The Introverted Crafter

I've actually made something t his week which is a step forward from last week. Before I get onto that, here is the stitch update.  As I said, I've made something this week. I had a hot air balloon kit from craft box, so I started by painting it brown and assembling it. I then used rice paper to cover it in sections, and sprayed that with tin holtz distress ink sprays. I fortified the balloon with washi tape, which I also used to cover the basket. I then added some black lace on the balloon and the basket. I added some resin pieces that were coated with gold or silver wax, then die cut a load of flowers. These were coloured blue, and edged with black before assembling and adding to metallic leaves. Finally I sprayed some butterflies. I was going to coat them entirely but I liked the patchy effect. Oh almost forgot, I die cut a fan from card to add to the basket. I've got a few things planned, but they might take a while. Still I should always have something ...

Short one this week I'm afraid. I went to London on Monday to see the back street boys (so close to the front it was ridiculous) and I was all set to make something when I came back on Tuesday but I've been sick ever since! So only the stitching update. Until next time Ems

I'm trying to be better with regards to crafting at the moment, concentrating on utilising what I've got instead of buying new things in hopes of inspiration. So this week I've made a few things. First of all, here is the stitch update so far. Choosing these two colours as the first to stitch on this page has given me a perfect map for the rest of it.  I've also made some jewellery. The first is a simple set of earrings, with an Alice in wonderland theme . Technique wise I've been practicing wire draping to make a necklace. It's not perfect but it is my first try, and it's used up some beads I was wondering how to use.  The leaf is hand painted resin. Finally I've made a card, using oxides, stencils, and stamps. I wanted to try doing a background that had a mixture in, rather than relying on my usual script stamp. The snarky sayings usually go hand in hand with paper dolls so it was nice to use them for something different. I...

Just the one tag today. I started by blending distress oxide in the background. These blend beautifully, far better than the traditional inks. I then die cut a cityscape, using the blank space I cut from for another layer in the background. I backed the cityscape with yellow card so there were lights in the buildings. I then die cut a bridge and statue of liberty. God they were fiddly! Finally I added a sun and some clouds I've also been working on the stitch, so here is the update. Going to be a lot of trees on this page.  Noting else crafty to add I'm afraid. I'm in the middle of two projects though, so they should be on next week's. Until then happy crafting. Ems 

Been going back to some basics this week, using stamps and stencils. I wanted to try out the distress oxides, as I had heard that you can layer them cleanly. I ended up making five tags, so I will go through them one by one. This first one has two Tim holtz stencils in the background, and visible image stamps. The jelly fish is white embossed, with blue promarker in the body and the bubbles.  This was with a striped stencil, and another visible image set as well as a moth from a magazine freebie set. I deliberately coloured a lot of the tag in black. The lightbulb was coated in crackle glaze.  I used the diamond shifter stencil here and a crackle stamp, as well as stamps from a magazine. The stars are simply coloured yellow and the words are edged in metallic distress crayon.  I used a number stencil then sprayed with distress metallic spray and stamped stars with brown ink. The phrase and deer are embossed with copper metallic powder.  ...

Made a few things this week. Before I get onto those, here is the latest update on the stitch. I'd hoped to get page 2 done this week but I'm not quite there. As you can see I've only got that little corner to do where the tree is and then I have to back stitch the giraffes. It's looking really good though! I was tempted by a bank holiday sale on one of my cross stitch sites today but then I remembered how long this is taking! I used a jewellery book to make myself a necklace and earrings. It's a beading technique more complicated than I am used to, but it worked first try! I only regret that the only beading thread I have is black. I also made a mixed media piece. Was a bit disappointed when making this cos I had to throw away a metallique paint and my gel glue as they had both solidified. Not happy. They come in quite big pots so you don't really get a chance to use them before this happens. Lesson learned I guess. Anyway I started with a piece of card...

Week off this week so plenty of time to craft but not much inspiration. Still, I have managed a few things. First of all, here is the progress on the cross stitch. I've also made a couple of cards this week. The first is a star shaped card with Wallace and gromit freebies from a magazine. The second was a sailor theme. I used lumber embossing folder on white card with blue ink for the base. I then used oxide ink to colour paper (love the fact you can layer them up) to cut out a port hole from steampunk parts die, as well as a ship. The sails were cut from white card, and the waves blue. The background was stormy sky oxide with my home made cloud die. I then added a silver embossed anchor, some rope and some embossed bottles. Finally, I've been tryingout casting clear resin as a change to my old type. This sets in ten minutes! So easy to use and I'll definitely be ordering more. One of the things I cast was a honeycomb piece, which I turned into a necklace.  ...