. Love things with crackle in. Howlite. There are little bits of crackle in there as well. Natural shell beads. Very similar to the square ones from a few boxes ago, but a better shape. Crystal glass hearts. These are gloriously delicate. Imitation coral. I think I might thread th...