altered geisha's crafty musings

Try Something New...

2012-01-20T19:25:00.000Z

This months challenge at Happy Daze is to try something new.....I tried out my new sewing machine, but it could be a new technique or a new product or something you have never done before.

I made a slip cover for a book rather than cover it with paper. I used beautiful silver embroidered lace trim from Happy Daze and spritzed the calico with pastel mists.

The papers are Websters Pages HollyWood Vogue and are perfect for my Art Deco theme.

Sticking with the Art Deco theme is a layout of my sister in her flapper finery.

The title is because her beaded headpiece is actually a 1940's (ish) replica necklace that I sent to Mum one birthday or christmas. It certainly looks better on her head than it did in the shop!

Maybe my next layout will feature me in my flapper dress.....hmmmm

To enter this months competition simply add you name to the widget here:

Love and pearls

Ruth xxx

A few photos and the usual chit chat.

2012-01-01T22:38:00.000Z

Christmas was the usual early morning/late night/bleary eyed occassion that it is.

It didn't stop Ben smiling though.

Chaos ensued and I went into cardboard recycling mode

aka neurosis overdrive (again)!!

The tree fell over...it was my fault for letting Georgia hand out the presents!

And we enjoyed our Annual Boxing Day meal with the cousins.

The New Year brings exciting adventures to New Zealand so I don't know when I will be posting next but make 2012 a good one for yourselves and your family.

Love and suitcases

Ruth xxx

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T22:23:00.003Z

I wanted to give my work colleagues their christmas presents, with a touch of my crafty magic, and went for the old decorated bottle trick...why buy boring wine carrier bags when you can make these for free!!

I used brown parcel paper, border punches, string and shrink plastic (for the neck of the bottle)

and a Circular Catslife Press stamp from Happy Daze.

The large tag stamp is from PaperArtsy.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.

Love and Rose'

Ruth xxx

A Cute Christmas Couple and a couple of catch ups !

2011-12-17T17:17:00.001Z

I made this card as a momento for a couple who are celebrating their First Christmas Together.

It was commissioned by one of their Mums.

The card opens out and says inside:

" Love is the real thing the rest is just tinsel"

(what a cool quote!!)

I used Webster Pages 6x6 Die Cuts, and a Happy Holidays sentiment stamp from Happy Daze and a Papermania Stamp Set.

I hope they like it xxx

This year I have decorated my mantle piece like a curiosity shop. It is full of all those little things rather than one big swag or ornament. I have finally found an excuse to display my red flocked Pierrot doll!! It's tacky and kitch like the flocked reindeer but I love it!!

I don't think I have blogged this little altered frame.
|It also has a 50's kitch ornament in it and is made with Websters Die Cuts. You can see it on the HappyDaze Facebook page.

The Father Christmas is Gisella Graham and I found it in a charity shop.

The elves behind are this years new additions and look like they are from The Grinch movie.

and finally my tree is up with only a couple of new additions this year, 3 White flocked polar bears and some more white felt hearts and Bens train from Santa.

Being train obsessed we have been on a Santa train ride....it wasn't quite the Polar Express so he was a little disappointed!

..and Georgia has been doing the rounds caroling with the local choir.

If I don't catch up with you before the New Year have a lovely Christmas and I will see you in January...and also some lucky peeps will see me in Febuary in New Zealand!!!!

eeeeeeeccckkkk can't wait..it's more exciting than Christmas..almost..lol

Love Ruth xxx

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000Z

This months challenge at HappyDaze is an "Explosion of Colour" and is a theme I have really struggled with.

I love colour as much as the next person but I like my colours to compliment and co-ordinate, finally after a period of crafters block I was inspired by a photo on Pinterest.

I cannot claim the credit for the Colourful Doiley Bunting idea, but I did come up with the idea of using Cosmic Shimmer Chalk Mists all on my own!

The transformation from cream to gleam was instant and incredibly satisfying...and my bunting looks as bright and kitch as a 50's Tupperware party......which is exactly how I wanted it to look!

I think I may now be a convert to brightly coloured doileys as you can see the beautiful patterns more clearly and truly appreciate the work that someone has put into making them.

Cosmic Shimmer Mists are available in a huge range of colours from only £2.95 each.

You can enter this months competition and find the rules here, to have a chance of winning a £15.00 voucher to spend in the HappyDaze shop.

Good Luck

Ruth xxx

Come fly with me....

2011-11-08T18:39:00.002Z

Pink Paislee papers (from Happy Daze), have come up trumps again for me with the Amber Road range.

There are some rich, elaborate autumnal papers in the collection that reminded me of a Scottish Hunting Lodge at christmas.

The super cute reindeer antlers are also from Happy Daze and only cost 35p each.

I inked and glittered the naked wood.

TFL

Tiny little miniature birdhouses by the DT.

2011-10-04T06:28:00.002+01:00

Moira at Happy Daze had the fab idea of sending each of us a miniature birdhouse to alter as a christmas decoration.

You can see the incredible design team results HERE.

I used the beautiful Pink Paislee Parisian Elements paper, a wooden spool, Kaiser Craft wooden picket fence, and Prima flowers, I also used a chalk spray, ultimate glue and gesso.

Mine is a one off but I love the idea of making them as place setting name holders to have on the dinner table...good job there are only four of us!

Love and tiny things
Ruth xxx

Photocute...photocube.

2011-10-04T05:40:00.004+01:00

I have had a 5 inch cardboard photocube left over from a kit for about 3 years and when I needed to find a way to scrap my friends six children for her it was the 6 sided photocube that sprung to mind.

I used some Basic Grey papers from the sale at Happy Daze and altered my selected photos with the "Picnik" programme to give them all the same tones.

I'm not used to working with such bright colours but for this many kids it was definately the easiest option!

.....and finally my little namesake Lucie xxx

Love and large families

Lucy-Ruth x

I want never gets....

2011-09-20T14:17:00.001+01:00

My Mother always used to say "I want never gets"...but sometimes in life .............you just have to figure a way around these things!

I have always wanted a Cath Kidston radio but am never going to get one (they cost nearly £200!!).

I didn't even get the retro radio I asked for for my birthday, (I was in hospital with Georgia on my birthday) and Argos had sold out of the cream retro ones so my DH bought me a modern one. Still the sound quality is good though so I can't complain...... but it still wasn't quite my dream kitchen accessory!

You should have seen his face drop when I mentioned that I was going to alter it!!

I felt guilty at first but what the heck..what was it that William Morris used to say...everything must be both beautiful and useful.

...and now it is thanks to these pretty Girls Paperie papers and a lick of Mod Podge.

Love and rock n roll

Ruth xxx

Little Black Dress Challenge at HappyDaze

2011-09-15T10:59:00.000+01:00

This months challenge at Happy Daze is all about your little black dress..

.....you know the old faithfull one thatyou can't live without!!

When it comes to crafting I just can't live without beautiful papers and use them as my fallback time and time again.

I used My Minds Eye Portobello Road and some Prima packaging.

What is your favourite crafting product that you fall back on each time and just can't live without?

To enter the competition click HERE

Love and chickens

Ruth xxx

2 new layouts at last......phew!!

2011-09-02T17:49:00.000+01:00

I made both of these layouts in August but have had to re-photograph them 3 times.....it seems that the pale backgrounds are washing out the details in the bright summer light..(cough cough)....so now that September is upon us and I am grumbling at losing the light again it seems that this time is 3rd time lucky.

If Ben could read he would curse me because he is actually a Train spotter but all in the name of art...etc..I made the telescope from brown felt and gold thread. Ben was actually looking through a telescope in a childrens park but it wasn't quite as interesting as this one!

I enjoyed making a fantasy page with the cut out sillhouette from the photo and am certainly planning to do alot more.

More my usual style this is the one that was struggling to stay true to its colour for me which is annoying because I like to colour compliment my photos, and it just wasn't happening once I had loaded them onto the PC..grrrrrrr.

As soon as I took a photo of it on a cloudy day it turned out grey..sometimes no matter what you do the photos don't reflect the true beauty of the layouts:(

The dragonfly is from HappyDaze and is one of the PinkPaislee Butterfly Garden wooden shapes, which come in a pack of four including a cool birdcage.

I kept it completely natural and simply coated it with glitter glue and it looks so much better in real life then on here.

Both pages were made using 2 sheets of the same Websters Pages 12x12 papers.....kind of handy when you buy the full kits....I have finally progressed from being a one page scrapper to a 2..lol!!

It works though because it's nice to know that I can afford to cut out the images from the spare one and have a bit more freedom.

It's all those years of shopping in scrap shops and only buying one of each design that caused me to be so frugle.

Love and generosity

Ruth xxx

Pink Paislee - MISTABLES made in HEAVEN

2011-08-27T08:39:00.000+01:00

This cute hairslide is part of the Pink Paislee Mistables Range. The collection consists of all sorts of alterable things such as tags, scalloped fabric edges, 12x12 resist papers etc and they are all compatable with any type of sprays and inks.

Once you remove the distressed muslin hairslide there is a fuzzy felt mistable flower undeneath so that the card doesn't look quite so naked! The background papers and the die cut tags have been smudged with distress inks.

On this card I used a hint of yellow on the background and a smudge of green on the tag to compliment the Websters 6x6's.

All products are fron Happy Daze and can be found here.

Love and a mistable marriage

Ruth xxx

An ode to Adele

2011-08-07T10:02:00.001+01:00

You know my daughter loves to sing....

I have always thought that role models like Adele are the type of personalities she should look up to rather than certain other pop stars...fortunately she is growing out of her Disney stage at last and listening to more discerning music these days...a relief to my ears!!

I used the beautiful reverse side of the Websters Pages

Hollywood Vogue and a sheet of their matching vellum from

Happy Daze.

The chipboard heart is by Twiddleybitz from my dear friend Carol in Australia.

Love and heroes

Ruth xxx

Happy Daze at the sea-side....

2011-08-04T12:20:00.000+01:00

This months challenge theme at Happy Daze is the beach..it couldn't have been more timely, what with the "mini heatwave" we have had.....I love how the English have mini heatwaves...basically it means 2-3 days of good warm weather!! lol.

I borrowed a friends photo of her daughter Lucie for this "Queen of the Sandcastle" layout.

The papers are Pink Paislee and the ephemera and trim are still available in the Happy Daze shop.

"Oh I do like to be beside the Seaside" is the theme for the August challenge.

You can enter in one of 3 ways:

Blog your entry and use the Linky widget here to link to your blog entry

Load to the Happy Daze Facebook Page

Sent a pic by email to info@happy-daze.net

The current challenge ends at Midnight Wednesday 31 August 2011. Any type of work based on the theme is fine. One entry will be drawn at random to win a £15.00 Gift Voucher plus free P&P for the Happy Daze shop. Maximum of 3 entries per person. Entries must use at least one product which can be purchased in the Happy Daze shop.

Love and sandcastles

Ruth xxx

Arch - de - triumph

2011-07-24T21:43:00.000+01:00

This project has been a bit of a triumph for both Georgia and I for personal reasons.....either way it feels good to be scrapping again!

When closed it reads "Live your dreams like a star".

When open it reads "Georgia you rock....you are my star"

I tried to fill it with positive messages. (This is not about being famous......oh no far from it!!)

Small details: Liquid Pearls, altered Prima Butterflies and Handmade Mulberry flowers...tutorial coming soon.

Websters Pages paper pack from Happy Daze.......my advice buy the whole pack as soon as they get each range in and then just go for it!!

Accessories and single 12x12 pages available HERE from 90p each.

The back of the arches is a Christmas Photo but I liked her wings.....and the sides are actually the front...if you know what I mean!!

I glued wooden beads onto the base to create feet.

Love and triumph over adversity

Ruth xxx

Magpie collector - Dangly Things Challenge @ Happy Daze

2011-07-21T09:27:00.000+01:00

I can't resist keeping shiny and broken things.....just like a Magpie!!

So when I discovered these beautiful

Vintage Trinkets by Prima from Happy Daze

I remembered my collection of Antique Bronze broken jewellery pieces, and using some head pins, joined some beads and the birdcage etc together.

Happy Daze have a challenge running at the moment called Dangly Things with a £15.00 voucher for the winner.......click HERE and good luck!!

Love and shiny things

Ruth xxx

Make do and Mend with Websters Fabric Ribbons

2011-07-14T16:09:00.000+01:00

"Why there is a recession on! Didn't you know?"

I started with these rather shameful bling-less sandals that although were once very pretty, had become a source of embarrassment no matter how many types of different wonder glues I used on the glass beads!

The Fabric is Websters Pages Fabric Ribbon which is actually a printed canvas and very strong and versatile. It can be found here at Happy Daze.

The flowers are wired along the edge of the lace and gathered up with a collection of pearls.

Love and chipped nail polish

RUTH xxx

Blowing Bubbles with Ben

2011-07-10T16:32:00.000+01:00

The one thing I am always fascinated with in my little boy is that he always puts his heart and soul into figuring out exactly how things work and he never gives up.

These Websters Pages Wonderfall Collection papers combined with Ephemera from Happy Daze embrace the sort of adventurous outdoors life that boys love so much.

I added the images to fill in the white space and layered them where needed.

..and finished off the title with some bunting flags.
The epoxy stickers are beautifully detailed and are from the Pink Paislee Butterfly Collection.

love and bubbles

Ruth xxx

Altered Tin

2011-07-07T18:17:00.006+01:00

I found this little tin in a charity shop back in February when Georgia was in hospital, it had a vintage postcard style picture glued onto it but it had faded over the years (probably only since the late 1980's to early 1990's..lol!).

After soaking and de-greasing it I glued on the front picture taken from a Pink Paislee sheet from the Butterfly Garden Collection at Happy Daze.

The silver tassel is from Happy Daze and their current Dangly Things challenge theme along with attending a beading jewellery course inspired me to use up some bling for the top.
Thanks once again to the kind ladies at my work and my mother in law who keep on donating me their broken and unwanted jewellery.

Love and beads
Ruth xxx

FLEETING MOMENTS IN THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN

2011-06-13T13:16:00.016+01:00

Moira from Happy Daze kindly sent me these beautiful papers by Pink Paisley called Butterfly Garden....they are truly divine.
I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them, the month before I had
picked up this old calendar from a junk shop for £2.50 and loved the nicotine stained yellowed days, numbers and months immediately, but they contrasted with the green 1980's style country calendar.
I endevoured to alter it into something worthy of such lovely old dates.

After researching some butterfly poems I settled on calling it Fleeting Moments which is also what time is made of.

I stitched the ribbon into a circle to make the flower and added the 3 pearl beads with wire.

All the papers, additional layers and alphabet stickers have been mod podged so that I can wipe it clean as it will probably live in the kitchen.

I just love the whimsical feel to these papers!

Gesso and acrylic paint for the visible wooden bits turned it from this.............into the finished product.

Love and junk

Ruth xxx

bon-voyage tag and facebook challenge

2011-05-27T18:02:00.011+01:00

One of our wonderful local librarians is leaving today.

 She is bright cheerful and witty (and just happens to like my work..phew).

So instead of making her a good-bye or good luck card I was inspired by these beautiful papers from the Butterfly Collection by Pink Paislee here at Happy Daze and the little aeroplane is from The Websters Pages Hollywood Collection. I'm sure she would get the humour of a bon-voyage tag.

The tag is cut from a collage sheet of images and mounted onto cardboard. The little "ha-ha" sign and the blue flag are from the butterfly ephemera collection.

Happy Daze are currently running an In Flight Challenge on Facebook.....become a "liker" and you could enter your Winged Things too.

Till we meet again

All my love Ruth x

It's a Pirates Life for me....for.....me.......for meeee.

2011-05-20T07:44:00.012+01:00

I was asked to make a door plaque for a 12 year old boy, "no problem" says I..whilst inside thinking ...eeeeeck!!

My crafting stash may be big but it is full of girls things and certainly not 12 year old boy things!!

The closest thing I could come up with was a Pirate theme....not quite the machine gun wielding zombies that he wanted but I hope he likes it anyway.

I couldn't be bothered getting my hands dirty with inks so I used a match on the edges of the treasure map.....I think inks give a much better effect but at least this is authentic..lol!

I used the back of a wooden jigsaw puzzle, Sandylion papers and Mod Podge to attach and glaze the paper with.
I sanded the edges and painted/gessoed and glossy accented some Basic Grey skinny chipboard letters.
Then printed the words off the pc and stained them with a tea-dye stain.
The metal embellishment is from an ethnic bag and the winged boy came from a bag of chipboard ephemera from Paper Paradise made by the Provo Craft range of Etcetera products.

love and barrels of rum
Ruth xxx

Keeping it Simple

2011-05-14T17:28:00.003+01:00

My delightful son is so full of energy that those rare moments when he stops and takes it all in are precious.

The journaling says:

"Thoughtful moments are few and far between when you are 3 and full of energy!"

Love and precious moments

Ruth xxx

Royal Wedding Challenge

2011-04-27T19:45:00.000+01:00

Altered Geisha cordially invites you to

join her in celebrating the

Royal Wedding of Prince William Wales and Miss Katherine Middleton.

I have pre-made this Union Jack page in anticipation of Fridays Nuptials.

I challenge you to make a Union Jack layout using my Tutorial and finish it before midnight on Bank Holiday Monday!!

Simply click on the Tutorials box at the top of this page and follow the instructions.

Don't forget to choose some embellishments that reflect the theme.

.
.....and leave a comment if you decide to play along!

Love and marriage and a ride down the Mall in an open top carriage

Ruth xxx

What to wear to a royal wedding or even just a street party!

2011-04-26T22:52:00.008+01:00

In keeping with this years maxi-dresses is this retro 70s vintage maxi dress......perfect for cocktails and a BBQ with the neighbours in the evening.

Great movement but my arms wobble too much.....do The Royals have protocols on showing too much flesh at weddings?

Cute colors but frankly too plain for a street party....we might be in a recession but we don't have rationing yet!

Nice but I'd like to see it on a model, probably too pale for my skin tones. (unless I was Nicole Kidman and could get away with it!).

Yup this would be my dream dress for the street party....I think I'd need some spanx under it and the blue trim is ghastly but nothing the designer couldn't alter before the big day.

Sadly my dreams won't be coming true but I am having fun internet windows (sic) shopping anyway!

Love and guest lists

Ruth xxx

Royal Wedding fever hits hard......

2011-04-25T17:10:00.008+01:00

I'm getting quite excited about this whole William and Kate thing are you?

I'm getting all geared up fpr a last minute street party...wish I had these guys as the planners though!

Rock my Wedding have some awesome photos on their site.

Tomorrow I will show you my fantasy outfit!!

Love and flags

Ruth xxx

Easter Sunday....full of joy and treats....

2011-04-24T09:32:00.007+01:00

This year I taught the kids how to make hot-cross buns!!

Wishing you all a lovely day..we are off to church and then going on a picnic...yay!!

Note: The egg is from Tescos and I gessoed it, painted it and sparkle mod podged it. A vintage doiley and a few flowers and it's ready to give to a generous friend.

Love and lots of melted chocolate in this hot weather

Ruth xxx

Happy Daze "EASTER CANDY" Giveaway

2011-04-22T18:33:00.006+01:00

If you pop on over to the Happy Daze blog and leave a comment about

"Gillians Distressed Chest"

You could win a £25.00 yup thats a whole generous cracking

TWENTY FIVE POUNDS!!

ps: If you win and you need some help spending it I can always offer free advice.......the Happy Daze shop is packed full of sunny lovelies at the moment!!

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter

Ruth xxx

Art is Therapy, Therapy is good for the soul....x

2011-04-10T22:13:00.003+01:00

"Art is Therapy"

I really believe that for me crafting and creating is therapeutic but I became so stressed before christmas and felt so guilty about my scrapbooking interfering with family life that I nearly had a breakdown!

It no longer felt like therapy or fun

Last year I struggled to come up with fresh photos to scrap because I felt so disappointed in them and it felt as if I didn't have the time to go out and take new ones. This year my photography has hopefully improved following a quick course at my local childrens centre and now I have plenty of photos itching to be scrapped.

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses!

So after a very long break I was coerced into stamping 80 bags for my local church. The bug was back......... but not my confidence.

However this week I had a go at making a chalkboard from an old wooden jigsaw. I was worried that I had lost my style and wouldn't be able to pull it off, especially as I was using plastic leaves and not Prima products...lol!!

I hope the lovely Lucie likes it and at least at 5 years old she isn't old enough to be a critic.......ah the simple life aye......back when everything was pink and girlie.

Sometimes a bit of escapism and fantasy does you good and sometimes therapy really does work.

Love and being 5 forever........

Ruth x

New Zealands darkest day.......

2011-02-22T07:20:00.002Z

My thoughts and prayers are with my fellow Kiwis on this darkest day.

.

I pray and hope that the rescuers can get the trapped people out of the buildings before anymore aftershocks cause more damage and that those who have lost loved ones will one day find the light again.

Love and hope

Ruth xxx

Time Out

2011-02-18T19:00:00.002Z

I am taking a bit of time out from crafting and as luck would have it I have had both kids in hospital in the last month. (good job I didn't have any deadlines as Lets get Shabby have gracefully let me take some time off).

Ben fell and hurt his knee so was kept in overnight whilst they looked for signs of sceptic arthritis. Georgia in the meantime has been off school with glandula fever and has developed a condition called irritable hip. That meant a 7 night stay on the childrens ward for mother and daughter. So between my two limping kids and the usual winter colds I have been busy playing nurse (maid)!!

Love and good health

Ruth xxx

Shabby Architectural Challenge no 19

2010-12-26T15:33:00.004Z

This months challenge at Lets Get Shabby is to use the provided picture for inspiration and to be inspired by Arches, scallops and architecture.

I used these pictures that were taken in York last summer. We had been to the National Railway Museum and Ben was playing in the Castle grounds with a new train......it always amazes me that boys will play in any piece of dirt they can find!!

I used Pink Paislee House of Three Parisian Anthology papers from Happy Daze.

The main page is called Architectural arch and comes with a raised embossed background that you can alter to create any colour or texture that you want. I altered them with brown and blue Ranger distress inks to create the moody background.

The rambling flower is hand coloured and cut from Primas paintables.

As always the sponsors are super generous with their prizes and the entries are wide and varied, so get your thinking caps on and join in the fun!! After all what else are you going to do stuck indoors for the next few freeszing cold snow filled weeks!

Love and dirt

Ruth xxx

I said LOOK don't TOUCH!!

2010-12-19T13:12:00.004Z

I am going to take your photo......

...so this is what he did!!

My DDA is sooooo far behind now I just don't know if I'll ever catch up.

I have still been taking photos like you do, at this time of the year, so if I don't get my DDA finished I am posting these for posterity!

Love Ruth xxx

Tis the Sweet Season for Birthday Wishes

2010-12-09T17:40:00.005Z

I made Georgia a Giant Cupcake for her birthday and would you believe it, it's a perfect match for the Websters Pages Holiday Wishes papers!!!

Shock horror I have no idea how that happened. (It's a good job she can't read her mothers conniving mind!)

The dimensional cupcake is made from cardboard, felt padding, glitter glue and the Websters Pages ribbon.

The paper case effect is made by folding the ribbon, which is printed on a dense canvas type of material and can take quite a hammering. I reckon you could cut petals out of it on a die cutting machine (if you have one).

In the top left hand corner I used a small pom-pom to cover the letters that are on top of the cupcakes, as mine was something random like an "F"!!

I bought the whole set of 12x12's from Happy Daze.....next on the list a Gingerbread house..yup you guessed it..the kids have made one....I have no idea where they got that random idea from but I just happen to have the paper to match!!

Love and birthday wishes

Ruth xxx

The guessing is over!

2010-12-01T21:20:00.001Z

I don't know whether I ought to dare bore you again with my "fear" of card making...think Gillian Mckeith in the jungle and you are getting close!!

This year I bit the bullet and made 2 for the Lets get Shabby Christmas giveaway.

The Shabby followers had such fun trying to guess who made which card.

Thanks to all who played along and hunted for the clues.

Love and letters to santa

Ruth xxx

Shabby Xmas Giveaway

2010-11-28T18:39:00.008Z

It's back and biger than ever before.......yup...it's the "Lets get Shabby" Christmas giveaway!!

For your chance to win some handmade Christmas cards by some of the biggest names in scrapping simply take a peek at these 2 pictures and try to guess who made which ones!!

note: there is a mix of designers in each picture:

Unfortunately my cards are still winging their way to Australia...(they probably stopped off at Surfers Paradise on the way). I'll give you a clue if they do appear..mine are red and green..lol!

You can still play along by following the rules at

Lets get Shabby.

1) become a follower

2) find the clues on my Dt buddies blogs (see sidebar)

3) leave a comment on LGS

Good luck xxx

A Shabby Christmas Song: Challenge 18

2010-11-25T20:53:00.000Z

This months challenge at Lets get Shabby is to create a Project using your favourite Christmas song/carol/hymn as inspiration and to include part of the words on your page, either as the titile or as journalling. It must be noticeable.

I found it really difficult to choose a favourite song as I think I just love them all.....I'm not really fussy and could happily hum along to anything from christmas carols to The Pogues.

Eventually I settled on one that focused on Father Christmas to evoke the spirit of the photo of Ben.

For a week my layout sat unfinished whilst I sorted out Georgias birthday party and cake.

Then finally I had a light bulb moment...my layout needed a Vintage tag to fill the empty space.

I used a brown tag and vintage victorian images from the dotcom gift shop, the enamelled bells are from Hobby House and the stamp is made by Papermania who once again have surprised me with their occassional touches of vintage brilliance.

I am loving their Silent Night range!

May I recommend this stamp package to all crafters. It is beautifully detailed, ideal for all cards and retails at £5.99...if it hasn't sold out that is. (I got mine from Pennells garden centre).

Anyway...back to business....click here to enter Challenge number 18, which has the most geneous prizes for all this month and above all keep on humming those tunes!

Love Ruth xxx

Ultimate glue Giveaway

2010-11-21T15:33:00.003Z

Happy Daze are giving away a pot of "The Ultimate" glue to one lucky winner.

All you have to do is leave a comment on the Happy Daze Blog HERE

Entries are picked at random and close on Friday 27th.

Pretty papers capturing the end of summer....

2010-11-15T19:38:00.003Z

Alas winter has fallen from the sky with a thud.....Autumn passes us by in a week.

Is it because we aren't American that we don't get the pleasure of a lingering season, and we are punished with the cold winds from the North Pole the minute summer has finished?

And so it was with great joy that I scrapped with these "sweetness" papers by Pink Paislee from Happy Daze..

Who needs cold dull Autumn when you can remember what the English call "the back end of summer" (not the most polite way to put it!!)

I simply used a marker to pen to write on the photo the place and date. (for my local friends it is the supersized deck-chair at Butlins holiday camp!).

Love and sunshine

Ruth xxx

psst.....20% off Websters Pages at Happy Daze

2010-11-04T14:21:00.007Z

It's getting a bit like Hot Deals and Money Saver Supermarket.com around here..lol....

But heres a heads up for all my crafty followers.

Happy Daze are having a 20% off Websters Weekend and may I tell you that they also have the large 12x12 Christmas pads in stock..yum yum yum.

Personally I have gone for the Sweet Season paper kit but I also adore the traditional Waiting for Santa too.

Have you seen the ruffle trim and vintage buttons?

Click on embellishments to find them..sigh....

I for one am grateful that we are getting the opportunity to work with this seasons products rather than waiting forever for these beautiful papers to come into the country.

Planning a Christmas 2010 mini book?

It's all in one shop..I'm thinking mini pack of papers, stickers, alphabets..cardstock...sorted!!

Go one treat yourself you know you want to!!

Love Ruth xxx

dotcom gift shop.

2010-10-31T03:14:00.004Z

It's that time of the year when I start to alter lots of Christmas boxes, except this year I have found a company that take the hard work out of altering.

dotcom gift shop is a lovely on line retailer that sells anything vintage/retro/shabby...you know the kind of things you would put on your santa list if only "he" was listening!!

I found the naked boxes to be really sturdy and covered in a slightly glossy brown wrapping paper...similar to Post Office brown parcel paper.

Once covered with patterned papers I lightly inked the edges and decorated the tags to go on top.

I made 5 in one day so they must have been simple.....(it would have been 6 if life hadn't stepped in with halloween parties!!)

The Vintage Ribbon is a printed off white twill with beautiful vintage images and a stunning use of duck egg blue and traditional reds and greens.

The Postage Stamp stickers/toppers are easy to peel off and are printed on good quality card with a mix of vintage and modern patterns.

The 50 Victorian images (which come free with the 6 boxes)are tradition re-prints of Victorian scraps and are perfect for altering all sorts of things from tags to baubles.

I almost just wanted to glue them into a scrap book and make my own Victorian scrap album!!

The six boxes vary in size and are as deep as each is wide, making it easy to measure them for covering!!

These boxes are on offer at half price for only £2.95...at that price I'd go for the ribbon and the tags as well!

......ps: whilst you're at the site can you tell Santa I'd like the White Shabby curio cupboard for altering!Love and vintage ribbons

Ruth xxx

Be-witched

2010-10-29T22:00:00.008+01:00

To be-witched or not to be-witched that is the question?

It's that silly time of the year when the adults wonder whether they should dress up and join in the fun with the children...fortunately Granny B has a costume and joined in last years Fright Night at Hagg Lane.

The photo was taken by some professionals at a charity event organised by my friends sister and held in the local woods near York.

The fabulous papers are from Happy Daze and are from the Hocus Pocus range by Pink Paislee these papers are called Skeleton Soiree'...cool huh?

I ordered 2 sheets of the same so that I could make the circle design, I wanted to soften the skeleton but also keep it as part of the focal point of the design.

The silver blingy letters are from Papermania and the flowers are from Prima.

Happy Halloween

Love Ruth xxx

Shabby challenge number 17 "Raid your sewing box"

2010-10-27T19:34:00.002+01:00

I raided my sewing box with pleasure for this Lets get Shabby challenge and used a zipper,a hat pin and a pearl pin to make my own hat pin.

I was Rak'd this green pin...I suspect it is Maya Road, but I really love making my own just like our gorgeous sponsor, Tattered Inspirations, who incidently sells gorgeous vintage inspired kits!!

The zip was fun and I would definitely use this technique again!!

Want to join in?

Click here and see the stunning samples from the hugely talented team and then play along..it's as easy as 123.

Love and dolls

Ruth xxx

B.E.W.A.R.E......

2010-10-25T00:00:00.000+01:00

Halloween is around the corner and that means hiding in your house and turning all the lights off!!

Do you think my banner will frighten away any undesirables?

With it's mean looking Pumpkins...lol

...and scary skeletons

Creepy spiders....

........and flying bats!!

I did have fun making it though...or should I say "we" because Ben thinks it's his as he chose the Pumpkin stickers.

The mini papers by Pink Paislee are called Hocus Pocus and you get 30 in a pad for less than a fiver from Happy Daze.

Love and peel-off bats

Ruth xxx

Charming and sweet...

2010-10-21T14:11:00.001+01:00

You should know that you are Charming, Adorable and ever so sweet....from the top of your head to the toes on your feet.

I love how the words are printed onto this paper in such a beautiful arrangement and I felt the need to rhyme with them.

These photos (from last christmas) with Ben and the glittery wreath, are just right for the red glittered My Minds Eye papers.

I was attempting to get him to look angelic with it on his head but he wasn't very co-operative and giggled when he stuck it on his feet...grrr...!!

These papers can be found here at Happy Daze

Love and feet

Ruth xxx

Keep out or the witch will get you!!

2010-10-20T18:59:00.000+01:00

I covered this cupboard with the Graphic45 Halloween in Wonderland papers as a present for my nieces birthday.

I'm not sure if she "gets" it, but inside is Alice looking into a mirror on a dressing table and the Queen is pointing at her in the reflection.

I thought Aimee could hide her jewellery in the drawer. We also gave her a sweet Disney Couture Tinkerbell necklace that she chose. Me personally I'd have gone for the Alice in Wonderland tea cups but then I do like to go over the top when it comes to themeing things!!

Love and white rabbits

Ruth xxx

I am only showing this because....

2010-10-16T22:45:00.004+01:00

I want the chance to win 72 Copics and the rules say you have to link to a card with a stamped image......as this is the 2nd card I have made this year...lol (as it's October!!)

I thought I'd better play by the rules.

The pretty papers are Prima Annalee from Happy Daze and the stamp is one of those girly ones by someone who makes pretty stamps(can't you tell I am a card virgin still-no name dropping from me!!) Oh yeah thats it I have remembered it's "Whiff of Joy"

To enter this massive giveaway click HERE

Love and luck

Ruth xxx

I love my Camera

2010-10-13T17:31:00.005+01:00

Ok: I like my Cannon Rebel but I'd really LOVE a 550d.....one can but dream!!

What I do really like are these Lost and Found papers from Happy Daze. (I keep on using the little lost and found tag at the bottom of them and popping it into the layouts somewhere)....photography was always a hobby of mine at school thanks to my Dad, and now I have found my love for it again.

The edges of the paper are glittered in a deeply rich and luxurious bronze and the word Love was cut from some of the other papers in the range...yet again it's lathered in glitter!!

I love the French words and the birdcage design..they'd go with anything.

Love and lenses

Ruth xxx

Lost and Found

2010-10-10T20:48:00.006+01:00

Georgia broke her arm and found out that she was really brave..

The name for these My Minds Eye papers is Lost and Found and they are perfect for grungy style layouts and pretty shabby chic ones too.

They can be found here at Happy Daze along with a whole load of beautiful papers from the same collection...just check out the details in the corner of each paper.......serious style and stamping effects!!

Love and stars

Ruth xxx

Has anyone seen my missing layout?

2010-10-01T09:12:00.003+01:00

Sometime back in January /February 2010 I was asked to make a layout for the "new" Scrapbook Trends UK magazine.

I dutifully met the deadline and e-mailed a copy of it to the editor. The next day I posted the hardcopy and that was the last I saw of it.

I recieved an e-mail praising the layout and saying how lovely it was..etc..etc. Stupidly in my excitment I didn't write down the publishers address or keep the editors e-mail so someone somewhere has my layout!!I have e-mailed the publishers twice but no one has replied.

The magazine was obviously never commissioned in these hard economic times..goodness knows why because the US publication is a top quality one and is nothing like the watered down English scrapbooking mags...anyway there is not alot I can do about that (damn and there was me hoping for a cover page..lol!!)

So if you read my blog and happen to be that editor or work in a warehouse that is full of strange looking Pizza boxes...please please send me home!!

Anyway...having finally tracked down my one and only pictures of the layout taken early in the morning before I posted it...I have decided I shall appeal to all and sundry for my granny back!!

OK Georgias Granny but we would both like to have her home again!!

Love and hope

RUTH XXX

Lets get Shabby Challenge 16 "is now cooking baby"

2010-09-27T17:59:00.001+01:00

"Cooking with style just like mama did in the 60's"

...oh except I have a junior masterchef helper in my kitchen!!

The rules this month are to use our special shabby recipe:

You will need to include

1 scrap of material

2 die cuts

3 colours from your chosen kitchen as shown on the shabby blog.

I used a die cut 12x12 paper from Making Memories, a die cut swirl sent to me from Linda and my three main colours from kitchen number 1 are Pink, Yellow and Green.

My scrap of material is the rose at the top from Laura Ashley.

Last month there were so many awesome entries and each month is just gets harder and harder to chose...so go on have fun and start "cooking up a layout"

Love and spatulas

Ruth xxx

Simple is sometimes best...

2010-09-17T12:48:00.007+01:00

Primas Annalee-Avondale papers from Happy Daze are so pretty they can just be used on their own with a simple mat and some scalloped borders from the Parlour range.

Georgias dress is full of flowers so I really didn't need to embellish this pretty paper any more than it already was.
Apart from making a lace flower for the corner and using a Prima centre on it.

As the flowers are printed on both corners I like to use a craft knife to cut around the edges of them and overlap them onto the photo, rather than avoid or cover them over.

Love and lazy Sundays

Ruth xxx

Perfectly Pretty Prima makes me Happy:)

2010-09-14T10:09:00.003+01:00

I received a fabulous package from Happy Daze and am working on it in 2 parts...the first will be the Prima Papers and the second will be My Minds Eye.

Happy Daze have just got in a whole load of beautiful papers and accessories.

Check out the florals on this layout!!

I used the exquisite floral patterned Ashton and Sonnet which has a border around the page.

For this pretty card I used Parlour which is full of delightful borders and Poetry as the base and I used the reverse side for the stamped sentiment.

I also finally used one of those trinkets that I have had forever.......I swear I was going to use it when Georgia was about 3 years old and never got around to it!!

Stay tuned for more pretty papers next week.

Love Ruth xxx

Mini book page for Happy Daze and UKS

2010-08-27T14:51:00.004+01:00

A very long time ago...back in the depths of winter I made 2 pages for UK Scrappers.......whilst searching for a photo of a missing layout (more of that soon) I found these photos which I had forgotten all about!!

I thought it best not to show them until they had been featured on UKS but I reckon this one must have been shown by now.

My brief was to make Pretty-Grungy with Stamping.....

I used Gesso for stamping and inked Distress Inks over it.

I think it was a 6x8 but I made it with a flap that opens up the secret is to have a bit of space on the left where the punch holes are so that the flap still opens even when you have finished the mini book and joined the pages together.

(I think the blue cardstock was 6x12, then fold at 2 inches from the top and 2 inches from the bottom, cut 2cm off the left hand side of each flap and use the flaps as a base to hold the shaped flap covers with)

The papers were My Minds Eye from Happy Daze

Love and forgotten makings

Ruth xxx

Making Shabby Music and searching for a Star

2010-08-26T13:14:00.001+01:00

Lets get Shabby is going all mu-sic-al on us this month (said with a Glee style emphasis on the "cal" bit!!)

We want to see some music notes on your project, whether it be punching, stamping or musical style papers from manufacturers or vintage music sheet finds.

Sing with all your Heart

I had been meaning to scrap this photo for a while but forgot about it like you do.......and so it has eventually ended up in a deep canvas with music notes covering the four sides as well.

The patterned paper is from Prima courtesy of Happy Daze and I used the whole entire sheet!!

By carefully figuring out my corners I maximised the flowers and they bend around corners, the large rose at the front covers 2 sides and is also 3D at the top of it. Any spare scraps were torn into circles to make small roses.

The glittered spray is from Twiddleybitz and was a dream to paint. I added Glossy accents to the butterfly and edged it with gold dots, the same as the lettering.

I bought the French music sheets from Paper Paradise when it closed down.

Lets get Shabby are looking for new DT members to compliment the team...if you would like to enter please visit the blog and read the entry rules...and good luck!!

Love and microphones

Ruth xxx

Soup with Style

2010-08-24T22:04:00.008+01:00

This is my sister Linda at a Depression Dinner hosted in the Art Deco city of Napier NZ (my hometown was re-built after an earthquake in 1931).

From what I can gather the people dress as paupers and chase the wealthy down the road for some food?

The rich are dressed in their Art Deco finery...it must be a fab sight to see and I can't wait to get the chance to go one day.

Linda is wearing an apron made out of a washed sugar or flour sack cloth.

I love the pretty details on the Graphic 45 tag sheets

My Minds Eye 12x12

Graphic 45 vintage images

Cosmo Cricket tags and tape-measure

Prima e-line corner crystals

Red heart doiley from the lovely Toni

Love and soup

Ruth xxx

Bling up your bottles....

2010-08-23T11:08:00.007+01:00

Our Vintage Affair has a challenge running this month to decorate a bottle..

Polly has demonstrated a beautiful bottle with lovely lacing up the back of it and the competition is open to anyone so if you fancy making a quick project and entering this challenge all you have to do is add your name to the list.

Isn't it lovely?

Our Vintage Affair can be found HERE

Love Ruth xx

Hairband Dayz

2010-08-10T00:02:00.000+01:00

Getting Georgia to brush her hair is a daily battle. I am always buying her nice clips but by the end of the school day she has usually taken them out and lost them....it's been this way for about 3 years!!

She daren't lose Mummys homemade headbands though, so the trick is to keep on making them and making her feel good about brushing her hair. (which is no mean feat!!)

I just wish they'd take the daily tears away too:(

My Minds Eye papers from Happy Daze

note: The Websters(ish) trim!! Which Websters are bringing out again this winter in the most divine moody blacks and purples.......which I know would look awesome with the Graphic 45 Halloween papers my heart so desires.....!!

Love and knots

Ruth xxx

la Sie est Belle.........It's a beautiful life

2010-08-04T22:07:00.006+01:00

......and Websters Pages make such beautiful paper.....sigh...... and Making Memories too lol!!

I

It feels funny scrapping a winter scene in the middle of summer but it just goes to show how quickly life passes you by!!

One of the flowers taken from my trim purchase from Duttons for Buttons.....I think I got the idea for seperating them from Lucy Edson.I was hoping they'd look like snowballs but gave up on that idea...it would have swamped the page.

I made the velvet rose with my hot gun

and added some bling to the centre and used a Prima say it in Pearls to co-ordinate the colours.

If there is enough interest I will do a tutorial on the velvet roses as they aren't done with the current method of twisting as you go.

Love and vintage velvet

Ruth xxx

Duttons for Buttons

2010-08-03T12:27:00.000+01:00

I went to the historic city of York last week and visited this special shop in a medieval building.

It's called "Duttons" for buttons (best said in a West country accent for fun) and this is why.....

It wasn't as cheap as I was hoping it would be but then I guess you would have to sell an awfull lot of buttons to cover your rent.

I did find some trim though that looks alot like Websters Bloomers but a bit wider and seeing as there is no chance of anyone stocking that in the UK, I bought the next best thing. There are all sorts of colours of this out at CHA at the moment......mmm peaches and cream....

"Ain't is just sooo preddy!!"

Love and buttons

Ruth xxx

Live Laugh Love

2010-07-30T11:53:00.001+01:00

I am Livin, Laughin and Lovin this Prima range!!

(yes I deliberately left out the "g" so I sound like I'm from the hood!!)

I have been wanting to do a page using the curling technique for ages and this one seemed a perfect way to show the other side of the paper off and to create a busy (but not too busy) frame around the photo.

I have to say it's a difficult paper design to work with as it's hard to know where to add any embellishments, so I just went with what was already there and tried to 3D it up a bit.

I spritzed the plain Prima flowers to get a colour match and built them up then added a layer of the Jo Sonja Opal Dust again.

I don't really like the stripes in the background so I have tried to draw the attention away from them and to try to emphasise the circle design of the page.

Love and laughter

Ruth xxx

It's been a long time......

2010-07-27T15:18:00.004+01:00

I calculate it must have been at least a year since I last made a card!!

But I needed a wedding card urgently and they are pricey and hard to choose from, so I made my own..shock horror who would have thought it!!

The beautiful Cosmo Cricket papers and tag sheet are from Tillys of Immingham.

By the way do you photograph cards laying down, standing up or opened out flat? I really haven't got a clue!!

......and why don't my cards look like Melissa Phillips? She says stamping her feet!

Maybe it's time I went back to card making lessons!!

I even had to google card sizes so that this time I made one that would actually fit an envelope (they don't normally!!).

Love and marriage

Ruth xxx

2010-07-25T21:13:00.002+01:00

Challenge 14 at Lets get Shabby this month is all about "wings" and you need to use part or all of this quote:

"Friends are angels who lift you up when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly"

I used half of a small Maya Road tag book wing from

Bubbly Funk

A Tattered Angels alphabet surround from Tillys and a broken necklace.
Florists glass beads with Prima paper glued underneath them...aka paupers pebbles!!

Large Maya Road wings from Bubbly Funk covered in felt and sprayed with red Tattered Angels glimmer mist.

I used part of the quote as I changed it to "children" are angels...etc

Prima papers and flowers. The flowers are sprayed with glimmer mist and coated with Jo Sonja- Opal Dust
.

This is such an easy challenge to take part in and as always there is an awesome prize for the winner from our generous sponsors Devine Design Kits !!

So go on get your wings and things out and start creating!!

Love and trouble remembering how to fly

Ruth xxx

Baby Banner....In loving memory of Jacob...

2010-07-18T20:29:00.009+01:00

I made this sweet baby banner for my friends birthday.

Louise is one of those selfless, constantly giving people who lives for her family and not material worth.

She is certainly worthy of my time and effort, especially as it's her birthday today!!

This is the tag that hangs on the outside of the voil bag.

I think it must have been a gift bag for PJ's or something, probably passed onto me from Granny Brenda but it has finally been repurposed and found a new home.

The stickers are Melissa Frances
White crepe paper from Tillys for less than a £1
Footprints deep stamped into air drying paper clay.

Sadly baby Jacob is dancing with the angels....I'm hoping when his mummy hangs this in her house he can look down on her and make her smile:)
Sometimes when I work on a piece I really connect with the subject, this one was bittersweet and makes me feel very emotional.

You just can't imagine what some parents have to go through. Wasn't he a cutie...xxx

Sorry for the rubbish photo (literally...see the recycling bins..lol!!)

Love and thats why we call ourselves memory makers

Ruth xxx

Chandeliers, Twiddleybitz and glitter

2010-07-15T12:00:00.004+01:00

I really needed to use up these three photos and for some reason they seemed to suit a more simple layout.....I couldn't help but give the Twiddleybitz pieces a bit of glam glitter though!!

I love playing with paint on chipboard and blending it to match my colour schemes then adding some white gesso over the top...it means I can customise my chippie to my own colour everytime.

The pink is a metallic pink but sadly it doesn't show up in the photos:(

TFL

Love and glitter

Ruth xxx

Lets get Shabby Blog Hop is now closed

2010-07-14T10:26:00.003+01:00

Thanks for playing along with us on our blog hop we had so much fun.

The prize winners will ALL be announced on the Shabby Blog in the next few days.

Good Luck

Massive Shabby Giveaway..right here.....

2010-07-10T08:51:00.006+01:00

As part of our first Birthday Celebrations at ‘Let's Get Shabby’....

We decided to host a Birthday Bash Blog Hop!

Over the next few days on Let’s Get Shabby, the Shabby DT Girl’s blogs, and those of our Guest and Sponsor

(Purple Onion Designs for this month),

you will find a question along with a photos of a rak you could be in the running to win, on all 9 blogs.

So thats 10 chances in total!!

So what do you need to do?

Post a comment on the Birthday Bash Blog Hop posts on each blog and you will go into a draw to win the rak posted on that blog.

You will then need to find the answer to the questions posted on each blog and email all ten answers to Julie jacsplace2@iinet.net.au.

The questions are all based on or around the Shabby blog and the Shabby Girls.

E-mail in the correct answers and 2 random winners could win one of two raks posted on the Shabby Blog as well!

My question is: Which two Shabby Girls recently met?

....and this could be your prize for leaving a comment, unless you win the biggie prize off course!!

Remember don't tell me the answer...just leave me a comment to be in to win this one...it's Julie who wants all the secret answers and you'll have to do some serious blog reading to find them!!

Good Luck and please make sure you pop in and out of the Shabby Blog to find all the correct players......

Love Ruth xxx

The road less travelled....

2010-07-09T13:49:00.005+01:00

I thought it was very brave of Georgia to want to be different at the fancy dress party.

She knew exactly who she wanted to be and stuck to her guns no matter how much pressure her friends put on her to a different pop star.

I used broken jewellery to create a hair clip and a false earing.
(Now of course she is nagging me to actually let her get her ears pierced for real...wish I'd never started it!!)

I used one of the feathers that was glued onto her eyelid: ala Miley Cyrus

Thanks for looking.......I really do appreciate it and especially the lovely comments from those who remember Georgia as a sweet young thing!!
She is still only 7 you just wouldn't think it in these photos.

Love and false eyelashes
Ruth xxx

The Shabby Birthday Challenge and Giveways galore....

2010-06-28T12:34:00.001+01:00

This month is party time at Lets get Shabby as we celebrate our first birthday and pop open the fizzy wine and divide the cake amongst our friends and faithful followers.

This month you need to make a birthday themed project that includes stamps. The challenge runs during July along with some fun, games and giveaways and we would love you to join us!

This months sponsors at Shabby are Purple Onion designs who kindly supplied the stamps used on my project.

I stamped the words with Distress Ink on a previously sprayed background using Glimmer Mist. For such a finely detailed stamp I am delighted with the quality and how the red on red looks so good!

My cupcake was inspired by Ingvild Bolme and I used a combination of her technique here and the original one from

U-Tube here.

I would recommend taking some shortcuts though.....

1) When forming the inner circle (Just after the rubber band stage) you could just use a row of double sided tape to bind it all together on the outside. I used a glue gun but looking back it might have easier to run tape around it.

2) My topping is made from white felt. I cut 2 semi circles and scalloped the edges. Once glued onto the polystyrene balls I added some dimensional paint to create the edges and peaky icing bits. Then I lathered it with glue and sprinkled the glitter all over.

3) My favourite trick at the moment is to use fine wire and thread it through cotton lace. It gives you more control over the size and amount of gather in flowers or circles and worked great around the ball.

These are such beautiful and versatile stamps and are perfect for card makers.

My car boot bargain cake stand and doiley!!

Please call back later in the month for the fun and games and giveaways....

Love and cupcakes

Ruth xxx

Snow and Strawberries....

2010-06-23T11:24:00.009+01:00

For Fathers Day we made Mr IT a Snow Globe.

I have always been fascinated with these and remember being a bit jealous of my friends who had them.

I have quite a large..ahem..collection of them now (all blank and ready to alter) but just didn't have the inclination at Christmas.

I think a summery theme is just the tonic ...we need snow globes all year round to cheer us up!!

A misted crochet flower with prima gem centre..
Georgia has one side with lots of roses and hearts in it and Ben has the other side with blue pearls.
Both sides have the same photo with the kids hand written "love you Daddy in them"

PS: Did you know snow globes are very tricky to photograph as the light hits the circumference of the plastic and bounces back off...urghhh!!

This ones for you Mum, remember Grannys storage jars and Carlton Ware vase.....they look lovely on my new tiles...shame about the dusty windows caused by all the sanding!!

pps: Come on Kiwis...come on England

Love and snow globes

Ruth xxx

A photo for Dad....

2010-06-18T22:34:00.006+01:00

The kids were having passport photos taken last month when it was Mr IT's birthday and I had a cheap photo taken of them together for fun.

They gave the larger one to their Dad for his birthday and I turned the remainder into this layout as a reminder.

Sorry about Bens fingers in the above shot. A millisecond later he put sticky jam fingers on the photo:(

"Kids aye who'd have em?"

I have totally fallen in love with using glimmer sprays etc on cotton lace...more of this next week!!

Love and sweetness
Ruth xxx

Introducing Willow....

2010-06-17T13:24:00.009+01:00

Meet Willow.....she is a special little bear who joined our family today, thanks to my friends at playgroup.

Willow was made by a friend of mine who is so mega talented at making these bears that she has been entered for some national bear making contest. (bet you didn't even know they did this sort of thing in England!)

She has a delightfully old fashioned shape to her nose, piercing blue eyes and lavendar ears and paws. She is made from 100% German Silk (I think)

Willow is wearing delicate clothing with matching bloomers and has great taste in jewellery!

Tracey lives locally and works in our childrens centre. She is nearly up and running on the internet but if you were interested in looking at her bears I think she sometinmes has them on E-bay. Willow is fully jointed (no that does not mean she is stuffed full of drugs!) it means that her arms and legs move and she can sit quite happily on my display shelf.

I chose the name Willow to remind me of where we lived and the lovely friends I have made in our playgroup. (should we ever get this house painted and sold)

If anyone is serious about buying one of these collectors bears then please feel free to e-mail me and I will forward your details onto Tracey.

Love and teddy bear kisses

Ruth xxx

Vintage lunch box

2010-06-14T14:25:00.005+01:00

Georgia needed a new lunch box so I bought this pink plastic cool one (made in NZ) with different compartments in it for fruit etc....The only problem is she finds it difficult to carry to school as it doesn't have a handle. So I figured it needed a bag and thought I might just make her some...preferably from cool material(think Cath Kidston).

Fortunately an early morning weekend trip to a car boot sale solved that one, and 20p later I had a vintage bag that fits her lunch box like a glove.....this morning on the way out the door Ben was in tears...my flower bag...MY FLOWER BAG.......MY FLOWER BAG.....waaahhhh..Full blown tears and foot stomping!! I knew just how he felt!!lol!!

Love and old curtains

Ruth xxx

Wrinkles and all...

2010-06-11T18:58:00.005+01:00

I have made a layout just for me.

I was never blessed with lovely english rose skin, and as I age my freckles might be fading a bit but the liver spots are starting to appear, alongside the wrinkles..eeeck!!

Do you think normal people have botox? I'm quite tempted!! (they say that bookings are up during the world cup as women treat themselves for being neglected by their husbands...I wonder what treats they get the rest of the year?)

The magnifying glass is from Tillys and is made by Tattered Angels

Vintage signage is by Making Memories Vintage Findings range (I think)
The diamonte flower is from the Mother in Laws broken jewellery collection (thanks B xxx)

Love and botox?

Ruth xxx

Shabby Tutorial

2010-06-08T13:12:00.005+01:00

Yumiko has produced a beautiful and original tutorial for an altered jar this month.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Pop on over to Lets get Shabby HERE to see exactly how she made it.

I'm thinking a great alternative to wedding favours if you made them out of baby food jars!! (shame I'm already married..I swear I should have been a wedding planner!!)

Ruth x

Whatever happened to Scrapbook Trends?

2010-06-07T10:26:00.002+01:00

Does anyone know what happened to Scrapbook Trends the UK version that was due to be published and then ran into some difficulties?

I made a layout for them in January sent it in and haven't heard from them since. I was really excited at he thought of being published in such a quality mag but am cool with it if it isn't going to happen.....I'd just like my lovely layout back again!!

.....and no I don't have any addresses or e-mails cause if you know me well enough then you will know that I have lost or deleted them because I am so blonde (red)..... ok....I'm stupid!!

Love and Scrapbook Trends where are you?

Ruth xxx

Our Vintage Affairs next challenge is up....

2010-06-05T23:00:00.000+01:00

and what a beauty it is!!!

Polly has made her lovely sample
and left full instructions for finding templates for Tussy Mussies

Loreta has joined the design team

and Delish Designs have donated a gorgeous Vintage themed prize!!

What more could a girl want..shoes handbags and flowers...I wonder what next month will bring...diamonds perhaps?

Our Vintage Affair can be found HERE .....oh and they are looking for talented DT members too!!

Rockstar

2010-06-02T14:44:00.004+01:00

5 Microphones

1 Guitar

1 Keyboard

1 Songbook

endless out of tune songs sung in a fake Southern (american) accent

TURN THAT RACKET DOWN!!!

"But mummy all I wanna do is be a pop star."

Prima Pastiche papers from Happy Daze

Intricate chipboard flower aka Twiddley Tree from Twiddleybitz

1 Happy layout-Priceless!

Love and headphones

Ruth xxx

Farewell Bubbly Scrumptious

2010-05-30T10:55:00.002+01:00

"Home is where the heart is" and we are on the move to NZ as soon as destiny will allow.

I have made the difficult decision to leave my DT post at Bubbly Scrumptious. We are working hard on sorting out the house to sell and I have so many things to do that I just don't have enough time to dedicate to it nowadays.

I am very grateful for the opportunity Caroline gave me to work for her gorgeous shop and blog and have loved every minute of working with the kits and chipboard.

Some incredibley talented new DT members have been appointed so expect to see some awesome projects coming up in the next few weeks.

Love and tears Ruth xxx

Work that pose ...........

2010-05-27T22:49:00.006+01:00

Isn't it a great feeling when you have a new dress and you just feel so pretty in it.......oh to be 7 again....sigh.....!!

Now you can see why I just had to make "that"
headband.

If the focus is poor convert the photo to black and white it doesn't show up so much!

Georgia and I had some time to burn before Chloes' confirmation so we stopped off at our local churchyard and took some pretty photos in the evening sun/rainclouds!!

"I feel pretty oh so pretty ...."

xxx georgia xxx

A quickie...

2010-05-27T13:58:00.004+01:00

I am off in the shower as I have to get ready for my niece's confirmation tonight. I just wanted share this headband with you.

I made it this afternoon when we got home from playgroup and it matches Georgias new dress (although I think I will take up ownership of the hairband from tomorrow onwards!!)

It is truly international. The bright pink lace and the blue cotton lace are from different international giveaways that I won!!

ps: I only burnt myself 3 times on the glue gun...thats a record!! Last time I made a hairband my fingers were stinging for weeks....

Love and glue guns

Ruth xxx

Lets get Shabby: Challenge 12:

2010-05-25T09:59:00.001+01:00

When I asked Mum if there was a photo of her at the sewing machine or is it just a memory imprinted on my brain she replied "it's just imprinted on your brain".

So this is my first non-photo layout ever!!

This months challenge at Lets get Shabby is to use Chipboard ,Paint and Lace in your creation.

I used to lie awake at night listening to the comforting sound of Mums steel sewing scissors crunching through the tissue patterns and the material laid out on her formica work bench.

Later on in my sleep I could hear the sound of the foot peddle on her Singer Sewing machine stopping and starting, it was noisy but comforting.

Mum probably waited untill we were in bed before she laid out the fabric to start pinning...something I do now that I have small children.

I used a couple of very fragile and very faded bright green vintage buttons from my grandmothers button jar. K & Co Amy Butler vintage ephemera throughout from Tillys.

A lace rosette with a vintage broach and some paper from an old sewing book.

Tattered Angels wing painted with Ranger distress paints and a Chipboard lady designed by Melody Ross called Homespun Chic. I threaded old pink lace through the cotton trim.

I'm not happy with these letters as my paint had dried up and I blended two colours together to get the right green but it looks patchy, I must have watered it down too much.

I have had my turn, the design team have done wonders .......and now it's your turn to join in the fun at Lets get Shabby.

Love and threading needles

Ruth xx

A Vintage Bag Challenge

2010-05-23T11:51:00.007+01:00

Pollys challenge this month over at Our Vintage Affair is to make a bag:

This is mine......

It opens up to reveal a Capodimonte' figurine (yes I know she has a broken neck but I can't glue it. I have tried but would need to buy some proper ceramic glue)

I love that is is packed full of trims and old lace....
I really want to keep it but it is destined for a very special niece who is being confirmed this week.

You have until Thursday the 25th to enter and qualify for a chance to win a prize from Crafty Individuals..yay..love their products!!

ps: Have you seen Pollys new Blinkies:

Want to get one.......click HERE...except for the winners and top 3 one...cause you have to earn them..lol!!

Love and sweet prayers

Ruth xxx

One for the Boys....

2010-05-21T14:08:00.000+01:00

It was Marks birthday this week, and in between fighting for kitchen space amongst the tiles, dust and contents of the cupboards I managed to actually do a Bubbly Scrumptious project using a Tando Creative chipboard word.

I had found the cute little footballer in our local cake decorating shop and decided he looked like Mark when he was little, although Ben looks at it and says "Ben" (2 peas in a pod those two).

He is nicely vintage looking and will be handed down the generations to hopefully become an antique of the future.

Did you spot the little flags that Georgia made......we are obviously supporting Sweden this year in the world cup...sometimes it pays to be nuetral.

I guess we need to brush up on our world flags in time for kick off!!

Love and football mania

Ruth xxx

It's like having a birthday.....

2010-05-18T10:24:00.007+01:00

....when you open one of these packages for the very FIRST time.....

After I had put the Postman down I had to finish my Bubbly Scrumptious project, and so the parcel sat in the kitchen for a whole long unbearable hour..........it was one of the longest hours of my life.......I felt like a child waiting for Christmas, but a deadline is a deadline and I am an adult so I contained myself.....just!!

although my heart was in my mouth when the toddler tried to steal the box.

And this is what I saw inside....shall we unwrap it together?

Four melamine cups for picnics, parties and because mummy luuuuuurves them (and they last forever and ever)

Four spotty melamine cups for the kids, the red one is already known as the Liverpool cup by the toddler.

..and last but not least the reason the parcel arrived (apart from the 15% off voucher in Easy Living magazine and the free Cath Kidston shopping bag) ....

I could go on to say it's because it's wipeable, has compartments, fits over the pushchair etc but actually it's because I'm worth it!!

No don't thank me...seriously.... Thankyou.....it was a pleasure shopping with you!!

Ruth xxx

Dinosaur Boy

2010-05-14T14:49:00.006+01:00

I found this little boy sitting in my garden picking the heads off the daffodils. He was such a sweet little boy that I gave him a lollipop for being so gorgeous........

OK so the real version is......

I needed some photos of Bens dinosaur jeans so I bribed him to sit on the stones, he knows exactly which strings to pull.

ps: He wasn't dead-heading the flowers but attacking the real live ones!!

My finished layout looks a bit washed out but I think it was the bright sunshine yesterday....I was cursing it last night now I am wishing it would come back...please come back sunshine all is forgiven!!

I used some funky dinosaurs from a Maya Road keychain available at Bubbly Funk. I was going to stick a googly eye on the dinosaur but I couldn't find it, then Ben found one in the garden today...it's amazing just how far my stash has spread, it's even taking over the garden!!

Love and monsters

Ruth and T-Rex xxx

I've been baking!!

2010-05-07T16:36:00.004+01:00

Well not actually baking more like making......

...and thats a good thing

This weeks Bubbly Scrumptious project used a Maya Road Chipboard Coaster in an apple

shape. Cute huh?

Do you love the subtle psychology of the paper doilies.........the papers (Cosmo Cricket) and chipboard lady are from Tillys whilst the Apple Coaster book is from Bubbly Funk.

..and NO I will not be selling pies in my kitchen..sorry but I ate them all!!

Love and spitting cherry stones from the back porch

Ruth xxx

Same but Old

2010-05-05T16:52:00.005+01:00

I have had my hair coloured bright red......it's not a new thing for me as I have been doing this on and off since I was a teen.

The only difference is this time I haven't covered the white bathroom in purple spots of hair dye!!

I never ever use straighteners.....weddings and christenings I told the horrified hairdresser!!

However I like this look so much I may have to dedicate time to actually looking after my barnet. I don't know how other people manage to fit

it in each day, get their kids to school and still find time to scrap?

How much time a day do you spend on your hair?

Ruth xxx

Yo-Yo tutorial at "Lets get Shabby"

2010-05-03T19:03:00.004+01:00

If you want to learn how to make these ultra cool and super retro Yo-Yo flowers, the lovely Mandy has made a gorgeous little tutorial over at Lets get Shabby.

Please leave her a sweet commment if you LUUUURVE them as much as I do!!

Ruth xxx

A Vintage handbag?

2010-05-01T23:34:00.005+01:00

This months challenge over at A Vintage Affair is to make a handbag.

Polly has made some beautiful examples and has a fabulous prize lined up for the very lucky winner, thanks to her generous sponsors.

Crafty Individuals make the most coolest vintage inspired and wickedly detailed rubber stamps, papers and acetates you have ever seen!!

For more info visit A Vintage Affair Blog over HERE and when you have made your creation please leave a comment and upload it to the NING site over HERE.

I hope you enjoy this creatively challenging challenge as much as last time.

Love and handbags

Ruth xxx

Maya Road Chipboard pots and pans......

2010-04-30T12:27:00.000+01:00

I finally managed to finish my banner for Bubbly Scrumptious......it took a very late night on very little sleep but that's what happens in my job when you work nights and have to cover for other peoples holidays.......I can't wait till I get some proper time off again. (if only to sleep!!)

I painted these little Maya Road cuties to make them look like the kind of cool kitchen utensils that are around at the moment.

Each little shape was mounted onto a topper (sorry too much "Create and Craft" & "QVC" in the wee hours) ....I mean a square of patterned card stock.

I used about 5 million metres of ribbon again, and my bobble trim collection.

It's very bright and cheerful, now all I need to do is paint the newly plastered plinth and pray my other half will let me fulfill my vision and hang it up for all to see:)

Love and cookies

Ruth xxx

Vintage Shoes Winner announced

2010-04-30T09:16:00.002+01:00

The winner of the Vintage shoes over at A Vintage Affair has been announced.

Congratulations Hege these are just divine!!

Pop on over to the blog to see and don't forget to check out the ning site too for more inspiration as the next challenge will be posted very soon!!

Lets get Shabby Colour Challenge No 11

2010-04-27T09:01:00.002+01:00

This months challenge at Lets get Shabby is to use a beautiful quilt for inspiration for your colour scheme.......you also have to include some MATERIAL/FABRIC in your project.

I used the last of my Mothers little hessian bags from the Trade Aid shop in New Zealand and some Making Memories foam stamps.

I bought the material samples from a craft show at Harrogate 3-4 years ago and used a new method for making them that I saw on a blog recently. I would love to give you credit but I can't remember whose it was, sorry......... anyway I wired them!!

Please remember that only projects made exclusively for Lets get Shabby will be acceptetd as we are not a multi challenge site.

Foam stamps with Gesso

my token touch of yellow

It's times like this when I remember why I hoarded all of those buttons!! I soooooo enjoyed playing with my first love again...it reminded me of those days when I used to buy Laura Ashley style crafting material by the metre and make skirts from it. It was cheaper than normal fabric so my sister and I had a sprig splurge during the 80's. The only downside was we dicovered that it wasn't very colour fast!! Things have changes since then and fat quarters are really stunning now.

This is the beautiful quilt that inspired our Design Team, so whether it's Autumn or Spring where ever you live there have to be some gorgeouscolours in here to get your mojo going.

Love and textiles

Ruth xxx

Time to choose your Jimmy Choos

2010-04-26T16:20:00.004+01:00

It's voting time over at A Vintage Affair!!

We have had some absolutely beautiful entries for The Vintage Shoe Competition and Polly has lined up some super sponsors for the next one!! So make sure you get in on the action!!

Please pop on over here to have a look and to vote for your top three pairs of shoes.

You have until midnight tonight...Monday 26th April.

ps: the next challenge is just as gorgeous.........I can't wait..eeeeek!