Tim Holtz: 12 Tags of 2014 - January

I've been thinking of playing along with Tim Holtz

12 tags of 2014 and have finally got my 

act together - just in the nick of time for January.

If you click on the picture above it should

take you to Tim Holtz blog where you can see

in detail exactly how Tim made his tag pictured above.

Of course, I didn't have all of the supplies he used,

but I am pleased with how my tag turned out.

 Originality was never my strong point - and my tag

 is based very closely on Tims.

I didn't have the pocket watch die so made my own

and I used a different embossing folder.

 So happy with this!

  I mounted the tag on a card, creating a simple

background based on the tag.

That's hubby's birthday card sorted.

I'd better put it somewhere safe though as his

birthday isn't until October! 

Looking forward to seeing what Tim comes up with

for February now!

Thanks for looking :) 

The Seamstress Sisters

Here are my latest paper dolls -

five sisters called

Honey, Bluebell, Holly, Fuchsia & Marigold.

 They are Sewing Fairies.

I made one of these dolls a couple of years back

for a swap

 

 

 and once I'd worked out how I made her

(thank goodness I put a lot of detail in my original

blog post) thought I'd have a go at making some more.

The 'core' of each doll is an old clothing tag.

I had to peel the first (shiny) layer off in order for 

the Distress Stain to absorb into it.

I rubber stamped the dolls body onto card

and machined stitched it to the tag.

The stamp was from a set called

'Paperdoll Parts' from Character Constructions

by Catherine Moore.

 

There is some random rubber stamping on the back.

I replicated the form skirt with some wire.

This was a bit tricky but I like the finished result.

 

The 'feet' are two card bobbins stuck together,

covered with dressmaking tissue and Mod Podged

over - then machined stitched onto the body.

For the hair I used hand dyed (not by me)

 mohair fleece.  I love the natural waves in it.

As usual, the faces are moulded from air dried clay.

 The wings I cut from a piece of cotton fabric and

Mod Podged on some dressmaking pattern tissue.

I finished them off with some zigzag machine

stitching around the edge.

This green doll, Holly is my favourite

and she'll be adorning my wall above my sewing machine.

The other four I've put into my

Esty shop

 GemstonePaperDolls

Thanks for looking :) 

Mini Mannequins

I made these mini mannequins when I saw something

similar on Pintrest. 

The little beauties below were made by an Italian

lady whose beautiful blog is

La Maison de Maristella       

  

I thought I'd use the Tim Holtz/Sizzix die 'Sewing Room'

for the mannequin shape

but found that to be too small compared to a pair of small scissors.

So, I used the Sizzix shape and cut around it to make it a bit larger.

The scissors still dwarfed it though, so I gave up on the idea

of making a scissors keeper manniquin and thought I'd make

a pin cushion mannequin instead.

However, that didn't work because I didn't use enough

wadding and the whole form is quite flat.

So, they are just mini mannequins!

I pinned them to a piece of decorative tape

... but didn't really like them when I hung them from a shelf

above my craft desk.

They are rather cute though and will make nice

little gifts.

I think I've got them out of my system now - or have I!

Thanks for looking :)

The Bag Lady!

Inspired by a show on Create and Craft TV

last week I got my sewing machine out -

not something I do very often!

This is where I sew.

It's the other end of my craft room.

The lady who inspired me on the tele was

Mandy Shaw of Dandelion Designs.

 She was selling her kits for small

bags/fabric folders and demonstrated

how easy it was to make one.

I remembered I'd bought one of her books

a while back and sure enough in it 

was the exact pattern for her bags.

They really were very easy to make, although

mine are far from perfect.

This is the first one I made and I think it's the best one.

The ric rac is very wide so shows up much more than

on the other bags where I used narrower ric rac.

I used Tim Holtz fabric for both the main and lining fabric,

as it was only 10 x 10" the finished bag is only

8" wide by 31/2" deep - so could be a pencil or

cosmetic case.

 

I made another again with Tim Holtz fabric.

 

I like the wooden buttons especially on this

fabric with the wooden ruler design on.

(The buttons came from a firm called

Button-It)

I then raided my fabric stash and made one

slightly larger.

 

 Made up, this one measures 10" wide by 6" deep.

(I've yet to add a decorative button as I couldn't

find a suitable one in my button box)

I added a strap to the side - making it a 'wristlet'.

I think this will make a good passport holder

which I'll definitely use.

Onwards and upwards - 

  

This is a similar size to the previous one,

just a bit deeper.  This is a cute one - not

sure what I'll use it for, or who I'll give it to yet.

Finally, I made a couple of gadget folders -

 IPad size.

 

Again, this is from my fabric stash, I wouldn't

necessarily have chosen this particular lining

fabric if I'd had more to chose from.

This could double up as a little cushion or pillow - lol.

I used a layer of wadding which turned out to

be far too thick - at least the IPad will be safe.

For the next one I used felt instead of wadding

which is much better (not such a comfortable

cushion though!)

Now, what else can I sew while the machine's out!!

 

Thanks for looking :)

Hello Dolly!

I've made another ten dolls for my Etsy shop

GemstonePaperDolls 

This is the 'Genuine Gemstone Collection'

as each doll is wearing a tiny gem of some sort.

Rosie above for example, is wearing a

Rose Quartz around her neck.

Here's a couple of montages

showing a little snapshot of each doll.

 

 I made the outfits with their particular

gemstone in mind.

Hope you like them and

thanks for looking :) 

New Year, New Challenge

Happy New Year - hope you had a lovely Christmas.

Last year was the quietest I've had on the blogging front

since I started this blog, so this year

 I hope to join in with a few more challenges.

  Well that sounds a bit like a new year's resolution

 and I always resolve never to make

any because I never keep them up!

Anyway, I'll start as I mean to go on and the first 

challenge I've joined in with is on the blog called

Operation Tackle That Bead Stash

"Take one painting that is well known, classical or modern,

 and make something inspired by it

What can I make?

Anything as long as it involves beads!"

The painting I chose is

'Self portrait with a straw hat'

by Vincent van Gogh

 

 

I took inspiration from this painting by using the same

colours - blue and yellow and a little red.

I made a simple handbag key finder

 The large flat bead in the centre is Aragonite

and the yellow faceted beads are Agate.

The red strap is leather.

(Absolutely no chance of not being able to find

your keys in your handbag with this flower

attached to them - it's quite heavy!)

Deadlines for entries is 31 January 

and there is a prize for one randomly selected

entrant.

Now, to find another challenge!

Thanks for looking :)