Halloween Altered Domino Book

I decided to make another of these little 'books' so I could use a lovely image I found here of a gothic lady caught in a spider's web - very haunting indeed!

I highlighted the web with some Ranger's Stickles (unfortunately some found their way across the lady's eyes - oh well, all adds to the mystique I suppose!)

The inside page of the 'book' is handmade paper and because it is so thin, the rubber (polymer) stamped image shows through the back of it.

I bought the stamps last weekend at Ally Pally and they seemed just right for this theme - the back of each domino has a gothic door on and the centre panel the large spider's web - no sign of the spider though thank goodness!  The stamps are from Lavinia who I hadn't heard of before now, but I think they're lovely and I wish I'd bought more!

I finished the book off with some black ribbon and crystally bits and coated with some Krylon Crystal Clear.

'Dancing Davinia' Ribbon Doll

Davinia has been partying all night and as you can see is .... legless!!!  Not because she's had too much to drink, oh no - only because she is another ribbon doll!!!

This is another for the MAD MAMMA - monthly art doll swap over on Flickr again chosen by Viv (yes, she has a lot to answer for - lol) and she has provided a link for a ribbon doll tutorial which may be viewed here. 

I couldn't resist using another clay face this time and enjoyed making her all pretty and sparkly!  For her wings I used some paper flowers and her crown is an oddment of lace.  Her bodice and most of her skirt is Plastraw (like raffia, but much stronger).

Hope my swap partner (once chosen) will like her too.

Altered Domino Book

This month's theme (set by Viv) over on the GAS (Group for Altered Swaps) group on Flickr is an altered Halloween domino book.

Well, I've never been into the whole Halloween thing much so the subject didn't excite me - however, after seeing some beautiful creations in the photostream of the GAS group I was suitably inspired!

I found some lovely vintage images in another Flickr group (thanks Suzee Que!) which I decorated my dominos with (I used the same dominos - childrens' wooden ones - which I used for the Christmas charms in the post below).  I also had some cute pumpkin buttons which I've had for years and never before used.  I stuck two together and glued them to the ribbon ends.  This is the first domino book I've made and I had a little trouble with sorting out how to attach the ribbon - any tips will be greatly appreciated!

Christmas Charms

I altered some childrens' wooden dominos into Christmas charms.

1.  Using some kitchen roll paper and Brusho powders I made the backgrounds for the charms and adhered them to the dominos with Liquitex matte medium. First painting the dominos white to cover the colourful animal pictures.

2.  I printed out some images from art-e-zine.  I chose images of two vintage children both of whom are wearing cute costumes with pointy hats to celebrate the season.  I decorated both sides of the dominos so there is one image on each side, again adhered with Liquitex.

3.  Once dry, I coated each side with UTEE using the melting pot, and needed to smooth out some of them, so finished off with the heat gun.  I sprinkled a bit of gold glitter here and there. 

4.  They were finished off with some little bells at the bottom and ribbon at the top.

I'm hoping to send the charms off to Canada, but I haven't yet received back charms for the previous (romance themed) swap I joined - so fingers crossed they will arrive soon.

Art Raffle Entry

This month's theme on the UK Art Raffle is 'Birds' and don't forget you have to be in it, to win it! I was the lucky one last month so it really could be you this time around!

My entry is a mountboard bird following the template from Stampington & Co which can be found here. I made some of these birds in a jam swap earlier this year and it seemed like a good idea to make another for the raffle - well, that and the fact that I couldn't think of what else to do for it!

This bird has been painted, rubber stamped, masked, rubber stamped again, glittered, beaded, laced, feathered ... what else ... lol .... poor little thing! Still I think he looks fancy enough now to begin his flight!

If you do take part, good luck!

Any excuse to make another paper doll!

Oh yes, and I just had to make one for my niece's forthcoming birthday card. The doll is attached to the card by the shoulder brads so can be detached for playing with! She is complete with her own little shoulder bag too.

'Wartime Winifred' Ribbon Doll

This month's theme on the MAMMA's Monthly Art Doll (MAD) Flickr group is to make a Ribbon Doll using this tutorial as a guide.

The doll could be on any theme, but must incorporate a pair of wings. I didn't plan to go along a wartime route, but when I found some red, white and blue ric rac in a charity shop yesterday, the idea came to me. I made a pair of oddly shaped wings from the British Union Jack flag and the head and shoulders are from a 1939 dress pattern. The little poster the woman is proudly displaying around her neck 'Keep Calm and Carry On' is a reproduction of a motivational poster commissioned by the British Government at the beginning of the World War II (although only a few were actually issued at the time) it does seem to exemplify that British 'stiff upper lip' attitute.

I'm pleased with how Winifred has turned out and hope my swap partner will like her too.

How Lucky Can One Girl Get!

I use the word 'girl' loosely as today is my birthday and let's just say that after this one, I won't be able to say I'm in my forties anymore!! Still a girl at heart anyway, that's all that matters - lol.

I have received some lovely cards and gifts from on-line crafting friends and I'll be thanking them a little later.

Well here's where the lucky bit comes in - I returned home yesterday after 2 weeks away visiting my aunt and uncle in Spain (and also doing a little sun bathing - well, it would have been rude not to!!!) and waiting for me were two wonderful boxes of goodies!

Firstly, I had won the UK Art Raffle - yes, me, really!!! I've tried to photograph all of the items I won in the first photograph above - but individual photos of each item are on the UK Art Raffle site itself. What a wonderful assortment of art work, from ATCs, stampboard, jar lid magnets, beautiful fabric pieces, mini canvas, slide mailers etc. My favourite two pieces (if I'm allowed to have favourites) are from Jean (who now runs the raffle) - an altered pink tin beautifully decorated in itself, but inside crammed packed with a lovely assortment of fabric flowers and ribbons - and the other from 'Efemera' whose real name and details I don't have unfortunately, but if I'm not mistaken her altered Pringles tube is the one and the same as that designed by Gail Milburn called 'Time for Tea' and featured in the February 2009 issue of Craft Stamper magazine (page 72). Wow!! It looks every inch as fantastic as it does in the magazine.

Secondly, I had a box from overseas to open and I really had no idea what this was. Well, it was from Dianne from Pennsylvania, USA (aka DianthusMoon on Flickr whose '5th year blog anniversary giveaway' I had entered some time ago and forgotten all about! Dianne was very generous with her giveaway prizes and I've tried to photograph it all as shown in the second picture above. Many thank yous once again Dianne and long may your blogging continue.

Off now to do my thank yous - I don't know whether or not to put pictures of my birthday gifts on here, what do you think? I'm always in-decisive after two Tia Maria's!!!!