Sunshine and Art

Over the last week I set myself a challenge. What can you do with the catalogues which come my magazines !?! The booklets are made of reasonable paper but this does not take much wieght...What to use it for ?? Yes, I could see an art journal about my day out at Ally Pally. It now has photos about my friends and notes about the day =)



Saturday DH & I joined our friends for a day out at the Weald and Downkand Museum.

The lambs where out enjoying the sunshine =)


We enjoyed the walk round the site ! Below are a few pictures from the day.

BIG STAMP SHOW


Yesterday spent the day in London with artist friends... We had a good time. It was the first time we had all meet together and had traveled from Wales, Cornwall and Belgium.


We had all meet though Tim Holz chat group.



Lots of interesting stands to look round, see things for real and buy ;)


Even had time to trying out the new Tim Alterations die cuts.

Its all about the Shoes !

Not something anyone who knows me might be expecting as a title. Although the shoes below are not quite what they might seem. Having a LONG weekend for easter I spent some of the time in the studio playing with the grunge paper.



This shoe is made from grunge paper, decorated with Tim Holtz stamps and grunge techniques. The shoe is stitched together with thread using a blanket stitch. WARNING : This is VERY hard on the fingers. If your going to make a pair then you NEED a thimble.



So where does the pattern come from ?
Found that on-line in a Free Stuff section from a UK magazine Crafty Stamper... Click here to get a copy LINK

Method : Paint your grunge paper, then cut out the shapes. If you want to make a pair then remember to turn the sole shape over to get a left and right. Next add a messge to the sole. I have embrossed mine then grunge the edges with distress ink. Finally decorate the upper. When you have finished you need to stitch the upper to the sole.. Start from the toe and go to the back for both side. You could use a running stitch or as I have a blanket stitch. I have another shoe cut and ready to go so I can try using the sewing machine. A little easier on the fingers I hope.
Then last, add some decoration. I have added a grunge paper flower to complete the Tim inspired shoe !!


While I was working in the shoe I also made a grunge flower to wear next Saturday to the Big British Craft Show in London. I am meeting up with a group of friends for the first time, so we are all wearing flowers ;)

The flower was cut from grunge paper using a die cut on my big shot. I have also cut a centre out of copper fabric (yes - its really made from fine spun copper) ... this was a quick idea which I think works. As the fabric is real metal you can form it or as I have twist it. Then being me I have added a button for the centre and some beads to dangle. I just need to sort out a pin for the back =)