I like subscription boxes. As long as you can find one which is consistent in quality and matches your general taste without becoming predictable. A few years ago I regularly got the CraftBox subscription and it filled up my stash with embellishments and ephemera beautifully, then the style of it changed and I cancelled the… Continue reading Pastel cormorant
A new grand-nephew for my other half gave me the perfect opportunity to use the baby bunny digi from Lee Holland Art. Colouring the bunny went smoothly, but I really struggled with the blanket. I've coloured loads of images with fabric folds with no problem whatsoever... this blanket though... this blanket took forever to get… Continue reading Baby bunny
Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #5 Prompts that are abstract concepts rarely provoke an instant idea for me; I either go blank or completely overthink it. The only thing I can practically do is go away, do something else, and let my brain ponder it in the background... To be fair, I do that with… Continue reading Artful Academy journal – April
I've only used Stampbord once before, to create an alcohol ink butterfly. That is still one of my favourite things and it lives on a shelf in my room. (There is a small element of "how do you store small things without losing them" as well, but it's mostly because it makes me smile.) Do… Continue reading Stampbord owls
It was time to make cards for my other half's twin nieces again. Although they no longer live at home together, I carry on the tradition of making an almost matching pair of cards for them. Almost three months into lockdown and I really wasn't feeling like doing a lot of colouring and I was… Continue reading Butterfly trellis cards
Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #4 The theme for March was home and it was time to get the stencils out again. I'm following the themes and the basic techniques used, but varying some of the elements and ideas in each lesson: there is no point (for me) in just recreating what the instructor demonstrates,… Continue reading Artful Academy journal – March
A few years ago I bought a lucky dip bag of SnipArt and in among all the flat patterns and feathers and such like was a kit for this little (about 3 inches wide) trellis planter. I had no idea what to do with it. I probably could have used the individual pieces as texture… Continue reading Mini trellis planter
When it comes to greetings cards this year, I have really only been making the ones that I absolutely have to. My energy levels weren't that great at the start of the year and, let's face it, no-one's energy levels have exactly been boosted by subsequent world events. So, I was originally thinking about skipping… Continue reading 80th birthday
Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #3 The prompt for February was "music" and, for this one, the instructor used sprays to build up the background with some printed lyrics providing the focal point. This provided me with two challenges. I am not a huge fan of sprays. Most of the craft sprays are either not… Continue reading Artful Academy journal – February
In a way, I have coronavirus to thank for the existence of this piece. I've been wanting to make something like this for absolutely ages, but finding suitable bits of fabric and digging out my rarely used sewing machine from behind my drawers always seemed like a lot of effort when there were plenty of… Continue reading Fabric landscape
I have a few more cards to write up (I got so far behind with my blogging it's ridiculous), but this is the last of the Power Poppy designs for now. When this image and the one I used for the Mother's Day card were released as digi stamps in February, I just couldn't resist… Continue reading Butterflies and flowers
Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #2 After creating the cover for my Artful Academy class journal, I was determined to do my best to keep up with the monthly challenge. Each month has a prompt word — January's was "list" — and a video of one of the tutors making their journal page as inspiration.… Continue reading Artful Academy journal – January
I love making ATC-sized bits of art — both Copic colouring and using mixed media techniques — but I have been struggling with storing them sensibly. Some were propped up on a shelf, others were just in a pile, and I was in danger of losing track of them. I do have a pack of… Continue reading Art card storage
Yes, I know, another Power Poppy image, but they are so good for Mother's Day cards; I used this one for my other half's mum this year, though I actually coloured the image a couple of years ago during a Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge — it's good to use the occasional coloured image… Continue reading Spring meadow bouquet
Series: Artful Academy 2020 journal #1 I keep looking at online courses and being really tempted by them, but then I remember that I still have half of the Wanderlust 2019 projects left to do, not to mention all the other card-making, Copic colouring, and mixed media classes I've signed up for over the years.… Continue reading Artful Academy journal cover
Crafty Rat 