I've discovered

that I really like altering tins!

Now how did I discover this? I took part in an altered swap over on UK Stampers.

and no I'm not spoiling the surprise - this tin is not the one that is winging it's way via Royal Mail to the recipient as I type :-)

This started life as an Altoids tin - full of peppermints!

I covered the tin with paper & made the insert compartments from mount board which I coloured with alcohol ink.

I stamped the image & coloured with distress ink & Copics, then used Crackle accents on the clock

just love the effect :-)

on the hair I used bronze Glitter Gel giving it texture as well as colour

and I used Inka Gold on the key which was the same colour as the Generation embellishment

I stamped & mounted various words 

and added a little lace, flowers & the Generations embellishment  which was just the right colour!

I'll reveal the other altered tin as soon as the recipient lets me know that she has received it ......

Challenge card

Thought it was about time that I entered some blog challenges again.

So here is my card that I'd like to enter for

Daring Card Makers - Reeling in the ribbon

sponsored by The Ribbon Reel

&

Cute Card Thursday - 151 Hearts & flowers

This shows the 2 different ribbons & the button element of the daring cardmakers recipe

and the hearts :-) & for Cute card Thursday too :-)

and the flowers for Cute card Thursday .....

Happy Birthday!

The big Reveal

At long last I can reveal my latest project - it has been kept under wraps because the recipient looks on my blog on a daily basis! & I am now with Mum in Oz again for her 80th birthday yesterday.

We had a lovely celebration :-)

So this is the box I made which matches the card inside.

This is a close up of the corner of the box.

I used some of the blooms from my blog candy - aren't they gorgeous! & appropriate for the occasion :-)

I also used some pearl & crystal gems & my Martha Stewart doily edge punch & some co-ordinating ribbon.

The card was wrapped in gold tissue paper ..............

Which opened to reveal the card .......

I used my nestabilities to cut the mats for the important digits which were chipboard numbers which I covered with the co-ordinating paper.

I added pearls and the corner of the card is what I echo'd on the box.

I rounded the corners of the card & used co-ordinating ribbon for the bows.

Happy 80th Birthday Mum :-)

Magnolia Hearts & Flowers challenge

This is my entry for this weeks Magnolia challenge Hearts & Flowers.




I used my new Martha Stewart punch which is flowery :-) Even the sentiment echo's the heart theme :-)



I used this pretty stamp to echo the flower theme onto the background paper.

Crafting pressie for Maddy

Brought this kit back from the USA - a min canvas with paints. I painted & used some of my new ribbon & some gems & flowers & brads from my stash. I also bought a mini easel to display it on.



Not the best pictures unfortunately....................... Didn't check them before taking the pressie to Maddy!

Vintage Romantic Scrapbook page

This is my 8x8 scrapbook page that we did at Sticky Fixers Craft Club on Thursday - a vintage romantic look. It was Maddy's lesson & we were taught various techniques of tearing & inking & stamping & highlighting. Some of the ladies were a bit reticent about the 'aging' techniques to start but by the end of the lesson seemed to be well into it & tearing & inking with abandon! The results were lovely :-)

We all started off on the same track but then were free to finish off & adorn in our own way. I've allowed the photo to be able to be pulled out as there is my Nan's handwriting on the back that I wanted to be able to access. I just made sure that when sticking things down I didn't stick on top of the photo. The blue swirl on the left was in fact a peacock but I cut off the head & feet when I cut it out & it became a swirl which was highlighted in white gel pen. Loved the idea of adding the heart charm through a tear & mounting it on a thinner piece of lace.

I kept the journaling very simple & did it in handwriting with a fountain pen.

Val's page is on her blog here

Now I want to find time to do a 12x12 page on the same lines .................... :-) I have quite a few old family photo's that would look lovely :-)